Goodwill GOLD (and yes, thrift shopping ROCKS)

Lately I've been tight on money (oh wait, that's pretty much always!), and Goodwill has become my new "shopping mall".  Yah, it takes some time to sift through everything, and it sometimes smells a little funny, and sometimes there are screaming children.  

BUT there's air-conditioning. 

AND you can find some pretty awesome stuff there for really really cheap. 

Case in point - this dress. 

How flippin' cute is that??  
It fits me perfectly (well maybe a teensy snug, but who cares?), and I found it on the rack for $10.  Not too shabby. 

I also found these shoes... 

Steve Madden strappy sandal heels (ridiculously comfortable for heels too, by the way). 
Only $7. 

Yah, that's a pretty successful shopping day if you ask me!  

Spending Fast - FINAL MONTH (1-year total)

Welp, the 1-year Spending Fast is coming to a close!
Although my debt is definitely not gone, it has reduced significantly since the beginning of 2012.

$13,168.04 - Starting Debt at Jan 1, 2012
$7,169.78 - Current Debt at Dec 17, 2012

That means I've paid off nearly $6k in debt this year - $5,998.26 to be exact!  I still have a ways to go, but if I keep the same determination going this year I believe that by 2014 I can be 100% debt-free.  And oh what a wonderful feeling it will be!

Image via Pinterest

Although I'm dissapointed that my debt isn't fully paid off by now, I understand that certain aspects of my life (and certain choices), caused it to be that way.  I took a lower paying job, I know that I spent money at times when I probably shouldn't have (but man, it was still worth it - and I'm definitely not perfect), etc.  But I've learned so much this year, and I'm ready to take that to 2013 with me.

I already know I'm going to take some kind of vacation next year, so that will definitely dip into what will go towards my debt - but life is short, and I'm tired of putting vacations on hold!  And I'm OK with that - I've accepted it.  If that means taking a little more time to get completely debt free, then I'll take it.  I still gotta live my life!

I know that it's a constant struggle, but I'm going to stick with it.  How wonderful when I can actually put money towards my savings every month instead of credit cards & interest.  How wonderful that my money won't be completely GONE the day after I receive every paycheck!  Oh man, I can't wait.

And that's what keeps me going.
Well, that and all the love & support from my family & friends of course. :)
Love you guys!  And here's to being debt-free by 2014!

New Job Jitters

I gotta sit down and get real with you here for a sec... 

...I'm scared.

I kind of just realized it today.  I'm 1-week away from starting my new job, and I've got butterflies in my tummy - not just with excitement, but there's definitely some fear in there too. 

What if I can't make ends meet with how much I'm getting paid?

What if I absolutely hate it? 

What if I totally suck? 

What if / what if / WHAT IF!?!?

I'm going a little bit crazy... mostly about the money thing.  I have been working so hard to pay off my debt, and this will be taking a huge step back for me financially.  I'm trying to think of the big picture (happiness / future career / all that jazz), but it is certainly a bit jarring.  All of these "what if's" are swimming in my brain and making me dizzy. 

I need to stay calm and breathe. 

I need to take it one day at a time. 

I see why people stay at jobs for so long once they're comfortable there - even if they hate it!  It's easier.  It's convenient.  There's no fear of the unknown.  You've already built up the trust, and now I have to earn it all over again.  I have to learn how to do things again.  I will be out of my comfort zone. 

I think these are all pretty valid fears, and I'm sure a lot of people go through the exact same thing, and ask themselves the same questions.  But I'm going to face those fears.  It's scary, yes, but I can't keep living my life without taking that risk.  

Walk face-first into the "What If" and say I don't really know right now, but I'll figure it out!

That's what I'm going through at the moment.

I'm scared, but I'll be okay.  A life lived in fear is not a life at all.  

Wish me luck...

Lacking Nightlife

Lately, I haven't been getting out much.

By "out" I mean - going out on the town, meeting new people, checking out the new neighborhood bar, getting dolled up, going out for breakfast, going out dancing.

I'm sure that part of my problem is my Spending Fast... well, I guess it's more like part of the solution (just in a different way).

But I feel a bit like I'm missing out.  Not sure why.  I'm enjoying the quiet time (at home, hanging out, reading, even socializing with friends in a house-setting), but I'm kind of missing the going-out-party-time that I haven't encountered in a while.

Maybe it's also getting a little older?  I do notice that I get tired around 10:00 - which is the ideal time for hitting the town - and lately a Friday night in sounds much better than stumbling home at 2:00am.  I do enjoy my weekend mornings, as much as I enjoy my weekend nights.

I feel like it's a strange transitional time for me.  I'm moving more into "adulthood" (whatever that may be), and letting go of things that I cared about when I was a bit younger.  I still love to go out and have a good time, but I also hate hangovers - and I also love my mornings now.  I'm loving the new, but I still love the old.  I'm hanging on, but letting go.

Just thoughts I've been having lately!

Does anybody else out there feel this way?  Is anyone else having this dilemma?  Such a strange time.  It's good and weird and awesome and scary all at at once.  Guess that's what change is, huh?

Clothing Swap!!

