Another month, another chance

This weekend was horrible. I spent sooo much money on things that I didn't need and felt like complete shit after.

I am hopeful since I am spending all of my check that on important things that I won't overspend. This should be an interesting month.

Check One/Feb.: $1078

Rent-$645-Already sent in

Groceries-$80

Phone-$16

Eye Doctor-$150

Dentist-$187

What is left-$0.00

I have both the Eye Doctor and Dentist tomorrow. These high cost appointments drained my budget for the next couple weeks. I am getting my federal taxes at some point in the very near future and that check is going directly into savings. I need to really do this-part of me would love to splurge and spend that check on shit I don't need. I am going to be strong. Last month was such a failure, this month has to be better.

Well, hello there Thursday.

After a pretty hopeless day, I had a fantastic night. I did not buy anything besides a 75 cent snack before class. L (boyfriend) picked me up after class and took me out to dinner. He surprised me with new headphones. I was really appreciative of this!! I've been using these cheap ear buds for the past couple weeks after my headphones quit working... the new headphones are a vast improvement. Our dinner was great and it was nice to talk to L about some of the struggles with the spending fast that I have been having. A big part of me feel awful about him paying for me and buying me stuff. So, I decided that with this next check I would put a little aside for a date night, just as a thank you to him for all that he does. 

Enough sappiness, here is the budget for tomorrow's check:

Start Amount: $1078

Groceries-$100- I gave myself a little extra just because I need to supply dessert this weekend for my dad's holiday celebrations and I do not bake.

Haircut-$40-This is needed. The weather has made my hair huge.

Phone-$16

Susan G. Komen- $64- I care about boobs....

U of M Application Fee-$55- I am trying to keep this a secret since I am a little paranoid that I won't in, cross your fingers for me.

Birth Control- $50- Babies are expensive.....

Green Peace-$20-I care about Earth, I guess...

Netflix- $22- I have to watch something!!!

Apartment Insurance-$14- This is just logical, I don't trust my luck.

Late fees at the Library-$10- I suck and seem to not know how to return anything on time...

Leaves me with $687-

Unknown costs:

Target-I just need a few things. I have a list and I'm sticking to it!

Date night- I'm sure we can find something cheap...

Vacation costs- L's sister bought us a hotel stay in March for Christmas. There are a few costs that we have to cover (flight and we want one more day there), so I will be getting those out of the way now.

Night out with boyfriend’s sister B- L's sister is coming next weekend from London. I feel like we owe her a night out, especially after she bought us a hotel stay and we haven't seen her in months.

I will update you on how the budget looks after these costs. This morning, I transferred the $40 I had left from the last check into my "Moving Fund Savings"! Although I really wanted the shoes, it felt nice to transfer a little into savings. I hope that after the additional costs for the next check that I will be able to transfer even more.

January - Budget (Check One)

Today, I took some time to budget out my first check of the month.

 I am hopeful as this experiment progresses, that I will be able to look at what is necessary based on budgets for every check.

Check One
From overtime
$40-Haircut

$100-Prespending allowance (I am allowing myself a little bit of shopping mayhem before the 1st, plus I need some money for New Years Eve drinks)
Rest of check

$645-Rent

$60-Food

$74-Books (this is my last semester before graduation from this school- no books again until Fall!!)

$15-Phone

$10-Gym
I have a dentist appointment on January 3rd, I am not sure how much they will charge me yet.

***** Savings of $274 before dentist

In the past I would have spent the savings amount (and then some) on eating out and clothing.... it seems like such a high amount now that I see it!!

I am really nervous/anxious/excited about this spending fast. I can't believe that as of now, we are only days away until the New Year.... I can't wait!!

What is this about?

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." This quote has been sitting in my cubical for the past year. I put it up to inspire me to make a change in my life, but the more it just sits there, the more it taunts me. I live a life of excess- not to the point where I am chilling on fancy yachts, with sexy men feeding me grapes, while I throw hundred dollar bills everywhere... but still.... I’ve let shopping, eating out, drinking, etc. become a big part of me. This is not the lifestyle that I want for myself. I have made it my resolve to make dramatic changes in 2012 in order to have the life that I want. I’ve decided to be content with what I have by creating a life without excess. I am taking the Spending Fast Challenge from "And then she saved" (here is a link to http://andthenshesaved.squarespace.com/spendingfastguidelines/)

What does this mean? No more lavish spending, except that which is absolutely necessary.

What I will have to spend money on:
Rent (I don't want to live on the street)


Bills (obvs)


Household items (cleaning, tp, etc.)


Cell phone (Pre-paid $30 per month)


Food (off brands, in season fruits and veggies, no fancy stuff- that includes fancy cheeses)
Gym membership (through work only $10- plus gym= healthy)

Bus pass (I walk most of the time, but like most humans I do get lazy)

Haircuts (I know these may not seem necessary, but my hair is really thick/unruly and impossible to deal with if I don't get regular haircuts)


 What I'm NOT spending money on:

Internet

Clothing (of all kinds)

Makeup
Eating out

Drinks at bars

Shoes

Gifts

Coffee at coffee shops

Etsy stuff
New music from itunes, amazon, or any other pay for music site



Will my journey be hard? Of course... already I feel like my mind is racing as I prepare myself for this challenge. Knowing that on January 1st, my life is going to change dramatically is scary. Part of me wants to take this time to hoard and binge while I still have the chance. Being able to see these feelings is making me understand more clearly that this is something that I need to do. For now, I am going try my hardest to keep my emotions in check and use this time to ease into this lifestyle. I know these emotions are only popping up from fear.