2022 Controlled Spend and No Spend

[Iggy aka IG]

Monthly business and personal bills have been paid.

Have been keeping an eye on an ever-increasing desire to retire somewhat early and trying to keep non-essential spending squeaky clean.  Non-essentials this month include the liquor store, a new bed pillow, a few birthday cards, a gift card to niece2 who just returned to college, a rather expensive hotel stay (more than half the amount stated below) and incidentals for DH and my anniversary.  I did buy two new shirts, but had credit, so $5-ish cost covered tax.

$461.82 MTD non-essential spending.

[Blonde Granny]

I have started the pre-winter garage clean out and the outside. This afternoon I turned-on over the concrete bird bath, then power washed the patio rug and laid it out to dry.

I also turned my soup for this freezer into stew for the freezer. I tried the stew and at least I will like it if no one else does, and I won't put a soup label on it. After all, I managed to use up a lot of various things from the freezer and pantry.

Tomorrow is my 6-9 mo Dr. appointment. I've seen my lab work so everything looked good.

Let's continue making our progress, I always need encouragement.

BG

[vetswife]

Got the IRA distribution this month; I'm using it to cover some preventive maintenance on the AC system and to repair the garage door, as the electricity to it was knocked out by lightning.  I also bought my plane ticket to Virginia for Christmas; I'm hoping there's a little bit left for savings; I usually put it all in another savings account but it has come in handy this  year.  Except for this stuff, spending has been pretty much for the basics.  I hope to stay in control of it as I return to feeling normal after covid.  Thanks for the well wishes, also, I had a relatively light case.

[Blonde Granny]

I have a list from last year in my planner as to what fall-winter things that need to be done.....I took a quick look at it but decided I was not going to look at it again until it's at least the first of October....likely won't make it that far before I look at it and start working on it.

[Iggy aka IG]

Excellent job, BG and vetswife!

Similar to BG, I've started preparing for colder weather.  I've been buying larger quantities of fruit and freezing half and am preparing a Sam's Club order so we can stock up before snow hits.  For various reasons, we've had more leftovers than usual lately, so I labeled and froze leftover beef roast and cooked cheeseburger patties.

[Blonde Granny]

This is going to be an expensive month: Dr. Dermatology, Fireplace guy to clean out and reset fireplace, and HVAC for making sure it can be OK for the winter.

I am also trying to clean out as much as I can from the fridge....makes me wonder how much is actually safe to eat so most of it could be tossed.  My garage freezer is still taking care of the rest.

[vetswife]

This month is expensive already.  I'm having the garage door opener replaced after it was fried by lightning; fortunately I have the money in savings.  Then car insurance is due this month but I have a sinking fund for that.  The last weekend of the month is family day at my grandson's university so will be attending that.  My oldest son is remarrying this next week after being widowed for over 2 years; I need to get some kind of gift for them but they both have furnished households so may wait a while for that.  Hoping for no more surprises though

[Iggy aka IG]

