We’re more than halfway through the year, and this month felt mostly just expensive. I am thankful that not every month is like this month was in terms of unexpected spending. That said, I am grateful for sinking funds that helped us work through some of these expenses, even if it meant having to move money around.

If you don’t have a budget, then you probably will want to start there. See my post on how to start a budget!

If you do have a budget, then here are some things to think about as June comes to a close. Consider this post your sign to do a July budget recap and help you get some perspective so you can stay on track for the rest of the year. I’ll be answering my own questions so you can consider how your month went!

End of the Month Budget Questions | July Budget Recap

Did you actually track your spending?

If you did, great job! If not, what kept you from doing it? There are a lot of great programs out there like You Need a Budget and Every Dollar if you’re looking for a digital option.

How much did you spend last month?

As I said, our July was crazy. We use YNAB (You Need a Budget) and it helpfully gives me a breakdown of our biggest spending categories. Our biggest expense almost every month is our mortgage. Then came groceries. Those weren’t surprises. But we had several unexpected car expenses, an unexpected spike in our electric bill, a surprise eye exam, and some kid-related expenses that were more than we had set money aside for. We do have sinking funds for some of these, but sometimes things just cost more than you expect. That said, I’m grateful we track our spending so we can see where our money went.

Will you be planning to spend more or less on a certain category in the coming month?

Fall is in the air, even if it’s still sweltering in the Southeast. We have some kid activities starting back up in August that will need to be accounted for in the budget.

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