Borrowed a sewing machine.  Watch this space...

Was feeling a bit down as November was a spendy month - payments on classes/subscriptions that will take me through the first half of 2019, tickets for holidays that are still a while away, some off the cuff emotional spending - but looking at my YNAB reports has made me feel a bit better. I finally have 6 months of reports to nerd over and can see that although this month has been expensive my average spending in the different categories is not that far from where it should be (in my mind) and what I had budgeted for. Very very grateful for the financial education that YNAB is giving me.

Today I rang the bank and closed my credit card account. 

Thanks to YNAB I've not only paid the credit card off,  I'm budgeting for expected expenses AND I also have funds aside for Emergencies.  I was motivated to act quickly because my annual fee is coming up and while I briefly considered asking for a discount on the fee decided I really just don't need it anymore.

Nice feeling of closing the account in my YNAB accounts list too!

My health insurance just told me that I’m eligible for reimbursements since I’ve been going to the gym!

Hello $150 🤤

Opened an index tracker for my future. I was budgeted through to the end of February so I zeroed out most of those numbers and used the lump sum. Impossible without the foreknowledge YNAB gives me. :)

I bypassed the semi annual Bath & Body Works sale😬

I went to the fancy grocery store for one hard-to-find ingredient and only got two things that were unplanned, instead of buying all of everything. I know it's just fancy lighting and presentation tricks, but I swear their produce is made of magic...

By following YNAB's priorities and goals, it was a real struggle each month, but the final goal of paying CASH for the following 2018 expenses was FABULOUS ... cash for Federal Taxes, Property Taxes, Interior Painting, C hristmas and December Surgery.

I'm doing my yearly PTO cash out at work shortly, which will largely be put toward my student loan (still on goal to finishing that off this year!).

In planning the rest of it, I ordered some wardrobe items I really need while they are on sale to make the funds go farther and leave me more left over for fun and for getting ahead in my budget.

Added myself to the 2019 Savings Challenge and ate leftovers today... hoping the Debt Smackdown challenge gets added to the forum today too :-)

I joined the 34 day challenge. Whatever I missed as I learned ynab over the last few months... I'm going to find it out this month! :)

Just started YNAB a few days ago. This January we are reigning in all spends and going on a saving ‘sprint’. Got grocery shopping down to £56 from usual £80-90 so very pleased with that! Also roasted a chicken tonight, ate chicken breast for dinner with mash, veg and gravy, made a soup for tomorrow, saved the legs for the next day to have with rice AND bagged two portions of cooked chicken for the freezer for last minute fried rice or noodle dishes for when I’m short of time and tempted to buy a takeaway. That is 5 meals for a family of 3- my Nan would be proud! The extra money we save on groceries this month is going toward savings for later expenses. 

Also last night I updated all my Amazon subscribe and save orders to make sure we had all the essentials at 15% off delivered when we need them. A particular bargain was Andrex roll at less than £2.50 a pack which is usually £7 in the shops (£4.50 when on offer).  So excited to continue this year the way it’s started, get our debts paid and get ready to move next year when we are in a better financial position. 

Signed up for YNAB :-)

Today I cancelled a credit card that I haven't used in over 4 months. It was due for renewal next month with an $85 annual fee attached to it - no thank you, I'll be keeping my $85!

I also finally listed my tiny house - the sale of which would greatly improve our finances. It has felt like a dead weight around my neck ever since I moved into my partner's house, but selling something that once represented my independence from all things domestic and mortgage related is kind of bittersweet. Oh well, here's to hoping someone actually wants the darn thing!

Went on a mini-break this week and only spent $20 over the amount I had budgeted in my holiday category.  Tracking the expenses and checking in with my partner (who was covering some things) as I was going along really helped. I'm particularly pleased that I didn't buy little things like souvenirs, books about the place, little food and drink things to take home - I previously would have done that as a way of 'preserving the moment' but actually was able to just be present and know that I didn't need stuff to remind me of that. The money spent over was for convenience - a taxi to the airport instead of getting a train/bus. Well worth it for the extra time it allowed to soak up the holiday relaxation :-)

Used SecondSpin website to sell some dvd/cd's. Getting 18.25 and if you use usps media mail to ship they will reimburse you some of the shipping (based on number of items shipping).  Snowflakes!