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.

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 had my first acupuncture appointment today, and I have another scheduled for next Friday. I'll submit these to my insurance company and see what they cover.

Nothing really to report - I think it's a process rather than a one-time thing.

I wish insurance covered massage - I'd do that every week in a heartbeat.

I am trying acupuncture this Friday to see if I can get some relief from my migraines. I'm going on 48 hours of this one - it comes and goes in term of its intensity, so at least there are some breaks.

I think my health insurance covers acupuncture, though to what extent I do not know.

I hope it helps - I'll post an update if anyone is curious.

Inspired by flash and her seemingly infinite supply of coupons and know-how, I have been emailing companies I like and inquiring about coupons. The latest set of coupons to arrive in the mail came from Nature Made. I signed up for their 'club' and saw that they have printable coupons. I emailed them and let them know that the store I typically buy from does not accept printed coupons. In turn, they mailed me three $1 off coupons. Nice.

As my mom often says, it doesn't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no.

I spent about $29 today on various OTC items, as well as dental floss. It's nice to be able to submit that for reimbursement. Even though the money that comes back to us is technically ours anyway, it feels like extra income because it's taken out of the paycheck and lowers the take-home pay. I'll add these receipts to the envelope I have going. I was going to give the receipts to DH at the end of last month, but it seemed like a lot of paper pushing for not a lot of reimbursement. I'll hold off until the end of this month, especially if I can get myself into the dentist this month.

Edited to add that I made a dental appointment for the end of the month. What fun.

Money saved today -
1. carpooled
2. used gift card for coffee - it was the 7th one, so next one is free
3. breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert at home

Money earned -
1. 2 tutoring appts.

I mailed in the claim form for two prescriptions. I ought to get back about $190. I've also started my 2006 spreadhseet to track medical expenses. We're setting aside the full allowable amount this year in the medical reimbursement plan at DH's work. I was pretty organized with receipts and such last year, but I want to do even better this year. I also want to keep track of over the counter things like contact solution and ibuprofen. It can all be reimbursed through the plan.

Earlier this evening I was feeling lazy and wanted to order out for dinner, or go out, but instead I grabbed stuff out of the freezer and pantry. Another day closer to the end of the month and sticking to our budget.

Spending today:
$5 for lunch at DD's school
$1.95 for snack
$2.60 for latte
$32+ for gas
$4.25 at 99 cent store for TP and shower gel

Had a migraine come on last night that Maxalt helped tame. Have another one tonight that doesn't seem to be budging.

I went over our budget last night, updating things based on last year's numbers and this year's projected income. Still need to finalize things.

I may have a parttime, short-term job starting up soon. It's pretty likely, but no contract has been signed yet. It would be doing pretty basic web site maintenance for a company here in town, as a contractor. They pay ought to be pretty good. Hopefully my available hours will work for them.

I'm embarking on a new plan of attack when it comes to my migraines - one that is more holisitic in its approach. Spent a bunch of money on supplements, herbs, etc today. I'll try just about anything at this point. It's been a bad few months, and my quality of life needs to improve.

I got a nice looking new wall clock for the kitchen today. We needed a new one, as the old one wasn't keeping time anymore, despite putting in a new battery. This new one looks good with the new look of our kitchen, and I'm happy with it. It only cost $10, but it's a nice change. The old one has been around since I was in college, I think. I would say I got some good out of it.

I carpooled every day this week with regards to driving to school. It's nice only making the roundtrip once instead of twice, or being able to come back home instead of hanging out up there for hours.

DD and DH are out back, trying to look at the stars. It's really windy here, though, so I don't think they'll stay out too long. I hate, hate, hate wind.

Quiet, rainy day here.

We've maxed out our medical reimbursement for the year, and we still have three dentist appointments coming up. We estimated conservatively this year, being our first year of having such a benefit. I've been tracking our medical expenses this year, so we ought to have a better idea of what to set aside next year.

10/1 - 10/17:
Groceries: $191.69 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $69.07 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $260.76, or $15.34/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31