my pretty pennies

How Well Am I Doing?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Since the year is a quarter of the way over, let's reevaluate how I am doing on those yearly goals.

Getting Intense

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have been reading a lot of blogs and realize that

The Health Goals

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the goals I have this year is related to my health. While that

Silver Lining

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I tip my hat off to the media for the thorough, indepth, and raw reporting of our nation's economy. After thirty minutes of watching the evening news and all the job losses, hard numbers, and the personal stories of the

Intense

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If this blog was a class and my life was the student, then I'd get a huge F. Let's recap the last week for you a little bit: 1. I overspent on almost every area of my budget. 2. I haven't run ONCE and I've got a Half Marathon looming in my future. Seriously, I keep having nightmares that it's the next day. 3. I have earned $0 in extra income this month thus far. Awesome. 4. I'm just barely increasing my net worth. Now. I know it's summer. I know I've been out of town. I know in the back of my mind this month has been an exception. And I know I shouldn't do this, but whenever I read other PF blogs as of late I feel... defeated! I feel like everyone else is catching up on so many awesome goals and I'm just barely making it. I mean, my net worth was increased by $500 last month. That sounds like a lot, but not when I saved $150, paid $500 in debt, and had a 401(k) $100 employer contribution. That must mean I am using my credit card too much and using my savings to pay for something that I didn't need. It's time to get intense. I want to just start in August, but I know that come August 1st I will feel better just starting now. I know I don't have any more income coming in, but that's why I need to start today. New Plan: 1. No more spending on clothes. At all. This year. That's right, I said it. I'm done. I'm not spending any more money on clothes this year except for

Smart Women Finish Rich

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the first financial books I r

Thrifty Thursday

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

busy days!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Today has been a very busy workday! I am thankful.

Credit Cards vs. Cash

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I know I am probably the millionth person to blog about this, but I am curious

The Frugalest Outfit

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My favorite summer outfit: The Sundress. 1. It's versatile. You can dress it up with jewelry and heels or down-play it with flip flops and a pony tail. 2. It's easy. You don't have to think about matching pieces. Slip on the dress and you're outfit is complete. 3. It's frugal. Since it's one outfit, the cost of it is far less than purchasing lots of separates to make an outfit.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Click here to check out my Half Marathon training.

Faux Pau

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Why is it still a faux pau to talk about money?

Still a Freshman.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have been feeling kind of restless in my job. Maybe because it's springtime and this is the first year I don't get a summer break. Maybe it's cause I am approaching my one-year mark. Maybe it's because this is not what I want to do forever. The job I have now is a great first job. But that's what it is: a first job. It's not the end-all to my career, and I know that. I've decided to give it another year so that I will have been here for two years (June 2010 will be two years). I am making pretty good money for a recent grad. The company is doing all right. And there is hushed talk about me possibly getting a promotion in the next six months. For all of my life I've had specific goals to reach: -Get involved with clubs. Check! -Make good grades. Check! -Get into a good college. Check! -Graduate high school. Check! -Pick a major/minor. Check! -Get involved. Check! -Make good grades. Check! -Graduate college. Check! -Find a good job. Check! What's next? Continue to do a good job? Get a promotion? Hike up that success ladder until I'm made partner? VP? The to-do list gets a little fuzzy here. And perhaps that's my problem. Why does there need to be a to-do list? A timeline? Why is it so difficult for me to just live and not have some end goal that I am trying to reach? What do I really want to do? I want to help people. I want to travel. I want to work in an environment where I interact with people a lot. I don't want to be at a desk all day. I want to have flexibility in my schedule so that if I worked 40 hours already that week, I can go home. I want to do something satisfying and rewarding, not just helping companies get more money. I was venting to my friend the other day about my restlessness. He said that the first job is kind of like the first years of college. In a four-year university you usually take the core classes your first two years to figure out what you want to major in. First jobs are no different. I'm not sure if that will help anyone else, but it made a lot of sense to me. I guess I am just a freshman figuring out what I want to do. I guess there's never really been a timeline, but it's always been a continual journey, and each day I learn more about myself and gradually I will know more about what fits me best professionally.

Quarterly Update

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Since it's April, I'm going to do a little How Well Am I Doing? I've stolen this from my galpal at One Year Rent Free. Check out her's here. How Well Am I Doing? Save $300 for Christmas by November 2009 I currently have $138 saved in this fund. At $30 per month, I should reach my target $300 by October. Pay of two of my three student loans I completed this. Pay off $4000 of the $8k I owe my parents Pay off two of my three student loans Make an additional $80 per month Have a $0 net worth by January 2010 Sew a quilt! Run in an organized Race Lose 10 pounds by July 11th (best friend’s wedding) Grow out my hair Get a promotion or raise this year Grow a garden Continuous Goals

Give 10% of income away – [Why I Give]
Go to the gym three times per week
Meal plan to help maximize food costs
Cook something new each week
Save $25 per month towards the Car Emergency Fund

Warm Weather Goals

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Family Woes

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Timeline

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Financial Planner?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I know most PF blogs consider themselves experts on all things financial

Equality in Relationships

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The saying all good things take hard work is certainly true. And relationships are no exception. For the most part J and I have a very good relationships. I Do you face these "equality challenges"? How do you One of the hardest things about managing money

The Cost of Half Marathon Training

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I've been keeping a running tally on the expenses of this half-marathon. I mean, there are more expensive sports Registration: $78 online Sports Watch: $9.99 @ Target New tennis shoes: $90.10 @ Pacer's with a 15% discount Gatorade over four months: $25 Nike + iPod: $35, minus a $30 giftcard

Refurbishing a Dresser

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Before Ordinary. Dull. Not matching. Aftervc Total Cost: $45 Dresser + Mirror on Craigslist

Lies I Tell Myself

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lie: There's no way I can make it up that hill. Truth: Shut up, Self. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you've reached the top of the hill. Lie: I would be so much prettier if I was a size two. Truth: Lie: If only my life were like the Jones' I'd be happy! Truth: Not true. From the outside it may look like their life is put together, but who knows what little problems plauge their life. Lie: Staying at home on a Friday night makes me a lazy Spinster. Truth: It was a long week, who cares if you aren't out? Lie: I need to be a size 2 in order to be happy. Truth: Not the case.

Social Conflicts

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To preface: I have amazing friends. We're there for each other. Listen and comfort through hard times; laugh and celebrate in good times. Amazing friends. However. One thing I think that makes up a friend (that seems to be lacking in many of my relationships) is an understand of what it means to say "no" to certain social events. We're at a restaurant and I've reached the amount of food and drinks that I came to dinner expecting to spend. My friend says: "Come on! Let's get another drink!" I say no, I am good. She won't get one without

June Net Worth Update: +$499

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ack. I have been holding off on updating my June Net Worth since it was a terrible month. So here goes my net worth as of June 30, 2009. ASSETS: $5507 Cash: $516 (-349) I bought the netbook and that sort of threw things off. Plus just being careless with my spending in general. Emergency Savings: $1,000 (no change) This earns 2% interest each month, but I send those few dollars to the Future Fund at the end of the month. Christmas: $196 (+$30) Wedding: $2,000 (-$149) I put $150 of this and put it towards my Roth IRA this month. 401(k): $1,551 (+$100) Roth IRA: $244 (+$244) Woohoo! Finally opened a Roth. LIABILITIES: $6463 Parents Loan: -$6,300 (+$500) Didn't pay as much as I wanted that month. Credit Card: -$163 (+$137) This is the Amazon credit card and I sent a check to have this paid off but it hadn’t been processed on June 30th. - TOTAL NETWORTH = -$956.91 An increase of $499.87. Ugh, pretty pathetic. But better than nothing, I suppose!

Living on Little

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I've been thinking. What would it be like to save $1000 per month? I make an average of $2500 per month (with extra income), so is it possible to live on only $1500 and save the rest? Have a minimum net worth increase of $12k by next July? Start: $1500 Rent: $660, $840 left Tithe: $200, $640 left Car Insurance: $32, $608 left Cell phone/Internet: $70, $538 left Electric: $50 average, $488 left Cable: $15, $473 left Food: $200, $273 left Gas: $120, $153 left Leftover: $153. Could I do that? Could I actually live with the bare minimum? Of course I can. And I could even live on less. I don't have to have my cell phone, internet or cable (really don't like that I have cable, actually, but the roommate wanted it). The thing is I don't really want to live just the basics. Is that wrong?

Snowflaking

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The term "snowflaking" is pretty popular in the personal finance world. For those who don't know

There's always something

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Life is unpredictable. I was loking back of the past six month's budgets and there was always something that

One area where I save: LUNCH

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My friend was chatting with me the other day about where to go for lunch--Chipotle or Chickfila. Mmm both sounded delish. Then I thought about the lunch waiting for me in the fridge. It was then that I realized I have not bought myself lunch during the work-week since this week--in March! I couldn't believe it. I know a lot of people go out to lunch

How to Run a Half Marathon

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Here's how: Start running. And then when you're done with that, run a little more. And then go and run. And then run a little more. And then one day you'll arrive home and realize that you just ran 13 miles and wonder how in the world you survived. Seriously, the best "how-to" is to just do it. But here are some helpful tips from my experience. ;) 1. Choose your Soundtrack Wisely 2. Read Children's Books Get the right gear Turn Cat-Calls into Cheers It's amazing to me how many people have honked, hollered and hooted at me from cars, trucks and front porches during this run. At first these would distract me and make me feel a little violated as I ran past people. But after a while... However, that brings me to my next point.... Carry Pepper Spray with You

Link Love

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

pf blogs charities i love friends i adore fashionistas

Dare to Dream

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was talking about how much I wanted a lake house. J

Pray for Joseph

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dear Autumn,

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It's been so long. I miss your festivals. And your pumpkins. And your scarves. And your layered clothing. And your candy corn. And your pumpkin spice lattes. And your college football. And your colorful leaves. Don't tell Summer, but I'm tired of it. I long to feel your crisp air brush against my face as I run. I'll try to be patient just a while longer, but can you try to arrive soon? Your biggest fan, MPP

GOAL: No Spend Week!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am challenging myself with spending $0 from Monday through Friday. I know I have a few bills that may be delivered during that time, but other than those I think this is attainable. I'm

Heading Out

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I'm a huge planner. I like to know what

One Dress for 365 days?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow, check out this brave diva: Wearing one dress for an entire year. How http://www.theuniformproject.com/

My Dream Job

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about my career. I love my job, but since it's the first job I got outside of college, I am curious to see what is out there and am aware that it's not what I want to do forever. 1. Gives me the opportunity to travel. I love traveling. I used to travel for an internship (felt like a real job), and I absolutely loved it. I like the 2. Compensates me fairly and has its perks. After living expenses (including food), I'd like to have $2,000 in my account each month for discretionary income. I've gotta tell you--I was really jealous when I read 3. A company that trusts me. 4. Lots of people, interaction and fun. 5. I'm helping more than just a company. 6. I am doing work that challenges me and makes me think. Those are the six things I'm looking for. What about you?

Budget 101

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

"Whew, check out that girl's collarbone!"

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The other night I was skimming through a woman's fitness magazine and I found myself [heterosexually] admiring the photos of various women. If you're a girl, you know what I'm talking about: you notice the trim tummy or the nice toned legs out of pure envy because you wish that your body looked that way. I mean, why else do you buy those magazines except to see someone you want to look like and then follow the "Easy 10 Steps" to achieve it? Well, nearly half way through the magazine, I realized that one area of the body that I kept going to was the collarbone. For some reason, a prominant and well-defined collarbone has always been part of the body that I admire. To me it shows that you're skinny, fit, and I think it's really beautiful when someone wears a shirt that shows a lovely, well-defined collarbone. (Btw, I'm not talking about anorexic girls with petruding bones. Eating disorders do not produce beauty in my opinion.) Am I completely crazy for looking at this odd part of the body to define beauty? I realize that sounds ridiculous. I guess I thought I would pose this question out there to confirm my craziness. What is one area of the body that YOU define healthy, fit, beauty?

How Much Do I Need To Retire?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Changes & Challenges

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Changes: 1. I've changed the theme to this blog again. I just couldn't handle the dotted underline for links. I promise not to switch it up too often--but then again most of you probably read this in a Reader anyway. ;) 2. Link Love!! I've added all my favorite blogs and sites to the "Link Love" section above. If you're not on there, are a personal blog, and regularly visit my site, let me know and I'd love to add you. 3. Name: From now on, you can call me "MPP." I realize I should have thought of my anonymous name when I first started, but oh well! 4. I've added some of my favorite blogs and sites to the "Link Love" section above. If you're not on there, are a personal blog, and regularly visit my site, let me know and I'd love to add you. Here are some of the newest PF blogs I've added: Challenges: 1. No fried foods until October 10th.

Thoughts about Saving

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have about $3,000 in liquid assets. In the

Busy Work Days

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Perhaps I'm unusual, but I love busy work days. Love them! They make the day go by faster, give me a sense of accomplishment, and usually allow me to interact with people more. It also helps reaffirm that my position here is useful. They: -make the day go faster -give me a sense of accomplishment -usually allow me to interact with people more

Movies I Watch for the Decor

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This has no personal finance angle, except that remodeling your apartment can b I love watching certain movies not just for the plot or actors, but because of the beautiful Erica Barry's Hampton House in Something's Gotta Give You've Got Mail Dan in Real Life Chocolat The Holiday What movie settings do you admire?

August Net Worth: +$

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

After last month's exciting leap from the dark side, I think this whole net worth calculation game is going to be so fun. I love being in the positive! I looked at my accounts and got so excited awaiting to crunch the numbers. I am slightly disappointed I didn't reach an increase of $1000, but I cam pretty close so that's ok. Enough chit-chat, let's see where it's all allocated. Assets: Checking: Efund: Future Fund Retirement: 401(k) Roth Liabilities: Parents Loan Net Worth:

New: The LUST List

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sometimes it's the shopping for pretty things that I enjoy more than the owning of them.

Contact

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Email me at myprettypennies [at] hotmail.com Interested in advertisements? Follow me on Twitter

My Dream Car

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Prius.

Sidebar Changes

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Just

Balancing Life

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Recipe Exchange

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of my goals this month was to cook four new things from recipes I've never used before. I love cooking, but one thing I absolutely hate is spending a ton of money on groceries! I love going to AllRecipes.com and have countless recipes in my recipe box. Here are some I've saved but never made. What should I make this weekend? Or if you have a great recipe you'd like to share, please let me know. :) Angel Chicken Pasta Chicken Enchiladas Shredded Brussels Sprouts

A bad weekend for running.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Saturday I went out to run 11 miles and only finished 4. I went out yesterday for 11 again and only finished 4. What is Today I went out to run 11 miles and only ran 4.

Relationship advice? Text each other randomly.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Exhibit A: Now that's a boy that loves me. :) My advise for single girls: Don't settle for anyone who's not crazy about you and makes you feel special.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Current SItuation: Monthly Income: Savings:

Saving Goals & Timelines

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

1. Pay off debt – $4200 left, 7 months 2. Save Phase 1 Efund – $3800 left, 6.3 months 3. Save for a wedding – $5000 left, 8.3 months 4. Buy a car – $5,000 left, 8.3 months 5. Fully Funded E-fund – $4,000, 6.67 months 6. Save for a home... ? 3.4 years

Small Challenge

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Budget

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mid/Long Term Savings Bills or Payments Living

Bloggers I Look Up To.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Interest-ing!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How much interest do you get? My

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

fdsa

Three things I can't wait to do with $100.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the reasons I want to be financially secure is so that I have the freedom to give or serve others without the pressure of "breaking the budget." Here are two things I can't wait to do regularly once I am financially free: 1. Host a party once a month. I would love to be able to budget $100 each month to throw a dinner party for my friends, family and whoever they want to bring. Sure I can host parties now, but I want a place big enough to accommodate a lot of people and have enough money to afford to cook the finest. My grandmother was the queen of this. Every Sunday she would cook a huge meal for 30 and whoever wanted to show up would. 2. Leave a generous tip, just because. Carrie on the Cheap talked about leaving a generous tip, and I've always wanted to drop down a $100 bill at an inexpensive diner... just because. Wouldn't it feel great to be the waiter/waitress and receive such a tip? 3. Surprise my sisters and mom with a spa weekend. What cool ways to

September Net Worth:

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My $0.20 Breakfast

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have to confess: During the winter I get pretty ordinary when it comes to weekday breakfasts. All it takes is a packet of oatmeal, some coffee (of course) and occasionally a banana to hold me over. Oatmeal is I'm pretty ordinary when it comes to breakfast on the weekdays. eekends on the other hand are for experimenting, devolging and Ok. So Target

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Beginning Balance: $563.04

Earn More Challenge

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Goal: $300 Earned to date: $412.40!!! 9/3 +$50 babysitting 9/10 +$45 babysitting 9/13 +$4.20 sold book 9/17 +$50 babysitting 9/24 +$50 babysitting 9/25 +$60 babysitting 9/26 +$55 babysitting 9/29 +$85 babysitting 9/30 +$7.20 sold book 9/30 +$6.00 blogging

Suzie Q's Budget: Step One

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have a reaader who emailed me and is interested in getting a budget makeover. Let's just call her Susie Q. I have permission to post her information on here (of course not posting any personal identity and remaining anonymous). I thought I would answer her questions on here, because perhaps others are in the same boat as her and I'd love for other PF blogging readers that I admire to give their imput on Susie Q's finances. Let's begin, shall we? First step:

Friday Video

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Does anyone else watch How I Met Your Mother? It's one of the funniest shows I've seen and perfect to watch with J. Here's a little something to

Question for my Readers:

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As you may have guessed, I have a hard time making decisions. Whether it's about my raise, or extra money from a

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The recipe for a perfect weekend: college football game snuggling in our snuggies

There's a chart for that...

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Like I said, I am determined not to overspend during the holidays. Here's a chart to show all of my

Diets & Fitness

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I'm feeling a little bit blah, and I know exactly why: I haven't run since my half marathon. I

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

photo: via weheartit

Two Challenges

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

1. $20 challenge 2. No more clothes shopping in 2009 3. No eating out for lunch in 2009 Money s

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My newest goal is to be like Carrie when I turn 26. That sounds like a cute little shoutout, but I'm actually serious. her post on getting out of debt

Budgets: Where to Begin?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Budgets: Some love them. Some hate them. Some even think they're sexy. I happen to think they're awesome, but only if you work them the right way. What's the right way? There's no cookie-cutter budget technique because everyone's life is different. But I will tell you what has worked for me. I could probably talk for hours about this, so I'm going to put this into three different parts: 1) Where to Begin? 2) MPP's Broken Down Budget. 3) Rules & Techniques in budgeting. WHERE TO BEGIN? First off, there's no one way This includes anything that you have on auto-draft, billpay, you've sold you My Life Before Budgets: Careless My Life When I first Started Budgeting Day 1 of the budget: I'd if you work them the right way. 1. Don't over budget I've gotten a few questions regarding my budget In a nutshell, I categorize my budget in three chunks: 1. If you don't have a budget the new look and feel is great. the header is adorable (but i was a big fan of the last one as well)! i also really enjoy your weekly updates as well as your training/running updates. do you often get questions from your readers? it would be nice to see you answer one or two questions here and there. i’d like to hear your thoughts on sticking to a budget… what motivates you to make good decisions?!

Slow Cooker Cook-Off

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Alright gang. I'm hibernating for the winter!

Totellini Soup
Salsa Chicken
White Beans
Pot Roast
William Sonoma something

Pencil Skirt & Pearls said anything at William Sonoma is good so I chose to make Here is my dirty version of white beans: Soak one pound of great northern beans overnight. In the bottom of your crock pot, add dry seasonings: 2 tablespoons of season salt 2 tablespoons of Mrs. Dash 2 tablespoons of paprika 2 tablespoons of black pepper 2 tablespoons of parsley flakes 1 teaspoon of onion powder 1 teaspoon of garlic salt 1 teaspoon of cumin Add wet ingredients: 1 tablespoon of Lea & Perrin’s Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon of Tabasco Chop: one large onion Large bell pepper Four cloves of garlic Add chopped veggies to bottom of crock pot. Pour soaked beans over seasonings and vegetables. Cover everything with broth. Cook on low for at least six to eight hours. 1 lb Italian Sausage 1 cup chopped onion 2 cloves garlic 5 cups beef broth 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup dry red wine 2 cups chopped, seeded, peeled tomatoes (we just use a can of diced tomatoes) 1 cup thinly sliced carrot 1/2 tsp basil 1/2 tsp oregano 8 oz. can tomato sauce 1.5 cup sliced zucchini 8 oz. (2 cups) frozen cheese tortellini 3 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley 1 med green pepper cut into 1/2 inch pieces freshly grated parmesan cheese Brown sausage. Combine all ingredients except tortellini in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Add tortellini and heat until pasta is cooked through. Top with cheese before serving. You can also make this on the stove – just throw everything in a pot and simmer for about 20 minutes, then add the tortellini and cook as long as indicated on the package.

Interest-ing!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was looking over my many banking accounts the other day and realized that I have earned $51 in interest alone this year. Of course that won't make you any

Thank you

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

...for continuing to pursue me, even though I ordered spaghetti and asked you about old girlfriends on our first date. ...for always wanting to walk on the curb-side of the street to protect me from cars. ...for laughing at my jokes late at night when I'm giddy with sleepiness. ...for comforting me when I cry and causing my happy tears. ...for asking me out a year and a half ago.

