North Georgia Gal's Financial Awakening

I went through my kitchen this weekend and found all sorts of things! I was able to make breakfast for my son and friends with just what I had! I found sausage in the freezer and had biscuits in the can. Scramble some eggs and call it done! I was tempted to purchase something for breakfast while at the store Friday night, but chose not to. Good call!

Sunday night, I decided what we would have for dinner on Monday. it was a snap to put the ham(already cooked) in the microwave and heat up some veggies. I had the afternoon off, so I was able to actually prepare before our evening activities.

Last night, I decided that we are having chicken parmesan tonight.(probably not the traditional version, but that is what I call my creation). I set out everything that I could on the counter last night. now when I get home, it is all right there and all I have to do is mix it up. The thought process is all taken care of.

I stopped at Ingles this morning to purchase bagels(see previous post about bagels past their prime). I looked in the deli section, but no Asiago bagels. But while I was there, I succumbed to the smell of the fresh donuts(doesn't help that I had a dream last night that I was back working in the donut shop, my very first job!) Bought 2 donuts and a think of milk. Also got the bagels so I won't have to stop anywhere for a while. Important lesson learned = I am an impulse buyer. I have to avoid all temptations.

Ingles = 5.47(saved 1.41 with advantage card)

I found some bagels in the freezer at home(4) an then I went to Ingles on the way to work this morning and spent $6.96 for cream cheese and coke to keep at work. That is what 2 days of breakfasts would have cost me and I have breakfast until at least Thursday!

Well, the bagels in te freezer are definately past their prime. Will have to stop to get another bag in the morning. I have a frozen pizza in the freezer here at work that will work until dinner, so I won't go hungry and I don't have an excuse to go get something for lunch.

Ingles - 6.96

Total for the day = 6.96

I did really well this weekend(it helps when you don't leave home!)

I had to stop at Ingles and get dog food/cat food on Friday, but then I didn't spend anything again until Sunday, when I had to get gas.

I did fall into the "it's late and I am hungry trap" on Friday. I picked my son up at the movies at 9:00 and I was starving(hadn't been home yet). Zipped through the drive through at Taco Bell, the make it so darn convenient!

Ingles - 19.48
Taco Bell - 6.07
Gas - 20.00

Total spending for the weekend = 45.55

I was tempted to stop at Taco Bell on the way home from dropping my son off. I tried to talk myself into it...I am the only one home and surely that $6 won't make that big of difference. But in the end, I didn't stop. I came home and in the process of finding something to eat.

YEAH for me!

Just by having kept up with my spending for the last couple of days, I can see where I need to make adjustments. Instead of stopping each day at the coffee shop for a bagel, I could purchase a bag of them and keep them at work(just have to sacrifice the asiago cheese flavor). this is going to be hard for me to do. But I am going to try my best.

I have spent $95.18 since Tuesday morning, and only $40 of that was for gas. The remaining $55.18 was all for eating out! In 3 1/2 days! That is nuts! I can't believe that! This is the slap in the face that I needed to realize that I spend too much money eating out. I had no idea...when I spend a little hear and a little there, I didn't realize how much I spent! No wonder I don't have the money to go to the grocery store! I spent it a little at a time each week! And rationalized it to myself!

this is the first time that I have been compeletly honest about my spending. I am so glad that I found this site!

I am trying to avoid eating out so much and I have problems with meals. Okay...I have never been accused of being a good cook. I have a few basics that it seems we eat often. I need to add variety but it needs to be simple. Mondays and Thursdays we don't get home until 9:00. Throw in Tuesdays every other week not getting home until 8:30 and you will begin to see my problem. I have always heard that you shouldn't eat so late, but we don't really have a choice. Coming home before these activities isn't an option as we live 15 miles in the other direction from ANYWHERE!

I have tried crock pot meals and most of them turn out pretty good. But some of them get overcooked because we leave at 7:00 in the am and by the time we get home, they have been cooking for 14 hours!(Yikes, am I really away from home that long in one day???) My son is at home most of these nights and can start the oven or the meat, but it needs to be extremely easy for him to grasp(typical teenager!)

Any ideas you guys can help me with would be great!

Today is off to a good start! I found 4 transactions in my checkk register that had been entered twice, putting another 33.54 back into my balance! Yea! I now have $80 to last until next Friday. Might have to skip breakfast out a few days. I will have to get gas again today.

I forgot about dinner plans with a friend, so that is going to mess up my plan for the day. but on the plus side, 20 almost filled my tank!(with as much running around as I do, it won't last that long, but is cheaper to refuel!)

Dr. Pepper for breakfast 1.44
Gas - 20
dinner - 9.96
Dinner(daughter) 2.96

Total for day = 34.36

I didn't do too good today. I resorted to dinner out as it was just my son and I. I felt bad after I had done it, but it was so convenient to have dinner when I got home. The total for the day was not bad, but could have been alot better.

I have decided that I am going to allow myself to purchase breakfast each morning, roughly $4/day. I went ahead and bought my bagel for tomorrow morning since I was in the store this afternoon.

Breakfast 3.57
Dinner(son) 7.36
Dinner(me) 6.07
breakfast for tomorrow 2.13

Total for today 19.13

Today was a busy day, as usual. Didn't have time to go home before the group Violin practice, so had to get snacks to last until 9:00, when we got home and could eat dinner. Also had to get gas today, so that added to the total.


Breakfast(with friend) 7.68
Gas 20.00
Snacks before Violin 4.05

Total Spent toady 31.73

I would like to save at least $3 per day...not necessarily into a savings account, but by not purchasing something. Some days I don't purchase items, but most days I do. At the end of each month, I will total what I have saved(not spent) to see what I have been able to do.

I intend to used this blog to keep up with my daily spending habits. I have a hard time not spending money even when I shouldn't. My credit cards are all over the limit and I am behind on the payments. I haven't done a "real" grocery trip in a couple of months...we have food, but not what we want. But yet I always find the money to get a bagel and coke on the way to work in the morning.

I need to make myself realize what I spend...and maybe putting it in writing will help me do that.