I've been crazily busy. The pay for the side gig is pitiful, but I'm learning a whole lot and I can use down time during regular work day to work on it with full support of the boss, so it's like I'm getting a bonus for a bit more work load.
Anyway, I don't keep track of monthly finance anymore, only an annual estimate of my expenses. So here's an estimate for 2018, with zero bonus and a 2% raise.
2018 Planning
November 1st, 2017 at 03:57 pm
November 1st, 2017 at 11:34 pm 1509579248
November 2nd, 2017 at 07:23 pm 1509650583
November 2nd, 2017 at 08:19 pm 1509653953
Bluesfemme - Sorry to confuse you, I forgot to update the formula in the left column. I use this template to periodically compare with the tax deducted on my paycheck, then add in adjustments so I'll know my year end number.
November 2nd, 2017 at 08:53 pm 1509656009
Bluesfemme - I also overestimated FICA there by forgetting to take out insurance premium. That's an extra $153 available to spend. Woohoo! 😁
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:18 pm 1509711490
November 5th, 2017 at 05:22 pm 1509902529
My feeling on tracking expenses is that, if you have done it for long enough to have a good feel for it and have a stable system, I don't think it's worth the opportunity cost of the time spent on tracking. But that, of course, is an individual preference, and perhaps just a function of the fact that I've given up expense monitoring too the past few years. I just go through my credit card statements at the end of the year to eyeball overall spending. And sometimes I do overspend.
A couple of questions: I notice your core expenses don't include any allocation for food. Do you live with someone who pays for your meals? And I scrolled back through your blog and saw you were doing OMAD a while ago. Are you still doing that? I was doing IF (18/6 daily) last year, but fell off over the winter, and have not been able to get myself to go back to it, although I believe it would be beneficial to do so.
November 5th, 2017 at 09:16 pm 1509916561
November 18th, 2017 at 06:06 am 1510985206
Dido - My relatives live with me and they cover my food. As for the OMAD, I'm still doing it around 90% of the time.
Rob - Thanks 😄