Resting

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My company retreat went really well. I'm not a huge fan of overnight retreats because I often feel trapped and always sleep better in my own bed, but I am thankful I went. Yesterday all of the girls went to a day spa and could choose the service of choice. Of course I chose a massage. The massuse told me my shoulders and back were filled with knots from stress. It was so nice to just relax for

Saying YES!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You know when a friend/coworker/boss/family member asks you to do something that is out of your comfort zone? It pays to say yes.

Food Update

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I made the challenge not to go out to eat for lunch and have yet to spend a dime during the week! I also wanted to not go grocery shopping all month until I ate the rest of the food in my apartment.

Wednesday Rambles

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

What is it about girls--or just people!--that craves drama?

Happiness!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I love! I love!

Dear Financially-Struggling Reader,

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am stealing this from TeacHer: Last Movie I Saw In A Movie Theater? The Blindside. Kind of corny, but cute. What Book Are You Reading? Brightsided by Barbara Ehrenreich. I love her work, and this book is shaping up to be really good. Favorite Board Game? Catchphrase. Favorite Magazine? The Economist, but Glamour is a close second. Favorite Smells? Anything by Burberry or Dior. Favorite Sounds? That silly Morning Edition theme song on NPR. Worst Feeling In The World? Guilt. First Thing You Think of When You Wake? How many more days until I can sleep in? Favorite Fast Food Place? McDonalds, for sure. I love all fast food, though. Future Child’s Name? I don't think I want kids. Finish This Statement—“If I Had a Lot of Money,” I'd buy an apartment in NYC, with a separate room for a wall-to-wall library. Do You Drive Fast? Very fast, but I never text while driving. Do You Sleep With a Stuffed Animal? Yes, they're lined up against the wall next to me. Storms—cool or scary? Definitely cool. I LOVE snow. What Was Your First Car? Mazda Protege. Favorite Drink? Red wine. Finish This Statement—“If I Had the Time, I Would…” Reread my college history books. I feel like there's so much stuff I forget. Do You Eat the Stems on Broccoli? I despise all vegetables. If You could Dye your Hair Any Other Color, What Would It Be? I already color my hair a dark reddish-brown every six weeks and I love the color! Favorite Sport to Watch? Baseball. Go Phillies! What’s Under Your Bed? Slim plastic containers full of extra sheets and blankets. Would You Like to Be Born As Yourself Again? Yes but with an Australian accent :) Morning Person or Night Owl? Morning person, but I get up early even for a morning person. Over Easy or Sunny Side Up? Over easy, but hardboiled is my favorite. Favorite Place to Relax? On my parents' couch. I'm still a kid at heart! Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? Cookie dough.

Reasons to work out in the Morning: Part 1

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Analyst asked me any tips for getting up early and working out. Here's what I've got: Why I Workout in the Mornings:

Get it Over With! I don't like working out and really dread my evenings when I have to go to the gym afterward (exception: my lovely Wednesday pm yoga class).

More Energy: I arrive to work full of energy with a little pep in my step. Warning: you may get really tired about 4pm for the first few days...that's why man invented the Diet Coke!

Less Crowded: I love my morning workouts because there's no one sweating next to me on the treadmill. My gym is three times as crowded after work so I only go in the evenings for the classes.

Eat Healthier: I find myself more conscious of what I eat throughout the day. Why waste a good workout with chocolate?

Burn More Calories: Apparently it helps jump start your metabolism. At least that's what I hear on the internet.

I'm no expert, but here are a few ways that I motivate myself to get out of bed in the morning:

With certain friends, I'm such a pushover.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Does anyone else have that friend, or those friends that can make you do pretty much anything? I have one. She's one of my best friends, but her lifestyle is very different than mine. She wanted

Benefits of a Bicycle

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

{via}

How to Survive a Long Distance Relationship

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Happy Moments

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ever since my pity party post about the Winter Blues, I've tried to be more intentional about looking for the happy moments in my day.... I have been topping off my coffee with ReadyWhip and adding sprinkles to it. Who cares about the extra 20 calories? I've been wearing my new apron when I cook dinner. I took a cold, crisp walk the other day during my lunch break. http://weheartit.com/entry/1077730 My yoga instructor recognized me

Tips for getting your booty out of bed and in the gym at 5am: Part 2

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Schedule it in your Planner. Working out is partly a physical thing, but more a mental thing for me. I know this sounds weird, but for the first few days of working out, I wrote in my planner "Go to the Gym – 5:30" like it was an appointment. I would never skip out on a meeting and so I wanted to treat these like it was just like any other appointment in my life. Because I have scheduled Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays as my early morning times, I know it's non-negotiable and I can't argue with myself. Go to bed Early ...of course this makes sense if you are getting up early to hit the gym. Sometimes this is hard to achieve and I'll find myself watching TV for too long or just get distracted and next thing I know it's 11pm. The trick for this is to go to your bedroom early. I like to go to my room at 9:30 and read, surf the net, or call my BF and talk for a little bit. Lay out your Clothes I wasted 15 minutes one morning because I didn't have my stuff together and was fumbling to find my tennis shoes and water bottle, etc. Never again! Each evening I pick out my workout outfits and have everything very accessible so I literally fumble out of bed, dress and Find a Workout Buddy This is one tip that I don't have but would really like! But if you know someone who's waiting for you at the gym or counting on you being there, that makes getting up early so much easier. I'm hoping after a few weeks/months of finding a friend that I can go with.

The New Budget!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

So here is my plan for the next few months.

my month in numbers

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

12 visits to the gym

800

dollars paid to my debt

Target can help you budget

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

http://shopping.franklinplanner.com/shopping/catalog/category.jsp?crc=cat1630010&id=cat2150014

Thank you!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow, you guys are AWESOME!

Bill Shrink

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Has anyone heard of Bill Shrink? It's a website that looks at http://www.billshrink.com/

April Challenges

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

New Phone Time

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hair Cut

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Finding a good hairdresser is like finding a good man: It takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of money, and sometimes a lot of tears before you find the right one. I've been on the search for a hairdresser that gets me for the last two years. Since I moved up here, I've been through Chatty Cathy, Too-Many-Layers Lucy, and Way-Overpriced. But today, I finally found The One. She is everything I want in a hairdresser: not too talkative, gives great scalp massages, quiet atmosphere, cuts my unruly hair perfectly, and styles it beautifully. And the most important part? It only cost me $18+tip! I went to the Aveda Institute in Washington, DC, which is why I got this stylish new look for only $--. Has anyone else used a salon school to get your hair cut? I can't guarantee that you'll has as much luck as I have, but it was SO worth it and I highly recommend looking in your area to see if there is an Aveda Institute or another beauty school that would charge less for cuts.

10 in 10 Weeks 5 & 6 & 7

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow, I think I get the Slacker of the Year Award. WEEK FIVE: Gym Visits: 0 Monday — Yoga Tuesday — Morning spin class Wednesday — lift weights at home Thursday — Morning workout Week Healthy Foods: I did pretty well this week! I counted my calories a few days and tried to get in more fruits and vegetables than I normally do. Weight: Starting Weight: 130 lbs. Today’s Weight: 127 lbs. Weight Loss: 1 this week, 3 total – This year I am participating in 10 in 2010, a challenge to get healthy in 2010 starting in the first 10 weeks, hosted by Recipe Girl. Click here to see the other 300+participants! Week One. Week Two. Week Three. Week Four.

What I'm doing with my tax money this year:

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Emergency Fund

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My Sweet Ride

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How I saved $15 on a gift-swagbucks

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

2009 Expenses Breakdown

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

March is here!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As a Southern girl, March has always reminded me of Spring. Even though the Farmer's Almanac calls for 50 more inches of snow in DC (Lord, please no!), I cannot help but have a positive attitude that winter will finally end soon and spring will finally begin. Not only will spring arrive, but this March signifies some serious financial landmarks for me.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cable didn't work Internet doesn't work Crack in my windshield Oil change

The

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I drive a manual car and this morning the clutch plummeted to the floor. Whoops.

Thoughts on Authenticity

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think the greatest quality of someoe

Thoughts on Blogging, Part 1

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I had a reader email me asking for some tips on creating a great blog. Well, first off... I don't see my blog as being "great" so it was such a compliment she thinks so! But I started drafting some tips on the logistics and technique when you start a blog... but then I got to think about the blogs that I enjoy reading the most and it really comes down to one thing for me: Authenticity. The difference between a blog and a regular ol' website is the life that is behind it. I visit Brunette on a Budget not for daily "how to write well" tips... I visit her blog to see what good writing is every single post she has. Don't write for anyone else but yourself. Any other way, you are trying too hard and believe me---people can smell desperation from miles away. The people who are the most successful are honest and Thoughts on Blogging

Thoughts on Blogging & Jealousy

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It's no secret that blogs tend to be narcissistic. I mean, it is the nature of blogs--you write about you. Whatever you want. Jealousy is a funny thing in the blogging community. It can be a healthy motivator for learning and getting your blog to the next level. It can also be unhealthy and there can be an unnatural I just want to say that for those who are jealous of my life, thank you for your admiration, but my life isn't perfect. It is fine for you to strive to accomplish the same things I have, but do not wish away your own life for my own. For example, I've stopped following some blogs because they're too... perfect and make me feel kind of bad about my own life. Their blog is just perfect. Their pictures are perfect. Their relationships are perfect. Their writing is perfect. Their breakfast they at this morning was perfect. Even their comments are all perfect. By the end of the posts they make me feel like I am living in the ghetto and I read some blogs and the pictures are just perfect and their relatinships are just perfect and their

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?fromGrid=1&sku=GRP02278&mcat=148207&cid=563632&search_params=s+5-p+1-c+563632-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+ 12 round stacking ring

Hello, my name is Mary. It's nice to meet you.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ok. I'm changing things up a little bit. I had a long talk

Confession: I have a hard time making decisions.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I use

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was really inspired by Kaile Elise's pots on making priorities a priority. It got me thinking.. I've been thinking a lot lately about my life. Perhaps it was inspired by Kailee's post on making priorities a priority that sparked my thoughts. The most important thing to me are my family, my friendships and my faith. If there was one word I would hope to be described as, it would be authentic. I never want to be I'm in kind of a funny mood today. I don't really feel like talking about finances on here sometimes. Sometimes I just don't feel like talking about finances on here. I know I don't need your permission, but I thought I would announce that nevertheless.

Follow Your Heart

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My younger sister and I have a thing for watching cheesy low-budget movies and making ridiculous fun of them (while secretly harboring likable feelings towards them). Pick any ABC Family Original Movie, Lifetime Original Movie or Hallmark Original movie, and most likely it would qualify. Our favorite is Lucky Seven with ffdfd and fdafd. (One of us may or may not own it. And in my defense it was only $5.) One of the things we love about these movies is the total cheese scripts the oscar-worthy actors are working with. The basic plots revolve around finding love, losing a love, discovering a new love that used to be an old love, rekindling a forgotten love and/or getting tricked into love by either a dog, a child or an elderly man/woman. While I do make fun of these stories and some of the plots are completely ridiculous hilarious, the common message to all of the heroes/heroines is the same: Follow Your Heart. (Actually this is the message for many other audiences like Disney Princesses or Sex and the City Actress or pretty much any other Chickflick Heroine. But what is better than cheesy low-budget romance?) I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to follow your heart. How can I depend on my heart for making decisions? My heart can tell me ten different things depending on what time of day it is and how much chocolate I've eaten. Is that really the basis for making decisions on? But one day when the pro/con lists stop ruffling and the advice from friend quiet down, you'll know in your heart what decision to make. So after months of waiting and months of job searching and weeks to juggle the options, I have decided to move. More on that later... for now I'll keep some of the mystery intact and leave with you this: One of my 2010 Goals is about to be crossed off. :)

Fitness Fails

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

So, I completely bombed the 10 in 10. Again, it all goes back to the Snow Crisis when 30 inches of snow and

I heart March Madness

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oops, I have $33 left for the month...

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oops, how did that happen?? Oh wait, that's right:

Car repairs
Birthdays
30% off coupons
Dress lusting
Friends coming into town
Outdoor dining (aka spring weather)
Wedding gifts

$33 for the next ten days? Hm. This should get interesting!

Dates that cost under $20

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The best date I ever went on cost less than $15.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My favorite date I've ever been on was

$50 Groceries for April

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fancy Cell Phone?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Would you like to sponsor MPP?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You win some. You lose some.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I feel like lately I've been losing. Well, let's just say I haven't been winning a lot.

Musings on a yellow bicycle.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Today was not a good day. And it's not because of the bank account debacle. The work day seemed to drag Yesterday after a long, draining day at work, I came home and rode my yellow bicycle. It wa

$300 for Misc Spending?

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dare I try to get under $300 this month for spending expenses?

Meal Planning April Week 1

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Monday:

March Recap: Goals & Budget

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

MARCH GOALS:

become debt free!!!!!!!
go to the gym 12 times
cook something new
figure out new budget
update blogroll

Of course not going to the gym would be the one goal I fail at this month. Oh well, there's always next month. -- MARCH SNAPSHOT (modeled after Me in Millions' format) Total Income: $3,528.58 Total Expenses: $3,193.79 NET (Income – Expenses): $334.79 Income Wages: $2,465 Extra Income: $375 (babysitting cash + reimbursements from roommate & friends for dinner) Transfer from Savings: $688 (for auto repairs) Monthly Total: $3528.58 Home Expenses Rent: $660.00 Electricity: $30.34 Cell/Internet: $85.12 Cable/Internet: $54.27 Home Maintenance: $46 (mail key replacement) Transportation Gas: $210.52 Metro: $15.00 Car Insurance: $32 Auto Repairs: $604.00 Daily Living Grocery Store: $199.96 Dining/Eating Out: $187.83 Clothing: $100.08 Personal Care: $54.27 Health Gym: $30 Prescription/Copays: $28.10 Giving Charity: $100 Gifts: $225.35 Other Overdraft: $10 (i know, i know) Taxes: $20.95 Savings Roth IRA: $100 Me Fund: $25 Emergency Fund: $100 Gift Fund: $50 Debt Loan to Parents: $500

The Greatest Investment

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lately I've been feeling very comfortable. Too comfortable. Almost uncomfortably comfortable. Complacent. I found myself declining to join an acquaintance for a day trip to Philadelphia, simply because I thought the car ride may be awkward and I didn't want to leave my comfort zone of my regular routine weekend of TV, normal friends and familiar restaurants. Okay, so the ride could have been awkward and we could have run out of things to talk about in the first ten minutes of the ride... or I could have made a new friend. That's the risk that you have to take sometimes. In that moment, however, I didn't want to take that risk. I was good with my ordinary weekend. It makes me really sad to think about that. How many opportunities do I pass up simply because I am fine settling for ordinary? When did I become so complacent? I'm not really referring to experiences or events... but investing in the most important thing: relationships. I have some really awesome friends from high school and college, and they always will be special to me. But sometimes I act like I am done in the friend-department of my life. No one ever told me how hard it would be to make friends after school! Kindred spirits are hard to find, and making friends can be hard. (Anyone else hear the girl scouts' "Make New friends, but keep the old" song play in their head? No? Just me?) When did I become so complacent? I have been thinking this for a little while and was shocked to read Crystal's recent post on "saying yes" because she articulately wrote the words that I had been thinking in a way I never could. I feel like I've become complacent. I choose How often do I say no to things simply because they're uncomfortable? I had the chance to go to Philadelphia with a girl I just met but didn't because I thought the car ride may be awkward with little to talk about. So what? If it's awkward, it's awkward. I feel so comfortable. When did I become an old woman who watches TV every night? I want to invest not in doing things, but in relationships. In people that may be different than me. I'm not saying I'm going to drastically change my life... but I want to slowly move away from the girl I see myself becoming.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Name* Email* Website AntiSpam Challenge: 6+3 = ? *

[Just to prove you are not a spammer]

Message*

// //

Fitness Update

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Book Review: Hot (broke) Messes

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Recommended to:

College students
Young professionals
Anyone living in DC (or another expensive city) who struggles with money

Lent Recap

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There's no place like DC in the Springtime.

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Have a happy weekend!

MPP — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Happy Friday! We are smack-dab in the middle of spring here which means lovely trees and lots of pollen!

The End.

MPP — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:48:49 +0000

This is my public farewell to:

Overspending
Carelessness
Credit card balances
Bank charges
End-of-month nerve-wracking terror
Bounced checks
Unbalanced checkbooks
Overdrafts
DEBT.

Adios. Buh-bye. See ya.

About

MPP — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:48:49 +0000

About My Pretty Pennies: The name of this blog has a lot to do with my perspective on finances. Many people view personal finances as arduous, boring, and an ugly process. And for good reason--it is hard work and takes lots of discipline. But I've found that managing your finances gives you the freedom to follow your dreams, provide security like you'd never imagine, and can even be a pretty process. My goal in this blog is to show readers the daily example of how personal finance can actually be... well, pretty! About the Blogger I am a 20something girl living in the Washington DC metro area. This blog is primarily about my journey into financial freedom. Click here to read how I got started. I write mostly about how money trickles down into every aspect of life, since it is, after all, personal finance. But sometimes I will derail and discuss my love life, career thoughts, easy recipes, and my not-so-regular fitness routine. ;) I am an anonymous blogger and feel that the privacy allows me freedom to share things I otherwise wouldn't disclose. For that reason, if you think you know me, I'd appreciate no comments related to my personal identity. Thanks for stopping by! Contact Me! Follow me on Twitter or email me. If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please email me. I offer link text ads and sponsored articles. Disclosure: I am not a professional financial planner, banker, invester, etc. This blog is merely a venue to share my thoughts about how finances affects my life.

Goals

MPP — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:27:03 +0000

2010 GOALS: Click here to read more detail about each goal. Financial:

Become Debt-Free Done!
Save $10,000 in an Emergency Fund
Continue to give 10% of my income
Earn $5000 in extra income
Figure out Retirement Goals once I'm debt-free Done
Reach $20,000 in net worth

Health:

Workout 3 times a week or 156 times the year
Cook one new recipe per month & blog about it
Get to 115-120 lbs

Life/Personal:

Start a Me Fund & buy something at Tiffany's
Get a raise or promotion at work Done!
Switch the blog to self-hosted with unique URL
Read 12 books
Live in the same town as J

Click here to read about my 2009 Goals. Financial Priorities:

Save $1,000 in an Emergency Fund Completed Sept. 2008
Pay off $13,800 in debt Completed March 4, 2010
Save $10,000 in an Emergency Fund
Max out my retirement accounts
Save for a wedding (see my Wedding Fund)
Save for a new car with cash ~$10,000
Save for a home down payment.
Continue to save & give!

cropped-n29701039_33327962_20622.jpg

MPP — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:25:41 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/cropped-n29701039_33327962_20622.jpg

germany

MPP — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:45:12 +0000

How I got here.

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:47:54 +0000

Well, it all started with my parents. It was August 2007 and I had just arrived home from a summer abroad in Europe. My parents sat down my sisters and me and told us they were in debt. I knew we always struggled with money, but I had no idea that we were in debt, much less serious debt. Try $300,000 in debt. This included a mortgage, credit card debt, and student loans. I guess you could say my personal finance fascination (or desperation?) began at that moment. I decided to help pick up my student loans since it was, after all, my education. I withdrew from school for a semester to work full-time. In order not to incur any more debt, I paid for all of my rent, food, tuition and fees. The last semester of classes I needed a little help from my parents, but still maintained at least a 20 hour work week while taking 18 credit hours of classes. Today I graduated from college May 2008 and moved June 1st to a new city (in the mid-atlantic region) for a new job (marketing-related), where I currently work today. I had $13,800 in debt, maybe $800 in savings... but as we all know security deposits and moving expenses deplete budgets and left me with nothing. When I finally received my first grown-up, big-girl paycheck in July 2008, I began whacking away debt. My parents have been a huge inspiration to me in this process. Of course I was very hurt that they hid so many money issues under a facade of a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle, it is amazing where we've come today. They sold the home we had been living in for 18 years, moved into a rented home provided by a local church, and both got part-time jobs. A year and a half later, they are down to $20,000 left in debt (this includes $8000 I still owe them) and have moved into a foreclosure home in the country. My Hope My hope is to never ever ever feel that hopeless, out-of-control feeling again. I began reading finance books and got entrenched in reading personal finance blogs. All of the other writers seem so natural, down-to-earth, and, well, nice! I figured I could use this blog as an outlet to communicate my personal journey of getting out of debt and on to a secure freedom. So enough about the past. Let's get started!

cropped-n29701039_33948754_55802.jpg

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:56:19 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/cropped-n29701039_33948754_55802.jpg

cropped-n29701039_33948754_55803.jpg

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:02:11 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/cropped-n29701039_33948754_55803.jpg

My Categories

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:44:23 +0000

Lots of people view their finances in different ways. To me, the easiest way was to divide my finances into three categories: Need, Should and Wants. Each month I reevalute the categories and see where I need to cut back and beef up. Essentially after my budget is done, I should have $0 of my paycheck leftover. Each dollar goes into one of these categories. I'll have a separate post about the upcoming budget, but this is where it all goes! NEED. This includes everything I can't or don't want to negotiate. Of course I can always cancel my gym membership, but it is important to me and right now it is drafted each month. Same for tithing. The amounts in each item rarely change from month to month (electric varies monthly).

