Spending Spree--and Yet, the Sadness Persists [of Course It Does]

The book is appropriately small, about
6.5 x 8.5 inches. Judith Jones is a magical name in the publishing world.
[See below.] Her beef stew sounds like it
will nicely feed me and Punch, the only
meat eaters in the house--and Sug will surely beg for a nibble.

Things have been rocky with raising Punch. And when that happens, I tend to overspend, instead of take stock of our strengths and the blessings we have, the wind and the godspeed that can power us through rough seas. Some of this spending was essential [groceries for meals, new bike lock, new air pump, both long overdue] but some was just to cheer myself up.

• Amazon, Salt on a Robin's Tail paperback by my friend Celia's friend Andrea Kott. It's a memoir and sounds really good.   
  • Salt on a Robin’s Tail: An Unlikely Jewish Journey Through Childhood, Forgiveness and Hope, is a true story of love and loss, struggle and survival, despair and hope. It shatters stereotypes, and inspires reconciliation with painful pasts. Salt On a Robin’s Tail | Andrea Kott andreakott.org/salt-on-a-robins-tail/  With shipping and tax, $21.31.
• Amazon, SKINNY DIPPED ALMONDS SuperDark + Sea Salt Chocolate Covered Almonds, 0.46 Ounce Mini Bags, 24 Count, free shipping, $24.99 plus tax. I read about these via Nutritionist Sam, the nutrition/diet/fitness editor at Good Housekeeping who was handpicked by my friend--the great Delia Hammock--when she retired. Sam has really good advice. Our paths at work crossed briefly.
• Greenwich Avenue parking meter with Sis, 25 cents.
• Out of the Box fashion store on Greenwich Avenue, feminine floral skirt marked down from $168 to $45, with tax, $47.86.
• Iced coffees and biscotti for Sis and me, plus tip, $15.59.
• Kings, Instacart doorstep delivery today, w service fee and tip: 2 half-gallons organic reduced-fat milk; good rye bread; 1 pound good deli turkey; Acme smoked whitefish spread; brioche buns, which Punch loves; organic strawberries; 6 large bananas; Food for Life sprouted almond cereal; and 2 frozen Phillips crab cakes for Dan and Punch dinner, $77.58. 
• Starbucks, Montclair, grande decaf iced coffee plus big $3 tip since first Starbucks drink since March, $6.47.
• Ditto, enticement, curbside pickup to get Punch up and out early yesterday for 2 hours at doctor's office for physical, bloodwork etc, screening for behavioral program. She got 2 egg/bacon/Gouda breakfast sandwiches and one very tall iced drink, $14.20.
• Bank fees, $4.25.
• Watchung Booksellers, back-door pickup in Montclair, $28.75. The book is The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones. It is an endearing book that I saw in the bookshop on my day trip to Southampton last summer but didn't have the money to buy it. Judith Jones (née Bailey; March 10, 1924 – August 2, 2017)^[1] was an American writer and editor, best known for having rescued The Diary of Anne Frank from the reject pile.^[2] Jones also championed Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.^[3][4] She retired as senior editor and vice president at Alfred A. Knopf in 2011.^[5] Jones was also a cookbook author.....  I could have gotten the book much cheaper online, but when I can, I like to support my independent bookstore. It is a keepsake book and I will remember the special place where I first saw it last summer and the place I got it now.
• Figgy--I felt like giving to this hardworking college-loan holder, $20.
• Vesta Chocolate,  bag of pure cacao nibs [no sugar], 2 iced coffee drinks, 1 cacao sea salt brownie, $26 plus $3 cash tip because many small businesses are not making it and we love Vesta, $29. [We found out Joyist is closing permanently. Sad.]
• Ditto, gift bag of 3 cacao sea salt brownies for Punchy's friend's zoom bday, 1 sea salt chocolate chip cookie each for Elaine and Punch, rounded up to next dollar, $31.
• Local Jackie's Grillette, lamb and feta sandwich to last two meals, iced tea, iced coffee, 1/2 gallon organic milk, head of cauliflower, one orange pepper, one loaf local Nicolo's Italian bread, with generous tip, $37.48.
• Kings, large cart of groceries in person Sunday night: pork chops, fresh turkey burgers, vegan veggie burgers, regular veggie burgers, butter, tortilla chips, pita chips, large fresh baby spinach, bread, cantaloupe, Jarlsberg Lite slices, 3 oz. 88 percent dark chocolate bar, bag of potting soil, citronella candle, dog treats, Van's waffles, diet orange soda, large jar wheat germ, 2 half-gallons organic 2 percent milk, cashews, dried figs, and many other items, $213.
• Flowering garden plants [pink and white impatiens, red and white verbena, snapdragons, more] chosen with Punch, She planted a few today. $41.90. The pure whites made me think of the white clothing worn at George Floyd's funeral.
• Artigiano Jewel Box, the wonderful artisan treasure trove designed by Andrea Schettino in my hometown of Dumont. I was feeling especially hopeless and sad today about charting P’s path and how to help her, and I ordered this watermelon tourmaline pendant. Remember what I heard: Pink lifts the spirits of the wearer and those who see her or him. Here is the LINK. I love the handcrafted sterling silver setting. With shipping, $141.03.
• The Bail Project. Our great neighbors Liliana and Michael bought Black Lives Matter lawn signs and handed them out to those who want them, with a suggestion of places where to donate. $25.87.
• Montclair Bikery, sturdy new lock and impressive bike pump, $72.44.
• The Closer, season 4 on Netflix, $29.99.

total spend Friday, June 5 to Thursday, June 11:  $889.28.

ongoing monthly spend as of June 11:  $1,373.59.

avg daily spend: $124.87. As of now, this is more than twice as much as my avg. daily spend in March, when coronavirus took hold. 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.