it's like crack

Money spent lately: plane ticket for my son, chocolate for Easter, chocolate for a prank, lunch for myself and a co-worker (burger and fries, no less. and it was bad. Bleah!), 3 books from a used book sale ($5).

Was it worth it? Some of it. Definitely not the burger. But I haven't bought a thing on Amazon, so I'm pretty proud of that. I don't take cash out when I'm at the grocery store. I try to leave my cards at home. I've been bringing my lunch (except for today). Not perfect. Not great. I'll get there.

working for the weekend

There's something I would like to do tomorrow, but I know if I leave the house I'll spend money. OK then. No dessert until you eat your vegetables. You made your bed, now lie in it. A penny saved...... I'm sure there are more adages (?) I can add.

I gave in

I got another membership solicitation from my favorite NPR station, which I listen to regularly. I'm so annoyed that congress (yes, little "c") is considering cutting funding. So I caved. I saw the email (cue guilt trip) and did it. And naturally not the minimum- no, no. Must be big spender. Good-by $100. Trade one guilt trip for another. Nice job keeping the balance.

Hanging in there

So far, so good. Sooooo difficult. Haven't bought anything online. Or anywhere. Feeling good.

And lead us not into temptation

Taxes will be less than I had set aside. Thus leaving a nice chunk for me to fantasize about.  Ignore it. Ignore it. Continue with the plan. I've convinced my son to start listing things on eBay and Amazon. He can keep 50% of the selling price. De-cluttering and making money at the same time. I hope it works.

Day 3- laziness

Used my debit card to buy lunch. Had the same food at the house, but didn't assemble it. So I wasted $6.00 on tuna, lettuce, bread (purchased separately and assembled at work), chips and a drink. Really? I have got to get my act together.

Hubby has a share in a recreational vehicle. Three people takes turns using said vehicle over the year. Hubby has already paid his share and now the "owner" says the vehicle needs major repairs and can't afford to fix it. Normally hubby would say he would pitch in to help, but there is no money to help- because I've been spending it. On $6.00 lunches. Sometimes $10. Yesterday it was $15. And I tipped a coat check girl $2. It just slips through my fingers.

Greeeaaatt.

The cc balance is really more like 18k. In addition to that reality, yesterday I made a payment on braces and they said I had a balance of $400 something. I said "are you sure? I have two accounts here." Oh yes, was the reply. Today...the phone call. So sorry. The balance is really $2355. Thanks. Just thanks.

These were the words the financial aid office said to me when I was in college. "Here's your student loan check. But you're all paid up." "Are you sure?" Yes. Adamantly yes. But it wasn't true. And I spent the check on lots of Christmas presents. Two years in a row.

I don't blame anyone. I'm bad at getting things in writing. Like the raise I was promised. Or the time I worked for some guy and he forgot to pay me. I trust people are telling me the truth. It's strange, but I am a cynical optimist.