Rent $1,020
Car Payment $291
Cable/phone/internet $156
T-mobile $100
Student Loan $30
Electric $80 (overpaid $32)
Credit Card #1- $57
Credit Card #2- $61
Gasoline $128
Personal Grooming $228
Groceries $172
Fast Food $129
Debt Re-payments $277
Household Items inc computer Desk $312
Clothing $67
Order of Checks $21
Doctor Co-Pay $40
3rd party Telephone service $171
Bank Overdraft fees $85
Annual Renters Insurance $98
Annaual Motor Club $76

Total outgo= $3,169

Wow I didn't think I spent this much money this past month. I'm going to plan alot more Carefully for the month of June. I'm starting today to pack breakfast and lunch for work to cut down on that expense alone. I'm leaving the debit cards at home and only carrying one 20 dollar bill with me each day.

Geez time is flying by rather quickly this year. I am already beginning to plan my finances from Apr-June I'm very optimistic that I will do well. I'm going to stick to the envelope system and plan all paychecks continuously as I've done this first quarter. However, I need to keep my self focus.

I have officially become a faithful watcher of the Dave Ramsey Show. I tune in every single night at 8 pm I'm literally glued to the Tv for one hour. I've heard him tell caller's all the time to get on a Written budget in which I have. Also he insists on using the "Envelope System". Well not until two weeks ago did I finally decide to pull out the envelopes and take his advice there. I'm six days away from payday and I still have "Money in my envelopes" especially for gas. I also have money "sitting" in my checking account as well. Without the envelopes I wouldn't have not nearly as much money left. I must say this really works and feels great to have money to spend, money dedicated to Gas lol and money left sitting in my checking account.

My mother finally paid me the $200 I let her borrow back in January. I was thinking of going ahead now and paying off Balt Phys. I posted in my earlier post today that I would put off paying ahead my car insurance. Now I'm really convinced that I should simply because when I let her borrow the money I wasn't totally expecting to get it back. (valuable lesson learned lol) So the money technically in my mind has been spent and gone so to speak. So I think I'm going to just go ahead and pay off the $280 that I owe them. I don't simply think It will make since to sit that $200 back into my saving account when I can dump it onto my next debt on my snowball and pay it off a month sooner. So this month I should be tackling Verizon and Balt Phy WOOHOOO

Savings Account $229
Debt Payments $95
Verizon $269 (PAID IN FULL WOOHOOO)
Gasoline $75 (two weeks )
Car Payment $289
Entertainment $25
Hair Salon $40
Car Insurance $80 (will be paid up until 5-16-09)
Cell Phone bill $92 (1st bill not due until April 16th)
Telephone Billing Services $56
Fun Money (aka blow money) $75

I have everything all figured out I'm so excited one debt will inch its way up on my sidebar to paid in full thankfully. Also they will update my credit report from charge off status to Paid in full in which I know will give me back a few points on my score. WOO HOO!!! Total debt paid off to date will be $1,124 as of this Friday.

Wow as mentioned on my sidebar I had problems in my younger days with credit. I have been working very hard and still am to rebuild my credit. I use a very cool website quizzle.com and it allows me one free credit report and score every six months. I just checked my report and score and am starting to see results of my hard work. I can't believe I've actually mad progress and my score has gone up. It isn't where I would like it too be (at a 700+) but I'm optimistic it will get there soon.

Spring Jacket
2 Spring Sweater Shirts
Plain Purple Tee

Total spent $55.44

Pair of casual Jeans $21.19
Nails $26.00

Today's Grand Total= $102.63

Also today I cashed in all the change that has been lingering lol in my old purse and it totaled $12.16 which I've mailed off to World Alliance not much but hey every little bit helps I'll be paying them off next Wednesday any how. WOOOHOOOO!!! I'm so excited.

Purse $22.00
Dish Liquid $5.00
Card for a friend $3.00
Femine Care Products $13.00

As my goal states on my sidebar I am going to stick to logging in my spend totals each and every day.

