January 2011 Controlled/No Spend Thread

[mizbear]

azmom- My nieces refuse to wear the stuff out for young ladies right now too. The older one just stared middle school and either buys her shirts a size or 2 large out of the plus department or out of mens so tha they are not clingy and too low cut. Luckily faded glory at walmart still makes little girls shirt and jeans that look like little girls clothes.
Plus sizes- Aye yi yi- I am a plus and a petite- and will still need plus size shirts when I get done losing weight- I don't want cheaply made clothing and oversized tops or lots of glitter. And where did they get the idea that every woman wants spandex in her jeans? I hate that! It makes your jeans fall apart faster- although my plus size mother loves spandex in her jeans.
Have cut down my CS days for the month. Will do my controlled spends in later months- just not in the mood.

[dakota4600]

Update: 5/20 NS/CS, 4 NEO

We did go out and use the Groupon last night. Our bill was less than $5 before tip, so I’m counting it as a CS. It was nice to have some alone time with DH, especially after the news my brother gave me as I was leaving work. It helped me to process it and not be so emotional and look at things rationally.

The news my brother told me was that my SIL is interviewing for a Full time job on Friday, which means that we may have to find alternative arrangements for Mini-D. DH doesn’t feel comfortable asking his dad to do 3 days a week, if my dad could do 2. My brother also mentioned that he might try “working” from home 2 days a week and would be willing to take Mini-D if he does. But the reality is that we probably need to find a better long term solution. So we started looking on line last night for daycare centers in the area. We found a few and eliminated most of them after a quick drive by. I did find one that looks promising. The rates are about $100 more a month than we pay my SIL, so it is doable. It is a Montessori school for 1yr-6yr olds. Since he is potty trained and almost 3 they would go ahead and start him in pre-school.

My mom works for United Way and she had heard of it and knows that the Smart start program is done there. She was going to talk to the person in her office that handles that area and get her opinion of the school.

Pros-

• It is all day, not half day.
  
• I like the Montessori concept
  
• We wouldn’t have to move him again in the fall since it is a pre-school
  

Cons-

• It is not family
  
• More expensive
  
• More sick days for DH &I, since Mini-d will be exposed to more germs. (though we would still have grandparents as backups)
  
• Less control over what mini-D is introduced to in terms of toys and games (thinking toy guns, swords, etc. I don’t condone toys that encourage violence or aggression.)
  
• Less control over what he eats.
  
  

What questions should I be asking them when we go?


Keeker- Hugs to you.

Munjoy- I remember feeling that way too. I thought I don’t spend every day of the month and the first month I tracked was a rude awakening to how many times I stopped for little things, which often times turned into overspending. I still have problems making my goals each month, but I have become more aware of the needs vs wants and stick to my list a lot better. After you’ve been here a while, you’ll pick something up in the store and think do I really want to have to tell the NS crowd that I bought this and put it back.

Red- Hope you feel better!

Spuby- Good for you, sometimes companies don’t think things through.

Azmom- I do agree about little girl clothes, when I shop for my niece, I always wonder what the people who design the clothes were thinking.

[shanendoah]

Still at 1 NS of 10 (not 12, 12 is my stretch goal) and 1 of 8 MOAN

keeker: *hugs*

munjoy: congrats on the weight loss. And yes, actual no spend no spend days are really hard. My goal this month is 10. I'm hoping to work my way up to 12 by March. But as desire for chocolate overrode my desire not to spend yesterday shows, it can be really hard.

red_wagon: Per the RNs and MDs I used to work with, yogurt is really good for upset tummies. Ignore the silly claims of "probiotic" yogurts, all yogurts contain helpful bacteria cultures that can help calm upset tummies (but they aren't going to make you "regular"). However, if dairy does not work for you, bananas are also a really good choice.

