Ms. Pearl's Journey to Living Frugally

Insomnia

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:11:38 PST

I have been suffering from insomnia. Terribly. Despite the Restoril I still have trouble falling asleep and the worst is that I cannot stay asleep. It sucks.

The strange part is that I'm not sure I am actually sleeping. Does that make sense? I woke (?) up at 2am this morning and...

Saturday Update/weight/running 3 MILES in 30 minutes!/money

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:06:09 PST

M. received his bonus money yesterday...what a relief. It will be nice to see the BIG BAD chase credit card balance be a thing of the PAST!

My weight is still at 133 because though I exercise a lot I eat a lot. But at least I am not gaining. Yesterday I ran 3 miles in 30 minutes...

I don't have an entry title

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:27:18 PST

Nope, no entry title.

I have been reading voraciously, all kinds of novels. Once I begin a book I feel like a drug addict must, each page pregnant with potent intentions, driving me to continue inhaling the words, to feel the climax and resolution. Strangely provocative sentence...

I'm feeling goofy

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:55:14 PST

Because I am so tired. Down to the last 5 hours of this crazy weekend. My goal is to stay awake until 11am (and while driving home) and hopefully crawl into bed around 11:20.

I failed to fill my Restoril prescription on Friday so I had my husband do it Sat. Well, turns out my Dr....

Saturday Update/minor weight loss

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:12:58 PST

Woke up at 4:30 am and got in 45 minutes of exercise. Weight is now 133 according to my home scale and 136.2 according to work scale...the discrepency? Who knows but from henceforth the work scale will be known as "The Demon Scale." But hey, still a minor drop so I will take it.

Went...

Friday update

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:05:50 PST

Finally, my husband is getting a bonus. yay! $12,500. Of course, a lot of that will be taken away in taxes but still, so happy!

We are paying off 3 credit cards,
1. chase
2. newegg
3. gap

That will leave us with 3 credit cards
1. BOFA (balance 7,350)
2. Lowes (balance 1800.00)
3....

Sad and Happy

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:33:04 PST

I am experiencing lots of mood swings this summer. One minute I am basking in the relaxing hum of summer and the next I am ready to cry.

Is it my hormones?

My girls are growing up but I think it is more than that. On July 2nd they get their genetic tests drawn and a few months...

Licenses, Bikes and Budgets

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:55:20 PST

Is paid for and renewed for the next two years! All CEUs complete. One less thing to worry about. (my nursing license)

Spent 13.21 at Walmart today for junk food.

My brand new Trek Bike (hybrid ladies 7000) has been ordered using 98,000 Mariott reward points. Can't wait to get...

I have ugly furniture and payday update.

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:32:24 PST

I got paid yesterday. Made $300 more than usual thanks to the extra hours I picked up. $109 of that will go to renewing my nursing license and the Continuing Education units I had to pay for.

I am on vacation in precisely 35 minutes! I will be off the next 7 days. Have no big plans....

mid-week update

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:30:40 PST

Not spending much this week. Gave C. 30.00 today as she went shopping with a friend but she only spent 7.00 on food so that's good.

Spent 30.10 on gas and another 5.00 on gum and water...silly but I needed some gum. Husband has not spent any money this week!

All bills are up...

weight update

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:06 PST

I lost 1.5 lbs the first 15 days of June. I am happy but I was hoping it would have been a pound more. But hey, I'll take that.

I exercised 2 hours today. One hour by myself at home and one hour with my friend walking and kickboxing/lunges/running up and down bleachers. Feeling...

Weekend shopping

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:39:48 PST

We did our weekly grocery/household shopping. Spent total of 169.00. So that means we stayed within our budget...we budget 150-175 every week. We used to budget a lot less but lets face it, it wasn't realistic even with using coupons. We already shop at Walmart for certain things but...

Losing Weight?

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:28:28 PST

Still holding at 138. Depressing!

I have been ravenous lately. I also have been running at least 20 miles a week. So why am I not losing weight? My hypothesis is that I am burning a lot of calories and then eating a lot because I am so hungry. (Overeating is more like it.)

I...

Arrogant Bill Collector

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:32:28 PST

Well, I dealt with a very rude man a week ago and thought I would share my experiences. We had a hospital bill from an ER visit for my daughter several months ago...she hurt her hand in gymnastics. Anyway, we are blessed with wonderful health insurance (knock on wood!) and our ER bills...

Shopping Haul

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:28:25 PST

I had a productive weekend! Kind of expensive but stayed within budget.

Mulch: 50.00 (still need to spend another 50.00 this coming weekend to finish)

Flowers/perennials: 88.00

Walmart (weed barrier, misc. landscaping tools) 29.00

Lowes (pots, something I can't remember)...

Finally!

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:34:32 PST

Finally my weekend has arrived...well in 30 minutes! Made my to do list for the next three days and let me say I am gonna be quite the busy bee. Flowers, mulch, shopping, cleaning.

Oh, but it will feel so good when it is all done!

Strange thing today, my husband told me that...

What a blur

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:15:36 PST

...life has become this week! Working a lot of extra hours. I'm in the middle of my next to last shift. I will get off at 7am Friday then come back to work at 3pm Friday. Not much sleep but I have the the next three days off. Thank goodness.

Got paid today, 1113.67. Yikes almost...

The week ahead and WANTS vs NEEDS

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:18:34 PST

I have quite a busy schedule this week. Working a lot of extra hours. I sat down today and made a list of all the NEEDS and WANTS in my life that next few months.

If I say it is detailed...well that is an understatement. I listed every item of clothing my family and I NEED and also...

My BIG accomplishment

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:26:53 PST

Today I did something I have never done before, something I never dreamed would be possible:

I RAN 5 MILES IN 53 min and 29 seconds.

I RAN 3.30 MILES WITHOUT STOPPING.

5 months ago when I started my journey to wellness I couldn't even run at a 5.0 on the treadmill without...

Weekend update with Ms. Pearl

gmonter@embarqmail.com (Ms. Pearl) — Sun, 31 May 2009 06:03:00 PST

Went to see Angels and Demons last night...pretty good.

Spent $37 for 3 of us. C.'s friend gave me 20.00 toward the price otherwise we would have paid more because of the popcorn, candy and drinks. Wow, they are too expensive!

But now that we have an actual WORKING budget we...