Koppur's Mooo-nay Blog

So, the 4 Lizzie Borden books I put on Crigslist the other day have sold. All 4 went for just over $28, which works out to $7 each. That's great as far as I am concerned! It is about what they would have sold for in a used bookstore, and about what I paid for some of them.

Adding that to the challenge/my EF. THISCLOSE to $1,000!

Old EF Balance: $944.95
Lizzie Borden books: $28.38
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New EF balance: $973.33

Bleh. So, I was excited that the $100 worth of books I listed on Craigs list were going to sell. Turns out she only wants the Lizzie Borden books, not all of them. I was hoping to use that $100 for the new AC.

But, at least I have the money in the EF for the AC. And this $30 I am getting for these books will go towards replacing that $100. I just hope these other ones will sell now, too.

It looks like the book I listed on Craigslist are going to sell. I am just waiting for a payment ia paypal and for the woman to pick them up. Looks like I will be getting $95 for 4 Lizzie Borden books and 5 Hetty Green books. It is OK for me, but a great deal for them. 2 of the Hetty Green books sell for $60 each in the used bookstore I used to work in. But I know that if I brought them down there I would get store credit for more books (which I so do not need) or %20 in cash, which wouldn't be much, esp considering the hour drive there and back. So, I am selling them at a deep discount, taking a hit, but being happy with the $ anyways.

And, this means that I can use that money to buy our AC instead of taking some out of the EF.

I did something I never thought I would do. Sure, I had heard stories of other people doing this. I even knew a couple of people personally who did this. But I, did not ever thing, I, would be one of those people. Oh, but I am now.

Yesterday I...

(I don't know if I can even admit it)


...wash 4 ziplock baggies from lunch, hung them up to dry, and plan to reuse them.

Yes, it's true. I am now a ziplock baggies reuser. I always figured it wasn't worth the small amount I would save. But then I read about how it helps the environment in the TG, and I was hooked. We are trying to be more green, as well as more frugal.

Not throwing away 4 plastic baggies after one use? Maybe saved a buck or so. Not throwing away 4 plastic baggies after one use? Most likely helped save the environment a little.

Allergies Suck!!

I put some of my more collectible books up on Craigslist tonight. I listed 4 books about Lizzie Borden, and 5 books about a local woman called Hetty Green. I priced them fairly for what you would pay in a used bookstore (not as high). Hopefully someone will bite.

I hate getting rid of books and thinning my book collection, but we just don't have the space here in the new apartment, plus I need to make some extra money with my job ending next week. And even if I get another new contact ASAP, I can use the extra money to pay off debt and replenish what I am taking from the EF for the air conditioner this weekend.

I have some more things to list as well, such as about 5 or 6 purses I just don't use that are taking up space in the closet and some never word, BN with tags dresses and clothes.

One thing I have realized though, is that I am becoming happies with not buying and having so many material things. Getting rid of all the extras isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I actually feel better with everything I sell/donate.

Look at me, being all adult and responsible.

Blah. It figures. I have almost fully funded me EF, and am just about set to start putting all extra cash to my CC debt. What happens? Two semi-expensive needs arise.

Our AC from last year in kaput. We could always not have one in the bedroom, but with the heat of the summer, combined with my always being overheated from the MS, and my MS symptoms getting worse in the heat, we really need one. We don't have one anywhere else, and I need it to be cold to sleep. Plus, I just really need one place where I can strip down and cool off when I am having an attack. So, we need a new one. Luckily I found one online at Walmart.com for under $100 that should work nicely. Our bedroom is not too big, so we don't need a 10,000 BTU or anything like that. The best part? Walmart.com will ship it to our local Walmart for free, and we can pick it up there (as opposed to having it shipped to our house for $18).

The other need, which is going to be a bit more that $100, is my glasses. I've had the same prescription for over 2 years now, and I need a new one. And, I need new contacts. The few I still have left are an even older prescription than my glasses. I don't want new frames; I love the ones I have. It's just the new lenses and contacts. I can always not get contacts, but I hate wearing my glasses in the summer. Or, since I will only be wearing my glasses in the house for a few hrs a day, I can just get new contacts and not new glasses. Argh, decisions, decisions.

I know we are taking $100 out of the EF for the AC. Not sure where the money for the contacts will come from.

Whatever happens, though, I am going to pay off this CC debt!!!

