Well, I'm rolling into this week for the first time in a long, long time without panic as to how I will pay for things. Usually, I overspend in the first week because I haven't tracked my spending. This is a big win. Yesterday I engaged in cleaning up bad spending behavior. I returned two pumps I didn't need to Ultra ($4.12) and two pairs of pajamas purchased on clearance to Target ($12.88). I'm hoping that by forcing myself to return things, it will dissuade me from purchasing in the first place. Going to the store and returning stuff is a pain in the #$$. I will return the shell and suit when I receive the suit Monday.

I'm also learning pretty quickly how small amounts of money add up quickly too! My Christmas snowflake fund is pretty padded. And that's with $5 here, $10 there, $3 everywhere. Amazing! I will need to monitor my spending like a hawk. Just a simple stop for a bottle of water or coffee can have a huge affect. I always have dismissed it as a small purchase. I have an app on my phone that I've been using all week to track purchases. Again, it's the first time I've followed through with it.

I spent $74 on groceries for this week. When telling my husband of my ham plans, he whole heartedly loved all meal ideas. We should have a great, inexpensive week of eating. Just to give some context, we live in a relatively high cost of living area near a large urban epicenter. Taxes are pretty high as are grocery prices. I coupon and look for sales as much as possible. A grocery bill below $100 means I'm trying to utilize food in the pantry. Aldi is great for us in this area when I can get over there.

Looking ahead to next week, I've noticed one of our couches is losing its cushion. In fact, the seat cushions are almost pancake like. I googled replacing couch cushions yourself and found some great information on doing it myself. I'm hoping to spend $50 or so next paycheck so I can restuff the couch cushions. DIY baby! Next week, I also need an oil change and will need to get the car washed when it warms up. It's been so cold, I haven't been able to get it washed for fear of the doors freezing. If it gets above 30 tomorrow, that is probably what I will need to do.