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.

Tenner Week Day 6 and Rescuing a Flop

I'm holding strong and still have all my US converted currency for Tenner week.  Day six challenge is to go shopping using no money.  The strategy is to find bonus points, gift cards, rebates or any other tool that let's you purchase something with using very little money.  I honestly don't feel like shopping period today, and already have evening plans,so my little  stockpile will remain in place.  I was surprised at my rather impressive inventory should I decide to treat myself. 

Here's what I have:
3-Target gift cards totally $145  I ended up not purchasing a new work tote or tights having cleaned out my office and sock drawer and decided I needed neither.  The new lip and nail color I wanted as a new job reward was purchased so ridiculously low on 90% off clearance (three lip colors for $2.17 total, and three nail polish for $1.65 total, including tax) that I just figured it could be in the regular monthly purchases and not considered a splurge. All are all good neutral or soft colors, my style.  I even scored a black nail polish for DD#2 for  30 cents-not my style!

2- Green Mill Pizza and Pasta gift cards totaling $45 along with a $5 off coupon good until end of year towards any purchase.

1- $25 Panera Bread gift card.

4- $5 Caribou Coffee, received at Christmas through an offer of getting a free $5.00 for each 2 $10 cards purchased.  I bought 8 cards at Christmas for my staff and DD's extra curricular coaches and teachers.

1 free hot drink of choice card, also Caribou, from the Orthodontist.  I should save for DD as a treat when the braces come off next year. 

3- $5.00 Kohls reward points, each good towards a minimum $5.00 purchase.  These do expire tomorrow so I will need to see if I can get creative with a few items DD needs for spring clothes to maximize.  I would need to make separate purchases to max the discount. 

 I went over to my MIL's to give her house a good dusting and vacuuming before she gets back to Minnesota and thought about swinging through the Caribou drive-thru near her house.  Then I remember I had received a pound of Chocolate Brownie flavored coffee beans from some of my staff at Christmas and decided to give them a whirl in the grinder and make my own.  I still have so many bananas frozen, so also whipped up a batch of banana oat muffin's.  The coffee was delicious and the muffins looked divine.  However, in biting into one, I had a disappointing flavor in my mouth.  They had the banana flavor but dull with no sweetness.  Then it dawned on me I never added sugar to the batter!  I rarely look up a recipe for muffins-I have a universal one in my head I modify and the sugar part apparently was omitted from my brain today.  How I could salvage what other wise was a perfect dozen?  I wondered how raspberry jam might taste on one if I treated the muffins more like a biscuit, and what do  you know, they were delicious!  The raspberry with the banana was kind of tasty and with the chocolate coffee, maybe even foody trendy and worthy of a bohemian coffee house. The jam was also a gift, made by the wife of a dear colleague. 

Today has been pretty successful so far.  The weather is gorgeous so will be heading out for a long walk with pup after getting some laundry in the machine and some on the line. I'm looking forward to the improv night, and if pictures are allowed, hope to share a few. I hope your Saturday is a fine one.

Yes it is a New Day-Tenner Day 5

Day 5 of Tenner week is to find a freebie.  I haven't done that yet, but I did exercise good patience and found a gas station on route to a meeting that was 10 cents lower per gallon.  I was pretty low, so filled almost 14 gallons, which meant a nice $1.40 less  than had I filled near work or home.  I also was able to use a 5 cent coupon, which added about 60 seconds to my pit stop, but saved another  $ .70 cents.  If calculated out, I earned a tax free $42 dollars per hour.  I don't normally calculate out those things, but since it is tenner week, I felt in the mood to do so. Because fuel for the purpose of work is exempt from the Tenner Week challenge, since everyone's commuting expenses and needs are different, I didn't count that in my weekly spending, making my full expenses to date $0.  You read that right.  Zero, nada, rien, zilch. 

After my little pitty party last night, I was able to get a few winks and wake up with a better frame of mind.  The change in DH's travel plans meant we had a gap with my daughter after school transportation plan.  I was able to, even though just two weeks on the job, work out leaving early, and taking a bit of work home that I otherwise would have finished in the office. DH and siblings are running into some complications in travel arrangements for FIL, and I was able to  use my local connections to help get some momentum where things had stalled.  So where last night I felt like the roller coaster had nothing but careening low points, today I felt useful and supportive. It reiterated to me that I am responsible for how I respond to the challenges life throws at me.  I write this with full awareness that some folks have more than their fair share of trouble and it takes more than an attitude adjustment and a draw upon personal resiliency reserves to get to a place of calm.

