Tomorrow night is the holiday party for the tarot store. It's at a chinese restaurant. BF and I are both going. I think it will be fun, but I am hoping it is not expensive. Since this is the first one we've been to, I don't know if we have to buy our own dinners or what.

They are doing a Yankee Swap, but BF and I have elected not to participate. They asked for each person who wanted to do it to bring in a $20 gift. WHAT?!?! Every other Tankee Swap I've done had like a $5 or $10 limit. But $20 a gift, and there being 3 of us, well, we don't have $40 extra bucks for some gift swapping. So, we are not going to be a part of it, but I also know of at least one other person who will be at the party but isn't going to be involved.

And speaking of the holidays, last night I finished shopping for sister. That means only Mums is left, and I need to make L's gift. So cliose to being done! Of course, then comes all the wrapping...

Anywho, today I am meeting my sister for a matinee movie and lunch. Looking forward to it, but I will have to be careful to order something not only inexpensive from the menu, but also healthy and sugar and flour free. Happy Saturday everyone!

Today was again an almost NSD. I had my appointment today to start applying for SSDI. I'm working with a non-profit (kinda) that acts as your advocate, lawyer, etc. They do all the paperwork, all the filing, everything. They are partially a non-profit in that they only get paid if you get approved for SSDI and get a retro payment to cover the months you didn't earn anything while you were waiting for the SSDI decision. IF I get approved, I'll get around $750 a month, be eligable to earn up to another $900 in a part-time job. The fee (if I have to pay one) will be $1,000. Definately worth it to me. At any rate, I did have to pay a $20 fee today to the company for filing fees and fees they need to pay to get copies of my medical records.

I also spent $2.52 finishing up a holiday gift for my friend A. Just a small finishing touch.

So, not quite a NSD, but spending in a worthwhile way. *smile*

This afternoon I got a call from the tarot store asking me to cover a shift tonight. Of course I said yes. Made $48, brought home $45.48 after picking up the items for A. So this puts my new total towards holiday shopping at $45 (I spent the other $20 from Sunday on the appt fee today). Not bad, and I am working again tomorrow. *smile*

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today was a pretty good day. I slept late, then watched the football game (Pats won, yay!), then headed over to the tarot store to work. I made $50 tonight. Happy.

$18 went to gifts for the BF for Christmas (one gift and 2 stocking stuffers). He's done now except a few small things for his stocking which I will pick up at the Dollar Store and with CVS ECBs. Left me with $32. $12 is going into my pocket to join 3 singles I had for my co-pay at therapy tomorrow, and $20 will be for other people's holiday gifts. Feeling good about how little I am spending this year, while stiff giving some fantastic gifts.

I also sold 2 of my 3 Ebay itmes. Yay! One went for $2.99 plus sipping and the other for $41 plus shipping (that was my Azteca Dunnys). I'll give exact totals when I figure in shipping and Ebay fees, but it looks like I should come out around $30 ahead in profits. More for holiday fund. *smile*

Although I spent for BFs Christmas gift, it was otherwise a NSD for me. And a hard one. We are really low on groceries and had to scourage for meals today. Would have been so easy to order out or just run next door to Quiznos or DnD. But, I refused. Breaky was left over Mac and Cheese, lunch was a giant salad with cottage cheese, and dinner was a grilled cheese sammy and a can of soup. But man, am I craving sushi! *smile* Tomorrow I'll pick up a few groceries (lunch meat, cheese, pasta, bread, milk) but it will be a small shop and shouldn't be too expensive.

Had a pretty busy day money-wise today. I got my freelance check, finally! Wahoo! And I submitted my last invoice for my freelance job today, so now I am waiting for this new freelance check. It is for $500. But I got the big $1,100 one today, so I'm very happy.

I also picked up my meds. Only $18! I love Walgreens! They $4 generics have saved me more than I can count.

Earlier in this week, I posted about a book I had listed on Craigslist: a first edition of Wicked. Someone wanted to buy it, but we were trying to figure it out b/c he didn't want me to mail it, and I wasn't going to go into the city to meet him. I really thought it would fall through. But today he came to the town I live in and we met at the T station (the subway). Paid in cash and a happy exchange was made. $25 for me. $18 went to my meds and the other $7 went into my pocket. Actually, it only went into my pocket until I got home, and then it went into the Holiday Gift Fund.

