A Fork in the Road

Image above from THIS LINK. Please see my PS.

I've been mulling over my very public money tracking here. I have a crisp memory of when I decided to start listing my spends/looking them in the eye--it was the very end of December 2018, after our Christmas trip to Maine. 

I had a separate rental car and stopped in Kennebunkport on my solo drive back--and then discovered all kinds of after-Christmas sales in Montclair. Mainly, luxuries I had eyed during the season but resisted. For example, a soft pink wool Irish throw blanket and 2 adorable, glittery, light-up Christmas cottages (each powered by a tiny bulb). Soon after, I started listing every penny. Here is a link to my first official money tracker post, January 3, 2019.

Now--I have not crunched all the numbers. I have learned a lot about myself. But it takes a LOT of time to track every cent spent (except medical co-pays, etc.).  It can be quite a responsibility. 

I think I'm going to take a break from committing to track daily here. Maybe I will just post $$ here when it's of interest for one reason or another. For instance, today I had a $20 budget and wanted beauty. I spent $18.11 total at Whole Foods and got really good stuff for the money:

• A multi-pack (maybe 9?) of fall pansies--orange, white and yellow.....mood booster for sure. Added to outdoor planters.
• Half-gallon Ronnybrook Farm whole milk in glass bottle. Includes $2 refundable bottle deposit. I love and talk about milk so much, I think I should have a MILK MONEY daily header. LOL.
• Medium box of almond milk.
• 3 chocolate-covered pretzels for Punch, safely wrapped in their own bag. 

TCOY

1. Walked around block w. Sug and down to stream, to take in its beauty from the sidewalk.
2. Important phone call and texting with friend S.
3. Planted the pansies, watered the garden, filled a tall lawn and leaf bag for pickup.
4. Healthy foods eaten: nice berry bowl; cantaloupe wedge; nuts (measured portion); good coffee; Ezekiel English muffin with butter; baby spinach; rosy radishes.
5. About to take bath.
6. Then read the first French memoir/recipe book, Kim. 
7. Listening to peaceful Elvis gospel music.

I'm tired. I rose at 6 am.

Good night.

P.S. A chipmunk has been in our house since yesterday. It's very unsettling. IDK what to do. I laid out a path of pecans leading to the front door but then was afraid that would ATTRACT more chipmunks. We have so many outside this year, building their very efficient tunnels. Ugh.

per Wikipedia: The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1911. Timmy Tiptoes is a squirrel believed to be a nut-thief by his fellows, and imprisoned by them in a hollow tree with the expectation that he will confess under confinement. Timmy is tended by Chippy Hackee, a friendly, mischievous chipmunk who has run away from his wife and is camping-out in the tree.