Rent (my rent includes water & gas)
Tithing
Gifts to missionaries
Car Insurance
Electric Bill
Gym fee

SHOULD. This category is the one I try to put as much in each month and any extra income goes towards. It includes the savings and debt category. I have the following "accounts" that I separate my Should items into.

Education Loan 1
Education Loan 2
Education Loan 3
Christmas Savings
Wedding Savings
Emergency Savings
Car Savings

WANTS. While there are some essentials, such as food, gas, and clothing (ok, I can get by without buying clothes), these are items that I try to minimize and have the strongest control over. Because formerly they were the areas I would carelessly spend the most on.

Gas
Groceries
Dining
Clothing/Accessories/Shoes
Personal Care
Home Maintenance
Home Improvements
Travel
Healthcare/Medical
Gifts
Auto Repairs/Expenses
Entertainment
Etc.

n29701039_34695571_4185

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:15:46 +0000

enchanted

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:54:09 +0000

My Wedding Fund

MPP — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:04:37 +0000

Soon after I knew my parent's situation I decided that if and when I ever get married, I want to pay for the entire thing. I may not be a high maintenance diva (cough-boyfriend-may-disagree-cough), but like any normal girl, I do want it to be lovely, special, and I have dreamed about it since I was a little girl. The average wedding costs about $25,000. Gasp! While that would be so nice to have, with my current situation I am not about to drop $25K on one day and go back into debt. No thank you. That money could go towards debt, a house down-payment, three trips to Europe, or savings. (See, I'm pretty practical.) So I have decided to have at least $5000 saved by December '09. I already have $940 saved up. I'd love to save up to $10,000 but I also don't want to be penniless my first year of marriage. So we'll see what happens. Boyfriend status? I am nine months into a long-distance relationship with a wonderful guy. He's still in school and graduates from college in December 2009, so an engagement anytime soon is out of the question and we both agree. I am realistic and know that there's always a chance we could break up, but obviously I wouldn't be with him if I also didn't see a future between us. I mean, we're long-distance. That is hard work! So that's the little explanation of the wedding fund. I know $5000 is unheard of for a wedding, but when the time comes I know I will be able to make it special. I like a good challenge and it'll be interesting to see how far I can stretch those hard-earned dollars. Until then, I am perfectly content with saving... and dreaming.

Taco Soup

MPP — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:19:38 +0000

Soup is one of the cheapest meals to make. Now, I know that spring is almost here, but it snowed 8 inches here on Monday and so I am justified in posting a soup recipe in March. Plus, it's also a deliciously easy recipe. In the winter I usually double it and freeze the rest for cold lazy evenings. Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner soup) 2 cans of Rotel mild (MILD!) 1 bg frozen corn 1 can black beans (drain & rinse) 1 env package dried ranch dressing 1 env package dried taco seasoning 4 cups water Directions: In a large pot brown and drain meat. Add everything else. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with Frito chips, cheese and sour cream. Oh yum. Enjoy!

Lent

MPP — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:25:41 +0000

Alright, I know I am a bit late in posting on Lent since it started last week, but I thought I'd share what I am giving up. I have decided to fast from shopping. I am not Catholic or practice Lent very religiously, but I do think fasting is something everyone should try one time in their life. It develops self-discipline, which is a rarity in our culture today. So from last week until Easter, I vow not to buy any clothes, accessories, shoes (!), jewelry, or any other pretty thing that I might be tempted to purchase on a shopping spree. (Oh this is going to be difficult! I dearly love pretty things!)

My Budget

MPP — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:47:30 +0000

Each month is different, but this is the rough average of what my budget looks like each month. It is based on my $2273 take-home pay from my salary and does not include any extra income that might come in. Need: $1062 Rent: $660 Tithe: $170 Car Insurance: $32 Internet & Cell Phone: $70 Electric: $50 Missionary Giving: $50 Gym: $30 Should: $655 Debt: $250 Wedding Fund: $350 Car Savings: $25 Christmas: $30 Wants: $566 Gas: $100 Groceries: $200 Dining: $50 Clothing/Accessories: $50 Personal Care: $20 Gifts: $50 Entertainment: $20 Miscellaneous: $60 (This category includes home improvement/maintenance, healthcare, metro passes, and other things that vary between months) My goal is to make at least $80 extra income each month that will go towards savings, debt or a little cushion for those expensive months.

images

MPP — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:45:48 +0000

My March Goals

MPP — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:46:55 +0000

Here are my delightful little goals for this month:

Start a personal finance blog (done)
Workout three times a week
Pay off both my Education and Study Abroad loans with tax refund
Increase my networth by $1600
Buy wedding presents for bridal showers I have in April
Cook something new each week

Polls

MPP — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:52:46 +0000

[polldaddy poll=1428758]

Upcoming Trip: NYC

MPP — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:47:49 +0000

One major reason why I want to get control of my money is so that I actually have some to spend on things that I want and love to do. One of these things is traveling. This weekend I am going to New York City with two of my best friends to visit my older sister. It shouldn't be too expensive because my sister lives in the heart of Manhattan (free place to stay) and I am going on the Bolt Bus for a $30 round-trip ticket from DC to NYC. There are other buses that run a little cheaper, but the Bolt doesn't make any stops in Baltimore, Philly or New Jersey so I like that. I occasionally struggle to stay within my budget when I am tempted by friends. I feel that I have pretty decent control over my money when it only affects me, but when my saying "no" to eating at a $50/meal restaurant or going to an $80 show affects other people's plans, I tend to just go with the crowd instead of making everyone else skimp out on those activities too. So this weekend I am hoping to stand my ground and not be a pushover, but not in a way that I turn into a stingy grump who only wants to sit in Central Park and people watch. That's not really who I am at all, I just really don't want to overspend! My weekend budget is $100, which shouldn't be too bad. It'll also be challenging not to spend anything when we go shopping since I have given that up for Lent. I guess I have the entire blogging community to be accountable to, so I'll report on whether or not I stay in my budget on Monday. Until then, I'm off to the Big Apple!!! (Okay, I'm aware only tourists call it that, but whatever. I love New York!) Have a great weekend!

cropped-germany-7602222.jpg

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:44:48 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/cropped-germany-7602222.jpg

new-york-thanksgiving-058

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:01:39 +0000

new-york-thanksgiving-073

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:02:27 +0000

nyc

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:03:47 +0000

new-york-thanksgiving-125

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:04:35 +0000

New York on a Budget

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:55:33 +0000

You don't have to go all out to have a good time in New York. All you really need are four good friends and a tasty cosmo, right? Since my friends and I have visited NYC many times before, we stayed away from the hot-spots such as Times Square (shudder—I was there for '08 New Years), and instead did low-key things like picnicking in Central Park and wandering the Village. I am pleased to announce that while we did a lot of shopping in lovely Soho boutiques, I only spent money on restaurants, cab rides, subway tickets, and I stayed within my $100 budget! One restaurant we went to was especially kind to the wallet—Cooper 35 where the chips are free and the cocktails are $4 a piece. It's on the East Village, serves mainly Asian cuisine and is a hot-spot for NYU students. After arriving in the city after a 4-hour bus ride, it was the perfect place to go. Saturday evening was fairly warm and so we sat on the screened in patio at B-Bar. Equally as good with a little more atmosphere, but the drinks were sadly $10-13 each. Overall, it was a fabulous girl's weekend. Here's the damage: Cab ride: $13 Cooper 35: $20 Subway pass: $9 B-Bar: $30 Groceries for brunch: $12 Total = $84

a2300welcomehome-posters

MPP — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:29:02 +0000

Thanks Sam!

MPP — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:04:50 +0000

Ohhhh happy day! Last week I received $1488 from my good old Uncle Sam. And now. The moment I have been waiting for since I sent in my taxes: two of my three loans are finally paid off! I currently have nothing left to pay on my Study Abroad loan and my Education loan! Okay, actually that's not entirely true. I saw online the check was processed and went straight to my loan provider's site for the official celebration. Well, my Loan 1 had a lovely balance of $0.00, however my Loan 2 has a balance of $0.98 left! I must have added it wrong or the interest was applied in the few days between bill-paying it. So I suppose in two days I'll be officially done with those loans. Now I have just $8000 pretty dollars left and I'll be debt free!

Second Jobs

MPP — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:44:04 +0000

When I first began my debt-fighting battle, I realized that my entry-level income could only get me so far and began searching for a part-time job. I looked into waiting tables, but my full-time job ended so late that I wouldn't be able to get to a restaurant in time. Then I thought about working at a gym in order to get a free membership with it. But I have worked in a gym before and my entire motivation for working out was shot since I associated it with "work." I thought about just finding a place to work on the weekends, but with a long-distance boyfriend and needing to make friends in the city, I ruled that out. Finally I landed on it: babysitting. I stumbled upon two websites that connect you with jobs and positions nearby where you live: Sitters.com and Care.com. You can also find other odd-jobs such as tutoring, pet-sitting, housekeeping or care-giving for the elderly. I live in a populated area, so I am not sure if it will be a useful tool for everyone, but it was for me. I got in touch with three families that fit my needs of occasional date-night babysitting and another family I babysit for every Thursday for a steady $45 weekly income. What other job can you get paid $10-15 per hour to watch TV? (It's also especially nice when you don't have cable!) But I'm really curious and would love to know what others are doing: What part-time or second job do you have to help reach your finance goals or to get out of debt?

images1

MPP — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:51:28 +0000

Review: Getting Loaded

MPP — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:12:35 +0000

I love reading personal finance books. Not quite as much as I love reading personal finance blogs, but a close second. So I'll occasionally review ones that have been helpful... or ones that aren't at all! This is one of the first I ever read.

Getting Loaded by Peter G. Bielagus

About: 50 secrets or financial tips that everyone needs to know in order to start your life off on the right foot and grow up to be a millionaire. Pros: This was one of the first financial books I read and it was a good place to begin. It is targeted to young savers in a fun, easy-to-understand way that emphasizes how time is on our side. I use it sometimes as a reference since there is a decent glossary and website directory in the back. Cons: While I liked how down-to-earth the book was, I get annoyed sometimes when an author is too chummy with readers and their writing is too informal or dated by pop-culture references. I know that's very contradictory of me to say since that's how I write, but I guess I have different standards for books. I'm the nerd that reads PF books for the content, not necessarily the fluff leading up to it. Also, the economy was certainly different when the book was written (2003) than it is now. I personally feel that interest rates will be back up to where they used to be given time, but that little info is not accurate today in our market. Perfect for: College students or recent graduates who have never heard of a 401(k), a liability and, well, a budget. Overall Rating: $$$ out of five

a frugal week

MPP — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:47:01 +0000

This week (m-f) I only spent a total of $16.66! That's some kind of record for me. It was just $9.35 for groceries and $7.31 for eating out one lunch. I knew I would be out of town a bit, so earlier in the month I bought a lot of frozen foods and non-perishables that I could use for dinners. But usually staying in my budget isn't too hard during the rigid week... it's the weekend where I really struggle. Speaking of weekends, today I am heading south to see my boy. I kind of feel like the girl in this picture every time that I see him. (I know, kind of cheesy and a bit "gag-me," but I'm just sooo excited!) Because he is still in school, he's at his parents' for spring break and so it is a five-hour drive instead of the dreadful seven it normally is to his college home. I am budgeting only $60 for gas and meals this weekend. Totally do-able. We probably won't even leave the house since it will be a rainy weekend of college basketball and hanging out with his family. The only negative is that he's a UNC fan, I'm Duke. Gasp! Let the games begin!

Mid-March Update

MPP — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:07:12 +0000

I only get paid once a month, so the last two weeks are a KILLER! Plus, almost all of my paycheck is gone the first week with bills, paying debt, and saving so that all I have left is used for "choice-spending." I am doing surprisingly okay for this month though. Right now I have two weeks left with $400. Pretty decent considering I'm not shopping. I know $100 will go towards bridal shower gifts, and I must go to the grocery store today if I want to continue living. My cabinets and fridge are completely empty. Also, it's funny how I seem to run out of dish soap, trash bags, toilet paper, napkins, shampoo & conditioner, and laundry detergent all at once. It makes for a dirty home and an expensive trip to Wal-mart. I went to visit the BF this past weekend and spent about $40 on gas. That's all! I love cheap gas. We had a lovely weekend together, as we always do when we visit see each other, and of course it went by too fast. It was just as I predicted: a rainy weekend inside watching back-to-back college basketball, all the way up to watching Duke win the ACC Tournament. Yeyah. March Madness has begun baby!

Apartment Renewals

MPP — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:06:57 +0000

Ever since I started college, the springtime brings up a host of housing questions. Will I stay in my apartment? Will I move? Do I look for a cheaper place? Who will I live with? My current roommate is my best friend who is getting married in the summer (bittersweet) so I will need to find a new roommate or move somewhere cheaper. I started in my current full-time position in June '08 and want to give the company at least one more year. Plus, I have a lot of furniture and the price for the location is pretty good. My apartment lease runs out on July 31st. I live in a six-apartment duplex and I know that my landlord has three vacant apartments in my building and many others on my street that he owns. I am wondering if I can bargain with my landlord for a rent decrease. It's not really my style because I hate confrontation, but I also hate to waste opportunities to save a little cash. I know that he wouldn't want to lose a perfectly good tenant (me) and I don't really want to move either, but given the right spin in this tight economy, I wonder if a rent-decrease would be possible. Or some kind of bargain, like instead of a 12-month contract, a six-month with no rent increase. Has anyone asked for a rent decrease or bargained with their landlord before?

southern-cakes

MPP — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:33:41 +0000

Gifts!

MPP — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:15:43 +0000

Usually I budget about $80-100 per month towards gifts. This includes old fashion birthday presents, paying for a friend's meal, buying cards, stamps or mailing fees, wrapping paper, and even bridesmaids dresses. This next month will be especially pricey since I have three bridal showers to go to including one that I am co-hosting at a restaurant. Why we thought hosting it at a restaurant was a good idea is beyond me! So I thought I'd get a head-start on buying those gifts. I like to accompany bridal gifts with cookbooks since they can easily be purchased used. [caption id="attachment_348" align="alignright" width="129" caption="I won't say which cake, but my grandmother's recipe is featured in here!"][/caption] Gift #1:

A cake stand from Bed Bath & Beyond – $33
Southern Cakes cookbook – $15
Wedding card – $4

Gift #2:

A mini muffin pan from Crate & Barrel – $15
A Cupcake Cookbook – $9
A clear gallon jar that I will fill with colorful cupcake and muffin paper – $16
Wedding card – $4

Total = $93... and I still have a third gift to get. Rats!

Making Lemonade

MPP — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:09:18 +0000

Isn't it ironic how just when things start to go great in your life, they all start to fall apart again? My family has just moved into a home, my job is picking up, I have a wonderful boyfriend, I love my apartment and city, things are finally falling into place, and then BAM. I just found out that my mom has breast cancer. It's not as bad as it could be, and I know that it will be fought, but it is still a scary reality to face. I mean, breast cancer is what happens to strangers or other people's relatives. It's what I run for when I sign up for local 5k races. It's not something that affects my 49-year old mother. In light of this terrible news I am rethinking my budget. I owe my parents $8,000. In my current budget I have $600/month allocated towards debt and savings--plus any extra income I happen to get that month. Since they don't charge me interest, originally I was going to give $300 per month to debt and $300 towards the wedding savings. But now with these medical bills approaching, I think I might pay $500 to debt/$100 to savings. Or perhaps I should pay all of the monthly $600 to my debt? Or maybe I need to rethink my budget and see if I can squeeze out $800 per month? Of course, the way I handle my budget is really not a huge concern at the moment. Oh why can't life just be simple and easy? Well, as my momma always says, "When life gives you lemons... make lemonade!"

tulips

MPP — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:04 +0000

Friday Update

MPP — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:25:08 +0000

Happy first day of Spring! Many thanks to all of you for the thoughts, prayers and good wishes for my mom! I promise not to turn this into a cancer blog, but I will keep you updated in the next few months on the progress. And I have some great news. If you couldn't tell in my last post, I was worried about how this will affect my parents financially with medical bills, etc. I shared this with my mom yesterday and she informed me that they have cancer insurance. What a blessing! Apparently last year when they began paying off debt, she wanted to get rid of the insurance and use the money, but my dad insisted they keep it. So except for the deductibles, this really shouldn't affect them financially. I am so thankful! Aside from gifts, which were necessary purchases, I am really pleased with my weekly spending. I spent $224, which included:

Gifts: $117
Groceries: $37
Gas: $20
Debt: $50 (from babysitting cash)

It's suppose to be a gorgeous sunny, 60-degree weekend in our nation's capital. I plan on attending yoga, dining with friends, watching some NCAA games (bracket is already screwed), and tomorrow my roommate wants to hit up some outlets. Ah! Outlet shopping! I've given up shopping for Lent, but here's the thing: I have a $20 gift card to Banana Republic. If I use a gift card and don't spend any of my money on anything else, does that count as cheating?

Fighting Temptations

MPP — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:01:54 +0000

I am pleased to report that I did not use my gift card this weekend. I was tempted with a $16 pair of dress pants at BR Outlet (I know! I didn't think I would find anything under $20 either!) and just for kicks I tried them on. Well, apparently I grabbed the wrong size and realized that I can snugly fit into a size two! I checked every possible tag just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I've always been a size four/six kind of girl, so to even shimmy a size two up my thighs is nothing short of a miracle. But I fought the temptation and didn't get the pants. I really don't need any more work pants anyways, even if they were ridiculously on sale. Because I was slightly proud of my $0 shopping spree, and also slightly annoyed I didn't have any new spring clothes, I went home and did the big winter/summer swap. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and a fantastic reunion with color. Goodbye drab browns, grays and blacks! Of course, the 29-degree weather we had this morning kind of makes me wished I had waited a week. Speaking of size-two pants: one of my goals is to lose ten pounds for my roommate's wedding in July. I am at the high end of the recommended weight for my height, so ten pounds would bring me closer to the low/middle range. Plus that strapless bridesmaids dress really needs good toned arms in order to look fabulous. In January I joined a gym after a few miserably cold mornings of running outside. I try to go at least three mornings a week and I'm somewhat consistent. It can be a challenge to get my butt out of bed at 5:45, but I just love the feeling of getting it over with. Wow what a rambling Monday post this has turned into! I'll leave you with my goals for the week:

Don't grocery shop until I've eaten all the food I have in my fridge/pantry.
Go to the gym three times this week.
Post clothes on eBay to sell.
Survive with the money left in my account. This is always my goal at the end of the month... stupid once-a-month paychecks!

Retirement

MPP — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:07:24 +0000

Retirement is so important, and as a 23-year old I know that time is on my side. I am currently not contributing anything towards retirement right now. When I first started my full-time job, my mindset was that after I finish paying off my debt, I will contribute the maximum I can towards retirement. I have a 401(k) that my company each month pays 3% towards, regardless whether I contribute or not. Today the balance is up to $1,094, but it fluctuates according to the market. I have a 0%-interest on my debt for my parents and of course will continue to save for other goals. But I thought I would pose the question to other PF bloggers. Do you recommend that I contribute money towards retirement now? Or should I continue to plow away another year and a half and contribute after I am debt-free? If you were (or are) in the same situation, how do you handle retirement and debt?

My Car Emergency Fund

MPP — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:18:46 +0000

A long time ago my dad drilled into my head that cars are a necessary evil. Money pits. Wallet drainers. You get the idea. But even with all of this brainwashing, I can never shake off that gut-wrenching, painful feeling when I get a phone call from my car repair guy Butch (that's right, his real name), announcing that the brake pads need to be replaced for only $137. Yipes! Actually, $137 is a pretty sweet deal, or so my co-workers say. And I apparently saved myself $300+ down the road by getting it fixed today. But paying for car repairs are just my least favorite thing because 1) I feel so inadequate I don't know whether I'm even saying rotors right. (Is it rotery or rotators??) It makes me want to quit my job, go to mechanical school and fix my own cars so I know I am not being ripped off. And 2) BAM! They just come out of nowhere! That's why I have a Car Emergency Fund. I own an old (but paid-for) 1994 Honda Accord. While it really hasn't been all that bad, I curse its being any time that it gives me any trouble. Each month I set aside $25 in savings for car repairs. Ironically, whenever I have to fix something, the total amount is close to my Car EF amount. I find this easier and less stressful than dipping into my "official" $1000 Emergency fund because I like knowing that this money doesn't need to automatically be replaced since these emergencies happen only so often. Of course, one day I hope to have a New Car Fund and I can get rid of this '94 "necessary evil." ;)

curvyroad

MPP — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:06:06 +0000

End-of-Month Rambles

MPP — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:14:30 +0000

I always get itchy for the new month to begin. Not only because I'll get the much-needed paycheck, but also because I get to organize my budget and start new goals. I feel like I am torn between two conflicting wants. I want to get out of debt so badly I can't describe it. But I don't want to live my life like a hermit for the amount of time it takes me to become debt-free. In this entry I explained how I was conflicted with how much debt to pay and money to save. I think I will pay $500/debt and $100/savings. I am not worried anymore about having $5000 in the wedding fund by the end of the year (I've edited my goals). It's just not on my horizon and I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Many of you had the brilliant idea to put some money towards doing something fun with my mom. I usually make about $100 in babysitting each month, so I will use any extra income towards that. Thanks for the idea. So often I hear myself saying, "if I only made more money!" Or "if only I got a tax refund every month!" Or "if I could just get one more babysitting job!" Or "if only I had so-and-so's life I would be happy!" But the reality is, I got a $4k raise in December. I got a $1500 tax refund this month. I have a steady number of extra jobs that, for the most part, don't interfere with my social life. I want to just be content with where I am. Life isn't about achieving the best, highest goals in the quickest, most efficient way possible. It's a long, winding journey with all kinds of things that can set you back, or hurry you forward, or even leave you on a plateau for a while. The truth is: I am making progress.This time last year I was still in college, in $13k debt, so lost and confused on where my life was going. Since then, I have changed my networth by $10,000. It may be slow, and I may compare my situation to others and envy their quick success, but at the end of the day the fact is this is my life and ever so slowly I am inching closer to financial freedom.

