It’s a new day and time to climb back on the frugal wagon.
If you’ve been reading Being Frugal.net for any length of time, you know that I always strive to be authentic with you. I try not to tell you all to do things that I don’t do myself.
In an effort to hold myself accountable for the way I manage my finances, every once in a while, it’s necessary to do a “I’ve fallen off the frugal wagon” post. This is one of those times.
At the end of August, we moved into my dad’s house while we were waiting for our house to be finished enough to live in. In that month, I didn’t have access to my computer, and of course, my budget was on the computer. A reader wisely pointed out that I should have moved my budget to paper and pencil. But I didn’t think of that at the time. Since then, I’ve been better about keeping track of our bank balance, but I still haven’t made a new budget.
A month ago, we finally moved into our new house. It’s been wonderful, but of course, there have been several expenses that have come up…curtain rods, switch plates, we still need a rug before rainy season…you get the picture.
Also, I’ve been busy flying off to Arkansas, getting the kids settled in school, volunteering in school, and all the busyness that comes with the fall season and being a parent.
So I confess that frugality and my budget have taken a back seat to life over the last couple of months. I’m OK with that, though. It’s important to remember that life happens, and your budget will fly out the window from time to time. The important thing is to take steps to get back on track. Learn from your mistakes, and move on.
So that’s what I’m going to do. We’ve been in our house for a complete month now, so it’s time to re-do the budget to reflect our additional expenses. My goal is to accomplish this by the end of the week, so we can start with a fresh budget in November.
I’ve also been eating from the Menus 4 Moms menus, because I haven’t had time to plan my own menu. Though that’s more frugal than having no plan at all, it’s still more better to plan my own menus, which are often less meat-based, and therefore cheaper. So I’m going to make a November menu also.
To make sure I don’t get too busy and just let things slide for another week, I promise to update you on Friday when I do my roundup. I really am looking forward to being frugal in our new house. There are so many possibilities! Bulk food shopping, line drying laundry (even in the winter, as we have an extra room!), and eventually freezing foods (when I have the money to buy a freezer). And of course I’ll be planting a garden in the spring!
So here’s to a frugal November! Are any of you with me? Do any of you need to make some adjustments to your November budget? Post your goals here, and let’s hold each other accountable!
Photo by *clairity*.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Every month I vow to be more frugal. For some reason, starting at the beginning of a month just seems like the best time to start (even tho I know you can start being frugal any time!). And for some reason, I always seem to slip up, and all frugality goes out the window! I need to get out of my head the all or nothing mentality! So I am with you to make November a more frugal month. Even though it may seem like a bad time to really get serious about finances because, lets face it, there is always some unexpected expenses related to the holidays. For Thanksgiving, when my grocery bill is usually a little more because I need to buy ingredients for the holiday gathering, this year I will just buy less and actually plan meals around the tons of left overs my mom always sends us home with. And for Christmas this year, I have been setting aside the money I make watching a friends daughter. Cash. Set aside. Intended for Christmas presents. I am very excited by this because it means a) better control on my spending, b) no surprises on the credit card bill, and c) it is already budgeted for, which is a first for me. That coupled with the fact that we have decided to forgo presents with my side of the family (unless people want to buy present for my daughter…every one is excited to buy her presents) I am actually not dreading the holiday shopping this year.
Here’s to a good November!
October 27th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I see a budget as a guideline, not as “set-in-stone-must-absolutely-be-adhered-to-or-the-world-will-end”. Life events do happen, and it is possible to get back on course. Your blog has taught me that.
October 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I definitely understand falling off the frugal wagon. A really busy weekend can do it to us, nevermind an entire lifechanging month! Congrats on your new home.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Moves are always really, really expensive. In the last couple of years I have moved from huge house to tiny apartment back to huge house and you would think I would have everything I would need, and yet, every move cost a fair amount of money.
You are absolutely right about getting back on and getting back in the habit. The key is not to beat yourself up, but just get back in the habit.
For this month I am working creating a will and a digital document of my home for insurance purposes. It is one of those things I have been putting off for forever and I need to do.
October 27th, 2008 at 10:58 am
It’s so true that moving is always more expensive than you think it will be. It sounds like you haven’t been doing too badly.
I had a pretty good month up until my trip. I’m hoping to keep expenses low in November to gear up for the holidays! One day at a time. . .
October 27th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Glad to hear you are getting settled in. There are always unexpected expenses in a move. Hang in there and a Frugal November is right around the corner.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Is your budget in a spreadsheet? You might want to consider using a Google Spreadsheet instead.
I wrote a post on using a Google Spreadsheet to budget. Check it out here.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I, too, need to hop back on the frugal wagon. I have been spending money that I should be putting towards our debt and it is delaying our payoff. Moves are always expensive, as is traveling. I’m sure you’ll be back on track soon!