Create a budget, and stick with it

(and we’ve had 4 hail storms since it was done…p00p)

BUT, assuming I don’t need a NEW new roof, I now have that debt out of the way, so I can start putting money aside for my next large home expense, whatever that may be. hopefully something optional and fun rather than mandatory.

We are doing a great job spending less on groceries. Hooray!

I’ve stopped making excuses about needing things to balance out, and bit the bullet today to make a budget. It’ll be tight, but I should be able to squirrel roundabout $350 a month into savings between now and July. I’ll have to revamp it, of course, when my credit card is paid off, and when I start working full-time, but for the time being this looks promising.

Now lets see if I can follow it!

I want to stick to it for at least 3 months

I spent too much in the last days although I track everything with expensr.com now. That’s why I created budgets and will try to stick with them in the next month.

With that in mind I must make the hard choice and just do it. It may cost me in the beginning, but ultimately it will make the greatest difference in my finances both short and long term. I must institute an immediate freeze on all spending, excepting of course for the most critical things, like rent, electricity, water, maybe food…

In this age of instant credit and immediate gratification, leaving such stressful decadence behind is like walking from a stale and claustrophobic cave into the fresh sunlit air of a mountainside in the springtime…

kind-of, but I went to the natural foods/organic grocery store this weekend. They were offering reusable, recycled materials shopping bags for 99¢ a bag. I bought about 5 of them, and found out they were able to give me a discount for buying more than 3. It is very nice because I am able to be environmentally friendly, and save money at the same time. I also plan to use these bags to transport other things, not just use them for shopping. It will help me decrease clutter with saving plastic and paper bags, too. (The ones I have already got, I will continue to recycle them as garbage bags or lunch bags.) Makes me happy that I’m able to do something positive with relatively low cost and some incentives, too.

This week I used my accumulated mattress fund to purchase a new bed. Now I am eyeing my budget and trying to decide what major purchase to save up for next. I decided to save for a new (to me, but used) computer, since mine is barely usable. (I am writing this from my boyfriend’s laptop.) It will take me until the fall to save up the funds I think I will need.

I feel like I am using my financial resources in a more powerful way than I have in the past. The thought of buying a new computer after having planned and saved for many months feels so exciting, compared to making major purchases on credit like I have done in the past (with my exercise machine, stereo, old computer, etc.). The money seems so much more real when you have saved it for a long time. I am much more careful to make wise purchases and get as good a deal as I can. Wow, just looking at a chunk of cash and deciding where to spend it, rather than making a purchase from a place of scarcity (“I don’t have enough money to buy this but I feel like I need it so I’m going to charge it.”).

I am also saving a small amount per month towards travel. The thought of taking a major trip in a year or two, and paying all or mostly cash… wow! Now that’s intoxicating!

Sure, it’s a little more accounting work, but I love knowing that I have funds set aside for the next time I need veterinary care for my cat, car repairs, a birthday/wedding/housewarming gift, some essential clothing item, etc. I am only setting aside small amounts towards each of these a month (only $20 for some, more for others), but it adds up fast! And I believe I can automate some of the work in Quicken so it will be virtually painless.

The car urgently needs new tires, apparently; we’re getting some tonight. I only started this in January, so the car repair fund hasn’t accumulated enough to cover that. But it’s nice to know that it will be there next time.