• $22 gas
• $16 CVS
• $10 Sonic
• $15 vegetable plants
• $54 Walmart

Those tomato and strawberry bushes better yield $69 worth of fruit.

I hate having to pay personal loans and other bills as we have the money. I usually sit down once a payday and pay all the bills at one time. I update our budget, plan for next payday, and figure out how much fun money is left over.

There is no fun money lately.

But, at least the bills are getting paid, right?

• $172 Chase
• $3 USPS
• $28 groceries

The only big bill left this month is a car payment. After that, I can breath a sign of relief.

Until next month.

Let me tell you what NOT to do first thing on a Friday morning. Pay bills.

When you’re unemployed.

Depressing.

• $38 groceries
• $823 rent
• $490 car payment – Prius
• $167 Sallie Mae
• $75 electric
• $89 internet
• $162 Chase

Texas needs to take a queue from Indiana and consolidate their license and registration applications. We spent all day yesterday at the tax office and BMV getting our cars registered and new licenses issued – which we have to wait to be mailed to us. What a waste of time and money.

• $390 plates
• $50 license
• $6 Sonic
• $33 CVS

But thanks to an AMEX gift card that I won from Invisalign at Blissdom, these expenses didn’t come out of our pocket, and we have $75 left!

• $79 groceries
• $22 gas
• $25 gas

The MSN story, Could you live with just 100 things?, was the first I had heard about the 100 Things Challenge.

The gist is that consumerism is America’s worst habit and the goal is to prove that by paring down your belongings to just 100 things, you can live  a fuller life without an abundance of “stuff.”

If each individual possession counts towards the “100 things,” then count me out. I need a toothbrush, mascara, black shoes and brown shoes. If grouping is allowed, say toiletries, clothes, and cooking utensils, then I’m not sure I even own 100 things to begin with.

Before we moved form Chicago to Texas, I did some major purging. If it cost more to move it then it was worth, it was donated, recycled, or thrown away. We’re now down to necessities and I’d like to keep it that way.

So, could you do it?

• $16 CVS
• $21 Mama Fu’s – half priced appetizers and entrees!
• $14 vet

Wow – I can hardly believe that’s all the money I’ve spent in 7 days.

IT’S A MIRACLE!

• $11 Juan in a Million
• $2 Sonic
• $33 Costco
• $63 Walmart

Today, I was prepared.

I made a list.

I sorted my coupons.

I warned my husband to be patient and not to be intimated by anyone in line behind us that attempted to give us the “coupon stink eye.”

I bought 60 items.

Used 32 coupons.

Bringing my grocery total from $114 down to $63.

I OWNED Wal-Mart today.

Huge thanks to ConAgra, who handed out loads of great coupons to Blissdom attendees. My cabinets would be empty and my fridge would be bare without you.