The next two days will be financially tricky.  It is the start of spring break and not only do I have a 14 year old that has grandpa worry, I also have a teen with a lot of time on her hands in the coming week while I am at work.   I truly want to be successful at Tenner week.  She has a sleepover and an invite to an indoor water park for tomorrow, and she'll be going along with me to the improv night tomorrow.  That will increase the budget for the night out, but not my portion of it, so still staying true on personal spending limits. I'm going to do some research tonight to see what might be going on this Sunday that we can enjoy, but keep my end free.  I also need to do some thinking on how the week will go so as not to overspend trying to compensate for the added stress and cancelled trip.  She's not expecting anything, but I want her to enjoy as best she can her week off of school.  Shoot me ideas on what you would do in my shoes. 

While I know nothing about West Ham Football, I am resolved to keep calm. 

Still No Personal Spending but Ouch on the Family Budget: Tenner Week Day 4

Today's challenge was to not only keep my spending low, but to also try and haggle a better rate, deal, or bargain on something.  Well, let's call that an epic fail.  Not only did I not get a better deal, I had to cancel the two tickets for DH and DD 's trip, with a $200 per ticket airline change fee if we should try to use the credit towards a flight, which must be used within the next 12 months, making it a true whopping credit of only $88 per ticket.  Now I can see making the customer pay if those two seats will go unfilled, but I have a feeling this time of year, those could be booked four times over.  DH decided he needed to get to Arizona tonight for his parents, a good rationale for the expense, but ouch, the ticket was $463.  He can fly return open ended so at least he didn't have to pay separate one way which probably would have been higher yet.  

We also prepaid for three meals for the basketball banquet, so spent an additional $14 for a meal not enjoyed by DH who caught a 7:30 flight.  It was a lovely night though, with the girls all in dresses and made up hair-the antithesis of how they look on the court. It was bitter sweet as the 8th graders youth play comes to an end as they move to high school level, or decide to pursue other extra curricular activities and leave basketball behind.

I am feeling a bit down tonight.  I'm filled with worry about my FIL and wanting to support DH, who does not handle illness and family stress well.  I'm trying to keep the two older kids informed, but also semi prepared to come home if needed. I have a highly sensitive teen, who is trying not to show how worried she is, having lost two grandparents, an aunt (my sister) and an uncle (same sisters husband) in the last four years.  I worry that with no sick time, no vacation time, and a cut in take home pay, I've gone 10 years backward in being there for my family. I think I'll close on that note, and try and rest my eyes for the night. Tomorrow brings new hope and hopefully renewed perspective.  

Just because my day needed some flowers.

My Tenner Week Day 3

All my money is safely where it started Monday morning-in my wallet.  I so wanted an ice cold Diet Coke from the vending machine, but it stayed there and I filled my water bottle instead.  I rewarded myself with one when I got home from the stash I have been rationing for two weeks. It tasted so good.  I saw someone getting a Domino's pizza delivered for supper while out walking with pup.  It would have been so easy to pick up the phone and dial since it was starting to get late to make supper, but I stuck to the plan and  made a homemade one myself.  Delicious!

According to Penny Golightly's tenner week, yesterday's challenge was supposed to be a declutter and to find three things to resell.  Today was to actually sell said items. I do not know how to E-bay yet, and it is too early for garage sale season.  We don't have the car boot or flea market stalls here either.  I boxed up some old children's books and some glassware that will not be used and put them aside for later in the spring.  I have other items in the garage for a future sale as well.  While today was supposed to be the actual sale, I feel like I am trying to honor the spirit of the goal. 

I should probably learn a bit more how to do on-line selling. I found DD#2's old Winnie the Pooh Grow and Learn book collection is selling on Amazon for $59 new, and $39 used.  I might need to give that a go if I could get that kind of money.  This picture is from the Amazon site, but we have the full 19 volume set just like this one. Remember my old set of mushroom Pyrex bowls?  I never did open them and have been making due without a full set of mixing bowls.  In the box, I could resell for as much as $89 according to Amazon. Hmm-I'm doubtful. 

I may not be home alone next week after all.  My FIL has taken a poor turn of health and they are thinking of actually flying him back to Minnesota.  We may have the bitter cold and winter that lasts half a year, but we also have some of the most renowned medical centers in the world here, plus my MIL would be near family and friends.  Prayers for my DH and our family would be appreciated. If they do come home, I'll need to alter plans for both meals at home, but also make sure there are some ready to warm meals and some healthy things at the DH's parents house. The house will need a good dusting and vacuuming after sitting for 10 weeks. She's a great MIL and I want to help her through the stress she is facing now. My slow down week will need to wait.

