Yay! My deposit from half.com was $14.40, which, along with two $3 payments from Pine Cone, will pay for the overage on the water bill.

Yay, again! I thought I had to work Christmas Eve, but I don’t!

Yesterday’s office Christmas party was great. In the Yankee Swap, I got a singing Hervey doll, which was a hit with my grandsons. The gift I brought in was a fancy frame from Talbot’s (which I got from Goodwill, not Talbot’s), and it was very much appreciated by the person who got it, who happened to be my boss!

The chicken & dumplings dinner with the grandsons et al was a hit, too. Maybe we’ll make it a Christmas week tradition!

Today our group is taking our boss out for lunch. It should be a fun day. Tonight I shop and clean, and tomorrow – laundry, and then I hit the road.

Don’t know when I’ll check in again, so everyone, have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I went to Nordstrom Rack last night because they had a big sale and because I had a Groupon. Well, everybody else had the same idea. I never saw such long checkout lines – ever – in my life. I was looking for boots and didn’t find any. My next choice was underwear, but it wasn’t marked down any more than usual, so I decided to come back another time. I tell you, those people at the end of the line must have been clutching some REALLY good bargains!

When I went home I had to assemble an egg casserole to bring to work today. I let it sit in the fridge last night and baked it this morning. But in between I had a dream about it – that it had been in the oven all night, but was still soggy and unbaked, and I was in a panic. In reality, it turned out great, and I have already received a lot of compliments. If anyone is curious about it, google the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Casserole. I play around with the meats and the vegetables a lot, but it’s always good. This time I used bacon, red peppers, onions and mushrooms.

Then I cleaned up a little because my son’s family is coming over for chicken & dumplings tonight. I am proud to say that I have stuck to my fifteen items a week plan and STILL was able to take pie & a veggie tray to my weekend party, make the egg casserole today, and prepare the chicken & dumplings for tonight. I have to say, though, my pantry and fridge are starting to look a little bare.

No spending since Sunday. Tomorrow I go get my fifteen items – and then it’s Christmas Eve! It came so fast!

I’m looking out my window here at work and I see a tree full of robins. I don’t know why the robins are still here, but they look pretty against the backdrop of snow. There must be thirty of them! I wish you could all see the view from my window. My office looks over the football field, so at this time of year it is an unbroken expanse of snow. Then beyond the field is a row of small snow-covered buildings and the train track going parallel to the horizon. The trains are frequent, and from this distance they look like toy trains going back and forth. It’s a very pretty scene, a bit of Americana straight out of Charles Wysocki!

Today I’ve logged in $6.00 in Pinecone payments, and I’m expecting a payment from half.com soon. I love these little income streams, small as they are. I had a larger than usual water bill, so I’m glad to get a little bit extra to make up the difference.

I’m starting to look forward to getting my tax refund. I used to dream ahead about what I would buy. Now I’m excited that I will have a chunk of money to put in savings. How things change! Last year my refund was more than $2000, but I believe it will be less this year.

We had our first two rounds of gift opening this weekend, with two more to happen on Christmas Day! All these different working/vacation schedules in the extended family are making this Christmas strategically difficult. Still, it was a fun day – good dinner, lots of laughter, and the kids had a ball.

On Sunday I felt I had to go get a few more “fun” things to open on Christmas Day. My plan was to find stuff at Goodwill, but I got there too early. Even after I went out to breakfast to kill time ($12), it still wasn’t open, so I went to Target. I found some things there, all right, but I spent a little over $100. Then I went to Goodwill and found a few more things for $13 – and that included a pair of jeans for me. Of course, the Target stuff is going to be much more appreciated, and more useful, and I don’t really regret anything I bought. While I was out, I also got gas for $30.

Anyway, I hope I am really done now.

This evening I am taking another sold book to the post office, picking up a package that was left at the leasing office, and then I’m going to crash! I barely slept last night. I got myself into a dither about finances, and what I would do if I lost my job (which I don’t think is a real issue, but it seems that way in the wee hours of the morning). I just think all the reporting about the sad economy is getting to me. I couldn’t fall asleep. Today I am just dragging, but soon I will rest.

Tomorrow I’m planning to go to Nordstrom Rack after work to use my Groupon – NR is having a big sale – and I also have to assemble an egg casserole that I will bake in the morning and take to work for our all-day Christmas feast. Then in the evening, my son and his family are coming over for chicken and dumplings. The chicken is already cooked; it will just be a matter of putting it all together and heating it up. On Christmas Eve I will go to my son’s house to bake gingerbread for Santa, and after the gift opening there in the morning I will go to my other son’s house for more.

