I did well this month.  Nay, I did really well this month and I’m so excited.

I only went over my overall budget by $80 (yes, only $80, thanks to a last minute floating trip to the river).  Overall budget looked like this:
Need: -$41.20
Save: $0
Want: +$121.71

Biggest offenses in the Want category were a new pair of shoes and dining out.  I also spent a lot more money on gas this month than I have in the past, but that would fall under Need.  Had a major car issue earlier this month with the air conditioning going out, but my parents really helped me out by paying for it and I didn’t have to dip into my savings at all.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

In my past life, those numbers would be pretty bad.  $80 OVER my budget?  Put it on the credit card!  But due to my major life changes following Hingepin Day, I managed to make over $1k more than I spent.  One thousand dollars more than I spent in a SINGLE month.  That’s shocking.  It’s insane.  And it makes me remember that after a morning like this morning when I’m sitting on the floor crying because I feel beyond exhausted that it’s really all worth it.  That I’m changing my life for the better and I’m a better person for it.  It’s all worth working through it right now when I can make sacrifices.

My net worth only improved by about $800 thanks to a tanking stock market, but still, up is up.  I have a new 401(k) starting up in September so am looking forward to that.