New budget

In the process of creating a budget for the next six months. I doubt I will use all the lines, but this is what it looks like so far...

Debt Consolidation

I've received messages from someone telling me about some company to help reduce my debt.

Thanks, but honestly, I'm not interested in going through a company for assistance. My debt is not a problem for me, I'm not struggling, creditors are not calling me and I have a job...and a budget.

Also, after hearing Dave Ramsey talk so much about these rip-off debt consolidation companies, I would never want to go to one even if I was in a bad situation!

Things are under control and I'm feeling good about my plan! Though I must admit, I am a bit obsessed and have wondered what I will obsess about when it's all paid off and I start my 3-6 month emergency fund!

April Budget

UPDATE: I decided showing my budget on Excel this way is just too much work.


This month I'm not putting money aside for my car payment because I get paid May 1st which is three days before my next payment.

My paycheck was about $750 so you would think I have money left over, but actually I went shopping for things to sell on ebay. I have some paying back to myself to do!

Grocery shopping with BF this weekend

Bought about six bananas last night and they cost me $2.

It's my BF's payday so I'll be going grocery shopping with him sometime this weekend, but he'll be spending all the money! We don't split our grocery bill because we eat differently and his stuff tends to cost more. It works for us.

Speaking of my BF. I made him a written budget (he asked me to) so he could pay all his bills during the month and know what is left over. It made me happy when he thanked me for making it and even more to know that he is following it! Today he took his budget notebook with him and said, "I need this, it's payday." :) I'm all smiles. :) He's a sweetie.

When we go shopping I think I'll just pick up some chicken, tortilla chips and sour cream. My list is quite small and I have lots of rice, beans, ramen, mac & cheese to live off of for a while. :)

February Budget

$275 Rent (March - It's due on the 1st)
$180 Car (March - It's due on the 4th)
$83.67 Car Insurance
$250 Dentist
$43.62 Power (lights)
$38 Gas (heat)
$30 Internet
$116.43 Cell
$150 Groceries •••I've used $115.52 so far •••
$30 Savings
$4.99 Web host
$15 Furniture Store
$28 WF
$20 Capital One 1
$32 Capital One 2 •••I paid $35.00•••
$40 / $20 Personal Loan (Am only paying half)
$28.00 Gym
$250 Amex (minimum) I am only paying $100 to cover interest
$10 Car Oil (may not have enough $)
$15 Contacts/eyes (may not have enough $)

$1,639.71 Total I would like to pay
$ 3.00 Extra paid to Capital One
$ 1122.23 Paid
$517.48 Left to pay this month

Here's an eyeopener for me!! I didn't realize my monthly budget was so high! I don't make enough at my day job to cover this considering I only bring in about $1200 per month! The rest comes from sidework that I do (selling stuff online, and other little things).

I guess I don't have to put money aside for oil and contacts and I could also spend less on food. I'll see how this month goes.

Regarding my dental bill. The good thing is that I only owe February and March to the dentist and I'm done paying him! I've also been considering selling my car, but that may be several months away if I decide to.

I think I'll plan to cross these off as I pay them for the month. With my last check from January I paid my part of the Power bill and Capital One 2, also part of Amex.

More for the budget

Budgets are a good thing, if you follow them. I've always had somewhat of a budget but don't always follow it. I do make sure that all the bills get paid before accidentally spending the car payment on clothes or other fun stuff. That's a good thing. If this wasn't done, I'd be even more messed up, like I was years ago... over the limit, past due, etc.

So, I realize that I need to budget money in for things like contacts, car oil / oil changes, health and beauty items, etc. I'm in desperate need of contacts, but only for one eye. I still have three or four for my other eye. Still, that's going to cost me almost $30 that I wasn't planning on.

Another thing, today I decided to check the oil in my car. Super low! I know this is bad and could cost me my car, but, so far so good. Off I went to buy some oil for just over $11, and that's taken care of. Almost. I'll put it in when I have daylight :)