Happy Fourth!

 Vote Yes, Vote Yes, Vote for Independency..........


Enjoy this live production of "1776".
This musical should be mandatory viewing every July 4th.

This show speaks to me as a few of my ancestors are depicted in it. ;-)

I especially like the number which was cut from the movie version(due to objection by then sitting President Richard Nixon)called "Cool Cool Considerate Men".

Sluggy

2016 $38K Savings Challenge.....June Update

Every year I keep a close eye on our monthly expenses and our monthly income.

Our income is mainly the salary my Hubs draws from his job.  We have money taken off each paycheck from the top to put into savings, before we even get our hands on it.  This money that's taken goes into various pots....life insurance, health insurance premiums, long term care insurance premiums, investments and retirement savings.  It's automatic so we are never tempted to NOT put it into savings or these other categories.

Once the automatic savings amounts, plus taxes and medical/dental/vision premiums are taken out, it leaves what we get to "live on".  From this amount we budget for bills, both monthly and irregular bills(semi-annual, annual etc.) and our variable bills(like food, eating out, clothing  etc.)  Anything left over once our monthly expenses are paid, I put aside into an interest bearing Savings Challenge account.

For 2016 I am continuing my Yearly Savings Challenge.  I am raising the Goal amount to $40,000 this year, $10K more than my goal for last year.

I have reconsidered and changed my Goal from $40K to $38K for 2016.  With some things coming down the pike this year I thought it prudent to back up my Goal a couple of thousand.  8-)

On to the June report.....

I have posted my June End of Month $38K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.
Check out the Savings Challenge page tab at the top of the blog for the specific numbers HERE.

I have 2 goals each month.....
The 1st is to actually finish each month in the black and not the red.
The 2nd is to hit the targeted savings amount of $3,166.66.

I have to report that we finished up June with a less than stellar amount.
The extra amount we ended the month of June with?.......$1962.66

Income

We had $1734.33 left over from our income after our monthly expenses were deducted.

Other monies received in June totaled $228.33.  This included interest made on non-retirement accounts, a per diem and stock dividends.

This brought us to our gain of $1,962.66
Since we have no debt, this goes into savings.

Outgo

As for the expenses this June, here are the good and the bad side of things....

HERE are the GOOD THINGS

*  Phone charges, electric bill and internet were approximately the same as last month(With $1 or so).
*  The cash withdrawals were down $100 from last month.  Considering we took $500 in cash on our LA trip and we didn't go anywhere this month but had more food spending, that sounds about right.

HERE are the BAD THINGS

*  Water use was up $21.35 from last month.  More people's laundry and showers so it was expected.
*  The gas card spending was up $111.89, mostly due to charging gas on the May trip to that card.
*  The credit card bill was up $1948.10 from last month.  Most of that was trip spending in May.
*  The direct medical spending was up $110.65 from May's total.
*  We "recycled" 2 tvs in June and had to pay $60 OOP in fees.

The Food Budget costs for June are in another post, which is located HERE.

With 6 month accounted for, our Savings Challenge Grand Total for 2016 is $19,399.50.

Final thoughts on June---

June was a fairly expensive month for us, given all that credit card/trip spending.  Some regular expenses went up too and will be up for a couple years into the future.
No irregular bills due this month, that happens next month.

But compared to June 2015 we put $593.29 more into savings this June. 8-)
.
We have $19399.50 saved so far in 2016, and we have only $18,600.50 left to save over the next 6 months at this point to reach our goal of $38K saved.  That averages out to $3100.08 a month for the rest of the year.  We are just a little over saving half of what I want in 2016 so we are right on target at this point in the year.

We are at the halfway mark for the year folks!  I can't believe the year is half over.

In 2015 we put $18,797.36 into savings at the halfway mark so we are averaging slightly more saved per month in 2016 so far.

THOUGHTS going forward into July----
The only irregular bill I have to pay in July is a quarterly Garbage bill and that's not much.
August and September will be my Bill Armageddon however.(House and car insurance AND property taxes.)
There may be a short trip in July which will mean some c/c spending to pay in August. Our c/c balance due in July is hovering at $1K($550 of which is a car repair...ugh) so that bill will be a bit less this month that what it was in June(over $2500).

So how was your June financially?
  

Did you spend less than the income you had in June?
Did you stay within your budget or not?
What did you do with any money leftover at the end of the month?
Did you pay off any debts or put extra toward your mortgage principle or into savings, in an emergency fund or a retirement account?
Or did you blow it on a want?

If you posted your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can go check out your progress too and celebrate or commiserate with you!

