ummm

I had my first scare today in the land of credit cards. i almost made a mistake that could have been costly.... i almost went over my credit card limit.

I forgot that i charged my cingular cell phone bill to my amazon CC to get the points.... well today i switched the billing to my electric orange account (because I thought that it was going to come out of my Bofa account).... and when you change your auto bill pay method, you have to pay your bill... so i told them to use my card on file, thinking it was my bank of america debit card.... nope... it was my amazon CC... the same card i charged my tuition on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but when i had them charge my tuition, i had them put 100 on my debit card to make sure i didn't go over.... (i have an available limit of 10 dollars right now)

all for points toward a giftcard.... since my new cc hasn't come in the mail yet...



I wonder how well I can play this cash back game. I need to be a bit more careful next time.... but i'm honestly not too worried.I know there is a cap on how much I can get back a year... I forget how much... [but if I hit that limit, I can always switch back to my chase amazon credit card... or get another cashback offer card.] and I know I need to charge something every month as well... which won't be hard since my cell is an on-going monthly payment...


Speaking of getting stuff for free by paying with plastic.... By the end on this next billing cycle for my chase amazon CC... i'll have another 25 dollar giftcard certificate! WOnder what I should get?


=D

i might have a new roommate!

A girl from my college group and I are talking it over... its looking pretty darn hopefully right now! yeah!

But this will probably mean that I will be moving out earlier than January... maybe even as early as this summer or the end of summer.... and that means that i'll have to get a second job over summer to pay off my auto loan faster so i'll actually have the cash to do it. I already talked to Stephanie about working at Kids Klub on Tuesdays and Thursdays... it's nine hours a day guaranteed in the summer... but i can only work there if they find someone to work Monday Wednesday Friday... (they do work schedules by week not by the day... but at least i'm keeping my options open... and my ears pried for extra shifts at work right now... )

I"m tired of paing 60 dollars a month in interest for my car alone...


I paid for my college... with my chase VISA... and i'm waiting for it to post to pay off the amount because my cash back one hasn't come in the mail... and i want that card now.... so i can start saving money via the cash back program (and start paying off my debt faster). oh well... so now i'm at the mercy of my school to give me my money back... .... .... .... i'll be holding my breath for awhile. But on a good news point, my prof at school is loaning me a textbook and the other two i can probably find at a library or something like that... so i think i'm done with the school spending.... The interest every month I earn on my Tuition account will ovbiously be a lot lower without the refund money in there... and i was hoping the interest over time would pay for my books this symester (since i was getting 10 bucks a month at least in interest)... or at least dent part of it.... guess not.

i'll post the new interest totals and stuff on friday when they are posted in my accounts...

i'm ending january... yes i have the power to do so

Incase anyone was wondering...I didn't fall off the planet... but i did get the flu... and badly too.... i had 101 degree fever for a couple of days and for the most part i'm fine now... [and considerably lighter on the scale since i didn't eat much over the last few days...] Well rested and already behind in school work... i'll be playing catch up this week.


I spent saturday in mexico bring supplies to an orphanage up there with my friends for the collegegroup at my church... it was kind of an eye opener for me. I've never been to mexico, and its one thing to see the pictures of poverty... but to see kids huddled in cardboard boxes is another............. but i'll write on this later... probably on my other blog... i just don't have the energy for it right now.

i'm starting on febuary's budget. But here's what's left over from January.

• Basic necessities had some left over cash in it. ($25.56 going to ING Direct)
• Gas- I filled up $37 at the station by my college (way cheeper there)... so my gas balance is now 77.88 (half to vegas... half to my auto main and tags-- which will cost $151 by march.... eeek.)

February With the new budget

Grocery- 125.86 left

• Food while in mexico for the whole day $5.98
• food for Sunday night group $8.16

Last Auto payment for January

My new debt level is $8,660.69!!!!!!!! and the pay off schedule now looks like this... assuming that i can keep sending them at least $1156 a month.

WAS----------------------------------------> NOW
Jan. $8,823.59------------------------ > $8,660.69
Feb. $7,728.26-------------------------> $7,564.23
Mar. $6,625.40-------------------------> $6,460.24
Apr. $5,514.95-------------------------> $5,348.66
May. $4,396.87---------------- ---------> $4,229.43
Jun. $3,271.10------------- ------------> $3,102.51
Jul. $2,137.59--------------------------> $1,967.84
Aug. $996.29----------------------------> $825.37
Sept. $0.00------------------------------> $0.00 [last payment $831.05]

If i add the pending interest to my retirement account, the current balance is $1413.92... so i need $2086.08 more to reach my goal for 2007.

• Sept i can contribute $324.95 [need 1761.13]
• Oct I can contribute $1156.00 [need 655.13]
• Nov, I can contribute $655.13 [done]

as for moving out...

• Currently set aside: $70.21
• 30 a month plan (330)
• Money left over from short term savings after 1,000 marker ... ($770)
• Nov, I can contribute $500.97
• Dec, I can contribute $1156.00
• the 2 extra paychecks i recieve a year... abot 1600 total

I should have $4,427 to move out with in January 1, 2008!!! woot

school is expensive

Apparently I have to now upfront my tuition.... instead of my college just cutting me the check... instead theya re going to refund me the cash when i bring them the reciept.... Good thing i set aside a lot of money over the summer to cover school costs.... And i also had to buy the rest of my textbooks.... which are all on my credit card right now (i will pay it off at the end of the month... but i figure i might as well get some points toward an amazon GC...)

I hope my new CC comes in the mail in the next couple of days... the first thing i'm charging is my 1500 tuition fees... I'm getting 2% cash back on that sucker and i want free money (i have 3,000 cc limit there...).... if it doesn't come in time.... i'll have to pay off my Amazon one (which has my books on it) and then put the tuition on it.... since it has a 1700 limit on it. I figure if i have to cough up the cash... i'm getting something back for it. =D

as for text books...

42.83 at the little professor
24.99 at AACopy
42.31 at Copy -c0


so, that makes it $112.13 for books today... plus $99.47 from my last purchases... making a total for textbooks of $211.60 on books this symester... and one of them is still on its way

***i hope it comes this week... if not i'm going to have to buy one at the school book store... and then return it when my copy arrives... i hate doing that!!!!!!! but its an $80 book.... eeek!

and i had to buy a few things... so a partical re-update of the budget...

