Thrify Thursday

Now that non-resolution #1 has transformed itself into Shape-Up Sunday & is 100% underway, it's time to put some focus on non-resolution #2. That brings us to: Thrifty Thursday. I will now be devoting Thursday blogs to my efforts in attempting to save us money, pay off bills, budget & eventually reach my ultimate goal of being a stay-at-home momma.

I have not put a lot of focus on this goal the last couple months. In truth, I've been VERY bad. I haven't been tracking our spending, I've been forgetting pay bills until the very last second, we haven't been using our envelope system & we have been completely ignoring a budget. In a nut shell, we have been overspending like crazy. This week, it all comes to a screeching halt! 

To start, we are going back to the envelope system. We have worked with this system in the past & it worked smashingly! I don't know why we ever stopped with this system, but I guess when Carter arrived it just got easier NOT to have to worry about a system. Now that he's older, it's more important then ever for us to start saving money again. Basically, the way our system works is that we budget a certain amount each week for bills, groceries, gas, spending (fun) money, & then savings. We also make special envelopes for other things like if we are saving for a vacation or for baby or to make extra payments toward bills. In these special envelopes, I will put all of the left over "fun" money for each week or an additional $20/40 here or there. It has really helped us save up for things & not have to drop a large sum of money from our bank account all in one foul swoop.

Having the money in cash instead of sitting in our account makes it much less likely that we will spend it. Plus, if I have cash in my wallet I will think harder about what I want to spend my money on because once it's gone, it's gone. The same goes for the hubby, who is horrible with tracking expenses!

I'm super excited to get back on track. The envelopes are made & ready to go. The re-instatement of the new system starts today! I'll let ya'll know next week how it's going as well as the next step in the process.