Brooklyn Girl's Personal Finance Blog

After being shocked at how much I spent on clothing in 08, I decided that in 2009 I won't be surprised by how much money I spend on anything. I can still spend on things that matter to me, but I will be totally aware of my choices and their cost.

So I made a very detailed list and will keep meticulous track of it - recording everything I spend each day. If done daily it won't take more than 5 min. And I will satisfy my curiosity at how much different aspects or our life cost. As it turns out, just estimating is not very accurate.

So here are my 2009 spending categories:

electric bill
gas bill
cable bill

eating out 2 of us
eating out with friends
take-out
lunches and breakfasts at work
alcohol

groceries:
dairy
veggies
fruits and berries
sweets
all other food
household supplies (bounty, bulbs, etc.)
hygene (toothpaste, shaving, shampoo, etc.)
cleaning supplies
laundry
dry cleaning

furniture, decor
house other (linens, utensils, etc.)

clothing
footwear
accessories
grooming (haircuts, nails,
make-up, skincare)

vacation
weekend getaways
sports
skiing
entertainment - all other
electronics

Medical/dental
Gifts/charity

pet food/litter, supplies

car insurance
gasoline
tolls
tickets/fines
car maintenance
car repairs

savings retirement
savings non-retirement

I will keep 2 columns "current month" and "year to date".

I view this as a kind of personal finance experiment.

And I think really knowing how much I am spending will help me in cutting down.

How often do we set ambitious goals come Jan. 1?

How often do we fulfill most of them?

Where are we going wrong?

I think I found few problems with my previous approach to resolutions.

1. Defining goals that are not completely up to me.
I think it is intimidating to put down goals such as "get published". What if you fail?
I think a better goal to set is "submit x articles for publication". So that you just have to worry about doing your part.

2. Accountability. I am a procrastinator at heart, so it is oh so easy to get to December with nothing but good intentions.

So I break down my goals month by month -- every yearly goal broken down into steps.
Print out the "month" sheet and put it on the refrigerator.

Get graded. Post a reward for 80% compliance(nobody is perfect and life happens). Email the list to friends.

So here I am posting mine for JAN. (oh, nothing wrong with getting a head start, if possible, to make it easier later).



Goals for the year:
Visit new country (done every year)
Max out ROTH (done every year)
Save $400 monthly outside retirement accounts
Have 20 ski days this season (18 days last season)
Finish Chinese language courses
Try new sport
Learn 12 New dishes (1 per month)
Loose 20 lb
Eat healthier
(very stereotypical, I know)

Every month I check of the monthly list and write down what progress has been made on each goal.

I would love to stay in a nice slopeside condo at Stratton mountain for a long weekend. However, these things are very pricey. At $600 a night, we are not doing it alone. It is just way too much to pay $1800 for lodging, than lift tickets, than food, gas... for only 3 days.

However, the condo sleeps 6, so for $200 a night for DH and me it would be ok. I have many friends that ski, however for them to be available for a specific date, to be committed to that date, to have the money and a day off. ... it is very difficult to coordinate.

It is like herding cats!!!

Found $20 on the Subway yesterday. There was no one looking for it so I did not know what to do. I stood there for few min holding it visibly... If there was a reasonable chance of finding the owner I would not keep it. As there wasn't, I kept it, but it did not feel so good. I still wonder if I did an unethical thing. Should I have given it to the MTA guy?

Retailers are slashing prices. I called Ralph Lauren customer service and got a $70 adjustment for something I ordered a week ago. They did not adjust the price but promised to refund the difference after the order goes through. Don't know why they have to do it that way. I'll have to keep it in mind and follow up.

I also saw a waffle maker I recently bought selling for $30 less at Costco. So I bought that one and will return the other one to the store. Luckily I did not open it yet.

So it is $120 less for outgo.

I am curious to listen to personal finance programs for several reasons - such as getting the glimpse into the life of others, who live very differently, in other parts of the country.
I also want to get motivated to save more. And I want to learn something new.

