Wednesday, April 25 - $107.75

I've only been doing this new exercise for a few days now and already I can see how we blow through cash so quickly.  We hundred buck ourselves right into the poor house!

Today I went out with Genoa while Dave took Alex to the park.  We both ended up spending money while we were out.

My first stop was BevMo.  For obvious reasons (MOVING MOVING MOVING AAACK!).  Two six-packs of Wyder's, a bottle of cosmo mix and a bottle of Glenlivet - $48.69.  Pure necessity.

Then I went to Kinko's to make copies for my class - $20.58 (100% tax deductible).

Then, since I was close enough to walk, I got a sandwich at Togo's.  I spent cash, though, so that $6 has already been accounted for. 

I also walked to Office Depot to get envelopes for our party invitations - $8.73.

On his way back from the park, Dave stopped by the grocery store and loaded up on hot dogs, french bread, wine and Mother's Oatmeal cookies (a current favorite of mine).  He spent another $30.05. 

See what I'm talking about?!  I would promise not to go shopping tomorrow, but today was the birthday of one of my close friends and I want to get her a little something since we might be seeing her in the afternoon.  Other than that, though, I need to STOP SPENDING ALREADY!

Tuesday, April 24 - $54.25

Yesterday Dave got gas for $54.25.  Unlike me, he doesn't drain his gas tank down to the tiniest little drop before refilling it, so his always costs less to fill up (which is how I can tell just from looking at the bank statement that it was his car and not mine, even though we drive the exact same cars).

We've decided to stop filling up at Shell.  Not only is it not the cheapest gas, but WHAT IS WITH THE COMMERCIALS?!?!?!  I want to punch someone for blasting that stupid tv screen while the baby is trying to sleep in the car.  The only way I'm going to be subjected to that kind of advertising is if they PAY me for it, which obviously, they're never going to do. 

I hate the whole concept of captive audience advertising like that. I'm all for advertising, but only the kind of ads which allow me to enjoy content for which I would otherwise have to pay.  Like TV ads or blog ads or print ads.  But while I'm standing there bleeding money at the gas pump?  No thank you.

Shell doesn't need to expand it's (ENORMOUS) profit margin at the expense of my peace and quiet.  We'll be taking our business elsewhere.

Monday, April 23 - $149.44

On Monday we took a picnic lunch to the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Jose.  We met our play group there and both kids had fun.  For free!

Well, except for the gas which was probably around ten bucks (I know!).   On our way home, I stopped off at Whole Foods to buy hippie diapers ($13.99 for 40. OUCH!  That's double what I pay for Huggies at Costco) and all natural wipes ($5 for 80.  YIKES!).  I'm trying anything and everything to get rid of her blistering diaper rash.  I've also been treating it for yeast, so we're hoping some combination of these things will help.  Fortunately, she's completely unfazed by it.

While there, I also picked up YoBaby (because Genoa is currently eating three foods: Blueberry Yobaby, Apple Yobaby and Pear Yobaby), a few boxes of free range chicken nuggets and some mini waffles.  Alex pushed around one of those mini shopping carts, which was all shits and giggles until he bashed it into my ankle at top speed.  Our hippie dippy total came to $59.95.  Those hippies must be pretty loaded (pun intended).

When Dave got home that evening, we hightailed it to the party store to pick up invitations for our going-away-slash-Genoa's-first-birthday party.  We're having it on the Saturday before Memorial Day, so we want to get them in the mail as soon as possible before people make plans.  It was $26.52 for fifty invitations.  I still need to buy envelopes.

Because it's a man's job, Dave pumped my gas for $62.97 and because it's a woman's job, I nursed the baby in the front seat while Arco drained our bank account.  That's how we rock the multi-task!

Saturday & Sunday April 20-21 - $321.14

We spent a lot of money this weekend:

$43.93 A bottle of water, a $2 sandwich and cash for the Spring Festival fund raiser for Alex's preschool. 

$56.32 Even more groceries.  At the last minute, we decided to have company for a BBQ on Saturday night.  That and we need COPIOUS quantities of liquor to get us through the next few weeks of preparing to move.

$5.45 Peet's coffee.  I had a small caramel latte and Dave had a large coffee.  Shit adds up fast.

$61.70 Carter's.  Genoa is outgrowing her winter sleepers and they were having a 50% off sale.  I think I did pretty well considering.  I bought three sleepers for $9/each, her first bathing suit (SO CUTE I COULD DIE!) and a dress for her upcoming birthday party. 

$150.18 Target.  I bought invitations for our going away/Genoa's birthday party (which I'm returning because Dave didn't like them), oatmeal, coffee, diet coke, toilet paper, paper bowls, and two ink cartridges for our color printer (which were not cheap). 

$3.56 Target food court.  A vienna beef hotdog combo (for me even though it was too cold to eat and NASTY) and a small chocolate ice cream for Alex (to shut him up so I could shop).

