Comments on: Where’s My Money Going? Month http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:34:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Where’s My Money Going!?! Month | Live To Budget http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37747 Where’s My Money Going!?! Month | Live To Budget Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:26:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37747 [...] Micah is running what she has called “Where’s My Money Going? Month” (I’d personally add a few extra exclamation marks and question marks to the title [...] [...] Micah is running what she has called “Where’s My Money Going? Month” (I’d personally add a few extra exclamation marks and question marks to the title [...]

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37734 Diane Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:02:02 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37734 Ca Girl - Sounds great! Congratulations on the Prius~! I also have a spreadsheet I created to track monthly expenses by pay period, but I've been using that for major fixed expenses only. I've been writing my daily expenses in a notebook for this challenge, but I think I'm going to start my own spreadsheet to track the categories. I know what you mean about unusual expenses - I've already spent way more this month than I ever spend on prescriptions, but my younger son has the flu right now, so it skews things. Got to take that into account... Ca Girl – Sounds great! Congratulations on the Prius~!

I also have a spreadsheet I created to track monthly expenses by pay period, but I’ve been using that for major fixed expenses only.

I’ve been writing my daily expenses in a notebook for this challenge, but I think I’m going to start my own spreadsheet to track the categories.

I know what you mean about unusual expenses – I’ve already spent way more this month than I ever spend on prescriptions, but my younger son has the flu right now, so it skews things. Got to take that into account…

]]> By: Ca Girl http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37692 Ca Girl Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:54:31 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37692 I've been doing this for a bit over a year. I started out with an accounting book from the drugstore, then moved to Pear Budget. I found that the categories weren't that useful, so I created my own excel spreadsheet. Not only do I track all of my spending and can add categories as needed (added a travel row when we took a vacation last year), but I also track spending my fiance does for shared items so it shows how much we spent on groceries, etc. as a household. I add notes at the bottom so I can always see why I spent so much in a certain category - $25 for coffee in one pay period? Oh, I had to drive to an outside meeting at an ungodly hour every day for a week... I track it by pay periods. At the bottom of the sheet, I also track my monthly balances on loans and credit cards so I can see at a glance whether I've increased or (hopefully!) decreased my debt. I went ahead and added in the totals for my savings accounts and investments so I can see my net worth (cash only, not including posessions) each month. It's very useful; for instance, I can see that I only spent $575 for gas in SoCal in 2007 - makes me even happier that I bought a Prius. I’ve been doing this for a bit over a year. I started out with an accounting book from the drugstore, then moved to Pear Budget. I found that the categories weren’t that useful, so I created my own excel spreadsheet. Not only do I track all of my spending and can add categories as needed (added a travel row when we took a vacation last year), but I also track spending my fiance does for shared items so it shows how much we spent on groceries, etc. as a household. I add notes at the bottom so I can always see why I spent so much in a certain category – $25 for coffee in one pay period? Oh, I had to drive to an outside meeting at an ungodly hour every day for a week… I track it by pay periods. At the bottom of the sheet, I also track my monthly balances on loans and credit cards so I can see at a glance whether I’ve increased or (hopefully!) decreased my debt. I went ahead and added in the totals for my savings accounts and investments so I can see my net worth (cash only, not including posessions) each month. It’s very useful; for instance, I can see that I only spent $575 for gas in SoCal in 2007 – makes me even happier that I bought a Prius.

]]> By: The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Obsolete Edition http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37680 The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Obsolete Edition Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:01:45 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37680 [...] “Where’s My Money Going” Month This is an excellent step to take if you feel out of touch with where your money is going. Even people who have their financial house in order (like me) can afford to do this every once in a while. (@ mrs. micah) [...] [...] “Where’s My Money Going” Month This is an excellent step to take if you feel out of touch with where your money is going. Even people who have their financial house in order (like me) can afford to do this every once in a while. (@ mrs. micah) [...]

]]> By: Jason http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37650 Jason Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:37:24 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37650 I haven't been closely monitoring my spending (although I have been keeping a much closer eye on my overall spending in the last few months), so this will be an interesting experiment I think. I'm certainly in :-) I haven’t been closely monitoring my spending (although I have been keeping a much closer eye on my overall spending in the last few months), so this will be an interesting experiment I think. I’m certainly in :-)

]]> By: LaTanya http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37523 LaTanya Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:29:14 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37523 This is something that I have been wanting to do for a while (like the last 4 years!). I just really started seriously using coupons and watching our spending a little more closely and this is the next step. So, count me in! This is something that I have been wanting to do for a while (like the last 4 years!). I just really started seriously using coupons and watching our spending a little more closely and this is the next step. So, count me in!

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37465 mrsmicah Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:52:01 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37465 @Allison, I think it's been about a year since I've done it. Excepting things will have changed. @PT, hoping you'll share those spreadsheets!! @Tom, that's happened to me as well. I went through a period where I was afraid to look. We did quite well, but I had no idea whether we were doing well or not....in retrospect it was scarier than looking. @Ken, thanks! :) @Diane, awesome, welcome aboard. Sometimes I wonder if a low-tech option like a notebook might not be the best option. Simple can be better, especially if it makes it easier to get things done. @Allison, I think it’s been about a year since I’ve done it. Excepting things will have changed.

@PT, hoping you’ll share those spreadsheets!!

@Tom, that’s happened to me as well. I went through a period where I was afraid to look. We did quite well, but I had no idea whether we were doing well or not….in retrospect it was scarier than looking.

@Ken, thanks! :)

@Diane, awesome, welcome aboard. Sometimes I wonder if a low-tech option like a notebook might not be the best option. Simple can be better, especially if it makes it easier to get things done.

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37452 Diane Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:03:51 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37452 Okay, I'm in. As Frugal Dad said, at least its a short month... Since today is the 1st and I haven't left the house all day, I've got one day under my belt. I do track all my regular monthly bills to the penny on a home made excel spreadsheet. I also save every receipt - cash, charge, debit, whatever. I just don't add up or track the misc. cash expenses & debit card uses. I'll get a small notebook to write it all down and see where it leads. It should be interesting! Okay, I’m in. As Frugal Dad said, at least its a short month… Since today is the 1st and I haven’t left the house all day, I’ve got one day under my belt.

I do track all my regular monthly bills to the penny on a home made excel spreadsheet.

I also save every receipt – cash, charge, debit, whatever. I just don’t add up or track the misc. cash expenses & debit card uses.

I’ll get a small notebook to write it all down and see where it leads. It should be interesting!

]]> By: Ken http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37446 Ken Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:48:23 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37446 I have done this exercise before. It was enlightening. I did it when I went through a money management called Crown Ministries. I don't think I will do it this month, but it is a good practice. I look forward to the results on your blog. I have done this exercise before. It was enlightening. I did it when I went through a money management called Crown Ministries. I don’t think I will do it this month, but it is a good practice. I look forward to the results on your blog.

]]> By: Fab Five: Superbowl Sunday Edition | Frugal Dad http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/01/28/wheres-my-money-going-month/#comment-37416 Fab Five: Superbowl Sunday Edition | Frugal Dad Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:07:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1293#comment-37416 [...] of tracking spending in February, Mrs. Micah has declared it a “where’s my money going month.” A great idea, and an effort I will also take up to better manage where my money is going.  [...] [...] of tracking spending in February, Mrs. Micah has declared it a “where’s my money going month.” A great idea, and an effort I will also take up to better manage where my money is going.  [...]

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