August 2022 Spending Report: Two States, Two Birthday Parties

After three years of financial freedom, our August spending report showcases how we balance travel, family celebrations, and smart financial choices. From the humid shores of Florida to the cooler climate of New England, this month brought unique experiences and spending challenges.

Highlights

August brought our total monthly spending to $3,695, keeping us comfortably under our $4,425 budget while accommodating several significant events and investments. We managed to host two birthday celebrations across different states, splitting our time between Rhode Island and Florida to connect with family on both coasts.

Our major purchases this month focused on long-term value, particularly with our tech investments. Our garden, while primarily a hobby that requires ongoing investment and care, brought us the satisfaction of harvesting our own fresh fruits and vegetables. Though it’s not a money-saving venture, the garden adds to our quality of life and provides us with fresh, seasonal produce that we enjoy throughout the year.

Detailed Spending Breakdown

Detailed Category Breakdown

Food and Dining ($1,118 – 30% of monthly spending)

Food and dining continues to be our largest monthly expense at $1,118, representing 30% of our total spending. Within this category, $782 went to groceries, though we intentionally reduced our grocery purchases toward the end of the month as we prepared for travel.

The highlight of our food spending was definitely the birthday celebrations. We hosted two special parties with chocolate cakes for Yuna: an impromptu gathering in Rhode Island where 26 family members and friends joined us at a playground to enjoy a blueberry-topped chocolate cake, and a Florida celebration featuring a pink-and-chocolate masterpiece with blueberry filling. The Florida cake, complete with Peppa Pig decorations and some unique “kisses” our daughter helped create, was colored naturally with beet root powder.

Home ($530)

Our home expenses totaled $530, with the majority ($300) going toward our mortgage interest payment.

Our backyard garden is producing seasonal harvests, starting with mulberries and blackberries, then moving to passion fruit. Currently, we’re enjoying Barbados cherries and looking forward to upcoming harvests of figs, more passion fruit, and our first papayas. While the garden requires ongoing investment, it’s a hobby that brings us joy and fresh produce.

Shopping ($507)

Shopping expenses totaled $507, with technology investments accounting for the majority. After nearly five years with a Samsung Galaxy S8, we upgraded to a refurbished Google Pixel 6A for $384. This cost-efficient choice came with the added benefit of universal USB-C charging compatibility, streamlining our charging needs.

Bills and Utilities ($480)

In bills and utilities ($480), we made some smart choices for long-term savings. We renewed our Mint Mobile annual contract for $203, which breaks down to just $15 per month plus tax. The plan includes 5 GB of data with unlimited voice and text, and we’re now entering our third year of reliable service. If you’re interested in trying Mint Mobile, you can use our referral code for $15 off your plan.

Travel ($383)

Our travel spending ($383) allowed us to enjoy several New England adventures, including discovering historic Wickford Village, visiting Roger Williams Park Zoo, and spending quality time with family and childhood friends.

Health and Fitness ($348)

Health and fitness expenses ($348) focused on safety precautions, particularly travel medical insurance for our Dominican Republic trip, costing $53 for 14 days of essential coverage for family travel with young children.

Gifts and Donations ($158)

For gifts and donations ($158), we maintained our commitment to giving with our monthly $50 ICAN donation, with the remainder going toward birthday gifts and celebrations.

Auto and Transport ($134)

Auto and transport costs stayed low at $134, with our 2007 Camry still running strong at nearly 200,000 miles. We took advantage of a Publix/Wawa gift card promotion, getting a $50 card for $40, though birthday preparations limited our ability to maximize this deal.

Other Expenses ($37)

Other expenses remained minimal at $37, covering basic entertainment and postal stamps, and we took advantage of free family activities like the Lowe’s father-daughter workshop. The workshop was a particular highlight this month, offering quality time together while building a car project at no cost.

Financial Freedom Progress Update

Our financial freedom journey continues to show promising results. We’re maintaining a year-to-date monthly average of $4,150, putting us on track for a projected annual withdrawal of $41,100. This aligns well with our planning—back in 2017, we had projected needing about $38,000 annually by 2021 (excluding healthcare and gifts). Now, three years into our financial freedom journey, we’re successfully tracking with those initial projections, even accounting for inflation and some lifestyle adjustments. Our actual spending validates the careful planning we did years ago, demonstrating that early retirement calculations, while not perfect, can provide a reliable framework for long-term financial independence.

Looking Forward

Our flexible lifestyle, made possible by financial independence, continues to shape our spending patterns. While no two months look identical, we’re maintaining our course toward long-term financial sustainability.

Key Takeaways

Looking back at August, we’re pleased with how we managed our financial goals. Most importantly, we stayed comfortably under our monthly budget of $4,425, proving that our spending plan remains realistic even with significant travel and celebrations. Despite hosting two birthday parties in different states, we found ways to make these special occasions memorable while keeping costs in check.

While our garden requires ongoing investment and hasn’t necessarily reduced our overall spending, it provides us with fresh, organic produce throughout the year. The joy of harvesting our own fruits and vegetables adds value beyond pure economics. We’re always excited about harvesting papayas throughout the year, even though maintaining the garden is more of a hobby than a cost-saving measure for now.

Meanwhile, we’ve maintained our commitment to regular charitable giving, demonstrating that financial independence doesn’t mean sacrificing our values; it just requires thoughtful planning and intentional spending choices.

How did your August spending align with your financial goals? Are you tracking toward financial independence? Share your experiences in the comments below!