I’m going home to visit my family in Chicago this weekend so I’m paying bills early (mainly to avoid packing).

Do you have any big plans for the 4th of July? Having family and friends out for a huge BBQ or watching free fireworks in your ‘hood?

• $124 grocery
• $28 vet
• $20 Petsmart
• $33 gas
• $935 rent
• $124 utilities
• $165 Sallie Mae
• $199 health insurance*
• $490 car payment – Prius
• $61 State Farm – renters insurance
• $47 internet
• $40 Chase

*My husband didn’t work last month so we had to pay for health insurance out of pocket. I prefer it buried in all the payroll deductions so I don’t have to acknowledge how expensive health insurance really is.

Have a few seconds? I’d love your vote in the RetailMeNot BlogHer giveaway!

My trip to BlogHer has been booked for months, but I’d be positively giddy if I could put some of the money I’ve saved for my trip ($20 a week for the last 10 months!)  towards some nasty credit card bills and winning a ticket would do just that!

All you have to do is click over to RetailMeNot, check my entry, and click vote! Entries appear randomly on the page, so here’s what you’re looking for…

Did I mention you’re looking especially thrifty lately?

Thanks for your vote!

• $145 Costco
• $120 Chase
• $157 State Farm – car insurance
• $77 Sprint

Quiet week – which is good because it’s payday without a paycheck. Bummer. I’m still adjusting to getting paid monthly!

What did you spend your money on this week?

• $130 vet
• $25 Walmart
• $41 Target
• $28 movies

Saw Super 8 and Tree of Life this weekend. I recommend you save your self the money and wait for both to come to Red Box. And use a coupon.

While I was vacationing in Las Vegas last weekend, I visited a psychic who said money has been a major issue in the past year (I was unemployed), things have recently taken a turn for the better (I got a job), and that money won’t be an issue in the near future.

By near future, she clearly didn’t mean this month since it has unexpectedly turned into a one paycheck month.

• $1,000 food, gambling, transportation, airport parking, miscellaneous vacation expenses
• $196 dog boarding
• $84 Sprint
• $130 grocery
• $16 Taco Bell*
• $33 gas
• $165 Sallie Mae
• $490 car payment – Prius
• $376 car payment – Corolla
• $35 Bill Me Later**
• $73 Capital One***
• $500 ING

*Worst decision ever.

**Booked a flight home for the 4th of July and took advantage of 0% for 6 months.

***Paid in full monthly.