Got the bad news this week that I *will* need the extra $2200 procedure on my mouth next year. Sigh. So that brings my estimated costs up over $5000. But, as I detail in
this post on my other blog, I have ways of making up about half that money in tax savings and CC rewards.
In other money in, money out news:
- Got an unpleasant jolt when I saw $80 in charges from the wine place we thought we'd canceled membership for, plus a $25 late charge on the credit card (since I hadn't even been checking that card's balance anymore)
- NT called the wine place and got an $80 refund! So I called the credit card company and got them to reverse the charges. It was a good feeling to see that unexpected $105 expense just disappear. (I'd paid the bill in a panic when I saw the late charge, so now I have to wait for a refund check, but still!)
- Our grocery co-op sent us a $20.02 profit sharing check. I never remember these are coming!
- NT sold (on eBay) a Wii set he found on the free table at our condo: We're netting about $80!
- Got some more free clothes from one of his co-workers, and she's going to check her ex's house to see if she has a snowsuit in AA's size!
- Our anniversary is coming up in December, and we found out that our daycare lady is having a sleepover with all the kids (NO extra charge!) just a few weeks after that. So we moved our celebratory dinner to the night the kids will be gone. Free babysitting and no curfew, woo hoo! She's getting an extra bump in her bonus this year; this is the third sleepover she's had for our older daughter and the first where she'll be keeping our younger kid as well.
- I keep forgetting to blog about this, but I'm transitioning over to an annual vs. monthly budget! It's pretty much in place, I'm just fine-tuning it a bit. Basically instead of one budget sheet that I paste into my "future checkbook" and adjust all the escrow stuff and dates, I have a 12-sheet spreadsheet with actual dates, where I don't save up for 12 months for annual expenses but rather just have more or less surplus each month depending on whether the big expenses are due. I think I'm going to like it once I get used to it!
- Our net worth next week should look really good if the market doesn't crash; I got an annual statement for one of NT's UK accounts that showed an increase, plus his company put an extra bonus in his U.S. 401(k).
- I joined a DietBet like FrugalTexan! One of my friends started it. I don't care if I win extra money, I just really want to make the goal weight so I get my $35 bet money back! I've been really strict about calories since it started, so hopefully I see some good results at my weigh-in Sunday. The bet goes over Thanksgiving (gulp)!
- I pretty much gave up drinking at home for the month. I still have a drink if I'm out somewhere, but no wine with dinner. I did it to A) cut calories and B) have more energy after the kids go to bed so I can work on my NaNoWriMo novel. But I've found a C) benefit -- more spending money left over! Wine only costs about $25 every three weeks (we take turns paying), but hey, that's $8 more per week I get to keep in my wallet.
November 16th, 2013 at 10:58 pm 1384642732
I'm close to my 3% goal for round 1 (of 6) - I think I might even make it, even though the weigh out isn't til Dec 5. I've completely cut soda, and haven't had fast food since Taco Bell didn't make my burrito right. ( a few weeks) I'm planning on starting a new exercise routine tomorrow - 3 days of interval cardio (approximately 30 mins) and 3 days of bodyweight strength training -following either nerdfitness or Al Kavadio, or another one I've looked at but can't remember its name right now. I've majorly upped my fruit and veggie intake, and have added a scoop of chia seeds, pea protein powder, and ground flaxseed to my daily diet. It seems to be working so far!
November 18th, 2013 at 04:33 pm 1384792404
November 19th, 2013 at 12:45 am 1384821945
You can do it! Don't deny yourself the food you want at Thanksgiving, just take small portions of it and work it into your calories - maybe allow yourself a little room (like eat at the maintenance level instead of a deficit) that day, then do some extra exercise the day before/after. I'm going to have pecan pie (if we have it) - just not a huge slice, and only ONE slice.
November 19th, 2013 at 01:07 am 1384823224