So I finally sat down and figured out my monthly budget. I used the examples in THE COMPLETE IDIOT's GUIDE TO A PERSONAL BUDGET. I think that is the name of it. I'll check tonight.

So, I worked it out so I am making a payment to everybody I owe, putting money in my svings, and still have about $120 a month for extras. Extras include: any meals out, entertainment, books, magazines, buying clothes, make-up, other non-necessities, etc. I'm going to test run it for a bit to see how I do. I think the problem will come in with things like my FSA. For example, I have $120 for extras. And $50 a month in my FSA. Well, say I spend $25 on something that can then be reimbursed through my FSA. I still have to initially pay for it out of that $120 and then submit to reciepts and wait for the check to come to me from the FSA. So even though I have $120 for extras, until that check comes, I only have $95. *sigh* In my head, that is going to get so confusing.

I think that is why I always give up on budgets and tracking my money. The money coming in (paychecks, reimbursement checks, DD from book sales, etc) and the money going out never work in sync with each other. Then I get frusterated and confused and give up on it way too soon.

So, to avoid that, I am thinking of doing a few things:

1. Cancel my FSA. I know it saves me money in the long run, but it confuses me so much, and really, for me, simplicity is best with money. Plus, I am putting more money in there every month than I am getting reimbursed, so the account is growing, and I can't get that money back without a reciept for something.

2. Set up a seperate account for just my half.com DD's. But I go through spurts of getting a lot and then nothing, and it seems like an awfully lot of trouble to have a seperate account for that when I will then just transfer it into my regular savings/checking account.

3. Somehow budget money from that $120 into a seperate line item of extras: like aspirn, meds, dr. visits, etc. Then, when the FSA reimburses it, add it to...where? savings? checking? Fun pocket money? Right now it comes out of my checking and gets DD back into it.

Help? Anyone?

I sold 2 more books on half.com yesterday. Yay! The profits are being split between The Lamp Fund and my $20 account. $5 into the $20 account and $4.48 into The Lamp Fund.

So...

$20 Account Total: $24.48


Lamp Fund Total: $10.75
Lamp $ to Replace: $36.50

LAMP FUND:
$6.27 in envelope
$4.48 from half.com (DD into account)
---------
$10.75


$20 CHALLENGE
TRANSFER
$24.48 from checking into savings

8/18/06
Friday

Tonight my best friend A and I went out to dinner to celebrate her b-day (which was last week). Well, afterwards, we are walking through the mall and we stopped in Yankee Candle. They have some of their Halloween stuff out (I LOVE Halloween!!!!!)! So, before we leave, she is buying this wicked cute witch tea light candle holder. The cashier asks if she wants some tea lights to go w/it and she says yes, turns to me and asks what kind I want.

She was buying the witch for me!!!

She told me it was my Halloween gift (yes, we exchange Halloween gifts)! I made her keep it until closer to Halloween, but did take home the the tea lights now (Macintosh Apple).

So after going out to celebrate her b-day, she buys me a gift!

A is the best friend ever and totally Rocks!! =)

I thought Flash's post on the details of her $20 Challenge were great, so I'm gonna be a big old copy cat and put mine up, too. =)

My personal $20 challenge is this:

I have an automatic deposit from my paycheck into my savings account of $220 a month. This is the minimum I need to deposit to have all my credit card debt paid off by July, 2009. (I am on a credit plan with no interest). However, the quicker I save money, the sooner I can get out of debt. So, my goal is to have my cc debt of $7285.80 paid off within 24 months, not 36 (July, 2008). This means I have to have an average total of $303 in my savings every month.

SO, all the $ I bring in with ebay/half.com sales, yard sale sales, or I find (love the change jar) or save (like w/coupons) goes into my $20 account towards that goal. On average I need an additional deposit of $101 into my $20 account every month, or, $1,212 a year, or, $2,424 within the next two years.

