Congratulations! You made it through the first week of 2012. Are you tracking your spending and sticking to your budget?

• $75 grocery
• $27 Target
• $35 prescription
• $15 bingo with friends*

*I didn’t win. Maybe next time.

I’ve successfully moved the billing dates of all but two accounts to the beginning of the month so that I can pay everything at the same time.

Those two stragglers now give me anxiety.

• $933 rent
• $490 car payment
• $165 Sallie Mae
• $35 internet
• $62 State Farm – renters insurance
• $90 State Farm – car insurance
• $66 car registration renewal
• $77 Sprint
• $25 reorder checks
• $500 Chase
• $500 ING

While my family was in town I did some holiday shopping with Christmas money.

• $149 photography class
• $55 J Crew – necklaces and ballet flats
• $85 GAP – sweaters and socks
• $32 Old Navy – dress shirts
• $14 ticket to My Week With Marilyn
• $40 haircut

Where have you been spending your money?

As I was digging through my piles (and piles) of books last night, I came across Obsessive Consumption: What Did You Buy Today? Its premise is similar to what I do in my weekly Daily Dollars posts except author Kate Bingaman Burt sketches one thing she’s purchased every day. In the introduction, Kate mentions that she struggled, as I did, with documenting all of her purchases for fear of being judged or changing her habits based on those judgments. We both clearly got over it.

I find it very interesting where people spend their money and I think it says a lot about how they prioritize their life so I found the book to be insightful and very meta. It’s also kind of inspiring if you’re interested in getting a hold on your finances. I know that documenting my spending habits has been a real eye-opener and helped me to identify when and where I was wasting money (not that I still don’t on occasion).

She hasn’t updated her blog in several months, but I think the Kate and I would get along smashingly.

Do you document your spending habits? Either in a general budget or a more detailed ledger?

Merry Christmas! (Yeah, I said it. I’m usually a “Happy Holidays” kinda gal, but it is Christmas Eve.)

I’ll be spending the weekend with my family but I wanted to drop in to clear my cash-spending conscience before the festivities begin.

• $30 gas
• $58 Target
• $200 TOMS (I may or may not have ordered 3 pairs of shoes in the middle of the night. If I don’t love them, they’ll be returned.)
• $25 Bluefly (Had a $25 Klout Perk so I ordered some baubles for half price!)
• $46 Lands’ End (Ordered two cable knit sweaters that were regularly $100 each!)

See you in 2012!

I was up bright and early to run errands this morning – Ollie needed a holiday pedicure and I had to get my Christmas cards in the mail. I have a list of things to do at home before my family arrives next week – laundry, baking, cleaning, wrapping gifts – so I’m planning on staying in the rest of the weekend (and not spending any money.)

• $15 Post Office
• $62 utilities
• $28 vet
• $27 PetSmart

Are you prepared for the holidays?

I’m officially done with my holiday shopping! Admittedly, it was pretty easy considering I only had to buy for three people and two dogs (small families do have their perks) but it’s still stressful – budget adjustments, finding the perfect gift.

Are you done with your holiday shopping? Do you have a budget or do you just wing-it?

• $27 gas
• $45 grocery
• $35 prescription
• $200 gifts (No hints here!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have lots to be thankful for. I’m thankful for visiting family and not having to spend any money while home. (That’s just one of many things I’m thankful for, obviously.)

Here’s what I’ve spent since my last update:

• $154 State Farm – car insurance*
• $79 utilities
• $550 Chase
• $939 rent
• $165 Sallie Mae
• $490 car payment
• $47 internet
• $208 Sprint**
• $20 Secret Santa
• $50 Bill Me Later
• $500 ING***

My goal for December is to transition from a spreadsheet to Mint.com for budgeting. Do any of you use Mint? How do you like it?

*This should be under $100 next month as this bill still included the second car.
**My sprint bill is usually around $80, but I upgraded to the iPhone 4S and added the Apple Care protection plan because I don’t trust myself with a $800 phone.
***I’m still learning how to live on one paycheck once a month, so that $500 isn’t to be touched until at least halfway through the month.