Starbucks after church: $2.94Final for the day Under by $4.19
To date Over by $148.28
Day Twenty Four: September 9
To date Over by $148.28
Day Twenty Three: September 8
Somehow mid week it's a lot easier to not spend money.
Purchases: $0.00Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Over by $159.60
Labour Day Weekend
Day Twenty: September 4
Liquidation World (a local store) was having some *crazy* sales this weekend. I got four pairs of shoes...well, three pairs of flip flops and a pair of sandles and a skirt for twenty five cents each!
That offsets the sunglasses I bought. I'm not one to spend a lot of sun glasses. Ten dollar ones are perfectly fine for me BUT, I won a $100 gift certificate from the radio so I splurged and got some Nine West ones. This entry would be so much better with pictures but I haven't had time to take them yet and I don't really want to delay it so:
Liquidation World: $2.09Final for the day Over by $40.56
Iris the Visual Group: $45.60
Saved? at least $150!
To date Over by $164.69
Day Twenty One: September 5
On the way over to Mom & Dad's in the morning I had to stop off at the grocery store. I picked up a latte while I was there...and spilled it while I was driving. The whole thing. All over the floor. Not good :(
Spilled Latte: $3.10Final for the day Over by $6.07
Tim Hortons Ice Capp: $2.49
Canada Line Ticket: $2.50
Latte that I actually got to drink: $3.10
"Chicken Soup for the Country Soul" from a used book store in Vancouver: $2.24
Canada Line Ticket: $2.50
To date Over by $170.76
Day Twenty Two: September 6
Quiet day. My only purchase was a latte (I really need to break this habit!) before bible study.
Latte: $3.10Final for the day Under by $40.56
To date Over by $166.73
Day Twenty Three: September 7
No purchases.
Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Over by $159.60
Week Three
It was a busy weekend and then a crazy week so here it is Friday and I'm finally updating.
Day Fourteen: August 29
I shopped at the Farmers' Market in the morning and made a potato salad for the bar-b-que I went to in the evening but all of those expenses fall under the food budget. Other expenses for the day:
Ice Cream on my way back from the BBQ: $4.50Final for the day Over by $9.37
PNE Gate Pass for Sunday:
$12.00
To date Over by $121.69
Day Fifteen: August 30
PNE! Most of my expenditures were for food...good fried food :D
Parking: $12.00Final for the day Over by $28.37
Poutine: $5.00
Half a deep fried Mars Bar: $2.50
Black Cherry Slush drink: $2.50
"Beef on a Bun & Texas Taters: $7.00
Poster pictures: $2.00
Carmel Apple: $4.50
To date Over by $150.06
Day Sixteen: August 31
I went to Jenna's for dinner. No expenses.
Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Over by $142.93
Day Seventeen: September 1
McD's for lunch. I had a coupon! But still. McD's for lunch. $4.71
Final for the day Under by $2.42
To date Over by $140.51
Day Eighteen: September 2
Starbucks after church: $3.83Final for the day Under by $3.30
To date Over by $137.21
Day Nineteen: September 3
Finally some good news. I got my mileage cheque for the past few months. Unfortunately, I also had accumulated some bills that needed paying. What's with that?!?!
Mileage Cheque: PLUS $81.24Final for the day Actually Under by $13.09 if you can believe it
Revenue Canada: $26.53
Deductible for
Dentist: $25.00
Michaels: $10.11
Baby Shower Gift: $13.65
To date still Over by $124.13
I want to lie or edit the numbers before posting them but I can't. This is the truth. Now to quit spending and come back to being over! Interesting to note though, in this week I was actually under my limit for four out of six days. It's just the days I was over, I was WAY over.
My horoscope for today made me laugh: "You need to hold back from any serious financial dealings -- things are crazy enough as it is! Also, your mind is on more spiritual matters, and that makes it harder to focus on facts and figures."
That's as good an excuse as any!
Day Thirteen: August 28
I have needed gold embossing powder for forever. I bought an embossing tool with a Michael's coupon months ago. Then I got a VersaMark pad. Today I finally got my powder...also with 40% off. And I set of Martha Stewart stamps that I have been coveting. They were on for seven something (from $21)
I popped into my LSS to say good bye because she's closing up shop on Monday and everything there was 70% off.
Michaels: $12.03Final for the day Over by $14.09
LSS: $9.19
Saved: $30 or so!
To date Over by $119.45
Day Twelve: August 27
Lunch at home, supper at home. No purchases. Yeah me!
Purchases: $0.00Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Over by $98.23
Day Eleven: August 26
One last lunch with Seth and Brittany.Lunch at the Thai House: $11.00
Starbucks: $3.89
Hot Chocolate after church: Free! (because she forgot to put it on the bill and then said "forget it" woohoo!)
Final for the day Over by $7.76
To date Over by $105.36
Days Six to Ten: August 21-25
I started this entry last week.
