Checking in on goals -

1. Take out $160 cash for restaurants and coffee for the month for me and DH. (Did this, and stil have some cash left)
2. Keep grocery spending

It's been a pretty quiet weekend. We have a coupon for a free pumpkin (valued at $4 or less), so I think I'll take DD out for that later today. I'm also going to go get some fabric to make a fall tablecloth - we have one that is very spring/summery, and a couple for winter/Christmas, but nothing that suits this time of year. I have a 40% off coupon for Joanns, in case they don't already have fall fabrics marked down. I try to never pay full price for things there, as they are always marking things down. When I pay full price I feel like I'm ripping myself off.

10/1 - 10/22:
Groceries: $224.96 (goal: $295 or less) 70.04 left
Dining: 98.79 (goal: $160 or less) 61.21 left (though DH may have spent some that I don't know of yet)

Total: $323.75, or $14.72/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $112.78

I made tea to bring with me while waiting during ballet yesterday, and I'll do that again today. I've been bringing my own coffee in the mornings that I'm not going to be going to the coffeehouse to do some work and pass the time while waiting for DD at school. I made a pretty good dinner last night of tofu parmigiana - basically tofu instead of chicken. It was good.

10/1 - 10/21:
Groceries: $224.96 (goal: $295 or less) 70.04 left
Dining: 98.79 (goal: $160 or less) 61.21 left (though DH may have spent some that I don't know of yet)

Total: $323.75, or $15.42/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $112.78

10/1 - 10/20:
Groceries: $224.96 (goal: $295 or less) 70.04 left
Dining: 98.79 (goal: $160 or less) 61.21 left (though DH may have spent some that I don't know of yet)

Total: $323.75, or $16.19/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $112.78

For some reason, I was only charged $1.50 instead of $1.75 for my coffee today. Fine with me. Maybe I've been getting overcharged before? I don't know.

Walked for 15-20 minutes before going to pick up DD today. I'm walking with a friend tomorrow, and I went to yoga on Monday. Decent week for exercise.

10/1 - 10/19:
Groceries: $191.69 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: 98.79 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $290.48, or $15.29/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $112.78

I got a memory foam mattress pad for $40 yesterday at overstock.com. Shipping was a dollar - what a great deal. I've been dealing with a sore back and neck for over a month now, and I'm hoping that improving my sleep will help. I'm also going to get more exercise each week and see if that doesn't help.

I'm going to owe a late fee at the library, something which almost never happens. A CD of some Beatrix Potter stories got lost in the shuffle and is now about 8 days late. I dropped it off this morning.

10/1 - 10/18:
Groceries: $191.69 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: 97.29 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $288.98, or $16.05/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $112.78

Went to Trader Joe's today to pick up cereal, milk, cheese, crackers and a few other items. We have just under $200 left for our budget for the month, with 15 days remaining. Will have to keep an eye on that.

My house smells so good - DD and I made brownies. Yummmmmm......

10/1 - 10/16:
Groceries: $191.69 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $69.07 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $260.76, or $16.30/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

Camping was nice. Makes me want to do it more often, if only to get away for a night now and then.

Got a massage today. The past couple of months have been bad for me in terms of migraines. I'm hoping today's massage will help break that cycle. I do feel a lot looser and less tense. DH is going for one tomorrow. I gave him two gift certificates for our anniversary, and he hasn't used them yet. I paid for mine today with fun money he and DD gave me back at Mother's Day that I hadn't used yet. Aren't we crazy?

10/1 - 10/15:
Groceries: $121.09 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $69.07 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $190.16, or $12.68/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

No spending so far today. I need to figure out dinner on the run this evening, as we are going from DD's rehearsal to her class' campout, with no time to stop and have a proper meal. It may wind up being something as simple as pb & j. I have two loaves of pumpkin bread in the oven right now, as our contribution towards breakfast tomorrow.

10/1 - 10/14:
Groceries: $121.09 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $55.37 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $176.46, or $12.60/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

Dh found out today that his company is giving all 401k participants 3% of their base pay over a specified twelve-month period and depositing it into their accounts, as a means of profit-sharing. Woo hoo!! Free money!

DH's raise also went into effect as of last Friday, I believe. Once we see the new take-home pay, we're going to up our 401k contribution.

And, after a lot of whining and complaining on my part about slow sales in my store, I made a sale this morning. A small one, but a sale nonetheless. This week I've added three new bracelets from one of the original artists to join the store, as well as some full and half aprons my mom made (some over vintage patterns) and an aran stitch ladies cardigan that my mom knitted.

And as a plug for the store - 10% of all sales are being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Any of my items (or my mom's) will yield a 30% donation.

