When reviewing my finances for 2018, I mentioned my desire to look at them on a monthly basis in 2019. Justin and I spent a little too much in 2018 and let our finances get the best of us. Maybe by looking at our finances monthly (and let you guys/gals keep me in check), we will do better this year.
That's the goal anyway.Here's month #11 for 2020:
Spending:
Compared to Last Year –
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| green = this year, yellow = last year |
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| green = this year, yellow = last |
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| green = this year, yellow = last |
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| green line = this month, dotted line = last month |
Where We Spent Our Money:
Top 10 Merchants:
1. Taxes/Rent
2. Instacart (groceries)
3. Free People (Mandy clothes)
4. Toco Giant (alcohol, gifts)
2. Instacart (groceries)
3. Free People (Mandy clothes)
4. Toco Giant (alcohol, gifts)
5. Amazon (kitchen supplies, groceries)
6. Anthropologie (Mandy clothes)
7. Nordstrom Rack (Mandy clothes)
8. Market Hall Foods (tea, balsamic vinegar, advent calendars)
9. Costco (groceries, camera cards)
10. Maine Lobster (gift)
Top 10 Categories:
1. Food & Dining
2. Shopping
4. Taxes/Rent
5. Gifts
6. Auto
7. Nordstrom Rack (Mandy clothes)
8. Market Hall Foods (tea, balsamic vinegar, advent calendars)
9. Costco (groceries, camera cards)
10. Maine Lobster (gift)
Top 10 Categories:
1. Food & Dining
2. Shopping
4. Taxes/Rent
5. Gifts
6. Auto
7. Bills & Utilities
8. Insurance
9. Interest Charges
Budgeting:
Restaurants – under
Hair Appointments - under
Gas & Fuel – under
Groceries – overRestaurants – under
Hair Appointments - under
Everything Else – over
Net Income:
Debt:
student loans
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| credit cards |
How Did I Do On My Financial Goals for November?
✓ Make returns to Anthropologie,
✓ decide on returns for Free People
✗ Nordstrom
✗ Fix Amazon.
✗ Decide on Mindspring. (Year or cancel?)
✗ Spend less on groceries.
✗ Finish Christmas shopping.
✓ Ship some gifts.
Numbers:
Overview of the Biggest Impacts This Month:
1. Shopping for gifts and clothes.
* Loan Payoff Date 6/1/24 (+1 mo)
* Credit Card Payoff Date 12/1/21 (+ 1 mo)
* Emergency Funds: $8,305• 401K $60,796.55
• Credit Scores: 760 (Justin, up), 783, 781 (me, up)
Overview of the Biggest Impacts This Month:
1. Shopping for gifts and clothes.
2. taxes due.
3. Stocking up on wine.
4. Tried variations of makeup and haircare options to see what works best for my skin and scalp.
5. Having an unpaid week off of work.
What went wrong this month?
1. Spent too much on groceries.
2. Spent too much on clothes.
3. Didn't accomplish many of my goals.
4. Losing focus on finances and putting that focus elsewhere.
5. Gift buying always hurts a little, especially in large quantities for Christmas.
What went right this month?
1. Spent less on gas.
2. Calling to get a fee reduction for my Chase Sapphire Reserve.
3. Credit scores improving.
4. Debt going down.
5. Making returns.
Financial plans/goals for December
1. Fix Amazon.
2. Coming up with a good gift for my parents that doesn't break the bank.
3. Explore options for sending gifts cheaply.
4. Look at the year's finances.
5. Look at Capital One bonus offer.
