It's coming!

Stay tuned for a big announcement... TOMORROW!

Or, and I also forgot to report $0.50 spent on dog food.  I had a coupon for a free bag but still had to pay the tax.

See you tomorrow!

Any guesses what my surprise might be?

My medical bills are paid off!

I have lots of spending news to report here... but the most exciting of all is that I just paid off the last of the medical bills I generated last year!  Woo hoo!  I go back in April but I am guessing that even if more biopsies need to be taken that the overall expense won't be as big.  And for now, I will enjoy being free of this debt.

Here's where my money has gone recently:

Medical Expenses = $186.26

This was for my last two medical bills from last year.  This is now paid in full!

Mortgage Payment = $880.79
When I built my house I put 30% down and got a really low interest rate, so I feel pretty comfortable with my monthly payments.  My payment includes my property taxes, but not insurance as I pay that separately through my insurance company.  I do try to pay a little extra towards my payments when I can.

Money Market Contribution = $125
I have a higher interest money market account through my stock broker.  Basically, I use this account as my 'long term emergency only' savings account.  Periodically I will also use it if I want to purchase a stock or other investment.  I contribute $125 monthly to this account.  It is automatically deducted so I can't "forget" to do it and go shopping instead.  :)

IRA Contribution = $200
I contribute $200 monthly to my IRA account, which is automatically deducted.  

Gas (Heat) Bill = $51.00

I am now on budgeted billing so this is the same every month.

Phone Bill = $30.50

I can't win with AT&T... just when I cut some features to get the cost down, AT&T raises their rates.  They are really challenging me to cancel my land line!

Water Bill = $25.98

This stays pretty consistent.  I can't really complain.  

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Stay tuned for a really big announcement on....... WEDNESDAY!!!

$2.13 Spent Out Of Pocket At Rite Aid

I had to use up some Rite Aid UPS before they expired, so I went there over the weekend and bought a few items I needed.  I spent $2.13 out of pocket and used $23 UPS Rewards.  Here's what I bought:

* 1 loaf Italian bread

* 1 6-pack of raisons

* 6 oz. container of crab meat
* 8 oz. bar of cheddar cheese
* 1 package of beef hot dogs
* 1 bottle of apple juice
* 3 containers of Edy's ice cream

So if you are following along on my $50 a month grocery challenge, here are the stats: I started the month with $50 cash + $38.31 carry-over from January ($15.31 in cash and $23 in Rite Aid UPS Rewards). On this shopping trip I spent $2.13 cash, $23 UPS Rewards and gained $6 more in UPS Rewards.  That means I now have $63.18 cash and $6 UPS Rewards for a grand total of $69.18 left to spend in February!

Stay tuned for a big surprise later this week!

What I ate this week.

While I am taking part in my $50 a month spent on food grocery challenge, I will be documenting what I eat each week.  Some people have expressed concerns that I can't possible eat enough on just $50 a month.  I hope this type of documentation puts their fears to rest. 

January 30

Breakfast - eggs, tomatoes, toast, orange juice
Lunch - clam chowder

Dinner - BBQ ribs, green beans, potato, milk, ice cream

January 31

Breakfast - toast and PB

Lunch - BBQ ribs, green beans, potato, milk

Dinner - mac and cheese, salad, milk

February 1

Breakfast - toast and PB

Lunch  - leftover mac and cheese, salad, kiwi fruit

Dinner - pork fried rice, broccoli, apple sauce, milk, ice cream

February 2

Breakfast - toast with PB

Lunch - leftover pork fried rice, broccoli, apple sauce, milk

Dinner - ravioli, salad, milk, ice cream

February 3

Breakfast - toast and PB, Pepsi

Lunch - Hormel meal (chicken, pasta, veggies), apple, Pepsi (bad migraine this day, hence the two Pepsi's)

Dinner - egg, toast, tomato, apple juice

February 4

Breakfast - toast and PB

Lunch - leftover gyro meat (this was in the freezer) with tomato and tortilla, kiwi fruit

Dinner - spaghetti and meat balls, salad, bread, milk, ice cream

February 5

Breakfast - cereal with milk
Lunch - hot dog, Cadbury Egg

Dinner - salmon, baked tomatoes, potato with butter and sour cream, milk, ice cream

Food Waste Friday

Spending money wisely also means not wasting it... and that includes not wasting food.  So, each week I will document what food is needlessly wasted and report it here.  Feel free to leave me a comment with your own food waste.

I forgot about Food Waste Friday last week.  And that is a real shame because I had no food waste (must be why I forgot about it).  This week was not so good as I found an entire, unopened bag of wheat flour filled with little black buggies.  Grrrr.....  I thought this was going to be another waste-free week, too. 

How did you do?  Leave me a comment and let me know. 

Free Samples Really Work

Or... Excedrin Migraine saved me money!

I have to admit it.  I like getting free samples.  I do not sign up for every free sample I come across, but if it is a product I use or think I would like to try I will take it.  So when I had a chance to snag a free bottle of Excedrin Migraine a few weeks back I jumped on it.  

Yes, I suffer from Migraines.  Bad ones.  I have discussed them before on this blog.  When they hit, they are bad.  And painful.  And depressing.  And I have found most medicines don't help.  So I take a specific prescription pill that does work, but it is expensive. 

I spend over $300 a year on my migraine prescription ($320, to be exact).  And that is with rationing on my part.  But it is worth every penny.  Those who get migraines can surely understand that mentality!

I have tried other over the counter migraine meds over the years and have found none of them work.  So I didn't want to waste any more money on yet another over the counter product (Excedrin Migraine).  But a free bottle?  Well, that was something I could afford to try!

Guess what?  I have found that this product DOES work.  At least for me.  I have put it to the test a few times.  This morning I woke up with a particularly nasty migraine and it even worked for that!  Will it work for the most severe of migraines?  Probably not.  But if it can cut my prescription usage down by even half it is well worth the money.

So why do I say "free samples really work"?  Well, because of the sample I tried a product that I otherwise would not have.  And it turns out I like the product.  And I will be buying the product in the future.  I am now a "customer."

Well played, Excedrin.  Well played.  

Have you started buying any new products after being won over by a free sample?  How do you find out about the best free samples?

 

A $10 Investment In My Future

Well... maybe that is a tad dramatic.  I spent $10 to register a new domain name (no, not for Budget Confidential... that will be staying right here).  I have an idea that I feel passionately about.  I decided for $10 I had nothing to lose!  

Will I strike it rich and retire early from this venture?  Highly doubtful.  And frankly, that is not my goal.  I will be happy if I can recover the $10 I spent on the domain and have some fun in the process.  I see this as a fun and inexpensive hobby.  Right now we are buried under an inch of ice and a fun and cheap hobby will keep me from going stir crazy! 

So what is it, you may be asking?  You'll have to wait... but I promise my bloggy friends here will be the first to know!