My February spending report isn’t going to be quite as nice as January, but there were some bright spots. I’ve broken this post down into five sections:
- Spending Breakdown: Categories That Increased
- Spending Breakdown: Categories That Decreased
- What Went Well
- What Didn’t Go Well
- Goals for Next Month
Let’s get into it!
Spending Breakdown
Categories That Increased
MEDICAL ($445 | ↑ $411)
This was an unavoidable increase, as I had to deal with a CPAP bill from my insurance company. I had hoped I would be able to use the last of my 2024 FSA funds to cover the bill (that was over $400!) but apparently, I spent more than I thought with my FSA so I could only use it for a portion of the bill. The rest had to come out of my own pocket. Annoying!
FOOD ($945 | ↑ $253)
There are two reasons this category increased so much from January to February. The first is that I revamped my categories a bit and added a “Food with Friends” line. I would normally put this in my Entertainment category, but I’m moving it into this area to better understand how much I spend on food, even when I’m out with friends or my mom. I may move this back to entertainment at some point, but we’ll see. The second reason this category increased is those damnable Ubereats orders. UGH. I spent over $200 this month and it’s mostly because I didn’t meal plan very well and some nights I just didn’t have anything at home for dinner. Instead of going through the arduous task of driving to the grocery store, I ordered takeout. After doing that too many times, I decided I needed to have some extra meals on hand for those kinds of nights so I loaded up on freezer meals and ready-made dinners at Trader Joe’s! Let’s hope March is a much better month in this department.
CATS ($249 | ↑ $162)
The majority of this overage is due to Lila’s vet appointment. She needed an updated vaccine so it was around $154 for that appointment. I also spent nearly $30 on restocking treats, if I’m wondering why Lila gains a pound a year.
GIFTS ($87 | ↑ $54)
I had to purchase a few more gifts in February than January – Galentine’s, a gift for a colleague, and a gift for my nephew.
CAR ($251 | ↑ $17)
This month, I had to fill up my car with gas twice (shocked face) so that’s the reason for the increase.
ENTERTAINMENT ($201 | ↑ $12)
It’s impressive that I still managed to increase my entertainment category, even though I took out a major part of this category (food). But there were some important purchases here, such as a ticket to see Ben Schwartz & Friends when he’s here in July and my Galentine’s date with Bri.
Categories That Decreased
BILLS ($2,047 | ↓ $385)
The only reason this category decreased is because I was a few days late with my car payment (I thought I had set up automatic withdrawals, but apparently not!). So this category will increase in March for sure.
CREDIT CARD ($741 | ↓ $509)
I paid off my credit card in February, which was such a good feeling! This amount equals the payoff.
SHOPPING ($382 | ↓ $132)
Hooray! My goal in February was to reduce my shopping spending and I did that. I was hoping to spend under $350, which didn’t happen, but I feel good about this total. I bought a lot of books in February (11), bought some yoga accessories, and replaced my purse.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ($101 | ↓ $14)
I cancelled Netflix in February – woop! Next up is cancelling Amazon Prime.
SUPPLIES ($48 | ↓ $36)
Not much to see here – I just didn’t need to replenish as many supplies in February. Boring stuff: mouthwash, toothpaste, a new toothbrush, Q-tips, conditioner, aluminum foil. Blah.
No change categories
Savings ($125) and my miscellaneous category ($78 – this was my nose piercing).
What Went Well
- Paying off my credit card – It felt so good to pay off my credit card at the beginning of February! I had been chasing after that accomplishment for all of 2024 and just couldn’t get my act together. But now I feel inspired to keep paying it off so I’m never in that situation again.
- A reduced shopping category – Honestly, while I’m proud that I spent less money shopping than I did in January, I didn’t actively track my shopping spending throughout the month and felt like I spent more money than I should have, so it wasn’t a conscious effort. I hope to make this effort a lot more conscious in March.
- Cancelling Netflix – I was very tired of paying so much money for Netflix and they just kept raising the prices. After their latest price hike, I called it quits and that felt really good.
What Didn’t Go Well
- Medical bills – These large medical bills are killing me. I haven’t built up any sort of savings in my HSA yet (since I haven’t had an HSA for a few years), so all of this is coming out of pocket. I’m hoping the HSA will be worth it in the end, but right now, I’m just annoyed by healthcare expenses.
- Not checking on my budget regularly – This was a problem in January and it remained a problem in February. I need to figure out how to make this a part of my daily habits, whether that means combining it with another routine I have, setting an alarm on my phone, or something.
- Spending too much on Ubereats – My goal is to to spend less than $100 a month on online takeout orders and in February, I spent more than $200. Not good! I hope that my new plan of having more freezer/ready-made meals on hand will ensure I don’t reach for that Ubereats app as much as I did last month.
