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Archive for April, 2012

Relaxing Vacation

April 28th, 2012 at 09:18 pm

DH and I had a very nice vacation. Really enjoyed snorkeling. Saw a sea turtle! Smile

Everything went fine at home while we were gone. Smile

We spent a total of $630. That includes the $175 for DH's sport fishing excursion, $162 for the rental car and about $70 in gas. Gas was $4.89/gal on Maui. The rest of the spending was on food, drinks, snorkel rental and a few little souvenirs. We only took carry-on so we didn't pay any baggage fees.



Out our room balcony.



At the resort.

On the road to Hana.

CC Payoff Progress

April 28th, 2012 at 08:56 pm

Made the cc payments this morning.

$18,872 - Previous Balance
$18,385 - Current Balance

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Added to the EF this morning also. (Giants wins while on vacation)
$3,038 - Previous
$3,046 - Current

Daily Spending After Vacation

April 28th, 2012 at 08:45 pm

Saturday, April 28
$15 DH lunch out. He is working at one of the city fire stations.

Friday, April 27
$ 9 In 'n Out Burger. Dinner for me and DS.
$30 Parking in SF.
$19 Dinner for DD and DH at the ballgame.
DD played her trumpet with the Junior Philharmonic at the SF Giants game. She and DH stayed for the game.

Thursday, April 26
$ 0

Daily Expenses. EF.

April 18th, 2012 at 03:46 pm

Tuesday, 4/17
$ 0
Dinner: lentil soup, kiwis, pears, ice cream.

Monday, 4/16
$110 Haircut and color for me. I go about every six months.
$ 20 Tip.
Dinner: leftover BBQ chicken breasts, baked sweet potatoes, steamed spinach, avocado, chocolate ice cream and mini creampuffs.

Sunday, 4/15
$25 Pedicure.
$ 3 Tip.
$26 Kohl's.
Dinner: BBQ chicken breasts, brown rice, steamed broccoli, avocados, kiwi, frozen yogurt and mini creampuffs.


The Giants won last night, so I will add $2 to the EF later today.
New balance $3,038.

Rental Car

April 17th, 2012 at 07:52 pm

I reserved our rental car for our Hawaii trip. I thought about and price checked a few independent rental companies, but in the end I figured it would be quicker and more convenient to use a major company who was right there at the airport.

I rechecked Costco travel and was very pleased to see that some of the rates had dropped from when I checked a few weeks back. I wonder if that is normal. If so, it's probably a good idea to recheck the price right before your dates. The lowest price a few weeks back was $220.

Enterprise had the lowest rate on the compact car. I checked their price at their website and it was $184 total.
Thru Costco it was $171 total.
Smile

Daily Expense

April 17th, 2012 at 03:36 am

Sunday, 4/15
$25 Pedicure. Went with a girlfriend.
$ 3 Tip.
$26 Kohl's. $16 shirt for me. $8 clearance sundress for DD. (I think I'll save it for a bday gift)
Dinner: BBQ chicken breasts, brown rice, steamed broccoli, avocados, kiwi, frozen yogurt and mini creampuffs.
I was laughing because we were eating a bunch of green colored food - broccoli, kiwi, and avocado. Smile

Monday, 4/16
$110 Haircut and color for me. I go about every six months.
$ 20 Tip.
Dinner: leftover BBQ chicken breasts, baked sweet potatoes, steamed spinach, avocado, chocolate ice cream and mini creampuffs.

Saturday Spending. EF Chip.

April 15th, 2012 at 06:41 pm

*groan*
Yesterday's spending.

I knew there would be a bunch. Then to top it off DH wanted to have french bread with dinner. He is on a diet and he gets to splurge/cheat one day per week now. Anyhow, he headed off to the grocery store for french bread and he took both kids with him. When he came home he had spent $60 and had changed the dinner plan to homemade pizza. Rolleyes HeHe! He's as dangerous in the grocery store as I am!

