July Challenge Update: July 11-17

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It’s been a crazy week for my July challenge. There has been a lot of buying and returning — primarily travel-related and clothing. I will try to be more diligent with my online orders, and hold off purchasing clothes until September. I’m definitely a work in progress as far as online spending.

In other news, I decided to go ahead with the bone stimulator ($2,000) for my foot, because I will try anything before surgery. That will come directly out of our Health Savings Account fund.

An Unexpected expense.

I spoke with my son this week. He is still on deployment and unfortunately got Covid as did most of the sailors on his ship. He told me he was pretty sick for a while but thankfully he is now on the mend. He was vaccinated and boosted, so I imagine he contracted the new variant while in a port. He never asks for anything, but this time he asked for snacks. I was out the door as soon as I ‘hung up’ the phone (as any Mama would do 😉 ). $180 later (and worth every penny), a 14x14x14 care package was on its way. 🙂 Included items: Vitamins, Emergen-C’s, cough drops, toothbrush, soups, mac and cheese (add water), cookies, beef jerky, chips, and candy (the non-chocolate variety, as chocolate would melt). It was filled to the brim. He is in a port now, so I hope his package will get to him soon!

An idea of what I sent. 🙂 (via)

Without further ado, here is my July 11-17 spending:

• Groceries & Eating Out: $51.00
• Misc.: $3.00
• Pets: $99.86 (dog food and dog pool)
• Misc. travel: $99.00 (Travelon backpack/cross body bags)
• Mom & Dad: $38.00
• Spontaneous Giving: $180.00

Total spend: $371.86

It is clear that I won’t make my $750 challenge, especially since I’ll need to do a large grocery shop soon. Unexpected expenses will always pop up, and as long as I can keep my usual categories within limits, I’ll still be able to sock a little money into savings.

How was your week?

Google Pay for shopping online? Not anymore.

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Google has a payment feature (Google Pay) that when you are at a shopping site online and want to purchase something, it will auto-fill the credit card number you’ve established on your Google account. It’s a quick and convenient way to pay for things since there is no need to get your card from your wallet. I thought that was so cool — until I didn’t.

Google Pay and/or Apple Pay is an impulsive shopper’s crack. With the click of a couple of memorized security numbers, you can purchase your item in less than 10 seconds. Not good for impulse purchasers like me, to say the least.

I already know how helpful it is to put space between what I think I want and making the actual purchase. Most times I give myself 24 hours and end up not buying the item. Lately, I’ve been more impulsive in my spending than usual — I’m blaming it on boredom from staying home and ‘resting’ my foot. 😦 . However, after a few expensive returns ($60) and nothing to show for it, I have finally come to the realization that Google Pay is not a tool of convenience, but more of a financial impediment to my financial goals. It is no longer an option for me, and I have since deleted my credit card information from Google Pay.

Whew. I feel better already.

Do you use Google Pay or Apple Pay for purchases online? Do you find yourself buying more?

Weekly financial update.

Every Monday during 2022, I am posting an update on what I spent for the week (variable spending only) as a way of keeping myself accountable for my impulse spending. Also, to see my true savings, I am tracking items I was tempted to buy but didn’t.

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This week I received the two wallets I ordered last week. The Fossil wallet arrived damaged, missing its’ strap. The Italian wallet came in the wrong color. I have already returned the Fossil wallet (free return), but unfortunately, Italy will charge me a return fee. I will lose $30. (Rest assured I will be taking extra caution before I purchase items from now on, especially with regard to their return policy.)

