Happy New Year! We slid into the month of December with a lot of spending and family fun — so much so that we had trouble getting caught up in our budget(!!), and are limping to the end of December with both DH and I having the latest virus that is going around. Forced frugality.
We have been seeking some balance from the excesses of December by:
- Making meals like chili that use up pantry/freezer items
- Using some of the teacher appreciation restaurant gift cards I got last spring
- Picking up clearance Christmas items that we know we will need next year (cards, 1 roll of wrapping paper, and labels)
- Watching for holiday clearance grocery items that I know we will use, like canned pumpkin.
We did manage to get our budget up to date after several weeks of too many trips to Trader Joe’s as well as hosting various parties. Whether you are a new or a seasoned budgeter, this is a great time to take a look at what you spent so you can plan for it next year. For example, DH takes his staff out for lunch in December, so we always set aside money for that.
I naturally find myself looking ahead 3-6 months for any major expenses on the horizon so we can plan. This week I realized we have a new expense ahead… drivers education for our daughter. It costs around 400.00 so we will allocate money for that. If you’ve been reading this (intermittent) blog for a while, you might be surprised we are already facing driver’s education!
How are you feeling about your finances after December?
The Healthful Saver 