Envelope System: Month 3

I chose not to budget the extra money this month.  I'm wondering if I'll live to regret that choice.  I have to admit that every so often I'll think of a great place to spend that extra money.  I somehow have to train myself not to do that.  I need to learn to leave it alone and forget it's there.

I went to the dry pack today--month three.  I took #2 with me, and we had a great time.  We canned a little bit of everything--hot cocoa, refried beans, macaroni, etc.  A couple of the people there recognized me this time.  I told them that my goal is to come once a month.  They said it was wise to stock up a little at a time.  Is there any other way to do it, really?

It's interesting how scheduled I'm becoming.  I go to Costco once a month to stock up on certain items--T.P., diapers, tortillas, tortilla chips, vitamins for the kids, etc. and then to the dry pack to stock up on others.  I figure the rest of the grocery money goes for weekly food purchases.  I'm looking forward to being a bit more diligent with coupons once school is over.

I didn't use coupons at all last month.  I know, shame on me, and I didn't do us any favors at all.  The grocery money ran out about a week and a half before the end of the month.  I know I could have dipped into savings or drawn out of the Christmas fund or buckled and used the debit card, but I had to prove to myself that I don't have to do those things.

It actually worked out beautifully.  We used our food storage for that last part of the month.  I opened a can of dehydrated apples--"apple chips," and the kids used these as their fruit in their lunches.  They got so they were asking for them as snacks also.  We also opened and used part of our first can of powdered milk.  I remember powdered milk as a kid, so I was very hesitant to use it, but it was actually good.  Surprising!  It had no strange flavor to it.  It just tasted like milk.  The only thing I won't purchase at the dry pack is the oatmeal.  We like old fashioned oats, and theirs are quick oats and have a funny flavor to them.  So, I buy the big Quaker box at Costco.  I also wish the dry pack had brown rice.

Anyway, it's nice to know we don't have to dip to be full and happy.  It also helped that the Zaycon order came in.

Still loving the envelope system.  In my opinion, mint.com is great for setting up a budget and helping figure out how much should be saved each month in order to reach certain financial goals.  I set up birthday budgets this month.  Each kid's birthday money has its own envelope, and the saving for next Christmas's budget has begun.

Wow!  I feel so in control--scary!