September’s Budget and October’s Goals

October 2nd, 2007 · budgeting · 11 Comments

I’m pleased to say that we came in under budget for September. Here’s a link to the full budget balance sheet, published thanks to Google Documents.

We came in $31 over budget for groceries and pharmacy. I’m going to try to expand it by $25 this month and see what happens. Also less than $3 over on “business expenses.” I remember classifying laundry in here too. Not sure where to put it.

But in the end we were able to put $14 more than planned into savings. Didn’t spend anything on crafts, for instance. And I have some gift cards which should keep me set for the fall!

I left the balance sheet with an over balance of $120. I’m adding it to October’s budget as “Misc income.” $100 will go for Mr. Micah’s medication which we didn’t buy in September but need to buy now. I’ll budget another $100 so I can get mine refilled too. The $20 will be added to another $20 budgeted for charitable giving and will go altogether to some friends who could use it. We’ll be seeing them in October.

So I’m rather pleased with myself.

My goals for September were to: figure out our net worth, make a budget and stick to it, and create a repayment plan. I think I achieved them all.

Now here are October’s finance goals:

1. Set up bank accounts and combine finances with Mr. Micah.
2. Earn at least $20 through activities on the side. (though that won’t be in the budget)

Fairly modest goals, which I hope means that I’ll stick to them. I also plan to keep following our savings/repayment/budget things. Hopefully I’ll have redone our NetWorthIQ by Saturday.

Tags: budget·goal

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11 responses so far ↓

1 SavingDiva // Oct 2, 2007 at 6:56 pm

Great goals!

Nice chart!
2 Hilda // Oct 3, 2007 at 1:18 am

Wow! You are just so full of ideas for me to copy! LOL.

Good job on the budget. I think I’m going to make your September goals my goals for October. I’ve been meaning to do our networth, set up a budget and stuff but I’m procrastinating. Well, no more. I’m doing all that this month. (watch me do it by the very last day of October. Sheesh!)

Thanks, MrsMicah. You’re an inspiration!
3 Anonymous // Oct 3, 2007 at 1:42 am

Good job!!! I hope you continue to improve but, don’t be too hard on yourself. Annette
4 Mrs. Micah // Oct 3, 2007 at 1:44 am

Thanks Hilda and SD! The chart is based on something my personal finance teacher made. I then broke it down into what actually fit my situation, took some things out and added others. I find it quite useful. For October, I just took September’s chart and switched around some of the numbers based on what this month should bring.
5 PaulaB52 // Oct 3, 2007 at 1:40 pm

You are so fancy with the pie chart!

Good job on staying within the budget.
6 Catherine Lawson // Oct 3, 2007 at 2:19 pm

Well done, you are doing really well with this. It’s hard to know where to put laundry expenses. If you put them in with groceries, it makes it look as though you spent a fortune on groceries doesn’t it?