Blog Ads

So far I've not indulged in blog ads, since the whole point of this was to have a place to dump my thoughts--nothing more. But as the whole point is to focus on money, why wouldn't I try to monetize my blog? I've always been staunchly against ads, but now I'm thinking more and more about it.

Single Ma (see side bar, i'm too dizzy for links) is basically my role model for financialness-ness. She's amazing, and SHE monetizes her blog. So I may try her tips (see here), INCLUDING adding ads. I didn't think that they could earn that much, but from what I've been reading about them, there is potential for $50 or more a month! That's alot for someone in school. Of course, I don't expect to make that much, but my motto is that every little bit helps. I'm also thinking about starting to do surveys for extra cash, maybe joining Cashduck.

So, as I jump from indebtedness to trying to figure out my life, I may be making some more changes. I also want to start reading those blogs that I felt were too advanced for me at first--like Get Rich Slowly and some other blogs run by people who are ALREADY successful. Alot of the blogs I have been reading focus on getting out of debt and getting started in their lives (not that there is anything wrong with that), but I feel like I need some role models, as well as people who are at about the same level I'm at. I need people who understand my current struggles because they are going through it along with me, AND I need people who are already where I want to be. 2008 will be a year of great change for me, so I'll need people to keep me on the straight and narrow.

California Day!

I seem to have come down with some ailment or another...not surprising since everyone on both of my flights was hacking and sneezing. Ugh. Even airborne hasn't helped fight this.

I'm mostly just dizzy. I cough and sneeze a little, but my main problem is that my brain feels like it's whirling around in my head, even when I'm really still and am just moving my eyes around. Wierd! I must have some ear infection-ish type deal.

I'm supposed to take my sister shopping this afternoon, so I'm going to have to drag myself out of the house and drive her to the mall (my mom has a new car, and so far, I'm the ONLY one she lets drive). But with my head the way it is, I'm a bit scared to be driving...but my sister would be SO disappointed if we don't go--it's only 8 miles on roads I know very well. So go it is...I can at least try.

My Christmas was good, if not sad. It's the first Christmas with no grandparents. The family on my dad's side is embroiled in in-fighting over my grandma's will, so they aren't talking to each other. They are the ones that live closest to us, so that means Christmas was just me, my sis, my mom, and my dad. We're used to doing it up much larger, so it really felt like alot was missing this Christmas. Not to mention, my mom had to do all the Christmas cooking and make sure everyone had good presents to fill some of the hole left by my grandparents' absence. My sis helped her make everything and I helped clean up. Good trade-off.

So this evening I will be going out to the mall. I haven't had a chance to spend anything since Sunday...just good old family time.

I'm also planning on spending the cash my mom gave me, not for luggage as intended, but on a great surprise "California Day" when they come to visit me Jan 10-20. It will consist of us waking up, eating some sort of healthy fruity b-fast, yoga from 10-11, eating lunch at a granoly vegetarian restaurant, possibly surfing lessons for sis (if it's not too cold), heading to the restaurant to see the standing wave--it's near the beach anyway--playing on the beach, a quick pick me up wheatgrass shot at Jamba Juice, and heading out to...go for a hot air balloon ride at sunset!! I'm sooo excited about that last one. Also, I'll take them both out for an early birthday dinner (mom's bday is feb 26, my sister's is Jan 27) at the melting pot, a GREAT fondue place. They will LOVE the day, and so will I. I love them so much and want them to remember this visit forever, esp. since I may be moving away so far soon, and because they've both been through so much in the past decade. They deserve some pampering. so shhh! i hope they don't read this and find out what i'm planning. :)

spending: nothing Saturday
Sunday: Around $28 on lunch for my sis and I
$27 gas for mom's car
$23 for a stupid novelty item while shopping
$5 for forgotten toiletries

And, in the spirit of full disclosure, I broke down and transferred a thousand dollars from my savings to my checking; I just didn't make enough this month to cover normal expenses. I've been good these past few months but now I'm getting lazy with work hours...this needs to change! For now, I give myself a small pass to go a little wild til school starts again on Jan 22. After all, $750 of it was money that I saved while in school.

