Since I'm not going to spend anything today -- God willin' and the creek don't rise -- I did my monthly recap already.

Rent - 1182
Insurance - 379
Vacation/Travel - 201
Utilities - 168
Groceries - 153
Fees/Services - 57
Gas - 52
Medical/Health - 47
Gifts/Charity - 45
Vet/Pet Supplies - 20
Household Supplies - 19
Personal Care - 14
Entertainment - 8
Eating out - 4
Total - 2350

First of all, HOW 'BOUT THAT EATING OUT! That was one trip to McDonalds.

My rent went up this month, and I had to pay my semi-annual insurance payment. I also renewed my AAA, bought a plane ticket for the wedding trip coming up, and had one big grocery shopping trip to stock on on low-carb food. I paid my water bill twice (missed last month's). My only entertainment was Netflix.

I kept to my $300 challenge, and here is how that part breaks down:

Groceries: 153
Gas: 52
Medical/Health: 26
Vet/Pet: 20
Household Supplies: 19
Gifts: 15
Personal: 14
Eating Out: 4

That comes out to $303, but I did add in two Pine Cone payments of $3. Only the spontaneous gifts counted in this, and the medical is not doctor's fees, but vitamins/supplements and parking.

My challenges for August:

I am planning to eat out with friends at a downtown restaurant. It will be expensive. I also may eat out with a former boss -- we talked about getting together in August, but it hasn't been set yet.

I have a three-day conference starting tomorrow, but I will not count those expenses in my $300 challenge. Nor will I count the wedding trip at the end of the month. However, those are still real expenses, and I will have to keep those costs down to protect my bottom line.

Oh, and I still have to get my oil changed.

Like Miss Angel, I am close to the line, but I haven't gone over -- yet.

I actually have $5 left, but $3 of it is a Pine Cone payment. I do include little bits of income into my $300. I figure that inspires me to do those surveys, etc.!

I walked to Dollar General on Sunday and bought dishwasher detergent, dryer sheets and feminine pads. The pads were necessary, and the other two -- I was tired of the frugal solutions. $8.30.

Then, today, I paid my stupid tax. I had an appointment at a hospital outpatient facility. I got turned around in the lot, and drove into a parking garage where I didn't want to be. What happened is this. The drive went ONLY to the garage, when I was just trying to find a place to turn around. Someone was right behind me. So I panicked and pulled up to the entrance, not knowing I had driven past the ticket dispenser. The arm didn't go up, of course, and the person behind me was right on my tail, impatiently waiting. I was waiting for her to pull the heck back, so I could, and I motioned her with a "What can I do?" shrug. She huffily got out of her car and pulled out the ticket (first time I saw it) and she KEPT IT! So I was stuck in the garage without a ticket. I drove around to the exit and tried to explain to the attendant, who barely spoke English. There was no explanation that would pass muster with him. His only answer, "Five dollars." Well, I should have backed up and parked, and walked to my appointment, but THERE WAS SOMEONE BEHIND ME AGAIN! So I paid the $5. Then I had to pay ANOTHER $5 to park in the lot by the outpatient clinic.

That's a way you really hate to spend $5 when you've got practically nothing left.

I was flustered, because I was dreading the appointment. I won't describe the procedure, but my doctor was a uro-gynecologist, so what does that tell you? This was a preliminary test, the actual surgery is now set for September 18. (Which should be easier than the test, since I will be out cold.)

Anyway, just today and tomorrow to get through with $5. I think I can do it. I decided not to go to Culver's on Tuesday night. It would be spending ahead of time, and I'm going to stick to my guns. No spending till I head out for the conference on Wednesday morning.

The glass of wine, that is. The boss paid for the first round, and I had one round. Which was quite enough. I walked to the bar and back, and on the walk back I had a little buzz -- on one glass of wine! Not much of a drinker.

So I still have $20.

I should really get an oil change before I travel to Minneapolis, and it would make the most sense to do it on Saturday. But that would mess up my challenge. I could do it Wednesday morning just before I leave, but you never know how much time it will take. Maybe I should make an early Wednesday morning appointment. The drive is only 6-7 hours; I could still get there at a reasonable time.

I looked into parking up there yesterday. Looks like it's $23 for valet parking and $13 to park at a nearby lot. I'm assuming that's per day. Naturally, I'm going to go with the lot, assuming I can find it.