10/1 - 10/13:
Groceries: $121.09 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $55.37 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $176.46, or $13.57/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

At some point I'll have to add in what DH has spent from his $80 for dining out. I got $15.70 from when we got sandwiches one evening, but that's all I have from him.

He got me my coffee beans this morning, and brought home a free cup of coffee too.

10/1 - 10/12:
Groceries: $121.09 (goal: $295 or less) 4.71
Dining: $55.37 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $176.46, or $14.71/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

Ate dinner at home, but spent $5.01 on coffee...and tea...this morning. DH is getting me Sbux coffee beans tomorrow morning after he exercises, so I won't feel like I have to stop at Sbux in the morning. Running out of coffee beans is not good for me or my budget.

10/1 - 10/11:
Groceries: $116.38 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $52.37 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $168.75, or $15.34/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

Went to Vons for dishwashing soap and came out $21 later. Oh well. We needed eggs and I wanted to get some chocolate chips and flour for baking, and I found a couple of really good deals in their tiny clearance area. Turns out I had flour at home - forgot about that. I think I'll freeze one of the bags. I'm pretty siure you can freeze flour safely. This time of year I do more baking anyway, so it'll be used up before too long. I was going to buy Starbucks coffee, but it's cheaper by the pound if I go to an actual Starbucks to get it, so that's what I'll do. I got a free cup of coffee once as well when I bought a pound of beans, so I'll ask about that next time I'm in.

10/1 - 10/10:
Groceries: $116.79 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $47.36 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $164.15, or $16.42/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $78.31

DH, DD and I saw the new Wallace and Grommit movie today. I liked it - I think they're cute. At matinee prices it cost us about $18 to see the show.

10/1 - 10/9:
Groceries: $95.79 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $47.36 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $143.15, or $15.91/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $32.50

No mom's night out for me - I got hit with a bad migraine instead. I've managed to have some cereal and a slice of toast today.

10/1 - 10/8:
Groceries: $42.80 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $36.05 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $78.85, or $9.76/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $32.50

I agreed to go out for a women's night out this Saturday. It will be dinner, and I've been thinking about the money budgeted for dining out this month. It's at a Mexican place - if I order a la carte and stay away from alcohol (something I tend to do anyway with my migraines) I should be OK.

DH filled up our second car with gas the other day, and now the everyday car needs to be filled up as well. Carpooling/limiting driving went well for me this week. I only drove two roundtrips in one day once this week, didn't drive at all on Tuesday, and made just one roundtrip the other three days.

10/1 - 10/7:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $36.05 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $62.08, or $8.87/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $32.50

Lunch today was at a vegetarian restaurant that is fairly new, and it was good! But it was also $13, so I'm not gong to be doing that very often. Still, it was nice to have lunch with a friend and enjoy good food and good conversation.

10/1 - 10/6:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $33.45 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $59.48, or $9.91/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $0

If I bring my own mug, coffee is $1.75 instead of $1.88. Tiny savings, but a savings nonetheless. However, buying a $3 cinnamon roll is just lunacy. I am not making a habit of that! x( I agreed to meet a friend for lunch tomorrow, at a place I've never been, so I have no idea what prices or menu options will be like.

It is SO windy here today. I hate the wind. Aside from being annoying and toppling things over outside, it triggers migraines for me - the change in pressure gets me every time.

10/1 - 10/5:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $20.45 (goal: $160 or less)
Total: $46.48, or $9.30/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $0

Had coffee at home again, didn't have to drive today and packed snacks and lunch for the field trip. That means today has been a no-spend day so far. Tomorrow I'll spend at least $1.88 at the coffee house I hang out at on Wednesdays, and same goes for Friday when I'm up there.

Edit - got take-out on our way to DH's parents' house, so add $15.70 for today.

10/1 - 10/4:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $15.70 (goal: $160 or less)
Total: $41.73, or $10.43/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $0

I dusted off our espesso maker this morning and made my own latte. Given I buy Starbucks espresso roast coffee for my regular coffee maker at home already, it tasted pretty good! Every day I don't buy a latte is $2.60 I'm saving. I'm OK with going once or twice a week, though.

I'm not driving at all tomorrow - DD and I are riding with another family for a field trip.

10/1 - 10/3:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $0 (goal: $160 or less)
Total: $26.03, or $8.66/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $0

DH and I took money out of the bank today for our dining out experiment. We've each got $80 - we'll see how it goes. I thought last night we'd be chipping in half for pizza with friends, but one of them decided he wanted to make dinner for us instead, so we only had to bring a spinach salad and some drinks.

