Thursday, June 2, 2011

Planning Ahead

In previous months I have done a lousy job of planning ahead for irregular expenses. Quarterly life insurance payment always seems to take me by surprise. So do things like car tags. And back to school registration expenses. For me, those three things will all hit again the month of August. That is roughly $450 worth of expenses that I know will occur in that month but I never seem to plan for. Added to that will be the cost of things like graduation announcements, senior portraits and cap and gown rental as Princess Penelope's senior year progresses.

Well NO MORE! I am going to try and PLAN for these costs! I'm reworking my budget to include a separate savings goal for these things. I am tired of this stuff busting the budget! It is definitely time to make a plan for those. I'm in the process of re-working my budget. I need to account for my raise that goes effective July 1 -- as well as these costs. I need to figure out how to cut more unnecessary spending so that I can quit freaking out every month.

Part of my plan is to go on a no eating out binge for the month of June. Laziness and convenience led to major overruns in the eating out category for the month of June. And most of that was drive-thru convenience and not anything I remember actually enjoying! The one exception to this rule is travel days for work, because I am reimbursed for that, but I'm not reimbursed for the cost of food if I brown bag it.

So in analyzing thus far, this is where I can cut expenses easiest. I think I can do this ---- a stress free August looms on the horizon if I pull it off..... and wouldn't that be nice?

6 comments:

  1. Do you use INGDirect? If you are interested, I can give you a referral code, and we both get a bonus!

    It is an on-line banking system. I have stuff autodebited and save for all those things that need planning....kids' camp, "irregular" expenses (like car tax, trash company, water bill), and Christmas!

    I love this system!!! Let me know if you want to know more.

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  2. I've heard of INGDirect, but I haven't really checked it out.... I'd love more information!

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  3. I'm really awful with budgeting for big expenses as well. Your friend Mysti beat me to it. I have INGDirect as well. I have a checking and like four savings accounts all with different fund names: School Registration (about $2700 a year for my three kids), Summer Camp (don't even get me started), Emergency Fund (in the mini stage at the moment), I even have one for my Debt Snowballs since I'm trying to set aside the money for that BEFORE I get to spending. The Summer Camp one will be renamed Christmas once August hits. It's been pretty helpful honestly. While it is a bit easy to transfer the money into my checking, I have to actually go in and do that so it makes me conscious of what and why I'm doing.

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  4. My bloggie e-mail is mysti1031@yahoo.com. Drop me a line and I will explain more about ING. I love it. My husband wasn't totally on board at first, but he is a convert now and things it is the cat's meow.

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  5. I've always been a bit leery of online banking -- have no problem paying bills and such online, but I'm one of those weird people that like to go in to the bank and chit chat with the people that I have now known for years. I'll definitely drop you a line to find more. The more I hear about it the more I want to know.

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  6. There is also mint.com and I use them. If you want to check that one out, let me know.

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