It’s the Day to Day Habits That Get Us into Trouble

Sunday was Abby’s birthday, and I think we managed to pull off a great day for her without breaking the bank. Food and decorations came to about $15.00 and the Play-Doh for party activities and favors came to $15.00. I got everything I could at the dollar store, and made all of the food myself. That’s a far cry from past years, where the food and drink budget alone would have been much higher. This is another great example of planning for special expenses and sticking to a reasonable budget. 

Paul and I continue to find that it’s not the special occasions that are difficult (OK, except for the car repair bills – they are insane!), but the day to day habits that get us into trouble. Just a few too many texts here and there added $25.00 to our phone bill, and sometimes the coffee and treat stops at the gas station try to work their way back into our daily routine. To combat this, we have stuck to a weekly (at least) “date” (I’m using the term loosely) to review expenses and discuss the next 7 days. This helps us think about our bank balance, where and when we might encounter pitfalls, and remember that our spending every day impacts how we do in this contest and towards our goals. Each time we have slipped from this routine the bank statement has sent us clear message! I think that this will be the most important habit for us to maintain after Project Money is over.