So the roommate came home after being at her parents for the holidays. I had emailed her yesterday with the question - what are you doing for January? (backstory: she gave 30 day notice back in late november, but did not move in December after all & is paid through Jan 9th).

Last night, she told me she's moving to Florida. She's going there for a job interview 1/3 and then on a short cruise and will be back around the 10th.

At that point, I told her that any days she (Or her STUFF) are here after the 9th, she will be charged rent divided by 31, which is roughly $15/day.

I will be sending her an email today confirming that arrangement, as well as stating that the day to day can continue through Jan, but as of end of day Jan 31st, I expect her to be completely moved out so that I can have a new renter start Feb 1st.

This means that my budget will have a shortfall in January. I will be looking closely at the budget & while I do have savings to cover the shortfall, I plan on doing everything I can to cover the shortfall without digging into savings.

I get paid on the 15th & last day of the month. I"ve always worked by budget as the 30th & the 15th so that the paycheck at the end of the month goes to the first 14 days of the following month.

For example, December 30th check will go for my January budget. I recently changed my 401k witholdings so my 12/30 check is a little less than what it was on the 15th. To top that off, my medical benefits increased by $6 and my Social Security withholdings will be going down (Woohoo) and I also changed my HSA withdraw amount by quite a bit. Given all these changes, I do not know exactly what my new paycheck amount will be on Jan 15th. Hard to make a budget.

PLUS - I still do not know what the roommate situation is. I plan on emailing her today to see if she can give me a heads up. She was out of town all Christmas week & went to her parents on Christmas Day & I haven't seen her since. I know that she is not working. I don't think she's found a new job. As she is planning to work in another state, I don't see her leaving until she gets a new job/place to stay, but I just don't know.

So in light of all the above, my January budget is all jacked up until I truly know what is going on with my paycheck & my roommate

I plan on being SUPER frugal in January to cover any shortfall in income if the roomie leaves and it takes time to find a new one. I really do need to find a new one though.

So I will set my 12/30 budget, but will wait to set the 1/15 one until I see the new paycheck online about 5 days prior. SHould be fun!

I am looking forward to a clean slate in the new year, but in the mean time, I'm trying to get back on track with spending & packing food.

Tonight, I had dinner at home, made food for tomorrow & am getting my house organized again. I've felt out of whack since I've been sick again. The house is a mess, I barely have energy to cook for myself and its a real downer.

I'm going to try to take things easy, but I really need to get on the ball with spending & saving. Especially since I do not know whats going on with the roommate situation. Right now, she's paid through the 9th. I've barely seen her as she spent a week out of town, came home Christmas night for about a 1/2 hour and then headed back to her parents an hour away. She's unemployed, so I have no idea when to expect her back. I don't know what her plans are after the 10th. She's paid through the 9th, rent due on the 10th & since we haven't talked, I don't know what she's planning on doing.

I also can't wait to see my paychecks for 2011 since I decreased my HSA amount and increased my 401k. I have an estimate, but I like to know my net pay to the cent. That won't happen until my Jan 15th paycheck.

I am looking to do my 2011 Financial Goals soon, but I want some of those figures first. I've been reading other people's goals for the new year & its been giving me inspiration!

There was not enough snow for a snow day. Oh well, at least the drive in wasn't too terrible. I went into work about 45 mins late so that I could drive when it was light out versus dark. Management is totally fine with those type of situations.

After yesterday's post, I started feeling ill again. The doc has not fully diagnosed my problem - so I have been calling it the mystery illness. I was feeling weak (not tired) and was worried I might pass out, so I went to my parents to hang out there. We enjoyed leftovers from Christmas and watched movies on tv and I spent the night.

So because of that, I did not have breakfast/lunch packed. I have seriously failed in my lunch challanges the last few months & I need to stop making my health an excuse. When I eat better, I feel better anyway, so its a win-win.

