Thanks for the fish

sleepy. So am I. It’s called WINTER. and it SUCKS.Actually the sad fact is that we are still 2 whole months away from winter, but it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it. There’s been frost on the car and a need for a warm coat the last few days. We even turned on the heat for the first time last night. We held out longer than most, but when we got home to a 58 degree house, we thought it was time. We have a propane fireplace and that has been on, but otherwise it’s been wool sweater and socks. And we have a great comforter on the bed so we still haven’t turned the heat on up there. It’s almost becoming a sort of game with me… how much energy can I save… how much money can I save.. I’m doing it with groceries too. I have to admit.. it’s kind of fun! It’s almost addicting.

However, I checked my credit card bill today and it’s $700! I swear, every month I’m thisclose to paying the damn thing off but somehow I manage to put $500 a month on it. That’s just unacceptable. What was it this month? Let’s see… $209 to take the Subaru in when it broke down at the gas station. It was just the battery, but after the service center talked me into a million other things (oil change, grease the gear shift, turn off the “check engine” light, etc. etc.) things added up. But I was happy to find a new place to take my car. They specialize in subarus and are really close to my work. I didn’t like the dealership I was taking it to anyway and it was out of my way, so this is cheaper and convenient.

$120 on Arbonne cosmetics. This is my weakness. I spend so much money on cosmetics and facial creams, I really should look like Catherine Zeta-Jones by now.. but no luck. Arbonne is a Mary Kay-type company where you can’t buy it in a store but buy it from your friends and coworkers. It’s European and supposed natural and stuff. I got a serum and eye cream. This was before my frugal kick. Now I’m all about using up all the creams and makeups, etc. that I have put in the “nah” pile and not buy anything else till they are all gone (that should be in about 2525).

$98 on dinner in Mass. with my sis and hubbie (which neither of them ever paid me back for.. that was one of those instances where J was like “you buyin?” sigh….)

$95 at Target… no idea what I bought… which is why I no longer go into Target.

$10 for Netflix… I’m ok with that.

I’ve been really good lately and have bought nothing lately other than groceries and gas (and a frappucino today.. and one for my firend D) but my roots are getting bad and I need a haircut so that’s like $150, which at one point seemed like no big deal but now seems extremely extravagant. For god’s sake, I’m saving the seeds out of my squash to eat as a snack! I’ve even stopped buying wine. So what should I do? Go the Miss Clairol route and go to Supercuts? I don’t think I can do it.

I found a fabulous dress at Nordstrom for my company christmas party, but I found out 2 important facts today. 1) No cute guys go to the xmas party and 2) no one really dresses up. So I guess I will save that $120 as well. Though I really did want an excuse to buy a fabulous dress.