For those who are new, my style of “spending” is a little convoluted. I have two checking accounts. I keep the majority of my money in the secondary account, transferring $240 a week into the main account. But I charge everything to the card to maximize rewards. As charges accrue, I transfer money out of the main account into the secondary one. Then I make a weekly payment on my credit card.
A tad confusing, perhaps, but it works for me. Anyway, here’s how spending went this week.
Thursday
Unfortunately, I woke up early — around 5 a.m. by my best guess — because I was slightly hungry. I grabbed a protein bar and tried to go back to sleep, but I managed light, fitful dozing at best.
I gave up a bit before 7 a.m. and just started work, deciding I’d try for a nap later.
I caught up on emails and other duties, then I placed a couple of orders at CVS to use my $10 CarePass reward and a 40% off coupon. The total of the two orders was $23.75.
I checked in with the guy from the Angels & Demons party the previous Saturday — let’s just call him Angels & Demons Party Guy (ADPG), I guess — to see if he still wanted to come out this weekend. We agreed he’d come over Saturday and come to the pool party with me and my friend, formerly known as Trivia Buddy. He’s decided trivia isn’t for him, and he’s newly divorced and exploring single life. So I decided I should change his nickname to Fellow Dating Warrior (FDW).
I checked with the co-organizer, and she okayed the addition to the pool party, which I relayed to ADPG. I also suggested he come out earlier than the party — so we’d have the option of making out somewhere other than a pool.
I went out and grabbed a few things at the grocery store ($14.68), got a lottery ticket for Pirate Party Guy (PPG) who’s out of town — and figured what the heck and chose some specific numbers myself — for another $4. (Spoiler alert: I did not win.)
After that, I stopped off at Petco and picked up two large boxes of litter. I have a store merchandise card for those, so I didn’t pay anything out of pocket.
I came home and caught up on emails, then finished out my workday.
At which point, ADPG texted to say his ex — who had come over on Tuesday to talk co-parenting — had tested positive for COVID, so he had a test the next day. Which meant probably not getting the results in time for the pool party. Sigh.
I was working some overtime for the evening shift, but almost no work came in. So it was a tranquil evening, and Josie greatly appreciated the snuggle time.
I went to bed around 8:30 to try to get my sleep hygiene back on track.
Total spent: $42.43
Friday
I woke up feeling a little groggy but at least decently rested.
Once I was caught up on work, I got a few chores done.
I went home and finished out the workday, then rested until it was time to for trivia. Unfortunately, we didn’t do well. Again. We’re on a bit of a losing streak.
I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t spend anything there.
I came home, messaged a bit with friends and passed out around midnight.
Total spent: $8.94
Saturday
I woke up around 9:30 and just lay in bed scrolling social media and letting Josie lie on me.
Oh, and the guy from the Angels & Demons party confirmed he did indeed have COVID. Thankfully, he didn’t have any symptoms, but obviously he had to hunker down.
I finally made myself get up to run a couple of errands.
I had to go to the grocery store to pick up some food to bring to the pool party I was going to that night. I got a couple of dips, some chips and some bread for $15.64.
A picture in the bathroom had been on a Command strip and fell in the night, shattering the glass. So I got a replacement one at Michael’s for $5.69.
I dropped off some clothes at Saver’s, and picked up a muffin pan ($3.25) because I’d recently found I didn’t own one. I feel like at some point I’ll need to make cupcakes for some event or other, and I’d rather not scramble for a pan.
I picked up FDW. He was pretty close to the guy’s house we were going to, and I figured at least one of us should be able to drink that night.
We went over and had a great time, but by midnight I was beat. (So were a lot of the others, thankfully, so we didn’t look like party poopers.)
I dropped FDW off at his place and got home around 12:45. I passed out shortly thereafter.
Total spent: $24.58
Sunday
I woke up around 9 a.m. and once again lazed in bed/with Josie for a while.
I’d run out of some shades of nail polish (finally — I bought them years upon years ago), and I’m wearing more open-toed shoes these days. Because, dresses. So I used some deals at CVS to get two bottles for $5.69 after tax.
I needed a couple more items, and I had credit at Walgreens. So I spent $6.10 on those.
I got up, filled out the ballot for the primary election, then went and dropped it off at the post office. I then stopped in CVS (there was a free item, but in-store only) and ended up buying one more shade of polish for $3.25 after tax.
I got some takeout for $13.52, and then I came home, thoroughly pooped — I think the IUD procedure/emotional toll was causing some extra fatigue — and rested for the remainder of the day.
Total spent: $28.56
Monday
It was the 1st of the month, so Netflix charged me $10.85. Hulu charged me $3.23 for my Disney+ add-on.
The art for the frame I decorated had finally come in, so I placed a pickup order at Michael’s for the accompanying mat ($5.20).
