2015 Budget Challenge January End of Month Follow Up
Well if you have been following my Budget Challenge it’s time for a wrap up for the month! Make sure you check out my see the Grocery Challenge Wrap Up as well!
I started the month off with the following Gift Cards To help my budget!
Target Gift Cards
- $25 Target Gift Card from Superpoints
- $55 Target Gift Card from InstaGC
- $25 Target Gift Card from Zoombucks
- $7 Target Gift Card from ShopKick
- $20 Target Gift Card from previous in store promos
Check out my Target Shopping Trip!
My CVS Gift Card I used to get 3 packs of 8ct Sparkle Paper Towels I had a raincheck for for only $3 OOP!
Amazon Gift Cards
- $80 Amazon Gift Card from Perk
- $40 Amazon Gift Card from Free Eats (they pay cash via PayPal but I turned that into Gift Cards)
- $110 Amazon Gift Cards from InstaGC
- $20 Amazon Gift Card from ExpoTV
- $21.18 Amazon Gift Card Top Cash Back
- $50 Amazon Gift Card from SwagBucks
What I bought with my Amazon Gift Cards:
Groceries, Diapers (including a box to be delivered in Feb. ), Wipes, food items, stuff to make my own Laundry Soap, Items to make my own Lactation Cookies, a French Fry Cutter, a Phone to earn more on Perk and My son’s birthday Gifts and I only SPent $37 OOP for all of it!
Make sure to check out 45 Ways to Earn FREE Amazon Gift Cards
Thoughts on my budget:
We went over on Pharmacy due to everyone getting sick. Just about everyone but myself and my son got sick this month, we had a severe case of allergies, an ear infection, and 2 upper respiratory infections. We had 4 different prescriptions, and hubby went threw TheraFlu like it was candy but it was the only thing that made him feel better. So there were prescriptions and medicines we hadn’t budgeted for.
With hubby out of the Navy now we did open up an IRA for him and took that out of savings, going forward our goal is to fund at least $100 a month to it. In a few months we plan to open one in my name to fund that one as well.
We also had an unexpected Trip to DC which wasn’t planned for, causing us to go over out eating out budget. This also raised out Amusement costs because we took advantage of being down there with the kids.
We also had a issue with mice so our ‘home’ budget went over because of mouse traps bought. Thankfully it seems they have all been caught.
We have also decided to leave money for eating out after church each week since we tend to have running around to do on Sunday and don’t get out until almost 1pm.
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Here is how our Budget Turned out. Items in RED are over budget items in BLACK are ON budget and items in GREEN are under budget
Income
Hubby’s : $4,940 (with him getting paid every 2 weeks he has an ‘extra’ paycheck this month for us to budget out) Actual: $4,801 Since we changed insurance plans
Mine: $1,500 Actual: $2,500
Total = $6440 Actual: $7301
Budget
Rent - $1447 Actual $1532 (Rent + Maintenance charge)
Electric – $199 Actual $199 ( we are on the budget plan so this is pretty much our set bill)
Water – $75 Actual $55
Gas – $250 Actual $225
Cell Phone $140 Actual $155 (this was a mis budget on my account I forgot in Dec we had a credit on our account)
Car and Rent insurance $140 Actual $137
Internet $51 Actual $51
Credit Card Payment $210 + $1000 Actual $1,210
Direct TV – $55 Actual $55
Grocery $400 Actual $401
Pharmacy $50 (medicines) Actual $190
My Car Payment $0 (jan payment already made) Actual $0
Hubbys Car Payment $255.40 Actual $255.40
Newspapers $25 Actual $25
Eating Out $100 Actual $270 OUCH!
Baby Supplies $150 (to include Diapers, Wipes, mics) Actual $117
Homeschool $25 Actual $1
Entertainment $100 Actual $150 (included is netflix) This is any cost to get out of the house with the kids, we try to use this from one on one time with the kids
My Son’s Birthday Party $75 Actual $45 – included a few decor since we bought most of it, his cake, extra food needed and birthday gifts. Amazon Gift Cards helped keep this down!
Clothing $10 Actual $0 We don’t have any clothing needs so this will roll over most likely for Easter Clothes for the kids
Hair $40 Actual $19 I didn’t get my haircut this month so we will try next month. I seem to never have time.
ATM Fees $10 Actual $6 (since out bank isn’t local)
Saving for College $100 Actual $100
Church Donation $100 Actual $25 Due to sickness we only made it to church once this month.
Alarm $30 Actual $30
Home $20 Actual $196 This includes mouse traps and a few bins for organization
Doctor $0 Actual $160 This is co pays and what insurance doesn’t cover.
Savings $1000 Actual $1000
Wine $0 Actual $100 This was a splurge for us, we got an AMAZING deal on a case of wine that made our coast about $6 a bottle. We love win but this should have us set for many months!
Total: $6,710
That left us with $591 left over. Which we put into savings
Come back on Tuesday for a look at my February Budget.
Make sure to check out Stacy at Adventures In Coupons and see how she is doing!
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