January 6th, 2008

This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.

First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.

I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.

Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.

Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.

Over, over, over Posted 02-24-2008 at 08:44:03 PM by kmmmom It's hard to explain what happened.....one day all was well, the next my budget was spiraling out of control!!!! I knew going in that this month was going to be difficult. We had some unusual circumstances due to some very necessary travel. Suddenly all control was gone. It's much easier when life is going along status quo, but upset my apple cart and I loose my focus. Since dh is not exactly on my mission with me, I sort of lost my burning fire to save, save, save. So, I made... Continue reading... kmmmom

Posted in Uncategorized Comments 0

Rebates, ebays and budgets Posted 02-14-2008 at 11:04:48 PM by kmmmom Everything is still going well. Dh is still bringing me all the receipts and is not hitting wal-mart unless I tell him it's okay. Our budget is going well. It's so much fun tracking everything, I'm even excited when the bills come in. I know.....kinda sad isn't it. You have to take your fun where you can find it. i have started visiting a new website. llnoe.com. It's a site based on Dave Ramsey's principles and teachings. I find it really uplifting to hear all the stories and... Continue reading... kmmmom

Posted in Uncategorized Comments 2

Anniversary's and such Posted 01-17-2008 at 04:30:38 PM by kmmmom We are up to the 17th and every single penny that has gone out of our account has been accounted for. I am feeling really good about this. I have tracked everything on the excel program I set up. Even dh is on board here. He is bringing me receipts and not spending anything unless he tells me what he spent it on! This is huge. We have an ING account now for our emergency fund. I'm excited about that. We have a separate checking account for occasional bills. I'm not sure if I will keep that... Continue reading... kmmmom

Posted in Uncategorized Comments 0

Feelings of Accomplishments Posted 01-11-2008 at 12:36:45 AM by kmmmom January 10th So far, so good! I am feeling really good about things. I have actually stepped into this century and opened up an online savings account. (Big step there) Once I have the acknowledgment (from the bank) and know what I am doing with it, I will be able to use it to help remove some of the temptation from our bank account and help keep me in check! I have continued to track every penny we have spent so far this year. We are doing very well on... Continue reading... kmmmom

Posted in Uncategorized Comments 0

More new year musings Posted 01-06-2008 at 06:32:21 PM by kmmmom The next thing on my list is my rebates! I started out like gangbusters on rebates (thanks, xufan), but got lazy towards the end of the year. Come on folks, that is free money!!!! What was I thinking? That is literally money in the bank. Then my home requires some love and attention. Some casting off of excess debris......well, accumulation of stuff. This is not going to be a one day job. Garage? I know I have one. But are you sure the car is actually supposed to go in... Continue reading... kmmmom

Posted in Uncategorized Comments 0