Black ice is keeping me in this morning. This is one of the best parts of retirement. If the weather's iffy, I don't have to go out. I was planning on the gym and a little grocery shopping this morning, but it can wait. This afternoon I have to pick up the boys, but I trust the roads will be better by then.
It's pay day! I paid my mortgage and my BOA card (the one I'm earning a bonus on). I'll wait to pay my Discover card until my SS payment shifts from pending to processed. My electricity payment hit the bank, also. That was a bit of a break, because it did not hit at all during the January pay cycle. It will probably hit twice in February, even though February is a short month. It was $51.
I did my January recap:
Housing: $713
Insurance: $337
Vacation/Travel: $236
Utilities: $129
Groceries: $81
Eating Out: $54
Phone: $52
Furnishings/Equipment/Decor: $48
Gas: $44
Medical/Health: $37
Household Supplies: $35
Vet/Pet Supplies: $25
Laundry: $14
Gifts/Charity: $11
Fares/Parking: $4
Grand Total: $1820
Variables ended up at 82%. I previously thought it was higher because I somehow overcounted the groceries.
I'm happy any time I come in under $2000. To do so when I've had to pay insurance and have bought an airline ticket is great!
February will inevitably be higher. I'll be traveling, I'll have to get a haircut, I have two gifts to buy (son's birthday & cousin's wedding), another airline ticket to buy, -- just to name a few expenses I can think of off the top of my head.
My BFF has bowed out of the Houston road trip due to previous plans with her granddaughter. I'm disappointed, because I'd much rather do that than fly again. But flying will be cheaper.
Our local theater is offering a $35 ticket to watch all nine Oscar-nominated movies. Boy, I would love to do that, but the timing will fall over my Houston trip, so I can't. So, money saved there!
My next pay day will not be until February 28. So, even though it is a short month, it will be a bit long for me.
Black Ice
January 24th, 2018 at 02:16 pm
January 24th, 2018 at 04:27 pm 1516811268
January 24th, 2018 at 05:54 pm 1516816444
January 24th, 2018 at 09:04 pm 1516827850
January 24th, 2018 at 09:07 pm 1516828062
I agree, the joy of being retired is not having to get out when the weather is bad. Sure makes up for all those years when we had to!
January 25th, 2018 at 01:24 pm 1516886692