The indie community is getting together for a fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. The initial goal is $1000. A shop has been set up at Etsy, and as of this writing 85 items have been donated to it. Take a look!

My IL's went car shopping last night, and we went along to help out. They took us out to dinner afterwards for Greek food, which was nice.

I think some of the fabric I bought to make a top for DD shrank more than usual when I pre-washed it, as no matter how I lay out the pattern pieces there just isn't enough there. Frustrating.

8/1/05 - 8/28/05:
Groceries: $221.99
Dining: $117.70
Starbucks: $30.65
Total: $370.34 ($13.23/day)

Spent the day at Disneyland today - we have year passes, so admission and parking were already covered. Still spent money on snacks, drinks and dinner, but all in all it was a really fun day. Hot, but fun. Went on Space Mountain, now that it's open again. It seemed faster and darker than it used to be. I remember when it was new, way back when. Growing up, my best friend's dad worked for Disneyland, so we got to go quite often, for free. Fun, fun, fun. DD loves going - she wanted to ride the carousel first thing, so we did.

8/1/05 - 8/25/05:
Groceries: $215.84
Dining: $93.89
Starbucks: $24.40
Total: $334.13 ($13.37/day)

$2.60 at sbux yesterday and $20.50 going out to eat.

I set up a scholarshare program (529) for DD and am having some money automatically transferred to it each month out of my checking account. I'm also having a small amount of money transferred to my ING account each month. Figure the amounts are such that by year end, they'll add up to something, yet I won't feel them missing out of my checking account. As time goes by, I can increase those amounts by five or ten dollars, a little bit here and there. Paying myself first, as it were.

Yesterday I kept thinking it was Thursday for some reason.

8/1/05 - 8/23/05:
Groceries: $215.84
Dining: $93.89
Starbucks: $18.15
Total: $327.88 ($14.26/day)

Spent some money on two patterns plus fabric and notions for a dress and a top for DD today. Also ordered a workout DVD for myself from BN.com.

Ended up spending yesterday - $8 at the thrift store for a pair of pants and two skirts for DD; $32 on Keds for DD; $16 at Bath and Body Works; and, $13 on a lunch bag at the Hello Kitty store.

Today we're going to the park for a couple of hours, and possibly to ballet early to make up a class. I think we will, as the level I class has had hardly any kids coming to it over the summer. During DD's other make-up, she was the only one, so she got a private lesson for the group rate! The other option is Saturday morning, but I think I'll take her today. We're going camping Saturday night, so we'll have enough going on around here that morning as it is.

DH is tutoring tonight and tomorrow night. That'll bring in around $80-$100.

Schools have started here, so soon my tutoring will start again as well. I told one family that I would see their two youngest kids for sure, and one other family that if I could figure out my schedule I would work with their son, too. These are both returning families - one of the dad's is DD's ped. I'd like to raise my rates, as I know I am underselling myself, but I don't want to do that to these longtime clients.

Spending coming up this week: $12 for camping Saturday night, $15 copay Thursday for a dr's visit for DD, and I need to order replacement air filters (don't know what they'll cost).

8/1/05 - 8/21/05:
Groceries: $181.13
Dining: $73.39
Starbucks: $15.55
Total: $270.07 ($12.86/day)

Picked up a cute top today for 50 cents for DD at a garage sale down the street. Went out to breakfast - love to do that! Had to go to Green Thumb and buy some natural pest repellant and a sprayer, in an effort to get the fleas under control outside. Our poor dog is really suffering this year, and he own't let us put drops on him, so the best we can do is give him Program tablets, bathe him, wash his bedding, sweep and shake out throw rugs regularly, and try to mitigate the problem outside. This is the first time we've ever had a problem this bad with fleas on him, poor buddy.

Took DD to a skating birthday party yesterday. Everything for her waspaid for, but I had to pay $6.50 to skate. Turns out I could have gotten away with not paying - they didn't stamp my hand or do anything to indicate I'd paid. Oh well - what goes around comes around, and I'm an honest person. I did get to try out the skates DD got me for Christmas, which was fun.

I've made about $9 this week from books at half.com. I have two grocery bags full of books listed there, and it would be great if they all sold. Did some spending yesterday - birthday gift for one of DD's friends, gas for the car, and coffee, chocolate milk and bagel at a coffeehouse near DD's school (bought those so I could test out their free wifi and make sure I could actually use it, which I can ).

We're meeting some friends today at a park, so I'll pack a lunch to bring along. Then it's the birthday party later this afternoon. Busy day.

8/1/05 - 8/18/05:
Groceries: $173.85
Dining: $63.39
Starbucks: $15.55
Total: $252.79 ($14.04/day)

Went to the farmer's market today and spent $10 on fresh produce, including some basil to go with dinner tonight - pasta, salad and mozz/tomato/basil slices. Yummy.