On Thursday or so, I need to make time to get my fifteen items at the grocery store.

Right now it seems like a lot to do, but that’s because all I want to do is sleep! Soon, soon…..

My fifteen items:

5 lbs. flour – on sale for 1.69
Bakery cookies – supposed to be free, but I paid 3.99
Bread – on sale for 2.00
2 bottles of ginger – BOGO – 5.39
Wine – on sale for 6.99
Cream of chicken soup (26 oz.) – on sale for 1.89
Whole fryer – 4.96
1 dozen large eggs – on sale for 1.99
1 can pumpkin – on sale for 1.69
Kitty litter – 8.49
3.5 lbs. cat chow – 5.79
16 lbs. cat chow – 12.49
Gallon milk – on sale for 3.09

I must have miscounted in my cart, because there are only 14. Which is a shame – I took back juice because I thought it was over the limit. (I did get a small bottle of OJ free at work, as well as a couple of oranges, so I’m okay on that front.)

My asleep-at-the-wheel snafu’s: I had a coupon for free bakery cookies, which I laid on the conveyer belt, but now that I look at the receipt, I see that it was not used. I sure wouldn’t have bought cookies for 3.99 otherwise. And I bought kitty litter with a peel-off coupon, but I forgot to peel it off and use it. That’s not so bad, I can use it next time. I don’t know what to do about that cookie coupon, though. I can’t prove that I had it. I guess I could plead my case to customer service and see what happens.

I guess it’s just as well that there were only 14 items, because I have to go back to buy a pie pan. I decided not to buy a pie, but make a pie, for my DIL’s Christmas dinner. I found a pumpkin pie recipe that uses a crumb crust, but I forgot I no longer have pie pans. I don’t make pies very often, and I usually use a frozen crust in a tin foil pan. I don’t think I have anything that will serve as a pie pan.

Getting only 15 items is forcing some adjustments. I was going to buy two cans of chicken breast for the chicken & dumplings, but bought a whole chicken instead. That will give me extra meat and broth, and it was only one item! After much deliberation, I decided to buy the two little bottles of ginger since I got the second one free, even though I don’t need that much ginger. Maybe I’ll make gingerbread for Christmas. I bought a gallon of milk, even though I don’t use it up quickly. I will have to freeze some of it. I bought a bigger bottle of wine, in hopes it will last two weeks! It is cheaper that way, too. Even when it came to buying the chicken soup, I bought the big can. What I don’t use in the chicken & dumplings I’ll save for something else – freeze it if I have to.

The cookie-baking was a bit of a disaster. I was in charge of the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey’s kiss on top. Trouble was, the only brown sugar that was available had hardened to a rock. (The bag had split open inside the box.) No matter what I did, I couldn’t soften it. Finally I had to add water to the batter to break it down; then added flour to stiffen the batter; then added sugar to compensate – in the end, they were not very tasty cookies. But edible. We brought all the cookies to work this morning, and they have all been eaten up, so I guess they weren’t TOO bad. All the other cookies were fine. And we had a good time.

I ended up bringing home the sugar, chocolate and nuts, but we did use up the flour, so it’s going on my 15 items list.

I’m going to do my shopping tonight. I have to buy cat litter and food for both my cats and the feral cats (my cats get better, more expensive food, so I have to buy two kinds), and I also have to get a pie to take to the Christmas celebration at my son’s house this weekend. I need staples like milk, eggs and bread, and I’m planning to buy the ingredients for chicken & dumplings, so keeping it down to 15 is going to be VERY challenging! We’ll see how I do.

Also have to get some gas. I’m under a quarter tank and I know that’s not good in cold weather. At least I don’t have to count that in my 15, as gas is not available at the grocery store!

My goals for 2011 are really nothing new. I want to continue building my savings. My overall goal is to increase my net worth by $20,000. That is a stretch, but I think I can do it, especially since the College will finally start contributing to my retirement fund in May. (I had to wait two years – even though in my previous job I had been invested for more than 20 years. I’m sure it was a cost-saving measure for the College.)

I will continue making automatic $100 payments to my money market fund, and automatic $25 payments to my savings account. I will also continue to shift the balance left in my checking account to savings every payday.

And, by the way, today was payday, and despite the heavy expenditures of this month I was able to put $100 in savings. Finally, my EF is again above $4,000.