Sorry to hear about the garage door opener, vetswife .

~~~~~~~~~~
Since my last post, the only purchases were a grocery pickup and a RX order (both essential) and a liquor store purchase.  Month end non-essential expenses $489.01.

The large Sam's Club haul will be picked up tonight.  Consisting of canned items, a few HBAs, Cascade and healthy snacks, it should last through winter.  This month includes quarterly taxes and HOA dues, so essential spending will be up.  I'm continuing to toss as much extra as possible toward CC debt.

[Blonde Granny]

Well, a trip to Best Buy in an attempt to figure out what my 8 y/o iMac is doing, and it seems the only think its NOT doing is what it is supposed to do. I think a new iMac is coming soon.....at least I can pay for it month by month with their credit card.

on Edit: I finally was able to talk to one of the "smart" tech person.  It appears that I will NOT need to buy a new iMac , so that is fine with me.

BG

[Iggy aka IG]

Wednesday, I took quite some time to submit a winter stock up Sam's Club order. DH called me from there yesterday after work saying there was a 2-hour delay for pickup orders. 2 hours??!! True, my bad for scheduling it on payday for many and right before a holiday weekend, but sheesh. They told DH they had only one person picking orders. I submitted ours 28 hours in advance, so you'd think.... So yes, we cancelled the order and will try again someday. I am so over this short staffed/lack of employees/no one wants to work ordeal.

[moneysquirrel]

August Recap:

Essential Spending: $1573.05
Groceries, monthly bills, insurance premiums, medical expenses

Non-Essential Spending: $237.12
Lunch with former coworkers, new jeans, craft supplies.

No major expenses scheduled for this coming month. Just the usual monthly ones. Do have a hair appointment this month.  Have one more medical appointment as well as an annual test to schedule this month. 

Hope that it is a quiet month.  

[Blonde Granny]

I have a dentist appointment this Tuesday for a new crown, $ 975 since I don't have dental insurance. Fortunately I have enough in my "personal escrow account" to cover it....Some of you call it a sinking fund.

[wvugurl26]

I was trying to do a Sam's Club pick up order for my DH to pick up. He is going this weekend to clean up and restock our friend's RV for college football tailgate season. At the point I couldn't get water, Capri Sun or plates I deleted the entire cart. It would let me add and then say it was out of stock.

I split the membership with my brother so DH doesn't have a card. I suppose I should have just sent my card with him and told him to use self check out. He can go to Walmart. I'm betting they do have those things and the app was being stupid as usual.

[catsareme]

Ended August in the black.  CSD/NSD for August: 21/31

The annual preventive maintenance check for the generator was not as high as the previous year and was covered by the slush fund.  I have three more scheduled yearly bills left to pay but the funds are already set aside.  The biggest bill is the second half of the property taxes.  We just received our new property assessment and I'm already cringing at how much more our tax bill may be for 2023. 

As it stands now it will be just the usual expenses for the month of September.  Fingers crossed! 

[3catslady]

Not as good as I wanted but it's okay.  I need to stop buying at work and start buying more groceries.

August NS:  Food-24; Discretionary-17; Set expense-27; Stock-30.

Expenses: Food-7; Discretionary-14; Set Expenses-4; Stock-1

I am going to try  better this month

[countrygirl2]

I usually just talk about spending on the Everything thread, but maybe it will help here.

Hubs made a trip from Indiana to Washington state to pick up grandson, end of July, took him back end of August. With the price of fuel it cost. Was about $1300 up and same back. We checked flights, and train for all of us, it was even more. He is only 7 so can't fly alone. 

With some of my expensive scrip bills, ate up a lot last month. This month trying to put some of the money back and next month too. I have paid all our annual bills both personal and business, so that is done. But I have noticed with the increase in prices of everything it's eating into the buffers I keep in our accounts.  Have a few months to replace it, then Christmas. Not spending all that much for Christmas either as not much any of us needs or wants really.

We are both retired so no additional options. We are ok, but just wanting to replace this, as I'm sure we will go again.

[Iggy aka IG]

The Sam's Club order was successfully filled and picked up.  The only thing out of stock was artichoke dip, which is fine, as it is a want not a need.  

[catsareme]

September CSD/NSD 13/30  

Stocking up on household maintenance items and noticing the price creep.    

Not looking at doing much this upcoming holiday season so the Christmas/gift budget should more than cover any expenses.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sept 3, 2022 8:56:33 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I was trying to do a Sam's Club pick up order for my DH to pick up. He is going this weekend to clean up and restock our friend's RV for college football tailgate season. At the point I couldn't get water, Capri Sun or plates I deleted the entire cart. It would let me add and then say it was out of stock.

I split the membership with my brother so DH doesn't have a card. I suppose I should have just sent my card with him and told him to use self check out. He can go to Walmart. I'm betting they do have those things and the app was being stupid as usual.

