My teeth have been bothering me lately, and I'm due for a checkup, so I'm going in this afternoon. It was the only appointment available until this summer (yikes!). I can't remember if there is a copay or not, but if there is, they mail a bill, so I'm not going to worry about it. It is going to make my evening very tight, though. I'll get home just in time to leave again. I have a long band practice tonight, yuck.

I'm still not feeling great. This morning I overheard a coworker talking about her week long flu bug. Then she sprinted to the bathroom. Shortly thereafter she went home. I really don't want what she has.

Nothing scheduled for Wednesday night (yet).

I made a hair appointment for Thursday night. This woman does a GREAT cut and I haven't been to her in too long. My hair is driving me nuts. I'm also getting my highlights reapplied...time for summer! I'm spoiling myself, but I love the look of my highlights, and I haven't had them fixed up since August.

Friday we might be having a girl's night. I suggested we have dinner at my house. That will save us all some money, as I have all the fixings for dinner and it will be simple. If they bring drinks, we'll be set. We normally just sit around gabbing and gossiping for hours anyway!

Saturday I have band practice again bright and early, and I'm going to a birthday party in the evening. I was tempted to go to this friend's birthday dinner too, but I just can't justify spending $50 on his birthday when I see him once a year, and there will be 40 of his closest friends there. I will make an appearance and have a drink.

Sunday I am going to collapse into a heap.

I need to pick up some items for my aquarium, so that will be about $24. Hair appointment, probably $60. Girl's Night, nothing if we don't go anywhere, hopefully not much if we do. Saturday night, $20 max. Gas tank will have to be refilled. 5 day estimate: $125.

Ever feel like you just don't care about your budget, and you do crazy things because you don't care? Like eating out a whole bunch? That would be me. Last night we went to a very expensive dinner, and my boyfriend insisted on paying, but still. We shouldn't get into these bad trends because I know they become habits. Today I bought him lunch at Taco Bell - much cheaper, but still eating out. I really am in a "who cares!!!" mindset lately. I'm so frustrated with work and life and housing and cars and everything else that I am tossing my hands up into the air. Bad, I know.

I think I need a break. The reason we left for Taco Bell today was because I desperately wanted to get out of the building.

I applied to several jobs yesterday and today. A few were in Portland, Oregon. I really am considering packing up my apartment and taking off.

I had to buy gasoline last night, so there goes the no spend day. $24.59. ouch.

We looked at an apartment yesterday. It was cramped and smelled like smoke. and so the search continues. We're looking at two more tonight.

I am a complete idiot. I stepped on my laptop last night (BF had left it on the floor, gray carpet + gray computer = BAD), and smashed the LCD screen.

This morning my car was doing its frightening revving thing before I even pulled out of the driveway. I poured more oil into it and it behaved for a while. Still revving once I put it into park, though.

It's a dreary day....I nearly stayed home with my head under the covers. Is anyone else adversely affected by this time change? Normally they don't phase me one bit, but this year I am nothing but exhausted. I cannot seem to get a good night's sleep.

*yawn*

Yesterday:

$4 climbing shoe rental
$6.98 dinner

I am glad I'm not keeping track of no-spending days, because I suck at it.

Today, however, I have not spent a dime and don't intend to, unless I have to fill up my gas tank. I swear I saw $2.31 this morning, so I hope I won't have to fill up.

Spent so far this month: $26.10

is it spring? is it really, really spring? oh, I am so happy. the weather is gorgeous. my BF and I went for a walk to enjoy it.

let's see...spending rundown for the weekend.

Friday: BF bought dinner. thank goodness.
Saturday: breakfast at friend's house (free). lunch at Chipotle ($15.12).
Sunday: five loads of laundry....did I mention how glad I am that I don't pay for water? or that part of the electric bill?

my weekend has had a lot of ups and downs. overall, I'd say it has been good, though. I took a ton of photos on Friday and Saturday, and then being the dummy that I am, I accidentally deleted most of my My Pictures file. (HOW did that happen? I have no idea) so I've been trying to recover it. I got some of them back, but I need my computer expert here to help me with the rest. he has gone to a movie with a friend, so I'll have to ask sweetly later.