Yesterday I said that I raised my NW by $13,000 this year. Well, today I checked my TIAA-CREF account, and gains in the stock portion have put the increase at $14,000. Woo-hoo!

Tonight I am invited to a fondue dinner and cookie-baking party. I asked the hostess if I should bring baking supplies, and she said I could bring small bags of flour and sugar if I wanted to. Well, I didn’t want to go to the store – not ready to get my 15 items yet! – and anyway, I would hate to buy small bags, it’s so cost-inefficient. So I am just bringing the flour and sugar I already had on hand, as well as some baking chocolate and walnuts, just in case those are needed as well.

Another snowstorm is predicted for this evening, so I hope I don’t get snowed in while making cookies!

Last year about this time I listed the top ten highlights of the past year. It's time again!

Number one, of course, was my son's wedding.

Number two, my recovery from a severely broken ankle.

Number three, conference in Anaheim & visit with my cousin.

Number four, trip to North Carolina to visit sister and cousins.

Number five, new computer and printer.

Number six, a new grand-niece!

Number seven, took my grandson to "A Christmas Carol."

Number eight, went to a Bears game.

Number nine, saw Billy Elliott & had a great meal downtown.

Number ten, lots of birthday celebrations and showers.


A pretty good year!

Also, it looks like I've raised my net worth by $13,000. Woo hoo!

Boy, I really didn't want to, but today I dragged out the big Christmas box and the tree. When I was about halfway through, I was exhausted, the house was a mess, and I thought I probably shouldn't have bothered.

But now it's all done and the house is cleaned up and -- like I am every year -- I am dazzled by how beautiful it is! I love my house when it's decorated for Christmas! Whatever "house" I'm living in (it's an apartment right now), it is always transformed by my familiar decorations. I feel so peaceful and happy.

I also finished ALL my wrapping. I honestly can't think of one more thing to wrap. The only thing I might do is buy a couple of stockings to collect the small gifts. But on second thought I could use gift bags for that and not spend the money.

My lazy days are over. Tomorrow it's back to work. But I have enjoyed my weekend retreat at home.

Oh, and I sold a book-on-CD on half.com and made $5.88! That's more than I usually make.

Didn't even get to the dumpster yesterday. Started to, but it was raining. Today, it's snowing. But I will get the garbage out there. It is still my big outing!

I got a few things done yesterday that I have been wanting to get around to. I sewed snaps on a winter coat with a broken zipper. It would have been quite expensive to replace the zipper, but snaps were economical and will close the coat just as well. It was a bit of a pain, though. Took longer than I thought it would.

I also refitted the outdoor shelter for the feral cats. The "shelter" is a big domed litter box. I put a thick layer of wood shavings in the bottom and put a fleece/canvas cat cube on top of that. Covered it with the dome and then wrapped a mylar "blanket" around that. Unfortunately, the mylar rattles noisily in the wind and I think I'll have to take it off. I think it will scare them away.

Other than that I cooked, did laundry, housework, read, watched movies, did puzzles. Altogether my kind of day.

Hoping to have another just like it...

I'm staying in all weekend, barring an emergency. The only big outing I have planned is to take the garbage to the dumpster! Snow and cold is predicted, so I'm electing to be housebound.

This morning I created a breakfast casserole out of things I needed to use up. I chopped up three sausage links, an apple, two slices of bread, and soaked it alll in a mixture of 3 beaten eggs, milk and syrup. I have often made savory breakfast casseroles, but this is my first try at a sweet one. It turned out okay, but not yummy. Well, I'm going to be eating it for a while. Maybe next time I'll drizzle some extra syrup on top.

Later I will make some tuna salad, carrot soup, and applesauce.

I started a new book, Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. Really interesting so far; it's set in post WWI Germany and the main character is a dwarf. Once again, I am reading about people struggling with money. I love peeking in on other lives and cultures and generations and seeing how they deal with financial issues. Reminds me how lucky we really are.

Last night I was intending to see a free viewing of “It's a Wonderful Life,” but it started at 8 o'clock, and I was already in bed by then. Hope I can catch it sometime this season. It would have been nice to see it without ads.

Anyway, I hope to catch a bunch of Christmas movies on Hallmark. I haven't set up my Christmas tree yet – and I'm not really in the mood – but I know once I do it I'll be glad I did.

My only financial news – I got $8 from half.com, and I spent $20 on restaurant gift cards to give to my sons for Christmas. Mainly, I bought them to support the volleyball team, who is raising money to go to Italy.

