September Round Up

I really slacked with my blogging this month!! I'll be better in October!

Well, I did reign in on my spending. Rather, I think I did; I haven't looked at my checkbook yet. So far, I'm pretty much on budget, which is great! I do have a wedding to go to tomorrow and it is somewhat unexpected. Since I only had like a week and a half notice, I did not budget for the gift. I might minus that from my savings for this month, although I really want to get back on track with that!

I did receive a small bonus yesterday. So, that will definitely help with the savings. I'll add everything up this weekend and post exactly how much I have in liquid savings.

On the cooking front, we did .... decent. I did cook a bunch and kept our eating out at a minimum, but we did still eat out. All this week, I cooked and even planned ahead for breakfast! I made two batches of buttermilk biscuits and ate them in the mornings with jam and some with turkey bacon. Delicious and really easy to make. This weekend, I'll be making fruit and oats bars for the mornings.

I also had a bit of frustration towards B. I go through my phases and this month I had reached my limit. Sometimes I get so tired of doing it all on my own. He's doing a bunch of stuff now, so I understand he doesn't always have time to help. But when I'm baking, cooking, and cleaning after a long workday and he can't do even a little to help drives me insane!

Last week, he changed his diet again. I planned for it and then BAM! yesterday, he changed it again! He doesn't seem to understand I don't just plan a menu for the week.

My weekly menu plan has to have all of these components:
1. Ease
2. Fits in budget
3. Transports well
4. Heats well
5. Enjoyable
6. Reflect weekly store sales and ads
7. Some ingredients already on hand or have something in fridge/pantry to use up

And to top it off, he'll change his diet and then change it back lickity split! Anyway, I'll post how it all goes down as it progresses.

To Buy Generic or Not to Buy Generic

I don't mind buying generic things. I always compare the labels and often times, they are exactly the same to their more pricier name brand competitors. B does not like generic at all! He has fallen for all the marketing ploys into brainwashing you into thinking that their brand name is different. I've done the switcheroo and he never knows, but if he sees a generic label of a product he's been enjoying all along, he'll all of a sudden not want it. When I call him on it, he'll say how he knew something was "off". Uh huh, not buying it.

As I've mentioned before, I was sick last week. In my medicine cabinet, I had a bunch of medication (generic). B went to get me some "Nyquil" and he threw a fit over how generic my medicine cabinet was. Seriously, he wanted me to throw it away because "why save a few pennies for something that isn't going to do the job"?

Now he is sick. He asked that I bring him some stuff from the store. I got him all name brand (he wouldn't use it if it wasn't and I am still recovering so there was in no way, I was going to hear him bitch about it all night only for me to turn around and return the stuff). I bought Puffs tissue, Motrin PM, Thera-flu, Tropicana Orange Juice, Arrowhead Water, and super glue (I broke a nail while shopping for his shit). The total? A whopping $52! I did buy one generic item. Yup, the super glue. If I did buy only generic, I would have saved almost $20!

I'm not a cheapskate. I'm far from that, but I do not see the point of paying more for a brand when they have the EXACT same ingredients.

No Time For Treats

When my sister and I were growing up, our mom stayed home with us. During the week, she was our caregiver. On the weekend, our dad pitched in. We LOVED the weekends. Our dad was fun and made everything that much more special. He was patient and told funny stories and we loved that time. As I grew up, I understood it. Our mom was so consumed by us during the week, she didn't have the time or even the desire to make things fun for us. I think she saw us as a chore. I'm not bitter over it, but this is a woman that had two small children biting at her ankles and she had no where to escape. Our dad worked outside the home. He would see us in the evenings when we had been fed and bathed and happy. He didn't see us as the terrors I'm sure we were during the day.

I'm in a similar situation. I don't have children, but I have B. I do most of the day to day chores. I keep the fridge stocked with his favorites. I make sure his favorite drinking glass is always clean. I make sure he has his mouthwash and deodorant. The list goes on and on. I don't resent it or anything, but I realized I am so consumed with the day to day things I do for him, I don't take the time to make anything really special. I used to buy him whatever I saw at a store if I thought he'd like it. Now, I must confess I don't even look for him. He, on the other hand, does do the little things to show how he loves me. I'll say in passing how I need a new hair clip. The next thing I know, he'll go out and get it. He saw my favorite ice cream was back in stock. He'll buy it. Now, I do love this guy, but I'm totally like my mom! I have to remember to take the time to make little things special. I know he knows I love him, but it's time I start taking the time again to show him.

Menu Plan 08/29 - 09/03

I'm not sure how this week will go as I'm recovering from a heinous cold and now B seems to have come down with it's baby sister. I'm going to try to squeeze in a date night in here somewhere, but right now I think it might be best if we wait until both of us are able to put away the Kleenex first.

Monday:
Dinner: B's day. I doubt he'll cook, since he is sick.

Tuesday:
Dinner: Fried Rice

Wednesday:
Dinner: B's Day.

Thursday:
Dinner: Couscous with chicken and squash

Friday:
Dinner: Burgers

Saturday:
Dinner: Pesto Chicken

Sick and Spending

I've been sick for the past week. It sucks. I feel like shit and because I don't want to do anything we eat out. I was home for several days last week and didn't really have an appetite during the day. Of course, in the evening, I was ravenous and had all sorts of cravings. I gave in to most of them.

Then I spent a million dollars on medicine. Okay, that was my fault. I love variety and even choose OTC medication like I'm picking out nail polish colors. I picked up every cough syrup, throat losenge, sleep aid in the place. I spent a fortune, but now I have a pharmacy.

I was home and therefore, I just vegged on the couch and watched QVC and HSN. Uh huh. Lots of spending.

I made August a "no save" month. Meaning, all the $$ I would normally put into savings, I put in my pocket instead. I didn't earmark it for anything, but allowed myself the flexibility to do whatever I wanted with it. Of course, most of it went on eating out and my drug store excursions. September, I'll be back on track, but will put like $200 less than I would have in savings. It's no big deal as September is a 3 paycheck month and in the end, I'll have the normal amount, but won't have anything "extra" from the "extra" paycheck. Oh well.

Menu Plan 08/15 - 08/20

Wow! I really need to get on with my blogging!! Honestly, I've been in a bit of a funk lately and really not up to the task. It just seems there is too much to deal with all of a sudden. I am a natural worrier and I don't do well with things unexpected or unplanned. I lose my mind with stress. It's a little frustrating. Anyway, I didn't cook much last week either, so some meals have transferred over to this week as well.

Monday:
Dinner: B's day.

Tuesday:
Dinner: Ravioli

Wednesday:
Dinner: B's day.

Thursday:
Dinner: Tomato soup with garlic bread

Friday:
Dinner: Homemade pizza

Saturday:
Dinner: Baked chicken with roasted asparagus

Menu Plan -- 08/08 - 08/13

I barely cooked last week. B made a HUGE batch of baked ziti which we ate for like two and a half days. Will this man learn how to modify a recipe? Okay okay, I know I'm being mean. Anyway, a lot of this week's meals are things I never made in the past week or so.

Monday:
Dinner: B's Day. He made bangers and mash with....whole grain mustard. He knows I hate mustard.

Tuesday:
Dinner: Gyros

Wednesday:
Dinner: B's Day.

Thursday:
Dinner: Ravioli and garlic bread

Friday:
Dinner: Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday:
Dinner: Baked chicken