It’s been a week since we started our No Spend Month, prepare yourself for a cringe-inducing update on our spending so far.
We’ve spent a total of: $362.37 Ouch!
Here’s how it breaks down.
Gas: $39.32
Groceries: $109.72 (includes paper products)
Pets: $54 (does NOT include $109 vet visit to prep puppy for neuter later this month)
Allowances: $19
OTHER
Printer Ink: $33.92
Eating Out: 56.43
Household: $7.39 (potting soil)
Target: $33.02 (lantern and batteries for camping)
Some of these items we needed at an unfortunate time (printer ink, vet visit, potting soil), some are monthly expenses we happened to need this week (puppy food, cat food, paper products), and some were just out of desperation (eating out).
Overspending happened in 3 areas: gas, groceries and eating out.
Gas: I’m spending more on gas than I’d like. Partly this was July 4th when we sat in traffic for about 30 minutes, but it is also dropping and picking up my daughter from camp 4 days a week. I’m going to try walking her to camp everyday next week. This is good for me, for her, and for my budget.
Groceries: The grocery budget was higher than I expected since we needed to replenish our paper products (happens once every 1 1/2 months), and we splurged a bit for our meal on the 4th.
Eating Out: There is no reasonable explanation for it, so we’re counting this as our allowances. (we budgeting $25/each for it)
Dog: I did not include the cost of the vet visit ($109) or the dog’s surgery (est $180) since these are being paid for by our pet fund.
We have a total of $387.63 left for the rest of the month. So in other words we have approx. what we spent in 1 week that needs to last for OVER 3 weeks! Yikes!
Thankfully the fridge and pantry are mostly stocked, we don’t have much on the agenda this weekend. We’ll probably stick close to home, and get some gardening done.
We’re camping with friends this evening I’ve never gone camping with all 4 kids, so I’m kind of crazy with worry and excitement, I’ll see you all tomorrow, when I’ll be hosting my first ever giveaway!
Are you participating in a no spend month? How is it going?
Kelly
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Well it looks like you’ve realized where you spending has gone and are making the adequate corrections. All ya can do is give it your best and readjust when things change. Keep it up
Good luck with the remainder of the month — I’d love to hear more about how/what you pack for camping with the family. This is something that I want to streamline for my own family.
RM, it was my first time in years (and the first time with all the kids) so I’m sure my list will be longer than it should but I packed for one night!
1 blanket per person
1 pillow per person
3 changes of clothes (we’re a messy crew)
food
paper products
trash bags
reusable plates, cups, etc.
one bin of toys
It still was enough to fill the trunk of my van and the front seat was filled with the cooler and food bags.
We’re planning on going again in August so I’ll see if I can pair it down.