Yes, there is a Virginia Christmas

So, I am safely ensconced in my childhood (ages 6-18) home for the holidays. I flew out all day Saturday, arrived late last night, attended my childhood church this morning, and met one of my best college friends for lunch and shopping this afternoon. This evening was spent wrapping presents with my sister while watching Christmas movies. Ah...it's so nice to be surrounded by such warmth and love and familiarity.

Absolutely nothing can replace my family. Now that my grandparents are gone, all I can think about is that my parents are next. I try to remember this fact when they start to annoy me. In light of this, when I hugged my mother tonight it was all I could do not to break down in tears. A mother's hugs are irreplaceable, and I wonder how my mom and dad are getting along without them nowadays. It hurts my heart.

I can't even think about being 50 or 60 or 70, with them either gone or extremely elderly. I'm starting to see evidence of aging in them already, and I am having a hard time dealing. Life can't BE without them, y'know? It is UNimaginable. Is this why people get married and have kids and move on? So they have something to do, someone to see, someone to love when their nuclear families age and die? I feel like life is tugging me forward, to a place that is inevitable but I don't want to go. I guess I have no choice: we ARE going to age, things DO change, people DO die. and I hate it. I, childishly, want everything to stay the same and happy and predictable. I want the guarantee of my mother's hugs making everything better.

It is these thoughts that make me question my potential big move to New Zealand. This choice really represents Do I move on? or do I try to stay the same? The time with my parents is, very obviously now, very precious. How could I leave them, fully recognizing and knowing this? on the same token, how do I not take this amazing opportunity, one that they raised me to be able to take? Either way, I disappoint and either way I win. However, which is more important? Moving on to hopefully good things, or holding onto and cherishing the past? How do you do both at the same time? Can you? I'm really struggling with this. I'd regret not being close to home if something happened, but I'd really regret not going to NZ in case something happened. Agh.

These thoughts are too heavy for the holidays, but that's what happens when I'm away from the monotonous drone of work and my 'normal' life...the bridge has yet to present itself, so it's possible that the question will become moot.

Frugal Friday

Just Kidding, today wasn't frugal at all.

I bought gas for my car so it won't be completely empty when I come back from my home town Dec. 31. $27 Plus, my gas budget for December was only half used.

I went to the library to pick up books for my plane ride and vacation starting tomorrow. $0 I also went to subway to pick up a sandwich for my plane ride ($4.25 is cheaper than those awful plane meals they are peddling nowadays).

Then I went to the grocery store and stocked up on my cash ($100) and bought some chips and popcorn and fruit for my 9 hours in the air/airport ($4.50). Hopefully, I won't have to buy any overpriced food tomorrow.

We started drinking in the office today, after our potluck. (BTW, my chocolate chip-laced brownies went like, er, hotcakes? so i'm not a complete loss in the kitchen. maybe. They were better than usual because I accidentally added too many eggs to the mix...oh well.) Anyway, we ended up at a local bar, where everyone bought me drinks but I bought my boyfriend and I some nachos for $7.50.

So. Ok. December hasn't been the best month for expenses < income. I'm banking on the hope that one month won't be able to undo all the good I've been doing.

Curry Experiment

Tonight I made one of boyfriends' Christmas meals--Mushroom Curry with Potatoes. I spent $25.76 on groceries tonight, mostly to buy spices that I will be able to reuse in later meals.

The meal included tomato paste, peas, potatoes, mushrooms (duh), onions, garlic, garam masala (?), curry powder, and coconut milk. The sauce was salted, lemon-juiced, and poured over some brown rice I cooked.

It turned out looking and smelling AMAZING, but I think it was very bland and blah to taste. Boyfriend was very nice and added some spices and said it was GREAT. In any case, I need alot more practice.

