Budget

Summer is expensive.  That is my story and I am sticking to it.  (It probably didn’t help that we went on vacation, and I went to a blogging conference this month…!)

We will have to take the next couple of months easy to let our bank account recover a bit.  No problem though, because fall is usually so busy that I have no time to spend money anyway!

I almost made my 70% goal at the grocery and drug stores this month!

Total Shelf Cost: $483.71

Savings: $338.28

Total Spent: $145.42

Percentage Saved: 69.93%

I feel like I am finally back into the savings game!

How did you do in July?

You all know I try to be honest with you.  Especially when it comes to the budget update. 

For almost a year, we bought very few things.  We saved.  We scraped.  We paid off debts.

In May, we bought our house.  Buying our house seems to have unleashed a huge spending spree.  Namely by me.  Things for the house, clothes for me, stockpile items, you name it I have bought it in May and June.  Now be sure, I have still been getting good deals.  I have just been buying too much in too short of a time frame.  The budget needs time to catch up.

The bills are coming in.  We can pay them.  Barely.  I really, really need to rein in my spending again. 

I know some of you are the same, so let’s encourage each other!  I am hoping to get back to saving for purchases before we make them!!

Grocery Budget

Shelf Cost: $695.13

Out of Pocket Cost: $242.21 (see, I told you!)

Rebates: $10.00

Percentage Saved: 65.16%

These past few months with the move have not been the best ever…

I am going to make at least 70% savings my goal for July!

How is your budget looking?

Ouch!  That is all I have to say about moving, the end of the school year, and my grocery budget.

Here is to hoping that the summer brings lots of savings!

Keep in mind that I didn’t hardly shop in April, and that we closed on our house the first week of May.  Coupons were the last thing on my mind.

Total Shelf Cost: $571.46

Savings: $349.44

Total Spent: $222.02

Percentage Saved: 61.15%

But, I do have good budget news to share!  We paid off the large unsecured debt that we have been working on paying off for several years!

Now we are working on paying for some home purchases we have made, since we have moved.

New debt goals (these are long term, as in a few years…):

1. Pay off home purchases. (all are at 0%!)

2. Pay off vehicle loans.

3. Save 3-6 months of living expenses.

4. Pay extra to our home principle.

What are your long term money goals?

This budget update is not really the same as normal.

Most of you know that I am moving in a few short days.  So we spent the month of April eating from the pantry, eating out, and skipping dinner totally.

I haven’t shopped very much at all.

Grocery and Drug Store Totals:

Shelf Cost $81.10

Savings: $41.68

Out of Pocket $39.42

Saved 51.39%  (Well, below normal, I know!)

This doesn’t include one Walmart trip (for Easter candy for my class), where I lost the receipt.   We also spent more eating out than usual, so don’t think I got by the whole month on $40!

How did you do this month?

March treated our budget well.  It is a good thing, because we are still chipping away at our debt.  Each month it gets smaller and smaller.  It is feeling great!

On the budget front, we are starting to look for a house.  So when my posts start sounding crazier than usual, you will know why! 

Grocery and Drug Store Totals:

Shelf Cost:  $ 514.51

Savings: $ 367.84

Total Out of Pocket:  $ 146.67

Savings Percentage: 71.49%

How did you do this month?