The other night I went to a Clothing Swap with my girlfriends.  It was SO much fun - and reminded me a lot about the Accessories Swap that Katy & I attended just last month!  This time it was clothing AND accessories though. 

I have to admit - I really needed to search my closet for stuff to donate for this!  I'd already done a pretty decent clean-out before, but there were a few things that I'd been holding onto for a while that needed to go.  It worked a similar way as the other swap - but you got "dollars" to spend on items depending on the quality of what you brought.  They sure did go a long way though! :) 

Katy just arriving at the Swap.  They had quite a spread of food there, matched with wine pairings - I was very impressed!  The cheese and snacks were totally delicious. 

They also had beautiful little tulips everywhere - such a lovely touch! :) 

The girls - mingling before the swap.  This was actually held at an interior design firm - their offices were absolutely GORGEOUS.  I wish I worked in such a cool space!  They were so open and airy - it just felt so bright and happy in there.  Very different from the basement I work in every day! 

They did a great job of organizing the clothes, and making it seem like we were actually in a store!  Everything looked so nice hung up on hangers, and on mannequins.  It made me think of our swaps we do at people's houses... everything is usually just tossed on a bed.  Ha! 

Katy totally snagged that black flowered dress in the pic too.  It looks ridiculously cute on her! 

Yes, they have a water feature in their office - filled with fish.  Could I be any more jealous?  Probably not. ;) 

Champagne & cupcakes?  Don't mind if I do!!  I actually brought a white chocolate macadamia nut cupcake home for John, but I totally ate almost the entire thing before he got home.  Whoops.  It was SO GOOD though!  I mean, did you hear what I said?  White chocolate macadamia nut.  I'm only human, people. 


Once the clothing swap began, I didn't take many photos.  I was too busy grabbin' up all the goodies!  I found some SUPER cute clothes, and I'm very excited about them.  2 of them are rompers (pants / shorts attached to a tube top) which I'm totally in LOVE with.  I can't wait to wear them!  


I also got a couple of gorgeous black dresses (one fits me absolutely perfectly - I couldn't believe it), a pair of diamond-sparkly hoop earrings, a pair of Lucky jeans, and a purple top.  Considering that everything was pretty much free (in exchange for my stuff), I felt like I got a hell of a deal!  


Once I got over my "shopping" high, a lot of us returned to the wine and the food...

This is the water they had set out for us - isn't it just lovely?  I have seen cucumber water many times before, but strawberry water!?  I had to try it - it was super light and refreshing, and I will definitely need to make it for summertime.  It was absolutely scrumptious! 

Two SUPER rad girls that Katy & I met while we were there!  Abby is on the left of Katy, and Danielle is on the right.  We had so much fun chatting with them!  They're pretty awesome. :) 


All-in-all it was a wonderful event.  I'm so glad that Geneva told us about it!  I guess they do it annually, so I really hope I can make it to next year's as well.  It was a total blast and we met some pretty great people.  Now I have to figure out where to wear my new treasures!  

Spending Fast Update: 3 months down, 9 to go!

This month was not as successful as the other two unfortunately, but I still think I did pretty well!  I had a couple of moments of weakness (I did purchase 2 meals at restaurants - about $20 a piece total).  I'm frustrated about that, but I'm not perfect and I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  I think I could've done better, but I still did well, and I did pay down my debt some more, so that's great! 

Here is how I did for the month of March with NOT spending:

Date	Not buying	Approx $ not spent	Total $ Saved
3/1/12	Derby Dues	$50.00	$50.00
3/2/12	Dinner at Steubens (Brian's B-day)	$15.00	$65.00
3/4/12	Going out to brunch for my b-day (had people over instead)	$25.00	$90.00
3/3/12	Out for drinks for my b-day	$30.00	$120.00
3/1/12	Google Offer ($10 for $20 at City-O-City) - ugh… really wanted that!	$10.00	$130.00
3/3/12	Drinks at the bout	$18.00	$148.00
3/3/12	Taco Bell (thank GOODNESS John didn't let me do this!)	$10.00	$158.00
3/7/12	Gift basket donation (donated handmade items instead)	$10.00	$168.00
3/7/12	Bowling (friends had a free coupon!)	$15.00	$183.00
3/10/12	Additional Drink at Clothing Swap w/ Katy (had 1 free drink, wanted another!)	$8.00	$191.00
3/15/12	Lunch (the one I brought wasn't very yummy again)	$8.00	$199.00
3/17/12	Large Green Beer (while at Breckenridge)	$6.00	$205.00
3/23/12	Lunch (I REALLY wanted to go & get an Arepas today!)	$6.00	$211.00
3/21/12	2 bottles of wine (I used gift card money!  WOOT!)	$20.00	$231.00
3/27/12	Glass of wine or beer / Queso & chips (I REALLY needed this today…)	$10.00	$241.00
3/28/12	Hunger Games movie ticket (my mom treated me!)	$12.00	$253.00
3/29/12	TJ Maxx (I had $3 left on a gift card, but wanted much more than that)	$20.00	$273.00
3/29/12	Bottle of wine (John got it)	$11.00	$284.00

So I did not spend $284.00 this month!  Not too bad if I say so myself.
It also means that since the end of February (to the end of March), I've paid off $1,285.29!! 

