Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Our September 2012 Budget Update describes where our money went for the month.
September 2012 Budget Excel Spreadsheet
I’m behind on completing the Canadian Budget Binder Budget Spreadsheet, although rest assured, it’s in the works.
I wanted to design the budget so it had everything we needed and everything you might need if you wanted to try it out.
I’ll keep you updated on it and when it will be available. Update: Available now!
It’s nothing fancy, just an Excel spreadsheet with formulas that keep all our finances neat.
You can easily adjust formulas to make it your own, as it would be your budget.
If you are not good with Excel, I wouldn’t suggest using it because if you muck up a formula, it can muck up your entire budget if you don’t catch it.
Anyhow, now you know a little more about it. It’s coming soon!
Budget Changes This Month
Well, we did make a change to the budget this month, and that was after I wrote a post about the cost of owning a pet and whether we could afford the costs.
I didn’t think we were putting enough money away for our dog in case of an emergency.
It wasn’t a case of not knowing; we weren’t.
So, we have changed our pet category to allow for unexpected expenses.
New Projected Expenses- The only change to projected expenses was in the pet category, where we will stash money when needed.
You will also notice that I now have “PE” for projected expenses in the necessary categories. I tried to clean it up a bit so there wasn’t so much text.
September 2012 Budget Net Income
Net Income for September was higher/lower due to
- Interest from the Savings Accounts $0.04+$3.54+ $99.37=$102.95
- Overtime Pay/Training for Work
- Benefits Reimbursement
- Work Travel Reimbursement
- Paid Volunteering
September 2012 Budget Overview
We have 3 Canadian bank accounts, and our chequing account is with President’s Choice Financial. (Now Simplii Finanicial)
Still, if we do, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) will gladly help us, as PC is affiliated with CIBC.
We also need to get our miscellaneous category down as it’s spiking high on items we don’t have categorized simply because there would be too many categories.
We will also look at my allowance for 2013 to see if the $15 a month is reasonable enough for me, given the beer I purchase in the summer.
I do try to save money by not buying coffee outside of the home by bringing it to work, but I do occasionally buy it.
So some months I may not spend anything where others you may see overage with a case of beer in the summer.
I also found out via one of my Facebook fans that Ontario vehicle stickers have now gone up as of September 2012 from a yearly cost of $74 to a yearly cost of $82.00.
In Jan 2013, it will go up to $90, and in Jan 2014 $98.00.
According to the article, it’s the first time in 15 years for the increase, although Ontario will charge less than other Provinces.
So, it looks as if our budget numbers will change again starting in October, but it’s better to be prepared.
I’ll budget now for the highest increase, so the money is ready to rock and roll when we need it.
September 2012 Budget Breakdown
- Chequing– This is where all the bills get paid from.
- Emergency Savings– This is where our Emergency money sits.
- Savings– This account holds money for projected expenses.
- Monthly Budget Total: $5797.85
- Monthly Net Income Total: $7448.36
- Total Coupons Used (this includes everything, not just grocery coupons: $192.75
- Projected Expenses: These are expenses we know we will pay for throughout the year and save monthly for = $1224.89
- Total Expenses Paid Ous $4217.17
- Calculated is $7448.36 (total monthly income) –$and06.30 (total monthly savingsrojected expenses $1224.89 = $4217.17
- Actual Cash Savings Going Into Emergency Savings Funds: $2006.30
- Calculated is $ 7448.36 (total monthly income) – $4217.17 (actual expenses paid out for the month)–$1224.89 (projected expenses) = $2006.30 (Total Savings for September)
Outcome September 2012 Budget Update
PE=Projected Expense, which is automatically saved.
