2020 is nearly over - finally. As I've posted before, our spending has been down quite a bit thanks to Covid. The two biggest areas of savings continue to be travel and dining out. Travel has been zero. Dining out still happens though almost entirely take out especially now that the weather is getting too cold for outdoor dining. Yeah, I know they have heaters but when it's in the 30s and windy that only helps so much. I don't suspect we'll be braving that much if at all.
Year to date as of November 30, our average monthly spending has been $5,965. For 2019, our average was $6,657 so down about $700 before making any adjustments to that number.
When I subtract spending for which we got reimbursed, the average drops to $5,541. (The 2019 number is not adjusted for reimbursed expenses.)
Although we do miss traveling a great deal and miss dining out as well, my wife and I both agree that we've been perfectly happy with quarantine life for the most part. I know that reduced level of spending won't continue, of course. The pandemic will end in the coming months and we'll resume traveling. We have trips planned for late March (which may or may not happen) and October (which probably will happen). And if the world is relatively safe again, I'm sure there will be other trips in 2021.
Our saving YTD stands at $94,857. My goal for the year is $100,000. I have two more paychecks from which at least $2,376 will go to savings. That will leave us just $2,767 from the goal which we should be able to manage, especially since December is a 3 paycheck month. Most or all of that final paycheck will go to savings.
I think I do have at least one per diem shift scheduled this month and may pick up another if I feel like it. A lot of my coworkers are looking to give away shifts to use up their PTO. I haven't decided if I'd take any more but if I do, that extra income all goes to savings as well.
Overall, a very successful year financially speaking despite the craziness in the world. And as of today, our portfolio is up over $245,000 for the year. As long as the market behaves this month, we should end on a strong note.
December 6th, 2020 at 07:11 pm 1607281915
You've done a great job on your savings. At least you have really had the opportunity to save a lot.
We did the outdoor dining when the restaurants were first allowed to do that in Illinois last spring. It was a little cool then, and I can say we really didn't enjoy it. When it gets in the low 40s and then 30s and with the constantly blowing wind, sorry, we are not dining out, heaters or not.
December 6th, 2020 at 07:18 pm 1607282296
December 6th, 2020 at 08:13 pm 1607285596
December 7th, 2020 at 01:03 pm 1607346226
December 7th, 2020 at 01:59 pm 1607349560
We won't do indoor dining (nor should anyone else truthfully). I doubt we'll see the inside of a restaurant until next summer at the absolute earliest.
December 9th, 2020 at 06:35 pm 1607538911