The final week + some letters

 

Yesterday, I almost gave in and bought some shorts, and a dress, and flip flops and a few other things from Target. BUT then I realized that it’s the 28th, only two more days till the month and this challenge are over and I decided against it.

Since we live in the middle of nowhere, there really isn’t much temptation to spend money. Literally, the only “extra” money I’ve spent this month has been on photography, which has been for clients, which has been paid for by said clients. Hence, I’m thinking I did pretty good.

In the first two weeks of savings, I saved a good chunk of money by not giving into temptation and shopping. I had saved a total of $465.00. Yesterday’s little shopping spree would have cost me an additional $135.00. So In total, for this month, I’ve saved $600.00. HOLY *&(#. Really?

That just took me by surprise, and yes I did have to get the calculator out to make sure my addition isn’t off. That’s my car payment plus at least a week of groceries, and the only thing I did was cut out my shopping habit. Now if only someone would teach me how to coupon so I don’t have to spend over a 100 every week just on groceries.

Well… tell us how you did this month, Janna and I are dying to hear some success stories!

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Dear Colorado Wildfires please stop burning my beautiful state and leave my friends and their houses alone. I’d really appreciate that!

Dear 100+ AZ weather I don’t really have much to say to you other than you suck. But I’ll deal with you, because being miserable and complaining does not seem to have an effect on you.

Dear Lilly, I don’t think you comprehend how much I love you and what you mean to your dad and I. We’re so glad we adopted you and that you have become a part of this little family. AND yes, you can have whichever part of the couch you like.

Dear Husband I really enjoyed our dinner conversation tonight, and I’m glad that you are aiming to become your boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s boss. Please know you have my full support if when you decided to run for president.

Dear Work, I love you, really. You’ve been good to me and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this new chapter. We’re going to kick some booty and teach folks how to use their cameras!

Dear Friends and Family in Colorado I’ll be back on August 2nd, and it will be great. Whoever needs to book a session with me and my camera needs to let me know ASAP.

Piggy Bank Budget Week 2

 

 

WANT:

 

Price: 19.80

Price: 22.80

 

Price: 34.80

Price: 24.80

 

REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT:

Original Price: 120.00 Current Price: 59.00

Original Price: 129 Current Price: 64.99

Original Price: 210 Current Price 104.99

NEED:

Original Price: 9.99 current price 6.00

 

As you can see from the above, there are lots of things that I want, but I truly just need a new pair of beater flip flops as I’ve almost literally worn a hole in mine. $6 sounds like a good deal to me, and I may order a few of these to keep around. Granted, I wont be ordering anything until July.

The first four items are things that I would have bought just because they are cute, it’s hot here in AZ (so dresses and skirts are welcomed) and because as single items they don’t really have a heavy price tag. The blue shoes from Nine West are one’s I’ve been drooling over for month. Literally, I’ve been waiting for them to go on sale so I could get them. Same goes for the Vince Camutos. I’ve had my eye on these guys for months.

NOW… if I had purchased all these items, which before this challenge I totally would have. I would have spent a total of $331.18.

I wouldn’t have really put the numbers together and look at them, and realized that that’s a plain ticket back to Denver to visit my family plus a $100.00 of spending money. Or a trip for one to San Diego for 4 nights (flight and air – on Travelzoo today from Tucson).

Sooo this week I’m putting $330.00 into my virtual piggy bank towards a vacation that the hubs and I are desperately in need of.

The total so far $465.00 ($135+$330).

That’s a good chunk of change.

What are you saving on this week?

Let’s Save Some Money

Today is the day for our Budget Challenge!!!

When I first met Janna in person, in early May, I was amazed at her take on money. We must have spent a good hour talking about my lack of budget skills and her AWESOME budget skills. She revealed that a Challenge is what really got her into budgeting … she went a whole YEAR without buying clothing!

With a new house, a new businesses, and lots of furniture and equipment to buy I think this is a good time to get this thing going. So I coxed Janna into doing another challenge but this time with a twist.

 

 

For the next 30 days you will give up a vice (or vices) that are not necessities, and then add up what you save and place it towards something big.

For example, I’ll be cutting out buying clothing, shoes and accessories as well as Starbucks, Eating Out at Fast Food places, as well as buying things for the house. My goal is to ONLY spend money on buying groceries and filling up my tank (which I don’t need to do often as I work from home).

My hope is that the money I end up saving (or as my hubs put it NOT spending) will go towards paying off our smallest credit card. From my calculations it should end up actually paying it off.

So are you up for it????

You’ve got till next Friday to figure out what you’d like to save on, and what you’d like to apply it to.

If so, we’ll be linking up weekly. Get a list of the things you wanted to buy and what they cost together. Every Friday we’ll link up and see how much is in our virtual piggy banks!!!

Ready?! Set! GOO!!!!!