Budget Update

I have TOO MUCH money. Yes, you heard me right. And somewhere, somehow it'll be taken from me, I just know it. It's not a large amount but I've gone wrong in my budget calculations somewhere even though I use a calculator!! I would be more worried if I had TOO LITTLE money which is what usually happens. I'm just going to sit on it til the end of the months and all the bills are paid. If that little extra bit is still there then off to savings it goes.

Today's budget adjustments were small as predicted. It only cost $20 to fill up the truck!!! That's how much gas I used since last Monday. I've been more strategic in my driving - car (truck) pooling to hiking spots with a friend :), doing all of my errands on one day and so on. It helps - and so does paying only 84.7 cents per litre of gas!! I only have one more gas fill up til February (fill up every Monday) so I will have gas money left to move to savings as there is still $108 left in the gas budget. Woo hoo!

After shelling out $115 last Monday on food & household items today's total was only $30 plus $4.25 spent at Dollarama. I only needed to add to my produce as I still have about 2/3rd's of the food from last week's shop left in the fridge/freezer/pantry!! There is one "shop" left in January and $107 left in the food budget so no worries there. I foresee sending about half of that to savings at the end of the month!
My misc items for this week - I love the little dustpan/sweepers, they are so handy for little cleanups - one for the upstairs bathroom and one for the workshop.

The rest of the money I spent was for luscious produce. Stuffed peppers are on the menu this week, and obviously lots more guacamole :)

My misc budget is getting low however. I decided to bite the bullet and buy an air purifier for the workshop. I can wear a mask while I'm working but my lovely Luna can't and if I'm in the workshop then she's in the workshop.  And then my friend invited me to go with her to see Canadian rocker  BRYAN ADAMS who's coming to London in February so I said YES!! Plus I overspent on art supplies, got the oil changed and new windshield wipers on the truck, bought a couple of books, indulged at the Wine and Food show, went to see "The Imitiation Game" and went out to dinner with my nephews!! I HAVE been busy and spendy haven't I? So I have $120 left in my misc budget which I need to stretch over 12 days - I can do it!! Plus I have some $$ in my wallet. As long as nothing unexpected comes up I should be ok plus there's the cushion in the gas and food budgets if I need it.

February's budget will see a few little adjustments with the drop in car/home insurance covering the increase in condo fees and taxes. AND joy oh joy I get a cost of living increase on my pension amount starting January 31st. A whopping $20 extra per month - woot woot!! It doesn't sound like much (it ain't much at all) but it would pay for FOUR $5.00 movie nights at Rainbow Cinema!! That's something!

Today's cuteness:

Staying cozy

Tutti Frutti

 Isn't fruit pretty? This is one pile of many piles in the kitchen. I tell you, the saliva starts flowing just looking at this pile! I'm just hoping someone doesn't pull one out from the bottom though because - AVALANCHE! We certainly are blessed in this country to have access to such a variety of fruit at reasonable prices. I was trying to figure out in my head the other day if we're spending more or less on groceries now that we're buying so much fruit and vegetables but I gave up. I need pencil, paper and a calculator to figure that one out.

 But, if I were to GUESS I'd say we're spending about the same. (Yes, you're right - if I was keeping track of my spending a wee bit better I'd know the answer to this....but that's another post.) We're trying to eat a mostly whole foods diet, so no boxes of crackers (FAIL), no packaged side dishes like Knorr Sidekicks (SUCCESS) and trying to reduce our meat consumption (MOSTLY A SUCCESS).  It's a work in progress and I'm not going to cry over a box or two (or three) of Triscuits, especially those Crack'd Pepper ones or a chicken wing or ten!

I read something very upsetting the other day - RICE has the highest levels of ARSENIC of any foods and you know what came in second - VEGETABLES!! I mean isn't arsenic a poison used in Agatha Christie's murder novels??  Do I really want to eat food that's laced with arsenic?? This really bothers me and I don't know what to do about it. Here's a link to an article that talks about it in depth if you're interested. I could give up rice but not vegetables!!

The other day a friend posted a photo on Facebook of a "root vegetable" stir fry she had made, well, actually her husband made it. I thought it looked delicious so made one last night full of parsnips, potatoes, carrots and turnips. We also roasted some sweet potato fries in the oven. It really was as good as it looks and super easy to make.  Very satisfying.

Just a bit of olive oil and lots of seasoning - onion, garlic, sea salt, pepper, some cayenne etc. I'm glad there are leftovers for tonight! And they're all for me as Michael is fasting for a medical test he's having tomorrow.
Nothing serious. I hope.

Well, that's my food update for now. This is all part of a desire to take better care of my body so it will hold up a while longer. Missing a month of work and having to live on a reduced paycheque because of a pinched nerve just isn't acceptable. And now it's time to get my butt in gear and ride my bike - yes I'm still pedaling away but have added a little twist to my routine which I'll tell you about later.

Hope your Monday was memorable!