Welcome back to another Sunday Budget Reset! In today’s post, I’m breaking down exactly how much I spent in a week as a 40-year-old living in Atlanta. If you’re on a budgeting journey or just curious about how someone manages their finances on a budget, keep reading!
My Budgeting System: Notebook + Spreadsheet
The first thing I do when tracking my weekly spending is to pull out my budget notebook. I use a Happy Planner that I repurposed by adding budget worksheets inside. This is where I track every single expense to stay on top of my finances. Every time I spend money, I write it down in my expense tracker. If you’re interested in my budget notebook, I’ve linked it below!
In addition to my notebook, I also use a spreadsheet to input all my spending. This helps me double-check my numbers and ensures I stay within my budget. I organize my spending into seven different categories, prioritizing them from most to least important.
Weekly Spending Breakdown
1. Savings: $0
Since I wasn’t paid this week, I didn’t transfer any money into savings. However, I have automatic transfers set up for my retirement, investing, and emergency fund every time I get paid.
2. Home Expenses: $257.24
This category includes all the necessary bills that must be paid before anything else. Here’s what I spent:
- Short-term disability insurance: $82.44
- Phone bill (AT&T – 2 lines): $174.88
- I’m considering switching to a more affordable provider like MetroPCS to cut costs and put the savings toward debt repayment.
3. Transportation: $33.97
This week, I only had to fill up my car once, thanks to the holidays and staying in the house more than usual. My Jeep usually requires two fill-ups per week, so this was a win!
4. Food & Dining: $75.11
Food is always one of my biggest spending categories! I love eating out, and this week, I met up with a friend for Mexican food. We chatted about budgeting and content creation—two things I’m passionate about. Ideally, I should have used my content creation budget for this, but I’m keeping my spending strict right now.
5. Subscriptions
This week, I spent $9.99 on subscriptions.
6. Debt: $210.83
I paid $210.83 in debt payments this week. My goal this month is to pay off my Capital One Spark credit card.
7. Miscellaneous Expenses: $44.65
I spent $44.65 this week on miscellaneous spending.
Tracking my spending every week helps me set a realistic budget and plan ahead for the next month. If you’re looking to get better at managing your money, I highly recommend using a budget notebook and spreadsheet like I do.
Would you be interested in seeing my full Sunday budget routine? Let me know in the comments! Also, if you want to grab my budget notebook and spreadsheet as a bundle, I’ve linked them below.
If you found this breakdown helpful, be sure to follow my journey as I work toward financial freedom while still enjoying life on a budget! Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more money-saving tips and budget-friendly fashion finds.
Other Posts You May Like:
Restarting My Debt-Free Journey: A Fresh Start in 2025
What I Spent in a Week as a 40-Year-Old Living in Atlanta
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