I've been so frustrated with online ordering these last few months!
I can't even get Bill the Dog's flea/heartworm meds because they've been out of stock for over a month. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I'd have to look back to see the last month I actually tracked on here. I don't know that I'll do that as I have a super long to do list. 

We are out of control on restaurants. Again. Aargh!
I know that DH finds it a convenience tactic, but goodness it's just not that hard to by prepared food at the grocery store instead of a restaurant. Still convenient but generally have the price. For Sept, we've surpassed $600 on restaurants. Sigh. 

Then, on Friday, DH was exhausted but decided to mow the lawn anyway. He broke his riding lawnmower. Now I have to buy a utility trailer. We'd have likely bought one in the spring time, but I wasn't prepared for it this fall. Agh. 

Thanks for letting me vent. I'll come back in a week to analyze September. 

[moneysquirrel]

I was doing really well this month.  But did decide to order the new shutters for my house.  Deposit has been paid and rest will be due upon completion @ 4-5 months out.

Also paid for season tickets for the community theater -- supports the arts and gives me a few nights out with friends throughtout the year.

Other than these I am just keeping things in order.

[vetswife]

Apparently the preventive maintenance on the AC didn't work completely; it froze up so was without AC for a few days, and now have a bill for AC repair on my credit card.  Not how I want to pay for it but I don't want to dip into my principal anymore and it's too much for my sinking fund.  I haven't had a debt in years.  Maybe it's time to give up the house; there's been one thing after another this past summer.

[Blonde Granny]

I found the original piece of paper with my pre-winter things to do.....after looking every where I could think, I suddenly found it in my phone photos. Now that a new month has started and it was 45 degrees this morning, I guess it's time to dig it out.

I have a super lady friend coming over this morning to help me work on the garage.....my son made me promise I won't get on a ladder and my friend will see to it.

Today was the day the Eagle left me some money, I love it when I get that.......

Happy Friday to all of you!!!

[moneysquirrel]

September Recap:

Food/HBA = $398.88

House/Car/Tech = $1950.92  (once and done items --- the majority of this amount was the deposit for the house shutters, car registration and printer tonor) 

Utilities = $540.16

Personal = $434.72 (includes season tickets for community theater, craft show fees and taxes, haircut)

[catsareme]

September CSD/NSD:  14/30   Not stellar but not all bad.  I ended up with a good-sized chunk of saved savings and a bit of money left from my zero-balance budget that was paid as a principal-only payment on the HELOC.

All of the budgeted home maintenance is done for the year.  We are getting an estimate in October for the restaining/treatment of the exterior of the house and the ranch-style entry gate.  It's a full log home and regular maintenance is necessary.  This won't be done until late spring/summer of next year so I will have time to set monies aside.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sept 27, 2022 10:16:32 GMT -5 vetswife said:

Apparently the preventive maintenance on the AC didn't work completely; it froze up so was without AC for a few days, and now have a bill for AC repair on my credit card.  Not how I want to pay for it but I don't want to dip into my principal anymore and it's too much for my sinking fund.  I haven't had a debt in years.  Maybe it's time to give up the house; there's been one thing after another this past summer.

Tricky. Giving up the house would mean you'd have to pay for somewhere else to live right?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

September 2022
Controlled Categories
Restaurants: Budgeted $500 | Spent $707.21
The restaurant overage is due to overwhelming work weeks and being too tired to cook. We need to plan dinners so we're not resorting to take-out. 

Clothing: Budgeted $0 | Spent $0
I'd spent $293.83 in August when my normal monthly clothing budget is $150. I'm proud of myself for making it through September not buying any clothing so that the Aug/Sept average is still $150. Go me!


Unexpected Expenditures
We bought a utility trailer last week. While we'd have likely purchased one in the spring time, DH broke his new riding lawnmower two Fridays ago. We needed  a way to get the lawnmower to the mechanics. I'm annoyed, but it's not a "splurge" at least. 
$3,255

[vetswife]

Knee deep    That's true, and is the main reason I hang onto it.  My daughter does have a place for me at her home in Virginia; I'm considering that but as a life long Texan, it's hard for me to give up everything and everyone I know here.

[Iggy aka IG]

Kept a tight rein on things in September.  Non-essential spending was $221.09 which included liquor store stops, a "free" Paramount+ subscription, movie tickets for 5, and a $3.59 purchase on which I cannot put my finger, LOL.

[Blonde Granny]

My landscape person finished with all the cutting back for the winter. Cost $160.00 While at it, I told him of the problems that I will need to have done likely next spring. Fortunately, this guy will do ANYTHING. This spring will be, painting garage doors, along with 2 sides of fence, and 2 outdoor light lights (one has the glass broken.)

Either way, the increase in my SS and VA money will help for sure. Today is hair cut day and monday is pedicure for me (and Chelsie)

Have planner finally set up and must admit it's been fun doing it.



BG