So I finally sat down and figured out my monthly budget. I used the examples in THE COMPLETE IDIOT's GUIDE TO A PERSONAL BUDGET. I think that is the name of it. I'll check tonight.

So, I worked it out so I am making a payment to everybody I owe, putting money in my svings, and still have about $120 a month for extras. Extras include: any meals out, entertainment, books, magazines, buying clothes, make-up, other non-necessities, etc. I'm going to test run it for a bit to see how I do. I think the problem will come in with things like my FSA. For example, I have $120 for extras. And $50 a month in my FSA. Well, say I spend $25 on something that can then be reimbursed through my FSA. I still have to initially pay for it out of that $120 and then submit to reciepts and wait for the check to come to me from the FSA. So even though I have $120 for extras, until that check comes, I only have $95. *sigh* In my head, that is going to get so confusing.

I think that is why I always give up on budgets and tracking my money. The money coming in (paychecks, reimbursement checks, DD from book sales, etc) and the money going out never work in sync with each other. Then I get frusterated and confused and give up on it way too soon.

So, to avoid that, I am thinking of doing a few things:

1. Cancel my FSA. I know it saves me money in the long run, but it confuses me so much, and really, for me, simplicity is best with money. Plus, I am putting more money in there every month than I am getting reimbursed, so the account is growing, and I can't get that money back without a reciept for something.

2. Set up a seperate account for just my half.com DD's. But I go through spurts of getting a lot and then nothing, and it seems like an awfully lot of trouble to have a seperate account for that when I will then just transfer it into my regular savings/checking account.

3. Somehow budget money from that $120 into a seperate line item of extras: like aspirn, meds, dr. visits, etc. Then, when the FSA reimburses it, add it to...where? savings? checking? Fun pocket money? Right now it comes out of my checking and gets DD back into it.

Help? Anyone?