So, do you keep a record of all your cash transactions, too?

Yup. I have a "wallet" account in MS Money. So an ATM withdrawal transfers to my wallet and then I enter transactions there--usually every night, or every few nights, I go back and tally it up. But I'm not a big one for little purchases (that's how I save money), so it's not too difficult.

Oooh, that's interesting. That way you know for sure what you spend all of your money on, all month. I just put a comment in the "Notes" field of the ATM withdrawal entry in Quicken -- like, "haircut tip," or "work birthday lunch." It obviously doesn't cover the whole $20, but it gets close enough to keep me happy.

Man, you guys, it's "only" a heat index of 108 here. But I worry about Tim, since he works in an un-climate-controlled warehouse all day. This whole week he has been coming home just WIPED OUT. He has been drinking Gatorade in mass, mass quantities. (Plants crave it.)

His job is only slightly better, in terms of this heat, than construction workers and highway workers. At least he's not in direct sunlight. But he's been perturbed for the past couple of months that he's gained a few pounds -- I think he's probably sweated them off by now. My poor honey.

Oooh, that's interesting. That way you know for sure what you spend all of your money on, all month. I just put a comment in the "Notes" field of the ATM withdrawal entry in Quicken -- like, "haircut tip," or "work birthday lunch." It obviously doesn't cover the whole $20, but it gets close enough to keep me happy.

Yes, I've done that for awhile, even before I really had a budget. I'm not sure I would have been able to set an accurate one up without it.

And then when I review it periodically, that's how I learn where I can cut: "Oh, that's how much I've been spending on lunch out? Sh*t!" Good categories are key for that, so I don't just do Food and Drink, but rather Meals, Coffee and Snacks, Drinks, and Groceries.

Since I use my credit card for most stuff, I definitely keep a Groceries category, entirely separate from Dining Out. (I also can split categories, so if I go to CVS for a prescription and also grab some OJ, I can split it into Medical:Medicine and Groceries. Which is nice.)

I've got to start putting money aside as well as paying off my one credit card.

The fall wardrobe will be pretty cheap since Mom is sending me out a bunch of shirts and a pair of grey pants that I should be able to fit into this fall. I've got three cardigan sweaters on order, so my sweaters are taken care of for the season, I've got a bunch of jeans in size 20 and one pair in size 18 waiting for me to fit into them, and I just ordered a few hoodies and sweatpants in size 18/20 and size 16, which will take care of my lounge-at-home winter clothes.

So, all I need are some bras (in a smaller cup size, darn it, not just band size), a few turtlenecks, and a fall coat (Mom is also sending me her really nice wool winter coat), get a few more pairs of pants in size 16 if/when I need them, and I'll be set until spring!

(in a smaller cup size, darn it, not just band size)

I bet proportionally, the smaller cup will size will look good on you. And you have no idea where your body is going to settle. Back when I wore a 16 (which I can't even remember any more), I was always a B cup, and it was totally proportionate. Didn't look small at all.

It is so cool seeing your progress! How do you feel overall?

(I wore my Batbelt today. I am such a rebel.)

I'm feeling really good! Definitely have tons of energy. I no longer have to plan out my daily activities to incorporate the least amount of steps, so I'm always bopping around my apartment when I'm getting ready in the morning. It confuses my cat because she used to be able to follow me from place to place and not worry about me turning around and retracing my steps. Now she has to stay out of my way!

Although this week I've been exceedingly lazy and haven't gone swimming once since Saturday. I'm getting back in the pool tomorrow morning and will also swim on Sunday before my swimming lesson, and back into my MWF pattern next week. The heat was getting me all lethargic, and I was just wanting to stay home and cross-stitch in the air conditioning. (I'm working on my mom's Christmas present.)

All this energy has me purging my apartment of extra stuff, so I've been making several trips to Goodwill. I probably should be selling some of these things on ebay, but I've never sold anything online before and I don't know if I'd get any decent money from doing that. I think I'm worried that I'll end up spending more cash mailing the clothes to the winning bidder than I'll get from them in total.

Look for a resale shop, Kathy. There's one here in town, and it has amazing stuff sometimes. It's consignment for the people who bring clothes in, I think.

Also, if you have energy to spare, I would like some now please.

::shoots bolts of energy through the ether Amy-wards::