Small Goals: February

First, a quick update on January goals:  I was fairly good about powering down by 10pm, but didn't get a whole lot of reading done. And while I remembered to "do it now" at work, my personal email box is overflowing. Sigh. A work in progress I suppose. Basically the only thing that I really did was track spending and reassess the budget.

Spending:

Amazon: $47.97

Brunch with friends: $12

Lunch with coworkers @ Ruth Chris Steakhouse (Restaurant Week pre-fix): $25
Other lunch out with coworkers: $20

Groceries #1: $60.56

Groceries #2: $41.38

Date Night dinner @ Restaurant Week (pre-fix): $129.67

Train/O.A.R/Natasha Bedingfield concert tickets (4): $278

Big Brew Festival tickets (2- via Groupon): $94

Uber: $13.56

wine (5): ~$50

Dinner/drinks with friend: $35

TJ Maxx (all paid with gift cards, so doesn't count): $33

Girl Scout Cookies (4): $17
Superbowl Boxes: $30
Whiskey tasting event (2): $20
Michael's: $15 (planner & small package of stickers)
Anniversary & Valentines Day gifts: undisclosed because she reads this. 

Notes: Lots of dining out, but I really like going out to eat and Restaurant Week only happens twice a year, so not too mad about it. There were a lot of other expenses this month that only happen once a year if that (Girl Scout cookies, Superbowl boxes, concert tickets). Amazon was all stuff that could have been avoided but that I wanted: that CND nail polish that Steph recommended, earbuds because mine break ~every 3-4 months, 2 Christmas presents (on clearance), and a microwavable soup mug for work. 

February Small Goals

• continue working on "Do It Now." 

• Read 2 books. I'm halfway done with one, and if I don't really get on this, there's no way I'll finish the reading challenge.

• recreate/re-establish evening schedule. I used to have one, but with winter and my desire to hibernate, I've completely just go home and eat and lay under a bunch of blankets. I need to get back into a routine. 

• Get taxes done (scheduled for 2/23). I was so happy when I received a reminder text that I had an appointment. 2016 Dani was obviously planning ahead! 

• 21 Bags in 21 Days. Steph and Steph both recently did 30 Bags in 30 Days (in which you get rid of 30 bags of "stuff" in 30 days) but that seemed like a lot. And I didn't start on the 1st, I'm starting today. Wish me luck!

• No Spend February. (Started 2/4 because I wanted concert tickets that went on sale Friday. Moving along...) My rules are no "excess" purchases (Amazon and TJ Maxx, to name a few), and certainly not buying clothes/shoes/accessories. I've already purchased Valentine's Day gifts. But I'm taking a page from Michael's blog and giving myself some other allowances for this. 
• Allowances:
• 2 happy hours (one already scheduled)
• 3 dinners out
• 3 lunches out/purchased

What are some of your goals this month? 

Linking up with Writes Like a Girl. 

How I Do: Grocery Shopping

Back in February during the Wallet Watch, I successfully spent less than $60 on groceries for the entire month. A few people asked how I did it, so today I'm pulling open the cupboards and sharing my grocery tips. 

1. Know what you already have
I take stock of what's in my refrigerator and pantry before I go to the grocery store or attempt to meal plan. 

Don't judge my Ragu- pasta sauce is good to have on hand in a pinch!

2. Make A List

I keep a running grocery list on my refrigerator, and update as I go. As soon as I run out of something, I write it down so I don't forget. 

3. Check the Store Circular

Does anyone even look at these anymore? I look at it online. If I see things I would normally buy on sale, I buy it now, even if I haven't run out of it completely yet. 

4. Coupons! 

I love coupons. I try to make sure to buy the newspaper every Sunday and cut out coupons for myself and Blue. I also save digital coupons on to my loyalty cards at my grocery store, CVS, Rite Aid, etc. One thing I keep in mind though: I don't cut coupons/buy products that I wouldn't normally buy or use just because I have a coupon. That's a waste of money. 

Restaurant coupons, my coupons, Blue coupons

5. Get Cash Back Using Ibotta
Ibotta is a savings/cash back app. Unlock rebates on products by answering a poll, watching a minute long video, or reading a tip/recipe. If you purchase the products, scan the barcode and then take a pic of your receipt to get your rebate within 48 hours. Or you can get cash back by simply linking your loyalty card if you shop at their preferred partners. You can either request cash back through Paypal ($20.00 min) or to purchase a gift card to stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, and more. Use my referral link to get $10 after you join and make your first purchase :) (not sponsored- I just really like this app!)

Screenshot from my phone

Other Helpful Tips: 

6. Don't go to the store hungry.

7. Limit your shopping trips- I go once a week or less.

8. Meal plan- save time AND money! 

9. Sunday morning is possibly the busiest time to shop, and I'm not a fan of crowds or being rushed, especially if I'm using coupons- I don't want to be "that" person! I go on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. 

10. Check out your local farmer's markets for cheaper (and oftentimes better quality) fresh produce. 

What strategies do you use to save on groceries? 

February Goals: Revisited

Today I'm sharing how I did on one of my February goals- The Wallet Watch. Fails are in red, passes in green. You can see my parameters with notes over here. Though I wasn't particularly successful at not spending, I did pay closer attention to what I was spending on and I kept my grocery budget below $60! Even I was surprised with that one! 