Woooooohooooooo!!!  That's great news.  In total since I started the spending fast 3 months ago in January, I have paid off a whopping $2,664.69 off my debt. 

I'm almost to the $3k mark!!  It's so close I can taste it!!  And it's also amazing how much money you can save up when you really put your mind to it, huh? :) 

For more information about the Spending Fast and inspiration - visit And Then She Saved!

What Cat's $20 of Birthday Money got me...

My friend Cat gave me $20 for my birthday.  In the card, she wrote: 

Things you can spend this money on: 
- hookers
- blow
- eyelashes
- eating out

Things you can NOT spend this money on:
- bills
- John's cookie habit
- Groceries

I demand pictures or proof of whatever you get. <3  Happy Birthday!

Well, Cat - I did just that.  Here are the things that I enjoyed (thoroughly) with your investment: 

You bought a DELICIOUS Qdoba dinner for John and I!  I had a 2-for-1 coupon that I used, so it got us dinner for two (for the price of one).  Yay!

photo credit:  Newell Jones + Jones Photography

You got me a $5 ticket to the Accessories Swap!!  Katy came with me, and we had an amazing time.  I got a free glass of wine for getting there early enough, and my purse design won me a FREE PURSE from handbags.com!  So that $5 actually got me wine, 10 awesome accessories (that I exchanged with some of my own), and a free brand-new handbag!  Not too shabby.

A scoop of pralines & cream ice cream, on a beautiful Spring day.

A big ol' bag of TWIZZLERS for the long car ride up to the mountains!

And last (but not least), a delicious beer that I enjoyed while taking a break from a ridiculously fun day of snowboarding at Breckenridge.

Cat, that $20 went a lot longer than I thought it would - and it was a wonderful gift! :)  Thank you for getting a broke girl like me to so many little treats.  It made me very happy. 
LOVE YOU!! 

Spending Fast Update - 2 months down, 10 to go!

Today ends Month #2 of my spending fast.  Woohoo!!  

Everyone has been so unbelievably supportive of my decision to do this, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I was really worried about how people would accept it, but it turns out I'm not the only one trying to pinch  my pennies!  

What's even more thrilling?  As of today, only two months into my fast, I've payed down my debt by $2,229.40!!  WHOA!!  How awesome is THAT?? 

Since I'm being honest here, I'm going to tell you how much credit card debt I was in when I started this fast.  For some of you, it might seem astronomically large.  For others, you may look at it and say "hey, that's right around where I am too!".  And for other-others, you may think this number is ridiculously small.  No matter where you're coming from, I hope that sharing this will show you where I'm coming from, and maybe even motivate you to take the first step to becoming debt-free too.  

Starting debt as of 1/1/2012:  $13,168.04

Debt left as of 2/29/2012:  $10,938.64

That is so ridiculously exciting to me.  I still have a long way to go, but the number is shrinking.  And that keeps me going.  

As mentioned last month, I have been keeping a "spending tracker" to show where my money has NOT been going for the month of February.  Here is how I did!  

FEB
Date	Not buying	Approx $ not spent	Total $ Saved
2/1/12	Derby Dues	$50.00	$50.00
2/4/12	Martini & Infused Vodka shot (friends bought for CW Tickets)	$20.00	$70.00
2/4/12	Target (I wanted to buy at least $10 worth of more stuff there)	$10.00	$80.00
2/5/12	Chinese Food (I really really wanted to order take-out!)	$28.00	$108.00
2/12/12	Pizza (I got it for FREE but chose pick-up over delivery, and didn't get extras)	$10.00	$118.00
2/10/12	Karaoke night (probably would've bought at least 1 drink)	$6.00	$124.00
2/14/12	Valentine's Day Gift (made John gifts instead)	$20.00	$144.00
2/16/12	John B-day Gift (made John's gift / used a gift card for a small gift)	$20.00	$164.00
2/14/12	Valentine's Day Dinner (John & I made dinner at home instead)	$25.00	$189.00
2/18/12	Beer & Appetizers (after snowboarding) - I wanted to buy stuff	$15.00	$204.00
2/19/12	Beer or a Bloody Mary after snowboarding (I REALLY wanted a Bloody!)	$8.00	$212.00
2/19/12	Qdoba (I usually would buy something from there on my way back from mtns)	$10.00	$222.00
2/11/12	Ross (I passed by on a lazy day & would have gone in and bought something!)	$25.00	$247.00
2/22/12	Baniff Mountain Fest (invite from Grimes)	$15.00	$262.00
2/23/12	Meredith's Improv Show (she got me a comp ticket since she's so sweet!)	$8.00	$270.00
2/24/12	Happy Hour Drinks	$10.00	$280.00
2/25/12	Post-Bout Drinks	$12.00	$292.00
2/26/12	Bottle of wine (I almost stopped & got one!)	$10.00	$302.00
2/28/12	Bottle of wine (would've gotten one for Kat's b-day, but made cupcakes instead)	$10.00	$312.00
2/29/12	Lunch with Cat (we brought our lunches instead of going out)	$10.00	$322.00

I saved about $322 this month!  WOWZA!!  It really amazes me every time how those little things really add up.  

