I think we can all agree that more money is what we need. And I agree with that, but what if we need more money because we aren’t using the money we have in the best ways possible? I, by far, am not a financial guru. No where close. In fact, if I am being honest, I am always paycheck to paycheck, and that can be so frustrating. You plan for your bills, and something unexpected comes up and sets you back.
Well, my unexpected this week is my car. Luckily, it only left me dead on my street and not on a busy road or freeway. But as I sit here waiting for the tow truck provided thru my insurance, I am wondering what it will cost me or if I can afford a new car. It’s been an interesting weekend trying to figure that out and enjoy my birthday.
That being said, I took a hard look at my spending for the last couple of months. And there are some cutbacks that need to be made. It’s crazy to see how the little things add up like the gas station snack stops and the eating out. I truly thought I had been doing a good job on my budget, but looking at the debits and the swipes, it tells a different story.
So where am I going with all this? Well, let me tell you, I am not hitting a Wendy’s or a pit stop. I am not stopping for groceries every other day but making sure I meal plan. I am going to start a challenge this month to get my spending and budget under control so that when a car dies, I have some options. Or if I want to take a random trip, it’s already in the budget. Practical and silly things, but to have the peace of mind will be so worth it.
For the month of February, I am cutting up the debit card, so to speak. Of course, I will need to get groceries and gas. But I do not want to use the card for anything else. I want to know exactly what money I am spending and will give myself a cash allowance for each week. I want to see what I can save up in a month’s time. I am going to share the journey with you as well as the budget that I put together and the printable budget I will post on etsy. Follow me to see how this goes and hopefully join in 🙂
The Distracted Damsel 