Pennies on the Sidewalk

OK all, here's the Suitcase Fund saga!

The suitcase is this: A Diane Von Furstenburg City Bag. It's dark blue and black paisley, hot pink inside. Holds tons of stuff and has wheels to make it easy to carry.

Suggested Retail Price: $250
My price: $73.49 (tax included!)

I had $.61 left over from the weekend and I added a dollar bill to give it a good solid kickoff.

Suitcase Fund Total: $1.61
Suitcase $$ To Replace: $71.88

Rolled up what I could of my spare change jar last night. (What I do is this: whatever can be compiled into a full roll is what gets deposited. If I don't have enough for a full roll, it gets recounted and rolled next month). That's another $27 to add to my ING/$20 account! Plus I got my Pepsi Labor Day rebate check in the mail today! Yay!


ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $230.26
Added: $10 rebate check
$27 rolled change
New Total: $267.26

Bunch of little things to post that don't really warrant posts of their own....

Got my new Schick Intuition razor in the mail!! Can't wait to try it!

Had my 6 month review at work today....I'm getting a raise! YAY! Not much, but enough to make me happy. I'm going top try to live behind the raise, so I can use it as savings to pay off my CC bills faster.

Now that the Lamp is paid off, I am going to begin THE SUITCASE FUND. THE SUITCASE FUND is to pay off a $75 suitcase/bag I bought. As mentioned in a pp, MY CAT PEE'D ON MY OLD ONE!! So far, $0.51 in the new Fund.

Whoo-hoooooo, Baby!!!

Added $4.04 in spare change last night!

Lamp Fund Total: $47.25
Lamp $$ To Replace: $0!!!!

Now...time to start The Suitcase Fund!

Well, we had the Psychic Faire this past weekend and it went great! We raised over $600 for the American Cancer Society! And personally, I made $147, plus booked myself two more evetns for tarot card readings! YAY!

Adding some of the Psychic Faire Money into my $20 Challenge Account (and spending a little on me ).

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $110.26
Added: $120 from Psychic Faire
New Total: $230.26

Whoo-hoo!

Last time I tried this it was fairly successful, so I am going to try it again.

My budget for this upcoming weekend:

Friday night: visit Mums and Dad, $0

Saturday: Psychic Faire, $10
(NOTE: I am doing readings, so I will also be EARNING money tomorrow. )

Sunday: Watch Football game, $0
B-day shopping for Dad, $60

Rather tight budget for the whole weekend, but I just bought a new piece of luggage (damn cat pee'd in my other one and I can't get the smell out ) for $70 and a new pair of sunglasses ($15). I just have to dig my heels in and resist temptation!

Yay...the checks have arrived!

Paid Electric, Gas, Mom, Sis, and a CC. Whew! Now to put some of that extra into my savings:

Donation to a friend for a Fundraising Event for MS: $50

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $110.26
New Total: $110.26

Old Savings Total: $312.25
Savings (CC debt):
*DD from my paycheck this week. Added in $110.06
*200.00 transfer from extra reimbursement fund (YAY!)
Savings Total: $622.31

Will The Lamp be paid off this week or won't it?

Oooooh...can you handle the excitment?



$3.61 added to Lamp Fund (all spare change!)

Lamp Fund Total: $42.21
Lamp $$ To Replace: $4.04

LB CC
$1,348.10 old total
+ $110.29 (purchase and interest)
----------
$1,458.39
- $70.00 payment
----------
$1,388.39 new total

How wrong is that??? It's higher than last month, even after the payment! Maybe I'll stick some extra on it this month!