A couple of things I DID spend money on this month that I probably shouldn't have... I got a $2 coffee from Starbucks when I was driving home from the mountains.  I justified it a bit though because A) I didn't get a fancy coffee, and B) I was SO TIRED and pretty much nodding off at the wheel.  I figured with a 1 1/2 hour drive ahead of me, a $2 coffee was the safest bet. 

I spent $4 going halfsies on a bottle of wine with Megan.  I just didn't want her buying the whole bottle when I knew we'd both be drinking it.  Something tells me that buying wine is going to be the hardest thing to resist during this spending fast... even more than going out to eat & buying gifts!  Haha!

THANK YOU AGAIN to all of my friends and family for all the support and love.  I know I keep saying it, but I really can't say it enough.  You guys are awesome.  Thank you. :) 

Love what you have...

Just lookin' ahead towards a time when I'm debt free.  I hope that I can keep the same mindset I have now - basically that I already have everything I need.  It just depends on how you look at things!

Sometimes it's hard when pants tear, stains happen, or when holes get worn in things.  I'm already having that problem now (it seems as though the moment I decided to do a spending fast, everything I own decided to deteriorate) - but it doesn't really take much work to mend what I have and keep on using it.

And really, I have everything I need.  MORE than everything I need!  I am very fortunate and blessed to have everything that I do, and filling some superficial need with STUFF just doesn't make any sense when you really stop to think about it.  Our society tries to make us think differently, but we really don't need all of those things that the world tells us we do.

Example - I lost my cell phone on the mountain when snowboarding last weekend.  Luckily I keep a back-up cell phone at home, and I just had to get a new SIM card from T-Mobile.  I had to get all of my friend's numbers again, but it wasn't really that big of a deal.

Sure it's a flip phone, and I have people making fun of me already!  But you know what?  It does what I need it to do - I can use it to reach people, and other people can reach me.  It's a freaking phone, people.  You may be able to play games on yours, check Facebook, pull up Google Maps, etc - but we don't really NEED all of that stuff. 

My phone is just a phone, and it works just fine.  I won't panic if it breaks or if I lose it - I can get another one.  My phone is not an appendage.  And I'm saving about $60 / month by keeping things basic!  I dunno, sometimes I think simplicity is better.

But I digress!

I guess my point is, that we've developed an attachment to stuff.  I'm guilty of it myself, of course!  But I'm trying to change my perspective on it.  Just be aware of it, and think about it.  I think that's a step in the right direction. :)

My new necklace! And some pre-birthday thoughts...

A very nice person gave me a Visa Gift Card for Christmas last year, so I promptly went on Pin Up Girl Clothing and found me a gorgeous necklace to treat myself with! 

You can't IMAGINE my horror and disgust when 4 weeks went by, and I realized that the package had been STOLEN off my front porch by some JERK who thinks they can just TAKE THINGS OFF PEOPLE'S PORCHES!!  Ugh.  Needless to say, I was pissed.  

I filed a claim with Fed Ex, which was completely useless.  I had to complete a ton of paperwork, send them all of the records of the transaction, then 3 weeks later I receive a letter saying that I was missing a piece of the puzzle and that it would slow the process. 

Thanks, Fed Ex.  Jerks. 

Luckly I also emailed Pin Up Girl Clothing and explained what happened.  They reached out to Fed Ex as well and when they found out my claim was denied, they decided to send me a new necklace anyway.  BECAUSE THEY ARE AWESOME!! 

Anyway, it just came in yesterday to my work, and I was thrilled!  John made fun of me because it's kind of ginormous (it's about 2" wide by 1.5" high), but I totally love it. 

Here's a better close-up shot... isn't it RAD!?

This might have to be my birthday-girl necklace!

Oh yeah!  Speaking of which, I turn 31 next weekend!  Holy moses!  I can't believe this year has gone by so fast.  It seems like just yesterday we were roller disco-ing our hearts away at my 30th b-day party.  Crazy! 

It's funny 'cause as I realized I was turning another year older next week, I realized how I came to work that day... 

 

Let's just say - if I'm ever too old to wear pigtails, and sparkly-gel eyeshadow, I don't want to be that old. ;) 

This year for my birthday we're doing things a little more low-key, with people coming to celebrate in any way they like.  My team is playing a derby bout next Saturday (which I'm singing the National Anthem at - holy crap!), then the next morning I'm having everyone over for brunch!  It'll be super fun. 

I also decided that for my birthday dinner, I want crab legs.  Big fat juicy crab legs.  That is all. :)  

Spending Fast Update: 1 month down, 11 to go!!

Hey everyone! 

Remember how I mentioned here about my decision to tackle a 12-month spending fast, after being inspired by And Then She Saved?  Well, today is the last day of month #1!

To recap, I have been figuring out FREE ways to spend my time for the past month so that I can use my money to pay off my credit card debt.  To be honest, so far it has been a bit easier than I thought!  My calendar has still been pretty darn busy, and I've still been able to spend time with my friends without spending dough.  

