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Low-Spend July: Days 23-25

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Sometimes it feels like you rip a bandaid off your low-spend month, and a bleed starts, and it’s really difficult to stop that bleeding.  

I’m still failing enormously at eating out!  I’m not sure why it’s so difficult.  I like to cook and I’m a decent cook.  But meals out creep into our consciousness and at that point, saying “No, let’s not do that” seems like punishment.  And I tend to hold back on buying what we need grocery-wise…and then there is a ton of food in the house but nothing goes together.  Meal planning helps with that, and I need to start doing it again!

Yesterday was the kids’ first day back at their schoolwork, and D wasn’t having the best attitude.  He said it’s unfair that we start our school year before his birthday in August, and that vacation should last till after his birthday.  There were tears and lectures but he ended up pulling himself together and doing what he was supposed to do.  (And this was with me giving them a very light load…about an hour’s worth of work…since we like to ease back into things.)  I needed to run a couple errands and Tom noticed that I’d be near Waffle House (we don’t usually end up out that way) and he suggested I take the kids as a treat.  Then he offered to come along.  We had a lot of fun and ended the evening with ice cream.  So we spent $43 at Waffle House and $13 at Baskin-Robbins.  That’s $56 of unplanned, not-essential spending.  I’m torn because yes, we can afford it.  Grateful for that.  But…this happens a minimum of twice a week and if you add that up, we’re blowing close to $500/month or $6000/year on this little expenditures, and that’s a LOT of money.  We could do so many things we need to do to the house and yard with that kind of money.  We need to repair sprinklers, have the exterior painted, fix up the landscaping in the front and back, repair that broken window, replace all our vent fans, the master shower is gross beyond repair and needs a new pan and enclosure, etc.  And don’t even get me started with the $14k worth of AC work we’re planning for January/February. So that’s where I struggle…

Other spending…I bit the bullet and ordered a month’s worth of Thrive.  I haven’t even mentioned Thrive yet, but I’ll share my experience here in another series.  I am at a place where I feel like I can’t live without it.  I am hoping that the fact that I no longer want soda or coffee, and that I’m eating so much less with it, and that it contains all the supplements I buy but forget to take, will offset its cost in the long run.  So I spent $150 on my order and $25 on a small supply of shakes and patches to get me through till my order arrives.  I did sell $40 worth of decor items that went toward the cost.  And I sold that $50 desk and an $80 rehabbed doll, so I’ve covered it technically.

I bought $200 worth of electricity…which is about 10-12 days’ worth.  Gosh, I cannot WAIT till we can update this system and experience the estimated 30-40% that it should save us.  I had $200 cash from selling the fridge, so I just put it all toward power so I wouldn’t spend it on something else.  At least we haven’t bought any clothing or shoes or makeup or ??  I do need to buy a couple things at Sally to tone K’s hair again.  She went blonde and it needs another toning.  That should not cost more than $10 or so.

We ended up canceling our 2-day hotel stay for D’s birthday.  The waterpark turned out to not be open the days we set aside to go…so we decided to drive down and make it a day trip this coming Sunday.  It’s only a 90 minute drive, so really no need to spend two nights in a hotel to do it.  $270 saved.   Score.  His birthday gifts are pretty affordable.  I spent $30 on Amiibos he wanted (and thinks are unavailable) and I’m ordering a $60 webcam (he does Youtube and has been using a webcam almost as old as he!).  I can’t think of the last time we spent under $100 on birthday gifts that are totally going to blow him away.  He wants to eat at Waffle House and go to Peter Piper Pizza on his birthday, which is probably less spendy than dinner for six at a real restaurant.  😀  We may do a movie too, if there’s time.  Not too pricey if we do a matinee.

We had also planned to take the kids to Disneyland in November…but they didn’t really want to go.  Crazy, right?  Who ARE they?  They both have a long list of rides they refuse to go on again, and they were complaining in advance about all the walking, having to be away from home for three days, etc.  I was starting to get grumpy about spending so much money to give them an experience they aren’t at a stage where they’ll appreciate it.

