31 Days of Tracking Spending--Day 11

Today we had an unexpected expenditure of buying me an elbow brace.  Well, not exactly unexpected as I've needed it for weeks.  It was a last minute decision of Steve though after bowling.  My doctor says my elbow tendons will never heal until I quit bowling, crocheting, sewing etc, however, the brace eases the pain while I am doing those things.

Otherwise, Steve spent a little more for his lunch today.  Jasmine and I also treated ourselves to Wendy's for lunch during sewing club at church.  It would have cost us about the same to buy something at the store though since we buy from the .99 menu.

The usual Tuesday night expenditure is for our bowling league.  We've been taking in our own soda even though we aren't supposed to, but he did buy Jasmine a soda.

Other spending included Steve buying soda and a pack of cigarettes.  Speaking of cigarettes, my prescription smoking cessation will be coming in the mail.  No co-pay with our insurance.
And speaking of the soda, I added up what I had for receipts and such for August.  On just soda I come up with $41.50.  I don't think this is correct as I'm sure several times he didn't tell me he bought, or I just didn't get it written down.  After this month and using this challenge I will have a much more accurate spending journal.  And, I'm in hopes that even though I won't be blogging about it next month that I can keep up the list.  They say it takes 3 months to get an average that is pretty close.

Check out the linky with over 700 others who are also doing the 31 Days Challenge HERE 

Homeschool Journal--And Then There Are Weeks Like Last Week

As I look over my notes from last week I see NO math listed.  That's not a good thing.

Monday we did get to a few subjects---not many.  One thing that was wrong Monday was that I was doing an online party 8 hours of the day to sell my crafts.

Tuesday we went to Bible study at church in the morning as we do every week.  The rest of Tuesday I can't tell you.  I remember--she attended a choir performance at the high school.  A friend is in the choir and she was surprised to find several of her other friends also performing.

Wednesday is my husband's day off work.  He tends to turn on movies or maybe the History channel.  We don't tend to get a lot done.  We strive to have things for her to do that she can pretty much do on her own. (She doesn't like how he butts in with commentary and answers  LOL)  She did attend her youth group meeting Wednesday evening.


Thursday--I don't remember Thursday at all other than we spent the evening at church for family fun night--playing bingo.  Wait!  I remember something.  We are using the Every Day Fit program put out by Subway (kit received free over the internet).  I had her take 3 of the grandkids out and play 4-square.  It was one of the assignments to stay fit from the program.  Here is a picture I took of them playing:

Oh yeah, the public school was out on Thursday and Friday for conferences.  This means the grandkids were here all day.  She went to spend the night at her friends house Thursday evening.   Then she spent the night at another friends house on Friday.  A friend stayed overnight with her Saturday.


She informs me that she did a lot of things while away for the weekend with friends that would count for school:  attended a football game, baked cookies, and lots of walking for exercise.


So there you have it--this is what happens during a crazy week.  I'm not even certain that I even wrote down everything.


So far this week is looking a lot better!  Her birthday was Sunday, but I will share more about that in next week's post.




I am linking up with:

31 Days of Tracking Spending--Day 10

Today's biggest expense was the co-pay to the doctor for my physical today.  

My husband reports buying a pack of cigarettes today and only spending .98 for a slice of meatloaf for his lunch at work.  I'm not sure yet if he's  being up front with me on what he is spending yet or not.  

We got his bank statement in the mail.  I can write down what is this month for ATM withdrawal fees so far, and hope he will tell me about others.
He claims he can't help it when he's out of town with work and needs cash.  I am trying to convince him that he needs to make one withdrawal, figuring what he will need for the week.  That part of this tracking spending may have to wait until next month's statement comes in.  That way I will have a total for him on just how much he is wasting with those fees withdrawing $20 or so $$ at a time.  

That's my report and thoughts for Day 10.

Check out the linky with over 700 others who are also doing the 31 Days Challenge HERE 

Mailbox Monday 10/10/11

This sure seemed like an extremely slow mail week for me.

I got the usual magazines: Sports Illustrated, People, Businessweek, Ok!, Time, and Entertainment Weekly.
I got some other hausernet mail.
Otherwise I did get in 2 books for review--put the seat down and Crazy for Cake Pops.