Received two mini checks in the mail yesterday. One is for some payout of a lawsuit filed again immigration for over taxing people who traveled outside the country in the early 2000's. I got a whole $9.19! Whoo-hoo!

I also got my first Pinecone check yesterday. I can't believe how fast it came! I did the survey only a week or so ago. Very impressive. So, that's another $3 to add to my $20 Challenge/EF.

Now that I have made the decision to save the EF to $1,000 and throw the rest at debt, I am getting excited to get rid of the debt. Time to start listing some things on craigslist and ebay again!


Old EF Balance: $932.76
Pinecone check: $3.00
Immigration check: $9.19
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New EF balance: $944.95

I've done some thinking this weekend over that debt vs savings argument my mind was having. I think that the point of not really being secure financially with credit card debt is a very key one. But, I also like the security of having a savings, so if something come up that I need (car repairs, fort instance) I don't have to put it on the CC, thereby giving myself more debt.

So, I have decided to take some of the FAB advice I got here. When my EF hits $1,000 I will stop saving and start putting all extra money towards paying off my CC debt. Now, I know it seems like that will take forever, since my EF is currently only $176.17 But here is the hidden part of this plan. I am going to take the $756.59 I have in my personal savings and transfer that to my EF. Thereby giving myself almost the $1,000 in my EF I want. Personal savings can be rebuilt up when this debt is gone.

Lookit, I'm being responsible.

Yay me.



Old EF Balance: $176.17
Personal savings turned EF: $756.59
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New EF balance: $932.76

I was reading yet another book on personal finances, and one of the chapters was on using Peapod for groceries. We use Stop and Shop as our grocery store to begin with, so that wasn't a change for us. The main idea behind it is that you save money becasue you remove yourself from the temptation of everything in the store.

When we go grocery shopping, we have a list, but we always deviate from it. We aim for $50 in gorceries and we spend $80. But with peapod, you just go online and order what you want.

The delivery fees are $9.95 for an order under $100 and $6.95 for an order over $100. Much better than the $30 or so we spend in extra food we want, bt don't have on our list of need. There is also a small fuel charge, but it is usually less than $1 total (not per mile).

I'm going to keep tabs on our gorcery spendings with Peapod and see if it really does help save us money in the end. It does save on time. Once you put something on your list, you can just go to that next time to select it instead of searching for it all over again. And honestly? We hate grocery shopping more than anything else.

So, today I put in an order. This was my second one. By looking st the sale items and comparing proce and size, I saved about $13. That will help stretch our grocery budget a little further this month.

I also got some special additional svings. After signing up with them on the last order, I got a $5 coupon off our total order for this second order. I also signed up to pay with online checking instead of a credit card (or debutcard) and saved another $5. Plus, I picked a non-rush delivery time (Between 4 and 10 pm monday night) to save $1, and finally, saved another $1 for choosing online checking instead of my debit card to pay for the order. Total saved on these features alone? $12. I am adding that $12 to my $20 challenge.


$20 Old Balance: $744.59
Peapod account savings: $12.00
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$20 New Balance: $756.59

Yesterday my sister and I went to a Library Book Sale. I love these. You can get a great variety of really cheap books, plus the money goes towards stocking the library with new books, or library repairs, or whatever the library needs.

I was able to pick up some great finds. I got 11 paperback books in a series my BF reads. He already had 2, but for $1 each, it was OK. He was very happy.

I also got 4 hadcovers for myself. They will be great additions to come on my book collections. $2 each.

But my favorite find is a paperback copy of the Tightwad Gazette!! I was so excited when I saw it in the pile! This is the first one I've ever read, and I have so many new ideas! Cost: $1

So, for $20 I got some awesome new books, gifts for the BF, and the grand poo-bah: ways to save more money!!

Got another train refund today! This was the last one I was waiting on. I have to say, it does make the train a little better. But, since I am no longer a train-rider, I wont be getting any more late compensation checks. Oh well; they were good while they lasted.

$20 Old Balance: $729.03
Train refund: $15.50
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$20 New Balance: $744.59

Whoo-hoo! Free money! Ok, not a lot, but every tiny bit of interest helps!


