Monday accountability post

hoffse · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?

2) Any progress toward goals?

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

formerlyGDaisy09 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?

good! $47 at the grocery store and $64 for tickets to A Christmas Carol. I'm also buying Dog's Christmas gift right now ~$80 (skijoring equipments, so also the gift of a tired dog for H and I)

2) Any progress toward goals?

not 'til the end of the month, but things are looking good

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

no plans. I'm a little sad about it as H is working everyday but Christmas, I'm off from work starting on wednesday.

hoffse · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? Ours wasn't so bad, though we did buy plane tickets to Paris... but more on that below. Otherwise, we spent $60 on groceries, bought a folding table to have around for crafts, work, etc. for $40 and spent $35 on gas.

2) Any progress toward goals? Lots of progress! I got my bonus which wound up being more than I was hoping for. That was a nice surprise! I also found out that I'm advancing to the next level of practice. That results in a small raise. My firm is also giving everybody COL raises next year, so those of us advancing get a two-fer. Happy about that!

I also snagged a crazy good deal on plane tickets to Paris. Literally, it saved us $2,000 over what I was expecting to pay to go in high season. The flights aren't direct, but it's only a single layover in Charlotte. We decided the short layover was worth that savings.

I also looked at my state taxes for last year to try to get a sense of taxes for this year. I discovered that the state's e-filing system does not allow you to take a deduction for federal income taxes - which is a deduction that everybody in our state is entitled to (and which we would have gotten if we paper filed). We overpaid last year by about $500. So I'm going to file an amended return and get my $500 back! I'm really glad I caught this before I e-filed again this year. Our federal taxes this year should be a huge deduction for us, and I will definitely paper file this time to make sure we get it.

Also on the taxes front, Congress extended a bunch of tax breaks last week (for 2014 only) and Obama signed it on Friday. I'm really happy about that, because we'll get to deduct some of H's law school tuition for his final semester. If Congress hadn't extended it, we would have lost that deduction.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? Visiting H's family for Christmas. His dad apparently makes waffles on Christmas morning, and it's the one meal he cooks the entire year. So he makes way too much and gets offended if you don't clean your plate. H has been making me waffles each weekend for the last month or so to build up my stamina. Honestly, if I never see another waffle again I think I would be just fine...

Xstatic3333 · December 2014

1.) Although our weekend activities were pretty MM, we've officially blown the Christmas budget. I'm so mad at myself. I had to pull $100 from our "short term savings" with no hope of paying it back anytime soon. Months of minor overspending, the concert ticket purchases, and expenses associated with the funeral in H's family really caught up with us, and I forgot to budget for holiday expenses like shipping, stamps, cards, wrapping paper, etc. No, we're not going into debt or anything, but I hate feeling like progress towards our goals has halted. H says I should give myself a break since it's December but I'm really bummed about it.

2.) Put $100 in the e-fund, but having to use $100 from a different account kind of makes that a wash.

3.) We're not off any days except Christmas itself since we're saving up our vacation time. On Christmas Eve and morning we'll be with my family, and on Christmas night we'll be with H's.

vlagrl29 · December 2014

1 - $10 on dinner friday night, $15 on dog treats at the bakery for our dogs birthday. $30 on dinner saturday night. DH finished up his xmas shopping on saturday which was within our cash saved.

2 - not this week but we did stay in our budget for xmas gifts

3 - I'm totally off for the next 2 weeks. DH is taking a half day on tuesday and he will have a week off. We are going to my parents on xmas eve and already went to his mom's house yesterday for early xmas. we are spending xmas day at our house as a family. I'm looking forward to all the relaxing.

mana8503 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? Not too bad. $0 Friday, $15 on subs Saturday, Sunday $30 for breakfast, $70 Groceries, $100 gift cards for Christmas and Bdays.

2) Any progress toward goals?

I'm finally out of the newborn fog. I kick myself for not staying up on finances while on ML, but we came out ahead so that's all I could hope for. Now it's time to buckle back down.

I'm starting to look at our 2015 budget. We are looking into trading in my jeep for a bigger SUV/Van soon. So I'm seeing where things are starting to fall with baby. I'll adjust once I get the details on my pay increase, but looks like we have $500/mon to work with. So starting January that's going into a car down payment fund so we don't get used to that money in the accounts.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

We are leaving Tuesday night to head to NC. It's H's year for Christmas with his kids and we'll be there until Monday. I'm excited to have all the kids together for the first time. I'm off work until January 5th - can't wait for 12 days with E!

brij2006 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?

Okay. Finished up Christmas shopping, got groceries, and filled up the car. Stayed in budget for all.

Got the bill from the hospital for when baby gave us a scare..... Ouch!

2) Any progress toward goals?

We cashed out our investment we had started after the wedding, to put our efund in. It was with our financial advisor we love, but it was money just sitting there that we don't need and would be better suited going toward debt. We also stopped my contributions to my Roth IRA that I started 6 years ago.

Also paid myself from the sales with my direct sales business over the last couple of months. All of this is going to get us to the amount we wanted in savings before baby comes. Yay!