This week I really had to make choices. As my stash in the pantry and freezer dwindles, it will probably get harder. But here is what I selected to buy:

Toilet bowl cleaner – on sale for 1.99
Kotex pantiliners – on sale for 2.89 (package of 64)
Sutter Sweet Red wine – on sale for 4.49
Bag of Tootsie Roll Midgees -- 2.99
Fresh Express 5-lettuce mix – on sale for 2.55
Jewel Kettle Corn, package of 3 bags – on sale for 1.29
4 boxes of Sweet & Salty bars – 1.75 ea.
2 boxes of DiGiorno 200-calorie pizzas – 2.99 ea.; coupon for $1 off
Crystal Light raspberry green tea mix – on sale for 3.99
Generic oatmeal cookies – 1.99
Jewel French vanilla coffee creamer (32 oz) – 2.50

Some of these choices may seem odd – for instance the tootsie rolls? I feel obligated to buy a bag every so often because I do help myself to the community bowl at work.

I got four boxes of the Sweet & Salty bars in order to get $3 off. Anyway, I love to have them to throw into my lunch bag.

I had to buy two boxes of the pizza to be able to use the coupon.

The Kettle Corn is something else I keep at work. My boss comes in every once in a while asking for it – she is very busy and sometimes misses lunch – so I try to keep stocked on it.

The creamer – I planned to use a coupon, but it turned out the store brand was a better deal. I don’t use a lot of creamer but I like it on weekends. This big bottle should last a while.

The wine – I sip a glass every evening for my heart health. My “constitutional” as my great aunt used to say. Okay, I like it, too.

Before I went to the store, I mailed a package at the post office (a sale on half.com). I bought a book of stamps. It occurred to me later that that may have been cheating a bit – since I could have bought the stamps at Jewel, perhaps they ought to count toward the 15 items. But it wasn’t a deliberate cheat, so I’m not going to worry about it.

Yesterday was an interesting day at work. I and several others had a meeting with our VP, in which we learned that 1) she is wildly disorganized 2) blames us and 3) is demanding that we redo reports/spreadsheets that were done exactly as she asked. Very frustrating. I don’t know how I will get through my last years here if she is here, also. But then late in the day we got word that a big 6-figure donation had arrived, so it was celebration time! We went out to a pub after work, where I spent $15 on wine and quesadillas. An unexpected expense, but I did want to be part of one of GOOD things that happen here!

Today the celebration is continuing, as there are free Panera bagels in the break room, so I guess that offsets my $15 a little.

In other news, I sold another book on half.com. I have sold about five or six since I re-started my account. It’s nice to have a little bit coming in, however small.

I may do my 15-items shopping tonight. I’d like to beat the snowstorm that is predicted, and just stay in this weekend, when the weather is predicted to be even worse. I’ve got lots of books to read, and lots of housework/organization to do at home.

Speaking of books to read, I just finished “The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck. This is a good read for anyone feeling stressed about money. It’s a novel about pre-revolutionary China, and within the story are many lessons/insights about poverty and the down sides of wealth.

I had a big weekend. My four-year-old grandson spent Friday night at my house and then we went to see a children’s production of “A Christmas Carol” the next day. We were also supposed to have breakfast with Santa, but Santa proved to be too scary. I drove my grandson home and spent a few hours with the family. Then on Sunday I went to a Messiah concert in work status, and after the concert drove a donor to a fancy holiday dinner. I was supposed to work there, too, but arrived too late (couldn’t find the darn place – and I had been there before!) My GPS was not getting a valid signal… I helped a bit with getting people settled and then went home. So… this is how it went financially. The play was no cost to me; it was my son & DIL’s treat. All I spent on Saturday was $30 for gas and $8 for dinner at Steak N Shake. Sunday was an NSD. The concert would have cost $25 if I had not been working at it. As it was, I got to hear the whole thing (from the lobby, looking through a window). That diminished the experience somewhat, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

On Monday I got my bill for the booth rental -- $76.60. I also got a LOT of packages, and I was good to my word and wrapped everything before I went to bed. I am only waiting for a couple more packages now.

I have not spent anything today and plan to keep it that way. Looks like I may be able to put a LITTLE bit into savings on the 15th if I continue to be very good. If so, I will have managed to do Christmas without incurring debt or dipping into savings AND saved a little to boot! Woo-hoo!

