All year I've been tracking my totals and average daily spending broken down into eleven different categories. Today I've looked over those numbers and set spending end goals for this year for each category. The numbers on the left are what I've spent so far this year. The numbers on the right are my end goals. The numbers in the middle are how much I have left to spend in each category in order to meet the end goals.
My main goal for the year is to end with an average daily spending under $18 a day. The end goals I've just set would put my daily spending average at $17.65 a day. That goal leaves me with a nice cushion should I have a moment(s) of splurge.
Groceries $3522.86 - $12.02 a day $600.49 $4123.35 $11.55 a day
Food out $398.91 - $1.36 a day $11.64 $410.55 $1.15 a day
Pets $331.35 - $1.13 a day $79.20 $410.55 $1.15 a day
Stuff $239.79 - 82 cents a day $27.96 $267.75 - 75 cents a day
Toiletries $237.28 - 81 cents a day $30.47 $267.75 - 75 cents a day
Clothing $231.44 - 79 cents a day DONE $231.44 - 65 cents a day
Gifts $184.62 - 63 cents a day $11.73 $196.35 - 55 cents a day
Christmas $73.47 - 25 cents a day $122.88 $196.35 - 55 cents a day
Cleaning $104.34 - 36 cents a day $13.96 $118.30 - 33 cents a day
Garden $43.25 - 15 cents a day DONE $43.25 - 12 cents a day
School/ kiddo crafts $19.47 - 8 cents a day $16.23 $35.70 - 10 cents a day
Total: $5393.15 avg. $18.41 a day (296 days) $914.56 $6301.34 - $17.65 a day (357 days)
This leaves a $71.40 cushion for $17.85 a day
or $106.81 cushion for $17.95 a day
$914.56 for the rest of the year - 8 weeks left
Today's 31 days of Thanksgiving post: The first mission trip I signed up for evoked all these comments of “this is really going to change you,” from various people who I told I was going. “Yeah, sure… nah. I know what to expect.” Truth be told I was the one going on the mission trip but they were the ones who were right. I’ll be honest in saying that I have no idea how much of an impact I made on the world through my travels but I changed a lot after four different trips to Guatemala. I left a large part of my heart in a part of the world that previously I hadn’t known existed. I became somewhat of a minimalist no longer wanting or desiring stuff, really of any sort (still very much am to this day). My life was given a new perspective with which I use to look at the world and everyday situations all the time.
My heart grew and my eyes learned a new way to see. I hope that through my time there and through many prayers that have been prayed since that I have had an impact on a country I love dearly. I know the impact it’s had on me. Today my thanks not only go out to Guatemala and its really beautiful people but to the people who I traveled with and met while I was there, my Guatemalan family. When something so life changing happens the people you share the experience with become a very important part of one’s life. I'm thankful for them all!
EEK! the number that jumped out at me was 8, as in 8 weeks until the end of the year. You have really accomplished a lot this year, and I have no doubt you will make your goal.
ReplyDeleteYeah that hit me pretty hard too. I worked out my budget before I looked at exactly how many weeks are left in the year. That number 8 hit me too, same, EEK!
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