I should stick to personal finance, obviously. We have talked about how badly my recipes go in the past. Sigh. I recently moved up in the cooking world by making PastaRoni's instead of just popping a frozen dinner in the microwave. Seriously, that's how bad I am--I think of Pasta-Roni, with its cooking in a pan on the stove as "real cooking." PA-thetic!!
The other night I was craving chocolate, specifically brownies, and I broke out my emergency chocolate stash of brownie mix. I started making it, then realized I didn't have any eggs. So I searched online to find a suitable substitute, and found out that bananas can sub in...according to the internet. And my supreme intellect. Every word on the "Internet" is not to be believed, some say. Preposterous! I put that to the test, my naive and innocent brain took the words of several (several! I backed up my source and double-checked this idea!) world wide websites as truth. No mention was made of what state this banana had to be in--ripe, past ripe, green as my mom's thumb ISN'T (the lady could kill a fake plant...and has), but I trusted that the golden words of the internet were gospel, and that they would have mentioned this on the four websites if it were important. I carefully mashed the banana, as they said to do, and put the banana in the mix, proud of myself for figuring out a way around going to the grocery store and spending more money. Unfortunately, folks, bananas in brownies DO NOT WORK. The bananas made the consistency really thin and goopy, and if I cooked it more, the dough turned crispy. Also, it tasted AWFUL. Crispy burnt smoked banana chocolate, to be exact. so...now that is filed under 'lesson learned.'
In addition to other groceries, I bought another box of brownies today...and eggs.
$28.82 groceries
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Salary
$66K should be plenty for me to meet all of my goals off of:
$16K to max out my 401K
$15K of taxes (assuming 30% tax bracket)
Net: $35K
$5K to Roth IRA
$12K to Savings ($1K/mo)
$18K/yr to live off of ($1.5K/mo)
My current salary sits a little bit above $55K, although it is less since I'm part-time. When I go back to full-time, I am going to go through another review, and should get a significant raise from $55K to ~60K/yr. Almost there!
$16K to max out my 401K
$15K of taxes (assuming 30% tax bracket)
Net: $35K
$5K to Roth IRA
$12K to Savings ($1K/mo)
$18K/yr to live off of ($1.5K/mo)
My current salary sits a little bit above $55K, although it is less since I'm part-time. When I go back to full-time, I am going to go through another review, and should get a significant raise from $55K to ~60K/yr. Almost there!
Dave Ramsey's Extended Baby Steps Plan
For my future reference:
0.1: Commit to NEVER borrow $$$ EVER for ANYTHING other than possibly a house.
0.2: Talk with spouse and get him/her on the same page as you concerning finances.
0.3 Do a written budget.
0.4 Temporarily stop all retirement contributions. (I don't necessarily agree with this strategy.)
0.5 Get current on all the basics (You MUST have Food, Utilities, Shelter, Basic Transportation).
0.6 Amputate "toys" (bikes, boats, ATV's etc) if they will keep you from completing the snowball within 12 months
0.7 Cut lifestyle (Cut CATV, Cellphone, Regular phone "extras", Internet, Eating out, etc) and/or take second job if $1000 EF will take more than 30-90 days. (depending on income)
0.8 Get current on ALL bills.
1.0 Save $1000 In baby Emergency Fund. (This should take no longer than 3 months.)
1.1 Chop up CC's. (You have an EF now, no NEED to keep those CC's !!)
1.2 Get Health insurance NOW (chances of getting sick w/ major medical bills are larger than that of death), especially if you have children.
1.3 Get Life insurance NOW if you have considerable debt/your family couldn't make it financially if you died. Especially important if you have children !! Social Insecurity provides only a small amount of coverage if you have dependents.
1.4 Amputate cars that you can't pay off within 24 months (You have an EF to fix the "bondo buggy" if something should happen)
1.5 Consider raising insurance deductables to $500 or $1000 and dropping full coverage on paid for "bondo buggy" (You have an EF ya know)
1.6 Draw up a will.
1.7 Get Long-Term Disability insurance.
2.0 Do debt snowball, paying all your debts from lowest BALANCE to highest. (This step should take no longer than 2 years.)
2.1: You can take your first vacation since finding Dave if you can pay cash for it (no using the EF !!!)
3.0 Save 3-6 months EXPENSES in EF.
3.1 Start car replacement fund.
I am currently here. I don't have a will yet; I don't currently have long-term disability as I am part-time at work right now. When I go back to full-time, this and life insurance is covered.
3.2.1.5 Save up for wedding or extended Europe trip. I added this step because it is a priority in my life, and I want to take the Europe trip in the next couple of years--before buying a house.
3.2 Save up 20% for home purchase OR pay down existing mortgage to the point you can drop PMI.
3.3 Start furniture or other non-essential stuff replacement fund. I'd probably switch 3.2 and 3.3 since 3.3 would be such a small amount compared to 3.2.
