Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Day 2 (evening)
Spent $13 on 2 sandwiches for tomorrow's lunch and a pomegranate cherry juice for tonight
New Shiny
First, an insight into the nerdgirl vernacular:
- Shiny: Clothing or accessory, especially those that literally shine; can also refer to high end electronics; I believe this started as a Pokemon reference to the in-game shiny objects, but also refers to "shiny, happy people"
- Toy: Mostly refers to electronics (especially DS games) and tchotkes (something that may be mundane, but with which you want to play immediately, such as a Ring Thing or Staple Free Stapler from www.thinkgeek.com or a 25 cent rubber animal from a grocery store vending machine); comes from the shouts of "New Toy! New Toy!" that accompany said delightful objects
- Squishy: A squishy toy or other beloved object, certain people may also qualify as squishies; a term of affection; started by a quote from Finding Nemo: "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy..."
My boyfriend made me an anklet out of chain mail links last night. (Yes, we're nerds.) I think it's helping me quash the "I want!" urge as well because I do like it & it's a new shiny. :)
- Shiny: Clothing or accessory, especially those that literally shine; can also refer to high end electronics; I believe this started as a Pokemon reference to the in-game shiny objects, but also refers to "shiny, happy people"
- Toy: Mostly refers to electronics (especially DS games) and tchotkes (something that may be mundane, but with which you want to play immediately, such as a Ring Thing or Staple Free Stapler from www.thinkgeek.com or a 25 cent rubber animal from a grocery store vending machine); comes from the shouts of "New Toy! New Toy!" that accompany said delightful objects
- Squishy: A squishy toy or other beloved object, certain people may also qualify as squishies; a term of affection; started by a quote from Finding Nemo: "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy..."
My boyfriend made me an anklet out of chain mail links last night. (Yes, we're nerds.) I think it's helping me quash the "I want!" urge as well because I do like it & it's a new shiny. :)
Day 2 - Abstaining
DANGER! DANGER! Lunch Break Approaching! Free time and readily available online shopping! Danger, Cat Robinson, Danger, Danger!
That said, here's some stuff I did not buy today (but wanted a lot!):
and
Both are still available in a size L, unlike the one I didn't buy (and now regret not buying) that is now only available in size XXL.
Hmmm... maybe I should ask my parents to get me summer dresses for Christmas... I already have the red one in both slate blue & black & wear both of them often... Anyway, I feel that these are classic designs and could be worn summer after summer (and am thisclose to buying them anyway as I've wanted the red one for nearly a month now). Alright, time to close the browser and give the "I want" urge a breather.
ok, maybe one more:
or even
(My wardrobe lacks a brown skirt - were I in any position to go on a shopping spree, these would be in my possession.) Anyway, posting what I want and can't have is kind of cathartic, like an anorexic's thinspiration. I may post my entire "Wish List" on here. (I have one to save that "What do you want for birthday/Xmas?" "Ummmm... I dunno..." conversation from happening.)
Argh! ok! Last one now, for real this time:
Navy And White Pinstripe Shirt Dress
was $68.00
now $24.97
So now you know what I do with my lunch break. I obsess over dresses.
That said, here's some stuff I did not buy today (but wanted a lot!):
 | |||||
|
and
 | |||||
|
Both are still available in a size L, unlike the one I didn't buy (and now regret not buying) that is now only available in size XXL.
 |
| Merona® Short-Sleeve Tie Dress - Animal Print |
guest ratings:  |
 |
| $24.99 |
Hmmm... maybe I should ask my parents to get me summer dresses for Christmas... I already have the red one in both slate blue & black & wear both of them often... Anyway, I feel that these are classic designs and could be worn summer after summer (and am thisclose to buying them anyway as I've wanted the red one for nearly a month now). Alright, time to close the browser and give the "I want" urge a breather.
ok, maybe one more:
 | | $13.99 List price: You Save: $6.00 (30%) Colors: Spanish Brown |  |
or even
 | | $14.99 Colors: Das Brown |
(My wardrobe lacks a brown skirt - were I in any position to go on a shopping spree, these would be in my possession.) Anyway, posting what I want and can't have is kind of cathartic, like an anorexic's thinspiration. I may post my entire "Wish List" on here. (I have one to save that "What do you want for birthday/Xmas?" "Ummmm... I dunno..." conversation from happening.)
Argh! ok! Last one now, for real this time:
Navy And White Pinstripe Shirt Dress
was $68.00
now $24.97
So now you know what I do with my lunch break. I obsess over dresses.
Day 2
I went to pick up a $1.45 iced coffee as a special treat/Starbucks run alternative and couldn't resist the smell of the sausage biscuits. So now I'm eating that for lunch, even though I brought a sandwich.