I find that I disagree with some things that are repeated over and over. And it is starting to annoy me.

The absolute "no debt" approach advocated by Dave Ramsey makes no sense to me.

Our only debt is a very manageable student loan.

He would not care that it is at 2% fixed interest. I do. We would have paid it off last year if it was at higher interest. But with official inflation at 4%, and real inflation even higher (I do include food as part of inflation because we do eat, and we eat every day) and my interest at 2% (even less if you consider partial tax deduction) the value of that debt is decreasing every year and it makes sense to pay the minimum. I would rather save 6% by putting that money toward a down payment or other needs.

"Pay the lowest balance first."
If something horrible happened to us and we had to go into cc debt, we would certainly pay the one with the highest interest first! Because it costs more to keep.
I would not care about getting "encouraged" by seeing a smaller number of balances. It is the amount that matters. If you have a limited amount of money, you have to do the most damage control that you can with it.

"Don't carry credit cards, credit cards are evil, you are playing with the devil, etc....."
They are a method of payment. That is it. If you don't spend more money than you have they only reward you. There is not much they can do to you if you pay your balance in full every month.

"Spend cash only because spending cash hurts more. You would not buy some items if you had to withdraw the cash and part with it there."
The only way that would apply to me is if I had to pay a fee to withdraw that cash.
When I buy something that is $300 I evaluate it in terms of that number. How does that number relate to the number that is currently representing my bank account, to the numbers that make up in my planned expenses.
It is $300 no matter how I would pay for it. It will have the same impact on my finances no matter how I pay for it. I evaluate that impact by that number - not by a method of payment.

"cut up or freeze your credit cards"
Really, I find it hard to comprehend that adults can't control themselves to the point they have to put their ccs in the freezer or cut them not to spend money they don't have. That is a behavior of a child.

"It is recommended that you spend no more than 25% of your income on your housing expenses."

Recommended for whom? Would your percentage be the same if you have to pay daycare for 3 kids and worry about their college as opposed to a childless couple?
What are the assumptions made? Do they know how many years you keep your cars, or if you have health issues, or how much your commute is costing you? Only you can really know these things. You can't expect the bank to tell you what you can really afford. It is up to you to figure it out.

Markets are also different. Housing prices are different. And percentages get skewed at different income level.

If you take home 3K monthly maybe you should not have 1.5k mortgage and have 1.5K left for everything else - it will be living to close to the edge.
If you bring home 10K monthly and your mortgage and taxes total 5K, it is conceivable that what you have left over can cover all other living expenses, even with your housing being 50% of your take-home.
There is not one number best for all.

It feels like these things are made up for people who cannot think for themselves.

Terrible week - just combination of disappointments!

I found out that I cannot take that exam - the position, besides requiring 2 foreign languages (which I have) required fluent French. And it is not one of my languages. All my other qualifications would have been perfect.
So there goes my best career chance.

I finally saw an apartment that satisfied all of our needs, was in our current area, and the mortgage would have been close to what we pay in rent. (that just does not happen in Brooklyn). And it was nicer than a place we live now. I was in love!
I called the agent and just now found out it is sold. It was the first time I saw anything I was so sure about(something that made financial sense) since I started looking years ago.
I feel like I lost "our apartment".

My aunts cancer has started to grow again. Surgery is now out of the question.
Her husband is still unemployed and her cobra is going to run out.

I am getting sore throat.

DH had to cancel his business trip and won't make platinum in hotel stays this year.

Boss had to cancel his business trip (1 hour before leaving) and will stay here (more work).

DH got a parking ticket judgment.

I seem to have lost few hundred dollars worth of transit checks.

I missed my train and was late half an hour today.

I am getting depressed.

I am going for a free appointment to see if Lasic eye surgery is for me - I have one eye that is quite nearsighted and correcting it would be nice.

And seeing a ENT doctor about tonsils.

These are both very non pressing issues. But...
It is time to set a dollar amount for a flexible health spending accounts.

