Just call me over budget Betty.
Two weeks in a row I am OVER budget!
Maybe I wasn't realistic with this goal, but I am pressing on and going to try to finish the whole 40 days under $300!
I guess I should stop getting my hair done and going to 90% off sales at the thrift store?! (um no way)
Here's my last week:
Neighborhood Club Thrift Store: $9.42
90% off all winter items!! I bought two huge bags of stuff for $9!! For myself alone I got an awesome purse, 3 belts, 3 pairs of jeans (two of which I have already cut into adorable shorts for summer!) and a brand new dress with the TJ Maxx tags for $34,99 still attached!
I also got my nieces some adorable skinny jeans, a jcrew outfit, a couple hoodies, my dad a sweater, my sister 3 maternity items, and a pair of tiny baby boots!!
favorite. store. ever. I can't wait until summer items are 90% off :)
Hair Salon: $30 + $10 tip
My friend from high school does my hair, she cut and highlighted it for $30 bucks. amazing!! So I shouldn't complain about being over budget because I could have easily spent $100...
Red Box Movies: $5.14
Red Box is only $1 right? lol. Yes, but if you don't take them back you get charged another dollar! I rented two movies for my nieces to watch on Friday night and forgot to take them back on Saturday. dummy.
Parking lot: $3
I met my sister and her three kiddos at the Columbus airport on Thursday night and had to pay to park. totally worth it to see those 3 cuties running to me from across the airport.... :)
Jet's Pizza: $8.35
Monday night after getting home from the weekend and having an excruciatingly long day at work I could not think about cooking and we didn't have anything easy to fix in the fridge (it's been over a week since I've been to the store!) and I had a coupon! haha
Total: $65.91
So this week was way, way over budget.
but I had to get my hair done this weekend because I was going home, and I had to take advantage of the 90% off sale! haha. I could have skipped the pizza and the movies and been closer to my target.
My sister also gave me $20 as a - thanks for driving down and buying my kids some stuff at the thrift store, I know you're poor kinda thing, so if you take that into account then I'm under by $4, right?! RIGHT! :)
okay
Try, try, try again!
Showing posts with label lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lent. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Lent - Week 2
Preface: I wrote the italicized portion of this on Friday 2/22... the rest is the real story on Tuesday 2/26. lol.
I am so glad I chose to do this for Lent.
I has really kept me thinking before I make unnecessary purchases!
I have consciously avoided the thrift stores and have been re-wearing some of my favorite clothes. I know this sounds terrible and vain and extremely wasteful, but I don't like to re-wear things. I re-wear pants and skirts and dresses I guess, but tops..... they typically get worn like once every 6 months and I never re-wear complete outfits. I don't know what it is. It's not that I think I'm so cool or that I'm going to get a full page spread in Life and Style if I'm caught re-wearing something.
So this is why I LOVE thrifting! I can get a couple new shirts every single week for a few dollars and never have to re-wear what I've got.
How dumb is that?!
I must stop!
I've been doing really good with groceries, only buying what we need and no extras.
I've been creative with my meals using up what we have in our freezer and pantry. I have all this stuff that I no longer deem as "healthy" but we're too poor to throw it out! So I've been trying to make it as healthy as possible. For instance that big box of pancake mix that I will never buy again.... but we already have... I made strawberry, blueberry, banana pancakes! All 3 in one!
And those two big bags of tortilla chips I've been eating with some healthy, yummy salsa and made taco salad with ground turkey and lots of veggies the other day.
And then I asked Lee to go to the store with me after church on Sunday.................dun dun dun.
I heard things like:
"wow! didn't know black berries were so cheap!"
"let's buy the really BIG thing of coffee, we'll save money in the long run"
"Vodka sauce?! I love vodka sauce!"
"oooh spices for meat rubs are on sale"
and when I reminded him of the budget he said "well that'll teach you to take me to the store again!"
He's so cute, and doesn't ask for much and never gets anything for himself.... so I let him get the spices and pasta sauce :)
I went over budget :/ but since we bought a lot of stuff on Sunday I shouldn't have to go to the store much this coming week! It'll balance out. At the end of the 40 days I'll do a total amount I've spent and if it's less than $300 I'll consider it a win. right?
