In overall news, the pup knows a few new tricks. She’s about 75% accurate on “Come” and “Heel”, but the one that she’s shining in is “Circles” where she runs in a tight circle. I knew a friend who taught there dog that in order for them to “wipe their feet” when they came in. I like it because it burns some of her energy. :-p We’re just starting “lay down”, but it’s proving tricky as she puts her butt back in the air and does a reverse sit so we have to keep our hand on her tush. It’s actually rather amusing.

I’m finally motivated back at work. Last week was –very- productive, and this week already I’m rocking off the to-do lists. I’m counting that as goal completed. I also have finished 1 long term project finally. I’m hoping tomorrow to have another done.

My vitamin D test came back in the mid-lower “healthy range” with no recommendations on what to do. I can feel it fading though, but not enough to go in and force the issue. Doctors always seem to blow off the little things that make a BIG difference. No wonder I had to self-diagnose the tomato/potato/peppers/paprika intolerance. They thought I was making up feeling icky all the time. Sometimes I daydream about how it must feel to feel healthy all the time. Nothing major is wrong with me, just a lot of little piddly stuff. I probably should just get a vitamin D pill at the grocery store and take a low dose daily. I’ll have to think about it.



On the personal no-spend month front, I filled up on Friday morning (9.427 gallons at $3.659/gallon for a total of $34.49, 329.3 miles at 34.9mpg). And then Fri I traveled across town for work, Sat I traveled quite a way to visit a friend, and Sun was full of errands. I will have to fill up tomorrow morning already and possibly at the end of the week.

Today’s allowance day (Yay!), but I didn’t put anything into savings early this week in case I do need it for gas.

I almost broke down and bought lunch today, but I made a quick sandwich instead. It was a strange sandwich, but it saved me a good $5.


$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Week 1 Savings
-$26.33 – Week 1 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 2 Allowance
-$40.00 – Week 2 Savings
-$31.46 – Week 2 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 3 Allowance
-$30.00 – Week 3 Savings
-$34.49 – Week 3 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 4 Allowance
=$78.98 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $90 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.

June has been declared spendy (joint wise) and I’ll just have to tighten the belt elsewhere and adjust. I had a long and tiring weekend, and this week is insanely busy already. Plus, my puppy is not getting any better and she was supposed to be a LOT better already. So we might have another vet bill in the week. Also, went in for a recheck on Vitamin D levels. I can feel my energy flagging already now that the pills are done. *sigh*

Oh, but I did take our dimes, nickels and pennies in today to be deposited into joint. It came to $43.82! Yay, little wiggle room!

And so we’re on Week 3 of my personal no spend month. (The only place I feel like I’m making progress! Weekly allowance in, savings of $30 out. Balance:

$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Week 1 Savings
-$26.33 – Week 1 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 2 Allowance
-$40.00 – Week 2 Savings
-$31.46 – Week 2 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 3 Allowance
-$30.00 – Week 3 Savings
=$48.47 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $90 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.

When we refinanced our car, we couldn’t figure out what the exact payoff amount was since it all depended on when they received it and when they processed it (ended up being three banking business days after they signed for it... grr), so we refinanced for about $380 more than the payoff ended up being. We figured as soon as it was paid off, we could turn around and apply whatever was leftover right back to the loan… but that money’s gone already.

Plus, over half of our $200 monthly joint allowance is gone and we’re only 11 days into June! We have a visit to a friend’s house next weekend (money for gas, and probably food), and a friend visiting the following weekend (gas for outings and food). Plus, we need to buy more puppy food and a new bone for her. It’ll be gone in no time.

AND I’ve had to take money out of our savings account to cover some of the expenses (pay off May’s credit card balance, unexpected expenses, and smaller checks coming in). Bah. Gah. And phooey.