3.4 Move up in car if you still feel the need to (must pay cash for it)
4.0 Start contributing 15% of your paycheck to retirement. (I'd change this to MAX out retirement.)
5.0 Save for kids college fund.
6.0 Pay off house early.
7.0 Live like no one else since you have lived like no one else. -- Give & Build Wealth. I can't WAIT to get to this step!
Bold emphasis mine.
0.1: Commit to NEVER borrow $$$ EVER for ANYTHING other than possibly a house.
0.2: Talk with spouse and get him/her on the same page as you concerning finances.
0.3 Do a written budget.
0.4 Temporarily stop all retirement contributions. (I don't necessarily agree with this strategy.)
0.5 Get current on all the basics (You MUST have Food, Utilities, Shelter, Basic Transportation).
0.6 Amputate "toys" (bikes, boats, ATV's etc) if they will keep you from completing the snowball within 12 months
0.7 Cut lifestyle (Cut CATV, Cellphone, Regular phone "extras", Internet, Eating out, etc) and/or take second job if $1000 EF will take more than 30-90 days. (depending on income)
0.8 Get current on ALL bills.
1.0 Save $1000 In baby Emergency Fund. (This should take no longer than 3 months.)
1.1 Chop up CC's. (You have an EF now, no NEED to keep those CC's !!)
1.2 Get Health insurance NOW (chances of getting sick w/ major medical bills are larger than that of death), especially if you have children.
1.3 Get Life insurance NOW if you have considerable debt/your family couldn't make it financially if you died. Especially important if you have children !! Social Insecurity provides only a small amount of coverage if you have dependents.
1.4 Amputate cars that you can't pay off within 24 months (You have an EF to fix the "bondo buggy" if something should happen)
1.5 Consider raising insurance deductables to $500 or $1000 and dropping full coverage on paid for "bondo buggy" (You have an EF ya know)
1.6 Draw up a will.
1.7 Get Long-Term Disability insurance.
2.0 Do debt snowball, paying all your debts from lowest BALANCE to highest. (This step should take no longer than 2 years.)
2.1: You can take your first vacation since finding Dave if you can pay cash for it (no using the EF !!!)
3.0 Save 3-6 months EXPENSES in EF.
3.1 Start car replacement fund.
I am currently here. I don't have a will yet; I don't currently have long-term disability as I am part-time at work right now. When I go back to full-time, this and life insurance is covered.
3.2.1.5 Save up for wedding or extended Europe trip. I added this step because it is a priority in my life, and I want to take the Europe trip in the next couple of years--before buying a house.
3.2 Save up 20% for home purchase OR pay down existing mortgage to the point you can drop PMI.
3.3 Start furniture or other non-essential stuff replacement fund. I'd probably switch 3.2 and 3.3 since 3.3 would be such a small amount compared to 3.2.
3.4 Move up in car if you still feel the need to (must pay cash for it)
4.0 Start contributing 15% of your paycheck to retirement. (I'd change this to MAX out retirement.)
5.0 Save for kids college fund.
6.0 Pay off house early.
7.0 Live like no one else since you have lived like no one else. -- Give & Build Wealth. I can't WAIT to get to this step!
Bold emphasis mine.
Spending
No spending today. I took my boyfriend to the airport--he's flying to New Zealand to meet with various faculty members and to check out the country a little bit.
I need to get my study on--my mid-term is exactly one week away now!
I need to get my study on--my mid-term is exactly one week away now!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tax Refund!
$213 State
$393 Federal
I used a free tax website recommended by the IRS. Apparently my calcs were a little off, making my refunds larger than I anticipated. A total of $606 is to be deposited in my checking account in the next two weeks. This more than makes up for my overspending...and possibly my pending mini-shopping spree.
I spent $53 ($10 tip; $43 service) for a haircut and blow dry today. It's very cute...I now have bangs!
$393 Federal
I used a free tax website recommended by the IRS. Apparently my calcs were a little off, making my refunds larger than I anticipated. A total of $606 is to be deposited in my checking account in the next two weeks. This more than makes up for my overspending...and possibly my pending mini-shopping spree.
I spent $53 ($10 tip; $43 service) for a haircut and blow dry today. It's very cute...I now have bangs!
Impromptu Bowling and Serendipitous Salon Busy-ness
Yesterday I spent
$10.07 groceries
$10 for thai food (eating out)
I didn't get my haircut because the salon was booked when I went in. Luckily! I say luckily, becuase the salon gives a 10% discount on appointments made on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays! How perfect! I promptly made my appt. for 4 pm today.
And a friend called out of the blue last night and invited us to go bowling. It ended up being a great time--Boyfriend owed me a DD night. In summary, I didn't break 100 in any of my 3 bowling games, but I did spend
~$30 in drinks and games.
$10.07 groceries
$10 for thai food (eating out)
I didn't get my haircut because the salon was booked when I went in. Luckily! I say luckily, becuase the salon gives a 10% discount on appointments made on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays! How perfect! I promptly made my appt. for 4 pm today.
And a friend called out of the blue last night and invited us to go bowling. It ended up being a great time--Boyfriend owed me a DD night. In summary, I didn't break 100 in any of my 3 bowling games, but I did spend
~$30 in drinks and games.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
No More J.-O.-B.!
