No surprises, but I did manage to go over in literally every single category.
About the extra money: $700 from March being a 3-paycheck month (I love these extra paycheck months!), $55 from part time job after paying for my taxes, and $40 from a tax mistake that did not withhold enough from my check. That's been fixed for this coming week's check.
The whole $700 was quickly shuffled to a vacation fund and went to sit tight in my Ally savings account. I still don't even have vacation plans yet. The extra $55 from my part time job was moved to a random savings account. I am trying to build up a Murphy fund, but so far, it's a shaky process. After all this movement of moneys, I was left with a little over $40, which was not enough to cover the $70 or so I spent at my parents for food and misc things they needed, like dog food and paper products.
I have found, much to my dislike, that I do treat savings as I would a bill. The moment any amount of money is labeled "savings", it is cemented as such and I'm not really allowed to short it. I don't feel it's right anymore to use that money. I guess that's a good thing, but it's quite restrictive.
I made it through these 2 weeks with only $10 under, but $755 more in savings. I'd consider that a win.
On that note, I'm ready for the weekend, even if I am working! The weather is nice, and guess who has 4 working automatic car windows?! I do! It's all about the small things.
I too treat savings like a bill, but then I do save. You are doing so well.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a win-win regardless. Not sure it bothers me that I can't control my extra income, haha.
DeleteTreating that savings money like a bill might be the key to keeping you from dipping into it for spending when the budget gets tight. That's a good thing. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think you're doing very well managing your budget. It's nice when we come in under budget but you're only over by a small amount. I'm finding that it's becoming easier to stay in budget as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteI agree it gets easier as time goes on. But seems slip-ups also become more common!
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI just saw a comment of yours on someone else's blog (When I get where I'm going, which I linked to from Half-Dozen Daily) that you would share the code for your tracking bars. Could I be very cheeky and ask if you could share with me, too, please? Have been meaning to do something like that for ages and I think I really need something new to keep me on track now that I'm getting close to debt-free, because I'm back to where I was this time last year before everything went arseways again and really want to push through and do it once and for all! Thanks.
Sure, I'd love to help you out! Shoot me an email or some way to contact you and I'll send over the codes.
DeleteI couldn't see your email address anyway on the blog but you can contact me on mistiermoon AT yahoo dot co dot uk. Thanks!
DeleteTreating savings like a bill has been the best route for me too. Way to go on the windows! Good for you on your savings! $755 is great!
ReplyDeleteI don't treat my savings like a bill but I do treat it as regular spending; that way, when I send it through my budget, it looks like the money is gone.
ReplyDeleteHaving windows must be so nice. Mine don't work sadly and locating the parts has been a hassle.