plus size clothes: When I was in my early 20s, I wandered into a Lane Bryant store and almost cried. For the first time ever, I found a place that carried plus sized clothes that didn't think I needed to dress like I was 60. I still do a lot of my shopping at Lane Bryant, especially for slacks, though in some areas, I think their quality has gone down a bit. For tops, I've gotten to the point that I go to the websites first- Lane Bryant, JC Penny, Sears, Macys, Nordstroms and look through what they have in plus sizes as prices I'm willing to pay. Then I go to the one that has the most stuff I like.
I've stopped shopping at Target for work clothes, and their plus sized section extra annoys me because not only is it small, its right next to the maternity section and there's no clear delineation between the two.
Jeans are the hardest for me because the LB jeans aren't made of anything like jean material and do not last. But so many of the name brands now have the "slimming" jeans. Maybe if you just have a little paunch, those are slimming, but in plus sizes, all they do is make my belly stick out that much further over the waistband of my jeans. And that is just not attractive.

Girls clothes: They are both "adults" now, but 10 years ago when my cousins were around 10, I remember both of my aunts complaining about not being able to find sweats without something written across the butt. I remember one aunt said "I don't want anyone reading my 10 year old's butt, let alone reading it and thinking "juicy" that's disgustsing and bordering on illegal." I can't imagine how much worse it is now.

[singlemomky]

dakota - I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say that "not family" could also be a pro esp. if you look at it as an opportunity to be exposed to different people and situtations - the ability to start honing the skills needed to cope with differences and conflict with those outside the family. I realize that Mini D is only 3 but this might be a really good thing - esp as you say you were planning to start him in preschool in the near future anyway.

[MittenKitten]

Keeker: Hugs. My kitties are getting up their in age and I am dreading when that time comes.

Clothes: Hmmmm not sure when I last bought clothes. Usually I need new pants so I will find a pair of yoga pants at Walmart or Sams or Target. I am short (5'1" and shrinking) so the yoga pants usually fit me pretty well length wise. I HATE jeans. My mom and my dad's wife shop a bit and give me the stuff they are done with. That works well for shirts. I think the last time I spent more then $20 on clothes for myself was over 5 years ago and probably closer to 9.

munjoyhill: Now you have hit upon why this thread is successful. Those extra dollars you spend each day count and add up at an alarming rate. When I was working outside the home I would often purchase a coffee 2-3 times a week for $3.50-$4.00. I first cut back to going to McDonald's and spending $2.00 then started making tea at home. I figure I am saving around $500 a year. That is a vacation for us to Wisconson Dells!

In a foul mood today, I want nice weather and to be able to take the kids outside and play. Had my support group last night. While I enjoy it it can also be a downer, you have these other parents whose kids have autism and their kids are making strides while mine is not. No real communication yet, tons of sensory needs etc. It just gets really hard when you want a normal family life, to be able to have a "real" job if I want it, to be able to go on vacations and DO things as a whole family instead of worrying that DS#2 will disrupt everything or run. Plus for 2 out of the last 3 years in Real estate things have sucked. It always seems to be something where my clients/deals fall through. I just want to hide and ignore life for a while.

[shanendoah]

mk: *hugs* to you too. I have so much admiration for you and your family. I know the answer is "love" (and perhaps chocolate and a nice glass of wine) and yet, I still honestly don't know how you get through it some days. What I do know is that kids, autistic or not, will proceed at their own pace, and as frustrating as it is, you can't hold your DS up to the standards of the other kids. And I would bet, that if you said at your next support group meeting: "You know, I am so happy for you and your kids, but some times it makes me so frustrated about mine" they would all understand exactly.
I don't know how things work where you are, but here in WA, I believe families of children like your DS can take advantage of the state's respite care providers. I know you have wonderful family that helps you out, but that might be an option, too.
The one thing I know of that can help it all melt away - puppy kisses. (Though I've heard that hugs, kisses, and "I love you"s from your children can have the same effect.)

