I bought a high chair for my grandson-to-be today. I'm going to a shower for my daughter-in-law tomorrow. I already had some gifts -- some clothes and toys -- but I got an email from Target today offering a 10% discount on nursery items. I've been wanting to get something they really need, so I checked their gift register, and I saw that there were still SO many things they needed. So I bought the high chair. I think it will ease their minds to have something big off the list. It will be delivered and tomorrow I'll give her a card with a picture of the high chair inside. I'll wrap up a few things, too, so she'll have something to open. The other things I'll just give them when the baby comes.

10% isn't a huge discount -- it basically covers the shipping -- but I am satisfied to be getting something useful and needed.

That was my only spending today.

I've been keeping records since 1999 of my spending. Today I compared my average spending this year with 1999. It was interesting. I am spending about $380 more per month now, but not on what I thought. For instance, I'm not spending very much more on gas, so evidently I'm driving less. Utilities are more, but groceries are less (because the kids are on their own now). I have a car payment now, which I didn't then, but I am spending way less on car repairs and insurance. Eating out, clothing, and entertainment are pretty much the same. I am spending less on loan repayments, but then my debts are lower now. My costs for home improvements/repairs and vet bills are way up -- now those are not surprises. And I am spending more on travel and vacations. My medical/health spending is quite a bit less, even though I am now paying gym fees. Hmmmm -- it must be true that the gym pays for itself in health benefits!

Meals today:

Breakfast: Granola with milk, Pumpkin spice latte (homemade)
Snack: Pecan sandies, grapes
Lunch: Lean Cuisine (Chicken in peanut sauce), candy corn, Honey Nut Cheerios (how's that for a combination?)
Snack: Popcorn
Dinner; Macaroni & Cheese, Broccoli, Milk, Strawberry Ice Cream