September Earn More Goals

Even though September is a very busy month for me, I going to make several goals for the Earn More Challenge. I plan to learn from the other participants and hopefully add some $$ to September's budget. I'm going to keep my goals modest and practical:

• Collect snowflakes--reimbursement from school and medical savings account


• Post on Craig's list--2 window air conditioners


• Inquire about teaching another class next semester and about summer job

I think that's all for right now. These seem doable and not overwhelming!

Thank you, Money Funk, for the great challenge for September! It should be fun!

Results of the Spend Less Challenge

I closed out my "Spend-less" month on August 30, because I began on July 30.


The results are mixed: I did spend less on house projects and gifts, but I went way over in the other categories.


I budgeted $480 total for everything: food, gas, gifts, eating out, school expenses, and house projects. I spent $740--$260 over budget! I had purposely set my limits very low, with the hope that I could raise them if my summer job money came in. Due to paperwork glitches, I won't be getting that money until Sept. 20. I, also will get reimbursed for $100 of school expenses.


One thing that I have learned from this experience is that I need to increase my budget categories for groceries and gasoline to be more realistic. I really was as frugal as I could be for food and travel this month and I still went over quite a bit.



My overall grade: C- Even though I went over in several categories, I did spend less than I would have without the challenge. I also got back into the habit of planning my menus weekly, which helps reduce stress and grocery costs.

I'm looking forward to the September Earn More Challenge! I think I'll learn a lot.

Week 3 Results

Even though spending was minimal this week, my monthly totals are looking pretty sick. I think that almost all of my categories will be in the red by the end of the month (3 of them are there already!) What I spent:

Groceries $50
Restaurants $5 ($5 pizza!)
Miscellaneous $19.50 (dry cleaning)
Gasoline $26

I definitely will increase my budgeted amounts next month to reflect how much I really spend.

September Challenge: Earn More

Saving Savy Pinkie made the suggestion that the September Challenge be an earn more challenge--above our regular salaries. Sharon and Christine are already in. I was intimidated at first, because September is a busy month for me, with school starting, cross country going strong every Saturday, and teaching a class at the community college.



This morning, I decided to try the challenge. The Spend Less Challenge this month has been fun because we were doing it together, so I'm going to join the group for September. I just remembered that I have 3 window air conditioners sitting in a closet--I can put them on Craig's list. It's a start!