I know, its been a couple weeks. I just returned from St. Augustine where I spent the weekend in an oceanside million dollar condo. I am fortunate enough to have friends who's parents spend the winter with the other "snow birds" who migrate south each January. Chip got to play golf and I got to walk the beach for miles with my i-pod. Now that I am back from rubbing elbows with the rich its back to my normal life. Its nice to see how the other half lives. I wonder what its like to live with out money worries. I wonder if that will ever be me. I hope so. I don't need much, especially not a condo by the sea. I just want peace of mind that my bills are paid and I don't have to constantly explain to my husband why I paid a bill late.

Until next time. Ronnie

I only spent how much????

Well, I took out my checkbook the other day to determine how much I had spent on groceries in 2007. I went through my register and carefully added up each weeks purchase. "Gasp" it was less then $4,000.00. Thats my goal for 2008! How in the world am I going to save money and pay off some bills if all I spend the same thing I did last year? Great, now what? That sick feeling started to churn in my gut again. I am never going to be free from my money problems. I guess its time to look at my bank statments. I need to see how many purchases I made with my debit card. Then I need to weed through my husband's statements and determine how much he spent for us to eat out. I will post the results soon.

I only spent how much????

Trial Run

I decided to go to the grocery store on December 31 for a trial run. I still have plenty of food in the house from the holidays and by virtue of the fact that we have eaten meals elsewhere during the past week. I decided that this week will not count. I headed out with no coupons and no list. Not a good idea. I spent a grand total of $47.59. Not bad. I had loyalty card savings of $15.12, so I actually purchased $62.71 in groceries. I was OK with that until I realized that I forgot cereal and milk. I don’t eat cereal but my husband does. The date on the milk in the fridge is today January 2, 2008. He won’t touch it no matter how many times I tell him that’s the sell by date. When I realized I forgot these items he made that assuming noise that I will have to go back and get it. Fat chance buddy. I have spent my max on food for the week. There is instant oatmeal and those free bagels I brought home the other day. I think you can manage to find something for breakfast this week. Until tomorrow.