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I had my hands-on election training last night, and just like last time, I was overwhelmed with information. It just sounds a little more familiar this time! I have a manual that I will read before the day. Only a week and a half to study.

It's not that it's so hard, it's just that they throw so much at you so fast. Of course they want you to be ready for anything.

As far as spending goes, I spent $3 on a new shower curtain liner and $8 on groceries. I was at Target...
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At Artsenta today they had free fruit. I took an apple and 2 mandarins. I am making pottery bowls and bead jewelry for Christmas gifts. After I went to the Rotary secondhand book sale and bought 3 books at a dollar each as gifts. (if your friends don't like recieving secondhand books get some new friends) I thought about buying a book a knitting patterns for myself, but there are loads of free patterns on the net.

I recieved a plumber's bill of $29.18 as my share of some...
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Moved to an apartment this summer to get into a specific school district. Still searching for houses. I swear there is another bubble as small, old, dated houses are going fast at high prices. Can't even entertain anything that was built in the last 20 years. Beginning to think if I don’t save for 100% of a house and build my own, I will never find anything. I am starting a “new” job on Monday with a big pay increase with awesome benefits. First job where I feel like I am...
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I was really looking forward to going out to eat last night. And I did have a good time. But I got sick afterward. Something I ate was not right with me. I had a cheeseburger, but I did take my dairy pill with the first bite. Perhaps I should have taken two. I'm also wondering if the caramelized onions were the culprit. Kidney disease has made my digestion so much more sensitive.

The cost was $15.

I ordered fish food from Amazon and spent $23 -- should last me a while....
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Today's the day where we find out if everything is okay after the trip. Everyone was incredibly worried about me driving that far given what happened last time. Since I'm stubborn, I refused to miss out on it just because I'm expecting. I'd feel really terrible if everything isn't okay given everyone's concern. I did clear the trip with my doctor beforehand and feel like I did everything in my power to take precautions. I feel good and haven't had any concerning signs, so I'm hoping...
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In: found 10 cents
Out: fruit and veg $6

There was a load of very good yarn in the thrift store this morning. I could have spent $32, but realised it's only 2 months to Christmas and I'm supposed to be setting money aside for it.

I finished the last of the popcorn.
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I'm checking in quickly about my daughter since some have been asking. Things don't look very good right now. We are waiting on biopsy results for stomach and esophagus. She's been peeing blood since the 17th and the doctor is worried about her kidneys which previously had stable cysts, might be unstable now or possible renal failure starting. CT scan tomorrow. The kid already glows in the dark. Still not keeping food down. It feels like she's dying.

I am overwhelmed,...
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It's been brutal adjusting to being back. The trip was really relaxing and just what I needed. The drive there and back was a bit rough given my condition, but it was so nice to be able to tell family and friends in person. We did spend quite a bit more than anticipated considering the 'budget' that I'd set barely ended up covering gas. In the future, I'll have to actually do some math rather than just guessing at a random number. All told, we spent just under $700 which I covered...
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I wasn't going to spend anything yesterday, but as it turned out I had to get gas - $26. And then I bought cones at McDonald's for GS2 and me. $2.

I ended up with spending 74% of my variables budget. Still good.

For the upcoming month, I have $231 extra to put into my variables budget. That includes the garage sale profits, mystery shopping, surveys, cashback rewards and found money.

The extra money not spent last month will go into savings.

My net worth has remained...
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My bill paying account has built up to the point where I have enough to pay 3 months of power bills. Since it will be lower over the summer I transferred $200 to my FFEF. It's nice to have a buffer for when I go to India, as I'll have no income for the 3 weeks I'm away, but the FFEF is to cover other emergencies as well.
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It's been a swell couple of days around here. Sunday morning on the way to church my car died. Three times. I was able to get it restarted and home, but have been driving my DH's beater (and I do mean beater) ever since. My car is no showroom special. It's a Volvo station wagon with a cool 153,000 miles on it, but I love it. Today it went to a new auto shop. We got an estimate on it and scheduled a repair for Friday. It needs about $800 work. However, on the way to pick...
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We had our benefits presentation today, so now I know how much more our medical costs will be (pretax; the effect on my paycheck won't be 100% known until Jan. 15).

Medical is going up a little, plus I've just edged into the next income bracket, so the premium for me and the kids is going up $85 per month pretax.

Dental is staying the same.

I'm adding NT to vision coverage next year because he thinks he may need glasses, so that's going up $8.33 per month.

Since he'll...
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Yesterday was my indoor day. I didn't go anywhere; didn't move the car. Heck, I didn't even dress! That is, I showered but then got into another pair of pajamas.

Today will be a different story. This morning I'm going to the gym, and this afternoon I'm taking GS2 for a haircut and then to his cooking class. But no shopping. Two days to pay day, and I'm going to try to keep my variables down to 70%.

I think next month will be a low-spend month on groceries, because I...
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I walked to Pak n Save and bought
sultanas $1.79
pasta 75 cents
lentils $2.15

I was too tired to walk back and it was starting to rain, so I caught the bus back $1.92.

For lunch I bought some bread rolls at New World from my Play jar $2.30. Have to wait until tomorrow for a whole $2 to spend on enjoying myself.
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We did a bit of gardening this weekend even though it rained a lot. Not much else really happened here.

Grocery = $57.10. This will be it for the month since we are going away.

Clothes = socks, tracksuit and leggings for $20.98

Sunscreen and eye drops = $15.45

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Nice little bump to savings!

Current Balance $11,070.00
+$90.00 FB Sales
+$96.73 Dividend Check
+$3.27 Even Out Amount
+$50.00 My Payday to Our Savings (10/19)
+$75.00 My Payday to Mom Loan Savings (10/19)
Balance $11,385.00

Local Savings $945.00
GC Savings $1190.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2450.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Loan Payback Account)$4750.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account #1)$550.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account #2)$1500.00
Total...
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Another great week of sales! Total Sales were $141.00, and next week I should hit my 1000th Sale!

Sale #987 (JC) $45.00
Earbuds (2) - We paid $1.33 each
Sold for $4.00 each
Profit = $5.34

Bottle Opener and Screwdriver Set - I paid .99
Sold for $5.00
Profit = $4.01

Old Navy PJ Pants (2) - I paid $2.13
Sold for $6.00 each
Profit = $7.74

For my Mom 50 notebooks in packs of 10/$4 (5 packs) = $20.00.

Sale #988 (TS) $30.00
Shark Cordless Floor Sweeper (2)...
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Yesterday I spent .53 on lunch. That was how much I went over the amount that will be reimbursed. I ordered exactly what I was supposed to, so I hope the mystery shopping company starts to catch up with the reality of rising prices -- it's not possible to order the required items and come in under their flat reimbursement rate. Not that it's so much, but they should reimburse fully, or change their ordering requirements.

I finished my online training for Election Day. I...
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The kids are home and we can tell with how much busier the house is, the food budget has gone up and the house is messier...but I love having them home.

Didn't reach my financial goal for the month but was only $300 off so I'm okay with that we can play catch up next month (hopefully)...but we have money in our ice account and savings account so I am happy with that.

No more paydays this month so I can update our savings info on here, and I also need to save to buy my friend...
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I was given some rhubarb, but had to buy sugar to cook it. $2.60.
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