Loving ALDI

I did my food and holiday shopping over the weekend and I have to repeat again for the 100th time, that I'm really like the local ALDI. I have to remember to shop there more often. Iwalked out of ALDI the other day with three big bags of grocery items for less than $30. I walked out of the grocery store with two small bags and $37 poorer.

They have a bunch of seasonal specials ( or at least they do in my store), brie cheese at 1/3 the cost of the local chain grocery store, the basic dairy items are at least 1/2 less expensive than the local grocery store. I've been pretty impressed with the quality of the pantry staples. I've been having to shop for two kitchens, my own and the one at the weekend job. I have kitchen privileges at my weekend job, no one seems to take the food from my assigned shelf, so I've been slowly bringing things like pasta, beans, spices, canned soups, etc. I had fallen into the habit of going into town for lunch on a more than regular basis, instead of an occasional treat, it was becoming the norm and it was getting expensive. I don't mind going into town for a coffee, but eating all my meals out, was getting pricey. So back to bringing leftovers and keeping some basics at the farm. Plus I now set aside one night to cook a "real meal", shamelessly watch cable TV while eating my dinner and then I take the leftovers home for lunch.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Car Refinancing And Looking at My Budget

This is actually a multi part post, this post has generated my next couple posts that have been swirling around in my brain.

I filled out the application for the car refinance to take to the credit union tomorrow. I also had to take a look at my income and boy did I surprise myself! I work about 7.5 weekend out of every 8. My income should break down like this.

Paycheck 1 from "Full Time Job": Cell phone, land line, 1/4 groceries, 1/2 gas for the month, car insurance, health insurance co-pay and have some extra for misc (savings, utilities).

Paycheck 2 from "Full Time Job": Should cover mortage payment, student loan, 1/4 groceries, 1/2 gas and most remaining utilities with some extra.

Paycheck 1 from Part Time Job: Should cover my car note with room to spare (and in the future it will be snowflaked toward the principal.)

Paycheck 2 from PT Job: Should cover taxes and remaining 1/2 food.My part time job does not deduct taxes, so I need to plan for tax time next year.

Paycheck 3 from PT Job: Should be straight savings/Efund.

Paycheck 4 form PT Job: Fun $$, hobby expense and putting cash towards animal care (food, vet, etc) with some leftover.

The leftovers from Full Time Job should (and have in the past) paid for my car note, but I specifically took my current weekend job with the above plan in mind.

This has not happened. And I'll explain in my post tomorrow. I sort of had this figured out in my head, but did not follow through with it for a couple reasons. I had some unexpected household bills (greater utilities costs due to our frigid January, I kept my heat on higher than I normally would have when I was away each weekend), putting money towards my trip in March, not getting paid while on my trip (I lost 2 weekends of work), replacing parts of my wardrobe that sadly needed to be replaced, routine car maintenance, and my three month experiment of money and friends.

My experiment was expensive, but it was an experiment I needed to conduct and I'll share with you the outcome and some decisions I've made with my life based on this experiment. What I can tell you was it was a large eye opener for me, a large expensive eye opener for me, but I am very glad I did this experiment and grateful for the outcome.

Hope you all had a great Holiday weekend!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Holiday Present List

My Present List 2009

Friend K: A novelty tee shirt-already purchased and given last month. Cost $13
Friends R and S: I'm having Christmas lunch with R and S and their family. My contribution/present is a dessert from a gourmet local bakery, plus two jars of gourmet mustard I found at a local store (these folks love mustard). Cost $45
Friends P and L: One bottle of Whiskey, one bottle of  acceptable Port, some other small treats: Cost $60
Friend T: A bottle of gin. $25
Friend D: Two small Yankee Candles $20
Lovely Neighbors: Don't want to do a present exchange this year, they are having money problems, but I am going to get them something not to exceed $30. They have been great watching my house and helping me with the animals. It will be a present from the poochies and not from me.

My total budget for holiday presents is just under $200. This does not include my present to myself, yet to be decided, but most likely not to exceed $60.  I've pared down the list to the nearest and dearest to me. I am getting presents only for those friends who have been "good' and "there" for me this year-no questions asked, especially when I was having a meltdown about something!  I would be very remiss not to do something for them.