Here are my purchases for the week:
Kroger - $9.44 - I went in for cheese (for taco salad) but found so many great deals I didn't have to shop again for a few days! My best purchase was a whole roasted turkey breast for $2.99! We ate that thing for DAYS! Turkey on salad, turkey quesadillas (with spinach and tomatoes, so good!), turkey sandwiches...
Aldi's - $40.58 - the shopping list included: coffee, tomatoes, banana, lettuce, milk, almond milk, cereal, bread, and spinach. we also bought - 2 things of pasta sauce, blackberries and blueberries, spices, olive oil, and guacamole.
Wendy's - $5.15 - this was an impulse stop... should have skipped it, but I didn't and it put me over budget. Lee and I did a lock-in with the teens Friday night and I stayed up from 7am on Friday till about 1 pm on Saturday and on my way home I was starving and there was traffic and Wendy's was there calling my name! Stop it Wendy's!
Kmart - $4.47- yes I went back to Kmart, like I said I wouldn't, but they had donuts on sale for $3.49! a $1.50 cheaper than Kroger! and I bought some clearance Hershey's hearts. sue me. The Sunday School kids are like way too happy when there are donuts that I can't bear to disappoint them now. They really are a sweet group of teenagers. I'll do a post about them soon. (oh and I saved the milk and oj I bought last week in the church fridge so I didn't have to buy that again!)
Total: $59.64
$9.64 over! so disappointed... but I'll only spend $40 next week. or attempt to. I'm going home this weekend and getting my hair done, but my beautiful, sweet friend from high school does it and sometimes I don't even think she charges me enough to cover the supplies she uses, so I may just make it under $40!
I am so glad I chose to do this for Lent.
I has really kept me thinking before I make unnecessary purchases!
I have consciously avoided the thrift stores and have been re-wearing some of my favorite clothes. I know this sounds terrible and vain and extremely wasteful, but I don't like to re-wear things. I re-wear pants and skirts and dresses I guess, but tops..... they typically get worn like once every 6 months and I never re-wear complete outfits. I don't know what it is. It's not that I think I'm so cool or that I'm going to get a full page spread in Life and Style if I'm caught re-wearing something.
So this is why I LOVE thrifting! I can get a couple new shirts every single week for a few dollars and never have to re-wear what I've got.
How dumb is that?!
I must stop!
I've been doing really good with groceries, only buying what we need and no extras.
I've been creative with my meals using up what we have in our freezer and pantry. I have all this stuff that I no longer deem as "healthy" but we're too poor to throw it out! So I've been trying to make it as healthy as possible. For instance that big box of pancake mix that I will never buy again.... but we already have... I made strawberry, blueberry, banana pancakes! All 3 in one!
And those two big bags of tortilla chips I've been eating with some healthy, yummy salsa and made taco salad with ground turkey and lots of veggies the other day.
And then I asked Lee to go to the store with me after church on Sunday.................dun dun dun.
I heard things like:
"wow! didn't know black berries were so cheap!"
"let's buy the really BIG thing of coffee, we'll save money in the long run"
"Vodka sauce?! I love vodka sauce!"
"oooh spices for meat rubs are on sale"
and when I reminded him of the budget he said "well that'll teach you to take me to the store again!"
He's so cute, and doesn't ask for much and never gets anything for himself.... so I let him get the spices and pasta sauce :)
I went over budget :/ but since we bought a lot of stuff on Sunday I shouldn't have to go to the store much this coming week! It'll balance out. At the end of the 40 days I'll do a total amount I've spent and if it's less than $300 I'll consider it a win. right?
Here are my purchases for the week:
Kroger - $9.44 - I went in for cheese (for taco salad) but found so many great deals I didn't have to shop again for a few days! My best purchase was a whole roasted turkey breast for $2.99! We ate that thing for DAYS! Turkey on salad, turkey quesadillas (with spinach and tomatoes, so good!), turkey sandwiches...
Aldi's - $40.58 - the shopping list included: coffee, tomatoes, banana, lettuce, milk, almond milk, cereal, bread, and spinach. we also bought - 2 things of pasta sauce, blackberries and blueberries, spices, olive oil, and guacamole.
