As a reminder, my husband pays the "big bills" like mortgage, phone, car, and electricity. I pay for groceries and the pets and that somehow evens things out. But this month the secret is that my husband took the dog to the vet, so that $600 bill went to him instead of me. That felt sneaky and I asked him if he wanted me to pay him back, but he said it was fine. I put money into savings since I didn't have that bill.
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Savings ($500, 17.5%) - I mean, look at me go.
Groceries ($463.57, 16.3%) - Friends, my husband ALSO paid for the Costco trip this month. I am a lucky duck that groceries came in this low.
Pets ($401.31, 14.1%) - This would have been four digits if not for Dr. BB paying for H's vet appointment. This is food for the girls and a lot of medicine for both of them (Apoquel for H's allergies, probiotic and joint supplement for Zelda Belda).
Clothing ($366.15, 12.8%) - I am getting my summasummasummatime groove on. I bought some new lightweight tops that are appropriate for work and some new sandals.
Also, this is the maybe the best purchase I made all month. I bought some sweatbands. I have a permanent anklet that I got with my niece last October. It is not a smooth situation and it has torn up multiple sheets, so I was wearing socks to bed to make sure we didn't have to buy more sheets. Well, I was telling my niece about it/complaining about how I hate wearing socks to bed and she suggested that I buy a sweatband to wear instead. AND IT WORKS. TWEEN GIRLS KNOW THE ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING.
Gifts ($341.27, 12%) - Birthdays! So many greeting cards! #noregrets
Bills ($285, 10%) - Home/car insurance and water/sewer.
Personal care ($172.40, 6%) - Haircut, pedicure, makeup. I have said it before and I'll say it again, it takes a lot of work to be an average looking woman.
Cars ($160.81, 5.6%) - Gas twice and new tags for the VW's plates.
Fitness ($63.30, 2.2%) - Yoga classes through the summer. My regular Tuesday night fitness class doesn't run during the summer, so I sub in yoga on Wednesday nights.
Eating out ($45, 1.4%) - I had dinner out twice and coffee once. Woot!
Entertainment ($34.31, 1.2%) - Spotify subscription, parking when I was on an adventure in Madison, and I bought an ebook.
Health ($24.24, <1%) - I'm over here buying masks like it's 2021. We have two friends who are actively being treated for cancer and another who is being treated for a different health condition with chemotherapy. I buy and wear a lot of KN-95s so I can keep them safe. I see A LOT of people in my work and don't want to bring all the bugs I interact with back to my friends.
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What's a great purchase you made in May? Is it as great as sweatbands that mean you can stop wearing socks to bed?
Booyah for savings taking the top spot! Yeah yeah I know it's because Dr. BB picked up a vet tab and a Costco run, but still.
ReplyDeleteMy numbers look funny for last month. I spent big bucks on things for the new house, but that's a one time expense. Travel is abnormally low since I used mostly points for my Chicago/Austin trip. My pet costs were $16, but that's 100% due to timing. PSA: $16 per month is abnormally low for pet expenses.
$16!!! I can't even imagine a number like that. We get Zelda's food every three weeks, so I'm looking at $55/month at a bare minimum!
DeleteYou had dinner out twice and coffee out once and it only cost 45$! That is incredible
ReplyDeleteWell, I had small taco bites with friends in Madison once - it came to about $14 (two tacos and some Mexican street corn) and I just gave the rest for a tip. Then when Dr. BB was not home for dinner, I had a flatbread which was about $13-14 and I left the rest for a tip. My coffee is less than $5, so I just leave whatever is left for the tip.
DeleteIf you don't get appetizers, drinks, desserts, and you're frugal, this can be done! Also, I live in a low cost of living location. Maybe this can't be done elsewhere. Hey, everyone, move to southeastern Wisconsin!
Yes, I would love to know (like Patricia) where you're eating out so cheap! To answer your question, I don't think any purchase would be as great as the sweatband purchase for me, because wearing socks to bed would make me INSANE. I get way too hot when I sleep and socks would be the crowning blow.
ReplyDeleteRight? During the winter, it was okayish, but I nearly lost my mind when it started getting warmer. Genius idea!
DeleteYou know, you could have just cut the foot off of a worn pair of socks and saved yourself from buying the sweatbands. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, banking the savings. I fear that I'm going to have a big pet expense this month. Piper is showing his age and some signs of dementia. I'll know more later (and probably after spending a thousand dollars).
I don't have many pairs of crew socks that would have the elastic at the right place. Crew socks hit my surgical scar at just the exact wrong place, so I have ankle socks and knee socks and not much else. The sweatband is incredibly comfortable, though - sometimes I forget to take it off in the morning! It was $11 well spent!
DeleteOh, no! Piper! Sending him good thoughts and cheap vet appointment vibes.
The best money I spent in May was on a massage which was my treat for enduring another session of fire exposure therapy. I got a boogie 85 minute massage and it was wonderful. I'll drop another sizeable amount tomorrow when I get my hair cut and colored!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how polarizing massages are. I despise them and hate being touched by a stranger, but some people claim they are so relaxing!
DeleteYES! Hair care is so important. I fully support you spending $$$ on it.
The two RC cars we bought to race around the backyard might not be practical, but they sure are fun. I can't think of a better May purchase than those.
ReplyDeleteHa! That would never be a purchase I'd make, but I'm glad they make you happy.
DeleteI spent a shit ton of money in May…I mean, not pet spendy amounts, but for someone without a pet, and who didn’t go anywhere, it was a lot. I spent almost $200 at the garden center, and I regret nothing. I took my family out for a nice dinner to celebrate my husband’s birthday, and then we also had a birthday party for him with his family. All of that added up pretty quickly, but I was still able to put some money in my vacation fund (slowly growing!)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the sweatband to save your sheets. I had no idea that tattoos were not entirely smooth. (Now I went back and looked, and it’s an anklet, not a tattoo. DUH. That makes a lot more sense!)
I read your answer as to how you ate so cheaply, and wondering if it could be done around here. I THINK SO, but not 100% sure. I mean, if all I had was an appetizer maybe? I always want a glass of wine with dinner, which shoots that bill up fast.
I very rarely regret spending money, to be honest. I don't impulse buy (except we did buy some Haagen Dazs bars at Costco on impulse and they are FABULOUS, so #noregrets) very often and I vet things before I purchase them. Sometimes you spend money because you only have one life to live, you know?
DeleteYes, as soon as you start adding drinks (alcoholic or non), the bill goes up quickly. I stick to water and that makes eating out seem more reasonable.
Haagen Dazs bars are amazing. I love the coffee with chocolate and nuts covering. SO good. Yeah, it’s a balance between spending and not spending. Don’t spend on bullshit, and you have more to spend on things that matter to you. Living my life and finding joy matters to me. I sometimes impulse buy earrings and then I don’t wear them, so I kind of regret that.
DeleteI don’t know what your husband dropped at Costco, but your grocery bill is inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI bought a hammock in May (after having to cancel my trip to Boston) and it was the BEST DECISION EVER (sorry for yelling, but it’s true :)).
Oh, we certainly dropped $300+ at Costco. We buy A LOT of staples there.
DeleteYay for a hammock! I would like a hammock, I think. Maybe it would increase my time spent outside.
$45 for TWO meals out AND coffee twice? That's amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I bought in May was my little bench for my bedroom alcove. It brings me so much joy, especially when I see one of my cats lounging on it!
It was only once for coffee. LOL.
DeleteYes, I love when we buy furniture and our girls use it more than us. That's a great feeling!