And if I am having any surgeries I want to set pre-tax money aside for it.
So I need to be sure if I need it and get an estimate of how much won't be covered by insurance... In these matters planning can save some cash.

I have a chance to take a very difficult exam at work. It would require me to study intensively until February (that is after I come home at 8:30pm daily).
If I am admitted to the exam and pass it, I would be placed on a roster from which future positions may or may not be filled.
If I pass, and if they need someone, and if I got picked - than I would go through the regular multiple-interview process.
So even passing gives no guarantees.

It would be a job in a different field (that is very hard to break into without experience). It pays higher but carries a much higher workload/stress.

I can see why people prefer to coupon instead of trying to advance their career. In trying to save money you extend very little effort to get little result.
But the result is proportional to the effort and it is guaranteed.
While trying to climb the ladder requires a lot of effort and guarantees nothing for all that hard work. It is stressful.
You have to face high chance of failure/rejection/the unknown.
But it is a chance to change my life in a way that saving $1 on toilet paper and toothpaste will never change it.
Yet it is scary to want something so much and know that the odds are not so good. Yet there is a chance nevertheless, so I have to try.

So this weekend I will have to write an application essay to get selected to even take the exam.
I am trying to calm down and manage my emotions.

With the chances of disappointment being so high, would you do it?

I wanted a beautiful embroidered Sferra duvet cover and matching pillowcases. They were very expensive. I sat on it for a few month - to make sure I really want them.

They are never really on sale (the ones that I like) and sales on that type of things are not drastic anyway.

So I found the cheapest price (which was still difficult to swallow). It was from an independent online retailer. They had a field for a coupon code, yet I could not find one on the web - retailer is not big enough.

So I emailed them, complementing their selection and telling them how I liked the set but it was a little over my budget and that a coupon code would help.

They responded within a day with the 10% off code. So I saved $54 with a 30 second email. And I finally got a set I really wanted, not a "compromise" one. So now I will stop buying bedding.

This fall we visited few places in Europe. Each one had something different I liked. I'll start with Holland.

It is a country with a high standard of living, and to me it is more about the the life balance.

Normal Dutch workweek is 4 days (8 hours a day)!

Main mode of transportation by far is a bicycle.

It is simply amazing how quiet the streets are and how ugly parking lots are not at all the part of the landscape. The country is extremely bike oriented – bike lanes are everywhere and cars really respect them. Bike parking is everywhere. People look very fit.

Everyone including doctors and many politicians get to work by bike. Babies ride in special baskets or in carts and bigger kids ride next to parents.
There are cars, but much much less, and mostly smaller cars – no trucks or SUVs.

And even people who have cars don’t use them every day – they still get around by bike and use cars when going out of town.

Dutch housing
Houses are much smaller and are mostly attached to each other.

Many people live in apartments.



The streets are just charming.
Many ground floor apartments, while having large windows, for some reason do not have curtains and I was peaking in while walking for hours.


Furniture is mostly modern and small, with air of space and light (there are tiny charming gardens in the back) Look very well kept and cozy. Small kitchens with beautiful appliances look very inviting. I would love to live in such a place.

Education
The semester for masters costs 1,500 euros per year for dutch students (I forgot to ask about bachelors, as our friend is doing his masters there.)
Since Dutch parents pay high taxes (about 45%) a lot of social things are subsidized – one of them is education. You need certain grades to get admitted to the university.
We pay about 40% in taxes, and do not get these benefits such as government medical care, subsidies college education for us and future children, extended maternity leave, etc… In US only the poorest people get these benefits(and they don’t pay any taxes)– yet the Dutch managed to provide it to all. I do not like it that while paying more taxes we are eligible for no benefits these taxes provide.

Good service/friendly people
Tipping is not obligatory, yet service is better. Service industry people depend mainly on salary and that cost is build in to the price and clear.

