Budgeting, Subscriptions, and Taxes - Oh my!

Happy (rainy) Tuesday from Texas! Yes, we are having a thunderstorm as I type and it's going to be that way all day; ushering in the next cold front. 

I don't mind it for myself, because I was planning on being at home all day. But I don't like knowing my husband and kids have to get on the road with the weather like this. I'm such a mom 😌

Yesterday was a productive day. I got the taxes done, which is always a huge relief! We only had to pay $8 more to satisfy the greedy, so not too bad. Glad that's checked off the list!

I also worked on the budget, which is fun to me. I love when I've got a good plan in place. It's sort of like having a nice fence around the yard. You can see your boundaries, and you have all the freedom within those boundaries, as long as you stay within the fence. That's how I look at a good money plan. 

I recently watched a young man on YouTube talking about how he saves $10,000 within a 6 month period. He had some really interesting and wise pieces of advice concerning money and it just reminded me that we're never too old to learn from the young. I'm always open to new ideas, new methods and new ways to do old things. You just never know when one of their new ideas will click with you and help you see something in a different way. 

After working on the budget, I then made sure some subscriptions I have were updated and in place. This helps with running the household and the budget, because I can make monthly supply purchases and know exactly how much I'm spending.

Currently I have subscriptions for meat, coffee, and cleaning supplies. I like to buy meat from places like Omaha Steaks and Good Ranchers. Their meat is excellent quality and comes from the U.S.A. and it always tastes the same, unlike beef at the grocery store, which changes with the brand and quality. 

I like to purchase our coffee straight from the Keurig company. They tell you how much you need, based off of the amount of coffee you drink. The prices are comparable to the grocery store for the same brands and I can buy it a month at a time, instead of going back and forth when we run out. It's mostly for convenience sake and the budget stays consistent. 

I get my cleaning supplies from Grove and I buy the Mrs. Meyer's products. The prices are the same as the grocery store, but they often give free gifts with your purchase, so it's like getting a bonus with every box.  I actually have this subscription on a 2-month rotation, because I don't need the products delivered monthly. This is where I buy my laundry detergent, sponges, all-purpose cleaning spray, hand soap, dish soap, and dishwasher tabs. Again, the prices are always comparable or the same as buying the same brand at the store, but it keeps me on track and on budget when I order vs. spending more time in the store.

When I know it's time to place a new order, I'm able to take inventory of what I still have and adjust my upcoming order to fit my needs. 

I know this isn't rocket science, but it cuts down on what I buy at the store and since I have the monthly subscription amount in the budget, there is a consistency there that keeps me on track. 

I feel the same about online grocery shopping. It's so much easier to stay within your spending limit, if you're able to see the prices adding up as you put things in your virtual cart. 

Now sometimes it's fun to browse the aisles and look for new products. I actually enjoy doing that if I'm not in a hurry and can take my time. But, that's when I tend to spend money on things I don't need and walk out with way more than I intended. 

I've also discovered that, for those of us who like receiving packages, this is a great way to indulge your enjoyment of seeing the mail truck coming down the road. You get the fun of opening a package, but it's for stocking the shelves and not just for spending money on stuff you don't need. That is a win-win in my book!

Today I will finally put away the files from 2022, now that the taxes are done. I have a few areas of the house to clean and organize and some coupons to sort through. I'll be making a list for my next grocery order and getting that on the schedule. 

I noticed something as I was working around here yesterday...the work never stops 😅 For as many areas as I successfully clean, there are more that still need attention. And it continues to rotate in that manner. Which led me to another thought...don't fret over it. 

Clean, work, organize, run a good household, but take a break when you need to. It will all still be there when you get up from the cozy chair where you were enjoying a good book.

And on that note...

Until Next Time...

Blessings!