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Pregnant after a Loss
busterbeagle
member
BFP#3 9-4-13 Benjamin Lee born 4-28-14
*Budget Mamas*
busterbeagle
member
This check-in is for anyone who is trying to budget or live frugally. Everyone is welcome, whether you are trying out a budget for the first time or have been living frugally for years!
How did everyone do last week?
What are your goals for the next week?
Anything else you want to share?
Instead of a GTKY, since it's almost the end of the month, let's talk about monthly progress. What did you do well? What do you want to focus on doing better next month?
BFP#1 11-26-10 MMC 1-13-11
BFP#2 6-8-11 Eleanor Beatrice born 2-15-12BFP#3 9-4-13 Benjamin Lee born 4-28-14
This discussion has been closed.
Re: *Budget Mamas*
I'd like our goal for next week to be putting at least $400 away, but I'm in need of new tires so I may have to invest in tires instead:/.
over all this month we did well with what we could. We had so many unexpected expenses with my car and medical bills. Hopefully next month will be a little easier on us!:)
we also use mint.com to track expenses and realized how much we were wasting on groceries so we set a budget of $75 a week and have been rocking it!! I've started making meals 3-4 nights a weeks and am amazed how much you can buy when you cook at home! Score!
BFP 1 on 10.30.10 spontaneous m/c on 12.28.10 at 12 weeks
BFP 2 It's a girl! Born 1.18.12 at 39w
How did everyone do last week?
I did pretty well last week. I didn't eat out once. I had leftovers for lunch at work. It did help that I was home Monday and Friday and Thanksgiving was this week.
What are your goals for the next week?
I want to keep up not eating out and get DH to eat out less. He has some sort of aversion to leftovers though so perhaps we need some shock therapy for him.
Anything else you want to share?
I'm thinking about seeing if my boss will let me work from home at least one day a week. What does everyone think is realistic? One day? Two? Go for three? I have about a 20 minute (15 mile) commute each way, mostly highway, but working from home will save some gas money.
Instead of a GTKY, since it's almost the end of the month, let's talk about monthly progress. What did you do well? What do you want to focus on doing better next month?
I need to figure out a more realistic food budget. We are way over for last month. We also need to plan out more meals, including lunches and breakfast and go on bigger shopping trips rather than many little trips.
How did everyone do last week? We did okay but spent more than I had anticipated going out with DH's old friends. We avoided the pressure/temptation to do Black Friday shopping, though!
What are your goals for the next week? Grocery shop with specific meals in mind. Work on switching to all reusables in the kitchen.
Anything else you want to share? I made my own laundry detergent today! It has been on my to-do list for, um, a year. So far I'm loving it: load #1 came out with no smell whatsoever, and #2 and #3 are still in the washer and dryer. It will end up being a huge money saver if I stick with it and it was super easy to make: 1 cup Borax, 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup Oxiclean, and a bar of grated Ivory soap. I dissolve about 2 tablespoons in a mug of hot water before adding it to the machine. I'll use the same recipe for cloth diapers, minus the soap. I like it a lot better than the commercial eco-friendly detergents I've used, which either seem to leave some odor in the clothes or leave a fake scent.
Instead of a GTKY, since it's almost the end of the month, let's talk about monthly progress. What did you do well? What do you want to focus on doing better next month? We went over our eating out budget, but I'm not surprised. I'm really hoping it we can improve this once I SAH, but it's been really hard lately with both of us working longer hours than usual. We had a few usual expenses (childbirth classes, Christmas presents), but otherwise we are surprisingly on target. I'm considering using a more hands-on tracking system in addition to Mint, if not next month then starting in January. We pay everything using online auto-pay and I just don't feel like I have as much control, and even though I know it's just psychological, I'm hoping that making money management a more active part of my day will push me to be more conscious about spending.
BFP#3 9-4-13 Benjamin Lee born 4-28-14
How did everyone do last week? Umm YIKES! We are majorly over-budget this month. I had forgotten to factor in my car insurance, so I haven't really been saving monthly for that. So that was a big expense that I hadn't planned very well. Also I started Christmas shopping, yet another thing I forgot to budget for...I really need to start looking ahead more than 1 month!
What are your goals for the next week? DH and I really need to re-access our spending habits. I feel like the past few months have really taken a toll. So this week that is the goal! Also, set a budget for the remainder of our Christmas shopping.
Anything else you want to share? I am thinking about looking for a new vehicle. My Jeep has a pretty steep payment and the gas mileage leaves a lot to be desired. I was thinking of leasing a Malibu instead. So tonight I need to convince DH that it would be a wise choice and would save us a good chunk of change every month. My only fear is driving in Michigan winter without 4WD. I've been kind of spoiled the past few years!
Instead of a GTKY, since it's almost the end of the month, let's talk about monthly progress. What did you do well? What do you want to focus on doing better next month? We need to analyze our spending as a whole.
How did everyone do last week?
We did pretty well with not eating out, even taking Thanksgiving into consideration. Between cooking more and Thanksgiving we've had plenty of leftovers to tide us over. I haven't checked Mint this week so I'm not sure how DH's spending was for this month yet...
What are your goals for the next week?
I want to continue to plan out grocery trips and meals so we don't have the temptation of eating out. We also tend to eat healthier when cooking so that's an added bonus!
Anything else you want to share?
We finally bought a second car this weekend. We've been sharing mine for the last year trying to conserve $, but my recent work schedule has made this extremely difficult. WHAT we were going to buy has caused some rather heated discussions, but in the end we compromised (sort of) and bit the bullet on Saturday. I hate, hate spending that kind of money, but we got a great deal and DH promised to stick to the budget no matter what and still take the train into work.
Instead of a GTKY, since it's almost the end of the month, let's talk about monthly progress. What did you do well? What do you want to focus on doing better next month?
We did just okay, but DH has promised to turn over a new leaf with his spending habits so we'll see going forward. I would like both of us to sit down and come up with a budget so we both know what is $ is coming in and what's going out. And then stick to that budget!!
I have a Hyundai Elentra and live in WI. I haven't had a problem. As long as you have a front wheel drive car, you should be fine!