[dakota4600]

Smky- I know it will be fine in the long run, but I thought I had another 8 months or so to get used to the idea. I do realize that my angst is mostly about me dealing with the change. He adapts pretty well to new environments, he just needs a little time to acclimatize. I'm hoping that if we have to do this now, they will let me stay for 15-30 mins his first day so he can warm up to the teachers and the other kids and not feel totally abandoned. At our church's daycare he jumps right in now and plays as soon as he walks in the door, sometimes he doesn't even notice us telling him goodbye. But there it is 4 or 5 other kids, not 24 which it would be in this school.

[dianartemis]

Update: 3/15 NSD, 5/15 NEO, 4/15 MOAN, 1/4 QUs.

Plus size clothing: The ShopKo in my area has a fairly large plus size section. The quality is similar to Target, but more sales, so prices are a little cheaper. If there's one in your area, you might check it out.

[singlemomky]

Dakota - I guess I'm not the typical parent in that sense since Lil' Smokey has been in daycare since he was 9 weeks old. I just never was one to get emotional about some of those things and really felt like the first day of daycare and kindergarten were just like any other day - I mean I knew that they were special b/c it was the start of a new journey but didn't really get emotional about it. It's good to see other's perspectives and realize that we all truly are different and react differently to certain circumstances.

[startsmart]

mittenkitten - yep, I know that feeling! I'm working 8am to midnight most days and still overloaded. Had 100 email inquiries this morning. I'm not really yearning for a roommate or anything but some times I would love to have someone else to bring in income or support ME instead of me supporting myself. It's exhausting.

[mrslynch]

mk--it's amazing how other parents can make us feel, isn't it? i don't post much about dd here because you once told me that it makes you feel bad to hear how my dd is progressing (she just turned 4 last month; not too much younger than your ds). and since i don't want to make you feel bad, i try not to talk about her. having said that, i agree with shanen; all kids progress at their own rate. you do seem to need a break, though. you have had a lot go on in the last few months and perhaps a day, even an afternoon, away will refresh you. if df cannot take care of the kids by himself, is there a school for autistic children nearby that you can contact for caretaker references? obviously, you would need to screen the person first but if he/she is already working in that type of environment, then he/she will already know how to handle your son. both of my sisters work with autistic kids and my little sister works with kids who have the same delayed development as your son, but older (nonverbal, non-potty trained 10 year olds). someone like that may be helpful to you as you go through this.
red/azmom--thanks!
dakota--mini-d will be more resilient than you think. in fact, you will probably have a harder time with him starting school than he will. if you can, take him a day or two before to introduce him to the teachers, students, and other staff. i do not recommend staying extra on the first day. that will just confuse him. if he's upset, the teachers are trained to deal with it.

[gldnluvly]

Dakota-My aunt used to freeze rolls for us all of the time after the second rise. There were just as good as the ones made on the first baking day. I miss her and the rolls.

[redwagon]

dakota and shanen - thanks. dayquil helped for a while. As for the yogurt, I know it's good for me but it just didn't sound appetizing this morning with the way I was feeling, that's all. I'll probably have it later this afternoon as a snack now I'm feeling a bit more human.

mitten - hugs. I don't know how you do it.

dakota - good luck transitioning the little guy to a daycare/preschool! I don't advise staying, either. My mom says I used to cry my heart out everyday when she left (there was a window I could wave goodbye through, sobbing), but then two minutes later I'd be fine and playing with other kids (and probably bossing them around, knowing me). Out of sight, out of mind, sadly.

I bought a $1 scratch ticket and started plotting all the ways I'd spend my riches. Won zip. Someday...