Total unnecessary spending in Waterman Cafe: $5
Total unnecessary spending in Waterman Cafe: $5
Shopping for Essentials - Day 1
Last night I also went to the grocery store and the drug store. I don't feel that anything I bought was extraneous. I spent $28 on groceries (fresh fruits & veggies, milk, eggs, bread that was on sale so I bought 2 & froze one, sale peanut butter, and a couple miscellaneous things). My knees have been acting up so I bought glucosamine chondroitin (2 for price of 1) and cod liver oil (half price). I also got 5 body washes at $.88 each, deodorants (2 for $5), & vitamins ($4). Total at drug store: $33 (not including mail in and/or online rebate for $2).
Spent: $61
Spent: $61
Monday, July 30, 2007
I gave in on Day 1, but it was sensible
I did buy 3 new shirts for work - 2 button ups (both around $3) and a soft, drapey shirt (splurge at $7). Button ups make sense as they're pretty much all I wear during the colder months (and one shirt was to replace a shirt I'd stained last year). All 3 came to a total (including shipping) of $13 thanks to Chadwick's awesome clearance sale. I made sure that all 3 coordinate with pants I already own so I will not need to buy more of those just yet.
Up to 85% off Clearance + 30% off Coupon + Free Shipping at Chadwick's!
Chadwick's has just updated their clearance inventory. They sell Women's apparel. Save up to 85% off select items. Apply promo code CHBONUS at checkout for 30% off entire order + Free Shipping. CHADWICKS
Total Spent: $13
Up to 85% off Clearance + 30% off Coupon + Free Shipping at Chadwick's!
Chadwick's has just updated their clearance inventory. They sell Women's apparel. Save up to 85% off select items. Apply promo code CHBONUS at checkout for 30% off entire order + Free Shipping. CHADWICKSTotal Spent: $13
Temptations Day 1
I avoided buying:
25% off entire order at Linens n Things Enter coupon codes 205200000000 or 205200000007 at checkout for 25% off entire order at Linens n Things. Free in-store pickup available for most items.
Honeywell HY-013 38" Tower Fan is $29.99 - 25% off coupon - $10 rebate = $12.49
and
Logan 18-Piece Glassware Set $5.99 at Linens n Things
Linens n Things has the Logan 18-Piece Glassware Set at $7.99 - 25% coupon code = $5.99 with free in-store pickup available. Includes 6 of each: 10.5 oz. Juice Glasses, 10.5 oz. Double Old Fashioned Glasses, and 14oz. Cooler Glasses. LINENS N THINGS
Though I'm still kind of considering the glasses as my current ones are forever dirty. (I have 6 people regularly drinking stuff at my house, including roomies & significant others.) Then again, I could just hang out at the b/f's more often...
25% off entire order at Linens n Things Enter coupon codes 205200000000 or 205200000007 at checkout for 25% off entire order at Linens n Things. Free in-store pickup available for most items.
Honeywell HY-013 38" Tower Fan is $29.99 - 25% off coupon - $10 rebate = $12.49
and
Logan 18-Piece Glassware Set $5.99 at Linens n Things
Linens n Things has the Logan 18-Piece Glassware Set at $7.99 - 25% coupon code = $5.99 with free in-store pickup available. Includes 6 of each: 10.5 oz. Juice Glasses, 10.5 oz. Double Old Fashioned Glasses, and 14oz. Cooler Glasses. LINENS N THINGSThough I'm still kind of considering the glasses as my current ones are forever dirty. (I have 6 people regularly drinking stuff at my house, including roomies & significant others.) Then again, I could just hang out at the b/f's more often...
Day 1
I feel as though I'm fairly frugal, but maybe this blog will help me see areas I can cut back.
I like credit cards because they are convenient (no trips to the atm, can pay online, rewards card) and track my purchases for me, but I don't want to rack up interest or overspend. Also, the rewards card I have has higher interest than the card on which I am carrying a balance. My goal is going to be to still use my rewards card, but to pay it off every month. This will also help me budget as I've lowered the limit on the rewards card to $500.
Day 1:
DEBT:
Rent: $550/month + utilities (about $60/month)
Paid August's rent today, will pay utilities when I get my check for the 15th
VSAC Student Loans:
Status: deferred
Total due: $31945
Interest rates: 7.8-8.26%
Monthly payment: $260 (just covers interest)
Today's action: $260 monthly payment
Credit Card #1:
6% interest, $8000 limit
balance: $3208
Today's Action: paid $700
new balance: $2500
Credit Card #2:
Rewards card, 23.24% interest, $500 limit
balance: $34
Today's Action: paid total balance of $34, ordered reward check of $50
new balance: $0
Credit Card #3:
College Student Card, 14.24% interest, $1650 limit
balance: $0 (hardly ever use this one)
MONEY IN:
My job pays $887 net every 2 weeks.
Bank Account:
total: $1600
paid out today: $1545
total left: $55
Savings Account (recently raided for the beginning of student loan payments)
total: $137
interest rate: 4.50%
So I was wondering if I should run up my Credit card #1 bill by using it to pay off my student loans with the higher interest. I decided that's a poor plan however as the credit card has an extremely variable rate (like it was 20% when I was a college student, then 15%ish, now 6% - which may or may not be because they think I'm in the military?).
