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003: Oh, dear.

February 2nd, 2010 at 02:58 pm

I have about $100.00 to live on until February 15. 13 days until pay day.

Things I need to buy before pay day:
Groceries ($25.00, tops)
Cat food and litter ($25.00, tops)
Paper towels, garbage bags, bathroom tissue ($7.00?)

Other things:
Friday dinner: $9.00
Drinking with friends on the 13th: $7.00

I think one drink only ought to be okay.

Which will leave me about $25.00, if I play my cards right.

Also, my bank took out at least $40.00 in monthly fees. It's my fault for being so reckless and using my debit card, but I was gobsmacked just the same. Unfortunately, my credit is bad enough that I can't switch banks.

And now I have to get ready for work.

Edit: Oh, what a tiring day. Also, I think I'm catching a cold.

Found an extra seven bucks in Toonies and a loonie. So... muffin. I only had that and a granola bar today. Potatoes and oatmeal for dinner, banana for dessert.

Muffin: 1.80
Cat litter: 10.07

Total monthly spending so far: 21.57

12 Responses to “003: Oh, dear.”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1265127294

    Good luck making it to payday.

  2. momcents Says:
    1265132881


    Good luck! Keep in mind your dollar amount with each purchase. When I do that, I find that I can do without some of the things I *think* are needed.

  3. Personal Finance Student Says:
    1265134694

    I'm right there with ya'! We get paid on the 13th and are really tight with our gas budget until then. I hope we both make it! Smile

  4. gamecock43 Says:
    1265142431

    Go to the dollar store!

  5. fern Says:
    1265153238

    I don't think you need good credit to open a checking or savings acct, especially if you're having your paycheck auto deposited. (Banks love that steady stream of income.)

    Good credit would only come into play if you needed a bank loan or other line of credit.

  6. ceejay74 Says:
    1265159832

    Good luck! I remember once, before I had credit cards, I paid all my bills and had $40 to last me and my then-girlfriend two weeks. It was so terrifying! But my friend told me to try and make a fun challenge out of it, and I made it. Lots of plain rice and noodles for food, but we got through. Smile
    In a way, I wish I'd never even gotten a credit card after that; my sudden spending power after so much asceticism (sp?) made me go kinda crazy, and 12 years later I'm still recovering from the cycle of debt.

  7. therecklessone Says:
    1265172470

    Thanks, everyone! Much appreciated!

    fern, my workplace is odd. We get paper checks. Speaking of credit ratings, my report is coming this week. Gulp!

    ceejay74, right on! I love my rice with big glops of soy sauce. Mmmm. And, yeah, you know, if I ever get out of this mess alive, I will never use another credit card again. I'm learning my lesson.

  8. baselle Says:
    1265176389

    Wow - you have a lot of challenges in the next two weeks. Definitely see if you can shave things a bit. Any free food opportunities at work? Also think about planning to to eat something at home (protein!!!) before you go to the dinner with friends - it'll help you at least not feel freakin' deprived. If you are coming down with something - think about begging off the drinks with friends. Its a convenient out.

  9. Broken Arrow Says:
    1265214564

    Why do you have Homer as your avatar? He looks like he's ready to go attack some doughnuts.... mmm... doughnuts.

  10. PauletteGoddard Says:
    1265229258

    Looks like you're on the right track! Cheap starchy vegetable, oats for fibre, banana for potassium. I salute thee, fellow cash-strapped Canadian! (Actually I have US $ to pay off, but I keep some coinage for my homeland jaunts)

  11. crazyliblady Says:
    1265570580

    I would make two recommendations with regard to your grocery shopping. You can visit the Thrifty fun website. The address is Thrifty fun dot com. Just fill out a free membership. After loggin in, click on coupons. You can trade coupons with other people. Some will take an SASE or stamps instead. This will help you bring down your food costs a lot.

  12. therecklessone Says:
    1265595231

    baselle: Thanks! I am feeling a lot better now. Occasionally, people do bring in goodies to work. I used to bake cookies every week, actually. Haha! I am going out next weekend on Saturday and Sunday... that'll be a challenge.

    Broken Arrow: Homer and I have the same work ethic, and we both share a love of doughnuts. Mmmm. Also, if I could, I would wear a muumuu every day.

    PauletteGoddard: Thanks! I've been subsisting off oatmeal, bananas, and peanut butter for the past couple of days!

    crazyliblady: Thanks for the tip! I just went there, and I was inspired by your response to visit more coupon sites!


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