DMC it's not just you.  Yes, I've had to tweak my budget A LOT! I still have to sometimes.  It sometimes changes in the middle of the month.  There are things that are unexpected and you have to step back and reasses  when those things occur. I think that a budget is an ongoing thing.  It can be influenced by so many things.  And with the cost of some many things rising tweaking the budget is sometimes a necessary thing.

Hang in there you are doing a great job. 

Shellia

Our budget for food and supplies is 300.00 a month for two, that includes personal care products and cleaning supplies. We usually go under about 30-40 dollars. This amount is for two people.

DMC-Yes, I have to tweak my budget all the time.  In fact, I have kind of stopped keeping a monthly budget that is the same for every month because every month is different.  Examples-some months, we aren't home for dinner as often so I need to cook less.  Or we have a lot of outside activities that I need to budget for so need to trim elsewhere to do it.  Or a sporadic bill is due and we have to put more resources to that than other things.

To that end, I kept failing at my set monthly budget so I chucked it!!  I now sit down on every payday and look at what needs to be paid and what we will do that pay period and then I budget for that period specifically.  (I also do look ahead to the next payday and glance quickly at the next month to see if I need to set aside any money for something upcoming.)  but primarily, I budget pay period to pay period.  And finally it is working.  I am able to say, ok this pay period I don't have a birthday gift to buy, so I can do a little grocery stocking up.  Or I know that I need to have the oil changed in the car so I will put off grocery stocking up.  Or if there is nothing scheduled, I'll set a little extra aside for savings or debt payment (or both!).

Anyway, this is long but just wanted to share with you that you are not alone with your budget not working as well as you plan.  That was happening to me every single month before I started micromanaging and budgeting per paycheck rather than a set budget of what my month "should" look like.  My problem was that the month never looked like it should on paper!  I was frustrated and kept feeling like I was failing in accomplishing my goals.

Keep working at it.  Rome wasn't built in a day and all that right?!

Jenn,

Thank you for taking the time to write this - I love the idea!  I am going to try it.  I am going to look at pay period to pay period.  Its starts tomorrow, so its like a clean slate and actually, my budget is set up that way... I just keep "looking at it" on a month to month basis.  I know what is fixed and due each period.  I think it will give me a much needed fresh start every two weeks.

Thanks so much for this is post, I like it a lot and will try to break it down in two week increments.  I also think that I am going to (I think I got this idea from this board) give myself a gold star for every day I do something "stretchery".  Like.. when I don't buy something special for dinner, when I make do or substitute and for every day I don't spend a dime, or for every day I don't charge... that should be EVERYDAY.  I want to share this with my girl so she sees me get kudos for being money wise and make her a part of it. 

I love this site and the support and ideas I get here.  Thanks again! 

Thanks Shellia,

Its like pushing an elephant up the stairs, but I am glad to know it is how it goes.  I am glad its not just me!  ;-)

Thanks! 

dmc_2008:

I think it will give me a much needed fresh start every two weeks.

It does actually!  Plus, it makes it easier to put things off.  For example, this pay period, I really need to catch up because June was so expensive and I need to be really tight with my budget to catch up and get some breathing room back.  So when I was at the store today, I just bought basics and was able to tell myself that I would be able to spend a bit more next pay period-which isn't too far away!  I have a much better attitude knowing that it's just for a really short period of time (I mean, in the grand scheme of things, 2 weeks is over in the blink of an eye!).  I only really have about $250 to spend on everything until next pay period if I want to catch up fully (for gas, food, diapers, anything we need).  But knowing that I just have to be really careful for these couple of weeks makes it easier than trying to be careful forever and ever!  Granted, come next pay period, there will likely be another need for money to be set aside but still looking at it in short blocks of time really seems to keep me focused.

I guess I am just not very disciplined is what it comes down to!  I tend to work better in a crisis situation!!  Vague, ongoing attempts to improve my finances just don't work for me, but trying to accomplish something over a short period of time seems to give me more success!

Good luck!

Jenn,

 BRAVO!!  I really think this will help.  I am looking at my budget and I think, okay, I have a full freezer, full gas tank and nothing due (besides the unexpected) that I haven't budgeted for.  I think I can make it to the 16th.  That little chunk is easier to look at.  You are right!

 Haven't spent a penny today, don't see any need to until this weekend.  Even just with not spending and not charging it starting to feel like I am digging out.  I know I sound like a broken record but in case there are others reading and are in my predictament.  I have my moments when I just don't know, but then like today, I have a positive check balance.  It used to be that every month I would have brackets round my balance - even on payday I would be left with only a few bucks and then end up in brackets literally within HOURS!  I just flipped back.. I haven't been in brackets since the end of April / beginning May.  Darn good! 

Which basically means that I have stopped the overdraft madness and charging not to mention the fees!  This is a major reason I got in so deep, yet another reason I should say!

;-) 

dmc_2008:

I haven't been in brackets since the end of April / beginning May.

Good for you!  It is so important to look at the improvements you have made.  Helps keep positive energy going to know that you have achieved small steps in your journey.  That is two whole months-a big step in the right direction!  And, as you say, you've got a full freezer and a full gas tank and just have to make it to the 16th.  No problem, right?!

I am still making up menus so that I can rotate meals. I live by myself with a very spoiled kitty.

I have cut down on some things like light bulbs because I made the switch to CFLs in most of my light fixtures. I was able to buy them on sale. That move also decreased my electric bill.

I seldom buy fresh produce except for carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, and onions. I buy frozen or canned vegetables. I shop at Harris Teeter and I combine my store card with coupons. I read the sales flyers from Farm Fresh, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter. Some weeks I do not go to Farm Fresh or to Food Lion.

Since 2007 I have been much better about not wasting food. While Mom was living at home we wasted more food.

I have some meatless meals that I enjoy including cheese pudding, which is a mock cheese souffle. I will be making my own pasta come cooler weather. I will be making the fancy raviolis instead of purchasing them.

I cook with powdered milk and fat free evaporated milk.

Right now I am doing the rotisserie chicken deal at Food Lion. For every 6 chickens purchased the 7th one is free until July 22nd. On Fridays chicken is $1.00 off in the deli at Food Lion. I freeze the carcass and I make my own chicken stock which I use for homemade soups.

When I see a really good deal on something that I use I will buy it. Right now I have several boxes of Cheer stockpiled.

I will most likely be making the substitute for creamed soups after I use up my cans of soup that I use in cooking. I have made some of my own mixes in the past.

We spend on average about $200 a month, for two people.  This includes paper products and everything we buy at the grocery store, so I do think you can do this for $250.