I just found a receipt for having my tap shoes fixed.
Wow. My life has really changed in the last 8 years!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A sobering blast from the past
Inspired to continue our office makeover that began last night, I was just emptying a few old accordion files. The contents are old bills and receipts from 2000 or so. It's awful. If I ever had the audacity to wonder how I ended up in my current financial situation, I need only to look at my old bank statements and credit card bills.
I was paying a small fortune every month just in bank fees (Thank goodness for no-fee PC Banking!), foolishly using IBMs that didn't belong to my bank almost every day. And then there were the multiple cash advances from my credit card. I was being charged $2.75 every time I got cash from my card, not to mention the interest rate I was paying on that cash. AND I had a $35 yearly fee on my card!
It's very frustrating to get a glimpse of how stupid I was with my money. I can only breathe deeply, remind myself that everything is under control now, and thank the heavens that I didn't dig myself a hole so deep that I could never recover.
(Must include a shout out to the amazing DP at this point. My hole was pretty deep when he stepped in. His loan, as I've said before, allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am forever grateful.)
Amidst all the disappointment in my younger self, I did find something rather funny: I once had to sign an "Extraordinary Risk" waiver for a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta that I did, because I was dancing in a 36" hoop skirt. That's how dangerous my life is.
Total debt: $4765 (Interest sucks!)
Spent today: $40 (Just groceries.)
(If only I had a scanner, I would include a picture of me in that hoop skirt. Alas. But with back-to-school sales, it might be time...)
I was paying a small fortune every month just in bank fees (Thank goodness for no-fee PC Banking!), foolishly using IBMs that didn't belong to my bank almost every day. And then there were the multiple cash advances from my credit card. I was being charged $2.75 every time I got cash from my card, not to mention the interest rate I was paying on that cash. AND I had a $35 yearly fee on my card!
It's very frustrating to get a glimpse of how stupid I was with my money. I can only breathe deeply, remind myself that everything is under control now, and thank the heavens that I didn't dig myself a hole so deep that I could never recover.
(Must include a shout out to the amazing DP at this point. My hole was pretty deep when he stepped in. His loan, as I've said before, allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am forever grateful.)
Amidst all the disappointment in my younger self, I did find something rather funny: I once had to sign an "Extraordinary Risk" waiver for a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta that I did, because I was dancing in a 36" hoop skirt. That's how dangerous my life is.
Total debt: $4765 (Interest sucks!)
Spent today: $40 (Just groceries.)
(If only I had a scanner, I would include a picture of me in that hoop skirt. Alas. But with back-to-school sales, it might be time...)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Affordable (but heavy) solutions for better living
It's nearly midnight and the DP and I are having peanut butter on toast. Why the late-night snack? you ask. We're trying desperately to refuel so we have enough energy to actually go to bed.
We're experiencing Ikea Exhaustion.
I quite enjoyed my solo excursion to the particle board mecca this afternoon. That is until I got to the warehouse and encountered the boxes my chosen piece of furniture were packaged in. Very heavy. Heavy enough that a fellow shopper jumped right in and offered to put them on my cart for me. I politely declined, insisting that if I couldn't get them off the shelf, I wasn't going to be able to get them home alone!
Aside: My plan was to call a minivan cab, since we are still without a vehicle.
So my struggle with the boxes continued. To tell the truth, it was more of an internal, how-the-f*!k-is-this-going-to-work struggle than a physical struggle. All of which was moot when an employee jumped in roughly 30 seconds after the shopper guy and hoisted the two boxes onto my cart.
Now I had to buy them. Well, I had to buy them anyway, because my mom is coming to stay in our office/spare room for 2.5 weeks and the stuff in the final boxes from our move last May needed a place to live.
I spent most of my time in line at the checkup worrying about how I was going to wrangle the boxes up to my 10th floor apartment after the cab dropped me off. The DP was still at work and while I have wonderfully lovely neighbours, I just couldn't imagine calling them up and asking them to help. Particularly considering that one of them had a heart attack a few months ago, even though he is quite young.
(When I wasn't worrying about how I was going to deal with the heavy boxes, I was feeling sorry for myself that I wouldn't be able to have a $1 frozen yogurt cone. Because I couldn't stand in that lineup with my big boxes. Plus, I couldn't possibly maneuver the cart with a cone in one hand. It was all around stressful.)
Thankfully the lovely cashier said the magic words: "Are you having that delivered?"
