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Thursday, January 2, 2014

2013 Year Budget: December

For 2013 I am budgeting my clothing allowance based on the entire year. Sound crazy? Read more about it {here}

Well, my friends, the grand experiment is coming to a close. Now when people ask me, "Oh, a year budget?" I can say, "been there, done that, & I lived to tell the tale". As you all know, I am experiencing a bit of a personal style renaissance & having a change in my career as well… so in addition to spending lots on Christmas presents, shopping for myself was the last thing on my list this month, I just need time to marinate with my new life dynamics. 

I picked up a pair of aviator sunglasses ($120) that I have been wanting for many months (as previously mentioned here) & stopped by a darling new local boutique & just couldn't leave without this crop top & matching high waisted pencil skirt for $64 (did you catch that outfit this morning?)

I also had some ShoeDazzle credits & purchased this pair & this one too, but returned both because they ran a half size small… did my feet get bigger? I haven't decided if I am going to re-order in the size 8 or not… serious commitment issues lately.
Ray Ban aviators with gold frames/green lenses $120
My purchases rang in at $184, but thanks to some PoshMark sales that brought in $73.60, my net December expenditures = $110.40. **Speaking of which, my entire Poshmark closet is 20% off right now… I'm ready to make some deals!

Leaving my year break down in the black (woo hoo!!)
- January  $149.94
- February $241.71
- March $245.50
- April $187.37
- May $222.71
- June $405.46
- July $89.98
- August $264.15
- September $428.37
- October $153.49
- November $98.32
- December $110.40
-Remaining = $402.60 
This month I was also gifted: iSanctuary necklace // Jojo Loves you earrings // Daisy Gem necklace // GivenGoods scarf 

Did anyone else complete a year budget? Any big purchases in December?

I will be doing a recap post for the entire year… sometime next week (?)
So if you have any specific questions about my experience, let me know in the comments & I will try to touch on them!

32 comments:

  1. are you going to get anything amazing with that left over money?!

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  2. Between the end of school and the start of my teaching gig, I'm looking at a few months of unemployment on top of planning a wedding, so I am going to be a responsible little shopping addict and sock it away in my savings account with dreams of doing home honeymoon shopping with it or something :)
    xx

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  3. It is amazing you made it the whole year AND with money leftover!! Great job!
    ~Lauren
    http://lalovesblog.com

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  4. I want to be more proactive about my budget this year. Maybe i'll take a yearly approach to, or a seasonal one... hmm..

    xo, Nina

    afterthe40barfinish

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  5. Wow! You did an incredible job this year! I'm looking forward to seeing your year-end recap.

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  6. A budget is just too much for my stupid non math brain (excuses, excuses) haha but impressed with you! I've been dying for the ray-ban flash lense aviators...

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  7. Wow! That's great. Definitely something that sparks my interest... maybe I'll try it out?! We'll see.
    On another note, I'm hosting a giveaway - I think you deserve a chance at winning it. :) http://signingsteph.blogspot.com/2013/12/rio-ritz-giveaway-happy-monday.html

    Steph
    Signing
    Steph

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  8. love those ray bans! i got some for xmas and Im so excited to wear them! xo

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow, congrats on having $400 left over! I really really need to set a budget but monthly doesn't seem to be working too well for me. I think I might try your strategy! :-)

    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.com

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  10. I completed a budget, but as usual, I failed to stick to it. Rub off on me? Great job, by the way! :)


    xo,
    Stephanie
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.stephanieziajka.blogspot.com

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  11. I think you did great with your shopping this year - totally reasonable and hopefully you made some excellent closet additions! While I try to budget month to month, I never keep records so I'm not paying attention if I should go over!

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  12. I love this approach, I think I might have to try it out. Congrats on sticking to your budget and thensome!

    xx Jen
    Skirt The Rules

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  13. I should really do this! Haha. I can be pretty bad when I do some compulsive shopping.