Just did another Pine Cone survey, so I can look forward to another $3. Does anyone ever hear of a winner of the $500 drawing? The statement about it is always there when I finish, but I never hear about a winner.

I finally got my $83 deposit back from the antique dealer. That will go into savings.

I also got a small bill - $21 - for my physical therapy. I don't count doctor bills in my challenge, and I'm going to call that a doctor bill!

Last night I stopped at 7-Eleven and bought 5 lottery tickets. No, I haven't gone bonkers. They are a gift for a co-worker who loves to play the scratch-off games. Another co-worker bought her five as well, so this morning she has ten tickets to savor. She hasn't scratched off any yet -- sweetening the anticipation! It would be so cool if she actually won something!

That puts me down to $20.

I had a hamburger for breakfast. I will probably be having some strange meals this last week as I run out of certain items. But it was good! A hamburger makes a good breakfast! When I got to work, I also had a birthday cupcake and cookie. Just couldn't pass them up. And it made my co-workers who baked them happy.

My aunt and uncle celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary yesterday! My aunt's health is a little rocky, but my uncle is doing great. I posted my congratulations on my uncle's Facebook page -- yes, my 94-year-old uncle has a Facebook page.

Today is "moving day" in the office. There has been a general reorganization, which hasn't affected me, but has affected office space. A couple of offices have been added. I am quite amazed. They look like they have always been there. And it was done so fast! Many people will be relocating today, so we were all instructed to dress casual and be ready to carry boxes. I am not moving, so I guess I will lend a hand where needed, but otherwise put in a normal day. After work will we congregate at the local bar, I guess to celebrate our new beginning. With $20 left and only 5 days to go I'm not too worried, but I do plan to just get a coke. I hope I am not too hungry. But I have a whole chicken breast to eat for lunch, so that should hold me.

I got my payment from Half.com. A whopping .78 of profit. But it brought my challenge money up to $25.

More plans for that last bit of money -- I promised to donate $5 toward a birthday gift for a colleague. This is something I want to do.

At tomorrow night's "bar meeting" I'll just get a soft drink, as Laura suggested. Funny I didn't even think about that option!

I still have plenty of food on hand, but my grocery list is growing. I'm particularly challenged by having no eggs. I was going to make salmon patties, but because I had no eggs, the salmon went into the freezer for next month.

I was looking ahead to my trip to Minneapolis, and it looks like a lot of people recommend a stop in Osseo, Wisconsin, at a place called Norske Nook. Apparently the best pie in the world? I don't think I can pass that up, low-carb diet or no! Ceejay, English Castle, have you been there?

Also recommended was breakfast at the Stockholm Inn in Rockford, because of the Swedish pancakes. Can you tell I'm planning to CHEAT! This is my vacation, after all, as well as a work event. I'll try to cheat in moderation.

I'm honing in my last week, and I have $24 to get me through. On Thursday I have to spend some of that at a bar. (Woe is me!) Seriously, our office is having an unofficial meeting at a bar, and I have to be in attendance. I'll probably get a glass of house wine and the cheapest appetizer and call it dinner. Hopefully it will be well under $24.

On the evening of the 31st, I'm going to treat myself to Culver's. I have a coupon, and that is the last date I can use it. It's a treat I'm really looking forward to. It's my favorite fast food in the world. If I don't have any money left in my challenge, I will take it out of August's.

On August 1 I leave for a 3-day conference. I'll be driving to Minneapolis. Mapquest says I will pay $100 in fuel. I'll see if I can beat that. I've tentatively set a budget for $100 in food. I will get fed for some meals, but I'm also planning to have dinner with my fellow board members one night, and a former boss another night. And I will see friends there, and friends usually want to eat and drink! I'll see how much I can curtail the celebrating. None of this will come out of my $300 challenge, but I still want to keep costs down all round.

Oh, did I say I'm paying my own travel and food expenses? Otherwise I wouldn't even worry.

This is shaping up to be another lazy day. I'm going to do some laundry, some ironing, and I really have to vacuum, but other than that, I'm fancy free.