March Goals & Budget Summary

MPP — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:12:16 +0000

After such a short month before, March seemed to last fooorever! But I am actually fairly pleased with my spending. I really think if I spent any money on shopping for myself it would have changed the outcome a lot. So hoorah for Lent's discipline. Also, my tax refund really helped boost my savings and paying off debt. I doubt I will see that much of a networth jump for the rest of the year. March Goals

Start a personal finance blog – Done!
Workout three times a week – FAIL: I had an average about 2.5 workouts per week. Eh.
Pay off both my Education and Study Abroad loans with tax refund – Done!
Increase my networth by $1600 – Done! My networth has increased by $2041!
Buy wedding presents for bridal showers I have in April - Done!
Cook something new each week – FAIL-ish: I only learned how to cook one new dish. But I am okay with this because I still ate at home Mon-Thurs all month, still saving money.

March Budget:

I was over budget by $258
- Dining + $24
- Travel + $22
- Gifts + $78 (yelp!)
- Auto Expense + $134 (unexpected repair)
I was under budget by $108
- Gas – $40 left in budget
- Groceries – $48 (daaaang, this never happens)
- Entertainment – $20
Extra Income: $230 in babysitting.
I saved $800
- $745 – Wedding fund
- $30 – Christmas
- $25 – Car EF
I paid $1276 in debt

April goals & budget to come. Happy Monday y'all!

Link Exchange

MPP — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:47:55 +0000

I love reading blogs, especially personal finance ones. There is a sense of accountability, inspiration, and even friendship by participating in this unique community. For all those bloggers out there, if you would like to be included on my blogroll, please leave a comment below with your web address. If you add me, I'll add you. ;)

Neuschwanstein

MPP — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:03:18 +0000

Traveling Itch

MPP — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:09:14 +0000

I love love love to travel. I haven't been that many places, but I've made my rounds to Jamaica, Peru, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada (totally counts), and various states within the US. It's been almost two years since I have gone abroad and I'm getting that traveling itch. I have a good friend who moved to Egypt last year to teach English to missionary children in Cairo. Her term ends this August and I really wanted to visit while she was there, but just couldn't justify it financially and with minimal vacation days. I recently spoke with her online and she has renewed her contract and will be overseas for another year. Another year! I want to go visit her so badly! Just for kicks I looked up airline flights to Cairo for next spring and they're about $950-1050. It would be a fairly inexpensive trip since I would stay with her, so the cost would include the flight, any traveling costs while I'm over there, and food. I know that right now that shouldn't be even on my radar until I am done with my debt/savings goals, but who knows if I'll get this opportunity again. And she's not just an acquaintance, but a true kindred spirit. Hmm. [caption id="attachment_560" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Neuschwanstein Castle in the Alps"][/caption] Unrelated Note: It's PAYDAY! About freaking time!

April Goals & Budget

MPP — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:16:24 +0000

April Goals:

Go to the gym 3 times a week
No shopping until Easter
Make at least $100 in extra income
Update my resume and portfolio
Rearrange apartment for new roommate
Stay within budget on dining out!
Send a care package to my mom

Budget:

Groceries: $200
Gas: $120
Dining: $80
Clothing/Accessories: $50
Home Maintenance: $30
Gifts: $175 (Seriously! Enough with the showers and the weddings!)
Travel: $15 (metro)
Entertainment: $20
Leftover/Misc: $50
Debt: $500
Savings: $255
- $200 to Wedding fund (includes some b-sitting cash from March I hadn't transfered yet. My monthly budget for WF is $100)
- $25 to Car EF
- $30 to Christmas Fund

This budget is for flexible things only. Rent, tithing, utilities, gym fee, etc. are set every month and taken out accordingly. All right. Let's get started!

spring-2009-008

MPP — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:26:03 +0000

Taken at the Cherry Blossom Festival

spring-2009-0081

MPP — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:00:02 +0000

Warm Weather Goals

MPP — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:31:44 +0000

My street is lined with cherry blossom trees. My closet is filled with pretty pastels. Chirping birds have become my alarm clock. It is official, my friends. Spring has finally arrived! [caption id="attachment_634" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Cherry Blossom Festival"][/caption] Each summer I like to put together a little list of fun, cheap things to do or experience. Just because I will be working 40-hour weeks and getting little vacation days doesn't mean I can't have a little fun this summer. My Warm Weather Goals

Paddle boat in the Potomac River
Go to a Nationals or Orioles Baseball game
Drink a margarita outside at a restaurant
Go to a yard-sale and buy a dresser
Grow a garden
Go berry picking
Visit J in the mountains
Go fishing
Lose 10 pounds by BFF's wedding Lost 5 lbs
Go wine tasting at a vineyard
Host a BBQ with friends at my apartment
Plan a day trip to Annapolis
Frolic in a field of wildflowers
Run in a breast cancer race
Go sailing
Only buy vegetables at a local Farmer's Market
Eat my favorite ice cream: Kilwin's Key Lime Pie
Make watermelon cookies
Swim in a natural body of water
Shop at the Eastern Market
Have a picnic outside with J
Go to Jazz in the Garden at the Sculpture Garden
Visit at least one museum. Like the Corcoran or Newseum.
Play in an outdoor sport.
Watch the fireworks on the National Mall

What can I say? I like the little things in life. What about you? What fun things do you want to experience during the warm-weather months ahead? Draft your own list of fun things and post it on your site. There's always cost-efficient things to do no matter where you live, and I'm curious to see what people can come up with. Happy Spring!

Thanks Referrers!

MPP — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:37:07 +0000

It's been a month since I started blogging, and I would like to thank my top PF blogger referrers. Thanks! For those who would like to link exchange, let me know and I can add you to my blogroll.

April Debt Paid: I pay $500 to the parents loan today. Yessssssss! I've adjusted the progress bars to reflect the changes. I have $7450 left to pay, which sounds pretty awesome considering this time last month I had $9220 left. With no other adjustments or changes, at $500 per month, I can have this paid off in 15 months--July 2010. Sounds like a long time, but as long as the number continues to decrease, it's all good. Plus, that is not counting any extra income, cash gifts or future tax refunds I may get between now and then. This Weekend: This weekend will be pretty hectic. I am heading to North Carolina for two showers for my BFF: one that is hosted at my parents' home, and one that I am co-hosting at a restaurant. I haven't seen my mom since we found out she has cancer, so it will be great spending some time with her. The one I am hosting is with my sister and we have a pre-set brunch menu for all the guests. Initially it was suppose to be an intimate number of nine girls, but it has grown to fourteen guests at $10 per person plus tip. Gah! Oh well, it's all in the name of love, right?

Projected Budget: Dining: $15 – for on the road and possible Saturday night dinner Shower Cost: $100 – for half of the meal and flowers Gas: $60 – driving a lot a lot a lot Gotta love it when the paycheck is almost completed depleted in the first week. ;) Have a great weekend y'all!

biscuit

MPP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:30:41 +0000

2665_609703587258_29708868_36212022_6347362_s1

MPP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:32:34 +0000

table

MPP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:36:03 +0000

My Whirlwind Weekend

MPP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:58:11 +0000

I feel like I need a weekend to recover from this past weekend. What a crazy few days I just had! I hung out with so many old, wonderful friends and had such a lovely time at both of the bridal showers. We even had perfect 70-degree spring weather and all of the trees in full bloom. The one I hosted in Charlotte was a little stressful at the beginning because the restaurant was not prepared for us (even though we booked the room in January and called three times in the past week). However, to make up for its tardiness, they provided mimosas on the house for the guests at the bar while my frazzled sister and I set up the table. Everyone just thought the pre-shower beverage was all apart of it, so it turned out pretty awesome in the end. Weekend Budget: I was over budget by $11, which I am fine with.

Dining Projected: $15 | Actual: $7 Yay! I was under-budget. We stopped by Panera on our way Friday night.

Shower Projected: $100 | Actual: $116 This included $21 for party favors, $10 for flowers for the table, and $85 for the meal, all split with my older sister.

Gas Projected: $60 | Actual: $63 Not bad, considering I drove a total of 16 hours this past weekend. I also got to meet my newest little sister: Biscuit! As soon as my mom found out she has breast cancer, she decided she needed a little furry friend to keep her company while she goes through chemo. She's four years old and just the sweetest little thing ever. I'm going home again this weekend for Easter and cannot wait to spend more time with her. Driving home last night I had that Sunday night sadness that you get after a wonderful weekend. After you've been planning and looking forward to something for months, it just goes by so quickly once it arrives. But I'm pretty confident there will be more fun, exciting and just as exhausting weekends ahead.

The New Roommate

MPP — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:05:02 +0000

I have mentioned my roommate for quite some time now. I'll just call her "A." We've been BFF since we were four, lived with each other for three years in college and this past year here in DC. A's getting married in July and so the past few months I've been a little anxious about who will be my next roommate. Big shoes to fill. Well, it just so happened that my good friend from forever ago just moved to the city for an internship in January. Her internship turned into a full-time job and so I asked if she would be interested in living with me for the next year. She'd love to. Hooray! She won't be the same as A, but at least the stress it over. However, her apartment lease ends near the end of April. I talked about it with A and we both agreed to ask her if she wanted to stay with us those few months and live in the living room. She agreed and will be paying us $400 each for letting her live there before she takes over A's rent in July. It will be crazy sharing our two-bedroom apartment with three girls but I think it will be do-able. It's just from April 25 to June 20. Plus, the idea of having an extra $400 makes me out right giddy! I'll probably dump $200 on both debt and savings. Or maybe use a little for something special. A is out of town on spring break this week (I should have been a teacher!), so my goal is to do a massive clean of the apartment before our new friend moves in. Since she is helping out with rent, the least I can do is give her as much of a room as possible and I want the place to be completely organized and spotless by move-in weekend. In other news, one of my goals is to try a new recipe per week, and this week I'm going to make this. It looks like a nice little spring dish. Also, I transfered my savings today: $250 to wedding saving and $30 for Christmas and I've adjusted the progress bars accordingly. It's slowly adding up. Cha-ching!

Why I Give

MPP — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:58:20 +0000

I give 10% of my income away each month, which ends up being $220. When I first drafted my budget last July, I wrestled with this a lot. That money would be really useful to help pay down debt! Or save! Or spend! But I came to the conclusion that this was going to be a non-negotiable issue for me. Here's why: 1. For Character Insurance – I know this may sound a little twisted, but stick with me. Ever since the beginning of time, money has given people power. Not all negative, because I can even see this power in my own life. Having discipline on my money now gives me the power to do fun things later. However, I never want to feel too obsessed with my money management. One of my fears is becoming a stingy, greedy Scrooge who holds tightly to the things I have. By giving, I feel this automatically prevents me from becoming that. 2. Because It's Not Mine – I am a Christian, so I view everything I have or receive ultimately as a blessing from God. Some of you may disagree with me on this, and that's fine. But that's my world-view. Having the mentality of "it's all God's anyway" helps me not only give willingly, but allows me to examine other areas of my money management with that same lens. It's also interesting that Jesus taught on the topic of money more than any other topic during his ministry. 3. Because I Can – Sometimes I feel so unworthy to live in a prosperous country way beyond the means of the rest of the world. No matter the economic climate, there is no doubt we are still a very wealthy nation. Giving such a small portion of what I have is the least I can do. WAYS TO GIVE: 1. Money – Giving your money is the most obvious and measurable. If you are looking for where to give, there are plenty of great charitable organizations out there. I recommend going to Charity Navigation to look up details on how efficient and responsible organizations are. The last thing you want to do is find out you are giving your money to an organization that pockets over half of its fund raising. 2. Gift-in-Kind – This could include anything from giving clothes to a thrift store, baking goods for a fund-raiser, or donating office supplies to a home. These are called "gift-in-kind" because they have a cost associated with them, but they're not straight-up monetary gifts. 3. Time – Sometimes I find it easier to give money than to actually invest my life into volunteering or serving my community. But you don't need to become Mother Teresa or move to Haiti to give your time. I actually volunteer with an organization by doing what I went to school for: marketing! It's pretty simple for me to do on the side and allows the organization to save money on fund raising and such. With the friendships I've made, I sometimes wonder who is benefiting more: the charity or myself. I don't mean for this post to be a guilt-trip for readers or to position myself in a "holier-than-thou" light. Believe me, there are many months when the last thing I want to do is fork over hard-earned cash to a charity. In truth, the purpose of this post is so I can come back here and remind myself why I give. What about you? How much do you give per month? What is your perspective on giving?

What Would You Do?

MPP — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:04:15 +0000

As I mentioned before, I will get $400 from my new roommate. I'm so excited to have this extra money and trying to plan ahead. But I thought I'd pose a question to that fabulous PF blogging community out there: What should I do with the $400?

a. Put it all on my debt. b. Put it all into my wedding savings. c. Split it down the middle: $200 to wedding, $200 to debt d. Start a Roth IRA with it. e. Start a travel fund. f. Use half to buy J a nice present for his b-day and the rest to debt/savings. g. Other... Tell me what you think!

Detox

MPP — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:50:54 +0000

Do you ever have those mornings that you wake up and feel like you've gained weight overnight? Where even sucking in feels fat? Not matter how you felt the night before, you're suppose to feel your slimmest in the mornings. I mean, it's been 8+ hours since you even ate anything! Well, I had that morning today. Blah.Ugh.Yuck.Disgusting. So! Starting Monday I am going on a detox diet. A little body-cleanser. I'm starting Monday because this weekend is Easter and I'm going home and, well, I just like starting new things on Mondays. I'm not one big on diets because they never last. In fact I don't really want it to last because that isn't really the point. I just need a little drastic few weeks of eating only super healthy foods to kick-start the 10 pounds I want to lose. I'll put together the list of things I can and cannot eat for Monday. -- Today I'm leaving work early and heading home! I'll get to see J tonight also, which I am SO excited about. My goal this weekend is to only spend money on gas. A weekend budget of $45? I think I can do it. I've got $350 left in my account for the month and all my bills are paid so it's just for flexible spending. PLUS after Sunday I can go shopping! For those who are religious: Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Or, just Happy Weekend!

Easter Fun

MPP — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:24:36 +0000

I just had one of my favorite weekends ever. It was glorious spring weather, I saw family I hadn't seen in months, and I got to spend some quality time with J. So fun! Plus, I only spent $20 on gas. My parents graciously paid for my gas for my way home and I ate so much delicious food while I was there. Since yesterday was Easter, that means I can now officially go SHOPPING! I am so happy to say I did not cheat at all! Since giving it up for Lent, I have saved myself probably hundreds of dollars. It's a good thing too, with all the gifts I've end up buying these past few months. Today I started a Lemon Detox diet. This basically includes a lemonade four times a day of freshly squeezed lemons, water, a teaspoon of 100% pure maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper. This is suppose to satisfy your sweet craving and help speed up your metabolism. I am also going to be eating lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish or chicken. The "no" list, includes carbs, sweets, red meats, and dairy. Nothing revolutionary, but certainly a change from my "eat whatever" diet I've been on in the last six months. I will do it hard core for at least one week and then incorporate whole grains and some low-calorie dairies to the mix. I have been a little lazy in going to the gym lately. I find I would rather run outside since it's beautiful, but feel guilty because I am paying for the gym, and then I end up doing neither. I may pause my gym membership for the summer and then pick it back up when it gets cold again. I originally signed up because it was just too cold to run outside. And my initiation fee was expensive, so I'd rather not sign up all over again starting November. If I pause it for a $20 fee, I will save myself $150 from May to October. Could be worth it. But then again I do like the cycling classes. Hmm this may call for a pro/con list!

Extra Moola

MPP — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:06:51 +0000

One of my yearly goals is to make an extra $80 per month. I always budget according to the income I am guaranteed from my salary, so extra money in the bank is always a wonderful surprise. I went through my budgets from this year and realized that my babysitting jobs have been really beneficial! It's amazing to me how just $100 makes a difference in boosting savings, dumping debt, or just adding a cushion to the budget. Babysitting Money: Jan: $75 Feb: $125 March: $225 April: $150 I've made $575 this year, not including tax refunds, interest, or monetary gifts. I am going to copy No More Spending and change my goal from just $80 a month to a total $2009 yearly addition (brilliant). This means I need to make about $120 per month for the rest of the year. Totally do-able if I continue to have about one job per week. I would also like to venture into new areas of making some cash. I'd like to start taking surveys, selling some books online, and I've been thinking about buying my own domain name to add advertising to the site--unfortunately Wordpress doesn't allow ads. If you've found a cool way to make some extra cash, or have written a blog post on this topic, please let me know.

target

MPP — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:17:26 +0000

Lent's Benefits

MPP — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:19:51 +0000

My job is very close to a Target. Since I gave up shopping for Lent, it was a challenge to go there on my lunch break in the past two months. I still went occasionally for friends' gifts or to grab household items... but every so often I would venture into the clothes section. I like buying workout clothes because it gives me extra motivation to exercise. I saw a top for $16.99 a few months ago that was pink and adorable. But! I didn't want to cheat, so I didn't get it. Then another time I went and saw that the price was reduced to $11.89. Gah! I wanted it so bad and they only had a few left in my size. I actually held it the rest of my shopping trip and only put it down at the last minute. I wasn't allowed to buy clothes! If it was still there afterwards, then I could get it. So yesterday, I went to Target for the first time since Easter. I called J on the way over to chat because I knew he didn't have class. I told him I was going and that I was so excited to buy clothes or shoes or jewelry or whatever I wanted! He said that I should only spend $5. Ha! That's cute. Yeah, okay. Well, I went to the active/workout area and there it was: my pretty, pink, size small, duo-dry, yoga tank top for $4.30! I was so excited. :)

And the $400 goes to....

MPP — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:17:42 +0000

DEBT! Well, partly. For those who don't care to scroll down or click here, a week ago I asked what I should do with $400 I am getting from an extra roommate for two months. Thanks for all the suggestions. As_green at Always the Planner was the closest. I decided to give $300 to debt and $100 to savings. I know, boooooooring. But I just gotta keep in mind those progress bars and that increased net worth. Here's my rationale: Each month I give $100 upfront to wedding savings, but I gradually add cash that I make babysitting or if my budget has a surplus (I think that happened only one month!). So while my $5k goal seems far off with just $100/month, I add tiny amounts each week to get me closer. My debt, however, is at a steady $500 a month. So I decided to add $300 to the debt. Adding $650 in May and June, and if I continue to give just $500 each month, no more, no less, I'll be debt free in June 2010, one month before I was suppose to be. Holla! As for the other ideas: For J's b-day gift... well, I've already budgeted in May for him and I know I can do something really sweet with that money. I'll get him a nice graduation/christmas gift at the end of the year. The Travel Fund? Right now I'm not planning any extravagant trips and budget month by month for the smaller ones. This is going to be a future savings fund, for sure, but just not in the cards for me right now. The Roth IRA? I think I'll just stick with my 401(k) for now. I will open a Roth once I complete my debt payments. It'd be super sweet to put this money towards a plane ticket to somewhere or towards a shopping spree. But all in due time. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. Although, things have picked up--especially since I started this blog! Perhaps it's the "visual" reminders and updates, or maybe it's because I've gotten a lot of windfalls lately (tax refund, extra b-sitting gigs, new roommate). But either way, I am so thankful that I started this and have really seen a difference it's made, not only in tracking my progress, but keeping me accountable to whoever happens to read this silly thing.