I realized that my masseuse’s baby shower was only a week away, so I went to her Amazon registry and chose some items. The items were all pretty small. She has friends who had babies this past year, so the big stuff was covered.
She also said she kept the items’ prices low because she didn’t want anyone spending too much money on her. So I just ordered several items: a nightgown, a robe, some onesies and baby books for a total of $83.59. Amounts of $60 or more don’t come out of my weekly funds.
There was a board game event I could’ve gone to, but I was still a little beat. So I stayed home and chilled out with Josie.
Total spent: $102.87 ($19.28 out of weekly funds)
Tuesday
I woke up, caught up on emails and then took Josie for her semi-annual exam. I needed to buy more gabapentin because she is not a good patient. So that was $14.76, but it’ll help with future visits.
I came home, finished up my workday and then tidied a bit since PPG was coming over.
He got there around 5:30 p.m. and took off around 8:30.
There was going to be a Roman-themed party on the 20th, so I had ordered some Amazon costumes to see. If I were smart — since a lot of the party will probably be spent in my swimsuit — I would’ve just gotten a sheet at Goodwill and a couple accessories and called it good.
In fact, that’s what I had decided to do the day after I ordered the costumes. But they showed up, and I stupidly decided to try them on just for fun. And one of them was this cute and (if I do say so myself) sexy number. (As an Amazon affiliate, I am compensated for orders through my links.)
And it was only $27.15 after tax. Bright side: These groups I’ve joined have so damn many theme parties, it’s only a matter of time before I can use it again.
I had a busy day the next day, so I made myself go to bed at 10. This week was supposed to be all about sleep hygiene after all.
Total spent: $41.91
Wednesday
I woke up, caught up on work and then had to go to my monthly doctor appointment. I have a $0 copay.
After that, I came home, caught back up on work and made myself presentable before I went to my massage, since I was going straight to a MeetUp happy hour event after that.
The massage was $105 after tip — bless her and her low prices (another reason to splurge on the registry) — and I headed to the happy hour event. FDW and I were meeting a little early to chat about his dating endeavors, which had been a little discouraging lately. He was in demand, but by women wearing red flags galore.
I was driving, so I stuck with one cider for a total of $10.35.
I left around 9 p.m. but had a good time chatting with everyone.
Total spent: $115.35 ($10.35 out of weekly funds)
Total spent: $364.64 ($176.05 out of weekly funds)
Okay well, my spending of actual weekly funds was pretty low, which is a lovely change of pace. Especially since I’m still socializing/buying things like costumes for future socializing. (I’m gonna have a costume closet at this rate.) So I guess, all in all a good financial week?
How is everyone else’s spending going?
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Okay, this has been bothering me for some time now, so I’ll just go ahead and say it. Abby, you attend too many dang theme parties!!! I don’t get invited to theme parties. And it’s not fair. (Big Pouty Face)
I really like the Roman-themed dress. It’s very flattering and yeah, sexy.
Haha, yeah this was never an issue before. The group and their associate circle just throw… so many parties with themes. I’m sorry you don’t get the same opportunity. But think of what you’re saving on costumes!!!
The Roman themed dress is really cute and flattering. You could wear it again at Halloween, perhaps?
Is TB, now FDW, the same guy with whom you sometimes hung out with him and his wife? And I think the 3 of you went to a party and she left early but he stayed with you? Or maybe I’m mixing him up with someone else.
Yeah, I think I’ll definitely be able to use the costume again.
And I think you’re thinking of Andre and his wife. Unfortunately, Andre and I drifted apart. I was a little thoughtless and even after he forgave me for that, it just turned out we didn’t have as much in common as we thought. But I still see him around at other MeetUp events.
FDW is a newly divorced guy I met through my trivia group. He and I get along well but also aren’t each other’s type, so it’s a perfect friendship haha
O M Goddess — you look great!
Maybe there will be a “Gods and Monsters” party soon.
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And Abby could be Medusa to change it up. Use tubular ribbon for the snakes.
I think you look better in the costume than the model.
Aw, thank you!
And I *love* the idea of Medusa, so now I need to hope for a party that has monsters as at least one of its themes.
Okay I’m totally stealing “O M Godess” — and telling Pirate Party Guy, since he finds the divine in most women.
And that would be pretty cool. And useful from a frugality standpoint
Haha sounds like a fun group! I think I’d run out of themes for parties fairly quickly. What an active social calendar!
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Yeah, I don’t know how they keep coming up with things. Maybe Internet inspiration? I think the solstice one is an annual one. And the Halloween party, which I’ve already been building a costume for because I saw a dress and thought, “That’d make an excellent base for a warrior woman costume. At the rate these people are going, I feel like I’m gonna need a warrior woman costume before long. I might as well buy it and just use it on other occasions too.”