Okay Honey, it's YOUR splurge day, but it would've been much cheaper to buy take'n bake pizza.

It wasn't just pizza making stuff. He also bought stuff to make sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast this morning. And DD talked him into a box of cream puffs.

Trying to remind him that we'll be spending money in Hawaii in a few days...

Saturday, 4/14
$ 60 Safeway.
$150 Cell phone bill.
$196 PG and E. Gas and electric.
$325 CC payment.
$ 43 Garbage service. Auto-pay every 3 months.
$149 Comcast. Cable TV, Internet, Home phone.
Dinner: homemade pizza, frozen yogurt, cream puffs.


Friday, 4/13
$78 Safeway
Dinner: Loaded Baked Potatoes (baked potatos with bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onion), green beans, fruit, frozen yogurt.

Thursday, 4/12
$0
Dinner: green salad & homemade cheesy potato soup (frozen from a batch I made about 3 wks ago), fruit, chocolate/peanut butter ice cream.

Wednesday, 4/11
$11 Lunch & tip.
$74 Gas. Fill-up at $4.13/gal.
Dinner: pasta w/homemade tomato sauce, fruit from the new box.

Tuesday, 4/10
$0 Starbucks. Free drink coupon. Smile
$86 City water/sewer.
$92 Diapers.com.
Dinner: more Easter leftovers and pizza leftovers.

Monday, 4/9
$0
Dinner: Easter leftovers.

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Additions to the EF yesterday

+$ 6 Three SF Giant's Win 4/12, 4/13, 4/14
+$ 3.25 Coupon savings

New balance: $3036

Grocery Spending

April 14th, 2012 at 10:02 pm

I was curious about what MonkeyMama's family bought at the grocery store. (Actually, I'm always curious about what other people shop for - I don't want to miss out on anything good! Smile ) She was kind enough to post about it. In case anyone is interested in comparing what food costs them vs. me here is a snapshot. I am just referring to the past two shopping trips that I have receipts for.

Some notes on how I shop:
I do stock up on deals.
I don't use many coupons - so that's an area for improvement.
Most times (not always) I plan meals around what's on sale rather than shopping to fit a meal plan.
I am not very brand loyal - I'll buy the cheapest option on most items.
I like to buy whole grain options and 100% juice.

For the next three months the Chase card is 5% back on grocery spending. Smile


SB = store brand
* = used coupon

Safeway on 4/13
$ 1.00* Gerber "squeezy pouch" food (x2) (for DS)
$ 2.04* Gerber fruit snacks
$ 3.99 Lemon juice 32oz
$ 1.50 SB canned diced tomatoes 28oz
$ 0.50 SB tomato paste (x2)
$ 1.69 SB canned tomato sauce 29oz
$ 1.34 SB whole grain pasta
$ 0.99 Hunts 4pack pudding snack cups (x3)
$ 2.99 Life Cereal 18oz
$ 5.00 SB 2lb bags shredded cheese (x3)
$ 2.00 Simply Potato Hash browns (x2)
$ 3.99 XL local organic eggs 1dz
$ 1.99 Daisy Light sour cream 16oz
$ 1.99* Tropicana Red Orange 59oz
$ 2.99 Silk Almond Milk Vanilla (DH's diet)
$ 2.59 Stonyfield Baby Yogurt 4pk
$ 3.99 SB Ice Cream 1.5qt
$ 0 SB Frozen Greek Yogurt1.5qt (Free w/ice cream purchase)
$ 3.00 Van's power grains frozen waffles (x2)
$ 1.94 Bananas (0.79/lb)
$ 3.99 Two jumbo artichokes
$ 2.99 SB Ziptop sandwich bags 100ct

