Brooklyn Girl's Personal Finance Blog

I just came across this slide show on MSN money:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/RaiseKids/what-the-world-eats.aspx?slide-number=1

North Carolina
Cost of a week's worth of food: $377.20
This is 1 photo from an 11 photo slide show (I don't think this family is eating very healthy).

I also have problem with the figure for China. I think they are featuring an upper middle class family, because you can eat out every meal for less than that amount. (I studied in China for 6 month and visit for 1 month every 2 years.)

But in any case, I thought this was an interesting concept.

Maybe we all should take pictures of our week's worth of groceries and tally the cost.

I live in a small apartment building and I happen to know financial situations of many neighbors, and I happen to be only one without debt (with the exception of a student loan).

Their problems range from cc debt, to months behind on rent, to collection issues...

I know that the landlord does not take checks from one of my neighbors, requiring that he be paid by a money order.

They sometimes ask my advice on these things. However, they only ask advice on how to deal with the consequences. They don't see at all that the underlining issue is that they are living a lifestyle they can't afford. It is like one gigantic blind spot.

And of course, I cannot volunteer that kind of unsolicited advice to people I have to see on a regular basis. (My mom is an exception to that rule -- she will love me no matter what and I care about her, so I take her problems close to heart.

But I still find amazing how much these people spend. That while I won't buy $800 worth of make-up and perfume in Bloomingdales in ONE trip, but someone who makes minimum wage can feel they need it.

But most of them are very nice people. Helpful, social, friendly, compassionate. They simply don't understand that they are being financially irresponsible. They think that debt is normal.

They also ask each other for short-term loans. It is considered normal to borrow few bucks until payday.

While DH and I never discuss what we bought or how much we make, it is evident that we do ok. Maybe because we don't complain or ever need to borrow money? Or maybe because they know where I work.

In any case, next Friday I should be paid back $250 from people in my building who needed the money to pay the bills due before the next payday. I am not worried about it at all(these types of loans will always be honored by them) and it is no inconvenience for me. It is just a difference in mentality.

And having to fight the itch to comment on their financial tales. Repeating to myself: "It is none of my business, it is none of my business."

For the first time in our lives we made an offer on an apartment (co-op). We offered significantly under the asking price, so I doubt it will be accepted. And there are so many other "ifs" in the arrangement...

But than again, what if?

Today is my birthday. I got a brand new ipod Touch (16GB one) and $300 to buy what I would like. And flowers, of course. And hot breakfast in the morning. Not a healthy one, but very delicious(crapes). It is OK on special occasions.

I am now relaxing in a completely clean apartment. I'm so relaxed I don't even want to go out for birthday dinner and decided to move it to another day).

Scandia down makes probably world's most expensive pillow:
http://www.scandiadown.com/
I really don't know if they are worth it (I guess if you are very rich, maybe).
But since I am not rich, I would not buy a pillow for that much money.

But, there was one on sample sale for $199 and I bought it!


Can't wait till it arrives. I was ok with that price - it is an average price of a good down pillow.
I jumped on the opportunity, and I was not the only one. It was sold out very fast. Even comforters on sale for $1,400 from $3,000+ were sold out. It just seems crazy - you could buy a car for that much money. But, I guess, the world of the rich is different.

http://store.scandiadownbayarea.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SDBA&Category_Code=CONP

I have a friend who lives in another city.
She is very inexperienced with men(never had a boyfriend) and does not have a relistic view of anything that has to do with men.

When she is telling me about another guy she met online, from what she is describing, I can see a lot of red flags right away and know it is not going to end well.

But I can't tell her that because she is saying this is the happiest she has ever been, she can't believe this happened to her, she is afraid to jinks it... (she is like that every time).

And again, I don't have the heart to correct her. I was right in my conclusions every single time (and I never voiced my negative opinion to her). Instead of upsetting her by telling her what I really think of them(based on her accounting of events) I do nothing. She is very upset later, when it naturally does not work out.

And I feel bad. But would telling her what I think when she is hopeful be any good? Would it be better?

I would tell what I think to any of my other girlfriends. Because I know they would understand me and could handle it. But they don't need help reading social cues and socializing with people. This girl does. And I would like to help her, but I am afraid that if I'm honest she'll be hurt.

What would you do?

That we are seriously considering. We got as far as requesting co-op financials. This seems like a nice place in a good location. 40 blocks from work. I can walk and not depend on transportation! There is a park, it is a quiet street... I want it.

