Because July was a pretty expensive month, I decided that I’d try to make August a lower spending month. Spoiler alert: that is not what happened. I should have known better. With school and activities starting back up, there were not only some unexpected expenses, but we also ended up spending more on some categories than I had sinking funds in already.

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 August comes to a close. Your mileage may vary, but I hope this helps you be more intentional with your money.

End of the Month Budget Questions | August 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.

You don’t have to do anything complicated, though. You could print out your credit card or checking account transactions from the month and use a highlighter to categorize different spending. It may not catch all of your spending, especially if you use cash, but it will at least give you an idea.

How much did you spend last month?

You may remember that our July was very expensive (see my July budget recap). Well, we ended up spending about as much in August, which is more than I like us to spend in any given month. But when I look at our spending, I can see that the biggest categories were very much “one-time” categories like school supplies and clothes.

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

During the school year I always have sinking funds going for various things, whether it’s extracurricular activities, ongoing school supplies, or special events. I will keep putting money in these sinking funds.

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