Last week I selected 12 items at Wal-Mart to take to Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's house. They were not things for the meal -- he always provides all of that -- too much, in fact. I brought things to snack on during card-playing, like pistachios, chips, etc. I also brought 2 pounds of gourmet coffee and some drinks. It was about $53.

Last night I bought 15 items. It made my job a little harder that I had to buy 3 packages of Activia to use my coupon, and 2 containers of CoQ10 to get one free. But I got everything on my list, except for Advil. I realized when I was at the store, that I have Aleve at home so why am I buying Advil? I use it for the same purpose.

When I got through my list I had room for one extra selection. I decided on a Stouffer's lasagna (one serving). I'll have that for lunch today. For next week, I have to get on the stick and prepare things for lunch.

My total this week was $65. The expensive items was the CoQ10, but I am told I need it if I am taking a statin.

What am I learning from this exercise? If I really examine what I need, it's much less than I think. Also, I realize that I have been succumbing to temptation a lot in the past. So many things I would have just thrown in my cart -- but I didn't!

Saw the first flurries of the year as I shopped at BB&B last night, and they came in droves today! Only stuck for a little while, though. Just a reminder that soon I will be bundling up, turning up the heat, etc. Oh yes, and I do have to buy those boots.

I couldn’t find what I wanted at BB&B last night – not in stock – but I was able to substitute from my DIL’s registry. I was planning to spend about $50, and I had a 20% off coupon. Without doing much figuring in my head, I bought three items for an exact total of $50! I must be getting good at this.

I came home and wrapped all three. I’m really going to try to keep up on the wrapping this year. I hate doing it all at the end.

I also did my November totals:

Rent: $1110
Vacation/Travel: $565 (mostly hotel rooms, both for wedding and Thanksgiving)
Gifts: $564 (Christmas, two birthdays & a baby shower)
Utilities: $130
Entertainment: $124 (includes Billy Elliot ticket)
Medical/Health: $94 (includes dentist)
Booth Rental: $75
Clothing: $63 (includes Groupon to use this month)
Personal: $61 (includes haircut)
Gas: $60
Insurance: $60
Groceries: $57
Eating Out: $49
Vet/Pet Supplies: $38
Household Supplies: $5
Miscellaneous: $2

What a month! December will be better.

During my lunch hour yesterday I handily spent $276 cyber-shopping from Amazon. That bought gifts for my two sons, one of my DIL’s, and my two grandsons. Tonight I plan to spend another $50-60 at BB&B for my other DIL. The Groupon I bought to use at Nordstrom Rack, I will use for myself, since my DILs had specific requests that I am pleased to fulfill. Have to remember to use that by December 31! The $50 Macy’s card from MyPoints I will give to my ex and his wife, since (first of all) they will be at the gift opening, and (second of all) they have been very kind to me this year and deserve some recognition. I already have my gifts for my DIL’s mother and my BFF. On Christmas Day I will transfer some cash into my sister’s account, since that is what she always needs. I still want to put together some stockings for Christmas Day (our actual family gift opening will be December 18).

So I’m almost done. Cyber-shopping sure makes it fast. Now I’m just waiting for it all to come in the mail.

I have reached the point where my Discover card is “full” – that is, the total is as much as I can pay off in one month. So from now on – until this billing cycle is over -- I am going on a cash basis for everything. I have $145 tucked away for Christmas, plus $32 in my purse and $238 in checking, so I should be just fine. All the bills are paid. The only “bill” yet to come is my booth rental, and I never know what that will be until it comes, since sales are subtracted from it.

Is this a stress-free Christmas? Maybe so!

Seems like I’ve been gone forever! Just a few days in a totally different environment can do that to you. I spent Thanksgiving at my brother’s house in Michigan. A great event – fabulous dinner (he is a former chef) and lots of visiting with my nieces and nephews and their children. I also did some thrift store shopping with my SIL.

Financially, it was not too bad. Hotel: $189; Groceries: $56; Gas: $34; Eating out: $15. My thrift store shopping amounted to $26, and for that I got a fabulous Jones New York trench coat, a cardigan, a trendy long-sleeved tee and a couple of stocking stuffers for my kids.

Also spent $48 for my son’s birthday present, one of those Rio Grande games that he loves.

Now I have to do some serious Christmas shopping. Planning to check the Amazon lists this noon. I also have a Groupon for Nordstrom Rack, which I hope to use for something for the girls, and a $50 Macy’s gift card is on the way thanks to MyPoints. I haven’t yet tapped into my “Christmas Club” – the five dollar bills I’ve been saving. I think I have about $140 there.