March Goals
- A full boycott of Amazon and Target – It’s time. I use Target for toiletries, beauty products, and household supplies but I’m hoping I can make the switch to Aldi for some of that. For the rest, I’m still deciding. Amazon will be harder but I’ll figure it out!
- Switch from Publix to Aldi – I was supposed to do this last month but I chickened out. I am just so entrenched in my Publix grocery routine, but that’s no excuse for giving a Republican-supported company my money.
- Reduce my shopping budget further – My shopping budget reduced by $132 in February and I’d like to keep that trend going. If I can get it under $300, that would be amazing! I think boycotting Amazon and Target will definitely help with this goal.
When was the last time you ordered food from an app like Ubereats or Door Dash?
Bravo to paying off the cc! That’s huge.
I don’t really budget but I do track my spending, and I count restaurants in a separate bucket from grocery. To me these are two different things – restaurants are social events (something I want more of) and grocery is more of a utilitarian/boring thing (something I want less of, though realistically it’s not going to be much less at this stage of my family’s life). If I eat at a restaurant when I travel, I count that as a travel expense because it’s part of the travel experience – I can’t get brunch at The Library at home.
Oh for sure – anything I do/eat/see during traveling goes into my travel category. But it’s hard because I eat out SO MUCH and I’m trying to figure out how to categorize it all. The easiest thing would be to eat at home more but bah, that’s boring. 😉
I agree that you had a huge win last month, paying off that credit card! This will make a huge difference going forward. And- keep us posted on how you manage without Target and Amazon. I know it’s possible, but I get SO MANY THINGS from those two places. I’ve shifted some of them, but it’s hard.
I will definitely keep you posted! I hope I can find some good alternatives. I know I wouldn’t be able to boycott 100% of the time, but I can definitely try much harder than I have been.
I hope you love Aldi as much as we do! It is so unbelievably cheap compared to other grocery stores and the added bonus of it being aligned with our values is wonderful.
I am really struggling to boycott Target and Amazon, though… There are just so dang many things we need for the boys. Like this week we need to replace Taco’s toothbrushes since he has strep again and we need more children’s motrin, but we have to get a specific flavor, otherwise he won’t take it… But I’m doing what I can to rely less on those stores. I just hate that Target has mad their DEI changes. They were such an easy store to root for in comparison to Walmart. Sigh.
I’ve never used Door Dash or Uber Eats. I don’t know if it’s available in my small town, but even if it is, I am too frugal for that. I actually am mostly too frugal for eating out in general and then to add on a delivery fee means I am OUT!
We do not regularly go to Target, but the thing I think will break my own personal boycott is that the Up & Up brand of OTC medication is labelled gluten free and no other easily accessible brands are. I do not know how to find basic medications for my husband without Target. Likewise, we have two subscribe and save deliveries through Amazon that we cannot source locally. One is furnace filters and maybe we could find those but I suspect it would from an equally troubling store (Ace, Menard’s) and one is the probiotic we use for the dog and cat. I have attempted to change the probiotic in the past to disastrous effects, so I don’t know how to replace that.
Ugh. Why is it so hard to be an ethical consumer?!
I bought two sandwiches on Ubereats this weekend and the delivery fee/taxes/tip came to almost TWENTY DOLLARS. It’s truly madness and I have GOT to stop ordering online takeout. It’s a stupid financial decision (and honestly, the food is never that good).
I think you have to do the best you can! I don’t think the point is to be 100% perfect when it comes to boycotting Amazon/Target, but to just be a more conscious consumer. And I think you are definitely a conscious consumer!
Hi, new commentor here! Never used amazon, no longer shopping at target; I think medicine is different, if you have to get that at target, so be it. For pets have you tried chewy? They have a better social record and we have been happy with their service. Steph – great job on cc, and working towards some great goals! Not easy but you will get there!
Uh oh, what’s the story with Ace Hardware? Is it something about your local franchise, or the corporation in general? I am fine with giving up Amazon and Target, but I love my local Ace! UGH!
I just joined Costco yesterday because they align more with my values (I think, I admit I didn’t do a huge deep dive on all of their practices!) and can help me drop Target and Amazon. I was a little unsure because I am a single gal, so there’s not a ton that I need to buy in bulk LOL but I need to buy a car (gahhhh I wanted to wait a bit longer but these tariffs) and I’ve heard good things about their car buying program. So we will see how it goes!
I am SO with you on DoorDash/Ubereats. I justify it to myself because it saves me time: getting in car, driving to grocery store, wandering aisles, driving home. But wow it’s costly!
I looked up Costco on my Goods Unite Us app and they are 98% Democrat so not a bad company to support at all! I just learned that I could use Costco online to get some household supplies delivered to me (without getting a membership) so I need to research that more deeply!
