SECOND WEEK - budget busted by 50%

During the second week I had to take an advance (put coins back into the Budget box from the Spent box) which was really painful, until I realized that there were several recurring monthly payments that I had entered in this 2 week period  which will not be in the next 2 week period and I had also purchased the rehearsal dinner and shoes for our daughters wedding coming up in 3 weeks.

You might say why I chose this time to start my experiment? I would justify my decision with the fact that this is life, there will always be stuff popping up good or bad and I have to actually learn to ride the wave of spending. I am also hoping this will reeducate my brain into saving for emergencies and unexpected expenses and not living hand to mouth.

One bad decision cost me 30$.  The county had not gotten to remove the dead tree trunks/branches after hurricane Irma and a couple of guys were doing cleanup asking for 30$. Since the heap had been quite impressive (a beautiful Mango tree and huge oak branches) we decided to hire the guys and get the curb cleaned up. You probably guess what happened right? the next day county showed up with 'the claw' cleaned up the whole street. GRRRR... That hurt. Beforehand I would have said oh well, that was bad luck/timing but now that I am tallying everything it really bummed me.
Lesson Learned: Patience Jedi

I busted the budget by 50% !! This is not a good indication, however although it was quite tempting to readjust the budget - slapping hand for even thinking about this - I chose to stick with it to see how I will survive the second 2 week period in which I will have 50% less funds than I did initially.
When I was doing the finances for the family loonnggg time ago since I liked numbers it was like a game balancing, reconciling and comparing. My husband has taken finances the last 18 years to help out and this caused me to be disengaged from reality. I know it is shameful but it is the truth.
Lesson learned: it is not enough to budget to what you usually spend in any period, but you have to take into account other payments that are scheduled.