Getting Cable and Failing Diets

MPP — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:19:41 +0000

Ever since I started budgeting, I always look for how I can cut corners and save a little cash. A and I decided not to have cable this past year and just kept up with shows online. Plus we have a lot of TV DVDs and have gone through many series since living here (Gilmore Girls, Friends, The Office, How I Met Your Mother... what can I say? It was a cold winter). My new roommate "D" wants cable. Now while I love a cheesy ABC Family movie or keeping up with the latest meals on the Food Network, I just don't want that extra expense! Especially in the summer, since I feel guilty watching TV on pretty days. I was silently kicking and screaming about getting it, but decided I should at least look. I asked J to help (my trusty techy-bargain-hunter), and it's only going to cost $30 per month, which we would split three-ways until A moves out. I thought that was all right for just the standard 80-some channel package. Weekend Budget: I'm going to a Nationals game tonight ($15 ticket), and will budget $30 for food, beer, metro. I hope to spend less than that, but they charge you out the wazoo, so I'll be prepared. Saturday I am going yard saling for a dresser and hope to find something nice under $50. The rest of the weekend I think I'll just hang out and clean the apartment. Detox Update: Yeah... remember how I mentioned I hate diets? I do. I totally cheated on Day One. [I know!] But, I'm not counting myself a failure yet. I've eaten much better and ended up losing 2 pounds since last Friday. I also went to a boot camp conditioning class at the gym, and I swear that woman was Jillian (from Biggest Loser)'s twin. It was Tuesday night and my thighs are still sore. Guess that's all... the weather is suppose to be gorgeous and sunny all weekend here, so i hope everyone else has a lovely weekend!

ballpark

MPP — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:06:55 +0000

ballpark

MPP — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:09:45 +0000

Playing Catch-Up

MPP — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:22:28 +0000

I am having that kind of Monday after a lovely, sunny, money-spent weekend. I have so many receipts to sort through, but the gross weather has made me a bit apathetic at the moment. It was a great weekend and I'm glad I was in town for a change. Friday I went to a Nationals game with some friends. Always a good time. I mean we lost, but baseball games are usually so slow that I don't get emotionally attached. Plus you've got $7.50 beers and delish hot dogs to occupy your time. So fun. I get to check it off my list of Warm Weather Goals. Score! Saturday I went to Georgetown and had a field day wandering up and down M Street. I bought a shirt, a dress, a sushi lunch, and an afternoon latte. (I might end up taking the sundress back. It's a little see-through and I thought about using a slip, but I don't know if it's worth the $30 I paid for it.) Saturday night A and I ordered a pizza for our evening of rearranging the apartment, watching Gilmore Girls episodes, and laughing over a bottle of wine. I'll get my budget caught up soon. In the meantime, anyone else feel this laggy, draggy feeling today? Maybe it's just me.

Health Flexible Spending Account

MPP — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:32:45 +0000

At the beginning of this year I decided to set up a Flexible Spending Account with my employer for $200 a year. This means that each paycheck pre-taxed dollars are set aside into an account. If I purchase health products, including any prescriptions or over-the-counter medicine, I turn in my receipt and get reimbursed from this account. Initially I thought it was a great idea, but that was before I realized that the account expires in December (dumb!), my other health benefits are great (covers contact lenses), and I'm overall pretty healthy . So far I've only spent $11 on allergy medicine, but I have yet to be reimbursed for it since the total needs to be $15 or greater. Perhaps this is something I will use once I have children or change jobs with sucky benefits, but right now I don't think it's worth it. I am considering just going to CVS, buying a bunch of medicine, turning in my receipts to get reimbursed, and then returning all of the medicine. Has anyone else had luck with their FSA?

My Greatest Ally

MPP — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:25:07 +0000

In the game of saving money, dumping debt, and managing your cash flow, income is your greatest ally. You have to have money to manage it. My sister recently lost her job. She lives in expensive New York City and is struggling right now to find work and keep her head above water. I've been helping her with the process, but it got me thinking about my own life and job. There's no such thing as job security, especially in this economy, but I put together a list of things to help ensure that my income continues. 1. Actually Work at Work I know that this may sound a bit hypocritical, but I try to avoid blogging at work. I am an early-riser, so I always write blog posts first thing in the morning after I've worked out (not today!) and am drinking my first cup of coffee. I do publish the posts at work, but only because I like to review them once more. (It's 7:15am right now as I type.) The same goes for Twitter. And chatting with friends on IM. And browsing Facebook all day. And watching YouTube videos. Now, I do make updates on Twitter, occasionally comment on other blogs, and get distracted by the overwhelming amount of information that the internet offers, but it's important to remember to do what I'm being paid to do. 2. Keep an Updated Resume & Portfolio This was one of my April goals and it's amazing to me how often I forget about the projects I worked on last month, or even last week. I keep a document filled with all of the possible things I have done (in college, in my career, extracurricular), and then come time for job searching, I can pick and choose different skills or job responsibilities that I've handled tailored to whatever I am applying for. 3. Develop & Maintain Relationships I hate the word "networking" but it's brought up so much for a reason. If I was going to hire someone to work underneath me, I would really prefer someone that I've met and can get a feel for their character, rather than sorting through a stack of well-qualified resumes. I have a list of all kinds of professional and non-professional contact information for just this reason (well that and because I genuinely care about most of them). When the time comes to change or move jobs, I hope that the people I've met in this job and former jobs will be a huge help in offering advice, networking, and even serving as a reference. 4. Learn New Things When things are slow at work, I usually ask my other slammed co-workers what kinds of things I can do to help. I ended up learning HTML coding that way, something that is not at all in my job description. I also sign up for Webinars whenever there is one related to my field because the more I learn, the better marketable I become. 5. Remember to Follow My Dreams (I know, so cheesy.) Sometimes my dreams are fuzzy and I lose focus on what exactly I want to become, but I need to remember that at the end of the day, a job is just a job. I never want to feel trapped with my position and want to have the freedom to explore new opportunities.

pearl ribbon

MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:25:27 +0000

il_430xn_64352369-1

MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:31:13 +0000

earrings_fo_charm

MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:33:28 +0000

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MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:37:38 +0000

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MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:39:11 +0000

ball_golf_wht_12_lg

MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:44:59 +0000

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MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:47:31 +0000

Shopping for Pink

MPP — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:56:42 +0000

My mom starts her first chemotherapy treatment tomorrow, so I've been shopping for pink. There's quite a bit of stuff out there. [caption id="attachment_936" align="alignnone" width="164" caption="Pretty jewelry for the daughters."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_938" align="alignnone" width="129" caption="Pretty leash for the dog."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_942" align="alignnone" width="207" caption="Pretty golfballs for the husbands."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_937" align="alignnone" width="179" caption="Pretty cookie cutters for the family."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_935" align="alignnone" width="175" caption="And a pretty sweet necklace for the mom. "][/caption]

Girl's Weekend

MPP — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:13:09 +0000

This weekend I am off to Blacksburg, VA. Approximately once a season my old friends and I get together. It's always like a grown-up sleepover: drinks, shopping, and lots of laughter. It is also the last weekend of the month, so my money is slowly draining from my account as I am in desperate need of a paycheck. I must not spend more than $80. Weekend Budget: $20 gas (splitting it with A) $60 for the rest: drinks, dinner, going out Other news: -My new roommate moves in this weekend. -I have a new babysitting family lined up. Approx. $100 extra per month! -We got cable installed on Wednesday and it's fabulous. -It's suppose to get up to almost 90-degrees this weekend! -This week was so long at work, but equally as productive and rewarding. -I have the sweetest boyfriend ever. Have a great weekend y'all.

spring-2009-084

MPP — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:36:26 +0000

In Need of a Paycheck

MPP — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:28:17 +0000

This weekend I spent: -Pedicure: $26 -Restaurant: $25 -Smoothie: $4.50 -Gas: $15 -Snacks: $8 -Ice Cream: $2.50 Total = $81 Over by a dollar. I can live with that. I have literally $18 left in my April budget. Yipes! Stupid once-a-month paychecks. That will cover enough for gas (still have half a tank) and maybe a small trip to the store to pick up some fruit and vegetables. I have some frozen foods I can eat and we certainly could use the freezer space. My new roommate D moved in this weekend. It will take some getting used to another body in my small apartment, especially since A and I are are so in sync after years of living together. I just need to remember $400. I reminded myself that this morning when I needed to take a shower, and when there was no coffee left for me, and when the living room air conditioning unit had been running overnight. It's just eight weeks and $400. Although, I will have to live with her after A moves out. I may have to talk to her about the AC. Electric in the summer gets so expensive and it's only April! It did get warm this weekend, but when all the windows are open and fans are on there really is a lovely draft that cools down the place. I will make it a good week though! It's all about attitude. But one thing's for sure: Thursday's payday cannot come soon enough!

Beefing Up Retirement

MPP — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:25:27 +0000

A while back I posed a question about saving for retirement. When I first started managing my money, I decided not to contribute anything towards my 401(k) because my employer automatically contributes 3% regardless if I do or not. I decided it would be better to pay my interest-earning loans first. However, since paying off those two loans, I only have interest-free debt to my parents left. I want to pay this off ASAP, but I also need to get in the practice of saving for retirement and the sooner I do this, the better. I crunched the numbers using this handy retirement calculator and just by starting this year as opposed to next, I will save myself over $200,000. Of course, there are so many factors that play into this (rate of return, types of investments, salary increase), but there's no doubt that the earlier you invest, the better. Here's the new plan: Contribute 5% of my income now (equals 8% with employer match), and when I finish paying off my debt (Summer 2010?) I will raise that goal to 15% or the max $5000 per year. I just contacted my HR rep to make this happen. It won't be processed until June and will be approximately $115 of taxed dollars, so I will need to switch around my budget a bit. Assuming the market starts to turn upward (and I'm pretty hopeful), that should secure a comfortable and possibly early retirement. How much do you save for retirement per year?

April's Net Worth: +$1K

MPP — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:31:27 +0000

Looks like an excellent April with an increase of $1,143! It's so encouraging to see such a large increase! I mean, granted last month I saw a jump of $2,000 but that was from a lot of tax refund help. ASSETS: Cash: $682.59 (+193) I always keep the amount of rent needed in my checking account just in case something happens and I cannot get to my EF fast enough (it's with another interest-earning bank account). This also includes my "Car Savings." I borrowed from myself last month to front the bridal shower. That's what the increase is doing in this account. Emergency Savings: $1,000 (no change) This does earn 2% interest each month, but I send those few dollars to the Wedding Fund at the end of the month. I'll focus on saving more in here later. Christmas: $138 (+$30) I'm doing fairly well with regularly saving $30 towards Christmas. I thought about possibly buying some gifts for Christmas (I also have three good friends' birthdays in December), but I think I'll hold off on that. Wedding: $1,956 (+$262) I gave my usual $100 per month out of my salary and the rest was good ol' babysitting money. I absolutely love babysitting! The families I babysit for are so low maintenance it makes such an easy way to earn money each month. Right now I have five evenings lined up in May. Woohoo! 401(k): $1,241 (+$158) Thank goodness for better markets! I am really excited about seeing this number increase in the next few months now that I am contributing my extra 5% starting June. It will be something I rarely look at, except during Net Worth times, but that extra money will certainly add up. Car: $1,500 I do not intend on selling my old beater anytime soon, but I added it to my worth just for good measure. LIABILITIES: Parents Loan: -$7450 (+$500) This was my first big check sent to my parents and I think they were surprised and impressed with the amount. They should go ahead and get used to it. ;) Credit Card: Big fat $0! I usually use this just for emergencies or if there's some kind of rewards deal or something. I also applied to open an Amazon Rewards card but have not been accepted yet. We shall see. TOTAL NETWORTH = -$889 Inching my way up to $0! More on the budget details tomorrow. Oooh how I adore the end of the month!!

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MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:57:32 +0000

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MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:11:04 +0000

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MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:11:59 +0000

april budget

MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:12:56 +0000

Recap: April Goals & Budget

MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:47:38 +0000

April Goals:

Go to the gym 3 times a week I am embarrassed to say I went only six times this past month...*hangs head* Why is this so difficult for me? No shopping until Easter I did it! There were a few moments when I just didn't think I had it in me, but I am happy to report that Lent's discipline certainly helped me save a bunch of moolah this month and last. Scooooore! Make at least $100 in extra income ...and then some! I made a total of $160 from babysitting. All of that was included in my Wedding Fund. Update my resume and portfolio Done! It's amazing to see all of the projects that I've worked on in the past few months. Oddly I feel more secure about my career after organizing this information. Rearrange apartment for new roommate Also accomplished. It's a little crammed, but I think that our arrangement will work. The three of us have different schedules so it works all pretty well. My only complaint yet is running out of coffee each morning... but I know how to make more. ;) Stay within budget on dining out I have $2.31 left in my dining budget for April. This is the first time in a long time that I did not spend that much on food. I was also under budget in groceries too. How strange! Send a care package to my mom I got my mom some pink gardening gloves, some candy, and cute notes of encouragement.

April Budget:

Overbudget: 1. Gas: I traveled three of the four weekends. Goal: $120 | Spent: $128.73 (+$8.73) 2. Clothing/Accessories: Got a little too excited after giving it up for Lent. I'm going to take back a dress though but haven't gotten around to do it. Goal: $50 | Spent: $80.58 (+30.58) 3. Gifts: Holy April was this an expensive gift-giving month! My sister actually owes me $116, but since she lost her job I told her she could wait to pay me back on this. Goal: $175 | Spent: $350.66 (+$175.66) Under Budget: I was under budget on the rest of the items. This is the amount I had left in each category:

Groceries: $51
Dining: $2.31
Home Maintenance: $1.56
Travel: $15
Entertainment: $5.01

Overall pretty pleased with the budget. This site is starting to look like Christmas. Now, goodbye April and on to May: I'm determined it's going to be great.

May Goals & Budget

MPP — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:06:29 +0000

You know what time of the month it is: Goals & Budget time baby! I promise the goals and budgets will cease for a while after this entry. May Goals: 1. Get AC fixed in my car. I am going to budget $90 for this. 2. Workout three times a week, or 12 times total. 3. Save $150 + any extra income to Wedding. 4. Pay off $650 to debt. 5. Increase net worth by $1000. 6. Attain $0 net worth (will do if #5 is met) 7. Do at least three things on my Warm Weather Goals May Budget: Groceries/Dining: $200 (combining the two) Gas: $120 Auto Expenses: $90 Clothing/Accessories: $50 Personal Care: $60 (need a haircut!) Home Maintenance: $15 Gifts: $80 Travel: $10 Entertainment: $20 Debt: $650 Savings: $225 --$30 to Christmas Fund --$25 to Car Emergency Fund --$150 to Wedding Fund (This includes $100 normal amount +$50 from D's rent.) May Plans: Here are some things that may alter my spending: --I need a haircut --Getting AC in car fixed --Cable will be included into my budget this month --Bills will be split between three roommates --Gifts: Mother's day, J's birthday in June --May 9-10: Mother's Day trip home --May 30-June 1: Memorial Day trip to visit J

The Five Year Plan

MPP — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:22:20 +0000

The other night J and I had The Talk. Where are we going? What do you see yourself doing this time next year? Where do we see us in the next few years?" You know the one. Both of us agree that we're committed to each other and want it to work. And it's been understood since the beginning of our relationship that marriage was something both of us eventually wanted. Since J graduates in December from undergrad, this was a topic we eventually needed to discuss. Both of us agreed that since we have been long distance ever since dating, we should try to live in the same town for at least six months before making any big decisions. I plan on renewing my apartment in August and working at my company for at least another year. He mentioned finding a job near me in January. Or staying and getting his masters. He hadn't mentioned it before, but he shared how he would really like to go to grad school. While it would be a possible set-back for us, it may be more beneficial in the long-run. I could stay here after my lease runs out, or go live near wherever he ends up. Who knows. Stupid long-distance! I wish I could schedule "get a raise," or "get engaged" like it was a hair appointment. But I guess those things are always much better surprise events anyway. J on the other hand is perfectly content with having this month planned and that's it. One of many differences between the two of us. -- So to make up for my lack of personal direction, here is a semi-plan for what I'd like my financial life to look like in the next five years.... 2009 – Pay off Debt Right now my priority is to get this debt paid off ASAP. I will have only $3,200 left to pay off in December. I will also continue to contribute towards my wedding fund and should accumulate a minimum of $2,860 by the end of year. 2010 – Pay off Debt & Save for Wedding Jan to June: Debt should be paid off in June, assuming I get $0 in tax refund, $0 bonus, and no raise. After debt is paid off, I want to open a Roth IRA and begin to contribute the annual minimum of $5,000 per year. July: Get intense with Wedding fund. I should reach my goal of $5K by September. I have no idea if or when I'd get married, but assuming it's not 2010, I will continue to contribute the rest of this year with approximately $7,000 by December. 2011 – Emergency Fund #2 After wedding fund is sufficient enough, I will start to tackle my Emergency Fund, while continuing to contribute $5K per year to the Roth IRA. Right now I have $1000 in my EF and I'd love for it to be at a minimum of $6,000. That shouldn't take very long to accomplish. Once that is achieved, the next goal will be $12,000. 2012 – Emergency Fund #3 If my "dream" plan ends up happening, I would be married by this point. If I end up marrying J, I know that he has some student loans, so paying those off would become priority. But otherwise, I want to continue to beef up the EF fund until it has reached $12,000 and also continue to contribute $5K to the Roth IRA and increase 401(k) percent with each raise. 2013 – House Deposit I will be turning 28 years old this year and goodness knows what I will be doing at this point. The next goal would be to save for a house deposit. Perhaps this can happen earlier, but after my debt has been paid, my wedding is funded, my emergency fund is around $12K, I would like to save and buy a home! -- I am sure the future me will look back on this timeline and laugh at my silly plan. But it's nice to have some tangible targets in the future to keep me on task today. Have a great weekend!

jcrew

MPP — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:54:47 +0000

banana-republic

MPP — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:15:16 +0000

skirt

MPP — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:40:19 +0000

Shopping Spree

MPP — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:28:48 +0000

I find it interesting how I can just go and blow away my budget the first weekend I get a paycheck. I act like I don't even have a budget. I went to an outlet mall and spent almost $100. And it's only May 4th. Not a very good beginning to the month. With that said, I did get some awfully good deals. And I had a $20 gift card to Banana Republic. Plus there's something to be said about buying things that you KNOW will get a lot of use out of them. I tried to find pictures for each of these, but since they were outlet items on sale I could only find a few similar pictures. Dress: $34.55 It is a comfortable, but fancy dress with brown polka dots and very flattering. I bought this Saturday morning and ended up wearing it to a wedding that evening. I will also probably wear it to another wedding I have later in the summer (no one would know I even wore it before). Originally $79. Pleated Skirt: $17.71 I love wearing dresses and skirts during the summer. I'm always trying to find skirts that I can wear comfortably to work.This khaki skirt is kind of a simple, but has just a few pleats in the front and hits right above the knee which is good for short 5-3" gals like me. Originally $39.99. Leather Clutch: $17.89 Okay, this may be my one item that will not get that much use. But it was just so cute and such a good deal. It's brown, leather and big enough to fit your camera, phone, and a thin wallet for a night on the town. Scooore. Originally $109. Shirt: $7.97 This is a green short-sleeved shirt with flowery details around a square neckline. Would be appropriate for work and also cute enough to wear outside of work. Originally $14.99. Two Camisoles: $14.98 together There was a 50% sale on camisoles at Gap Outlet, so I bought a white and black one. Originally $14.98 each. Headband: $8.06 I love wearing feminine things. I saw this headband at J. Crew. It will be good to wear to A's bridal brunch, or maybe for a date... although J would surely make fun of the huge flower in my hair the entire time. ;) Originally $16.99. I know, I sound pathetic trying to justify my purchases. New goal for May: Don't spend any more money on frivolous things!

Progress Bar Updates

MPP — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:45:54 +0000

I bank with Bank of America for my regular purchases. I also have money market accounts with a credit union back at home because they have pretty sweet deals on interest rates. Right now the interest rates for money markets are 2% and competitively higher than the average rate out there. The only thing is that the bank is only accessible in NC, so I always transfer money from BoA it takes a few days to process. Today the savings and debt payments have been processed online, and these are the progress bar increase: Debt: I sent a check for $650 and have 15% completed! Now I have $6,800 left to pay. My dad called me yesterday because he received the check wondering whether I could afford this much. I told him about D's extra rent and said it would be $500 normally a month. Wedding: I added $180 plus interest that was earned on my EF. I am hoping to add another $150 by the end of the month from babysitting. Christmas: I added $30. I think it will probably take more than $300 to buy gifts for everyone, but it will be nice to have that extra little bit in any case. I wrote my new roommate an email about the May bills, including internet, cable, and a friendly reminder about our rent agreement. I assumed she'd pay me at the beginning of the month but she asked if she could pay at the end of May. Stupid me! I already put her $200 into the debt/savings for the month and would rather not take it back from the account or ask my parents for the money. Oh well, perhaps I can wait to get it later. I am so bad with confrontation and hope that splitting bills in the future will not be a problem. We shall see.

Apartment Negotiations

MPP — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:23:13 +0000

AH-HA! I knew it. I knew this apartment was too expensive. I saw online that my two-bedroom $1350/month apartment was going for $1295 online. I don't think so, Landlord. I saw that PF pal Saving Cents in the City recently negotiated her monthly rate down and I'm thinking I can do the same. Perhaps I could even get a lower rate than what's advertised by threatening to leave. Dare I?! He doesn't want to go through all the mess of having to find a new tenant. Believe me, I have been an angel: Rent paid on time. Minimal utility use. Immaculately clean. Adorable decorations. I even lined the outdoor porch with flowers. (<--See? Angelic.) There's no doubt I will contact him about this. The only thing I am curious about is when. And how. My apartment lease runs out at the end of July. Old roommate A will be leaving in June (*tears*) and new roommate D will move out of the former spacious living room and into the big bedroom for the next year. Should I contact him now, three months before I resign? Next month? Wait to hear from him about possibly renewing the lease? Do I contact him by email or by phone? Should I go ahead and grab the apartment across the hall advertised online?!? (Nah, wouldn't do that). But seriously--any thoughts would be appreciated!