The recipe said it took 30 minutes, but I took...3 hours. not including grocery shopping time. Sigh.

Let's face it, some of us are just not cut out for the typical house-cleaning, cooking, baby-making roles our gender places us in.

spending

Volunteered to bring in brownies for a pot luck at work on Friday.

2.98 brownie mixes
72.32 prescription, floss, self, and smart money magazines (only paid $21 out of pocket due to two gift cards)

Holla, Full time job

My exams are over now, and I no longer have any excuses not to go into work. Sigh.

Today was my first day back, and luckily I'm pretty busy until spring semester starts up. I have the next four days full-time, then I leave for VA on Saturday. I'm out there until the 31rst, then I come back to SoCal for New Years Eve. My company has Jan 1 off. So, Jan 2 and 3rd I'm full time at work. On Jan 4, I fly out to Minnesota for my boyfriends' sister's wedding on the 5th. I work full time Jan 7-9. Then, my mom and sister come out to SoCal Jan 10-20. I work full time Jan 21, and then spring semester starts Jan 22. Holy crap. So, in the next month or so, I only work full time for 10 days.

All told, I'll probably only make about $2,000 in the next month. I'm seeing how this month plays out, since I am very underbudget so far but my income is also unusually low, and there's a whole week where I'm at home. I shouldn't have to pay for much during that week, so it may even out, but I just can't be sure right now. If i do have to dip into my savings, I have that $750+ cushion there, anyway.

One of my project managers came by to talk to me this evening, and basically asked me how I was doing financially, being part-time. I just said simply, "I saved up all this year, so I'm doing fine." He asked if I was eating Ramen noodles, and I just laughed, "No, it's not that bad." I really wanted to say that I've actually been SAVING money on my part-time salary, but didn't want to tempt him to cut my income (not that he has that power, but I just didn't want to go there). He then asked if I was coming back to full-time after the spring semester...I think he's worried about staffing since three girls in the office are out for maternity leave over the next year. I said, "Of course, I don't have THAT much saved up!"

don't need to tell anyone that my plan as of now is to quit in June to spend some time at home and then move to New Zealand...heh.

Christmas Surprise spending

Spending is at nada today.

As a corollary to his Christmas surprise for me, I set up my own surprise for my boyfriend this evening. He's off watching football with some friends, so I was free to put the vegetarian cookbooks I bought for him in the kitchen, with my little 4 meals coupon. on the coupon, I promise to buy all ingredients, fully prepare, and cook four full meals of his choosing (with one caveat: the recipes had to be in one of the two books I bought).

I also put Team America on his DVD shelf for him to find. We usually have a movie on in the background while hanging out in the living room, so he'll find that pretty fast.

The total for the books and dvd was about $50 on amazon, so I figure another $50 should cover the cost of ingredients, bringing me to the $100 total I was aiming for.

I go home this Saturday. My presents for my mom have already been shipped there, half of the present for my dad is there, and I have the present for my sis and the other half of my dad's with me. All in all, I'm definitely on budget this Christmas, and I feel really good about everything I was able to get for everyone.

(p.s. In case you were curious, the two cookbooks I got were "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" by Mark Bittman and "The Healthy Hedonist." Both received great reviews on Amazon.)

Almost Christmas!!

Wow, been busy...my last exam was Thursday morning. I did ok, but I didn't ace it. Probably a B, B+ or so. We'll find out when the grades come in in about a month.

Friday, I took a day off and just hung out at home to recuperate, clean, do everything that I've been ignoring for the last two weeks. That evening, boyfriend took me out on the town to celebrate end-of-exams and our 13th month anniversary (should we still celebrate months??). He treated me to a reasonably priced, VERY well reviewed afghani restaurant in a hip neighborhood (read: gay-borhoods are usually the most interesting, fashionable, and have the best eateries and fun shops in cities). Most importantly, they had a wonderful selection of both vegetarian and meat-eater dishes--hard to find.

