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| Not this kind of White-picture Wayfair.com |
November is a pretty down time month for us. Now that my kids are no longer in traveling winter sports, weekends are focused on home. I feel like I will be decluttering until the end of time, but for those that actually keep a sane house most of the year, doing a late fall clear when the weather is beginning to suck, with the exchange of starting December in a zen state of mind sounds appealing. I'm intentionally going to try and keep the calendar sparse. Wine club, a little socializing with family and friends, and my sister's weekend is what's populating the calendar now, leading up to Thanksgiving weekend where I start turning my attention to Christmas festivities.
DD2 is at the high school learning the dance moves for show choir and has a party later tonight. DH and I went to a fish fry last night, not usually my favorite, but it was the kind I like, the small little pieces (all you can eat for DH which he likes) coated in a slightly sweet batter. They also actually put a large squeeze container of tartar sauce, so we didn't have to do the begging for an extra cuplet. Choice of potatoe, coleslaw, and baked beans rounded out the dinner. It wasn't a huge dinner bill, but an extra all the same, so tonight will be a big pot of soup and biscuits, a movie night with popcorn, and perhaps I'll open a bottle of wine if I win the coin toss and DH picks the kid up. Before picking DD up from rehersal, I will head to the grocery store for my last little top off of bread plus coleslaw and brownie supplies for an orchestra dinner Monday night.
I have $19 left in the grocery budget. I'm counting the cookies for show choir I bought yesterday and the orchestra meal supplies yet to buy, but not the $32.11 spent on Halloween candy-that goes in the holiday/gift budget. I also bought some personal supplies even though I was trying to stretch to November as when I was in CVS to buy hair color, I got an in store coupon from their kiosk for 25% off, plus the 2 for 1 candy deal. The price wasn't phenomenal because the mark up was so much on the candy before sale, but I wanted it done before the shelves are cleared by the time I hit the grocery store. All in all, I think October went well on the spending front. I'll take the little successes when they come, and move into White November, with a better savings rate than the last three months.
I don't count Halloween Candy in my grocery tally either although we end up eating a bloody lot of it. I actually like November as I finish my Christmas shopping, decorate the house for Christmas around the 20th (even though our Canadian Thanksgiving is early in October I still do this as like having everything up for a solid 40 days and take it down Jan 1 to start the new year). I ate out of the freezer this month so that is looking a little low but will wait until November to do a bit stock up there unless something is on sale.
ReplyDeleteI bought some of each of our favorites, Twix for me, 100 grand for DH, and milky way for DD, so no doubt we will consume. We do get a significant number of kids though, as we live in sort of a starter family neighborhood where houses other than ours and a couple others have turned over every 8 years or so as people look for bigger homes. It suits me, as I like to see the kids at the door. November is good for cleaning clutter, readying for Christmas, and feeling like I'm not in a rush. for that, even though dreary, I don't dislike it, just the drabness wears old.
DeleteI keep Halloween candy in the T and E budget instead of the food budget too and of course we will eat some, but that isn't the intent of buying it.
ReplyDeleteI have a little over 2 weeks to get everything ready for Thanksgiving . Bummer!
It really doesn't belong in good budget but trying to make sure I don't cheat. I've eaten a meals worth though.
DeleteI won't be handing out candy as I don't want to be up and down. Candy is the last thing I need, although I do suspect I will buy some after Halloween. Maybe not! There are only three gifts left to buy--son and his wife and middle daughter child. I have the younger daughter's gift, all four grandchildren. Of course, I want this to be frugal.
ReplyDeletepparssimony
We're only home an hour so I bought too much. I do not need more after Halloween.
DeleteI love the idea of a calm November and have already begun decluttering the basement. Winter is workshop time however the rest of the year is "dump everything I don't know what to do with in the workshop" time :( Lots of sorting and throwing out to do before I can actually use my workshop. I bought all my faves for Halloween too - with Twix mini bars being in my top 3 (peppermint patties, smarties etc etc). Looks like it's going to be clear and cold tonight.
ReplyDeleteOh yes to the Twix. It was rainy now warmer than its been all day.
DeleteI wouldn't count the candy either. Hey, if you don't get to eat it, it doesn't count.
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids were home, I would dejunk in November. The kids had so much and it felt great to get rid of it. But then by the end of Dec, it was madness again. I miss the kids but not the crappy plastic toy mess.
I can't blame all on kids. I'll get there but slow going. I've already eaten too much.
DeleteI can't blame all on kids. I'll get there but slow going. I've already eaten too much.
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