Playing Catch-Up

Oops.  I did that thing again where I think of all these great post ideas and then go eat a sandwich or take a nap and never do anything about it.  So instead of working up the motivation to write a whole post about some mind-blowing theme, I'm just going to play a little game of catch-up with you!

First, I do want to share some fun financial news.  Fun is the only word that fully embodies the essence of finances, right?? Wrong.  But this one is pretty jolly: we have finally paid off all the interest on our loans!  So in essence, we are back where we started, which could be really depressing, but not for this gal!  From here on out, all we'll be doing is make progress, and that's pretty darn neat-o.  

Also, a small update about groceries because I told you I would. My savings for March were $83.42 and 29.8%, which is less than February, but we also spent $98 less on groceries overall plus I tried my hand at shopping at more than one store for the first time, so it obviously still counts in the win column.  

So I started a little countdown... 33 days of work left!  That sounds ridiculously do-able until I also tell you that it's 11 1/2 weeks, but I'm ignoring that part and focusing on the 33 thing.  About a month and a half from now, I'll be able to start looking for a new job and relive this and also this whole process over again.  Yippee.  But really, yippee!

What else?  I have been horrible to the dear H lately, I am sorry to say.  Last night, he said something along the lines of, "Why are you snapping at me like a gosh darned sea turtle?" and I sat for a good ten minutes thinking about it, and realized I just really wanted to fight.  Not with him, not at all.  But I wanted to give someone a good spank in the brain with my ferocious words, and he happened to be the only person close enough to practice on.  I took many deep breaths and re-calmed myself, and hopefully I learned that spouses do not make good practice targets.

In better news, I just got back from a wild spring break trip spent with my new baby niece, who is adorable beyond words.  I got sunburned twice and giggled like a schoolgirl about it, and also laid around and marveled at my niece who is so much better than your niece.  I am sorry about that part, but the truth hurts.  I may have cried after leaving her because my sister is one of the most important people in my life, and one of the most important people in her life will never really know me, and if that's not a cause for a good cry, I don't know what is.

Other than that, I spend my days on bended knee asking the good Lord in heaven above to please send some sunshine and maybe not so much rain?  And then to go ahead and send a massive heat wave while He's at it.

What have your recent days been filled with?

P.S.  I pretty much never take naps, so that beginning part was a lie.  Oops again.

Games

Money has always been just a little bit of a game to me.  I know that’s sounds slightly insane, but it’s true.  I Love with a capital L any sort of puzzle or game, and turning money into a game has allowed me to succeed.

Ok, so I can’t really say I’m succeeding yet, what with those nasty loans hanging over my head, but –sad as it is- I didn’t know better with those, and I’ll never make the same mistake again!  But because of those poopsters, I’ve had to get creative with our income so that our biggest priority can be to get rid of them.  We’ve already paid over $11,000 since Septemberish, so I’d say we’re doing just fine!

Anywho, I shared before that our grocery bill is one that hits us the hardest.  I don’t know why, I just have a really hard time saying no when the HB wants late-night ice cream or I become a chocolate goblin and absolutely positively canNOT live another second without it.

So, I’ve turned it into a game to help motivate me!  February is the first month that I started keeping track of every single trip to the grocery store, and therefore being more proactive about saving.  I looked for more coupons and sales, and tried to limit myself.

The good news is that over the entire month, I saved a total of $127.97 using a variety of tactics, and averaged 31% savings every single trip!  The bad news is that I went to the store a total of...  15 times.  Oy.  That’s almost 4 times a week, and sometimes I even went twice on the same day!  Obviously this is something I need to be more aware of…

Anyway, I’m going to keep updating this every month to hold myself accountable, and hopefully be a wee bit of a braggart when I get things more under control!

Upcoming...

By now, the whole world knows about the crazy women who consider clipping coupons their full-time job and will haunt your dreams if you ring up their purchase without their full $308 discount.  

I am at a crossroads with these shows and these women.  One part of me is totally disgusted by these women, their stockpiles, and their psycho attitudes.  The other part of me is slightly jealous that they save so much while still providing their family with (mostly) healthy meals.

I am not one of those women.  I just can’t be that mean to those poor checkout ladies, and I don’t have the time to spend cutting coupons all day (doesn’t their hand get tired from those scissors??).  

BUT!

Last month, we spent an obscene amount on groceries.  I don’t really know how it happened, but at the end of the month, we were eating stale bread and almost-black bananas, because we had no money left in the grocery fund.  As much as we love that whole “we don’t have money but we’re living on love” thing, we also like to eat real food instead of pasta 4 days in a row.

So I am trying to be much more intentional about how much I spend on groceries, following the less-crazy but still savvy shopper’s advice about making meal plans and planning food based on what’s on sale that week.  I want to update you at the end of each month, and I am already crazy excited about the progress I’ve made this month!

ALSO!

I just signed up for this great program that allows bloggers to request free books as long as they agree to post a review about it.  Those of you who know me well know I am a book-devouring fiend with no mercy for those beautiful white pages, so needless to say, expect some reviews on some great (or not) books!

That’s all for now, but I have forced you have to come back by enticing you with wonderful promises of saving money and reading good books.  Even the best of you can’t resist such delicacies, so I’ll see you again soon!*

*I won’t really see you, because this is only a computer.  Silly reader!


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