Multilingual
Not only does everyone speak Dutch and English, most people know a third, fourth, sometimes fifth language. I started to feel inadequate with my 3.

Tolerance
From light drugs, prostitution, porn, euthanasia, same sex unions.... Whether or not you I find this immoral, I believe that morality should not be legally enforced. That in itself is immoral and is a slippery slope. And outside the more seedy Amsterdam city center there was no visible evidence of these things. Smaller towns where all of it is still legal nevertheless are perfectly beautiful places. There was less pot in the university town in Delft than in NJ suburb.

And just in the nick of time - an hour later that finish was sold out.
both were on sale for $8.99 from $39




At that price it is reasonable to get it even for the rental apartment. Ours are very old and damaged, and I think it will spruce up an otherwise decent condition bathroom.
And I like that ceramic components are removable and therefore easily washable.

And the towel rack - $46 down from $180. I don't know if it would have been worth $180, but it was worth $46 to me.

So I am quite pleased with myself.

Season is changing, it is getting cold. I am back to work...

It is so tempting to update my wardrobe with something fresh. But I know I have to fight it - these things are very expensive. I'll exercise restraint, sit on it until there is a sale, than maybe allow myself one.







Which one do you think is the nicer one?

Since I came back from our vacation I cooked dinner every day. I was so proud of myself... until I added up grocery expenses.

If I think of it in terms of "per month" it is very high.
I buy quality food (organic whenever possible) and mainly shop at the farmers market(extremely expensive) so it adds up.
There are no coupons for these things. I don't know how to cut it.

Oct.20-Oct.27
Groceries $220
cat food $8
pharmacy $9
gift for moms birthday $200
1 tequila, 1 contreau, 1 wine $88
1 brunch out $41
new cell phone $194
keychain $6
basic pearl earrings(wardrobe staple) $75
wireless headphones ( to hear TV in every room when cleaning/cooking) - we only have 1 tv in the house $120
total: $971 per week
That does not even include utilities/bills.
And I thought I was doing so well and was so restrained until I added it up and saw the number!!!

I am back from our month in Europe - and even with 25 nights of free accommodation between free hotel rooms(reward points) and friends we only had to pay for 5 nights of hotel rooms.
Yet our cost came to 10.7K!!!!!
It is a lot. We had fun though, and are inspired by what we saw to modify our lifestyle in many ways. I will write on it in more detail - it will be my big "Quality of Life" project to take place over the next few months.

Anyway, this time I was able to keep track of cost by using only one credit card and only one debit card for cash withdrawals. I also added up the cost of tickets we bought prior to leaving.

So now I really need to save more - to build back spent reserves. But there are some changes I want to make that will cost some money. It is always a balancing act.

I have attempted this several times, yet on day 2 I usually forget. Than I try to remember and estimate.

I hope to do better this time. Leaving TODAY!!!!

5 hours of sleep daily for the last 4 days, trying to take care of business before leaving.

It always takes more money than anticipated. And it is unclear if I should put that money under the "vacation" budget since most of it will be used afterwards, and not only in vacation situation. But than again, that's what I think every time.

Anyway, the problem is that each time we go, we end up getting a lot of stuff for that particular trip. And each trip is different.

For example, last vacation was a month in Argentina, so we got a lot of cold weather hiking clothing. Excellent ski jacket, windproof,waterproof,fleece stuff. Pricey (especially things bought on location, but when you only have a spring jacket and a temperature plummets to below freezing, your priorities shift, and keeping warm becomes more important)

A year before this we went to Ecuador, so it was hot weather/lightweight hiking clothing that we bought.

For ski trips - ski specific clothing. We are on the slopes non-stop until the lifts close, so it is really important to dress appropriately.

Anyway, each time we end up spending a bundle on pre-vacation shopping - because we pack light (carry-on only) and our trips are 30 days in length. So it is a challenge.

We are of the opinion that buying top quality stuff that will be re-used is more worth it than buying crap you will never want to use again.

