Ooooorgh, I’ve just totaled up all my receipts from this month and it is no bueno, as they say in Havana. Spending this month outpaced what I make from my real job, so thank goodness I’ve got my church gig (and thank extra goodness that I just got paid for the excess of church work I did in December).

But now that I’ve seen the naked truth, I can make a plan. I know that part of why it looks so horrid right now is because I’m dealing with a few major things – I put car repairs on my credit card, for instance, which will take me two more months to pay off. Also, it was the Man’s birthday this month, so spending there. These will not always be part of my monthly spending.

But…oof, some categories were a bit high. There are a few places I can definitely make some cuts. Basically, being a fat and lazy shitbird is costing me quite a lot of money and I need to knock it off. Post bloody haste.

Next steps:

- suspend gym membership, and quit pretending that we’re going to go
- start bringing lunches to school, and eat in my car if I need to escape for a little bit
- cut way the hell down on eating in restaurants and/or make smarter choices when dining out
- plan meals and stick to the plan, so groceries don’t go to waste (or alternately, cook mainly from nonperishables)
- call the car insurance people and see if there’s a way to lower my monthly rate. Considering that I’m a good driver and my car is almost 10 years old, $150 a month seems a bit steep to me – am I wrong? 3 months ago

Lost track. Again.

I’m terrible at this. 4 months ago

_{Oh hey.}

I’ve been a little preoccupied, to say the least.

Anyway. This needs work. Again.

So here goes, 2013 thus far:

€10 lunch
€2.50 toothpaste
€2.50 sausage roll
€13 coffee, juice & gum
$4.99 Bah.
€10.37 pin boards
€19 lunch (Chinese om nom nom)
€10 Starbucks
€8.24 internet >:(
€6 >:( 4 months ago

That’s to be expected during a vacation though, yeah?
Or I’m just a spendthrift trying to justify her actions.

_Gah.8 months ago

Doing alright here, I guess. I could always do better though.

I’ll spare you the details of what was for lunch every day (though yesterday, I had the best Greek salad. The best.) and say I’m at roughly €330 upto now. Aiming to halve that in the coming fortnight. Sounds reasonably reasonable.

Also, no splurges this month which is good start… despite a beautiful pair of boots calling my name. I’m sure they dream of my feet in their shoe sleep.

I’m sorry, boots. It’s not you, it’s me. 10 months ago

Thought it best to post every so often with progress, rather than every day.

Monday:
€ 10.79 miscellaneous girl nonsense
€ 12.00 lunch (Shawarma. Om nom nom)

Tuesday:
NOTHING!

Wednesday: (today)
€ 14.55 BLT & cheesecake (this is turning into a food journal. nom.)

That’s a grand spankin’ total of €52.34 so far this month.

Doing alright, considering. 10 months ago

I’ve lost my way with my finances – where I once monitored what I spent very strictly, I’m now completely oblivious to where it all goes.

Once read an article where girls took note of everything they’d paid for within a month; made them more aware of corners they could cut and whatnot. Think I may try that.

Today:

€5 admission to the zoo
€10 Pizza Hut (nom)

Tomorrow should be a challenge. 10 months ago

So I got paid on Friday and spent the cash on stuff so I’ll add it all together on an EXCEL spreadsheet and then save the rest. That’s what I’m supposed to do right? 13 months ago