I decided to keep a little spreadsheet to track all of the things that I probably would have spent my money on for the month.  It has really been helping me get a visual on how much money I am not spending.  It's the opposite of tracking where my money is going, and instead shows me where my money is NOT going.  What did it show me this month?  How much those little things (a beer here, a coffee there, a lunch here, a dinner there), REALLY add up!  


What I also realized is that even when I estimated my amounts pretty darn frugally (only ordering 1 beer at the bar instead of 2, stuff like that), I would still be spending beyond my means with all of the credit card bills I have to pay every month.  No wonder I've struggled so much with paying down my amount!  It's funny because at first I thought that this spending fast would be holding me back from things I wanted to do, but in reality the debt has been holding me back this entire time!  Who knew? 

Now, I know - I did have a couple of friends / family members who offered to pay for my food & such when I went out.  But when it comes to my wonderful parents, there is no saying "no" to that offer, and most of the other times it was in exchange for me getting my friend a free ticket to something.  So there's that! 

TOTAL ESTIMATED SAVINGS FOR JANUARY 2012:   $420.00
Now I couldn't put this full amount to my credit card debt, as I still needed to make some monthly minimum payments, and you know, buy groceries.  But that's a HUGE number!!  I am still working hard to get extra money coming in wherever I can (trying to sell crafts, and I will have some cash coming in from being a lab rat for science), which will all go towards my debt.  And it's also tax-return time, so that's good!


Things that have helped me get through January (some helpful tips): 
Fitness Activities!
Instead of inviting a friend to lunch, or out for happy hour drinks, this month I invited friends to join me for a walk in the park, or to go rollerblading.  I've even been doing a weekly run-club at a bar - it's a great way to hang out, meet new people, exercise, AND you get free pasta & garlic bread afterward!!  Choosing free fitness instead of spending money at a bar or restaurant is a total win-win!

Tracking my non-spending! 

Creating my Excel spreadsheet seemed a bit excessive at first, but now I know that it's a tool that will really help me in the long run.  You know how financial gurus always tell you to use cash instead of credit cards so that you can always see your money going away when you spend it?  Well, it's kinda the same idea!  It has really helped motivate me to keep going.

Eating at home with friends instead!

This month I invited friends over for dinners, and even a potluck brunch this past weekend!  I asked my friends to bring something to share, so that we could save the money on going out.  And you know what?  I think most people were REALLY happy to not be spending the money themselves at a restaurant, and it was so nice to hang out with my friends with no distractions.  People love potlucks! 


So that's all for now!  I feel pretty darn happy about how the month went, and although I did have one little slip-up (I spent about $2.75 on wine when my gift card wouldn't cover the whole thing), it wasn't enough to throw me off the horse.  I am thrilled and energized, and ready to take on month #2! 

FEBRUARY, HERE I COME!! :D

First weekend of Spending Fast

I had every intention to take a bunch of pictures this weekend to illustrate this post, but guess what - I didn't.  And I didn't even think of it until afterward!  Gosh, I've been slacking on that lately, haven't I?  I promise - new pics will come soon. :) 

ANYhew - I thought I'd fill you all in on how my first weekend without spending any money went!  It went GREAT!  I didn't spend a dime, and I still had a wonderful weekend.  

Friday night I met up with my mom & sister for a movie.  My mom insisted on paying, and although I hate having her pay for things, she wouldn't take "no" for an answer (god BLESS her!) - haha!  We saw "The Artist", which I thought was absolutely wonderful.  I'd never seen the lead actors in an American film before, but I guess they've been very popular in their perspective countries!  It's a silent film, but the acting and story were wonderful - and the music helped illustrate the story perfectly too.  I would highly recommend it! 

 Did I mention both leading actors are absolutely ADORABLE??  I didn't?  Well, they totally are.  Just gorgeous. :) 

Saturday morning I went with Cat to audition to sing the National Anthem at the Denver Roller Dolls bouts.  I figure one of my New Year's Resolutions is to sing more, so why the heck not?  I was the first to perform, so that was a little nerve racking (on top of the fact that I'm still getting over a cold), but I guess I did pretty well!  I heard back yesterday, and I'm going to be singing at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield in July!!  HOLY CRAP!!  I almost peed myself.  Here are the details: 

Saturday, July 21, 2012, home team double header
Denver Roller Dolls Green Barrettes vs. Rocky Mountain Roller Girls Sugar Kill Gang
& the Denver Roller Dolls Shotgun Betties vs. Denver Roller Dolls Bad Apples

I'm so totally stoked.  I was so excited thinking about it that I could barely get to sleep last night!  Then I remembered it's not until JULY, so I calmed down a bit. :)  You can get tickets through Ticketmaster (just search "Denver Roller Dolls"), and remember parking is $10 per car.

After that I hung out with Megan and her pup, Grace - we walked to the dog park, chatted, and let Grace romp with the other dogs.  It was great to catch up, and play with the doggies!  

I came home & cleaned like a mad woman (living room & half of the kitchen - CHECK!)

Saturday night I met up with the gang at Wynkoop for beer & pool.  I didn't have anything to drink except water, and the 1 beer that my pool-playing teammate Sean bought for me as a reward for losing the game with dignity!  Haha!  I could easily have gone without the beer, but I didn't want to turn him down.  It felt good knowing that I would have been fine just having water though! 

