Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January Budgetary Results

Art Courtesy of the Graphics Fairy

Grocery Tally - January Budget: $426.57 (see how I determined this budget and tips to save money on groceries here)minus overage of $74.54 from December = $352.03
Actual $352.32 - over budget by .29 which will come off February Budget. A success with tiny overage due to finding stuffed chicken breasts on sale this evening(6 for 9.99).

Meat purchases of $100.48(included in above totals).

Next month I will keep track of non-food items separately for the first time. It is very interesting analyzing your grocery budget at the end of the month.

Coupons used: $9.88 - very low but it was mostly scratch cooking this month so not many items to use coupons on.

Clothing Annual Budget $200 ($16.67 per month) Zero spent this month. With a much lower budget this year it will be saved for when I need something (versus want something). The closet is full and and I don't anticipate any pricey clothes purchases in my future. When I do, I will try and buy used with exception of undergarments.

Now for my dirty little secret. What do I spend way too much money on? My hair. There. I said it. After an episode of pink hair at age 19 from a colour treatment gone wrong (from student hair stylist school) I have shied away from anything but seasoned hair stylists. No home dye jobs for my roots. This may have to change with our new "work less play more on a budget" lifestyle. In 2011 I budgeted $1000 for hair and hair products (yes, just me, please don't be too judgemental). Actual was $636. I include professional hair styling products in that amount. Anything bought at a regular drugstore is included in the grocery budget. Ridiculous, isn't it?

In 2012 the budget for hair is $400 ($33.33/month) - Zero spent this month although I do have to get a haircut in the next week or two. My average haircut costs $50 and a cut and dye costs $120-$130. This includes one salon hair product that I cannot part with (tried to find cheap replacements and no luck-product is Super Skinny Flat Ironing Serum by Paul Mitchell) due to very thick fine hair. Hairspray is $1.98 Finesse - purchased with coupons.

As someone who is deathly afraid to dye her own hair I have to figure out a way to keep within this budget. Do you dye your own hair? What line of home dye is your favorite? Any suggestions?

11 comments:

  1. I have the same problem with the hair. It's so expensive to get done, but I am scared to do my own. And I'm half grey already so I can't just stop dying it either. Keep us posted if you find a good home dye that you can recommend!

    xx Nicole

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    1. I don't have that much grey hair but it is very dark/mousy. Without colour it looks pretty crappy. I think I will experiment later this year with home colouring as am moving away from my favorite hairdresser. Will post results if I get gutsy enough.

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  2. I use Loreal Couleur Experte (probably butchered the spelling on that). I used to spend well over $100 for my haircoloring at the salon, but then the grayer I got the more often I had to go and it was getting so expensive. So I started doing it myself at home. I like the Loreal because it is a base coat with the second highlight coat, so it's not flat looking like some haircolor can be.

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    1. Thank you for posting the kind - I will try it. I like Loreal products (got a huge amount of shampoo on sale for just over a dollar a bottle last year - score!)

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  3. I splurge and spend the money at the stylists! A good hair day is worth every penny!

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    1. Yes, right now though I am trying to extend time between visits. I have an apt booked Monday - about two weeks overdue. You do this a few times a year though and you save money.

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  4. I'm not graying so I just deal with the roots. I barely wash it, so that saves shampoo and makes it nice, lush and thick when I do. As for dyes, I wait until I see a good product on special and I switch up. Shoppers Drugmart has a good one but I'd consider buying that online. Some Banks let you charge up prepaid credit cards for 3 bucks. Spending as much as you do on hair a month is my plan for when I get rich... so... I assume you love looking good and changing your hair-do... Also check up tutorials on Youtube using these words: How to cut hair... :3 been doing it for 3 years now GOOD LUCK!

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    1. I was thinking of even just learning how to cut the bangs to extend the life of my haircut. Stylists get so upset when you do that though. I have a layered cut so not sure how good I would be at it.

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  5. This is my secret too. I don't even have cable TV or a fancy smartphone - but I spend way too much at the hair stylist every other month.

    I am not sure what to tell you on this one -- when my hair gets ugly it makes me despressed.

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    1. I have cable (mandatory for hubby) but no smartphone. I agree, if my hair doesn't look good my self esteem starts to plummet (silly though).

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  6. I am a little late on this one... but I will leave this bit of advice on coloring hair at home.

    As long as you are not going from dark to blonde... you can do it at home.

    Dying darker hair to lighter blonde shades/highlights need to be left to the professionals. One bad screw up at home... can cost you double your normal price to fix at the Salon.

    I am a dark brunette, who keeps her hair a lovely dark auburn. And I can achieve it using Clairol Nice and Easy.

    It is one of the oldest Clairol color lines. But it is by far their best home color to use. And it includes a deep conditioner that is to die for...

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