Oh, Grow Up!

Now have it all come together...

(Single Female, 28) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:06:50 PST

So I have a problem with accountability. Obviously, as I've only updated twice in the last two months or so. Since then, I've been on a "get fit" kick and I've been visiting my health site daily. When I was on the "get rich" kick, I was here all the time. Now it's time to buck up and...

Calming Down.

(Single Female, 28) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:11:51 PST

So I've decided what to do about my recent stickiness:

1) Staying in my house. It's going to be a bit scary...this neighborhood isn't the greatest. When my ex moves out, so does his truck and his dog...both good deterrents. But the upsides are that I do have a monitored alarm system...

Massive, Scary Life Changes.

(Single Female, 28) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:12:06 PST

WARNING: This is just one big brain dump. I'm a bit numb and need to regain focus.

Let's just break it down into digestible chunks:

1) I broke up with my boyfriend of 6 years last week. We haven't set his move out date, but it'll happen in the coming weeks. It's heartbreaking,...

SLACKER!

(Single Female, 28) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:07:03 PST

OMG. It's been almost a month. How did 3 weeks just fly by like that??

OK. Update the little sidebar. Not bad. Oh wait, I had my birthday, update that too.

So progress is slow. I want it all GONE GONE GONE nownownow. I've been more mindful of my spending, but I have had a few...

Where are you, little elves?

(Single Female, 28) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:56:15 PST

Weekend Spending:

$38.62: Gas. OMG! UNDER $40 FOR A TANK!!!
$3.45: Coffee and "brunch" of 2 shortbread cookies.

I guess a downside of having this blog is that I check it compusively and somehow I feel like the magic numbers to me left should be moving faster...like little...

Excited Over Groceries

(Single Female, 28) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:37:41 PST

Last night's Chevy's trip with my coworkers was a good release. We had 2 pitchers of margaritas: mango and raspberry - which were very good despite my fondness for top-shelf-on-the-rocks, and a huge plate of nachos. And it didn't cost me a thing because when we asked for the check,...

UGH. Sigh

(Single Female, 28) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:40:54 PST

Spending:

$40: Dinner.
$12: Dessert.

Last night, out to dinner with the girls, but we were celebrating a birthday and she wanted sushi. So that was pricey. We also all pitched in and paid for the b'day girl's dinner. So the $40 cash I pulled out a few hours earlier...GONE....

Surveys and Money News

(Single Female, 28) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:13:43 PST

Spending Yesterday: $6.20: Lunch.

I couldn't help that. I drove straight to work from my mom's house...2.5 hours away, and I wasn't about to bang around the kitchen at 4.30 AM trying to find something to take to work. Then figure out how to keep it fresh during the drive, so the...

Ouch.

(Single Female, 28) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:12:15 PST

Extended Weekend Spending:
$5.90: Random trinket for my nana.
$11.90: Bundt pan to make cake.
$88.79: Gift: 3 books and a magazine.
$5.13: 2 birthday cards.
$12.95: Lunch for my brother and I.
$163.74: Birthday gift for my sister (hopefully to be split with my brother).
$21.95: Random gift for my mom.
$6.44: $2.44 for a coffee and $4 cashback for the toll bridge this morning.
$1,305.85: Annual car insurance.
TOTAL: $1,622.65

Sigh.

And...

Spenditures.

(Single Female, 28) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:15:59 PST

Spending:

Yesterday:
$53.13: 2 month supply of prescription cat food and water filters.
$8.98: 2 cupcakes for a friend who's watching my kitty while I'm gone this weekend. And 2 containers of Dreyer's because they were on sale 2/$7 and I was out of ice cream.
Today:
$49.80: Tank of...

They ARE Sneaks!!!

(Single Female, 28) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:55:06 PST

So, I got the results of my little experiment. Verdict? Charter One Loans are bastardly! Yes, I'm sure that's a real word. It is now.

I sent $100 to the home equity loan AFTER my normal payment, and they cheerfully applied the entire amount to interest only, even though I specified...

Not So Hungry Hippo!

(Single Female, 28) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:23:27 PST

Spending:
$16.18, dinner with the girls.
$250, plumber payment.

The dinner is almost a weekly thing, and I will NOT give it up! We have been friends for almost 10 years, and those of us who are within a 1 hour drive try to meet up for dinner 2 or 3 times a month. This was a...

Wealth Goes /\ = Weight Goes \/

(Single Female, 28) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:39:04 PST

I noticed something possibly related to my newfound budget: I have lost weight in the last week. Yes, just one week, but I do weigh myself almost every day, and there was a significant (3lb) drop since last week. I'm almost completely positive it's because I'm making an effort to eat...

Drip, drip, drip.

(Single Female, 28) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:59:57 PST

Good news: I got estimates on the yard work - $150 for stump removal and $250 for the city pipe leak. $100 under budget! Fantastic! Both should be done by the time I get home today. FINALLY!

Bad news: Got a letter from the water district yesterday: I'm finally going to get metered...

Should I Plant a Bunch of Money Trees?

(Single Female, 28) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:34:22 PST

So this week might end up being a bit pricey. I'm trying to finish off the front yard...a few months ago, flush with tax refund and yearly bonus money, I decided to finally gut and re-do the front yard - which was unsave-able. Pulled up all the plants, grass and sprinklers and started...

Passive Saving!

(Single Female, 28) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:00:29 PST

Weekend spending: $40 in gas.

So, almost a no-spend weekend. I ended up driving my car (I actually insisted - I do need that XM entertainment while the boy dozes off during the 3 hour drive) so the first tank of gas was on me. And I might have to fill up again on the way home,...

Experiment: Sneaky Bank?

(Single Female, 28) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 10:28:49 PST

So, my home equity loan.

When I first started making extra payments a few months ago, the bills would show up for less than the monthly payment. Each month I owe them $405. I started paying $505, and the following month's bill said I owe them $305. I called them up and made sure...

Checking Testosterone Levels...

(Single Female, 28) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:38:25 PST

I might be on my way to another zero $ day! That all depends on who gets to drive tonight - I might insist as the boy drove last weekend, and I have XM radio for entertainment. Heading down to the coast for the weekend, which usually costs over a tank of gas ($50). And I already know...

Show Me Your Money Dance!

(Single Female, 28) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:00:14 PST

Spending Today:

$294.88: Last payment to boyfriend.

It started as a personal loan made 14 months ago - he paid for some household improvements when I didn't have the cash and I insist on keeping all spending to do with the house under my name as the house is mine. Then some...

The Facts.

(Single Female, 28) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:20:29 PST

So I sat down last night and balanced my budget. That was a bit depressing.

+$3,400: Total Monthly Income.

-$1125: Split mortgage and bills.
-$405: Home equity loan.
-$100: Extra payment to Home equity loan.
-$350: Gas and car maintenance estimate (commuter).
-$150: Dining out.
-$100: Clothing allowance.
-$100: Emergency savings to ING account.
-$100: Personal care.
-$45: Pet.
-$33: Gym.

That...