Sunday John and I hit Whole Foods and got stocked up on all kinds of healthy foods for the week.  We spent most of our time in produce, and our cart was pretty much full by the time we hit the other sections!  I was totally thrilled.  I love when most of what we buy comes from the produce section! 

Afterward I met up with my mom for lunch (again, she insisted on treating me since we don't get to do it very often which was very sweet).  It was delicious, and sticking to my healthy-eating I only had 1 cup of coffee, and I didn't clean my plate.  Woohoo!

When I got home I started cleaning again.  Finished the kitchen, cleaned the hallway, my half of the office (went through drawers & got rid of stuff too!), did 4 loads of laundry, and cleaned my bathroom from top to bottom!  I don't know how I got so motivated, but it was pretty awesome when I was all done!  I guess it's true - when you're not spending money, you do have a lot of extra time on your hands.  

After this weekend I felt a lot more confident about how I'm going to do this Spending Fast.  I know it's going to be really difficult at times (especially with saying "no" to things - I struggle with that all the time!), but I feel like if I can make it a whole weekend without spending money, I can totally do this.  Weekends are always the hardest for me because I tend to find "errands" to run (usually meaning shopping in one way or another), like going to Target or Ross for something I don't really need.  So I probably will be finding much more time to tackle other things on my New Year's Resolution list during those times!! YEAH!! 

At the end of the day, I enjoyed a juice (made from fresh fruits & veggies that John and I bought earlier in the day), and a nice warm cup of Peach Detox tea.  

    

All-in-all, it was a wonderful weekend, and the first one in a very long time that I haven't spent a dime (and was much happier for it). :)  Let's see how I do this next weekend without my mom buying me movie & lunch!  Haha!

 All photos either from Google Image search, or www.weheartit.com

 

And then she saved (RE-DO!)

Everyone gets a re-do in life, right?  At least once or twice?  Shoot, if I'm talking about losing weight, I've gotten about 10 re-do's! ;)  

Anyway, life has hit me in the face again with reality, and it's time to have a look at things all over again.  Remember that time when I decided to do a Spending Diet?  I think that lasted about 2 or 3 months tops.  It was very hard, and I struggled with it - and eventually lost all motivation.  

And guess where I am now.  $600 farther in debt than I was last year.  Where the hell did that money go?  I dunno - shopping in NYC with my sister?  Countless dinners & lunches in restaurants?  Christmas gifts?  Yep, all of the above (and then some).  So much for that idea. 

Luckily, I get a do-over. 

This time, however, I won't be dieting with my money.  I'll be FASTING.


Holy shit - this is going to SUCK! 

I'm ready to take it on though.  Yes, I'm sure I'll whine and feel like I'm missing out on life.  I'm sure I'll be grumpy from time to time.  It'll be scary and challenging and may even put strain on some of my relationships.  But if this is what it takes to be debt-free, then 1-year doesn't seem like that much. 

Starting NOW I will not spend any money on things that aren't essential.  I've revised my list from the last time, and here goes: 


WHAT I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON:
RENT

UTILITIES

CELL PHONE

FOOD - grocery store or farmer's market bought only, in-season fruits and veggies and only when I run out of stuff in cupboards.  It's very important to me to still stay healthy though, so if I need to buy less to get better quality (ie - organic), then I will do so.

HEALTH INSURANCE / doctor co-pays / medicine (when needed)

CAR PAYMENT

GAS (as little as possible – bike / scoot / carpool / walk whenever you can)

TOILETRIES (minimal) – toilet paper, paper towels, boxed hair dye (super cheap), shampoo / conditioner,  cotton balls, q-tips, razors, body lotion, makeup base.  Only the bare minimum, generic brands, and what I absolutely need. 

WHAT I WILL NOT SPEND MONEY ON:
Gifts (sorry friends and family... homemade crafts or re-gifting will be happening)

Coffee at coffee shops (oh man, this will be a hard one.  I don't do it much, but every now & then a soy latte really hits the spot.  I'm going to have to learn how to make my own!)

Clothes, shoes, jewelery (I hope a lot of people are up for clothing exchanges this year!)

Thrift shopping (yes it’s cheap, but it’s still spending - and I'll miss it!) 

New make-up (not including base – sorry, that’s an essential. I have a ton of eyeliner, eye shadows, blush & lipstick to last me a lifetime though. Time to use up what I've got!)

Eating out (this is a big one!!) – breakfasts / lunches / dinners

Happy hours (another big one) – I can attend, but soda water will be my drink of choice!

Movies

Furniture / Decorative house stuff

Haircuts (I can probably keep up on these myself with trims)

Books & music (God BLESS the library)

Wine / Beer / Liquor Stores (this is a luxury, not a necessity!!) 

---------------------
Why am I doing this to myself, do you ask?  I think this link pretty much describes my feelings perfectly.  I have ALWAYS considered myself an independent person, but I have never in my life been debt-free.  Okay, I was debt-free before I hit college, but I digress. 

I want to be able to take care of myself.  I want to be able to spend MY heard-earned money, and never have to work hard just to pay things off.  I want to feel secure financially, and not burst into tears when something costs $20 more than I expected it to, or every time my damn car tags come in once a year costing me $85 (yes, I forget about it every single year). 

