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
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------
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
--------------------------------
$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
---------------------------
$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
---------------------------
$20 New Balance: $729.03


Old EF Balance: $175.83
April Interest: $0.34
---------------------------
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.