I was tagged! by Wanda, the author of the wonderful pf blog Well-Heeled.
So...5 things:
1) I secretly love getting shots/needles. tetanus, flu, giving blood, you name it. It makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my health. Not that I'd shoot up for fun or anything, but I welcome a good vaccine anytime.
2) I have a younger sister (25) who is terrible at managing money. and do i mean terrible. I try my hardest to counsel her and give tips, but it just doesn't stick. Love her to pieces, though, and she is my very best friend in the world.
3) When I go to the hairdresser I tell them to do whatever they think is best--I'm content to just close my eyes and enjoy the pampering. I'm an adventurer at heart and it's only hair. Of course, I only do this at a good salon, not at Supercuts.
4) Pop culture is my weakness. I love a good classic book, but more often than not you'll find me reading some crappy chick lit. Also, bad reality TV. I STILL (for some reason) watch the Real World! Project Runway is my favorite. At this very second I am watching Britain's Top Model recap. I also think DVR is the best invention of the 00's. For shame.
5) As a corollary of #4, I'm currently nursing a major crush on Jim Halpert from 'The Office.' He's so average-guy but so ideal. agh, i heart him.
6) I think and analyze to my detriment. As a result, I'm very afraid that I won't get what I want in life, or that I'll waste it by sitting idly by, thinking but never doing.
So that's my 5 things! I can't think of anyone to tag, i think all the blogs i read have already done this!
Taking a brief hiatus for the holidays after this post. Have a good one!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
State of the Moolah
ING: $103.17
HSBC: $2133.10
Svgs: $25.40
VK: $964.30
Checking: $1562.01-830 (Rent)- (CC Expenses)
401(K): $3334.92
Roth IRA: $151.07 (yay! i already "made" a dollar!)
Owed to CC (for this month's expenses): $404.60
Total Saved (retirement): $3485.99
Total Emergency Savings: $3225.97
Total available for spending until 1/4/06: $327.41
Compared to:
Total Emergency Savings (9/9/06): $2035
Total Emergency Savings (10/14/06): $2583
Total Emergency Savings (11/19/06): $2977
Man, all those plane tickets (reroute through Chicago, a trip home for a funeral, tickets for my return from home after the holidays) really through my budget for a loop. just when i'm feeling vulnerable that my savings isn't growing at the rate I'd like it to, too--I will have to post soon about this.
HSBC: $2133.10
Svgs: $25.40
VK: $964.30
Checking: $1562.01-830 (Rent)- (CC Expenses)
401(K): $3334.92
Roth IRA: $151.07 (yay! i already "made" a dollar!)
Owed to CC (for this month's expenses): $404.60
Total Saved (retirement): $3485.99
Total Emergency Savings: $3225.97
Total available for spending until 1/4/06: $327.41
Compared to:
Total Emergency Savings (9/9/06): $2035
Total Emergency Savings (10/14/06): $2583
Total Emergency Savings (11/19/06): $2977
Man, all those plane tickets (reroute through Chicago, a trip home for a funeral, tickets for my return from home after the holidays) really through my budget for a loop. just when i'm feeling vulnerable that my savings isn't growing at the rate I'd like it to, too--I will have to post soon about this.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Am I a Scrooge?
Everyone's writing about how much (or more frugally, how little) they spent on Christmas gifts this year. I find myself wondering how one spends the amounts I've been hearing...$1200 for Christmas gifts?! Really?! Who are these people and why are you spending so much on them?
I just don't deem it necessary to give everyone I know a present. What for? I don't know what it is, but I'm not going to give a) my co-workers, b) my friends from high school or c) my mailman a Christmas gift. Who decided that we had to? here's who is getting a gift from me:
My sister will get a shopping trip with me footing the bill, my mom will get a mani/pedi/salon trip with me paying for a third of her treatments, and my dad gets me subsidizing a dinner out with the family. Notice they all involve spending time with me (i'm not implying that's the gift; i'm saying the opportunity to spend time together is usually the most valuable gift you can give). My standard gift limit for close friends/family members is $50, so my total comes to $150. I'm also paying out of my nose for airplane tickets, so i consider that part of my gift. Likewise, i'm paying a huge amount to spend new year's at my boyfriends' new city, Chicago, so I can't afford anything for him (plus I have NO CLUE what to give a shiny new boyfriend of less than two months for Christmas...esp. one that has ventured into 'we should move in together' territory (but that's a topic for another post). I AM spending the rest of my $100 bonus on dinner with him, so that could count...right?
