March so far

I thought I'd do a financial check-up on Mint to see how I'm doing so far with March.  9 days left until I get paid again on the 30th.  It's not looking to promising to be able to put much into savings, if any at all.  I have $363 left until I get paid again. I have grocery shopping to do at the end of this week, and it's a "2-week" shopping trip, so the total will probably be at least $175.  Dd will probably need gas in her car before the end of the month (though she has done well and her last tank has lasted her a month).

It does look like my food/household supplies and take out food will be lower, finally.  January's totals were $1184 for all combined and February was $1095.  March, I am estimating to be $950 - so at least I am seeing some progress in that area. Take out total is currently sitting at $107, with about $16 more in the budget to spend and last month I spent $238. Almost a 50% reduction in this category is awesome.

We've spent $87 in home repair stuff and $147 on a air compressor hose reel Dh wanted. He is sending it back though, as the quality was crap, but I'm sure he'll be finding a replacement to use the money on, once we get credited.  Tracking my spending with Mint now has really opened my eyes to the fact that my small, if oftentimes non-existent, monthly budget amount for home repairs/improvement really needs to be higher.

I had a few non-monthly items this month. $67 in car registration for Dd's car and $64 for her tennis team clothes. Last night I had to give her a check for $87 so she can take her AP test and get college credit for the class.  Considering gas is over $4 a gallon, we've done well to keep the trips to a minimum and so far I've only spent $174.

I might eke out $50 to put in savings this month, but probably not, as Dh starts seeing the chiropractor today and that is going to cost co-pays.  I knew savings was going to be slow going, now that the bonus and tax return months are past. The other day my mom offered if I wanted to reduce my car payment to her from $250 a month to $200, just to help with the rising gas costs.  As she always tells me, she is in no hurry to get paid back.  I might take her up on it, at least for the next few months, especially with more doctor bills coming soon. My budget should get a breather as the next months go on, with weather warming and electricity bills going down quite a bit. Last month was $325 (exactly what I budgeted) and the bill I just got (due with next paycheck) was down to $254.  It will keep going down through spring and summer, which will free up some money for the doctor bills.

I hate to wish time away, but a part of me does just want to get this month over with, since it's pretty much a savings failure and try again next month.  I wish I could figure out a way to add to savings more than once a month. I mentally need to feel like I am increasing savings more than once a month. It's a long time in between and then to have a month where I can't add anything makes it seem even longer until the end of April, when hopefully, I'll be able to add some again.