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 got up early since Cute Trivia Guy (CTG) had to start work early. He works from home but he also had a doctor appointment that morning. So I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.
I got home around 7:30 a.m. desperately craving donuts — carbs/sugar are my weakness when I haven’t slept enough — but somehow managed to keep myself from getting any on the way home. I think it was less willpower and more “I can’t bear driving any more than is absolutely necessary.” I miss my Adderall.
Emails kept me busy for a little bit, but then I got to lie down and nap. I woke up feeling much better, if still slightly sleep-deprived.
The Netflix charge hit my account for $10.85.
I went out and picked up some tile I’d ordered. And which had come in a mere three weeks before (sigh), so that felt both embarrassing and a triumph.
My friend Fellow Dating Warrior (FDW) and I hadn’t hung out one on one in ages. We just chatted during events. So we’d agreed to hang out that day.
I knew ahead of time I’d be tired, so I had asked if we could chill at my place and offered mules (a virgin one for me) while we chatted. He was amenable. But I also had no limes and very little ginger beer.
So after the tile, I swung by the grocery store. I was out of (good) vodka, so I picked up limes and, because of a sale, two Skyy vodkas. I got a box of regular ginger beer, but I also spied hibiscus ginger beer. (As an Amazon affiliate, I am compensated for orders through my links.)
And there was no way I was leaving without a four-pack. It was exactly as delicious as you’d expect, though FDW and I agreed some fruit in the drinks would be a nice addition.
With those unusual extras, the total was $44.54. But at least the booze will last me for ages, even when I can drink again.
We caught up for a while and then played a board game he’d brought with him.
He left around 9:30 p.m. but I ended up chatting with some people until about 11 p.m. Thankfully I fell asleep quickly.
Total spent: $55.39
Friday
Yay, almost the weekend!
I woke up and got through emails, then caught up the spending diary and scheduled the previous one to run the next day.
Then I set out to try a recipe I’d thought up. More on that when I’ve been able to tweak a little in a second attempt.
I got an offer from Harry & David to reorder early. Each year, I order my mom some pears for her birthday because fresh produce in the dark, cold winter days of Anchorage is a wonderful luxury.
I did that, but since it’s a gift I won’t mention the amount here. I’ll include it in my overall weekly total, though.
After that, I had my massage for $105 after tip. Amounts of more than $60 don’t come out of weekly funds.
I went home, hoping plans would materialize. Alas, they did not But Pirate Party Guy (PPG) and I agreed to see each other the next day.
I had texted Cute Trivia Guy (CTG) to say I hoped he was enjoying his camping. He replied around 8:30 p.m. that he was going the next day. I said too bad, we could’ve hung out. He suggested we still do that, but I told him I was too weary to go to him (about 18 miles away). And he had to leave early the next day. So we agreed to just wait until he got back.
I relaxed and watched Netflix — plus messaging with friends — and called it a night around 11.
Total spent: $105 + it’s a secret (? out of weekly funds)
Saturday
I woke up and crossed a few things off my to-do list before heading out for my haircut at the beauty school ($20). I also had to gas up the car, which was $44.58.
I was going to stop off at Fry’s for groceries. But I wanted to conserve my energy now that I’m not on stimulants for a bit. So I paid the convenience tax and ordered Instacart ($42.04).
PPG texted and we agreed that he’d come over around 6:30 p.m.
Since I’d saved energy with Instacart, I was able to get a few more things crossed off the to-do list. Hooray!
After that, I rested and watched Netflix until PPG showed up.
Unfortunately, about an hour into the visit he started feeling poorly. He’s dealing with some health stuff, and the prescribed medication is taking a toll on him too. Yay Western medicine.
He said he had to go home and apologized multiple times. I assured him I was glad he was taking care of himself and shooed him out the door.
I watched Netflix for most of the rest of the night and went to bed around midnight.
Total spent: $106.62 — ouch
Sunday
I woke up feeling pretty beat. Guess I pushed too hard the day before. Sigh.
In and among messaging with friends, I finished polishing my spending/saving report and caught up on my spending diary.
I had been needing thread for a bit now, and I was annoyed that I hadn’t gotten it already, since I could have at least worked on the sewing project. (Will explain at a later date.)
But with my energy issues that day, either I could get a thread kit from Amazon that I wouldn’t receive til Monday — when I might not feel like using it — or I could go to Michael’s and get the thread — at which point I wouldn’t be up to tackling the project until at least Monday — when I might not feel like using it.
Ah, spoonie life!
I settled on buying a thread kit from Amazon for $8.13. (As an Amazon affiliate, I’m compensated for purchases made through my links.)