The big gift exchange will be on December 18, so I don’t have much time. Plus, this weekend will be a wipeout, because I am babysitting Friday night, taking my grandson to a play & breakfast with Santa on Saturday, and on Sunday I am working at our big Christmas event. Tired already just thinking about it!

Here is my update on my 15-items-or-less project. On Sunday I went to Jewel and bought 12 items.

They were:

Three birthday cards with a $2 off coupon.
One jug of cat litter, $1 off.
Two bags of cat food (one free).
Generic allergy medicine, $1 off.
A dozen eggs, $.10 off.
One package of English muffins, $.50 off.
One loaf of whole wheat bread, $1.90 off.
4-pack of Activia yogurt, $1.10 off
“Soup mix” produce package (potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, turnip)

Total was $43.78; savings, $7.60.

I’m taking the soup vegetables up north to make turkey soup after the feast. That will be part of my contribution. When I get there, I will buy some snacks and drinks. But no more than 15 items!

I'm still reeling from this weekend. It was one of those "from the ridiculous to the sublime" experiences. Except it started out sublime and ended up ridiculous.

The sublime part: I went to see "Billy Elliot" and it was wonderful! It was on the spur of the moment -- some old friends were in town -- not visiting me, but I met up with them -- and they invited me to go with them to the theater if I could get a ticket. I did, for $111. Whew! But every once in a while you have to just do something you really want to do, and it was worth it.

Afterwards we went out to dinner at a downtown restaurant, and it was wonderful, too. And my friends treated, so no expense to me. (They are quite a bit wealthier than I am).

After that wonderful day, I went to my car, and -- uh oh, window smashed, GPS gone. Ugh.

I got the window fixed yesterday, but not before a powerful rain storm passed through -- and I have no sheltered place to park. Suffice to say I was out in a downpour with a garbage bag and tape, trying to head off the damage. I got soaked, but my car is okay.

My final snafu was to pay the glass man, only to find out that I have 0 deductible on glass replacement, so I had to fax in my info to Allstate, and hope I will get a reimbursement.

As for my GPS, it was not worth filing a claim. However, one of my SIL's offered to give me her old one, so I won't be out any for that.

In other news, I bought a Groupon for 50% off $50 at Nordstrom Rack. It is one of my favorite places. I may use it for gifts, or I may use it on myself.

Went to the dentist this morning, and it was amazingly cheap. I got x-rays, a fluoride treatment and a cleaning, and all I had to pay was $23 for the fluoride. Gotta love dental insurance!

Good news, too. He's been watching a molar that may eventually need a crown. He says at this point he wouldn't do anything as long as it's not bothering me -- it isn't. It has a chip but it's no big deal.

This evening I'll get my hair cut, which will cost more. I've been struggling with what to do about my hair. It would be a lot cheaper to let the layers grow out and just get the ends trimmed once in a while at a Great Clips, or something. But I get so many compliments on my layered bob, and I think it makes me look younger than a blunt cut would. I watched my son's wedding video last night and I liked the way my hair looked. I don't want to give up this talented haircutter, even though she's expensive! Not yet, anyway.

This morning I read a good article on maximizing Social Security benefits -- I don't have the link, but it's on Yahoo Finance. Certainly convinced me I need to work till I'm 66. Of course, the day before yesterday work was so frustrating I felt like quitting on the spot -- but today all is well. So 66 it is!

It's pay day. I paid my rent and Discover, and transferred $200 into savings. YAY! Finally, I'm not stealing FROM savings! Everything else will get paid automatically.

This weekend's big event was my grandson's fourth birthday party -- what a great event it was! The invitees were his preschool and play group friends, his aunt/uncle and cousins, and his grandparents, so we were a very diverse group, but everyone had fun and behaved well. My DIL did a great job planning and executing. She is one creative gal. My gift -- two battery-powered walking dinosaurs -- were a smashing hit. His new outfit -- not so much, but his mom & dad were appreciative.

On Sunday I was laid low by a headache (which I still have today). The weather turned cool again after some beautiful Indian summer days, so, since I was feeling awful, I gave up the challenge and turned on the heat. But doing the challenge was worth it, because my last gas bill was $19. Really low!!

