How has your spending been this month?

[vetswife]

Several unexpected expenses this month: dental surgeon consult, car repairs, decided to attend church retreat and paid for that.  I dipped into my slush fun so will have to build it back up over the next few months.  On the bright side, I put money in savings every month for car and house insurance so just had to transfer the funds to take care of that.

[catsareme]

We should have enough left at the end of this month to put an additional bit on the mortgage.  A small bite of the elephant but a bite nonetheless.  

[Apple]

Between everything falling apart around me (including same day crash of both washer and dryer), a health scare (not yet resolved, but hopeful), a birthday I decided to celebrate for the first time ever, a going-out-of-business sale, and a grand reopening (multiple $20 off $75 purchase coupons combined with great sales, including beef and pork, for a department/grocery store where I get a lot of necessities), well, January was a mess for spending.  I have 6 categories that have gone red in YNAB for the month.  They'll all be more than covered with next month's "extra" paycheck, but this is the first time in years I've had multiple categories go over budget.

So, next month, I reign it all back in.  The only real wild card at this point (I hope!!) is the lawsuit.  I just hope to get in front of a fair judge soon.

[catsareme]

Way too many dark, grey rainy days equals depression and spending too much time on the computer.  I went on an on-line spending spree.  Stocked up on my favorite Yardley bar soaps, shaving bars for DH, a replacement DVD for a favorite James Garner western comedy, again for DH, and a big stock-up on fire starters for the wood stoves.  At least I used a cash-back website for some of it and a cash reward VISA to pay for it all.  There is enough left in the various budget categories to cover the VISA  bill thank goodness.  Can't wait for spring and longer days!  

[Blonde Granny]

The month of January ended with me in far better shape than I thought. I have $633 leftover and that will be split between 2 saving accounts.

Here's hoping that February will end the same way.

[countrygirl2]

I did not do well last month, I need to shape up this one. And DD has to cut back as she has to pay $600 on her new glasses.  If I can't get through to her, will have to take her ATM card and give her cash this money.

[vetswife]

The month ended badly with an unexpected car repair bill.  Hoping for improvement this month.

[catsareme]

Not a great start for the new month.  Saturday morning we found our driveway gate opener laying on the asphalt.  The high winds Friday night pushed out the screws holding the gate opener to the gate itself.  Luckily we were able to repair the gate ourselves and I'm really thankful the opener mechanism wasn't damaged.  

[buystoys]

We did well in January.  I tend to front load the annual medical expenses as most of my visits are in my deductible.  I think I have that expense heavy in January, February, and March as I see my annual and semi-annual doctors in the first quarter.  I ended up with no appointments in January due to a PCP problem and my insurance not accepting her now.  Lots of hours on the phone, but there is finally a way to work it out so I have a lot of appointments in February.  We'll have to see if I come out OK or a bit behind now.

[countrygirl2]

OK, so far, hope I can contain it. 

[Gardening Grandma]

January was good.  We came in under budget in every category.
But now I’m looking at 90k mile servicing for  the RAV and a septic pumpout.... Just when I almost reached my cushion goal for those categories... Sigh.

[vetswife]

So far so good this month; however, I'm updating my will so will have to pay the lawyer.  She did give me an established client discount so that helps.

[Deleted]

January must have been bad, because we had to pull $500 from savings to get us to the next pay day.  It was a bunch of irregular stuff, plus too much spending.  But DSS#1's tuition is paid for this semester, the dog's surgery was successful and came in 1/3 below the estimate, and DD got an after school job.  I can't think of anything big coming up, as we right the ship a bit.  

[Deleted]

This month has been better.  I simply bought too much stuff last month after getting new flooring and interior paint.  I still want to update some stuff, but I can wait.

The new budget is a learning experience for me without DH.

[catsareme]

My dental co-pay has been delayed until early March.  Fingers crossed the co-pay is no more than the initial estimate ($535).  

Looks as though we will have to replace the deadbolt lock on one of the three man doors in the garage.  Irritates me, the lock is only 5 years old.  I hope this isn't the start of a trend since all three of the locks were purchased and installed at the same time.

[lund]

Low where possible. But the dentist bill was far from free, the winter tires weren't either, and the yearly bills have rolled in.

We have eaten a lot out of the freezer. Luckily, a food store not very far away has moved, and they have had quite a lot of good meat sold on the last day at half price lately, which has kept the freezer well-stocked. Alas, that seems to be drying out now, but we'll eat well at low cost as long as it lasts.

[dogmom]

Although they were budgeted, we replaced my daily driver and the real estate taxes were due.  Really didn't like seeing the balances go down in those accounts.

Groceries are a little pricier for some reason.  Otherwise, everything else good.

