Ugh, talk about a reality check being needed.  Most of the wife and kids aren’t feeling well today, so I’m staying home to help out, so I’m going through some of the line items in my checking account and I find an overdraft fee.  Now, the kicker here is that I actually transferred money from another account to cover everything that was coming, but the funds weren’t actually deposited until the NEXT DAY!!  (thanks Mr. Small Fine Print, love the irony in your timing…)

So, I guess I can kiss another $30 goodbye for that mistake.  I’m REALLY wanting to have my entire next month’s payments and expenses set aside before the beginning of the month ever starts.  That’s how we did everything when I was in college and it worked great using the envelope system.  I SOOO need to get into that routine again.  Being borderline broke is letting Murphy’s law kick in just too many times.

Today’s Progress:

• Earned - $0
• Spent - $22 (hair cuts, groceries)
• Debt Reduced -$0

So, I’ve decided to continue with the daily updates again.  Let me tell you just how hard it is to really get into a routine after letting yourself slide for a little while.  In fact, the more days that go by "sliding" the harder it gets to stay in control of yourself.  It’s really just the little things that add up so quickly. 

Most people know not to spent a lot of money at once on a daily basis, but to avoid spending a few bucks here or a little 5-spot there?  People just burn cash faster than they realize.  Me being one of them.  So, to hold myself accountable here…I was guilty of this today a couple of times.  One, I bought stuff at the checkout line at the grocery store I didn’t need.  I also splurged on a bag of beef jerky and a coffee at the gas station.  (I’m such a weakling when it comes to beef jerky.  Why couldn’t I long for cheap pretzels instead?) 

I didn’t need any of this stuff, but I have no idea how much money I have because I haven’t done a budget in a couple of weeks so out-of-sight out-of-mind right?  The money will still be there even though I’m spending it right?  WRONG!!  Time to face the music.  I’m not doing ANYTHING at all until I have my budget updated and my head around my financial standing for this month.  For all I know, I won’t be able to pay a few bills this week.

Here’s me drawing the line in the sand:

SAND

Today’s Progress:

• Earned - $50 (Returned clothes at the mall)
• Spent - $120 (family pictures, groceries, some crap I didn’t need)
• Debt Reduced -$0