Getting a couple To Do things crossed off my list today. Ah.. it feels so good.

Grocery shopping this morning, about 8am. It was good because the crowds hadn't showed up yet to shop for the weekend. Bought a coffee and cruised the store with DS. Total $149. They had buy two 12 packs of soda get four Free! That much soda will probably last us until the end of the year.

Paid a medical bill. $130.

Mailed a box of gifts and such to BFF. $8.

Called my car insurance agent to discuss some changes to my policy. Left a message. Dropping collision, keeping comprehensive, probably. I'll put the savings into a "new car fund".

Vehicle registration on Pathfinder. Paid online. So easy! $124 for one year.

Still need to pick up chicken feed and pine shavings, deposit DH's paychecks and....Oh I forget!

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Basic look at our July (& most other months) budget.

Mortgage $2064
Savings
& ROTHs $200
CC#3 $400
Sears $275
Childcare $0 -for now
Horses/Pets $300
Auto Insur. $115
Utilities $250
Food $600
Gas $125 + reg. $124
Gym $150
misc/cash $400
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$5003
All I can think of off the top of my head. I've got a more detailed budget on a works spreadsheet.

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If I don't post again before the weekend -
Have a Wonderful 4th Everyone!
We're going to have a relaxing weekend hanging around home. No plans to go anywhere; can see our city fireworks from our house.

Having a nice summer here.

Came home from my trip Friday. Surprise! My DH had a birthday/anniversary present for me, a digital camera! It is a Lumix. Blue; my favorite color! Wish he hadn't spent the money, but money he'd been stashing away for it. I'm excited to be getting some great pics of the family.

Saturday DH, DS and I went to our county fair with friends and their 15 month old DD. Our DD was still traveling with Grandma. Our friend has family that works for the fairgrounds in the maintenance department, so we didn't have to pay! We enjoyed looking at the exhibits and spent a little money on food. I love fair food! Corn Dogs, Funnel Cakes and Giant Cinnamon Rolls. Yum. So we saved $30 on admission and spent $23 on food. The weather was beautiful, about 85F with a breeze. Glad we went on Saturday, because Sunday was 95F.

Sunday we stayed in under the AC. So NSD! We watched a movie, played with DS, took care of some chores and BBQed for dinner. My mom and DD came home that night.

Monday I treated my mom to a pedicure for her birthday. DD and I had our toes done also. $70 total. I had two doctor appointments in the afternoon. OB and derm. $0 co-pay and $30 co-pay. The dermatologist snipped off a mole and sent it in for biopsy. Just a precaution, I do have history of skin cancer in the family.
Baby DS went to daycare for two and a half hours. $10. He seemed comfortable and happy with GB, the daycare lady. Good!

Started my DH on a weekly cash "allowance". $30. Although I don't call it that with him, don't want him to feel like a child! He uses the debit card almost daily for lunch or snacks while he's out of the office working. This may be a challenge for him because I don't think he really realizes how fast his little purchases add up.

Putting July's budget together and guess what? My DH gets an extra paycheck! He is paid every Friday, so I love five Friday months. I knew it was coming, but excited just the same.

Oh *groan* we received a notice from our mortgage company that we have a projected shortage in our escrow account. This means our monthly mortgage payment is increased by $137. *groan*
About a year ago they sent me a fat check for the overage, like $1200. So silly! But what'da goin’ do?!
I know we could take care of paying these things ourselves, but having an impound account seems like a better idea for us right now. I mean, we'd just have to set aside the same amount each month anyway.

Here's a question: In my sidebar with regard to the debt payments. Do you think I should leave the starting balance posted and bracket the current amount? Or should I just update as I payoff? What would you all like to see? I can't decide. (Boy, my life is full of hard choices isn't it? lol.)

Looking at my goals I put in the sidebar made me realize that I already have a $1000 EF - so goal met, right?
Ha, not quite. I've built a $1000+ buffer in our checking account, but I don't look at that as my emergency money. I look at it more like revolving credit I give myself. It helps me not have to stress about not having "enough" to cover a check or DH used the debit card 3 times today situations. The downside is that I do look at it as "extra" so sometimes, like now, I owe myself $700.

Now, about that $224 million dollars. That is today's Mega Millions jackpot. I am not in the habit of buying lottery tickets, but for that amount I may go ahead and lose the $10 in cash I've got in my wallet. Wish me luck!
If I suddenly stop blogging you will all know what happened to me!