Now, I knew that Ikea delivered, but I figured that a minivan cab would be a more economical option. But at that moment I clearly understood that delivery was my only option.
So two nice guys dropped our stuff off around 7pm and since then we have been assembling and organizing our asses off. And now we must sleep. But we're proud new owners of this:
(But ours is birch-coloured and we got these red boxes to put in a bunch of the cubbies.)
I feel a tiny bit bad cheating on the dozen Billy bookcases in our apartment by bringing in an Expedit, but I think I'll get over that. I'm just so thrilled that there are no more moving boxes!
And money-wise, it was not so bad. My half of the whole purchase (I picked up a couple of other little things) plus delivery was $156, which is currently on credit! But I promise to pay it off as quickly as possible. Which is why there won't be a loan payment this week, sadly.
But on the bright money side: I have put any extra cash that I had in my wallet right back into the bank, so I have only my weekly allowance in my wallet. This week I will stay on track!
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $7.89 (A few groceries and I got to have a frozen yogurt after all!)
We're experiencing Ikea Exhaustion.
I quite enjoyed my solo excursion to the particle board mecca this afternoon. That is until I got to the warehouse and encountered the boxes my chosen piece of furniture were packaged in. Very heavy. Heavy enough that a fellow shopper jumped right in and offered to put them on my cart for me. I politely declined, insisting that if I couldn't get them off the shelf, I wasn't going to be able to get them home alone!
Aside: My plan was to call a minivan cab, since we are still without a vehicle.
So my struggle with the boxes continued. To tell the truth, it was more of an internal, how-the-f*!k-is-this-going-to-work struggle than a physical struggle. All of which was moot when an employee jumped in roughly 30 seconds after the shopper guy and hoisted the two boxes onto my cart.
Now I had to buy them. Well, I had to buy them anyway, because my mom is coming to stay in our office/spare room for 2.5 weeks and the stuff in the final boxes from our move last May needed a place to live.
I spent most of my time in line at the checkup worrying about how I was going to wrangle the boxes up to my 10th floor apartment after the cab dropped me off. The DP was still at work and while I have wonderfully lovely neighbours, I just couldn't imagine calling them up and asking them to help. Particularly considering that one of them had a heart attack a few months ago, even though he is quite young.
(When I wasn't worrying about how I was going to deal with the heavy boxes, I was feeling sorry for myself that I wouldn't be able to have a $1 frozen yogurt cone. Because I couldn't stand in that lineup with my big boxes. Plus, I couldn't possibly maneuver the cart with a cone in one hand. It was all around stressful.)
Thankfully the lovely cashier said the magic words: "Are you having that delivered?"
Now, I knew that Ikea delivered, but I figured that a minivan cab would be a more economical option. But at that moment I clearly understood that delivery was my only option.
So two nice guys dropped our stuff off around 7pm and since then we have been assembling and organizing our asses off. And now we must sleep. But we're proud new owners of this:
(But ours is birch-coloured and we got these red boxes to put in a bunch of the cubbies.)
I feel a tiny bit bad cheating on the dozen Billy bookcases in our apartment by bringing in an Expedit, but I think I'll get over that. I'm just so thrilled that there are no more moving boxes!
And money-wise, it was not so bad. My half of the whole purchase (I picked up a couple of other little things) plus delivery was $156, which is currently on credit! But I promise to pay it off as quickly as possible. Which is why there won't be a loan payment this week, sadly.
But on the bright money side: I have put any extra cash that I had in my wallet right back into the bank, so I have only my weekly allowance in my wallet. This week I will stay on track!
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $7.89 (A few groceries and I got to have a frozen yogurt after all!)
Spendy spenderson strikes again
It was a late night last night - well, late for me. I probably arrived home when all the "cool kids" were just going out. But I was done. We ended the workday with a little celebration, which I followed up with a girly gathering of current and former coworkers. Then I went to this lovely bloggers birthday party. It was a full night!
The birthday event was a fabulous cocktail party for which I was woefully under dressed. I suppose I should have paid better attention to the invitation. Or gone home to change beforehand. But it was so conveniently located across the street from the girly gathering, which, in turn, was only a block from work. So I was still wearing my practical denim skirt and comfortable flats that had called to me at 8am. I didn't even have any accessories on! And several of the people I met at the party work in PR. PR people are always perfectly put together. Sigh. At least my hair looked okay. But most importantly, I got to wish my friend a happy birthday.
