January Budget Wrap Up...

Well, its February 3rd - but this week has been out of control.  I want to have a little recap in the finances department after talking about them in my New Year goals.  We're working very hard to be debt free and the next step was the move to cash.  I'd put it off saying the debit card was good enough but wow - what a true difference the green stuff makes!

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January Basics Budgeted in Cash -
Groceries $100 per week ($400 total)
Fun $40/adult ($80 total)
Eat Our $30 per week ($120 total)
Gas $200 (for the month)
Misc. $175 (for the month)
Total in Cash $ 975.00
*We do have other envelopes too - just not ones that need to be listed here :)

January Basics Actual Cash -

Grocery Recap:
Groceries Week 1: ZERO spent
Groceries Week 2: $122 spent
Groceries Week 3: $123 spent
Groceries Week 4: $100 spent
Total Spent $345
We had so much stockpiled from the holidays that well - we didn't even need groceries week one.  So I decided I didn't want to let all of that money carry over but that if I saw a worthwhile sale, I would stock pile a few regulars.  I managed some great deals during Week 2 and 3.  The big thing in the grocery aisle - we bought no meat this month.  Meat is so expensive - I talk about that here. I'm hoping to cut this area in the budget even more in the months to come.

Fun Money Recap:
Fun Money - Oh yeah - we spent that :) each in our own way! Me - a new pattern and some fabric ;) The Husband bought some fishing something or other. 
Total Spent $80

Eat Out Recap:
Eat Out Week 1: $27 lunch date
Eat Out Week 2: $31 family dinner out
Eat Out Week 3: $21 lunch date $11 Mommy & Little Man Date
Eat Out Week 4: $28 family lunch out after Church
Total Spent $118

This month the Husband and I have had a lot of business errands to run during our lunch hour.  So this month we focused on lunch dates as our time together.  Next month we'll try to squeeze in a night or two out.

Gas Recap:
Total Spent $200.00
We caught a break on gas this month.  Due to a LARGE (emphasis on large) amount of various problems we traded both of our cars at the end of last year.  We have a small payment for DH's truck that won't last the year and my payment stayed the same and I'm on track to be paid off in the same amount of time.  We got full tanks of gas to start out the month :)  Usually I use a 1.5 tanks of gas a month - the Husband's total gas depends on where his boats are located.  Some days he drives 100 miles, some days 20. So February will be a true tale of what our new gas budget should be.

Misc. Recap:
Total Spent $151.00
The Miscellaneous envelope covers the laundry soap, toilet paper, dog food and such. Next month will require far less $ in this envelope.  The bulk things we had to buy this month we won't  need to buy but every few months. But I do keep a running list of prices so that I can budget or look for a sale.

Conclusions...
The other big budget change we made - SO LONG CABLE!  We didn't use it.  It's expensive.  Thank you Netflix.  We're getting a gym membership instead.  Overall, I'm pleased with how January turned out.  Using cash for everything but bills left more money in the account to go to debt. The leftover monies from the month (be they large or small) - go to the Little One's 529 account.

On my to do list next month is to hit up our cell provider - found out I should be getting 20% off of my plan because of an employer arrangement with the company.  We've also set up to meet with our insurance provider - to make sure everything is lined up and properly insured.  It will also be time to renew our flood insurance - don't live here without it. I'm also making the choice to cut into our grocery budget a little more.  Little bit by little bit I'd like to reach the goal of feeding our family of three for $60.00 per week by years' end.  I'll take another month off of buying meat and look into the dreaded coupons. 


How has your January budget shaped your outlook for the year?
Any big budget changes on your horizon?