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Penny-Wise Habits

July 10, 2024 Daily Tracker So, this week after discussions with our Summit Financial Coach, Mee, we’ve put a microscope on our spending, down to every single purchase we make. I know sometimes we just tend to use our debit and credit cards on a daily basis, but do we ever really look at what we are spending our money on down to the penny? After very meticulous tracking for the past three weeks with the daily expense tracker, we’ve seen a trend of a lot of Kwik Trip (a local convenience store) stops for snacks while I’m (Cory) at work. I bet some of you can relate, haha! Yeah, I know, $4 here, $2 dollars there. You think it’s nothing, right? Little do we know, those snack urges a few times a week can add up over time and cost you money that could be used elsewhere (bills maybe!). GameplanJe’Lisa and I decided we need to plan better to reframe how we look at “convenience.” In our weekly grocery planning, we made sure to add snacks and cold lunch items I can pack. So, when my work buddies stop for their usual snacks and/or drinks, I will have the convenience of just digging in my lunch bag to stop those impulse spending urges and save a few bucks a week. Looking forward to allocating what I save to our financial debts which will get us closer to our financial goals! Have you tried to track those impulse buys? Stopping for a quick coffee? Grabbing a candy bar at checkout? If you haven’t start doing so, you will be surprised at what you are spending and could be saving. You might also be interested in As we wrap up our Project Money experience, we want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come—emotionally and financially—and share our journey... This past week, our family participated in a door and patio decorating contest hosted by our apartment management company. The grand prize? A $200 gift... Over the past year, my family has been making deliberate choices to save money and focus on our financial goals. One of those decisions recently involved... As we approach the end of our journey with the Project Money program, Cory and I (Je’Lisa) took some time to reflect on how we can apply the financial... Every now and then, life throws a financial curveball—in this case, it was a pleasant surprise. We received a refund from our gap insurance since our car... This week, we faced an unexpected hiccup with our insurance: A doctor charged us for a 2023 appointment because they had outdated information. It was frustrating... Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family and of course, a feast. But let’s be honest, hosting a traditional Thanksgiving can come with a hefty price... This weekend, we decided to take a quick overnight trip to Minnesota. It was to record some music and spend time with friends, but we were determined to... This month marked a milestone for our family: It was our first month without a car payment after refinancing our vehicle through Summit Credit Union. With...