But this time I thought that we would not spend much - after all, we already had a lot of stuff. But just yesterday $430 at Paragon sports for just 2 nice rain jackets/windbreakers (layering a sweater and a windbreaker is the most compact option that can take you through cold weather) a beautiful soft fleece top and decent looking Royal Robbin pants (my favorite brand in terms of comfort). I thought we would not buy much this time, but Europe presents different challenges - one has to look more presentable than during hiking trips, yet the packing restrictions remain.

So every time I think this is the last time we do pre-vacation shopping since we have already bought so much and have everything. But it never works out this way in reality, and for each trip something new is needed. I wonder if I am the only one like that.

I can't wait. In two weeks we will be on a plane. We both booked 5 weeks of vacation time (hoping to come back in 30 days, but leaving ourselves time if we just want to stay few days more).
No return ticket booked yet.

We did this every year. Our "big" yearly vacation is 1 month. But I know if we buy a house it will have to be drastically cut.

So it may be the last vacation of this sort for few years to come (of course, this is what I thought the last 3 years) But we did not buy a house. I kept thinking - we'll start looking after coming back from the next vacation, so that we can go this time. I think it is one of the reasons we are delaying home buying.

After all the deductions, $130 more monthly in take home pay.

Small but pleasant.
That is more than our cable/phone/internet package.

I know, I should automatically put it into savings since I "won't miss it". But I don't like doing this automatically.
Doing a transfer yourself gives you that "buzz" like in shopping. Only you are buying something for your future self.

And I have a tradition of buying something fun and luxurious in the first month I get a raise - to celebrate. I think little celebrations are warranted.

Today DH drove me to work and on the way back got stopped by the police. got $240!!!! ticket for windows being too tinted. What the.... we did not tint it - we bought this car used and never imagined....



few days ago we got another stupid ticket - DH did not put new registration sticker on and it expired in the middle of August (it had 08 08 in big letters so we did not notice). He had already renewed the registration, and the new sticker was in the glove compartment.
I guess we should have paid more attention *sigh* and this one is our fault.

But the tint thing.... we had no idea, never had a warning... no clue - when you buy a car you assume it is tinted to the regulation. They get you for everything. And the fines are huge. We were late by 2 minutes! to the meter - $120 ticket. I hate this city.

Yesterday I was coming home tired and knowing there was no food in the house I decided to stop by the Vietnamese restaurant to pick up a spicy shrimp soup and crispy squid.
I was about to order, when I realized I did not have enough cash (and ethnic places really don't like ccs for small orders). So I decided to pass. At home I found some kind of small green squash I bought at farmers market and had forgotten about. So I shredded it and fried up squash pancakes(with egg, pepper and some flour) in 5 min - problem solved (and they were delicious).

Afterwards, I organized my wallet and made sure I had enough cash and.... today forgot the whole thing at home!!!! Cards, ID, everything!
So I scraped up enough change in my purse for a bagel, had to make my own coffee at work (luckily I had cream cheese in work fridge and co-worker had milk). Normally I would have just bought iced coffee on the way ($2).
I know you guys make your own, and if I was driving I would probably do that too... It is much more easy to pick up things when you are on foot and pass 50 shops on your way from the train station to work.
Anyway, I got by and got 2 meals for total of 60c instead of $25 I would have spent.
Now, what am I going to do for lunch?

I can, of course, borrow $10 from a co-worker. or... I have a change box at work and can try to continue my streak.

DH is getting "paid" that right now.
He volunteered to give up his seat and go on a flight 4 hours later for a voucher that gives you either a free flight within continental US or $400 of the cost of the fare.

He called me to ask if I would be OK if he did that and got home 4 hours later. I am OK (because I would do it!!!). I have waited in the airport for many hours without getting anything at all for it.

He has access to the club lounge, and he got a food voucher too. So surfing the internet, having free non-alcoholic drinks while sitting in a comfortable chair... it is not so bad. And it is his "travel day" so he is officially working - getting paid to come back home. Tomorrow is a weekend, so it does not matter how late he gets back.
And I'll have dinner and premium margaritas waiting for him when he gets home.

