We didnt do so well

We began the day yesterday with -$1 for the week. Then we bought gas for two cars, that brings us to (gasp!) -$45 for the week! Then we went to Oktoberfest in our neighborhood and spent about $10 on food. So its safe to say in week one, ending with a negative balance of $45 we blew it.

Totals:
$70 on gas alone....yikes!
$55 on food
$5 misc
*feel free to check my math.

So should I start this week in the hole with only $40 to spare? Or should I start over and see where we are at the end of the week? I think I am going to start fresh. It's easier on my brain that way.

Will post our menu for the week again later...that I found to be very helpful this past week.

This is certainly challenging

So we were down to $15 as of yesterday morning. Since then $3 for a coffee and muffin for me. So that's $12.

But tell me, how do we figure these items. Do the $7 I spent at Target for shoes for my son count? What about the $6 I also spent there for Vitamin C since we are out? I am not trying to do fuzzy math, I just don't know. I think until I get a better handle on things, I am going to just put them in their own separate pile, not from the $85 for food/gas, but something as yet unnamed. Clearly we will have budget for these things, but how? Who knows.

This morning I went to Trader Joe's. Got cheese and dough for pizza night, bananas, yogart and a $1.99 pumpkin my son saw and liked. Total $13. So we are now -$1 for the week, and we still have time to go. Ugh.

Now if I were looking at this objectively I would say that I didn't need the coffee and muffin yesterday nor did my son need the pumpkin today. You are right. Without these purchases I would still be at $4. But in the monsoon that was yesterday I needed the coffee/muffin and well, I just couldnt say no to my son...it was the first pumpkin of the season. We say no plenty, but today was just not one of those days.

Happy Friday....tomorrow will certainly present some fuzzy math.

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!!!