I am trying something new at the grocery store. I have decided to never buy more than 15 items at one time. That's what I did when my ankle was healing (because I couldn't walk around very long), and my grocery bill was the lowest it's ever been -- and I actually had plenty to eat. It's all about making choices and setting priorities. In fact, this weekend I only bought 11 items. And I will continue to shop only ONCE a week. Should be interesting.

There are several advantages here. I don't spend a lot of time in the store, I get to check out in the "quick line," unloading the groceries is easier, and my limited storage space is not overburdened. Plus it's just cheaper! I spent $16 on groceries, $5 on household supplies, and $5 on cat food.

I had a $3 off coupon for meat, so I bought ground beef and made chili. That alone will last me a week! I rarely buy meat any more -- I'm almost a vegetarian -- but this really hit the spot.

Last night I did an online consumer forum via Pine Cone. It was fun, and I will get paid $25.

Makes me ruminate about what $25 is in my budget....

A tank of gas
Half a haircut
Two sacks of cat food
A bra if I get it at Nordstrom's Rack
Maybe 5 or 6 items from Goodwill
Two prescriptions
Two months of Netflix
One-fifth of my monthly booth rental
About a half a week's groceries
Four or five bottles of wine (yes, I like cheap wine)

Definitely worth the hour and a half I put into it!

Yesterday I walked to the post office to mail the book I sold on half.com. I wanted to treat myself to a lunch downtown, but I didn't. I walked back to work and ate my Lean Cuisine.

Every night I drive past a KFC/Pizza Hut on my way home from work, and I always have an urge to drive through and get a snacker. I don't.

In the not-too-recent past I got a McDonald's Happy Meal every Saturday while doing errands. No more.

I am not so good at resisting food I shouldn't have when it is lying around, however. And I am terrible about raiding the break room whenever free treats are out.

I don't want my pounds to creep back on, so I am stepping up my resisting as of today. If I can resist food I have to pay for, I can also resist free food, or food that's already paid for. I know I have to go a little bit hungry, and that's just the way it is. I don't have the kind of metabolism that allows me to eat what I want. So. I'm going hungry, for the ultimate goal of feeling better and feeling proud of myself.

This weekend I put my half.com "bookstore" back online. I had put it on vacation when I broke my ankle and never went back to it till now. There was a lot of updating to do, as some books I had given away, and I had quite a few to add, too.

This morning I see I already have a sale. Only .99, but part of the reason I do this is to get the right book to the right person. More satisfying than just donating them en masse, and a little income, too.

On Saturday I did my usual errands - spent about $19 on cat food and $42 on groceries. I went to Kohl's especially to use the $10 coupon I got in the mail -- when I was checking out, I found out that I had jumped the gun and the card wasn't good until November 10. I bought the items anyway, as I had got them all half-price. Four pairs of socks and a pretty snowman pin to give away for Christmas. I'll go back to Kohl's when the card is good.

(I also have a set of $10 off cards for Carson Pirie Scott, but those I have to use on a $25 purchase. The Kohl's card doesn't require a purchase over $10.)

On Sunday I went to Wal-Mart, intending to buy an emergency blanket to cloak my feral cat "house." I couldn't find one -- I'll have to check on line. But when I saw the toys, I was reminded that I needed to shop for my grandson's birthday. I did a lot of wandering around, picking stuff up and putting it back, but I finally decided on two battery-powered Fischer-Price dinosaurs, and a shirt-and-pant set. I bought some cards, too. All told, a little over $50 -- not the greatest bargain in the world, but a nice blend of child-pleasing and parent-pleasing, I hope.

The good news is ... my boss told me I will get a 2-3% raise in January. This was unexpected, as I already got a raise at the beginning of the fiscal year.

The bad news is, I probably won't see it in my paycheck. I officially switched to the PPO from the HMO and so will pay a bigger premium (and premiums went up 15% anyway). But I'm happy to leave the HMO behind. HMO's are great if you don't get sick or hurt yourself.

Also, I agreed to raise my monthly payroll deduction into the Annual Fund from $10 to $25. Since I am in the business of raising money, one of the easiest ways is to be a donor myself. Wish I could do more, but as you all know, I don't have a lot to spare.

So my guess is that my paycheck will actually be lower. But I am okay with that. I feel good about my choices.

I am still in the heat challenge -- I haven't turned it on yet. But I have been cold, and I find I am very unproductive in the cold -- tend to just stay wrapped up in a blanket in front of the TV. I AM warm at night under two comforters, but I even find it hard to read in bed -- my hands get cold outside of the covers.

