I've been doing this since I became a SAHM 8 years ago. I track all of the household expenses. I turned a 3 ring binder into my calendar because I could never find a calendar that suited my needs. Behind the calendar section I use those tabs that have folders on them and each child gets a tab and there is one for expenses. I just write them on notebook paper one under the other with the date and sometimes I take notes if it is a big purchase and I think I might forget what it was for. I am a paper person so this works well for me. If stuff comes home in the bookbag that I know I have to send money in for, I just put it in the folder section (it is clear plastic) so that I can see it and remember to send in money. I keep my calendar in the kitchen and it is just habit to write it down. My dh does better tracking it all on the computer so that is what he does.

I am keeping my receipts in my purse and logging at the end of the day. I think if I had to do it everytime I spend money it would drive me crazy and I would quit, but once a day is easy to do. I even put it as a page in my FTJ journal so I can't loose it.

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A Family of 5's quest to forget the Joneses.

Me too. I'm putting an envelope in my purse for receipts. Dh will be following up by entering everything into Quicken.

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I am soooo ready for this exercise. I am going to start on Sunday, so I have a fresh start. Good Luck to everyone in seeing where our pennies go!

me too!

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

No probs with this one I have been tracking for years.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

I have been tracking every penny since January 1st. What a good thing to do. And at the end of the month we are going to see what else we can trim down from our budget......

I started to do this the first of the year. I have never really done it before and boy can I tell you it is definitely an eye opener for me! I'm personally glad I haven't ever done it because I can't imagine the guilt I would have over the years of my wasteful spending. The receipts and credit card statements were painful enough.

This is definitely helping me! Thank you Kim!

I'm also noticing........I spend money almost everyday, whether it's bills, grocery, lunch money for school, lunches, a forgotten purchase at the store, take-out, entertainment, gift, etc. Does anybody else notice this? That in itself is scary.

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All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother- Abraham Lincoln

We are doing the same.

We have been doing thi for awhile. It is very eye opening. to see.