=)

I'm definately going to try this no-spending thing. I will start today, with 3 exceptions:

1. I sold a book on half.com I need to mail out, so I need to pay for shipping (which will be given to me when I get half.com's payment)

2. I have had plans for weeks to go out to dinner with my BF for her b-day tonight.

Other than that, let the challenge begin!

Last night The Boy came over and gave me the $20 he owed me. Whoo-hoo! I could finally buy some groceries! (The boy also took me out to dinner...so sweet!)

**Bananas $.86
**Green Pepper $1.96 - $.97 RS (reward savings) = $.99
**Plum Tomatoes $2.02
**Mango Salsa $1.00
**2 boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese
**Multi-grain Cherrios $4.19 - 2.53 RS = $1.66
**Harvest Pasta $1.79
**Shaw's Raisin Bran $2.79 - $1.13 RS = $1.66
**Edy's Light Ice Cream $5.69 - $3.72 RS = $1.97
**Skim Milk $1.79
**5 WW yogurts $4.45 - $1.95 RS = $2.50
**WW Bread $2.99

SUB-TOTAL = $31.50
RS = $10.30
REAL TOTAL = $21.20
TOTAL % SAVED = 32%


Grocery Spendings to Date = $25.56
Grocery Savings to Date = $11.56

Yesterday I started my LAMP FUND. For the story of the lamp, see yesterdays post. And yes, it looks FAB!!!!

=)

Here's the update:

Co-worker donated spare change on her desk: $.65
My spare change from the top of my dresser: $1.53
The Boy ("boyfriend") donated spare change in his pocket: $2.59

Lamp Fund Total: $4.77
Lamp $ to Replace: $42.48


ADD ON LATER THE SAME NIGHT:
Co-worker gave me anohter $.40
And I added in my own $1.10

Lamp Fund Total: $6.27
Lamp $ to Replace: $40.98

Got this off their website. It's ideas to save.

Money Saving Tips:

**Save $.50 a day in loose change = $15 a month
**Cut soda/pop consumption by 1 liter a week = $6 a month
**At work, substitute 1 coffee for 1 cappuccino = $40 a month
**Bring lunch to work (saving estimated $3/day) = $60 a month
**Eat out 2 fewer times a month = $30 a month
**Borrow, rather than buying, one book a month = $15 a month
**Comparison shop for gas (save est. $.25/gallon) = $4 a month
**Maintain checking account minimum to avoid fees = $7 a month
**Bounce one less check a month = $20 a month
**Pay credit card bill on time to avoid late fee = $25 a month
**Pay off $1000 of credit card debt, reducing interest = $15 a month

That's a total of $237 savings per month! And, these are just a few money saving tips you can use. Save Money Everyday, Live Debt Free, and Balance Your Household Budget!

=)

I was so excited to find my baby, alone, the only one of her kind, calling out to me, that I bought her without really having the money to afford it.

So, I begin The Lamp Fund. I will replace every penny of the $47.25 I spent on her into my savings account.



Lamp Fund Total: $0
Lamp $ to Replace: $47.25

A couple of months ago I fell in love with this pink plastic and metal chandelier type table lamp at TJ Maxx. I mean, FELL IN LOVE!!! The original price was $150, but the TJ Maxx price was $80. But I still couldn't bring myself to pay $80 for a table lamp, particularly one that was pink, but going in my purple home office/dinning room/library/magick room. Sadly, I walked away from it.

On occasion I would stop in to say hi to my lamp friends (there were 4 or 5 of them there). It made me sad to say goodbye when I'd leave, but I just couldn't stay away.

Today on my lunch break I popped on over to see how my friends were doing, when I saw it: CLEARANCE!!!

My funky lamp was down to $45!!!

But still....$45 for a pink lamp to go in a purple room?

And then, from way down on the forgotten bottom shelf, I heard a faint "Look at me, look at me!" I looked down, and there she was: the same exact lamp...in purple!!!