However, this is a Manhattan kitchen:


Super tiny special sink, tiny special stove, a dishwasher (luxury). the other side has only the doorway and the refrigirator. So this is the close up of the ENTIRE kitchen counterspace(I think about 15 inches)


I also won't be able to fit a large pot or the entire skillet into the sink, I'll have to wash it sideways. But I think I can manage. And this kitchen is in a lot nicer condition than some others(of the same size) that I've seen.

Final exam for my Chinese class is on Wednesday.
I am disturbingly unprepared. I have not opened a book since I came back from China.
I really need to spend the weekend studying!

My job provides me with opportunity to study the language for free, but if I fail the exam I will have to pay to repeat the level.

I am having a lot of trouble even starting to study. Always too tired, always something to do... now I am starting to panic.

It is like a financial drinking game.

Any day the DOW is down more than 100 points by 2:50 pm I manually add $100 or $150 to a mutual fund(besides the auto invest for the ROTH) to buy shares based on that day's clothing price.

I look up which sector is falling and try to put it there. Like if commodity prices are down, I'll put that $100 into the fund that is heavily invested in commodities. (those will go back up eventually)

So by the end of the day it makes me feel a tiny bit better that I bought more shares with the money and I dollar cost average.

The mutual funds that I funded in this manner are right now up 20% above what I invested. The funds where I put in lump sum are, naturally, down.

This approach also keeps me from getting caught up in mass elation when things are going well.

I know I have fell off the wagon for the last few month. I am about to start with new resolve.

In September I will track our expenses to the cent.

My goals are to keep as close to our projected "if we buy a coop" budget as possible.

That includes spending under $500 on food without compromising quality. I will have to be very mindful and creative. I am not sure we can achieve this... but I'll try my best.

Encouraging news is that 3 months of lifestyle change have yielded excellent results for DH. His bad cholesterol is down 71 points just due to eating right and exercising!

So the results of our physicals are in.
There are good news, and there are bad news.

The good news is I am super-preferred.
My rate is even cheaper than what the agent quoted based on my answers.

The bad news is, DH's quote is $72 a month!!!!! at 27! He had a car accident 2 years ago that makes him more "expensive". but to that degree? I wonder if there is something else. Should I shop around? (now the results are in the common database so I don't think he'll need to take multiple physicals.

I wonder if it is even worth it to get life insurance at that rate. Maybe we should wait 3 more years until the car accident "falls off". (will it?)

I almost did a bad thing - there were these black Italian, soft leather tall riding boots with 2.5 inch stable wide heel (appropriate for riding boots).
It was on a sample sale website (very limited quantities, sometimes one item in each size). And they were $300, as opposed to regular price of $800. So I was weak. I have a couple of outfits with which they would go perfectly. And I don't have riding boots. ( I only have one pair of boots - suede brown, and they are about 5 years old)

Few days later, I got an email from the company that said they made the inventory error and won't be able to ship my order. With apologies, they included $25 credit.
I don't know if I should feel happy or upset. But it certainly is a classy way to handle their mistake. I wish more companies took customer satisfaction that seriously.
I am sure I'll buy from them again(they have really high end designers on really deep discount), so the credit is as good as money.

Yesterday I needed to replace one item of cosmetics so I went to Bloomingdales to buy another (dangerous thing for me to do).
Naturally, I got lost there for 3 hours.

Tried on a nice dress for fall/winter. Knit wrap dress with equestrian belt detail (would look nice with Fratelli Rosetti black leather riding boots).
It looked good on me, but I did not buy it! I have so much clothing that I imposed a mandatory "cooling off" period. ( I can't just buy everything that looks good ) I really like it though...

There was also a well cut short black pencil skirt with leather build-in belt detail (unusual ones) that also was really nice (and under $100), but again, I held strong.
I may think about it few days later and want to come back and get it. But than I will know how much I really want it.

I also like this skirt, but it is not worth the huge asking price:


However, there is a good chance that as season progresses it will go on sale for half the price. Than maybe.
That is what I did last fall/winter season. I waited patiently for very expensive things I liked to go on deep discount at the end of the season and got them.
I still love most of these items, and I don't anticipate buying much this season.
But with my accidental 11lb loss I can now wear tight, narrow wasted pencil with shirts tucked in, so I am thinking about getting one.
And that dress just looked like such an easy thing to wear. Oh boy, here I go again! Must stay strong...