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

We run all over the place visiting family. The only plus is that we're off Friday and are planning to work on the remodel all weekend.

strickland8052 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?
It was OK. $60 to finish Christmas gift shopping. H found a great deal on a used bike for $150. $20 on eating out. $25 on gas. (Can't believe I filled up my car for $25.. woohoo!)

2) Any progress toward goals?
No. If it weren't for the roof, I would have had some to put in savings this week. But I'm just leaving that money in checking, since it will probably be needed for the roof in a couple of weeks. $:\$

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?
Going to visit H's family for Christmas Eve then my family for Christmas day

cbee817 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? Pretty good- groceries ($109), target ($68)

2) Any progress toward goals? Nothing new. We will be putting $1,000 into our vacation fund next Monday.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? I work through Wednesday. We have plans for X-mas Eve night, but DD#2 has a fever today so we're playing that by ear. Christmas is at home for the day and then we go to DH's parents' house at night... can't wait to see the girls open their gifts!

smbenevides1989 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?

Great actually. DH got a bonus, so we took some money and bought alcohol ($63), a coffee at Dunkin ($3), gas for both of us ($67) and some groceries ($14). Other than the alcohol, everything was within budget.

2) Any progress toward goals?

Not yet, but come January 1st, money is flying around to pay off different things. I can't wait!

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

Tomorrow is my last day until next Monday. Wednesday, we have church, maybe family visits, and then watching the girls open up their Christmas Eve box and have a family night. Christmas Day is family dinner and opening presents.

jessica490 · December 2014

1. $27 Chinese food and I think that's it 2. $177 to house do 3. Xmas eve at aunts house, and my parents for Christmas. Not sure our weekend plans yet....

blondie42107 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?
I don't know exactly how much we spent finishing our Christmas shopping but it was budgeted for. Groceries $136.

2) Any progress toward goals?
No

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?
Christmas Eve: my family - church, dinner, gifts. Christmas Day: just us for the morning and early day. H's family will come over for dinner and presents. Friday - my family will still be in town. Saturday and Sunday we have extended family Christmas parties. After tomorrow, I don't return to work until January 5th!

andkatiesays · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend?

Not at all... last minute Christmas shopping. I wasn't going to over do it but we ended up in a nice spot financially this year so I went with it. I love giving

2) Any progress toward goals?

Nope. We spent every penny of what we were supposed to save this month on Christmas gifts & a new computer. I don't regret it one bit. At least we cash flowed it, right?

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up?

Working and then Christmas at my in laws on Christmas day. Our kiddos come back from their dad's house on Saturday so we will celebrate with them then!

abrewer5 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? Not great. I made a big purchase to cover my family for Christmas.. $360 for tickets to see Wicked when it comes to town. I'm excited about the show but hated spending the money! $25 for breakfast out and $15 for dinner at outback after a gift card.

2) Any progress toward goals? Nope not at all. With Christmas spending it's put me behind, but I'm able to cash flow everything so I'm good to go. Excited for the new year when I can pay off my car and start saving more.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? Taking a half day today to go to the store, having H's family over tomorrow night for dinner, and then hopping around on Christmas to my family. After that I'm planning to relax all weekend. Can't wait.

als1982 · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? I'd call it a wash. Fri. was H's work holiday party, and we had a free night hotel stay that was about to expire, so we made a "staycation" out of it. While the room was free, we spent a little on cabs and brunch the next day. Sat./Sun. we did some last minute Christmas shopping (i.e. un-budgeted). Fortunately, H received a nice bonus that covered it all.

2) Any progress toward goals? Yes! This week we set an automatic deposit to put $917 in our ROTHs every month automatically. Combined with our work accounts, this puts us right at 15%. Hopefully, I'll get a small raise in January that we'll put straight into my 403b and bump us up another percentage.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? Wed./Thurs. with H's family, Fri./Sat. with mine. Naps on Sunday.

dragonstarjk · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? It was pretty great actually! Had to pick up a few last-minute groceries for the family we hosted on Saturday night ~$20. $0 on Sunday since we stayed home and played with our new Christmas presents that we gave each other early

2) Any progress toward goals? Last week I found out that I am getting the promotion I was hoping for (woohoo!) but I don't know what my new salary will be yet. I will find that out at my review next month and then it doesn't go into effect until March's first payroll, so it was kind of anti-climactic. Still exciting though! I also set up new direct deposit amounts into our various savings accounts from my payroll so it will go in automatically before I ever see it.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? We don't have any plans on actual Christmas, so we're just going to stay home alone in our pajamas all day! I have to work until 2pm Christmas Eve and then all day Friday. H gets Christmas Eve but also works Friday. Going to my mom's house for family Christmas on Saturday morning.

Wulfgar · December 2014

1) How MM was your weekend? Not too good, finishing up Christmas shopping, buying needed clothes for myself, etc is adding up. Also, have medical bills that I will be putting on my credit card at least for a month or two.

2) Any progress toward goals? Will be making a $340 payment towards my credit card soon.

3) What are your plans for the holidays and short week coming up? Bringing baby home once she is released.

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