Budgetober challenge is back!

[Msnoid]

So yesterday was Friday…oops.

So I spent a few hours researching and talking with my partner and decided to look for an exercise bike instead of a treadmill because cheaper (!!), smaller (less footprint in a small residence), and my partner would be more likely to use a bike than treadmill (possible workout buddy??). I found something that I think will work for both my partner and I, is well within this month’s budget ($280 after taxes, etc.) and has a decent warranty and return window. Now for the challenge of using the equipment and not just turning it into a second drying rack for laundry.

Also, I think I corrected my over budgeting for food, a sudden bonus tea purchase happened this week. I won’t count it as a splurge because I’m still confident that my grocery budget will hold through the month and I drink a lot of tea, I’ll just be better stocked than usual.

[anomalily]

Week 2 Check-in Late

So - goals are:

• Saving $1,665 - no progress to be made on this, all money comes in last day of month
• Making at least $50 from selling clothing online - have not listed but did list two electronics and will net $160 from that
• Launch new OMD product - done and sold out!

Planned indulgence

• Spent $7.25 including $2 tip on getting a fancy latte from a local business to celebrate running 10 miles last week

Spent month to date October 18th below cut

Household Essentials: $681/$736

• Rent: $615/ 615
• Electric: $45.01/$45.01
• Water, Commons, Trash: $40/$40
• State Fees: $26/$26

Health: $204/$277

• Health Ins. Premium: $204/277

Giving: $60/$200

• Political: $50
• Charity: $10

Food + Drink for Home: $113.08/$175

• Groceries: $95.62/$135
• Treats: $9.47/$20
• Coffee For Home: $7.99/$20

Food and Drink Out: $7.25/$15

• Coffee Out: $7.25 (reward for 15K/10 mile run)

Indulgences: $23.40/$10

• Clothing $23.11/0
• Pocket Money : $.29/$10

[HaH]

I’ve just done my Monday morning accounting so it’s time for my check-in (late this week)… not looking great.

We’ve already spent 34% of our October income, and it’s only the 19th.

@HaH

Garden spending not to exceed $50 + gift cards at Bunnings (the $50 is to enable buying something slightly more expensive than my gift cards) and whatever my soil and mulch order ends up being ($400ish probably )

Soil+mulch was $492 including delivering. It was a lot of high quality product, so I’m okay with that.

We ended up spending more than $50 over and above my gift cards at Bunnings, BUT it was Mr H driving that spending rather than me, so I am okay with that - the point of the restriction was to stop my mindless spending on all things garden, but if he wants to spend money on the garden so it will look a certain way, that’s different (Mr H basically spends no money, so it’s my impulses that are the issue rather than his).

@HaH

Groceries not to exceed $800 which sounds like a lot but we have been super spendy on groceries lately

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Reminder that Ms Terror spends $400 a month, in the same city, with a similar sized family. So you KNOW that my excessive spending here can’t be completely blamed on location, or Aussie dollarbucks, or whatever.

We’re at $668 (rounded to the nearest dollar). Already.

I’ve noted that my dietitian homework requires spending more on groceries (treatment for disordered eating plus assistance with nutrition for my chronic health stuff), and that we’re not doing great at creating or sticking to a meal plan. The first part is what it is - I’m not going to pause something that’s good for my health just to stick to an arbitrary budget - but the second bit, I can do something about. So I’m going to make myself a good list of what we can cook this week based on what we already have on hand.

@HaH

Takeaway and restaurants not to exceed $500

We’re already past this. I did not anticipate that we would all be sick and struggling with life (I SHOULD have anticipated it given how frequently we get sick), or frankly, how readily we go to “hey, let’s make life easy and just get takeaway”.

Given that we still have Mr H’s birthday coming up and he wants expensive takeaway for that, plus a few other social restaurant things… I’m just going to see where this ends up, and learn from the process. I think fixing our meal planning and bulk cooking would go a LONG way towards fixing our takeaway and restaurant spending.

[kenner]

Late update since I decided to take a little break from social media earlier this week

Groceries: $81/150
Restaurant: $23/$100
Hobbies: $34/$50
Home Improvement: $0/$50
Charity: $500/$1500
Bills: $59.95/$60 (done)
Auto: $28/$30 (still need to get recall fixed)
Travel: $0/$0

[wintertell]

How do you make the very nice fancy chart? It looks so nice!!!

[wintertell]

Turning out to be a spendy month due to tackling our chore, house and auto maintenance lists. We also are starting solid foods, so are now buying baby food in addition to normal groceries. I could make them, but work is still really bad and I don’t want to add more chores to our list. I will need to wave the magic wand to re-plan but that’s for a different day.

In terms of spending this week, I only have two planned purchases: Lovevery subscription and HB’s out of pocket flu shot. I also need to figure where to get and then get mine this week.
Lovevery subscription is new, but he is quickly figuring out all of the toys, and HB wants developmentally appropriate toys without having to do the research every month. We do have money in the “Kid Other” category for that even if it was originally unplanned.

