Frugal February 2016

[Dave Gray]

Happy Frugal February, everyone.

Rules, should you choose to participate:

- You must make a budget
- You must write down and track all spending
- No impulse buys
- No premium paid on liquor (you can drink at home)
- No premium paid on food (you gotta pack your lunch and make dinner at home)
- No clothing or accessories

You're also supposed to share your results, to be held accountable, but I don't expect you to put your finances up on the net for everyone to see.

[Brian Fein]

Fail: day 1 - went out to lunch today.  Oh well.

[Dave Gray]

My daughter has surgery this week and my wife is going out of town for a work thing later in the month.  I may have to break a rule or two just to survive with my kids.

[DaLittle B]

I want to participate,yeah, I used to poo-poo this in the past...I have a few questions and problems...

-My Every month bills I have that are the same - Rent,Directv,Phone/internet,truck insurgence. Ok got but I've got a quirk on 1.

I paid my rent for February, January 21st as my landlord was going out of town and wasn't 100% sure what day he'll be back.I had the rent, and paid him early
but I have half the rent for March saved,and Friday's paycheck will cover the other half.

- Variable bills my utilities - I  have city utilities...I get 1 bill that covers my electric,natural gas,water,and sewage...Last month We had a cold snap,I spent 3-4 days running faucets,and the bathtub to keep the pipes from freezing...I'm hoping my bill wont be too high, turning up the heat,running the extra water etc.

My budget priority is 1.) rent 2.) utilities 3.) food  Etc...

- What about planned expenses that aren't normal?
For me-
*I filed my taxes last week,I'll have extra money not normally in my budget
*My truck is down,and have 2 trucks in total down.I'm currently using the money I'd set aside to my emergency fund to try to get them running.
*My Puppies 1 year old check up,and heart worm test.I also have to get 2 dogs heart worm pills.
*The blazer's tags are due March, Part of my tax refund are going to repairs,to make sure it passes inspection,and to the tags.
*My Mom's medical expenses -Eye doctor specifically at the end of this month (possibly coming out of the tax return)
*My friend's Birthday - I've got her her present bought,I still have some responsibility in setting up the party money going out,etc. I was going to take it out of my food budget.
*I'm in serious need of a new back up hard drive....But since my truck is down.

A lot of these tend to be hinged upon something else...If I have to spend another $500 to get my truck fixed,I'm going to start to rob Peter to pay Paul.My turck has been down for close to a month now,putting a strain on my budget.

Depending on how much it costs to fix my truck,I'd like to get the Dodge running so I can sell it.

I'm curious how this stuff will fit in the rules?

Not going out to lunch/dinner no problem, I never do anyways.

Lunch consists of either Old fashioned Oats with dried cranberries,or a romane salad,plain sun chips with pico de gailio.
I plan my dinners so I can cook them all,and based upon what is fresh,or on sale.

[masterfins]

I decided to give up alcohol for the month, not that I drink much, but I usually do all my drinking on the outside, which combines with eating out, so the two kind of go together.  I'm working a lot for the next couple months so I actually spend very little this time of year.  My old spoiled dog is probably my biggest expense.

Question - if I win money in a Super Bowl pool should I wait to enjoy spending it?

[DaLittle B]

(Red flag - 5 yard penalty) I just spent $4.20 on a cheap ass rug to help stop drafts in the back room,because the other cheap ass rug I got petrol on it.I got petrol in my eyes twice,once after the new one had a bad seal,and apparently dropped a petrol soaked rag on it ruining it.I soaked it in a soapy bucket,then washed it a few times till it fell part.I could still smell a fuel vapor type smell when you walk through the door. smell on it.

[Phishfan]

^^^B, is petrol common there? I didn't think anyone in the US used it much.

[DaLittle B]

  It's a more recent thing,as two of the guy's that help me out with repairing my truck tend to be grammar nazi about the word "gas".

I ask them do you think It's bad gas? They snark...Go sit on the toilet.

Did you try to buy a "gas" pump for your truck,no you bought a fuel pump,fuel filter,that connects to fuel filters.

They try to make me say Fuel or Gasoline (I hate saying gasoline). So I try to say "petrol" to them,to poke them back. 

I also started saying "Ala- mini-um" for aluminum.For some odd reason the past several years,I've stumbled horribly trying to say aluminum like the average person here.

[VidKid]

I don't really need to do this anymore. Specifically for Feb anyway. After our first time doing this, I just kept going with the budget all year. Making adjustments here and there.

I now have everything scheduled, balanced and running smooth.

[Dave Gray]

B,

You probably have to just adjust for your own needs.  But in your rug example, that's allowed by the rules.

If you need a rug, buy a rug.  That's fine.

What you can't do is not need a rug, then go browsing and see one and say "hey...I like that rug; I could use it to keep drafts out."

[DaLittle B]

Thanks for the clarification Dave.

I might have my truck running,So this helps the frugal February.

[DaLittle B]

+ So I have my truck running,and have some new spark plug wires coming tomorrow.So a lot of my budget ilks cleared up.

+ I got my state tax return,and went ahead and paid all my bills,and paid all the expected expenditures.(Birthday present,Blazer battery)
+ I have March's rent
+ Money set aside for Vet appointment

- Boo,Boo on Fugal February-  I rented the Martian on Blu-ray on redbox -$2.15- My justification,there isn't anything on T.V. it's windy,and cold today! 

[DaLittle B]

- Penalty I spent $9 on a clearance hoodie,I didn't need it. Being on clearance,I thought Fat chance it would be there for 2 more weeks...

+It's only XL, I never thought I'd say that.

[Dave Gray]

Unfortunately, the hoodie is against the rules, as it falls under clothing and accessories.

I will take my wife out for dinner on her birthday.  I don't know if that falls under "eating out" or "gifts".  But that should be my only slip-up.

[DaLittle B]

I almost said I'm out on Frugal February,as last weekend I had an opportunity to buy a house.I think a $40,000 expenditure would make the $9 hoodie,like an extra cup of coffee.

While probably not the kind of penalty that would be enforced for a frugal February,I've punished myself with extra workouts.

I admit, it's a bit tougher than I thought it was going to be,but I've fought the urge to stay on budget (outside of my surprises).I think If I went through my food budget,I could be much more knit picky and say " You didn't need to buy that to make that." Which would probably have saved me a few extra bucks here and there.