I also ordered two entrees from UberEATS for $28.73.
My friend Jen called and we chatted for ages because we hadn’t been able to do so for a while.
Later I talked to CTG who was back from a camping and rock climbing trip in Flagstaff. He offered to come over. I told him I was pretty flat, but I’d welcome the company.
We watched a movie, and otherwise chilled out. We called it a night around 11 p.m.
Total spent: $36.86
Monday
It was Labor Day, but I don’t get holidays off.
CTG left around 8:30 a.m. because he had a bunch of things to do.
During a lull in work, I decided to superfollow the account @awhalefact on Twitter. I almost always retweet the daily posting — facts that are technically true but silly (“Most whales are larger than a handful of Skittles.”) — so $3.25 a month to chip in for someone who’s putting in a daily effort seems only fair.
I got through the day pretty easily and then left for the board game event.
Once again, I’d failed to eat much during the day, meaning I could “afford” the amount of sodium in a wrap the place serves. That was $15.21 after tip. But I really need to start eating on a more regular schedule again.
We played one of the games I brought. But it’s been so long since I played one of the players had to read the rules and explain the game to the table. (I remembered the gist, but couldn’t explain the game well.)
It was a good time, but after two full games we dispersed to find other games. However, after comparing cute cat pics with one of the players, I decided to call it an evening.
Despite getting home at 9 p.m., I still somehow stayed up too late. Very late. And when I finally tried to go to bed, I was suddenly congested. To the point that I couldn’t sleep without breathing through my mouth — and then my mouth would become painfully dry. Siiigh.
When I went to take a decongestant, I discovered I was out.
I drank some water and waited a bit but the congestion didn’t ease. Meanwhile, my nighttime meds were making me woozy, so I couldn’t go get cold medicine.
I sucked it up and ordered the meds on Instacart plus a few other things. And tipped well because it was 1 a.m. and I wanted to be sure the driver got rewarded for being out that late. So the total was $33.43. Owwwww.
While I waited for delivery, I answered the emails that had come in. Very carefully, since I was so woozy.
Once the meds arrived, I took a pill and then, while I waited for it to kick in, read some. Eventually, I could breathe through my nose again (without snorting from a menthol stick), and I fell asleep around 2 a.m. Ugggghhhh.
Total spent: $51.89
Tuesday
Since I’d taken care of most of the overnight emails, I was able to sleep in a bit without making customers wait longer than usual for responses. Unfortunately, I still woke up before I’d had anywhere near enough sleep.
I got through emails and was going to lie down but decided to work on a post briefly. And my efforts became far from brief. By the time I was ready to take a break, my brain was fully activated and no sleep was forthcoming.
I finished out the day wearily and managed to drag my butt to my beauty appointment. The cost for that was $40, but I also took out $20 for walking around money.
I came home and relaxed. Later in the evening, I used a 40% off coupon to place a CVS order for pickup. The total was $10.52.
I did a bunch of editing and rewrites on the blog post, but by 10 p.m. had it polished and scheduled.
I fell asleep around 11:30 p.m. Gah.
Total spent: $70.52
Wednesday
I woke up with a fair amount of sleep in me, but still weary from the past few days. Unfortunately, I never found a good time to take a nap that day.
I talked with PPG and we agreed to see each other the next night.
I was very hungry, and the food here wasn’t cutting it. So I ordered yet more teriyaki. Not sure how I’m not sick of it yet. Surprisingly, this store’s version has a pretty reasonable amount of sodium: about 500 mg compared to 800 to (more commonly) 1,000+ for most takeout.
With a coupon, two large bowls (aka four servings) were $26.82 after tax/tip. So not as bad as it could be — if less than ideal.
I finished up work and rested up to see CTG. Some work came in for him, so we agreed to a late start of about 8:30 p.m. Probably not the smartest move on my part.
I got to CTG’s place at 8:30 p.m. He’d had a bad couple of days at work, so we just cuddled and watched a movie and then went to bed.
An hour beforehand, I took two decongestant pills to ensure I wouldn’t get stuffed up again. But somehow I still ended up stuffed up. Gah.
As a result, I didn’t fall asleep until around 1 a.m. Maybe later.
Total spent: $26.82
Total spent: $489.09 ($384.09 out of weekly funds)
Wow, this may be a new record — barring weeks where I had to pay for a car or other repair.
The convenience tax didn’t add up as badly as expected — about $25. Unless you argue that some of the takeout wouldn’t have occurred if I’d had to go get it in person. But still a week of painfully high spending. Siiiigh.