Where the Heart Is

MPP — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:37:15 +0000

I mentioned a while back that my older sister lost her job in New York. What I didn't mention was that her rent was $1300 a month (by herself) on a $40k salary. Needless to say she needed to find a job or a subleaser fast. She found a subleaser last week and in two days moved back home to figure out her life and take care of my mom. My younger sister also lives at home as she is beginning her photography business in our hometown. My family is really close and it is so strange to be the only one not at home right now. I am going home this weekend for Mother's Day and considering surprising my mom and taking tomorrow's workday off. In the next few months I have at least five trips to NC planned. And it could be more than that. My sister wants to find a job in Charlotte. My roommate A will be moving to Atlanta come July. My boyfriend J lives in NC seven hours away. My closest friends live within two hours of each other in the South. If these are the people that mean the most to me, what is keeping me here? I initially moved to DC for the post-graduate experience of a big-city life. Granted, it's not that big of a city, but the traffic alone makes you feel like you're surrounded by millions. I do love the area so much, but really the only thing keeping me here is my job. It's a great first job and I know that with two years' experience I will have the skills to take me pretty far in my field. Plus they've hinted at a possible promotion in the next six months. But is a secure job reason enough to stay somewhere that I'm not vested in? I think so. But then sometimes I wonder. If I am wishing for this next year to fly by, am I just wasting a year? And why wait after two years of my job to start what I want to do in my career; I should be actively looking for positions I want right now. And am I holding on to old relationships so much that I am closed off to making new friends here? I didn't mean to ramble so much about this. I am just feeling a little overwhelmed and a bit burnt out with traveling south so often. Why can't I just be content with where I am?

Oh geez

MPP — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:25:08 +0000

Seriously, I overreacted a bit there, didn't I? It was day six of rain (boo) and I was feeling kinda crummy (swine?) so you'll have to forgive the temporary freak-out. I do love it here in our nation's capital and my traveling will calm down after this summer. You're suppose to travel during the summer anyway, right? In any case, I'm heading home this evening and will get a much-needed hair cut this weekend. My sister claims this one place cuts to perfection so we shall see. My hair tends to get a bit thick and frizzy and curly no matter the style. Weekend Budget: Food: $20 Hair cut: $70 Gas: $40 Hope y'all have a great weekend too. I'm outta here.

Weekend Recap

MPP — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:46:26 +0000

I'm a bit late in updating this week, but yesterday was very busy, which is a good thing. My weekend was great and I only spent $11 on Food, $48 on gas, and $35 on a haircut plus styling cream. The hairdresser was late, so she gave me a discount on the haircut and threw in a bottle of Paul Mitchell's curl-definer gel for me. It was a great Mother's Day and I am so thankful I got to go home and spend time with the fam. I had a six hour drive back to DC and was thinking a lot about my life up here. I decided that everywhere else I have moved from, I have been very excited about the new possibilities, but so devastatingly sad to leave close friends. I decided that I would not feel that way about this place and that should really change. I need to make close friends and invest my life here so that when I do move, it will be a sad occurrence because I have made such kindred spirits. Oh, and the new roommate will be paying me rent this Friday on her payday. Yay.

Credit Cards – Good or Evil?

MPP — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:15:48 +0000

I just recently signed up for the Amazon Rewards Credit Card through Chase bank. I originally got it because I make enough purchases on Amazon that it would be useful, but have been thinking a lot about using it into my other purchases. I will, of course, pay off the balance each month and possibly each week. Plus, for the first 90 days, points are double, so I would get 6 points for each Amazon purchase, 4 points for gas and groceries, and 2 points for every other purchase in the first three months. (BTW: this is not a sponsored post.) There's a bit of a debate out there surrounding credit cards. Some view them as evil, mainly because of the misuse that got them into debt. Others, however, use them for gaining points and getting rewards back. I went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University last year, so I have had the mindset that I should stay away from them, but honestly I feel like I have enough discipline to use one. I'll test out the waters this month and see if it affects my spending. What is your perspective? Credit cards: Good or evil?

Half-Marathon+Event+Logo

MPP — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:49:31 +0000

New Fitness Challenge: Train for a Half Marathon

MPP — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:49:03 +0000

For almost a year I've been teetering with the idea of running a half marathon. My little sister ran one in February and wanted me to join, but I just wasn't really in the mindset to train for it--and that's definitely half the battle. Well, I think I am finally mentally ready to train for one. I signed up last night for the Baltimore Half Marathon. Yipes! I'm definitely committed to putting all my energy into training. Especially with the pretty $78 price-tag attached to registration. Ouch. I have to pay to experience two plus hours of pain? I have only run in a 5k race before, which is much different than a 13-miler. But the race isn't until October 10th so I have plenty of time to train. A couple of guys I know are running the full marathon (no thank you!) so I think I will join them on the long runs. With this unexpected monthly expense, I have taken this money out of some of the babysitting cash I am planning to get this month and will look at other ways to cut back (entertainment, dining out, or travel). There's a possibility I could wait to get my car's AC fixed until next month, but I'd really like to get that over with soon. D's rent check will come in on Friday so that will give me much more security and I want to come up with a "last two weeks of the month" budget. Always a challenge. So I've officially added a new goal for the year: Complete the Baltimore Half Marathon!

Not Loving May's Finances

MPP — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:39:34 +0000

My budget is slowly dwindling away this month and I am in desperate need of a babysitting job to help buffer my expenses. I had no idea how dependent I have become of this extra income through babysitting! Three of the six jobs I had lined up for this month were canceled for various reasons, so I have yet to earn extra income and I can feel the impact it's made on my budget. I usually put that income into my WF, but this month I'll probably just pocket it to make up for my half-marathon fee of $78 and my $78 for fixing my AC yesterday. Second-Half of May Budget: Gas: $80 I still have two weeks left of driving to work--total of 22 miles round trip--plus a trip to visit J for Memorial Day weekend. My goal is to fill up no more than 4 times and carpool with my coworker as much as possible. Food: $100 Yikes. The $200 food budget for both dining and groceries is harder than I thought. The best way that I can save money is to actually eat everything that I buy at the grocery store. There is no reason for me to throw away spoiled food! Silly me! Misc: $30 For things like toothpaste or entertainment or whatever else I end up needing in the next two weeks. -- In other news, J is in Texas visiting friends this week and next week since he's in between spring and summer semesters. I know we're long-distance so it's not like I miss him any more than usual, but I find it hard not to be jealous and sad since his traveling limits the time that we talk. Plus, while I am so thankful for my job, I miss the casual schedule of a student's life. *Sigh* Oh well! These are the cards I've been dealt. No use complaining about them. Let's just say I am really looking forward to seeing him in a week.

img_shop_hd

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:36:23 +0000

images

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:39:17 +0000

18BananaRepublic

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:40:57 +0000

Banana Republic_Logo

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:43:04 +0000

new-anthropologie-logo

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:43:45 +0000

KateSpadeLogo

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:45:13 +0000

img-thing

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:45:45 +0000

DSC00500

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:49:35 +0000

My Love/Hate Relationship with Georgetown

MPP — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:58:33 +0000

I'm going on a girls' shopping spree in Georgetown tomorrow with some close friends. I have a love/hate relationship going on with this part of the District. How do I love thee, Georgetown? Let me count the ways:

Banana Republic
Coach
Gap
JCrew
Kenneth Cole
Ralph Lauren
Steve Madden
Urban Outfitters
Club Monaco
Sephora
Pottery Barn
BCBG
Zara
Anthropolgie
Artefacto
Barney's
Kate Spade
Christian Bernard
Mexx
Godiva Chocolatier
Niccolo
Lush
Dean & Deluca

How do I loathe thee, Georgetown? Let me count the ways:

I have vowed not to spend any more after my Outlet shopping debacle.
I don't have the money.
I have no need for more clothes.
I have no need for more shoes.
I have no need for more handbags.

I did get paid $45 for babysitting last night. That could be the sexy temptation to lead me back into this Georgetown love affair... we shall see on Monday how strong my self-discipline is. Have a great weekend y'all!

I'm a Big-Fat Failure

MPP — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:30:27 +0000

Georgetown? I loved it on Saturday. I bought one top from Urban ($10), one top ($29) and one nightgown ($29) from Anthropologie, and a gorgeous dress from a little boutique ($60-orig $118!). In total: $128. I have just completely bombed May. But you know what? I kind of don't care. You ever feel like once you fail, you figure you may as well fail big? That's kind of what I've been doing. Apathy is such a deadly little sickness in this saving game, but I'm determined not to let it kill the next two weeks. Right now my plan is to survive without spending any this week. That means nothing. If I can do that, this weekend might be a bit more enjoyable. I will just have to pay penance with June's check. And try to get as many side jobs as I can get. Ugh. I hate shopping hangovers.

Link Love.

MPP — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:15:54 +0000

Work is very busy today, which is always a good thing for me. I hate being bored! Not much to update. So my back up option: Link Shout-Out! Thanks to my top Referrers:

Always the Planner
Give Me Back My Five Bucks!
Shoestring Alley
Stacking Pennies
TeacHer Finance (I realize I haven't added you to my sidebar. My bad!)

And here are some random searches that led people to my site:

How to Make a Five Year Plan
Warm Weather Things to do
Cherry Blossom Forest
Planning My 2013 Wedding
Paul Mitchell Roundtrip Reviews

Thanks to all who read this silly thing. Really, y'all are awesome.

The Art of Matchmaking Never Dies

MPP — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:39:30 +0000

Today is my one-year anniversary dating my boyfriend J. In honor, I'm going to derail from my somewhat usual PF topic and share with you a little story.

-one year ago-

My life pretty much turned upside down this time last year. I had just graduated college, been offered a new job that started June 3rd, my family was moving out of our 20-year old home, and I just started dating my good friend.

The day before I moved up here, I had a wedding to attend in J's hometown, two hours from my hometown. I stopped by his house a few hours before so that I could get ready and meet his parents. I know it was extremely premature to meet his parents after dating one week, but I was moving five hours away that's just how it happened. I arrived, met his dad and then J went upstairs to get ready. I was sitting at their kitchen table just trying to come up with something interesting to talk about with his dad. We exhausted his job topic, my move topic, the weather topic, the economy topic. Really, I was pulling teeth here. Then I asked him how he and J's mom met. He said it was in the city that I grew up in. Finally! A topic I can relate to. He then proceeded to tell me that he was living in a large house with a couple that rented rooms to college kids and recent graduates. His landlady had befriended a girl next door (J's mom) and hinted that they should get together, but J's dad was pretty shy (explains the topic exhaustion). One Sunday, his landlady just happened to invite both of them over for lunch in hopes to get them to meet. They hit it off and the rest is history. By this point, J had joined us at the kitchen table. The next few moments' conversation looked something like this: Me: Aw that's such a sweet story! Where did you live in Hometown? J-Dad: On SG Street. Me: Oh cool! My grandparents used to live on that street. J-Dad: I worked at X place during that time and J-Mom lived next door in some apartments. Me: Oh cool. Where on SG Street? J-Dad: It was across from a high school sort of near the train tracks. Me: Wait, X-high school on SG Street? J-Dad: Yes. Me: Oh nice. What did the house look like? J-Dad: It was an old white farm house. J-Mom got to be really good friends with my landlady. She would go and visit with her while she gardened in her backyard. Me: They had a large garden in the backyard? J-Dad: Yes... Me: If you don't mind me asking, what was the name of your landlady? J-Dad: Betsy. ---long pause--- Me: That's my grandmother. J-Dad: Excuse me? Me: Betsy X? J-Dad: Yeah, married to Edward-X. Me: Yes! That's my grandfather! J-Dad: You're telling me, Betsy-X is your grandmother and set up J-Mom and me? Me: I guess so! J-Dad: Wait, so then M is your father! Me: You know my dad?! J-Dad: Yes, he lived across the hall from me during that time. I had a room upstairs with red carpet. Me: That was turned into a playroom when I was little! My sisters and I used to have slumber parties in there! ...and yada yada yada. Finally we stopped with the memory lane and I had forgotten that J was at the table. I look over and he's got this HolyCrapWhatIsHappening-look going on. Later that day I asked him what he was thinking during that moment and he said he was just making sure we weren't related. So. That is the story of my match-making grandmother who introduced J's parents. Ironically she died two years ago this month and wasn't able to meet J, which is really too bad because she would probably remember all the details of her match. Happy One Year! <3

WildflowerField

MPP — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:22:27 +0000

WildflowerField

MPP — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:23:59 +0000

wildflowerfield

MPP — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:25:52 +0000

Memorial Day Weekend

MPP — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:58:46 +0000

Memorial Day is my first holiday off since New Year's. It has been a long five months without a break! I am heading south to see J this weekend. Budget consists of gas and food (hopefully no more than $80). Entertainment? The great, free outdoors! It's suppose to be a few gorgeous sunny days. And here's a little snapshot of where he lives: Happy Weekend!

Operation Summer Savings

MPP — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:01:41 +0000

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means summertime is fast approaching! There are so many great things about summer. Vacations! Fresh veggies! Free outdoor activities! Barbecues! Swimming! Sun-dresses! Ice cream! The cons of summer, however, include: -higher gas prices -an intense heat that drains and leaves you inactive -a carefree spirit that can ruin even the most diligent budgeter -lots of bugs In order to tackle these cons (minus the bugs), here's a list of challenges I am setting for myself until Labor Day.

Cycle Everywhere. I bought a road bike last year for $50 and only rode it a few times before it got too chilly. This year, I vow to bike to the grocery store, downtown for errands, and anywhere else that is within five miles. For places that require a car, I will try to do it right after work when I am already driving.

Carpool Weekly. I have a coworker who lives nearby. With my 22-mile round-trip commute, there's no excuse why we don't carpool more often. I vow to carpool an average of once a week.

Limit Lunch Break Trips. I rarely eat out for lunch, but I usually drive somewhere so I have an excuse to get out of the office for thirty minutes. My office is pretty close to walking trails, so this summer I vow to continue to bring my lunch, but limit the amount of times I leave the office to no more than two times per week. Other days, I will eat outside to save money on gas, stretch my legs, and get a little [farmer's] tan.

Spend $200 on clothes until Labor Day. Oh snap! A new shopping goal! I think any reader can tell that this is my weak point. So. Until September 7th, I vow not to spend more than $200 in my clothes/accessories/shoes department. (This may have to exclude a new pair of running shoes, which will be necessary for my Half Marathon training.)

Sell $200 Worth of Stuff. I'd love to cover the cost of any clothes by selling $200 worth of junk treasures. I'm not sure how I am going to do this, but I'd love to make some moolah off stuff I rarely use or don't need.

Run 210 Miles. I created my Half Marathon training schedule and according to my 15-week schedule up to Labor Day, I have to run approximately 210 miles. Daaannng. I vow to find some good playlists and podcasts and motivating running partners.

Increase Net Worth by $3,500. This is totally doable. I vow to live within my means, continue to pay debt and save, and not be as careless with my budget as I have in May.

For a more relaxed list of things I want to accomplish this summer, check out my Warm Weather Goals. They're not quite as intense as these.

Reorganizing Priorities

MPP — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:54:20 +0000

I've decided to get intense and reorganize my finances. I blame May. This month has been nothing short of disastrous, and to make up for May's slacking ass-ets, the future months will just have to pay.

Here are some changes:

During lunch yesterday I opened the fund that will eventually help me survive when I am old and gray! I finally just gave in and opened a Roth IRA. I will begin to contribute $100 towards this monthly. I'd love to work up to the $5k minimum, but I'll start small and work up to it. Time is on my side and contributing this year may make a huge difference in the long run. I've decided to pause my Wedding Fund. Seriously, I'm not getting married or engaged any time soon and just seeing "wedding savings" right here makes me 1) anxious that I have so little and 2) a little excited about possibly being married--two emotions I don't need to feel right now. I doubt I will be engaged in 2009 or 2010. And I'm okay with that. I will add money to it only when I feel like it. :) I've reorganized my budget and hope to keep un-bill related expenses at $400. My budget will show more on this, but basically anything that is not a bill or automatically taken from my account (like gym fee), I want it to be under $400. This includes food, groceries, clothes, household items, etc. Yipes! Whenever I reorganize, I feel like I'm abandoning some of the goals or objectives I've set for myself... but reorganizing does not mean failing. Those goals are still very much apart of my financial focus, but just reworked a bit. I'll have my June budget updated soon.

Farewell May

MPP — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:34:11 +0000

The last few days of this month I'll be up here for the weekend and taking it easy. Surprise surprise. :) I'm very behind on my blog reads. Sorry friends. I think catching up sounds like a lovely Saturday morning task. After I run four miles. And ride my bike to the farmer's market. And hit up some yard sales to look for a dresser. And make a delicious strawberry-banana smoothie. And scrub (I mean SCRUB) the entire apartment. Ok, so maybe it will be a Saturday afternoon task. I have $10 in cash and am babysitting tonight, so I plan not to use my debit/credit card. If I do spend it on anything, it will probably be eating out. I rarely feel like cooking on the weekends. I am thankful that I have to wait until Monday to get my paycheck. I have high hopes for June. Yes sir-ee. High hopes. I'm taking a weekend trip with A (last one before she gets hitched), a weekend trip with DC friends, beginning my hard-core half-marathon training, and saving money like it's my daytime job. It's going to be awesome. :)

spring-2009-008.jpg

MPP — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:32:41 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/spring-2009-008.jpg

cropped-spring-2009-0081.jpg

MPP — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:34:44 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/cropped-spring-2009-0081.jpg

spring-2009-0082.jpg” doesn’t exist?

MPP — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:38:34 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/spring-2009-0082.jpg” doesn’t exist?

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MPP — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:40:33 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/cropped-spring-2009-007.jpg

RECAP: May Goals & Budget

MPP — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:04:13 +0000

May Goals: 1. Get AC fixed in my car. I am going to budget $90 for this. Check! It cost $78 and thankful is still working today. This is something I probably should have waited for though. This and the half marathon registration. But I don't have central AC in my apartment and feel that arriving to work in a frazzled, sweaty state was just not something I wanted this summer. 2. Workout three times a week, or 12 times total. FAIL. Yeah, same story as the rest of the months. 3. Save $150 + any extra income to Wedding. Check! I contributed $185 to the wedding fund to bring it to $2145. I am going to take $145 out of this to start my Roth IRA this month though, so it may stay lingering at $2,000 for a while. 4. Pay off $650 to debt. Check! Thank you new roommate! :) 5. Increase net worth by $1000. FAIL. Ooooh just barely made this one. I had a net worth increase of $995. So close! 6. Attain $0 net worth (will do if #5 is met) Yes & No. I am going to evaluate my net worth in a few days. I don't think that I'm going to count my car ($1500) as an asset since I probably won't be selling it anytime soon and it's only depreciating daily. 7. Do at least three things on my Warm Weather Goals Check! I went to the Eastern Market, visited J in the mountains, and had a picnic in a field with him. Score! May Budget: Groceries/Dining: $200 Over by $35 Gas: $120 Over by $25 Clothing/Accessories: $50 Over by $172. Holy guacamole. Travel: $10 Over by $5 Healthcare: $0 Spent $78 on Half Marathon registration Overbudget by: $313 Debt: $650 Check! Savings: $225 –$30 to Christmas Fund Check! –$25 to Car Emergency Fund Check! –$150 to Wedding Fund Saved $185 Auto Expenses: $90 Under by $12 Personal Care: $60 (need a haircut!) Under by $15 Home Maintenance: $15 Under by $15 Gifts: $80 Under by $42 Entertainment: $20 Under by $20 Underbudget by: $104 Conclusion: Ugh this post is nauseatingly ugly, but I must report my bad budget behavior. I'm over budget by $209 but with the extra income of babysitting money ($150) I will only owe $60 to myself in June. Not as bad as I thought I would be, but if I didn't spend so much money I would be $150 richer this month instead of in the hole. Oh well. New day, new week, new month. Hellooooo June!

