The Budget: Jan- June 2021

Oh my! Our house, that was supposed to be going up in late spring of 2021, is up. It is framed and ready for the next steps. The snow has started to fly. It is REALLY cold up there.

 

What is not ready is the budget. 

 I am the budgeter in my family and have been for thirty years. 

He made the majority of the money. 

My job was to work/run the money :) and the house and the kids. 

 We are not credit people. 

We haven't carried a balance on anything in many, many moons. 

 We have a card or two- for planes- but not much else

 We have used 2/3 of the planned money. 

 Cash (for the project) is gone. 

The rest is supposed to be available when we sell our current house 

 Which is not going on line until mid March.

 Hummmm 

We have offers from sibs to lend money---no thank you. 

That can open a can of worms that is impossible to fix.

 That, in turn, means that the new house will have to be cold and wait. 

And so will the worker bees. 

We have paid for windows and doors and 

possibly the heater but not much more for a few months. 

Our current budget will be cut closely to help the future budget. 

Here are the things in the current budget.

 In savings "envelopes for future need" 

Moving and closing fees                     11% 

Taxes (house/car/income)-family gift18%

 travel                                                   6% 

Dogs                                                     4% 

Car                                                       6% 

His and Her Allowances.                  12%

 Insurance                                           4% 

Those compromise a bit over 60% of the monthly money.

 I like to be ahead of bills instead of worrying where the money comes from. 

This is the rest of the money. 

Health care  (yes, very low)      4%

 Groceries (food and all)         14% 

eating out                                   6% 

utilities                                       4%

 Cable (phone/tv/internet)         4% 

gasoline/oil changes                  3% 

tolls (yes, I live in the East)      2%

 Kindle/movies                          2% 

Costco                                       2% 

Family business                        4% 

That still leaves 1/4 of our income ( not counted in this amount)

for the new house. 

There is always something. 

And then there is the wait for the sale of our current house.

Boy, I hope the hot market continues 

with the low interest rates.

It is a GREAT house!

Just in the wrong region of the country.

I cannot wait for this to be over! 

We have not been on a real budget for such a long time. 

And I know, this is not tight for most people.

This is a good exercise for me. 

If my husband passes before me,

 I know exactly where I can cut to get me

 to half the amount we are currently living on. 

Which is what I will be living on without using savings. 

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. 

Building a house while getting old-- Bah Hum Bug!