October budget and Update

Post #2 of the day, but the one before this is kind of boring... just documented a workout.

I realized I haven't posted my budget yet for October, so here it is...

Now that we're debt free, we've made a few changes:
1. I added $100 for shopping this month! I already spent $25 on a new top for work and a new skirt. Pretty good deal if you ask me! Michael and I both need jeans and underwear and I also need some new bras, etc. It's stuff we've been putting off purchasing for a while so I have no complaints finally adding it to the budget. Over the course of 2009, I'm pretty sure our "shopping" or "clothing" budget is close to $100 total and some of that was using gift cards. In the $100 budgeted for October, we're also planning to spend a little bit of that on halloween costumes. :P

2. Our "per diem" (that's what I call it) is essentially our allowance. While we were paying off debt, I did not get any money (my choice, I wanted out of debt more) but Michael would get $10 per week. Each week when we get groceries, we'd get $10 cash back and that was his to do whatever he wants with it. In other words, we had $40 per month in "per diem" for this... but now it's $80 because I am giving myself $10 per week too! It might not sound like much, but you have no idea how excited I am about this little $10!!! It will be nice to go to lunch with co-workers once a week or splurge on a Starbucks coffee if I want to. It's the little things...

3. Marathon Registration- Michael is again running the PF Chang's marathon this year and registration is $85. No, I'm not running... homegirl still can't run...

4. Renter's Insurance- this is a semi-annual bill that I sort of forgot about. It's only $12.50 per month, but I created an ING savings account just for this bill when it comes and will fund the account monthly.

5. EMERGENCY FUND- When we were paying off debt, I never had extra payments listed in the budget because literally, every extra penny NOT budgeted, went to debt. But I've decided to add in how much we hope to send to savings in the month, after all, it's budgeted. If we can send more, we will. As you can see though, we are planning to send a WHOPPING $5,225 to our EMERGENCY FUND this month!


Our goal is $13,000 (or just less than that actually) and today I sent $1750 to our savings. I updated the bar on the right for our emergency fund and we're up to 23% already and it's only the first week since being debt free! Wahoo!

This whole "pay yourself first" thing really feels good... I'm blown away that I just put $1750 in my savings account.

Until tomorrow,
Kelsalynn
PS: I'm incredibly sore from my workout yesterday- chest and legs!