As we go forward into the last half of 2016 why not make this year the one were you clean up your finances and pay off your debts.
Plan to set something aside if you don't already now or increase what you bank now for your future self.
Or pay extra on the principle of your mortgage is your house isn't already paid off.

Live below your means and keep some change for a rainy day....because no matter how sunny it is in your life now, dark clouds come along and you'll be glad you have that umbrella to keep you dry.

Sluggy

State of the Freezer & Pantry

Taking a page out of Anne in the Kitchen's book, I decided to track what we used up from the freezer and pantry in June on dinners.
I also tried to track what we added to both in June.

FREEZER

* 3 packages of chuck steaks
* 2 packages of cubed steak
* 2 whole chickens
* 2 London Broils
* 2 lbs. of Flounder
* 2 packages of Kilebasa
* 3 packages of Pork Chops
* 1 large Ziploc of homemade Meatballs
* 2 packages of Italian Sausage
* 2 packages of Chicken Thighs
* 2 packages of Salmon
* 1/3 bag of potato crusted Fish
* 3 bags of Ravioli
* 2 bags of Brussels Sprouts
* 1 bag of Cauliflower
* 1 bag of Broccoli
* 1 bag of Yellow Squash
* 1 bag Mushrooms
* 2 bags of Assorted Veggie(can't remember which kinds)
* 2 large Ziplocs of Home grown Collards
* 1 package Stuffed Clams
* 2 packages chicken Breakfast Sausages
* 1 bag Gnocchi
* 1/2 bag of Corn Dogs
* 1lb Ground Beef roll
* 2 packages of Bacon

PANTRY STAPLES

* 1 can corn
* 1 can of creamed corn
* 1 box of spaghetti
* 1 bottle Italian dressing
* 2 cans crushed tomatoes
* 1 can puree tomatoes
* 1 jar spaghetti sauce
* 1 bag Spanish rice mix
* 1 box pasta shells
* 2 cans baked Beans
* 3 cups Risotto Rice
* 2 boxes Stuffing mix
* 1 bag Alfredo noodles
* 1 box instant mac & cheese
* 1/2 jar roasted Red Peppers
* 3 cans green Chiles
* 1 can Refried Beans
* 1 bag Hush Puppy mix
* 1/2 box White Rice
* 3 boxes Cornbread mix
* 1 box of Chicken Stock
* 1 can Tomato Soup
* 1 quart Vegetable Oil
* 1 package Flour Tortillas
* 2/3 package Corn Tortillas
* 1 jar of Pimientoes

And here is what went into the Freezer and Pantry in June.....

ADDED to FREEZER in JUNE

* 1 bag of Shrimp
* 1 package Stuffed Clams
* 2 packages London Broil
* 2 lbs Ground Beef
* 1 roll Breakfast Sausage
* 2 packages R/S Bacon
* 2 bags Gnocchi
* 1 box of Corn Dogs
* 4 lbs of Ground Beef rolls
* 2 bags of Broccoli
* 1 bag of Chicken Strips
* 3 Pork Shoulders(small ones)
* 3 packages of Chicken Thighs
* 1 small Sirloin Steak
* 1 package Cubed Steaks
* 2 boxes Breaded Shrimp
* 6 packages of Bacon
* 2 packages of Turkey Breakfast Sausage

ADDED to PANTRY in JUNE

* 1 can tomato Soup
* 1 half gallon Vegetable Oil
* 1 package Fettuccine Noodles
* 1 package Flour Tortillas
* 1 package Corn Tortillas
* 2 boxes instant au gratin Potatoes
* 7 bags assorted noodle side dishes
* 2 bags of Instant Taters
* 1 bag Brown Sugar
* 3 cans Beefaroni
* 14 bottles of Salad Dressing
* 4 canisters of Lemonade
* 2 jars of Pimientoes
* 2 jars of Pickles
* 3 boxes of Taco Shells

If I hadn't added more to the Freezer in June it would be half empty by now.  With Daughter and BF's freezer purchases in June it's just about at the same levels of fullness......ice cream cartons and boxes breakfast sandwiches seem to take up more room comparatively than most items. ;-)
We did add less than we used up on both fronts in June.