I'm broke until Friday. I'm going climbing with a friend tomorrow, so I'll have to bring the $3 or whatever it is to rent shoes in quarters and dimes!

overall, though, I'm pretty happy today. warm, sunny weather really lifts my mood.

edited to add: I completely forgot to mention that I put two for sale listings up on eBay today! we'll see how they do.

I was pretty crabby yesterday after figuring out how much I couldn't spend on a car. That made it easy for my boyfriend to convince me that Dippin Strips from Pizza Hut would be a good option for dinner. and gooooooodd it was...only $13 out of my checkbook, but still. *sigh* Will I never learn? My diet disappeared yesterday, yet again.

Tonight we're going over to a friend's house for wine and games, and probably Indian takeout. I brought lettuce for lunch in an effort to counteract the calories I'll be consuming tonight. I had homemade yogurt for breakfast...yum!

I got 10 hours of sleep last night, so you'd think I'd be in better spirits today. I'm still a little down. Hopefully tonight's festivities will bring me out of this funk. (and my friend has cats at her house!!! god, I miss living with cats)

I have no idea how people afford new cars. According to bankrate.com, I can't even afford a $10,000 loan for three years, unless I ratchet it up to a 5 year loan, which I don't want to do. I am not hurting for a car (yet) but my commute is long and my car is 11 years old, and has many miles on it for a Ford. I am really afraid it is going to blow up one of these days and that will be that. I cannot find a trustworthy mechanic in this city either ($660 for a water pump? I don't think so). I'd like to give it to my sister, who has access to a decent mechanic and does not have a car yet. However. I'm not going to spend three years paying on a car when at the end of those three years it will have just as many miles on it as my current car does. This is a such a pain. What I really need is a new job that pays me a decent wage, so I can afford to buy a car that has less than 70,000 miles on it.

Yesterday I spent $6. Today I spent $4. Last night's kickboxing was really fun and a good workout. I was exhausted by the end. I really needed that.

I read a bit on that 'Money Millionaire In The Making' site, and it just made me irritated. There was a couple on there who are 25 and 27 and are making $108,000 a year. If they each make half of that salary, they are still each making $20,000 more a year than I am, and I am the same age as them with the same credentials!!! It made me feel like my college education was completely worthless. What really gets me irritated is the fact that I will be paying off my college loans for the next six years, and my loans are what are preventing me from buying a decent car or buying a home. God forbid I have a child, because there is no way on earth I could afford it.

By the way, my sincere thanks to whoever gave my journal five stars yesterday. It made my day.

Lots of rain today. I am pretty happy about that. It means spring is here!

Yesterday I spent $6.65 on a diet coke with lime, buns for lunches, and easter candy on sale for half off.

Tonight is kickboxing night! whoo hoo! I'll be buying dinner out; hopefully it will be inexpensive. I've been feeling like a sloth lately, so I'm looking forward to working out. Must remember to concentrate on form and not get irritated with the instructor.

I really need a hair cut, but I keep putting it off because of the price and the fact that I like being able to put my hair in a ponytail again. I've budgeted it for April, though.

I also would like to buy rock climbing shoes so I can stop paying to rent them...but I just don't have the funds to do it if I want to pay off my credit card. That's why I budget cash withdrawals every month, right? So I can rent shoes and buy dinner out on kickboxing nights. *sigh*

Thursday: I did two loads of laundry and went out to dinner with my sweetie. He treated me. Pretty good chile rellenos!

Friday: Went to Walmart ($53). Picked up my sister, bought lunch for us ($8), paid for parking ($1), and took her and my sweetie out to dinner ($23).

Saturday: Went to the grocery store ($57). Then I took my sister rock climbing ($24). She loved it! We had a great time. We had lunch at home, then went to my sweetie's parents' house for the rest of the weekend.

Sunday: $0. Lots of driving.

Monday: $26 to fill up my gas tank. ish.

I have no more planned expenses for this month. I've spent 119% of my income in March (with savings and retirement).

Collectively, my BF and I spent $207 on groceries (OUCH!), I've spent $112 on gasoline (DOUBLE OUCH!), and $147 at Walmart/Target (WHAT?!).

