With the humidity and blazing sun, it’s near 100 degrees today in Chicago, which makes air conditioning a necessity and not a luxury. I don’t care what any personal finance person says about using fans instead of AC during the summer!

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• $75 Costco
• $35 Aldi
• $44 gas

We were able to cut out a trip to the regular grocery this week thanks to Aldi. A new store just opened down the street, and it is surprisingly upscale for Aldi. We got a lot of great food (dairy, meat, and snacks) that we usually can’t buy at Aldi, which saved us a ton!

I’ve officially challenged our household to not spend any money in August. Even if one of us happens upon the best acne treatment ever, there are only three situations that warrant the exchange of currency:

1. gas
2. groceries
3. bills

I’m even going to take the challenge a step further, and limit our grocery consumption to $25 a week at the regular grocery, with the rest being purchased from Aldi.

Would you like to join in? How much do you think your household can scrounge together by the end of the month? I think we can save at least $500.

Instead of staying home and taking advantage of the free weight equipment at the apartment clubhouse, my husband and I decided to have a night out.

• $46 Texas Roadhouse
• $65 Old Navy
• $51 Cost Plus

We’re gearing up for No Spend August, which I’ll fill you in on later!

• $42 Meijer
• $7 Target
• $14 Old Navy
• $41 gas
• $5 Starbucks

I was bored on Sunday evening, so I went out shopping with no specific purpose. Bad idea. I got dish soap, hair conditioner, two bags of shrimp, three containers of Ben & Jerry’s, and a black dress for 75% off. None of which I needed.

It’s much harder to fess up to my spending when I have to list several days worth at one time. Somehow it makes the spending seem worse.

• $43 gas
• $77 Costco
• $128 grocery
• $50 Joe’s Crab Shack
• $6 Dairy Queen
• $98 Victoria’s Secret
• $15 movies

Last night was our night out for this paycheck, we saw Dark Knight and ate at Joe’s Crab shack. Between the popcorn and fried shrimp, you may see an eca stack purchase on my next Daily Dollars report.

• $72 Target
• $20 Portillo’s
• $46 gas
• $18 Chipotle
• $6 Wendy’s
• $40 Sprint
• $550 Chase
• $169 Sallie Mae
• $25 Save 2nd Base

Another payday, another stack of bills…with extra money left over! This is a 3 payday month for me, and next month is a 3 payday month for my husband, which means that there is grocery shopping to be done and credit card bills to be paid off!