So I said…you know what?  Tom and I have only been on a trip together ONE TIME since Jake was born.  And he’s 18.  And the one trip was a company-sponsored awards ceremony for Tom, so a lot of it was like a business lunch on a loop.  There was very little free time to just have fun.  And we’ve NEVER been to Disneyland or another fun destination like that, alone.  If we go alone, we can go for ONE day, because we won’t be dragging grumpy kids around with us ~ they really slow you down!  The parks are open from 8am to 10pm/12am on our anniversary.  We can do that 14 hour day if it’s just the two of us!  Our ticket costs go from over $1000 to more like $300.  Our food costs are cut in half, at least.  Hotel cost is two nights instead of 3 or 4, and so much less cost for a nicer hotel.  We can drive the small car and spend less than half the amount on gas that we would have if we took the large SUV.  And we get an ANNIVERSARY TRIP.  So that’s planned for August.  I’ll probably buy the tickets (discounted, at AAA) with the first check of August and the hotel (only $287) will be paid with the second check of August.  Meals and incidentals can be made up for by TRULY NOT DINING OUT for most of August.  It will be a difficult task, but I’m ready to try again. 😀  I’m also counting this trip as my birthday gift (I was going to buy a new iPad mini) so incidentals should covered.  And our marriage needs this.  *heart*

 

 

 

 

Low-Spend July: Days 9-22(!)

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My “low-spend” July hasn’t been AS successful so far as it could have been!  I’m seeing a trend here.  Haha.  I’m continuing to simplify our space and my routine, so that’s fun but sometimes requires spending a little money.  Is it essential, or non-essential?  That’s personal and only you can answer.  But I’ve decided that even in these low-spend months, I don’t want to go without if I need to purchase something to make my life simpler.  I’ll think about it, analyze it and try to find it used/cheap.

Bills are paid.  Minimal “non-essentials” have been purchased.  The biggest issue is food ~ fast food, snacks and eating out.  K had her first significant Crohn’s/UC flare and that means expensive pre/probiotics, Ensure (I got generic) and a gluten-free diet.  Gluten-free substitutes are pricey, but I’ve been buying them because it’s even harder to be gluten-free if you can’t ever have a tortilla or a cookie or muffin.   The few times we’ve let her try something with gluten, her symptoms start to worsen again, so this gluten-free diet looks like it will have to be an ongoing thing.  I did notice that in the regular baking section, our Walmart has gluten-free baking mixes from Pillsbury for $2.48 each, whereas the other brands are in the special gluten-free sections and run $5+ each.  I purchased a couple of gluten-free cookbooks.  Recipes are free online but I needed inspiration and I sometimes have to have books to thumb through.  $20 well spent.

The flare meant a GI visit.  Our co-insurance was $71, which was a relief because I thought we might have to pay the whole $450 for the visit out of pocket.  There will be bloodwork and stool tests and I’m not sure what our share of those will be.  I now don’t understand why our co-insurance was 100% when I went to my rheumatologist and endocrinologist and had thyroid scans and biopsies last year.  Insurance rejected all of it…and I’m still paying on all of it.  The insurance didn’t change between 2016 and 2017…so I have to research to see if there was a mistake. I’m hoping there was, since I need to go back to the rheum and endo but haven’t because of cost.

I also still am owed a $40 refund from Lane Bryant but I think I’ll have to go to the store to get it processed.  Tom also was able to clear the clogged ductwork in our house that was keeping the dryer from venting properly. It saved us at least $300, because that was the minimum quote I had for having someone else come unclog it.  Score.

I finally set up my new vanity ~ a $40 simple desk from Amazon.  It’s working out great!  I’m repurposing a mirror I’ve tried to sell (it’s not my style) and am going to use it over the vanity.  I’m spray painting the frame first so it will be MORE my style.  I purchased this in June but just now set it up.

We bought a new fridge for the kitchen ~ much larger and a better configuration than what we were using.  It was $200 used and it’s ICE cold, which made me realize that the new fridge we bought a few months ago (and spent $700 on!) does not stay nearly cold enough!  We moved that fridge to our laundry room and I scheduled a warranty service for it…and I sold our ugly and too-large laundry room fridge for $200….so broke even.  And the kitchen AND laundry room both look better now.

I bought two new pans…a 12″ skillet and 5qt deep saute.  Mine were so dead that there was no nonstick left and I was using a lot of soap. water and elbow grease to clean them.  Also wasting food that would stick.  I searched for deals and got this cute skillet for $15 and this nice saute for $23.  Now, they wash up fast with little resources or effort, and things aren’t burning on.

As far as side hustles, I need to work on more of our rehab American Girl dolls, because I’ve sold all of the ones I’ve finished!   I have a few waiting in the wings.  Doll prices are definitely down.  I hope they’ll rebound soon in anticipation of the holidays.  I could hold onto the dolls I have and sell them later, but I like to keep my inventory rotating.  I sold Tom’s old desk from his former office-in-the-corner-of-our-master-bedroom set-up.  I only got $50 but it all adds up.   I have a few more things for sale, but if they don’t sell by tomorrow evening, they’re going to Goodwill.