Basic Necessities: Spent $24.44 Left $25.56
toothpaste $1.73 ;
3 throw away tins to cook meatloaf in $3.22
deodorant $1.99
stridex face pads $4.49
Sandwich bags 2.20
tax $0.70
Target (pot holders and storage bins ) 8.71
plastic spoons 1.40


oh and as for my Sat tradition... the penny saver has a wayyyy better listing... if worse comes to worst... i can find a place in there that fits in my budget... even in the city i currently live in!!! woot.

it might not be a good week financially tho

Even though i feel like its a good week... i finally did the math after i got my pay stub... If i don't end up getting a raise, assuming they take out the same amount of money for taxes and the like... i'll only be making 966 a paycheck... that's 34 dollars short to make the budget work... I have been considering overtime to be anything after 1,000... but i can't rely on overtime every check because i won't be working overtime all the time.... even holidays are sparce.

Looks like i'm re-doing the budget... This should go into effect february i believe... (but i did work a holiday mlk jr day... so i'll break over a 1,000 on the first paycheck for feb i think... but its best to plan for the new budget for feb)

Auto Loan: $1156.00 + Overtime +Recycle: nope... this has to stay, otherwise i'll be behind with the debt repayment plan.
Car Insurance: $100.00 : This one is fixed as well... if i move out, next year i'll loose all my mom's discounts so i need to make sure i'll have enough to fly solo when i do leave.
Gas and Auto Maint: $200.00 : It fluxuates and i normally have a little extra... but i siphen it off for auto tags and repairs...
AOL- Dial up Internet: $10.00 :I canceled AOL... but i'm supposed to give my mom 10 bucks a month if i use the net at home, and i will be with school starting... so i can't move this money...
Cell Phone- Cingular: $50.00 :Stupid fixed bill.... i don't ever go over and if i got rid of the text plan to make it cheaper... i'd be screwed... 15 cents to recieve and to send... ouch.... its worth the couple of bucks to make sure i have 200 a month to use.... i don't want to srop the phone insurance... and i have a discount through my work too...
Groceries: $150.00 ----> now $140: I'm going to pull 10 bucks from here. With the Sunday night pot lucks, my grocery budget has been a little tight... but we only have 2 weeks left, and i think i can live on $140 a month...
Basic Necessities: $50.00 ----> now $45: I seem to have extra left over here more then anything every month... but when i move out i'll have to buy cleaning supplies and the like... hmmm... well just take 5 from here
Offering: $94.00 : I'm not pulling from here... i wish this were actually a lot more...
Fun Money: $70.00 : Guess where i'm biting the bullet... yup... fun... its now down to $51.00 a month.
Short Term Savings: $90.00 (till i hit $1,000.00, then add to car payment, then to moving out) : this needs to stay and should be far more money then it is...
Long Term Savings (A.K.A Moving OUT) $30.00 : yup, this isn't moving either.

it just feels like a good week.....

I was sitting in church sunday... because i have an amazing boss who is letting me take a lunch to drive to church and get most of a service in... It makes working Sundays bearable and kind of fun because i have something to look foreward too. The message this week was on trusting God and not worrying... i think it was just something i needed to hear.... I got to sit with Mo and his sister (not alone this week... always a plus)... next week i think i might go to the high school/jr high group for a mix up since i am a sponsor and all.

=D


i'm just in a good mood... i didn't realize how much i missed Sunday service until i couldn't go anymore.


Last night me and my friends sang off key in whorship for over an hour (until we had no voices left... lol) and remininced about all these old church memories and songs.... it was a late night, but i was able to pop up and get to work on time. =D

my sister came to my work early again for her workout... and it wasn't bad as normal. (i'm kind of her personal trainer... but for free) and it was kind of fun too... I invited her out to Vegas with me and my friends for our May Vacation. We've been getting along a lot better the last 2 or so days... i hope i can keep it this way.

Speaking of Vegas, Mo is pretty much game, Hotel boy is a maybe... ChargersFan can't come out friday... but he might do a saturday drive out.... i forgot to ask TUESDAY so i'll ask him and Rubik and Dee on Tuesday at football.... This trip is looking a lot more fun each day... I'll be so excited if all the guys can come!!!

I'm also off to Mexico next saturday to help out at an orphanage... were just driving down, dropping off supplies and meeting the kids... if we have time, we'll be lending a hand here and there... but i'm excited none the less... i've never left the country before.

as of tomorrow... i'll have less then 9,000 in debt.... holy cow!!!

MSN article

An exerpt from The real reason you're broke By Liz Pulliam Weston

"They may be spending 15% to 20% of their (take-home) pay on just the car payment," said Thompson, who supervises credit counseling for the nonprofit Family Foundations, "and that doesn't include insurance, gas, maintenance and all the other costs of owning a vehicle."


lets see... why am i in debt... my car...


300 month payment... 100 for insurance... 200 for gas and maint.... $600 a month!!!!!! ouch 30% of my income...... eeeeekkkkkk....

target gift card and new CC and CVS saving card

I mentioned a while ago that i lost my target gift card.... i found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was in my purse this whole time... woot

I also finally got around to applying for my new CC.... i just got approved for a 3,000 limit... and i'll never have a balance on it.... and i'll get 2% cash back on every purchase... woot.... They also offered to refinance my auto loan for me.... to 7.5 %.... but i declined. I'm going to have my car paid off in a few months and i don't want the hassel.


plus, i finally filled out the application for the CVS savers card... i get 2% credit on all CVS purchases... and every three months they give it to you... niffty eh? i think so.


So lets see
Amazon Visa CC limit 1,700
BofA Visa CC limit 2,700
Platnum select Mastercard CC limit 3,000

available credit $7,400



i love cash back incentives.

saturday morning tradition continues...

After flipping through the paper, i feel a bit more confident about what i can pay for rent/what's available.... at least in Huntington Beach (where my dad used to live)

I might have to come to grips and move there... a bit farther away then i would like... but it seems to be the area that I can afford to live in. A lot of places to rent a room with full privleges for under 700 a month with utilities. And they have a few 3 bedroom places for 2100 a month incase i can get some friends together. i always knew i wouldn't be able to stick it out here... and it looks like i might be a costal girl in a year. Its still a year away... but meh! at least i love the beach...