*sigh*

I had a nice weekend, though.

Total Spent Thursday through Monday: $192

I think I need to actually set aside a budgeted amount for clothing. That might help my enternal closet struggle. Yesterday I bought a pair of summer pants and two tank tops, about $33. I definitely want to do more shopping....but I did pretty bad on my food intake (calorie-wise) yesterday, so that isn't helping me lose weight and feel better about my body.

In preparation for payday, I wrote out checks for three bills and made an entry in my checkbook for my savings account - pay myself first! I'm slowly starting to get that concept. Don't know what my problem is, it is a fairly simple concept, but not one I grew up with so it's hard to internalize.

I think I'll end up spending more this weekend than I'd like to. I'll have to buy groceries for my sister, I'm sure, because dorm life and no car means way too much cafeteria food than she'd like. Plus I am a nice big sister. I want to take her out to an awesome vietnamese restaurant, too, so that will be some $$. Oh well. She doesn't visit me often. I've spent a lot of money on frivolous things this month, but this doesn't count as one of them.

According to my budget, I've spent 110% of my income this month; 116% if you count savings. Ouch! Next month I'm shooting for 99% with savings.

I filled out my rental return, and I'm going to get a really nice return this year! It almost makes up for my exorbitant rent. but not quite.

I got a card in the mail yesterday about condo living, starting at $99K. I forgot to bring it today so I could look up the website. I really need to make some big decisions regarding my relationship (should we move in together? should we get married?), my job (should I move somewhere where I can actually find a job in the field I want?), and my living arrangement (is my landlord going to jack up my rent even more this year? can I stand this climate much longer?). UGH. I have no idea how to go about making these decisions, which is probably why I've been sitting in limbo for much too long.

I really wish I had a hybrid, or a TDI, or something like that that got excellent gas mileage. I spent $22 yesterday on a tank of gas, and that is ridiculous! My car is doing this weird revving engine thing again, and I am concerned. I've finally got some money into my savings, and I'd hate to have to yank it out again.

Sunday night: frozen pizza at home. no spending. lots of cleaning.

Monday: homemade soup for lunch, tacos for dinner at home. no spending.

Tuesday: leftover pizza for lunch, didn't eat dinner. bought gasoline, OUCH.

Today: peanut butter & jelly for lunch, not sure about dinner but it will be at home. I think I'm going to an outlet mall with a friend of mine this afternoon. I wasn't planning to buy clothes, but this morning was horrendous in that I wanted to through every item of clothing I own out the window. I just hate my closet. Part of it is bad body image, I know, but nothing seems to fit right. I wanted to lose 15 pounds before I went clothes shopping again, but hating my entire wardrobe nearly caused me to stay home from work today.

Thursday: I'm not planning to spend. Maybe I'll list my closet finds on eBay.

Friday-Sunday: My sister is coming to visit for the weekend. I'll have to run to the grocery store and take out some cash, and be prepared to spend a lot on gas money. I'd like to take her rock climbing, but I'm not sure if I'll have the money to do it. We may just end up doing free/cheap things. I have Friday off, thank god.

I'm chipping away at my credit card bill...slow and steady wins the race!

I'm a little obsessed with hot tea lately. I don't like to drink coffee, and my office is perpetually freezing, so tea it is. I'm using a tea bag twice before tossing it...the second cup is much less flavorful, but enough to appease me.

Kickboxing rocked. It was challenging. I have a serious problem with authority in that I was getting very irritated with the instructor for bossing me around. I just kept trying to remind myself that she is trying to help me! It's hard for me though, because I hate, hate, hate being told what to do. I was a lovely child for my parents to deal with, as you can imagine.

I spent $6.06 on dinner, and that was all. When I got home, I paid two bills that had come in the mail. My cell phone bill was a little bit higher because apparently I was roaming and didn't realize it, but it was only a couple of minutes, so oh well.

I was going to buy a six pack of beer for our girl's night tomorrow night, but with the rest of our planned activities, I think I need to cut back on expenses for the evening. I'm planning to bake cookies tonight instead. that will shave a little bit off of the evening's cost.

