Januray-- what i spent

I mentioned in a previous post how anal I am… and how I’m finally doing personal finance rule number one…

Keep track of every dime you spend.

I knew January was going to be insane with all the moving costs—(eating out because I packed up the kitchen, deposits, etc)… So I decided to start there... and I committed to keeping track of everything I spent for the whole year. Why? Well last year I made a good chunk of change [$43,000.00]… and with the lack of overtime and projected cuts in our department; I know I won’t clear that this year. I will make less, I have more savings goals then last year, which means I need to be diligent and keep a good financial record of my purchases so I’m able to save more money. This should help me plug the leaks in the budget.

The only part that isn’t accurate is gift card use. If I had an $11.00 credit to the grocery store and bought 25 dollars of groceries… (Instead of marking it off as $14 spent… it’s still calculated as 25.00 spent because I could have used the credit and then taken the money I would have spent and put it in savings.) Most the time I use the credit to be able to buy more or treat myself to more expensive items.

Instead this is an itemized list of how I choose to use my resources. What I exchanged money, or gift cards for. If I used a coupon, then that price reflects the price with the coupon (since the receipt does that automatically). This list does NOT include savings, just spent money.

I hope this will also let me see where the minor “oops” of life come into play that reek havoc with ones monthly budget (auto maintenance, doctor’s visits, house stuff—stuff I don’t have an itemized budget for.) I’m hoping to spot problems and fix them sooner so I’ll be able to make my saving’s goals.


January Expenses:

Utilities: $90.32
[Electric Bill- 15.91; Laundry quarters -20.00; Cell Phone -54.41]

Shelter/Housing: 1,280.58
[Rent- 795; Application fee- 15.00; Security deposit- 400; Extra Key- 2.00; U-haul trailer- 52.00; Cashier’s check fee- 6.00; Renter’s Insurance- 10.58

Car- $291.52
[Car insurance 82.63; Gasoline 53.89; DMV car tax- 155.00]

Birthdays: $6.96
[hats 1.49; balloons 1.19; party pin 2.99; cake candles 1.29]

Holidays: $9.99
[Valentines Day 1.00; Pepperidge Cookies 4.54; x-mas garland 1.25; x-mas cards 3.20
Church Giving $22.00

Groceries: $163.04 (this was a store credit month, but still holy cow! I realized I needed to stock a totally depleted pantry, but this still makes me sad to look at it.)
Meat: $47.46
[Chicken 14.88; frozen shrimp 4.99; mixed frozen sea food 5.29; frozen turkey meatballs 2.69; orange chicken 9.98; pastrami 8.44; canned chili 1.19]
Dairy: $27.41
[Eggs 1.49; organic non fat milk 12.77; cheese 8.97; parmesan cheese 2.69; margarine 1.49]
Grains: $16.27
[Bread 3.99; shredded wheat 4.54; whole wheat pasta 7.74]
Fruit: $20.62
[Frozen pineapple 1.59; avocados 6.37; apples 4.90; apple sauce 4.27; oranges 3.49]
Veggies $17.11
[Spinach 3.79; sauerkraut 1.98; artichokes 3.00; canned mushrooms 8.34]
Spices, Dressings, Sauces $20.54
[Thousand Island 1.67; Alfredo sauce 9.45; vodka sauce 1.89; spaghetti sauce 3.38; pesto 1.59; sweetener 2.29]
Crap that’s bad for me: $8.47
[Cupcakes 8.47; soda 1.50]
Other: 5.16
[Water 4.61; CRV 0.55)

House Hold Items $28.28
[toilet paper 11.00; cleaning wipes 1.97; lotion 3.54; tampons 4.19l deodorant 6.59; paper towels .99]

Eating Out: $109.59
[subway (move day for friends) 58.35; chili’s 23.35; Chipotle 5.95; La Salsa 12.94; Tips 9.00]

Books 16.98
[Rebel angles 9.99; Sweep 1- 6.99]

Clothes 1.75
[holiday socks (3 pairs) .75; cheap flip flops 1.00]

Miscellaneous $25.04
[Panda calendar 4.97; farkle dice game 4.99; 2 gig flash drive 5.00; candles 2.50; masking tape 3.79; packaging tape 3.79]

Any and all sales tax: 8.33

I spent a lot of money that month. I had overtime from the holidays (which covered the over spending, but dang, it’s kind of a reality hit to see it all being added up here and there. I spent a crud load on food (10% of my food budget alone went to alfredo sauce… how did I do that? It’s not like I drink the stuff like it’s water)… and I know after I moved I had to stock up the pantry again, but wow.