Mid May update

Whew! It's been awhile. I need to get into the habit of updating more. I feel like my intentions are good but I always come up short in blogging AND personal finance. Well, I guess I'll just keep trucking along. I've started downloading Dave Ramsey Show podcast and listening to those calls. He had definitely become a major inspiration to me.

Well, here it is the 15th of the month already and I've done well in certain areas and in other areas not so much. Check it:

So far I have spent $206.68 on groceries and house hold goods. My budget was $125 for the MONTH so I COMPLETELY blew that. Now that I think of it I'm not sure how the heck I came up with the number $125 but regardless I'm not too suprised that I'm over budget. I spent a lot last week on food and supplies for camping ($35 at Target and $50 at Vons). As DR would say it's a beans and rice, rice and beans diet for me these next two weeks.

On dining I've spent $54.87 of my $75 budget which leaves me with $20.13 for the next two weeks. Tomorrow night SB and I are meeting up with some of his work friends for happy hour but looks like I will be only enjoying a glass of diet coke . . . also tomorrow one of my co-workers is having a birthday lunch - if I decide to go to that I'll have to play it cheap but I'm debating if I'll even go.

My personal spending budget for the month is $50. I spent $59.25 at Old Navy so I went over $9.25. I bought a beach cover up, short sleeved sweater, and tank top. These were all impulse buys and I wish I had held off for something else. Well, live and learn but there goes my personal spending for the month.

The good news is that I am drastically UNDER budget for gas - I've only spent $56.45 of my $180.00 budget although I have an extremely empty tank right now so I need to fill up in the morning before work. Still, I have curbed my pointless driving dramatically this month. I still have $123.55 for May.

However, I have had $153.10 in unexpected/unbudgeted expenses: $69.65 for a vet visit for Luna, $70.00 for boarding Luna while we were camping because my cat sitter fell through, and $13.45 for a new box of checks. Luna was expensive this month! Of course my cat is worth every penny but this makes me think I need to set aside a little each month for emergency vet expenses. I had budgeted $40 for surprises so there goes that . . .

I have spent $0 of my Personal Care budget ($50) and don't foresee myself using this as I'm saving up to get my hair done in July.

However! I have good news! My boss has recommended me for a 5% raise which would boost my annual income from $40K to $42K. After taxes I estimate this translates into about an extra $100/mo. I just have to wait from HR who will make a decision on whether or not I will get this extra funding because it comes from a pool of money that many people get recommend for. So it's not in the bag but I'm still pretty pleased - I've only been at my company 6 months!

To end on another good note, I got my statement for one of my store credit cards and my balance is only $35! I'll be saying good bye to that debt next month!! WHOOOT!

So, I've had some set backs but it's good to see I'm still making progress even if it is small.