Well, I broke the challenge, and I broke it big! What have I done? Let's break it down.
Yesterday, I went to the thrift store and bought back-to-school clothes for the boys. I wasn't going to, but then I decided I was just being cheap. My youngest son is hard on clothes and between all the spaghetti, jelly, marker and grass stains and the bald spots in his hair where he groomed himself, the child was looking pretty ragged. I spent $100 on a cart load of clothes. I got at least 50 pieces which included a bunch of shirts for DH and one orange turtle neck for me. It's to go with the 3 Halloween Vests I have never worn because I had nothing to wear them with. I think it cost me $.60. Ooooooh, big spender.
Today, I went to Walgreens and did some rebate shopping for the first time ever. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm really going to have to watch myself if I continue to do this. I think it can be good as long as I buy things I need to buy and not just because it fits in with the rebate. I am a shop-as-I-need-it shopper, not a shop-because-it-is-onsale shopper. I do not typically stock up on soaps and deodorants and whatever else. This is new to me and I'm not quite sure how it is going to work into my budget. Right now, my plan is to have my $200 and my grocery list and fulfill those needs first. With whatever money is left, I can "play" at Walgreens with a strict list and a calculated total of how much I am spending. I am wondering when/how I recoup the savings in my budget. I guess eventually I can go a month without buying toiletries? I don't know. Whatever...I spent $86 with a savings of $17 at the register. I will be getting $26 back in rebates.
The we got the boy's haircut to a tune of $26. No more bald spots in the little guy.
Finally, I spent $40 to fill the gas tank. It wasn't quite empty, but the price was only $2.49 and I'm afraid it will go up before I need to fill up.
Even with all of the above expenses, only the $100 thrift store purchases and half of the haircuts were outside of the budget. I basically paid for it with the padding in the checking account. I could have used the misc. funds in the freedom account, but I'm trying not to if I can help it. The best news is...NOTHING IS GOING ON THOSE CREDIT CARDS! It was outside of the budget, but still cash.
Much Ado about money
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:27 am
August 23rd, 2006 at 03:19 am 1156299547
You did good!
August 23rd, 2006 at 05:03 am 1156305790
August 23rd, 2006 at 04:54 pm 1156348457
You've got to be careful about other stuff, tho, becus i made a huge bulk purchase of what i thought was a good deal on deoderant and becus it was free shipping, but then saw a better price at my local supermarket.