Yesterday was a no-spend day. And I found .11!

Today, I already spent $20. I bought a cake at Corner Bakery this morning for a party we are having at noon. We are playing musical offices this summer -- half the people on our floor are leaving for another building, so this is a good-bye party. Of sorts.

I got an email notice from my bank yesterday that my account is below $25 and I need to deposit money immediately. I had forgotten that I get that alert; it's been so long since I have had to drain my account in this way. Well, they're going to have to chill; I don't have any money to put in the account. And nothing is scheduled to come out of the account. So it will be low until I get paid on the 15th.

This brings back hints of the dreadful feelings I used to have when I was living hand to mouth, always trying to scrape together enough to pay a bill. The bad old days. I had forgotten what it was like not to have a cushion. Now -- bear in mind, I DO have a cushion now, in my credit union fund, but I just don't let myself access it. It's my long-term emergency fund, and it will help get me through the first years of retirement when I am receiving social security through my ex-husband's benefit. At age 70 I will switch to my own, when it is full vested, but before that -- well, I will just have to put all my frugal skills into action.

I did not take Mucinex-D yesterday, and I slept much better. So I guess it's a trade-off -- do you want your chest clear or do you want to sleep? I do feel I am gradually getting better, though I still have an impressive cough.