$20 Old Balance: $727.88
April Interest: $1.15
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$20 New Balance: $729.03


Old EF Balance: $175.83
April Interest: $0.34
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New EF balance: $176.17

I currently work as an editor for a publishing company in Boston. I love my job. I love the pay, too. But it is a contract poition, and my contract is up in about 2 weeks. I was told that as long as there is new work for me, they want to keep my on there. Problem is, as of now, there is no new work.

So I am kinda of stressing. I need to find work within the next 2 weeks or so, but I don't necessarily want to find another permanent position. I want to be able to go back to the place I am at now when they have new work for me.

I'm just worried about making enough for the bills. And about being somewhere I won't be on my feet all day with my MS.

It's so frusterating.

I have been adding to my savings a bit, so I will have a little to help us. May's bills are taken care of, and most of June's will be, too. But I am still scared.

Today is payday (yay!) so my automatic savings went into my $20 savings and my EF.

$20 Old Balance: $607.78
Payday deposit: $25.00
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$20 New Balance: $727.88



Old EF Balance: $135.83
Payday deposit: $25.00
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New EF balance: $175.83

Got my state tax refund yesterday. Going right into the challenge. I am getting excited about how fast this savings account is growing! I can't wait til I hit $1,000.

And I especially can't wait til I get that $600 refund check. I am trying to decide if I want to throw it all at the CC debt (it would pay off a 1/3 of one of my CCs), add it to my paltry EF, or stick it in this savings. I don't feel too bad about my EF being only $100 or so; I figure if I have an emergency, I can tap into this savings account. Once this on gets big enough, a certain amount will be moved over into my Ef and not touched for anything else, and the rest of this one will be for something special (new laptop, vacation, investing, down payment on a house, who knows?).

I love tbis feeling od saving, but I also know I need to get my butt in gear and pay off the CC debt. When I do, whatever I sent to the CCs can be put in savings each month (at least $300, if not more). And while I know that, and I know keeping a balance on my CCs means I am paying extra money for interest, I think I am scared to pay off the CCs. I know myself, and as long as I have room on the CCs I will use them. It's a bad habit I need to break. But maybe I will just save for a bit, then when I have enough pay off the CCs in one or two big payments, meanwhile continuing to pay on them what I pay now....I knwo it is throwing money away, but...

I think I am afraid of having not enough income to live again and having to rely on help. I don't want to hit that point again - ever. I think having that savings makes me feel more secure, so I am hesitant to use it to pay off the CC debt.

OK, enough introspection for now...

$20 Old Balance: $607.78
State tax refund: $95.10
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$20 New Balance: $702.88

Another DD from half.com I have to admit, while I LOVE the mini payments, I hat having to package up the books and go to the post office. I seriously drag my feet about it. But anyways, I'm now over $600 in my $20 challenge! And I'll have another $100 when my state refund check gets here....I feel good having it back up over $500. I think I ma going to keep saving until I hit $1,000. Maybe then anything over $1,000 I'll put towards something special, but for now, I want to hit that savings goal.

$20 Old Balance: $598.42
half.com dd: $9.36
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$20 New Balance: $607.78

Today I rolled up my spare change and took it to the bank. $25.50 I also had a refund check from our cable company to deposit. When we moved, they never cancelled the old account, and without looking at it, I paid the bill for a month we weren't even there. Luckily, they checked their records, saw that it was supposed to be cancleed, and gave me a refund. Decided to add that to the $20 challenge as well. $56.20. I figure if I hadn't spent it last month, it would have been in our leftovers at the end of the month and gone in here anyways.

$20 Old Balance: $516.72
Deposit 4/21: $81.70
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$20 New Balance: $598.42

Three times in the past 2 weeks I had had to take a taxi home from the bus station after work. The first time was because I had an hour wait until the next bus and I could not wait that long to pee (no public restrooms at the station). The 2nd and 3rd times were because I left work late and missed my bus.

I hate paying for cab fare, especially when I have unlimited rides on the bus for the month with one small payment. Grrrr.....

At any rate, the amount I spent on taxi fare is going into my savings.

$20 Old Balance: $495.72
Taxi Fare: $21.00
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$20 New Balance: $516.72

Feeling pretty sad about the state of my savings accounts lately. Added $15 to the EF. Gotta get that built up.

Old EF Balance: $135.83
Random contribution: $15.00
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New EF balance: $150.83

With the big drops on the interest rates in personal savings, I need to find a better way to save. problem is, I get confused with the numbers and percentages and financial language.