However, I heard on the news this morning that a cold front is coming in tomorrow, so I think my challenge is coming to an end. I don't think I can take it any colder than it is already.

Tomorrow I go to a day-long conference in the city. I dread the trip in and the parking, but I should get a free lunch! Then I'll come home and see just how cold it is!

I totaled up my October expenses, and some were surprising. For instance, I spent $104 on eating out -- and it was all burgers, pizza, snacks -- nothing memorable. I spent $209 on groceries, which is double my goal, but I did have a lot of stocking up to do. My utilities were high ($254) but I had to pay the phone bill twice (it's pre-paid, and I did a lot of talking last month). And my gas was $149, but it did include an impromptu trip to Kentucky.

It looks like I will not be able to reimburse my emergency fund with the $300 I took out. But I will have SOMETHING to put in, come payday, so at least I'm reversing the trend.

It's time to enroll for medical insurance again, and I am switching from BC/BS HMO to the PPO plan. I will have to meet a deductible, which I hate, but I have learned my lesson. I am still fighting with the HMO to get them to pay for my second surgery. In the PPO plan, my surgeon is included, so if there are any followups I won't have to move heaven and earth to be able to see the doctor who did the work on me.

It seems I have taken up trash-picking. On Saturday I saw a lamp sitting on top of the garbage in the dumpster. It looked new -- the shade almost perfect, and there was still a light bulb in it (which works). It was tossed because one of its legs is broken off. I can see why they threw it out now, because I can't remove the damaged part without severing the cord. However, it's easy to replace the plug, right? I've never done it actually.

Anyway, I don't even really want the lamp, it was just too good to throw away. Once I get it repaired, I will probably give it to Goodwill.

And I did get a free bulb!

Got my refund from AAA today -- $35 credit into my Discover account. Nice!

I keep checking my Discover account, and I have not yet been charged by the hotel I stayed in on the night of my son's wedding. I am pretty convinced now that someone in the bride's family secretly paid the bill -- perhaps they just arranged with the hotel to get the bill for anyone in the wedding party. Anyway, I'll try to find out for sure so I can thank them.

Either that, or someone at the hotel is asleep at the wheel -- and I hate to wake them up!

Last night I had a very queasy stomach (probably from eating too much cake -- in was in the break room and I couldn't resist it). I still felt shaky this morning and I thought I would call in sick -- but now, we have a new system -- calling in sick means logging into a secure website that emails a form to your supervisor. The website wouldn't accept my id/password from home. (I've used it at work, so I know I had the right password). Well, I'm glad I wasn't TOO sick, because I finally gave up and came in to work, not knowing how to call in sick. I hate technology.

My son and his wife (how nice that sounds!) arrived home safely last night, and early to boot, despite all the warnings about flight delays.

Came in early to work today, hoping to dodge the dangerous weather that's predicted. Looks like everyone else had the same idea ... I didn't score a parking place right beside the building like I thought I might.

My son is flying back from his honeymoon in Puerto Rico today, and I am afraid he will be facing some delays. That's okay with Mom -- much better that he waits in an airport than to be in the air when the winds are dangerously high.

Yesterday I picked up a freecycle item that I plan to use as a gift. It's in the box and everything. It's a Debbie Mumm snowman platter for my DIL's mother, who is an avid snowman collector. I hope she likes it. It isn't actually something I would pick out for myself, but, hey, if you're a snowman collector? I think it will serve. And all it cost me was the gas to get there -- it was in a neighboring suburb.

On Saturday I did some CVS shopping. I don't find the deals that you guys do, but I did get some candy to bring in to work, half-price with a $1 coupon besides. My big screw-up was that I bought some Cetaphil and forgot to give the cashier my $2 coupon. (And yes, I would have gone back, except that I had ALREADY gone back to give her my $3-off-a $15-shopping-trip coupon, and I was too embarrassed to return again). Well, the coupon was soon to expire, and it's a product I use regularly, so I bought another when I grocery-shopped at Jewel. Now I am very well stocked!

At Jewel I used several store coupons and now I am very well stocked with Chunky soup and Dole fruit bowls as well. I know they are not the most economical foods available, but for a singleton who carries a lunch every day, they are very handy.

I am finally starting to get close to my 1c frying pan! I am saving Jewel stamps -- it's a promotion for free cookware that will last until January, I think. The funny thing about the stamps -- when I dogsat at the ritzy house a few weeks ago, I noticed they were saving them, too! I guess even the rich enjoy their little bargains.