There are a lot of people around the city who collect metal for cash. I see their trucks all the time, usually pick-up trucks with built-up sides, carrying a precarious load of old washers, etc. The other day I pulled up behind one and thought I saw an animal among the old appliances. We came to a stop light and I got a closer look. It was a teddy bear, strapped in just like the appliances were. I wonder if he found it on his route, or if it's his good luck charm? It looked like an older Steiff-type bear, so maybe he thought it would be worth something. Anyway, very funny to see the bear staring back through all that metal. Wish I'd had a camera!

I read an article somewhere -- maybe on the Dollar Stretcher -- about a woman who buys cheap metal things at garage sales and cashes them in at the metal recycling center. The idea intrigues me, though I'm not about to start driving one of those trucks! I used to get a little cash for aluminum cans, but I haven't done that for a long time. I used to have a garage to store them in, but I don't have that any more!

The dinner at the Trustee's house was just right. Pulled pork on pretzel rolls, cheese and crackers, salami tray, salad, and mushroom/onion brushcetta. I also had some red wine, and then champagne which was served for a toast in celebration of meeting our fundraising goal. (If only that were really true. We met our PARTICIPATION goal but the money total was sadly low. Oh, well, I digress.)

I had planned to stay for a short time but ended up staying until 8:30 and was part of the last group leaving. Had some good conversations! Some of it touched on the frugal and not-so-frugal. My new boss mentioned how her mother scolded her for having a section of her closet with brand-new clothing, tags still on. Really? She said her sisters regularly update their couches and their cars, so I guess it is in the blood. Or in the upbringing! I'm always struck when I'm in a social group that NOBODY is like me, even if they complain about being poor. How can it be so odd to live within your means? And be happy about it?

Today I have not been out of the house once -- though I will take a walk later if it cools down enough. I cooked some salmon for lunch. I am now sure. I do not like salmon. I keep trying it, and I keep not liking it. I'm going to make patties out of what is left over and season them enough so that I don't taste the salmon.

I also stripped the rotisserie chicken to make salad and I'm simmering the carcass in a pan of water to make broth.

I ran the dishwasher and I'm still not out of the liquid. I think I can run it one more time after this. THEN I'll be hand-washing. When I did laundry I used the last dryer sheet, so I'll have to use liquid fabric softener for the rest of the month -- which is fine, I like it, but I usually don't catch the cycle in time. I'll have to set a timer. Maybe if I can force myself into a routine I won't have to use dryer sheets.

On Thursday night I returned my DVD's to the library and got two more -- Gran Torino and the Love Guru. How's that for opposites? I also checked out another book by the Icelandic mystery writer Arnaldur Indridason (yes I had to go look at the book). I like his work. Interesting characters, interesting mysteries, and a nice, gloomy Nordic atmosphere. I need to be reading it in winter in front of a roaring fire, but we can't have everything!

At noon today I decided to get out and walk since the weather is pretty nice for a change, and I haven't been getting the exercise I should. On my walk I ran into a garage sale. I looked everything over pretty carefully but the only thing worth buying was a very nice cake spatula with a wooden handle for 50c. A spatula has actually been on my mental list of things to buy, so I am very happy with this purchase.

This evening after work our whole office is going to an open house at the home of one of our Trustees. Actually, it is the Trustee for whom I've done some dog-sitting. I know it will be a nice spread, and I'm planning on making that my supper, even though it won't be all low-carb. I'll just be sure to get SOME protein and won't go overboard on the carbs.

I paid my water bill this morning, online, via my landlord's website. Because I was late on last month's, that will be two water bills this month. But bills don't come out of my $300, so that's okay. I was wondering how it was going to work, paying my landlord directly, but it was easy -- the bill came to my email and I logged on to the site where I usually pay my rent -- the bill was there. So now I don't have to worry about missing it again.

I spent $20 on gas and $8 on lunch today. My gas gauge was showing almost empty when I drove to work, so I decided to go take care of it at noon. The $20 only took it up a little over half-full, but that should serve for the rest of the month.

I didn't pack a lunch today because I had nothing cooked and ready at home. I took out sausage and chicken to thaw last night, but I can't really cook raw food at work. I was going to just pick up some drumsticks at the grocery, but decided the whole rotisserie chicken would be a better deal. I ate the legs and wings and some of the breast. There is still plenty of meat to use in other dishes.

