Just as a reminder, my husband handles the "big" bills like the mortgage, cell phone, and electricity. I mostly pay for groceries and the pets. This division works for us.
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Groceries (30%) - People gotta eat. We're doing a Costco run next month. I expect this to go up.
Pets (26.1%) - Our girls are so expensive. I know I keep talking about this, but think about how much I could put into savings if I didn't have pets?! Hannah went to the vet (the Great Mudroom Disaster of 2024 was real), they both got food and some meds. *shrug* I don't really want to talk about next month because buckle up for tomorrow when I tell you about Zelda.
Health (16.4%) - I had a periodontist appointment and that was $300. *sigh*
Bills (10.6%) - Water, home insurance, and car insurance.
Savings (9.1%) - Remember how I had a goal to increase this? *heavy sigh*
Personal care (2.8%) - Hair cut! No regrets.
Cars (2.4%) - Gas a couple of times.
Miscellaneous (1.4%) - I printed off photos for a work thing.
Gifts (0.7%) - I bought a friend a gift for her dog.
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What's your biggest splurge from September?
My biggest recent expense has been some new clothes. I badly needed some new work shoes before my Nashville trip. My old black flat dress shoes (which I loved!!) were years and years and years old and were finally just truly worn out. They had to go. (Sad, because I really liked them and couldn't find any just like them.) I ended up buying 2 pairs of Rothy's- a plain back pair and then a "fun" pattern black/white design. I really hesitated on buying TWO pair because technically I did not "need" the patterned ones. I considered ONLY buying the patterned ones, but then I felt like those would not necessarily go with all clothing- like a patterned dress or skirt would not look right with the patterned shoes? If that makes sense. So the plain black felt more 'necessary', and the others were a splurge, I guess. I also bought a pair of dress pants in a wider leg style, since I didn't really own any like that.
ReplyDeleteI need some new clothes for winter, too. I have some store credit at a couple of stores and I should use that, but their winter clothes don't appeal to me. *sigh* Having to get dressed for work every day is brutal.
DeleteI think if you will use both pairs of shoes, then it was the right thing to do! You shouldn't wear the same pair of shoes everyday anyway - you should always rotate them to have them last longer.
I feel like 9% savibngs is pretty great.
ReplyDeleteLOL savings
DeleteWell, it's fine. It should be better, but it is what it is.
DeleteOther than spending over $2200 on groceries this past month I bought a lot of birthday and Christmas gifts. We are going away for three weeks and I'm trying to get ahead of my Christmas shopping now! I know that sounds weird. I also bought new sunglasses, which was a splurge but a necessary one.
ReplyDeleteChristmas gifts! I can't even imagine doing that right now. You're going to be so much more chill than I am come December, though.
DeleteMy biggest splurge lately was buying all three of the Century Trilogy books! No regrets, although now I have to decide what to do with them. I love them so much, I don't want to just donate them. But I doubt I'll reread them, so then they're just clutter. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteI know- pets are expensive. But worth it! Your life is much fuller and happier with them than without them. And you still put money into savings, so I say well done.
I would definitely reread them if I had them in my house. It might take a decade, but I'd reread them! They are big, though.
DeleteOh, gosh. I don't think we splurged at all in September! So darn much money flowed out of the house during the summer for repairs and redos and the wedding that we kept things reined in during September. Now I feel deprived, and I want to go get myself something nice.
ReplyDeleteTreat yo'self, Nance! You deserve nice things.
DeleteWhat Jenny said - it doesn't matter what the pet % was, it only matters that there was a very nice savings percentage. I *could* add up everything that we've spent on Doggo and I am not going to - we have a lovely dog and Doggy Day Care has really helped her to get out of her shell and open up to the world.
ReplyDeletePoor Zelda. I'm buckling up now in preparation for tomorrow.
She's going to be fine. Just costly. *sigh* Pets. I love her so much, though, she's worth every penny.
DeleteMy splurge in September was buying my husband some birthday and Christmas gifts. I wanted the order to come while he was out of town (the size of the box would have been a dead giveaway). Plus, it feels good to have his main Christmas gift purchased. But...yikes, it wasn't cheap. That said, it was cheaper than buying it elsewhere, so I got the best deal I could on what to me was an expensive LEGO set ($200!!!).
ReplyDeletePoor Zelda. I'm legitimately scared about this!!
You and Nicole getting your Christmas shopping done early. I'm just not that organized!!
DeleteDon't be scared. Zelda's going to be fine; she's just going to be a costly little bugger and might overtake the dog in terms of expenses for the year!
Okay, I am worried about Zelda now and hope that everything is okay.
ReplyDeleteBiggest personal splurge last month: birthday gifts for my husband. Biggest joint splurge: a new bookshelf, TV, and TV stand (none of which are here yet, except for the TV which is still in its box). I have not even begun thinking about Christmas yet.
Thank you, Suzanne, for saying you haven't started Christmas yet. I was starting to feel like I was the only one!
DeleteI kind of feel like I wasn't around enough in September to spend much money! With 3 work trips, that meant that I didn't even need to treat myself to my weekly Starbucks most weeks since I had one daily when it was on the company's dime. I did submit some very large expense reports (although my boss says I do not spend much compared to others...). But on the last day of the month, I took my coworker out for her lunch at a nice restaurant for her birthday. She took me to the same place so I felt like I had to spend a similar amount on her. But it was a good meal and it was nice to get off the desk and talk to each other!
ReplyDeleteYay for Starbucks on the company dime! I would always get Starbucks when I had a per diem. It was not something I'd generally treat myself to, but why not if you're away from home?
DeleteHmm, this is a good question. *my accountant father would be upset that I don't actually know the answer.
ReplyDeleteI'd' guess that we spent more on food than a normal September because I baked and made so much 7 layer taco dip, it was silly. Lots of tailgating, which was so fun. It's a short season.
Now that it's cooler, I feel like baking is back and I'm not going to lie - I might bankrupt us because the cost of butter is INSANE.
DeleteI also think that 9% is better than 0%, even if it is not as high as you wanted. I think having a goal is what is key; otherwise it is too easy to fudge it or forget about it.
ReplyDeleteI guess my September splurge would be a hotel room? I usually try to camp a lot, but one rainy day I decided not to and I had to pay a little more than I wanted to for a room. It was nice to be dry though, so I am glad I did. However, I normally try to have a balance between pampering myself and making do.
You are made of tougher stuff than I am, that's for sure. I'd probably splurge for a hotel room every time it was even slightly cloudy.
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