10/1 - 10/2:
Groceries: $26.03 (goal: $295 or less)
Dining: $0 (goal: $160 or less)

Total: $26.03, or $13.01/day (goal: $455, or about $14.68/day)

Gas: $0

1. Take out $160 cash for restaurants and coffee for the month for me and DH.
2. Keep grocery spending

According to our budget, we have $160 for dining (including Starbucks) and $295 for groceries, for a total of $455.

Totals this year -

Jan = $486.55 (d=160.55, g=326)
Feb = $495.51 (d=144.18, g=351.33)
Mar = $713.33 (d=297.52, g=415.81)
Apr = $516.21 (d=205.49, g=310.72)
May = $493.98 (d=216.87, g=277.11)
June = $460.48 (d=, g= )
July = $440.52 (d=201.05, g=239.47)
August = $410.21 (d=$169.91, g=$240.30)
September = $554.96 (d=$224.14 , g=$330.82)

I'm thinking about taking out $160 for October and reserving it for dining out. When it's gone, it's gone. If there's money leftover (ha ha) it can carry over to November. I'm going to go through my totals and see how many months we came in at or under budget for each category.

The recipes I want to try (but need to buy a few ingredients still) are cheesy eggplant orzo casserole, spinach lasagna, and Italian lentil vegetable stew (all from savingdinner.com's vegetarian subscription) and Tex Mex lasagna (from 30daygourmet.com). I ought to be able to freeze all four.

School pictures are coming up, and it looks like we'll spend around $50 there.

I found a gas station where all three grades of gas were under $3 this morning. It's the only one I've seen like that lately. DH filled up the car yesterday, but I don't know yet wht it cost. I'll add it to my total here once I have that figure.

9/1 - 9/30:
Groceries: $330.82
Dining: $204.34
Starbucks: $19.80

Total: $554.96 (about $18.50/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $206.56

If dining had stayed around $60 I would have met the goal this month. We weren't even close. October will be better...
I've got three or four new recipes to try, and I'm going to try and freeze some of them as well - make twice as much as we need and stick the second half in the freezer.

9/1 - 9/28:
Groceries: $330.82
Dining: $204.34
Starbucks: $15.70

Total: $550.86 (about $19.67/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $169.03

DD and I both need to go to the dentist next month, and I need to find out how much money we have left for medical reimbursement through DH's work. I've got a small bill or two that we could submit - $20 or so - and also am expecting a bigger bill from DD's appointment at the ped this summer. That one is going to be upwards of $170, I think.

9/1 - 9/28:
Groceries: $260.11
Dining: $191.34
Starbucks: $15.70

Total: $467.15 (about $16.68/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $169.03

I really need to plan to pack a lunch for myself AND eat it when I know I'm going to be away from home all day. I still need to figure out some new meals to try, or at least dig out some recipes/menus that we haven't had in a while. I'm feeling uninspired, tired, and in a rut when it comes to dinner. Story of my life it seems, when it comes to that meal.

9/1 - 9/27:
Groceries: $260.11
Dining: $187.46
Starbucks: $15.70

Total: $463.27 (about $17.16/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $169.03

If we don't spend any more money on food this month, we'll still come in over $13/day. It was a tough month around here, food-wise, to stick to the goal.

9/1 - 9/24:
Groceries: $260.11
Dining: $142.79
Starbucks: $13.10

Total: $416.00 (about $17.33/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $149.03

Bought two take and bake pizzas last night for just under $16. Dh was having a friend over for dinner and to talk about building a web site, and DD and I weren't going to be home until around 6, so it just made life easier. We have a huge bag of fresh basil someone gave DH that we need to use up. We have everything for making fresh pesto, so I think that's what we'll do.

I need to fill out a form to get reimbursed for a $25 book I bought for the religious education classes, and I keep forgetting to do it. I'll track down the form this weekend.

9/1 - 9/22:
Groceries: $242.83
Dining: $117.69
Starbucks: $13.10

Total: $373.62 (about $16.98/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $149.03

My food budget isn't going so well this month. And I have more to spend this weekend in anticipation of my grandparents coming for a visit. It's all part of adjusting to new schedules and routines (or lack there of, in the case of the latter).

I'm doing some carpooling tomorrow, which is good news. That will make one round trip per day instead of two for three of the five days this week, unless I can arrange something for Friday as well.

I've finally got the pumpkin muffins in the oven this afternoon - took me long enough. I'm making a double batch, a the recipe I decided to use only makes 12 muffins. I still have about 2 cups of canned pumpkin pie mix to use, so I'll make some bread or something too, I guess.

9/1 - 9/21:
Groceries: $242.83
Dining: $101.69
Starbucks: $13.10

Total: $357.62 (about $17.03/day) Goal: $13/day or less

Gas: $110.97