Wow! It's been quite a while since I blogged last!

Just wanted to talk about an experience that happened to me yesterday. At work I was asked by a co-worked if I would like to buy some Mary Kay make up. I nicely told her I didn't think so. She was really pushy and told me everything was half off...surely I would like some make up at 1/2 price. I told her "no, I don't generally use Mary Kay because it's too expensive". Of course she went on to say how much higher quality the make up is and it's worth the extra money. AND, of course, it's only half price which means it is a WONDERFUL deal! In the past I probably would have caved in and bought some. Mostly because I didn't want to look "poor". I was sooooo proud of myself when I told her that I wasn't interested in her makeup. I told her I'm raising three kids(she has none) and I'm lucky if I can afford Mabeline at Wal-Mart! About three other people in the room echoed my response with laughed and agreement! It made me feel great...like I'm not the only person in the world that has to watch those nickles and dimes

On the budget homefront, I bought my weekly groceries today, including my fixings for Easter dinner. I stayed within my weekly budget! I still have $1.37 left in my weekly "food" envelope! Yippee!!!!!

Well, we're HOPING to go camping tomorrow. We've had a lot of rain for the past couple of days and more forecasted for Thursday and Friday. We'll see how things look tomorrow before we take off. We have camper, but it is NOT fun to be trapped inside of it with three kids while it rains...been there, done that! If it were just DH and I, it would be fun and kinda cozy

So far things have been going pretty well, money wise. We've been on spring break but managed to stay within budget. However, I did "up" the dining out budget for the month. I knew we would want to eat out a couple nights during spring break, and we have! Still, we haven't even used all of our dining out money yet! Woohoo!

Spring break reminds me that summer is getting close. I don't work during the summer, so I don't get paid Time to start pinching those pennies a little harder(if possible)...

I barely came in under budget this week!

Wednesday is payday for us, so it's the day I replinish the "cash" envelopes(I use the envelope system....cash only for me) All of my envelopes were empty this morning except for my "general" envelope, which held $2 and some change. I haven't cut it THIS close in a long time! Of course, there was money in the checking account, but that's for bill paying and not household misc.

Anyway, it's nice to have a little change in my pocket going jingle lingle ling, again!

Not much going on around here as finances go. I've been doing well. I'm sticking to my budget, packing our lunches every day, keeping spending as low as possible. I have a couple of challenges coming up this month. I have about $300 in unexpected medical bills. I can pay them, but I'll have to pull money out of Emergency Fund. Also, this is the month to have our vehicle tags renewed which will cost about $300. I'd like to say that I'll cut back in other areas to help cover the cost, BUT, I have cut back just as far as I possible can! We'll be fine...I just won't be able to add any extra to saving this month, which I hate!

Hope everybody is having a great weekend!

When I planned my 2007 budget, one of the catagories that I included this year was "gifts". In the past I had never budgeted for gifts. I usually just pulled the money out of my weekly "household" budget. Well, several times things got very tight around here when I had to take money from my household budget and I still needed to buy things like...uh...groceries...prescriptions...gasoline. So, I decided to make budget catagory for gifts.

Tonight we are going to my nephew's birthday party. I can't tell how nice it is to already have the money in place and not wonder what my family will have to do without this week so I can give my nephew a gift! Why didn't I think of this before????

On the homefront, we've had a nice low spend week so far. The girls and I have been taking our lunches to school all week and we've been eating leftovers for the past two nights. Since we have the birthday party tonight, we'll have a light supper of sandwiches, chips, and baby carrots with birthday cake for desert.

I have a couple big spend days coming up though I simply HAVE to get my hair cut this weekend. It's been a while and it's looking awful! I've decided to go ahead and have highlights done this time. It'll probably be my last time though. I think I'll go back to just coloring it myself after this time. BTW, I'm only 36 and already have a ton of gray hair! I guess I'm vain enough that I don't enjoy people seeing how gray my hair is already. The highlights camoflauge my gray. I've tried it at home before and it just doesn't come out as well as it does at the stylist. But, like I said, I think this will be my last highlight job

Also, DS started track in school yesterday. He has to have new track shoes. The back thing is that he has to have TWO different kinds! I guess I'll be spending my weekend getting my hair cut/highlighted and finding the best value I can on track shoes(rolling my eyes)....

I've been doing very well with my budget this year. It's a good thing too because I'll have to write a $500 check to the body shop for my van tomorrow(hopefully). I have the money in my EF but, GOSH, I sure hate to hand that money over! Oh well, it's gotta be done

1/19 Food: $33.50
1/19 Allowance for kids: $15.00
1/19 Art pencils for DD $1.53
1/20 Beer for DH: $19.00
1/22 Prescription: $32.00
1/23 Driver's license for DS $24.00
1/23 Food: $21.72
1/24 Eye Doctor: $79.00

Did I get your attention?!LOL

I wish I could report on another no spend day, but I can't. I did have to spend a bit of money today...sigh. I had to fork out $24 for DS's driver's license. I've had this money budgeted for for a long time, though, so no big deal. BTW, he could've gotten it a while ago but he broke his right ankle during football so he couldn't drive anyway. Dr. cleared him yesterday so, of course, the first thing he wanted to do after school today was get his license!!LOL Hey, I can't blame the kid...I remember what's it was like at that age

Pretty much on budget other than that. I went to the doctor yesterday and he put me on birth control pills to correct a problem(I'll save you all the gory details). Anyway, I'm hoping insurance will cover it since they've already paid to have my tubes tied!!LOL If not, that's $32 extra a month I'll have to come up with that's not budgeted for

I don't have all of my numbers together for the week yet. I'll try to post that tomorrow. I know I stayed well within budget though!

Today is a snow day for us. Even though I'm sick of being in the house at least I'm getting paid for it today! We were home yesterday too, but we already had the day off for the Martin Luthur King holiday...which I don't get paid for

I've had a very low spending week. Mainly due to the fact that I've been stuck in the house for 4 days this week(can you tell it's starting to get to me???). However, we finally braved the roads last night and bought some well needed groceries

1/10 $0
1/11 $0
1/12 $0
1/13 $6 Household
1/14 $0
1/15 $130 Mastercard payment
1/15 $90.81 food
1/15 $15.38 Household
1/16 $9 DS School Lunch

I've hardly touched my budgeting evelopes and I get to replinish tomorrow! YIPPEE!!!