Tenner Week Day 7 -$0.74

I came very close, and I almost didn't count $2.00 of my spending, but those are the rules.  I made it to Saturday night with no personal spending, then used $13.73 of my USD converted 10 British pounds this morning in church, the folks who organized past mission trips into Juarez Mexico were collecting loose money in the collection plate to buy diapers for the orphanage and other infants.  Juarez is the border town hit particularly hard by the violence of the drug cartels.  My two older kids went on those trips yeas ago when in high school-DS twice.  DD#1 worked in the same orphanage.  The dangers there have stopped those youth trips, but not the caring about and for the people. While not part of my $15, I had two $1 bills in my purse, that quickly went into that plate when it passed to me with no hesitation.  

The remaining penny was the difference in using a $5 Target card for drain unclogger and cleanser-very glamorous purchase. So I could have finished with a $1.26 balance, but think I made the better choice. The $2 was in my purse from change my daughter gave me back from her own outing. Had she spent every penny on herself instead of just what she needed for her project, I wouldn't have had the money for the donation. except the loose change.  I think that is the real purpose of Tenner weeks, to get participants to think about where their money goes and for what ends. The additional daily challenges, while not a good fit for my life, did make me think about being creative with what I have and not pine for what I might wish I had. 

Here are a few trade offs I made his week, no deprivation involved.  I passed on ordering take out pizza and made a delicious one at home.  I walked with a new colleague over to the Target deli, but didn't buy soup and coffee for lunch on Thursday, but still walked and talked and then heated up my desk drawer soup in two minutes. I didn't pick up a coffee and a scone through the drive thru, but made my own at home, with muffins, enough left for this morning and tomorrow morning. Never mind that I forgot the sugar, they are good with jam. I took extra walks with pup, borrowed library movies with DD#2, and used some bonus rewards points at Kohls for Godiva chocolates that I think will be gifted to someone else who needs a pick me up. I made planned meals and used up food that may have gone bad, a terrible waste when so many people go hungry.  I got to experience improv with my daughter, and supported a friend who is brave enough to show this whole other creative side of herself to the world. 

I'll resume regular habits, I'm sure.  I do hope I can make what should be the easy choices. DS will be coming home for three days to see his grandpa.  We splurged for the air fare.  We have no way of knowing if this health crisis means weeks, months, or maybe longer, so in any case DS wants to make sure he gets some time with him before too late.  DD#1 got to spend some time with her grandpa a couple weeks ago when she was in Arizona for work. DH will also be back on Tuesday night, having wrapped up what he needs to out of state. The world keeps turning and I'll just keep doing my best to move with it.