These diaries serve two purposes:
- They help keep me aware of my spending
- They’re great for those who, like me, are financial voyeurs
For reference, the goal is to live on $240 or less each week, though because of the cap, I don’t take amounts of more than $60 out of weekly funds.
So let’s see how I did this week.
Thursday
I had stayed the night at Cute Trivia Guy’s (CTG) house, and he gets up quite early. So around 7 a.m. I followed suit.
I was exhausted because I hadn’t gotten much sleep. (Not for a fun reason. I got congested — despite taking decongestants beforehand — and thus didn’t fall asleep for multiple hours.)
I took off, but the serious lack of sleep had me craving sugar and carbs. I caved on the way home and got some donuts for $9.02. Absolutely the right call. They were heavenly.
I spent the rest of the day answering emails and resting during lulls. I managed a decent-length nap — though it still wasn’t enough to have me at even eight hours’ sleep — and otherwise just rested.
I went over to chill out with Pirate Party Guy (PPG) that night. Visits to him are always nice and mellow, which was good given my depleted energy reserves.
We compared schedules and realized we wouldn’t be seeing each other for at least two weeks. I was getting the bivalent booster Monday and thus would probably be zonked Tuesday. (Plus Mom would be visiting, and I didn’t want to miss too much time with her.)
Wednesday I had trivia. Thursday, I was going to an improv showcase Fellow Dating Warrior (FDW) is in. He’s been taking the second of four levels of classes. Thankfully, the showcase is only about an hour, so I wouldn’t miss too much time with Mom.
Friday I’d desperately need a rest because Saturday was a big pool party that would run late.
By then, PPG would be quarantining because a friend is coming to town to stay with him. So we agreed we’d just try to make time ASAP after that. At least we’d both be busy, so the time between visits shouldn’t drag on.
I left PPG’s place around 10 p.m., determined to get some sleep. But between the drive and a few other things, it still took me until about 11:30 p.m. to fall asleep.
Total spent: $0
Friday
I groaned when the alarm went off. Technically, I’d had enough sleep for any given night, but my sleep schedule had been off most of the week. So I had an energy deficit built up.
I got up, answered emails and a few other duties, then lay back down. I dozed for a bit but nothing significant. I started some laundry and just generally tried to rest, since I was going to the theater that night.
After work, I rested further until it was time to get ready for the show. Which I’d been excited for for ages.
It’s called Drunk Shakespeare. Think “Drunk History meets The Reduced Shakespeare Company.”
A cast of five classically trained actors perform (a very liberal, slightly shortened interpretation of) MacBeth. But one actor has been chosen to take five shots of alcohol.
Before you ask, one audience member is chosen at random to take their pick of six shots on the plate to verify that the alcohol is real. This time it was a birthday girl and, when asked if it was real liquor, she squeaked out in a cough, “Yuuuup.”
The show was hilarious. And for anyone who lives in Phoenix/will be here before the end of November, you can get tickets through Goldstar for $31.50 after fees. Just a warning that the theater is very small and informal, but a great time.
I’d had to use a parking garage, but luckily the place validated. So I paid only $4.
On the way home, I stopped at Fry’s for a couple snacks and some fruit for the pool party I was attending the next day. The total was $11.76.
I came home, messaged with some people and then passed out around midnight.
Total spent: $15.76
Saturday
I spent most of the morning resting up for the pool party that afternoon, but I did a small bit of tidying since Mom was arriving the next day.
FDW and my newer friend who I believe I’ve previous referred to (rightfully so) as Cool Lady (CL) showed up at 3:30 p.m. so we could get there at the start of the party. While we did bring food, there was a request for $5 donations. The hosts provide soda/juice/water and probably other things, so it seemed perfectly reasonable.
FDW had forgotten about the donation, so I covered both of us. We routinely trade off expenses. For the last party, he’d picked up some grapes for me so I could spend the day resting up. It’s nice to have a bit of back and forth without worrying about settling exact amounts, which is my default.
I used cash in my wallet — which is accounted for when I withdraw the money at the bank — so it doesn’t count as weekly spending.
Since we got there early, we were all pretty bushed by 10:30 p.m. So I got home around 11. I fell asleep pretty quickly.
Total spent: $10 ($0 out of weekly funds)
Sunday
Mom came in that morning. Woot! She’s nice enough to save me the trip to the airport — especially nice during this period while I can’t have stimulants — so she got dropped off around 11 a.m.
A grocery run was called for. (Mom wears a mask everywhere and had just gotten off the plane, so we weren’t too worried about her being infectious, let alone infecting anyone.)