Wendy's - $5.15 - this was an impulse stop... should have skipped it, but I didn't and it put me over budget. Lee and I did a lock-in with the teens Friday night and I stayed up from 7am on Friday till about 1 pm on Saturday and on my way home I was starving and there was traffic and Wendy's was there calling my name! Stop it Wendy's!
Kmart - $4.47- yes I went back to Kmart, like I said I wouldn't, but they had donuts on sale for $3.49! a $1.50 cheaper than Kroger! and I bought some clearance Hershey's hearts. sue me. The Sunday School kids are like way too happy when there are donuts that I can't bear to disappoint them now. They really are a sweet group of teenagers. I'll do a post about them soon. (oh and I saved the milk and oj I bought last week in the church fridge so I didn't have to buy that again!)
Total: $59.64
$9.64 over! so disappointed... but I'll only spend $40 next week. or attempt to. I'm going home this weekend and getting my hair done, but my beautiful, sweet friend from high school does it and sometimes I don't even think she charges me enough to cover the supplies she uses, so I may just make it under $40!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
1st week of Lent
Well I am happy to announce that I survived the first week without over-spending!!! yay!!!
Tomorrow is a fresh new $50!
I did spend some money foolishly, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.
Here's a break down.
Kroger: $6.48 - Almond milk, chocolate bar (for cookies I made) and two bags of hulled sunflower seeds for salads
Kmart - $9.60 - ok this was unnecessary(and random) I realize - clearance vday candy (sweet tarts and jolly rancher suckers!) 2 pairs of clearance tights, and bananas. Kmart is down the street from our church and every once in a while I just love to check their clearance! must.stop!
Country Grille - $16.70 - yummy breakfast for two 12.70 and $4 tip. (this was instead of going out for Vday)
Kroger - $8.42 - donuts, milk, and orange juice for the teens in our Sunday School class. They loved it so much I'm afraid it's going to become a weekly installment! I'm on a mission to find cheaper donuts, but this was kinda a last minute "wouldn't that be nice" idea.
Subway - $5.30 - sweet onion chicken teryaki foot long sub for Sunday lunch. our fav!
Total: $46.50!
Truthfully...... we way, way, way overspent this week. I needed a text book and Lee needed 3! Over $150 later my credit card is asking me "is lent over already?!"
ugh stupid expensive books!
So I didn't count that... it'll fall under the category of "stuff I didn't want to spend money on anyway" just like gas and electric, yea?
Next week I'll have to really limit my frivolous purchases because we're going to need some groceries at some point... no Kmart or eating out (except Subway of course!)
Tomorrow is a fresh new $50!
I did spend some money foolishly, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.
Here's a break down.
Kroger: $6.48 - Almond milk, chocolate bar (for cookies I made) and two bags of hulled sunflower seeds for salads
Kmart - $9.60 - ok this was unnecessary(and random) I realize - clearance vday candy (sweet tarts and jolly rancher suckers!) 2 pairs of clearance tights, and bananas. Kmart is down the street from our church and every once in a while I just love to check their clearance! must.stop!
Country Grille - $16.70 - yummy breakfast for two 12.70 and $4 tip. (this was instead of going out for Vday)
Kroger - $8.42 - donuts, milk, and orange juice for the teens in our Sunday School class. They loved it so much I'm afraid it's going to become a weekly installment! I'm on a mission to find cheaper donuts, but this was kinda a last minute "wouldn't that be nice" idea.
Subway - $5.30 - sweet onion chicken teryaki foot long sub for Sunday lunch. our fav!
Total: $46.50!
Truthfully...... we way, way, way overspent this week. I needed a text book and Lee needed 3! Over $150 later my credit card is asking me "is lent over already?!"
ugh stupid expensive books!
So I didn't count that... it'll fall under the category of "stuff I didn't want to spend money on anyway" just like gas and electric, yea?
Next week I'll have to really limit my frivolous purchases because we're going to need some groceries at some point... no Kmart or eating out (except Subway of course!)
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Fat Tuesday
I'm not Catholic but since college I've enjoyed participating in Lent.
Giving up something for 40 days.
Something that is a real sacrifice.
Something that you desire and without it in your life you feel a void that you are able to fill with God and prayer and discipline. Something everyone can benefit from, no need to be Catholic!
In years past I've given up mostly food items.
One year Lee and I gave up meat. At midnight the last night we were chowing down on KFC and hamburgers. haha. it was pathetic.