October Budget/Spending - Late Check In 10/19
Monthly Bills
Mortgage - 1007
Phones - 56/56
Internet - 70/70 - Bumped out of promotional pricing
Electricity - 176/176 Really hot!
Water & Sewer - 95
Life Insurance - 102/102
Propane - 20
Bank Fee - 1/1
Student Loan - 65/65

Food ----> These are the categories I need to watch closely
Groceries - 554/625 - big trips for the month + baby food (buying jars because so busy with work)
Dining Out - 92/150 - Indian, pizza, plus fast food 3x this week when trying to cram in errands - not ideal but still within budget for now.

Kid
Formula, Diapers & Wipes - 150/190 - Subscribe & Save order
Kid Other - 34/100 - toothbrush, toy, door covers to help stop waking him up from loud doors

Pet
Expense Budget - 104/104 - Subscribe & Save order
Save 75 for medical expenses

Everyday Expenses
Household - 162/150 ----> My dad decided to visit and help with child care, so HB knocked out several household projects. This has power strips, 3 drawer organizer, shower curtain, lighter, broom, mop, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, etc. …
Gas - 20
Subscriptions - 6/24 - Hulu

Irregular Expenses
Car Insurance: Spent 328/328 Save:33
Car Taxes: Save 34
Amazon Prime: 120; Save 10
Taxes: Save 10

Targeted Savings Contributions
House Maintenance: 46 /567 - lightbulbs, new stud finder – was hoping to save all, but it didn’t make sense not to do projects while by dad was here to help. Still building up sinking fund.
Auto Maintenance: 91 /85 - overbudget - oil change, new air filter for car, new air filter for second car - pull excess from sinking fund. again, doing household chores since my dad is here to watch the baby.
Out of Pocket Medical: Spend 523/523 on medical bill, spend 78/69 – copay, prescriptions. Pull overage from sinking fund.
Gifts & Birthdays: $60

[romancednovels]

Stumbled upon by accident! I copy and pasted from my google spreadsheet and it auto formatted.

[bucketsofrain]

Third week:

Groceries: $251.94/300.00. We got stuff for breakfast, ice cream, chips, limes, mac and cheese for the husband. I’m still working on the huge quantity of vegetables I got earlier in the month, but I think I have a plan for them all for this week (salmon/kale/mixed grains pesto bowl is up next). This week I am going to make pasta carbonara for our anniversary dinner, and I should process all my tomatoes for sauce. I think we will make the budget but it will be a close one!

(Retirement goal is already met.)

[Sial]

Goals
Studying	2 hours/day
Duolingo	30 min./day
Yoga	30 min./day
Water Bill	$100

Week 3? Check-in
Studying	27 min… I… no excuse…
Duolingo	3 hour(s)
Yoga	2 hour(s) 26 min.
Water Bill	0/100

[Sial]

Copy paste this:

Hello
Nice to meet you	Yay
	Cool
You’re welcome	Le wink

[rural]

I found the format also comes through if you copy from a table in word. Figure it would probably work from Excel, as well.

[diapasoun]

I REMEMBERED WHAT I WANTED TO GET TO MAKE OUR HOUSE BETTER

A LAMP

All hail actually spending money on my house for once!

[Clare-Dragonfly]

And all hail the Glow Cloud more light!

[diapasoun]

The problem now is picking a lamp I like. Maybe the Glow Cloud could just hang out in our living room.

[Clare-Dragonfly]

You don’t want that. Think of the cleanup…

[diapasoun]

But it would be seasonally appropriate decor?

[flan]

week 3

Uh oh. This always happens. My groceries:eating out ratio just tipped in the other direction.

Groceries: $160

• $30 Instacart
• $73 HEB
• $51 Jeni’s (yes, this is “groceries” AND I DON’T REGRET IT)
• $6 dumplings

Eating out: $183

• $23 hot chicken
• $20 samosas
• $105 sushi (yuuuuuup… )
• $14 hotdog + mochi donuts
• $8 wontons
• $13 chicken in a cone

[anomalily]

I think I assigned all the badges out for week 2 check-ins. If I missed you, let me know!

[hlarsen86]

Update. Going into the last stretch a bit tight on funds. New job pay schedule is different from my last job. Overall feeling good about my food spend: $100 on groceries and $100 on eating out.

[PAWG]

Update: Week 3

Needs:
Groceries: $234

Wants:
Book: $17
Restaurant: $48
Youtube Premium: $17

A week that highlights my frustrating inability to come up with a satisfactory categorization. Calories are a need, and calories come from grocery shopping. Does that make wheat thins and fig newtons a need?

Youtube Premium brings me music. Music is a want, but it’s a want in the same way that water in running form is a want. The quality of my life takes a significant hit without it.

Y’all…might be onto something, splitting individual purchases into wants and needs. Though, the chaos oh god the way the spreadsheet and the statement won’t match

Please excuse me, I need to shudder gently in the corner.