We got some snacks at Dollar Tree ($7.72) and some groceries ($36.07) at Fry’s, then headed home.
We still hadn’t gotten much I could eat without actual food preparation. So I got some UberEATS. Which unfortunately included the wrong items in the order. UberEATS reversed the food charge, and I got a new order. The tip from the original order and the next order came to $35.78.
We spent the rest of the day just relaxing, munching on food/snacks and watching TV.
Total spent: $79.57
Monday
I woke up and got through emails, but they took longer than usual. So a lot of my day was actually taken up with work. At least it went by quickly?
The monthly charge for Josie’s Banfield plan hit my card for $41.95.
Walgreens was having a deal, so I placed an order for two cans of texturizing hairspray (normally about $6.50) and three bottles of the True Match Hyaluronic Serum (normally about $20) for a total of $40.58 after tax. Hooray!
After work, I went to get the bivalent COVID booster. While I waited the 15 minutes post-shot, I picked up some snacks ($5.47) to console myself during any reactions from the shot. Then I remembered that I was also out of floss. With coupons and a few Extrabux, I was able to get a two two-packs of Oral-B Glide floss (about $9.99 retail) for $12.92 after tax.
I came home and tried to relax. My arm got increasingly sore, and I ran about a degree and a half over my normal temperature. But hardly a huge reaction, thank goodness.
Mom and I stayed up too late watching TV, so I fell asleep around 11.
Total spent: $100.92 — wow, that hurts almost as much as my arm did
Tuesday
I woke up with a very pissed-off arm and a bit of muscle stiffness. By “pissed off” I mean moving it more than about 5 degrees in any direction was painful.
Still, overall it’s a small price to pay for staying safe(r) around the variants. Really, the only major issue was that I was pretty fatigued. And when someone with chronic fatigue says that, you know it’s bad.
I got through emails and lay back down. I slept for the better part of an hour and felt pretty human. But still not exactly peppy.
CTG got back from a short trip. He lives not far from the trivia venue, so I asked if he wanted me to come back with him. He reminded me to check the venue aaaaaand the place had stopped having trivia. Gah.
I cancelled the event. It was too late to try to scramble for a new venue, and honestly it seemed better anyway, given my energy level would be questionable.
We agreed I’d come see him the next day after my massage.
So I finished my workday, and Mom and I just sat around chatting and watching TV. I went to bed around 10 p.m. and almost immediately fell asleep.
Total spent: $0
Wednesday
My arm was less painful — more of a dull ache and only if I moved it a notable amount. But my lymph node under the arm was a bit tender. Again, worth it.
I got through work and took off for my massage. Yay!
Unfortunately, this will be the last one for a while, as she’s taking some maternity leave.
Her rates are ridiculously low (by massage-price standards) so I paid only $105 after tip for an 80-minute massage. Amounts of $60 or more don’t come out of weekly funds.
On my way home, I stopped at a gourmet cookie place called Mary’s Mountain Cookies. It’s a small chain, but national. So check to see if there’s one near you. Because oh. my. god. they are good.
I wanted Mom to experience them. Also, of course, it was a great excuse to have some. (I’d checked the sodium content ahead of time. For processed food, they’re pretty low-sodium.)
In addition to the s’mores (!) cookies, I got two peanut butter cup cookies (complete with small chunks of mini Reese’s peanut butter cups), two sea salt caramel (picture an enhanced snicker doodle) and two brownies.
Each of those is pretty big and, uh, gourmet; so they’re a bit pricey at around $4 a pop. But the place also has a Buy 6, Get 2 Free policy. So the nine items were “only” $32.76 after tax and a small tip.
I came home, ate a little actual food and then jumped in the shower to make myself presentable, after which I left to see CTG.
He hadn’t seen Jojo Rabbit, so we watched that. He made us some popcorn — in an air popper so we could keep the butter and tajin to a reasonable level — so it was a nice night in.
Unfortunately, we both felt chatty after bedtime. So I probably didn’t fall asleep until around midnight. And he gets up early.
Total spent: $137.76 ($32.76 out of weekly funds)
Total spent: $300.22 ($185.22 out of weekly funds)
I guess this week was a win? Given the actual amount out of weekly funds, anyway. So I guess I’ll take comfort in that.
How is everyone else’s spending going?
Related reading:
Of gifts, ginger beer & gabbing with friends: A spending diary
Of convenience tax, doctor bills & unusual trivia: A spending diary
Donna Freedman says
About those cookies: Can confirm.