August Review

I suck at this goal-setting thing.  I’m good at setting goals, just not good at achieving them.  I guess I really suck at goal-achieving.  Let’s look at August…

Short Term

• Compare auto insurance prices.  I switched to GEICO.
• Quit smoking.
• Cancel digital cable and landline.
• Start clipping coupons again.
• Become more vigilant about unplugging appliance that aren’t in use.
• Get Bekah to take shorter showers, since my water bill went up 43% this quarter!
• Organize financial/personal paperwork.
• Get phone number of financial planner.
• Snowflake towards balance on credit card that I have been carrying since June. (First time I’ve carried a balance since getting my finances in order.)

Mid-Term

• Get emergency fund back to $1,000.
• Snowflake towards car payment.

Okay, that’s a lot that didn’t get done.  But there are a few things that I did that weren’t on the list.  I cancelled both Free Credit Report and eHarmony.  That’s a savings of $65 per month.  I’ve continued to purchase my gas in Massachusetts, saving around $0.20 per gallon right now.  I brought my eating out expense down to it’s lowest point since I started tracking it separately in February.

Bad things this month…I’ve drained $1,400 out of savings.  School shopping and today’s last summer trip to the aquarium account for some of it.  Plus, preparing for a new car payment that’s due the same week as the rent meant moving my rent payment up a week, causing both August and September’s rent to be paid in August.  Plus Shaunna has senior portraits this month ($286…so far.) 

I am optimistic for September.  But you’ll have to wait for my next post.