So I want to thank this thread! I didn't do *all* that good on the low spending (looking at you, alcohol, dinner we couldn't avoid with family, etc). BUT, someone made mention of side hustlin to make a little extra. Because of that, I signed up as a sitter on an app service. And I've been doing booming business! I made $100 this month, and already have scheduled stays more than $200 next month, and another $200 already in December. It's a little silly, because I could easily work more at my FT job and make way more than that... but I kinda hate my job right now, so this is way better! Being home, and pups, and getting paid for it.
So the low spend months worked, just not quite how I'd expected ;)
Also, this month WAS lower than September (by like $1200), but with no vet bills that's to be expected =\