August 2015 budget

Monthly budget time! Here’s August …

Income:  $4620

• Mortgage $853.08
• Condo Fees $175.00
• Car Loan $360.00
• Car/Condo Ins $103.00
• Dental Ins $105.71
• Electric $131.66
• Natural Gas $18.58
• Sewer $75.00
• Internet/Cable $86.56
• Cell Phones $181.92
• Gas $140
• Food $300
• Chase $279
• Citi $30
• YCFCU $54
• BB $25
• Student Loan $50
• Care Credit $340
• NECU $755.86
• Paypal $170.64
• Pocket Money $80
• Eating Out $50
• SWTOR $14.99
• Sinking Funds $240
  • Car Maintenance $120
  • Medical $80
  • Union Fees $10
  • Clothing $30

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Things to note:

1. Sewer bill is quarterly.  We do NOT have a sinking fund because it is a manageable amount and doesn’t throw our budget for a loop.  This is the same for our water bill, which is about $37 quarterly {paid last month}.
2. Natural Gas is our heating bill.  And yes, we know it isn’t winter.  Our provider charges a monthly fee for “maintaining” the lines/meters during off season.  We’ve discussed turning it off, but there is a cancellation fee of $150.  Paying the $18.58 a month saves us money overall – but its super annoying.
3. Sinking Funds: We roll these funds over each month as a mini-savings account to help ease the burden on our budget.  However, we do have a limit on the medical and clothing funds.  We don’t keep more than $500 in the medical (we recently depleted due to a day-surgery) and $400 in the clothing.  The clothing is 95% work related clothing for my husband (steel-toe boots, safety gear) and tax deductible!

GOAL:  Payoff TWO cards {Care Credit and NECU} this month.  Hallelujah! I’ll update later on plans I have and challenges we’ve come across trying to trim our budget.   { rachel }