I also consider Christmas cards the biggest waste of time and paper ever. Everyone throws them away right after Christmas, anyway. I saw "An Inconvenient Truth," there's no way I can kill that many trees in the name of a holiday that is supposed to be about love and faith. Not that everyone else I know and love won't hear from me--but I'll send my Christmas wishes through the intraweb this year, thankyouverymuch!
So if that makes me a cheapie, that makes me a cheapie. Christmas IS about spending to me--spending TIME with those that I love, and appreciating that they are with me for another year.
I just don't deem it necessary to give everyone I know a present. What for? I don't know what it is, but I'm not going to give a) my co-workers, b) my friends from high school or c) my mailman a Christmas gift. Who decided that we had to? here's who is getting a gift from me:
My sister will get a shopping trip with me footing the bill, my mom will get a mani/pedi/salon trip with me paying for a third of her treatments, and my dad gets me subsidizing a dinner out with the family. Notice they all involve spending time with me (i'm not implying that's the gift; i'm saying the opportunity to spend time together is usually the most valuable gift you can give). My standard gift limit for close friends/family members is $50, so my total comes to $150. I'm also paying out of my nose for airplane tickets, so i consider that part of my gift. Likewise, i'm paying a huge amount to spend new year's at my boyfriends' new city, Chicago, so I can't afford anything for him (plus I have NO CLUE what to give a shiny new boyfriend of less than two months for Christmas...esp. one that has ventured into 'we should move in together' territory (but that's a topic for another post). I AM spending the rest of my $100 bonus on dinner with him, so that could count...right?
I also consider Christmas cards the biggest waste of time and paper ever. Everyone throws them away right after Christmas, anyway. I saw "An Inconvenient Truth," there's no way I can kill that many trees in the name of a holiday that is supposed to be about love and faith. Not that everyone else I know and love won't hear from me--but I'll send my Christmas wishes through the intraweb this year, thankyouverymuch!
So if that makes me a cheapie, that makes me a cheapie. Christmas IS about spending to me--spending TIME with those that I love, and appreciating that they are with me for another year.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
$100 Bonus!
Happy Holidays TO ME!! Today I received an email saying that while I had to miss the Company Holiday Party last week, they had recognized me for all the hard work I've been doing, and could charge $100 to the company card for ANYTHING I WANT. They specifically mentioned a dinner out, but i'm taking what they said literally.
Exciting, yes, and looong overdue. As happy as I am, it's too little, too late. I hate to be ungrateful; it really is a blessing. As I dislike having to figure out what to make for dinner when i get home, and feel guilty every time I buy my lunch out at work, i charged take-out for lunch and dinner in the field today (I'm working an hour away from home, so technically I can't charge it to the company; this blows as i don't really have time to pack a lunch and can't exactly waste two+ hours by going home and eating there), and put gas to go to and from work on it so far. I have about $70 left, which i plan to use to take my family out for dinner for Christmas, or to treat my boyfriend in Chicago over New Year's.
The funny thing is, I would've missed the party even if I hadn't had to go home to attend my grandmother's funeral because they scheduled me to be out of town for fieldwork last week. So they plan to recognize me but can't even schedule me to be there to receive my praises? Just another great example. I hate to be cynical, but it's so transparent, I can't take the praise seriously as I take the $100--they only recognize people when they absolutely can't afford to lose them. It's like suddenly if a not-so-nice guy suddenly bought his girlfriend flowers and started treating her well after she decided to break up with him. It means nothing at that point...the damage is done.
Hmmm...I'm suddenly tempted to partially fund a new interview suit with the rest of the money. Now THAT would be a great use for it.
Sorry this post is disjointed and probably grammatically incorrect, I'm insanely tired. also, i'm not mean and cynical in real life, just when it comes to my job. :)
Exciting, yes, and looong overdue. As happy as I am, it's too little, too late. I hate to be ungrateful; it really is a blessing. As I dislike having to figure out what to make for dinner when i get home, and feel guilty every time I buy my lunch out at work, i charged take-out for lunch and dinner in the field today (I'm working an hour away from home, so technically I can't charge it to the company; this blows as i don't really have time to pack a lunch and can't exactly waste two+ hours by going home and eating there), and put gas to go to and from work on it so far. I have about $70 left, which i plan to use to take my family out for dinner for Christmas, or to treat my boyfriend in Chicago over New Year's.
