December was a big expense month and our largest income month EVER (click on spreadsheet below).

Our total income for December was $25,449.19, by far the best that we have ever had. Most of the money came from selling our recreational 4×4 for $14,995. Even if you subtract out the vehicle sale, we’re still at $10,454.19. With the birth of our baby and our home purchase, I changed my filing status from M1 to M3. As a result, my take home pay increased $59.51 per check. In addition to my two regular paychecks, my wife received $4,683.14 in Paid Family Leave (had a baby via C-section). We also received $131.13 from her PTO payout, $1,638 from selling items on craigslist, $220 in cash for our son’s 529 Plan, and $75 in credit card rewards. We earned $25.76 in interest income from our online savings account.

We spent a total of $7,394.91 in December. Some of the larger expenditures include $210 co-pay cord blood banking, $950 security camera system, $400 for home appraisal and $300 for a home inspection.

January is going to be a busy month as we prepare to move from our rental unit to our new home. There should be a huge spike in our expenses and we fill the home with furniture. In terms of income, January should be a pretty normal month as my wife goes back to work. With my wife heading back to work in January, we will be paying a nanny $900 a month to care for our baby.

November was a reasonable expense month and very, very good income month (click on spreadsheet below).

Our total income for November was $12,479.03; our 3rd highest income month since we began tracking our finances in 2007. I received my two regular paychecks and a 3rd “extra” paycheck. My wife received one regular paycheck and $2,404.85 from SDI (just had a baby via C-section). We also received a $50 gift from my parents (deposited to our baby’s 529 Plan), $71.38 in credit card rewards, $75 insurance reimbursement, $20 from a craigslist sale, $18.04 from a credit card settlement, and earned $28.23 in interest income from our online savings account.

We spent a total of $6,831.93 in December, not too bad considering that we earned nearly double that. Some of the larger expenditures include a(nother) $500 co-pay from the hospital for our baby’s delivery and $300.51 in gifts.

December should a decent income month as my wife shifts from SDI to PFL and my filing status is being changed from M1 to M3 to increase my paychecks. Since we completed most of our Christmas shopping done in November, our expenses in December should be very reasonable.

October was a reasonable expense month and an above average income month (click on spreadsheet below).

Our total income for October was $8,252.44. In addition to our regular paychecks, we received $1,050 for our new baby. We also sold some items on craigslist for $30, a $50 Chase credit card cash back reward, and earned $26.40 in interest income from our online savings account.

We spent a total of $7,346.87 in October. We actually spent close to budget, if you subtract out $1,845 for cord blood banking and a final $400 payment to our doula. After deducting these one-time expenses, our total expenses were only $5,101.87. This makes me feel a little better about keeping our regular expenses down in October.

November should be another good income month since I receive a 3rd “extra” paycheck. We’ll try to get most of our Christmas shopping done in November, which will inflate our expenses somewhat, but no other large expenses are planned in November.

The excitement of our first child’s birth in September overshadowed our pretty normal income and expense month (click on spreadsheet below).

In addition to our regular paychecks, my wife received a $25 reimbursement from her company for internet. We also sold some items on craigslist for $25 and earned $26.82 in interest income from our online savings account.

We ended up spending a total of $5,819.22 in September, including $500 for an insurance co-pay for the hospital and $156.69 for a tux rental. The $1,850 cord blood banking bill and $400 balance due to the doula were not paid this month, but will be paid in October.

I’m not sure what to expect in October. Our net income from my wife’s company will drop because her 10% 401(k) contribution begins in October; at same time we are adding our baby to her insurance, increasing the cost from $75/month to $325/month. My wife will be taking 1 week PTO and then 4 weeks short term disability (full pay). After that, she will need to take 1 week unpaid and then begin Paid Family Leave (55% of your highest gross quarter).

August was another very good net income month (3rd in a row over $9K), but also a wild and crazy spending month (click on spreadsheet below).

In addition to our regular paychecks, my wife earned a Q2 2011 bonus $1,006.83 gross ($937.87 net)! These funds will go into savings for now, but are earmarked for a 529 plan for our son. She also received a $25 reimbursement from her company for internet. We earned $170 in credit card cash back rewards and sold a portable A/C unit for $175. My wife scored us a $50 target gift card for giving blood. We also earned $25.09 in interest income from our online savings account.

We gave in to some serious communism this month – $9,022.40 worth to be exact. Some of the bigger ticket items include a $2,715.30 watch for my wife (retails for $4,200), a $532.50 gun for me, a $250 shooting range membership for me, $147.72 for a friend’s wedding shower, $106.46 for a new safe, and much, much more. Hopefully, we got it out of our systems.

