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 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.

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

How great is this? Last month, I got my check, and everything was OK, except I though taxes were too high, but whatever. This month, I get my check and it has my $170 for health insurance taken out pre-tax, which in turn, meant less taxes taken out, which in turn, gave me an extra $210.44 in my paycheck!

Whoo-hoo! Haven't figured out where it is all going yet. Some things from the extra $1,100 we originally have this month were more than I expected, so it may be helping with the cost of the move (TOMORROW!!!). For now, $50 went to the challenge monty, and I can hopefully put the rest to the EF.

Small DD from half.com to send into the Challenge.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $401.47
Half.com DD: $5.96
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $407.43

Relisted that Red Sox Fabric I had on ebay. Trying to sell it (again) and not get scammed this time. Happily, it sold today, so I have another $45 to go into the challenge.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $168.43
Ebay Sale: $45.00
----------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $223.43

Yay!

Just got another DD from selling books on half.com (Can I just tell you how much I love being a once-book-obsessed-will-buy-any-book-no-matter-what person and now being a -just-get-rid-of-the-books-you'll-never-read person??).

Adding it to the Challenge/Taxes

$20 Tax Old Balance: $154.34
Half.com DD: 14.09
----------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $168.43

GOt a check in the mail for doing surveys, for $10. yay! I love that. Also have a roll of quarters to deposit at the bank from CITB, so that is another $20 for the Taxes!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $134.34
Survey check: $10.00
CITB:$10.00
----------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $154.34

Sold some more on ebay. It went for about $26 plus shipping. The bummer part is that I had to pay $7 in ebay fees from last month, plus $6 for an item I bought on ebay. So it gives me about $14 to add to the challenge. But I have to wait to get it in my account so I can transfer it to the $20 Challenge account.

Anyways, also sold a trio of books on half.com today, so that will be a nice addition as well, when I actually get the money.

Tried to sign into my account on the website for my health insurance to see what was up with some claims I submitted, but it is acting all funny. Oh well, guess I'll have to just keep checking the mail for my checks!

I hate that feeling of knowing money is on it's way to yuo, but not knowing when you will get it. I love the feeling of knowing money is on it's way to you, however.

Right now I'm waiting for a few checks
$10 from a survey
$25 from the government (ha!)
$293.29 medical reimbursements

and a few paypal/ebay payments. And I have one woman who won the auction and has not paid me, nor is she replying to me email. Booger. At any rate, I am hoping to have enough in my regular account to be able to put these all to savings. I just don't know how long it will take to get my first paycheck at the new job or when these checks will arrive in the mail.

I am so not patient...

I had a job interview yesterday and was offered the job on the spot! The official offer came in this morning with salary and benefits. I accepted and I can't wait to start! My first day will be next Thursday, the 3rd.

I will be an editor at a publishing company in Boston. I'm so excited. Right now it is a 4 month contract, but I am hoping that when that is done I will immediately get hired on for another contract or get hired on permanently. The commute is going to suck (2 hours, EACH WAY!) but the compensation more than makes up for it. I am getting over $14,000 more a year that I was making at my last job!

I have made a rough budget, guestimating how much will be taken out each paycheck for taxes. I'll just tweak the budget as it gets rolling and when I need to, but we are sticking to this one. FINALLY, we will be financially independent! Yay!

Last week I put some extra fabric on ebay. It was just 100% cotton, a year or two. One was Shrek, two were Spiderman, and a bigger piece (64"x90") was Red Sox. The Shrek didn't sell, Spidey went for $3, BUT, the Red Sox fabric went for $61.88!!! I couldn't believe it! I only wish I had more of it! At any rate, that $ will go into my $20/UF as soon as it makes it to my account.

Just got a payment of $32 from half.com Adding this to the $20/UF account. I now have over $100 in there, so I am taking $100 out of it to make a payment on the CC. When it clears, I'll update the CC balance. For now, here is the new $20/UF balance.