The Wallet Watch: Wallet watch lasts from February 1 - February 29. If you wanna know more about it, go here. These are my parameters: 

- No more than $50 on take-out/food out, period: Fail. Over by $51.08

Date of Infraction: 2/1/16 (off to an amazing start, no?!)
Location: Coffee shop at work

Item: Coffee

Cost: $2.25

Notes: I forgot my travelers mug of glorious coffee on my kitchen counter at home. My train was delayed by 50 minutes. It was a Monday. Need I say more? It was also some of the worst coffee I've ever tasted, which made it that much worse. Ugh.

Date of Infraction: 2/5/16
Location: Blockheads
Item(s): Dinner/drinks
Cost: $41.00
Notes: My friend came into town unexpectedly for work. Obviously we needed to go out!

Those two would have been okay, but then...

Date of Infraction:2/12/16
Location: Mariachi Grill
Item(s): Dinner for 3
Cost: $57.83
Notes: My old neighbor/friend wanted to come over for dinner after work one night, and Blue was coming over as well. I didn't feel like cooking. She took a TV, an Easy Bake Oven, and a laptop bag with her though, so it was definitely worth it.

- Check the checking account for fees, and change banks if necessary: Check!
 I found that my bank charges me $7 in monthly fees. And I considered changing banks, but then I remembered that I just got a bunch of checks for this account, and ordering more checks would cost more than what I would be saving, so I guess I'm going to stay for now. 

- Open savings account: Check
Calling this a pass because I'm going tonight. 

- Grocery budget $60: Check!!!
I think this is the one I was most proud of. I only went tot he grocery store once, and the total was $84.62. HOWEVER, this was the day before our Superbowl party, and a lot of items were purchased solely for the party. So I deducted those things from the total, and found I only spent $40. 64 on actual groceries for myself! Adding in a few items I picked up at CVS (see below, 2/27) and the Dollar Store, I spent 56.64 on groceries this month! BOOM!

- Get taxes done: Check! 

- Check my credit score: Fail. 
Isn't there a way to do this for free somewhere? I forgot and didn't want to get charged, or lower my score by checking. 

- Talk to those pesky student loan peeps: Check! 

- Revisit and readjust the budget: Fail
I didn't see the point of doing this before the Wallet Watch. It made more sense in my head to revisit and readjust afterwards. 

- No unapproved spending of any kind, for anything. Approved Spending: Valentine's day gift for Blue, Mom's birthday present, Boss going away present. Fail. 

Date of Infraction: 2/11/16
Location: Rite Aid
Item(s): Part of this was Blue's Valentine's Day present (don't judge me, they had a Star Wars mug), but as for the rest ???
Cost: $47.11
Notes: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.

Date of Infraction:2/12/16
Location: PetValu
Item(s): cat toys/treats
Cost: $14.96
Notes: I decided that Keebler (Blue's cat) needed Valentine's day love too. Whatever, it was totally worth it.

the cat who won Valentine's Day

Date of Infraction: 2/22/16
Location: online, Club W
Item(s): wine subscription
Cost: $26.75
Notes: Because, wine.

Date of Infraction: 2/27/16
Location: CVS
Item(s): Passport pics, toothbrush, lipsticks, 2/$5 chips, Pepto
Cost: $47.89 (-$11 grocery)= $36.89
Notes: I had a 20% off coupon and needed to take my passport pics. Blue needed to replace her toothbrush and lipstick which was B1G1 50% off, and we were paying together. So not all my fault!

Date of Infraction: 2/29/16
Location: online, BonTon
Item(s): a Star Wars traveler's mug and 3 pack of K-Cups
Cost: $46.08
Notes: I was weak. I looked at Brad's Deals. Forgive me.

Total Infraction Costs (including the $51.08 from eating out): $222.87

Have you done a no-spend month or Wallet Watch? How did you do? 

Mid-March Goals Update

After my review of February, I realized how poorly I was doing with some of my goals, particularly the financial ones. So I decided to make a few changes.

1. I got my taxes done. Woohoo! I will be putting the entire sum in the Emergency Fund.

2. I started giving myself a bi-weekly cash allowance. I chose bi-weekly because that's when I get paid, so it was easy to keep track of. I emphasize that it is cash because I have read in lots of places that the physical act of parting with your money usually triggers something in your brain to make you stop and reconsider your purchase. So I figured it can't hurt to try it!

3. After looking at my actual usage, I decided to downgrade my cell phone plan, cutting my bill in half.

4. I opened a savings account. It's just too easy to access your "savings" when you keep it "hidden" in your house. I'm sure not having that cash readily available will help me rethink my choices, as it will take at least a  day to get the monies from the account.

5. I will be starting a part time gig on Saturdays in April.

6. I joined several mystery shopping sites. Mystery shopping doesn't always give out cash payouts, but you could score free stuff, likes clothes or a nice dinner out, while reviewing the store/restaurant. I've also been racking up survey money and TV points that are good for gift cards to multiple stores I currently shop at.

7.  The hunt is on! Job hunt, that is. I have been diligent about checking the job boards and applying to jobs that 1) are closer to home (commuting costs are a B, don't even get me started!) 2) have room for growth and 3) are actually a job I want to do.

I know this doesn't portray how I've been doing with all my goals, but learning to save and budget is by far the one that is most important to me and hardest for me to accomplish, so I'm focusing on that for now. Hopefully I'll stay on this positive track- full update coming at the end of the month!