Nothing too interesting to report. I just wanted to catch up on recording my spending since I haven't recorded anything since last Wednesday.

Thursday:
T-shirt to support breast cancer awareness, $10.
Friday:
Snack from vending machine = $1.
Saturday:
Kroger, food = $68.31
Palais Royal:
clothes for wedding = $31.00
Babysitting = $20
Sunday:
Kroger, food = $37.75
Today bought muffin and hot tea, $2.20


saved $9.55 using coupons
add to old $20 challenge total of $52.54
= new total for $20 challenge = $62.09

DGS and I went to a free carnival with some friends last night. The university I work for provided this as part of our homecoming week festivities.
We got free cotton candy and carmel corn and got to ride a few rides.
Ya gotta love free entertainment!


Wednesday spending:
McDonald's : $6.48
Walgreen's: $4.98
saved $9.50 with coupons
add this to $20 challenge
old total: $47.56 + $4.98 =
new total = $52.54

My DH is a catastrophic insurance adjuster. He has been working in Pennsylvania for the past 3 months, working claims for Allstate.
He makes really good money doing this job, but, there have been long spells where there was no work for him.
He has been doing this job since 2005 and I have learned to save our money for when he is not working. It makes budgeting very difficult. Part of our credit card debt was from the last time he spent not working.
I handle all of the finances for our family. He never looks at or pays a bill. He has no idea what we owe and what kind of savings we have. He just trusts me to do all of that.
My husband has always been a very hard worker. We owned a small lumber yard and construction business for many years. We finally went broke doing that in the 90s because the economy was so bad where we lived. But, he always worked 6 days a week and many times he roofed houses because he could make a lot of money doing it.
He went to work for the state for a few years and that steady income was so nice. Always knew what we would have to work with for the month. But, he got to where he didn't like his boss and co-workers so he wanted to do this adjuster thing.
He tried to get a job last time he was home, but didn't even get any interviews. In this economy I guess it is good he has the job he does have now.
But, it is hard with him being gone so much.
We miss him and like I said, financially it is not very reassuring to not ever know how much money you are going to have to work with.

Always before, I would start paying off the CCs by the thousands because his pay is so good.
But, this time, I have decided to just pay $1000 per month extra toward the debt. That way we will have plenty in our checking and saving account to tide us over until the next time he works.
He has been gone about 3 months this time, and I think he will be home soon.
So, maybe he can be home a couple of months for a break and then go somewhere and work for another 3 or 4 months.
We shall see.....

Spending today...
$4.64 = salad for lunch
$6.10 = Walgreens, lotion and cough medicine
$1.00 = car wash to vacuum out car

I found a quarter on the ground on my way into work this morning. I really had to look hard to find this quarter. I wasn't even sure it was one until I knelt down and picked up. For the past few days I have been looking to find money on the ground.
I didn't find any yesterday, but this morning I was really looking hard and I saw something at the edge of the side walk, sticking up, that was brown but it looked like a coin. Sure enough, when I picked it up I saw it was a quarter. Although very dirty and discolored it was some real money.

I walk on that sidewalk every day, to and from my car, and I never noticed that coin before, although, by the looks of it, I would say it has been there for a long, long time. I just wasn't looking for it before.
I got to thinking that is how it is with blessings in my life. Sometimes I have to look really hard to see my blessings, but if I am intent to find something, I realize it has been there all along, I just wasn't seeing it.

My found on the ground total rises to $.52 with my new find.

Yesterdays spending:
$1.90 = postage to send my mom a photo book I had created for her.
$8.40 = Walgreens for necessitites.
$8.65 = 2 pair black pants at the resale shop

Spending --

J. C. Penney-- Had a coupon for $10 off a $10 or more purchase, so I bought two bath towels on sale for 5.99 each. I only had to spend $2.12 for two super nice, brand new bath towels. I get these great coupons from JCP regularly and this is how I like to use them. I update my bath linens this way with very little out-of-pocket money.

I also got a $15 off a $15 or more purchase from JCP in the mail yesterday for my birthday. I really need a new set of bed sheets so I will probably use this one for sheets.

$4.85 = Grilled chicken salad for lunch at McDonald's.
I usually bring salad already prepared from home but was gone all weekend and haven't made it to the store yet. I will have to make it a point to go by the store on my way home from work today before I pickup DGS from after-school care. I don't like paying too much for my food. I could have bought a cheaper lunch but I just spent the past few months working very hard to lose 25 lbs. I feel so much better

$20.00 co-pay for my prescription for Allegra.

Savings --

I moved $13,000.00 from our checking account to an HSBC online savings account today so it will earn some interest until we need it to pay bills.
It is paying 1.10% and my checking account pays nothing. I will see how long I can leave it there.
This online savings is what I use for an auto-deduction from the checking once per week. Just $25 per week, but it adds up.

Made it by the store on the way home and spent $28.00 on groceries.
Found a penney on the ground on the way in the store.
New found money total = $ .27.

My spending for Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

Salad for lunch at work = $4.50
Babysitting = $13.00
Yoga class = $3.00
Walgreen's, nuts on sale BOGO = $6.50
Picked up dog from being boarded over weekend + $24.00

Found on the ground money = 1 quarter and 1 penney = .26.

Spending today.

Breakfast and snacks for work
$3.50
Lunch: $5.75
clothes for Austin at resale shop:
$35.00
Going out to dinner tonight with friends.
$30.00

It does add up, but I hardly spent any money all week. And buying austin's clothes (3-year-old grandson) at the resale shop is very cost effective.
I got several nice (old navy, oshkosh, other brand name) pants and shirts, that had hardly been worn for $35.00.
I think I got seven shirts and 2 pair of jeans for that. Not bad.
I have started buying his clothes at the "nicer" resale shop since he is almost three now and going out to day care everyday. I do buy him clothes at retail prices too. But if I can find a few things at a third or less of the retail price, it really does help.
My husband and I are helping our son with finances until he finishes his schooling.
It is tough going, but we think it is worth it.