As much as I am trying to stockpile no-spend days, a few dollars keep trickling out. I went out for lunch twice this week, both standing "dates" I have -- and I do enjoy them. On Wednesday I went out with my boss and yesterday with my old friends from library school days. Lunch was pretty reasonable yesterday -- soup, roll, cookie and drink for $6.00, counting tip. Then I owed my handyman $34.96 for supplies. I also picked up some new pictures of my grandson for $2.42.

My home projects are coming along. The new tile backsplash in the kitchen is installed, and it is beautiful. I still have to seal it and add one strip of trim. This morning I painted my laundry room and took down the old wire shelf. I was going to try to keep it, but once I got up close to it, I could see that it is in pretty bad shape -- bent and corroded -- so I will have to replace it. A wall-to-wall "wood" shelf would be a big impovement and probably, hopefully, not too expensive.

Sadly, there is an area of carpet that does have to be replaced despite all my efforts to clean it. There are two spots where my departed cat, who had diabetes, used as a potty. I have cleaned them with every product known to man, but the smell always returns. I am sure it is in the pad, and maybe even the floor. The good news is that I can replace the little hallway with a "L" going into one room and take care of both areas, and it's not a big area. The bad news is that there will be a visible seam in the bedroom entryway. It's the best I can do. I can't replace the whole room, and I don't want to, the carpet is only a couple of years old.

Today my handyman will lay the tile in the bathroom and I will pay him the $250 we agreed upon. So even if I stay home all day, this will still not be a no-spend day.

I'm leaving this Friday for a 5-day weekend in Kansas City with my son and his family. I'm really excited about it, but haven't yet done a thing to get ready. Oh, I did make arrangements for my dog to stay at the vet. Besides being boarded, he will get his annual checkup and his manicure. So that won't be cheap, but it's one of those necessary things. I also have to reserve a seat in the "limo," (really a bus) to the airport. That will be cheaper than parking my car at the airport -- not much, but every penny counts right now. And always!

Speaking of pennies, I found .11 this week! And a friend gave me two .50 coffee coupons. I don't use coupons much -- I would rather just get store brands or shop at Aldi -- but I will use these. I like good coffee.