$20/UF Old Balance: $78.22
Half.com: $32.00
----------------------------
$20/UF Balance: $110.22
MINUS CC payment: -$100
----------------------------
$20/UF New Balance: $10.22

Yesterday was my first day of being at III Suns as their tarot reader. It was great. I only got one reading, but I had a lot of fun there talking with the woman who was working and the customers who came in. I got to meet some great new people. Hopefully there will be more readings next time, but I'm psyched I even had one. Sooner or later, my business cards will be picked up, people will get to know me, and I'll have booking for readings. For now, that $10 I made yesterday is going to the $20/UF.

$20/UF Old Balance: $68.22
Tarot Earnings: $10.00
----------------------------
$20/UF New Balance: $78.22

I'm very excited! A friend of mine reccommended me as a tarot reader at a local new age store. I went down and talked to the woman today, and she hired me! Yay!

I will be at the store on Thurs from 2-7:30pm and Fri from 2-5pm. About 8.5 hrs a week. I don't get paid for the time I am there, rather, I am there in case someone wants a tarot reading. I get paid for the readings I do. Well, me and the store owener. We are doing a 50/50 split for now, which is FAB with me. The owner says if it picks up, then she will hopefully be able to do a different split with us readers getting more of the money.

At any rate, I am really happy about this. It will give me something to do until I find full time work, plus it will get me some regular clients and some extra cash. Yay me.

Hmmm, now if only I could find a bunch of part time freelance jobs, I wouldn't have to go back to work full time...

I'm waiting for these transfers to clear in my bank account. Once they are clear, I can add them to the Vegas fund:

Freelance project #1: $139.38
Freelance project #2: $159.69
Freelance project #3: $159.69
----------------------------------
Total: $458.76

Also, tomorrow I need to transfer some $$ from paypal into my bank account. Sold more of my Dunny Bunnies, so that will be another $30.

Finished up and sent it in. Also sent in my invoice for $175. After the company fee gets taken it, it will be another $159.69 for Vegas. I see the $1,000 mark getting hit before next Monday!!!

Got my first of the 4 freelance payments this morning. Waiting for it to be transferred into my checking account. As soon as it is, I will then transfer it to my Vegas savings account.

One thing we decided to do is take whatever is left over from Vegas and put that towards holiday shopping. I'm sure there will be some left over, as we are going to try to be "good", and the leftovers plus the other freelance payments should be enough for the holidays. I'm so excited; this will be the first year EVER that I haven't used me CC for holiday shopping. Go me!

I collect these vinyl toys called Dunny's. They are from Kid Robot and are bunnies with bizzare outfits and personalities. (You can see them at www.kidrobot.com). I love them. Well, I have several duplicate from the Azteca set, (you buy them in a blind box so you never know which ones you are getting) so I made a lot of 7 and sold them on ebay. The profit is going into the Vegas fund!

Old Vegas Total: $650.36
Ebay sale: $46.00
----------------------------
New Vegas Total: $696.36

Only 11 more days!

Yay! Everything for the 4 freelance jobs are finalized. Just sent of all 4 contracts to the buyer. I will be getting on project tonight to start, then 2 more this week, and one next week. After paying fees to the company that organizes all this for us, I will be making $638.75!!! I'm so happy! I won't get it all before Vegas, but I will get it all by the 1st week in December, which means I have money for Christmas Shopping. I can't tell you how much of a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was stressing big time about $$ for the holidays.

And, now I don't feel guilty for not looking too hard for a FT job before Vegas. Ijust couldn't imagine getting a job then telling them I need the next week off for a trip. But now I have work to keep me going til the end of the month.

Happy happy!

Well, looks like I may be getting 2 week freeance editing job. That would be awesome! Would take me up til the week before Vegas. Keep your fingers crossed!

And, I have an interview on Wednesday for a temp position. It's between 20-35 hours per week, at $15 an hour. I'm not sure fow how long they would need me. Wish me luck there, too!

Thing is, the more I think about it, the more I would just love to do freelance work from home full time. I don't know if it is possible right now. But at least it helps with bills til I find somethineg FT.

Think I might join the gym today. It is $10 a month, and Mums offered to pay for me until I get a FT job again. How awesome is she?? I am getting close to my first mini weight loss goal of 10 lbs before Turkey Day. 3 weeks and 2.2 pounds left!

