Yeah, I'm jumping the gun a little on this one since the month isn't even over yet...but I've been anxious to see how we fared this month.
Goals for September:
Groceries: 275 -> 192.90 - I actually came in under budget! A big cheer for the envelope system and my new-found discount grocery stores 
Household/Cell: 90 -> 207.76 (one check I wrote in August for household expenses didn't go through until Sept - reason for the discrepancy)
Car: 400 -> actual expenditures were 675.14 with car inspection/repairs, but gas expenditures were 365.32, a little less than I expected
Medical: 200 -> 243.21 (two additional scripts to fill, although I did cut some of my dentist bill by requesting x-rays every two years instead of annually - I read they are only needed that much anyway)
Clothes: 0 -> 35.60 (DH needed some for student teaching)
Loans: 300.36 -> 300.36
Entertainment: 165 -> 145.13
Gifts: 75 -> 110.51
Miscellaneous: 100 -> 123.19
Real estate: 0 -> 0
School/Day care: 40 -> 40
Investment: 0 -> 0
Cash withdrawals: 100 with no fees -> 180 with 3.75 in fees...grrr.
Total expenses: 1745.36 -> 2257.55
Total income: 1579.50 -> 1860.92 (counting commission check)
I think I had projected a $200 shortfall this month...ended up being $396. I'm still trying to figure this one out as I only took $180 out of savings...must be some outstanding cc charges that account for the extra $$ spent.
I also put $4500 on the 0% cc - Dh's tuition. Not looking forward to paying that one off, but at least I won't be paying interest on it for a year.
I'm feeling pretty good about September. Yes, we spent more than we made. But the only two categories where we were significantly over were car and medical - necessary expenses. We reined in the spending in other categories. So I feel pretty darn good, even in the red.
September goals
September 30th, 2006 at 01:49 am
September 30th, 2006 at 09:08 pm 1159650505
Now be sure to find out if there is an ALDI store in your vicinity, you can find out quickly over at http://www.aldi.com -- I don't buy everything there, but I buy most of our groceries there, and just about everything I buy is AT LEAST one-half of what it costs at the grocery stores in my town.
If there's not one yet in your area, be sure to visit one sometime when you go on vacation where there is one.
Also if there is more than one ALDI where you live, be certain to visit each & every one of them, because they are all different, some are filled with very inexpensive produce, some are super well stocked with frozen goods, some seem to have the most inexpensive canned goods anywhere on our planet, no kidding.