Getting Back on the Wagon

Well, getting back on the wagon really hasn’t left much room in the budget for debt repayment.

This month we had an unusual expense to the tune of $800.  The shank of my wedding ring had to be replaced and then all the prongs had to be re-tipped. Obviously the expense is worth it as it is my wedding ring, but had I known just how costly it was going to be I might have waited a little while to get it fixed so I could save up the money. I expected the cost to be more in the $300 - $400 range. By minimally funding our envelopes, I was able to come up with the cash to cover the cost.

I took the kids to get our annual manis-pedis this year just like we have every year right before school starts. I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it without putting it on credit, but I was able to pay for it using our “hair” envelope. Although not hair, it definitely was grooming. Going forward, I think I am going to squirrel away $25 a paycheck to go towards our annual nail trip.

In an effort to NOT use credit, I have shifted money all over the place this month! I’m hoping to get back on track and have money actually going towards what it is supposed to be going towards. Other than some things that had to be ordered online for The Boy’s high school registration: PE clothes, yearbook, ASB card, I haven’t charged anything. In fact, my credit card has been on the counter for going on two weeks. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing for my husband’s. I know I am not being upfront with our debt, but he is charging something every day. Lately, I feel like he is spending money like it’s water!

I am currently in the stages of two steps forward, one step back when it comes to paying off our debt. I am no longer charging anything, but my husband is. I have cash to pay for an expensive repair, but I’m not making much headway towards our debt. I was able to finagle our envelopes this month to cover all our necessary spending, but because of this many of our envelopes took unexpected hits.

Oh well, all I can do is persevere.

PS For more reasons than I care to count, I am eagerly awaiting No Spend September!