$1675 can be spent fast!

For reasons that are unknown to both my husband and me, we have less money deposited into our checking account from his paychecks than what is needed to run the household (we have a portion deposited into savings and the balance goes to savings).  Even with our bare bones budget, I have a shortage in the checking account of at least $1,000 after the $ is deposited into checking.  I'm not sure why it's set up like this.  I'm sure it was a really good idea of mine one night.  But because of this shortage, I'm constantly asking my husband to transfer money over from savings.   He grumbles when I do it.

This past month the grumbling was more than usual...mainly because we had a very expensive summer and he wanted to keep the $$ in savings.  (Although, I keep telling him it isn't budgeted for savings and that I don't have enough in the checking account to meet the bare-bones!)  So - to make him happy I told him ALL I needed was $1675 to get me through the month.  The big bills were paid and $1675 would/should be more than enough for our everyday expenses.

Hmmmmm....$1675 is a lot of money, right?!  And it's a lot of money that can be spent quickly!  In the last NINE DAYS, here is where a large portion of this money has gone:

$290.74 groceries
$108 gasoline/oil change
$15 out to eat
$12 dry cleaners
$13.50 school expenses
$67 football expenses (pictures, name on jersey, snacks for party)
$25 guitar lesson
$19 commissions paid to boys
$184 x-rays for our dog
$5.50 parking and tolls at doctor's appt
$38  gifts (2 birthday and 1 Christmas)
$26 basketball
$11.47 golf
$390.65 AMEX balance
$24 entertainment  (date night)
$18 haircut for oldest son

The American Express balance was a surprise and the x-ray for my dog was paid by my husband which means it came directly from our savings account.  So, I'm not sure if I should even count it towards the $1675.  To err on the side of conservative, I'll keep it in.

So - I'm left with $460.13.

I KNOW that these expenses are FIXED and still need to be paid:
$270 basketball registration
$112 Scout trip to Charleston

What's left and FLEXIBLE is:
birthday gift for my mother-in-law
groceries
gasoline
guitar lessons
commissions

I have right at $500 in checking and $119 cash.  More than my balance (probably because the dog fees were paid directly from the savings account), but I'm aiming to keep it at the $460 number.

I think maybe I should practice saying NO more often...