[kcgal]

My January goals: 12 NS 12 moans for the month. I want to lose 1/2 pound a week. I am back @ Weight Watcher's and now that Christmas is over and I am once again in control I plan to lose weight. I bought a 2 month membership to Jazzes for $39.00 on Group-ons. I love Groupon!! So my January and Feb. will be spent doing my cardio best.
3Cats-during Dec. I volunteered at a place that helped people who feel on hards times, get some extra food, clothes and toys for kids. I worked in the hats and mittens section. Everyone that signed up got new hats and mittens. There were so many beautiful hand made scarves there. I made me think of you.
I was getting Christmas stuff put up and regaining control of my life this week. I was looking for the 9X13 pot holder 3cats made and couldn't find it. I even went through the Christmas boxes. Easy to do since they are all over the basement not put up yet. No sign of it. I was so mad at me for misplacing it. I used it a lot. For some reason I looked over to the baby doll's crib in the dining room. You guessed it. DGD reached her litle hand up on the table to see what see could find. I call it a pot holder she called it a baby blanket. DGD is growing up so fast. (15months)
Dakota-I used to teach kindergarten and it was school policy and my policy to not have toy guns, swords. I think most places don't allow gun like toys these days.

[MittenKitten]

As for DS#2, I know he goes at his own pace and most days I accept that but there are other days that are just hard. As for respite services I can't leave him with strangers for a variety of reasons. With our next waiver I am thinking of including setting aside money for someone to watch him. Seriously the child has some nasty sensory issues, his newest stunt is climbing to the back of a wing chair and jumping off of it. I mean the very back, with toys littering the floor and chair seat in front of him. Try to move the toys and he moves them back. I have crash mats in the basement but he also likes being with everyone else.

mrslynch: Go ahead and mention your DD and her accomplishments. I am a strong person and can celebrate your victories there are just days I want to rail against the world. I would say my main message is to enjoy them and not take them for granted. DS#2 brings a lot of gifts along with the challenges and I love him for who he is. If he is never poddy trained or speaks he still adds value and love to our lives. Doesn't mean I won't fight tooth and nail to get him to speak and have a more "normal"existence.

[ses]

Keeker--big hugs. Losing a family member,even furry ones, is so traumatic. Even when they are old and ready to cross the rainbow bridge it is so hard to let them go.
3cats--I am the one allowed to live with Calleigh and Miss Onyx and serve their needs. Yesterday was a BIG day. Calleigh has grown back enough fur that she no longer needs to wear her sweater. It looks strange to see her without it. she and Onyx are making progress in the living together in the same house issue. Every so often Calleigh will bounce up and give Onyx a "kiss" on the nose or a quick lick on the ear. It still sounds like they are killing each other at times, other times it sounds like they have invited a herd of elephants to join them when they race through the house. It is good to see Onyx playing, I sometimes wonder if she ever learned to play when she was a kitten since she had to fend for herself at such a young age even with her handicap. Especially with her handicap.
Clothes--add me to the list of those desperately trying to find larger sizes that don't look cheap and/or sleazy. Of course it is getting more difficult to find clothes of quality and taste in any size. With half the country overweight or obese you would think stores would be expanding the plus size departments. What do they expect us to do--wear a burlap bag and never venture into public or the work force. Does my money not spend as well as a size 0.
Angel--ETFs are sort of like a mutual funds, except they can be sold through out the day instead of only based on the close of market prices. I am somewhat hesitant to get too much into ETFs. So many of them are based on "indexes" and baskets and other things that I don't understand. When I buy something I want to OWN something-even if it is a tiny fraction of something in a mutual find. some of the ETFs are like owning a fraction of a bet on something. I do own some ETFs that are based on owning the actual physical thing it is invested in, like gold or silver sitting in some vault somewhere.
I love The Only Investment Guide You Will Ever Need. I have the 1982 copy as well as the 1999. It is very good at explaining the big picture and how the pieces all fit together. Until you are comfortable with investing, the lifetime investment funds are a good place to be. You have experienced professionals making sure things are balanced for your risk tolerance and monitoring things while you learn more about everything.
Dakota--I love that roll recipe. If you like a "wheat berry" type of bread, substitute 1/2 c of uncooked bulgar for 1/2 c flour. I have also substituted flax seed and thrown in some sunflower seeds and a small amount of quick oatmeal. I guess oats and oat flour help keep a bread moist. IDK. It is a forgiving recipe, experiment with it and make it your own. If you try herb flavorings, let me know how it works out, I haven't gotten that far yet.
Newbies--AZmom is so right. NS/CS is a lifestyle change. It is dull and full of drudgery and challenging and exciting when you meet a goal. I always sort of get the feeling that this thread is seen as "the way ditzes manage their money. They don't get the big picture of paying down debt, giving up cable, selling the car or selling everything on ebay..." What the world does not realize is that by making the little changes in thinking and planning that we do it may not be necessary to do the drastic measures others think is the solution until the debt is gone. Living a more careful and thoughtful lifestyle frees up money and time that may be spent on things or family. All we are really doing is becoming VERY conscious of our wants vs needs in every aspect of our lives and living within or below our means. None of us have immediately made the changes we need, we are still aware on a daily basis of what we need to do. Don't give up, just keep working one day at a time until it becomes habit.