Sis
$56.90 old total
-$56.90 payment
---------
$0.00 PAID OFF

Mom
$6,204.08 old total
+ $840.00
---------
$7,044.08
- $200.00 payment
---------
$6,844.08 new total

CC
$5,975.12 old total
- $802.69
---------
$5,172.43 new total

Debt Tally

$6,844.08 to Mom
$5,172.43 to credit cards
$1,388.39 LB CC

Total: $13,404.90

Notes to me (and whoever else cares to read this )

Waiting for:

$10 rebate from Pepsi from Labor Day(GOT)
$65.47 medical reimbursement check
$100.78 medical reimbursement check(GOT)
$130.68 September travel expenses(GOT)
$416.68 August travel expenses(GOT)
$100 1st draft freelance writing(GOT) assignment payment

TOTAL: $823.61

So, last payday (almost 2 weeks ago) I was supposed to get a reimbursement check for my milage from work. Well, my paperwork didn't get in on time, so it got bumped to the next paycheck which will be Fri. I had so many things I was doing with that extra money: pay off my Sis, pay off a lay-a-way I have, etc. Well, I had to wait, but some of the things I went ahead and did and spent "regular money" on so I need to repalce this "regular money" with the "reimbursement money". (Stop laughing..it makes sense in my head! )

Anywho, it just seems like I've been waiting forever!! I know it's only 2 more days, but c'mon already!!! And since it's been an extra 2 weeks, I have thought of about 10 more things I could do with the money, but of course it won't stretch that far.

I think I've finally hit the point where not having the money is making me want to spend it more than having the money makes me want to spend it!

My freebie draw is really starting to pile up!

From Wal-Mart:
*Ban deodorant
*Sunsilk Shampoo, conditioner and leave in conditioner
*Infusium 23 Shampoo and Conditioner
*Degree deodorant
*Biore pore stips and facial cleanser

From my Sis's work:
*2 toothbrushes
*2 dental flosses
*2 deodorants
*2 cans shave gel for women
*3 boxes Kotex
*2 pkgs batteries

From hotels
*mini soap, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions

From magazines
*Sample Ponds moisturizer
*Sample Nivea lotion (2)

From other places
*Cat treats for dental hygiene (came in a bag of kitty food!)

It's really funny. This week I "splurged like crazy" on stuff for me that I didn't need per se, but really wanted. What's so funny about that? My splurge consisted of 3 items, total under $75. My old splurging was about 10 items and about $150-$200. I wouldn't think twice about spending that much money, even when I knew I had bills to pay. Now, I feel slightly guilty for spending $75 on only 3 items!!!

I guess I really am changing, huh?

So, what did I splurge on?

New sweater ($40 on sale for $28!)
New pair of winter shoes ($18)
New HC book for my collection ($25)
-------------------------------------
Grand total: $71

Transfer $25 to ING
Deposit check for CC's
Mail cookbook
Finish freelance book
Psychic Faire
Choose yardsale date
$20 into Petty Cash
Books to Cindi
More books online
ER reciept to medical
CVS/Eye Doctors medical reimbusement!

Reimbursement Check - work ($400)
Pay Sis($56.90)
Pick up luggage ($70)
Mom ($130)
transfer rest into savings/ING ($143.10)

Mums and Dad have a fairly large yard, with this extra piece of land we call "the lower section." Basically, there is a section of the yard (a big section...we had an olympic size pool there) that is about 2 feet lower than the rest of it.

Well, yesterday I went up there to help Mums with some yardwork in the lower section. Since they took down the pool, it has all overgrown with weeds, small trees, grape vines, etc. We hauled out a ton of stuff, trimmed some tree branches, cleaned out everything. Great exercise, the yard is starting to look great, and Mums paid me for the help to boot!

So, $25 earned for yardwork at Mum's going into my $20 account.

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $85.26
New Total: $110.26

$1.00 found crumpled in my jeans pocket
$1.53 spare change donated from Mums
$.01 penny found on sidewalk
------------
$2.54 added today



Lamp Fund Total: $38.11
Lamp $$ To Replace: $9.14

Added into The Lamp Fund last night:

$3.00 (quarters from my car)
$.81 (change from the weekend)
$.10 (dime I found in the parking lot)
$1.00 (found in fall coat) (!)
---------
$4.91 total added in

Lamp Fund Total: $35.57
Lamp $$ To Replace: $11.61

Getting so close! I'm hoping to have it done by October 1st, becasue then I have to start the SUITCASE FUND!

After a looong and stressful weekend, I went to Target w/Mums the other day. As I was walking in, I realized it had been so long since I had gone into a store, just to shop without anything specific I needed in mind, that I felt like I was doing something wrong! Like I was breaking the rules or doing something illegal!

LOL

It was great! That tells me I have been doing really good with not shopping on unneccesary items. I'm so proud of me!

Psssst...I got a hat on clearance. So cute and only $7!

Just got home from 4 days away for walk. Got about 12 hrs sleep over 4 days. Dead tired. Need sleep. A quick update:

$20 Challenge: Book money, interest earned, and reimbursement check deposited in today. Added $23.25

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $62.01
New Total: $85.26


Lamp Fund: Spare change from my purse added in. Added $1.45

Lamp Fund Total: $30.66
Lamp $$ To Replace: $16.59


Savings (CC debt): DD from my paycheck this week. Added in $110.

Savings Total: $312.25

Cashed in my change jar for August and added it to The Lamp Fund! And now I owe less than I've paidin. Yay!

Added: $11.78
Lamp Fund Total: $29.21
Lamp Money to Replace: $18.04

Oh, how I love Vermont. First I love it becasue it is beautiful...mostly untouched by big cities. Even the "big cities" there are just small towns compared to Boston.

Second I love it because of the low amount of people there. Call me kooky, but sometimes I just hate people and I need to get away. In Vermont, you can go days, possibly even weeks, without seeing another person.

Third, I love the friendliness of people. Although I sometimes hate people, when I'm in Vermont, I really only hate the loud tourists. ( I know, I'm a tourist up there, too). Vermonters are so nice, warm, and friendly. They'll stop and chat with you about any old thing, and help you with any old thing. They have great stories and are such kinda people.

Finally, I lvoe Vermont becasue of the freebies. Yup, freebies. The area we go to is the tourist-y Stowe area. We stay on Sugarbush mountain and spend time in the little towns around there.

On Saturday we did our traditional day drive. We start out with breakfast, then walk the dog, then head to a few antique stores. About lunchtime we head to Cabot Cheese. Yes, THE Cabot Cheese! The store has all their cheeses (yummmm, cheese) and is even attached to a chocolate shop. As you walk through the store, there are free samples everywhere! A free lunch!

Then, after shopping around the Cheese store a bit, we headed to the World Famous Ben and Jerry's! Free ice cream samples!

And finally, there is a farm we visit that makes fress Apple Cinamo Donuts all day, as well, as fresh apple cider with...you guessed it! FREE SAMPLES!

Vermont really does leave you stuffed to the brim!

I've got a good paycheck coming to me on Friday, (regular paycheck plus a reimbursement check!) so I though I'd pre-plan how I am going to use the extra money.

$18.04 to Lamp Fund (this will pay it off completely)
$100 into savings
$100 extra into CC's
$56.90 to Sis (this should pay her off completely)
$200 to Mom

That's $474.94. Let's take $25.06 and put it into my $20 Challenge account, to make it an even $500.

*sigh*

When you have bills to pay, $500 sure goes fast, doesn't it?

Anywho, I'll still have about $500 for my regular bills, and I know they aren't all due the beginning of the month. I still have the Sept 22nd paycheck for the ones due at the end of the month. I'll also use some of that $400 towards groceries, gas in the car, and any other expenses. I'm figuring if I pay money into my savings first, I don't havet o stress about having something at the end of two weeks to deposit in; I've already made a deposit from that paycheck. I can totally see where this whole "Pay Yourself First" thing works!

Last weekend I went away with my Mums and Dad. We went up to a condo in Vermont and it was amazing! The condo belongs to a friend of ours, so we stay there for free. And Mums and Dad picked up the tabs for all our food and gas money. They wouldn't let me contribute anything! So, despite the fac that it wasn't my intention, I had a great FREE long weekend!

This next weekend should be free for me as well. I am working all weekend (Thurs-Mon) at an event and work picks up the tabs. I have some petty cash provided by the company, but I most likely won't even use it. Although it will be a long adn tiring weekend, it should be fun, and being busy non-stop will really help keep my spending in check! =)

See you all next week!

I've been having trouble finding money to go towards The Lamp. I feel like all the spare bucks I have should go into the EF or svings for CC's, and not The Lamp Fund. I feel like The Lamp Fund should only be small amounts, like change from shopping, or rebate checks. So, it's been slow going.

However, today I found $1 in the bottom of my purse (yay!) and a penny in the parking lot. So..... $1.01 into The Lamp Fund!

Lamp Fund Total: $17.42
Lamp $$ To Replace: $29.83

As I mentioned in another post, I often have to travel to our main office in Boston for work. We do get paid milage, which is awesome. I just submitted my expense report for milage for August.....

over $400!

Now, I know I "already" spent that money as I was putting gas in my car, but I take that out of my designated "gas budget." I think, since the check is so much this month, that I will deposit some of it into my ING EF. Things are slowing down and while I'll be traveling a bit in September, it won't be nearly as much as in August so I won't need as much in my gas budget. And that extra money will be really nice in my EF.

Check will (hopefully) come with payday next Friday.

Stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work tonight. Just needed a few random things.

Mayo = $3.29 (ouch!)
Reduced Fat Wheat Thins = $3.29 (ouch again, but on WW these are the only crackers I eat)
Carb Friendly Turkey Hill Ice Cream = $5.49 - $3.61 RS = $1.88
Laughing Cow Cheese = $3.19 ea - $1.19 eac RS = $2.00 ea X 2 = $4.00
Sargento LF Mozzerella = $2.99 - $.99 RS = $2.00
Mouth Wash = $1.19
TP = $3.50

tax = $.23

SUB-TOTAL = $26.36
RS = $6.98
REAL TOTAL = $19.38
26% Savings

Grocery Spendings to Date = $68.42
Grocery Savings to Date = $29.58

I have odd problems with my car. Actually, with anything mechanical or electrical. I'm convinved my energy or aura somehow mess things up. Anywho, yesterday I got a nail in my tire. In the sidewall. Where it couldn't be patched. Had to get a new tire.

$85.00

:P

Sold more books for the $20 challenge...yay! Another $37.53!!

Added more money to the Lamp Fund! Woo-hoo! (Still can't get the pix to work )

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $24.98
New Total: $62.01

Lamp Fund Total: $16.41
Lamp $$ To Replace: $30.84

Savings: $202.25

I was going to go on a cruise in December with my family. I've decided not to go. There are a lot of reasons, but the two big ones are this:

1. It was supposed to be the 6 of us (Mums, Dad, Sis, BIL, me and my Boy) haing out Christmas together. But it has turned into couples being by themselves.

2. I broke up with The Boy, so I'd be alone. The 5th wheel. No thanks, not again.

As a result, this cuts down my debt owed a bit. I think I may go to the Grand Canyon myself that week, or something. I love the idea of traveling alone. Or maybe I'll go to Vegas and play the slots! Either way, I no longer owe Dad any money.

Updated Debt Tally:

$56.90 to Sis
$6,204.08 to Mom
$5,975.12 to credit cards
$1,348.10 LB CC

Total: $13,584.20

Whoo-hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just found out I got my 1st freelance writing job! KICK-ASS!!!

I'm writing an e-book about archery. I've done archery for years. Not something I ever thought I'd write about, really. I always consider myself an expert on Wicca, pagan religions, and Witchcraft, but I never stopped to think I'm an expert on anything else.

I'm getting details tonight (I hope). I can't wait to start. It'll be time-consuming, but I know I can do this well. And the paycheck will be fab!

Yay me!