Today's lunch is what I was supposed to eat yesterday, food from home. Tonight's dinner will be at home. Tomorrow's lunch will be free for listening to someone speak about finances. whoo hooo!

I just spent $11.51 on lunch for me and my beau. He bought me a green tea smoothie, though. Tonight I'll be buying dinner at a food court, and my kickboxing pass.

KICKBOXING!!!!! I am pumped. apparently there may be someone there who only speaks Spanish (how is he managing? I have no idea), so I may get the chance to practicar con el. no he hablado por anos, pero quisiera practicar con mas frequencia. si hay alguien que habla espanol aqui, me puede escribir!

I am not going to my obligation tonight. I am sick of it, and after the last few days, I don't need the aggravation.

Suffice to say that I spent the weekend with several people whom I love dearly and a few I don't. My weekend was definitely not my own, and I feel like I have been living at work. Today was full of people throwing more and more tasks on me, all the while treating me as though I am a five year old.

enough complaining. the job search continues.

On Friday I put $50 into savings ($25 of that for holiday gifts), and paid three bills (including paying off one credit card). On Saturday I ate free breakfast at work, lunch at home, and had a free dinner. Sunday I had free breakfast and free dinner. I bought $19 worth of card making supplies at Michaels (sale!). Monday I paid $5 to rent climbing shoes at the gym, had a free breakfast and free lunch at work, and leftovers for dinner at home. Today I filled my gas tank, washed my car (all those shiny cars around were driving me nuts!), ate breakfast at home, had leftovers for lunch, and so far I haven't prepared dinner, but it will be something from the pantry/freezer. I'm going to pay another bill tonight and maybe put something into my IRA.

Tomorrow! I'll bring lunch and breakfast from home. I am kickboxing again tomorrow night, so I'll have to buy dinner out and my kickboxing card.

As for the rest of the week, all I'm sure about is Friday...it will probably be a moderate spending night, but I haven't seen my girlfriends for months, and we need a night out.

Thank you, Nate, for making it so I can read my old posts as I type this one. You Rock.

I just got home from kickboxing. It was a workout, and it was really fun. I'll definitely be buying a membership punch card. I feel so good now!!! I kept saying to myself, why don't you move your body more often? This is actually fun! I just need to convince my procrastinator/perpetually tired side of that little fact.

Luckily I didn't have to pay for the punch card tonight, though, but probably next week. I spent $10 on dinner....not bad for a sit-down restaurant. That was all I spent today. Unfortunately that $10 also meant 745 calories...ouch. Carrot sticks for me tomorrow.

Tomorrow, lunch from home, then dinner at home, then climbing gym excursion. No money spent, with any luck.

I scheduled two workout sessions for this week: one for tomorrow night with a friend, and one on Thursday with my boyfriend at the climbing gym. I feel so fat, it is driving me nuts. All I want is my clothes to fit again...and to lose 35 pounds (hehe).

Yesterday I did not spend anything. My bf picked up wine for dinner. We made lasagna and it turned out great!

Today I am paying back a friend for picking up April concert tickets ($25). I also reserved our spots for the climbing gym class on Thursday ($40).

Tomorrow I'll need to pay for a punch card to work out with my friend ($50). I'll also probably need to buy dinner, because the class is at a time and place that makes it inconvenient to drive home and get dinner. Hopefully we'll pick somewhere cheap to eat.

Thursday should be a no-spend day! (hopefully)

I'm trying to figure out what to do...do I find a bigger place and move in with my bf here? Do I stay in my place alone, and risk the rent rising drastically like it did last year? If we stay here, should a new place be closer to my workplace, instead of such a long commute? Do I really think I can keep working here much longer? If not, since I can't find a job here, should I move? Where should I move to? Do I risk moving somewhere without a job? *sigh*

Saturday afternoon turned out to be a bust. I started getting a rapidly developing migraine and it was downhill from there. I didn't get much accomplished.

