November Budget

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1. Kohl's- Sonoma faux leather jacket: $34.00 (originally $68.00)

2. Kohl's- leopard scarf (can't find it online anywhere): $12 (originally $20)

3. Old Navy- quilted tweed puffa vest: $27.00 (originally $44.94)

Total spent: $73.00

Saved: $59.94

I only bought three things this month. What is wrong with me? I got lucky with a sale at Kohl's early on in the month, and a random sale at the Old Navy website, and other than that, I really didn't do any shopping other than the occasional online window shopping. I didn't do Black Friday because, well... I was too lazy. I didn't really have my eye on anything anyway.

Also, I'm thinking of bumping my $50 budget up to $100 because I always seem to go over $50, but I can stay under $100. I'm afraid if I do that, though, I'll just start busting that budget, too. :( Bad Kim!

The good news is, I was able to knock two more things off my wishlist (the jacket and scarf). Now, all that's left is that elusive neutral cardigan... Why are cardigans so hard for me?!

Fall Wish List

cognac flats

comfy fall shirt

fall dress

cognac boots

fall scarf

second plaid flannel shirt

colored cardigan

neutral cardigan
maroon/fall colored pants

brown leather (or fake leather) jacket

leopard scarf

black skinny jeans

sweater

I hope that the sales didn't get you too bad! And as always, linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers!

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Budgeting Bloggers: October Budget

1. Old Navy drop shoulder v-neck sweater in wine country: (originally $29.94) $12.80 with promotions

2. Bandolino Petite Mandie jeans in mulled sangria: (originally $48) $17.99 via Ross

3. Shoedazzle Irene boots in slate: (originally $39.95) $19.98 with VIP intro offer

4. Old Navy Sweetheart skinny jeans in black jack: (originally $29.50) $18.88 with promotions

Total: $69.65 - $15 clothes sold = $54.65

Saved: $77.74

I know I'm late to the game on this one, but here we are. After not shopping for the first half of the month, I made up for lost time with a couple awesome online sales and a trip to Ross. I was able to cross three more things off my wish list (the boots were just for fun), and once again saved more than I spent (love it when that happens)! 

My new favorite outfit that I've worn several times this month (despite the 30 for 30) is the sweater/black jeans/ boots combo. I LOVE it, and will show it to you very soon! As for the maroon pants, it'll be a little bit before those make an appearance because while they're perfect in almost every way-- fit in the waist, hips and thighs; exact color I was hoping for; thick material that doesn't show panty lines-- they are not cropped skinnies like I wanted. So I will be making my very first trip to the tailor soon to have them remedy that for me. They'll need to take the legs in a little, and raise the hem a bit, so hopefully that doesn't end up being too expensive. I'll include the tailoring costs in November's budget.

Also, I'm not including my new coat in the budget because it's outerwear and actually ended up replacing a coat I had that was on its last legs, but if me not including it makes you mad, it would bring my total up to $75.75. (It was originally $42.94, I got it for $21.10.) Either way I was a little over my $50 budget, but I don't regret any of my purchases! Here's a look at my updated wish list:

Fall Wish List

cognac flats

comfy fall shirt

fall dress

cognac boots

fall scarf

second plaid flannel shirt

colored cardigan

neutral cardigan
maroon/fall colored pants

brown leather (or fake leather) jacket

black skinny jeans

sweater

I don't think I'll be making a winter wishlist, since I left my winter wardrobe in Omaha and "winter" out here is basically the same as fall, just more rainy. I'll save updating my winter wardrobe for next year when I have to endure a true Nebraska winter again.

As always, linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers!

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September Budget

Target

1. Ona flats in cognac- $16.99 ($0 with birthday money)

2. navy popover- $19.99 ($0 with gift card)

3. black and cream striped dress- $22.99 ($0 with gift card)

JustFab

4. Marika boots in chestnut- $59 retail, $19.95 JustFab price (as my first purchase)

Old Navy

5. scarf (maroon option)- $12.94 ($8 on website right now but they don't have maroon!) ($1.88 with gift card)

6. plaid flannel shirt- $26.94 ($0 with gift card)

7. crew neck cardi- $24.94 ($0 with gift card)

$144.74 before gift cards, $21.83 actually spent

This month was a weird month. On the one hand, I bought more things at full price than I ever do. But I went into the month knowing that I needed to beef up my fall wardrobe, and once I found what I was looking for, I was afraid that my size would sell out. On the other hand, it was my birthday month so I had a lot of money and gift cards to spend, so paying full price didn't hurt as much, I suppose. Overall, I was really successful at finding things on my fall wish list.

Fall Wish List

cognac flats

comfy fall shirt

fall dress

cognac boots

fall scarf

second plaid flannel shirt

colored cardigan

neutral cardigan
maroon/fall colored pants

brown leather (or fake leather) jacket

Next month should go back to normal (have to spend my own money again, after all), but we'll see. J will be gone for a few weeks for a work-related thing, and E will be with her dad for part of October (yay, her dad gets back soon!), so I'll have a lot of time on my hands. I have a lot of projects planned to keep me busy, but I'll admit, shopping is going to happen. 

Linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers!

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Budgeting Bloggers: August Budget

1. Military vest (JCPenny): originally $34/ $15 clearance - $1.50 10% off = $13.50 ($20 saved)

2. Gap Essential V Neck in black and white: originally $19.95 each, 2 for $25 ($14.90 saved)

3. Gap floral shorts: originally $44.95/ $5.97 final sale ($38.98 saved)

4. Caroline G. three stone bubble necklace: free through Facebook offer ($17.99 saved)

5. Liz Claiborne striped shirt (JCPenny): Originally $27/ $12.99 clearance - 1.30 10% off = $11.69 ($15.31 saved)

$56.17 spent + $14.95 shipping from JCP + $6.96 shipping from Caroline G. = $71.12 ($107.67 saved)

So, I went a little over my $50 budget this month, but I'm really really happy with all of my purchases (all have been worn multiple times), and I'm really REALLY happy with how smart I shopped. I mean, I saved over $100 dollars off the original price of everything. How awesome is that?! This whole budgeting thing, and paying attention to what I buy and how much I pay for it, is pretty killer. 

For next month, the only things I already know I want are a leopard scarf and maybe some maroon pants (branching out in my colored pants, plus a totally appropriate color for fall). I already know I'm getting a Target gift card for my birthday, so I should be able to make up for the little bit that I went over this month! Plus I need to get off my butt and to Plato's Closet to sell all the stuff I purged over the last couple months. Things are looking good!

What will be your fall essentials that you'll be shopping for next month?

Linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers!

Also, don't forget about my giveaway! It could totally help you next month for your budget!

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Budgeting Bloggers: July Budget

I debated not even doing a budgeting bloggers this month because I only purchased two things, but I figured I might as well because I made the conscious decision to actually pay attention to what I add to my wardrobe and how much I spend doing it.

So, this month I bought:

This tank top (worn here): $20

And these sandals (worn here and here): $20

So overall, I spent $40 - $18.81 sold clothes = $21.19.

I didn't get much of a chance to go shopping this month, because I don't particularly enjoy shopping while dragging E along with me-- it's my me time! and she doesn't really enjoy it either-- but good news! We came up on the wait list for the Child Development Center here on base, so starting Tuesday she'll be going twice a week for three hours each morning. Six hours a week for me to do whatever I want (shopping, duh), and she'll have a chance to be around other kids and have a more structured learning environment.

I love homeschooling her, but I'm not that great at it and she needs to be exposed to social situations more. Plus some mommy time will help me retain my sanity, so that's also a plus. Yay!

Linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers!

Weekend Recap + June Budget

I have lots of words and not too many pictures for you today, so just bear with me, k?

Friday: We decided that we've been really good about money lately, so we headed to the Post Exchange to treat ourselves and spend $20 each. E got a new doll, J picked up Arkham City (which so far seems to be a great game), and I picked up two pairs of pants, neither of which were jeans! With my $20 I managed to fill two of the holes in my closet and double the amount of pants I have that are not just regular ole jeans. Woo! Both of them will be on the blog this week, so look out for that.

We also ate pizza (just pepperoni and roasted tomatoes this week). 

Saturday: We ran some errands and got the house ready for some guests on Sunday! I didn't take pictures of anything on Saturday, but really there wasn't much to take pictures of, and we were pretty busy running around.

Sunday morning, E's grandma, aunt and great-aunt (her dad's family) drove down from San Jose to visit with us. E wanted to take them to the playground, so we walked up there and she dragged her aunt all over that playground (poor thing, but at least it wasn't me this time)! Then we had lunch and they drove back north. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and making/eating dinner (recipe tomorrow!).

Since I did so well shopping on Friday, I decided to take stock of what I spent this month, and was surprised by the results:

Maxi skirt (thrifted): $4.95

Cardigan (thrifted) (not on the blog yet): $4.95

Shoes (thrifted) (not on the blog yet): $3.95

Necklace (Target, on clearance): $7.98

Blue pants (on clearance + extra $25 off) (coming this week): $14.25

Cargo pants (on clearance + extra $25 off) (coming this week): $6

=$42.08

Not bad for a girl who doesn't have a formal budget! (I'm not counting the hiking shorts, because we bought those specifically for hiking and I'm just glad I can wear them for everyday wear as well.) I think going forward my goal will be to stay under $50 per month, and to purge my closet again for things to sell.

What about you guys? Did you have a good weekend? How did you do with your budgets?

Oh, and if you aren't already, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin'! (I'm not having any sort of emotional reaction to Google Reader going away because I've used Bloglovin' from the beginning, and I love it, but I sympathize with those of you who are!)