The Good:
I switched my Netflix DVD subscription from 4 to 2 CD’s saving me $11.37 per month.
I cancelled my Beachbody coaching which saves me $15.99 per month.
I also got a deal on my Cable and Internet combining them into a package when before it was two companies saving me $52.48.
Total saved per month: $79.84
The Bad:
I got a virus and went to the doctor on April 2nd so I had to pay a co-pay of $25.00 and the numbing mouth rinse was $33.93.
At the Beer Tasting Party in Boston I got a parking ticket for $40.00 and I even checked the meter and signs and didn’t see anything about it being resident only parking. Dang Boston and their trickery.
I also got a Groupdealz for a dual car charger USB port that was $5.98 since I spend a ridiculous amount of time in my car and I have seen them for $15.00 it was a steal. So I don’t feel guilty.
Total Not Budgeted: $104.91
The Not So Ugly:
I was able to put $300.00 into savings. This isn’t huge since my normal month is $200 to cover winter oil heat and Christmas but putting extra in is helping me to build a cushion after depleting it for a lot of home repairs. Also helps for when I have to fix the plumbing along with the renovations due to the flooding. I got word I should get a payment in the next few weeks. Finally I see the light for the rebuild.
My Thoughts:
Since the total money I save every month is going to keep paying me back I don’t feel so bad about the amount not budgeted. Although it was money I couldn’t save I still had the cash for it and I did put extra money towards savings. I love participating in these freezes because I realize I am not as bad with my money as I would have thought. I do spend on stupid things here or there I am more on the frugal side. Being a homeowner cured me of a lot of stupid spending. If I do overspend it is usually on recipe testing or on other people.
Have you ever done a spending freeze?
Is there anything you tend to overspend on?
Linking up with Steph from Life According to Steph and Marla from Luck Fupus for the April Wallet Watch results:
i was really successful with january spending freeze but epic failure for this month so i gave up. but i think you did awesome, despite your spends, i think what you saved/gained was better.
It was a rough month to try and do one. Yes, saving per month so I can toss it towards another bill was so important for me.
I do one once a year. i’ve tried twice and year and just fail it big time.
Haha! It is hard to do a complete freeze but a wallet watch isn’t so bad since you pick whatever you want to work on or reduce so it allows for splurges and makeup. 😉
Nice work with the savings!! We do the online-only Netflix and just go to Red Box if we reeeeally want to watch something. But did you see Netflix might be upping their prices over the next year? Soooo disappointing! So awesome that you were able to put money into savings. As soon as this wedding is over in September, Mike and I will be on a HUGE spending freeze lol!
I did see that which stinks. The online only is so limited. Haha! I am sure you will need it after.
I think you did really well! It’s great that you were able to cut your expenses by $80 as well as put extra money into savings.
-Sharon
Thank you. I tried really hard this month to find ways to save.
🙂 If this did anything, was make you accountable.
I think that if I knew I was on a “spending freeze” my brain would want me to SHOP more. hahahaha.
I hope you are feeling better! 🙁
Yes, it keeps me mindful of my spending habits at least. Thank you!
Excellent!!! Your illness was something beyond your control! I have been penny-pinching for years and also know you can get by better without a lot of expensive STUFF! Brava for the savings, too!!!! Just a wonderful job!
Love SMD’s Momma
Thanks! I don’t tend to go overboard a lot but it is always nice to find ways to save.
I try to just keep tabs on everything I spend – almost like a journal instead of relying on my online banking to show me what I spend!! I mean the expense of the doctor is a must – hate Boston parking – they really are tricky!! I think you did great!
Thanks! Yes, so you know when you go over in certain categories. Boston parking is the worst!
i spend way too much money unnecessarily, it’s terrible. the problem is a don’t budget my money at all! i think sitting down an evaluating my finances is long overdue…
Ohh you should start! It really is good to know where your money is going. Help to know when you spent too much at Target! 😉
The amount you managed to save is awesome! I’ve never done a spending freeze…but now you’ve got me thinking about what I should be cutting back on. I did stop myself from buying a super awesome leather jacket at a thrift shop the other day. I was in LOVE with it, but usually if I wait awhile/get over the initial impulse, I realize it would have been silly splurging. I don’t need a jacket right now!
Thanks for the money saving inspiration!
Very welcome! Yes sometimes we just impulse buy and then regret it later when we don’t use it.
You did an AWESOME job! I don’t feel like I did too great, but I put in the groundwork to really get a handle on where I’m spending my money, so that is a huge step in the right direction. I also put my gym membership on hold while I think about whether I’m really getting $60 worth of value out of it every month! (That’s the family rate but no one uses it except me. I definitely need to change that!)
Yes, just figuring out where you spend is huge so that the next money you can work on finding savings. Yes, putting it on hold in the summer is a good idea.
awesome! seriously, you should be proud! boo for the parking ticket. i absolutely need to do this!
Thank you! The parking ticket totally bugged me, but oh well such is life. It is good to at least see how you spend then figure out where to save.
I think you did a great job! I participated as well and it made me so happy to save money on some things. It felt so good to be mindful of my money again. That had kind of gotten away from me.
Yes, I know when I don’t keep track I tend to waste a little too much money and then wonder where it all went.
You didn’t do bad at all! You can’t help when you get sick…..and you saved yourself some money elsewhere, so it all balances out! I determined that I am not too bad with my spending. I like to have a little fun each month, but I dont get crazy.
Yes, I think it balances out and getting sick couldn’t have been predicted. I think as long as you plan to spend a little “fun money” then it is totally ok. I have money in my budget for splurges. 😉
Girl, you did amazing! Saving all that money by making a few changes plus the $300! And seriously, money spent on copays/pescriptions are a necessity. You should be proud. Go you!