OMG! It's a happy day for PF bloggers nation-wide. Trent over at The Simple Dollar has made a move that virtually everyone in the PF blogsphere wants to do: He quit his job. Read all about it in the link.
Now if only I could figure out a way...going down to 20 hours a week is still too much for me, but I gotta pay the bills!
Now if only I could figure out a way...going down to 20 hours a week is still too much for me, but I gotta pay the bills!
Yesterday spending
Friday:
got links taken out of watch: $20
groceries: $40
misc. stuff (needed multivitamins): $17
Charity: $50 to Kiva.org. The family I lent to is fully funded! That feels niiiiccce. Sometimes I wish I were as nice to myself as I am to others...
I walked around the mall last night, and some of my shopping spree fix was satiated, even though I didn't buy anything. There's just...nothing that I want or need.
Oh well. The next time I have disposable cash, I'm not going to know what to do or what to buy. I just don't have a need for shoes and candles and jewelry and...and...crap. I do have an urge to buy something, though--I think I'll take my Target and Express gift cards for a spin later on this weekend.
What I need to do, really, is get in some sort of physical class, hip hop dancing, any other kind of dancing, pilates or yoga, and maybe a cooking class.
got links taken out of watch: $20
groceries: $40
misc. stuff (needed multivitamins): $17
Charity: $50 to Kiva.org. The family I lent to is fully funded! That feels niiiiccce. Sometimes I wish I were as nice to myself as I am to others...
I walked around the mall last night, and some of my shopping spree fix was satiated, even though I didn't buy anything. There's just...nothing that I want or need.
Oh well. The next time I have disposable cash, I'm not going to know what to do or what to buy. I just don't have a need for shoes and candles and jewelry and...and...crap. I do have an urge to buy something, though--I think I'll take my Target and Express gift cards for a spin later on this weekend.
What I need to do, really, is get in some sort of physical class, hip hop dancing, any other kind of dancing, pilates or yoga, and maybe a cooking class.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Expensive Weekend
On the docket for a budget-busting weekend:
1) a haircut. I haven't had one since last August. No, that's not a typo...it's been waaayy too long. This will probably run me about $55 (tip included). I'll opt to not get the hair blow-dry this time and see if that reduces my bill. Then again, I loooovvvveee getting my hair messed with and this is the only girly-type service I pay for (manicures, pedicures, facials, etc. I do at home on myself...).
2) get links taken out of the watch that my boyfriend gave me for our anniversary. (?? i'll guestimate about $15?) I'll have to venture to the...dum-dum-dum...mall to get this done. And I bet I have some fun poking around while I'm waiting for it to be done.
3) order Scene It! for a delayed Christmas present to my best friend from 6th to 12th grade. She got me a present and I've felt bad for about two months now. ($30)
4) order the faucet lights for my dad and boyfriend. they're tickled pink (well, red and blue) about these things. ($40 with shipping and handling?)
5) Mini-shopping spree. I have some Target gift cards I can use. I'm itching to consume a little.
6) Study for my mid-term coming up; finish creating a study guide. I may need some snacks for this... ($20).
6.5) If weather is good...maybe a trip out to the Mud Pots?
Mud Pots & Mud "Volcanoes" (Freaks of Nature) — The mud "volcanoes" are cones built up out of viscous mud that bubbles up through central vents. This area is near a formerly commercial carbon dioxide gas field. The age of these mud pots is not known, but survey reports in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s reported mud pots and steam vents in the area. These mud volcanoes can be found near the Salton Sea shore, at the corner of Davis and Schrimpf Roads. The Wister mud pots are found on Hot Mineral Spa Road, just off Highway 111. The fluid level of these mud pots varies throughout the year. Several mud pots located next to each other will have different fluid levels and different colors in the mud. The temperature of the fluid is slightly higher than the ambient air temperature.
1) a haircut. I haven't had one since last August. No, that's not a typo...it's been waaayy too long. This will probably run me about $55 (tip included). I'll opt to not get the hair blow-dry this time and see if that reduces my bill. Then again, I loooovvvveee getting my hair messed with and this is the only girly-type service I pay for (manicures, pedicures, facials, etc. I do at home on myself...).
2) get links taken out of the watch that my boyfriend gave me for our anniversary. (?? i'll guestimate about $15?) I'll have to venture to the...dum-dum-dum...mall to get this done. And I bet I have some fun poking around while I'm waiting for it to be done.
3) order Scene It! for a delayed Christmas present to my best friend from 6th to 12th grade. She got me a present and I've felt bad for about two months now. ($30)
4) order the faucet lights for my dad and boyfriend. they're tickled pink (well, red and blue) about these things. ($40 with shipping and handling?)
5) Mini-shopping spree. I have some Target gift cards I can use. I'm itching to consume a little.
6) Study for my mid-term coming up; finish creating a study guide. I may need some snacks for this... ($20).
6.5) If weather is good...maybe a trip out to the Mud Pots?
