Hellobee Boards

It goes to Target.

and eating out

I would start using your credit card for ALL purchases and then downloading the activity so you can get the actual real picture.

We no longer account for everything on Mint, but I noticed after I stopped tracking I can easily spend $15-$20 on work day eating out

@MaryM: I do this as well. I have a minimum savings amount that is non-negotiable each month and it gets moved over as soon as my husband's large check for the month hits. Then, once all the bills are paid, I move over anything additional that we are able to save over and above for that month.

Definitely eating out. Things come up in life and instead of cooking/eating leftovers (and bc of convenience), we eat out. Even if we eat "cheap", it adds up super fast!

Oh and like pp, we automatically have money go to different savings vehicles at the beginning of the month so that we aren't worried about whether we are saving enough.

@snowjewelz: haha! I found it easier this way - we will each have $x for petty purchases, lunch/coffee, and it is usually enough. It's better than seeing 10 ATM withdrawals and wondering what the heck they were for.

We don't stick to any sort of budget yet (and need to), but when I have made one up in excel with all of our expenditures and see how much 'extra' money we should have each month, I'm always surprised! Like, oh, I thought we were broke, but we actually should have $xxx much leftover each month!
I think its all the little things, like $1 a day for cappuccino, Subway 2x a week, etc.

Decorating/furnishing our house! Tj maxx, way fair and the local consignment shop. I told DH not to get all worked up over the fact that we aren't saving anything because we have a whole house to furnish.

@snowjewelz: Ive been wondering if we just eat a lot too! I just posted to the boards a while ago about finding "cheaper" meals!

I can tell you exactly where it goes....Amazon and their one click ordering.

I am setting up some direct savings stuff this year to increase our savings. We should be doing a lot better.

@MaryM: @Truth Bombs: I have a very similar process. Except that in my employee portal where I have direct deposit set up, it allows me to add unlimited accounts. So I have a specific dollar amount that is automatically deposited into my savings account, and the remaining amount goes to checking/joint account. That way I never "see" the savings money. We also opted to use online savings account, because it has a three-day transfer wait. That makes it so we don't take money out of savings unless it's premeditated (not for "emergencies") and planned for. It has really helped us by doing it this way!

I feel this way often too, even though I "know" where the money went, it's just so crazy how quickly the little things add up. A $10 toy here, a new book for J, a few clothing items for him, some clothes for me/DH that I saw on sale, running to the grocery store cause I forgot X or didn't meal plan so I didn't get everything the first time (and typically end up picking up something else), gifts, gas prices went up, etc... It's always so random each month!!

Our biggest expenses are definitely childcare, gas, and debt/medical bills. Ugh.

Odds and ends.....I feel like now with a LO we shop for convienece rather than price, DH pick this up at Walgreena stop here it is closer......etc, I see it adding up!!!

Amazon and when my husband goes to the store to get "snacks" 60 bucks later...

Groceries! I mean, housing and day care are huge expenses but we've got that figured info our budget. I can't work out how we're spending like $600 a month on food though. We don't eat out and we cook a lot... I think it's all the cookies DH buys