walked with mom for 55 min

Stayed at mom's for Taco Salad and games. I won 4 games and mom won 2, which left Dad pouting. hehe. He almost always wins.

I got a $10 Walgreens gift card in the mail today.

My goals for Sept were:

1. Only spend $400 for groceries, gas, entertainment, clothes, household basics and misc.
Didn't make this one. Spent 427.93

2. Walk at least 20 times this month for at least 45 minutes each time.
Walked 22 times

3. Only go to fast-food restaurants four times and only eat at regular restaurants four times.
Went to fast food 5 times and restaurants five times so didn't make this one either

4. Save $880 above my 401K contribution
Saved the money, but i'm not investing it till I find out what it will cost to redo my shower.

5. Increase my emergency preparedness
5.1 Adding $100 to my cash. - Done
5.2 Increase my emergency stocks of water and easy to eat foods etc. - Done
5.3 Reallocating some of my emergency money to be more liquid. - Done
5.4 Reviewing my insurance policies - Done saved $40 on this one
5.5 Reading Urban Alert! for more ideas. - Done

So only made 3 of the 5 goals - not so good.

Total spending for the month was:

Groceries - 120.55
Fast Food - 37.80
Restaurant - 47.67
Nieces - 80.85
Clothes - 0
Books/Newspapers - 74.07
Gas - 49.55
HBAs - 2.84
Entertainment - 0 - the miniature show was entertainment, but tracked it under miniatures.
Other - 16.35

Miniatures - 72.50
xmas - 120.42

I also figured my net worth and it increased by 4.36% during the month of Sept. I'm very happy with that.

It's my parents anniversary today, so they went out to eat to celebrate so I didn't walk. I plan to take them out for a late anniversary dinner in a couple weeks.

Went to the post office this morning and mailed my half.com book. Spent $2.26

Total spent so far this month = $429.68

I'm still debating what to do with my shower. I saw this advertisement for acrylic walls that go over the top of the existing walls. I went to thier website and I like the look. They have a store in town that I want to go check out this weekend. Anyone else done this or heard about it? The best part for me is it's done in one day and there's no demolition involved.

Finished reading the library book Origin in Death by J.D. Robb. Mystery. Excellent book. J.D. Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts I like everything she writes. Great dialog, Great characters and Great stories.

walked with mom for 55 min

I hope I'm back on track spending wise. It's usually not an issue for me to go out and spend because of emotional issues. I usually decide how much of my budget is going to go where and then I just spend the rest on what I want without beating myself up about it, as long as I remain within the alloted amount I don't care how it's spent. I am trying to cut back on eating at fast food restaurants, but that's for health reasons more than money reasons. I think the frustration just built up to such a high level I couldn't stand the stress of one more thing, such as deciding to drive home and cook dinner there. Ah well, that's done with now, time to move on.

No spending today. Only two more days this month. I wanted chocolate so bad today, just had a craving for it all day long, but I don't keep it in the house. I resisted going and buying some on the way home from moms so I was happy about that, but I still want some chocolate This time of year it seems like candy is everywhere. You open any sales flyer and bags of it jump out at you screaming, buy me! buy me! It's such a good deal half price, 30% off, BOGO. So not only do you have to resist the temptation of chocoloate, you have to resist the temptation of getting a bargain No fair!

I didn't have a mailer big enough for the book I need to mail out for half.com and I didn't want to take time out of the day to go to the store and get one. Fortunately my mom had one and she said I could have it. Will mail it before work tomorrow.

Finished listening to the library book on tape All About Passion by Stephanie Laurens. Romance. Very Good book.

walked with mom for 45 min

I'm mad at myself today. I had an extremely frustrating day at work. Just constant interruptions. I spent all morning training a co-worker and hosting an hour and a half meeting. At lunch I wanted to get a few minutes to myself so went to the cafeteria for a sandwich and chips. Spent $4.38 Took the sandwich back to my desk to try to get some of my own work done before the next training session and got 3 phone calls in a half hour asking for help from people who are supposed to be training us, we aren't supposed to be training them. So didn't get to finish my lunch before the training with my co-worker resumed. Spent two more hours with him. Then spent a half hour reviewing the work of another co-worker. Another half hour training session and then another half hour with a different co-worker on their problems. By the end of the day I hadn't gotten any of my work done. I was extremely frustrated.

