Spendy day 16. I worked a 1/2 day, then went to the eye doctor and the car dealership for the Bug's 130,000 mile service. While I was waiting for the Bug to get done, I hung out with my bf and we ate lunch and talked.

I brought back cans today--most were found on the side of the road while I biked to the library on Saturday. I found six cents on my walk out to my car after my 1/2 day at work.

My eye appointment was easy and quick--I may even get a rebate back for my contacts!

Then I went to Sams. Last time I went, I renewed my membership and came home that very same day to an offer for a $15 gift card if I renewed my membership. So I brought that with me to see if they would still give me the $15 gift card. They did!! It paid for most of my kitty litter; I only had to spend $1 on the tax!

Then I went to Goodwill to find a new squirter for my doughboy soap holder that sits next to my sink. I broke the squirter, so he's been sitting on the side of my sink without being able to be used. It now works--kinda sorta. It isn't as smooth as I would like, but it was worth 52 cents to try the fix.

Then I went to VW so they could work on the Bug. It's just his 130,000 check-up. They changed the oil and gave him a bath, but didn't find anything more wrong with him. This, like the eye doctor, dentist, and massage are not counted in my $300 because it is maintenance and I'm not putting those off just to stay under $300.

Went to lunch with my bf and talked, talked, talked. Got the call from VW that the Bug was done, so she dropped me off at the dealership. I went grocery shopping, then came home. I still need to get gas, so I'll probably be spending more money tomorrow. It is just too hot here to keep running around. Ug.

Not counted: $39 for car maintenance; $280 in eye check-up and a year's worth of contacts.

Counted: $9 for lunch; $1 Sams; $1 Goodwill; $27 Meijers

Meijer list:
5 gallons water
1 can corn
3 cans cream of potato soup
2 packages of cream cheese (potato/shrimp chowder is in my future)
package of flour tortillas
big container of plain yogurt
container of half and half
2 packages of instant chocolate pudding (need the yogurt, half and half, and pudding for pudding pops)
milk
almond milk
baking soda (used most of mine to do the vinegar/baking soda down the kitchen drain to clean it up and make it smell better)

Day 16 Numbers:

Spend: $38
Left: $132
In: $1.30 in cans; found a nickel and a penny

Here you go!

Chai Tea Latte--Taste of Home (my modifications)

2 individual tea bags
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 cup water
1 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar (Splenda)
2 tablespoons refrigerated French vanilla nondairy creamer (nonfat half and half and a 1/2 teaspoon vanilla)
whipped topping and ground nutmeg, optional (no options here!)

Directions:
Place the tea bags, cinnamon, ginger and allspice in the coffee filter of a drip coffee maker. Add water; brew according to manufacturer's directions. (I boiled water on the stove and poured it over the tea bags and spices in a mug)

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the milk, brown sugar, and creamer. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through and sugar is dissolved. (I used the same saucepan as I boiled water in and heated up the ingredients while the tea steeped.) Pour milk mixture into mugs, stir in tea. Dollop with whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired. Yield: 2 servings. (I fished out the tea bags and poured the tea mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Then I mixed them together and put them into a container with a lid. Let it cool on the counter some before sticking it in the frige to chill.)

End of Recipe

I think this would make fantastic ice cream, if I can figure out if I need to add anything before sticking it in the ice cream maker. Haagen Daas makes a chai tea latte ice cream that is wonderful--but it was a limited time flavor. Also, I think if you made this into ice cubes, then you could chill down the latte much faster, so you didn't have to wait hours to drink it.

Before I decided to do a low-spend month, I had made an appointment to get a massage. It was supposed to be a non-food treat for the exercise I've been doing. So, even though I spent $66 (including tip) for the massage, I'm not taking it out of my $300 for the month. I'm kinda sad because I have wanted massages to be a big non-food treat and EVERYBODY loves them, right? Not me. Sure, my shoulders feel better afterwards, but it seems I'm missing the "noodle-y massage" gene and I'm just not thinking it it worth it. Now I have to think of other non-food treats.

Anyway, I also did grocery shopping today, so I did spend some money. I also took myself to Panera Bread for dinner since it was already 8:00 by the time I got out of the grocery store. I was so hungry at 3 today at work that I bought a candy bar from the vending machine. Stomach growingly hungry. Gotta pack more carrots.

Panera: $13 thai chopped chicken salad, iced chai tea latte

Grocery store: $33

Carrots
Tomato
Napkins
Avocado
Bacon (guess who's having BLTs!)
Almond milk
Bag o' apples
Diet 7 up (I was starting to feel ooky and thought some fizz might make me feel less so)
Broccoli
Ice cream bars
2 boxes shell pasta
Spaghetti sauce
Sour cream
Vinegar
Chocolate Chips

Vending machine at work: $1 candy bar

Day 13 Numbers:

Spend: $47
Left: $170
In: Found a dime and a penny

Today I bought the chips and dip I resisted yesterday. I went to the store to get the coleslaw and sunflower seeds for the ramen noodle salad I want to make. I haven't eaten any chips and dip yet, but they are ready for my snack later. Short list: chips, dip, nutmeg, coleslaw mix, and sunflower seeds.

I tried to go to bed early last night to "cure" my tiredness, but it didn't help. I'm still tired today. I also felt just blah all day. I did walk at break and for the 1/2 of my lunch that I didn't spend running errands. Not sure what's up with me. Vacation letdown?

I did find $1.86 on the ground today. I felt like I was on candid camera when I walked past not one, but two meters with quarters on the ground near them. I can understand someone leaving a penny because they are in a hurry, but 85 cents? I looked around to make sure there wasn't someone who just dropped the, but no one was around. Lucky for me, but felt a bit strange.

Day 11 Numbers:

Spend: $13
Left: $217
In: Found $1.86

It's always easy in the beginning....

Yesterday I worked, then had a dentist appointment in the afternoon. I knew I had to go to the grocery store, so I ran in and only got the 3 things that were on my list (milk, almond milk, 2 cans of mushrooms). When I got home, I did a bunch of little jobs until the man got home. We then worked on the shed we're building in the backyard until 9 PM. Watched a little TV (Antiques Roadshow) and went to bed.

I get paid on Mondays and July is a 3 paycheck month. Yay! That means almost one whole paycheck is a savings paycheck. Yippee! My strategy for the low spend month is to use $140 in cash for the first two paychecks and $20 from the last paycheck to get through July.

Spending: Grocery Store $8

Note about spending amounts: I save my change in a jar. I "allow" myself to use change if I have it that same day, but I clean out my wallet every night. So many amounts will be rounded up, with the change going into the change jar.

In: found a penny; $5 Amazon from Swagbucks