A New Credit Card Record Low
At the end of July, we decided to start tracking our expenses. August was our first full month, and we find that tracking feels pretty easy now – we don’t have to remind ourselves to keep receipts and enter them in the computer, we just do it out of habit. Sort of like flossing I guess.Â
I could tell that there were times when we felt like spending money but didn’t because we knew we’d have to record it and I’d have to blog about it. But now I actually have proof. Today is the last day of our credit card billing cycle, and our balance is $917. This is the card that we use for everything – all of our routine expenses go on this card.
Until May of 2006, we used this card for business expenses as well, but then we incorporated our business and got a business credit card. So for the last 15 months, our personal credit card has been strictly personal. And without going back over statements, off the top of my head I can’t think of a month when our bill was under $1250. So yea for us! Tracking our expenses has given us our lowest credit card bill out of the last 15 months – by more than $300!!! We pay the bill in full every month, but when we make our payment in early October, we’ll have a few hundred dollars left over that normally goes to the credit card. I think the cha-ching I hear is an extra HSA deposit.
Of course now the limbo bar has been lowered – we’ll have to go under $917 to do a happy money dance next month.
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That’s great news! Congrats.
Now that Mr. Micah and I have a budget, I find myself asking questions like “How much money do we still have budgeted in that area?” and “Can I find space for it somewhere else, or not?”. Recording and tracking definitely make you think, even if you (like me) sometimes end up rationalizing about it.
That is great! How exciting!! Looking forward to seeing next month’s number