Looking Ahead To Next Week

This week has gone by very quickly.  All purchases were made with cash, which is a big change for me.  I usually will use my debit or my Marriott Rewards card.  I have enough cash to hopefully get through the next week.  The grocery situation is okay, yesterday I went out to get bread, mild and diet coke that was on sale for 2.50 a twelve pack.   This week, Publix is have a BOGO sale on Eight O' Clock coffee, and I am trying to figure out how to fit this into my budget. 

You see, my spouse and I both like Eight O' Clock coffee, he likes Colombian and I like Hazelnut. And we try to buy enough to keep us in stock for the next three to four months.  It seems that Publix will put Eight O'Clock on BOGO about every 3-4 months.  I have calculated that we will need about 30 bags of coffee to get us through.  Yes, that does seem like a LOT of coffee, but the price is great.  In addition to it being BOGO, I also have coupons for 2.00 dollars off the purchase of 2.

So, lets  calculate the final cost of this purchase.  The coffee is BOGO for 5.69 (for both).
 Rounding up to include tax... multiply 15 (remember it is BOGO so we are actually buying 30 bags) times 6.00 dollars.  We come up with 90.00 dollars.  Subtract the 15 coupons at 2.00 dollars each, we are now at 60.00 dollars for 30 bags of coffee.  Final Cost is 2.00 dollars per bag!

Now I will have to borrow from "next week's" grocery money to make this purchase.  Which means I will be borrowing from saving temporarily.   I think it is worth it in the long run.

Cash and Carry

Yesterday, I went to the bank and withdrew 460.00 dollars to use the next two weeks.  I have to say, it is a little intimidating to use cash for all my purchases.  I have been using my  debit card or my Marriott Rewards CC  for so long, that I guess I have become financially lazy.  By using the debit card and or the Marriott Rewards CC, I gave up control of my fiances and was not accountable for my financial actions to anyone but me.

The majority of my monthly bills were paid with this paycheck.  Cable, Cell Phone, House Phone, Auto Insurance, and Gym Membership.  Next Paycheck will cover Electric and Water.

Yesterday, we went out to dinner at Olive Garden.  I had 31.00 dollars in gift cards to use, and with tip the bill was 43.00 dollars.  Cash used: 13.00 dollars.  We then went to see the play "The Crucible" at a downtown theater, the price for two tickets was 36.00 dollars.  We also bought a bottle of water for 2.00 dollars.  I had never seen "The Crucible" or read the book.  I had to "Google" it to see what it was all about. We had a great time for not a lot of money.

Yesterday, I also went to the grocery store to pick up a few things.  The total was 58.00 dollars and I paid cash.  I now have 340.00 left until my next payday.  I will keep 140. 00 dollars for groceries, 40.00 dollars for entertainment, 40 dollars for personal care, 40.00 dollars for spouse.  That leaves me with 80.00 dollars unaccounted for.  Since I am just getting use to using cash only, I will leave that for backup.... just in case I did not plan well.  I will strive NOT to use it and apply it to debt, but we shall see.

Tuesday Tallies

Yesterday was going to be a no spend day, we ate breakfast at home. I prepared Steel Cut Oats with fresh strawberries. The steel cut oats have a great texture and a nutty flavor and are a GREAT source of fiber.

I packed my lunch, tuna with chopped lettuce. Celery sticks, fresh strawberries, yogurt with cheerios and crackers. Through out the day, I snacked on most of it. I tend to nibble while I work, this keeps me from pigging out at the end of the day.

After work, we went downtown to the park to go on a walk. We took our dog, she lurves to walk and sniff! So after that, we decided to hit a drive Wendy's drive through window for a quick dinner. I tried their new fish sandwich and it was pretty good. I think I like McDonald's fish sandwich better.

We spent 16.05 on dinner (charged on Marriott Rewards Card, money to be transferred today) and I almost forgot about the tolls for the expressway!! I spent 4 dollars yesterday on tolls! It is so much easier to get around town when you use the tollroads... I have my tollroad account linked to my Marriott Reward card too.

Almost forgot, I did stopt at the thrift store and found a used phone with working caller ID for 2.00 dollars. Paid cash for that.

~~Tuesday's Highlights~~

• Beautiful weather
• walked twice, at least 2 miles I estimate
• great conversations with friends

Marriot Rewards

I charge everything. Why would I do that? I am building up my Marriott Rewards Points. Again, why would I do that? I love to travel! My husband and I are always looking for the next adventure and I use my Marriott Reward Points to "pay" for the rooms. I love Marriott and enjoy the heck out of staying there.

So, in an effort to build my points up, I charge everything I can on my Marriott Rewards Card. I keep track of what I charge in my small spiral notebook that is with me at all times. Then once a day or so I transfer from my bank account ( bill pay) to my Marriott Credit Card. I always round up the amount and pay ahead. Actually I do have a balance on that card from our bathroom renovation so the rounding up pays towards that balance.

In addition, I will still make my minimum payment of 30.00. This card is CC#2 and will be paid off after CC#1. Part of the snowball thingy that I am trying to implement.


37,686 points as of 3/19/2010 for my Marriott Rewards Points.