Safeway 4/7
$ 2.50 SB bran flake cereal 17oz
$ 2.50 SB Cinnamon crunch cereal 13oz
$ 8.99 Martinellis 100% apple juice 1gal
$ 3.99 Ghridelli brownie mix
$ 2.50 Nestle chocolate chips (x2)
$ 3.49 Crisco canola oil 1.5qt
$ 4.60 Ovaltine
$ 7.99 Starbucks ground coffee (will get a $5 GC when I buy a 2nd bag)
$ 1.25 Plum Organics "squeezy pouch" food (x4)
$ 2.00 SB whipped cream cheese
$ 0.60 Yoplait yogurt (x6)
$ 3.09 SB Whole milk 1gal (x2)
$ 1.00 Odwalla bars (x6)
$ 1.50 SB croutons
$ 3.99 Two pints grape tomatoes
$ 3.99 Sabra pine nut hummus
$ 2.00 Peppridge Farm Miliano cookies (x2)
I also bought some cleaning supplies that I normally would have bought at somewhere like WalMart or Target, but for the 5% back and the convenience I bought at the grocery store.

If you read my posts you also know we shop at Costco. I think we are lucky because our store is really easy to get to and park and easy to get in/out. It's just as easy for me to stop at Costco as at any other store. Actually, I think our local Costco is easier to park at than the Target.

Costco is my go-to place for meat. What I bought last was:
$24.18 Foster Farms fresh boneless, skinless breasts $3.19/lb
$18.06 Lean ground beef $2.99/lb

The meat is always top notch. I have bought all types; beef and pork roasts, steaks, beef and pork ribs, pork chops, lobster tails, chicken.

Costco 4/5
$ 3.99 Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls 24ct
$10.69 Almond Roca 40oz tin (for Easter)
$ 9.99 3lb frozen organic mixed berries

We also regularly buy cat litter, TP, PT, Tide laundry soap, dishwasher tabs, Rxs, DH's Copenhagen, trashbags, sliced cheese, bacon, bread, string cheese ...

Daily Expenses

April 14th, 2012 at 08:00 pm

Quick catch up on the daily spending.

On Thursday I was going to pay some bills and knew there would be some auto pay stuff posting, but I didn't set up any payments just so it would be a NSD. Wink HeHe!

Friday was all set up to be another NSD until DH asked me to pick up some sour cream to go with dinner. I figured I'd pick up a few other items at the store. Then once in the store I saw some really good deals I didn't want to pass up. I love food, so grocery shopping can be ... well.. dangerous. Smile
(I am planning on posting about my grocery shopping a little later.)

On to the tracking...

Friday, 4/13
$78 Safeway
Dinner: Loaded Baked Potatoes (baked potatos with bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onion), green beans, fruit, frozen yogurt.

Thursday, 4/12
$0
Dinner: green salad & homemade cheesy potato soup (frozen from a batch I made about 3 wks ago), fruit, chocolate/peanut butter ice cream.

Wednesday, 4/11
$11 Lunch & tip.
$74 Gas. Fill-up at $4.13/gal.
Dinner: pasta w/homemade tomato sauce, fruit from the new box.

Tuesday, 4/10
$0 Starbucks. Free drink coupon. Smile
$86 City water/sewer.
$92 Diapers.com.
Dinner: more Easter leftovers and pizza leftovers.

Monday, 4/9
$0
Dinner: Easter leftovers.

Wednesday Spending & Produce

April 12th, 2012 at 03:36 pm

Yesterday I had lunch out with a girlfriend at a restaurant about one minute from my work. I had my fav. - coconut curry chicken with veggies and rice, soup, egg roll, tea.

I had to get gas last night on my drive home. A day earlier than my usual Thursday fill-up because of the extra driving to cat sit this weekend.

Wednesday, 4/11
$11 Lunch & tip.
$74 Gas. Fill-up at $4.13/gal.
Dinner: pasta w/homemade tomato sauce, fruit from the new box.

Tuesday, 4/10
$0 Starbucks. Free drink coupon. Smile
$86 City water/sewer.
$92 Diapers.com.
Dinner: more Easter leftovers and pizza leftovers.

Monday, 4/9
$0
Dinner: Easter leftovers.