Mud Pots & Mud "Volcanoes" (Freaks of Nature) — The mud "volcanoes" are cones built up out of viscous mud that bubbles up through central vents. This area is near a formerly commercial carbon dioxide gas field. The age of these mud pots is not known, but survey reports in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s reported mud pots and steam vents in the area. These mud volcanoes can be found near the Salton Sea shore, at the corner of Davis and Schrimpf Roads. The Wister mud pots are found on Hot Mineral Spa Road, just off Highway 111. The fluid level of these mud pots varies throughout the year. Several mud pots located next to each other will have different fluid levels and different colors in the mud. The temperature of the fluid is slightly higher than the ambient air temperature.
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Price i$ Right
I'm watching the Price is Right now. I liked Bob better, but Drew is settling into his role nicely.
$5 misc. random stuff I bought while in the vicinity of an ATM (had to deposit my tuition and book reimbursement check from work! It was about $1200!). Having work pay for books and tuition is just amazing.
I discovered I had alot of LaQuinta hotel points from a mailing that came into work yesterday. When I'm full-time, I have to travel alot for work, so those points really add up. I redeemed them for a $25 gift card to Target. There were alot of options, but since a grocery store wasn't one of them, I opted for where I knew I would use it--Target.
I have been itching to blow my budget for a while now. Even though I've been spending more than I make in the past few months, I've been keeping it pretty tight, and I need to blow off some steam. The spending more than I make is more of an earning issue (classes starting, a two week illness, Christmas, Christmas vacation, my family's vacation to visit me all had my earnings down). I have this feeling that if I don't give myself an outlet soon, I may just F it all and go on a shopping spree.
I'll have to make a more concerted effort to work more to pay for my spree... :)
$5 misc. random stuff I bought while in the vicinity of an ATM (had to deposit my tuition and book reimbursement check from work! It was about $1200!). Having work pay for books and tuition is just amazing.
I discovered I had alot of LaQuinta hotel points from a mailing that came into work yesterday. When I'm full-time, I have to travel alot for work, so those points really add up. I redeemed them for a $25 gift card to Target. There were alot of options, but since a grocery store wasn't one of them, I opted for where I knew I would use it--Target.
I have been itching to blow my budget for a while now. Even though I've been spending more than I make in the past few months, I've been keeping it pretty tight, and I need to blow off some steam. The spending more than I make is more of an earning issue (classes starting, a two week illness, Christmas, Christmas vacation, my family's vacation to visit me all had my earnings down). I have this feeling that if I don't give myself an outlet soon, I may just F it all and go on a shopping spree.
I'll have to make a more concerted effort to work more to pay for my spree... :)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
No spending today.
No spending. I got an ocular migraine this morning and my boyfriend had to drive me to school for class. I packed my lunch and stayed the whole day to do the labs I missed last week while I was out sick.
I'm still not completely better.
I wish it weren't cloudy--I'd have really liked to see the lunar eclipse tonight.
I'm still not completely better.
I wish it weren't cloudy--I'd have really liked to see the lunar eclipse tonight.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Budget de Mi Hermana
Or, My Sister's Budget.
I share this with her permission, and because I think it highlights the difficulties some people face.
My sister is bi-polar, and besides not being able to stay sane long enough to get her bachelor's degree (not longer than one semester a year, max), she can't hold down a job--she stays in the state hospital every year from 3-6 months. In addition to the mental health issues, she also has ADD and has some other learning disabilities--she can only handle one class at a time during the semesters that she can complete in college. In addition to all that, she had some unfortunate experiences when she was younger that scarred her for life, and makes it harder for her to trust people and choose good romantic matches. The illness has also ruined her social life--while she is in the hospital, she has paranoid delusions and has effectively pushed away all of her former friends due to crazy phone calls that offend and cause her former friends and boyfriends to cut her off completely.
Her medicine stops working, for some reason, between March and June of every year--so every year is another trip to the hospital, another few months of mental illness, and another run-through of all the medicine cocktails they can throw at her. The only thing she can count on is that she'll be sick every year between March and June.
The cards are definitely, completely, and very formidably stacked against her. I admire her greatly for never giving up. I would have definitely thrown in the towel on the college issue by now if I were her, and I have no idea how I would have dealt with the mental health issue.
The good news is that when the doctors and therapists find a good medicine cocktail, and she's out of the hospital, she's capable of anything anyone else is. Those few months in between psychotic episodes is precious, precious time with my little sister. Even though she's never been the same since she first got sick in 2001 (she was 20), I treasure the time when she isn't having paranoid, crazy thoughts.
This isn't a story of her overcoming her issues--this is a story of her survival. Without my parent's and my (meager) help, and the help of the state, she would for sure be homeless and wandering the streets, mentally ill and without medicine. I'm sure this is the story of many mentally ill homeless people.
She recently was living in a group home after being discharged from the hospital, and her case manager was able to secure her some low-cost housing, living by herself. Someone comes by every day to give her her medicine, but she's well on her way to living independently. She's 27 now and has never lived on her own--always in the hospital or my parent's house.