Then, I bought tickets (student discount!) to see Juno. It is a great movie--lots of good lines, funny, interesting supporting characters, and a fantastic display by the main actress. My boyfriend and I have been quoting movie lines all weekend.

$19 movie tickets

Afterward, we walked around the gayborhood enough to get chilled in the 50 degree weather and drove a short distance away to a coffee shop in an area that is well known for cheap rent, spanish style architecture, and awesome, indie kids. the coffee shop is the kind that i love: independent, been there forever with the same owner still manning the 20 year old cash register, employees who chat wittily with you while making your drink, homemade confections, cozy couches and nooks strewn about the large room, wireless internet!, posters and adverts for local bands, poem slams, etc., from this day and age to yesteryear. There was a neighborhood cat just chillin on a chair that was tucked underneath a table in the joint--it's that homey. Just a very cozy, welcoming place to be. AND it's open 24 hours a day on the weekends, and is right across the street from my favorite bar in the city. I bought us some drinks and we lounged around on an empty couch and talked leisurely while people-watching.

$7 drinks

We ended the night pretty late. I don't think i've been out that late, ever, without alcohol being involved. It seems as though I'm growing up.

The next day I did some errands and had a concert to attend. While I was getting ready for the concert, I went to put on my old watch and had a surprise. I got the watch for my high school graduation from my mom and dad, and it is showing the 10 year old wear. I've been looking at styles for a new one for christmas, and picked out about 10 that I liked the general look of on my amazon page. So i went to the usual spot to grab my watch and put on the old one, and instead, there was a brand spanking new watch, actually the most expensive one that I had picked out! I freaked out and jumped around all excited--obviously my boyfriend had grabbed my old one and put the new one there for me to find. :) I love my new watch, and I would never have spent that much on one myself, so it was a perfect gift.

After that excitement, we headed over to the show. My old roommate works for my favorite radio station in my city (who put together the show) and she was broadcasting backstage while the concert was going on--she kept me updated with how the band members REALLY are and all the gossip. We saw six bands over six hours and of course were famished half way through (no outside drinks or food allowed), so ended up buying some gross nachos. Water was THREE DOLLARS--and it didn't even come in a bottle.

$8 snacks at concert

The kids at the concert seemed like they were all 14 and insanely immature--trying to mosh to super-mellow tunes, pushing people around to get closer to the stage (i'm short, why do you begrudge me my spot?), and throwing shoes on stage at the band members. WTF is wrong with these kids? yet another example of how I felt super old this weekend. we stood in the pit for the first few bands (they were the ones we were actually the most interested to see, fortunately, 'cause most of the kids showed up late. afterward, we took seats in the stands). my whole seated section saw two girls--they couldn't have been more than 13--eat it face first up the steps in two separate incidents 'cause they were so drunk. stupid. The bands were great, though--most of them. It was well worth the money, esp. for the headliner, who are true rock stars in my book. I finally got to see one of my favorite bands play live! great time.

We were still starving after the concert and didn't want to go home so we ended up at our favorite late-night stop: denny's. A french slam and a moon over my hammy (hold the ham) later, we were satiated with good conversation and yummy food.

$21 Denny's

we talked alot about new zealand and moving there. My boyfriend keeps asking me if i'm on board, and I'm always like, hells yeah, I'm in. How could I not? I mean, unless something terrible happens with my family, I'm there. One day soon I will have to be the sole supporter of my mom or dad and/or sister, so I may as well do what I want now. I'll miss them terribly and HATE HATE HATE the 24 hour flights to get home, but well, that is what the month+ long paid vacations are for. Yup...NZers get at least one month a year off paid vacation, from everything I've read.