Here is the weekly produce:


pears
oranges
apples
kiwi
bananas
avocado
asparagus
eggplant
yellow onion
green beans
sweet potatos
spinach
red leaf lettuce

Nice Easter Weekend. EF Additions.

April 10th, 2012 at 07:54 pm

We had a very nice weekend staying home, dying eggs cleaning the house up and cooking. The weather was lovely. We had a relaxed visit with my mom and dad. Dinner was delicious.
I hope everyone had a nice weekend also. Smile

I almost had to go all around town to find egg dye. On Saturday I went to Safeway for groceries and planned on getting dye there, but they were all out. (I seem to remember that's what happened last year too?) Later in the day we ran over to CVS and they were out except for a few (like three!) "fancy" sets. I like the $3 sets with dye tablets, stickers and a few shrink wrap things. This set was $5 and had feathers and glitter. But it had the dye and that's what we really needed. I told DH that I need to remember to buy early next year because dying eggs is a big deal in our town!

I also cat sat this weekend and made $50. I am splitting this between EF and a CC payment.

We have a chunk (approx. $4k) in the EF set aside for the roof. To help me keep track I am just reporting "regular" EF additions and balances here.

$2975 prior balance
+ $25 Regular transfer
+ $ 2 Giants win 4/9
+ $25 Extra money
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$3027 Current balance

Daily Expenses for Monday & Today

April 10th, 2012 at 07:32 pm

Tuesday, 4/10
$0 Starbucks. Free drink coupon. Smile
$86 City water/sewer.
$92 Diapers.com. Diapers, wipes, misc. baby stuff.
Dinner: more Easter leftovers and pizza leftovers.

Monday, 4/9
$0
Dinner: Easter leftovers.

Daily Spending - Week One

April 10th, 2012 at 07:14 pm

Sunday, 4/8
$0
Happy Easter! Smile
Dinner: Ham, Hawaiian rolls, fruit salad, au'gratin potatoes, roasted root veggies with glaze, chocolate mousse torte.

Saturday, 4/7
$157 Safeway. Groceries.
$ 12 CVS. Egg dye & candy.
$ 10 Papa Murphy Pizza. Coupon used.
Dinner: Take 'n Bake Pizza

Friday, 4/6:
$342 DS's Daycare Lady (we pay on the 5th and 20th)
$19 Oliver's Market.
$10 Amended tax return online.
Dinner: chicken sausage & potatoes, mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic, oranges.

4/5:
$19 Sears.
$ 0 Victoria's Secret. Free panty.
$42 Local ham store.
$81 Costco gas. Fill-up. $4.15/gal.
$112 Costco.
$1776 Mortgage.
$90 V. Secret Online.
Dinner: grilled apple/chicken sausage, grilled veggies.

4/4:
$ 8 My lunch.
$13 Safeway.
Dinner: pancakes, egg scramble.

4/3:
$35 DD's After-School Enrichment class #1.
$45 Class #2.
$ 4 Starbucks.
Dinner: Leftovers

4/2:
$11 Lunch.
$156 Betty's Organics month of service.
Dinner: BBQ chicken breasts, brown rice, veggies

4/1:
$18 Whole Foods.
Dinner: baked chicken breasts, green salad

Friday's Expenses

April 7th, 2012 at 05:12 am

Hawaii in two weeks! Big Grin


I like that MonkeyMama is listing their dinners, so I think I'll do that too.

Okay, on to the spending...
Friday, 4/6:
$342 DS's Daycare Lady (we pay on the 5th and 20th)
$19 Oliver's Market. I went for a cannoli today and saw that they had a special local beer on sale that my parents, DH and I all enjoy.
$10 Amended tax return online.
Dinner: "Bangers n' Mash" (chicken sausage & potatoes) mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic, oranges.

4/5:
$19 Sears.
$ 0 Victoria's Secret. Free panty.
$42 Local ham store.
$81 Costco gas. Fill-up. $4.15/gal.
$112 Costco.
$1776 Mortgage.
$90 V. Secret Online.
Dinner: grilled apple/chicken sausage, grilled veggies.

