Fiscal Report: October 2006

As promised, here comes the red ink. Last month, I issued guidance that the era of large budget surpluses was coming to an end, and identified increased leisure spending as the would-be culprit. I was only half-correct.

I was utterly stumped by the depletion of my food budget this month, as I hadn't dined at any particularly fancy establishments. And then I realized that I spent the majority of October trying to fell my research stack, chopping away at the piles of books and dvds about lobsters and butterflies that sit on my desk. Due to my intense focus on research, I opted for take-out instead of cooking more often than not, and the expenses added up. Take-out, I've decided, is for chumps. It's much better to cook cheaply for yourself and occasionally splurge on the good restaurant, than to order mediocre take-out often. As my budget will attest, the two cost roughly the same.

But take-out did save me time, and as should become increasingly apparent over the next few months, the time constraints upon A Very Big If are only increasing in number. More on that in a bit.

Additionally, a large sum was spent on the Household Improvement Initiative, which I'm pleased to report, is a success. Although my apartment will never aspire to any status greater than Late 90's Dorm Room, the interior of my freezer compartment is immaculate, and no longer a exhibit of natural history.

UNDER BUDGET SPENDING CATEGORIES

Entertainment: 114.57
Dining Out: 5.51

Total: $120.08 under budget