Lightening Online

Can you believe that our planned departure date for the big trip is only 2 months away today????

I’m not sure whether to be excited or a little freaked out by that. :)  I think I’m a bit of both.

Anyway, I thought it was time for an update on how I’m going with my BHAG (which is to save $5000 by the time we leave).

Total as of 31st March 2009: $3294.47

To be added:

March Interest $64.19

Advertising Payment (3 Kids And A Caravan)  $100

Money Owed from Friend (was paid out of last years budget so I’m going to add it to my total)  $110.00

Neways Cheque $6.67

Flybuys Rewards Card $100

Competition Winnings $300

Grocery Surplus for April $84.75

Interest (April)  $66.84

Total to be Added $832.45

Bringing my current BHAG total to:

Can you believe that???

$4,126.92

I am over the moon with that figure!!!!  I’ve already surpassed my wildest expectations.  And with 2 months left to go, I might even actually reach this goal.

$873.08 over the next 8 weeks.  About $110 a week.  Hmmm….

I have to admit that over the past few months, our spending has been a little out of control. Some of this is due to unforeseen medical circumstances but a lot of it is due to a lack of discipline when it comes to shopping.

I mean, let’s face it, shopping can be LOTS of fun. It’s even more fun when you’re not working to any sort of budget or tracking where the money is going.

Until the credit card bill comes.

The good news is that I’ve been aware that our income cannot sustain my level of spending in recent times.

The bad news is that I still had to find a way to undo the damage already done.

The good news is, we have money in savings.

The bad news is that money is supposed to be earmarked for the big trip.

(did you ever have to write one of those stories in Primary School “What good luck…, what bad luck…?”)

The good news is I’m managing to scrape enough money together so far that I haven’t had to dip into savings.

The bad news is, I’m still paying for spending in late January and throughout February (so essentially, we’re behind because I technically don’t have the funds to cover what I’ve spent on the credit cards since then).

The good news is, I should have the money to pay for those bills by the time the next credit card bill is due (another month’s time).

And so on it goes.

In an ideal world I probably should do away with using the credit card altogether. But it’s just SO convenient.

To change the subject a little:

It’s been over a month since I’ve updated my BHAG. So far, I haven’t had to delve into this money to cover my spending faux pars so we’ll continue on our merry little way and hope that I can sort out this over-spending while keeping my little “nest egg” intact.

Last Update Total (2/2/09) $2834.31

Amounts to be added:

Interest: $163.41

Simple Savings Affiliate payment: $11.00

Clean out of old handbag (cash from last year’s budget): $101.70

New Total: $3110.42

With 15 weeks to go (oh my!), I need to find around $125 a week on average to reach my goal.

Can you believe that we’re already at the end of the first month of my BHAG? If time keeps flying this fast, the big trip will be here before we know it. It’s kind of hard to believe after more than a decade of planning and dreaming.

Anyway, onto my progress report for my BHAG (my goal to save $5000 in the final 8 months before our trip).

Additions since my last update:

Simple Savings affiliate payment $22

Grocery Surplus for November $203.85

Website Sponsorship $150

Which brings the total thus far to $745.53

If my calculations are correct, I needed $625 at this point to be on track. So, we’re going well so far.

We’ve been without power for almost 24 hours. Again!!! What a pain!

Anyway, on with todays post, albeit belatedly.

Here is my first weeks update on my BHAG progress:

1. Emailcash Cheque - $30.00

2. Interest on some long term savings we have (hadn’t been allocated anywhere else so I decided to “claim” it). Thanks Kin for the suggestion. - $239.68

3. Since I was so limited in what I could do today without power, I decided to clean out the top drawer of my bedside cupboard. It accumulates all kinds of bits and pieces plus coins etc that get swept into the drawer when I’m cleaning the top of the drawers. Found $100 in notes I’d shoved in there for one reason or another (and can no longer remember why) as well as some coins that have been added to my tin. Counting the $100 in the tally at the moment but not the coins as they’ll get counted all together later in the piece. - $100.00

Total $369.68

Not too bad for the first week!