Anyway, the only thing I bought were things I was prepared to buy when I walked in:

Rouge Volupte lipstick in nude beige and a matching lip liner.

(different shade)

I had $20 left on my Bloomingdales gift card, so the damage was only $45. Not too bad for a 3 hour shopping trip.

I also got made up by the Yves Saint Laurent make up artist and resisted the urge to buy primer and foundation (I never wear those because my skin is really good and just moisturizer is enough), but the way he did it just made is model flawless. I am still not sure I would bother doing it on a regular basis, so instead of buying it I asked them to give me free samples of them (and I also got a free mascara sample). So I can try it few times on my own and see if I can get the same result.

DH was having dinner out tonight, so I came home thinking I'll just have a snack. But I got hungry and wanted to eat something other than fruit.

All I had was beets. So I made a dish that my Ukrainian friend introduced me to. It was the first time I cooked it though. It came out delicious! And beets are so good for you.

So here is the recipe:

Peel and grate some nice FRESH sweet beets. Saute with olive oil, covered, low heat, stir thoroughly.

On a second, smaller skillet caramelize some onions and add w small finely diced tomatoes. Add some sugar to balance the acidity. This dish tastes good a little sweet. Cook together few minutes on low heat.

When the beets are about ready, add minced garlic(I like to add A LOT of garlic), some salt and pepper, mix, pour the content of skillet 2 (onion and tomatoes) in and mix everything. Cook for a minute more. Done!

So that, with a dark bread toast was my dinner.

It cost a lot to eat healthy.

For example my lunch that I MADE myself is normally $7.

Today:
1 heirloom tomato from the farmers market $3
2 small Japanese cucumbers $1.5
5 little balls of fresh mozzarella $1.5 (it was a half of a tiny container that cost $3)
I cut it up, added salt and pepper and that was my lunch for a total of $6.
I'll also have a nectarine that cost $1.2 for dessert. Maybe a few fresh figs (so sweet and fragrant).

Prices are high for vegetables that smell like vegetables, not the ones from grocery store. I also believe that they have more nutrition than vegetables that taste like nothing.

The cost of making dinner is even higher. We eliminated almost all saturated fat from our dinners(I have a little bit for breakfast or lunch occasionally). This really limits our choices to fresh produce, fish, unprocessed grains. Most of it has to be bought in specialty stores. Good fish has to be bought at a good fish store, produce at super-expensive farmers market. Whole wheat bread - artisan bread store. Vegetarian fed free-range chickens/eggs are bought from upscale supermarkets. *sigh*

You cannot stockpile fresh food or shop in bulk. It has much shorter shelf life. So the only things we have in a cupboard are brown rice, buckwheat, steel-cut oatmeal and a can of nicer brand wild salmon. And things like garlic/onions/nuts etc. But even those have to be bought in small quantities.

I have gone to a regular supermarket few times during the year and ended up frustrated. There is almost nothing I can buy there. Most things are processed and quality/freshness of poultry and fish not to good. Fruits and vegetables are "shipping variety"(that means look ripe but taste green).

Everything in a farmers market is "in season" yet is not cheap. People just go there to get stuff that ripened on the plant, not the shipping variety.

I think I spend $40 a day on food if we do not eat out at all (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the 2 of us. I don' see a way to cut cost without compromising quality.
But this is about quality of life and health. So for health reasons, I think grocery budget would be the last place I'll cut. I just wish it was not so expensive to eat right.

I've been reasonably good with savings in the last month, but now there is an unexpected mental roadblock.

I love travelling and JW Marriott is one of my favorite hotels. I love their bed! It is so comfortable and luxurious.

I've been looking at the total bed package (mattress, topper and all the linens and pillows) online for 2 years now. It was close to $2,500 dollars and never went on sale.

I thought I would get it eventually, when we buy our own place and move. But now it is on sale (not a common occurence) for $2,057. Should I buy it sooner, because the sale is temporary? Or should I stick with a plan and buy it later, but for over $400 more?

I love falling asleep in that bed! And it would bring an element of a luxury hotel into my bedroom. But it is over 2K.
What do I do?

45,000 miles...

I did not think it would be that much - I always fly cheapest possible economy.

Now I will have an actual chance of getting upgraded... BUT no trips planned for a while. And on the next trip I was planning to use miles. Darn!

I want free upgrades.

I weighted myself today and discovered that I lost more than 10lb since last time I checked (few months ago).