The government granted her disability (SSDI), and she will get a check for $657 every month. They also pay half of her rent every month. She's allowed to make up to $940 a month, or else she forfeits her SSDI. With her absence from work during her illness, and the fact that she's never held a job that paid more than minimum wage, and gets stressed out and sick if she works more than about 25 hours a week, there's no way she'll make more than the limit. This is the first time she'll have a reliable source of income, so she came to me to make a budget. I should also add that she is TERRIBLE with money--as another unfortunate symptom of bi-polar disorder is no impulse control.
We talked and made a budget with and without a job. Since she doesn't have a job yet, I'll post her budget with just the SSDI contribution:
Budget--Without Job
Category Budgeted Amount
RENT: 287.5
Car/Rental Insurance: 0 (She gets around by bus)
Food 150 (Food stamps and Angel Food Network coming soon!)
Clothes 0
Travel: 35 (Bus fare)
Gifts 0
Car/Gas 0
Cable 0
Roth 0
Electricity/Gas 100 (this could be more or less; she just moved into the apt.)
Eating Out 25
Charity 4 (tithes)
Cell phone: 10 (family plan--this money to go to my Mom for the cell phone bill)
Medical 14 (prescription copays--Walmart!)
Misc 31.5
Saving 0
Total: 657
I share this with her permission, and because I think it highlights the difficulties some people face.
My sister is bi-polar, and besides not being able to stay sane long enough to get her bachelor's degree (not longer than one semester a year, max), she can't hold down a job--she stays in the state hospital every year from 3-6 months. In addition to the mental health issues, she also has ADD and has some other learning disabilities--she can only handle one class at a time during the semesters that she can complete in college. In addition to all that, she had some unfortunate experiences when she was younger that scarred her for life, and makes it harder for her to trust people and choose good romantic matches. The illness has also ruined her social life--while she is in the hospital, she has paranoid delusions and has effectively pushed away all of her former friends due to crazy phone calls that offend and cause her former friends and boyfriends to cut her off completely.
Her medicine stops working, for some reason, between March and June of every year--so every year is another trip to the hospital, another few months of mental illness, and another run-through of all the medicine cocktails they can throw at her. The only thing she can count on is that she'll be sick every year between March and June.
The cards are definitely, completely, and very formidably stacked against her. I admire her greatly for never giving up. I would have definitely thrown in the towel on the college issue by now if I were her, and I have no idea how I would have dealt with the mental health issue.
The good news is that when the doctors and therapists find a good medicine cocktail, and she's out of the hospital, she's capable of anything anyone else is. Those few months in between psychotic episodes is precious, precious time with my little sister. Even though she's never been the same since she first got sick in 2001 (she was 20), I treasure the time when she isn't having paranoid, crazy thoughts.
This isn't a story of her overcoming her issues--this is a story of her survival. Without my parent's and my (meager) help, and the help of the state, she would for sure be homeless and wandering the streets, mentally ill and without medicine. I'm sure this is the story of many mentally ill homeless people.
She recently was living in a group home after being discharged from the hospital, and her case manager was able to secure her some low-cost housing, living by herself. Someone comes by every day to give her her medicine, but she's well on her way to living independently. She's 27 now and has never lived on her own--always in the hospital or my parent's house.
The government granted her disability (SSDI), and she will get a check for $657 every month. They also pay half of her rent every month. She's allowed to make up to $940 a month, or else she forfeits her SSDI. With her absence from work during her illness, and the fact that she's never held a job that paid more than minimum wage, and gets stressed out and sick if she works more than about 25 hours a week, there's no way she'll make more than the limit. This is the first time she'll have a reliable source of income, so she came to me to make a budget. I should also add that she is TERRIBLE with money--as another unfortunate symptom of bi-polar disorder is no impulse control.
We talked and made a budget with and without a job. Since she doesn't have a job yet, I'll post her budget with just the SSDI contribution:
Budget--Without Job
Category Budgeted Amount
RENT: 287.5
Car/Rental Insurance: 0 (She gets around by bus)
Food 150 (Food stamps and Angel Food Network coming soon!)
Clothes 0
Travel: 35 (Bus fare)
Gifts 0
Car/Gas 0
Cable 0
Roth 0
Electricity/Gas 100 (this could be more or less; she just moved into the apt.)
Eating Out 25
Charity 4 (tithes)
Cell phone: 10 (family plan--this money to go to my Mom for the cell phone bill)
Medical 14 (prescription copays--Walmart!)
Misc 31.5
Saving 0
Total: 657
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I still hate being sick...
...but I'm getting much better.
Today is my first full day being back in the real world after taking it easy for about a week and a half. I went to my class this morning, and my professor was sick, as well as a few of my classmates. What a terrible cold and flu season!
$12.72 groceries today
$27.59 gas today
$62.93 groceries over the weekend (saved 20%)
I'm on the phone currently, helping my sister with her budget. I'll post her budget with her permission soon!
Today is my first full day being back in the real world after taking it easy for about a week and a half. I went to my class this morning, and my professor was sick, as well as a few of my classmates. What a terrible cold and flu season!
