Hope’s Budget – Almost Empty Nest version

by Hope

It looks like the last time I sat down to create a budget was fall of 2022. Boy, it’s been a roller coaster ride since then. For this go around, I tried to be exhaustive and super detailed in my review. I guess it’s part of my review and purge stage of life where I am working to rid myself of things, including financial line items that are no longer serving me. With that in mind and without further ado, this is my first draft of my 2023 budget. I do not anticipate this will actually take affect until mid-January, latest February. (See my notes and thoughts below.)

As I mentioned previously, I am shuttering my consulting company for the time being. (This still feels very, very weird but takes such a load off. For the first time in, well forever, my focus is not divided.) And my current contract job is not a long term option so I know it will be coming to an end, just not sure when. I am beginning to job hunt with a pretty intent focus.

That being said, I have based by budget on my current W2 income with anticipation that my next role will either match or exceed my current salary. Take home is right at $7,280.

Highlights

Optional but priority

Gym membership

Every remembers my last gym membership. What a waste of money! But this is different and the reason is twofold. And it will be new come January.

First, Gymnast and I began walking every day this past fall. We grab two of our dogs and go walk a lap or two around a small like (about 3/4 mile lap) before work. That has been wonderful for my health both physical and mental (his too.) But I am ready to take it up a notch. This is motivated by my breakup and more importantly by my travel goal. I cannot travel well if I am out of shape, lethargic and don’t move well or regularly. And travel is my #1 goal for the next couple of years. Within reason. So he and I have committed that as soon as we return from New York (our family Christmas present,) we are going to add gym time together to our schedule. I’ve got him for 7 more months so I need him to keep me motivated.

Secondly, part of my traveling plan is road trips. And while I am not a camper, I am not opposed at all to staying in my car at rest areas or other safe spots on occasion. Having this “nationwide” gym membership will give me somewhere to not only work out during those trips but also shower 🙂 Very important. If I don’t end up using that side of things, once Gymnast moves away, I will drop the membership level to the $10 version so I can just continue to work out when I am home. Crossing my fingers that I establish a habit before he moves away and keep it up myself.

Biggest drain

Auto insurance

Our auto insurance is insanely expensive. But with two teenage drivers and one recent wreck (Gymnast totaled a car last December) there is not anything I can really do about it. We did all install the safe drivers app our insurance company offers. After 6 months, based on our scores, we may be able to save up to 10%. Based on our current status, our discount will be 7%. But it won’t kick in until March.

Business, now personal

Now that I am shuttering my business, I am evaluating the costs that have traditionally been covered by my “business” and will now need to be covered by my personal income. I have moved the most basic that I KNOW I will continue and will use 2023 to either cut additional costs or to move them over to personal income. (Unless sometime, I decided to revisit restarting my own consulting firm.)

Cell phone

I continue to cover three of the kids’ lines. The rule of thumb was that I would cover phone cost until they were done with schooling. However, Beauty has been taking “breaks” from school and Gymnast doesn’t have plans to go to school now that he has completed high school. So what do I do here? Trying to figure out the new normal. And cut some costs.

Quit it? Membership fees

Currently, I pay for a few memberships that we share. But I am considering cancelling these in the coming months. These include:

• Netflix – this is how I watch TV when I do watch. And I think most of the kids use this as well. But they keep raising the price. I am considering cancelling at the end of “winter.” That way I give the kids some notice, and keep it through the season that keeps us inside for the most part. Monthly cost savings $20
• Amazon Prime (paid annually) – up until these past few months, I would say this has been worth the investment. I kept ALOT of items on autoship and shopped pretty regularly this way. Things like dog food, paper towels, toilet paper, other household sundries, and almond milk. But I’ve been cutting back significantly because frankly our usage of things has dramatically been reduced. While the girls still do come “shop” at mom’s house, it’s far less than it used to be. I just don’t think the price tag is worth it anymore. Thoughts? Monthly cost savings $12
• Walmart+ – I signed up for this for the first time this fall. It’s only $99 but I just don’t think it’s worth it. I love the shop online and pick up at the store option, but that’s free. Signing up gave me free delivery, which I have used, but I’ve not been so impressed that I think it’s worth the cost. Pick up works just fine for me. There are other benefits for it, but frankly, I haven’t used them. I have several more months before it will renew. But right now, I think this one will get cancelled as well. Monthly cost savings $9

Savings

Travel savings

Anyone who has read BAD knows my love of travel. But for YEARS, the travel has been for kids’ events (gymnastics and robotics competitions) or visiting family (TX, GA, VA). But now it’s my time. My goal is two fold. I want to take a couple of larger international trips and see some cool places. And then I want to road trip some. For 2023, my goal is to take 2 international trips, maybe a week each. And then to do a longer drive across America trip in the spring. Timing is important. Right now, Gymnast is at home, so I would not have to pay to board or have someone care for the dogs. That is super expensive and quickly deters me from traveling too much. I am still working out what this budget item will look like. But I imagine the bulk of it will be spent in the first half of the year. This budget covers through August so the line item is higher with that tighter time frame than it will be in future plans.

Christmas Savings

This may be combined with my travel savings. The kids and I and I are super excited about our New York trip this year. (The trip is my Christmas present to the family.) And, of course, I had to tell them all early so everyone could get the time off work. My thought is to continue this as the new Christmas tradition…giving a trip or experience instead of presents. Now, don’t get me wrong, I did buy a few things, but nothing like normal.

Car Savings

This is new. And not necessary. But I am working on my three year plan since my break up. And this would be a part of that so I’ve added it in. I don’t know if it will remain. But I’m leaving it for now.

Clothing

I’ve provided the kids $300 twice a year for clothes while they were in school. This is the first year that I didn’t do that like clockwork. And I think it’s time to end of life this cost. However, I do want to ear mark some money to help out of the kids, all of them, from time to time. And I’m not sure how to budget for that. Like the time, I want to buy one of the twins new tennis shoes or pants. Or the time I take Princess grocery shopping when I visit her at school. Or when I stocked Beauty’s kitchen when she moved into her first apartment. I don’t know, just spit balling. What do you think? Does this need to be a line item? Or do I just bump my personal spending item and pull it out of there?

Hope is a digital marketing manager and foster/adoptive single mom to five kids. She has run her own consulting company for over 15 years and took a leap of faith returning to the corporate world in 2021 to a job and team she loves! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally mastered the balance between family first and wise financial decisions.