4/4:
$ 8 My lunch.
$13 Safeway.
Dinner: pancakes, egg scramble.

4/3:
$35 DD's After-School Enrichment class #1.
$45 Class #2.
$ 4 Starbucks.
Dinner: Leftovers

4/2:
$11 Lunch.
$156 Betty's Organics month of service.
Dinner: BBQ chicken breasts, brown rice, veggies

4/1:
$18 Whole Foods.
Dinner: baked chicken breasts, green salad

Daily Spending

April 6th, 2012 at 04:03 am

Daily Expense Log

Sunday, 4/1:
$18 Whole Foods. Items for DH's diet.

Monday, 4/2:
$11 Lunch out for me.
Coconut curry chicken with veggies, rice, soup, eggroll and tea. Plus tax and tip.
$156 Betty's Organics month of service.

Tuesday, 4/3:
$35 DD's After-School Enrichment class (baking).
$45 Second class (pottery).
$ 4 Starbucks.

Wednesday, 4/4:
$ 8 My lunch. Salad and jalapeno poppers.
$13 Safeway. A few items needed for dinner.

Today - Thursday, 4/5:
$19 Sears. Vacuum bags.
$ 0 Victoria's Secret. Free panty. (I was there to return stuff)
$42 Local ham store for Easter ham.
$81 Costco gas. Fill-up. $4.15/gal.
$112 Costco. Food stuff, TP, DH's tobacco.
$1776 Mortgage.
$90 V. Secret Online. Dress and clearance top.

Thursdays are my errand day because I get off work early. Thursdays are usually a peak spending day.

This Week's Box

April 5th, 2012 at 03:28 am

of produce.
We've already eaten all the mushrooms. Smile


(3) lemons
(4) apples
(4) tangelo
(3) kiwi
(3) avocados
(1) cucumber
(1) bag baby carrots
(3) beets
(12-13) mushrooms
(6) bananas
Asparagus
Romaine lettuce
Arugula

Happy This 'n Thats

April 3rd, 2012 at 10:37 pm

A bit slow right now at work.
I have about an hour by myself until things pick up again.

I just stepped off the scale.
(Yes, I weigh myself here on the pet scale Smile )
And I've lost another pound! Yippee!

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One of our clients is a manager at Starbucks. Whenever we see her she always brings us free drink coupons and other goodies. She came in yesterday so now I have three free drinks coming and a belly full of coffeecake. Big Grin

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In other news we are going to stay home for Easter. That will save us about $80 because we won't have to buy gas. But because we'll be having a nice dinner at home we'll probably spend about $40. That is still $40 saved and a much more relaxing weekend.
My mom and dad will probably come to our house for the day to see the kids and eat dinner. In-laws are going to be too busy to make it this time. That's fine, less stress.

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I received the official letter from our bank telling us that the fraudulent charge was found to be fraudulent and the matter was closed. Like there was any doubt?

DH also got his new card/number.

Sunny Day. HBO.

April 1st, 2012 at 07:10 pm

Today is a beautiful, sunny day. A bit breezy out, otherwise just beautiful. All the rain yesterday has made it so fresh and crisp out. We'll all be going outside this afternoon for a nice walk.

And when we go on that walk we'll be taking our new puppy! I know, I know, I just had a big post yesterday about the money I have spent on the pets recently. But, hey, what's one more?

Going to pick the little guy up this morning. A sweet, little ball of fluff. Awwwe... Puppy breath!



April Fools! Big Grin

It is sunny and we will be taking a nice long family walk, but no puppy.

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This morning I called our cable company and now we have HBO for FREE for the next three months, then half price for nine months after that if we want.

I want HBO because "Game of Thrones" starts tonight. Big Grin

We also watch "Boardwalk Empire", which will start in the fall. I don't know if I'll cancel service and then restart, or just go ahead with the half price deal.

I wonder how many people pay full price and never ask for a promo deal?