(its a sad day when the beach property is cheeper... or has more vacancies...)

uggggg slight overspending and the budget

Well its payday... and that makes me happy.... and while i haven't seen my work stub yet.... i took home $1,103.41 for the last 2 weeks...

normally i would add $103.41 to my $754.00 car payment right now... but for some reason the numbers arn't adding up right when i look at my budget... so i'm going to wait till everything clears and use it at the end of the month. But for the most part... i'm done spending... except for gas...

I have to confess... i spent a buck over my allotted grocery money... because i couldn't find the post that told me how much money i had left in my budget.... [so much for making the site easier to read... not at the cost of me going over budget] i'm just gonna have to figure something else out... oh well...

and i used the rest of the unbudgetted cash to go ahead and get all my pictures developed from last year because i had a really good deal... 10 free pictures.... (19cents there after if i printed more then 50... which i did... and when i go to pay... i get another $2.00 off because i have another coupon.... i love new store sales...)

So... here is everything i did end up spending money on.

January 2007 finances

Short Term Savings- Monthly Goal= $90.00

• $25.oo auto transfer bofa + $65.00 Manual transfer bofa
  [$200.00 moved to ING Electric Checking @3%APR...]

Auto Loan-Monthly Goal= $1156.00 Total Sent: $1307.81

• Recycle: $9.52
• Overtime check 1: $134.32
• Extra Bill Money: $3.07
• $400.00
• $4.90 Refund from work for gas used on the job
• $756.00

Car Insurance: Monthly Goal= $100.00

• $100.00 Paid to ING Savings Account

Offering: Monthly Goal= $94.00 [not 10% but it’s a start...]

• $40 cash + $54 cash

Fun Money: Monthly Goal= $70.00 or less Spent: $69.99 Left 0.01

• Scott's gig at the coffee shop $5.05
• Roller-skating $6.00 entrance fee; $3.00 Skate rental
• 2 plus lbs of hand made chocolate covered strawberries for Sunday Night Group $14.79
• 2 movie tickets (1 used with Rhea; 1 in wallet still) $15.00
• I needed some shirts for football and i got 2 Chargers hats off E-bay before my spending sabbatical... [i used a 20 gc i got from Blake for x-mas ... so the final net outta pocket was $18.46]
• 2.20 coffe bean and tea leaf
• Sunday night potluck ---potatoes (6.49)

Long Term Savings (moving out) Monthly Goal= $30

• $30 sent to Emigrant direct

Bills: Monthly Goal= $60 or less; Spent $9.95; Left $3.07

• Aol Internet $9.95
• Cingular $46.98

Food: Monthly Goal= $150 or less; Spent $150.96; Left $-.96

• Deli meet 8.89
• Eggs 1.99
• Yogurt 7.49
• Croutons 1.39
• Apple sauce 1.50
• soup 1.00
• Salad dressing 1.50
• Campbell’s soup –golden mushroom 1.59
• Apple sauce 1.50
• Campbell’s soup –golden mushroom 1.59
• Soup 1.00
• Soup 1.00
• Lettuce 2.50
• Mushrooms 2.19
• eggs 1.63
• ground turkey 12.86
• flour tortilla 2.39
• water 1.79 +crv .08
• 2 Marie Calendars’ dinners 5.00
• bread crumbs 1.50
• refried beans 2 cans 2.00
• ketchup 1.89
• taco mix .89
• onions .77
• Water + redemption value 4.69 +1.60
• v-8 + redemption value 12.99 +96
• Bananas 1.30
• Triscuits 4.99
• meatballs 10.99
• Pasta sauce 6.59
• hot dogs 7.99
• chicken sandwiches 9.29
• yogurt 7.49
• Brown Rice 4.99
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Honey mustard dressing 1.50
• peanut butter 1.99
• canned lite pears 1.00
• canned lite pears 1.00
• eggplant chicken meal free with coupon
• mushrooms 2.49

Basic Necessities: Spent $14.33 Left $35.67

• toothpaste $1.73 ;
• 3 throw away tins to cook meatloaf in $3.22
• deodorant $1.99
• stridex face pads $4.49
• Sandwich bags 2.20
• tax $0.70

Gas: Spent $88.12; Left $111.88

• Costco $34.60
• Mobil $20.00
• Gas $33.52

Unplanned Expenses: Money left from last month $129.... $00.00 left

• Dental Visit part A $150.00 + Dental Visit part B $150.00; Paid with $100 unbudgeted money left from last month... and $200 Disneyland cash.
• -.96 cents [over grocery limit]
• Photo’s developed [I had coupons I couldn’t refuse…!!!]

book prices

Well i still have no idea how much my books will cost me for one of my CSUF classes... but i finally emailed my HIU prof to figure out what i need to buy for that class...

So far i've spent $99.47 on books for 2 classes... and one class i don't need to buy books for...

The interest my tuition acccount has earned over at emigrant (since opening it) 10.57... so really i've only spent $88.90.... [wouldn't that be cool if i could pay for all my books with the interest alone???? that would be nifty].... hopefully books for my other classes will be just as cheap!....

laptop bag...and new CC... and crapy city hall

So... i picked up the free laptop bag... and my laptop is too big for it... by at least an inch............( But i think i have a friend who can use one... ) and i talked to Blake last night and i think he might have an extra if his brother didn't get rid of his old one because he got a new one for x-mas too... apparently a trend my family didn't pick up on.... but i got totally spolied so i'm going to shut up now.

Any who... I think i might apply for a Mastercard. I only carry 2 VISA's right now [bank of America VISA... and CHASE Amazon VISA] . I also have a debit card VISA and when i get my activation stuff... my electric orange checking account/debit card will be a mastercard. But i've been looking for a better offer on a CC... and i got an offer in the mail... its with a 2% cash back on anything.... no annual fee... and you can get the "cash-back" in increments of $25.00.... (they send it in a check and i can use it everywhere) I'll keep my Amazon one just for amazon purchases ( i got 1% back on everything... 3% back on Amazon purchases...) but the reward was an amazon gc... and most of the stuff i buy online is cheaper elsewhere... like half.com... or sometimes e-bay.... I would save the giftcards for textbooks because its always hit or miss... and you can use them in the market place too... but i want a better reward... I want to milk the system... lol...And since i know how to use CC's to my advantage... i'm game. (never carried a balance in my life.)