I always used to think that life is too short not to live spontaneously.  I feel like I can still live that way to an extent without digging myself deeper into a hole.  And just giving up that careless attitude for only ONE YEAR will get me closer to living truly free than I ever have been before.   


And that's pretty awesome. 


So please wish me luck!!  I'll keep up posts on this blog about my progress and tag it with "she saved" so that they're easy to find. 

I'm puttin' on my big-girl pants right now! 

Credit card companies SUCK

There are people still out there that think that credit cards are so darn convenient and awesome.  They're there when you need them in an emergency, right?  You can pay it all back later!  Well you know what?  THEY SUCK!!  

As you know, I've been working my ass off trying to get my credit card bills paid off, and get myself out of debt.  Well, it seems easier said then done, because one step forward is always two steps back.

I'm trying to pay off the highest interest balance first.  Which is hard because the amount is barely inching down every month because I still have to pay the minimum balance on the other cards to avoid fees.  So I'm only paying about $50-ish extra towards the high balance every month because that's all I can afford!

Next - one of my smaller "no interest" bills decided to surprise me with deferred interest charges today.  What are deferred interest charges do you ask?  OH, I'm SO glad you asked.  They add up all of the damn interest that you weren't getting charged, then without telling you BAM!!!  They tack it onto your account.  Apparently you have a certain amount you have to have paid off by a certain time, otherwise they charge you ALL OF THAT BACK INTEREST AT ONCE!!  It's complete bullshit.  I thought I had my amount paid down, but then they said "Oh, you still owed $21 on that amount".  So I got charged $200 of back interest.  How does that make any fucking sense???

Sorry - I probably should have warned you that I'd be cursing a lot in this post.

Anyway - I called the company and because I have a good record he reduced it by half (as long as I got the $21 paid by today).  It's still bullshit, but I guess it's better than nothing. 

I just don't understand ANY OF THIS!!  Our country is up to our neck in debt, but the credit card companies just keep making it worse!!  I guess I can't put all of the blame on them since it's our fault that we're spending beyond our means, right?  Maybe not... the price of living is so high right now, and to stay in competition we almost have to spend beyond our means.  I dunno - I could philosophize about this forever, but in the end I've come to two conclusions.....

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD NOW - DON'T EVER GET ONE. 
If you can't buy it, then you can't buy it.  Simple as that.

IF YOU HAVE CREDIT CARDS - PAY THEM OFF AND CUT THEM UP. 
That's my goal anyway.... if the fucking companies would LET ME!!

Ugh - needless to say I've been in angry frustrated tears today.  I see my total number inching down little by little, then one day goes by and it jumps up by $200.  It's unbelievably frustrating, and really does make me want to throw up my hands and say "fuck it - I'm just going to be in debt forever just like everyone else".

But I can't do that, because I've done that for ages and it always puts me back in the same place.  I just don't know how to do this.  It's taking so much of my energy, and I feel like I'm working towards the right things and the right goals, but it doesn't seem to be changing anything.  The part-time job is helping a little with getting money towards my debt (I'm pretty much putting all of it towards that), but that's another frustrating thing in itself - I have to keep a second fucking job just to get my debt paid off!

Sigh.

That's all for today.  Hopefully things will look better tomorrow...

*all images found on a google image search for "credit card evil". appropriate, eh? 

Money Struggles.... GIFTS

Today I realized that one of my biggest struggles with not spending money, is stopping myself from buying gifts.  In this post I told you guys about how I'm doing a really strict Spending Diet right now, so that I can work towards paying off my debt.  

So far, things have been going pretty well.  Even with an unexpected deposit screw-up by my old landlord, I'm still doing OK - I'm actually tracking everything I spend money on, using my allowance every month on anything that's not on my "NEED" list, and I am saying "no" to extracurricular activities (or at least not spending money when I attend them).  

However, on my "WHAT I WILL NOT SPEND MONEY ON" list is something that I'm already having trouble with.  GIFTS.

I don't know why this one is so hard for me to avoid, but I've already slipped a few times by using my debit card for gifts when I'm only supposed to be using my "fun" cash for them (if I even give them at all).   


I just love seeing someone's expression when they get something wonderful.  I love feeling like I made them happy.  I love showing them that I care!  When I take the time to make handmade gifts I love that the best - because I really put my heart into it, and I know that my friend or family member knows that too.  (PS - if you ever need great handmade gift ideas, check out Design*Sponge.  I love it!)


The problem though, is that even handmade gifts cost a little money.  I came up with a creative gift idea for my friend's wedding (I can't say who or what b/c she may be reading this), but it still cost me about $20 for the supplies alone!  I know it'll be more meaningful because I'm making it personal, but still, it cost me money.  And I said I wouldn't spend money on gifts until I paid off my debt.  *DOH!*

I'm not really sure how I can get around this.  I hate the idea of showing up to a close friend / family member's birthday with nothing to give.  I can already feel the guilt and disappointment in my heart!  So sad!  I probably just need to get over it, as I know that these people will love me no matter what - and that's what's important.  I guess part of my problem is that I want them to know that I love THEM and that's why I feel as though gifts are so necessary...

