"Secret skimping is out, like false bosoms." - Marjorie Hillis, Orchids on Your Budget, 1937.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Prospective Budget

I'm sure I don't have to say it, but I haven't even attempted to adhere to or even rework my budget in a long time. So here's my tentative reworked budged:

$2,540.00/month after taxes.

Rent: $825 (up to $850 in June)
Loan: $500 (the required monthly payment is actually $90, but if I keep paying this much, it'll be paid off by the end of 2010, instead of the suggested date of 2026. After payoff, sweep to E-Fund. OR, maybe I should contribute $400 here, and $500 to my E-fund. URGH.)
E-Fund: $400 (after it hits $8,000, decrease to $300 and sweep extra to F-fund)
Utilities: approx. $45
Food: approx. $100
Checking cushion: $200 (this includes incidentals, going out)
F-Fund: $100
Medical/Dental: $100 (after it hits $500, sweep to F-fund)
Clothes: $40
Investing: $100
Vacation/Airfare: $60
Tiffany necklace: $35
Gifts: $35


And I'll say it now before I convince myself that it's not true: I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PIECE OF JEWELRY (...except for one of those Tiffany key necklaces (oy) -- I can't decide whether to get the vintage oval key in silver or the trefoil key in gold).

I will go home tonight and return as much as I can. I can't even say it outloud, but I'll try to believe it when I write that except for on my birthday on Thursday, I will not visit QVC.com or HSN.com at all. Seeing that in writing reminds me that I am my mother's daughter. Please God, never let me succumb to Quacker Factory...

2 comments:

Dr. Faith said...

I'll be honest, I'd really love to see a picture of the necklace you're lusting for. =)

What a nice emergency fund you've built!

I found your blog by way of Debt Ninja's Madlib.. and I'll be really sad it Snicker's ice cream bars disappear, so I hope that your wish doesn't come true. ;)

ekingout said...

http://www.tiffany.com/shared/media/papercatalogue/photo/104_582703_0304.jpg

I can't decide between the gold key all the way to the left, or key on the far right (shown in gold, but I'd get it in sterling silver). Right now it's looking like neither!! :P