Blake also fixed the wireless router at my house... no internet bill for me now! woot.


I get paid on friday and i'm excited to see what my new income will be with the city wide raise... ***crosses fingers***

But i'm also worried... its been 2 months since my 6-month employee review... and i'm supposed to get a 3% raise.... and my review raise hasn't even processed yet... its just sitting on someone's desk at city hall!!!!!!!!!!

i've sent out emails.... heck... today i emailed my supervisors supervisor and my supervisor and the guy who filled the paperwork out on time!!!! if i don't here anything about... i'm calling Kelly Doyles office... the big cheese... and the boss of the guy/girl who has had my review on their desk.... for 2 months

It's just not fair.... i know i'm getting a small bump in income because i had to sign papers awknowledging the city wide raise... (they can get that out on time)... and there was an astrik indicating that my hourly rate will change once the LATE progress review had been cleared...

I know they will retro pay me for what i should have been making these last few months.... but they will add it to one of my paycheck so more taxes will be taken out....

BUT COME ON... 2 freeking months... this is just ridiculous....

freecycle

So i was reading someone's blog a few days ago... and they mentioned Freecycle.... you can check out their website here...

http://www.freecycle.org

The idea behind freecycle is to keep good items out of the landfills.... the classic "someones trash is another person's treasure..."... everything must be free... no bartering allowed. You can even post messages about stuff you need too.

Well i went ahead and joined... read the countless emails on how to post and the rules and regulations for it... i figured i might use it down the line, after i moved out... well not the case.

Someone's husband got a new dell laptop case for x-mas (he wanted one with rollers) and won't be using his old case... which is practically new.....Well i broke my make-shift laptop bag last symester and i really needed one... but didn't want to buy one...

So i emailed the woman back and at 2:00pm i'm driving to her house... only 7 miles away from work and getting a laptop case for free!!!!! woot!!!! this was actually something i needed and asked for, for x-mas and did't get... now i'm getting it for free... how cool is that???? its amazing...

I look at this as light at the end of the tunnel... i lost a $13 target giftcard... i cna't find it anywhere... and this kind of totally makes up for it... i offically love freecycle...

moving out in january....

I was chatting with one of the girls i'm supposed to move out with in January... and i found out something that makes me MORE skidish now about moving out with her...

She "smokes"... and while she's thinking about quitting... i just dunno =(

She thought i knew she smoked... (i knew she had once or twice a few years ago... but that was it...)


.......... will i ever find roommates????

a few decisions... just business

I was flipping through a lot of my blog posts... seeing how far i've come in the last few months since i started this blog... and to be honest... i'm messy...

I'm going to take some time and hopefully edit out some of the junk and weird partial updates out to make it a bit more free flow and more user friendly...

1. I've decided to keep my "journey without buying clothes" on a seperate blog and link the two. I'll let you all know when i update the other blog on here still... but even with lables this will get confusing.
2. I'm also going to start doing a monthly update on what i spend money on instead of adding to the list and reposting everything as i buy it. (i've decided to keep track of it in a word document and post it at the month... the reformatting everytime is also annoying.)
3. and a few other things... but i'll mention them later

I've also decided to move my car insurance money over to Emigrant Direct to take advantage of the higher interest rate... I opened the account with this month's payment... plus the interest it already earned over at ING (6 cents). The money is avilable to be transfered from ING to Bofa tomorrow... so i'll move it then. I've decided to re-name this saving account to "extra basic ness cash"... instead of keeping extra grocery money and necessity money in the same account "odds and ends." I've decided to seperate them... that way in the long run i can see where i'm getting more "extra" cash from.

dance class

I had my first dance class last night... and it was nothing like i planned... i got stuck dancing with this one guy...Bill... and he kept calling me Dynamite... and things along the lines of "good things come in small packages..." and how he couldn't believe this was my first dance class...

I had to supress my anger.... u get to read my venting now... thank bill

he also kept getting "lost in the music" and not doing the steps the teacher was instructing us to do... so he kept running into people... and turning me when we hadn't learned to turn yet. Needless to say i started leading at one point because i like order gosh darn it... especially when i'm learning to waltz with a bunch of people who have no clue what they are doing in the same room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

honestly you can't just start going forward 2 times and back 2 times because YOU want to when everyone else in the room is going forward 3 times and back once!!!!! IDIOT!!!!!!!!!

i won't be dancing with Bill again... hopefully anytime soon... that's for sure...

and to relate this to finance.... i don't think i need to buy anything for the class... The teacher wants us to look and dress nice since that's what we'll be doing when we go out into the real world... but i might have to consider character shoes down the line if i keep getting into more dance stuff. But its not mandatory and i have my cowboy boots i'm wearing so i'm still all game with the No buying clothes for a year which makes me happy.... I'm going country next week... dress and cowboy boots... and i'm gonna look cute and dance no where near bill...

Saturday tradition....

Every saturday morning as i'm on my way to work, i grab my copy of the OC Post from the driveway of my mom's house, pile in the car and drive... Normally after i do a bit of "work" ... then i grab my paper and go straight to the coupons section and start clipping away... but the last couple of weeks i've found myself looking to make sure that there are homes for rent in the area that fit in with my budget. I figure with home prices lowering, and with myself moving out in a year, its definently time i really start hunting to make sure there are places out there that I can afford.

I want to keep my rent under $700 when i move out... so i have cash for utilies too... which i really have no idea how much i'll need for that... i think i'll ask my mom what her bills are... (we live with 3 ppl... it might be a good way to estimate)

So... what did i find... [Assuming the adds arn't lying and these places are decent (i'm not calling the numbers and asking more info because i'm not planning on moving out and i really don't want to give these people a false sense of hope.] A total of three places. *=best option, **= 2nd best choice, ***= 3rd best option

