Quiet Weekend.

I am very glad it's Friday.

It promises to be a quiet weekend.

We have no choice, we're (almost) out of money.

Europe in September plus Phoenix and Christmas in December meant our budget pretty much exploded.  We need to get back on track, which means going back to an all-cash diet.  It means carefully prioritizing wants and needs- from clothing and books to toothpaste and hair gel to food.

That also means that by the last week of the month, my wallet starts to feel very very light.

Today, I was THAT person, standing in the grocery store with my calculator, adding up my total as I worked my way through the aisles, putting things back as I went over budget.  Pecans that were supposed to go into cookies will have to be swapped for almonds that I already have in the pantry.  Local, organic yogurt was jettisoned in favour of a decidedly NOT local NOT organic yogurt that was almost half the price and had a coupon.  Lunches for the week will have to be leftovers, or toast with peanut butter and jam.  [The good news for my waistline is that there was no money for forbidden junk food or chocolate].

I added everything up twice before hitting the checkout and didn't take my eyes off the total as the cashier rang up my groceries.  Coming in $6 under budget was a huge relief.  But it was also hugely gratifying, realizing that I can plan four suppers (plus leftovers), breakfasts, lunches and snacks for Andrew and I on the cash I had left.  It is also testament to just how much money you can save by doing things yourself- a small box of Raincoast Crisps costs $7, but the ingredients to make four batches myself only cost $9.  Same goes with granola, and muffins, and bread, and the energy bars I'm planning on making.  The convenience of having someone else do it for you can be a boon to your spare time, but an enormous drain on your budget.

Four days left in the month, and $6 (plus some change) to cover anything else we may need.

So...it's going to be a quiet weekend.