Summary: I met my yearly budget for 2018. This first budget was based on many guestimates and I tweaked it throughout the year but in the end I came in $130 under. Hurrah!
Over
The categories where I was most over-budget were gas, auto maintenance, groceries/household items, personal care, and house maintenance (which included tools and kitchen items). I hadn’t planned the car expenses adequately for the amount I’m driving while living in the country so, for 2019, I’ve increased the budget amount for gas and maintenance. I’m not increasing the groceries/household items budget because I’m determined to get my costs down further this year.
Under
I didn’t have expensive footwear or outerwear needs in 2018 and going to the used clothing stores again for jeans and t-shirts helped keep me under budget. My quality rain and winter outerwear is still in great shape and I don’t expect to replace items for many more years. I didn’t need any dental repair and I didn’t buy new eyeglasses so I was under in the dental and eyecare categories (since I wear bifocals and have teeth from the 1970’s, I will keep budgeting for both these categories—my personal healthcare insurance only covers partial costs).
Generosity
I planned 10% of my SLSR budget for generosity—non-profit donations, tips, and gifts. During the year, I decided that the cost of groceries for social events could be included here as well. Although I almost reached the overall 10% goal, I donated much less to non-profits than I planned so I need to give this category more thought.
Callouts
- 2018 was the year I finally emptied the storage unit and eliminated that monthly expense!
- I hadn’t budgeted at all for “self-care” appointments (not even haircuts*). Priorities changed quickly early in the year and I fit in massage for neck and shoulder pain, physiotherapy for an old shoulder injury, and seeing a psychologist. For 2019, the budget only includes the monthly haircuts I look forward to. If I feel I need to visit any of the therapists again in 2019, I will fit it in (like with dental and eyecare, my personal healthcare insurance covers partial costs).
- 2018 was a whole year of living solo. I need to be ready to fit cat and vet expenses back in the budget.
In January when I sat down to review the year, I didn’t know on which side of the line I’d ended up. I figured I was close, but hadn’t been keeping an eye on a running total for all the non-monthly expenses that I had budgeted for over the year (I’ve added that to my 2019 tracking spreadsheet). Although I planned on lowering the yearly budget after a first year to adjust my spending, I’ve decided to keep the same amount for 2019 to allow for some anticipated changes and timing unknowns—like opening my heart and home to another cat.
*I was planning to clipper my hair at home but that proved challenging without running water to clean up the mess!
References and related links:
- SLSR: simpler living semi-retirement.
- simpler-living report: CY18Q4 (post #108)
- worn (post #96)
- generosity (post #3)
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