March Income – $5081.86

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Here is a breakdown of my income for March.

Online Income

$775.92

Interest

$7.51

Stock Dividends

$97.56

Mystery Shops

$144.64

Survey/Cashback

$26.23

Medical Study

$2130

Tax Refund

$1900

Total

$5081.86

March was a great month for income.  I received all of my study pay at the end of March.  It might have been more accurate to divide the pay up between February and March since I earned it both months but since I use cash basis accounting I don’t count the income until I actually receive it.  The other big income boost was the tax refund.  We received a pretty big refund but since we lose an exemption this year and also lose the making work pay credit we won’t have nearly as big a refund next year.

April income will be much lower since I won’t have those two big sources of income.   I did a lot of mystery shopping in March which will be reflected in April’s income so there should be an increase there.  I should do about the same on the rest of my alternative income and passive income sources.

March Expenses – $2152.28

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Here is a breakdown of my expenses for March.

Household

$697.47

Entertainment

$328.44

Transportation

 $574.49

Food

$70.94
Medical/Dental

$57.44

Utilities

$61.11

Phone

$35.02

Travel

$313.37
Debt $14

Total

$2152.28

My expenses were very high in March.  Some of that is because we used our tax refund to buy a Wii and take a vacation.  I probably shouldn’t have counted the total cost of those as my expenses since I’m not counting the tax refund as only my income.  Sometimes it is difficult for me to determine what I should count as my share of the household income or expenses but this should be close enough.

Transportation was high because we did a lot of driving for our vacation and mystery shopping and also because I paid for the next six months of insurance.  Entertainment was also high because of the vacation.

I decided to display my phone bill separate from my utilities to give a more detailed breakdown of my expenses.

In April the expense categories of entertainment, travel, and transportation should all drop quite a bit.  I’m sure I’ll still be well over my $1000 goal but expenses should at least be less than income.  I’m thinking expenses should come close to the $1000 level in May.

 

Spousonomics – Book Review

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? The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book for review. Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes as you might guess from the title this book tries to apply economics to help you improve your marriage. It doesn’t seem very romantic to compare your marriage to a business but in some cases it just might work. The main thing I liked about this book is their explanations of basic economic terms. They give simple explanations of things such as division of labor, comparative advantage, loss aversion, supply and demand, moral hazard and more. I haven’t actually tried to apply any of the ideas to improve my marriage and I’m somewhat skeptical if they would actually work. I do plan on keeping the book and giving it more study to see how I might use their ideas. Perhaps I’ll even let my wife read the book even though if she reads the chapter on division of labor I’ll probably have to do more around the house. To me this book is basically an introduction to economics with a little relationship advice thrown in. If that sounds like a good combination to you then head over to Amazon and check it out. Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes

March 2011 Goal Review

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This has been a crazy week with lots of driving all over southern Missouri and northern Arkansas to complete end of the month mystery shops with nice bonuses.  One of my goals for the month of March were to make at least $500 income from sources other than a job, medical study or online.  This last bit of mystery shopping should have put me over that goal although I won’t actually receive the income until later this month.

My other goal was to write my ebook.  That didn’t happen.  I’m not sure why I can’t make myself write this book.  I am making the ebook a priority this month and it will be my only goal.  This should be an easy goal to meet.  I’ll let you know when I finish the ebook.

8 Ways for a Newly Engaged Couple to Save Money

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The following is a guest post.

One of the first things you realize when you become is engaged is that it can be quite expensive to plan a wedding. You want to save money where you can, and that means some careful planning. The good news is there are plenty of ways that a newly engaged couple can save money.

Here are eight things you can do to save money for and on the wedding:

1. Combine Expenses

Go through your expenses together, and decide what can be combined. This doesn’t mean that you have to combine bank accounts, but it is good practice for when you have to share expenses. If you can find a way to combine some of your expenses, such as phone service, netflix accounts, or insurance, you can save money. Family plans, offered by cell phone companies, tend to save customers lots of money through an umbrella account. Instead of paying for one person to have unlimited text, it’s two for one.

2. Make Dinner Together

Even if you aren’t living together yet, you can still make dinner together. This saves money, since going out to eat consistently can add up quickly, and it is a fun thing to accomplish as a team. Plan some meals, and then cook together. It can be much more enjoyable than going out.

3. Look for an “Alternative” Ring

There is no reason to get diamonds, just because it’s the traditional option. My sister-in-law has a sapphire engagement/wedding ring, and my ring has emeralds in the band, rather than diamonds. You can get a piece of jewelry that makes a unique statement when you consider pearl, topaz, emerald, sapphire, and ruby rings, instead of diamonds.

4. Go Out During the Afternoon

If you still like to go out on occasion, go during the afternoon. Matinée movies are cheaper than evening movies. Lunch at a restaurant costs less than dinner. Another bonus: You often see fewer crowds at lunch and a matinee.

5. Create “Green” Wedding Invitations

More and more people are sending email invitations to their weddings, and setting up RSVP websites. This is a great way to save money, and, better yet, you can position it as a green decision. You save money on printing, and you save the earth.

6. Wedding on a Weekday

The most important people in your lives will take time off work to come see you married. For the others…well, a smaller wedding means smaller costs. A week-day wedding usually means lower prices at the venue, as well as lower hotel rates and less concern about booking conflicts.

7. Wedding Contributions as Gifts

My mother’s friend did our wedding cake as our gift. So we didn’t have to pay for a beautiful, professional, and ultimately, expensive cake. Let it be known, tactfully, that you are happy for your talented friends and relatives to contribute in lieu of gifts. It will save you money, and get everyone involved in the celebration.

8. Order Food that is in Season

This can reinforce your “green” wedding preference, and it means less expensive food. Focus on items that are in season, or that are locally produced. You won’t have to pay for long-distance shipping of other items. This is a fairly simple way to save money.

In the end, with a little creativity, it is possible for a new engaged couple to save money on living expenses and on the wedding. Your wedding should be a celebration of your love, not a wake for your savings account.