I did receive some paypal---$20 from gather, .11 from matesgate, and $9.41 from bloggerservices.  I also rec'd 2 craft orders.  At some points I got paid to my checking account for a book I sold on half.com, but until I get my bank statement I am not sure when that came in.



I am linking up with afrugalfriend:

31 Days of Tracking Spending--Day 9

Today was Jasmine's birthday as you all know from my previous posts and the cell phone.  I don't think she was too thrilled that she didn't get the fancy one she wanted.....she said thank you and took my phone right away to get her friends put in to her own phone.  She texted everyone right away...she just didn't have the excitement I thought she should have.

Anyway back to today's spending.  

That I am aware of my husband didn't spend any money that I know of  past putting money in the offering plate at church.

I spent $22 and some change at Wal Mart.  Just over $12 of that was yarn and netting to use for craft orders, so that is not part of our budget.  I keep track of my business separately.   I used 4 more of the free Crave cat treat coupons so only paid sales tax on those.  I bought one can of the .30 canned cat food to see how the animals like it.  If they like it then I can spend less on the canned food by buying it.  I bought myself a new mouse for my computer.  My scrollie button quit working a couple of weeks ago and it's been driving me batty.  I bought the cheapest mouse for just $6.  I splurged on a package of the tart melts as I call them.  I love to scent up the house and was out.  I also splurged $1 and bought a sheet of Halloween clings.

Looks like that is my report for today.

 Check out the linky with over 700 others who are also doing the 31 Days Challenge HERE 

31 Days of Tracking Spending--Day 8

A break the budget day.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we re-paid the money to the electric company that the bank had returned.

When Steve got off work he went on the Wal Mart and picked up the cell phone for Jasmine's birthday.  He didn't get the most expensive phone so spent around $25 less than we had anticipated.  He also paid for and activated the monthly card.  We are using Straight Talk.  And, he paid for the extra coverage to replace the phone as well.  Add in a birthday gift bag to put it in as well.  This is far more than we have ever spent on a birthday gift!

He put gas in the truck too.  I assume filled the tank.  Funny how I never get to fill the gas tank in my car.  I put in $10 at a time and most of the time my mom pays for that for me running her around.

He bought us all soda.  Enough to last for a few day...then himself a smaller soda for right away and a pack of cigarettes.   Gggrrrr to smoking.  It's a bad habit, it's bad for our health, and it's bad for the pocketbook.  I also smoke but have rolled my own for over 10 years now.  My nasty habit costs $25 a month--his cost over that each week.  How about a prayer that we both are able to quit.

Check out the linky with over 700 others who are also doing the 31 Days Challenge HERE 

Spoooky Celebration Has Come to an End--Shop Hop 10/8/11

The Spoooky Celebration online parties with the Online Craft Mall has come to an end.
I ended up being drawn for a prize twice.  Once for a button ad on the website, and then where I got to choose my prize.  I chose 2 vendor spots for the next show.

Yep, that's right, we are planning on getting back on schedule with parties.  The next one up is the Christmas Celebration and will be help Nov. 28, Nov. 30, and Dec. 2.  I will be posting more on that soon.

I know there are tons of you out there that sell online.   I hope you will consider becoming a vendor.  If not a vendor, come in to the parties as a guest.

Guests were in poor supply  :(  If  you any idea of how to get guests to come to the parties, please tell me.  I posted about it here on my blog several times.  I wrote about it in my daily posts at both gather and sidetick.  I also posted specifically about the parties on gather and sidetick.   I posted it to facebook.  I even offered up a giveaway here on my blog offering a prize of me paying for a vendor spot.  I only had 2 entries, and neither of them even sell online.

Since I've been out of the "online party scene" for 2+ years now I'm not even sure if the parties are near as popular as they once were.  They are, however, loads of fun. Chat is always good, deals are good....and there are prizes too!

I was disappointed Friday afternoon when it was my time to present my "businesses" and there were no guests for me to present to. However, I did get 2 orders during the shows.  One I knew I was getting and I asked her to please come in to the party and put in her order.  Doing so put her in the prize drawing...and hey!  she won a nice little prize too.

