I had two parties to go to today - our office party, which was lunch at a nearby restaurant, and a holiday party at one of the group homes I provide service coordination services for. Yeah! I love parties. I took my youngest son to the second party. He had a ball, running all over the place. Almost a year old now, and he just completely skipped over the "stranger anxiety" phase. He took off in a crowded house, not knowing anyone but me, without a backward glance. He's going to keep me on my toes for sure.
I spent some money today on lunch ($9), an oil change ($14.03), and a donation to sponsoring several families for Christmas through my office ($20). I don't mind giving at all to causes like these - so don't get me wrong - but it seems like every time I turn around, there are requests for another donation. At the grocery store, they want you to donate $1 for this or that...I got asked at a craft fair over the weekend...I get at least 1 or 2 requests in the mail EVERY WEEK for a different cause. It seems like they waste so much money in the asking than they would receive when someone does donate. Personally, I have my two or three causes that I donate money to every year through payroll deduction or outright donation, and then I consider myself done. But I still feel like a jerk when someone asks me if I want to give to such-and-such a cause and I say no.
And then on a different, but similar, note, it seems like every week or two there is a collection around the office for someone who is leaving, or getting married, or whatever. It really adds up. I have been dodging the sign-up sheet for a luncheon for a co-worker that I barely know who is leaving. It has everyone's names and then you check "yes" or "no" to whether you want to donate. I don't want to be the only person checking no, but I also don't want to shell out $10 to send a co-worker to a spa for a day. I know this sounds really scrooge-ish, and I don't mean it to be because I am the first one to donate for a cause or to a friend, but it seems that there is always SOMETHING.
Anyway...
December expenses: $420.62 + 43.03 = 463.65
December income: nothing yet! should get paid Thursday
Saved money today by: taking snacks to work, drinking water, going to the place that does oil changes for $12.99 (cheapest around), using SIL as a babysitter (she owes me tons of babysitting hours!)