I got a tube of Aquafresh toothpaste today that will cost me 30 cents after I get the rebate. If only I'd had a coupon...then I would have MADE money on the deal. Oh well... I could have waited, I suppose. But 30 cents for toothpaste is still pretty good.

I also sent in a form for a ten dolalar rebate on gas, from one of those trial memberships. I'm no longer a member, so it's a 39 cent experiment to see if I get a check or not.

I spent $6.12 at Rite Aid today, with $3.69 coming back in rebates, for a total spent of $2.43. Picked up some degree deodorant, some softsoap shower gel and some colgate total toothpaste. That comes out to an average of 81 cents per item, which isn't too bad. I have a rebate for the Colgate and used a coupon as well, so I'll come out $1 ahead on that.

Slowly but surely I'm learning how to do this coupon/rebate thing.

I had another day of no unnecessary spending yesterday, which makes a grand two for the past week. It's amazing to me how hard it is to go a whole day without spending even a couple of dollars on something I truly don't need.

DD had a wonderful time at the birthday party yesterday, and taking my in-laws out to breakfast was enjoyable as well.

I think I'll tuck some sandwiches in a cooler for our playdate after church. It'll be right about lunchtime, and I think we'll be glad to have them.

I've got a $10 rebate to fill out a a $5 gift card to send for, both from Petsmart. Need to take care of those tomorrow and get them in the mail. I also need to fill out the paperwork for DD's new account (well, an account for college). I printed it out at least a week ago and still haven't sent it in. Need to follow up on the new car's payments as well - we've had it a month now and still haven't received a payment coupon book. Need to take it in for its 1000 mile service - I have an appointment already made but need to look it up as it isn't on my calendar. Things to do...

DD and I went to the fair, and DH met us there about an hour later after work. We rode some rides, ate fair food and ran into some friends. DD saw a friend from ballet whom she's known since they were both about three, and they had a blast riding rides together. It's 9:30 p.m., we're all tired, but DD is still going strong.

The kittens are running back and forth between the bathroom they stay in and the hallway. Pitter patter pitter patter...16 little feet running back and forth. They are happy to have their people home.

Some budget updates for August:
Groceries: $43.28 (budget: $300)
Dining out: $33.02 (budget: $120)

I'm due to get a few things from the grocery store, and there's a recent trip DH made that I haven't entered yet.

We've got some more medical receipts saved up, so I think next week I'll gather them together for DH to take to submit at work. Which reminds me that I bought some vitamins not too long ago and forgot to save the receipt for reimbursement. Bummer.

I've sold about $30 worth of books this week at half.com. Nice to see the pile dwindle, and nice to get the deposit from half.com too. Not tracking my challenge anymore, but if I were this would go into it.

Yesterday was a good day for not spending. Aiming for another good day today, too. Tomorrow evening we're going to the fair. Our tickts and ride tickets are already paid for, but I know we'll be eating some fair food for dinner.

Read a headline that CA gas prices are likely going to go up 20 cents a gallon. Wow.

One of the things that has been on my to-do list is take some money that we've had set aside for DD and find a better way to invest it. I have some funds bookmarked, so this month I'm going to go back and look at them and try to take some action.

August...four weeks left of summer for me. Time has gone by way too fast this summer. I still have a lot to do and figure out so that I am comfortable the first day of school.

I'm almost ready to put DD's new loft together. I'll check to see if anything needs a little more paint, and I'll see about getting some 3/4" plywood to support the mattress, and then it will be ready to assemble! DD is looking forward to trying out her new bed.

Lunch tomorrow with friends fell through, so I don't need to worry about getting things together for that. Hopefully DD and I can get to the pool at least once this week. Things have cooled off considerably around here, and we are back to having thick fog in the mornings. If it burns off before lunch the afternoon will be nice. I'd like to go to the pool, given we have passes tha are already paid for and so it makes for what fels like a free activity.

Have I mentioned the kittens lately? They are doing great. They are on to kitten food now, though I still give them some milk in a bottle once or twice a day too, just to be sure. I had to move them into our bathroom, as they were climbing up and over the enclosure that I had them in. I have some recent pictures; I'll attach one. They are so fun.


Climbing my leg...