My attempt at Saving Money; The Written Budget

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You have to have a budget!!

A written down, black and white budget.

It took me until last year to actually come to this conclusion!

It makes you accountable.

I think that's the biggest thing!

And also, it is what showed me that I was spending way more than my monthly income!

When I finally woke up to that fact, I sent for Dave Ramsey's book, "Total Money Makeover" to help!

HELP!

I had been listening to his program on the radio and online for a few months and knew I had to get rid of my credit card debt first.

Credit cards!!!

No wonder I didn't realize what I was spending.

Using credit cards doesn't seem like you're really spending your cash!

As far as my monthly income goes;

I'm not counting my savings and what is in the stock market.  My monthly income is just that.

Social security, my pension, my husband's partial pension (which was quite a bit larger when he was alive of course,) plus another benefit from my husband's police and fire group.  The biggest amount comes from interest on a note I'm holding from selling our FL house.

I had to decide what categories that I should have listed on my budget.

Here are my categories for Expenses:

•Emergency Fund

•Housing, which includes:  heat, electricity, phones, cable/satellite, lawncare/winter plowing,

                 house cleaning, plumber, garden, handyman

•Transportation:  (all things car)

•Food:  groceries and restaurant

•Lifestyle:  personal, misc., pets, vet, horse board

•Insurance and taxes

•Debts 

Yes, Housing is the big category and adds up to be the most money,

but groceries is the second and I think that's the one I can do much better at.

Here are some things to consider:

#1.  I'm 73 and can't do as much as I used to do so I have to have some help.

So that is the reason for house cleaning once a month, handyman, lawn care and snowplowing.

#2.  It is a lot more expensive to live in the country.

So let me know what you think about my budget.

And tomorrow we'll start on ways I'm working to cut my expenses.

Shirley