Well Folks it is the 1st of February, and the weather has turned bitter cold. A cold front is coming in and the wind is wicked! But at least my Car is not frozen over which is strange, but it will be tomorrow! 

I have gone over my financials for last month and I had some serious fails and also unexpected things I had not budgeted for which I do not call fails as they needed to be done. 

So where did I fail the worst?

 Number One:

 Eating out my one very serious downfall and I must reign this in. Now was it better than other months? Absolutely, but I am a Foodie and I can cook so I have upped my budget by $100.00 for February. to give myself a cushion.  I do not want to feel like a failure, and I will seriously work at this! 

Over by $276.60 

Number Two:

 Grocery Store! I just overbought and cooked and cooked and cooked and this has got to stop this next month. Loss leaders only and only what we need. Wish me luck! I am allowing $200.00 a month or $50.00 per week.

 Over by $381.27

 These are the only two categories that were really out of control.

 I did fail to budget for my computer needs (this has been an ongoing problem and had to be addressed) which were expensive, but the improvements that I made will pay for themselves in 13.49 months. This was $607.00, whew! I still do some consulting work for a firm back in Washington and my printer kept going offline, due to the Rotor/Modem that was provided by my internet service! Come to find out (my mistake in the beginning) they were charging me $45.00 for a faulty piece of equipment and I was not the only one in the Vally suffering from this. So, I did some research and bought my own. Pricey but oh so worth it as I always print in hard copy to read my final drafts before emailing back east. 

I also did not take into account that I got my Idaho Driver's License ($47.00) for four years, titled the Car in Idaho ($211.00) for two-year stickers. 

I also bought $89.00 worth of Cuddle Duds, and I needed no new clothes period, but I was so tired of being cold and they are working like a charm. I got these at T.J. Max, and they were on clearance, so five pair of leggings and long-sleeved tops I think is a steel!

 So, $1,611.87 over the plan, but now I know, I had the money, and I made my savings goals so I should be able to do much better going forward.

I was very proud of myself for tracking every penny and have tried many times to do this and failed.  Sissy has helped a lot on this.

Speaking of Sissy I will go to the Grocery Store with Her today so she can babysit me.  She came for dinner last night and I made porkchop sandwiches on hoagie rolls with provolone cheese and sweet potato fries. Restaurant quality good.

We then started on a Jig Saw puzzle and had so much fun. Will take us several more sittings to finish it.

I have done all my chores for today and wanted to start my taxes, but after going online to my bank, they do not have the interest forms done and apologized, so I will wait.  It is Saturday after all. Sissy is here and we are going to the grocery store. 

Tune in tomorrow for more great news!

Hugs;

K