All of our August debits have cleared and we just put the final approval on our September budget. So, how did we do on our first month of budgeting and on the TMM Journey? We were $125 under budget! For most, this may not sound like a lot, but when you do Dave Ramsey's plan, you budget EVERY penny of your income. So we cut our costs even further than expected!
We completed our $1,000 emergency fund and paid-off/closed three of four credit cards. (We normally have these paid off each month but we took a huge hit on expenses the last two months, some our own doing. Our fridge went out and we lost all that food and had to buy a new one. We took advantage of sales to stock up on diapers/wipes until APRIL for two kids. We have 6 months of meat and pasta stocked up. We built a sand-box for Nathan. We had to buy furniture for Nathan's new room. And we had a $300 vet bill. Whew! We now budget in a little for expenses like these so it's not such a hit!) Anyway, our goal is to have our last one paid off, along with our SUV by Christmas.
Surprisingly, we were able to do a lot on very little. For $75, we were able to get in a trip to Brookfield Zoo, a local baseball game, a Culver's/Dairy Queen outing, a family BBQ and a movie/dinner outing for our date night.(Prior, we probably would have spent that on just the movie/dinner!)
I cut our groceries to $149, which was mostly more stocking up. I probably could have gotten by on $80 or less for necessities. Our water machine is gone. Our phone bill is cut. And we didn't put one penny on a credit card!
I think it was a great first month!
How did yours go? If you haven't begun your budgeting adventures and would like to, pick-up the book Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey!
Isn't Dave Ramsey just awesome?!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your budget btw!
He really is! I wish we had found his book so many years ago!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouraging comment! I'm hoping month two goes well, too.
Hi Miss coupongeek!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing such a great job with the blog. Right on target with things going on in my life, so I love it.
I'm going to check out this TMM book, but since I'm all about being frugal I'll be checking it out of my local library. It's such a great resource, I've also been getting video's for Stella there.
Anyway, just wanted to say "hello"
love, Bridgette
Thank you so much for the comment, Bridgette! I am glad that I am able to post some things that connect with you. That's my only goal of the blog right now. Just to share things with other people/mommies and hopefully hear their stories, too.
ReplyDeleteI, too, checked it out from the library. I had to renew it because Rich read it after I did. It's so much easier to do if your spouse/loved one reads it. We did end up buying it at a great sale price later because we want to use it to reference the later steps when we get that far. (and then pass the book on!) I am at our library so much now that they all know me and Nathan. :)
I hope you like the book. And good luck if you start the journey, too!
~Jaycie aka coupongeek