Quarterly Update

I have worked really hard to use my Quicken program this year.  I have posted all our income and expenses and the figures are in and they don't lie!!
We spend more than we make!!!!!

Ok, now what to do about it...some of the extra spending was from our tax return and some of it was from a few bills I needed to postpone due to Murphy coming to visit and staying!!!

April included a crown for my honey and a new "used" washer for me, woo hoo, love those splurges.
Of course the problem was from not saving any of the tax return and so now we are behind, again...

I am working on my May budget, of course trying to catch up with bills and I am starting to look at making some hard choices, maybe we can't do some of the things we have done in the past, we just can't afford it. Glad school will be out soon, no more school lunches, but now more food needed at home,
I am definately a creature of habit, if we always do it, its like its written in stone!

I am planning on taking each line item in my budget and see how to whittle it down, but the budget killers have been food, eating out and just misc spending.  After a very large necessary purchase weekend before last, we were broke after putting gas in the car!  The pot was empty!!! So I HAD to fiscal fast, and it was ok!! I always step up, I made bread, goodies, used up stuff around the house and packed our snacks for away games.

Here lies the problem, if I don't have the money I don't spend it, BUT when I do have it, I spend it till its gone and the vicious cycle starts again...

Here is working towards a more frugal May!! Payday is Friday, will post how I do! I am also back to my business, so hoping I can get some income coming in.

Reality!

I have realized something from blogging and ready the PF blogs.  It is very easy to live in denial!

Since I have made an effort this year, even though I have made many efforts over the years, it is easy to pretend you spend less than you really do.  Especially when you have other accounts to pull from.

I am really trying to see things through a new MORE frugal light.  Had a day with my girls today, went shopping, needed to get Easter things, I always assume things will be less than they really are.  I never want to really think about the big picture, just one day at a time. 

I always figure what I need right now and to heck with the future.  Well that is what gets me in trouble, perhaps writing my weaknesses will help me to change.

Thanks in advance for your support, does anyone else live in denial??

Missing in Action!

Yep, I have been missing in action for the month of March! 

Why, not sure, busy with life and probably because I didn't stick to my goals.  I was my "normal" self and of course overspent!  I paid a few bills, bought a few things that were necessary, my honey's contacts for a year, new boots and car parts. 

Of course we ate out more, I bought a few "extras" and am hating myself this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate when I have good intentions and fall off the wagon!  I am picking myself up this month, dusting myself off and working hard to get a handle on life.

How is everyone else doing with their tax refunds?

How to spend our tax return!

Ok, so I said in my last post how we were gonna spend it, but really, the reality is that I want a concrete plan.  Money has a way of just evaporating when there is no plan.

Our plans:
Emergency Fund
Pay-off some small misc. bills
Money for some repair work on our vehicles
$ for my business
now it gets scary...we will have a bit left, should I pay one more bill, or should we do a house project that we both want done really bad??
This project will make our life better, we will use it everyday, it will increase our property value, BUT, we don't NEED it, we could life without it, we have done so for the last 10+ years we have lived here.  But we really want to do it!!! After we do all the above, should we get something we want, or should we plug away at the debt????

I am looking for words of wisdom, since I am really trying hard to stay on track, even though I have had some grocery store relapses this last week, but that is for another post...

What should we do?????????

Taxes are Done!!

So the accountant called and our taxes are ready to be filed, and we should have our refunds in a few weeks.

We are getting a decent amount back and I am planning on paying some bills and catching up, using a bit of it for my business and putting some away for our emergency fund. 

We usually try to do some sort of a project every year with some of our tax return.  I am a project girl and want to see something done.  This year I am trying to get some stuff done around here without spending any money on a new project.  There are things we could do that we have supplies for, but they aren't as fun as a "new" project.  Oh well, I am fast approaching 50, time to start being responsible!

Do your tax returns always go to the bills, or do you do something you want with it?

Payday Friday!

So today is payday, I have already paid bills, just about caught up.  Next payday hoping to be back on track.  We have had alot of sports expenses this month along with catching up on the bills.  I have gone through and hopefully anticipated our expenses for the next two weeks.  Unexpected expenses always blow my budget, if I see money in my checking acct. I will spend it, not wanting to remember that I will need gas money next week.  I am working on this... does everyone anticipate their expenses??

Expensive Super Bowl Sunday!

We either stay home or go to friends to watch the Super Bowl, and yes we watch it as my honey and I both like football.

We were planning on staying home this year, so we could relax in our sweats, eat snacks and enjoy the game.  I made our snack menu and figured up the costs, ouch!  So when friends invited us over, I accepted figuring it might be a bit more frugal.

I went shopping yesterday to get snacks, since our hosts are providing the main dish,  I said I would bring snacks, mistake #1 taking the family with me!!!!! Mistake #2 deciding to take most of the snacks we were gonna have at our house!!!

So not staying at home and not saving any money, ugh!!! Hope the Patriots win!!!!!

Hoping for a more frugal week ahead...how did you do with your Super Bowl budget????