And on a random side note, yesterday was a no spend day, plus I sold two books on half.com and listed some ebay stuff. Go me!

Hey all. As many of you know, I constantly have issues with my car tires. Had all 4 slashed a few years ago. One needed replacing last summer. About 2 weeks ago 3 needed replacing, etc. Well, the one tire that I didn't replace a few weeks ago (ironically,the tire that was replace last summer) has been going flat. I've been fillin it with air every other day or so until I got some money to fix it. So I went to my guy yesterday. Turns out there is a HUGE nail in it. Son of a tire!! *sigh* But at least it didn't need replacing. So, my guy fixed it in 10 minutes, for $12. Not bad!

In other news, the tarot reading went great! Afer 2 hours, the host asked me to stay for another hour. Of course! I ened up reading for 3 hours, and at the end of the night, the host gave me a check for $200! (# hours of reading plus a tip b/c everyone was saying how awesome I was!) Sweet!

I just need to decide what to do with the money now. I was originally thinking Vegas, but then I am thinking maybe I should put some of the bills. My first unemployment check won't be in for another week, so...

Decisions, decisions.

Yay! I'm so excited! Tonight I will be working at a Halloween Party doing tarot readings! The woman having the party actually called a friend of mine for the job, but she was already booked. She asked my friend if she knew anyone as good as her (my friend) and she said yes: Me! So I called the hostess and she booked me! Yay!

It's for 2 hours, from 8-10pm. I'll be doing short 10 minute readings. One bonus is I get to dress up in my gypsey wear. Plus, there will be about 30 people at the party. Since the woman hired me for only 2 hours, that is only 12 readings. I'm bringing my business cards, so with any luck, some other people will want to book private readings with me! The hostess is so nice; she's paying me so her guests can get reading for free as part of the party. How cool is that!

And how cool is this: when I told her my fee for parties is $60 an hour, she said "OK!" wihtout hesitation! So tonight, after 2 hours of "work", I will be $120 richer! Wish I could read full-time as my "real" job! Ha!

I am trying to decide what to do with the $180 I am getting for this freelance project. I am thinking $80 onto the CC to pay for the signup fee. Then, does the other $100 go to the CC as well, or to Vegas? I still need about $800 to pay off the rest of the airfare, hotel, and car rental for that trip. And it is coming FAST! As much as I want to put it onto the CC (and believe me, I do want to!) I am thining Vegas is more urgent right now. Advice???

And my fee for signing up with the freelance website is paid for! I bid on and was chosen for a freelance job! Yay! It's copyediting and proofing a 90 page book, and I'll be getting oayd about $180. YAY! Should be done with it by Sunday!

This past weekend was my MONEY MAKING EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

Eh, it went OK. I made about $40 at the yard sale, which was disapointing, b/c I made over $200 on the one I had in the srping. That $40 is gone, went to groceries.

I made a profit of $70 at the psychic faire. (Made $90, but spent $20 to support them). $5 went to mailing boks out from half.com sales, $10 went to picking up meds, and $5 is staying in my pocket for fun money. Of the $50 left, I am going to split it between the ATT CC, Vegas, and my EF. $30 to the CC, $10 to Vegas and $10 to the EF.

This friday is payday, and I have about 6 hours of OT on it, so it should be a decent paycheck.

Ebay has NO LISTING FEES until the end of this month with anything listed with a gellery pic and a starting price of under $9.99

I just listed a Rosetti purse, a pink dress, and a vinyl collectible toy. As soon as I get new batteries for my camera (today) I'm adding more. I've got a toddlers BN halloween costume, a 3 piecse teaset of Lynn China, more collectible vinyl toys, and a lenox candle holder. Plus I have a bunch of handmade holiday wall hangings that I want to list on a store on etsy.com

Oh so busy! I love it!

I just cashed in a bunch of MyPoints for a $25 Target gift card. It will arrive in 2-8 weeks. Yay! I'll either use this for necessities, such as tp, shampoo, etc when I need them, or use this towards x-mas shopping. I love free money.