I’ll be on C.A.S.H. once more (with feeling!), until December 31, 2008. I’ve achieved 75% of my Freedom Fund goal (see sidebar!), so if I stay on track with $1,800 in savings a month, I’ll exceed my $23,500 goal. In fact, I’ll come pretty close to $25,000.
I was inspired by Single Ma, who has decided to renounce all shopping until the end of the year. This means no Black Friday sales, no Holiday sales, and no after-Christmas sales. I’ve decided to follow her example – I’ve gone for four months without shopping (Jan-April 2008), so I should be able to do it again.
So, my revised goal for year-end balance of Freedom Fund is $25,000. The best part is that I’m only counting on regular income savings, not bonuses. Any bonus, therefore, will be pure gravy. I may do an even split – 50% travel, 50% savings.
I’ve also made a budget for the last four months of the year (I have to admit – I’ve not been a very good budget planner for the past few months). My goal is to keep my total expenditure at $1,900 a month.
The breakdown is as follows:
Rent/ utilities / DSL: 790
Car insurance / repair: $190
Gas: $160
Food: $200
Coffee: $25
Prescription / co-pays: $85
Personal: $50
Entertainment: $100
Travel / vacation: $160
Education / classes: $50
Gifts: $50
Misc: $40
—————-
Total: $1,900
Related posts:
Good luck! Shopping isn’t my vice – but food certainly is. Congrats on your Freedom Fund, that is an amazing accomplishment.
Good luck
I look forward to following your blog over few four months as I am embarking on the same resolution (hence executing a google search that landed me at your blog!). That you did it for four months earlier this year is inspiring.
Good luck!
Thanks for posting the budget and the inspiration to live a few months spending free. I’ve just bough a ticket to Brazil, so I’m not doing any spending till after the trip (December).
I’m interested in your food budget. My first thought is that $200 per month is quite low. How are you managing that? Do you make all your meals at home? Even just groceries for 1 person would seem to be more.
I really have to do some shopping because i have taken long but i love buying accessories and thats where i derive my joy.Thanks for the blog