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1. 

   ryokan
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 5

   July was the first month I tracked every penny earned and spent.

   Income: $1493

   1178 - JOB
   240 - Sold gift card for face value
   60 - Psychology studies @ local university (5 hrs)
   15 - Repayment for groceries

   Expenses: $775

   200.00 - Rent + utilities
   183.72 - Groceries
   120.00 - Snacks/junk food, socializing, booze
   72.00 - Clothing (sturdy, reparable sandals)
   58.36 - Bike stuff
   55.00 - Hobby (rock climbing)
   33.77 - Visa bill (random purchases in June)
   15.00 - Medical
   12.70 - Misc (notebooks, watch battery)
   12.24 - Books (1)
   11.75 - Household

   $718 or 48% of income saved. Several one-time/infrequent expenses this month. High metabolism + hypoglycemia + constant biking contributes to wasting money on snacks when I should be taking nuts or trail mix everywhere I go, like my mom.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   m741
   

   Master
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 733

   Where do you live that rent+utilities is 200/month?!

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   ryokan
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 5

   ah, should have clarified - I share a room with my boyfriend. $400 abp is good deal for a centrally located place in my city. We are 2 of 8 people crammed into a neglected slumlord-style house (no common/living areas, just bedrooms, kitchen, and 2 bathrooms)

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   rachels
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Aug '10
   Posts: 156

   Wow. I think I can know who you are in the real world based just on that info. Creepy internet moment.

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   m741
   

   Master
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 733

   Maybe you two live in the same house.

   Posted 1 year ago #
6. 

   ryokan
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 5

   ?!! creepy indeed! but, did you assume that if you're a oddball in the state of Texas, you must live in Austin? Not without reason I suppose - just saw yalls meetup post, and it looks like all the Texan ERE types are there.

   Posted 1 year ago #
7. 

   ryokan
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 5

   Alrighty, posting August and September together. The contrast should be fairly illustrative of the fluctuations in income for a waitress/whatever I find in 'craigslist gigs' worker.

   August
   Income - 786
   Expenses - 583
   Savings - 25%

   September
   Income - 3045
   Expenses - 894
   Savings - 70%

   General Conclusions:

   Savings Rate - not really a helpful metric for me, since it's a % of such a widely varying number. A better metric might be comparing dollar amounts of "trouble" categories month-to-month, or a simple monthly budget goal.

   While there's still work to be done in reducing spending, I feel that I have the basics covered - cheap rent, happy without a car, already "invested" in high-quality bike, tools, shoes, hobby supplies when my income was higher.

   Therefore, my focus going forward needs to be on increasing income, by changing or adding jobs, and by educating myself to the point that I can put money into higher risk/higher return investments with some kind of confidence.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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