[redwagon]

ses - quick question. when you did your kitchen renovations, did you keep the cats out of that room? As we look into doing our bathroom, I am getting a bit concerned about what we'd do with them... perhaps installing a temporary door at the top of the stairs so they are limited to downstairs, especially if we opt for dormering, which would essentially put a hole in the side of our house. Just wondering what you did! Then again, your cats are outdoor cats and more used to "danger" I suppose...

[shanendoah]

recipe request: I've been meaning to ask, since I am on a mostly liquid diet still for another 4 weeks, do any of you have any favorite homemade soups, or creative uses for ground beef (turkey in our case)? The pumpkin apple soup we made at Thanksgiving was ok, but not great. DH did a roasted red pepper for Christmas that I really liked, and I'm a tomato basil fan. We also have canned cream of mushroom and cream of chicken at home that I can eat when I need something quick and easy. But I don't want to eat the same things all the time. And we're getting a little tired of ground turkey and rice (the turkey has been prepared with cream of mushroom soup, as creamed "beef", and now curried) but its still a lot of the same. We've also done a nice chili, but it didn't stretch very far.

[Deleted]

Jan 6, 2011 15:44:32 GMT -5 ses said:

Keeker--big hugs. Losing a family member,even furry ones, is so traumatic. Even when they are old and ready to cross the rainbow bridge it is so hard to let them go.
3cats--I am the one allowed to live with Calleigh and Miss Onyx and serve their needs. Yesterday was a BIG day. Calleigh has grown back enough fur that she no longer needs to wear her sweater. It looks strange to see her without it. she and Onyx are making progress in the living together in the same house issue. Every so often Calleigh will bounce up and give Onyx a "kiss" on the nose or a quick lick on the ear. It still sounds like they are killing each other at times, other times it sounds like they have invited a herd of elephants to join them when they race through the house. It is good to see Onyx playing, I sometimes wonder if she ever learned to play when she was a kitten since she had to fend for herself at such a young age even with her handicap. Especially with her handicap.
Clothes--add me to the list of those desperately trying to find larger sizes that don't look cheap and/or sleazy. Of course it is getting more difficult to find clothes of quality and taste in any size. With half the country overweight or obese you would think stores would be expanding the plus size departments. What do they expect us to do--wear a burlap bag and never venture into public or the work force. Does my money not spend as well as a size 0.
Angel--ETFs are sort of like a mutual funds, except they can be sold through out the day instead of only based on the close of market prices. I am somewhat hesitant to get too much into ETFs. So many of them are based on "indexes" and baskets and other things that I don't understand. When I buy something I want to OWN something-even if it is a tiny fraction of something in a mutual find. some of the ETFs are like owning a fraction of a bet on something. I do own some ETFs that are based on owning the actual physical thing it is invested in, like gold or silver sitting in some vault somewhere.
I love The Only Investment Guide You Will Ever Need. I have the 1982 copy as well as the 1999. It is very good at explaining the big picture and how the pieces all fit together. Until you are comfortable with investing, the lifetime investment funds are a good place to be. You have experienced professionals making sure things are balanced for your risk tolerance and monitoring things while you learn more about everything.