$12.72 groceries today
$27.59 gas today
$62.93 groceries over the weekend (saved 20%)
I'm on the phone currently, helping my sister with her budget. I'll post her budget with her permission soon!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Delivery rocks
$16.00 pizza delivery
$10 assorted snacks
I hate being stuck in the house so I drove to the stop'n'rob (7-11, long story) down the street for a few snacks and more nyquil...I also left the house to check the mail. We had pizza delivered to us--that was wonderful. On the other hand, nothing tastes right! I might as well have ordered soggy cardboard.
those two outings were about all I could handle. I was coughing up a lung after 10 minutes of not being in invalid position.
Hate! Being! Sick!
$15 for a flu shot. and I didn't get it.
$10 assorted snacks
I hate being stuck in the house so I drove to the stop'n'rob (7-11, long story) down the street for a few snacks and more nyquil...I also left the house to check the mail. We had pizza delivered to us--that was wonderful. On the other hand, nothing tastes right! I might as well have ordered soggy cardboard.
those two outings were about all I could handle. I was coughing up a lung after 10 minutes of not being in invalid position.
Hate! Being! Sick!
$15 for a flu shot. and I didn't get it.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Flu-ness
Feeling a little better, but still not well enough to leave the apartment. It is impossible for me to sleep at night (the coughing and fever goes up), so I sleep all day and nap at night. Spent nothing since at least last Wednesday...
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Much better
No spending today. The boy's shoulder is much better...thank you for your comments! Missing the median seems to have given him the flu as well as bruises, so i'm in girlfriend overload taking care of him. I'm kind of enjoying the role. Temporarily. I also think he is liking it--his mom passed last August, and so a little bit of mothering is probably pretty nice once in a while.
This brings me to the topic of ...motherhood. I'm not AT ALL sure I want to have kids---it's more like my friend K that just got married said, "I wouldn't choose to have kids if it were just up to me, but S__ [her husband] wants them, so I agreed to have one in a few years." He's the one fawning and cooing over babies, and she's the one looking around for the nearest exit when the lil ones are in the room, holding the baby out at arm's reach and staring at it helplessly when it is inevitably shoved into her arms. Unfortunately, she says that the pressures to have kids starts as soon as the honeymoon is over...that is incredibly annoying!
I know I'm agirl *I'malmostthirtyIhavetogetusedtothis* woman, and I'm supposed to hear tick tocks and alarm clocks ringing louder and louder, but I haven't. Yet? Three of the 5 women of child-bearing age in my office are preggers...and I am still completely ambivalent about the prospect of babies. I mean, I'm excited that they are getting what they want, but I'm not turning green with envy, ya know what I mean? My ambivalence is SO bad that I wonder if there's something wrong with me...and I start questioning people's motives to have kids. Is it a boredom thing? Does it give them and their mate something to talk about? Is it that people want to check off their lists? You know, go to college, get job, meet husband, get married, buy house, get dog (starter baby), have kids. Raise kids. put them through college. retire. spoil grandchildren. die.
That's so terribly pessimistic and depressing I can't even tell you, but those are the thoughts that run through my head.
I know I would make a good mother if I had a kid--but I also know that it'd be to my own detriment. My life would be all about someone else, which would conveniently allow me to ignore myself and my needs. I do this enough without having someone else to focus on! I don't have life balance; i'm still trying to find myself. I still feel like a kid most days--college age at best. I don't know ANYTHING about life. Furthermore, I don't have the money to embark on such an adventure--I have OTHER adventures to go on first, before I can even consider such a thing. Maybe that's selfish; maybe I am a terrible person; maybe mothers won't respect me.
I don't know how to end this post, except to say that while I know I COULD have kids and be fine, I'm just not sure it's for me. If I were married to someone that wanted them, I would do it for their sake--like my friend K. But if it were up to me--it isn't something I would choose to do. Yet.
This brings me to the topic of ...motherhood. I'm not AT ALL sure I want to have kids---it's more like my friend K that just got married said, "I wouldn't choose to have kids if it were just up to me, but S__ [her husband] wants them, so I agreed to have one in a few years." He's the one fawning and cooing over babies, and she's the one looking around for the nearest exit when the lil ones are in the room, holding the baby out at arm's reach and staring at it helplessly when it is inevitably shoved into her arms. Unfortunately, she says that the pressures to have kids starts as soon as the honeymoon is over...that is incredibly annoying!
I know I'm a
That's so terribly pessimistic and depressing I can't even tell you, but those are the thoughts that run through my head.
I know I would make a good mother if I had a kid--but I also know that it'd be to my own detriment. My life would be all about someone else, which would conveniently allow me to ignore myself and my needs. I do this enough without having someone else to focus on! I don't have life balance; i'm still trying to find myself. I still feel like a kid most days--college age at best. I don't know ANYTHING about life. Furthermore, I don't have the money to embark on such an adventure--I have OTHER adventures to go on first, before I can even consider such a thing. Maybe that's selfish; maybe I am a terrible person; maybe mothers won't respect me.