I also picked up 2 holiday gifts today. Both books, both for half the cover prices on half.com and brand new. Total for the 2 books plus shipping was $27.71 One is for my best friend A and one is for my BF. The book will be the only thing I get A, since it is a big and usually expensive book. BF will get a few other small things since the book was very inexpensive. Dads is half done. Got him a Life is Good golf t-shirt and golf towel. Still need to pick up a GC to his favorite cigar shop. Mums isn't done yet. Getting her a CD and a DVD, so I am waiting for Black Friday when they will all be really cheap. Same for BIL, he's getting 2 DVDs I will pick up on Black Friday. Sis is half done, some Elvis stuff. I am also knitting her some fingerless gloves now that I know how. About half-way done with those. And then I need to knit a pair of gloves for my best friend L. And that's it for holiday shopping. Not a big list, and with making things this year it makes it less expensive and more personal.

Found a penny on the ground today, but it was a Canadian penny. What's that equal to now, 2 or 3 of our pennies? *smile*

Let's see, where to start...

Foun 11 cents on the sidewalk yesterday. New Pennies on the Sidewalk Total: $1.92

Had to pick up shampoo and conditioner this week. Stopped at CVS, and I have discovered Extra Care Bucks! The type I like to use is usually $4.99 each. We only buy it on sale or with coupons. Otherwise we use a $.99 one. The ones we love were on sale for $2 off each one. Bought 2 shampoos, 2 conditioners, at 2.99 each, but then, I am getting $8 ECB back. Works out to $.99 each. VERY happy with that! I also had a coupon for $2 ECB, so I picked up 2 giant candy bars at 2/$2. Free candy to satisfy our sweet cravings!

I also headed over the the Dollar Store. Ours has really good cake mix for $1 a box. For some reason, BF and I have been having REALLY bad sweet cravings, so I figured I'd make a cake for us this weekend. But, when I got there, I found they had cake mix, brownie mix, chocolate chip cookie mix, and banana nut bread mix. My parents do Thanksgiving for us, and me and my sis always bring deserts. So I picked up 1 brownie mix, 2 chocolate chip cookie mixes, and a banana nut bread mix. I'll bring chocolate chip cookies for Thanksgiving, and the banana nut bread for Christmas. And bake brownies for us. *smile*

What else...had some coupons for some great items at Walgreens. I was able to pick up a bunch of things, like baby wipes (we use them to clean our long-haired cat), a 5 lb bag of Sugar (for $1.99!), disposable baking pans (we don't have any so I can use these for all our cake mixes), drink mix (we only drink that and water), dish soap, vitamins, and a holiday gift for BF. And the total was high enough that I was able to use the $5 off a $20 purchase. Yay me for using the coupons. You guys are such a good influence on me! *smile*

I was supposed to work tomorrow from 5-10, but I got a call from my "boss" today. There is an all day psychic expo going on tomorrow, from 9-5. He asked if I wanted to do that instead. It means I will work at a reader for 9 hours representing the store with a few other readers. GREAT chance for some big money, plus it will get my name out there to new clients. I am SO excited he asked me! Being still fairly new there (I've only been a reader there since this summer), this is a HUGE deal and a major compliment. Kudos to me! Let's hope I make some major cash! *smile*

LOL I really do. I love the look on their faces when I tell them that not only am I psychic, but that I work a real job and get paid to be a Psychic.

The last 2 days I worked at the tarot store were great. I was really connecting with my clients, and was getting a lot of clear messages from my spirit guides. At one point, I was even able to name the drink a client's alcoholic BF favored and his sister's name; and this was the first time I had ever met this client. Yay me!

Anyways, over the last 2 days I made about $160. Pretty nice since it is in cash and I get it at the end of the shift. This is great, since now I can start taking advantage of some early sales I've found and get some holiday shopping done early this year.