Journalling on Friday
I've been getting lazy with lunch. Because I'm so close to home, and I talked work into letting me have an hour for lunch, I've been in the habit of going home to eat. Of course if you don't have TIME to go home (like today, because I had an appointment over lunch) then you have to grab something somewhere. Eating out, especially at lunch, is a one of the expenses I'm trying to avoid.
Journalling on Monday
Something my "$7.13 a Day" limit doesn't account for is when you have visitors in town and your expenses sky rocket. I don't really know how I'm going to reconcile this other than to say I dipped into the reserves this weekend and now that it's Monday, I guess we start again? Here's the damage:
Day Six: August 21
McDonalds for lunch: $5.97
Daiso: $8.96
Purchases at the Summer Night Market (read about our adventures here)
Parking: $5.00
Purse: $15.00
Wheel Cake: $1.00
Sweet Potato Balls: $1.00
Mango Drink: $4.00
Skewers: $3.00
Spring Rolls: $2.50
Starbucks: $3.10
Total $48.53
Final for the day Over by $41.02Day Seven: August 22
To date Over by $42.09
The day started out well. We went for breakfast and Dad picked up the bill. The rest of the day was relatively inexpensive minus some last minute grocery items.
Breakfast: free!
Drink & Snack: $2.65
Parking: $3.00
Canning lids & magazines: $14.37
Total $25.02
Final for the day Over by $12.89Day Eight: August 23
To date Over by $54.98
Sunday was brutal cost wise. We had some miscommunication and I could have gotten a free pass to the aquarium but my family is notoriously horrible for planning and communicating so I missed the opportunity. I was pretty miffed but it wasn't worth making a big deal over it. Still, the bottom line hurt. Read about our adventure here.
Walmart: $10.33 (camera batteries and chips, my contribution to our picnic lunch)
Tim Hortons: $2.49 (breakfast!)
Vancouver Aquarium Admission: $28.00 (ouch!)
Red Robins: $15.00 (dinner)
Tim Hortons: $1.19 (yes twice in one day but, combined? Cheap!)
Mini Golfing: $7.00
Total $64.01
Final for the day Over by $56.88Day Nine: August 24
To date Over by $111.86
Back at work and I didn't go out afterwards.
Final for the day Under by $7.13Day Ten: August 25
To date Over by $104.73
I was in meetings from 9am to 7pm and the only benefit is that they have to feed you :D
Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Over by $97.60
Day Six & Seven
KABOOM!
That's all I have to say for now. I'll update soon. Suffice to day, the "weak"end is called that for a reason :P
Day Five: August 20
Mom, Dad, Seth, Brittany and I had dinner in White Rock yesterday and then we walked along the beach before getting ice cream.
Fish & Chips: (with a drink and tip) $12.84Final for the day Under by $8.71
Ice Cream: $3.00 (it was actually a lot more but it was cash only so I made Seth cover the balance for me)
To date Under by $0.69
Day Four: August 19
Again, zero purchases (made easier by the fact that I had dinner at Mom & Dad's :))
Purchases: $0.00Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Under by $8.02
Day Three: August 18
Day three. Here's were things get a bit wonky. I didn't have any "discretionary" purchases but I did finally go grocery shopping (I've been unconciously reverting to peanut butter for a week because I'm low on food). The thing is I went over on my limit on groceries so now I need to make up the difference by keeping my over/under, way under. Oh for the day when I don't have to pinch pennies!!!
Purchases: $0.00
Final for the day Under by $7.13
To date Under by $0.89
Day Two: August 17
Day Two. Again, only one expense. I finally mailed out the swap I've had on my counter for over a week.
Postage $5.50
Final for the day Under by $1.63
To date Over by $6.24
Day One: August 16
Each entry will be a day behind because I don't have internet at home and I want to make sure that I capture ALL spending for the day in my entry.
Day One of this (project? experiment? exercise? what would you call it?) was Sunday, August 16, 2009. I had one expense.
Lunch at Milestones $15.00
Final for the day Over by $7.87.
Welcome to the Over/Under Blog
I paid off my car in June 2009. That leaves my only outstanding debt as the amount owing on my credit card. In order to maximize the amount I am paying on it, but still have some spending money left over, I re-worked my budget and realized that after my “four walls” (rent, utilities, phone, etc) are paid, I am left with approximately $100 every two weeks. $50 a week or, $7 dollars a day with one dollar left over. The blog title “Seven dollars a day” wasn’t available so, as a nod to my online persona “agent713” I have dubbed this blog “$7.13 a Day” (technically it’s $7.14 but that doesn’t sound as cool)
My goal here is to record my discretionary purchases and keep track of how close I am to the seven dollar mark. Now there is leeway built in because above my $7/day I have my grocery and gas budget. If I skimp on them I’ll have extra. I’m hoping to not do that though. So, wish me luck and enjoy the ride. It will be a bit of insight into what I spend my “spending money” on too so may you’ll get to know me a little better.
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