8/1/05 - 8/16/05:
Groceries: $151.84
Dining: $63.39
Starbucks: $15.55
Total: $230.78 ($14.42/day)

A few weeks back, I had a bad razor blade. It was dull from the get-go. In the past, I would have tossed it and been annoyed, but done nothing about it. This time around, however, I decided to write the company and let them know about it. I did, and they replied. Included with their reply was a $10 coupon for my next purchase. I was so pleased! I've been using this razor brand for years, and it's the first time I've ever had a problem. By sending me that coupon, they kept my business for quite a long time more, I'm sure. Pretty cool.

DD and I need to get a birthday gift for a friend of her who is turning six. The party is this Friday afternoon. It's a friend from ballet, so perhaps we'll get something ballet-themed. We'll see. Groovy Girls have made good presents in the past, both for DD and for her friends, so tat's always an option.

I haven't done any more research on 529 plans and other education investment vehicles, but I haven't forgotten about it either. Just been out of town and then getting caught up here around the house.

DD will get to be in the Nutcracker this year. I don't know what the fee will be for the performance. For the spring show it was $37, and that covered two shows. I suspect this will be a bit more, as there are three performances and the two lowest levels of classes do not particiapte in them.


8/1/05 - 8/14/05:
Groceries: $132.87
Dining: $63.39

Current food totals -

8/1/05 - 8/11/05:
Groceries: $132.87
Dining: $0.00
Starbucks: $15.55
Total: $148.42 ($13.49/day)

I'm back from my trip, and it will take some time to get caught up on things. I have some yarn to return, as I bought more than I needed. I can return some scissors as well, as I didn't need them and they are still in the packaging.

DH put in the new kitchen floor while I was gone and it looks GREAT. Really super. Cost about $400 altogether, maybe a little less. New coutners and a new sink, some fresh paint, and we'll be DONE.

I'll write again later - need to go pick up DD from Spanish.

OK.

I got that yarn and the scissors returned today. Bought enough yarn for two more ponchos for about $14, including some ribbon 'yarn', which I have never worked with.

I was able to deposit a big chunk of money today. The largest portion was from DH's side business, from all the work he's been doing lately. We'll earn more interest on it in one of our personal accounts (as opposed to the business account). The rest came in the form of medical and prescription reimbursements, some tutoring income from DH, and some income from DivaTribe. It's good to see the account balances going up, up, up.

DD and I went to a park down at the beach today for about an hour. It was sunny, but windy. I hate wind, but it was nice to be at the beach and have it actually be somewhat sunny for a change.

Spendy day.

$50+ at michaels on yarn, patterns and a new pair of bamboo circular knitting needles.
$20 at the drugstore on a pedometer and a case to hold my pills on my trip
$10 on a puzzle, a paper dolls book and toothpaste
$75+ on books - a gift for FIL's birthday and some science and math books for DD
$14.50 on pizza

Phew.

I have a simple spreadsheet that shows our total savings balance and total college savings balance, along with a simple graph. I like having the visual summation of how much money we have on the first of each month. (It does not include any retirement accounts.) Our savings total took a big dip in July as a result of paying for DD's tuition for the year in one fell swoop, but I was pleased to see that as of 8/1/05, we had already recouped about $700. DH has been working many, many extra hours doing freelance work, as well as a bit of tutoring again, and it's good to see some of that money starting to roll in. If I can do my part to help keep our spending down and get my own tutoring back up once school starts up again, we'll be doing alright.

I've started thinking about DD's college funds, and how to best invest them over the next 12-13 years. I need to look up the account the bulk of her money is in right now and see what its rate of return is, so that I can compare it to other investment options. I was just looking at California's 529 options. The age-based ones didn't have very good rates, from what I could tell. The socially responsible option had negative return rates for recent periods, but I don't know what the long-term returns have been. I obviously have a lot more research to do, but I'm ready to delve into it all. I think I'll try to turn my research and findings into an article for DivaTribe - two birds with one stone and all that.

Links folks here have already suggested (thank you ) -
http://www.savingforcollege.com/
http://clarkhoward.com/topics/529_plans.html

DD and I head out of town on Thursday for five days. While we're gone DH is going to redo the kitchen floor. For a variety of reasons, including the possibility of mastic with asbestos in it, we're putting Pergo or something similar over what's already in there. I'm not quite sure what it's going to cost, but doing it ourselves will be cheaper than hiring someone else.

8/1 - 8/2:
Groceries: $47.30
Dining: $0
Sbux: $15.55 (added money to my sbux debit card today)
Total: $62.85 ($31.43/day)
($295 budgeted for groceries and $157 for dining out)