Time for the weekly wrap-up. I'm a little scared to add it all up. Here's what happened this week: I paid for our groceries on my credit card and didn't automatically put the money back on it. That left me with more cash in my wallet than normal, which I probably spent. Generally I know better than this - and I did make a payment during the week to cover some of it. It's all a learning process, people.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent yesterday: $24.52 (A latte and some candy, because I couldn't seem to perk up, plus wine and some food at the girly gathering.)
Weekly total: $114.53 (Two bad weeks in a row!)
I'll post at the end of today, after I go to Ikea and exercise my credit card.
The birthday event was a fabulous cocktail party for which I was woefully under dressed. I suppose I should have paid better attention to the invitation. Or gone home to change beforehand. But it was so conveniently located across the street from the girly gathering, which, in turn, was only a block from work. So I was still wearing my practical denim skirt and comfortable flats that had called to me at 8am. I didn't even have any accessories on! And several of the people I met at the party work in PR. PR people are always perfectly put together. Sigh. At least my hair looked okay. But most importantly, I got to wish my friend a happy birthday.
Time for the weekly wrap-up. I'm a little scared to add it all up. Here's what happened this week: I paid for our groceries on my credit card and didn't automatically put the money back on it. That left me with more cash in my wallet than normal, which I probably spent. Generally I know better than this - and I did make a payment during the week to cover some of it. It's all a learning process, people.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent yesterday: $24.52 (A latte and some candy, because I couldn't seem to perk up, plus wine and some food at the girly gathering.)
Weekly total: $114.53 (Two bad weeks in a row!)
I'll post at the end of today, after I go to Ikea and exercise my credit card.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I love me a fountain
This is a lovely photo taken by my lovely desk mate of my favourite fountain in one of the lovely parks near our office. I get a kick out of the birds that bathe in it. Check out the portly pigeon at the top. It's the kind of park where lots of people feed the birds. I think that guy probably ate more than his share.
I am counting down to my extra-long weekend and trying to figure out why the three paycheck month didn't help me make major strides with my debt. I think the knowledge of more money coming in led to more spending. And that's kind of disappointing. Hopefully September will be better, although I do plan on breaking the bank a little during my vacation with my mom. And I intend to put an Ikea trip on credit in the next couple of days, in an attempt to make the office/spare room more appealing than it is at the moment. It's time. We've been here more than a year and there are still a couple of lingering boxes with no home for their contents.
I promise I'm trying! And in my latest effort not to spend willy nilly, I'm currently watching some free streaming TV online.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $13.78
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I could while away the hours...
As of this writing, my Google ad has earned me $98.38, which means I should have no problem reaching the $100 mark by the end of the month. And that means that I should get a cheque for $100 sometimes next month. And THAT means this blog is truly, in more ways than one, helping me pay off my dreaded debt.
Can I get a Hallelujah!
All of you are instrumental in this journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And yet one more thank you for clicking on the countless debt consolidation ads. Not so thrilling, I know!
A better way for me to thank you is to point you in the direction of more fun things available on the Internet, to help you pass time when time needs to be passed in front of a computer screen. You know what I mean ;-)
A couple of my creative coworkers co-write this great blog, all about their adventures with food. Warning: If you're currently hungry, this blog might make you go insane, because there is much discussion and many great photos of incredible food. However, if you're hungry and looking for some dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) inspiration, this is the place to find it. I was treated to an unbelievable chocolate chip cookie made by one of the bloggers today. I must say, despite my ramblings that I make the best chocolate chip cookies, this one was far superior to my own. I know! I've been usurped, but happily so.
My latest focus of a whole bunch of want is this brilliant site! It might not be new to many of you, but it's fairly new to me and there is so, so much to love. My favourite category is the jewelry, particularly because there is such a huge range of price points and the shipping fees are so very reasonable. If I wasn't still in the red, I would buy everyone presents from here. And then several presents for myself.
This one isn't new, but just in case there are any closeted Broadway fans out there, I recommend a daily trip to this site. It's the latest news and I like to be in the know! My favourite column is called Cue & A (which is a totally clever title). It's a cute little survey by current Broadway actors that gives you a glimpse into who they are.
What are your favourite sites to pass the time?
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $12.28
Can I get a Hallelujah!
All of you are instrumental in this journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And yet one more thank you for clicking on the countless debt consolidation ads. Not so thrilling, I know!
