Confusion is the First Step to Wisdom

I went grocery shopping today after work and spent 30.61. 13.21 for gas and 3.00 for a car wash.

I am now 22.00 over budget. That might not seem like a lot but I am trying for a bare bones month. Stripping everything to the bone to see how much money I can squeeze out of the household operating budget so 22.00 is quite a bit especially this early in the month.

Well tomorrow had better be a no spend day. LOL I am out of money. Even that won't bring me completely back within budget but it will certainly help.

I was listening to National Public Radio today nad they said that out of all of the homes in the United States only about 2 or 3 percent are owned outright. By this I took it to mean that these houses were mortgage free. Wow.

Nothing much is happening finance wise. I was able to add 11.00 to the computer Fund bringing it to a grand total of 40.00. I am hoping to make it 50.00 by the end of the week. We'll see.

Nothing much has happened today financially. I worked all day and managed to stay under my daily allowance. So I am adding 3.00 to my computer fund.

Computer Fund Total $34.00

Nothing much has happened here today. I've been eating out of a crockpot that I set up last night so I wouldn't have to cook today. I haven't gone anywhere so its been a no spend day.

After reading all of the helpful suggestions about my strange experiences I decided to send EyeMart an email and see what they say. I sent off a polite email asking for an explantion We'll see what happens.

Also after being inspired by some of the other blogs I decided to count all of the loose change in the house. I've been dumping it into various containers for a while. To my surprise it came to 11.10. I'm going to take it add another 10.00 from the no spend day and add it to my computer fund.


Computer Fund
opening amount $10.00
change 11.00
No spend day 10.00

Total 31.00

A good beginning I think.

I went to a Eyemart Express today to get glasses. They do glasses in under an hour and are actually the cheapest place in town. I checked their website and it said that 1 pair of progressive lenses were $88.74 (I already had the prescription.) This was for glasses with their value collection frames.

I picked up a pair of frames from their value collection and went to buy the glasses and the clerk says they will be 154.00. I mention the web site and her comment was "I don't know why it'd be wrong." I got the impression that I was a worm for even daring to question her statement. I told her that the only reason I'd gone there was because of the price on the website. I almost left. I probably should have. However I really did not want to go price shopping on a Saturday especially when I really did need the glasses. I agreed to the 154 price. However, when she rings me up on the cash register it comes to 134. I ask about that and her comment was that it was probably because I had bought a cheap frame. Her tone was dripping with contempt.

When I got home I checked the website it still says 88.74

One of the things that concerns me is that I felt like a worm for daring to buy such glasses. Why did her contempt bother me? I certainly do not need her approval. I will need to think about this.

Also I am tempted to just forget about the discrepancy in the pricing. However, I am also a little concerned that this may mislead someone else. Do you think that I should complain, or at least send an email to the company.

Mountainmist is correct the furnace could have gone in January when it was -40. I should be grateful.

The furnace is fixed and it cost 408. The estimate was right on the nose. However now my September budget doesn't balance. I suppose I'll figure it out. I am deterined no more debt.

I am still paying off studet loans at 9%. I already consolidated them once to lower the interest rate from 15% so I am stuck with this interest rate. However they will get paid off eventually. I am trying to think happy thoughts. The house is warm which is nice. I've been going form a fairly cold house to work which was badly overheated. The temperature at work was often over 95 degrees. No kidding. I have been battling a nasty virus and the temperature extremes haven't helped.

Oh well, everything will work out. I am convinced of it.

I had the yearly servcing done on the furnace and discovered that the blower motor or at least part of it has to be replaced. This is going to cost at least $400.00 if it is just the blower head or $800 if the entire motor has to be replaced. They are going to come tomorrow afternoon and fix it.

This is a major budget buster.

Bummer

As my bio says I am a currently single widow in my 40s. I have been a member of this site for a long time. I tend to lurk. I read these blogs back when they were called journals. I have always found them inspiring and I found I wanted one.

My greatest financial liability (besides large student loans) is my house. We bought the 2400 sq ft house about a year before I was widowed and I have found it difficult to maintain on a single income. It is on quite a bit of land which is running wild. I am neither capable of maintaining the land nor paying someone to do it. The mortgage on the house is reasonable but it still stretches my budget. I have considered selling it. I would love to move to a condominium or a small house. HOwever the prospect of selling the house terrifies me. I am not certain why.

The other thing going on financially besides my chronically lousy budgeting is an issue with my computer. I really would like another laptop. Actually I almost need another laptop. I have been pricing them on e-bay and the ones I want are running between $200 - $300. This is not an urgent need. (Although if something happens to my current one it will become urgent. I have been inspired by Koppur's Lamp Fund and have decided to set up a Computer Fund

I started it tonight with $10.00