I have posted my DECEMBER End of Month 60K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.Check out the side bar to your right(near the bottom) for the specific numbers.
We had another Excellent month growing our Savings in December!
I have to report that we finished up December in the Black again.
The amount we ended the month of December with was..........$2,104.79!
And that amount was AFTER Christmas spending so I am pretty excited for the total.
Besides Hubby salary we had a hefty amount in Rebates, some rolled Coins and I sold a few things on eBay. While not a large sum of money, it does add up and help to beef up the savings amount.
As for the expenses in December.....
The electric bill jumped $60 from November, as December was quite a bit colder overall here and the heat was on full time.
The water bill jumped $17 from last month. No explanation for that one.
All other regular bills...Cable, Internet, Phone, etc. are the same each month.
The Food Budget costs for December are in another post, which is located HERE. Food/Toiletries spending in December was low after rebate income was figured in and compared to the value of the items bought we saved just over 92%.
We had some out-of-the-ordinary expenses in December. There was Christmas & daughter's birthday spending(gifts, travel, special food, etc.), though we didn't spend all of the $800 we budget for that so we are under on that expense.
But there were unexpected bills such as--the veterinary hospital($182.90), an electrician visit($109.55), an additional car insurance fee($209.51)since the daughter got her license this month, and 2 car repairs/maintenance bills($1072.94). If not for these $1574.90 in unusual expenses, the amount to put into savings would have been 50% larger.
The credit card bill,which is paid off EVERY MONTH,($826.58) wasn't very high considering 1/3 of that Dec. bill was Christmas gifts bought early and now are paid for already. We only have about $170.00 in Christmas & Birthday purchases that will be on the January credit card bill.
The way things turned out, those unusual expenses I was anticipating having to pay out on in December are going to be due in January instead. These would include Oral Surgery for both Daughter and #2 Son and Orthodontic Work for #2 Son. It will be a very expensive month for our family's teeth. 8-(
At the end of TWELVE MONTHS of this $AVING$ Challenge, and we have a Savings Grand Total of $23,865.36 for the Year!
While it is nowhere close to the $60 THOUSAND I shot for, I am pretty pleased with the Total we were able to save. Believe me when I tell you that every penny of that is safely snuggled into an account earning interest.
So what exactly is $23,865.36?
$23,865.36 is paying CASH for a Nice Car!
Not that I would ever spend it that way.lol
$23,865.36 is a total kitchen remodel or a bathroom addition on your home for CASH!
Ok, this is a way I might consider spending it.
$23,865.36 is sending your kid to college for a Year with NO LOANS!
Oh yeah, that's a most excellent way to use that money.
$23,865.36 is paying off a car loan, a student loan, a second mortage or line of credit, or putting on the principle on your mortgage so you are one step closer to being DEBT FREE!
$23,865.36 is a ready made CASH Emergency Fund so that the next time Life hits you with a money emergency, Life can't kick your ass and make you put that emergency on a credit card!
So how was your December financially? Leave a comment and share with us what you did with your money, both the good and not-so good. Do you have any tricks or tips that help you to end your month before the money runs out? Let us know!
And what are your plans for your money in 2010? Do you have a Budget or some kind of Plan for your Money laid out IN WRITING for 2010? It's time to start thinking about how to get a fresh start to Financial Freedom in the new year! You need to let your money know what you expect it to do for you. If you don't, your money will do what it wants and just fritter away. Don't be left standing at the end of 2010 with nothing to show for all your hard work!
Make a plan!
Do it NOW!!
Sluggy