A better way for me to thank you is to point you in the direction of more fun things available on the Internet, to help you pass time when time needs to be passed in front of a computer screen. You know what I mean ;-)
A couple of my creative coworkers co-write this great blog, all about their adventures with food. Warning: If you're currently hungry, this blog might make you go insane, because there is much discussion and many great photos of incredible food. However, if you're hungry and looking for some dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) inspiration, this is the place to find it. I was treated to an unbelievable chocolate chip cookie made by one of the bloggers today. I must say, despite my ramblings that I make the best chocolate chip cookies, this one was far superior to my own. I know! I've been usurped, but happily so.
My latest focus of a whole bunch of want is this brilliant site! It might not be new to many of you, but it's fairly new to me and there is so, so much to love. My favourite category is the jewelry, particularly because there is such a huge range of price points and the shipping fees are so very reasonable. If I wasn't still in the red, I would buy everyone presents from here. And then several presents for myself.
This one isn't new, but just in case there are any closeted Broadway fans out there, I recommend a daily trip to this site. It's the latest news and I like to be in the know! My favourite column is called Cue & A (which is a totally clever title). It's a cute little survey by current Broadway actors that gives you a glimpse into who they are.
What are your favourite sites to pass the time?
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $12.28
Monday, August 25, 2008
Phoney Baloney
I don't think of myself as someone who is easily swindled. I have a healthy dose of disbelief for anything that sounds too good to be true. But recently I have found myself playing the fool. Twice.
Foolhardy moment #1 - I got a telemarketer call from HBC about some sort of rewards membership thing. To be completely honest with you, I cannot even recall what the benefits were of buying into the thing. But the savvy person on the other end of the line kept me on long enough to explain that I'd get a $25 HBC gift card just for signing up and that I could cancel my membership before they charged me anything, but still keep the gift card.
It sounded like free money to me! That's when the warning bells should have gone off.
Several months go by and every once in a while I think to myself, "Hey, I never got anything from HBC!" Until a couple of weeks ago when I finally did receive something. A bill. A bill for a service that I didn't understand and had never received any supplementary information about.
I was mad! But, to their credit, once I got in touch with the proper person they cancelled my membership and the charge, no problem. Phew!!
Foolhardy moment #2 - A few months ago, when the SATC movie had just come out and the buzz around the show was all over the place, a Facebook ad caught my eye. It was a contest to win a MacBook and a trip to NYC. !!! Those are two things at the top of my wish list! So I clicked on the ad to enter. They asked for all the regular information and then asked for my cell number. I didn't think too much of it, so I entered it. AFTER I entered it and clicked through, there was a message saying that they would be sending trivia questions to my phone. Every right answer was a ballot in the contest AND WOULD COST $2!!
So obviously when the texts started coming in - at least a couple every week - I never responded. I wasn't about to pay $2 to respond. And after several weeks of annoying messages, I responded with a single word: STOP. (My deskmate had called her service provider to find out how to stop some messages that she was getting and they explained that that's all you have to do. Take note!)
Anyway, my cellphone bill arrives last week and there is a $38 charge for 19"premium" text messages! So obviously I was also being charged $2 every time they sent a message!!
I have no intention of paying this charge, particularly since there was no mention on the contest thing until after I gave them my number, but I'm still working up the energy and nerve to call Telus and complain. I mean, who gets that $38? Telus!? As if. It's so ridiculous.
I'll let you know how it plays out.
And, sadly, the Nano update is that it's still MIA. I am losing hope that it will every be recovered. And I feel really terrible that I lost it. It was an expensive gift that I didn't take good enough care of. My bad.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent Saturday: $5
Spent Sunday: $38-ish
Spent today: $9.77
PS. I'm concerned about money this week. I'm not sure I can stay within my budget and do all the things I need to do...
Foolhardy moment #1 - I got a telemarketer call from HBC about some sort of rewards membership thing. To be completely honest with you, I cannot even recall what the benefits were of buying into the thing. But the savvy person on the other end of the line kept me on long enough to explain that I'd get a $25 HBC gift card just for signing up and that I could cancel my membership before they charged me anything, but still keep the gift card.
It sounded like free money to me! That's when the warning bells should have gone off.
Several months go by and every once in a while I think to myself, "Hey, I never got anything from HBC!" Until a couple of weeks ago when I finally did receive something. A bill. A bill for a service that I didn't understand and had never received any supplementary information about.