June Goals & Budget

MPP — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:36:33 +0000

June Goals:

Make $150 in extra income
Stick to training schedule/Run three times a week
Pay $650 to debt
Save $205:
- $100 Roth IRA
- $30 Christmas
- $25 Car
- $50 Wedding
Increase net worth by $1000
Start sewing a quilt (budget:$50)
Find a running partner or a running group
Do three things on my Warm Weather Goals

June's Budget: Income: $2500 Salary: $2300 Roommate Rent: $200 Bills/Non-Negotiable: $1092 Rent: $660 Tithe: $200 Car Insurance: $32 Verizon: $85 (cell phone + internet) Cable: $35 Electric: $50 Gym: $30 Discretionary Expenses: $550 Ok. So I said I wanted to keep this at $400 per month, but that's not exactly doable with birthdays and weddings. :/ And I need a new pair of running shoes. Oh well, $500 per month is lofty enough. Gas: $120 Food: $225 Gifts: $100 Hobbies: $50 (quilt) Misc: $55 Savings/Debt: $855 Christmas: $30 Car: $25 Roth IRA: $100 Wedding: $50 Debt: $650

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

MPP — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:20:52 +0000

Summer foods are my favorite--cool, refreshing and light. :) One of my favorite things to have for breakfast in the summer is a tasty smoothie. I vary up the flavors, depending on the types of fruit that is on sale, but below is my absolute favorite combination. It's so simple, easy and tastes almost like a dessert. Blend together: 1 cup of orange juice 1 banana 4-6 strawberries 2 cubes of ice You can add a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt or orange sherbet, but I usually don't Cost per Meal: $1.19 I also like calculating the cost-per-meal to help remind myself to make food instead of eating out. Assuming my ingredients afford five smoothies, the cost per meal is $1.19. Pretty good compared to Smoothie King's $4.99! Basket of Strawberries: $2.50 5 Bananas: $0.99 Orange Juice: $2.50 Total: $5.99 What is your favorite smoothie combination?

I want to get out of debt so badly.

MPP — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:42:02 +0000

Ohhh man. I'm having one of those mornings where all I can think about is becoming debt-free. I want so much to be rid of it. I can hardly imagine what that will feel like to have $500/month back in my hands to save, invest, give! I am okay with my budget and allocated savings right now, so the only thing keeping me from becoming debt-free is time. If all goes on schedule, I will be debt free in one year. However, if I use next year's tax refund, any monetary gifts, or raises, I could potentially be rid of it as early as March 2010. Still seems like a long time. It's so easy for me to say things like: "I wish I would get a raise!" and forget that I got one this past December. Or think, "I wish that I could just have a few hundred dollars extra a month!" and forget that my new roommate is paying me $400 for two month's rent. Or think, "If only I didn't have so many expenses!" and forget how much money I am saving by using my employee benefits. I need to remind myself of the little blessings that have come my way and be thankful. My debt is interest-free: I am thankful! Slow and steady. Slow and steady. I'm confident I'll get there eventually. :)

Net Worth Update: +$963

MPP — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:29:10 +0000

I just can't seem to make up my mind. A month ago I added $1500 to my car value, but this month I'm taking it off all of my net worth entries. It's more of a psychological thing. My car is depreciating daily and I want to drive it until it eventually dies, so I doubt I will ever see its $1500 worth and don't really want to count it. With that said, here is my updated net worth as of May 31st: ASSETS: Cash: $866 (+184) On May 31st, I was transferring money to pay off the Chase card, so this number is a bit misleading. Emergency Savings: $1,000 (no change) This earns 2% interest each month, but I send those few dollars to the Wedding Fund at the end of the month. Christmas: $166 (+$30) Slow and steady. Wedding: $2,145 (+$189) This included $100 normal contribution, plus $50 from roommate's rent, $30 babysitting and $9 interest. I'll probably take $150 of this and put it towards my Roth IRA this month. 401(k): $1,451 (+$210) Earlier I said I would contribute more to this, but I decided to add that amount to the Roth IRA instead. I'd rather have to pay less taxes later. LIABILITIES: Parents Loan: -$6,800 (+$650) Chaching! It felt wonderful to pay this much. Hopefully I can manage my finances better in June to pay this same amount plus a bit extra. Credit Card: -$300 (-$300) This is the Amazon credit card and I sent a check to have this paid off but it hadn't been processed on May 31st. Overall semi-pleased with the rewards I get, but not exactly my use of this credit card. I'll give it another month before deciding if it's worth using all my expenses on. TOTAL NETWORTH = -$1432 An increase of $963. So close to $1000! I should reach $0 networth in two months. -- Unrelated: I've also added the June payments & savings to my progress bars. I didn't get my $200 rent check for this month yet so I'll add those amounts later. Have a great weekend savers!

Becoming Crafty

MPP — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:19:46 +0000

One of my goals this year I haven't mentioned is to sew a quilt. The idea actually began when I bought a duvet a year ago. It was a great deal and sooo fluffy--the only hitch is that it's soooo hot. I mean it is invented for 30-degree weather kind-of warm. So I want to sew a light quilt to use in the summer. I was also inspired after following Posie Gets Cozy, a lovely little blog centered around creating beautiful things. I am naturally not very crafty, but it's something I would love to improve on. I signed up for a quilting class held at a shop nearby this winter. The first day of class I learned that the quilt we were making is actually more of a lap quilt. Or a wall hanging. Plus, the fabrics weren't really my style. Once my roommate A moves out in three weeks, I think I will create a little spot in the living room for my sewing machine one alone-weekend and patch up something lovely for my bed. I need to finish shopping for fabric, but hopefully soon I'll knock off the "sew a quilt" item on my 2009 goals! Quilting Costs: So far $25 on fabric from Ikea. (I had no idea they sold that!)

Unexpected Expenses

MPP — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:02:13 +0000

It's June 10th and already I'm seeing my budget suffer just a tad. Nothing too dramatic, but it's all because of some expenses I wasn't prepared for. And these are actually pretty rare for me. I usually anticipate what types of things will come up (birthdays, weekend trips, big dinners) and I create my budget vague enough to allow for some flexibility in those areas. But the unexpected expenses I'm talking include:

My boss had a birthday and we all had to pitch in $10 for flowers and a gift.
My friend's mom sent me a blank fabric square that I need to make into a quilt patch for a wedding gift. This cost me $15 in supplies and mailing.
My coworker was leaving after ten years and we had to pitch in $5 for a gift.
I am going to a lake house this weekend with some friends and was asked to contribute $8 to a gift for the family that's letting us stay there.

All these things I cheerfully agreed to pay for and certainly doesn't break the bank, but when I originally set a $100 gift budget for J's birthday and two weddings this month (already over), this accumulated $38 really does affect the rest of the month. If I am trying to live within my means, then I'll just have to cut back in other areas. Perhaps I should start a gift-buffer savings fund. How is your budget going so far this month?

S445-89002-08

MPP — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:00:02 +0000

My Impulse Buy

MPP — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:54:24 +0000

Well, dear readers, I had a very impulsive purchase last night. I bought this netbook: Oddly enough I have zero buyer's remorse because: 1. I have the money to buy it. I anticipate getting at least $200 in babysitting cash this month. Plus I am getting $200 from my new roommate. I did intend on using that for other things, but oh well. This is justifiable. 2. I semi-need one. My old desktop at home is lacking. Plus it's a desktop--not exactly the most convenient piece of machinery. And traveling be fantastic with this little guy. :) 3. It's a killer deal. My boyfriend J (aka: Tech Bargain Hunter) confirmed it was awesome. The total was $211, including $1.99 shipping and zero tax. Cha-ching! 4. I've wanted one for months. And I haven't bought myself anything like this in a long time. I kind of feel like a child justifying why I did something wrong to a jury of PF bloggers. No it wasn't in my budget, and yes, that money could be used somewhere else, but I am okay with my purchase. Once in a while, it's okay to buy something you want. ;)

We're Halfway There

MPP — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:01:25 +0000

Today is June 15th which means we are halfway through 2009. Whoooa baby! Where did this first half of the year go to?! Let's see how well I'm doing so far on those goals, shall we? Goal: Save $300 for Christmas by November 2009 Right on schedule. Should have $300 by October just in time for some early Christmas shopping! Goal: Contribute $700 in Roth IRA Completed 42% and I began this month. Will contribute at least $100 per month until December and far exceed my goal. Perhaps I should increase this goal. Goal: Pay off two of my three student loans Done and done. One of my greatest moments this year was receiving a letter that read: "Your loans have been paid in full." Yeeeeeyah! Goal: Pay off $4000 of the $8000 I owe my parents 42% completed. I still have $2300 left to pay to reach this goal, but with $500 per month, I should reach this by November. Goal: Make an additional $80 per month So far so good! I have made an average of $137 per month. I'd love to increase this number to $200 average per month though. Goal: Have a $0 net worth by January 2010 Right on schedule. Will hopefully achieve this in one-to-two months. Goal: Make $2009 in extra income Eh, not the best. I have made $825 in extra income. I'll keep looking for opportunities to make some extra cash... Goal: Sew a quilt! I went to a quilting class and made a little lap quilt, but I'd like to make one for my bed and this should be done by August. Goal: Complete the Baltimore Half Marathon Ehh. So so! I'm way off schedule but I've already paid the $78 so I'm definitely committed. Goal: Lose 10 pounds by July 11th Lost 3 pounds. Not good at all! I have less than one month! YIKES!!! Goal: Get a promotion or raise this year Neither yet. Obviously this isn't something I have immediate control over, but I am making a conscious effort to be a diligent and dutiful employee. If either happens, it will probably be in December for my performance review. Goal: Grow a garden I probably should get on this! I have little space to grow one, but I want to at least have one tomato plant that I can put in a pot. Will work on this... is it too late? -- I am on schedule for most of these 2009 goals. I am so thankful that I set goals that were attainable, but also a bit of a challenge so that it actually requires a lot of discipline and effort. It will be exciting to look back on these goals in December and see how far I've come. Happy half-year! :)

puppy

MPP — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:36:22 +0000

Lake

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:27:55 +0000

My $38 Weekend

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:29:49 +0000

Seven friends + $20 gas for the boat + $10 gas for the drivers + $8 hospitality gift for the lake house owners + sunshine & perfect weather + tasty margaritas + free breakfast, lunch, and bbq dinner + precious new puppy + playing cranium, apples-to-apples, and cards + water skiing, wake boarding & tubing + two birthday cakes ________ = best summer weekend for $38 Achoooo! I usually like to update every day, but I have been sick after my super fun weekend. Colds in the summer are just the worst things ever. My new roommate needs to pay me rent and babysitting jobs have been canceled, so I'm just barely making it on my budget this month. Oh well. I won't worry about it. I'll just have many boring no-spend days the rest of this month!

cropped-smith_mountain_lake_april1.jpg

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:56:37 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cropped-smith_mountain_lake_april1.jpg

cropped-tulips.jpg

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:58:25 +0000

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cropped-hydrangea.jpg

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:06:12 +0000

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cropped-spring-2009-0081.jpg

MPP — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:27:48 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cropped-spring-2009-0081.jpg

cocktail

MPP — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:46:50 +0000

Social Constraints

MPP — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:11:47 +0000

I think I have a very good grasp on handling my money on my own. Key words? On my own. When I'm by myself I can easily ward off temptations by saying "that's not in the budget," and that's the end of discussion. I'll put down the cute little dress. However, when others tempt me to spend money, I cave. I can be such a pushover at times and it makes me 1) like the tempter less and 2) like myself much less for giving in. This seems to happen a lot more now that the sun sets at 9 pm and I find myself out after a long winter of hibernation. For example, you are at a bar or restaurant and already spent $35 on a dinner/drinks. Your friend asks you to get another drink with her. You say, "No thanks, I'm good." And she continues to plead: "Come on! It's just $8. Just sacrifice eating out for lunch once this week." Thinking to self: An entire meal vs. just one beverage? "No really, I don't need another drink." Then the friend sighs and says, "Alright, well I guess I won't get one either." And then because you don't want to let your friend down, you give in and buy another drink that ends up being over $10 with tax and tip. How do you resolve that? Am I the only one who feels pressure by friends to "have a good time" and in the process go over budget? What do you do when your budget hinders others from having a good time? Some helpful tips:

Plan ahead. Do your research on restaurants that have reasonable specials.

Eat a snack before dinner so you're not as hungry and order a small meal or appetizer.

Split a meal with a friend. Usually the portions are so large that it is more than enough to feed two.

Be the designated driver. It may not be as fun, but it's an automatic cheap night.

Pre-game at home. It is much more economical to drink a $5 bottle of wine at home than spending $7 per glass at a restaurant.

Carry enough cash. If the whole table receives one check and it needs to be split amongst the party, you can pay for only your amount and don't have to put everyone's meal on your credit card and hope they all pay you back eventually.

Don't be afraid to say no. Ack! This one is hard for me. But in the end, if my friends don't respect that I can't afford it, are they actual true friends?

Do what feels right to you. If you know it's going to be a huge expensive evening, don't go. Or if you know that caving in will make your friend happy but put you in a bad mood for giving in, just say no. But if you feel that the situation is right and spending a little extra won't be a big deal and you are having fun, then do it. You could always skip eating out that week for lunch.

Morale of the story: Don't let anyone else walk over you. You always have a choice and do what is comfortable with you and your budget. Any other tips to deal with these sticky social situations?

Seven Things & Thoughts

MPP — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:29:19 +0000

Okay, so I was tagged by Shoestring Alley a while ago, but forgot about it until TeacHer tagged me. I thought I would do this for a little Friday Fun. :) Seven Things About Me: 1. I am terrified of granddaddy long legs. 2. When I was in fourth grade I started a newsletter with short stories to send to my family and friends. I had 58 subscribers and it lasted five issues. 3. I'm going to copy one of Always the Planner's things and say that I am a closet reality show watcher. Since I got cable I've been mildly obsessed with the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Anyone else see Teresa flip out the other night? Anyone? 4. All the women on my mom's side of the family are 5-3 in height. 5. My BF and I are completely opposite when it comes to movies. We decided the only way we could reach some sort of compromise was to switch off: you pick the movie, you pay for the tickets. It's worked wonderfully! 6. I own a ton of shoes but usually end up alternating between three pairs per season. 7. My roommate A and I got into the Sims game in college and since then say to each other, "my environment is low" whenever the house is a mess or there is a lot of clutter. Yeah, we're cool like that. Tagging: I hate picking favorites! You know I love you all. How about this: I tag all those who are on my blogroll. Weekend Plans: My roommate A is moving out tomorrow. :( It's kind of an end of an era. I have roomed with A for four years and lived in the same town with her since I was four years old. Now she has to go and get married and live with a boy. I don't think it will hit me until after her wedding and all the excitement has died down. As Awesome Bridesmaid I have lots of little tasks still to accomplish in the next few weeks! After she moves, I am home alone this weekend and I am thankful. The apartment is a war-zone with boxes everywhere and new roommate D's stuff crowding the main room. Once A leaves on Saturday I plan to dust, organize, put the place back in order, and declutter my life. I might even start on my quilt or paint my new dresser. Budget? Let's say $50 pending whether I end up buying paint or not. I think it will be a cheap weekend and I like it that way. Hope you have a lovely summer weekend! :)

Country Music & Money

MPP — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:45:26 +0000

I love me some country music in the summer. There's just something about rolling down your windows, getting that car into fifth gear, and blasting Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires" as you watch the sun set on the horizon at 8:45 pm. Since we are in the heart of summer, I've already listened to my fair share of country tunes already. It's funny to me how so many of the songs' lyrics revolve around money--or rather the unimportance of money. Seriously, listen to read some of the lyrics: "And there are fancy cars and diamond rings, but you know that they don't mean a thing. They all add up to nothin' compared to you." --Baby Girl, Sugarland "I got no money in my pockets, I got a hole in my jeans. I had a job and I lost it, but it won't get to me 'cause I'm riding with my baby and it's a brand new day. We're on the wheels of an angel flyin' away." --Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me, Keith Urban "My hotel in Manhattan holds more people than our town, and what I just paid for dinner, would be a down payment on a house. I'd rather be tipping cows in Tulsa, than hailing cabs here in New York, but I ain't in Checotah anymore." --I Aint in Checota Anymore, Carrie Underwood "It's funny how it's the simple things in life that mean the most. Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes.There's no dollar sign on a peace of mind this I've come to know. So if you agree have a drink with me, raise your glasses for a toast. To a little bit of chicken fried, cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up." --Chicken Fried, Zac Brown Band -- I was looking at my almost-empty budget the other day and wondering where exactly I spent all my money this month. I noticed that I was waaaaay over budget on gifts. I've heard it said that you can tell a person's values by looking at their receipts. Well, the $100 I spent on wedding gifts for college friends were totally worth it. And I wouldn't go back and trade the $80 I spent on J's birthday for anything. The same goes for the $25 on a Father's Day gift. As well as the $20 on DVDs for my mom to watch as she's going through chemo. And the $30 international shipping fee to send a gift abroad. And the little costs accrued by helping A move out. All of those purchases were worth going overbudget for because they are investments in relationships. And you just can't put a price tag on that.

Love_Ya_Award

MPP — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:48:25 +0000

I've Been Awarded!

MPP — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:03:15 +0000

I feel so special! On Tuesday I was given the "Love Ya" award from the very classy blogger, Chelsea Bea at Pencil Skirts & Pearls! What kind and sweet words she wrote about me. I love reading her blog because all of her posts revolve around living life in a timeless and lovely way. In reading other bloggy friends, I noticed I was awarded also by Crystal at Brunette on a Budget! Now there's one fantastic writer. I love her wit, honesty, and admire her courage for following her dreams. Award Details:

Apparently this award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I'll pass the award to these fabulous 8 bloggers (in no particular order). I love reading each post from these talented ladies, but also feel like they have become my friends. "Love Ya!" 1. Always the Planner 2. Well Heeled 3. QuarterLife Finances 4. Shoestring Alley 5. Creating the Perfect Faith 6. Stacking Pennies 7. FruGal 8. Paranoid Asteroid

Summertime Apathy

MPP — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:33:55 +0000

I haven't been doing very well on my budget at all this month. I thought I would be okay with buying the netbook and taking trips and buying gifts and going out with friends, but it turns out I didn't make as much as I thought I would in extra income, and, well, June's turned out to be the worst money month of this year. At least that's what it looks like when I crunch the end-of-month numbers. Oh well! I don't regret doing any of those things, but I am a little bummed that my net worth isn't growing as fast as I predicted. It will be another expensive few weeks with friends in town for the Fourth and traveling for A's wedding, plus I have only one babysitting job lined up for all of July. I'm kind of torn because I know I should care and be really upset--and part of me is--but the other part is a little apathetic. Perhaps I should be a little better at anticipating the upcoming month and plan my budget accordingly so I'm not completely devastated when I'm way over. You'll see what I mean when I post my embarrassing June results soon. Anyway, payday is tomorrow, this is a four-day week, and I am thankful. :)

RECAP: June Goals & Budget

MPP — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:42:58 +0000

JUNE GOALS: Make $150 in extra income CHECK! I made $165 this month, which was helpful but not quite enough. Stick to training schedule/Run three times a week. FAIL. I was sick the second week and therefore did not workout at all. Training is going okay. After A's wedding in a week I'll start H-Core style. Pay $650 to debt FAIL. I'm so bummed about this one. I had $200 from D's rent but that went to cover gifts and the netbook I purchased. I only paid $500 to debt. Still good, but not what I was hoping for this month.

Save $205:

$100 Roth IRA--CHECK! I paid $100 plus transfered $195 from Wedding Fund.
$30 Christmas--CHECK!
$25 Car--CHECK! Used this on an oil change though.
$50 Wedding--FAIL, but it was put into the Roth

Increase net worth by $1000 FAIL. Yeah, I only increased by $499. More on net worth later.

Start sewing a quilt (budget:$50) EH? I bought the fabric. Does that count?

Find a running partner or a running group FAIL. But I did go running with some friends so that should count for something.

Do three things on my Warm Weather Goals CHECK! Of course I would accomplish the fun stuff. I went to Jazz in the Garden, bought and painted a dresser, and ate my favorite ice cream: Key Lime Pie. Mmmmm.

-- JUNE'S BUDGET Discretionary Expenses: $550 Gas: $120 Under by $14 Food: $225 Over by $40 Gifts: $100 Over by $213 (dannnng) Hobbies: $50 Over by $25 Misc: $55 Over by A LOT. Try $185. YIKES! This month did not look good. My car was towed, I bought the netbook, I bought some work pants, I spent some mooah on friends... let's just say I am glad to start fresh in a new month. I have $185 to pay on my credit card and I absolutely hate starting a new month like that. Oh well! New day, new month, new budget. Let's hope July is better. *crosses fingers*

July Goals & Budget

MPP — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:07 +0000

I'm going to aim low this month because I know it will be an expensive month and I don't really want to have that horrible feeling afterwards. I also know that August through December I will have a set weekly babysitting job ($45 per week) and my trips/summer plans will calm down a bit after this month. So here are the goals & budgets for the month. GOALS:

Pay $500 to debt.
Save $100 to Roth IRA
Contribute any extra income towards the Christmas Fund
Follow running schedule: three times a week minimum
Start a sports league in DC
Accomplish three things off my Warm Weather Goals
Increase net worth by $600
Have an awesome time at A's wedding!

BUDGET: Income: July 1st: $2360 Expenses: Rent: $660 Debt/Savings: $600 Tithe: $200 Bills/Utilities: $202 Credit Card: $185 The Rest: $513

Gas: $120
Food: $225
Personal Care: $30 (mani/pedi @ wedding)
Misc: $138

Bitty Break

MPP — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:49:31 +0000

I'm in July 4th vacay mode and therefore will not be blogging as usual for the next week. I also wanted to announce a public "I'm Sorry!" for not commenting on my PF pals' blogs. Will catch up eventually. In the meantime, I'll be soaking in some sun, eating lots of ice cream, and spending good times with great friends. And I think you should do the same. :)

I'm back!