I am not on a diet or exersizing, so this was a surprise. But the scale is accurate, I've checked.

I do normally loose weight after vacation, but since I drank a lot of beer and ate a lot of meat in China I did not think this would happen. I thought I would gain weight.

I did not have much desert (I am not a fan of Chinese deserts) and no bagels in the morning.

So that could be it. I will replace all desert with fruit for a month and see what happens. I'm also cutting down on beer.

If I could loose 10 more pounds I'd be completely content. Ok, 15lb to perfection. But I don't believe in restricting food or being hungry, or taking any diet products.

So I'll try to substitute some of what I eat for a slightly healthier version and hope that cumulative effect will eventually show up.

So this made my day! (even though I am coughing up my lungs and my throat is so raw).

I think I picked up something in China. It is not fun at all. My nose is running like the Yellow River. I collapsed into bed at 9pm yesterday. Not going to work (after not being there for a month).

I have been dreaming of taking a year off and doing it ever since college.

Now, upon coming back from China, my dreams are awaken again. They are back stronger than ever.

It would be nice to have a student life again, to become fluent in Mandarin, to live in China for a while...

The only complication is that both DH and I have nice jobs that we like. It is hard to quit. And a year is a long time for the employer.
It is scary to just leave ones life here and one's career.

But I am seriously thinking about it. I want that option to be available. So I am making a budget for that year and going into the "super-charged" savings mode.

I will try to aim for next March - spring semester. Fall one, a year from now, at the very latest.

Whether we actually do it or not, I want the money to be there so that we really have that option.

I have been shopping with girlfriends for 12 hours straight today. Going from store to store to store. Stopping for a delicious lunch at a great restaurant, espresso at the pricey coffeehouse and dinner. We saw so many beautiful items it pricey boutiques, took 5 taxis (at 4 people average taxi ride cost 25cents per person).

I felt comfortable, completely content, and RICH. I could afford great stuff the boutiques. It was not always worth it, but if I truly wanted it, I could afford it. I did not care if traffic increased our fare by another 50cent. I did not care how much a delicious restaurant meal would cost us -- whether it would be $3 or $4 or $5 made no difference at all. It is so liberating to choose things based just on taste and interest with 0 thought for the price. We took chances and tried new dishes we are not sure we'd like because if we didn't like it we could just order another one without incurring any significant financial consequences. So we discovered new dishes ones easily.

We were so relaxed, and upbeat and confident and had a ton of fun today. I miss this life. It is a different feeling, mindset. Saving and buying based on need seems such a remote concept at the moment.
True, I still have to consider prices at the department stores and boutiques(it can be quite expensive, even by US standards), but not even caring to look at the supermarkets, restaurants, drink shops... considering taxis simply a matter of convenience with no financial implications... That affects ones perceptions and experiences and even attitude.

It does not feel wrong, it feels like this is what life could be like... I am not sure how to explain. I am not saying that I would spend every day like this if I could... but knowing that I could... that is a powerful thing. I had this life for 6 month once, and now another little taste of it is making me crave it again.

This may sound shallow... but this is not just about having fun morning to evening (which is quite amazing) it is about this sense of freedom that not having consider cost brings. I know this is completely opposite to the intent of our community, but I just had to post this different prospective. I am trying to sort out my feelings about this rare and interesting experience/feeling.

I'll list them in dollars this time.

My share for a chartered bus to go to Gao Chun $11 (charter of the entire bus and services of the driver from 6 am to 2 pm was $220), and we had 20 ppl.)

Special sunglasses to view the eclipse - $1.5

It was cloudy, so we could see it only at certain moments, when clouds passed. So I did not get to see it when eclipse was total. It was blocked by a cloud. But it got pitch dark -- that was amazing! I am glad I went. Here are my pics:



starting to twilight(it got totally dark for few final minutes) that was so werid.


Bottled teas on the way back $1

Private tutoring session for 2.5 hours $15 total

Coffee and tiramisu at the German bakery -- $5.6 (almost twice as expensive as that dinner)
But it was good, and the weather was nice. It was the first day it was not too hot to sit outside.
So I drank my coffee and people watched (and they watched me ) My view:



It rained quite hard today, so the tiny street between the dorm and the cafe turned to this when I came back:





Right now it is raining again.