Wasting money these days actually hurts. In fact, as I evaluate this week’s spending, I’m disappointed that I ‘impulsed’ the tech purchase. I will be returning it, as I wasn’t paying attention to the details of the charger pod. My IPhone 11 is not ‘magsafe’, so the charger may not work as well. Returning items is such a hassle, as you have to wait several weeks before they credit your account. The by product of impulsivity, I suppose. 😦

Here is my spending for June 7 – June 13:

• Eating Out: $78.09
• Groceries: $157.00
• Gas Fill Up: $64.60
• Auggie: $6.00 (dog treats)
• State inspection: $20.00
• OTC meds: $5.00 (Vitamin D prescription)
• Clothes: $103.89 (Replacement Tshirts, leggings)
• Tech: $52.01 (phone case and charger pod)
• Misc.: $59.04

Total: $545.63

RETURNS:

• Fossil Wallet: ($79.50)
• Italian Wallet: ($145.00)

Total Returns: ($224.50)

Total Spending: $321.13

With inflated prices everywhere, it’s more imperative now than ever to be extra vigilant in my everyday spending. I’m committed to keeping our retirement timeline, and every dollar saved is going to help. To that end, I’m giving myself a new challenge. For the month of JULY, I will be having a NO SPEND. Details to follow!

How was your week? Any wins? Losses? Please share!

A new month, a health update, and this past week’s spending.

Every Monday during 2022, I am posting an update on what I spent for the week (variable spending only) as a way of keeping myself accountable for my impulse spending. Also, to see my true savings, I am tracking items I was tempted to buy but didn’t.

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I can hardly believe it’s June already! We will soon be halfway through 2022. Crazy.

I had such wonderful plans for the summer, but, unfortunately, they are all dissolving quickly as I anticipate the possibility of foot surgery. Since breaking my foot last November, recovery has been a slow process. The fracture did start to heal and there was some bone growth. Every month I went for an x-ray, and every month the doctor reported that “it was still cooking”. It was promising. Until it wasn’t. Two weeks ago I went and he did not give me my usual update. Because it’s been over 7 months, I have what is called a ‘non-union’. As long as there is still pain, surgery may be the next step. I will be getting a second opinion, for sure, because the thought of starting all over with crutches and a boot depresses me. But I do not want to live with the pain either. I guess we will see.

As far as spending for the first week in June, it was a mixed bag. I had two impulsive purchases, an ‘oh crap’ moment, and a few regular expenses.

June 1 – 6th Spending:

• Groceries: $166.00 (a two-week shop)
• Eating Out: $5.00
• Hair Cut and Color: $120.00 (includes tip)
• Charitable/Spontaneous giving: $200.00
• Ticket: $97.00 (expired state inspection — good grief I deserved this one!)
• Car Maintenance and state inspection: $694.00
• Household: $38.04 (kitchen towels, oven mitts, and cleaners)
• Auggie: $22.00 (shampoo, conditioner, and dog toy)
• Clothes & Accessories: $297.69 (a new shirt and two new wallets!)
• OTC meds: $21.00 (Tylenol/Advil)

Total weekly spending: $1,660.73!!!

Wow. $791.00 of the $1660 was my car. Because I hardly drive these days, I totally missed getting the state inspection, which was due last October. I totally deserved that ticket, and quite frankly was embarrassed that it had expired 8 months ago! I definitely dropped the ball on that one. My car was due for maintenance and ended up needing a few things, hence the $700 bill.

The other large expense category $300. Some of you who have been following me for a while know I have a weakness for purses and wallets. And, after getting the news about my foot, I was feeling sorry for myself. No excuses, just the truth. I wanted to replace a wallet that was worn out, so I purchased the same one online. I found a coupon code, so I thought I was a savvy shopper. ;). A few days later, I started thinking about a wallet my sister had given me that she purchased in Italy. I still use it, but it is smaller than what I usually use. So I started searching for Italian leather stores and found saw an absolutely gorgeous wallet on Cuoieria Fiorentina‘s website. Without a moment of hesitation, I purchased it. I guess old habits die hard. I may return the first one, but we will see once I have both in my hands. I wasn’t planning on purchasing either, so I guess this falls under the category of ‘impulsive’.

Everything else was spending as usual. I’m hoping this coming week’s spending will be a lot less.

Your turn. How was your spending this week? What are your plans for the summer?