Pauper Month - Update

OK! So my last post was the 15th, about 12 days ago. What's happened since then?
For one, off the top of my head-- I've given in to the availability of credit down the line. My spending:

1. I got contacts for 6 months for $58
2. Purchased a pair of shoes for $25
3. Bought home stuff today for $41 which were not necessities (though such a good deal)
4. I brought some home stuff including expensive apples, cheese and crackers ($30) and a shelving system for $30 for our cage downstairs

Necessities:

1. I bought groceries - $112
2. I paid for gas $80
3. Electrician's fee came in $126.47

Gifts & Debt Repayment:

1. Chris' birthday cheque ran in - $100
2. Bonnie's birthday event - paid for me and Martin - $46

Total run-in for the past 12 days: $648

$184 of it I probably could have avoided, $465 I could not.. Total for the month:

$350 in avoidables (24%)

$1,115 in necessities or non-avoidables (76%)

For REAL

This is going to sound really stupid.

So I've tried to do this "Pauper Month" thing multiple times in my life. It usually happens when I heavily overspend and feel guilty about it. Usually since I still had a pretty decent amount of disposable income, it would never actually work, not really.

Interestingly enough, for the first time ever I am actually more likely to have to follow Pauper month.
What's changed is that I've moved out. I've had a ton of expenses, and I'm not depending on my family for much of anything, really (ok, save my phone bill which, yes-- I know, I really should be paying myself but it's part of a package plan with them).

Anyway, so summary of this month so far:

Nov 1st:
230 $ - Condo Fees
47 $ - Winners home stuff (wire rack, postmail, garbage bag dispenser)

Nov 2nd:
32 $ - Gas

Nov 4th:
$220 - Groceries and Groceries as debt repayment to mom

Nov 5th:
64$ - Groceries and baking stuff

November 8th:
43$ - Dinner with Sanam

Nov 9th:
10$ - pitch in for a poker night
8$ - pho noodles (same night)
30$ - Chinese Groceries

Nov 10th:
74$ - Gas

Nov 14th
58$ - in a moment of weakness, i bought contact lenses for 6 months on super special

So far, how am I holding up as a "Pauper"? Not great... This adds up to about: $816..

Not that bad, though, considering $650 was either debt repayment or necessities (gas and groceries) so actually, in reality I only "splurged" $166 this month in non-essentials. Let's see if I can keep it up...