My two consignment pieces of the month!

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

My goal was to have a “low spend” February. I felt like I was ordering too much on Amazon in January and spending a lot on groceries. I think the winter storm affected that! I was worried about having all the food to cook on hand. We snacked more. We ate our feelings. I was tired of winter and its clothing. You know the drill.

I do think I cut down on eating out this month and we did less take out, as well. Tom has expressed interest in taking lunch to work a couple of days a week, too. He’s finding it harder to find lunch deals and the cold and the traffic have made it more appealing to stay in his office. Yay! This makes me happy. For years he has gone out to eat five days a week to get out of the office but he’s growing up, I guess.

Another goal was to keep a pretty organized fridge, to eat from the freezer, and to cut down on food waste.

I also did not want to shop for myself too much. I feel like I spend too much on toiletries, too. Why do I buy something and then I turn around and need another toiletry? I am trying to use up what I’ve got and keep a list of what I would like in the toiletry department.

I also wanted to have fun this month on a budget. I looked for free things or happy hour deals and free events. .

I continued to use the library and read 6 books this month; the library really is my best friend. If I were to buy those books new – Let’s average the cost of about $15 a book at Target – it would have cost close to $100. Girl math says I can use that on shoes!

I think I had a pretty good month all things considered! I would give myself a B probably if I were getting graded.

Here’s the breakdown to the best of my knowledge…

Amy’s Entertainment (meals out or things with friends): $159

Osteria $51, Green District $15. Steak and Bourbon $20, El Mundo $14, Highland Morning $26, Cheddar Box $20, Red Hog $13

Amy Beauty: $184

eyebrow wax/tint: $61, hair: $123 including tips of 20-25%

I am still so happy with my eyebrows! Tinting is so amazing! No regrets!

Tom and Amy date night: Mojito $86 (included a meal for Mason), Black Rabbit $66 including tips of 25-30%.

We stayed in (even on Valentine’s Day) for dinner a lot more this month than in January.

Amy Clothing: $196

I think I made some really good purchases, but I didn’t plan to shop this much.

Target cream crochet sweater: $37

Target fish sweater: $30

Target plaid short sleeve: $25

Amazon jeans x 2: $42 + $42 (really proud of myself – this was only Amazon fashion purchase of the month)

Consignment striped button up: $10

Consignment sleeveless sweater: $10

Kroger: $786

This is my main grocery shopping place. I usually do pickups. It’s right by my house. We use a lot of Kroger brand items.

All groceries for the month combined: $1109

2/2 $79.06

2/5 $121.63

2/6: $62

2/10: $11.61

2/13: $127.86 and $46.97

2/16: $13

2/18: $6

2/19: $161

2/26 $160 – I had to break down and do an order. We were literally out of everything, but I did well from 2/19-2/25 using up what we had!

Paul’s: $99

This is a little market near my house. It’s too easy to pop in!

2/1: $31

2/7 $42

2/8 $26

Trader Joe’s: $51, $72, and $50

I really reduced my TJ’s runs this month!

2/9 $51

2/15 $72

2/27 $50

Costco:

2/19: $99 – mainly dog food

Daily Expenditures:

Sunday, Feb. 1 – Paul’s Fruit Market $31

Monday, Feb. 2 – Kroger pick up $81, Feeder’s Supply dog treats and one toy $37, $3.95 Starbuck’s while tutoring my Spanish student (have to buy something to use their table!) +$40 tutoring money earned

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Target lace trimmed track suit $70 – ended up returning.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – $64 brow wax, tint, and tip, $40 Osteria happy hour with Jen that turned into dinner also – her idea and we split a chicken parm +40 Facebook Marketplace selling my yellow Hunter boots I never wear

Thursday, Feb. 5 – $110 Kroger pick up, $195 Costco run, $40 Walgreen’s toiletry items

Friday, Feb. 6 -Mojito $25 happy hour with old school friends

Saturday, Feb. 7 – $42 Paul’s Fruit Market (mostly sympathy gift for friends); Dave’s Hot Chicken $50 dinner

Sunday, Feb. 8 – Walgreens $42, car wash $15, gym $0, Paul’s $26

Monday, Feb. 9 – Library $0, Trader Joe’s $51

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – consignment shopping with friend $0, Lunch at Green District Salad $16 with tip

Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Amazon Return, Goodwill drop off, Kroger $11.61, Walgreens Shingle $0

Thursday, Feb. 12 – Free Galentine’s Event but did buy a 12 cent mimosa (!!) and then spent $16 on an appetizer at Steak and Bourbon

Friday, Feb. 13 – Target Return +$70 but saw crochet sweater $35, Kroger Pick up for Valentine’s meal and staples we were out of $127.86 and I went in and spent $46.97 more! Ugh!

