Thriving weekend

This week was centered on the contrast between the weekdays and the weekend. It was a successful week, but an exhausting one (exhausting good, though!).

This week I bought the birthday gifts for this upcoming weekend birthday parties. I spent less than $10 for good quality items on sale: a movie, an art set, and a book. Amazon rules! I, also, bought the canned cheese and candy for my daughter's English Week Easter party last Friday. There, I spent $3.50; I had left over Easter eggs from last year. That is the only spending I did on the weekdays. The weekend was a different story.

On Thursday, after going to basketball practice, I decided that I wanted to take my daughter out to eat. I wanted to celebrate that she had won first place on her school's Spelling Bee and second place on the poster competition. I had some Burger King coupons, so we went to eat there. She picked what she wanted from the twenty something coupons. On Friday, I went to an Agriculture Fair nearby where they have farm animals exhibitions, plants sales, artisans crafts, food-trucks and fair machines for kids. There I spent some cash on a petting zoo like activity where they had goats (my daughter loves petting animals). I, also, let her choose which fair machine she wanted to get, she chose a small Ferris wheel- the one with the longest line. I bought ourselves two slices of pizza for $2 each. My partner drove us there, so I did not waste any gas money on that. On Sunday, we went to a small island near Puerto Rico in the west coast. Our experience that day belongs on another blog; we had fun, don't get me wrong, but there were too many inconveniences. Now, on the financial part I spent $0. How can that be? I was invited by my partner to go to the beach, have a good time and spend some time with family and friends. My partner spent money on groceries, gas to get us to the beach, and dinner. 

When I began this experiment, there was a lot of talk about accepting eating invites. I was suggested to track the activities where I did not spend any money, but still enjoyed. I used to go out a lot more before accepting this challenge. Before, almost all Fridays, my partner and I would go out with my daughter; sometimes we would split the check, and, often times, he would just pay for the three of us altogether. When I decided to begin living minimum wage, I knew this had to stop. I could not allow to get to experience things at someone else's expense. 

So, why did you go out on Sunday, then, you might ask? Because I was tired of rejecting invites. I had been controlling the times I go out and finding cheaper alternatives. So, I decided, after a month and a half, that I could enjoy an invitation that did not allude a special day (St. Valentines/ Birthdays). In this process, I have learned something really valuable: how family and friends are an important part of surviving minimum wage. It makes you feel more appreciative of those around you.

Below the expenses for this week:

Expense on March	Cost (monthly)
Internet Bill	$37.20
Daughter's school	$200.00
Cellphone Bill	$27.88
Electricity Bill	$48.78
Water Bill	$35.85
Rent	$300.00
Gas	$70.00
Food	$141.43
School miscellaneous	$5.50
Entertainment	$8.00
Church	$8.00
Emergency
Other	$30.46
Actual Total	$913.10

Until next week, the last entry on March and the March Monthly Summary, where I plan to expand on the activities that I financially don't take part in or I get help with like this past Sunday.

Have a good one,

Mushu