[buystoys]

We're spending less on groceries for some reason.  We're buying more prepped fruit and veggies than normal, so I expected it to go up.  The only thing I can think of is that we're not buying much meat.  They had pork loin for $1.27/pound last week, so I bought two big packages.  We bought chicken as well, but no ground beef or steaks.  That might be the reason.

We're going to the casino next week, but our fun money is in the budget.  The hotel room is free, so that was a great savings!

[catsareme]

Finishing the month under budget but just barely.  I started out with good intentions but got side-tracked with a store close-out sale.  Future me will be happy but present me is groaning.

We bought, and planted, two bare-root peach trees.  The growing season is just starting in this area.  I've budgeted for plantings, soil, fertilizer, etc.  I hope to keep, if not under, at least at the amount I've set aside for these projects.  It helps the two nurseries we frequent give discounts to the military to include veterans.

[Blonde Granny]

This has been a great month!!!!!!!!!! I transferred $1K into savings and still have money left over.

I hope March is just as good.  I guess I should do this right:

Clothes
Computers
Hair
Pedicure
Vitamins

Above categories had no expenditures

under Budget:

Fuel $100 spent $ 66
Groceries $250 spent $232
Household Goods $ 50 spent $3
Misc. $50  spent $33
Personal items $ 25 spent $5
Restaurants $ 115 spent $ 63

I have to admit, YNAB really makes it easy to see what the monthly status is when you have to enter every item I have spent money on and how much I spent.

[buystoys]

I am $160 under budget for the month, $1000 under budget for the year.  Yay!  The big expenses will begin next month when we start the kitchen remodel.  That's in the budget, so we'll see how close I am.

[Deleted]

February was better.  There weren't any large irregular bills.  I have been stocking up a bit due to the virus, trying to get ahead about a month on things we will use anyway.  Ending the month with $1,000 left over.  A little bit of savings, because DH has been adamant that he does not want to get on an airplane.  

Nothing major for March, that is planned.  I need to figure out a coffee table and order it, but I hate all coffee tables or the dimensions are wrong.  

[countrygirl2]

Bad, I topped off all our preps just to be safe. It's nothing that won't eventually be used, but probably not needed. About $400 to $500 worth of stuff.  Then with so many retail places closing, I topped off shoes and bras.  Getting everyone glasses and dental appointments done.  That will be more money, but we will be set for awhile. DD's mammogram but its at the local small hospital.

[Deleted]

It was good until the very end.  I took my car in for the 130K servicing and ended up spending $450.  I have a car maintenance fund, but I decided to cash flow it.  I also had to pay my Medicare deductible before my Advantage plan kicks in.  And then I spent about $300 at Cottontail Village with my DIL, but that includes about $65 for VIP tickets to Christmas Village.  So the last week has been spendy.

It is fine.  There are no big expenses for March.  I've already bought the 2 birthday presents for that month.

[catsareme]

In light of all the business closures it hasn't been hard to stay below budget this month.  I did a bit of on-line shopping but no panic-induced purchases.  It looks as though I will be able to do another principal-only mortgage payment at the end of the month.  

[vetswife]

Enforced isolation has helped me.  I'm staying in my grocery budget and should be able to replace what I borrowed from the emergency fund in January.

[andi9899]

I have been bleeding money lately. Car needed all new brakes and rotors ($450). Then it needed new tires ($550). Now since we're on lockdown the stuff is done and the car is just going to sit. Great. Got a letter from the city telling me to paint the trim on my house or else. That's going to be another $500. Then I had to have the faucet in the kitchen replaced. Of course there were more leaks found that needed to be fixed. It was about $350 for that. I've probably spent about $400 at the grocery store preparing for the apocalypse and I still don't have everything. Hopefully the bleeding will stop soon. Oh wait, T1's job is only scheduling them 50% of her hours so she's going to need help with her bills. This sucks.

[Blonde Granny]

LOL, you mean I was supposed to track my spending? I've had the handyman here and spent about $450 for him to fix some things. This Virus has caused my YNAB to look like someone or something has been trampling all over it.

Looking forward to April (maybe the sun might shine and the temps get over 45....and perhaps my budget will settle down...not likely.

Applause to all of you, who along with me and others have held on and will get their ship back on course.

[jmlrn]

I was looking into using YNAB but I feel guilty paying the $12/mo fee when I could do the same thing with a pen & paper for free. Does anyone highly recommend YNAB despite the monthly fee & why

[Blonde Granny]

I've used YNAB for about 5-6 years. Others here for a lot longer. But speaking only for me, I don't use it the way it is intended. I have no debt, am a widow, live alone and use it to only keep track of my monthly spending and nothing else.

Minnesota Painted Lady has used it for years. You might want to ask her.