I couldn't believe it! It was like I had finally found my long lost daughter! And at 70% off the original price!!

Needless to say, I scooped my baby up in my arms, held her close as we went to the checkout, and lovingly wrapped her in paper and plastic to prevent breakage on the way home.

So, for the past, I don't know, maybe 6 or 7 years, I have done the DnD Breakfast Run every morning on my way to work. The DnD Breakfast Run is this:

1 large Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee
1 Dunkin Donuts Bagel sandwhich

The prices always range depending on where I live, or what year it is. But right now, I pay $4.61 every morning for my DnD Breakfast. Let's do the math:

DnD Breakfast Run: $4.61
X 5 workdays a week = $23.05
X 4 weeks a month = $92.20
X 12 months a year = $1,106.40
X 6 years = $6,638.40

I have thrown away over $6,600 on coffee and bagels! And that's not counting the occasional weekend DnD Breakfast Run or the sometimes 2nd Coffee at 3-PM-Slump-Time Run.

$6,600!!!!

What could I have bought for $6,600???

110 months of membership at a nice gym
330 new DVD's
440 new CD's
33 Prada bags
1 Used 2000 Dodge Neon
1 Used 2000 Chevrolet Metro
1 pair of 1.5 carat, platinum setting, diamond earrings from Tiffany's
3 EACH Pacific Blue Kenmore Elite Washer and Dryers
3 Hitachi 57" Wide Screen TV's
733.3 bags of cat food
2,200 gallons of gas for the car
10.5 months of my rent paid
507.7 WW meetings
9.4 Cruises (including airfare!)
7.3 Round trip flights from Boston to London

*sigh*

I bought coffee to make at home every morning before I leave for work, and I have cereal, frozen waffles, and WW bagels for breakfast every morning.

Time to give it up.

How come I can't post in the forum? Do I have to request permission somewhere? Thanks all!

I spend so much money on groceries, it's kinda ridiculous. I live alone, no kids, just 2 cats. I am on Weight Watchers, and low-point healthy food is more expensive than junk, so I know that is part of it, but still.

So, here's the beginning of my grocery spending log:

Tues, Aug 15, 2006
**2 peaches (1.14 lbs) @ $1.69 a lb = $1.93
**1 box Crystal Lite on the go mix @ $3.69 = $3.69
**S&S Cardmember savings = $1.26
TOTAL = $4.36

Grocery Spendings to Date = $4.36
Grocery Savings to Date = $1.26

Sold another DVD - YAY! So glad I spent the time the other night to list them! Profit on that one was $3.90

Also, stopped at Stop & Shop for some fruit to go w/my lunch and I didn't have my S&S card (I lost it eons ago). So, the cashier used a general one for me and I saved $1.26 Whoo-hoo! Gotta get me a S&S card!

$20 Challenge Total: 19.48

Ok, so here is what I need to do this week (before Sunday night) to earn some more money:

1. Mail out DVD sold on 1/2.com
2. Mail out Books sold on 1/2.com
3. List LOTR item on e-bay
4. List SS item on e-bay
5. Sort through books for more on 1/2.com
6. Savers
7. Finish cleaning out car
8. Sort through purses for e-bay
9. Health Insurance 3 months at a time
10. Get S&S card
11. Books at R2BS
12. Return Steinbeck books
13. Return blow dryer diffuser
14. Library books

I am setting up an ING account...how do I get the $13 sign-up bonus??? THANKS!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this past weekend was the famous NO-TAX WEEKEND in Mass. They do this once a year, and it totally rocks (especially if you are in the market for a big item, like furniture). Just another reason why I love this state (along with the acceptance of same-sex marriages, but I digress...)

So, someone suggested I take whatever I saved on tax this weekend and apply it to my $20 Challenge total. Great idea!!!!

Over the no tax weekend, I spent $105.57 (which is relatively low for me to spend on a weekend, believe it or not! That's why I have so much debt!!!). Which means I saved $5.30 in tax (Mass has a 5% sales tax).

