Wednesday, September 16, 2020

A New Budget For a New Time


Just as an aside, I dunno about other bloggers, but if I had a buck for every comment on healing herpes I send to spam rather than publish, I could retire to the Bahamas. I tell ya.


This afternoon my sewing room/studio looks messier than it has in a year.  As part of the packing process, I emptied out all the drawers and bins and put like items in various sizes of plastic bags (art pens in one, paint brushes in another, acryclic tubes of paint in another and each sewing project separately bagged.  My table is now piled high. Multiple boxes (both those to be packed and those holding trash/recycling and donation items, as well as some already packed) litter the small floor. The storm before the calm. 






I've finally (mainly) figured out the budget after talking with utility companies, wifi providers and looking at all the costs and estimated costs.  There are a few unknowns, of course. In the end, some things will be greater, some less, but I sould actually have more "flexible" income than I do now, even if only do to being in a lower priced area.

Aside from the monthly expense comparison, there will be some heavy spending the first couple months, after the moving costs.  Because I am leaving a house that has had most things combined, and because the furniture is almost ten years old even if I was willing to take it (It will be my son's or he can sell it all)  When I moved into this house, furniture became "house furniture".  So the bad news is that I need new furniture.  The good news is that I need new furniture. That includes a new bed, a dining room table and chairs, living room furniture (temporarily taken care of) and something on the patio. Oh, and a new quilting table. For starts. Plus bathroom furnishings, cooking items in smaller sizes and all the other good stuff. Plus, Christmas is coming.

My Amazon wish list is growing. I should turn it into a registry, maybe?

Anyhoo, back to the budget. There are two increases,  many decreases, some that will remain the same and some that I am not sure about.

The increased spending:

  • I will be supplementing my son until the spring. He is now employed but was off work quite awhile and then under-employed hours wise-and with the job market changing to his "degree" career looks unlikely right now. He also has crushing school debt because Mom could not help him (yes, on hold for now). Last but not least "our" dog (really his dog now)  is staying with him and needs expensive surgery, possibly times two. So mom is paying the greater part of said debt for awhile. 
  • The other increase is housing. Because, two bedroom senior community instead of house sharing. Many housing expenses will drop after the move but the monthly rent will increase drastically.  Current expenses (rent/cable/water/insurance/gas and electric) is in the thousand dollar range. Lone Star State expenses (rent/electric/insurance/wifi) will run in the $1300 range. Both estimates depend on seasonal issues. Gonna try living off my Firestick, casting from my computer and see how that goes to begin with before subscripting to Hulu or Sling.
Decreases which offset the above:  

My daughter texted me this picture of a quiche since she makes one a week for her breakfasts and said she will start making a second one for me each Sunday.  Yes, please!

  • Groceries will be a whole lot cheaper in Texas. General pricing is quite a bit lower and there are at least ten groceries not including warehouse stores and Whole Foods/Trader Joe's so significant competition and millions of good deals on those first pages of the ads. Also I'm related to two people who like to cook, including SIL who cooks in large amounts and will assist in feeing me becuse he doesnt know how not to.
  • Gas (the kind you put in your car) will be cheap, cheap, cheap , cheap compared to where I am now! In theory Texas has tollways which could increase the car expense, but I have chosen a place where they are not necessary except for the rare occasion. Natural gas is also dirt cheap in Texas but I have electric heat.
  • Entertainment/Amusement/Dining out will be much cheaper. Because of more options (much, much larger metro area), lowered costs in general in Texas, and  my living in a college town with all the free events. Also,  I'm not planning on returning to the the happy hour AND lunch AND paid craft thing weeky that I was doing pre-pandemic.
  • Recreation/Health Club/Senior Center access are all much cheaper than in Colorado although Lord only knows when I will feel comfortable going and when they will be fully open.
  • Lifelong learning will be temporarily a teeny bit cheaper because of zoom but that will increase whenever in person classes begin.
Things that will probably stay generally the same or a wee bit lower:

  • Clothes will not be much different cost wise, national chains tend to be pretty stable. Useage may change but I cannot estimate that until we get something close to the normal time again. The store I shop from 85 percent of the time does not exist where I will be. Since I want my current store to say in place (even though they are part of a chain they are the nicest people ever) I am going to have the manager of the store ship things to me from her store instead of ordering online. There is a plethora of thrift, consignment and other stores in Texas, but I cannot plan on using them any time soon.
  • In theory travel will remain consistent when it resumes. Local vacations and day trips will be much cheaper than in Colorado though. You can certainly stay in Galveston or Padre Island or the Hill Country for much less than a mountain retreat in Colorado. So I'm keeping said travel budget as it was before and going with the theory that I will get more for my buck.
  • Crafting/Creativity/Hobbies:  The budget may increase on these but the cost will remain the same. Quilt cotton and good yarn has fairly standard pricing set by the distributors.  All the big craft stores have fairly set pricing and I already order from online stores. I do plan on taking some intensive classes but those will be one-off's 
    Now that my mistake is corrected, the sweater is on it's way. It's now about twice as long as this shows
  • Health and Personal Care expenses.  I'll be lowering my monthly health insurance by half, but that's an open season issue, not a moving issue. Pedicures and the like will generally remain the same, I think.  
    Speaking of which, it may be time to get these feet  a pedicure and massage!
Things that fall under I don't know yet:

  • Car insurance. I won't really know what that is until I officially change my address which as yet is undone. I do currently have the expensive insurance that has a low deductible and full glass coverage and I may change that, but its not related to the move as such
  • I'm sure there are other things that fall under the I don't know, I just haven't thought of them yet.
What have I missed?

22 comments:

  1. I love your method of budgeting. Hopefully, your move will be a good experience for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so looking forward to it.

      Delete
    2. what a miracle i never believe there is cure because my doctor tested me HSV 2 positive and she told me there is no cure, i’m very happy today that i’m having a free life without this sickness, i can remember some months ago when i was crying all through the night and day that i can’t get cured from this sickness, i found this herbal man email on internet when i was doing research on cure for HSV 2 i contacted him to found out if i can get help from this sickness, i was so surprise when he told me that he have the herbs cure to it and he sent me the herbal in less down 4 days i was so happy when i get someone giving me hope that he can cured me i took the herbal for just 2 weeks, when i went for test after taking the herbal i found out that i am cured i was so happy and surprise, i want to use this opportunity to inform you that there is cured to HSV 2 you can also contact him for his help as soon as possible so that you can get rid of this sickness once and for all you can reach him through this email: DRAZIEGBE1SPELLHOME@GMAIL. COM or and you can also call or whatapp him now +2349035465208. You can also contact him on any sickness in this he all have the herbal cure to it
      .HIV.HEPATITIS.ANTHRAX.HPV.CANCER.ALS

      Delete
  2. You are very thorough and I like that. I have that same system when contemplating a big change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to put it all out there in my head, so I can see what will happen

      Delete
  3. You are a PRO at planning and budgeting. I love following you and learning something every blog! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dunno about a pro, the reality is often different than the goal, but I try.

      Delete
  4. What is that recipe your daughter marks in the picture? Left me wonering!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its homemade quiche, sorry. . Me, I buy mine at safeway.

      Delete
  5. Sounds like you have things in place as much as you can right now. There are always unexpected expenses (and savings) plus having a quiche every Sunday___bonus!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen. Anytime someone other than me cooks, it's a bonus!

      Delete
  6. You certainly seem to have things well in hand. The move will be here before we know it. Take care and stay well!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The best grocery store on the planet is Central Market, a high-end branch of the HEB chain (which is also great). CM is food heaven.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Central Market !!!I don't like that it's a maze and that you have to walk through the whole maze to get out the other end in most stores!

      Delete
  8. I'm impressed with how you figured all this stuff out in such detail. I'm really worried about what my move will do to my budget. I don't have to worry much about what I spend now and I know that will change.

    Food costs here have skyrocketed since the pandemic started, make sure you leave yourself some wiggle room because it's going to keep going up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here it has not been to bad, but yes, flexibility in everything

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  9. You certainly seem to have thought of everything. Good for you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are very prepared and being flexible in budgeting is paramount the first little while until you know exact costs of everything. Hope the trip goes well.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What brand are those sandals? I love buckles. I bet they are SAS.

    ReplyDelete
  12. what a miracle i never believe there is cure because my doctor tested me HSV 2 positive and she told me there is no cure, i’m very happy today that i’m having a free life without this sickness, i can remember some months ago when i was crying all through the night and day that i can’t get cured from this sickness, i found this herbal man email on internet when i was doing research on cure for HSV 2 i contacted him to found out if i can get help from this sickness, i was so surprise when he told me that he have the herbs cure to it and he sent me the herbal in less down 4 days i was so happy when i get someone giving me hope that he can cured me i took the herbal for just 2 weeks, when i went for test after taking the herbal i found out that i am cured i was so happy and surprise, i want to use this opportunity to inform you that there is cured to HSV 2 you can also contact him for his help as soon as possible so that you can get rid of this sickness once and for all you can reach him through this email: DRAZIEGBE1SPELLHOME@GMAIL. COM or and you can also call or whatapp him now +2349035465208. You can also contact him on any sickness in this he all have the herbal cure to it
    .HIV.HEPATITIS.ANTHRAX.HPV.CANCER.ALS

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!