$$$: Keeping Track/Facing the Music

Today alone I spent a lot [$100 plus $10 tip for grooming Sug, 16, who has many cysts]--but I'm not listing that here, since it was necessary, not frivolous. She was liking a walking dust mop, couldn't see with the hair in her eyes. Likewise, not listing my steep $75 dr/specialist co-pay under our marketplace health insurance. Ubers and groceries are also essential, but still, I'm listing them--because they can go overboard.

TCOY

1. I clipped forsythia, pulled weeds and pruned saplings in back garden.
2. Punch and I Ubered Sug to the Grooming Gallery [our car died] and then took long walk back into town. Exercise.
3. Determined to work on essay this evening, even if only two sentences.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET FROM SUNDAY, JUNE 14 TO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

• Vesta Chocolate, one ice-cold Magical Butterfly Lemonade [changes color, really cool] and one sea-salt chocolate chip cookie for Punch plus small bar 100 percent pure cacao [no sugar] chocolate for me, with $1.25 tip, $19.
• Sandwich Theory, iced coffee for me, muffin for Punch and later, Diet Snapple for me, with tip, $8.
• Sandwich Theory Tuesday, sandwich and iced coffee, $11.85.
• Soho Pizza on Valley Road, slice of chicken parmesan pizza each for Punch and me, plus bottle of water, $11.50.
• Barbara Eclectic, black skirt on sale and 4 face masks, one to give a friend and 3 for family, $87.45.
• Williams-Sonoma, open again, masks required, maximum 16 people in store, 2 bowls, 1 small plate, Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, $35.11.
• Kings, in person, ingredients for basic vegetable soup from the Judith Jones book--but I made enough for 4, not one. Huge bunch Swiss chard, veg bouillon cubes, Vidalia onion, 2 yellow potatoes, plus fruit juice, garlic, sushi + a seaweed salad for Punch, large can shelled walnuts, Italian wedding soup, loaf of local semolina bread, 2 reusable bags [I was walking home], 1/2 lb. salted Vermont butter, Vermont whole-wheat English muffins, 4 large bananas, $69.82.
• Montclair Stationery, box of 50 business envelopes, get well card, photo album, $20.58.
• Uber cancelled ride, I think because driver didn't want to take the dog, $5.
• Uber from home to groomer with $3 tip, $11.90.
• Uber back to groomer from town with $3 tip, $10.88.
• Uber home from groomer with $3 tip, $12.04. I don't usually tip that high but it is the pandemic...and also, drivers took Sugar.
• Uber to dr appt Tuesday plus $3 tip, $13.67.
• CVS, 2 bottles bubble bath, $21.
• Kings, tender asparagus and a 3-oz bar 88 percent cacao dark chocolate, $8.60.
• Instacart, Kings, smoked whitefish, shaving gel, body wash/bubble bath and something else, $46.31.
• Rented the documentary "Obit," so good, $3.99.

total 4-day spend: $396.70.

ongoing monthly spend as of June 17:  $1,947.

avg daily spend: $114.53. As of now, my monthly spend is higher than what it was in all of March, when coronavirus took hold--and it is only June 17. I hope I can rein it in. I have been doing a lot of grocery and other shopping.

Keep an eye on/compare to previous months:

April 2020: Total monthly spend: $2,143.19.
Avg daily spend: $71.44.

March 2020--the effect of coronavirus quarantine and not working in NYC for now

Total monthly spend as of March 31: $1,916.15.

Avg daily spend: $61.81.

February 2020

Total monthly spend as of Feb. 29: $2,480.34.
Avg daily spend: $85.53.

TOTAL SPEND FOR MAY 2019: $2,348.24.

MAY AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $75.75. 

TOTAL SPEND FOR APRIL 2019: $3,634.28.

APRIL AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $121.14.