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Archive for January, 2017

JanuarySpending

January 31st, 2017 at 12:18 am

Fixed Expenses:
Cell Phone: 65.34
Verizon Bundle: 173.52 (Internet, home phone, cable)
Monthly Condo Fee: 185.00
Pocket money: 20

Variables:
Utilities: 91.63
Gasoline: 43.70
Groceries: 234.04
Health: 90.40 (scripts and co-pays)
Dining Out: 37.73
Shopping: 12.96

Total Spending $954.32

*My condo is paid in full, no mortgage.
*My car is paid off, no car payment
*No Credit card debt

Some notes: My Verizon Bundle includes a premium sports package (not giving it up)

Condo fee includes: water, trash removal, snow removal, all outside building maintenance, and landscaping

Groceries: Still too high! Working on this. This is only food. I pay for all paper goods, personal goods etc. from swagbucks earnings.

Savings: I put $500 a month into my "escrow account" From this I pay yearly property taxes, condo insurance and car insurance.

I also put $2500 a month into a retirement savings account.

I am thrilled to be below $1000 a month in expenses! Next month should be less as I work on lowering the grocery spending, and health expenses should be much lower.

Sunday prep day

January 22nd, 2017 at 05:55 pm

Sunday is the day I really prep for the upcoming week. I put together my work outfits for the week and iron anything that needs it. This saves me so much time during the week. I also prepare my lunch for Monday, and cook my planned crockpot meal. I can usually get 3 dinners and a couple of lunches from my crockpot meal each week. Good thing I like leftovers! I put all my clean laundry away, and make sure the kitchen is cleaned up, dishes washed, dried and put away after dinner. Sticking to these tasks really help me to have a successful week. Having my lunches and dinners planned and made is saving me lots of money at the grocery store, and is helping me eat better and lose some weight. I'm not hitting the vending machines or the cafeteria at work, or stopping for junk food for dinner on the way home from work. I also have time to relax, read, and today, watch football! One other thing I have been sticking with is to do the 15 minute clean up each day. Monday I will dust the bedroom. Tuesday I will vacuum etc. It frees up so much time on the weekend for fun! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Sold my house and bought a condo!

January 16th, 2017 at 11:22 pm

It's been a while! Over the summer I sold my single family house with the big yard and bought a condo. Turned out to be a great decision. I was able to pay cash, and have a nice amount left. It's a 2 bed/ 2 full bath with an open living/dining and kitchen area. Very updated. The only improvements I made were to have beautiful hardwood floors installed throughout and fresh paint. I'm on the top floor, so the ceilings are vaulted. It's an elevator building, with an assigned parking space. Also has a full sized washer/dryer in my unit and lots of storage space. I just love it. The grounds are very lush and well maintained. And no snow shoveling! Happy to be back and hope to post more consistently now that I am settled.