And, in it goes!

$20 Challenge Total: $14.32

I love samples. I love freebies. Who doesn't???

Today in the mail I got a free sample of that new Sunsilk shampoo, conditioner, and leave in cream. Plus, a free sample of Nivea's new lotion.

YAY!!

=)

Savings is a category of different things I am doing to cut costs and save.

This weekend I (partially) cleaned out my car. May not seem like a big deal, but my car is a 2 door, with the trunk completley full of things, as well as the back seats. Nobody can sit in the back seats, it is so full.

Going on the theory that the heavier the car is, the more gas you use, I started to clean out the car. I took out all the trash, 4 board games, some dishes, some jackets, and some books. About half the car is cleaned out.

This should help improve my gas milage. Since I drive a lot for work, and I spend A LOT of gas money, this is very important.

Tonight when I get home, I'll take out the wok and matching dinner set for 4 people, and the rest of the books (about 5 grocery bags worth). Then this weekend, the rest of it will be cleaned out, I hope.

Sold 2 DVD's on half.com today! Wa-hoo! =) Sold Blade 2 and Saw.

After subtracting shipping costs, I will be getting a profit of $6.52, so....

$20 Challenge Total: $9.02

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Fiction, but so funny. About a girl who just cannot control her spending and what she does when the bank and credit card collectors come calling. There are actually a whole bunch in what has been called The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. This one, in my opinion, is the best.

Also, makes me feel better about my own debt and gives me a good encouraging shove in the right direction.

Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak.

Ok, kinda chick lit (in terms of she buys a lot of clothes and shoes), but wicked funny. It is non-fiction, her memoir of how she racked up $20,000 in debt and then paid it all off in 6 months with a website called savekaryn.com And yes, the website still exists.

I am basing my blog off her original website, except I am not asking for money. (But feel free to send some anyways!!! LOL)

The book is funny, and well written, plus it always makes me feel better about my debt; it's not nearly as high. Of course, it also motivates me to stick to my budget and clean out my apartment for e-bay stuff.

On a side note, her new book, Twenty Times a Lady, which is fiction, is also fab!

So yesterday, I went to the mall w/my best friend. I did awesome. I found a pair of shoes I have been drooling over for months now on clearance: $5!!! YES, only $5!! They were originally $69.99!!!!And the even better part is, they were buy on pair get one pair half off and my BF bought a pair. And since hers were more expensive, mine were half off! YUP!! FAB shoes for $2.50!! And since it was no-tax weekend in Mass, no tax! I was on cloud nine in my cool new shoes.

Then, we went into Bath & Body Works. They have a new pink grapefruit scent out that I love. So I bought a bottle of lotion and it was buy one, get one free! So I ended up with 2, for only $10.50 (again, no tax weekend), which really works out to $5.25 each.

So, into my $20 Challenge will go $2.50 for what I saved on the shoes. Nothing for the lotions, since I wasn't originally going to buy two.

$20 Challenge Total: $2.50

Tally Update (What I Owe to Who)

$50 to sister
$400 to Dad
$2,000 to Mom
$6,679.20 to credit cards

Total: $9,129.20

This weekend I was able to send some money to Dad and to my sister. Whoo-hoo! Dad got $100 and sister got $50. It was money that came out of my paycheck. I got lucky and was able to pay most of my monthly bills w/my last paycheck, so I could afford to have some extra go out this time. Yay! =)

OK, here's what I owe:

$100 to sister
$500 to Dad
$2,000 to Mom
$6,679.20 to credit cards

Total: $9,279.20

*sigh*

It's gonna be a long road.

Hi everyone. Welcome in.

Here you'll find me working and saving to get my debt down. I'll post as often as I can with what I have done to save money, how much I am paying off and to who, and how I have earned extra money. Any ideas, tips or advice I come across will be added. =)