Operation Nook Color

My mom is such a killjoy.

Like a kid, I  look forward to eating out once a week, it's something I like to do with the kids since we did it when their dad was alive. She's been getting at me for the longest to cut them out and I've kept saying no, this is what we do. Based on the restaurant, dinner for the 4 of us ranges from $25 to $40. Mom suggests cutting dining out to once a month and saving the other money. I had to remind her that eating out has been cut from 4 times a week to 4 a month since she has been here....guess that wasn't god enough.

So I thought about it. I need $350 for a nook color, protection plan, and cover. If we cut down eating out to once a week, that's $90 a month ( using a $30 average). In 3 months I'll be able to buy my nook color. This is by saving this money as well as cutting out buying breakfast and lunch during the week at work. (it was hard ass hell not buying lunch this past week)
 Can I do it for 3 months? I dunno, but we are going militant with the savings jar....you can deposit, but you cannot withdraw. Super gluing the lid of a coffee container, and put the $30 in each Saturday. I think this method is extreme...I do not agree with it, but knowing me, I'll buy it before the 90 days because I do have the money, I just know what I can do with $350...like buy the kids school clothes and supplies (it starts in a month)
I like how I've just about talked myself out of the savings tactic. But I'll go a step further. I'll start saving this way and instead of stopping at 90 days, I will continue until the end of the year. Then on December 31, I will see how much has been saved. Theoretically it will be $600, that's $30 a week for 20 weeks. It may or may not happen. This is coming from the Person who was supposed to be putting away $4.00 a week when the kids started taking their lunches to school. Maybe I'll do that this school year.

Slowly, but surely

My savings plan for 2011 has begun. Tuesday I got the email confirming what will be my weekly transfers into my designated savings account. I almost thought I did it wrong. WHY? I don't know, I've set up plenty of inter/intra bank ACH transfers in my day, but this one made me nervous. Now I can breathe easy, I guess 30 and a half (yes, I went there) isn't too late to get my monetary life right, should have done it at 27 when I got my new job. Oh well what wasn't done is done and I choose now to get on track.