OMG!!! We tracked our spending this month

[mysticmomma]

Rent 1395.00
G&E 210.89
Childcare 206.00
Car 365.28
Parking 16.00
CC 62.00
Bounce House 13.00
Shipping 25.00
sposies 30.00
C dipes 30.00
RX 10.00
Gas 226.00
Dad's 50 bday 40.00
Paypal 175.00

Paypal was for stuff to make that I re-sell.
No car insurance until July.
We don't pay for cellphones.
My brother rents a room from us and pays our cable bill.

Now... for food...
We get WIC and $500/month in SNAP benefits... so really shouldn't have spent a dime on food. However... we spent an additional $335 on food!!!

Smoothies: 2 trips = 8
7-11: 2 trips = $10
Ice cream man 5 times = $36
Grocery store = $110 (before our benefits started)
Eat out 10 trips = $171

HOLY CRAP

[Turquesa]

Scary, isn't it? Good for you, though. It's an important first step toward frugality. I should probably get going on that myself.

[lunamama]

This is probably the most powerful way to get spending under control. True accountability. Good for you!

[sunnysandiegan]

Originally Posted by lunamama

This is probably the most powerful way to get spending under control. True accountability. Good for you!

Absolutely! With this info, you can make choices to change the details.

[MCsMom]

yep, can be quite the shocker! I know on months where I don't track every cent, I wonder where it all went and those are the months that it seems like a long time till the next pay day.

[ewp11100]

Good for you It takes guts to stop being afraid of your budget.

[phathui5]

I joined the "No-Spend" thread for June. See you over there?

[StarJune]

I track my daily spending too and it is very eye-opening. You will find it good for future planning too.

[mysticmomma]

Groceries 62
Gas 51.40
donuts for church 15
Unknown 13
Rent and water 1470
Co-op 240