The First Month

Wow, I can't believe it's already been a month! Time passes so quickly. Let me start by saying that this has been a hard month for me. I had a lot of unusual expenses pop up: a traffic ticket, my AAA renewal, an unexpectedly high tax preparation cost, dental costs... I've struggled to keep on top of it all. The good news is after this month things should be easier.

Let's sum up what I've been able to achieve this month:
I put $300 in my savings account.
I paid $250 on my auto repair cards
I paid over $250 on my regular credit cards, however, I spent $200 on my credit cards again for the ticket I got while in Las Vegas last month (make sure to check that your registration hasn't expired before you go on a trip!).

I decided to put the ticket on my credit card again rather than spend the cash I had because the savings as a buffer has been really important to me psychologically. I know I have money in the bank for gas and food and I don't have to worry about overdrafts. I will pay down the cards eventually but part of what will help me become financially stable is by making sure I don't need to rely on credit. I also realize that I made less progress than I wanted to on paying down my cards. That's okay. I've done more to pay them this month than I ever have and I'll get through this rough patch soon.

I've also been trying hard to change my bad financial habits. I don't buy on Amazon or go to thrift stores as much as I used to and I buy less when I do. I'm reading the books I haven't read and working on the uncompleted projects I have laying around the house. I go for walks and I try to imagine what I want my life to look like if money is taken out of the equation, then I try to make that happen. And you know what? I'm happier than I've been in a long time.