Total Spending $974.07

Here is a breakdown of February Spending. My goal was to stay under $1000 for the month. Did it!

Fixed Expenses:

Verizon Bundle: 172.85 (Internet, home phone, cable)
Monthly Condo Fee: 185.00
Cell Phone: 65.44
HVAC and water heater maintenance contract: 27.95
Pocket money: 20

Variables:
Utilities: 106.22
Gasoline: 33.67
Groceries: 147.21
Health: 111.47 (scripts and co-pays)
Dining Out: 69.26
Haircut and tip: 35.00


Some notes:
*My condo is paid in full, no mortgage.
*My car is paid off, no car payment
*No Credit card debt

My Verizon Bundle includes a premium sports package.

Condo fee includes: water, trash removal, snow removal, all outside building maintenance, landscaping and a master insurance policy.

My health costs were high due to bills from the pneumonia. I still anticipate a few more next month. I'm really happy with my reduced grocery spending. I stuck to my meal plan and used up things from the pantry and freezer. I did dine out a bit more then usual but still came in under my monthly spending goal.

I ordered some trash bags (80 count), deodorant (quantity 5) and Clorox toilet bowl wand refills (quantity 20) from Walmart online today. Total was $36.27 but I used a Swagbucks, Walmart gift card to pay for it. And shipping was free if you spend over $35. So this purchase was free. This will last me quite a while. I like to stock up!

Spending a quiet Sunday getting ready for the upcoming week. It's rainy and gloomy here again, so a good day to stay in and read, nap, and relax.

Have a good week everyone! And continued thoughts are with Thrift. She's been on my mind today.

With all of my standard bills paid already for the month of February, I am left with $141.75 for the rest of the month to stay below my goal of $1000 spending for the month. I have one more doctor's appointment this month so that will be a $10 co-pay, and dinner plans next Saturday, but it's just at a local pub so that will be minimal spending. I have a full tank of gas, and the fridge and pantry are pretty well stocked so other then some minimal grocery shopping I shouldn't have much other spending. I have a Wal-Mart gift card I can use for food if necessary.

Things at work are still difficult. But, I am determined to go in and try my best to enjoy my day, and my work with students, and try and ignore the politics and sniping. I'm too close to retirement to leave, and would never be able to find another job with my salary and benefits at my age, so I'll stick it out and focus on the positive!

I have decided to forgo a big vacation this year, I just don't want to spend the money, and honestly I'm just looking forward to relaxing and having a staycation this summer. My ex-husband and I travelled extensively when we were married, and I just don't have the travel bug anymore. I'm glad to have travelled as much as I did when I was young, and was able to walk endlessly, and explore, and didn't mind roughing it a little. I do like to take some local weekend trips, but I don't like flying anymore so I'm content with that.

It's snowing here on the east coast, but I don't expect more then a few inches, and it's supposed to warm up again tomorrow so any accumulation will melt pretty quickly.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!