Anybody who has a snow day today, I just have to say LUCKY! lol

And just to share - books! I just finished the 3rd book in the Hunger Games series - Mockingjay. I really liked the books. I also read the 1st 2 books of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series & my friend is lending me the 3rd tomorrow! I started re-reading the Kitty books by Carrie Vaughn - they're about a werewolf named Kitty. I find them to be nice, light reads.

We're supposed to have snow today. It just started with a few flakes. Of course the news is already making it into Snowpacalypse 2011. I ran out this morning for some veggies from the farmer's market - approx $8 spent.

Now I am home, on the couch, waiting for snow. I have a ton of laundry to do & that's my big plan for the day. I am watching movies on cable, have a few books from the library and plan on planting my butt on the couch until there's enough snow to have to clear out the driveway!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! I have enjoyed a fun, relaxing day with my family and am excited to have the day off tomorrow

Merry Christmas to All! Work let me out at 11:45 today, wasn't that nice of them? I came home & lazed around for a bit & am now packing up all of my stuff & heading over to my parents.

I've had a bad week health-wise, so I am REALLY looking forward to relaxing. I will come back to my house tomorrow night after all the festivities, but for once there won't be a rush. No work the following day!

And as a Christmas present to myself, I completed my goal of a cash only Christmas! Hoorah!

This week at work, we had a luncheon supplied by the business, the managers brought in donuts, I brought in cookies for the group & someone else brought in mints. Tis the season for food! lol

Yesterday, I packed my breakfast & lunch for work. After work, I made dinner at home & I went had a few friends over for a gift exchange. Afterwards, we went to the pub for our normal Tuesday night outing. I didn't stay too long as I"m not feeling well again. I spent $5.75 for 2 beers, plus tip.

Today, I packed food again. I have a couple of errands to run after work & I will spend the evening enjoying my Christmas tree & wrapping presents!

In other news - the heats been kicking on a lot. I'm going to hate seeing my electric/gas bill!

Yesterday, got up very early & went to Michael's where I bought one of the last presents I needed as well as some that I didn't I spent $35.00 and it included on of those light up Christmas houses that my friend collects.

I stopped by Barnes & Noble for some gifts and spent about $42. $7 was hardback version of Walden that I just couldn't resist!

I went to my parents house & cleaned their bathroom for them. I brought my nephew back home with me & we made chocolate chip cookies & played games.

Then my parents came over & we watched Elf, then met my sister for dinner at Texas Roadhouse for my nephew's birthday. My mom treated for dinner. I plan on offering more cleaning since she treated

We had the nephew open presents at my house after dinner and then I promptly went to bed. I was worn out!

Today, I had my annual review at work (we do them quarterly & finalize annually). Raises are decided in the 4th quarter, but aren't doled out until February. My review went really well, but who knows how it'll come out pay-wise.

After work, I hit up WalMart and came home. I made dinner, pre-made food for work tomorrow, cleaned the kitchen, mopped the floor and now I am chilling on the couch watching Downsized.

I put up a bunch of dvds & other items on Craigslist last night. A gentlemen came today & bought 6 for $25.00. Great score!

I just sold about 6 dvds for $25 cash. Not too shabby. I have been paring down my collection, so it wasn't a hardship & the cash is going straight to my efund!

I ran a lot of errands last night & today.

I spent:

- $17.90 for groceries at Target *used a $15 gift card
- $19.66 groceries at WalMart
- $4.95 ornament from Pier One (for a gift)
- $1.98 picture enlargements for mom
- $35.01 gas
- $3.99 for catnip (present for the cats & entertainment for me. They treat it like its crack!)
- $9.34 large bad of calcium for snow
- $12.54 groceries at grocery store

*Lots of grocery shopping, because I was OUT of staples

I have paid all my normal bills & I have the following amounts left in my cash (and gift card) envelopes

- $10.00 to mail a package to England
- $105.54 Christmas
- $7.01 Cat (need litter & litter bags)
- $.66 leftover calcium funds (this will go to the piggy bank)
- $79.60 Entertainment money (I am hoping to stretch this into January!
- $56.42 groceries

Unfortunately, I have a couple of Christmas items to still pick up (UGH - hate last minute shopping!!)

