Budget Breakdown

So much to say....or so little.  I'm feeling very frustrated this month and last.  We haven't been able to make as much progress as we wanted on the credit card payoff front...Only $450 contributed this month.  But I guess I need to be patient...which is definitely NOT a strength of mine...and a big part of why I'm going into anesthesia - I like immediate rewards, and debt payoff is not an immediate rewards type of game.  Here is a breakdown of some excessive spending we did in May and so far this month....(spending accurately tracked thanks to YNAB! Love.)

1) Anniversary day (our 1 year anniversary!!) We made a special category in preparation for this day.  We went sailing and then to dinner at one of the top restaurants in Chicago, super yummy.  Total for the day $243.02

2) The dreaded "Spending money" category we created.  This is essentially a catch-all for everything that is outside of the realm of bills, food, dog food, debt payoff.  Everything that in my opinion is frivolous and extra. 

In May it was $874!! Here is the breakdown

• Amazon - new electric toothbrush (old one broke) $74.95
• Cash $44.75
• Skin products $40.78
• Bike Shop $38.14, $40.54
• Mani/Pedi $40
• Paper Source, cards $9.70
• World Map $15
• Redbox $1.61, $3.21
• Target $80.74
• Homegoods $46.84
• Mani $15
• Library $1.50
• Home Depot $22.72, $11.10, $1.38,
• Ikea $355.70
• Office Max $1.08
• Post Office $29.55

In June so far...$170.82

• Hardware Store $5.41
• Frank Lloyd Wright Gift Shop (bracelet and deck of cards) $21.26
• Parking $2.00
• West Elm $5.30 (pencil holder for new desk)
• Ikea $34
• Target $4.95
• Office Max $15.39 (gift for friend's child's birthday)
• Mani/Pedi $39
• Amazon $12.38, map tacks for world map
• CVS $30.34 printer ink cartridge

After typing that all out, it's very shocking to see how random things add up!  My goal is to not spend much more in the "spending" category for the rest of June.  Hopefully the hubs will have a full-time job in July and we can start putting down that debt faster!  Time to go read some inspiration to stay motivated, I'll let you know what I find.

*Notice the small chalk-filled portion at the bottom of our thermometer, kinda depressing, but hey, progress is progress!!

Debt Payoff Chalkboard

We did it!  Our debt visual aid turned into more of a small room makeover, hence the delay in the post.  I decided to go with a thermometer in chalkboard format.  I'm kinda obsessed with chalkboards ever since our wedding (table numbers and signs were all chalkboards) and I wanted a large one to write quotes on in our apartment.  I saw a great post here from Iron and Twine and decided to make our own organizational/desk area.

We built a custom size desk for the corner (Hubby's area):

Painted a chalkboard on the side of one Ikea Expedit shelve:

And added our Debt Payoff Thermometer:

We are starting our thermometer from now, so past credit card debt paid and student loans are not included.  We have approximately $8450 credit card debt left to pay, with a goal of December 2013.  Until the hubby gets a full-time job we aren't able to pay a lot off like we were this past spring.  When he does get a full-time job most of his income will be going towards the debt and hopefully our snowball will be accelerating at warp speed!

Let me know what you think about our debt payoff visual aid!