    Sarah

    aroseinthecity0.blogspot.com

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  14. Oh my gosh Jessica - in my absence I had totally missed your transition to teaching and away from grad school. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! As someone who has struggled with that same decision countless times, I can't begin to tell you how brave & amazing I think you are, and I hope you will be so much happier! Like you, I've been on the verge of writing a post about it so many times, but due to the reasons you listed, have held off. In my case, I feel like I spent too much at the cusp of wanting to walk away and not actually doing it - so much time in fact, that I got through three years of classes and am now in the middle of my PhD comprehensive exams and feel like I've missed the window during which I could have quit and minimized my losses. I guess my case is a little different in that I love teaching university students, just not at the R1 institution where I've been trapped for so long. So I need to stick it out here a little longer so I can eventually escape. Ugh - sorry this turned into a long, ranty post - really just wanted to say how happy and excited I am for you, and I'll look forward to living vicariously through you! And as far as budgeting ... ah now that's another story. I haven't made any big purchases and am planning on quitting all shopping totally cold turkey - my new hubby and I have decided that I should quit working/teaching for the next 8 months so I can actually get some of my own work done. I'm still going to be blogging, but I'll be doing a lot of recycling and DIY-ing. So ... my budget is no spending until August. *gulp* Will keep you posted!

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  15. I applaud your budgeting skills and how you were able to stick with a plan. One of my greatest deficits is that I can't stick to a budget limit and as I graduate this year, I have quickly realized that I need to remedy that problem. I think I'll have to start small, with a monthly budget, but I hope that I can become as responsible with a whole year's budget.

    Brittney

    anotherbeautifulthing.blogspot.com

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  16. Thank you so much for your comments. You can't even imagine how very much it means to me to hear from someone who has been in my exact shoes, and truly understands the blood, sweat & tears that go into getting a PhD. I am in my 5th of studies as I make this decision, but for my particular discipline, was looking at 2 more years (blerg!), and at this point, cutting my losses just makes the most sense. I am totally cheering you on & can't wait to follow along with your journey vicariously too… I guess the grass is always greener :)
    xx

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  17. wow good for you! loving the items you got! I really want raybans!


    lifeisashoe.blogspot.com

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  18. I LOVE those Ray Bans! A pair of reflective aviators is on my wish list!

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  19. So I am totallllyyy inspired by all your shopping budget posts! It's so intimidating that I don't think I even know where to begin on making my own but I love that you kept track of every purchase and new addition to your closet AND stayed under your yearly budget! Pretty dang impressive if you ask me!!


    Also, after a whirlwind December I missed your big career news! Congrats! That's seriously amazing! I'm beginning to think that the quarter life crisis is a real thing because I'm currently going through the same thing! Who knew choosing what you wanted to be when you grew up would turn out to be so difficult? Anyway, I'm so proud of you for listening to and following your heart! What an awesome story!!


    xx
    Katie

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  20. This is the smartest idea...hmmmm i need to work on this for 2014 ;)

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  21. I am just finding your blog now but this budget idea is GENIUS.

    I mean granted people always keep track to stay on target, but on the blog. I think its great! I def need to work on my spending in 2014!

    xoxo, KP
    Eleventh & Sixteenth

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  22. I can't wait to read your recap! I am really horrible at budgeting so I'm interested to read more about how you did it. I'm trying to shop way less this year, and I just posted about some ways I'm going to try to make saving a priority this year. It's really inspiring to find other bloggers who are on the same page!

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  23. what a great year! Are you going to do feature your budget on your blog again next year... I think I am going to! It was such a great way to honestly look at my clothing purchases and not forget any of them!

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  24. I think a quarterly budget could be really consecutive too! I look forward to following along :)
    xx

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  25. I make obsessive Excel sheets, it takes the math outta the budgeting :)
    xx

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  26. Start by writing down EVERYTHING that you purchase in a month, it'll open your eyes… it did mine! And then I HAD to budget, I couldn't believe I was bleeding that much money on clothes every month. And now I have trained myself to be so critical of every piece that I bring in… I'm curating a museum around here!
    xx

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  27. Sending good budgeting vibes your way :)
    xx

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  28. Thanks lady! I have actually had so much fun with it - having a goal to save for (wedding, honeymoon, fixing up our new house) makes it all worth it! And I now have a closet where I love, not just like, everything :)
    xx

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  29. Seriously just start by writing down everything that you spend on clothes, make notes on your phone or whatever, it adds up quick! And when you know what number you are working with, you know where you need to cut back. Good luck with graduation!
    xx

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  30. Thank you lady - oh man, oh man is the quarter life crisis a real thing, I was having a serious issue knowing who I was for a while, but I think I have come out the other side with a really solid plan. I am so very thankful for all of you wonderful ladies who have been supportive of me, no matter what! Good luck with your own struggles, and I'm always here if you want to talk :)
    xx

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  31. Welcome to this little corner of the internet, so happy to have you!
    Keeping track on the blog has REALLY kept me accountable - it helps so much!
    xx

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Thank you for your comments, they make my day!!
xx