I'm also considering getting phd there. For several reasons: 1. there are some research topics I'm extremely interested in that I haven't explored yet. 2. one the professors from grad school that i'm really close to is from new zealand and I'd definitely have a good leg up in terms of references there 3. in nz, they don't have to take comps or fulfill class requirements. comps are horrible--they are 2 day long events in which 5-6 professors (usually your committee members) can ask you ANYTHING in your field (not narrowed down to your specialty, either) in excruciating day-long oral and written examinations. I've seen my friends go through it, and I have no interest. AND, since you don't have to take classes, you can finish your phd in 3 years. So. Exciting.

So that was my weekend. How was yours?

Spending

And...my first exam was today--the one I spent most of my time in the last week studying for. It went ok--but I get the feeling that I was focusing too much on the tiny details and not enough on the big picture. I will still get an A in the class, I'm pretty sure.

Afterward I immediately went to a study session with my classmates for my exam tomorrow, where we studied/talked for 4 hours. Studying in a group makes everything so much more fun and enjoyable!! I definitely learned more in that time than I would have at home by myself. I really like the kids in my class, too...I feel so refreshed and happy after hanging out with them.

Two thoughts jump out at me upon re-reading this post: 1) Am I looking at the tiny details (of my life, of my finances) too much without stepping back and seeing everything I should be? and 2) being with (a certain type of) people obviously makes me happy--I need to make friends here; all of my old ones moved away.

$20.36 groceries (dinner/snacks)

Exam Spending

Listening to the study CD i bought, eating the study food I bought, I've spent 90% of my waking hours today in the middle of science intensity. I've nearly got a handle on it--just a few more topics to master and then I can memorize everything on my study guide before my exam on Wednesday.

Now, my other class is another issue...I unfortunately haven't even cracked that book open for this exam. Ugh. There is just SO MUCH information. Tomorrow and Wednesday are going to be very, very bad. I kind of can't wait until Thursday evening when I can relax and I can sleep. My 86 and 99 on previous tests only makes up 60% of my grade--I'm on the cusp of an A with my 93.5 right now, but this final is what is going to determine what I really get: A, A-, B+, or B. Even though these grades don't count for ANYTHING, will never go to any school or employer (including my current one), I still want to get A's...mostly for myself.

The upside to all of this? No time to spend. I'm at $0 for today.

Sunday spending

$37.37 on groceries (mostly junk food and snacks for finals studying! oh, how i've missed this...)

also $160 for Sea world dolphin interaction program for my sister when she comes here in January. And, $135 for 3 sea world tickets. I don't count that stuff, though, 'cause my mom is going to pay me back over Christmas break.

Finale

I'm studying for finals this weekend, so I haven't been spending much the last few days. At most, I'll go to the grocery store to pick up some fruit and other snacks while I'm cramming. My first exam is on Wednesday and the second is on Thursday, so I have a feeling Tuesday and Wednesday nights are going to be BRUTAL.

I'm studying now, but for some reason, I'm a horrible procrastinator. Right now, I can't seem to sit down and sit still unless the TV's on or I have some music, or the internet is on behind my study guides--I NEED distractions to study! Sigh. I'll buckle down in the next 24 hours, but until the pressure's on, I'm all about the ADD.

budget overboard

I got something today in the mail saying that I'm potentially getting a refund back because I spent some time out of the country between 1996-2006. I personally spent 29 days out of the country--10 days in Thailand and 19 days in New Zealand. I remember being charged some fees on my credit card when I charged things out of the country, but I just took it as normal. Apparently those fees are being challenged as illegal. More info here:

http://www.ccfsettlement.com/

Sigh. I am supposed to be studying for my final exams today, and I decided I couldn't without some good music, specifically the new albums by the bands playing at the concert I'm going to next weekend. I also should get some closed toed black pumps/boots for the wedding I'm going to in Minnesota in January--COLD = thick, black tights = closed toed shoes! So I ventured out to the shops...and Oh My Goodness, was the traffic and crowd in the stores CRAZY! I am NOT going to another store before Christmas, I can tell you that much. I am SO glad that online stores exist!!