Dakota--I love that roll recipe. If you like a "wheat berry" type of bread, substitute 1/2 c of uncooked bulgar for 1/2 c flour. I have also substituted flax seed and thrown in some sunflower seeds and a small amount of quick oatmeal. I guess oats and oat flour help keep a bread moist. IDK. It is a forgiving recipe, experiment with it and make it your own. If you try herb flavorings, let me know how it works out, I haven't gotten that far yet.
Newbies--AZmom is so right. NS/CS is a lifestyle change. It is dull and full of drudgery and challenging and exciting when you meet a goal. I always sort of get the feeling that this thread is seen as "the way ditzes manage their money. They don't get the big picture of paying down debt, giving up cable, selling the car or selling everything on ebay..." What the world does not realize is that by making the little changes in thinking and planning that we do it may not be necessary to do the drastic measures others think is the solution until the debt is gone. Living a more careful and thoughtful lifestyle frees up money and time that may be spent on things or family. All we are really doing is becoming VERY conscious of our wants vs needs in every aspect of our lives and living within or below our means. None of us have immediately made the changes we need, we are still aware on a daily basis of what we need to do. Don't give up, just keep working one day at a time until it becomes habit.

Hey, now, I am a size well 2-4 and do you know how hard it is to find something that is not kiddy and looks professional. I've taken to shopping in the boys department for jeans, they last longer than women or girls. I think clothes are designed just for the middle group, no one else.

[vnot]

Here's my go at it! I live with DBF and 1 dog & 1 cat. My NSD are for me; however, DBF can spend as much as he wants on me whenever! LOL.

Goal: 15 No Spend Days for January & 20 MOAN Days!
Current: 4/15 NSD 4/20 MOAN.

Did I get the abbreviations right? I think I'm on the right track.

Oh, and my NSD is separate from scheduled bill payments. In short everything besides, rent, cc, utilities, insurance, car pmt. I have to buy gas tmrw so I lose out tmrw.

[shanendoah]

vnot: Welcome. If you're going for No Spend Days and Move Our Ass Now days (exercising) then yes, you got the abbreviations right.

[startsmart]

Keeker- sorry to hear about the fur family member!

I'm counting today as a NSD since I ordered this yesterday and it wasn't ready for pickup until today. I printed my manuscript from NaNoWriMo! 80 pages of startsmart writing is sitting on my desk BEGGING for the red pen! Maybe saturday when this launch is completed.

I'm counting this as a NSD because despite my frustration I didn't stop for lunch or buy anything to give me a mental boost. Retail therapy solves nothing! Eating when you're upset doesn't solve anything!

I did take down Christmas decorations yesterday. Sad. I don't know why but the magic just goes out of them after Jan begins. Or I'm delusional, whatever!

Had another flood in the garage today and may need to fix with duct tape until we find a solution. So frustrated right now that I don't have a person. You know, someone that would come over and help and let me b*tch about floods in my house (5th one in 2 years) and help when I just don't have the time to stop and fix the mess.

[redwagon]

Welcome, vnot!! Sounds like you've got acronyms right! (have I mentioned I love we can write out MOAN and it's okay on this board?)

startsmart - I work with red pens (well, pencils) for a living if you want an editor! maybe it'll get me editing my own novel.

Today has ended up being a CS, which I think is my second, at least. Go me.

$1.50 on bagel
$1 on scratch ticket
$1 on mini pringles
Total: $3.50 (under my $5 limit).