So, where did all the money go? It pretty much went to the vet. I had budgeted $150 this month for the 12 week vaccines and food for the pooch, but yesterday we surpassed that amount by $100 for one vet visit. We went in for the 12 week vaccines, and brought a stool sample as she still was having soft stools. Here to find out (as I expected) she still has giardia and coccidia, so we’re on a 4 week-long more aggressive treatment to cure the giardia, and they think they wiped out the coccidia yesterday with one-time last treatment. I’m skeptical. She’s tired today from the vaccines, bland (and lower amount) food, the coccidia treatment, and the first dose of the giardia treatment. I can’t believe we’ve been fighting this for 4 weeks already, and it’ll be another 4 weeks before the treatment might be done, IF it’s successful.

But despite all this, we paid this last visit with cash and paid off the May credit card balance (vet, new puppy expenses, unexpected friend’s visit, “rent” gift, etc). I didn’t want to deal with that interest. We’re going to be tight for June and July.

My poor husband wants to go out to eat or go to the movies so bad, but I’m still reeling from the backwards state of our finances and worried about upcoming expenses, and am exhausted overall. I keep telling him that I’m not interested, but he could go out if he wants to (on his own dime). He hasn’t taken the bite, yet, but I think that might mean he’s just antsy and not really wanting to do it.

Oh, and I’m calling the puppy fund goal a fail this month. There’s nothing left to put in it after yesterday. Plus, I won't be signing up for puppy class as that will cost money, and she won't be able to go until she gets the kennel cough vaccine. *sigh*

This week has been HARD. I’ve wanted to spend almost every day. It’s been a tiring week between work (deadlines), puppy (who’s still sick and just got put on more meds), and husband (who’s also sick). The place I’ve wanted to spend the most was for lunches. I go home every lunch to take the pup out, but then I just don’t know what to eat (since I don’t typically get to get the groceries). It’d be so much easier to go out to eat and have someone make the food for me. Well, that is, until I remember my food intolerances. Then it’s not so easy. And then tonight we went into a fabric store, and I’m a sucker for craft supplies. Not that I ever finish any of my projects, but that’s not the point. I managed to walk out without buying a cross stitch I fell in love with. *pat self on back*

Today I filled up on gas. Despite running to the other side of town, twice, I didn’t do too badly. 8.414 gallons at $3.739/gallon for a total of $31.46. I only got 33.5 mpg this time, but that doesn’t surprise me with the two extra long stop and go trips.

$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Week 1 Savings
-$26.33 – Week 1 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 2 Allowance
-$40.00 – Week 2 Savings
-$31.46 – Week 2 Gas
=$13.47 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $60 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.

Back from the traveling weekend. It was a nice weekend, but it felt simultaneously long and short. I’m just excited that I get to start the week with a full tank of gas! Plus my puppy only got up once last night! YAY! (We’ll see if it’s a permanent change tonight.)

I will be transferring $40 to my savings account today. Out of sight, out of mind!

$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Week 1 Savings
-$26.33 – Week 1 Gas
+$65.00 – Week 2 Allowance
-$40.00 – Week 2 Savings
=$44.93 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $60 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.

Since we’re traveling this weekend, I filled up my tank after work. I put in 6.789 gallons at $3.879 per gallon for a total of $26.33. I had traveled 241.7 miles according to my odometer which means my car made 35.6 miles per gallon. My little Yaris makes me very happy.

This weekend’s trip’s gas will be on joint since we’re both going to the wedding. This means I will start Monday with a full tank of gas. Also, I will not be spending anything this weekend (personally), so I conclude Week 1 as a successful No Spend Week. Only four more to go!

$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Savings 6/1/2011
-$26.33 – Week 1 Gas
=$19.93 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $20 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.

I am starting out June with $66.26 in my personal account. I don’t owe joint or my credit card for the first time in a long time! (Sometimes I purchase my personal things with joint items and have to pay joint back, or I buy online and use my credit card which I pay back as soon as it clears.)

In order to start the month out right, I opened a personal savings account with ING and transferred $20 to it. I figured the less that is in the account, the less I have the urge to spend. My goal is to reach $150 in my personal savings.


$66.26 – Opening Balance
-$20.00 – Savings 6/1/2011
=$46.26 – Available for gas with remainder going to savings

Total amount saved so far: $20 out of $150


*About my personal account: Every Monday I get $65 to purchase gas and my personal splurges. In June, anything not spent on gas will be sent to savings for my trip this fall.