Saturday, Feb. 14 – Haymarket sandwich for lunch $12

Sunday, Feb. 15 – Shiraz $13 and Thai $32

Monday, Feb. 16 – McDonald’s $5, Kroger $13, El Mundo $13

Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Hair day! $123, Cajun gumbo delivery because mine was ruined $30

Wednesday, Feb. 18 – charity dinner $53 (pre-paid), Kroger milk and a frozen meal for Tom to take to work $8

Thursday, Feb. 19 – Kroger pick up $150, Costo $99 (dog food and a few food items)

Friday, Feb. 20 – $20

Breakfast, $40 plant store, $20

Consignment, $60 dinner

Saturday, Feb. 21 – $0 – ordered gold mary janes on Amazon

Sunday, Feb. 22 – Target return +$26 and Target purchase $48

Monday, Feb. 23 – tutor student +$40, Starbuck’s $9 (too much! – I go there to do my tutoring and freeze because I don’t know what to order)

Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Amazon return at UPS store $0, Lunch with friend Beth $20, purchase of two of the cutest pink and green candlesticks and tiny taper candles $14

Wednesday, Feb. 25 -EO pedicure $26, feeders treats and bday toy $48 -oopsie, Taco Bell $9

Th, Feb. 26 – Beth and Jenny high school friends for happy hour at Red Hog – I only spent $8 but with tip it was $13. I bought a bottle of wine next door for $13, too.

Friday, Feb. 27 – movie ticket $12 with online fees (maybe next matinee I will just wait to buy ticket), Kroger pick up $160, Door Dash dinner $50

Sat, Feb. 28 – library $0, Trader Joe’s $50, pizza $20

It was hard to record everything this month, but it was eye opening and it helped me to be intentional. I would like to have more zero spend days going forward.

I feel like you just saw my dirty laundry!

Amy

25 thoughts on “February Spending Diary”

  1. I can see how it would be eye opening to track! It doesn’t sound like it’s for the faint of heart or the disorganized (I am the latter, lol, and don’t think I could do this unless I charged everything and then did it based on my credit card statement). I hope this helps you moving forward…

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    1. It was pretty grueling and I’m not sure I didn’t miss a couple things.
      It was a good reset! I have started for March but probably won’t publish it.

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  2. I bought exactly 3 things at Amazon this month; a tube of toothpaste, some birdseed, and a set of compression packing cubes. Though I obviously spent more money on our trip than I had budgeted!

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  3. I always love reading your recaps! I just spent $90 at Trader Joe’s on Friday and didn’t mean too haha. That being said, I go to TJ once every three weeks or so. I used to go every other week. I love Kroger coupons but we still spend so much. I feel like mostly on snacks 🤣I do buy a few snacks for school too for kids and a few of their close friends. Trav ends up at Kroger at some point during the week…I think he likes the errand on his way home or during lunch haha

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    1. Same! I had an accidental TJ”s trip just for a trip to Mason’s house. I wanted to treat him.
      This was a different month since Mason was in the house half of the month. I am interested to see what our first 2 person grocery bill will be.

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  4. I need to do this just to see where I spend money…but then again, do I really want to? I just made myself laugh.

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    1. Girl, it was hard. I feel like I just took a photo of my underwear drawer.
      I have started recording for March, but I don’t think I will publish. It’s nunya’s business! He he

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    1. Thank you! It was rough. I feel like I always need a toiletry replacement! What am I doing wrong?
      I hate the clutter, too. I really am trying to simplify.

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  6. Thank you for sharing 🤩 – My biggest downfall is coffee on the go. I love to treat myself to a cup first thing whilst reading the free (paper copy) newspapers that the local coffee shop provides. I like the peacefulness of an early morning, in my own world, yet surrounded by the hubbub of small town life.

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    1. Is that a downfall if it brings you joy? You are also getting out and saving on newspaper subscriptions. I enjoy a glass of prosecco out and never regret it. I love everything about being in a different environment and drinking out of the glass flute.
      That sounds idyllic and I need to go out early more!

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      1. You are right – it is very enjoyable! There is also something to be said about a glass of prosecco and nibbles to go with it. 😃

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  7. I applaud you for being so transparent! My husband and I are planning for retirement and we had to get all our numbers together. We realized we spend way too much money going out for food so we are changing out ways with that a little bit. My beauty and clothing budget was crazy so I might need to do what you are doing here to be accountable. Thanks for the inspiration!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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  9. Hi! I am popping by from Joanne’s blog. I love how you recorded everything. Hmmm…gave me some inspiration. I also love something you said about making it fun to find free or happy hour deals or free events. THAT does sound like a fun challenge!!!! I love that idea.

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  10. I think I would be scared to look at my monthly spending in such detail! It would certainly be eye-opening. Way to go with the reading and library visits!

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  11. I am so impressed with your record keeping! I am trying to just record my grocery money this month. It’s all the extra stuff that would be eye opening for me.

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  12. you are so disciplined to keep up with this! It is always eye-opening, isn’t it, when we list things out like this? Here is something that I heard on the lazy genius podcast, I think it was a lazy genius of the week idea. I have started doing “even odd days“. I started with asking my husband, does he want to be “even or odd“? after he answered, I said, “OK, on even days you make the decision and on odd days I make the decision”. Do you know what I mean? Things like, where do you want to walk the dogs? what do you want for dinner? What do you want to watch on TV? I also use this for one of my supplements…two is too many but one is not enough (they’re capsules so I can’t cut them in half) so on odd days I take one and on even days I take two and it has seemed to work for me. Anyway, I was thinking, you could say “days that are a multiple of five are my no spend days“ or something like that? Just a game that might help you do something you want to do.

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    1. It was rough.
      That is a good idea but Tom just always wants me to decide so I decided to not ask him anymore about dinner. Sometimes he will mention a food in passing and I will put that on the next week’s list. I kind of stopped overthinking dinner too much.

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