Sometimes I read Refinery 29's Money Diaries. I thought I'd try out that format for my budget post this month.
May 1st: A pair of earrings from AU Rate arrive in the mail! I'm doing a sponsored post with them and the earrings are quite lovely. You'd think I'd be satiated for the moment, but instead I finally decide to pull the trigger on a pair of custom earrings from Etsy. I thought I'd get an Amex Credit, but I realize too late that seller only does Paypal, so I have to spend the full amount.
Total: $99
May 2nd: It's crazy hot today. I have a blogger event this evening at 7:30 p.m. and didn't bring lunch to work. Because I'm dying of hunger and know dinner is a long way off, I place an order with Uber Eats. I don't like spending money on lunch, but my wrap is delicious and I avoid the low blood sugar slump that usually ensues when I skip lunch. I decide the event is a good opportunity for the inaugural wear of the little black dress I got at TJMaxx a couple months ago. As it's a blogger dinner, I only have to put in for part of the tip.
Total: $20
May 3rd: I'm running low on my beloved Tazo chai tea concentrate, so I start to put together a Target order. I do not buy the cute scalloped leggings I want, but do throw in a new dry shampoo I want to try.
Total: $48
May 4th: My Gap credit card rewards came in and are immediately burning a hole in my pocket. I place an order for a pair of striped culottes, taking a chance on the small petite and a black jumpsuit in a size small.
Total: $35
May 5th: Today I have another blogger event. I forgot to check the Facebook messages before I left so I had no idea the time was moved an hour later. As it was an hour drive for me and I don't know the area, I end up sitting in my car passing the time on my phone. Instagram ads alert me to the fact that the gingham maxi dress I'd wanted to order from Old Navy yesterday is now back in stock in my size. I place an order for it and a gingham skirt too - just to try.
Total: $46
May 6th: I go to Madison with my mom for outfit photos. We get coffee at Willoughbys, and I'm sad they don't have my beloved ginger cookies. She treats today.
May 10th: I go to Starbucks for their half price happy hour drinks.
Total: $3
May 11th: I meet Courtney at Lyman Orchards to take photos in the apple orchards. I can't believe I've never been to Lyman Orchards before and can't get over how huge it is! We shoot for nearly two hours and I'm famished when we are through. We decide to grab dinner based on what Yelp recommends and head to Tap and Vine in Wallingford. I take a chance on pork carnitas tacos and I'm not disappointed!
Total: $20
May 12th: I go to Westport for a wax, then stop for breakfast. I also want to go to Ann Taylor, but I'm shocked when I find out its shuttered since I was there just over a month ago! I head to Banana Republic, and want to buy a black straw hat, but it's not on sale, so I hold off. I go to J.Crew to see if the silk bodysuit I want is on sale and it's not either. I stop at Starbucks, then head home.
Total: $120
May 13th: It's Mother's Day, I buy my mom some plants and give her a gift card for the spa. Despite my instagram story poll that did not rate in favor of the red dress from Nordstrom, I decide that maybe I just need to exchange it for a smaller size, so I do.
Total: $145
May 14th: I think my power strip is dead, so I order a new one. Turns out it's my flat iron that is on the fritz, so now I need to plan on buying a new one. I have another blogger dinner at Tisane Euro Asian Cafe in Hartford. I spend too long trying to decide what to wear and am running late. When I arrive there is nowhere to park and I immediately move into stressed mode. Cars honk and me and part of me wants to turn around and go home. Eventually I decide to park at the bank across the street. The event turns out to be so good. We have nearly the whole patio to ourselves, and the food just keeps coming! Everything is good, I meet some new bloggers, and I'm glad I persevered through the annoying parking situation.
Total:$15
May 17th: I've been obsessing over getting a coin pendant necklace. I place an order for a couple from TJMaxx.com. One seems promising, the other is mainly to get free shipping.
Total: $100
May 18th: The straw hat at Banana Republic is on sale. I cave and place an order.
Total: $28
May 19th: I go to the spa for a facial and pedicure. It's gross and raining out. When I get home, I change into comfy clothes and spend the rest of the day watching the royal wedding.
Total: $160
May 20th: I'm meeting a friend for coffee and need to stop at Old Navy to return the gingham skirt and exchange the dress for a larger size. I locate the dress and realize the check out line is super long. I think if I browse for a bit it might dissipate. It does not. I find a jumpsuit. There is a coupon for $20 off a $50 purchase, so I rationalize that the jumpsuit will be free. When I finally get through the line, I'm told the coupon can't be used because the jumpsuit is a clearance item. I get it anyway. I quickly pop into Bed Bath and Beyond to grab some essentials.
Total: $24 (because the skirt I returned was $17)
May 24th: My hat arrives smushed into a small box. I'm annoyed the brim is misshapen. I try to fix it by piling heavy books on it overnight. The conditions improve slightly, but I still want to exchange it. I find out my favorite Banana Republic in Fairfield as also shuttered!
May 25th: My TJMaxx order arrived and I don't love either of the necklaces. I impulsively decide to just get the Julie Vos coin necklace I really want, but considered too expensive. Since I was there, I also got a pair of sale earrings because they reminded me of a Chanel pair. I signed up for the email list to get free shipping on the order.
Total: $200
May 29th: I think I've made it through the rest of the Memorial Day Weekend sales without making a purchase, but while I have idle time I work I find myself on J.Crew's website. Turns out the sale is still going strong and with free shipping. I get the silk bodysuit.
Total: $70
Julie Vos Coin Pendant Necklace, $165
Julie Vos Versailles Statement Earrings, $38
Old Navy Floral Jumpsuit, $20
Old Navy Gingham Maxi Dress, $28
Gap Striped Wide Leg Pants, $20
Topshop Knotted Midi Dress, $47
J.Crew Silk Bodysuit, $70 (This later went on further sale, so I returned it and repurchased for $40.) Etsy Earrings, $100
