Pennies on the Sidewalk

I had 2 days this week (so far) where I have eaten all 3 meals at home (or from home in the case of bringing my lunch to work), and haven't spent any money. $1 for each, and 2 days is $4 to add to Vegas. And a penny to round it off.

Old Vegas Total: $580.99
NSD/Eat at home: $4.00
Rounding it off b/c I have OCD: $0.01
-----------------------
New Vegas Total: $585.00

The Mass Police have a great program I try to support every year. They raise money and it gets put into a fund for the families of police offices who have been killed or disabled while on duty. It's such a great program. They use to money to help with bills and expenses, money for the kids for school, etc. This year I was able to do a small donation of $25.00

August 30th Donation: $25 to Mass Police Fund
Total 2007 Donations: $74

No Spend Day!

Spent all of Labor Day in our pj's watching tv, playing on the computer, "napping" hee hee hee. Had a great day and didn't spend a dime!

Did a good amount of spending today. Went to Plymouth to see Plymouth rock and there was a festial there. Spent $66. Then did some grocery shopping. We needed everything! Spent $140.01 there. Ugh. Adds up quick.

Total Spendings: $206.01

Had a great day yesterday. Went to lunch with my Mums, my sis and my best friend. Then we poked around in some stores for a bit and went to the movies. We saw Hairspray. Can I just say, I LOVED the original, but I think this was even better????? It was so funny! I loved it!

So my spendings were:
movie ticket: $7.50
water for me and Mums: $7.35
Total: $14.85

Mums was fab and picked up the tab for lunch for all of us! I also got a kick-ass pair of sneakers (black with white skulls and crossbones, iron crosses, regular crosses and fleur-de-lys's on them!!!) which Mums picked up the tab for. Awwww, how sweet is she?!

LOL I love the first of the month.

Old Vegas Total: $579.18
Interest added: $1.81
-----------------------
New Vegas Total: $580.99


I want to hit $2,000 before the trip (November 20th). I'd like to hit $1,200 by the end of September. It may be possible if I really watch my spending. I have one weekend in September where we are having a yard sale on Saturday, then I am doing tarot readngs at a psychic faire on Sunday. I should make good money that weekend. If I can get in lots of OT (which I think will be possible) and then make $$ that weekend, I may just be able to hit the $1,200 mark by October 1st.

I was able to save $278.85 in July, and $302.04 in August. Much less than my goal for Spetember ($600) but still amazing considering I usually suck at saving money. I just need to really focus and be really agressive. Grrrrr....

Wish me luck!!!!

This last week I thought my cell phone had died. It got wet, but now it is working, just acting a bit funny. Anyways, it looked like I was going to have to get a new one, but I didn't have the money. I would have to wait to payday. Not a big deal.

BUT it made me think about what I would do if a real emergency came up and I didn't have the money. Sometimes you can't wait to payday. I'm going to be adding a little to the EF as I can, to help get it going again. Then after Vegas, it will become my main $20 challenge again.

Old EF Total: $51.50
Interest: $0.17
Deposit: $10.00
------------------------
New EF Total: $61.67

I've been MIA this last wek or so. Been working lots of OT, and trying to find a new apartment. Plus not much has been happening with money, so there isn't much to update.

I'm trying not to spend much this long weekend. It will be hard, as weekends are when I spend, but I'm gonna try. I'll post more as it happens!

Finally replaced all the borrowed money from Vegas.

New Vegas Total: $579.18

Did an hour and 15 mins of overtime on Thurs. Can I just say, even though it is only an hour or so each day, I'm so tired! Oh well, tomorrow is Sat so I can catch up on sleep then.

(Total for next paycheck so far: 5 hrs)

$.75 on M&Ms.

I was having a serious breakdown and needed chocolate.

Ate all 3 meals at home today, and had a direct deposit for half.com

Here I come Vegas!!




Old Vegas Total: $523.42
Half.com DD: $4.76
Eating at home: $1.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $529.18

I have decided to work on my Vegas/$20 challenge via a tactic I know several people use here (Amber and Ima among others).

For every day I eat all 3 meals at home (Breaky, lunch and dinner) $1 will go into the Vegas Fund. Also, for every No Spend Day I have, $1 will go into the fund. So, here's where I am at this week so far:

No Spend Days: 2 = $2.00
Eating at Home Days: 3 = $3.00

Total added into Vegas Fnd: $5.00

Old Vegas Total: $518.42
SND/Eating at home: $5.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $523.42

NOT DIME! Hell, not even a penny!

No Spend Days rock!!

(Pssst...that's 2 this week! Call me Buttah, cuz I'm on a roll!)

More OT tonight. Looks like this will be an all week thing, which is good, cuz that is extra $$ for Vegas!

OT Wednesday: 1 hour

(Total for next paycheck so far: 3 hrs 45 mins)

More OT. Looks like I will have at least an hour OT every night this week, which is awesome, sine that means bout $100 extra in my paycheck next week!