I was mad! But, to their credit, once I got in touch with the proper person they cancelled my membership and the charge, no problem. Phew!!
Foolhardy moment #2 - A few months ago, when the SATC movie had just come out and the buzz around the show was all over the place, a Facebook ad caught my eye. It was a contest to win a MacBook and a trip to NYC. !!! Those are two things at the top of my wish list! So I clicked on the ad to enter. They asked for all the regular information and then asked for my cell number. I didn't think too much of it, so I entered it. AFTER I entered it and clicked through, there was a message saying that they would be sending trivia questions to my phone. Every right answer was a ballot in the contest AND WOULD COST $2!!
So obviously when the texts started coming in - at least a couple every week - I never responded. I wasn't about to pay $2 to respond. And after several weeks of annoying messages, I responded with a single word: STOP. (My deskmate had called her service provider to find out how to stop some messages that she was getting and they explained that that's all you have to do. Take note!)
Anyway, my cellphone bill arrives last week and there is a $38 charge for 19"premium" text messages! So obviously I was also being charged $2 every time they sent a message!!
I have no intention of paying this charge, particularly since there was no mention on the contest thing until after I gave them my number, but I'm still working up the energy and nerve to call Telus and complain. I mean, who gets that $38? Telus!? As if. It's so ridiculous.
I'll let you know how it plays out.
And, sadly, the Nano update is that it's still MIA. I am losing hope that it will every be recovered. And I feel really terrible that I lost it. It was an expensive gift that I didn't take good enough care of. My bad.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent Saturday: $5
Spent Sunday: $38-ish
Spent today: $9.77
PS. I'm concerned about money this week. I'm not sure I can stay within my budget and do all the things I need to do...
Friday, August 22, 2008
May the sweat within me greet the sweat within you
I just returned from a hot yoga class.
Oy.
The studio near me has PWYC "Karma" classes on Friday nights and I've been meaning to go all summer long. I did two or three classes there last summer and seem to remember finding it difficult but liking the challenge
Now I think I may have blocked some of it out.
For example, I didn't bring a towel. How can any person who has lived through the sweatfest that is hot yoga not bring a towel? Thankfully the gorgeous, glowing, redheaded instructor was kind enough to include a towel for my $5 donation.
Anyway, long story (and long class - 1.5 hours) short, it was f*$@in' hard and I got nauseous a couple of times. Blech.
Of course, now that it's over and I'm home (and showered), I'm all glowy and serene. Or maybe I'm just exhausted. Perhaps I should blog any longer in this state.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $11.18 (Lunch, some Tiny Tom donuts - seriously - and the yoga class)
Oy.
The studio near me has PWYC "Karma" classes on Friday nights and I've been meaning to go all summer long. I did two or three classes there last summer and seem to remember finding it difficult but liking the challenge
Now I think I may have blocked some of it out.
For example, I didn't bring a towel. How can any person who has lived through the sweatfest that is hot yoga not bring a towel? Thankfully the gorgeous, glowing, redheaded instructor was kind enough to include a towel for my $5 donation.
Anyway, long story (and long class - 1.5 hours) short, it was f*$@in' hard and I got nauseous a couple of times. Blech.
Of course, now that it's over and I'm home (and showered), I'm all glowy and serene. Or maybe I'm just exhausted. Perhaps I should blog any longer in this state.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $11.18 (Lunch, some Tiny Tom donuts - seriously - and the yoga class)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Oops!
I forgot to do my weekly total! It's a doozy, especially since this was supposed to be a $60 week instead of a $90 week! (Remember that whole bit about the DP's gym membership, blah, blah, blah?)
Weekly total: $111.59
Sigh.
Weekly total: $111.59
Sigh.
How low can you go?
I strongly dislike waiting in airports. Something about having to sit on those uncomfortable seats and not being exactly sure when things are going to start moving along makes me crazy. I feel as though I'm neither here nor there. Like, no longer at home, but not on vacation yet. Or no longer on vacation, but not comfortable at home yet.
It's limbo. And I hate limbo.
I partially blame my dad. Wait. Blame is not the right word. It's just that my family lived a fair distance from the airport in BC, but my dad worked by the airport. So after a visit home, he'd drop me off at the airport on his way to work. But he liked to go to work really early, to beat the insane traffic. So he'd drop me off at the airport before 8am and my flight wouldn't be until noon! No book is good enough to pass that much time at an airport. No amount of lovely, glossy mags can make the hours less painful.
