Welcome to another weekly edition of “Where Did The Dough Go?”. Below you can get a completely open and honest view of what we’re spending money on, how much we’re saving, investing and putting away for retirement. Please feel free to learn from our financial mistakes if at all possible, it’s way better than making them yourself. 

Friday 10th
+ $1,576.64 Honey’s Paycheck
-/+ $238.32 (50% over root income to House Fund)
– $89.33 (cigarettes)
– $24.95 (honey whiskey)
-/+ $800.00 (pretend mortgage & bills to house fund)
– $85.05 (real bills, cellphone, final utility bills)
– $5.06 (gas @ 3.939 per gallon Chevron)
– $40.01 (gas @ 3.649 per gallon Fred Meyer)
– $37.21 (groceries)
– $21.67 (my new shoes)
-/+ $25.00 (to Roth IRA)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to Xmas fund)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to savings)
-/+ $2.00 (transfer to ING to save for Car insurance)

Saturday 11th
No spend day

Sunday 12th
No spend day

Monday 13th
No spend day
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to savings)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to Xmas fund)
-/+ $2.00 (transfer to ING to save for Car insurance)

Tuesday 14th
No spend day
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to savings)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to Xmas fund)
-/+ $2.00 (transfer to ING to save for Car insurance)

Wednesday 15th
– $6.00 (copy of savings statement)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to savings) 
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to Xmas fund)
-/+ $2.00 (transfer to ING to save for Car insurance)

Thursday 16th
– $6.00 (copy of savings statement)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to savings)
-/+ $1.00 (transfer to Xmas fund)
-/+ $2.00 (transfer to ING to save for Car insurance)

Total Weekly Spending: $1,398.60
Pre-tax 401K Contributions $21.21

Categorized:

Savings $1,048.32
Bills $85.05
Cigarettes $89.33
House buying expenses $12.00
Groceries $37.21
Clothing $21.67
Gas $45.07
Alcohol $24.95
Roth IRA contributions $25.00
Save 4 Car insurance $10.00

Left-over for remaining week $178.04

Notes: Wow, this pretend mortgage and bills idea is going quite well. I’m really excited about how much we were able to save so far this paycheck…but I’m also excited about something else.

I got new shoes! Yay for new shoes. Yes, I know I sound like a typical chick, but it’s not like that. The other day, I bought a brand-new pair of Airwalks (skate shoes).

I haven’t purchased a pair of shoes for myself in over 9 years, no $hit. I’m more of a sneakers kinda chick, though I do have shoes for other purposes. You know, special occasions and times you just have to dress up. Overall though, I pretty much wear sneakers 99.5% of the time.

None of the other shoes were purchased by me though, remember I mentioned my mom had a shopping addiction? Every time she’s on a shoe rampage and I’m near, my closet becomes collateral damage. Luckily, I’ve been able to convince her that I won’t wear them and will just end up donating them.

Oh, back to my new Airwalks. They were on sale for $5 off, not much but I would have bought them anyway, plus I had a coupon for $10 off. My recently departed shoes were Vans and lived a long, durable and respectable life—but it was time for new shoes.

On another note, I had to pay US Bank to get a copy of one of my savings account statements because I lost 1 of them and needed it for our home loan. The lady never asked if I wanted one from checking or savings and just gave me our checking statement.

I didn’t realize that until after the bank was already closed. So I called the next morning and they said that I wouldn’t be able to get the money back, but that she could email us the correct statement for another $6.00. Wtf?

I said fine because I needed it anyway, but you better believe I’m going to bring in the checking statement and have our account credited. I know it was my fault for not paying attention, but it was her fault too—it is her job. Shouldn’t I be able to get our money back?

How did your budgeting/spending go this week?