Sluggy

Grocery Store Hijinx & Finding the Budget Sweet Spot

Well I actually spent $160.21 this week in two trips--1 for $104.15 and 1 for $56.06.
I split the $104.15 trip as some items were bought for our July 4th cook-out(and I didn't want to wait until July's food budget kicked in)so I put $52.75 in the June budget, which put us $10+ over for the month.
So $51.40 of that $104.15 trip went onto July's spending.
Then I went back to Weis(PMITA)Markets on Thursday to pick-up a "few" things and use 2 coupons I forgot to take earlier in the week on that other trip.
Oops. ;-)

But really how could I say no to 2 bags of coffee for $1.75 a bag, salad dressing for $1 a bottle, 5 packs of OM bacon for $3 after sale and $3 off stickers, 2 boxes of turkey sausage bkfst patties for $1 after sale and $2 off stickers, 4 bags of shredded cheese on clearance for 1/2 price, 2 loaves of PF bread/2 canisters of lemonade mix/2 packs of snack crackers(for BF's lunches) for $6.49 total(it was a Buy 6/Sale $3 Deal + I had $3 in Qs to use), 1 Hummus dip for $1(after sale and Qs)?
A 58% savings rate for that trip alone so yes, I'll spend extra now to save later.

The $104.15 trip was a 48% savings rate as well so not too shabby.

This means I have already spent $107.46 of my $450 food budget for July.
And it's just July first.
meh.

As for the rest of July I am NOT going to push off any monies spent in July onto August, like I did with some of June's spending onto July.
Good, bad or ugly, my July total will be what it will be.

As for being stressed out over food overspending.....
I am not stressed right now.  I am still trying to find our new normal food budget.  IF we need to spend $500 or $600 a month now, so be it.

What would stress me out more now is to have more food waste.  We've got more of that than I am comfortable with right now.

But again, still honing in on that sweet spot of the new normal for us so I'll be working on keeping all the leftovers being consumed and not throwing them out when they go off.

Daughter and BF don't seem to like leftovers from what I can tell.
Yes it would be easy to just tell them eat it or go hungry but to put into practice?.....not so much.

 Maybe the plan going forward is to keep my amounts cooked for meals tight/smaller and try to avoid leftovers unless it's something I can repurpose into a new dish that we will all eat OR over cook some foods for planned-overs.

We do have a dog here now so an instant garbage disposal for leftovers(if it's not vegetables).  Yes, that will help with making sure everything gets eaten before it goes bad BUT I really don't want to be buying food and cooking it to ultimately feed to the dog because the humans here didn't eat it.

So much to work on and consider.

Sluggy

July Giveaway Anyone? Another Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway!

Summer is here so let's have another Giveaway!
This is the fifth  Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway for 2016.
Hey, it's one way to empty my toiletry stash. lolz

Here is what you can win if your entry is picked.......

1 x Absorbine Jr. Topical Pain Reliever
1 x Vive L'Oreal Shampoo
1 x Nivea Body Wash
1 x Olay In-Shower Lotion
1 x CeraVe Lotion
1 x Colgate Toothpaste
1 x Rite-Aid Toothbrush
1 x Simple Exfoliating Wipes
1 x Ace Heating Pad(disposable)
1 x Sucrets Cough Drops
4 x Hershey Dark Chocolate w/fruits/nuts Squares
9 x Lindor Truffles(Milk, Dark and Xtra Dark)
3 x Mardi Gras Bead Strands from my Lousiana Trip


Over $50 in regular retail of toiletries(and chocolate).

Here are close-up photos of the potential winnings.............

I'll leave this giveaway open until Friday, July 15th, at 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time, so that gives everyone a full 2 weeks to enter this one.  On the 15th I'll put all the valid entries into a container and draw out a name and that person wins.


You may get ONE ENTRY EVERY DAY by leaving a comment on this blog post until the Giveaway ends.
Tell me what here is the thing you most want to win in your comment, or what your Summer vacation plans are, or tell me whatever you feel like telling me in your comment.  8-)

You can also get 3 BONUS ENTRIES by posting this Giveaway on your own Blog OR if you are a Follower of this blog.  Please leave 3 separate entries for these bonus entries with either a link to your blog post where you talk about the giveaway OR the name you follow under so I can verify your entries.

  Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US only.
I sent the last box to Canada and I found that the rates have gone way up since the last time I mailed anything to Canada!
Ouch.  As I can't afford to spent $25 to ship a prize anymore I have to keep these giveaways to US readers only now.  Sorry but that's how it has to be. 8-(


***PLEASE NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.
If you're not a registered Blogger User with your contact information on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get ahold of you if you win. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one with those Google Circles nonsense I CAN NOT CONTACT YOU as Google Circles doesn't show your contact info.
I again had to disqualify some entrants in the last giveaway because their profile is linked through Google and not Blogger.  Please check your profile!  And if you ARE entering through a Blogger profile PLEASE have contact info(email addy)in that profile.  If I can't access your email addy I can't contact you so email me your email addy privately or add your email address to your User Profile.  If you have sent me your email addy privately for a previous giveaway I still have it on file so no need to resend it for this giveaway.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I have had to disqualify more readers than I care to due to this issue and I sure don't want it to happen again.  Thanks!

So let's get this started!

Sluggy