Monthly Budget Updates Archive

I used to start my budget updates with a note about how our monthly budget doesn’t change much.

And for a long time, that was the truth! Then, in 2021, we had a kid and bought a house.

What can I say? We apparently thrive on chaos. As a result, like got a lot more expensive. Our budget had to change — so, too, did my method of sharing updates on this blog.

In January 2022, I debuted a new look for budget updates and I quite like how it came together so I’m keeping it! These updates will now focus more on the wins coming into the month, any noteworthy expectations and areas I want to focus on in the month ahead. I know I like reading about how people budget their money so hopefully this will be at least a little interesting. 

With all that being said, here’s my February budget forecast.

I used to start all my monthly budget posts with a note about how our monthly budget doesn’t change much.

So it only makes sense to start this one by telling you our monthly budget has changed. A lot.

There are two key factors that drove the changes: in March 2021, we had a kid. Then, in July 2021, we bought a house.

What can I say? We apparently thrive on chaos.

Add in the fact that my income is significantly reduced while on mat leave and, well, our budget needed to change.

So, too, do my budget updates — something I realized quickly when I sat down to brainstorm this post. The old format doesn’t make much sense for our current reality.

Today, I’m sharing my first refreshed budget update. My plan is to focus more on the wins coming into the month, any noteworthy expectations and areas I want to focus on in the month ahead. I know I like reading about how people budget their money so hopefully this will be at least a little interesting.

With all that being said, here’s my January budget forecast.

Our monthly budget update does not change much.

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for February 2021.

Our monthly budget update does not change much. 

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for January 2021.

Our monthly budget update does not change much. 

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for December 2020.