setback=good thing?

[McD]

Okay...so a few months ago I didn't fall off the frugal wagon--I jumped. I spent money like it was going out of style and bought tons of clothes on credit. At the time, I was so so mad at myself, but I think it's a good thing. Because of this, I have actually started a budget and have stuck to it for 2 months. I've been able to save more money and pay more money to debt than ever before. And I'm keeping my spending in check for the most part. I am thrilled!

So here are the totals of everything. I would love feedback on if you guys see an area where I can slash my budget.

Sept: Predicted Actual
Income: 4800.00 6000.00
Mortgage: 1050.00 1050.00
Optima: 367.00 375.00
Spectra: 170.00 170.00
Cell Phone: 50.00 50.00
Cable/Internet: 75.00 81.99 (rented a movie...)
Car Insurance: 86.32 86.32
gas/elec: 144.00 144.00
Daycare: 500.00 500.00
Gas: 150.00 128.94
repair/maint: 20.00 0.00
Water/Sewer/Trash: 45.00 42.00
Groceries: 150.00 123.14
Clothes: 100.00 89.74
Decor: 25.00 148.30 (bedding for Wesley and Zac)
H.H. Improv: 25.00 408.21 (twin bed for Wesley)
Travel: 20.00 0.00
Eating Out: 60.00 42.95
Miscellaneous: 250.00 684. (this includes packages for Zac, gifts, dvds, toys, etc. Zac buying things in Iraq. It's outrageous! This month was an eyeopener on how much crap I was buying.)
Debt Reduction: 400.00 400.00
Money in savings: 1000.00

September was a learning month for me. I had never actually been on a budget before.

So far for the month of October--our cable and internet was only 77.55. So far this month I have paid 1020.75$ to debt reduction! And I have put 1525$ into our savings!

So while I fell off the wagon and I am paying for it dearly, I learned some really valuable lessons and I am making awesome life changes.

[starsapphire]

Ya know, I did a similar thing a couple months ago but it was actually planned for. After paying off all CC's and getting money put away in the EF, I knew I would need a new wardrobe. My plan was to buy the wardrobe over a couple month's time - what I needed the most of, put it on a CC, then pay the CC off over a couple of months. I work full-time in an office so I need decent work clothes and hadn't bought any in about 2 years. Then, DH got unexpectedly scheduled for back surgery a month or so ago, for the 19th of this month. So instead of paying off the CC, I'm making larger-than-minimum payments and beefing up the EF to make up for the income reduction since he will be off of work for up to 6 months. I will be able to pay it off after the end of January when I am scheduled for a review and raise.

It looks like you got some really positive changes out of your experience! Funny how that happens when you make changes for the better, everything starts falling into place, sometimes dramatically. Good on ya!