Financial news of late... I was looking at a gift I got for my birthday last year and inside the box, I found some birthday money I must have tucked away. $70! I also got $10 last Sunday, unexpectedly, from someone reimbursing me for something (I'd basically written it off). So I took DH and DD out for dinner Sunday night with some of the money and have the rest put away for a couple of planned purchases - a craft purchase and a garden purchase. I also have a $15 B&N gift card from Christmas that I haven't used yet.

Not much else to report. Haven't done any unplanned spending since I last wrote. Groceries are still at $57. The only dining out has been Sunday night, and that was paid for with found money.

There are plenty of things I want, but ultimately I'm having a hard time justifying buying them, given my other desire to save money and rebuild our savings. I'd like a coffee pot with a time on it, but our current coffee maker works just fine. I'd like a small salad spinner, but I may ask for one for my birthday. I like a cookie press to make cookies, but again, that would make a nice gift item. I could really use a new robe, as the one I have was a gift from DH the first Christmas we were dating, 11 years ago.

Want, want, want. Aside from the repairs that need to be done at home, I'd like to get a new front door and re-do the kitchen counters. That really needs to be done sooner than later, as we have a gaping hole behind the kitchen faucet from where the plumbing work was done. That is connected to the backsplash, which is connected to the counters...

I do need to get new glasses and contacts. I'd given up wearing contacts because my eyes are so dry, but now I'm wearing them once a week to my ballet class, and I'm down to my last pair. We do have vision insurance, so at least one set of lenses (glasses or contacts) is covered this year. The rest can be reimbursed through the medical reimbursement plan.

All these big expenses, all these wants. I plod along, trying to save here and there, spending on the things I value most instead of frittering it away on junk.

Did I mention I haven't gone out for coffee since 2006? Doesn't mean I won't go this month, but it does mean I haven't gone so far. A couple of dollars here and there isn't going to pay for a new door or a new fence.