I like credit cards because they are convenient (no trips to the atm, can pay online, rewards card) and track my purchases for me, but I don't want to rack up interest or overspend. Also, the rewards card I have has higher interest than the card on which I am carrying a balance. My goal is going to be to still use my rewards card, but to pay it off every month. This will also help me budget as I've lowered the limit on the rewards card to $500.
Day 1:
DEBT:
Rent: $550/month + utilities (about $60/month)
Paid August's rent today, will pay utilities when I get my check for the 15th
VSAC Student Loans:
Status: deferred
Total due: $31945
Interest rates: 7.8-8.26%
Monthly payment: $260 (just covers interest)
Today's action: $260 monthly payment
Credit Card #1:
6% interest, $8000 limit
balance: $3208
Today's Action: paid $700
new balance: $2500
Credit Card #2:
Rewards card, 23.24% interest, $500 limit
balance: $34
Today's Action: paid total balance of $34, ordered reward check of $50
new balance: $0
Credit Card #3:
College Student Card, 14.24% interest, $1650 limit
balance: $0 (hardly ever use this one)
MONEY IN:
My job pays $887 net every 2 weeks.
Bank Account:
total: $1600
paid out today: $1545
total left: $55
Savings Account (recently raided for the beginning of student loan payments)
total: $137
interest rate: 4.50%
So I was wondering if I should run up my Credit card #1 bill by using it to pay off my student loans with the higher interest. I decided that's a poor plan however as the credit card has an extremely variable rate (like it was 20% when I was a college student, then 15%ish, now 6% - which may or may not be because they think I'm in the military?).
The Birth of a Blogger
Well, I did have the "dots" template on this blog, but it made me want to shop online at Target (aren't subliminal cues great?) so now I'm in plain white. In 2005, I was debt free (other than some pretty big student loans). I was feeling so free & easy that I set up housekeeping for my first apartment using my credit card and paid off a few thousand dollars of student debt. Turns out I should have done one or the other as I then had credit card debt.
I borrowed money from my grandfather to pay off the high interest credit card debts and successfully paid him back, all $3,000 . However, 2006 came around with a juicy tax rebate of $1800. What would I do with the money? I had never been out of the country so with student debt out of sight and out of mind, I bought a ticket to London & France.
I went to Europe with some friends and had the time of my life. However, our travel plans were nearly sunk by a huge snow storm, so instead of waiting in New Jersey for 3 precious days of our trip, we chose to fly into another part of the UK and take the train to London. Continental originally told us that the train may be covered, but has since denied my claim.
On top of that, London was much more expensive than I thought it would be. I knew the dollar was weak, but (incorrectly) assumed that the prices would be lower to compensate a little. They were nothing if not higher! I ate pasties the entire time to save money, stayed in hostels, skipped seeing Stonehenge, and nearly got knifed in a less savory part of town, looking for a good deal (another story completely). In France, we took more precautions, having learned our lesson in England. Anyway, point of paragraph: tried to conserve money, but is $$$ (and my travel partner still owes me the $98 he borrowed)
So, the point of this blog will be to keep a log of what I buy, how much I spend, and how much I make/job related decisions. I am notorious for not keeping track of my finances, not to the point that I am charged for overdrafts, but enough so that I wonder where my money has gone. Also, I am a plastic addict, everything goes on the credit card. This was fine when I paid it off completely every month, but now that I'm carrying a balance, not so great. Feel free to offer financial advice as I am a fresh-out-of-college complete finance novice.
I borrowed money from my grandfather to pay off the high interest credit card debts and successfully paid him back, all $3,000 . However, 2006 came around with a juicy tax rebate of $1800. What would I do with the money? I had never been out of the country so with student debt out of sight and out of mind, I bought a ticket to London & France.
I went to Europe with some friends and had the time of my life. However, our travel plans were nearly sunk by a huge snow storm, so instead of waiting in New Jersey for 3 precious days of our trip, we chose to fly into another part of the UK and take the train to London. Continental originally told us that the train may be covered, but has since denied my claim.
On top of that, London was much more expensive than I thought it would be. I knew the dollar was weak, but (incorrectly) assumed that the prices would be lower to compensate a little. They were nothing if not higher! I ate pasties the entire time to save money, stayed in hostels, skipped seeing Stonehenge, and nearly got knifed in a less savory part of town, looking for a good deal (another story completely). In France, we took more precautions, having learned our lesson in England. Anyway, point of paragraph: tried to conserve money, but is $$$ (and my travel partner still owes me the $98 he borrowed)
So, the point of this blog will be to keep a log of what I buy, how much I spend, and how much I make/job related decisions. I am notorious for not keeping track of my finances, not to the point that I am charged for overdrafts, but enough so that I wonder where my money has gone. Also, I am a plastic addict, everything goes on the credit card. This was fine when I paid it off completely every month, but now that I'm carrying a balance, not so great. Feel free to offer financial advice as I am a fresh-out-of-college complete finance novice.
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