After several weeks of tracking the spending (consumables/extraneous/utilities), I've found that
on the average the household has been spending:
Groceries $130 (after 10% savings with coupons)
Gas $80
Groceries includes all household/personal care/pet products.
The grocery spending is up with the increase in fruits and vegetables (still on the smoothie kick - though I can buy frozen fruit at the Dollar Tree - so I buy whatever they have: been pineapple, mango, and blueberries - we've been doing recipes according to those). We're also going through more Greek yogurt and almond milk, more chicken (about 7-8# a week), and baking stuff since we're cooking a lot more from scratch for snacks and stuff). My goal is to be in the $125-$135 range weekly.
Surprisingly, the healthier eating isn't costing as much to the budget as I initially thought it would. We are also going through flax seed and nuts so that is included in the budget increase as well.
I'll continue to track the spending. I've worked up a list of needed things to buy, and I'm just watching the sale ads from the Sunday paper and for other deals - last year I ended up with a $100 Old Navy card purchased at CVS and got $15 ECB which worked out well for me outfitting my sons and buying some baby shower gifts.
And does anyone here bank with byline bank? They have a pretty good deal right now - $300 for a checking account and savings account with $5K. I'd lose the liquidity of my EF for 90 days, but think it'd be fine. (Already farmed out $5K of EF for another offer.)
End of month goals:
1) Make a payment of 8%-10% on tuition balances for upcoming 2015-2016 years.
2) Make additional mortgage principle payment of $103
3) Increase 401k to 11% up from 10%
These things should be easily attainable if spending remains within normal limits. Entertainment: going to spend $20 on a groupon for local pool admission for one day.
Tracking the Spending; anyone bank with Byline?
June 15th, 2015 at 03:35 pm
June 15th, 2015 at 03:39 pm 1434382789
https://www.depositaccounts.com/banks/byline-bank.html
June 15th, 2015 at 03:47 pm 1434383251
Yikes, I looked at the link. I am wondering if that is based solely on the three reviews that were given? Definitely makes me consider doing more research into this bank. It just happens to be conveniently located -- might need to look past that in determining a bank switch.
June 15th, 2015 at 05:22 pm 1434388978
June 15th, 2015 at 06:36 pm 1434393390
June 16th, 2015 at 12:13 am 1434413615
June 16th, 2015 at 12:40 am 1434415256
June 16th, 2015 at 01:39 am 1434418782