Sunday I woke up with a dull ache, but it felt like it was off in the distance, so I thought maybe I could keep it at bay. I did four loads of laundry over the course of the day, made cinnamon pecan bread, and cleaned up the kitchen. I went to Target and a couple of sporting goods stores in the afternoon. I spent $58 at Target, $28 more than I intended to, but I had coupons and stocked up on a few things. I didn't spend anything at the sporting goods stores. I went to the grocery store too, but my BF picked up the tab there - another $60, so that brings March's total thus far up to $135. We are trying to eat healthier things, and less prepackaged stuff. We even planned the week's meals when we got home...hopefully we can stick to it. My headache came back in the midst of all this, and I was in bed by 8:00pm.

Today the headache is in its same dull state.

I applied to several jobs yesterday, all over the country. We'll see.

Today will most likely be a no spend day, since my headache is creeping back in and I am tired of shopping for the moment. Plus, we are well stocked in groceries, and tonight is lasagna night!

Yesterday I went to the mall to find a pair of jeans. No go, so I saved $40-50, I guess. Then, the grocery store adventure. I tried hard to buy organic food, perfect-looking produce, and good deals on other things. I spent $77.57 -- $17.57 more than what I was aiming for, but I bought a lot. Simmering in my cup is a bag of chai vanilla tea, YUM. Unfortunately there were no leeks, but I was not surprised. I bought raspberry newtons on sale but avoided the oreo cookies on sale, even though I adore them. I am trying to eat better! and after that jeans-shopping fiasco, not to mention the wedding-outfit-shopping-fiasco, I told myself last night that I'm not going clothes shopping again until I lose 15 pounds.

My allergies have seriously been kicking my butt this week. I've started taking my meds again like crazy. I have no idea what is causing it...everything is frozen over, and mold and dust are here year-round. I should take out stock in Kleenex.

Still looking for a new job...I never heard from my last interviewer. I love that. I wish people would, at the very least, write an email and say "you're not a candidate" as soon as they know that. Especially if you have interviewed once or even twice there! *sigh*

keep on truckin'...

I'll probably be spending today. I need milk and bread and some other necessities of life, so to the grocery store I will go. Another batch of yogurt with my handy-dandy yogurt maker is necessary, and that requires milk!

Last night I made beer-crust pizza topped with spinach, onion, tomato, garlic, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, and feta cheese. It was really good. I've had that feta in my cheese drawer for quite a while but it was still tasty. Today I brought leftover pizza and a can of pears for lunch. Fruit has never been my thing, really, but I am trying to incorporate more into my diet.

Tonight?? I have no idea what to have for dinner. Maybe I'll start perusing the recipe sites.

My goal is to spend $60 or less on groceries tonight! And that will have to include a leek or two, should they be in the store, because I'm dying to try that leek soup.

Seriously...I can't believe it is March already. This year is flying.

A sweet little red cardinal was outside my door this morning, singing away. I am so excited!! Can that possibly mean that spring is almost here?? I can't complain, it's been a really mild winter so far, but warm is where it's at.

Yesterday I paid the cable/internet bill, the car insurance bill, put some more into savings, and filled up the gas tank. Today I think might actually be a no-spend day!

Lunch yesterday was chili from the freezer (crockpots rock); dinner last night was miscellaneous stuff from the freezer; lunch today is bean soup from the freezer. I realized last night that I need to get better at eating that stuff up, lest it get kind of stale and freezer burned. Dinner tonight will be....something....I really need to go to the grocery store but I am putting it off.

I'm reading "French Women Don't Get Fat"...fascinating! I think maybe I can do this (with a few modifications). I'm sorry, but there is no way I am going to eat three courses for every meal with a separate plate for each course when I don't have a dishwasher! Nor can I go to the "market" every other day when 1) the farmer's market only exists here in the summer, and 2) shopping every other day is not financially viable nor is it logical. I'd like to have a life outside of my food shopping. Give up chocolate? No way! But I can cut back, and I can start adding more variety and more fruits and vegetables. There's another thing...Leek Soup. I wonder if leeks are even in the stores here. Guess I'll have to go take a look!!

I would looooooove to save $2000 this year, put $2500 into my Roth IRA this year, and lose 30 pounds this year. I think I can do it!

I spent basically what I thought I would spend over the weekend. Lots of food out (but I tried to keep it cheap), paid for my sweetie's meals to compensate for the hotel room, and bought the climbing gym membership.

