Yeah....I suck at challenges, apparently. Having nice italian dinners (two nights in a row!) just turned out to be more important to me. So I went over by $40 (which went promptly onto the discover card).
Eesh.
But every paycheck is a new chance to succeed in my goals, so I'll be thankful for that.
What I did succeed in was my very first personalized financial plan for a friend! Thanks, Buddy! Not that I'm any sort of proper source for actual financial advice, but it was nice to be able to point somebody I care about in the right direction. And really at this stage in our lives, the first few steps are always the same: savings, debt reduction, controlling expenses. Not rocket science, but surprisingly hard to figure out at the beginning. And in the middle.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A Challenge
2 posts in one day?! wha?!!!
Okay...here's a challenge to myself. It's really gonna test my frugal abilities.
After buying lunch today, I have $99 to get me through next Tuesday (I get paid at midnight). This includes a trip to new york from Saturday morning until Sunday night.
Can I do it? hm...maybe. I'm letting myself cheat for the $30 bus tickets. Those will go on my credit card and paid off with my check next week. Tonight I'll be grocery shopping, and I sense a lot of beans and rice in my future. Funny...that's all I ate for lunch last week, too.
Okay...here's a challenge to myself. It's really gonna test my frugal abilities.
After buying lunch today, I have $99 to get me through next Tuesday (I get paid at midnight). This includes a trip to new york from Saturday morning until Sunday night.
Can I do it? hm...maybe. I'm letting myself cheat for the $30 bus tickets. Those will go on my credit card and paid off with my check next week. Tonight I'll be grocery shopping, and I sense a lot of beans and rice in my future. Funny...that's all I ate for lunch last week, too.
BAM!
Emergency account up to $1000! I've now officially met my first savings goal.
Fixing my laptop tonight...more and better updates to follow!
Fixing my laptop tonight...more and better updates to follow!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I've neglected my blog!
and, a little bit, my finances. but not completely.
I went a little insane last week. I spent almost my whole weekly allowance (which, if you're curious, is about $115) on one day. Almost immediately after getting paid, actually. My transgressions?
1) There was a sale at the gap. Three shirts for $30! Great deal, right? And not a huge deal as long as I keep things in order the rest of the week.
2) Well I did not keep things in order the rest of the week. Instead, I went to Henrietta's Table on a whim for dinner, and stupidly said "my treat!" The final tab...$60. Well worth every dollar. Probably worth even more dollars. It was the best meal either one of us has ever had (barring something I have forgotten eating in Italy). But would have made sense in a different week. As something planned ahead of time and not just with caution thrown to the wind on a high from payday.
So, Eesh, right? But it's okay. I kept things really tight the rest of the week (with some help from the treat-ee) and only had to break my rules a tiny bit. By that I mean I dipped into my "bills" account for some necessities yesterday and I'm promising all of you I'm going to put it back when I get paid tomorrow.
And the best thing about all of this is that all my careful cushioning is paying off. I fucked up a little bit, but it didn't endanger me at all. I just didn't have anymore mad money for a few days. So what?
Looking to the future: power bills are way low again (but I'm gonna keep putting a larger amount away to prepare for winter), and my cell phone bill will probably go down by about 38% thanks to a brilliant idea on the part of my sister-in-law. Tip: if you aren't on a family plan, get on one. More money for savings.
How are all of your financial lives? Is summer hitting you up for cash? I know my head is chock full of vacation plans that are competing for my every dollar....
I went a little insane last week. I spent almost my whole weekly allowance (which, if you're curious, is about $115) on one day. Almost immediately after getting paid, actually. My transgressions?
1) There was a sale at the gap. Three shirts for $30! Great deal, right? And not a huge deal as long as I keep things in order the rest of the week.
2) Well I did not keep things in order the rest of the week. Instead, I went to Henrietta's Table on a whim for dinner, and stupidly said "my treat!" The final tab...$60. Well worth every dollar. Probably worth even more dollars. It was the best meal either one of us has ever had (barring something I have forgotten eating in Italy). But would have made sense in a different week. As something planned ahead of time and not just with caution thrown to the wind on a high from payday.
So, Eesh, right? But it's okay. I kept things really tight the rest of the week (with some help from the treat-ee) and only had to break my rules a tiny bit. By that I mean I dipped into my "bills" account for some necessities yesterday and I'm promising all of you I'm going to put it back when I get paid tomorrow.
And the best thing about all of this is that all my careful cushioning is paying off. I fucked up a little bit, but it didn't endanger me at all. I just didn't have anymore mad money for a few days. So what?
Looking to the future: power bills are way low again (but I'm gonna keep putting a larger amount away to prepare for winter), and my cell phone bill will probably go down by about 38% thanks to a brilliant idea on the part of my sister-in-law. Tip: if you aren't on a family plan, get on one. More money for savings.
How are all of your financial lives? Is summer hitting you up for cash? I know my head is chock full of vacation plans that are competing for my every dollar....
Monday, June 8, 2009
finally...
I ordered a new hard drive for my laptop after a friend of a friend did a little home diagnosis for me. I should be able to post more after that...
Can you believe I've done this entire blog in free moments at work?
(I hope Mark doesn't read this)
Nothing urgent to update here...but I have a couple things I want to write down when I have my personal computer up and running.
See you on the flip side.
Can you believe I've done this entire blog in free moments at work?
(I hope Mark doesn't read this)
Nothing urgent to update here...but I have a couple things I want to write down when I have my personal computer up and running.
See you on the flip side.
Monday, June 1, 2009
the benefits of a credit card
when you know how to use a credit card (like I do, now), it can really be a ridiculously convenient thing.
I just had to order my GRE scores for my grad school application. It costs $20!! Now, this being the week of rent and some other bills coming due, it just is a lot easier to put that on my discover, and pay it off on wednesday when I get paid.
I never thought a credit card could give me less stress. I suppose I grew up when I wasn't paying attention.
I should know about school within 6 weeks...I'll keep you guys updated. But I don't really see any problems arising...
I just had to order my GRE scores for my grad school application. It costs $20!! Now, this being the week of rent and some other bills coming due, it just is a lot easier to put that on my discover, and pay it off on wednesday when I get paid.
I never thought a credit card could give me less stress. I suppose I grew up when I wasn't paying attention.
I should know about school within 6 weeks...I'll keep you guys updated. But I don't really see any problems arising...
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