I don't know how to end this post, except to say that while I know I COULD have kids and be fine, I'm just not sure it's for me. If I were married to someone that wanted them, I would do it for their sake--like my friend K. But if it were up to me--it isn't something I would choose to do. Yet.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Super Sunday
Sat night after I posted, and Sunday, was crazy, my friends. Boyfriend decided to go out with a friend of ours and some of his out-of-town friends Sat. night for dinner (they were eating sushi; i'm allergic to seafood and dislike raw fish, plus I had some studying to do, so I elected to skip dinner and meet up with them later). So I get to the bar, our friend and his friends have left, and I know from texts that my boyfriend is p*ss drunk somewhere supposedly at the bar, but I can't find him. When he gets drunk, he wanders around aimlessly--he's kind of an adventure.
It turns out he was hanging out with the band behind the bar, but I couldn't find him anywhere, so I was getting livid looking and waiting for him. i knew he needed a ride home, so I argued with myself about just leaving him there to find his way home. He eventually calls, and is about ten minutes away BY CAR, having run away from the bar. I swear...I should be angry at him (and I was) but now all this just makes me smile instead.
So I pick him up, and whilst running to my car from the other side of the street, he somehow misses the fact that there is a median to navigate, and completely EATS it. On the way home, he's clutching his left shoulder and is in crazy pain. I tried to get him to go to the ER, but it wasn't happenin', and I can't carry his 175 lb azz, so to home it was.
The next morning it was no better. So, yeah, we spent the second half of the Superbowl in Urgent Care, instead of at a friend's house. It turns out it wasn't broken, but it's close to it. His arm is in a sling for a week or so. I'm taking care of him a bit, so all expenses are down to his accident--to be repaid (he insists):
$32.31 sling
$15.05 cold compresses
$3 Parking at Urgent Care
$15.95 Superbowl snacks since we were missing the party
He's lucky he doesn't do this very often...it could get old.
It turns out he was hanging out with the band behind the bar, but I couldn't find him anywhere, so I was getting livid looking and waiting for him. i knew he needed a ride home, so I argued with myself about just leaving him there to find his way home. He eventually calls, and is about ten minutes away BY CAR, having run away from the bar. I swear...I should be angry at him (and I was) but now all this just makes me smile instead.
So I pick him up, and whilst running to my car from the other side of the street, he somehow misses the fact that there is a median to navigate, and completely EATS it. On the way home, he's clutching his left shoulder and is in crazy pain. I tried to get him to go to the ER, but it wasn't happenin', and I can't carry his 175 lb azz, so to home it was.
The next morning it was no better. So, yeah, we spent the second half of the Superbowl in Urgent Care, instead of at a friend's house. It turns out it wasn't broken, but it's close to it. His arm is in a sling for a week or so. I'm taking care of him a bit, so all expenses are down to his accident--to be repaid (he insists):
$32.31 sling
$15.05 cold compresses
$3 Parking at Urgent Care
$15.95 Superbowl snacks since we were missing the party
He's lucky he doesn't do this very often...it could get old.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Spending
$33.29 groceries
$31.98 gas
$59.99 medical--birth control pills are not covered by my emergency in-school insurance
$12.91 misc--toiletries (on gift card rec'd from Rite Aid in prescription transfer for pills)
$11.99 misc--birthday gift for mom (she loved the papaya seed dressing i make from this
Big day. but I also was paid today!
$31.98 gas
$59.99 medical--birth control pills are not covered by my emergency in-school insurance
$12.91 misc--toiletries (on gift card rec'd from Rite Aid in prescription transfer for pills)
$11.99 misc--birthday gift for mom (she loved the papaya seed dressing i make from this
Big day. but I also was paid today!
Make Time For Karma
I missed my charity payment in January. It was supposed to be $25. However, I spent alot of money on my family when they came out. Since they are ...well...less than fortunate than I am (my mom's salary after 35 years in the biz is still less than my starting salary, and she is supporting my dad and sister, both of whom just got disability), I wanted to count my gifts for them as my 'charity' for the month.
But then I realized...my gifts to them were partly for MYSELF. I mean, anytime I give it's partly to feel good, but in this case I was benefiting more from their smiles and joy than I think they were in actually accepting the gift.
So my Jan charity budget gets added to my Feb. charity budget--making it $50 for the month. It's important to make sure someone other than you and your gene pool is taken care of.
I do have a question, though--if I get to the end of the month, and I've spent more than I've earned, do I still give to charity? If I were down to basics, only paying for food/utils/rent/gas, I'd say no...but since I'm still paying for things like cable, entertainment, eating out, etc., and I have a fully funded EF AND funds for a new car in place, plus I'm saving in my Roth, well, the answer is then YES.
What are your favorite charities? If you had $50, where would you donate?
But then I realized...my gifts to them were partly for MYSELF. I mean, anytime I give it's partly to feel good, but in this case I was benefiting more from their smiles and joy than I think they were in actually accepting the gift.
So my Jan charity budget gets added to my Feb. charity budget--making it $50 for the month. It's important to make sure someone other than you and your gene pool is taken care of.