This month I am really going to get back into consistently cooking and eating at home. It's healthier, I feel better when I do, it's cheaper, and I've been gaining weight (and that needs to STOP).

I fell and tore up my hand on a concrete driveway over the weekend so I can't use my new membership until it heals. It's already starting to, so it shouldn't be long. There were hundreds of people signing up at the gym last night, so I don't mind waiting a bit until the furor dies down. People's motivation will probably drop after the first couple of weeks, so it won't be as crowded...at least, I'm hoping so!

I ripped my jeans when I fell, so I have to buy new ones. That wasn't in the budget, but now I've had to incorporate it.

The wedding was a BLAST....I drank entirely too much, but everyone did, so we all had a fabulous time dancing the night away!! I am exhausted today, though.

Bye-bye February, onto March! Is it really almost March 2005 already!?!?!?

ok. last night I went to the biggest mall in the entire country. you'd think I would have found a shirt, right? we went into practically every clothing store. nothing. everything right now is either lingerie (can I wear that in front of my 'adoptive grandmothers' or my boyfriend's parents? I think not) or it is something a sweet 80 year old grandmother would wear. thus my dilemma. I am thinking about leaving work a little bit early today for my final, absolutely last ditch effort. *sigh* I have never had so much trouble finding an outfit.

tonight we'll be buying dinner on the road. I'm eating work party leftovers right now. tomorrow we'll have to buy lunch and dinner (there's only one plate at the wedding, and it is chicken, not something vegetarian friendly). probably will have to buy lunch again on Sunday on the way home. we'll have to pay for our hotel room on Saturday night, and gasoline (though we're taking the hybrid, so that won't be much). Sunday we're buying our gym memberships. so....it will be an expensive weekend.

off to worry about my lack-of-shirt dilemma.....

I have to find a shirt tonight. I just looooove having to do things at the last minute. grrrrrrrr. but to my credit I have been looking for an outfit/shirt for weeks with little luck.

the cabin was great. very relaxing. the bed was spectacular...so much so that it made my bed at home feel like a rock. I researched mattress pads earlier this week and bought one on overstock.com, and two down-like pillows. I cannot seem to find a pillow that does not wrench my neck and cause headaches. I bought a memory foam pillow last month to see if that would help, but it is as hard as a rock and I can't stand to sleep on it anymore. today I have a killer headache....looking forward to those pillows, I hope they help. overstock.com has such great deals, though...the mattress pad I bought was twice as much at JCPenneys.

I picked up a few supplies for the wedding this weekend last night, and some necessities. I've eaten out a little too much in the past week. this weekend will be more eating out, but I'll curb that when March rolls around. back to cooking!

I'm purchasing my rock climbing gym membership this weekend ($200 off the regular price!). I've been saving for it and I am very excited. I will have to buy some gear, but that will have to wait until April.

In March I will be paying off one of my college loans! whoo hoo!

last night at the bookstore I bought two bookmarks (one for me, one for my sweetie), two puzzle books for him, one puzzle book for me, a lateral thinking book for both of us, and a gift certificate for the people who are lending us their cabin. I love that place. I could buy every book in the store. someday I would love to have a den with floor to ceiling bookshelves, filled with books, warm and inviting and cozy.

I also bought shoes for $9.99 to go with my skirt for the wedding next weekend. however, I still did not find a shirt to go with it. that is a bit of a problem.

tonight we're off to the cabin and relaxing the weekend away!! yippee!

not as long as I'd like it to be (that would be a permanent vacation) but three days. we've secured a free cabin belonging to a friend of a friend. all we need to bring is groceries, entertainment (books) and our battered psyches. I am so excited. it is a birthday celebration and a relaxing get-away all rolled into one. I'll get them a gift certificate as a thank you.

I've brought lunch all week and had dinner at home all week. I may have dinner out tonight with a friend. we are hitting the mall (I STILL do not have a stupid outfit for the wedding next weekend) and we'll probably stop for a snack.

I've been pretty good about impulse spending lately. I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with regard to my credit card bill, my car insurance, and my lowest college loan. another college loan will be paid off next year. I won't be seeing any light on the last one for many many years...but that's ok.