I dread the idea of a long layover anywhere.
Strangely enough, I enjoy the time in the air. Maybe it's just the fact that we're actually going somewhere at that point. Plus I like being unplugged and unreachable for a few hours in this world where that so rarely happens.
Anyway, my point is that I've been in limbo for more than a week now. (Obviously I haven't been stuck at the airport for more than a week. I've been experiencing limbo in a different part of my life.) It was starting to drive me around the bend.
Thankfully things seem to be moving again. Still slowly, but there's forward momentum at least. I feel like I can cautiously plan ahead. And there's nothing I enjoy more than a good plan!
(Having just reread what I've written thus far, it occurs to me that people could misconstrue this post. Please take note: All is well with the DP and there are no baby DPs on the way.)
Anyway, if the limbo leads to something exciting, you'll all be the first to know. Well, not the first, but I'll totally fill you in. Eventually.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $0.79 (C is for cookie. That's good enough for me)
It's limbo. And I hate limbo.
I partially blame my dad. Wait. Blame is not the right word. It's just that my family lived a fair distance from the airport in BC, but my dad worked by the airport. So after a visit home, he'd drop me off at the airport on his way to work. But he liked to go to work really early, to beat the insane traffic. So he'd drop me off at the airport before 8am and my flight wouldn't be until noon! No book is good enough to pass that much time at an airport. No amount of lovely, glossy mags can make the hours less painful.
I dread the idea of a long layover anywhere.
Strangely enough, I enjoy the time in the air. Maybe it's just the fact that we're actually going somewhere at that point. Plus I like being unplugged and unreachable for a few hours in this world where that so rarely happens.
Anyway, my point is that I've been in limbo for more than a week now. (Obviously I haven't been stuck at the airport for more than a week. I've been experiencing limbo in a different part of my life.) It was starting to drive me around the bend.
Thankfully things seem to be moving again. Still slowly, but there's forward momentum at least. I feel like I can cautiously plan ahead. And there's nothing I enjoy more than a good plan!
(Having just reread what I've written thus far, it occurs to me that people could misconstrue this post. Please take note: All is well with the DP and there are no baby DPs on the way.)
Anyway, if the limbo leads to something exciting, you'll all be the first to know. Well, not the first, but I'll totally fill you in. Eventually.
Total debt: $4739 and a bit
Spent today: $0.79 (C is for cookie. That's good enough for me)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Happy 200
I'm at 200 posts already! How time flies when you're trying to entertain a few dozen readers. Thank you to all the lovely regulars and welcome to anyone who is just tuning in now. Time to recap, particularly for those of you who ended up here accidentally.
In 200 posts I've managed to:
- Pay off more than $6500 of what I owe.
- Upgrade the boyfriend to the DP.
- Want, yet not purchase, numerous pairs of shoes, various pieces of clothing, and this bag from Roots.
- Go on a GREAT vacation to Montreal without completely breaking the bank and without having to pay any of it off after the fact.
- Become confident that I can actually be responsible and smart with my money.
I'm very, very lucky to have such supportive people in my life during this journey. A week rarely goes by that doesn't involve someone telling me how proud they are of what I've accomplished. I'm so appreciative for all the kudos and encouragement.
A friend asked me recently what I will do with the blog when the debt is gone. I haven't made any concrete decisions yet, but I think it will still have something to do with money. We can all watch my savings account fill up!!
Total debt: $4739 and a bit (I had an extra $10 in my account, so I tossed it on.)
Spent yesterday: $1.25
Spent today: $0
In 200 posts I've managed to:
- Pay off more than $6500 of what I owe.
- Upgrade the boyfriend to the DP.
- Want, yet not purchase, numerous pairs of shoes, various pieces of clothing, and this bag from Roots.
- Go on a GREAT vacation to Montreal without completely breaking the bank and without having to pay any of it off after the fact.
- Become confident that I can actually be responsible and smart with my money.
I'm very, very lucky to have such supportive people in my life during this journey. A week rarely goes by that doesn't involve someone telling me how proud they are of what I've accomplished. I'm so appreciative for all the kudos and encouragement.
A friend asked me recently what I will do with the blog when the debt is gone. I haven't made any concrete decisions yet, but I think it will still have something to do with money. We can all watch my savings account fill up!!
Total debt: $4739 and a bit (I had an extra $10 in my account, so I tossed it on.)