MPP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:24:16 +0000

What a lovely little vacation I had! I had guests come to visit for the Fourth of July and then traveled for a lovely weekend for my best friend's wedding. I'm torn between being really sad it's all over and slightly relieved to be back in my routine and allow for some much-needed R&R. Even though I was on "vacation," I can't say I did a lot of relaxing. One huge challenge of hosting guests and traveling are the unexpected costs that creep up. I need to finish crunching the numbers, but I think considering all that I did, there wasn't anything I went over on--except for maybe gas. The only thing truly unexpected was to get my car inspected, which I completely forgot about until my dad kindly reminded me. That only cost me $13 though. Cheap! Right now in my bank account I have $260 left for the rest of this month. I've paid all of my bills except for two that come at the end of the month--approximately $70 total which my roommate will split with me. I also have to purchase a birthday present for my mom, travel home the last weekend, mail some packages, and may also sign up for an 8k run to help with my training. I have only one babysitting job and should get about $60 for that. I feel like this Monday is the first day of a brand new six months. I plan to review my goals, make some new ones, and figure out how exactly to meet them. Time to get to work... literally. ;)

images

MPP — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:08:32 +0000

Cooking for One

MPP — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:19:31 +0000

Cooking for one can be a huge challenge. Most recipes produce a four-serving meal, and personally I get tired of eating leftovers Day 2. For a single gal like me, the freezer is my best friend. I live near Trader Joe's and I love it. It has cheap, fresh, and flavorful prepared dishes, many which you can stock up in your freezer. I find myself spending about $30 a visit and it can last up to two weeks of grocery shopping. Not to mention the Two Buck Chuck. It may not be the finest wine, but mix a $2.99 pinot grigio with a raspberry lemonade spritzer... mmm! Perfect summer drink. The only thing about TJ's is it has turned me into a lazy cook. The last thing I cooked from scratch was about a month ago. In the winter I make a lot of homemade stews, soups and sauces to freeze for later, but I don't exactly feel like a hot bowl of chili in the middle of an 85-degree evening. I've turned into a turn-on-oven-place-pre-seasoned-salmon-inside kind of girl! So what about you? How do you meal-plan for one being both conscious of your wallet and of your waist? If you care about both price and quality, what are your go-to recipes?

Apartment Resigning: What would you do?

MPP — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:05:29 +0000

A while ago I saw online that my landlord was selling my apartment for $1295 per month instead of the $1350 that I have been paying (split with a roommate). I knew I would negotiate the cost for the next year, but I waited too long. I recently saw the price was raised to $1325. I wrote him an email explaining how I wanted the rate that was offered three months ago and he said the only option would be to get the $25 discounted rate before it goes back to normal again. Whatever. That's fine. It is pointless to dwell on that right now. I asked him whether a six month lease was possible. He said yes, at the same $1350 price I've been paying. Decision time! This means... a pro and con list! :) Of course my roommate's thoughts will have to weigh in on this also, but here are the two options I have for housing this next year:

Option #1: Pay $1350 for six months--$660 per month split with my roommate (she has a larger room). This would cost me about $90 and potentially $180 if I resign for another six months. However, after the six months is up I would have the option to switch apartments or resign at the end of January. This could give me some flexibility to find something cheaper, but at the cost of moving--both monetary cost and emotional cost. I have a lot of stuff! This option would also give me the flexibility to change jobs or possibly move out of state, if I wanted to. (Something to think about with a long-distance boyfriend and a mom with breast cancer.) I do have contracts with both cable and internet for the next year and would have to negotiate with the companies if I choose to leave the apartment earlier.

Option #2: Pay $1325 for a 12-month lease--about $645 per month split with my roommate. I would save $180 for a whole year and have the security of knowing that I have a place to live, in an apartment and area that I love. However, if I choose to move I'd have to find a subleaser. This option would allow me to save on moving costs, contract agreements with cable/internet companies, and give me another somewhat guaranteed year at my job (assuming I do not get laid off).

I am leaning towards one of these options, but thought I'd pose the question to my trusty savers out there. If you were in this situation, would you do? Sign a one year or six month lease?

Personal Finance Ad Lib

MPP — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:26:04 +0000

Debt Ninja at Punch Debt in the Face is hosting a Personal Finance Mad Lib game to give a little snapshot of your financial and personal information. I always loved Mad Libs, so of course I was going to participate! Here's my PF Mad Lib: Hi my name is MPP. I currently have $6 cash in my wallet. When I started managing my finances (one year ago) I was worth -$13,800, and now have a net worth of -$934. I currently work in advertising and have been doing it for more than a year. I make roughly $37K per year. I want to have $5 million? waiting for me when it comes time to retire. Aside from learning about finances, I really enjoy traveling. I think the world would be a better place if spiders didn't exist. I had shrimp for dinner last night and it was omg-delicious. I have had two significant others over the course of my lifetime (counting awkward middle school relationships). One thing that makes me different is I was the valedictorian of my high school. Now that I'm done with this mad lib, I think I'm going to fix some coffee. -- One thing really awesome that this showed me is that in one year my net worth has increased by $12,866. Holy wow! That's pretty freaking sweet. Let's hope things look like that come July 2010! Also, I need to figure out how much I'd like to have to retire. I mean, I think $5 million sounds good, but how much exactly will I need and how much will I need to contribute? Looks like questions I'll have to answer in a future post.... Fill out your own and link it to his site, or you can refer back to here. Hi my name is (blank) . I currently have (blank) dollars in my wallet. When I started managing my finances I was worth (blank), and now have a net worth of (blank). I currently work (blank) and have been doing it for (blank) years. I make roughly (blank) per year. I want to have (blank) waiting for me when it comes time to retire. Aside from learning about finances, I really enjoy (blank). I think the world would be a better place if (blank) didn't exist. I had (blank) for dinner last night and it was (blank). I have had (blank) significant others over the course of my lifetime (counting awkward middle school relationships). One thing that makes me different is (blank). Now that I'm done with this mad lib, I think I'm going to (blank).

Weekly Spending Report – July 13-16

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:02:11 +0000

Happy Friday! On Monday I reported that I had $260 left in my budget. Here's where I stand today: Money Log: Expenses: -$20.08 gasoline -$30.43 wedding gift -$11.79 stamps + bday card -$10.16 groceries for lunch -$25 to pause gym membership* -$90.10 running shoes** Income: +$55 babysitting +$10.59 returned tank top @ Target (Well done, Self.) Friday Balance: $138.03*** Running Log: Monday – 4 miles Tuesday – 2-mile sprint Wednesday – rest :) Thursday – one-ish?** -- *I am pausing my gym membership until it gets colder and after the Half Marathon in October. I haven't been in a month because I run outside. I have to pay $25 to pause it, but it will save me $30 per month, beginning in August. **I desperately needed some new running shoes. Thursday's run didn't happen because I ran one mile and had to stop because of the blisters on my feet. I bought my new tennis shoes from a running-only store and got 15% off. ***Two weeks to live on $138.03?! Hm. This should get interesting. Have a great weekend, y'all! :)

5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:20:36 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n.jpg

4444_651143276713_22217152_38335324_6342146_n.jpg” doesn’t exist?

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:26:08 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/4444_651143276713_22217152_38335324_6342146_n.jpg” doesn’t exist?

4620_620344692398_29708868_36631110_3903961_n.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:26:44 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/4620_620344692398_29708868_36631110_3903961_n.jpg

5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n1.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:27:07 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n1.jpg

cropped-4444_651143276713_22217152_38335324_6342146_n1.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:27:42 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/cropped-4444_651143276713_22217152_38335324_6342146_n1.jpg

4620_620344692398_29708868_36631110_3903961_n1.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:29:17 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/4620_620344692398_29708868_36631110_3903961_n1.jpg

cropped-5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n2.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:29:55 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/cropped-5329_626895274978_29708868_36963270_4498795_n2.jpg

cropped-spring-2009-117.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:33:29 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/cropped-spring-2009-117.jpg

cropped-spring-2009-1171.jpg

MPP — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:35:15 +0000

http://myprettypennies.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/cropped-spring-2009-1171.jpg

Weekend Spending Report: July 17-19

MPP — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:12:56 +0000

Money Log: Starting Balance: $138.08 Expenses: -$8.75 movie ticket for Harry Potter -$8 dinner -$15.24 groceries Income: +$60 babysitting +120 extra income (-$120 to E-fund) Ending Balance: $166.09 Running: Friday -- 4 miles Saturday -- 3.8 miles Sunday -- rest -- From now on, I plan to report my weekly expenses every Friday and Monday. I'm aware that people probably do not care about the tiny details of my life, but this exercise is more for my personal accountability. I have been a little apathetic and careless lately--especially with my race training. If I know I have to announce to the world the little purchases I make, then perhaps I may be more conscious of them. I have two more weeks and one weekend to live on $166.09 until payday--including two bills due this week. Yikes!

Saving vs. Paying Debt

MPP — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:25:17 +0000

There's a bit of debate in the PF world regarding what should be your first priority: Saving or Paying down debt. If you care to share your opinion, I have a poll where you can vote for your priority. Or you could always comment below. My Personal Opinion: Pay Down Debt. Now, that's not to say you should start paying down debt with $0 saved. My first financial decision was to get a tiny little emergency fund for those, well, emergencies. Done. My top priority right now is to pay off my loans as aggressively as possible. Yeah, yeah. I know. I happen to go against what a lot of bloggers I respect do, and I can't say that my way is the best way either. They are just student loans (aka "good debt"), are interest free, and it's just paying back my parents... so why the rush?! First off, because it's my parents I want to pay it off ASAP. I just want to. I don't want to go home for holidays for the next ten years knowing that I owe them money. They will not love me any less, but it will weigh upon me. They also need the money and it's the least I can do for all they've given me. Also, I feel like the E-Fund I have now and other saving goals are sufficient enough for me to focus on paying the most to debt. Perhaps I was brainwashed by the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class I went to. That said, here are some Saving Changes: I need not forgo my savings plans just because my top priority is debt. I do want to pay my debt down ASAP--but by that I mean it will be paid off in one year at $500 per month. Any other extra money I earn I want to beef up my savings. I have a "Wedding Fund" that I'm going to rename "Future Fund." Well-Heeled blog made a comment about naming it Future Fund and I like that. I'm not engaged nor do I expect to be any time soon so why save for a wedding? I'm also going to swap the $2000 I have for this and with my $1000 E-Fund. (Look to the side progress bars if you're confused.) When the time comes that J and I move into the same town together I'll revisit this fund. That probably won't happen any time soon. I hope to have $6,000 in my Emergency Fund by December 2010. Once my debt is paid in a year, I will have six months left to put $500/month to my E-Fund, totaling $3000. I already have $2000 in there and so where do I get the rest of the $1000? In one year I'd have to put $83 per month to meet my goal. Therefore any extra money I receive will go towards my E-Fund--babysitting, selling things, $4 left in my clothes budget that I don't use. This my friends is called Snowflaking! :) I'm quite excited! Roth IRA: I will continue to contribute $100 per month towards this. I know I should increase that by more. Retirement is one area where I just do not have the motivation right now to pay extra on. Isn't that the worst thing ever? I'd love to have a Travel Fund, a Gift Fund, a House Down Payment Fund, and the list could go on forever. Slow and steady. I need to remember I am only 23 years old--plenty of time to reach those goals. Once my debt is paid off and my Emergency Fund is at at least $6,000, I think I'll have more flexibility on reaching those goals. -- So there's my debt/savings goals. Any tips or changes you'd make if you were me? Please feel free to give your opinion on whether you think there's an area I should forgo or beef up. Your opinions and thoughts really do matter. :)

showercap

MPP — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:43:22 +0000

showercap1-lg

MPP — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:56:42 +0000

How to Save Time & Money on Your Hair

MPP — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:03:33 +0000

The Situation: 1. I have very dry hair and don't need to wash it every day. 2. My hair is naturally curly, wavy, and frizzy. 3. I spend an average of $17 on shampoo & condition and $20 on leave-in products. Perhaps a little pricey, but worth it to make my hair behave. 4. When I straighten my hair, it takes me an average of 45 minutes to blow dry and straighten it. 5. I have to shower every day, especially in the summer and especially after gross sweaty runs. The Solution? A shower cap. :) It's brilliant! Since I need a shower daily but don't need to wash my hair, a shower cap is the perfect solution. I save money on hair products that I don't really need to use and time that I'd rather not waste. I got the idea to buy one a couple of months ago when I spent almost an hour straightening my hair, only later that day to ruin it all in a shower after running. How pointless. Since spending my hard-earned $2.14 on a shower cap, I've saved myself many hours of styling my hair and fewer trips to purchase products. Cha-ching! Has anyone else used a shower cap to help save time and money?

Weekly Spending Report: July 20-23

MPP — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:33:37 +0000

Money Log: Starting Balance: $166.09 Expenses: -$158.59 -$33 Cable bill -$89 Electric bill -$36.59 Groceries Income: +$0 Ending Balance: $7.50 I know. This looks really bad. However, I am still awaiting $87 from my roommate for apartment reimbursements. I am going home this weekend, so about $60 will be used towards gas. Sigh. Let's hope I can make it to next Friday!! -- Running: 12.2 miles Monday: 1.5 miles + yoga Tuesday: 3.5 miles Wednesday: 2 miles Thursday: 5.2 miles Last night I ran 5.2 miles with a running group--in the pouring rain--without stopping. That's the longest I've run since.... Nope. I don't think I've EVER run five miles without stopping. It was the first time since I signed up for the Half Marathon that I thought "I can actually do this!" Ever since I signed up I been really anxious about it, questioning whether I could actually reach this terribly large goal I set for myself. After last night I realize that it is attainable and that I can do it. 78 days until the race!

Friday Fun

MPP — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:55:41 +0000

I work in advertising and thought I'd share a video to give you a sneak peak into the types of clients I work with... sort of. ;) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2a8TRSgzZY]

Weekend Report: July 24-26

MPP — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:18:57 +0000

Money: Starting Balance : $7.50 Expenses: -$26.70 gas -$7.93 gift -$12.30 gas -$5.69 dinner -$21.30 gas Balance: -$66.42 Dear roommate: Please pay me the $87 you owe me ASAP. Thanks. -- Running: Friday: REST! :) Saturday: 0 miles Sunday: 0 miles So, running didn't go so hot this weekend. I was out of town and just couldn't find the time to run. It's my own fault. If I am going to commit to this race, then I need to sacrifice, make time, and actually stick to the training. Let's hope by Friday (aka PAYDAY!) I have better news to report in both the money and running categories.

I'm Signing a Six-Month Lease

MPP — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:15:47 +0000

I was on the fence about signing a six or twelve week lease for my apartment. I chose six months. Here's why:

My job is fairly secure, but I have been itching for something new. Plus, it's not my dream job and I am hopeful that the economy will begin to improve and that I can find something better and more challenging in the next year. I'll outline my dream job in a future post. ;)

My boyfriend graduates from undergrad in December. He's talked about going to grad school, and I'd like to move closer to him if that's the case. Or he may move up here. Either way, I don't really want to go another year without living in the same town. January may not be that date to move, but then again maybe it will be!

I found three other apartments in my neighborhood that are $300 less per month. Note to self: Stop thinking of that.

It will not affect my budget any since the price is what I've been paying this past year.

My mom has breast cancer. She's doing well so far with her treatments, but in case something happened in the next few months I'd like to have the option to move closer.

My roommate wanted it also. This apartment is not the most convenient for her to get to work, so she may want to find a closer apartment in six months

So! I will continue to pay my $660 for the next six months, update my resume, and beef up my Emergency Fund in case my life changes and I have to move. Since I like to plan my life years in advance, it's hard not knowing what will happen. But I think signing for six months gives me flexibility and allows me to make changes if I feel that's what is best. We shall see!

What's in your freezer?

MPP — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:27:02 +0000

I was on the phone with J the other night and he mentioned that he made a list of all the things in his freezer to help him plan his meals for the rest of the month. Now, he's a frugal chap (duh, of course he would be!), but this ultra-organization sounded like something I'd do! I'm surprised I've never taken inventory of my food before, so I thought I'd take a look into my freezer and write down all that I have for possible dinners this week. Here's what I found:

Frozen pizza
4 Chicken breasts
2 Salmon cakes
2 Crab cakes
4 Chicken egg rolls
Bag of shrimp
Stir fry mix
Eggplant/Zucchini mix
Ravioli
Mixed vegetables
Frozen bananas (just waiting for banana bread)
Two bags of cheese
Ice cream (my fave=cookie dough)
Homemade tomato sauce
Sausage
Green beans
Chicken fried rice mix
2 Seasoned chicken patties
Fettuccine/mushroom mix

Whoa baby! If this is correct, then I have a whole month of dinner entrees in my freezer! Hmm. I wonder what I should have for dinner tonight. What do you suggest? :)

Susan G Komen Debit Visa

MPP — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:12:45 +0000

Remember my $200 Clothing Challenge?

MPP — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:53:19 +0000

Yeah, me neither. The day after Memorial day I challenged myself with a $200 budget for clothes, accessories, shoes, etc. until Labor Day. I forgot all about that challenge until searching through some of my past posts. June: $114. 18 I don't remember what I bought, except for two work pants at Gap that were on sale. It's funny how at the time I think, "I must have this!!", but one month later I can't tell you what I purchased. July, to date: $21.20 That's better at least. This purchase was one adorable and versatile cotton dress I found at Marshall's. I'm not counting the $90 I spent on the running shoes. I put that into the "Hobbies" category of my budget. That leaves me with $54.03 until Labor Day. Not much wiggle room--especially when I really want to do a little shopping this weekend at the outlets. Payday weekend is a little scary! And so is the month of August. Growing up my mom would take my sisters and me out shopping for Back to School clothes each August. We almost never got new clothes except for that month and I remember it was so amazing to look around the stores at new, beautiful clothes that I could own! I'd pick out colorful '90s outfits to match my pink jelly shoes and orange slap bracelet. Then as I got older I'd choose the latest washed jeans and tops from stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle in hopes to impress my cool friends after a summer apart. That delightful tradition lived on way past my adolescent years and into college and then into the real world, so that like clockwork I see the month "August" on the calendar and think, "I get to go shopping!" I really need to change that mindset. $54.03!

Weekly Report: Just Barely Survived!

MPP — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:02:34 +0000

Money: Starting Balance: -$66.42 -$13.58 groceries -$13.12 gas +$87 from roommate +7 ad income Ending Balance: +$0.88 Wow, that was a a close one! But I am pleased to report that I have $0.88 left! Yipeee. I still need to pull together the July goals/budget wrap up (since today is technically still July), but so far things are looking good on the financial front. :) Running: 9.8 miles Monday- 3.5 miles Tuesday- 1 mile/7 bleacher runs/strength training Wednesday- REST :) Thursday- 5.3 miles TEN weeks until the Baltimore Half Marathon!

August Goals

MPP — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:15:17 +0000

I'm determined August is going to be awesome. Goals:

Update resume & portfolio
Spend no more than $54.03 on clothes.
Pay $500 to debt.
Snowflake any extra money to savings.
Spend only $55 on gifts.
Give the blog a little face-lift.
Possibly buy an airplane ticket to visit BFF in Atlanta(?)
Figure out a way to pay for said airplane ticket(?)
Continue following running training schedule. And work up to Saturday runs of: 6, 7, 8, and 9 miles.
Start & finish the Twilight series.
Accomplish almost everything else on my Warm Weather Goals.

Picture 1

MPP — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:20:33 +0000

July Recap

MPP — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:27:14 +0000

GOALS: Pay $500 to debt. CHECK! I love watching the balance decrease each month. Slowly and steadily I am inching closer to paying off this bad boy. Save $100 to Roth IRA CHECK! Done! I am eager for this to get a little larger so that the interest can accumulate faster now that the market is doing a bit better. Contribute any extra income towards the Christmas Fund FAIL. I completely forgot about contributing more towards this. Oh well, I put any extra income towards my Emergency Fund, which I think it smarter anyway. Follow running schedule: three times a week minimum FAIL-ISH? Overall I'm pleased with my running schedule, but I didn't kick it into gear until half way through the month. Start a sports league in DC CHECK! Oh yes oh yes. I joined my very first adult sports league with some friends in Washington DC. I won't tell you which sport or where we play, but let's just say so far I'm having a blast. Accomplish three things off my Warm Weather Goals CHECK! --Planned a trip to Annapolis --Saw the fireworks on the mall --Joined the DC sports league --Went to the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, & the Natural History Museum. I felt like a tourist! :P --Sadly, I did not lose 10 pounds by my BFF's wedding. :( I was down by 5 pounds so that's better than nothing I suppose. Increase net worth by $600 CHECK! Cha-ching! You'll see more about this later.. ;) Have an awesome time at A’s wedding! CHECK! And then some! I had a fantastic time and the wedding was gorgeous. One of the best parts? I can wear the bridesmaid dress again. If you're a bride and want a good suggestion, this is the one that A chose from David's Bridal in black. BUDGET: I spent too much on: --Gas (all those trips) --Gifts (all those friends) --Auto Expense (car inspection) --Hobbies (new running shoes) I was under budget on: --Groceries & Dining (yay! rarely happens) --Personal Care (mani/pedi paid by mother of bride) --Entertainment (harry potter didn't cost as much as I expected) I ended up with a balance of $0.88 at the end of the month=under budget!!! Let's hope August is just as good to me.