As far as NOT spending…I really want a few things but I’m waiting.  An 8qt Instant Pot would be nice…large family and big cuts of meat barely fit in the 6qt plus when I make bone broth, I don’t get as much as l’d like due to not being able to fill it all the way.  I have two 6qt and one has a broken lid….still works but I probably shoud NOT use it.  When I finally get an 8qt, I’ll toss the broken lid and save the extra 6qt body in the garage, in case my other 6qt breaks someday.

I also really want to try juicing again.  I’m debating between a $100 juicer or a $300 juicer…that price gap is between vertical models that work OK and horizontal models that are harder to use and clean, but take way more juice out of the pulp.  The pulp is great to add to compost and I plan to replant my neglected garden late summer.

Speaking of compost, I want to finally invest in a horizontal compost tumbler to keep near the garden.  They used to be over $100 but I’ve been seeing them for $50-60.  Soon.

We have a large cracked window.  It’s taped and is inconspicuous, but needs to be replaced at some point.

We need to have an electrician fix a broken can light.

We really want a metal security door….both for safety and also so we can leave the front door open for air circulation during the half of the year that has temperate weather.

We need a whole new AC system.  Our current system is close to 10 years old and leaks coolant.  $735 in coolant/repairs a month ago and humidity still reaches almost 60% on humid summer days.  And it costs $20/day to run.   And we’re still uncomfortable even setting it on 74/75.  In fact, I have a heat rash and am sweating as I type.  A new system will be more efficient.  Tom thinks he has a lead for financing.

My SUV needs some minor repairs and regular maintenance (the AC isn’t doing great), and a modification to safely tow heavier travel trailers.  And we want a travel trailer!  We’re looking at hybrids but they’re not cheap.  We don’t mind renting but it’s $$$ and inconvenient, and difficult to insure.

I could go on and on, but there IS a lot we’re waiting on, or going without, in the interest of not spending as much.

 

 

Low-Spend July: Days 3-8

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I’m going to go over several days at once; I haven’t had a chance to log on daily so I’ll just go over the past 6 days now.  I need to go back to keeping track daily, because I THOUGHT I was doing really well, but it all adds up to way more than I had in my head.

Day 3:

The HOA fee, cable/phone bill were paid this day.  I had to buy some postage for some online sales, but the buyers ultimately had paid that.  My monthly GoDaddy bill was also paid, and a bunch of fast food charges cleared all at once, so without looking at the receipts I’m not even sure WHEN we went.

Sorry, this will be disjointed, because my thoughts are scattered right now!

Days 4-5:

Waffle House, tank of gas, ice, water and some drinks for our trip down to Southern AZ.  A few other  restaurant and fast food charges from before the holiday cleared, and the check for our theater deposit cleared, as well as a music lesson check.

Days 6-8:

I went to a discount produce market and accidentally bought $32 worth of candy.  I got $55 worth of produce, much of which I froze for another day ~ and we’ve been enjoying lots of melon, great veggies, etc.  (HUGE cauli heads for $1 each!  I froze a bunch of florets.)  The candy?  My husband loves this candy and it’s made in AZ.  Really good chocolate…not as good as See’s, but cheaper.  I sent my daughter over to pic out a bag’s worth, after her having her check the price.  She told me it was $3.99/pound, so I said, OK…steal…let’s splurge and get enough so dad can keep a bowl in his office…let’s get two pounds.   I hadn’t bought it in forever and after all, it’s a DISCOUNT store, so I wasn’t thinking anything was amiss with the price. She made a nice mixed bag taking a handful of pieces from each of the 20 or so bins of various flavors.  When checking out, the cashier held up the bag and said, “You know this is $32 worth of candy?” and I was embarrassed, so I just played it off like I knew.  But, what had happened was it was really $13.99 per pound and K had read the sign wrong.  Since the flavors aren’t marked, there was no way to put them back…although I could have asked, but ugh.  Everyone in family has been enjoying the candy.  Fail.  I’m human, right?

We had more fast food and restaurant visits…just fail fail fail.  This always happens when I *try* to do no-spend/low-spend for an extended period of time.  Again, human.  Try again.

I bought 5 new tops and 2 bike shorts from Walmart/Walmart.com.  I recently have furthered my clothing purges to form somewhat of a capsule wardrobe, and tossed the stained, pilled, baggy, stretched out, (I’ve lost about 25 pounds in the past 4 months), uncomfortable or things that otherwise make me fele bad about myself.  After the purge, I needed some tops and the bike shorts, I’d been looking for for a long time….to go under two dresses I have and love that are a little short on me, if it’s windy.  The total was only $40 and I’m still awaiting my $40 credit from Lane Bryant for the bras I canceled, so it will be a wash.

We bought extra house keys (moving locksets/deadbolts around because three keys have been lost) and that was $16, but they don’t work.  I’m sure we can get a refund or get them re-done at no charge.