My "Tenner" Week Begins

Today is my jump start to meticulously careful spending, the tenner week. I won't technically be doing a tenner week, since that is for the British pound, and I've been given a cyber world pass to convert to $15 US dollars.  This week will be a big stretch though even with the $5 grace, as Monday-Sunday is a long way, particularly when you have plans out one of those nights. The rules say this is only spending on myself, and that I do not need to include others in the household.  I will need to exclude them as both need a few things for their upcoming trip to visit the grandparents, but as for food and household, they will be under my plan. If we are to nip this budget down, they will both need to be on board. 

I didn't cheat and stock up this past weekend.  Groceries were basic weekly items like milk, bread, flour, eggs, bagels, and fruit, which surprisingly all added up still to about $50-insane! We needed, as both were to the very end, toilet paper and laundry soap so that was purchased on Saturday.  No other items were purchased.  I will not be able to go on a shop next weekend as tenner week won't end until Sunday.  That coupled with 2/3rds of the human household members being gone the following week, and I should be able to stretch the savings out even longer.  I might make it a tenner fortnight, but that would probably mean 12-13 no spend days as I will need most of the funds for my night out. The true tenner week also limits television viewing to four hours, suggesting other activities so a person doesn't just end up a hermit zoning out in front of a screen. That shouldn't be too difficult, but will need to look ahead as to what my priorities would be.  I watch little real television, but Netflix and Hulu are my vices.

Day 1 is a take stock day and meal planning.  I only have to come up with six dinners because we have a sports banquet (prepaid) one night. Lunches will be any leftovers, canned soup, and either deli meat or tuna sandwiches, all on hand already. We also had wine club so three new wines have graced our home, plus several packets of microwave popcorn, so that should curb any happy hour stops. Suppers will be chicken and potatoes, making extra of both to turn into a leftover stew with dumplings, pasta and tomato sauce with meat balls, homemade pizza with pepperoni and mozzarella, vegetarian chili( already made and in the freezer), and yet one more meal with chicken or hamburger but with cheesy potatoes and green bean casserole, using the remainder of the items from the Valentines dinner last month. I know it is a lot of chicken and hamburger, but we have three pounds of each in the freezer. Next week I'll probably just make up whatever I can find in the house for meals-I won't go hungry. The microwave will get a work out. 

The fine print of my planning list.

I have ended week one on the new job.  I still am in a place of adjustment and am told it will take at least a year to be acclimated to the work environment.  I was a big fish in a small pond, with so much stress and anxiety of carrying what felt like the world 24-7.  I now feel like a small, but very specialized fish,in a very large ocean.  Work is done in the work place, and it is not expected, except on the occasional crunch time, to work beyond the work week. If that happens, they use a little thing called flex time, and staff actually take a day or two off, not using vacation time, when the project is done.  I know the new world is not going to be perfect, but I already feel like some balance might be restored. 

Preparing for Tenner Week

My favorite frugal thing-home made latte.

I couldn't do the Tenner week this past week-too many prearranged events, so will give it a go starting Monday.  Frugally Challenged is going to give it a go with me, so feel to join in.  Here is the link to the real tenner week, currently taking place.  Penny Golightly Tenner Week Challenge I'll try and follow the day to day guidelines.  I already know I am at huge risk of failure on Saturday, March 14th as I am joining a friend for a night of her improv groups performance.  It is a free show, but need to order off the menu and tip the staff.  Because there is a currency difference between UK and USA, it has been suggested that the UK tenner is more like $15 American so I will aim to not exceed $15, but still means every penny will need to be hoarded to make it to Saturday. 

In the spirit of the real tenner week, I accomplished a couple things on the list. Here are my mini successes.

1. Found a Caribou coffee card buried in my purse with $1.62 still on it, and was able to get a nice cup of strongly brewed coffee for the  25 cent balance, and a couple dimes for the tip cup.
2. Bought two packs of black buttons for $1.04 cents each and replaced them on my old black long coat, and DD#1's pea coat that I have been "borrowing" this winter.  I really want a new long coat, but haven't found one I like enough for the prices so far, so am making due another year.  I am not a sewer and the buttons are a bit off spacially, but it keeps the  coats closed and the wind out. 
3. Reconstructed leftovers to stretched $20 of ingredients into five meals for the three of us, plus leftovers that provided two lunches for me, and one for DH. 
4. Since Sunday, I have had 3 no spend days.  I was hoping to get to 4 for the week, but I'm happy with accomplishing three and not just by happenstance-conscious decision making was in play.