In Grenada I gave up smoothies... because they are the most delicious thing I can imagine and I wanted to drink one every single time I went to the store.
I've given up pop, candy, and lots of other unhealthy things.
This year I have been sticking to my New Years Resolutions quite well and when I thought about Lent I couldn't think of any food I felt I really needed to give up... for a split second I considered giving up pizza, but since that is my ONLY guilty pleasure left I decided that was unnecessary torture ;)
Today I went to Target and somewhere amongst the 70% off rack I realized that I love to bargain hunt. way.too.much.
Weekly I make my rounds to the thrift stores in the area. We have the BEST thrift stores!
And on this healthy, clean, eating kick I've been spending a little more than I should at the grocery store too!
It's no secret that Lee and I are poor. poor, poor, poor. and somehow every month we are able to pay all our bills and still have money left over for me to spend at the thrift store. But should I be? I have literally every single thing I could ever want in life and probably more!
I've been doing well saving each week. I bank with PNC and they have a great website and make it so easy! I have a certain amount auto-deducted from my account each week and it goes directly into my savings account. The plan is to keep increasing it each week and hopefully by the end of Lent I will have my savings over $1,000. maybe. hopefully. miracles do happen.
So here are my Lent guidelines for myself:
Spend a max of $50 a week, including groceries!
AND continue to eat healthy!
Things not included: rent, gas, electricity, and phone bill.
Everything else has to be bought for less that $50! If I go over, the next week is less that amount.
This means Target is totally out. My thrifting is majorly cut back (except I have a 50% entire purchase coupon at Value World next week that I'll probably use... so we'll eat rice and beans and out of the freezer that week :) and we'll have to think long and hard about going out to eat.... good thing it's $5 foot long month!
Think I can do it?
I'll try to keep myself accountable on here.
ps. I went to the grocery store today and spend $50.... so I'll be a leg up going into this week b/c I just did a big shop! That's not cheating, is it?
Giving up something for 40 days.
Something that is a real sacrifice.
Something that you desire and without it in your life you feel a void that you are able to fill with God and prayer and discipline. Something everyone can benefit from, no need to be Catholic!
In years past I've given up mostly food items.
One year Lee and I gave up meat. At midnight the last night we were chowing down on KFC and hamburgers. haha. it was pathetic.
In Grenada I gave up smoothies... because they are the most delicious thing I can imagine and I wanted to drink one every single time I went to the store.
I've given up pop, candy, and lots of other unhealthy things.
This year I have been sticking to my New Years Resolutions quite well and when I thought about Lent I couldn't think of any food I felt I really needed to give up... for a split second I considered giving up pizza, but since that is my ONLY guilty pleasure left I decided that was unnecessary torture ;)
Today I went to Target and somewhere amongst the 70% off rack I realized that I love to bargain hunt. way.too.much.
Weekly I make my rounds to the thrift stores in the area. We have the BEST thrift stores!
And on this healthy, clean, eating kick I've been spending a little more than I should at the grocery store too!
It's no secret that Lee and I are poor. poor, poor, poor. and somehow every month we are able to pay all our bills and still have money left over for me to spend at the thrift store. But should I be? I have literally every single thing I could ever want in life and probably more!
I've been doing well saving each week. I bank with PNC and they have a great website and make it so easy! I have a certain amount auto-deducted from my account each week and it goes directly into my savings account. The plan is to keep increasing it each week and hopefully by the end of Lent I will have my savings over $1,000. maybe. hopefully. miracles do happen.
So here are my Lent guidelines for myself:
Spend a max of $50 a week, including groceries!
AND continue to eat healthy!
Things not included: rent, gas, electricity, and phone bill.
Everything else has to be bought for less that $50! If I go over, the next week is less that amount.
This means Target is totally out. My thrifting is majorly cut back (except I have a 50% entire purchase coupon at Value World next week that I'll probably use... so we'll eat rice and beans and out of the freezer that week :) and we'll have to think long and hard about going out to eat.... good thing it's $5 foot long month!
Think I can do it?
I'll try to keep myself accountable on here.
ps. I went to the grocery store today and spend $50.... so I'll be a leg up going into this week b/c I just did a big shop! That's not cheating, is it?
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