So.....I didn't get anything new made to post this week.  I've been working on all these dish scrubbie orders.  I've also worked out a deal with a gal that makes soap to sell her washcloths.
I didn't even get any of my other items moved to my zibbet store.  I will still be working on orders this next week.  I also have sewing club.  I do hope to get my sewing machine out after Tuesday and get some things made.  I need, however, to start working on Christmas gifts for my own family.

Ok...enough of me rattling on this week.   I am linking up with Ruthi at abitosunshine:
 

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31 Day of Tracking Spending--Day 7

Day 7 and let's just say this was a bad day.
First of all my husband came home with 2 bags of groceries.  This is never good.  It means that he was hungry and picked up whatever he was hungry for at the store.
Yep...just over $18 of food for just one meal.  Mind you, we fed 9 people so if you break it down per person that price doesn't seem bad.  But....did he have to get 2 different kinds of sliced cheese?  Did he have to buy the most expensive rolls of 1 lb. ground beef?  Was the parmesan cheese a must?  (It didn't even go with the meal).  sigh.....

Then he proceeds to tell me that we aren't getting my daughter the cell phone for her birthday after we've promised her we were.  She would be crushed, whether we can afford it or not.  She's already been asking for one of her own for the past 2 birthdays.  We got in to a huge argument over it, not good.  Especially since we've only been officially man and wife for just over 2 months.

I got paid $20 today from gather and a big .11 cents from matesgate in to my paypal.  I restrained myself from buying something in the online party today.  I know we need the money, maybe towards the cell phone, or for groceries.

I really must figure out how to have the time I need to dedicate to my earning sites online and to making my crafts to sell and start bringing in more money on my own than what I am.

It's late and I need to get on to some other things before heading to bed yet, so this is my report for today.

Check out the linky with over 700 others who are also doing the 31 Days Challenge HERE 

Frugal Friday Linky--6 Uses for Bread

Good Friday to all.  I hope you have found yourself having a frugal week.

I started doing a 31 Days challenge with The Nesting Place blog.  I chose 31 Days of Tracking Spending as my topic for the month.  I must concentrate on where the money is going to and then to know how much we are spending in each category.   I'm linking up to one of the days in the linky below.

I've announced the winner of the Darius Lux CD.  Don't forget that I also have two other giveaways still live==Sir Castanon CD and Pink Together Prize pack.  You can click the reviews/giveaways link in the index to find those.  Both have low entries.

Now, on to those 6 uses for bread.  These are taking from the 99 Cent Solutions book.

Uses for bread beyond sandwiches:
1.  Sweeten the scent of cabbage.  When cooking cabbage, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables, lay a slice or 2 of bread on top of the cooking vegetables.  The scent will stay in the bread, not in the air.

2.  Keep cookies fresh.   Put a couple slices of bread into the tin or jar where you store the cookies, laying the bread right on top of the cookies.  The bread will keep that just-out-of-the-oven flavor and texture intact for up to a week.

3.  Prevent broiler flare-ups.  Put a slice or two of stale bread in the bottom of the broiler pan.  It will absorb the grease as it runs off, stopping flare-ups and easing cleanup by preventing pan juices from getting stuck to the pan.

4.  Butter corn on the cob.   Spread a slice of bread thickly with softened butter and cup the bread in your palm---butter side up.  Turn the corn in the buttery slice for perfect coverage.

5.  Clean smudges off suede.  Clean fresh smudges off of suede jackets, shoes and handbags before they set to stains by running the suede gently with a piece of fresh white  bread.  Use a small, circular motion.  You may need to use a second slice to get the spot clean.

6.  Take scuffs off wallpaper and flat paint.  Try a fresh slice of plain white bread with the crusts cut off so no color can transfer.  Rub gently over the mark, using a fresh slice of bread if needed, until it gently rubs off.  It will leave the surface intact, unharmed, and clean.

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Have you shared any posts this past week on saving money or time?  Have you shared a simple or money saving recipe?  Have you shared a good shopping trip of savings?  Have your shared freebies?  Anything?  If so, please link up!