Dates/Eatout: $130
Groceries/food: $300
Misc.:$93-this was an anniversary gift at $30, a haircut at $16, a car wash at $6, a dress at $17, and a birthday gift at $24.
Gas: $50
Total:$573
Yikes. We are really high this month. The grocery category includes some yard stuff we bought as well to start getting our yard in shape for the summer. If we are careful, I think we can end the month at $800, which is definitely over my $700 goal, but better than just blowing the whole month. I know we have two birthdays this month left, and two next month. After that, no more birthdays till fall! We still need to get mulch, weed control fabric, and some plants as well. I think we'll just spread these purchases out between now and May. Even if I do go over my spending goals, it is nice to see where the money is actually going.
I tried to comment earlier, but I guess it didnt stick. I am too tired to re-write it all, so here's the abreviated version :)
ReplyDelete1. Newspapers can be used in place of the weed control mats, and best of all, they are free!
2. Peat pots for planting seed (much cheaper than buying big plants), can be easily made out of newspaper as well. You wrap it around an empty can to use as a form - I can find the blog that shows you how to do it (in my side bar - its either Easy Frugal Living, or Real Life Living that did it)
3. I work for the electric company, and we provide free mulch to customers. Its not the pretty, decorative kind because it still has all the smaller twigs & leaves in it. You could clean it up & use it to mulch around trees or bushes to keep down the weeds - and again its free!!
You are doing great - keep it up!
Sarah, thank you so much for the tips! I did not know about any of these frugal tricks. I just looked it up, and our county is giving away free mulch in a week and a half, so yay! You just saved me a bunch of $$$ and helped my garden stay pretty this year :)
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