What, how can that be you ask?!

My dentist happens to be among other things an expert in Cosmetic Dentistry. He has fixed my top teeth to the point I think I belong in Hollywood! They are beautiful but the whole procedure was long, painful, and expensive.

Flash forward to yesterday when I went in to have a crown put on and a few cavities filled. I aksed about sedation which he readily agreed to (taking pity on me for all the dental work and pain I have endured in the past). I took a Valium the night before and some sort of sedative/hypnotic prior to the appointment. DH drove me, they gave me some more medication and I was OUT! 4 hour appointment seemed to last 10 minutes. I have no recollection of the appointment other than going and coming home. It was wonderful!!! I guess this type of sedative is offered to people afraid of the dentist or busy professional who want a lot done at once. I would like to believe I am the latter but I think we all know better...

Anywho, I am off from work today hanging out with DS and working off the last of the sedation. We got hit with a lot of snow last night so I am glad I didn't go to work.

It will be another No Spender today as DH had to take my car to work today due to his being in the shop. I don't expect him home until 8pm so I won't be going anywhere today.

I am thinking about making some homemade chocolate chip cookies for the kids. I am almost done with all the laundry and have picked up around the house. All in all, I am in good shape. I should call in sick more often!

Let's see how I managed this weekend and the tail end of last week:

Friday after work I had to purchase 2 birthday presents. Managed to spend only $23.66 on both. One item doesn't work properly so I will have $3.99 coming back making it the first time I have purchased 2 gifts for under $20!

Saturday I went to the gym for about 2 hours which felt really good! I then treated my family to dinner out (try to only do this once a month) and spent $45 for the 4 of us. DS's meal was free since he is under 5. I gave the waitress a big tip because she was awesome!

Sunday I had a No Spend day. We had the 2 parties to go to and then spent the rest of the day getting ready for the week.

So, overall I think I did a good job.

Today I spent:
$3.13 on coffee and a muffin
$8.89 on prescription
$2.00 on lunch

If DH doesn't stop at the grocery store on his way home I will have to. I only have $50 in the budget so I am hoping he will stop.

Tomorrow I am having MORE dental work done so I am sure it will be an expensive day!

On the rare occassion that I post twice in one day I am finding that my first post is no longer on the front page of entries. It disappears from the list and only the 2nd one is there to read. I see some people have multiple posts for a day and they are all listed on that first page. How do I get mine to do that to?

After annoying myself by forgetting my lunch this morning I did OK.

Spent $1.25 on coffee
and $2.00 on a very unhealthy lunch of pop and cheese doodles. I was trying to be cheap!!

So, a total of $3.25 spent today.

My stomach is growling so loud right now but I am leaving work to go to the gym and workout for 1 hour before going home.

All in all, not a bad day.
I WILL remember my lunch tomorrow.

So, I had it all set up for a No Spender today. Made my lunch, made coffee, had breakfast before leaving the house.

Got to work and my husband called to tell me I left my lunch on the counter...ugh!!!! I am so annoyed at myself right now. That means I am going to have to fork over some cash because I can't go all day without eating.

In an effort to curb my spending I am going to try to keep track of what I spend each day here. I am going to tally it up for the day so I can see it in writing. Please feel free to tell me how foolishly I am spending my money if you want. Some harsh criticism might be what I need to get a handle on all this.

My attempts at budgeting are a lot like my attempts to eat better and get more exercise...neither are going very well.

I seem to lack motivation. I know what I should be doing in both cases but it is VERY difficult to retrain my brain. I have been eating whatever I want and spending whatever I want for so long that it is a major lifestyle change to rein in both of these. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I would like better than have both these areas of my life under control but I am getting a little discouraged. I seem to do well for a week or 2 and then fall back into the old routine. I just don't know how to make it stick.

