Monthly Spending by Category
| | May | June | July | August |
| Fitness | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $175.90 |
| Entertainment | $123.07 | $325.82 | $90.94 | $202.06 |
| Groceries | $166.62 | $160.34 | $143.21 | $137.18 |
| Dining out | $168.64 | $142.09 | $272.36 | $266.69 |
| Health and pharmacy | $0.00 | $173.96 | $7.21 | $112.00 |
| Transportation | $0.00 | $30.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Gifts | $179.61 | $110.87 | $0.00 | $97.06 |
| Household | $147.60 | $79.10 | $80.12 | $132.11 |
| Dogs | $234.53 | $541.29 | $54.35 | $750.57 |
| Clothes and accessories | $248.77 | $522.18 | $124.30 | $372.89 |
| Miscellaneous | $12.84 | $12.62 | $10.99 | $149.33 |
| Total | $1,281.68 | $2,098.27 | $783.48 | $2,395.79 |
August was an interesting month for spending. On the surface, it’s a very high number – third highest over the past 20 months – but it was more of a convergence of a lot of purchases in the same month. The dogs – always expensive, but this month Hunter got a cardiac ultrasound ($650 split with my partner), which he will get every few months going forward. Fitness is also quite high this month because I bought a bike helmet and paid to enter a 10K, both things I don’t expect to be recurring costs. The Miscellaneous category was also unusually high, as I got a haircut and restocked some bath products. I’ve also been dining out more now that we are allowed to eat on patios, though I expect that cost to go down over the next few months.
Obviously, I could have done better, but I’m not going to be too hard on myself.
I am a little nervous to see what my September looks like, because I know it’s going to be bad. We moved into our new house last weekend and there have been a ton of costs! Most of them are annual or one-time costs, but I know it’s going to be a doozy. I’ve had to really pull back on saving in my TFSA, but I did manage to save $1,000 in August (goal is $2,500, but I definitely have to revisit that given my change in circumstances). Every little bit helps, so I try to put money away when I’m feeling flush. Otherwise I just spend it!
the opulent yonge 
Conscious spending will help to keep you on track to meet your overarching goals while allowing you to live a comfortable and enjoyable life. I think keep track regularly keeps you in touch with your spending and goals in a way that allows you to balance them both.