October income statement

Hmm. I am not sure if this is legible.

In order to know where we were going, and how to get there, it was necessary to see where we had been. I decided to look at our income and expenses for the last 3 months of 2009. Of course, we can't look at December yet because we are still in it, but I was able to get a good enough picture from Oct and Nov to move ahead.

Unfortunately, October is not representative of a typical month for several reasons. As you can see, we spent twice as much as we made in October. While I don't doubt we have been spending more than we make consistently, I do not think it is typically that much.

First of all, I had no income in October. I started my job in mid-October, and my first paycheck didn't happen until November. Next, because I had no income, I could not pay on my loan to my dad. This is the only payment I have missed, and I told him it was going to happen. We got billed for three insurance payments instead of two (in Nov we got billed for one...) so I am keeping an average of two, though obviously it may fluctuate for whatever reason.

The other reason is that we took a mini vacation before I started my job and my last term of classes. While our stay was free, we had increased gas and food expenses. The pet expense is mostly from my dog's boarding while we were on the trip. We had a massage while we were there, which we both agree now was NOT a $300 massage. Though it was nice.

My supply and clothing expense is very high (I usually never buy clothes) because I was starting my new job. Because of my teaching subject, I was able to get away with a lot at school, but now I work in a firm and needed appropriate clothing. It was getting colder, and I needed weather appropriate clothing. The supplies are things I needed for work, but I am having a hard time remembering $500 worth, I will have to look back at the itemization and see what else I threw into that category.

My husband paid for his WOW account for 6 mos, and I would love to gloss over the doll expense, but this is why I do this. To take an honest look at what I was spending. First, there was a really good discount sale on AG.com and I bought stuff. Then, of course after the sale, they announced Kirsten's retirement, and I bought two expensive items for her. There may be a couple ebay purchases in there too.

It looks like I put Bally's in there twice... that needs to be cancelled. The $40 expense is the kid who cuts our lawn.