Friday, April 20 - $93.92

Friday was gloomy and rainy and we spent most of the day inside, luxuriating in our great happy news.  When Alex started to get antsy, I asked him what he wanted to do and he exclaimed, "GET A HAIRCUT!"  He needed one anyway, so off we went.  Unfortunately, it cost me $23 and had me wishing I'd just gotten us all ready earlier and gone to Pump it up like we usually do at 10AM on Fridays.  $7 would've been much cheaper (although not likely as cute).

On our way home, we swung by Safeway since we were out of milk.  I ended up spending $70.92 on everything from yogurt to bread to avocados to artichokes (once I get a craving...), but guess what I forgot to buy? 

MILK. 

Thursday, April 19 - $134.64

Again, two items:

1) Dave got gas for $50.44.  Scary, huh?  That's how much it costs to fill up an Xterra.  Fortunately, he spent most of the day driving for work, so it's going to be reimbursed.  But still.  Gas is ridiculous.

2) CELEBRATION DINNER!  $84.20.  This bill included dinner for three adults, two kids, two appetizers and four tasty alcoholic beverages.  We went to Max's Opera Cafe because it's one of the few restaurants loud enough that no one can hear Ms. Screamy McScreamerstein.  (Seriously, don't think I'm joking about the screaming! I taped this (Download SCREAM.wav ) on my cell phone on the drive home.  She stopped crying the second I let her out of her car seat.)

We had major reason to celebrate, so it was a no-holds-barred dinner. 

We don't normally order appetizers AND drinks.  I ordered the STRANGEST dinner.  I'm normally a cheeseburger type of gal, but I took one look at the specials and HAD to have this:

Yes, Mom, that's a plate of vegetables.  GREEN vegetables.  It was $10.95 and worth every cent.  Anything I can slather in ranch dressing, right?

I even have enough left over to enjoy the same thing for lunch today.

For details about why we were celebrating, stay tuned at mandajuice.

Tuesday, April 17 - $37.01

Two items to report:

1) I had Taco Bell for $7.80.  I got hungry between picking up Alex from preschool and going to the library, so I made a run for the border.  It turned out to be THE highlight of my day. 

As I was waiting for my food, Alex noticed one of those donation tubs with the blue tinted water where you slide your change through a slot and watch it bubble through the water.  He begged me, so I gave him a nickel and a penny to donate.  So as I'm hoisting him up to reach the slot, he pauses for a moment, hovers the penny over the slot and says "I wish to drive an excavator!"

He thought it was a fountain! 

It was his second wish, though, that really made my day.  As he plunked down the nickel, he said "I wish for a nice house when we move to Washington!"  Could he BE any cuter?  I swear.

2)  I went to Target to get Sister's prescription filled.  I didn't end up leaving with it, though, because they claimed there was no generic available (even though my doctor told me there was) and I refused to pay $62 for a prescription tube of neosporin.  I'll have to call the doctor tomorrow to get it resolved, but while I was there and waiting ENDLESSLY for the pharmacy to fill our order, I got diapers, butt cream, deodorant for Dave and a couple of greeting cards.  I also got some baby food and a new bottle of fancy lube (for parental use only).  It all totaled $29.21, which for me is a pretty cheap date with Target.

Happy Tax Day!

As reported elsewhere, Dave and I are getting a nice refund this year and I think I would be remiss if I didn't offer this little piece of advice:

SAVE YOUR TAX REFUND.  Please.

Resist the sexy allure of spending it!  I know it can be refreshing to get that extra money, but do yourself a solid and transfer it to your savings account immediately.  You'll thank me later.

/end soap box

In other news, I've been giving a lot of thought to this here website and I've decided it's time for me to go back to basics.  Starting immediately, I'll be posting a daily total of what we spend.  That was the whole POINT of the Naked Ledger in the first place - daily accountability - and I feel like I've strayed too far.  It's time for me to get back to business.

Teef! (one more thing for which we should be saving money)

Genoa has four teeth right now and is currently working on her fifth.  The way they are growing in, though? Totally cracks me up.  She's like a miniature Madonna snaggletooth:

I'm really hoping that when the rest of her teeth come in, they'll hope close that grand canyon between her front teeth, but we'll see.
Unfortunately, Alex's teeth aren't much better.  He's got one hell of an under bite:

I see some mega-sized orthodontist bills in our future.  Yet one more thing I should probably already be saving towards.

Easter traditions

Last year we started our own family Easter tradition.  Instead of finding a bunch of candy in their baskets, our kids get a couple of small toys, a single chocolate bunny and a map to a buried treasure left by the Easter bunny.  Here is this year's map:

Alex absolutely ADORES it and I'm a little bit smug about the fact that we came up with something so awesome.  This year he got a John Deere construction set that cost about $20 and Genoa got a little push toy that was around $6.  Of course there's no way we would've spent that much on candy, so our new tradition is technically more expensive, but it's also just way more fun. 

The best part is I can already see this tradition flourishing as the kids get older, the maps get more complicated and the treasure hunt gets more rowdy.  I see google maps and freeway trips and clues that lead to more clues and the whole thing becoming something my kids pass on to their own kids. 

I think the shit-eating grin in this photo adequately displays how gooberishly joyful my Easter morning was: