I know the whole point of saving up for something special is so that when you have enough, you can get that something special. But, I gotta say, it is faily depressing seeing my Vegas savings account go from a little over $1,000 to $47.00 I can't wait for Vegas, but *sigh* that account looks empty!

It's official! I hit $1,000 for my Vegas Goal!!!

Right now I have $$680.62 in my checking account, and $319.38 I am waiting to clear in my checking account. As soon as it does, I am withdrawing that $1,000 and we're off to Vegas! I can't believe we leave in less than a week!!! I'm so excited!

And I can't believe I manages to save $1,000 so quickly! Thanks to all of you or your fantastic advice and encouragement! You all rock!!!

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!!!

Half.com payment...love them!

Old Vegas Total: $696.36
Half.com DD: $42.33
--------------------------------
New Vegas Total: $738.69

WHOO-HOO!!!!!

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!

Old Vegas Total: $628.86
Cash In The Bag Deposit: $21.50
------------------------------
New Vegas Total: $650.36

Yesterday was my cousins wedding. Unfortunately I was sick, so we went just for the ceremony, then came home. Hated to miss the reception, but there was no way I would have enjoyed myself anyways. Came home and crashed. Spent $30 on chinese food. BUT, both me and my BF had dinner from it, and we both had leftovers for lunch today. 4 meals delivered to our house in a tropical storm for $30? Very nice indeed.

Today we are both just hanging around the house as neither of us feels that great. I need to run out to pay our rent for November and pick up the Sunday paper to look at the jobs, but other than that, we are staying in. I am hoping to only spend $2 for the paper today. Maybe some bread and milk, too, but that is it. Less than $10 for sure.

I got my $50 rebate check for the phone the other day, plus I sold one ebay item for $40 and another book on half.com, so I should be updating Vegas soon. Just waiting until I get to the bank and deposit the check first. Also waiting on the half.com payment (should be next week) and the paypal payment from the ebay item. Also, I have over $20 in my CITB that I will deposit when I hit the bank. Looks like another $120-140 to be added in over the next week or so! Yay!

Vegas is only 20 days away. I really was hoping to hit $1,000 before we go. In addition to food and fun things we want to do (and I am very happy to hear most things are cheap in Vegas), we need enough $$ to ship back the rest of The Boys bellongings. And whatever is left over is going towards Christmas Shopping.

So, 20 days and almost $400. Eeek! I know I have about $35 coming in from half.com soon, as well as about $10 from ebay. And hopefully I will get my $50 phone rebate before then. I wanted to put that $200 from the tarot pary into it, but I needed that for regualr bills. Ugh.

Besides ebay, half.com, and more freelace work, anybody have any ideas?

Old Vegas Total: $618.18
Interest added: $2.34
Bills in my CITB: $6.00
Matching Interest: $2.34
------------------------------
New Veas Total: $628.86

Old Vegas Total: 578.18
Freelance Money: $40.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $618.18

Half.com DD today! It’s not a gigantic amount, but every bit towards Vegas helps! I only have 5-6 weeks til I leave and I am nowhere NEAR what I need for the trip!

Old Vegas Amount: $553.55
Half.com DD: $24.63
---------------------------
New Vegas amount: $578.18

Only $1,421.82 left…*groan*

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???

Saved $1 at the grocery store w/a coupon Saturday and $1 at CVS w/a coupon tonight. And bonus, I got about $5 in usable coupons from CVS today, including one for $3.50 off ANYTHING. I think I am going to combine that with a $1 off coupon I have for a package of those disposable heat pads. I had a pulled muscle in my shoulder that has been killing me, and I LOVE those things, but I refuse to spend $8 for a 3 pack. However, $3.50 for a 3 pack is doable.

Old Vegas Total: $549.56
September Interest: $1.99
Coupon Savings: $2.00
--------------------------------
New Vegas Total: $553.55


Old EF Total: $81.67
September Interest: $0.21
------------------------
New EF Total: $81.88

Payday! I love these days.

Old EF Total: $61.67
Psychic Faire $: $10.00
Just Becasue $: $10.00
------------------------
New EF Total: $81.67

Hoping to hit $100 soon!


Old Vegas Total: $624.18
Stole from Vegas: $124.00
half.com DD: $15.38
Payback from stealing: $24.00
Psychic Faire $: $10.00
--------------------------------
New Vegas Total: $549.56

And I will replace that other $100 asap!

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.

Everytime I think I will be adding more to Vegas, I run out of money before payday and I need to transfer some back into the checking. Right now I owe Vegas $124. Ouch.

Right now I also have only $51 until payday on the 28th. Between now and then is the boyfriends b-day and my Dads b-day. I also need to pick up meds tomorrow. This weekend is the psychic faire and the yard sale, so I am really hoping for good money from them. I want to add all that to the Vegas account, but I have to play catch up there and make sure we have enough for the next week and a half. There just never is enough money...

I had 3 No Spend/Eat at Home Days this month so far, so that is $6 to add to the challenge. Plus, I got $33.18 from half.com this morning so that gets added in as well.

Old Vegas Total: $585.00
NSD/Eat at home: $6.00
half.com DD: $33.18
-----------------------
New Vegas Total: $624.18

I had 2 days this week (so far) where I have eaten all 3 meals at home (or from home in the case of bringing my lunch to work), and haven't spent any money. $1 for each, and 2 days is $4 to add to Vegas. And a penny to round it off.

Old Vegas Total: $580.99
NSD/Eat at home: $4.00
Rounding it off b/c I have OCD: $0.01
-----------------------
New Vegas Total: $585.00

LOL I love the first of the month.

Old Vegas Total: $579.18
Interest added: $1.81
-----------------------
New Vegas Total: $580.99


I want to hit $2,000 before the trip (November 20th). I'd like to hit $1,200 by the end of September. It may be possible if I really watch my spending. I have one weekend in September where we are having a yard sale on Saturday, then I am doing tarot readngs at a psychic faire on Sunday. I should make good money that weekend. If I can get in lots of OT (which I think will be possible) and then make $$ that weekend, I may just be able to hit the $1,200 mark by October 1st.

I was able to save $278.85 in July, and $302.04 in August. Much less than my goal for Spetember ($600) but still amazing considering I usually suck at saving money. I just need to really focus and be really agressive. Grrrrr....

Wish me luck!!!!

Finally replaced all the borrowed money from Vegas.

New Vegas Total: $579.18

Ate all 3 meals at home today, and had a direct deposit for half.com

Here I come Vegas!!




Old Vegas Total: $523.42
Half.com DD: $4.76
Eating at home: $1.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $529.18

I have decided to work on my Vegas/$20 challenge via a tactic I know several people use here (Amber and Ima among others).

For every day I eat all 3 meals at home (Breaky, lunch and dinner) $1 will go into the Vegas Fund. Also, for every No Spend Day I have, $1 will go into the fund. So, here's where I am at this week so far:

No Spend Days: 2 = $2.00
Eating at Home Days: 3 = $3.00

Total added into Vegas Fnd: $5.00

Old Vegas Total: $518.42
SND/Eating at home: $5.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $523.42

Cash in the Bag update here: I had $11 in bills, and $10 in quarters. Whoo-hoo! So, $21 to the Vegas account!

Old Vegas Total: $497.42
CITB: $21.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $518.42


Can I just say I so am damn impressed with myself????

We went to the boostore last night and I saved $4 on our purchase by using my membership card. It's a fab card. I save 10% on everything. It costs $25 a year to have, but I save over $100 a year using it, so it pays for itself pretty quickly.

Anywho, $4 savings into Vegas.

Old Vegas Total: $493.42
Boostore savings: $4.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $497.42

OK, only by a little, but as I have learned here, a lot of littles add up fast!

So, had $15 from last paycheck leftover this morning so I added $10 to Vegas and $5 to EF. I also replaced another $50 in the Vegas fun from that $200 I took out a couple of weeks ago. I've now replaced $150 of it and if there is enough in this paycheck I will put back the other $50. If not, well, I get paid in 2 weeks.

Old Vegas Total: $433.42
Leftovers/Payback: $60.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $493.42

Old EF Total: $46.50
Leftovers: $5
----------------------
New EF Total: $51.50

Tomorrow is payday (yay!) and right now I have $31.86 in my checking account. When today is over, I will transfer the leftvers into my Vegas fund, but I got a little antsy and wanted to do it now. SO, I added $11.86 to Vegas and left $20 in my checking in case I needs $ for something unplanned today.

Old Vegas Total: $421.56
Leftovers: $11.86
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $433.42

Today is my 1 year anniversary for writing here. Thank you all so much for the advice, the words of wisdom, the support, the encouragement, and even the tuff-lovin when I needed it.

You all totally rock!!

Since I've started this blog, I've had 348 enteries, 564 comments and 55,787 visits!!!

In honor of this blogoversary, I have transferred $5 to my Vegas account and $5 to my EF.

Old Vegas Total: $416.56
Blogoversary Gift: $5
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $421.56


Old EF Total: $41.50
Blogoversary Gift: $5
----------------------
New EF Total: $46.50

Got a payment from Half.com today. $25.56! Yay! This will bring my Vegas total to over $500 after next weeks make-up deposit. I've done this in about 5-6 weeks! Go me! Granted there was a big freelance check in there, but hey, it's a reat start!

Old Vegas Total: $391.00
Half.com DD: $25.56
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $416.56