Budget Summer
Thank you to all who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. I hope this country's residents get our collective act together to be worthy. May we mark this day with reverence and not just the start of summer.
April and May might do me in financially. Not really, but I've been hemorrhaging money with nothing coming in other than the determined monthly retirement payments starting for June. I've still got a wedding, a graduation, and a couple commitments that will require an extra tank of gas. My trip with my sisters, while planned and funds set aside for, will still be out going. I have not taken the good advice to live austerely after retirement to get a feel for my real costs, but come June 6, the day after I'm home, I must cut all nonessential spending for the rest of the month, if not rest of summer.
There's still one more wedding and graduation gift giving before September, then, the big party that I guess will be thrown for my MIL in September. These are commitments made, so adding to the essentials. Not essentials are eating out, new clothes, any sort of gadget or bric a brac for the house, expensive entertainment, and books. Besides the above, if it's not basic groceries, utilities, insurance or car tabs (ugh went up 60%), or transportation, it's paused for June 6 to September 15th, getting me through the MIL party. As for transportation, I need to be more conscious of the gas tank, coordinating out of town trips much better, nixing local ones unless critical.
Know this is Monday morning thinking as the month winds down and how well I manage this low spend summer is questionable even to me. But, I've got many opportunities and resources to help. The free summer concert series starts in June. There's monthly movies in the park. I've still got funds on a few gift cards, one at a place that has live music on Wednesday's, and another for downtown where one Friday a month the street closes for outdoor music.
I've got a very messy (not blank) slate of back yard to create a comfort hang out spot. I've got four bottles of wine and a pretty good stock of liquor to make summer cocktails, but still can indulge in a semi weekly hard seltzer for trivia night. Vegetables might come from my own hands in the coming weeks and I think I've figured out when the butcher at the local grocery store, walking distance, reduces meat. I can coordinate Aldi or other lower cost shops for stocking up cheaply stops on the out of town routes, no special trips.
I am motivated even if my fiscally smart aptitude has waned. Let a summer of savings begin.
You will figure out how to navigate the summer, even if it is a summer of austerity. Looking backwards, we had some years of financial bleak times and they were filled with very much fun. It did take a lot of inventive effort but it worked. You can do it and make it fun.
ReplyDeleteI do remember those summers of past, but filled with the kids focused stuff. I don't feel deprived, but know I need several months of a closed check book.
DeleteYou have a ton of fun ahead of you- even if you have to tighten up the spending.
ReplyDeleteFortunately we live in a community with a lot of fun events. I have a lot of family, kids ball faves to watch as well so not a dull moment if I don't want them.
DeleteYeah, I have the bleeding money bit down pat this summer. I so understand. There are still some very necessary repairs I need to make to my house. Sigh. Plus, the cost of insurance is killing me on all fronts, house, vehicle, dental, etc. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Cindy. I can't imagine having to rebuild after a fire. My house stuff is just neglected jobs and years of wear and tear.
DeleteYou can make it through the summer, just remind yourself of your goal from time to time and that should help. You can go to yard sales and find all kinds of things to decorate your back yard for pennies. I got a wind chime this last weekend. Its cheap entertainment at its best. LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, my goal to travel and spend more quality time with family and friends is still the priority. The second can happen with very little money.
DeleteYou have the beginnings of a plan and I bet more ideas will come to you yet. I will be looking for low spend opportunities myself. I have all the summer clothes I need and still a lot of food in the freezer to use up. I will be looking at cheap movies and free concerts, too!
ReplyDeleteI'll keep an eye out for more things to do. I too can use up a lot of groceries to watch spending.
DeleteWhen we were living on a really tight budget back in the early days of our marriage, income exactly matched outgoings and we used cash, and stashed a weekly amount in jars towards known monthly expenditure.
ReplyDeleteLater when money was tight again I wrote down everything I spent as I spent it. You might find some kind of day book followed up by entries by category on a spreadsheet helpful for this short period?
I can tell where the extra spending is coming pretty easily. It has been on too many meals out, a ridiculous influx of special occasions in a short period of time, the summer yard/ garden supplies, and a lot of gas money. Still, never hurts to see the outgoing in black and white.
DeleteThe free concerts sound like a nice treat. I find there are quite a few free things to do in summer around here, whether music in the park or free events at local attractions once in a while. I'm sure you're still finding your way around retirement and once you get in a rhythm it will be easier to see where the outgoings go. My walking friend volunteers at a couple of entertainment venues (the theatres that host travelling musical productions and such). She gets to see some great things as they are allowed to sit and watch the performances.
ReplyDeleteThe free concerts are weekly in the park, movies and street closing once a month each so that could be 6 events a month right there without spending a cent. I should leave k into volunteering this summer with the community theater and save the $20 ticket price.
DeleteYou've got four bottles of wine???? Hold that thought, I'll bring the corkscrew!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have some ( many bottles) of very old wine in the silly wine racks that were popular decor at one point and now probably are just vinegar. But, I finally restocked drinkable stuff. In a future life, I'd have an actual wine cellar. The cork screw is ready whenever you'd want to join me in a bottle.
DeleteTreaders read my mind, I was going to say exactly the same! xxx
ReplyDeleteYou would always have a glass ready to fill when you came. I will admit though, at least one bottle is a screw top. ( But I swear it's delicious and one of my favorites for summer...Cupcake Rose).
DeleteMy thoughts on this short period of austerity. At least it is summer with sun, green, and flowers, warm!
ReplyDeleteTrue...with beautiful weather, picnic lunches, and a green back yard it won't feel austere.
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