For example, as I write this I am sitting at my computer eating a HUGE glazed donut and drinking coffee from Dunkin Donuts. This is not in the plan for either my diet or finances yet here I sit. It's like I am on auto pilot to stop and get this treat whether I can afford it or not. Now, there goes $4.00 and I bet I just consumed 70% of the calories I need for the day. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yikes!!!!!!!
Went to the dentist today and needed a crown. Will have to go back in 2 weeks for the permanent one and to have some cavities filled. Total $1482.00
My crapola dental insurance through work is covering a whopping $57.00. I think that is just because it is a new year and I have to pay the deductible before the real benefits kick in?! I am not sure how that works but when I go back in 2 weeks I am going to ask. The good news, if there is any, is that I don't need a root canal

Yesterday I went for my eye exam and to get some new glasses. I have been a contact lens wearer for years but now that I am working at a computer 8 plus hours a day I am getting awful eye strain. I figure wearing glasses more often would help with that. Of course, before I could start wearing glasses more often I had to get a new pair. $230 for the frames, lens, and complete eye exam. The glasses won't be ready for 2 weeks because they have to order my lenses.

I guess when you turn 36 you really have to start taking care of yourself!

Birthday party went well over the weekend. We had 3 additional guests and I wasn't able to keep my grocery bill to $40.00. I came out to about $62.00. Oh well, I just won't shop for food this week

Off to the gym. Taking 2 classes tonight, going to get my moneys worth!

I could have added .77 to it. That is how much I made on my new online savings account. Granted I don't have much money in there yet but that is pretty sad Thankfully I have another savings account in which I was paid $9 in interest last month.

Oh well, every little bit helps!

So, this weekend we are finally celebrating DS 3rd birthday with family. We had to cancel last weekend since half the family had some viral illness...yuck! Now that everyone is germ free we are going to try again.

If we had the party last weekend we were just going to do pizza and wings. I have since changed my mind and will be making all the food for the party. My goal as indicated in the title is to keep to my $40.00 budget. I am not sure how realistic that is but I am going to try very hard.

I am feeding 8 adults and 6 children, the youngest my birthday boy. The menu will include:

Pulled pork sandwhiches
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Baked Beans

I am also going to make the cake. I am going grocery shopping tomorrow night after work and unfortunately I have to bring the kids with me. DH is going out with friends from work so it's just me and the kids. I have to buy the stuff so I can start cooking when I get home. My plan is to make the salad and cake Friday night.

On top of buying the majority of the ingredients (I do have some in my pantry already) I have to buy beverages, ice cream, chips and dip, paper plates and a couple of balloons.

I really shouldn't complain since he isn't at the age where you have to have a friend party.

But I do also have to get some valentines for the kids to hand out at school. DS has to bring in cupcakes for his party at daycare. Store bought, of course.

We also need to purchase a new mailbox but I am leaving that up to DH. Our mailbox is all rusted out, thanks to the salt the put on the roads, and the door just fell off yesterday. Today I found some of our mail in a snow bank! That's not good. Anyways, that is DH's job for the weekend along with cleaning up 2 rooms in the house before the party. I, of course, will leave cleaning the kitchen and bathroom for myself. Not because I like to clean these 2 rooms but because I want them actually clean!

Well, wish me luck with sticking to my budget!

So, I just made an appointment with my dentist for next Monday. I have a tooth that has been aching, not too bad, but bad enough that it is annoying me. I am sure I will need a root canal. I hardly ever just need a filling, things progress quickly in my mouth. I am going to ask for sedation dentistry. I want to be unaware of everything! I few years ago I had all my top teeth replaced with veneers giving me a great smile. I now have to get the bottom teeth done but don't have the funds available yet. So, I will be fixing them as they start to bother me. Not a good way to go about it but I really hate the dentist.

Not too much going on financially. I returned something to the grocery store that I didn't need yesterday and got $3.99 back. I am going to return a book I bought over the weekend when I had a moment of weakness and thought I couldn't wait until I made it to the library. Turns out I can wait until I get there.

Someone a while ago mentioned they had to have root planing done...I am wondering how that worked out since I am sure the dentist will remind me that I need it when I see him next Monday.