I need to figure out a way to save more money.  But at the same time, I make enough that I shouldn't have to worry too much about it.  I like living my life in such a way that if I want or need something enough, then I should let myself.  Most people would look at my budget chart, and tell me that I spend too much on horses, or I shouldn't have gotten the bedrug or tonneau cover for my truck.  Those are significant expenses for me.  But when I count up all of the money I spend (or budget towards) the "necessities" (like rent, gas, cell, cable, internet, utilities, car payments, insurance, health stuff, and groceries), and add into that all that I spend on horses...  I've got like over $600 leftover.  I should be able to cut expenses in the other areas, and save significantly more than I do now, and NOT cut into my horses, or even eating out expenses.  For one thing, I need to stop buying Emmy things that she destroys or finishes eating in like 10 seconds =P  I really have no need, in general, for dvds, since I have Netflix.  But then, when it comes to clothes, I've pretty much decided that I need to relax about that, because the money I will spend on getting a sufficient amount of clothes may be worth the decrease in stress I have in not having enough for work =P  lol.  I'm interested to see how the next few months (as I do them, which is August onwards), because I feel like I haven't really spent money on anything exorbitant in a while... but I may be forgetting something, hehe.  July looked significantly better, so I am hoping for similar results from August.  I will also be interested to see how my gas consumption changes as I start working at markel.  Hopefully I will start seeing some savings in that department...  Since I got the truck, I've been spending an average of $200 a month on gas, which is crazy, lol.  Through some quick calculations, it looks like I'll save about $45 a month from the commute change.  Anything above that $50 base of gas, will be from shopping, going out to eat, visits to MD, and any trail or endurance rides I may go to.  All of which are under my own control.  Also not factoring in the gas savings I will save from my barn being half the distance from my home/work than it used to be.  That will save me almost half the gas I was spending before.  Anyway, sorry to bore you all with financial worries, hehe...  I don't really even have much of a goal (which may be part of my problem, lol), I just would really like to see my savings having at least a positive trend over time.  Looking at the last year and a half, it looks like the stock curve over like 500 years, lol.  Lots of ups and downs, but generally flat overall.  I want to feel like I'm making progress.  Though I have to consider, that even though my "savings" isn't showing process, my life is.  I have a horse, a truck, a trailer, a nicer place to live, friends to go out to eat with, groups to explore Virginia with, involvement in ACE, a new washer/dryer, and vacation experiences =)  I still would love to see some positive trend though... oh well, hopefully things will settle down in the coming months though.  The winter is generally less expensive (despite christmas), and I believe I am completely up to speed with horse equipment, and even truck accessories (though I still need to get some tie-downs...).  I suppose I have also recently developed more of a "today" attitude.  I want to save for retirement and such, but I don't want it to be my whole life, the future.  I want to enjoy today, because there is no guarantee that I will even be around for "tomorrow".  I believe this attitude really kicked into gear when I got the email about our old security guard's passing.  He had retired just a little over a month prior this happening.  You just don't know how long you will enjoy retirement, and while I want to be ready when it comes, I don't want to live a life less than I'd like just so I can retire earlier.  I think my goal should be to find something to do for a living that I don't count the days till retirement.  Life is too special to spend it just waiting for retirement :-/  I don't know...