Supermarket shopping:
2 1.5L bottles of water, one small bottle, mechanical pencil, eraser, notebook, pack of hair bands, 2 packs of stick-on hooks, a pack of individually wrapped hand wipes.
Grand total... $3

Dinner:
These 3 dishes and 1.2 liters of beer were in total 60yuan:







Divided by 3 people, $3 (20 yuan) per person.
Why would anyone cook, really?

I think not a bad day for $40.

Hey guys,
I've been too busy to post during the trip (and did not have the discipline to keep up with my spending log). But I will start now. (after most of the spending is done )

I am determined not to buy anymore stuff. I have spent a truckload of money in Hong Kong and Shanghai living large(over 2K I think ) Seriously... it is alarming how easy it is to spend money here.

Now I am going to concentrate on my classes.
So today's expenses(in RMB)

supermarket: water, towel, snacks 26
lunch: pork with spicy glass noodles 7
private tutoring, 2 hours 80
fresh squeezed juice 5

This is my cheapest day so far.
I am going out for dinner in an hour with my tutor(I'll pay for her) and a classmate.

I actually studied today(4 hours of class and 2 hours of tutoring) and have not shopped. (I feel guilty spending over 200USD on 4 items from my favorite clothing store in Suzhou this Saturday). But this clothing is pretty unique and I could not pass up an opportunity to get something I won't be able to get again for few years (this store only has locations in Chengdu, Suzhou and Shanghai, so, as you might imagine, going there is diffucult.
Nonetheless, it is expensive (especially for China). But this store does not negotiate and has unusual yet practical and high-quality clothing.
I am telling myself: "NO MORE SHOPPING FOR CLOTHING!"

I am not packed yet. We won't get enough sleep today... but I am excited.

I'll be in Macao, so I would have an opportunity to... jump of the Macao tower. It is in a Guiness book of records at the highest bungee jump.

Ever thought of stepping off the 61st floor?










btw, it cost close to $270 for the jump plus the DVD and the photo (If I jump, I am definitely getting the DVD).

Is it worth it?

I do not normally go to expensive spas to get a massage.
I don't even crave it, because my husband gives the most amazing massages.

So I only pay for them when I go to countries like China or Vietnam, where you can get them for $5-$10 an hour - it is a great bargain.

But I am tempted to try this spa and this 4 hand massage treatment:









I have never tried a massage in a spa this luxurious. This is a spa in JW Marriott in Shanghai's Tomorrow Square.

And this is the description of the treatment I am interested in:

"Mandara Signature Massage
75 mins 990
A truly sublime and unforgettable spa experience, this four hand massage incorporates the exacting skills of two therapists working together in rhythmic harmony. The technique combines five different massage styles of Japanese Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Swedish and Balinese. Performed using specially- blended massage essential oils of sandalwood, patchouli and ylang ylang, gentle and healing hands of our therapists will help to calm the nervous system, warm and relax muscle tissue and promote the growth of
healthy, new skin cells, ultimately resulting in total relaxation and suppleness of the skin."

It is extravagant, especially for China. But can it be justified in the spirit of "trying things once" and experiencing something new?

We have to make some lifestyle changes - DH was told by his doctor that his cholesterol is high. That sucks. He is not even 27 yet and is not overweight.

So we are now implementing changes that will be good for both of us. Nothing fried anymore, more healthy food, brown rice, whole wheat everything...

And working out. He has been running 4 times a week for 2 weeks now!
This whole week he stayed at the hotel and they have nice gym conveniently downstairs. But a week before he was running on his lunch break at work.
I am so proud and want to encourage it.
Seeing him do it so regularly makes me want to do it.

I wish we lived somewhere more green. Or had a house where we could put a treadmil. It is just not fun to run in an area of concreet boxes and asmost no trees, it gets really really hot and the air doesn't feel "fresh". I can't stand it. I hope we can get a place in a greener area where running would be more scenic. But we can't wait until that happens and have to do these things now.

I don't have to actually pay until I go back to pick up next week. But it is spent already.

Not cheap for visas for just the 2 of us.

But it is based on reciprocity, and I imagine it takes citizens of many other countries longer to earn that amount of money to apply for visas(and they have a high chance of being denied).

So while it is annoying, I can understand why China is charging that much.

12 days left!

This time I hope to avoid starting to pack after midnight on the day of the flight. I do that every single time we go somewhere! I spend hours looking for things like batteries and chargers around the apartment and than I am quite tired on the day of the flight. NYC - Hong Kong is a 16 hour flight.