Our $11/month Microsoft Office 365 payment also was paid.  And I paid $45 cash for music lessons (45 minutes of voice for me, 45 minutes of voice for K and 45 minutes of piano for K…it really is a steal and we love our teacher).

We bought milk, cheese, hot dogs, buns, strawberries, grapes, pineapple and watermelon.  Also tea, marinade (I buy the huge 48oz italian dressing…generic), tabasco, potato pancake mix, powdered peanut butter, mayo, avocados, ziplock bags, ice…and I can’t bring up my other Walmart receipt right now (it’s in the app on my phone) so there are a few other things.

We also realized we need bottled water and a propane refill.  Bleh.  I want to try a new bottled water source that will be closed tomorrow (Sunday) so I think we’ll just fill one of our 5 bottles and maybe wait for the weekend to get the propane.

We have ribs from the fridge marinating and that will be tomorrow’s dinner.  Tonight we had hot dogs, sweet corn and homemade potato salad (no one liked it but I think it will be better once it sit s in the fridge overnight.  Tomorrow I’m making soup…cauli/broc/cheese/potato chowder I believe.  It should be yummy.  I haven’t planned for the rest of the week yet but I have chicken and beef in the freezer, and a huge pork loin, so we’re set for proteins.

Hubby and I had breakfast out this AM…it was $25 after tip.  I love how now that the kids are older, we can go out more often.  We’re averaging 2-3x per week but the drawback is the cost of meals, which range from $10-15 if we get fast food, and $25-$40 if we do a sit down (with tip).  We usually only order water to drink, or at most one coffee or soda.  We usually forgo appetizers.  It just gets expensive but we’re struggling to find activities that DON’T include eating, that are a comfortable distance from home.

I did sell three dolls…I discounted the bundle by $40 because I liked the person buying them but I got $150 from that.  That’s where the $45 for music lessons came from, and I’m saving the other $105 for the next time we need power.  I also have $60 incoming from Mercari sales this week.  I like making money.  But it’s a lot easier to spend it than it is to make it!  😉

 

 

 

Low-Spend July: Day 2

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Today’s spending was very low, which is nice, right?  We needed two 27.5″ bike tubes with Presta valves for Jake’s bike (Tom rode it through thorns and the tubes were shot), and $18 was the cheapest price with tax.

We also dropped $200 at the SRP machine, which gives us roughly 12 days of electricity.  Since this is a fixed expense and not discretionary at all, I don’t count it toward “spending.”  We have to have A/C and we can’t tolerate setting it at a higher temp to save money.  Typically we’re at 74 in the summer.  We’ve experimented up to 78 degrees and it only saves a couple dollars a day, and we’re MORE miserable, so we just suck it up and pay that $60 extra per month.

I cooked up drumsticks I bought last week, and am marinating chicken breasts to grill tonight.  We’ll be having corn on the cob and pasta salad (boxed) with the chicken for dinner.  I have two packages of beef that were “sell by” July 1, but have discolored ominously.  I’ll be opening them up and deciding whether or not they’re still edible.  One’s a tri tip and the other a package of petite sirloin steaks.  If the meat is still good, I’ll cube the steaks and pressure cook them to make beef veggie soup later this week ~ why I crave soup when it’s a million degrees, I don’t know!  And I’ll  pressure cook the tri tip and brown it on the grill, and slice it for sandwiches for the coming week.  We’ve been eating a lot of sandwiches and I’m already bored of cheap turkey, ham and pastrami.

I need to finsh this week’s meal plan…I have a huge pork loin and two racks of baby back ribs, plus lots of frozen chicken, on hand.

Low-Spend July: Day 1

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Wow, de ja vu!  Haha…here we go again.  New month, another chance to do better.

Hubby and I went to brunch this AM…had a great time and it was $30 after tip.

We went to Auto Zone and got a fuel injection cleaner for my truck and a couple light bulbs he needed for a project.  This was $12.

I shipped two dolls and a doll wig; one sold last week so it’s a June thing, but the wig and the other was sold through Mercari and I won’t get paid till they’re delivered, so that’s a July thing, I guess. I’m expecting about $80 of income.  I have someone scheduled to buy a dresser for $40 and a desk for $60…if they both come and pay full price, that’s $100 and will go to hubby to be his July “allowance.”

