What a week! We were busy bell to bell between work, home reno projects, and everything in between. Oh, and the inauguration and the Women’s March on Washington. Seriously, what a week! Here is what I spent my money on, and where I could have done better…
DARA’S MONEY DIARY | WEEK OF JANUARY 16 — 22
MONDAY
6:00AM Breakfast was a piece of toast with peanut butter, eaten on the way to work, and lunch was a homemade salad a few hours later.
1:00PM I ran out of coffee for my French Press (thank you KH, it’s my favorite!!!!), so I bought a new tin of Compass Coffee’s Cardinal roast — so good. $14.29
4:00PM I was home to meet with a contractor for our kitchen tile and backsplash. Since I was super exhausted after work, and then working after work, and then working on our home projects, my sweet husband brought home take-out sushi on his way back from the office. Best husband ever! He paid.
TUESDAY
6:00AM Breakfast and lunch mirrored Monday.
4:00PM After I leave work, I stop by the bank to get my name changed on all my accounts. They will only do this in person… which is slightly annoying. It’s pouring rain, I’m freezing, and early for my appointment. I grab a cup of tea at a spot near the bank, and pull out a book while I wait. $2.45
5:10PM Afterwards, on my walk home, I pass by Subway. Since Alex won’t be home for dinner tonight, I decide to grab a 6″ tuna sub. $5.11
5:20PM I swing by the library since I’m passing it anyway on my walk back home. I just finished The Vegetarian, and need another book. I end up picking up The Vacationers, it isn’t my first, second, or third choice, but it’s the only thing on my list that’s available at the moment. Free
WEDNESDAY
8:10AM The painters we hired arrive at our home, so Alex and I carpool to his office to get out of their hair for the day, and let them do their thing. After I drop Alex off at his office, I head to my favorite coffee spot. Street parking $3.75
8:15AM I order a caramel latte and a chocolate croissant for breakfast, before diving into some web design work for a client. I’m there until I leave for work. $9.91
12:00PM My cellphone is due. $92.76
4:45PM I arrive home as the painters are wrapping up. I’m thrilled with how everything turned out. I hunker down into the basement with my laptop to let them finish up. I place a quick Sephora order. I’m literally out of everything. Foundation, blush, bronzer — the basics. $93.07
7:10PM Since we had painters here all day, and the house needs to be put back in order, we decided to do take-out. Plus, we were in great moods, the painters were able to finish the entire interior of our home in ONE day! We grab Indian take-out from our favorite little spot. Alex pays.
THURSDAY
7:15AM I had a work from home day, and since the painters were done in one day (again, so impressive!), I actually got to work from home. I had coffee and breakfast at home, after going for 45 minute walk.
3:00PM I needed some fresh air after being home all day. I walked to the closest Starbucks, and bought a brownie and a dark roast, enjoyed on our patio — it was such a gorgeous January day — mid 50’s! $4.66
3:15PM On my way back with Starbucks in hand, I stopped at CVS, as I was out of biotin vitamins. CVS had their usual BOGO deal. $10.54
7:15PM Alex and I headed out to our friends house for the evening. I called our Uber. $9.87
10:15PM I called the Uber to take us back home. Though, we didn’t get too far because of all the road closures for tomorrows inauguration. We were dropped off as close as we could get — Penn Quarter, and walked the rest of the way to SW Waterfront. $4.64
FRIDAY
7:15AM What a day to be in DC! Oh my. I walked Alex to the metro, since we both figured if he drove, he’d get stuck in terrible inauguration traffic. We stopped for coffee on the way there. I paid $5.24
8:00AM Once I kissed my husband goodbye, it was off to Safeway. I wanted to spend the second half of my day cooking, since I knew I wouldn’t get a chance over the weekend. $46.47
7:30PM Homecooked dinner in our freshly painted house. Afterwards, we watched Breaking Bad (currently on season 4), and I fell asleep on the couch.
SATURDAY
7:55AM I got up, had coffee, read, blogged, and put on my pussy hat. I walked the 7 minutes from our front door to the National Mall, just in time for the Women’s March. INCREDIBLE experience.
5:35PM We made it to the Tile Shop just before they closed. We ordered backsplash, kitchen floor tile, grout, and all the other things that go with it. $$$$$$$$$ from our reno budget
6:15PM Next stop Michaels! I told Alex I wanted to paint, so he bought me a 5 pack of canvases and a few colors I ran out of. Alex paid
6:45PM Dinner was at the Silver Diner. A childhood favorite of mine. Alex paid
7:30PM Our final errand for the evening was Home Depot. We needed to buy overhead light fixtures, a new doorbell, new switches, outlet covers, lightbulbs, dimmer switches, and other odds and ends. $$$$$$$$$ from our reno budget
SUNDAY
8:43AM Alex and I went for a morning run, his idea. And when we came home, he even cooked breakfast for us. Pretty incredible. It was literally the second meal he’s ever cooked for me…
7:10PM We don’t leave the house for the rest of the day, and I’m perfectly OK with that. I do laundry, work, blog, food prep for the week, paint my nails, and prepare for the week ahead. I run out to Safeway to pick up a few birthday cards I need to mail out this week, and call my grandma during the errand. $8.98
Weekly Total = $311.74
Bills, $92.76
Groceries, $57.01
Dining Out, $41.66
Personal, $93.07
Gifts, $8.98
Transportation, $18.26
Overall, I think I had a pretty decent week. I spent less on groceries than I normally do, but a bit more in dining out this week. How often do you buy a cup of coffee?