• **1 townhome--- in a near by city, The commute wouldn't be that bad. It's a 3 bedroom, 3 bath which is why it rings in at number 2... no bathroom sharing is always a plus. It's also an end unit so that means a bigger yard or patio and more privacy. It has a garage so that will help with parking... but if we took this place we would probably have to get a parking pass for the third person. fireplace, AC, patio, and a quiet location. $1900.00 a month (633 a month per person)...
• ***1 penthouse condo---in the same near by city as the second place... and while the add says its walking distance to a lake and lots of shopping centers and schools, this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, only has a 1 car garage which definently means shelling out cash for parking and finding parking... not to mention the hassel when friends come by to hang out. It's "upgraded" and is going for $2000 a month ($666 a month per person)... it takes the third spot because it technically fits in... but i don't think i would actually move in and take it... the 1 car garage part suxs.
• *1 refurbished home--- This place is the best of the three because its located in the city i currently work and live in and it fits the requirements (3bed/2bath). It's an actual home which makes me happier because there is generally more privacy and there will be places to park along the street... but it has a large yard, which means a gardner will have to be hired... or i get to experiment with the lawn mower again and my green thumb. [i used to mow the lawns when i was in high school for my mom cause she didn't want to hire a gardner and she couldn't do it herself... eventually i bailled cause i was getting all that crap in my lungs and it was horrible... but i could do it if i had to] Fireplace, AC, new paint and carpet, 2 car garage, $1875 a month ($625 per person) ------it had a web site... and i think its already taken. (not like i was planning on taking it in the first place)

I also poped on by the rooms for rent section... and i also found three places.

• Its a condo to share with a perfect stranger... and share a bathroom (1 1/4 bath)... dunno what "hrdwd"means... or what "W/D" means... but it has a fireplace, a yard, and i'd have to pay half the utilities. 650 a month... location wise, this is best but the bathroom thing gives me the creeps... its like living in the dorms all over again.
• 3 brd townhouse, 1 mile from the beach with pool, jac, spa, and tennis courts.... (which means theres an association fee) its 650 a month and a 1/3 of the utilites.
• then in the same beach city theres a bedroom in a home... full privileges... includes utilites and is close to the beach for 650... This is the best bet i think... but its kind of far away.... i'd be leaving for work at like 4:30-4:30am!!!

Its a start in the research that will hopefully get me on my way to my own place.

http://ayearwithoutbuyingclothes.blogspot.com/

I went ahead and created a new blog for my little adventure. You can find it here:


http://ayearwithoutbuyingclothes.blogspot.com/

While i will be updating my progress on here too, i figured i might as well make another blog for prosperities sake.

A year without clothes--- the guidelines

Okay if i'm really going to stick to this commitment, i better lay out the rules.

What i won't do till January 10th, 2008:

1. I will not buy shoes... flip flops, heels, boots, ..... nope and nada...
2. I will not buy special occasion clothes...
3. I will not buy jeans, tops, dresses, or any other clothes... regardless of weight loss or whatever.

What i will do:

1. I will Master my sewing machine. i will be the queen of heming, altering, and fixing.
2. I will purchase necessity garments only if needed. [this includes socks, underware, and bras---that's it] I look at these items as not really clothes, but rather as necessities to live life. these will be my only clothing related purchases for the year.
3. I will accept hand me downs... and photo document the items here for you to see....what i don't want, i will bring to goodwill.
4. I will open myself up to borrowing... i know i have at least one formal occasion this year and if i don't re-ware an old dress...(which i probably will) i won't dismiss the idea of borrowing a dress from my sister if i feel like it.

On January 10th, 2008 I will officially end my year without buying clothes.

~*~*~*~ Things I'm Still Debating On~*~*~*~

• my family is notorious for giving clothes as gifts... i'm not sure what i'll do with these... or if i get giftcards to clothing only stores.... i'll have to cross this bridge when i get there.
• if i get a new part time job over the summer... i know some places require you to purchase the uniform and they take the cash out of you paycheck...
• if i need certain clothes for class--- ie if i take a ballet class and they require tights... then this would have to be purchased i believe...

okay i think those are good. hopefully i won't have to change it... I'm kind of excited to turn my back on the OC trends of buy buy buy!I told my friend Heather about it and she thinks its kind of fun and she's going to support me in my adventure with encouragement.

Wish me luck... the rules are set. and i'm off like a rocket!!!

a little bit of everything

Text books: One of my professors posted books for my government and politics class... and i saved money buying used!!!!!

• The school wanted $38.80 for a used book... amazon.com marketplace used 5.40
• another used book the school wanted $60.00.... amazon.com marketplace used for 45.00

with shipping the total came to $57.38 which i'm transfering out of my Emigrant account. 3 classes are done now... just 2 classes left... i need to call my college about that independent study class...

Aol: They hung up on me... i called and i went through the automated responses and i got "we can't help you right now... goodbye.." apparently i have to wait till after 8am... so i'll make and eat breakfast now...

I called back... and cancelled... but the teller was really annoying. oh well... no aol bill for me. Hopefully i'll be able to get away with giving my sis the $10 bucks a month and using her net... its way faster and way more reliable. woot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ lots of little tasks to hopefully do today~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

i have a small bag of things i need to drop by the good will tonight... i always take the standard deduction because i don't want to mess around with itemizing.... and after i'm done with college... i think i'll be able to do my own taxes.... but until then i go and get them done because its easier.

I need to go to the bank after i work out today to deposit the Disneyland money so i can go ahead and pay for my dentist bill. I stuck it on my CC so that i could get some of the points and hopefully score another gift card to use soon... which i won't be using to buy clothes because i'm on sabadical... (i love this little reminder to break away from societal trends)

I also got a refund from my work from driving my car around... its only like 4.00 but meh... its going to the auto loan once i cash it in... and if i have time i might change in some of the bottles i have lying around the house just so its slightly more going to my car.. but that's a maybe.

I also need to get gas at a different place today. I normally buy my gas at costco cause its cheaper... but i have a $20 visa gift card from Blake that i "used" [to buy the hats and shirts for football] ... but i couldn't actually pay with the gift card... so i need to go to a real station... walk in... tell them $20 bucks... so i can clear the card and not come up $20 from the budget... meh!

I also start my dance class tonight with Heather. It should be fun... and i'm excited to learn too. I'm just hoping i don't have to buy any stuff for the class... i have leather soled shoes already [my cowboy boots] and heather might have a pair of jazz shoes if i need them [they'll be too big tho and i'll have to wear thick socks... which i already own because of line-dancing... i'll make due... no clothes shopping for a year.]

A year without Clothes

Well the verdict is in... i'm going for it.

A year without buying clothes.

