Fabulous Financials

My attempt to rein in spending was not bad at all. In fact, I think I did pretty darn good. Although I went over my monthly budget, it was due to worthy causes and not simply frivolous spending.

• I spent $174 more than planned on BILLS because I paid my auto insurance premium in full ($304.20).
• I also spent $492 more than planned on NECESSITIES because I paid the final tuition payment for BabyGirl’s summer camp ($600).
• And finally, I spent $15.28 more than planned on BUSINESS because I renewed my PO Box for six months ($46).

But the one thing I’m most excited about is my FUN category, which came in $3.31 under budget.  Yes, UNDER budget!  Just last week, I said I would limit myself to $500 per month, effective July 1, but it worked out well for June too. FABULOUS!

All items that were more than planned were not really budget busters.  They were one time, necessary, expenses that exceeded my usual monthly outflow.  However, in the spreadsheet, their values are spread evenly throughout the year and cash was readily available to pay them in full.  I expect to see more of these one time expenses in July, such as:

• 70k auto maintenance, also need new breaks
• optometrist visit for both, more contacts for BabyGirl, glasses for me
• dentist visit for both, cleaning for BabyGirl (she’s wearing her retainer again, all on her own, woo-hoo!), need the works for me

Other than that, I expect July to be more of the same with regular bills and such.  And I plan to stick with my $500 FUN limit.  We’re only 1 week into the month and I’ve spent $268 of it already.  Oh my!