The funny thing is, I would've missed the party even if I hadn't had to go home to attend my grandmother's funeral because they scheduled me to be out of town for fieldwork last week. So they plan to recognize me but can't even schedule me to be there to receive my praises? Just another great example. I hate to be cynical, but it's so transparent, I can't take the praise seriously as I take the $100--they only recognize people when they absolutely can't afford to lose them. It's like suddenly if a not-so-nice guy suddenly bought his girlfriend flowers and started treating her well after she decided to break up with him. It means nothing at that point...the damage is done.
Hmmm...I'm suddenly tempted to partially fund a new interview suit with the rest of the money. Now THAT would be a great use for it.
Sorry this post is disjointed and probably grammatically incorrect, I'm insanely tired. also, i'm not mean and cynical in real life, just when it comes to my job. :)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Out of Commission
Really! It's not my fault. I have had no time to myself lately to focus on finances. Not that it isn't in the forefront of my mind (as always), but I just haven't had ample time to organize my thoughts, let alone set it down electronically. So honestly, i'm terrible lately, but I've had a crazy month.
First and foremost--work. I was out of town for most of December already for fieldwork to far-flung places in Cali. most nights i would get to my hotel room a mere 6 hours before I was supposed to wake up and start my work-day again. in addition, my work scheduled me to be in places that were 2 or three hours apart from one another, with no day in between to catch my breath. so i'd finish a 14 hour work day only to have to drive 2 or 3 hours to the next destination. kurrr-azy!
Secondly, the boy has visited me two weekends so far, two weeks apart. i'm not complaining about this one, but since we get so little time together, we basically are glued at the hip whilst he is visiting. therefore, no blogging time on the weekend.
Thirdly, my grandmother became very very ill in the past month, and passed away last week. So earlier I was trying to balance work, boyfriend, and trying to get home to see her. I didn't make it in time, but I was able to go home for the memorial service.
So, I've been everywhere but in front of my laptop with idle time. i don't see life getting any less busy, but I will try harder.
First and foremost--work. I was out of town for most of December already for fieldwork to far-flung places in Cali. most nights i would get to my hotel room a mere 6 hours before I was supposed to wake up and start my work-day again. in addition, my work scheduled me to be in places that were 2 or three hours apart from one another, with no day in between to catch my breath. so i'd finish a 14 hour work day only to have to drive 2 or 3 hours to the next destination. kurrr-azy!
Secondly, the boy has visited me two weekends so far, two weeks apart. i'm not complaining about this one, but since we get so little time together, we basically are glued at the hip whilst he is visiting. therefore, no blogging time on the weekend.
Thirdly, my grandmother became very very ill in the past month, and passed away last week. So earlier I was trying to balance work, boyfriend, and trying to get home to see her. I didn't make it in time, but I was able to go home for the memorial service.
So, I've been everywhere but in front of my laptop with idle time. i don't see life getting any less busy, but I will try harder.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Work Sickness
I'm staying home sick today because the next month+ of work is going to be HELL. I actually feel I'm sick today because of the thought of the drudgery that has to take place before I leave for home for Christmas.
Anyway, I found out the schedule for the next few months yesterday. I have a million and one things to do, so much so that I'll be working all weekend, every weekend until January. Unfortunately, it looks like once I get back from my vacation, the grueling schedule only continues. Upon hearing this news, my body decided to revolt--and promptly ignored my alarm this morning. This is the last day I can take off before everything really starts to suck, so I guess an executive decision was made by my body and it decided not to tell my brain that it was overriding its commands.
In short, there was a brief lull before the storm, but the wind is only picking up speed, i fear.
I really am just biding my time and saving up until the day I can quit without the scary financial willies. I was thinking June, but now I don't know if I can make it that long. I'd better start applying for stuff now!
Anyway, I found out the schedule for the next few months yesterday. I have a million and one things to do, so much so that I'll be working all weekend, every weekend until January. Unfortunately, it looks like once I get back from my vacation, the grueling schedule only continues. Upon hearing this news, my body decided to revolt--and promptly ignored my alarm this morning. This is the last day I can take off before everything really starts to suck, so I guess an executive decision was made by my body and it decided not to tell my brain that it was overriding its commands.
In short, there was a brief lull before the storm, but the wind is only picking up speed, i fear.
I really am just biding my time and saving up until the day I can quit without the scary financial willies. I was thinking June, but now I don't know if I can make it that long. I'd better start applying for stuff now!
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