$18.31 misc (cd)

I also bought some supplies for boyfriend, but he's paying me back in the form of reduced rent this month, so I'm not counting that in my tally...

spending

$5.50 eating out cash

My spending follows a natural pattern, particularly when it comes to my eating habits. i can go for months of making my own lunch, with a treat every once in a while, and then BAM! it seems as if I suddenly can't handle it anymore and I binge (no pun intended) on the eating out/shopping for one month or so. This is one of those times. I can already feel that I'm going to blow the eating out budget!

But it's ok--I know it will pass. I seem to be a self-correcting system. Plus, I still have $120 in cash in my wallet, to be used for times like these. I take out $200 every 3-4 months to use for 'treat' purchases like these. I SHOULD charge these things on my cc and get the points, but this way feels like I'm cheating my budget a little here and there. It comes out virtually the same in the end, but it is psychologically satisfying to do it this way for some reason. Oh well. Tis the season!!

Milestones

It's said that most Americans think that if they had 20% more money than they currently make, everything would be perfect. I'm sad to say that I'm the same way. I hate being average...

Before I got serious about eliminating my debt, I was floating free and oblivious. Then I realized that what I was doing was rediculous--a >$42K salary and I had MORE debt than when I was living off my $20K grad school salary??? Yeah, that's when I realized that I was being really stupid about something.

Since then, I've been calculating and re-calculating the money I'd need coming in to achieve X, Y, and Z. First, it was eliminating my low-balance ($3K or less) student loans, then it was paying off a discover cc, then another card. I thought FOR SURE when I was debt-free, I'd have plenty of money with which to do my heart's desire.

Yeah, I was wrong. It's been a year since I paid off my debt in full, and I don't have enough, even with the 5K increase in salary I received this year!

Granted, I started taking classes this year, but I base this assessment off of calculations I CONTINUE to do while barely making more than I spend.

Maybe my problem is that I want to do TOO MUCH. I just get so anxious and want to achieve everything, right now!

Here's what I want to be able to do with my salary:
--max out 401K (16K in 2008), before taxes
--max out roth (5K in 2008), after taxes
--save $1,500 a month for house downpayment, a big Europe trip, a possible trip to NZ, wedding fund ($18K), after taxes
--maintain current lifestyle ($25K), after taxes

Using a 30% tax rate (fed/state/ss/med), that's equivalent to a salary of $85K/yr. Sigh. I make $55K a year now.

I really need to decide if saving for short term goals (downpayment, etc.) takes priority over my long-term: retirement. I feel like there will ALWAYS be short-term goals to save for, but retirement should be running in the background the entire time. I think I'll have to try it both ways to be sure--max out retirement and just see how much I can save after that sucker punch. Or, should I set my 401K percentage to a minimum amount now (say, 3%), and just keep increasing it every quarter/with raises/bonuses??

Life is just as complicated with debt as without. (but the problems are a whole lot nicer!).

Early? Go Shopping.

For some reason, when I woke up today I groggily looked at the clock first thing (as I always do), saw that it read 8:55, decided I was going to be late for my 10:00 class if I didn't get a move on right away and leave the house at 9 am. I proceeded to arrive on campus a full half hour EARLY. I actually need to leave the house at 9:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays (I have to leave by 9 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I guess my sleepy brain got confused). Of course, with only a half an hour to kill, and no where else to go, I went to the student bookstore. I visited the bookstore yesterday to make sure the exam materials I had were the same as they were selling in the bookstore, and ended up perusing the clothing section. I found a cute shirt there, and I've been wanting some clothing from my non-undergrad or grad school, but I put it back 'cause $15 is $15.

Unfortunately for my budget, they were having a 20% off EVERYTHING sale today. I bought the cute shirt in the half hour before class. Drat. I did put away some sorority girl booty (ahem) athletic shorts, though.

$13 t-shirt (clothing) cash

This is a prime example of how constantly being late actually saves money.

Just kidding.

spending...

100 Roth
10.31 groceries
13.43 eating out (cash)

Poll Results!