The $100 deposit for our 2017/18 theater tickets hasn’t cleared yet, so I guess that’s now a July thing.  I also owe another $70 in July for our August show.  (This program consists of two tickets ~ for K and I ~ to West Side Story, Cinderella, Annie, School of Rock and Les Mis, most at ASU Gammage and a couple at Mesa Arts Center.  We go through a ticket broker who does a payment plan and our tickets range from $17-56 each.  One of my goals for 2017 was to take K to more live theater, and after a huge debacle getting J a pair of Book of Mormon tickets as a grad gift, I decided to go through this broker.  Not quite ready to take the plunge into season tickets at ASU Gammage…so this seems like a good first step!)

I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head, but not a terrible start to the new month.  I’m off to make homemade pizza…had a hankering and this way is sooooo much less expensive than even $5 pizza!

 

 

Low-Spend June: Halfway Point Recap

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June is halfway gone already!  Hard to believe.  Two of the three paychecks we’ll receive in June have arrived.  I would have liked to have had a huge surplus from check #1, but that didn’t happen.  Mostly the issue was that spending in the prior months was pretty unchecked, and I let a bunch of May bills trickle into early June, which used up a lot of that first check once the mortgage and other bills with due dates early in the month were paid.  The Mr. deciding he needed new clothing NOW put a $250ish dent in the finances as well.  I LOVE it when he gets new clothes (happens so infrequently) but again, our timing doesn’t always mesh!  But he looks GOOD!  😀

June’s second check goes to the car payment, sewer/water/garbage/, internet/landline and a couple of small credit card payments.  We have a couple of low-limit cards we used to use to budget spending…and I’m planning on paying them down a bunch and starting that up again in July or August.  I also owe our cast fees for our show ($70), paid for drama camp ($125) and owe a $100 deposit on our ASU Gammage/Mesa Arts Center 2017/18 tickets.

If I can continue to keep grocery, food and other general spending as low as I have, I feel like we’ll be in really good shape by the next payday.  I still feel that those are the categories where we REALLY can cut our expenses, as we already have this month.  I am SOLD on Dollar Tree for paper towels and trash bags now!  Yes, they are thinner but ya know what?   They just get thrown out anyway and as long as you don’t drag the trash bags across concrete or try to scrub something rough with the paper towels, they work JUST as well and last just as long.

I’ve gotten off track with meals with our hectic show schedule…7 days till opening and 11 days till closing, so I’m devising a plan to feed us WITHOUT the multiple times per day fast food runs.  I’m actually getting sick of fast food already!

I sold a piece of furnture for $150 and sold a few dolls for a total of $250, so my “income” has been $400.  I spent $80 on a dresser that I’m flipping.  I overpaid though, so I probably won’t make more than $20 on that one.  I still have many more dolls to sell…all but a couple still need work so that may happen next month.

More future plans…

We planned a trip for Dakota’s 11th birthday.  We have a water park Groupon already paid for, and were able book a couple nights at a nearby hotel for around $150.  The trip plus breakfast at Waffle House and lunch at Peter Piper are his “main” gifts.  He doesn’t really need or want anything else in particular, but I’m sure I’ll find a few small gifts for him to unwrap.  This “expense” occurs in early-August, so I’ve got another six weeks to set aside some extra $$ for that.  I also booked a room in Anaheim for three nights in November.  Disneyland tickets for the four of us will be around $800 (2-day, single park per day through AAA) and I am setting aside $200 per month starting June to pay for the trip.  The room is only $300 for all three nights.  June-November @ $200/month = $1200 so that covers the room and tickets.  The November entertainment and dining out budgets will cover gas (we’ll take our small 40mpg car), food and incidentals for the trip.

Low-Spend June: Day 16

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Needed another grocery run, and got a great unexpected haul!  I went to Safeway to pay our power bill (they have a kiosk and it’s the only way to pay it electronically currently) and I decided to browse around.  I’d heard Safeway had sweet corn for 5 cents an ear, but I couldn’t find that.  I did find grapes for 75 cents per pound.  I found the real deals in the meat, dairy and frozen departments.  I got three big packs of chuck tender steaks, buy 1, get 2 free.  Deal…24 steaks for $18.  I got ice cream for 2 for $5, a huge bag of chicken nuggets for $5, Mini Corn Dogs for $5, Power Ade for 44 cents (I already stocked up for the same price last week but bought six more), 3# bags of chicken breasts for $5 each, 3.5# of 93% lean ground round for $13, three huge beef marrow bones (this would be great for stock but I bought them for our dogs!) for $5, two pounds of bulk sausage for $4, two packs of breakfast sausage for $6, etc.  My total was $107 including tax, and the $5 bouquet of flowers I bought for K’s drama camp performance.  Two milks at $1.89 each, a $2.49 bottle of cleaner and a treat for me…chocolate milk, was also to be had.  Oh, and hot dog buns for tonight’s dinner because I knew I wouldn’t have time to make homemade…they were only $1.25.   I still need butter and eggs (will do Sam’s Club for those) but I’m set for the next week or so.  On $100ish.  Kind of mind-blowing to the queen of the $1500/month grocery budget…  This month I’m spending closer to $150/week or so!