Went to the bank and deposited two rebate checks and a roll of quarters. Added $40.34 to my Extra Fund. It's over a $1000 now.

Went to Barnes and Noble and traded the reprinted book I had got last week for another book by the same author, but a new one that I hadn't read yet.

Then instead of going home and fixing dinner like I should have I went to Captain D's and spent $11.47 and didn't event eat all of it, because I over bought thinking I was hungrier than I was. Bah! Mad at myself for this, especially for wasting the money by buying more than I could eat.

Then I came home and walked with mom. So all in all a long, frustrating day.

Total spent so far this month = $427.42

Got the Target cards I ordered last week in the mail.

I sold another book on half.com, for $5. That makes 4 total and 3 in the last week. Feel like I have to go to the post office everyday. Fortunately there is one about a mile away.

Finished listening to the library book on tape To The Nines by Janet Evanovich. Mystery. Very good, very funny.

walked with mom 50 min

Went to the post office this morning and bought 100 1 cent stamps and sent my latest half.com book off. Spent $3.24

I forgot about returning an item to Kmart last week so that adds $6.72 back to my budget.

Total spent so far this month = $411.56 I think once you break your budget it's like cheating on a diet. Once you do it you figure oh well, I already blew it I might as well have a bowl of ice cream or spend another $10. I have been in a spending mood all week and I just hope I can keep it somewhat under control when I go in town tomorrow.

Made a car payment today so now I only have two to go. Yippee!!

I finished reading the library book Enemy by Lee Child. Mystery. Very good.

walked 55 min with mom

Bought a paper this morning $1

A friend and I drove to Denver today. We haven't seen each other in more than a month so it was really nice to spend the time talking and catching up with each other. We went to Red Robin for lunch. Spent $13.65

Afterwards we went to the Container Store. I love that store, but I've bought so many organizer things over the years I don't need anything anymore. Only spent $4.78

We drove back home and spent a couple hours talking at my house.

After she left I took a short nap and then went over to my mom's to walk. I thought of one thing I want for xmas. The new Gretchen Wilson CD All Jacked Up. I see it's a new release this week and it's on sale all over town.

After we walked I was tired and went to McDonalds for dinner. spent $6.60

Total spent so far this month = $415.04

walked with mom for 55 min

My dad and I went to Home Depot today to see what the options are for my master bath shower. He's done some construction and I wanted his opinion. I think I'm going to go with a dark green 12" marble looking tile. Approximate cost for the tile is $450. My dad said he will do the demolition but someone else will have to do the tile work. So the next step is to find someone to do that. I'm hoping to get the whole thing done for less than $1000, but that will mean one month where I won't be investing outside of my 401K. But it has to be done and I would prefer to do a nice job so it adds value to the house. I hope to have it completed by the end of Oct.

Got gas for 2.81/gal 6 cents off with my grocery card. Total spent = $19.63

Got a few groceries just milk and produce spent $9.81 saved 20% according to the reciept.

Total spent so far this month = $389.01. There's no way I'm going to make my $400 goal with almost a full week left to go, now the goal is to limit the amount I go over $400.

Sold another book at half.com today, this one was $10.00

Saw that I got my $25 bonus from UFB bank in my account today. Tried to register to see my HSBC account online, but kept having problems. I'll have to call them on Monday to see what the deal is there.

Finished reading the library book Dark Sky by Carla Neggers. Romance/Mystery. Good book

walked with mom for 55 min

I get my hair cut at Great Clips and they have a deal where after you get 5 haircuts the 6th one is free. Today just happened to be number 6 so I got it for free Spent $2.00 for the tip. I haven't paid full price for any of the haircuts, 2 of them were on sale for half price and the other 3 I had $2 or $3 off coupons.

Total spent so far this month = $359.57

I got 100 worth of discounted Target gift cards for me and 100 for my mom from the ecard site. They were 10% off. I can always use Target cards. Mom want's some silky pajamas for xmas and a red grill pan. Might be able to use them there. I'm looking for Home Depot cards since I want to get my dad a power blower for xmas and it's $99 I'd like to get at least 10% off to keep it within my budget of $100. Maybe I'll find a Home Depot coupon and be able to combine the savings, that would be nice.