I wish I had the means to purchase a house. I wish I had a job I loved. I wish I lived in a location I loved. I wish I had the means to buy a new car. but on the sunny side of things, I have a man who loves me, a family who loves me, plenty of friends who love me, a great apartment with fish who are always happy to see me and tons of healthy plants, and plenty of junk food to keep me fat and happy.

it's a sunny day, I get to see my best friend in a few hours, and I'm feeling pretty good.

let's see...apart from regular bills, over the weekend I spent about $78 on clothes, $10 on postage stamps, and $60 on a medical bill. I tried to find an outfit for an upcoming wedding, but nothing fit right. I bought a cute skirt but couldn't find a shirt to go with it. I bought a cashmere sweater on clearance, too. I'm going to have to buy shoes and a shirt if I wear that skirt....but I have no idea where else to look! I've been to five malls already! it's getting frustrating. I need to pick up some prescriptions tonight, and buy a bit more of a birthday gift for my sweetie this week.

I'm making an effort to put money away in my savings account every pay period, even if it's only $10. I need to get in the habit. it is too easy to cut that part of the budget when other areas are lacking.

I've spent 16% of my income so far this month. By the time it is over, I will have spent 103% according to my budget (that includes savings). Not great, but better than last month, when I spent much more. I'm really working on paying off the credit cards, though, and that's a huge chunk of it. That and my fabulous kitchenaid mixer (insert blushing face here).

I need to get back on the cooking track. I've been eating out way too frequently lately! New vegetarian recipes are calling my name this afternoon.

I've devised a way to get my new Roth IRA up to the maximum $3000 mark by the end of the year. Now if only I can stick to my budget!! Why is it that budgets and diets are so hard to stick to?

I had a GREAT weekend. It was so nice!! I spent time with two of my girlfriends on Friday whom I rarely see, and it was great to catch up. I spent a little on groceries that day to have drink mixers on hand. We went out to dinner but they would not let me pay. I made them take a few dollars for the tip.

Saturday I cleaned up the apartment and did my taxes (finally! a refund!). I spent a little at Walmart, mainly on frivolous things like makeup and workout equipment. I had a delicious Italian dinner with my boyfriend; he wouldn't let me pay either, but let me leave the tip.

Sunday I was the happy recipient of a delicious breakfast, two creamy birthday cakes, a host of wonderful gifts, and an amazing Indian dinner. Several of my friends came over in the afternoon to play games, and we went to dinner later. The best gift I received was a charcoal drawing of my precious cat drawn by my best friend. My cat passed away one year ago today at the age of 17. I miss her desperately. Luckily the waterproof mascara I had bought the night before did what it was supposed to do when I opened that gift.

Today I may have a bit of an extended birthday...my boyfriend had a hard time finding the gift he wanted to give me, and he says he will be able to get it tonight. I could use some relaxation today. I had a number of nightmares last night and am sad today, anyway.

I had a couple of friends completely disregard my birthday this year. One may have forgotten (although that is somewhat unusual for him). The other was deliberate, I know. She has been treating me really poorly ever since she got a boyfriend (and, actually, for sometime before) and I'm done with the drama. I don't need that in my life! and luckily for me, I have many close friends and family who truly love me.

working on my budget today, trying to figure out where I can cut and how I can get a handle on it.

I'd like to join a gym at the end of this month, when they have their annual sale, a very good one.

I have a wedding to attend at the end of this month. I'm debating whether or not to buy an outfit. I will go through my closet to see if anything I already have will suffice.

I bought lunch today. I brought it on Monday and didn't eat lunch yesterday.

I can always find reasons to spend money...I'd like to always find reasons to save money instead. If I'm ever going to move out of this godforsaken climate, I'm going to have to have a safety net, so I better start building one now.

Today I saved myself $15.42 per pay period by reducing my medical coverage. I had the top-of-the-line, but after some research and calling I discovered that I could keep my own doctor with lesser coverage. I'll have to get referrals to see specialists now, but oh well. It will save me $400 a year. Unfortunately it won't start until March, but that's better than nothing.

Tonight we're heading to the library for some free educational entertainment.