Budget Class #2: Cody's Receipts!

Cody's Receipt Collection: Jan 14 - Jan 28
Date	Item	Amount Spent
16-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$13.68
26-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$4.43
22-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$13.98
27-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$5.98
27-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$6.08
26-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$13.73
26-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$15.35
25-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$7.76
22-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$3.73
15-Jan	Cumberland Farms - Energy Drinks/Cigarettes	$5.82
19-Jan	Cell Phone Minutes	$60.99
26-Jan	Listen Center/ Clothes for Babysitter's Daughter	$3.75
21-Jan	PNC - Cigarettes	$6.43
26-Jan	PNC - Cigarettes/Female Necesities	$19.26
16-Jan	Mr. G's - Clothes, Energy Drinks	$23.98
19-Jan	McDonald's for friend	$10.62
15-Jan	PNC - Magazine, Cigarettes	$7.18
15-Jan	Cumberland Farms - gas, redbull, skittles	$15.80
	Total:	$238.55

On this term's  of budgeting, we differentiated expenses in our budget between necessities and luxuries -- something my parents have made a point about since I received my first $5 allowance, but an education many of these girls sadly missed out on. To stress the presence of "invisible" expenses, I asked everyone to come back for our next class with all the receipts on virtually everything that they bought. Cody was the only one who came back with receipts. 

After the class, I made an excel sheet with all of her expenses, because I still could not believe it! She had spent $238.55 in a matter of TWO WEEKS! Cody managed to spend over $120 on energy drinks and cigarettes. Several issues quickly precipitated: (1) Why does Cody spend so much money on energy drinks? (Cody admitted she spent more on energy drinks than cigarettes) (2) Where was Cody getting this money? (3) How do you deal with negative behavior, reinforced by a culture of poverty and abuse, via budgeting?

Confused and unsure of how to proceed, I posed solution-seeking to the class. Participants suggested to buy energ drinks in bulk, pursue an alternative/cheaper intake for caffeine (i.e. tea, coffee), change diet (limit sugar, carbs, more vegetables), workout more, etc. As we kept talking, we circled back to *why* Cody needs so much caffeine to keep her up, and how exactly she is affording this expensive lifestyle. 

Danielle and I learned that Cody is a rehabilitating heroin addict. She's currently on a prescription that has helped her recovery, but makes her extremely extremely sleepy. She is trying to finish her GED, and consumes high quantities of caffeine to stay awake. When Helene (Director of FLT) asked her how exactly she even has this money, Cody kept saying that she just had it from "before," and didn't feel comfortable offering more details. It became increasingly clear to Helene that Cody had this money from when she used to deal heroin. 

How do you budget illicit income??