Non-retirement ones, that is (for retirement there is a very strong motivation - taxes).

So I really want to save enough money for both of us to take 6 month - 1 year off work to study language abroad. But I end up spending the money on the "right now" fun stuff.
The sum I need to save is too intimidating.

So I have come up with a new trick - I broke down projected expenses into bills to try and save for future bills now.
Rent, utilities, airfare, visa fees, set-up expenses, books, weekend getaways, repatriation fund, etc...

So this month I "pay" few first bills for month 1 in China



food/drink $300
student loan payment $141
utilities (cable, internet, sell phone, electric) $60
Total fund now - $501

Next I should try to pay my first month future rent.

It is more comforting to start with smaller bills, but these add up as well.

From Wed till now (I just got to work directly from the airport).

I thought it would be less - we did not do anything extravagant.

$420 my airfare
$24 shuttle to and from the airport
$361 food (we got free hotel breakfast and snacks as platinum members)
$337.00 tickets for "O" Cirque du Soleil, the best seats
$125 new bikini (first one since 2002)
$60 gambling (exchanged $120 of chips, ended up with 60 after 2hrs of playing)
$21.28 sunblock, foaming bath for our insute romantic jaccuzi
$50 tips
-384 per diem
$1,014

That is a lot, considering we did not have to pay for hotel, DH airfare, car rental and breakfasts.

But it was a nice break and I am happy to have gone. I wish it could be longer!

Did not go anywhere this weekend (except the family tradition Sat. brunch - only $30)

Tried to de-clutter some. Have a long way to go. It did not get cluttered in one day, so it won't get to "zen" decor in one day either.

Found $100 lucky money while cleaning. It will be our "gambling fund" for next week.

Did spend some money though - 68$ on oil and vinegar for salads. I run out of vinegar, did not want to drive to Dean and Deluca, so I ordered it cheaper on the internet ($30) but they had free shipping ($12 savings) for orders over 60$, so I stocked up. Maybe I should have just paid $42 for 2 bottles with shipping than 68 for 5 bottles. But, what done is done, and we'll use it up.

By over $400! (I just edited it, I forgot the plane ticket)
Nothing leftover for savings. And not counting the stuff we bought with gift cards we had before.

RENT $951.00
STUDENT LOAN $141.00
ELECTRIC $112.00 TRIPLE PLAY $109.00
GIFTS/CHARITY $675.00 (wedding, gift)
FOOD $452.00
MEDICAL $10.00
ROTH $308.00
PHARMACY stuff $103.00(Sunblock, shampoo, etc.)
CLOTHING $847.96 (2 pairs summer shoes, Anne Fontaine Shirt, few Lacoste polos for DH)
HOUSE STUFF $408.16 (Dyson Animal refurbished, kitchenwares)
DRY CLEAN, LAUNDRY $4.50
MISCELLANEOUS $8.00
GROOMING $104.00 (make up)
CAR INSURANCE $239.82
TRANSPORTATION (GAS/TOLLS) $650 (approximate)
OTHER TRANSPORTATION (TAXI, PARKING) $8
CAR MAINTENANCE/EXPENSES/REPAIRS $250.00
FUN STUFF $413.00 (ipod touch and stuff for it, book, earrings)
EATING OUT $592.00
MY AIRFARE TO VEGAS $420
in total about $6,800

We had a wedding of a close relative - $600, DH birthday(best steakhouse), a "need" - new vacuum cleaner (2 cats, so it is a need) and a "want" of ipod touch.

But this cannot go on. I have to hold myself accountable. It is so easy to just buy what I want. I did horribly this month and it should be a wake up call.
I am supposed to be SAVING MONEY!

At least when i had few hundred dollars leftover I could view it as some sort of movement forward. But now I don't even have that excuse.

The ticket was $420.