September will announce the arrival of our baby boy – we are so excited. With the birth comes a few costs: $400 balance due to doula and $1,850 for cord blood banking. We also need to add the baby to my wife’s insurance so that will increase from $75/month to $325/month. Once the baby is born, my wife will take 3 months off of work using a combination of PTO, short term disability (full pay), Paid Family Leave (55% of your highest gross quarter). As a result, our income will be a bit less until December.

We had another very good income month in July ($9,800.70 total), however, we also had a higher than average expense month ($6,975.51 total) (click on spreadsheet below).

In addition to our regular paychecks, my wife received a third “extra” check in July and a $25 reimbursement from her company for internet. We earned $25.00 in credit card cash back rewards. We also earned $23.04 in interest income from our online savings account.

Our expenses lower than June, but still high, totaling $6,975.51. This included a number of large bills: $400 for a 50% payment to our doula, $327 for a traffic ticket, $320 for 20 prepaid chiropractor visits, $233.50 for life insurance, $213.48 for clothing, and $185 for new brakes.

August should be a pretty standard income month, but may be an above average expense month because we have purchases for the baby, including possibly $1,800 after discount cord blood bank.

We had our best income month ever in June ($14,358.74 total), but ended up spending a good deal too (click on spreadsheet below).

We were shocked to receive a $4,470 class action settlement from my wife’s old company at the end of June. This was a windfall was a total blessing. In addition to our regular paychecks, I received a third “extra” check in June and my wife received a $25 reimbursement from her company for internet. We earned $125 in credit card & hotel rewards and made $90 selling items on craigslist. We also earned $21.11 in interest income from our savings.

Our expenses were high in June, totaling $8,633.86. This included: $1,464.90 for auto insurance (Cars 2 & 3), $376.82 for rental insurance, $447.59 for Cobra insurance, and of course, more baby items.

July will be another great income month (>$10K) thanks to a third “extra” paycheck that my wife will receive. It could also be a pretty reasonable expense month even though we have a few good size bills to pay: $233 for 6 months of life insurance premiums (Husband & Wife), $400 for a 50% prepayment to our doula, and a $327 traffic ticket.

May was a very good income month and an relatively low expense month (click on spreadsheet below).

This was my wife’s first full month at her new job. She takes home $2,142.21 (net) each bi-weekly check. That’s a total of $444.84 per check more than her previous company! In addition to our salaries, my wife received a $45 reimbursement from her company for internet. We earned $20 in credit card rewards, received a $100 gift from my parents, and sold an old GPS for $40. We also earned $19.34 in interest income from our savings.

Our expenses were pretty reasonable, at a total of $5,708.25. We have worked hard to spend less and save more and were very successful in May. It helped that both my wife and I were traveling on business part of the month. Some of the larger expenses in May were: $223.80 for cobra insurance, $285.49 in clothing, and $424.01 for a little vacation.

I wish I could say we will carry over our low expense level into June, however, we have some large bills due. We have to pay $1,464.90 for auto insurance (Cars 2 & 3), $376.82 in rental insurance, and $447.59 in Cobra insurance. Thankfully, I will be receiving a third “extra” check for $1,781.07 in June.

April, for how chaotic it was financially, ended up looking pretty benign on paper. Our bottom line income and expenses remained pretty typical (click on spreadsheet below).

This was a transition month, with my wife leaving one company to join another company for a higher paying position. Because of this, she only received one (much larger) paycheck in April. In addition to our salaries, my wife received $1,037.55 for her cashed out vacation, and a $75 reimbursement from her old company for her cell phone. We earned $100 in credit card rewards, sold a table for $50 and received a $2,325 tax refund ($2,155 Federal & $170 State). We also earned $16.63 in interest income from our savings.

Our expenses were much lower than the insane spending we had in March, but still high at a total of $6227.99. Some of the larger items were: $447.59 for cobra insurance, $763.50 in vet bills, and of course more baby stuff.

May should be an interesting month. It will be my wife’s first full month employed at her new company. We will also both be traveling for business in May, so hopefully our expenses will be lower than normal (living on the company dime).

As expected, March was a “spendy” month and a relatively standard income (click on spreadsheet below).

In addition to our paychecks, my wife received two $75 company reimbursements (Feb & March) and we earned $125 in credit card rewards We also earned $15.47 in interest income from our savings.

Our expenses totaled a whopping $11,033.55! Some of the larger items were: $2,954.60 for paying off the student loan, $346 registration for cars, $205.40 flight to see family, $119.42 hotel, $523 pet care (vet), and a lot on “nesting” for our baby.

April should be a very good income month. In addition to my wife starting her new job, she also receives gets paid for her remaining vacation time (5 days). Plus, we will receive a combined Federal and State refund of $2,325. No large expenses are forecast for April.