April Spending 2019

Wow... another month of sheer crazy. We had two birthdays (gift shopping for a third), preparation for our overnight backpacking trip, and I was SUPER busy at work... and the latter always affects our budget as I have to be more practical than anything else and judge time verses money.

We over spent in some areas, had planned spending in others (but still large numbers), but all in all, no regrets and that's how I like ending a month. After I look over all the spending, if i'm not getting that pit in the stomach "we should have done better" it was a good month. Could we have been more frugal? Sure... but we also had a VERY large profit share check this year and decided we would be purchasing backpacking and hiking gear because 1 year later, we are still enjoying this hobby and now have the gear to hike when we want to hike -- weather be darned!

Onto the spending:

Groceries: $421.56

• Two birthdays, house guests, and 5 shopping weeks.... that will do it!

Gasoline / Auto: $262.50 (Net)

• Hubs: $189.00
• Me: $113.04 - $69.54 Work Reimbursement
• Tolls: $30.00 -- Auto refill

Eating Out: $256.97

• Islands: $50.00
• Red Robin: $46.00
• Fast food / quick dinners: $160.97 --- blech

Clothing:$163.85

• ME: New workout clothes, sports bras and tops: $119.23
• Hubs: button down shirt & gym shorts $44.62

Little Dude: $155.47

•  $ 33.15 Last minute toy, decorations, and desserts for school class party 
•  $ 22.57 Hats and party favors 
•  $ 57.32 Walmart (Cake, Birthday outfit,  wrapping paper) 
•  $ 36.61 Balloons 
•  $ 3.32 Target 
•  $ 2.50  Kite and a water blaster

Tithe/Giving: $796.00

Daycare: $910.00

• Cause were 5 day "all day" friends

Dr / Dental / etc: $85.00

• My dental co-pay for visit and cleaning

Internet: $65.99

Cell phones: $72.68

• Minutes for me: $36.34
• Minutes for hubs: $36.34

Housing:

• HOA: $367.50
• Mortgage: $764.00

Fun money: $80.00

Audible: $14.95

Netflix: $8.61 (DVD Rental)

Electricity: $50.09
We actually use LESS electricity now that we have an alexa and a few smart plugs. Being able to turn things off by telling "alexa" has actually been saving us money! Hubs might get a few more smart switches, etc. at work so we can time light to come on around 4 pm for roxy, so it isn't on all day to ensure she's not in the dark when there is daylight out.

Discretionary: 
We have decided to take pictures of receipts before we leave the store when we shop together so I can itemize and have a copy of them since we have a lot of, "who knows what" in the budget this month.

We also planned to purchase a switch this month and games for the new system. This was husbands WANT from profit share and we tied it into receiving it for his birthday since it was a large purchase and far more than we would spend for a birthday and also is our big "tech" purchase for the year since our PC is still going . 

• $971.31    Switch, controllers, games, and set up stuff
• $10.19 Toilet Paper 
• $132.89 Walmart? 
• $ 17.24 Target? 
• $ 74.22 Easter Baskets 
• $ 25.90 Ear buds (2 pack) 
• $ 25.93 Hiking "cookie" bars; OTC Meds 
• $ 17.84 Trail magic

Hiking:

• $982.41  
• 20 degree women's bag; 
• Bottom and top base layers; 
• Smaller hiking briefs; 
• 2 sleeping pads - therm-a-rest Neo Air Xlite; 
• 2 ice axes; 
• Fleece boys hoodie---yup, i fit in the kids jacket better than the women's 
• $156.02  
• Dry sack (2); 
• New Hat that does fit better; 
• buff; 
• kids water reservoir; 
• piezo igniter 
• $(34.16) 
• Returned Hat bought last year (Just didn't work for my head/pack)
• $53.88
•  Teva Sandals 
• $193.05
• Osprey Eja 58 Pack - Women's 
• $64.51
• Hip pack for hubs.....
• $90.25
• 2 pairs of pants / insect repellent (I got smaller)
• $54.95  
• Cheap River Country back-packing tent. We purchased this to see if hubs liked a trekking pole tent set up... since he wants a zpacks tent... and i'd rather pay $55 and let him play with a cheap version before he spends $800 on a tent....