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.

Freezing for a Cause Posted 01-09-2009 at 04:34:09 AM by kmmmom A couple of weeks ago, I got my electric bill in the mail. I'm on the budget plan and our settle up month is in March. Our bill is high. It's always high. I have switched to the new light bulbs. I follow people around turning things off. But this month, our already high bill had risen another $27 a month to cover the projected shortfall on the account. We have gas heat on the main floor of our home, but the downstairs has baseboard heaters. My husband also keeps a little space heater... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Day 2 Posted 01-02-2009 at 11:05:58 AM by kmmmom So, the first day of the year is done. How did it go? Well, on the home organization front, I washed, dryed and put away 3 loads of clothes and shined my sink. (flylady would be proud) I cooked dinner at home, even though it was a holiday and my dh's birthday. We had a ham that I had bought in order to send in for a rebate. So, big savings there since basically we were eating free ham. The only exercise I got was playing Guitar Hero with the kids. Tomorrow,... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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New Years Day Posted 01-02-2009 at 06:59:23 AM by kmmmom Have you heard the saying, "if you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always gotten." ? Think about that. Am I satisfied with what I have gotten? I have a fantastic family. I have a wonderful husband, three terrific kids, 2 sweet dogs, a happy home. We have food on the table, clothes on our back and all the material things we truly need. So, what is it that I could possibly want. I spent the last few weeks in reflection about the good and the bad, the wants... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Oops, forgot to check in! Posted 09-24-2008 at 07:42:09 PM by kmmmom So, I have neglected my poor blog. How's it going? Well, the budgeting is getting easier. Sticking to the budget has gotten easier (for the most part) I found that I was having trouble sticking to the $300 budget for food and actually was spending all my restaurant budget and my personal blow money on eating out because I didn't have the right food in the house. So, I upped my grocery budget to $400. I am keeping a log of my grocery purchases on another site... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Over, over, over Posted 02-24-2008 at 09:44:03 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 Member of the month - August 08

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