May Was A Stretched Month-The Wrap-up

May was rough-not going to pretend. A combination of lower cash coming in, and higher expenses going out or a variety of reasons. Because of some timing, we had to tap farther into savings. As I wrote a few days ago, we have some funds coming to put towards this, and are thinking of a couple opportunities to cut a few regular expenses. It's looking more likely we will have to cut back in some places below, but really only the college fund and home upgrades have flexibility at this point. 

1. Fully fund the Roth                                              $13,000
2. Once in a lifetime family vacation                        $15,000 ($3,000 added)
3. College Fund                                                       $12,000
4. College and Show Choir Road Trips                   $  1,500
5. All State Camp                                                    $     600
6. Home Upgrades                                                  $  9,000                                                                                                                            $51,100

Annual Savings Goal          $38,100 ($51,100 priority budget-$13,000 from savings)

Roth                                          $13,000
Taken from Savings                 -$13,000
Vacation expenses paid             $9,015
College/Show Choir trips paid   $ 1,282
Cash Savings Increase             -$ 2,300
Total Savings achieved              $ 7,997

Goal Balance                    $30,103

Subtracting another third pay check month for me and increase check at years end when I've fully funded my 401K, (total approximately ($5,750) our monthly savings target is now $3,486, up from the beginning of May by $374, over six months. We've been paying some of the vacation expenses along the way and the Roth retirement fund was fully funded. 

Both May and June had and will have seasonal expenses, so I'm working to keep the  average spending down, and will continue the humble meal approach, and not over buy items unless a very good deal. I did end up keeping my May household and  grocery to $382.50, so just $2.50 0ver target. I'm off to another expensive first week of the month though, and will write about my June plan in another post. 

Croissant and Baguette Fund: This is the collection of loose change, aspirationally being applied towards the delicious croissants and baguettes we plan to eat on our trip.  I wrote about my change plan  here. Saved in tea tin is now $19.99, an increase from last month of $2.61. Je voudrais encore  deux croissants, s'il vous plait.