I think I'm taking tomorrow off. It's going to snow and I'm feeling worse than I did yesterday. Work might not have been smart today for recovery... and maybe I'll take the opportunity to apply for a bunch of jobs. The politics and stupidity at my job is just... stupid. I know there's office politics everywhere, but I'd rather be somewhere where there is a collaborative, supportive environment (my old job had that, at least, even if I wasn't in my ideal job) for the most part than in a place where there is tension, paranoia, and total lack of respect for a person's total range of talents. Bah!

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 5 NS / 1CS = 6/15 (Goal 15NS/CS)
Keeker -- Hugs

Vnot -- Welcome

Newbies -- As the ladies have mentioned it takes a while to get the hang of NS. It is the little things that throws one off. The candy bar, the few things at the grocery, the "I forgot to get that one item", the kids' field trip money that they forgot to mention, etc. You will begin to hear voices. Things like "if I buy this, I will have to tell the ladies", "is this a want or a need". Enjoy the journey. We have a good group here and a wealth of experiences and talents.

[reeneejune]

Clothes - Ok, so many of you know I'm right there with you not only on the selection for plus sized women but also the quality. I've even toyed with the idea of setting up shop and manufacturing and selling clothes that are up to my standards... the problem is that I can't charge enough money to make it worth my time. With that said, I'll happily whip up custom orders for anyone in this group. I love it as a hobby, I just can't make a living at it.
Keeker - I'm your secret santa. I'll have something in the mail to you tomorrow. I'm so, so sorry!

[reeneejune]

Oh, and I'm still at 5/20 NEO. This morning I couldn't drag myself out of bed, so I spent $3 at McDonalds for breakfast on my way to work.

[redwagon]

money - oh, the voices in our heads. It's been so nice hearing you all in there again this month. Thanks again to azmom for helping us to refocus on our goals!!

[3catslady]

ses; I know you are the Mother of Onyx and Calleigh, but Honey used to write about TJ and Onyx in her blog and I was wondering if she wrote anything else. I like rereading about Onyx and the others.
keeker; Hugs to you. I am taking my middle cat to the vet tomorrow because she has a spot on her neck about the size of a quarter that is raw and bloody. She won't stop scratching it. I am almost positive it is dry skin, but I am almost as positive it is something else. Tomorrow before lunch I will know for sure.
I bought 2 surge protectors and 2 extension cords for $1.30 pus 8 cents tax, Christmas clearance for 90% off. I also bought some baked lima beans for $2.83 so my total spent is $4.21 and I saved $11.66 a total of 73% according to my receipt. So that puts me at 2 NSD, 3 CSD and 1 Spend day. I am not counting $1.30 as a spend since I saved $11.66.

[constanz22]

1 NS, 4 CS Today was a spend day. I went to Old Navy to use a $30 store credit and spent about $20 more. Funny, I was there on Monday and couldn't find a thing, let alone $30 worth, and today the whole store was different. I probably could've spent $100 or more there today...

[redwagon]

3cats - I think Honey just copied SES's writings about the kitties onto her blog so we'd have them all in one place for the future. They are adorable adventures! And fantastic job on your purchases! You should check out the grocery thread - you'd fit right in I think! I just started, myself, and have a lot to learn. I hope your kitty is okay!! Try not to get too paranoid before the appointment. I am prone to worrying the worst is going to happen, despite all rational thought, so I understand.

constanz - I love Old Navy. I could probably be their spokesperson. Most of my clothes are from there. They fit me well, are wearable for work or I can jazz them up for social events. It's really bad, actually. I think I still have $200 to pay off on my Old Navy card from the great Black Friday sale... I think I have a $10 reward so I might have to hit them up this weekend for some new scarves/hats or something small.

Okay, I need to get to bed and let my body rest up in case it wants to heal itself overnight. But since I've gotten achier over the course of today, I doubt that's going to happen. But sleep is glorious and I'm going to go get some! Talk to you ladies tomorrow!