A post from ThreeBean asked this, so here is my long answer.

I don't use an exact price limit for each person, but I try to stay around a certain amount. My "control" comes with how I like to get 3 gifts for each member of my family. I'm not sure where this came from, but for some reason, 3 gifts has become the family tradition. We always get my mom, dad, sis and BIL 3 gifts each. My sis and BIL do the same for all of us. Mom and Dad always spoil the 4 of us (2 kids and our SO's).

That being said, sometimes is it 1 big gift and 2 small ones, or 3 small ones, or whatever. Sometimes it is even like this year: My sis technically has 5 gifts from me, but 3 are small and will be wrapped in one box under the tree. So, I guess it's not 3 gifts really, so much as it is 3 packages under the tree. Did I mentioned my whole family has OCD? LOL

Finished up a bunch of things yesterday. Finished for Dad, and also got all the stocking stuff done for the BF. Today I am hitting the bookstore with a 25% off coupon to pick up a grilling cookbook for my BIL. The just one more stop for my friend A. Of course, that would be the odd one. She wants a...ummmm...well, honestly, a toy resembling male genetalia. Ha! So, I get to go to the sex shop tongiht! Always a good time. LOL

But then I am done. Yay! Now if I go to the stores I can relax and not worry about finding the right things for people. Plus the un starts now: wrapping gifts! I love doing that. Put on a good holiday movie, have some hot chocolate, and wrap gifts (even better if it is snowing outside!).

Now's the time I start to enjoy the holidays.

Finished up some more shopping today. Mums is now done, and so is my friend L. I really would like to find one more small thing for Dads; maybe some Lindt candy; he loves that stuff. Then something small for my friend A (she is moving into her 1st house one Jan 1st so I want to get her something for the house) and I am done. I think me and the BF are going to skip presents for each other this year. We had a great vacation together and splurged a little there, so we are happy. Besides, all that matters is that we are together.

Old Total Holiday Gifts: $56.49
Spent this week: $64.99
---------------------------------
New Total Holiday Gifts: $121.48

While I was waitin to meet up with one of my friends last night, I was poking around in the bookstore. I found a book I think my sis will love. And it was on major sale! Originaly $14.99, marked down to $3.99, then an additional 50% off! After tax it came to $2.09 Yay.

Old Holiday Shopping Left: $359.20
Sis book: $2.09
-------------------------------------
Holiday Shopping Left: $357.11

Well, I just won 3 items on eBay for my BIL for X-mas. He wanted tie tacks, and I found 3 really cool ones: a grim reaper, a skull and crossbones, and an iron cross made out of spiderwebs! Very cool! They all came from the same seller, and there was FREE s/h. I love that! Total spent: $18.25

Holiday Shopping Total: $377.45
Spent already: $18.25
---------------------------------
Holiday Shopping Remaining: $359.20

So, if everything works out the way it is supposed to, it looks like this freelance work will give me $377.45 for Holiday Shopping. I can so do this! My first cash-ever Christmas! I'm so excited! That added to the $36.15 I have already spent on gifts will give me an overall total of $413.60 for everyone. Here's who I am buying for:

Mums
Dad
Sis
Brother in Law
The Boy (aka my boyfriend)
Best Friend L
Best Friend A
Jazmin (Mums and Dads doggie)
Presley (Sis' cat)
Wolfie and Solstice (out cats)

and I think that is it. We don't exchange gifts with our extended family, and all my grandparents have passed away a while ago. And yes, we exchange gifts for the pets.

Holiday Shopping Total: $416.36
Spent already: $36.15
---------------------------------
Holiday Shopping Remaining: $377.45

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!

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!

Started my X-mas shopping this week. I usually do most of it on Black Friday, but this year we will be in Vegas, so I decided to start now.

My sis is done. I got her an Elvis pen, an Elvis keychain (that is covered in blue velvet!) and an Elvis bottlecap opener. All 3 of them have buttons you can press to hear Elvis say different things. They all match. It's a full set. She'll die for them. She's obsessed.

Also got a book for The Boy. Will get him some more, but it is a start.

Christmas Spendings Total: $36.15