I do have a question, though--if I get to the end of the month, and I've spent more than I've earned, do I still give to charity? If I were down to basics, only paying for food/utils/rent/gas, I'd say no...but since I'm still paying for things like cable, entertainment, eating out, etc., and I have a fully funded EF AND funds for a new car in place, plus I'm saving in my Roth, well, the answer is then YES.
What are your favorite charities? If you had $50, where would you donate?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Jan 08 Spending
Rent: $750 Budgeted: $750 At Budget
Groceries: $179.25 Budgeted: $206 UNDER BUDGET
Car/Gas: $84.82 Budgeted: $150 UNDER BUDGET
Roth: $100 Budgeted: $100 At Budget
Dec and Jan Electric and Gas: $38.68 Budgeted: $40 UNDER BUDGET
Eating Out: $9.10 Budgeted: $25 UNDER BUDGET
Charity: $0 Budgeted: $25 UNDER BUDGET (will go towards Feb Charity)
Cell phone: $45.74 Budgeted: $46.22 UNDER BUDGET ...must have had a decrease in my bill
Misc: $240.41 Budgeted: $200 OVER BUDGET
Sewer/Water: $17.92 Budgeted: $20 UNDER BUDGET
Saving: $15 Budgeted: $0 (don't count this as over budget)
Mom/Sis Visit: $649.08 Budgeted: $700 UNDER BUDGET
Total: $2,153.67 Budgeted: $2,369.49
Under Budget by $215.82
Total Income: $1726.63
Over Income by $427.04
Boo! Another month where I spent more than I earned. My mom did give me about $150, so that decreases my losses a little bit. Luckily, my savings is intact. I haven't had to dip into it yet. Hopefully that trend keeps going even after the credit card bill comes in.
Groceries: $179.25 Budgeted: $206 UNDER BUDGET
Car/Gas: $84.82 Budgeted: $150 UNDER BUDGET
Roth: $100 Budgeted: $100 At Budget
Dec and Jan Electric and Gas: $38.68 Budgeted: $40 UNDER BUDGET
Eating Out: $9.10 Budgeted: $25 UNDER BUDGET
Charity: $0 Budgeted: $25 UNDER BUDGET (will go towards Feb Charity)
Cell phone: $45.74 Budgeted: $46.22 UNDER BUDGET ...must have had a decrease in my bill
Misc: $240.41 Budgeted: $200 OVER BUDGET
Sewer/Water: $17.92 Budgeted: $20 UNDER BUDGET
Saving: $15 Budgeted: $0 (don't count this as over budget)
Mom/Sis Visit: $649.08 Budgeted: $700 UNDER BUDGET
Total: $2,153.67 Budgeted: $2,369.49
Under Budget by $215.82
Total Income: $1726.63
Over Income by $427.04
Boo! Another month where I spent more than I earned. My mom did give me about $150, so that decreases my losses a little bit. Luckily, my savings is intact. I haven't had to dip into it yet. Hopefully that trend keeps going even after the credit card bill comes in.
Entertainment
My boyfriend received $250 of Best Buy gift certificates for Christmas from his stepdad. (incidentally, he gave me--after meeting me once--a $50 gift certificate to REI.) We went to BB Wed. night and checked out some items he may want: a video camera, a digital SLR camera, an mp3 player, and an external hard drive...and he ended up buying Guitar Hero I and II and the accompanying wireless guitar for PS2.
We played it at the party for his sister's wedding--the night before the wedding, that is. Only it was on his stepbrother-in-law's 110 inch screen.
Yeah.
It's a little easier to play when the notes you have to hit are a foot in diameter.
Anyway, we've been having a grand time playing with it. and essentially, it is free entertainment!
We played it at the party for his sister's wedding--the night before the wedding, that is. Only it was on his stepbrother-in-law's 110 inch screen.
Yeah.
It's a little easier to play when the notes you have to hit are a foot in diameter.
Anyway, we've been having a grand time playing with it. and essentially, it is free entertainment!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Welcome to February
I'm so looking forward to the clean slate that February will bring to my budget. It's a short month, too. I need to come under budget a month to feel a little better.
Between my mom and sis's ten day visit, New Year's, a trip to Minnesota for a wedding, and starting part-time again when my semester started, January was a DOOZY on the budget. I'll cover everything later...
Between my mom and sis's ten day visit, New Year's, a trip to Minnesota for a wedding, and starting part-time again when my semester started, January was a DOOZY on the budget. I'll cover everything later...
Solar Power!
Holy moly. My electric bill keeps declining. This month, EVEN WITH my mom and sister's visit for 10 days, my electric bill is $13.56. Gas declined this month, too--to $23.88. It doesn't make sense, since we had more lights on, used the oven and stove every day, and obviously took more showers while they were here. Wierd. But hey--I'm not contesting it.
My share of the electric/gas bill (I share it with my boyfriend): $18.72. Total. It hasn't been this low since it was ...free and included in my rent!
My share of the electric/gas bill (I share it with my boyfriend): $18.72. Total. It hasn't been this low since it was ...free and included in my rent!
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