Well after 3 weeks into this year’s budget, I better work on want I have to live with for next 12 months. My projects for 2007 are over budget by around $5000. I will have to see where I can cut back, so some can get done.

My living expenses at moment are around $420 and bills $530 per 28 days with some over estimates on bills by 10%. This only leaves very little leftover for these projects. Three projects need to be done this year, each costing around $1800 each. On a gloss income of under $13500, I will have to cut fat big time.

As you know I am getting a water tank in the next few weeks, that’s $1540 there will be a rebate on it too! But will have to wait anything up to six months for it. So that rebate will go to one of the next projects on the list. My handyman friend wants to put an exit door and security screen door in my computer room, YES does need doing if there were a fire in this end of the house I can’t get out full stop! About $1200 for that job, as he is returning to New Zealand soon, it will be fixed before he goes. I had another person quote on this job but he has died since. The other project is buying a new computer, as this one is now too old to update any longer. I have about 10 months before I need a new one. I have to have my termite spray this year as well and will put it off as long a possible. That one is expensive and may have to come out of my capital savings if necessary. All other projects will be on unable to be fixed needs replacement list only. That’s will be only way they will be replaced in 2007.

So you may see a lot of no spending days in the future, as I go looking for the fat in this budget.

I will start with my grocery and eating out budgets, and see what can be done to cut back here.
Normally I annual budget is these amounts in these areas so I will keep them at these amounts and see if I can go under.

Grocery $1500 (last year $1160), target of $800 (I will live off bulk assets for a while.)

Eating out $400 (last year $520), target of $350 (As known spending is 4 birthday’s dinners and 18 lunch dates this year.) As I don’t budget for other’s eating at my place other than what on that week’s menu. I have to spend money to go with them to eat out as this is they lifestyle and we all go Dutch. I do keep a float $40 for this kind of spending so I am never notable to go. $$$ Another Strategy