Thanks for linking up <3
Thank you. I really wanted to work on spending less on items every month. I was proud of how I did since I had a long to buy list that I haven’t done anything with so it is going strong.
Good job! I’ve been thinking I might try the next spending freeze, although I’m pretty sure I’ll fail. 🙂
We all fail a little I think but it gets you thinking about how you spend your money and where you can save.
You did a really good job! Ugh that traffic ticket would have put me over the edge!! If I can grocery shop and meal plan that really helps because eating out is so expensive!!
I was a little upset about it since I really did look around to make sure I could park there. Yes, I almost never eat out since it does get so expensive.
It always seems to go that way, doesn’t it? You save and then need to use the new “savings” on something else, lol. At least you were able to still put away $300!
It is never ending especially with a house. Ugh!
FINALLY you’re getting a damn check!!!!!!
I know right! It only happened in FEBRUARY!!!
I feel sometimes like we’re in a perpetual state of spending freeze until we can save up enough to buy our house! But occasionally I will splurge on a night out. Everyone needs some fun every once in a while.
Haha! I hear you. i want to sell my house so I am trying to save and pay off things so I understand. A little thing here or there makes it bearable and you just have to for your sanity.
I’m usually pretty good at spending freezes, but unexpected guests came this month, so I totally blew my entertainment budget. Which is also where I usually overspend….gah! Looks like even with the unexpected expenses you did great, especially finding places to cut costs in other places!
AMAZING JOB!!! I canceled my beachbody stuff too. That was probably the best feeling ever considering I wasn’t really into it all that much. I need to really look at my fiances and get it under control.
Yes, I am just not a sales person and I love their DVD’s but when I was paying and not selling it was pointless.
Meds and a doctor visit totally don’t count! I’m super impressed with how much you’re saving per month. Great job!
Thank you! I actually budget my oil heat and Christmas to be spread over the year so most of it is my savings for that but putting more away just in case is nice.
I have never done a conscious spending freeze. Spending ebbs and flows. If you’re a member of Amazon prime, you can see many of the same movies available to stream on Netflix. But videos and first runs are not an option. As far as the Beach body goes, I did that for a while, but I found that, since I eat fairly well and take vitamins already, I didn’t need the fortified shake. And my protein shakes have more protein and less carbs and sugar. It’s all a matter of where you want to spend your money. To some, mani-pedis or blow outs are non-negotiable. We have to find what works for us. You did great…especially in savings. 🙂
Yes there are some months where I have a lot of birthdays so it adds up but a lot of the basic categories is where I really try to budget it down. I’ll have to check out Amazon prime to see if it is worth switching. Thank you. I am fairly low maintenance so I don’t spend on a lot of pampering moments it usually ends up in extra groceries for the blog. 😉
Hey an additional in savings is more than you had before! Awesome job!
Yes! Any month when I am not in the red is a good month! Haha!
You are so smart and level headed Kerry, I love it. Great job on the savings. You were hit with a ton this winter with all of those stupid repairs so I am happy to read you’re building savings back up. I think was a good month for you !!
Thank you. It has been a rough year for my wallet but I am glad I was still able to save.
Great job! And you stowed $ away in your savings! I need this inspiration!
Thank you! I really want to sell my house in a year or two so it is motivating me to save up!
This is a great idea! We have never done this but we really need to!
It is such a great way to see where you are spending your money and possible cutback on some mindless spending.
wow you are so organized to do this list! i tend to overspend on snacks in supermarket, the packaging is really attractive!
Thank you! Yes the grocery store is tough, they put all that stuff so close and it’s so easy to grab.
I hate getting tickets like that! It puts such a damper on your day. Keep up the great work with your savings!
Thank you! It was a bummer but it was worth the night out!
I recently started making my own coffee in the morning instead of going to get coffee at Dunkin and bringing my own lunch to work. You dont realize how much that adds up until you stop doing it!
Yes, it all adds up so quickly and little changes can make a big difference!
Dang that’s really good! At least the charges you did have aren’t reoccurring. I hate parking tickets. In LA they were up to like $70 a few years back. I heard they were supposed to go up to $90, also a few years back. So no idea how much they are now but I swear they make those signs as hard as possible to understand AND give bogus citations. Ugh!
Anyway, have a GREAT weekend!
Thank you. Yes they were unavoidable so I don’t feel so bad. That is crazy $90 for a ticket?! They really do and since I am not in the city often I wouldn’t even know if it was bogus. I checked the meter and the road and didn’t see anything. Hope you have a great weekend!
Kerry, I love how you did this post. It really makes a difference with those little costs. I was just going over with my teenager yesterday about spending his hard earned money on teeny spending, really adds up. (I just found out he’s been paying for his girlfriend’s lunch every single day… plus going over my budget I give him for HIS lunch… it comes to almost 10 bucks a day or more on eating out for school lunch!) Anywho… I have to say by calling even T-mobile and the cable company, they’ve worked with us to lowering our monthly payments. Bonus. Every little bit truly adds up to put in as cushion for a rainy day… like for my set of ($2K) tires for my truck. 🙂
Thank you. Yes, they really add up. Awww at least he was using it for someone else but yes it does make the money go fast. Ugh tires are so expensive but it is so much better when you have the money tucked away for it rather than it being a surprise bill.
I love doing spending freezes because I like to have control over my money instead of my money having control over me! I think you did a great job!
Yes, being able to find ways to say and not letting money control you is so empowering. Thank you.
Oh damn that sucks about the Boston parking ticket! Btw I might be in Boston and NH later this year! That’s where you live right?