Start: 1/10/07
End: 1/10/08

I figure i'll still accept hand me downs from my sister if any come my way... but i'm going for it.

heather's idea

I was talking to one of the girls i might move out with in January... and i'm loosing confidence in her as a canidate... she said something to me along the following lines:

• "I don't think I can wait a year to move out... but then again i really don't think i'll have the $4-5,000 to move out in a year..."

She's 3 years older then me and just now getting a real job... I mentioned this to heather and she came up with this idea that seems to make more and more sense the more i think about it.

• move out with the guys...

More then likely they will ideally be a roommate short since Blake probably won't have the kind of job he needs to have to move out this summer... So in steps me. i'm more dependable, and proabbly a cleaner roommate then any stranger they can find... They have both lived with sisters, and I have lived around guys (living a year in the boys dorms out of choice due to space issues)...

If we can find a 3bed 3bath place, i can take the master with attached bath so we don't have to worry about any "run ins" and i'll install a lock on the door just incase. I'll feel safer knowing that there are guys there, and i won't mind the late night jam sessions. I might bring it up to the guys... i doubt that they would go for it and everything, but its one of those "that's an interesting thought"

I mentioned it to Dave last night after football while we were all hanging out at carls jr... and he said it was logical, but he wasn't sure they'd go for it... My best bet is to pray the work girls get their act in order by the time we move out... but i'm just trying to keep all my options open.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

the only problem with this idea, is that the boys would probably try moving out in July or August... which means I would either have to move out with a car payment or get it paid off sooner... and get the money to move out sooner... which is one of the reason's I decided to use my disneyland money to pay my dental bill. I need all the overtime money i can save up.

Right now it looks like i'll have about $4, 536.00 when i go to move out January 1st 2008... Once it hits $5,000.00 [if i can get it there... i'll start back tracking in and moving the possible move out date earlier]

Dentist part deux

I go back to the dentist today for my second cleaning and i'm supposed to chalk up another 150 bucks for the left side of my mouth... but i think i figured out how to pay for the expenses... and keep my budget in tact.

For x-mas, my grandpa and my mom's sister gave me $200 which is suposed to go towards a Disneyland annual pass. (i've gotten this present for many years and i do love disneyland)... but i think i might forgo my pass and use this cash for the bill.

Reasons why:

1. My old pass isn't expired yet (i have about a week... left... but no real desire to go... i love to go during x-mas and i didn't even go once)
2. when i have free time and i'm not blocked out, i don't really go... its been months since i've gone.
3. This whole "winter" break when i've actually had time when i could go, and wasn't blocked out, I didn't go...
4. i know i won't go when i'm busy with school... I didn't this last symester...
5. plus, a lot of my friends don't have annual passes anymore, and its not much fun by urself in all honesty...
6. I figure if i regret my decision, i can start taking some of my fun money and put it aside for a pass and get it a couple of months down the line anyway

So i'm going to use the disneycash for my dental bill... I figure eventually i'm going to have to use it because the dental bills are going to just keep coming... It won't be free to remove my wisdom teeth... it won't be free to have another tooth pulled.... and if i can afford it, i might decided to get braces again because i do want straighter teeth and i think i'd rather do the braces again at 20 then at 28 if you know what i mean.

While it kind of bites about the dental bill ... just the fact that i am able to deal with it makes me feel better about moving out. . . I have a small e-fund i could use... i could mesh around the budget for the cash... i could just not use my overtime for my car and pay the dental bill with that... Just the fact that i can deal with a $300 expense that i hadn't planned on is making me feel far better about leaving behind the life where mommy could bail me out and make me feel guilty for all eternity.

Some day down the line, i'll re-adjust the budget to give some money for medical and dental purposes... maybe if i end up making over 1,000 a paycheck... [i won't count on this... but it could happen]

Auto Loan update!!!

I love how fast toyota posts things! My new debt =$9394.27

I still have to send them $756 to keep on target for the month which should put my debt somewhere around $8700, about a hundread or so dollars better then the goal for the month. woot. But well see how much if any overtime i'll be putting towards my auto loan for my next paycheck (due to dental bills)

My next payment isn't tecnically due until 12/30/07... i full year away... which makes me smile because i should have it paid off by then and hopefully moving into my first place!

oops... dentist

So i had $129 that i kept from last month to use for my little dentist visit.

The visit was going well, no cavities (i've never had cavities... ever) but i needed a deep cleaning because its been years since i've been to a dentist...

What was going to cost me a whoping $600 is only costing me $300 with insurance and todays visit was free... they did half my mouth today and i get to come back and have them do the other half tomorrow...

but $300 bucks!!!! ouch. i need t0 find $171.00 in my next paycheck... I have a couple of options.

1. I can pull about $40.00 from my basic necessities fund... since dental is basic and a necessity...
2. i can pull the remaining "fun" money left for the month... (only $7.71 because i had to buy shirts for football)

This leaves me with $123.39 that i need to find.

1. I can take this money from my gas fund... and probably still be okay for the month... but i kind of don't want to...
2. i can pray my next paycheck is going to be more than 1,000 and not send that money off to my auto loan and instead apply it to this and take the remainder out of my gas fund...
3. or i can pull the cash out of the emergency fund... but is it really an emergency if i can find the money by combining other accounts????

I went ahead and charged it on my CC... i guess for now i'll use the gas cash and hopefully figure everything else out while i can.

but i'm expecting huge dental bills from 4 wisdom teeth removals... and another tooth removal... eeek

interest is poopy and i need shirts

Well i was going to wait a couple of days before i made my first "real" car payment for the month until everything transfered and posted between accounts... but i'm rather upset at the interest that keeps creeping back up at me (my debt is now standing at $9,924.28), so i scheduled the payment today so it will be sent out tomorrow... $400.00.

on a whim... i hit ebay to see if i could get a chargers hat for a buck... i got outbid the last min or so... sad. it was a happy hat. Maybe i'll try again... or maybe i won't... The more i keep thinking about it the more i'm like meh... never mind...

I know i just wrote a post about not buying any clothes for a year... I actually need to go buy some long sleaved shirts today or tomorrow for tuesday night football... its just too cold to run around in a tank top since i can't wear a hoodie because they could grab the pockets and rip them (this happened to my friend Kube a few weeks back... guess what Mo had to buy Kube for x-mas...) and all my long sleved shirts are nice and i would like them grass stain free...