Spent yesterday: $1.25
Spent today: $0
Monday, August 18, 2008
Thank you and goodnight
Highlight of the day: A park lunch with my lovely desk mate. Bravo to the people who do the landscaping in the park next to St. James church on King Street. It's truly stunning.
Low point of the day: Major subway delays this morning. A trip that usually takes 15 minutes took almost an hour.
Rest of the day: Let's just say that I'm going to pack it in a little early, so I can bid this Monday adieu and try Tuesday on for size.
Total debt: $4749 and a bit
Spent today: $1.80
Low point of the day: Major subway delays this morning. A trip that usually takes 15 minutes took almost an hour.
Rest of the day: Let's just say that I'm going to pack it in a little early, so I can bid this Monday adieu and try Tuesday on for size.
Total debt: $4749 and a bit
Spent today: $1.80
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Spendy but spectacular
I took myself to the movies this afternoon. It wasn't really in the budget - I'll be honest - but the DP was away for the weekend and I've been wanting to see "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" so badly... And it has been about a year since I last hit a movie on my own. So I just did it. I felt kind of guilty, but I did it. And it was fun! I felt a little old when I realized that I was closer in age to the mom that chaperoned the group of 'tween girls behind me than to the girls. But then I remembered what it was like to be a 'tween and I felt better. Those are not days I'd like to relive!
The movie was good. At least, I liked it. And I completely coveted everything Alexis Bledel's character wore. Except that 95% of it was white, so if I did own all those pretty summer dresses, they would all have ice cream or chocolate sauce stains. Come to think of it, her character is an artist who is always using charcoal and stuff. White is probably not a practical colour for her, either. But she always looked pristine. And pretty. I kind of wish I looked like her.
Anyway, it was a great, but spendy weekend. I threw a little belated-birthday dinner party for a few amazing women that I've known for a long time. It was a full day of baking, cooking and cleaning before they arrived, but SO worth it. Everyone had seconds of the food, which I took as a good sign, and there were several hours of great conversation and lots of wine. In fact, I'm drinking some leftover wine right now!
It's also been nice having the apartment to myself all weekend. I slept in the middle of the bed! But now I'm ready for the DP to come and bring the magic back into my life. I'm assuming he's on his way...
Totaly debt: $4749 and a bit
Spent this weekend: $109 and a bit (YIKES! I probably should have added the receipts up before I went to the movies!)
The movie was good. At least, I liked it. And I completely coveted everything Alexis Bledel's character wore. Except that 95% of it was white, so if I did own all those pretty summer dresses, they would all have ice cream or chocolate sauce stains. Come to think of it, her character is an artist who is always using charcoal and stuff. White is probably not a practical colour for her, either. But she always looked pristine. And pretty. I kind of wish I looked like her.
Anyway, it was a great, but spendy weekend. I threw a little belated-birthday dinner party for a few amazing women that I've known for a long time. It was a full day of baking, cooking and cleaning before they arrived, but SO worth it. Everyone had seconds of the food, which I took as a good sign, and there were several hours of great conversation and lots of wine. In fact, I'm drinking some leftover wine right now!
It's also been nice having the apartment to myself all weekend. I slept in the middle of the bed! But now I'm ready for the DP to come and bring the magic back into my life. I'm assuming he's on his way...
Totaly debt: $4749 and a bit
Spent this weekend: $109 and a bit (YIKES! I probably should have added the receipts up before I went to the movies!)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Welcome to the 4s!
Big news! I am officially in the $4000s. Can you believe it!? Or have you been reading my blog every day and saying, "God! When is she going to get to the $4000s already!?"
Whatever. I'm there and that's all that matters.
Unfortunately, I'm not as far into the $4000s as I'd like to be. Good reason: I put a few hundred dollars aside for my vacation while my mom is here in September, so we can go and be touristy and do fun stuff. Bad reason: I had to pay off all that fun stuff I did last weekend, including my Avenue Q ticket, my haircut, new hair product and a spendy, but required, trip to the drugstore. If those two things hadn't come into play, I'd be even lower in the $4000s, but I have to accept that I need to continue living life even as I'm paying off this debt so that other parts of my life can begin.
Does that make sense?
As for what I spent today...I'm going to save that news for tomorrow's post. For now, let me bask in this:
Total debt: $4749 and a bit :-)
Feels so good.
Whatever. I'm there and that's all that matters.
