success-journey1I posted about the $0 budget and began thinking about it.  I began thinking “wow.  It was daunting when we started it. I think I’ll share our experience to make it more attainable.” So, here’s our experience – and it’s ongoing I might add - BUT wildly successful and we LOVE it.

We used to always be looking at the account saying “where is all of our money going?  This is insane!” So when we l-started the $0 budget – we found the “lost” money.  Mr. Wal-Mart was getting most of our money.  Then Mr. Brookshire and other grocery stores (3 – 4 stops a week).  All in all, we found that we literally wasted hundreds of dollars a month on things we had NO idea what we purchased.  You may be in the same boat as we were.  So in comes the Saviour.  $0 money allocation.

Since starting this, I find that we actually have money that I had no idea existed.  More money for putting on debt (we’re in the process of paying off my car – only about 6-7 more months and it’s paid off!), more money for emergencies (right now we need a new garbage disposal… about $80), more money to put back for Christmas and birthday presents.  I mean it’s surreal.  And we’re not rich – not by a long shot.  We’re average American’s that learned how to control our money.

What I found is that in the first month, we busted our money allocation because things came up that I didn’t think of.  School pictures.  T-Ball shoes.  Haircuts.  You’d think that when you’re doing your budget you’d think of these things.  Trust me.  You don’t. You’ll forget.  You’ll have to move money around.  Don’t get discouraged.

The second month I put money back for kids’ stuff (just $35).  We didn’t need to use any of that, so that money rolled over and I could only put $10 in the next paycheck. I put $35 for haircuts.  $12 rolled over so I won’t put as much in for next time, but I want a $35 balance in there for the boys’ haircuts at all times. I put $50 in the budget for monthly charitable giving (we were NEVER able to do this before!!). I put $25 in the budget for a date night for me and Sean (don’t tell him.  It’s a surprise!).  BUT, we busted the budget for gardening stuff that I didn’t plan for.  So we moved some money around and maybe make a couple sacrifices to cover the “busts”.

This month, I’ve included all of the above items PLUS a little extra to put on a trip that I want to take to PA to see my family.  So the moral is – don’t be discouraged.  Life WILL happen.  What you have to do is make sure that when it does happen, you can take a deep breath, think about it, and work through it.  LEARN from what pops up and say “oh yeah!  I may need to put a couple dollars back for that” and go forward.  As long as you’re learning from your mistakes, you’ll be doing just fine.

It’s going to take you at least 3-4 months to get it “right” and life will STILL happen.  It’s how you handle it that will make the difference in success!  But, I believe that you can and will do it! 

Have fun with this and remember to budget in some spending money. Otherwise you’re going to start to feel trapped by the budget. Even if you can only do $10 a week. Do it.  Eat out once. Treat yourself. You cannot completely sacrifice everything! It’s impractical!

PS – I’ve found at least $275 PER MONTH that we were wasting that is now going towards necessities and debt! YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

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