This weekend I looked back at our numbers in Oct through December. On average in those months we were spending $1400 on Food and Gas (this includes Groceries and Eating Out) Sheeeesh! That is pitiful!
I have always known the numbers were horrible and figured we could do much better. I do have a commute but most of that number is Food. This month we decided that we would not eat out near as much and try to get our grocery budget under control. Total so far this month has been $445 (this includes everything except fixed bills.....Food, Gas, Meds, Allowance for DS, etc...) BIG DIFFERENCE. Just with us being somewhat conscious I think we are going to save around $600 - $700 this month.
Another thing we are doing this month is NO CREDIT CARDS. I am not against credit card use in any way. As a matter of fact I have always used them and paid them off each month. But sometimes we still just seem to spend easier with a credit card and sometimes it is tough to make that high payment. I have only put one thing on the credit card this month and that was lawn care service we receive and we pay for it annually. (It is a fertilizing service to help with weeds) We are debating getting rid of it to save money as well.
I am proud of us so far this month. We have always typically been good about not having too much debt and trying to save as much money as possible but this month has shown me that we can do even better when we put our minds to it.
_____
Snowflakes so far:
$52.92 (was sent to hubby's bike payment)
This includes:
1.53 reconciling our checking account
2.54 interest on checking
5.58 interest on savings
3.62 extra budgeted for electricty/h20
4.00 extra budgeted for phone
13.65 reimbursement from work on some doughnuts
6.00 52 week challenge
16.00 8 No spend days
Monthly spending so far
January 22nd, 2013 at 03:11 pm
January 22nd, 2013 at 04:03 pm 1358870622
January 22nd, 2013 at 05:39 pm 1358876392
January 22nd, 2013 at 06:22 pm 1358878949