But it's a little daunting to be down to $25. And I still have 12 days left. That's about $2 a day!

I spotted another good condo online, so I may have to make another trip up to Evanston. My realtor is seeing whether I can get in tomorrow. He's going on vacation next week, so I just have to stop looking and tempting myself for a while!

Oh, and I forgot to say that saved myself $182 today! I cancelled my room reservations for the Florida wedding trip, because I found I could stay with my son's family at a condo they are borrowing from a friend for the weekend. I hate to invade their privacy, but $182 is $182!

Since I am now not even close to getting into a condo, I had to close the deal on my lease. I went to the office and paid my new rent. In the end, I decided not to go month-to-month, as I don't know when I'll find a place and the extra rent would add up quickly. I'll have to pay a penalty to break the lease, but who knows? I might not even find a place till next summer, when it's time to sign the lease again. (Though I hope it will not be that long. I'm ready to make the move.)

Still haven't spent any money, so I am still at $52!

I had such high hopes for the condo I looked at last night. Good neighborhood, first floor, updated kitchen and bath ... One closet. Make that one weird closet that didn't even seem to be designed for clothing. Small, shallow, short and full of odd drawers that were too shallow to store anything. Uh, no. Also the kitchen was tiny and the bathroom didn't have much water pressure. I will keep looking, but I'm getting discouraged. Nevertheless, I have plenty of time.

After the showing, I went out for pizza with my son's family. Since I had no cash at all on me, they picked up the tab. At least it was 1/2 price pizza.

It was a bad day for low-carb eating, which is to say, low-carb eating didn't happen. I had a cupcake, a brownie, and half a bagel besides the pizza. I'm back on the wagon today. This is a journey, not a sprint. Or whatever that saying is!

I promised to give a co-worker $20 for a raffle ticket -- it's a cause I have supported in years past and I didn't want to say no. She said she doesn't need the money till August, so that's when she will get it. It will come out of my next $300.

Who knows, maybe I will win? All the prizes are cash.

I met with my new boss today and suddenly I have a buttload of work to do. Isn't that how it always goes?

After the haircut, I'm down to $52.

I'm making a trip up to Evanston this evening to look at a condo, so a gas purchase is fast approaching. Maybe not tonight, but soon.

I'm leaving right after work, so food might be a problem too. I do have some in the fridge here at work, so if I just remember to eat something before I leave, I'll probably be okay.

Yesterday was another relaxing day. I made some spaghetti sauce -- lots of meat and a little tomato! For my big meal of the day I had whole-grain capellini with the sauce, a cup of cheese soup and a side of creamed spinach. My brunch was Eggs Florentine -- eggs cook on top of spinach and sprinkled with cheese. Both meals were delicious.

My dinner revealed the dark side of low-carb eating, however. Two hot dogs without the bun, and low-carb ice cream!

This morning my co-worker brought in brownies. I had a small one, with a side of strawberries and a stick of cheese. Oh well. Maybe these little cheats will keep me on it for the long term.

Got my $2.99 haircut today (though with tip it was $5.99 -- I would not short the stylist!)

Great Clips distributed a coupon for a $2.99 haircut, but for new customers only. My plan was to present the coupon, and if I was challenged, practice my acting skills by saying, "Oh really -- I didn't see that! I think I'll wait till payday, then!"

Turned out, they were giving $2.99 haircuts to everyone. Must have got some flak from regular customers.

After my cut I went to the library and checked out a book and two DVDs (no Flambards!) Then I came home and made some cheese soup to use up the last of frozen milk.

I just went through my inbox and did a couple of MyPoints non-surveys (I always HOPE not to be selected -- I'd rather get 10 points for a little time than 50 points for a lot of time!) I answered a letter from a friends, and signed up for Saving Star -- a coupon program where the coupons are loaded onto your customer card. Since my regular grocer was a participant I decided to give it a try. There were only two coupons I wanted, so it might take a while to get the rewards!

This day has made me muse about my simple life and how much I like it that way. When I was younger I wanted more, more, more! Not just stuff, but excitement, experiences and fun. Now I just like to putz around. Getting a cheap haircut, finding free entertainment, and making a meal out of a leftover is all the excitement I want!

I plan to stretch out on the couch now and start reading! Happy Saturday, everyone!