I am already over $100 on Ubereats orders for March and it’s only the 11th. AHHH.
I know you’re going to shake your head at me, but I have never ordered from Uber Eats or Door Dash or any of those! I know! Crazy. But I did spend ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS on groceries last week, actually it was a bit over that, and there are only three of us in the house. What can I say, I had a big Costco trip. I don’t know what my March total grocery bill will be like, but it will be huge. Everything is expensive! But we really don’t eat out at all – I go for lunch with the girls every so often, but that’s about 1-2% of my total grocery budget for the month. I will say none of those groceries go to waste, I do use every bit of it (except there is always one mini cucumber that goes mush before I use it! But only one.)
If you’ve never done it, don’t start! Although you’d probably have sticker shock at the prices they charge. Their extra fees are getting ridiculous!
I can easily spend $150/week on groceries and that doesn’t even include other meals I’ll be eating out, so I can see how you’d spend so much money for three people. It’s bananas.
I think I may have used Doordash to order for our group at work once during the pandemic since we were all working separately (and at home) and my boss wanted to buy everyone lunch. Also I used UberEats once (I think I emailed you about it!) because my credit card had a deal where you got cash back, but to be honest, I was very underwhelmed. I don’t really see the draw, but I am happy making food at home. Also, I ordered a pizza and it cost a lot, plus it was cold when I got it! So, um, I don’t see myself using that a lot. However, I also don’t eat out in general much, so it is easy for me to nix that from my repertoire. As far as tracking, I definitely split the groceries from the dining out, and then I subcategorize the dining out into what the item is, but that is just me being overly analytical with things. I also note if it is with friends or not. However, most of my dining out is with friends.
That’s the PROBLEM with Ubereats: It is NEVER worth it. Not once have I gotten a meal that I can say was worth the money. It’s SO expensive and the food is never as good as it is in the restaurant. Why do I continue to do this to myself?! Argh!
I think we might die if we gave up Netflix. I was surprised to see the price had gone up AGAIN, but we watch it a lot so I guess it’s OK. SIGH.
I’m sad about Target and Amazon, it is more expensive to source things elsewhere. It’s only been a couple of weeks so far for me, so time will tell. I’m trying to get things locally rather than online, which is not so easy since Amazon has put so many places out of business.
I don’t like food delivery. The food is never hot, etc. Also, I am cheap. So when we have takeout, I go pick it up at the restaurant. That way the restaurant gets more of the money, I keep more of my money, and the food is generally here quicker.
Do you have any other streaming services other than Netflix? I also have Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+ so that helps. I only pay for Paramount+ (I borrow my mom’s logins for Hulu/Peacock, ha.) I didn’t watch much on Netflix, though, so it’s been an easy one to give up!
Yes, I think it is a big privilege to be able to find other places to shop for the things we need/want. Amazon/Target is so much more affordable, but we know WHY they are so affordable rather than buying something from Etsy/local shops. I’m trying to just be more mindful. There are times when I will need to use Target/Amazon but as long as I do so consciously and because I couldn’t find what I needed locally or on Etsy, then I’m fine with that.
So great to listen to another episode of your podcast!!! Yay!! I just got to it today but awww your and Briana’s voices -so great. Loved the catch-up.
Money… gah it’s so tough. I went to Aldi for the very first time this month. It was good. Yes, everything is in crates and such but who cares?… I bought some stuff and will be coming back.
Amazon… so darn hard! Kids shoes, kids clothes, books, shit I don’t need, you know all good stuff 😉
Now I am thinking DSW for shoes, B&N for books?… but I have kindle…
Thanks for sharing your budget with us!
Thanks for listening to the podcast! And we want to have you on this season to talk about being an enneagram 8 so be on the lookout for an email soon!
I’m glad you had a good experience with Aldi! I am going to try to go on Monday since I have the day off and can do it in the morning.
I also have a Kindle and I try to get e-books from the library but sometimes the book I want isn’t available. Ugh. I think Bookshop.org just launched an e-book app but I would have to use my iPad for reading and I’m not too keen on that. We need a good competitor to Kindle!
You are really working on getting more mindful and aware where and how you spend the money. Very impressive. I don’t think I have ever had these strict money goals.
Confession: I have never used UberEats and I think I used DoorDash once for a grocery delivery during the pandemic.
I love that you so openly share your spending. I enjoy these finance posts a lot and I am hoping to get back into that again… while I do keep track of my budget,I haven’t written out our spending in quite a while.
Totally agree with Birchie and Lisa – paying off the CC is HUGE! Think of the interest you’re not accruing! 🙂
Also, I am right there with you on consuming consciously…but I also cannot completely break free of Target and Amazon. Some things I need/use are only available there. Trying to buy more at Walgreens (majority Dem donations) but they don’t have everything. We do what we can.