Total Net Income September:$7448.36
- Allowance $15.00 Spent $34.95 Over $19.95
- Car Repair/Maintenance PE $23.50 Spent $0
- Christmas PE $25.00 Spent $o
- Clothing PE $10.00 Spent $0
- Dentist/Prescriptions PE $5.00 Spent $13.07
- Electricity/Water PE $153.05 Spent $0 (This bill comes every 2 months)
- Entertainment-$7.00 Spent $7.89 Over $0.89
- E-test PE $4-Spent $0
- Furnace/Hot Water Rental PE$112.38 Spent $0 (This bill is every 3 months)
- Union Gas (domestic)-$59.19 Spent $31.71
- Gasoline/Diesel (vehicle)-$192.00 Spent $151.25
- Grocery- $190.00 Spent $189.39 Play The Grocery Game With us to Save! Under Budget for September $0.61
- Home Maintenance PE $329.00 Spent $45.17
- Car/Home Insurance-$205.17 Spent $205.17
- Income Tax Filing PE$2.50 Spent $0
- Investment-$767.00 Spent $767.00
- Licence Renewal Fees PE $11.84 Spent $0
- Life Insurance-$135.05 Spent $135.05
- Lottery-$12 -Spent-$12.50 ( won a free play and picked up enocore for $1.00/2 =$0.50 per person
- Membership/Club/Sports PE $6.00 Spent $0
- Miscellaneous-$125.00 Spent $199.76
- Mortgage–$1389.12 Spent $1389.12
- Parking-$5 -Spent $0
- Pet PE $83.33 -Spent $20.07 Saved $63.26
- Property Tax PE $287.45 Spent $880.61
- Emergency Savings-Saved $2052.49
- Vehicle Sticker PE $16.00 Spent $o
- Cable/Internet/Cell/Home Phone–$144.74 Spent $144.46
- Work Tools PE $50 Spent $0
CBB House Update September 2012
September seemed to quiet down for us as our out-of-town guests departed back to their homelands.
It was almost like an “ah” moment, to be honest, but it was also a good way to see what life would be like as a parent.
I’ve worked a lot this month, especially with training, where most is done online, and the rest is hands-on.
I’ve also been picking up more overtime this month as there is so much to do, that I seem to be needed at work.
That’s ok, though; they say knowledge is power.
So, my “landscaping” dreams have been put on hold until next year.
I am, however, working on sealing the deck and putting away the yard for the winter season.
Free Stuff I Found
A week ago, I noticed a lawn mower on the curb with a “free” sign, so I decided to wander over and check it out.
Our lawnmower runs with no problem, but it’s cheap, has plastic wheels, and has no get-up-and-go.
The new mower to me is a Craftsman 6. 0 Horse Power, Briggs and Stratton engine with a leaf bag attachment and rubber wheels.
This mower is only a few years old through research, and I had no idea if it would work. So I wheeled it home until I had time to take it apart.
The next day I went at it, cleaned it all up so it’s shiny and looks new.
It even came with a full tank of petrol.. ching!
The best part of my over $400 new to me lawnmower is that all it needed was a new Briggs and Stratton filter $9.99 at Canadian Tire and a $3.00 bolt from Sears.
I love it when people don’t know how to fix or maintain things, so they toss them out and buy something new. What have you found on the curb this month?
Other than that, we’ve kept busy in the kitchen whipping up some new recipes, which you can all find posted in Mr.CBB’s Kitchen here on the blog.
Check-in at the beginning of November to see how we did in October!
- How did you make out with your budget for September?
- What changes do you need to make to your budget?
- Follow Canadian Budget Binder and Budget along with us!
Great find on the lawn mower! Our budget was quite well last month. We picked up a couple of new clients who’ve kept the wife and I very busy. Running our own business, being busy is a great problem to have.
Ha.. ya I bet it is. What type of business do you run or are you talking about your blog?
We run a small advertising/marketing company. We write advertising/promotinal/website material for companies. We also help with messaging and formulating a marketing strategy.
I’ve not starting talking about it on the blog yet. I am wrapping my mind around how I want to write about it as it will probably provide for some good posts.
For sure, I think that would be great to talk about. It’s all about learning and someone out there will want to know more. Go for it. Mr.CBB
Hmmm we are closing on a house ONE WEEK from today and we definitely need a lawn mower by next spring. Hopefully we can find one like you did!
Ya, I was pretty happy about that… congrats on the new house!! Is this your first home?
Nice find on the lawmower! I wish I was so handy 🙂 I wouldn’t have any idea where to start. ALso $2000 on the emergency fund, that’s great. What’s the goal?
We currently have over $150k in our Emergency Fund and our TFSA holds money.. Once we use our Eergency Savings to pay off the mortgage we just want to keep a few thousand in an Emergency Fund so we don’t have to use our TFSA in case their were an emergency.
Good find with the mower. We also found one last month in the shed at our rental house. Almost new. We were excited. We also got a lawn cart that attaches to a riding mower from our neighbor. He had two and didn’t need both. I also got some almost new bath rugs and nice clothes for my daughter at the humane society yard sale. Benefit of volunteering is that you get first dibs on the stuff and some people give away great stuff!