September updates..

Hi, everyone! So with using #thebudgetmom I do try to close out my month's budget..but not 100% .. but I do use the "where did my money go" sheet so I can see where I need to tweak or cut expenses for the following month. So here goes how my money was spent for September (this is income from my account only, not the joint or obviously business account). My 'income' doesn't just mean weekly pays, it could be any income I receive for the month (side gigs, assistance checks, etc). But this is a look at my expenses..

I've taken on funding all my sinking funds & weekly envelopes (which in September was just the Grocery fund weekly with cash = but I sometimes include Miscellanous (walgreens, walmart) as debit tracking. So I put $60.00 a week in my grocery budget (cash only) & I have been doing this for a few months.. I much rather use cash. It keeps me on budget and I always have more than I need that rolls over into the following week.

My #sinkingfunds - I have a few online that occur with automatic transfers, (a christmas fund, an emergency fund, I've just added a "Grace/ABLE account" and a Household Savings. My other sinking funds are in envelopes that I keep at home.

My September sinking funds (saved) & total:

Christmas 2020 - $10/week since last Christmas - sept savings $40/total $420

Emergency Fund - $25/week- $100/month - $1200 saved.

WORD Challenge - I choose a word monthly & save that dollar amount represented for each letter - thanks to Brody for RISE in September - great word for ME.. I saved $45 (i've been doing this challenge since January.. and at the end of the year will deposit all the cash to my savings.. and start again)

Office Makeover - $20/week (started in Sept) - $80/$205 total (sold some office things)

Dollar Challenge - save those dollar bills - $16/ total $120 (for my birthday weekend)

$5 savings challenge - saving those 5's - $25

My own personal savings $140/$520 (shooting to save $1000 by my birthday 12/22)

I paid an extra $200 on my credit card - (i have this ONE credit card left, with a balance of just over $3,000).

I spent $380 on me personally.. so YES, I need to cut that down to $125 for the month of October -- the biggest purchase here was the #Budgetbypaycheckbook that came out pre-order in September (should be getting it very soon).. and some markers/stickers.. soo I HAVE enough!

$300 on miscellanous house hold stuff.. walgreens/amazon

i pay the utilities with my check - that was $325 (some was a little past due)

I'll do a video on how my money was spent..but it's all accounted for & it gives me a good break down of where I need to stop spending in October (P personal!).. and we have gone to a cash only envelope for eating out! (usually funded from the joint account.. we are giving ourselves a $250 maximum for eating out).

Thanks for reading! Start now.. tracking & finding out where your $$ is going.. an eye opener..but once you start small by saving a little or really being intentional with your money.. you'll notice a difference!

pattie