Speaking of football, Mo's ankle is still all messed up... apparently he tried to take the brace off and his leg started swelling so he's got it back on... He's going to attempt to ref with a whistle and flag... but there's a problem with that for me... The boys have let me in the past get away with pass interference stuff because i'm a cute aggressive little girlie... [one week i actually wrapped my arms around Rory's waist because he was going to get the ball anyways... so i just held him there and waited for him to catch it... and then i dragged his butt to the ground...ya just a little illegal]

but now since Mo is our "ref" until he heals (he refuses to be designated QB who can't be tackled... he won't play pansy football) so i'm going to be in for a rude awakening since every time i get out there... i break that little rule... and they're claiming that pass interference will result in the loss of a down...

I have a funny feeling i'm going to be picked last... =(

sabadical???

I was re-reading an article on MSN money about the "little brown dress"... and Alex's experiment to wear the same dress everyday, all year long i guess to make herself more aware of her consumerism and everything. It makes me wonder about my own consumerism and spending... again. If i ever tried something like Alex did, i would get a lot of flak from my family since i live in Southern Orange County and they frown that i don't own anything with name brand lables and that i like to play football with the boys and wear baseball caps occassionally. [The mental stress of putting up with that would be enough to make me crazy]

but part of me is wanting to take a sabatical from consumerism... or at least do something.

Why now?

I was really spoiled rotten over christmas. I pretty much got everything i "needed" and a lot of what i wanted... more then my fair share. So, last night when I hung out with my friends having a good old time at a roller rink, Blake gave me my be-lated christmas gift. It was a simon giftcard... I was grateful and this is normally what we exchange each year... [some giftcard unless we're amazingly cleaver and figure out something else]... but for some reason i wasn't itching to go blow it on something like i normally would... Sure i could find something to spend the money on [clothes, a season of 24 or Angel... movie tickets... or even something more useful like gym clothes] But i wasn't ready to go out and burn the cash on junk.

Could it be that these last few months of blogging have changed my outlook on money and things????? I sat there thinking later on... Do i really need anything right now? Then the thought became "what if i didn't buy anything i didn't need anymore?"

When it comes to movies with friends and dinners out... even skating sessions... the only reason i'm "game" is because i want to spend time with the people i love. I could care less if it was football on tuesday nights... or a lobster dinner.

I think i'm leaning towards a yearly sabadical from buying clothes... I'm pretty handy with a sewing machine and my mending abilities arn't that bad either. Plus i did get a few new things for x-mas too... [like socks] and my sister is the queen of hand me downs... While its nothing life altering or shattering... i'm really considering it.

A year without buying any new clothes... hmmm...

The picture I promised

I promised a picture of me on a quad... and since there is no way you can get a decent look at me with all my gear on, well there it is...

This was right after i learned how to use the clutch and turn properly.

I look like a 12 year old kid... the only way i look like a girl is cause i have long hair that's hanging out of the helmet!

I swear i'm 20!

holy cow money updates and opportunities!

Electric Orange:
So, ING decided to make a checking account... with nice interest... and i'm game. I like the fact that there's a free atm near by if i need cash in an emergency... which was why I kept my cash at Bofa savings... one online transfer and i was done... not a 3-4 day wait to make it clear with the savings accounts. This way if i have an emergency, need new tires for the car or whatever, i can go and get cash out, or use my card as a debit card... its perfect! And i'll finally have a card with a mastercard logo... incase i land myself somewhere that doesn't accept VISA. So I'm going to slowly treat that account as my "Emergency savings account." So i took $200.00 from my Bofa savings account and i'm moving it over to the ING checking as a test run... I figure i'll slowly flow the money here, but keep some in the savings acocunt at bofa too... I need to make sure i like this one, lol. Who knows... maybe one day i'll be bofa free...

Overtime:
Payday! While i haven't see the actual stub yet, I know that the flat hours worked will not equal $1,000 alone since these are hours i worked in dec... before the pay raise... but i have overtime that i'm using to balance it to $1,000. In addition, there's $134.32 that's over the 1,000 so its going to the car loan.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

now for more updates:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It looks like half my paycheck is officially allotted out. I'll wait till all of this clears before i make a real "payment" (meaning part of the 1156) towards my car. It will probably be only around $400.00 for the first check and the larger bullet from the second. That way i have some cash for fun and gas without dipping below my "zero." (the zero pad=$500 and its in my checking account.) Plus i have that $129 from last month that i'm saving towards some dental work... but i'll find out more about that on Tuesday when i pay my dentist a visit.

I really like putting all my cash in the savings accounts with the first check I get to make sure that i actually do it. I know in the long term it could dent more in interest over the life of the loan... but this way if i make budget errors, i'm pulling from other categories like "fun" instead of "savings" to make sure i make my auto loan payment. But i won't make errors... *wink*

Short Term Savings- Monthly Goal= $90.00 Total in accounts $767.74

• $25.oo auto transfer bof a
• $65.00 Manual transfer bof a
• [$200 moved to ING Electric Checking @3%APR... i might as well make part of my money work harder!]

Auto Loan-Monthly Goal= $1156.00 Total Sent: $146.91

• Recycle: $9.52
• Overtime check 1: $134.32
• Extra Bill Money: $3.07

Car Insurance: Monthly Goal= $100.00

• Paid to ING Savings Account

Offering: Monthly Goal= $94.00 [not 10% but its a start...]

• I'll take it out of my bank today and out it in an envelope in my wallet

Fun Money: Monthly Goal= $70.00 or less Spent: $5.05 Left $64.95

• I saw my friend Scott play bass at a coffee shop so i got some java and a muffin... more fun then grocery even though it was food...