My mom keeps asking me for my xmas list, but I can't think of anything I want or need this year. I still want to buy myself a PC when I find one at the right price, but that's way too expensive to ask for and I can't think of anything else. I've been in the mood to get rid of stuff lately, not add more stuff. Maybe I'll just ask for gift cards to Media Play or Walgreens or something, but she won't be very happy with that. Xmas is a big deal in our family we spend 2 - 3 hours opening presents since we each take turns. Maybe I'll check out Nene Thomas and Ruth Thompson's websites to see if they have any new posters out. I love their art and have several framed pictures from both of them.

I finished reading the library book Lyon's Gate by Catherine Coulter. Romance. Good popcorn book.

walked with mom for 55 min

I called the home insurance company today and lowered my personal property value. It goes up automatically every year but it goes up faster than I buy things, plus I've gotten rid of stuff in the last few years. I also changed my deductible from 500 to 1000 and changed my payment from twice a year to once a year. That saved $6. Total savings was $40

My parents wanted to eat out tonight so we went to Village Inn for the early bird special. Spent $8.83

I did some xmas shopping on Amazon today. Bought 5 Trixie Belden books for my youngest neice. I will give her 3 for xmas and save the other 2 for later. I bought the Pacific Islands princess of the world barbie for my oldest neice. She collects them. I got free shipping and saved 2% by using a9.com and 12% by using my discounted gift cards. Total spent = $55.72

Total spent for the month = $357.57

I finished reading the library book Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher. Sci Fi. Very good. 2nd in the series.

walked with mom for 55 min

Sold another book on half.com - this is number two, about 1 a month. It's been so long I was surprised when I checked my email and got the notification.

Spent 1.42 on postage to mail the book

Went to the library to pick up my holds and paid my 50 cent late fine

Got my DirectTV bill with the first $5.00 discount. They gave me a discount for last month on the same bill so actually got $10 off this bill and will get 5 off the next 4 bills.

Total spent so far this month = $348.74

went into work today. This management stuff is a pain. I spend all day solving people's problems and don't get any of my own stuff done. Since I have to talk to so many people when I go into the office I have really long days. I worked 9 1/2 hrs today so didn't get home in time to walk again. Hopefully after these first couple of weeks when we get everyone organized it will smooth out and not be as frustrating to me. Part of my frustration has to do with trying to communicate with people who's first language isn't english. We recently hired 2 people from India and I have a hard time understanding them and they probably have a hard time understanding me. I hate having to keep asking someone to repeat themselves. I feel it's rude, but since I can't understand that's my only option.

When I add the commuting time to my work day it's another hour and then I run errands while I'm in town. I need a long decompression time after working to clear all the jumble of work thoughts out of my head. I don't get that on days I go into work. BooHoo!

After work I went to Barnes and Noble. I had a 10% off the whole purchase coupon that I got from one of the freebie listings. Unfortunately I bought a book I already own so I have to return it. Two or three times a year I get fooled when they re-issue a book with a different cover. I think it's a new book by a favorite author. Usually I check the copyright date, but didn't today. Bought 3 books and spent $19.23

Went to Wendy's for dinner and spent $5.11

Total spent so far this month = $346.82

walked with mom for 45 min

I've been tracking my electricity use for almost two years now and I noticed that for the last few months I'm using about 30 KWH more per month than I did in the same month last year. I couldn't think of anything I'm doing differently that would use more electricity. I finally came to the conclusion that it's because I'm cooking more often. Last year I was eating out more often and when I ate at home it was usually a frozen dinner that I microwaved. But one of my goals this year was to eat more healthy so I've been cooking 3 - 4 times a week or more. I know I'm spending less for food, especially eating out, so I guess it's a good trade off.

Finished listening to the library book on tape A Rogue's Proposal by Stephanie Laurens. Very good book

Just noticed this is my 100th journal entry. The time has really gone fast, seems like I just started this.

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to the grocery store this morning and bought a few basics and stocked up on canned beans which were on sale. According to the receipt I saved 41%. I spent $15.78 It's getting so most of the grocery stores around here allocate more