Gas, keep on fallin'!

Yesterday I filled up my tank for (drum roll please). . . $22! Yep, you read that right. I had been riding on E for about two days. Yeah, I know. Very, very, not smart! But I HATE buying gas! So, anyways... I pulled up to my local Wally World gas pump and almost jumped for joy when I saw the price - $2.22/ per gallon (regular). I haven't spent less than $30 on gas since. . . well I can't remember! If gas hovers around this price for the month of November, I'm trying to budget $88 for gas (one tank per week).

Ever since I started riding the bus to work, I only have to fill up once a week. Riding the bus saved me a TON of money this summer when the price of gas was double what it is now. Now that the price of gas has fallen, I'll still be hopping on the Express bus to downtown. I figure riding the bus will help my poor little car last a little longer. Plus, the bus trip is free (gotta love some state employee benefits) AND I don't have to pay for parking or walk 8 blocks from my state-issued parking space. Less walking = longer lasting shoes. LOL! I swear, I'm always at the shoe cobbler because I've worn out the taps on my heels. It's nothing more embarrassing than walking down a tiled hall hearing the tap of metal every other step. So not fly!

January is a looong month.

As a state employee, I get paid once a month on the last work day of the month. It has its pros and cons. But in December, I've traditionally gotten my paycheck early (i.e. before Christmas). This makes for an easy month in December, but a very, very long January. Basically, I go for six weeks without a paycheck!

This year, the Legislature made some changes and state employees were no longer going to get an early paycheck in December. I guess there was a lot of outrage, because we just got a letter saying we're getting paid early. Boo!

I'm really going to have to budget well in December or those last few weeks of January are going to drag on and on and on (which means I might overspend or not meet my goals). I'm going to plan out my December and January expenses to make sure I don't wind up with $0.00 on January 15th.

January is an expensive month because I'm just wrapping up buying Christmas gifts and I have to turn right around and buy birthday presents for my mom, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew! Looks like I'll be putting in some extra time at the part-time job!