Time to look at the numbers!
June’s expenses
June’s investment report
I’m updating how I budget…I don’t!
I’ve decided to do my budgeting differently. I’m not going to aim for any specific amount in any particular category. It’s just too nitty gritty and is not working for me.
Instead, I’m going to determine how much I need to invest, and how much I can spend and *everything* needs to fit within that spend amount. Who cares if I’m spending it on books or groceries or eating out. It doesn’t ultimately matter if I meet a pre-specified amount in each category. What matters is that I stay within the target number overall for the month.
I also find that this new way works with the rhythm of day-to-day life much better. Some months I want to splurge on vintage housewares, while other months I might have a higher health spending month. Predicting what type of month I’m going to have isn’t really possible for me at the start of the month. I prefer to leave room for spontaneity and flexibility. For me right now, my goal is spending between $1,500 – $2000 per month (not including investments).
Goals check in
Personal goals
- Start and finish 50% of a Domestika art course NOPE I didn’t even start!
- Donate 30 books PASS I actually donated 37 of them
- Spend time each week learning sign language PASS Still learning and practicing slowly
- Jog at least 1x per week NOPE I jogged a few times, but I didn’t really track and I don’t think I reached 4 times. I’m getting better at going out and taking time for this, so I’m progressing, which I’m happy about
Writing goals
- Blog at least once per week NOPE I blogged 4 times, but I didn’t keep it up weekly, which is what I want to aim for
- Write at least 1,200 words in my novel NOPE
- Join at least 1 live writing sprint online NOPE
- Research writer’s groups and courses to join NOPE
This was a sad month for writing 🙁
Finance goals
- Track my expenses PASS
- Save/invest at least $2,500 this month PASS
- Make at least 3 freezer meals PASS
- Move my savings money into a high-interest savings account with a better interest rate and research GICs PASS I moved my lump sum savings money from a 0.10% interest Tangerine account to EQ bank (1.5% interest) and lo and behold, Tangerine offered me a 2.8% promotional interest rate the very same day. (I see how this works, Tangerine!) I’m going to write a post about it soon. That first $22 dollar interest payment was pretty wild for me!
I have a lot of work to do still when it comes to making time for my side projects and writing. I’m going to focus on that this month.
Current net worth
My net worth is now sitting at $40,762. One of my yearly goals is to increase my net worth to $50K. I’m on track and think I will get there, but it’s going to be tight. As long as I keep tracking and blogging, I should be fine.
Happy saving,
Squirrel