Long term savings (moving out) Monthly Goal= $30

• $30 sent to Emigrant direct

Bills: Monthly Goal= $60 or less Spent $9.95, left $3.07---> Goes to Auto Loan

• Aol Internet $9.95 [I'm going to call and cancel AOL on Monday... I didn't use it at all last month and i told my sis i'd give her $10 bucks a month to use the high speed she has because i only use it for small stuff... she was cool with it... so upgrade for me! and bye bye AOL!
• Cingular $46.98 ----> Just a note, for those of you TEXT MESSAGERS out there, Cingular is upping their text message fees to 15cents a message (unless u have a plan) I noticed this memo on my bill... (i never go over my allotment, but its something to note)

Food: Spent $84.27; Left $65.73

• Water + redeption value 4.69 +1.60
• v-8 + redeption value 12.99 +96
• Bananas 1.30
• Triscuits 4.99
• meatballs 10.99
• Pasta sauce 6.59
• hot dogs 7.99
• chicken sandwitches 9.29
• yogart 7.49
• Brown Rice 4.99
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Honey mustard dressing 1.50
• peanut butter 1.99
• canned lite pears 1.00
• canned lite pears 1.00
• eggplant chicken meal free with coupon
• mushrooms 2.49

Basic Necessities: Spent $1.73 Left $48.27

• toothpaste 1.73 (coupon plus an extra buck off...)

Gas: Spent $34.60; Left $165.40

• Costco $34.60

FYI

I went through most of my posts and took out a lot of information that ppl can use to identify me... other then a few friends names... because if i made fake names for everyone.. i'd go insane.... i think i'm in the clear... (if not, comment and i'll fix it or something)...


oh and btw.....i'm on day 6 of no caffine or chocolate.... be proud i am! and while there are times (like 10:30-11:00pm at night when i'm hanging with the guys and i'm fighting off sleep because i want to hang out longer.......) that i'd like a boost of caffine... i've decline amazingly.

woot for me

and it looks like the 2 months when i'll recieve extra paychecks are March and Aug! it will be debt paydown time then

I have $129 in my checking account over my zero amount because i Underbudgeted on purpose last month... and i havn't sent it to my car yet... because i called my dentist. I'm going in for an appointment to see about my wisdom teeth and another tooth that i think i should have removed. hopefully i can get all of that done with the 129 because i have good dental insurance and i think i should actually get it done and use it before school starts again and i have no time. I set aside tuesday for this task... its wait and see... hopefully no cavities... (i've never had one before...)

blah

The honeymoon holiday feeling in my house is gone. I had a good couple of weeks with minimal fighting and the like, but it seems like as soon as the x-mas decorations went down (which i actually helped to take down without being asked)... so did the fake sense of happy.

I went grocery shopping after my mom did... and i noticed that she bought food items that really I only eat and everything like that. So I called her to let her know that i was picking up some of the same things so she wouldn't be shell shocked when i got home.... apparently this was one of her amazing efforts that i've labled the following: The

"look i'm trying to be a mom and buy your affection with things in a ploy to
A) make you not move out and B) so that i can take them away and have
'power' over you when we do get in a fight" tactic.

So needless to say she went on one of her rampages and made me put most of my food in the garage freezer... (which is set way to high and is covered in ice... ) she almost didn't let me put my grocery groceries in the fridge!!!! SO needless to say yesterday has been filled with horrible looks and comments. But once again i rose above her crap and kindly remined her that she doesn't buy my groceries anymore because

• she asked me to buy my own groceries (see the 19 days of pantry eating)
• because when i did eat "house food" i get yelled at later for it
• and when we do fight, she tells me to go and buy my own crap.

I guess she just doesn't seem to understand that i'm serious about moving out... but then after our fight, she called me to tell me she was thinking of buying a place with her friend as an investment property... and asked if me and my friends would want to rent it... but its out in Tustin... which is kind of far for me. I thinking more local if i'm renting. (which i plan to do since i have no idea where i'm going to want to live in a couple of years... (and i won't have anything big enought to look like a down payment when i go to move out....) it all depends on where people go, where my job is, and the like.

plus.... my friend moe got hurt last night playing football... i'm really sad now.

but i did mention i did some shopping so i better update the budget.

Bills: Spent $9.95, left $50.05

• Aol internet (that i didn't use all month... i only have it for emergencies like submitting papers... i do all my net stuff at work.) $9.95

Food: spent $84.27; Left $65.73
Costco:

• Water + redeption value 4.69 +1.60
• v-8 + redeption value 12.99 +96
• Bananas 1.30
• Triscuits 4.99
• meatballs 10.99
• Pasta sauce 6.59
• hot dogs 7.99
• chicken sandwitches 9.29
• yogart 7.49

Ralphs:

• Brown Rice 4.99
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Honey mustard dressing 1.50
• peanut butter 1.99
• canned lite pears 1.00
• canned lite pears 1.00
• eggplant chicken meal free with coupon
• mushrooms 2.49
  

Basic Necessities: Spent $1.73 Left $48.27

• toothpaste 1.73 (coupon plus an extra buck off...)

Gas: Spent $34.60; Left $165.40

• Costco $34.60

Short Term Savings- Goal $90.00

• $25.oo auto transfer

Auto Loan goal= 1156.00

• Recycle: $9.52 (sent it today)

I get paid on friday, and then i'll work with some of these other categories.

Car Insurance: $100.00
Offering: $94.00
Fun Money: $70.00
Long term savings (moving out)

I also got some socks with some x-mas money from Costco so i didn't include it in the budget because it was free money and i love new socks.

----> books still haven't posted for my 2 other classes... and i need to call my other college to finalize that independent study course still.

i need to breathe and be reminded of the good things in my life... to keep with this good place inside me and not retreat to the place that i've been the last 6 months...
Things to be happy about:

1. A girl who works out in the gym is calling my boss to complain that he made me turn off the country music in the mornings... this makes me smile and my heart happy because i miss my country music. My boss told me i can play it when no one else is here tho, which is nice. The funny thing is that i get more compliments and never any complaints from the country music because the picky people bringt ipods and never care... but i get complaints about the standard station all the time.
2. my jeans fit baggier on me (while the scale is slightly going up because muscle weighs more then fat. 141.6 this morning)
3. I didn't get hurt last night playing football and have yet to obtain injurys (minus bruises and being sore the next day) and i play just as tough as the boys.... after last night, Dave told me i know have man status... this kind of worries me because while i play with the guys, i don't want to be one of the guys... but the no injuries is something to smile about
4. I have plans to go roller skating on Friday with Danielle and Blake.
5. i get to wear my new boots line danicng tonight with heather
6. I have pleanty of books to read at work... and i don't have to lifeguard today or for a while...
7. i have a plan to get out of my house and i think it will work.
8. I have a crush on a certain individual... and thinking about him makes me smile like a 16 year old in high school... lol (its fun just to have a crush every once and awhile)

Things are looking up already