So I finally broke down few days ago and bought it.
I looked at it for a long time and could not bring myself to spend $140 on a rice cooker, when I can buy one for $20.



I just kept thinking about it.
I read the reviews and everyone raved about it. And I really wanted a small - 3 cup one (since there are only 2 of us) and excellent rice cooker.

So it got delivered yesterday, and I used it twice. I made brown basmati rice for dinner - it was the best brown rice, just perfect. It takes 1 hour 40 minutes , but it really does it properly.

And I made oatmeal (on timer) for breakfast this morning. Also perfect - same consistency throughout, nothing burned, no crust (that almost never happens for me), nothing stuck to the pot. So much better than in a slow-cooker!

I finally bought it because DH wants steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast and the slow cooker we had kind of burned it if the portion was too small (the slow cooker is big). And DH burned my favorite pot recently when he had a day off and tried to cook oatmeal on stove top. Evidently it did not occur to him that he needed to stir it - he just left the it on the fire for 40 minutes and went to do something else. You can imagine the result.

We were both very careful to keep track this month.

I now think it is fun to be detailed - you can go back and see what you did weeks ago, where you went, were you shopped... I will keep it up. Maybe post the list every week.

1-Jun
rent $994
whole wheat bagel(breakfast) $0.65
watch (I had one, it broke) $95.37
lunch - ruben panini made in the office $4
snapple green tea $1.8
knee highs 3 pack $5.29
hand wipes $1.89
toothpaste $4.39
donaton at work $5
sushi lunch DH $17
dry cleaning $14.25
car break lights $4.32
1 lb of fresh baby spinach $7.99

2-Jun
whole wheat bagel $0.65
lunch DH $7.15
Lunch (Dosal masala) $7.04
gasoline $26.03
groceries $21.32
student loan $141

3-Jun
lemon/nuts muffin $2.64
farmers market:
cilantro $1.5
salad bowl $1.25
half dozen eggs $2.5
kale $2.5
butter $2.59
fresh sweet peas $5
other 3.74
lunch DH $12
coffee for the office DH $40

4-Jun
croissant $2.69
lunch me (Indian takeout) $5.5
moisturizer with SPF $38.4
lunch DH (Chipotle) $7.12
2 samosas (partial dinner) $3

5-Jun
breakfast $6
1 slice of cake $6.5
lunch - yogurt $2.75
rite aid, personal care $22
dinner (bbq) $38
gasoline $14
haircut DH $21

6-Jun
2 slices of pizza $5.5
groceries $26
dry cleaning $45
Roth autoinvest $100

7-Jun
gasoline $30
breakfast, Japanese café $18
green tea ice cream $3
Japanese store groceries $25
Japanese store beauty $16
haircut $21
water $6.5
Tory Burch blouse on sale $99

8-Jun
bagel $0.75
coffee $1.75
m&m (DH) $1.5
coffee (DH) $3.5
copay DH $20
parking $10

9-Jun
almond croissant $2.69
DH Lunch $6.69
dinner out (Mexican) $60.95

10-Jun
almond croissant $2.69
personal care - rite aid $11.79
groceries $21
car tow $194.25
gasoline $32
Panera bread- lunch DH $8.23
DH underwear $16

11-Jun
ice cream $4.49
car repair $250
DH lunch $6.96
2 slices of pizza (dinner) $5
groceries $10
skype $10
itunes $1.99
12-Jun
almond croissant $2.69
cream cheese for office $1.25
dinner Virgils $56
lunch DH $5.5
lunch me $7

13-Jun (weekend away)
breakfast out $38
parking ticket $35
gas $30
groceries in Catskills $55.25
toothbrushes $8.4
Ann Taylor pants, socks $26.52
Cole Haan dress shoes DH (need, old ones were falling apart) $198
wolford $16
Cheesecake Factory (1 slice to go, shared at BN) $8
starbucks at BN $4

14-Jun
local ice cream $3
dinner (Mexican place with great river view) $62
Zojirushi rice maker (3 cup) $146.3
detergent $7.53

15-Jun
cablevision bill $131
hot dog $7.47
gas $30
lunch $5
almond croissant $2.69
2 rye rolls and an onion - partial dinner $3
skype $10
ezpass $275
electric bill $104.96
Roth mutual funds $300

16-Jun
breakfast $1.4
lunch DH $6.15
lunch me - breaded shrimp over salad, made at the office $6
chicken tenders to cook for dinner and dessert $13
shampoo $19
Individual mutual fund $100