$9 iTunes (The new Adele album is delightful.)The self restraint I practiced this week was mind boggling. The weather has been warm and sunny (and humid and rainy) and my spring wardrobe is leaving me unfulfilled. I’m aching for skirts and flip flops and a new swimsuit.
What are you itching to buy? What did you buy this week?
Did your money go flying out the window this week? Was it burning a hole in your pocket? Did it magically disappear out of your wallet?
Not me! I made a quick stop at the grocery and for toilet paper after lunch with a friend (not that the two are related in any way) and haven’t hemoraged a drop of cash since.
Yippie!
Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances.Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Please see my site policy with any questions.
One day, after graduating college, I was standing in the foyer of my apartment building checking my mail. After opening a credit card bill, the utility bill, the cable bill, and another credit card bill, I realized I didn’t have a grasp on how many bills I had.
I never knew what to expect in my mail box. When a bill came, I slipped it in my checkbook and paid it as soon as payday rolled around. I’d never missed a payment but there was no rhyme or reason to my money management.
In that moment, my budget was born. Well, first I panicked and then my budget was born.
I don’t like to complicate things, especially where money is concerned, so my budget is a simple spreadsheet. I don’t use any fancy formulas or software. I list the date, take home pay, and each and every account payable, including savings and miscellaneous expenditures. The total is the amount of cash left in my pocket after all bills are paid, which is then divvied up for entertainment, clothing, groceries, and unforeseeables.
The numbers aren’t accurate, but this is generally what my budget looks like. The gray accounts are paid in full, the green accounts are soon to be paid in full, and everything else is a recurring payment. See? Not fancy.
My budget will always be a work in progress. I rearrange entries, highlight monthly priorities, and keep separate tabs with more in depth information on accounts with outstanding balances. It may not be an exact science, but it gives me a good idea of where my obligations are and most importantly, it works for me.
What does your budget look like? Any tips? Tricks? Recommendations?
Payday!
$28 reorder checks (Yes – I’m a check writer. Not very fond of auto payments.)These next three are part of our 2001 Q1 Goals. We’re a little behind because we had to pay rent with savings last month but I’m hopeful our tax return will put us right back on track.
Do you hear that tax return? Give us some money back!
Where did you spend your money this week?
$22 TargetFirst the weather was so nice I sat by the pool for two days straight. Now it’s so cold I can hardly talk myself into taking the dog out.
Either way, staying home all week is easy on the pocketbook!
This is a sponsored guest post. Please see my site policy with any questions.
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