The easy and nice part is that 90% of this shopping can be done at my local liquor store, in and out in 15 minutes. It's easy to do when the few I'm buying for are quite happy with a "liquid" present. Plus I get to support a local business.  I'm not doing presents for many of the others I've done presents for in the past, I just don't have the budget. I've limited the number of acceptances to the various holiday get togethers this year as well.  One because I've been barn sitting on weekends and two because it also gets me out of the obligatory bottle of cheer I always feel compelled to bring to the party.  Part of me does miss the parties, getting dressed up, eating good food, seeing people, I like a good party!

How goes your list and shopping?

Do You "Buy" Yourself Holiday and Birthday Presents?

I'm finalizing my (thankfully) small list of holiday presents for this year. I have in past years, purchased a gift for myself, some have been large (signed a contract on my house on my birthday, bought a car on my birthday, got myself a new TV last year), some have been small,~ nice bottle of wine, fancy soaps, a good piece of something to put on the grill.

So do you get yourself a "treat" or a gift?

Good Morning!

It's just after 11 AM on Thanksgiving. My poochies have all been walked, watered, and fed and have had some "Mommy and Me" time. I've made the bed, vacuumed the house, done some overdue dusting, the dishes got washed, dried and put away, filed some papers (I'm not letting the pile get out of hand again), made breakfast and my contribution to the Thanksgiving Meal is happily cooking in the oven.

Right now, I can't ask for anything more......

Have A Happy Thanksgiving

to those who celebrate and a great day to everyone else

Happy Thanksgiving To My Canadian Readers

Hope you had a great weekend of Turkey, Stuffing, good food and good friends!

BB

Present Update

Since my last post on presents, I've made my list and gone over it more than twice. I made the decision that those folks who are getting gifts from me will get one of three things:

1) A toiletries basket with a gift card to either a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks gift card.

2) A little Starbucks gift pack (coffee, travel mug) and a Starbucks gift card.

3) Some sort of bottle of wine or liquor tastefully wrapped with a small chocolate treat.

The exceptions to the above are my friend James and my wonderful neighbors two kids. Since James does not cook (and spends more eating out in one month than most folks do in five) I have spent about $25 on various food items-packets of side dishes, a small hickory farms gift basket, some chocolates, jellies and jams, crackers. Thank you Aldi,Target, and the grocery store for allowing me to do this well in my budget.

The neighbors two kids will get a gift card for either Borders or for gas. Not a ton of money, but a little bit. The neighbors have been good to me, and a small gift for the kids (both teen aged girls who now drive) is in order.

I'll go gift card shopping on Friday and right now, this is a huge load off my mind. Not meaing to sound like the Grinch or Ebenzer Scrooge, but I just can't get into the Holiday frame of mind while going Bankrupt.

The December Budget

Decembers Budget

Mortgage: $553 (fixed)
Car Insurance: $87 (fixed)
Food/Alcohol:$200 (includes dog food)
Student Loan: $175 (fixed)
Utilities: $150
Gas-Auto:$120
Emergency Fund: $200 (fixed until I reach my goal)
ING contribution: $25 (fixed-forced savings)
Phones:$65
Health Insurance:$100 (fixed)
Misc:$150

Total: $1,620


I upped my budget on a couple categories, gas for the car since gas prices seem to be increasing and I have some out of area travel, miscellaneous in case I have to do any more massive expeditions to the laundromat and my health insurance as that is actually a contribution to my HSA account and I use those funds to pay my portion of the Health Insurance Premium.

I have not budgeted for Christmas because, honestly, I don't know what I am going to for Christmas or who I'm going to buy gifts for. The only ones on my list are the dear neighbors because they have been such great people and great friends. I think their kids might enjoy some gas cards or gift cards to Starbucks. The girls are of that age. Me personally, I'd just be happy with a great Christmas lunch and a bunch of thoughtful cards. But we shall see!

I may have to go over on my utilities, I got a propane delivery and only paid half last month, will pay the other half this month, and the rest is contingent upon my electric bill.

How I Spent My Wednesday Night

Watching the Christmas TV Specials of my childhood. Last night was the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Tuesday was a Charlie Brown Christmas.