...but in the scheme of things, I guess they're not necessary at all.  These people know I love them.  I tell them all the time.  I show them that I love them with my actions, and my support.  That's a kind of a gift, right?  Honestly, if my friends & family couldn't give me gifts for Christmas or my birthday or something, I'd be A-OK with it.  I have everything a girl could ever ask for.  Sure there are things that I might "WANT", but it's all material stuff anyway.  It doesn't matter in the long run!  What DOES matter is spending time with people you love... not money.  

Man, I hope reminding myself of that will make me better at this!  

All photos from We Heart It.

How to Vacation when you're BROKE

Firstly, didja notice my lil' blog makeover?  Do you like it?  I think it's puuuuuurty.  My other layout wasn't nearly as purple.  I like purple. :) 

Anyhoodle, as some of you may know, I'm going to NYC again next month to visit my big sister!  I can't wait to see her and catch up and visit.  It's gonna rock.  

Something will be different this time though - I won't be using a credit card.  So I won't be able to buy nearly as much crap (or go ape-shit with buying frilly drinks, frilly food, and frilly uhm... other frilly stuff.  Whatever - you get me!). 

SO - how does one still enjoy their vacation without spending a big hunk o' dough?  Heck if I know!  I'm still trying to figure that out!  But I have some ideas I'd like to try out (and share with you while I'm at it)... 

1.) Plan ahead
I've been working hard at figuring out my plan of attack way ahead of time so that I don't go into this unprepared.  I emailed my sister and gave her a heads-up that I'll be on a budget this time around (which she was thrilled about since she's trying to save money too), I've been searching free stuff to do in NYC while I'm there (see #6), and figuring out how to mentally prepare resisting temptations.

2.) Set up an allowance
I know this sounds kind of lame, but I think it will help.  My fella, John, kind of inspired me with this one.  Whenever he goes gambling (which isn't all that often, mind you), he lets himself use a set amount of money, and when it's gone it's GONE.  I think it'll be a great way to keep myself in check.  I'm holding back on spending on things now so that I'll have more money for my trip - I might spend every dime of it while I'm there, but at least I'll know how much money I have and how much I can use!  And if I'm careful, I might even come back with a little leftover - which would be totally rad!

 Money don't grow on trees, ya know.  Although wouldn't it be kinda nice sometimes?

3.) Do a big fancy dinner... ONCE
I gotta do a nice dinner.  There's something so awesome getting everything you want - appetizers, wine, dessert - and having some nice person bring it all to you, then take all the dirty dishes away.  I think I can allow a little bit of moolah to allow for a nice little splurge... as long as we only do it once!  

4.) Sign up for Deal of the Day sights for the city you're heading to
You know what's great about Groupon / Living Social, and all of those other Deal of the Day websites?  You don't have to just sign up for your hometown - you can add any city you want, and get deals for those locations too!!  You gotta be careful with this one though.  You can't be tempted by every facial / massage / restaurant that they post.  Remember, you're only going to be there for a short amount of time, and what if you don't even get to those places?  Then you've just thrown away money!  If you definitely know you're going to want to hit up a certain restaurant or event then they're great.  But you don't NEED to get a facial.    

Love is greater than money.  Shit YEAH it is!!

5.) Bring lunch or a snack along with you wherever you go
Pretty self-explanatory.  Lunch at a restaurant can cost anywhere from $8 (if you're being cheap), and closer to $20 if you get a beer and/or appetizer, or an entree.  I'll be in NYC for 4 full days, so even if I'm going the cheap route, that'd be $32 saved - $80 if I do my usual "vacation splurge"!  I told my sis that we're going to hit up the grocery store first thing & make some sandwiches for lunches instead. 

6.) Look for free events
There is a ridiculous amount of free events going on in New York in the summertime.  But guess what - there are tons of free events happening EVERYWHERE!  You just have to look for 'em!  Do a Google search, go to the city's website.  You can find film festivals, street fairs, all kinds of events that are super fun at no cost to you.  

 

7.) Use cash
When John and I were watching "Romancing the Stone" the other night, Kathleen Turner says to Michael Douglas "I'll pay you in traveler's checks".  John turns to me and goes, "Do people still use traveler's checks?" to which I replied, "I have no idea!"

I know it probably sounds wrong for me to advise for you to carry a bunch of cash around with you when you're traveling.  But I think you're pretty safe in most places (as long as you're smart about it), and as long as you're not going to a place overseas that's notorious for pickpocketing.... and you're not staying in a hostel (I've heard way too many stories of people getting their things stolen from hostels)!  It's just another way for you to know how much money you're spending at a certain time.  And if you're following step #2, it might be a good idea to set up a Daily Allowance (ex: if you've saved $400 for your trip, bring $100 cash with you for each of the 4 days you're there).  I'm terrible about keeping track of credit card spending when I'm on vacation - and I always come home with a huge bill!

 I'd probably be better about hanging onto my cash if the bills looked like this.

Anyway, I'm no professional financial advisor, but that's my two cents (har har). ;)  And this is a good thing to remember at all times anyway.... 

All images from www.weheartit.com