Princess Perky's Page

So we went grocery shopping yesterday:

budget = $75
actual = $55

I was thinking "great job", but ....... we forgot diapers and wipes, guess I have no choice but to go with cloth now! It might be good for us, I know when I forget food sometimes I get inventive with new recipies. Neccessity might be the mother of frugality!

I paid bills and balanced the checkbook, corrected a few math errors and it worked out right, unfortunatly since DHs pay check didn't come yet (due the first) I paid only 100 on the CC bill, it isn't due for two weeks, meaning I could have tried to remember to pay it after the 1st but...... I don't trust myself!

I also always mark what comes out automatically early, so the mortgage and first half of the months bills are aready taken out (which is all but the car and one I forget) so tecnically we arn't doing as bad as it looks. The paycheck is auto too, but I don't mark it early. I figure Murpheys law if I do it will get 'lost' or someting when I am counting on it.

Anyway sum total in the checking act is 20$, but we have cash for grocerys, 325$ which I am hoping to make last till february.

We have a generous family, on DS's side cash is a traditional gift. We will be using the cash for groceries and putting a large amount on the CC bill this month. .

For the kids loot, our youngest is getting a bond to match the other twos birth band (is what we always do with baby money, or some of it) any leftover cash will go toward getting an ing account for him, we want to wait till he has the $250 to get his bonus though. (the older two already have accounts.)

DD wants to buy some hair barretts, and DS wants to buy a bathrobe, then the rest of their money will go to the ing accounts.

DS is saving for Washington DC, DD is just saving, I figure she will use some for Washington, but she isn't to particular.

I have gotten out of the habit of writing here and it shows on my finances! Or it could just be I have trouble with Christmas sacrifices more than any others.

Well my New Years resolution is to get serious again, not that we have totally fallen off the wagon, just that we are hanging on a thread!

So next month we are going whole cloth, not just diapers but everything in the house, I am banning paper! (ok keeping the toilet paper!- but thats it) I think I will start a

Got peanut butter

Also a present for BILs birthday on Wednesday, hope he likes it. Bought a cake too caus e I really don't know what a boston cream pie is but that is his favorite, so hope he likes it. (was 7$ man it so could be made for WAY less!)

Peanut butter is almost gone, no way are we going to make it without peanut butter! No eggs ok fine, no rice whatever, no potatoes eh we can manage, but NO peanut butter? NO WAY!

So DH will have to run to the store on Thursday. .

Actually made it under budget, and no trip to BJs for a couple days, would like to make it till next thursday but I am not sure we can, no chocolate chips, that is like the end of the world!

Finally! boy was that a long vacation, longer than expected, cause DH got siuck at the Ren fest!, ugh.

He is better, and I have a new commitment to pester him about eating and drinking in pgh. He is an absentminded eater, forgets just how much fuel it takes to run his body, and only eats about as much as a normal person, which is not enough for a dude with a high metabolism and low blood sugar.

Found the 'bracers' that DS wanted, and a headband for DD. GMA paid for them (always giving loot to the kids) but we have got to find a way to keep drinks cool longer cause we were spending way to much on drinks (not supposed to bring your own in, but we get to take a 'diaper bag' course the kids are both PTed but that is beside the point .)

Camping was a disaster, niether kid slept and worse DH didn't! I, the pregnant one with a cold, managed to sleep better than anyone else! But I have the advantage of age, plus growing up in a hot house, no air. DH on the other hand. Not so lucky.

We found one and DH went yesterday to check it out, seems like beter prices, course nothing name brand but that doesn't tend to bother us much.

Also went to BJs for milk, and such.

Managed to stay under budget from both , though we do have to go get more yogurt (swtiching brands, needed to make sure the kids would eat it)

So DH had a couke really good ideas for slogans on some clothes, and I do think they would sell. but I have no idea how to go about getting something printed and or how to set up a resale website, and I imaging it would cost a lot more than 20$!

Dinner was

Can't call it a line, it isn't it is a swing

But I did two loads on it, one each day I was able, everything was dry in a couple hours, except the crotch of the jeans and the part that was under the clip keeping it to the hanger. I just layed them accross the bed and they were dry for DH to pack his pockets for work the next day.

I had no idea what a luxury it was to have the same shorts clean and dry to wear to bed at night, but I only own one pair that fits while pregnant, so it is awesome! (Ok so I could do that in the dryer, but we are trying to save money here)

We will have breakfast of english muffins in the car, and luch of PBnoJ sandwhiches and then snack of fruit and trail mix, and something else if I can find it overnight. Then dinner may or may not be there, if not we will stop for burgers on the way home (sorry there are only so many meals I can pack at one time)

So we stayed under budget, for real, like the first time in months!

but then we left the yogurt in the car so 8$ wasted. I hate that. DH hates that, and we forgot bread. UGH

I hear alot about how great aldis prices are, and they are a bit environmentaly concious since you have to bring your bags (or buy them) so we finally found one around us. In two weeks (next grocery visit) we will be trying it out. If the milk is cheaper than BJs we might be able to drop the BJs membership, course we just renewed it .

The swing is here . But I wont be doing laundry today (DH is home). Friday .

So right after I decide something has to be done about outside drying, my neighbor decides to get rid of her swing, whihc is one of those two seater with the big cross bar, perfect for hanging hangers on. Still only the space of a closet, but hey if it is outdoors I will be able to get it dry faster! but neighbor is relative she is 3/10ths of a mile away so I have to wait till DHa nd BIL go pick it up. Hopefully tonight.

Great news on the air, it isn't that hot this week . But it will be I am sure.