This weekend, I plan to:

Do an annual Christmas trek with friends. We hit 2 specific Christmas stores & enjoy the sights. We might do lunch, which would be the only money I spend there.

I need to hit a bookstore & get some gifts.

Saturday night, I plan on chilling at home & doing some cleaning. And especially doing some wrapping of presents!

Sunday, I promised 2 hours to my mom to clean wherever in her house she needs the help. After, my sister & my nephew are coming over to enjoy the real Christmas tree, make some cookies & watch a Christmas movie. I am really looking forward to it!

The roommate is still unsure when she is leaving. She got official word of the termination, but I think she has no idea what she's doing. All I know is she's paid until the 9th of January & if she needs to move - she still has to give 30 day notice again.

Lastly - I just wanted to share that I have a bunch of stuff checked out from the library at any time. I just finished Catherine Coulter's Whiplash (I like her easy books), but what I am really into is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Socity by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Its about a writer who gets a letter from a farmer on Guernesy Island in 1946, just after the Germans un-occupy the area. He had come across a book she had once owned & had her name in it. A flurry of letters commence between the author and the islanders in the society who have been cut off from the world during the whole occupation. Its really well written even with so many different voices giving their versions of events. Its something really different and I LOVE it.

Today is payday. I spent $8.10 on lunch - losing my lunch challenge, but oh well I went to the doctor ($20 copay) and then out to dinner with a friend, and she treated. I will reciprocate next week. I spent $1.00 for parking.

I am now home, snuggled under an afghan and enjoying the cats & the Christmas tree and paying bills and transferring funds to my various savings accounts including the efund.

I upped my grocery budget this pay period because I need a lot of staples. $106.50 cash/gift cards into the envelope.

I started with $72 for the entertainment budget & am already down to $62.90. I am looking to put some stuff up on Craigslist & add to my entertainment budget because I have a lot of social obligations (or social wants) in the rest of the month.

Tomorrow is our work holiday lunch - so YAY FREE FOOD! We also have a work holiday happy hour after work. I'm debating about going because it means spending money. BUT it would also mean schmoozing, which is always good for the career. I will figure it out

My work announced today that we will be getting a $500 compensation into our 401k in January. We don't get bonuses, but some years, they give us this compensation. Hey, I will definitely take an additional $500 to my 401k!

Well, none of my goals for yesterday were accomplished, except finishing my Christmas cards. Oh well, I enjoyed reading the rest of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and watching some tv.

Today is the last day before payday. I have about $5 left in my entertainment fund, which I may use to buy a beer at the local pub with my friends for our normal Tuesday night outing.

I am working today on my budget for 12/15 to 12/31. Its going to be tight as I have about $95.00 in medical expenses to pay for. Oh, the joys

An update on the roommate situation - I think the job will end soon for her and there's a very good chance she will be moving soon. I don't know for 100% sure, but I know she's paid through January 9th. Even with her personal drama (which I really only overhear when she's on the phone in the same room with me), she's been an easy roommate to get along with.

I haven't done too well with bringing lunch, so between the 15th and the end of the year, I plan on packing my breakfast, lunch & snacks 100% with the exception of 1 lunch out for the holidays with my coworkers.

I also have finalizing the grocery list & meal plan for the next 15 days. I keep planning on doing it, but don't follow through. It will definitely be done today! LOL

I attended a friend's work Christmas party in Philadelphia on Saturday night. We went to a bar/bowling place. Very upscale & fun. There was open bar, free bowling & a buffet. All free to me. (Thanks to my friend who invited me!!!)

Well, he just text me even more good news. I guess they did some random drawings for bowlers or something, but we each received a $25.00 Amex gift card. Woot!