Wow, you guys, I was surprised to see the results, honestly--12 people voted, and only ONE person voted to put the extra (now $758.52) in my Roth IRA. Unsurprisingly, no one said to spend it (darn). Four people said to keep it where it is, in my savings account, and a whopping SEVEN people said to do one-third each.

Thank you for all your votes. It really put everything in perspective, and made me think about my strategy a little more.

I have decided to do a 2-prong strategy: keep the money where it is, and if I haven't used the money for an emergency before my 2007 Roth closes in April, I'm going to put it in my Roth IRA. This gives it time to grow in interest, as well. My classes end early May, so I'd really only have to make it through April without any surprises (and if I did, I'd still have my $15K in the EF). After that, I'm back to full-time and shouldn't have any cash flow issues.

So, all, thank you for your input! Once Christmas gets closer, I may change my mind a little and spend a third of it (~$250), but the other 2/3 will surely stay put unless a shortage of cash occurs. I promise!

December 2007 Budget

Ah, as the last month of the year rolls out, I tweak my budget in the hopes that the new year will bring me greater sense of where my money is going. For December, my budget is going to be a little larger, to accomodate the holidays and the sure cash outlay that awaits me on New Year's Eve...

I decided also to average October and November to estimate costs, that's why the odd figures:

RENT: 650 ($750 less utilities boyfriend owes me)
Car/Rental Insurance: 0
Food 206
Clothes 0
Travel: 0
Gifts 250
Car/Gas 100
Cable 60.27
Roth 100
Electricity/Gas 0
Eating Out 50
Charity 25
Cell phone: 46.19
Medical 47
Misc 300
Sewer/Water 20
Saving 0
Total: 1,854.46

Electricity/Gas is 0 because I paid last month's bills in November, and December's bill will be paid in January. Gifts are $250 and Misc. is $300 simply because I still have to buy a few gifts for my boyfriend and I don't know what I'm doing for New Year's quite yet--but from the looks of my friends' options, it's going to be pricey.

December (and Christmas) is one time when I don't want to care about my budget. I'll see old friends and my family, and I do not wish to restrict myself from doing something with them due to financial reasons. I probably will buy some things for myself, too--as you can see, most months don't usually involve clothes or travel. This month my $25 Express gift card is burning a hole in my pocket. Not to mention, they just sent me a $15 off-anything coupon. Therefore...a $40 item will be free to me pretty soon!

In addition, my final exams are next week, and then I will be free to work full time until my new semester starts on Jan 22.

November 2007 Moolah Update

Checking: $1,850

Retirement:
401(K): $6,798.06
Roth IRA: $1401.30

Total Retirement Fun (12/22/06): $3,485.99
Total Retirement Fun (2/07): $4,479
Total Retirement Fun (3/07): $5,820
Total Retirement Fun (6/07): $6,965
Total Retirement Fun (7/07): $7,153.37
Total Retirement Fun: (8/07): $7,113.74
Total Retirement Fun (10/07): $8,320.32
Total Retirement Fun (11/07): $8,199.36 (! It went down!)


Total Emergency Savings (09/06): $2,035
Total Emergency Savings (10/06): $2,583
Total Emergency Savings (11/06): $2,977
Total Emergency Savings (12/06): $3,225.97
Total Emergency Savings (2/07): $4,260.16
Total Emergency Savings (3/07): $6,750
Total Emergency Savings (6/07): $7,815
Total Emergency Savings (7/07): $13,151.28
Total Emergency Savings (8/07): $14,756.25
Total Emergency Savings (10/07): $15,485.60
Total Emergency Savings (10/07): $15,758.52

Total Net Worth (Emergency Savings + Retirement Fun): $23,957.88 (whew, still went UP!)

