We spent our July locally. Pacific Northwest is beautiful during the summer and I enjoyed spending time here and getting to know our community. We started with a local 4th of July celebration in the neighborhood. The kids decorated bikes, scooters and strollers and we all had a 4th of July parade. We enjoyed our burgers and fries and watched some of the fireworks from the neighbors. I’m not a fan of these fireworks and we never participated in it. Luckily our 2 adjacent neighbors were not in town and didn’t put up a “show”
The kids also attended summer camps. MBP had a basketball camp from our local high school. The girls basketball team were all there, teaching them. He also attended Camp Invention. It was a full day camp hosted by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He already wants to go back. If we are local again next year, I will for sure sign them up. AHP will also be eligible for it.
We also went camping with our Campfire Friends. It was our first time camping with other families and I have to say, it is definitely the way to go. The kids just play amongst themselves. There were a couple of activities that were adult-led, like ice cream making and lantern making but for the most part, they just play together. We definitely need more camping trips next year.
The highlight of July is probably our Tee-ball community. Mr. MMD coached the boys team so we were in the field for 2.5 hours every Saturday. I thought it will be awful but I ended up having a lot of fun. Families were there enjoying the sunshine, and running with the kids through out. MBP’s team have quite a bit of kids from his school as well so we know the families there. I also saw some families from our old cooperative school.
And lastly, we completed our built in project! The playroom was officially open after 2 weeks. We even hired Stanley Steemer to cleaned the carpets in the room and in hallway. It turned out really well and I’m really proud of Mr. MMD to have completed this. I painted the entire built ins too, so it was a family project!
I really like staying local every summer. We also attended the weekly kids concerts, enjoy our lakes, playgrounds and trails.
Onwards to our spending — we spent $5,172 in July. I really don’t look at this too much anymore, until I write in here, so let’s take a look.
| Categories | Sum of Amount |
|---|---|
| Electronics | 1,313.99 |
| Groceries | 819.14 |
| Home Improvement | 741.95 |
| Healthcare/Medical | 449.90 |
| General Merchandise | 391.60 |
| Home Maintenance | 292.03 |
| Utilities | 280.79 |
| Gym | 250.52 |
| Gasoline/Fuel | 107.71 |
| Dues & Subscriptions | 102.65 |
| HOA | 84.00 |
| Personal Care | 76.90 |
| Restaurants | 70.43 |
| Kids Activities | 65.17 |
| Mobile Phone | 45.12 |
| Travel | 42.80 |
| Clothing/Shoes | 21.23 |
| Hobbies | 8.72 |
| Internet | 5.51 |
| Online Services | 2.01 |
| Grand Total | 5,172.17 |
Electronics – $1,313.99
We bought a 65 inch LG OLED TV. Mr. MMD did the research and I purchased it at Best Buy, stack up with some Rakuten savings. We usually get the latest electronics since we rarely buy it. Our current TV is 14 years old. This TV is for the built ins upstairs. Or family officially have 2 TVs
Groceries – $819.14
A little higher this month, probably because of some food for fourth of July and maybe inflation.
Home Improvement – $741.95
Some more items for our built ins. Quote for these type of built ins are over $10k in our area!
Healthcare / Medical – $449.9
This amount includes our monthly insurance for health, dental and eyecare (for me). I have some doctor visits this month and have to pay for some copays as well. This also includes lab copays.
General Merchandise – $391.6
Some items from Costco/Amazon/Walmart and basically anything else that I don’t bother categorizing.
Home Maintenance – $292.03
We hired Stanley Steemer to steam 2 rooms for $230. We also bought some vacuum bags for $62.03.
Utilities – $280.79
This amount is for our electric, gas, water and sewer.
Gym – $250.52
We signed up for YMCA this summer and have to pay for joining fee! We usually have this waive. Oh well! The kids were signed up for their swim lessons here which are included in their membership.
Gas – 107.71
We filled up three times. We usually drive more during the summer because of the kids’ activities.
Dues and Subscription – $102.65
A credit card fee that should be reimbursed next month and our prime membership.
HOA – $84
Additional cost of living here in our neighborhood. This should be paying for the trail maintenance.
Personal Care – $76.9
The kids had a summer hair cut. It was short for the swim lessons.
Restaurants – $70.43
We visited Jimmy Johns, Mod Pizza, Wendy’s and Menchie’s
Kids Activities – $65.17
I signed up MBP for some extra camps at the YMCA. MBP also bought his own Lego Sets. He paid for it but we haven’t deposited his payment yet.
Mobile Phone – $45.12
We have been using more than 1GB of data. Probably because we drove a bit in June and used Google Maps. This is still not bad for 2 lines.
Travel – $42.8
Mr. MMD and MBP watched the Storms Game. This is for the parking.
Clothing – $21.23
MBP’s fake Crocs from Target. He used it on camping.
Hobbies – $8.72
I bought the 1st A Court of Thorns and Roses. I got the other 4 books digitally from the library but not the 1st one. I just bought the first one so I can read the other 4. I finished all 5 books in 2 weeks.
Internet – $5.51
We are signed up for Internet Essential through Xfinity.
Online Services – $2.01
Cost of hosting this blog from Google Cloud Platform.