Thanks for sharing! I stumbled upon your substack and found your backwards budgeting post especially helpful!
At the risk of sounding too nosey, have you considered posting about tracking your savings and investments alongside your expenditure? I’d love more insight into how your spending compares to your savings and investments because that’s what I struggle with the most. Thanks!
I definitely could!! Maybe I’ll share that as a weekly post—I do have one reoccurring monthly investment, but I try not to check my investments more than every few months or so (since they all go up and down). Honestly though I don’t think I have all my investments in the best places, but I can share more on what I’m doing there! Thanks for reading
Loved this post so much! You asked if your spend on drinks out is insane for some. It definitely is for me, I stopped drinking alcohol mainly because it gives me bad anxiety but also because it just saves me so much money. I still go out to pubs with friends, but I order a soft drink instead (enjoying the experience without the "side effects"). That being said, if the experience is important to you, it's not insane at all! Where I don't spend on alcohol, I make up in spending on coffees out. I probably go our for a coffee 20/30 days at least. I reckon money is for whatever makes us happy! Both in the long run AND right now :))
My stop/start/continue:
Stop: Being lazy with my cooking. I often go for frozen foods and heavy sauces in my salads. Whilst it's okay once in a while, I really want to start having more varied and nourishing foods.
Start: Get that blender! Start getting those greens in 😂
Continue: I want to continue my yoga and pilates classes and go more often. Also continue prioritising my creative work.
Love that perspective!! I totally agree it’s about what makes you happy! And I should 100% have the same “stop” goal as you but I’ll save that one for next month haha
My first thought on reading your spending diary was what an incredibly fulfilling life you lead! You’ve also got such a great attitude towards spending on what matters to you and cutting back where it doesn’t. Amazing! I’m inspired by this to keep a spending diary this month. I’m pretty good at tracking my income but I don’t really do it for my spending and now I’m curious 🧐 😂
Thanks! Yeah, I started tracking mine because I was curious how I spent my money. I've never liked budgeting because I don't like to feel constricted on certain categories (I spend more or less on some categories each month, and I'm okay with that). But I like to be able to look back and reflect on the areas I wish I had spent less (or more!) on.
i love the start, stop, and continue reflections!!!! it's something i definitely have to do for my monthly lists :))) also, beach read is such a great book! emily henry is my one of my favorite authors haha
Thanks for the shoutout and for sharing your monthly reflections! Loved reading through the start/stop/continue section - think I need to start doing that on a more consistent basis.
I've cut out takeout/delivery almost 100% over the past year or so! So that helps. And I keep coffee and drinks out separate. I honestly prefer grabbing drinks or coffee with friends over eating out. But if you combine those 3 categories together I'm at more like $350-600 each month
Thanks for sharing! I stumbled upon your substack and found your backwards budgeting post especially helpful!
At the risk of sounding too nosey, have you considered posting about tracking your savings and investments alongside your expenditure? I’d love more insight into how your spending compares to your savings and investments because that’s what I struggle with the most. Thanks!
I definitely could!! Maybe I’ll share that as a weekly post—I do have one reoccurring monthly investment, but I try not to check my investments more than every few months or so (since they all go up and down). Honestly though I don’t think I have all my investments in the best places, but I can share more on what I’m doing there! Thanks for reading
I'm right there with you on the forgetting taxes are there. Took a hit myself last month. Thankfully not as large as yours. ☹️
A drink vs a coffeeshop to journal, hell yes, why not? Also I find it sometimes helps to keep the talkers at bay if I'm looking for some solitude.
I have always struggled keeping track of my expenses each month, but this seems like a more fun way to do it. I might give it a try!
Start- keeping track of my expenses and budget
Stop - picking up my phone and scrolling through social media
Continue - in May I gave myself the goal of walking everyday for 31 days and I know it’s only day 1, but this is what I want to continue
I love the walking goal!!
Loved this post so much! You asked if your spend on drinks out is insane for some. It definitely is for me, I stopped drinking alcohol mainly because it gives me bad anxiety but also because it just saves me so much money. I still go out to pubs with friends, but I order a soft drink instead (enjoying the experience without the "side effects"). That being said, if the experience is important to you, it's not insane at all! Where I don't spend on alcohol, I make up in spending on coffees out. I probably go our for a coffee 20/30 days at least. I reckon money is for whatever makes us happy! Both in the long run AND right now :))
My stop/start/continue:
Stop: Being lazy with my cooking. I often go for frozen foods and heavy sauces in my salads. Whilst it's okay once in a while, I really want to start having more varied and nourishing foods.
Start: Get that blender! Start getting those greens in 😂
Continue: I want to continue my yoga and pilates classes and go more often. Also continue prioritising my creative work.
Love that perspective!! I totally agree it’s about what makes you happy! And I should 100% have the same “stop” goal as you but I’ll save that one for next month haha
My first thought on reading your spending diary was what an incredibly fulfilling life you lead! You’ve also got such a great attitude towards spending on what matters to you and cutting back where it doesn’t. Amazing! I’m inspired by this to keep a spending diary this month. I’m pretty good at tracking my income but I don’t really do it for my spending and now I’m curious 🧐 😂
Thanks! Yeah, I started tracking mine because I was curious how I spent my money. I've never liked budgeting because I don't like to feel constricted on certain categories (I spend more or less on some categories each month, and I'm okay with that). But I like to be able to look back and reflect on the areas I wish I had spent less (or more!) on.
i love the start, stop, and continue reflections!!!! it's something i definitely have to do for my monthly lists :))) also, beach read is such a great book! emily henry is my one of my favorite authors haha
It was the perfect read on the beach during my vacation!! And yeah it's a great way to reflect :)
Thanks for the shoutout and for sharing your monthly reflections! Loved reading through the start/stop/continue section - think I need to start doing that on a more consistent basis.
Thanks!! It's a great way to reflect (and to celebrate things going well with the continue section!)
thanks for the mention- we’re glad you had fun at the event!
Thanks for hosting it!!
damn I am so impressed by how low you keep your eating out spending
I've cut out takeout/delivery almost 100% over the past year or so! So that helps. And I keep coffee and drinks out separate. I honestly prefer grabbing drinks or coffee with friends over eating out. But if you combine those 3 categories together I'm at more like $350-600 each month
that’s still impressive!!! especially with so many incredible restaurants here