I decided to join DH on his business trip. His hotel/air/rental car is paid for by his employer, so we'll just pay my airfare and hang out in Vegas again.
Anyway, it is a change of scenery. We'll pay for meals and entertainment but it should still be a bargain.

This trip is different. Normally I never plan in such detail and spend the entire time in one country, but this time it is Europe, so it is different. We are planning everything far in advance to save money. And still, the estimate is running up there.

So here it goes:

$909 Flight to Amsterdam, one way (booked and paid)
free 6 nights accommodations in Netherlands - (hotel and location are very nice) 4 nights in Amsterdam paid by reward points, 2 nights with a friend in Delft
$89 train to Paris $89 (booked and paid) - great deal, good time, direct
free accommodations for 7 nights in Paris in a high-end hotel on Champs Elysees no less (reward points)

$200 tickets to Munich estimate (fares found earlier but not yet booked)
€ 230 Accommodations in Munich - during Oktoberfest (rented apartment by owner)
€ 300 Bavarian National Park 3 days accommodation estimate (rural Germany is not very expensive)
$10 Rental car in Bavaria for 72 hours - $10 (fee to renew my expiring miles that will pay for it)
€ 156 Train to Vienna
free Hotel in Vienna 3 days -with rewards points (central and luxury)
??? Transportation from Vienna to Kiev - Unknown (train or plain?)
free Kiev - accommodations - (staying with family friends who now work there)
$180 Train within Ukraine - estimate
$200 Hotel for 2 days elsewhere in Ukraine

Incidentals always change, so I know it can only be a rough estimate:
€ 250 Shopping (a piece of clothing or something to take home) - souvenirs, but a useful household item a place is famous for.
€ 3,000 Food, admissions, incidentals (€100 per day)
we will alternate between tasty street meals (like herring sandwiches in Netherlands), picnics and nice sit-down meals. I already have a list of cafes in Paris I want to try. Local food is a part of the travel experience.
€ 300 Other transportation - we plan to mainly walk, and we stay in very central hotels... but we may need to take public transportation and get to/from train stations (no taxis and we pack light)
€ 400 other activities (like classical concert in Vienna, bike day tour in France, etc)
$1600 Tickets back (estimate, not yet booked) can be 1,000 - 2,000, based on luck
So with a horrible exchange rate it nears 11K.
We will celebrate our 1 year anniversary on this trip
I hoped it would be less, considering all the free accommodations… and have put in a lot of effort and research into reducing cost, but still... Each time I promise myself that our next vacation will be simple - and that never happens.
Do you guys think this estimate is realistic?

Just got a quote from the vet. Kitty #1 cost only $240 a year ago.

There is no danger of kittens - she is an apartment kitty and never tries to get out. But I don't like to see her suffer when she goes into heat. So I guess I'll have to do it. I've been reluctant because of fear that something may go wrong and she'd be hurt. It is surgery, after all. And she is a very sweet and gentle kitty.

The kind they advertise with BAM and other banks.
Easy to make it on your own. After receiving the statement I will just count the number of transaction and put a dollar for each transaction into my challenge money.

Dairy (13.75)
4 youghurts (12oz)
1 small milk (12oz)
bigger bottle skim milk

$5 tiny box goosenberries
$5 sweet cherries tiny box
$4.5 1lb sugar peas
$5 2 heads of lettice (very fresh, with roots)
$2 arugula bunch
$6 baby greens and 3 sweet peppers
$2 cheese danish
$4 dozen eggs
$4 tomatoes
$3 pumpernickel bread

after that I went to the supermaket and bought cucumbers, bacon and a bottle of water for the office: $10.

rice, pasta, potatoes would be much cheaper. I wonder if price has anything to do with so many people not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables/leafy greens.
They are much cheaper at a grocery store, but there they are not "how vegetables should be". They don't smell nicely, greens are not crispy, tomatoes are not ripe... so I can't help but think that they are not as good for me as vegetables that are aromatic and can be smelled across the kitchen.