Tuesday, October 3, 2023
September 1 – $20 snacks at football game
September 2 – $40 black pants at boutique while shopping for souvenirs for our guests to take back to Germany
September 3 – $0 Spend Day – Tom’s sister treated us to late lunch/early dinner after boat
September 4 – $85 Birthday supplies at Kroger including cookie cake
September 5 – $51 Chinese food takeout for birthday
September 6 – $0 Spend Day
September 7 – $166 Aldi – who am I?
September 8 – $33 Carraba’s happy hour with Erica and Elizabeth
September 9 – $250 Target (stuff for England), $85 Drake’s, $40 Tatziki’s
September 10 – Varaese 21st bday dinner $144
September 11 – $10 Amazon portable charger for Mason
September 12 – $41 second hand shopping with Mason
September 13 – $50 birthday gift
September 14 – $120 Aldi, $51 French lunch
September 15 – $66 Mojito, $28 Felipe’s, $20 for 2 Amazon books
September 16 – $40 birthday gift, $60 Shiraz, $56 Kroger
September 17 – $100 Delta, $5 parking
September 18 – $0 Spend day
September 19 – $0 Spend day
September 20 – $0 Spend day
September 21 – $0 Spend day
September 22 – $50 birthday gift, $83 birthday dinner out for a friend
September 23- Remember all those zero spend days? Well, here we go! $124 Aldi (4th week of making it my main grocery), $85 Walmart Neighborhood market. I went in for Velveeta and found lots of staples cheaper than at Kroger, $91 Kroger, $0 UPS store for two returns or should I say the “girl math” would be +$!55 – returned the Hoka Transports – too small, and some Amazon earrings that were not what I wanted for a gift, $0 library
September 24-$20 Captain’s Quarters lunch plus tip for Tom, Ernie, and I, $17 Felipe’s mexican for Jack, $5 Amy shoebooties at Goodwill to replace the ones I need to replace – score!
September 25- $0 Spend Day
September 26-$0 Spend Day
September 27-$20 Kroger tampon run (Wow! They have gotten expensive!), $6 McDonald’s egg mcmuffin and small pumpkin spice latte
September 28- $0 Spend Day
September 29-$27 Happy Hour including tip, $0 dinner – went home and whipped up angel hair alfredo and added sauteed mushrooms for Tom and I.
September 30- $80 Trader Joe’s, $0 library, $73 dinner out at Venezuelan place
This was a big month! We had the Germans until September 4, our kids 21st birthday, Mason leaving for England, and a few other birthdays thrown in. I just can’t spend any money during the week unless it’s an online order! I go to work and the traffic is so bad by 4:00 that I just come straight home – I also come straight home because I’m freaking exhausted and I have to get home to Ernie. I guess this is as good of a budget strategy as any!
$0 Spend Days: 9! Not bad!
Clothing: $40 Umgee black plants, $5 Goodwill shoebooties
Groceries: The Germans picked up our tab for groceries on September 2 for boat snacks and staples which was very nice. I did a huge shop before they came, of course, but we ran out of some things and wanted them to pick out things for the boat day. Then, I really tried to do the bulk of my shopping at Aldi this month. I had to go on Thursday after school or Saturday mornings, mostly. Are you ready for it?
$807! If you look back at August, this is a reduction. Of course, I have had 3 in the house instead of 4 plus since early and mid-September, but still. I did have four plus Germans for the first few days of September.
Meals Out/Happy Hour/Take Out: This was a big month for meals out. And, is it just me or are restaurants just getting more and more expensive?
$798! So that is way too high, but we made memories and spent quality time, too. Maybe that correlates with a lower grocery bill, too? We did really well about less food waste, taking leftovers home, and eating them this month, too.
I can’t believe I have tracked since January. Stay tuned and you will find out why I have been more budget conscious!
How did you do in September?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Oh for sure restaurants are getting more expensive and I don’t know about around you but restaurants are not only seeing a huge increase in grocery prices too but a big hike in salaries– so many places up here can not find waitstaff unless they raised their wages significantly.. which obviously is leading to higher prices.
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Good point! I still love going out but I’m having trouble with the prices!
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We rarely eat out anymore…it is just not affordable. And truly, the experience isn’t as great as it used to be…it “used to be” an event, where you looked forward to it and enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and company. Now it seems like it’s just a place to sit, eat, and get out….bills brought before you are finished eating, dessert not offered (have to ask), and staring at other diners on their phones. Or maybe it’s just perspective from different stages of life 🙂 I’m happy to order takeout, though, and enjoy it at home with my family when I don’t feel like cooking.
You are so disciplined with this accountability thing – good for you! I’ve been seeing things in our house that need to be refreshed lately which has caused me to shop a bit more than usual in the past few months. Do you go through ”cycles” like that?
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I agree on all those points but still enjoy some places. I also like to help the locally owned businesses and rarely go to chains.
I’ve slacked a bit and had to go back and tally things up, but it’s been eye opening.
I sure do – I just went through one in August with our German houseguests coming. I spruced up a few things without spending too much. I would love to buy new fall decor, but it’s just not a priority right now.
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Liked reading this and realized that certain months, more birthdays happen and more gifts need to be bought and restaurant meals to spend money on- sometimes it is out of our control- you are doing great!
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Yes – for us September is a big bday month. I am happy to have that wind down, to be honest. Thank you! I’m definitely paying more attention to what I’m spending – that’s for sure.
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Groceries and restaurant meals have both increased. Of course, if you don’t order alcohol, it is a lot cheaper, but maybe less fun? I feel for families shopping for groceries and also buying those things that kids need or want for school – promotional
t-shirts, sports shoes, outfits for dance or drama, etc.
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I know! You are right – I hate paying $15 for a cocktail but if I’m having dinner it’s usually just one. It hurts, but it’s part of the fun of dining out for me. Right – I don’t know how some families are making it today.
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Oh boy, now I am on the hook to see why you’ve been so budget conscious!! I’m excited!!
Looks like you had lots of zero spend days. I’m with you on spending during the week, if it’s too late in the day I am exhausted and not willing to deal with traffic. Unfortunately the internet never gives me that kind of trouble, lol!
xo,
Kellyann
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Well, I needed to be anyway – as you know two college kids ain’t cheap. Haha – no internet traffic!
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Why do yo keep saying the “Germans”? Instead of our “Houseguests “ just curious…
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Because they are German! I don’t know? It’s a little more special than just a run of the mill houseguest.
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There were lots of $0 spend days…way to go. I know what you mean when lots of events come in one month, like getting ready for college or having company. Hmmm…I’m intrigued by the increased budgeting. Is retirement coming soon?
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Thanks! I like to see those! I think it makes me use up what I have and lead to contentment. You already know what the budgeting is for – I think!
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I have found there are times it’s less expensive for us to eat out than to actually buy the ingredients to make dinner. And, let’s face it, after being married for over 47 years, I’m just tired of cooking! Of course, there are just two of us, and my husband has some dietary restrictions so he usually likes to eat at the same place. I can’t wait to see what the budgeting is for!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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I guess that is true! I bet – you get to not cook now! I think splitting a meal is the smartest thing for us sometimes because the portions are so large!
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You had such a fun month!
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It was full – thats for sure!
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