Can anyone recommend me to a website or a book that explains money market accounts, cd's and the like in easy terms?

Thanks!!

twice so I a got $31 refund for my fare! I hate those late trains, but I love the on-time guarantee! Too bad now that I have moved I won't be taking it anymore... OK, not really too bad since my commute was 2.5 hrs each way and now it is only 1 hr each way. But I will miss those refunds!

$20 Old Balance: $463.90
Late train refund: $31.82
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$20 New Balance: $495.72

So close to $500!

I am trying to keep my savings above $500 right now. Anything over that I can spend on something I've been saving for (new laptop battery, for example). I am thinking I might discipline myself even longer and make it a goal to keep the balance minimum at $1,000...I guess we'll see how quickly it is saved up.

Got one of my tax returns today! Not a huge amount, but it was a return, so I am happy. Adding it to the $20 Challenge.

$20 Old Balance: $362.90
Tax return: $101.00
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$20 New Balance: $463.90

Yay! Got a half.com direct deposit today! Love that.

$20 Old Balance: $333.54
Half.com DD: $29.36
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$20 New Balance: $362.90

Looking forward to bumping this up to at least $500 again! Still not sure what I am going to do with the money. My laptop needs a new battery. I want to save for a vacation. My car will need to be replaced in a few years. Would like to have a down payment for a house in a few years. So much to save for, so little to save.

Welp, things are good for April so far. We are sticking to our budget, and the expenses have been decent. Today we need to do a major grocery shop. Our monthly budget for goceries is $350; trying to cut it down this month from $400 last month. We have about $325 left of it right now. Also need to put gas in the car ($120 budget we haven't touched yet for April). Other than that, it will be a lazy day. Heck, already has been as it is after 2 pm and niether one of us are dressed yet!

Well, we moved into the new apartment, and seem to be doing ok. Much better for work. We did pretty good actually, with all the expenses of the new apartment (setting up new accounts for tv, phone, etc, buying small things, like a new trash basket for the kitchen, restocking the fridge and cupboards, etc). We ended the month with $22.88 left. Put it into the Challenge.

There are three things I noticed that I am not too happy about. First, we didn't have a single No Spender in March.

Second, we spend about 38% of our income on rent (which includes heat and hot water).

And third, we didn't follow our budget through the whole month. This one really bothers me. We made it through the month, and even had a little left over, but I am still not happy. We need to get better at tracking all out spending and following our budget. Maybe April will be better.

Decided to start putting a monthly contribution into my EF. Otherwise, at the rate it is now, it will NEVER hit $1,000!

Old EF Balance: $110.55
March interest: $0.28
Monthly contribution: $25.00
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New EF balance: $135.83

Have a whole bunch of contributions to the Challenge today!!

Regular monthly deposit, what we had left in our checking from March's budget, what i had leftover from my B-day money that my parents gave me, interest, and what I got for selling some of my used CDs. All in all, pretty impressive!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $243.13
Monthly contribution: $25.00
Leftovers from March: $22.88
Leftovers from B-day money: $35.00
CD Sales: $6.50
March interest: $1.03
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$20 Tax New Balance: $333.54

I haven't been on here much this month. Things have been crazy with the move and all. Been spending WAY too much money as well. Time to reel in the spending and get serious again. I always do better when I am here more often, so here I am again.

Not much new in the financial world. My credit is apparently getting better. My CC limit was raised to $5,000 (from $3,500) without my knowledge. And my APR on the CC, which used to hover around 30% is down to 19.99%! Still quite high, but it has made a big difference. My interest is dropping (lower APR, plus not using the card means nothing new to add interest to), so it seems to be getting paid off a bit. Still a long way to go, but I'm, feeling more positive about it.

Other than that things are tame.

FINALLY got my taxes done today...I know, I'm a slacker. All in all it worked out good: I am getting a return of $196! Yay! My fee to HR Block was really high, but it is OK since I had so many forms and so much paperwork that I know I never could have done on my own. So, the HR Block fee comes out of my Saving for Taxes account, and I don't have to take any out to pay taxes (which is what I had originally started it for). When I get my refunds, I will pop those back into the Taxes savings account. Now that my taxes are done, I will have to think about what I want that savings to go to; and what i will be saving for next!!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $513.13
- HR Block Payment: - 270.00
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$20 Tax New Balance: $243.13