Ugh,so bad news on DHs job, the account is moving, but not us. This has happened before and he has always still had a job, maybe it is the pregnancy hormones or something, but this time I am really really worried about him being out of work. right before or right after BBY3 is here.

At least this comes after we finally get the budget 'in the black' but we do have that CC bill that I think I am going to have to up the speed on paying off. I have been kindof lazy (can you call it lazy when I busted my arse to get back in the black?) Thinking that a few luxuries would be ok, and the CC would just take a yer to pay off, but mainly stress free. Well since I am already stressed, maybe paying it off sooner will ease some stress, so if he does lose the job we will have a clean slate to start with. Course I am guessing whatever we have to do for the interum will make a new CC bill, but I would rather start as close to zero as possible.

So now what do I do to pay it off faster?

No more dryer? but no clotheline allowed also kids are in and out of bathrooms and there wouldn't be enough room to dry towels anyway. closet has enough room for one load, but I do two a day.

Cheaper food? ok that we may be able to do, In fact DH can't go to the grocery store next week so we have to do it this week, less trips = less cash spent, I hope.

No more air? ugh the return of a 95 degree house, what fun. (done)

hmm what else?

Really I made the list for us and I had that itching to buy 'stuff'! I did manage to keep it to stuff we needed err ok well had been looking at getting for awhile. A shelf for the bathroom (one of several I want) and sleeping bags for the kids. (camping this month). But man it was weird to notice that itch to buy! I mean I guess I always had it (why else do I avoid walmart.) I window shop fine in malls and such where the price of a sleeping bag is 100$ or more, but when it is only 10 (kids, summer camping in a cabin, not needed to be super insulated or anything) well... anyway she looks awefully cute in it!

ugh yeah we have to spend money today, the suit aforementioned for DS, shoes for DH and DD, and a bday present for FIL. I am debating on some clear contact paper, we use it alot for covering DSs school stuff, and he is getting flashcards for adding, so I might want to make them sturdy, after all DD will be in first grade eventually . Plus we need umm I forget, oh a bday present for nephew, his was last month but he was in pgh so we didn't get to see him.

On a plus note I found gifts for moms kid, and the other nephew and new niece from my inventory of mostly free prizes, so I don't have to go buy them.

Hardees was a planned splurge, a treat for suffering thru the GD test.

BJs was a bit expensive but we stuck to our list, and the midwife is going to be billed at the end, shouldn't run to much loot cause the visits are covered. The test will cost, but I couldn't squirl out of it. I tried, I got out of other tests so I will let them have this one I guess.

Its Wednesday, what else would I be complaining about?

We have a short list as usual, veggies (frzn) cereal (cheapo brand) straws (have to have for the take out of the house straw cups, save on packing drinks, but need the straws for kid in the car) Strawberries (on sale .) that is it, os hopefully cheap. (or affordable anyway)

well everyone has a light burn on the face and DH on the shoulders, and we were wearing sunscreen! I often forget to reapply in time, and with a pasty white family that spells disaster (or P I N K anyway).

Sunscreen unfortunatly costs ALOT! and we do like the pool so we ar out quite a bit, I sometimes consider figuring out how much for the summer, but I am afraid of the total!

Vacation to see my new niece is planned for first week in August, low cost, one day trip to GA, looooong drive, but tha tis the major amount of cost there, then dinner on the way back, and packed food for the trip, plus a new baby gift. And I get to take pictures .

Then we are going to pgh the next weekend, that will cost, alot, mainly cause we no longer have free bedspace in pogh, ok we could, but I do not want to start WWIII with my MIL, so we will get a cabin. that and the renfest tickests and gas money should kill our next big CC payment , but we will get to see family for the last time this year.

ACK! I couldn't get on for all of yesterday! End of the world!

I was so happy it worked this morning .

This is Sunday and we are being lazy at home, prolly a trip to the pool, but thats it .

so close and yet so far, but on a plus note we got ground beef, the good stuff, for 139 a lb, should keep us quite some time, and dishwasher stuff, so I can use it again, will keep us awhile and DH is of the opinion we would eventually have to get it so why not this week, hmm cause the Car insurance is due and so is the CC bill? oh well it will get paid, just not as high on the CC as I wanted.

k so my hopes were dashed we went over budget again , but only by a couple bucks. and we have food

BJS tonight is the kicker, we need milk, of course, cheese, of course, and hmm now it seems that is it, but I doubt DH will make it out of there with just that!

Today is the day, DH has a list and loot, and hopefully will be under budget, not to hard with the grocery store, one little splurge is still only a couple bucks, it is BJS that causes us troubles

Remind me to make sure that DS and DD (and future BBY3) get hobbies that can be profitable, instead of pure money stealers, not that there is anything wrong with a hobby, just that DH and I were talking about warhammer and a newer cheaper game of the same type, you honestly cannot upgrade your people without spending REAL money! that is rediculous to me! I play fantasy role playing games because with a toss of the dioce I can get rich, not to spend my real money!

I just think it is odd something so integral to our american society is so ignored. I don't want to do that anymore, but I still find my self trying to 'get it out of the way' so I can move on, not that I want to dwell on it, to depressing! But I do think ignoring it is the opposite extream.

Wll we had a lot of fun, and aside from grilled cheese for company (I know what a hostess!) we didn't spend anything. I love free entertainment (though tecnically the extra electricity counts, still cheap)

Unfortunatly the kids are tired,a nd so are we! thats why we only do it once a month, we need the rest!

well afternoon, but I have the west side story song in my head.

DS has to pick a price and we have to figure out what to put the cookies on, and well DH thinks we wont make a dime, but thats what he thought of the Google ads too.