08.21.08
I avoided using my savings
I had a surprise bill this week that I paid with my blow money. It wasn’t a lot – $25 – but when that’s your blow money for the week, that’s pretty much it. So, I had a little extra money leftover from groceries that got me through the week. I mean a little — less than $10. I really didn’t like only having that much cash on hand, but I resisted the urge to use what little money I have in savings at the moment ($130). I don’t have a lot there and am getting it up to $1k, and don’t want to start taking it out here and there. That’s not what it’s for.
So, I got through the week and will get my check cashed in the morning and I’ll have that extra wiggle room of my blow money. Although I felt a little nervous this week, everything was fine. My car had gas (budgeted), I had food every day for lunch (budgeted groceries and cooked meals), my public transportation for the month is paid for (monthly pass, budgeted), and I’m down to getting Starbucks once a week at the most (budgeted).
It feels good to know that I was able to do it.
07.31.07
Avoided shopping spree
Last weekend I bought a nice dress to wear to a work luncheon on Friday. Long story short, all the funders of the programs we’re honoring at the luncheon will be there so I thought I should wear something nicer than my usual skirt and somewhat casual blouse, but everything else is more for fall and winter and it’s hot and humid (read: disgusting) here this week. So, I went to Catherine’s to see what they had, figuring I’d only buy something it if it really looked good, sale or not. I tried on quite a few items that were OK, but not great. Then I tried on a cute dress that looks great and spent $50 on it. Plus, it’s washable!
Sometimes when I buy one item like this it starts a shopping snowball. In the past it has, anyway. On the way to the train station from work I stopped by Dress Barn to see what they had. I actually tried on quite a few items, mostly looked OK and not worth the money, as I’m trying to only buy things that really look good on me, not just “OK.” There was a dress and a beautiful skirt that I put on hold for today, but after thinking about it and looking at my budget, I’m going to call them and ask to put them back out. I really don’t need another skirt unless it’s a plain black knee-length skirt (this isn’t) and the dress is a simple sheath dress that I can get any time. I do plan on buying that dress or something similar to it at some point, as it is a class dress that can be mixed and matched all year, but I don’t have to buy it now.
Whew!
06.25.07
Sale at B&N? What sale?
Say it with me three times fast:
I will not go next door to Barnes & Noble to take advantage of all their current book sales.
I will not go next door to Barnes & Noble to take advantage of all their current book sales.
I will not go next door to Barnes & Noble to take advantage of all their current book sales.
There, I feel better. I go over there on Monday mornings for my weekly Starbucks latte treat. It’s very difficult to walk past all the great sales they are having on books, some of which I’ve been wanting but haven’t bought yet. I have more than enough books at home to keep me busy for quite a while and have told myself not to buy any more until September if I see some at Gettysburg. It will cost me more to get some there than at Amazon, but I’m OK with supporting something like that. My only exception is the Harry Potter 7 book. My will power has limits, and I’ve been waiting quite a while to see what happens and waiting for it to come out in paperback is too much to ask.
On a sidenote, I’m trying to figure out why part of my last entry ended up on some dating blog. I supposed it’s because I have the word “relationship” in my title. It’s nothing bad, and if it gets more people to my blog I don’t have a problem with it. It’s just strange.
