A (small) thank you for vets!

B&Bs across the country are giving a free nights stay to Vets over Veterans Day weekend. Wanted to make sure you all saw. Please pass along!

And then there was $15

We treated ourselves to ice cream last night at Baskin Robbins (yum!). We had a bogo coupon, so for $5, we both got double dips. I know, not very frugal of me, but I was in the mood for some Mint Chocolate Chip!

Also, I think I mentioned I was having dinner with my brother last night. Anyway, at first I was going to include that in the weekly budget. In the future I will, but there was no way I could feed the two of us for $19. A little fuzzy math, I know, but just being honest.

So now, $15 to get to Saturday night...we'll see!

We are down to less than $20

So we began yesterday with $60. Since then we have spent $25 on gas for both cars, $1 for metered parking and $15 at Target for some food essentials. So its Tuesday night and we have (drumroll)...$19 to get us to Saturday night. I admit I am not optimistic, but this exercize is good in that it has made me think long and hard about what we need and what we need now. Target is a very dangerous place you know.

The other thing I realized is when I made this decision on Sunday, I forgot to factor in some yearly expenses that, ironically, are coming due now. So not included in our budget is the nearly $500 the good state of Virginia charges us for the privledge to drive here...yippy.

Saturday can't come soon enough.

Down to $60

Spent just over $24 at Harris Teeter tonight. Bought 2.5 lbs of various deli meat which will last my husband likely two weeks for his lunches, for $10; half and half, milk, tater tots and a tomato.

Tomorrow our only real expenses will be gas related. I think this might be my biggest challenge. I have a playdate about 30 miles away. I like to go on playdates with my son, A LOT! I like for him to be around other kids and I enjoy seeing my friends.

Sweet dreams.

Back to being honest

I have gotten out of habit of writing here, and it has shown on our monthly budget. So today after I decided to redo everything and see where things stand (and not liking what I saw), I decided I am coming back and STAYING! And if its only interseting to me and helps keep me honest, so be it.

I read somewhere recently that its easier to budget for a week than a month, this sounds right. So starting this week, we will have $85 to spend out of pocket on all items not regularly billed, this includes food and gas. This is $85 total for both of us. And once the $85 is gone, its gone. Not included in this $85 are things we previously committed to as of TODAY, or say big items like mortgage and car payment. It also doesn't include the money we are saving each month, currently $100.

Each day I pack a lunch for my husband, so that helps us save considerably. Beginning today though I have planned out our meals for the week. For the most part I am pleased to say we have nearly all the ingredients in the house. This weeks menu:

Sunday: burgers (ground beef here), need to buy buns.
Monday: Steak (have here frozen). Using this recipe from Ree Drummond, and we have all the ingredients sans the cream. I am going to substitute half and half to save money, will let you know how it goes.
Tuesday: Chicken Friend Rice Hamburger Helper (have)
Wednesday: I am doing my monthly ethnic dinner with my brother, so my husband will be home. He will have pasta and sausage (which we already have).
Thursday: Crock Pot meal TBD
Friday: Homemade pizza. Need to buy dough, but have toppings and fixins already.
Saturday: Crab feast, previously committed to.

Each night I will come on and let you know what we spent/bought and how we are doing.

Anything left over from the $85 will go back into the monthly pot, and at the end of the month if there is anything, will be put into savings. I guess the first update will be on Oct. 24, since I am starting this on Sept. 26.

Happy Sunday everyone and go Ravens!!!