In terms of actual meals, the steak will cover three dinners.  The chicken will cover two, with leftovers.  The bulk sausage will create sausage gravy for two breakfasts and the link sausage will cover two breakfasts.  The ground beef will be 2-3 meals…I’m planning burgers, meatloaf and albondigas soup.  The corn dogs and chicken nuggets are lunches/snacks/fast grabs, hot dog buns are for a meal of hot dogs and sweet corn (that I already have).

One thing I noticed shopping Safeway for the first time in a long time…their prices are VERY high.  I only purchased things on steep sale.  I saw many items that were twice as expensive than I normally pay at Walmart or Fry’s (Kroger).  Keeping an eye on prices is key to finding the deals. 🙂

Recap:
Groceries ~ $107
Breakfast ~ $10.36
Lunch/Snacks for K’s last day of camp ~ $8

 

Low-Spend June: Day 15

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I had to order new character shoes!  I’m in Shrek and we open a week from today.  I’m only in ensemble and have very little stage time, so even though my character shoes have become WAY too large, I was going to make due.  When wearing two pair of padded peds didn’t help, I decided I’d have to break down and get new shoes because as much as I didn’t want to pay the $40ish, I also didn’t want to injure myself or feel unsteady dancing and running around!  My current ones are 5 years old and still look practically new, despite the fact that I’ve worn them a LOT, including to square dancing and out on concrete.  I thought they’d pretty much last forever but I didn’t anticipate that a mere 10% weightloss would cause them to become dangerously loose!  :/

I found nice ones on Amazon for $36.75 + tax with Prime shipping and free returns, so I ordered one a half size down and one a full size down. They’re a different brand and hopefully ONE will fit well.  I’m thinking I’ll want them snuggish, since I hope to lose more weight and better too snug than too loose!

So, $80 on Amazon for the two shoes; one of which will be returned.

Also, I spent $10 on a hair dryer wall mount (needed…I alm0st electrocuted myself recently), $16 on a hair dryer with a retractable cord (see previous comment), $4 on a two-hole punch hubs needs for work and $3.50 on prongs for folders punched with aforementioned two-hole punch.

Low-Spend June: Day 14

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I spent $102 at JoAnn this AM.  I didn’t NEED to make my own costumes for our show, but being larger, hard to fit, etc. I decided I’d feel better if I did.  I have been planning to make costumes for the ren faire and every year I don’t start in time…so I want to do this anyway…the timing just isn’t ideal being I’m trying not to spend if it’s not necessary.

But, did I mention the costumer is finding these costumes rather than making them…and has not yet found anything for me for two of the needed three?  One almost fit but was so tight in the chest that I couldn’t breathe (while it was enormous everywhere else…even on me!) and it was also hideous and scratchy.  She says she has more to try and I told her if she finds something better than what I make, I’ll wear her’s but…I’m thinking mine will be better.

In the past I’ve made my own costumes but I’ve typically thrown them together last minute and didn’t feel like they were sewn well enough to keep. This time I’m starting earlier and I’ll pay attention to detail, and I’ll keep them for future shows and of course the AZ Renaissance Festival!  One is a ren-era peasant dress and one is a ren-era gown…both will be used again and again between Halloween, ren faire and plays.  I chose comfortable fabrics that I won’t mind wearing. Definitely not a dire need but a want/need and something that WILL be used a lot.  The show opens in 8 days and it’s majorly stressing me out that I’m still “hoping” that two suitable costumes will appear for me.

And in regard to my total…I shopped sale fabrics and used a 20% off coupon on top of sales and for the ones that weren’t on sale…those were ones I chose because they’re already affordable.  I remember panne velour when it was $2.99/y…now it’s $6.99/y and one of the least expensive apparel fabrics I found.  Stretchy AND fancy-looking is a win-win.  One that I purchased was a 29.99/y eyelet knit that was on sale for $7.99/y…it didn’t ring up that way so I had to “fight” for the deal, but I did.  I used $1.99/y sale muslin for the body of my peasant dress…it’s a tea-dyed color and so nice for the price!  I did not buy the trim yet though…that will be another expense.

Breakfast ~ $12 at Jack.

Post-camp snack since we had to go straight from camp to music and I didn’t think to bring anything ~ $7.

Post-music, pre-rehearsal dinners because I didn’t think or have time for an alternative ~ $19.

Low-Spend June: Day 13

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Pre-camp breakast, $8.26 at Jack in the Box.  Their breakfast sandwiches are WAY overpriced.

