I spent $4.70 today.
My total spending for the week so far is $37.50. If I stick to my $12 a day budget I've $46.50 left to spend this week. If I try and make up some of last weeks overage I've $36.93 left to spend this week. Either way I think I can do it.
This is going to sound crazy but I've never "officially" balanced our checkbook. I keep close track of our bank account and I enter all of our spending into a spreadsheet on excel but I've never actually listed each purchase line for line and "balanced the checkbook" like you're supposed to do. I lump all the spending into categories like "gas," "groceries," "so and so's birthday," "ect;" but I don't write down every individual instance and add and subtract and balance. I've decided as of today to start "officially" balancing the check book. I'm not going to use an actual checkbook, but rather a notebook. But I am going to begin making note of every swipe, every debit, every deposit, you name it. I'm looking forward to this new endevour and I like to imagine that it will help me spend a bit less. Or shall I say waste a bit less money/ make wiser purchases.
I should clarify: I do keep really close track of what we've spent and how much money is in the account and I have a very organized budget drawn up. I just haven't ever took the time to write out every purchase and really truly balance the checkbook the way you're "supposed" to.
Wow! I keep my checkbook balanced to the penny and it drives me nuts if it isn't. I would definitely overdraft if I didn't keep it. I think that it would be harder to start it if you never have. What benefit is there to you to keep a checkbook now?
ReplyDeleteI think anything that helps you to see where your money is going and what your spending is made up of is a good thing! Not everybody is good with money and you've made the decision to be more careful and live a more frugal lifestyle. More power to your elbow, that's what I say!
ReplyDeleteK xx