Finally tried the spreadsheet method for my monthly budget instead of just guessing in my head

For years I just kinda eyeballed what I spent and hoped for the best, usually ended up short on groceries by week three. Last month I sat down and wrote out every single bill and expense in a Google Sheet, down to the dollar. I found out I was blowing $60 a month on energy drinks from the gas station near my office. Now I actually have some money left over at the end of the month and I don't feel like I'm constantly broke. Has anyone else had a reality check like that when they actually wrote stuff down?

3 comments

3 Comments

susanm566d ago

Did you add up the energy drink total for the whole year?

abbyg606d ago

My friend Karen found $150/month on unused gym memberships she forgot about.

rubys806d ago

I gotta push back on that a little. I mean yeah, sure, if you're genuinely forgetting about a membership that's money down the drain. But in my experience those stories can be a bit exaggerated. Like, I've had gym memberships I barely used but I knew exactly what I was paying every month. It's hard to believe someone would just lose track of $150 month after month without noticing. Maybe it's more like she had a premium plan she downgraded or something, not a full forgotten account. Your mileage may vary, but I think the real leak is usually smaller stuff like a $5 app subscription or a streaming service you share with a friend.