I met my oldest for a scary Dr’s appointment that turned out not to be scary…we went to Ihop to celebrate.  She offered to treat but I didn’t want her to spend the $$, so I spent $28.

We needed a few things at Walmart…Aleve, hubby’s caffeine pills, a universal remote for his DVD player in his office…he doesn’t really understand the concept of waiting for things you don’t NEEEEEEED right then…hence the remote.  He works hard so I don’t force him to follow my rules when I do this.  And truthfully I spend a lot more than he does.  So, that’s how we ended up buying him two more pair of short, two pair of slacks and two more shirts…bringing our grand total to $146.  I’m just glad he likes Wrangler and doesn’t mind buying it at Walmart!

Low-Spend June: Day 12

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Katie goes to drama camp a few times a year…just a week of full days of camp at our local community theater.  She loves it.  Our splurge has been the breakfasts, which would have been less expensive if hubby and I had the willpower to NOT also get a breakfast item, but alas…we’re weak.  Since we have to leave the house early and she’s been staying up too late (summer break), I decided to let the breakfast splurges live on…it’s a special treat for her.  This week also begins our 4 hour per evening Shrek rehearsals, and I’ve been wiped during the day so haven’t done as much cooking as I’d like, but I’m trying.

Today we did McD’s and Dakota was along for the ride, so we spent $10 on food for the three of us.  Shamefully, we had Taco Bell later in the day for $9.54.  Less than $20 isn’t too bad, right?  Things always start to break down when we’re extra busy.  I did make a real dinner, thankfully!

 

Low-Spend Day: June 8

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Today I’m making a few batches of rolls in sandwich and hot dog size and maybe, just maybe, I’ll try another bread recipe that might be less dense.

I don’t have any shopping or billpaying planned, but I did spend a crazy amount of time on the phone with PennyMac and USAA this AM, because yes folks…somewhere between USAA and PennyMac, our $1500 mortgage payment is LOST.  (This is why I was stressed and trying to justify eating a whole cake yesterday…)

The day is still young and I still want bakery cake…

Low-Spend Day: June 7

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I was pretty good today.  I went to Fry’s, where I spent $63 on groceries/household/personal.  This included stocking up on 24 bottles of Powerade (44 cents each for the 30oz and it’s the ONLY thing that really works when I get really bad headaches), some sparkling water (six 88 cent bottles), body wash ($1.50 each for 22oz) and some cheap make-up.  I needed a new mascara and found waterproof for $1.57/tube.  I got three since I really should replace that stuff monthly. especially as a contact lens wearer.  I got a powder I needed ($4), a clearance lip gloss ($1.59), two new 99 cent eye liners (those things really do dry out and get impossible to work with over time!) and a couple clearance make-up brushes for a few dollars.  I also got Goldfish crackers (kid snack), Mint Milanos (mom snack) and a roast (huge sale…it was only $6) and some chicken to marinate/grill because I’m craving it.  I put back sushi, fresh flowers and a cake (yes, I was having a stressful day…) because those things definitely were not justifiable in any way.

At Dollar Tree I got paper towels, a big bowl to keep ice in (it’s all over the freezer, since we buy bagged and it doesn’t like to stay in the bags) and a few packages of candy for an upcoming movie visit.  That trip was only $8.

I picked up some prescriptions ~ $5.82 for three generics.

We ate lasagna #2 today, and yesterday, I had to toss both chicken enchilada casseroles.  Long story but my plan of letting the rice cook in all that extra moisture my casseroles seem to generate, did not work.  :/

 

Low-Spend June: Day 6

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I baked bread and rolls.  The rolls were amazing and the bread was a little dense.  Or a lot dense.  It’s great for eating warmed with a little butter but a bit…um…dense for sandwiches.  I’m considering sticking with the roll recipe and making slightly larger rolls for sandwiches…and maybe experiementing with morphing it into a recipe that can stand up to being a loaf…

I went to Sprout’s where I spent $58.  It was mostly produce, a little cheese…honestly it was one of those “what did I get for $60?” trips if I’m really being truthful.  I tried very hard to be conscious of WHAT I was buying and WHY…and took Katie and Dakota to help me stay on track, but the results were still somewhat “meh.”  We did need fruits and veggies though…that’s one thing I don’t compromise on if I don’t absolutely have to.  I bought two $1.50 bags of cookies, a $2.50 container of gummy bears and a $4 container of chocolates.  So around $10 in “splurges.”

Low-Spend June: Day 5

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Heading into day five and thinking about filling in some blanks with food these next couple weeks.

One lasagna down, one still in the freezer.

Pork tenderloins gone, but provided two generous dinners, so yay.