Rent $1,020
Car Payment $290
Car insurance $338.86 (paid 3 months)
Fast Food $194.88 (should punish myself for this )
Household (paper towel etc...) $57.80
Groceries $68.12
Gasoline $149.95
Debt Payments $528.89 (Woohoo)
Entertainment $3.18 (awesome here)
Personal (hair & nails grr) $102
Car Maintenance $51.48
Telephone Service $78.95

Total Income $2,250
Total outgo- $2,884
Difference $634.11

Which would be considered in the negative however I received my income taxes this month and used it for my debt payments and treated myself to the personal expense from it as well. I still have a great amount of my tax refund in the bank I'm going first thing tommorow morning to store it in a seperate bank. I'm working on March's plan which will defintely not be as spendy as february I have to keep telling my self I want to become Debt free!!! I have to stick to planning meals and filling the gaps by taking snacks to work to cut out the fast food crave. Any suggestions anyone would help guy's. I'm Marching in to March with a much better financial outlook I will post my proposed March budget sometime tomorrow morning. Maybe I'll use it as a guide each time I log in that way I can track my progress during the month.

I found $50 while cleaning out my closet in one of my old purses. lol I'm wondering with this "windfall" so to speak money should I apply another $50 to my next debt on my snowball list. Or treat my self to a hair do or to the nail shop for such hard work I've done thus far with paying off my debt. This is such a hard decision. What would you do if you were in my shoes right now.

I will post spending totals for the month of february and make new goals for the month of March and hopefully have all meals planned out for the next two weeks as well.

Payday is quickly approaching this friday I sat down and figured out my bills and here the results.

Rent $1,020
Student Loan Pymt $30
Gas $40 (for 2 weeks)
Cable, Phone, Internet $81.52
$50 To World Alliance (next on my snowball)

I'm so excited I can't wait until that day. I get paid that day and will be paying off Verizon and World Alliance and if no unexpected expenses pop up I'll also be able to pay off more than half of Balt Phy. I'm so excited and motivated I'm moving right along on this snowball plan. I'm so thankful to have found Dave Ramsey's baby step methods. Its working out great for me I'm seeing results each month and its keeping me motivated to hit the Finish Line. I can't wait until i can finally say I'M DEBT FREE!!!!

I'm so excited today is just the 18th and all my bills are paid. I'm so excited this is such a big turn around for me I use to be really bad about paying my bills on time. I've learned a great deal in such a short time and its such a great feeling. I feel like I'm finally winning in this financial game. lol

Car insurance $158
Electric Bill $70
Car Payment $289
Wells Fargo $46
ACH $5
Doctors Hospital $10
Access Receivables $10
BGE $19
Balt Phy $11
Gasoline $40
Groceries $20
Entertainment $40
Eastern Revenue $160
World Alliance $175

I must say Dave Ramsey's Total money makeover is really working out for me. I can't believe that I will have 4 debts paid off already and this is my second month on the plan. WOW I'm so excited and so motivated to do this. I love having a "spending plan" for everything it really gives me a reality check. I know where each dollar is being spent and I'm getting out of debt in the process. This is so awesome.

I had a very good week up until thursday and than bammm a unexpected expense seems to show up. I have to have my license for work renewed by May 1st. For the past 4 years my job has been paying the renewal fees but this year I had a feeling they wouldn't pay for it. However, my supervisor lead us to believe different "oh everythings fine we'll cover the expense even with the recession this year" but on thursday evening I was giving a website by her to log in to register and pay for my licensing classes. I am thankful to still have a job but I wish it could have been mentioned sooner allowing us more time to plan for it. So $85 was the total spent to pay for 4 classes but I have to have them so what the hay. The only thing I'm ticked about is the fact that I have to now sit down and figure out how i'm going to repay $85 to my account from my paycheck this week. After I have sat down last sunday and wrote out checks and everything. Darn.....

This is my first month at this budgeting thing and I thought I would take a review of my bank account statement to REALLY see where the money goes. So here are the numbers

Car Payment $291
Car Insurance $137.58
Electric $11 Have a credit Pd until March
Rent $1,020
Eating Out $113.59
Clothing $21.18
Gas $36.58
Telephone $53.53
Groceries $42.30
Household Items $81.44
Entertainment $22.00
Debt Payments $269.56
Misc Movie Late Fee $6, Ticket $50 ,Lic Renewal fee $20.80

Grand Total $2,176 I'm working on my budget for the month of February. I think I can cut back especially in Fast Food I never paid any attention to how much I truly spend on eating out. I think its okay for a start.

Have a great Evening!!!

Can anyone give me any type of Tips for creating a good household budget. Please forgive me for not knowing this. I still have a lot to learn but from reading you guys are great. What tips would you advise??? I currently I make about $38,000 per year.I know this is sad but believe me my parents never taught me the budgeting basics. Nor did I ever learn it in school but now I'm out in the "real world" trying to figure things out on my own.