Here are my spending totals for today:

Gas - $65 (ouch, ouch, ouch)
Drinks - $4 (I did not plan well for today, and the kids needed a drink.)
Hubby drink - $3 (This was my fault too.  I forgot his drink for his dinner at work.)

Total - $72

On the upside, my husband recieved an additional paycheck yesterday.  The payroll department messed his last paycheck up, so instead of making us wait until next payday, they cut an additional check and mailed it to us!  Yeah!  It wasn't much, but every little bit in the bank helps. 

Today, Rhonda Jean posted about creating a budget and sticking it to it!  I love her idea of using plastic ziploc bags to keep all cash in her budgeted amounts.  This is where I mess up monthly.  I like to borrow from one column to pay for another column.  I need to stick with budgeted amounts and spend no more!  I am going to try the plastic bags for the cash portion.  We try to use cash for food, haircuts, spending money, clothes and gifts.  The rest of it we leave in the bank.  We leave enough in checking to cover bills and gas.  Everything else is moved to savings.  If it isn't in the checking account, it is harder to spend!

Here is our budget:

LIVING EXPENSES 

Rent - 1042.44
Electric - 200.00
Phone - 75.00
Internet - 45.00
Renter's Insurance - 30.88
Auto Insurance - 140.00
Tithe - 200.00
Groceries - 400.00
Gas - 200.00
Haircuts - 25.00
Car Repairs/Maintenance - 50.00
Clothes - 20.00
Gifts - 20.00
Spending Money - 40.00

DEBT REDUCTION

Car Payment - 400.00
Other Debt - 258.00

SAVINGS - 50.00 (and anything left over)

We have an HSA that we use for any health related expenses, so we don't budget for those.

Total Monthly Expenses - $3196.32
Total Weekly Expenses - $737.62
Total Daily Expenses - $105.09

Wow!  Putting this stuff on paper has made me realize just how bad we are with money.  It is very easy to say that we can pay our  bills, have a bit of wiggle room, and we are okay.  We want to be more than okay.  We want to be out of debt with a little money in the bank. 

I think it is time for me to change my spending habits.  My husband says that I nickel and dime us to death.  I tend to spend on a lot of little things.  He spends once in a blue moon on a big ticket item!