Two chicken enchilada casseroles, still in the freezer.  Moving one to fridge to defrost.  I’d love to grab a bag of chips and some avocados so I can serve guac with it.

Lots of taco meat still in the fridge…more burritos plus a Taco Tuesday this week.

Ribs that I defrosted a few days ago…I really want to braise them all day.  Hoping to get them in the oven early this morning for Monday night’s dinner.

We’re getting low on bread, so I’m baking this week.  Younger daughter is NOT happy about having homemade bread for sandwiches, so I hope I can find a good recipe she likes.  I’m planning to make scones and muffins as well, so hopefully there will be some love for that.

I got two packages of uncured beef hot dogs ($2.50 each!) and they’ll need homemade buns.  I can do this!

I found a recently purchased LARGE can of canned chicken in the pantry.  If I can dig up an avocado or two, we LOVE chicken salad with avocado.  No bread needed!

We’re also getting low on produce.  I’m planning on taking advantage of double ad day at Sprout’s this Wednesday.  They’re having $1.77/lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (I have cheap salad dressing to use as marinade and we LOVE grilled chicken), $3.99/lb 90% lean ground beef (think: burgers on homemade buns) and grapes will be 77 cents per pound.  They also have a few other produce deals, and I’ll pick up lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower (77 cents per pound…great deal) and a few other things.  I haven’t set a budget for this shopping trip yet.  I’m thinking something in the $50-60 range would be reasonable and will get us enough produce to last several days, plus chicken and beef to fill out the menu for the first half of June.

Exciting to think that we’re already 5 days in, and 10 days away from payday again.  I did my best to pay bills ahead this month, which leaves the checking account lighter than I’m used to, but also removes the stress of worrying about leaving enough money for bills whilst buying everything everyone wants, food included.

 

 

 

Low-Spend June: Day 4

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The hardest part of this plan has been explaining the whole deal to the hubby and kids, although they’ve all been great sports about me saying no to Taco Bell or shopping trips just to “look,” etc.

Today my 12yo and I went to Dollar Tree.  I thought I’d try purchasing paper towels, trash bags and those sorts of things there, rather than Walmart.  We also had been planning to cheer up some friends who recently had a death in the family.  Our families have been trading a dog skeleton (Halloween decoration) back and forth with various costumes and treats.  His name is “Sticks.”  We bought him a grass skirt and lei, and we got some water toys and candy for the kids.  Sticks will deliver that in a plastic margarita glass this evening.  We do the ding-dong ditch thing.  I also got shampoo, condition, trash bags, papers towels, food storage containers, plastic spray bottles (for homemade cleaners), Oxy bleach and a couple other things.  Total was $33.

After, we hit up Walmart and made a few returns.  I bought milk, hot dogs, generic lunchables ($1 each), gatorade and cookies for daughter’s upcoming week at camp, refilled a five gallon water jug, got sugar, wine (for a recipe), olive oil and a few cans of my beloved Peace Tea.  I would much rather pack her a sandwich or other lunch/snacks for camp, but apparently you’re cool if you bring something terribly processed and prepackaged. 🙂  My walmart trip was $66, to which I applied my $29 gift card plus $37 in cash…all from my returns.  I had about 6 dollars left over as well.  So nothing out of pocket there today.

Low-Spend June: Day 3

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It’s still early in the day, so I may have to update if I don’t make it through the day without buying SOMETHING ELSE.

I just spent $38.58 but it was on something I desperately need…two new bras.  I had a 40% off coupon for LaneBryant and I only ordered two of my beloved wire-free t-shirt bras because my current stash of four are all very stretched out.  I’m losing weight but ordered the same size, assuming mine have lost their oooomph with years of going through the dryer.  The plan is to reserve the new ones for when better support matters, not dry them in the dryer, and try to make due until I’ve lost even more weight (hoping!).  Under $40 really isn’t too shabby for two good bras.

I also paid our cell phone bill which was higher than normal because our oldest left our plan and we were still paying off some penalties.  She had planned to reimburse us for those, but as a birthday gift, we told her we’d take care of it.  This one was $306.  Next payment should only be $260 and our 18yo will be paying his share starting with June’s bill.

Update:  The day is over and the only additional $$ I spent was $1.98 for two bottles of cold water.  We were out of water at home this AM, and the kids and I had rehearsal, so I ran down to the Valero to get those two bottles.  I was so tempted to get some sort of treat or soda or breakfast sandwich, but I stayed true to my plan and just got two 99 cent bottles of water, and we made due with the bananas we took from home.  😀  We ate leftover lasagna for lunch and had leftover pork loin made into pulled pork with some homemade white rolls.  😀