November 2007 budget review

November Budget:

RENT: 750
Car/Rental Insurance: 0
Food 175
Clothes 0
Travel: 0
Gifts 150
Car/Gas 75
Cable 60.27
Roth 100
Electricity/Gas 35
Eating Out 50
Charity 25
Cell phone: 48
Medical 47
Misc 125
Sewer/Water 20
Total $1660.27

Earned income from job for November: 1701.31
Income from other sources: $241.25
Total Income for November 2007: $1942.56

Here is how I did on all of this:

RENT: 550
Car/Rental Insurance: 0
Food 227.18
Clothes 0
Travel: 0
Gifts 286.55
Car/Gas 96.65
Cable 60.27
Roth 100
Electricity/Gas 40.55
Eating Out 54.87
Charity 25
Cell phone: 46.19
Medical 47
Misc 390.29
Sewer/Water 19.79
Saving 215
Total: 2159.34


Rent: $550. Under budget by $200. Boyfriend owed me $$ from utilities, etc.

Groceries/Food: $227.18. Over budget by $52.18. My last shopping trip messed me up.

Gifts: $286.55. Over budget by 136.55, due to Christmas shopping. I'd be paying this in December, anyway, so it's not really over budget in those terms.

Car/Gas: $96.65 Over budget by 21.65. What can I say, I had a round trip airport trip and gas prices are rising! $75 was not a reasonable amount.

Cable/Internet: $60.27 At budget.

Roth: $100. At budget.

Electricity/Gas: $40.55. Over budget by $5.55. BUT! this includes the payment for November that I would normally make in December, so I actually prepaid December's payment here. We're kicking butt on the low electric bills! only ~$16 this month! I heart solar panels!

Eating Out: $54.87 OVER BUDGET BY $4.87. Eh, I'm being pretty lax on these kinds of things...

Charity: $25. at budget. Donated to a fire relief fund for my county. Awesome.

Cell phone: $46.19. Under budget by $1.81.

Medical: $47 for health insurance. At budget.

Misc.: $390.29. OVER BUDGET by...ALOT. Major expenses were an oil change and tire rotation/balance for $69, getting my car brakes fixed for ~$130. I spent $50 on a concert ticket, and about $40 on blockbuster (gotta do something about that!!). The rest is parking (while I was on a field trip I had to park my car on campus), boyfriend, and random misc. stuff. Should be less next month.

Sewer/Water: $19.79. I'll budget $20 for this from now on.

Saving: $215. Not bad.

Total expenditures: $2,159.34. That includes a major repair and maintenance to my car, 3/4 of my Christmas gifts, an extra payment on my electric/gas, and me and my boyfriend's anniversary celebration and gifts. Not to mention a concert!

Overall, I spent $217 over what I made this month. However, I saved $215 in my savings account and $100 in my Roth. Also, about $100 of that total was in gift cards, and $40 from my cash stash. Therefore, the hit to my bank account should only be about $100.

I'm really liking how this school stint is turning out for my finances--no, I'm not saving as much as I was before, but it's really teaching me how much I can live off. At this rate, I could be comfortable making $30K to $40K before taxes! This will be helpful when I start maxing out my 401K contributions...

In theory: At this point, I make $55K/yr. I should get at least a thousand dollar raise for next year, so this logic is still valid: I could sock away the max in my 401K (16K for 2008), pay taxes on $40K, and still take home $2100. As you can see, on my WORST month so far, I only spent about $2100. I would barely be able to max my Roth out on that, though--it'd be a squeeze.

This plan becomes more and more feasible the higher my salary climbs. The only glitch is if there's something big I need to save for, or if my life changes drastically: a house, my trip to New Zealand, a wedding, a Europe trip, a kid's college education, etc. So this plan goes on the back burner for now...

Spending

Gas $27.76

205 mi
8.262 gal to fill up
almost 25 mpg

$48.66 boyfriend's Christmas gift (half)

These days, I'm just happy to get out of the gas station for under $30!

November budget review to follow.

Give some support to a fellow pf blogger!

Ms. Miniducky is going through a hard time...leave a comment and let her know we're thinking of her and her boyfriend's family.