I cashed in $38.41 in change today. Handed over $5 to my friend for buying a sub for me ... mmmm Publix subs.

$25 is going towards filing for child support. I am filing today, as soon as I find Julie's SSN#. I'm actually going to do this.

The rest, I'm either going to buy her another outfit, or throw into my savings account. Both are important ... I won't decide until I get home today.

A good day, I think.

10.18 .. that's how much I added to the change jar today.

It came from a few random places, a couple of pants pockets, I cleaned out my wallet ... I also brought home $6 in change from work tonight. Not too shabby.

16.00 - original
+10.18 - today's total
--------
26.18 - two days worth of saving. Not to shabby at all.

Tonight wasn't a great night at work, but it wasn't to bad either. I brought home $103, which is $12 less than average.

I ran to Walmart afterwards. I needed a few things ... and only bought what I went in there for. WOW ... it CAN happen!

I needed deodorant, a small pack of wipes for Julie, gum, milk, cheese, turkey, envelopes, pens and I did fight the decision to buy Julie a new pair of shoes ... but she really needed them, so I picked up a pair. I ended up spending $28.88 ... and I have to run by the grocery store tomorrow to pick up some veggies, eggs and turkey sausage for work this week. I shouldn't spend much at all.

I also got a $20 gas card ... I usually get $40 every week ... even though $20 will fill my tank for the week *usually* ... I like to have the extra, just in case. I get paid Thursday though ... so I only got the $20 since I really really have to get my oil changed this weekend.

I spent $5 at McDonald's ... after serving food all day .. the last thing I want to do is come home and cook ... plus everyone is asleep. I need to be asleep too ... its after midnight and I have to be at work at 8am.

I put $45 away for daycare, I only need $20 more. Plus, I have a few bucks left over tonight, after tomorrow I'll know how to spend those.

All in all ... a good day. I just wish there were more hours in it.

I'm loving chasing down change. It adds up so quickly ... it's everywhere ... for some reason people think it's acceptable to leave it as a tip ... but you know what ... I don't mind ... it all goes into a jar on my dresser.

I like to save it up to about $80, then turn it in. My plan is to put half into my "emergency fund" and then the other half into a special savings account I am going to open for myself. To buy myself things like the ipod I've been eyeing ... or saving up for the laptop I really really want.

I'm starting to think that feeling guilty about buying things for myself is a normal mother thing ... hence the reason I'm saving up change for things I want. It's almost hillarious to me ... to feel guilty when I'm the one who works two jobs ... lol.

I love my mischevious elf so much.

The break down of the change jar ... keep in mind that I've lived off quarters off this jar for the past three weeks or so ... seriously.

Dollars: $3 - found in the laundry.
Quarters: $5
Dimes: $6
Nickels: .80
Pennies: 1.20

I have a whole bumm load of pennies at work that I need to bring home. One of my coworkers was giving them away b/c she "doesn't like pennies". When my dear co worker moved to Atlanta she left me a whole cup full of pennies that she litterally had been keeping since she started working at the company. At Cracker Barrel, another server leaves me her change when people leave it on the table. She "doesn't like change". When I was working full time serving, I could easily cash in $80 a month in change ... I wasn't complaining.

A quick budget for the following week ... this will of course depend on how much money I make at work this weekend ... I'm hoping for a busy weekend ...

$65 for daycare, it's half off your fourth week there ... SWEET!
$40 for gas
$30 for groceries
$50 to open my savings account
$20 for a new purse

Plus, I have to buy Julie some clothes this weekend. I might wait and use part of the $50 from opening the account ... I can withdraw it literally as soon as I put it in the account if I want to. I'd like to pay $50-75 extra on my car this weekend ... and possibly pay my dad some more money back.

This is my third post for the day ... lol ... I think that's more than enough.