OT Tuesday: 1 hour 15 minutes

Meds: $10
Bagels for breakfast: $6
Gave a friend $.50
Total: $16.50

That's right! NO SPEND DAY!!!!!!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'm so fricken awesome! LOL

Worked late tonight. OT for 50 minutes.

So yesterday afternoon me and BF were out doing some errands. We leave the last store, and go to the car. As we get in the car, he says to me "That was really good that we went there." I was like O...K...why? He pulls a $5 bill out of his pocket and says "Cuz this was just laying on the sidewalk."

SWEET! Of course it kills me...he always laughs when I stop to pick up a penny. Sometimes I find nickels or dimes, once in a great while even a quarter, but it has been years since I found bills. And what does the booger find? A bill. LOL.

Cash in the Bag update here: I had $11 in bills, and $10 in quarters. Whoo-hoo! So, $21 to the Vegas account!

Old Vegas Total: $497.42
CITB: $21.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $518.42


Can I just say I so am damn impressed with myself????

Gorceries: $149
Bead supplies to finish the bracelet I was making: $13

TOTAL: $162

So, as you all know, I suck with this controlling spending thing. I never keep to a budget no matter how devoted I am to it. I have learned for me, I have to spend on the necessities, but really distinguish between a need and a want. I spend too much during the weekends. Especially weekends when I get paid. Which this is one of. I need to do good. I need your help.

Here's the deal. I got paid yesterday. I paid a cc, electricity, gas, and cell phone bill yesterday. I have a $25 check for a donation I have to mail out, a $50 phone bill to pay. I need to get groceries, and have $ for gas for the next 2 weeks. I have $334 left from my paycheck. I need to NOT spend it on eating out or frivouous things.

I'm doing good, having that much left at this point (usually it is less). But I need to do good for the next 2 weeks.

If you see me talking about wanting to spend or that I did spend on crazy stuff (eating out is our biggest downfall), YELL AT ME!!! I need to motivation/discipline!!! Besides, I know you all will relish the chace to police my spending. HA!

Payday, so of course, I spent. Not too much, but I did get my sis and my friend A birthday presents. Ate lunch out with friends at work. Then me and the boy had dinner out and went to the bookstore. Our weekend splurge. Good time and less than $100 spent all day.

Bed, Bath and Beyond: $30 (present for sis and for A)
Lunch out: $6
Dinner out: $24
Bookstore: $37
----------------------------------------
Total Friday Spendings: $97

We went to the boostore last night and I saved $4 on our purchase by using my membership card. It's a fab card. I save 10% on everything. It costs $25 a year to have, but I save over $100 a year using it, so it pays for itself pretty quickly.

Anywho, $4 savings into Vegas.

Old Vegas Total: $493.42
Boostore savings: $4.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $497.42

First, I must say, Today is Elvis D-Day. 30 years ago today Elvis passed away.

Ok, so spendings, I didn't have a co-pay at the Dr. (yay!) so my only spendings today was $5.03 on breaky. No ginger ale...I am starting to think it is making my tummy worse!!

OK, only by a little, but as I have learned here, a lot of littles add up fast!

So, had $15 from last paycheck leftover this morning so I added $10 to Vegas and $5 to EF. I also replaced another $50 in the Vegas fun from that $200 I took out a couple of weeks ago. I've now replaced $150 of it and if there is enough in this paycheck I will put back the other $50. If not, well, I get paid in 2 weeks.

Old Vegas Total: $433.42
Leftovers/Payback: $60.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $493.42

Old EF Total: $46.50
Leftovers: $5
----------------------
New EF Total: $51.50

Tomorrow is payday (yay!) and right now I have $31.86 in my checking account. When today is over, I will transfer the leftvers into my Vegas fund, but I got a little antsy and wanted to do it now. SO, I added $11.86 to Vegas and left $20 in my checking in case I needs $ for something unplanned today.

Old Vegas Total: $421.56
Leftovers: $11.86
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $433.42

A while ago I posted about a fab apartment, with fireplaces and 11 ft high ceilings...well, we found out it is ours and we can move in on Oct 1st!!!! I'm so excited! Of course, we still have to see the inside to make sure we like it, LOL.

But really, it will be away from our crazy neighbors, a new place, a the first place me and BF have picked out together. Found out last night that we can paint whatever colors we want (yay!) and at least 1 if not both firepalces work (oooh, our heating bill will be LOW this winter!). Also, we get our ow little private entrance to our apartment (besides through the main door of the building) and a mini deck that is jus ours (besides the big porch everyone uses). We're the only apt that has a second entrance and a deck.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bottle of ginger ale for upset tummy: $1.50

That's it! I am MUCH better at not spending during the week than I used to be. I know there was a time *not too long ago) where I'd spend about $10-$12 EVERYDAY!!! I'm so proud of myself.

Today (Thurs) will be a bit of a spend day as I have another dr. appointment (co-pay $20) and have to fast before then, so I can't eat breakfast before I go. And I have to head right to work after the appt so I will buy breakfast out (about $5). Maybe another ginger ale if I feel sick later in the day. I've go to pick up some cheap packs tomorrow at the grocery store...