Unfortunately, I'm not as far into the $4000s as I'd like to be. Good reason: I put a few hundred dollars aside for my vacation while my mom is here in September, so we can go and be touristy and do fun stuff. Bad reason: I had to pay off all that fun stuff I did last weekend, including my Avenue Q ticket, my haircut, new hair product and a spendy, but required, trip to the drugstore. If those two things hadn't come into play, I'd be even lower in the $4000s, but I have to accept that I need to continue living life even as I'm paying off this debt so that other parts of my life can begin.
Does that make sense?
As for what I spent today...I'm going to save that news for tomorrow's post. For now, let me bask in this:
Total debt: $4749 and a bit :-)
Feels so good.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Never can say goodbye
I have done an awful thing. I have lost the lovely green iPod Nano that the DP gave me for Christmas 06.
We were using it in the rental car during the August long weekend, because I have a little radio adapter. And we (or I, because I should take full responsibility) left it tucked into one of the cubbies far under the radio.
All hope is not yet lost, but it's dwindling. We've both spoken to one of the people at the company's lost and found, but the car was rented out again before we realized what had happened. It was due back from that rental last weekend and she put a note on the account to check for the iPod, but she's been unable to get in touch with any of the managers at the airport location since then. She claims they're never at their desks, since it's such a madhouse there.
I feel terrible. That little electronic device was a bright spot during that awful Christmas. (One word: Norwalk) I had such an insatiable want for one, even though I knew that I just longed to be a part of the Apple universe like everyone else, but I couldn't justify spending the money. And the DP and I had set limits on how much we would spend on each other, so I wasn't expecting it. But he spoiled me, which he is good at doing, and surprised me.
And that device brought me so much joy. Partly because of my brief addiction to playing Solitaire on it while stuck on the subway during rush hour, partly because I could take it for a run without having to get a special holder for it, and partly because I loved having all of my eclectic musical choices in one location.
I hope this isn't the end of our story, Nano. I don't want to replace you! I don't need to watch TV shows on my music player. (Although that does sound nice...) I want you and all that you represent.
Come back to me!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (Just until tomorrow!)
Spent today: $1.53 (Sadly, I borrowed 75 cents of that from my lovely deskmate to satisfy a mid-afternoon chocolate need.)
Weekly total: $91.03 (Over by a Snickers bar!)
We were using it in the rental car during the August long weekend, because I have a little radio adapter. And we (or I, because I should take full responsibility) left it tucked into one of the cubbies far under the radio.
All hope is not yet lost, but it's dwindling. We've both spoken to one of the people at the company's lost and found, but the car was rented out again before we realized what had happened. It was due back from that rental last weekend and she put a note on the account to check for the iPod, but she's been unable to get in touch with any of the managers at the airport location since then. She claims they're never at their desks, since it's such a madhouse there.
I feel terrible. That little electronic device was a bright spot during that awful Christmas. (One word: Norwalk) I had such an insatiable want for one, even though I knew that I just longed to be a part of the Apple universe like everyone else, but I couldn't justify spending the money. And the DP and I had set limits on how much we would spend on each other, so I wasn't expecting it. But he spoiled me, which he is good at doing, and surprised me.
And that device brought me so much joy. Partly because of my brief addiction to playing Solitaire on it while stuck on the subway during rush hour, partly because I could take it for a run without having to get a special holder for it, and partly because I loved having all of my eclectic musical choices in one location.
I hope this isn't the end of our story, Nano. I don't want to replace you! I don't need to watch TV shows on my music player. (Although that does sound nice...) I want you and all that you represent.
Come back to me!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (Just until tomorrow!)
Spent today: $1.53 (Sadly, I borrowed 75 cents of that from my lovely deskmate to satisfy a mid-afternoon chocolate need.)
Weekly total: $91.03 (Over by a Snickers bar!)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Seasons change, people change...
I don't want to alarm anyone, but summer appears to be over! Or maybe I just feel that way because I went to work under dressed for the day. There's nothing worse than feeling unprepared for the elements. Although being overdressed sucks, too. I know, I know - dress in layers! That's all fine and dandy, but putting together a wardrobe of layers that is fully integrated and interchangeable would require Stacy and Clinton's expertise, not to mention a Visa card loaded with $5000. I am but a poor girl on a budget, so I must make do with what is in my closet.
But back to the changing of the seasons. Do you realize that there are only TWO WEEKENDS LEFT until Labour Day!? The holiday is really early this year. Or so it seems. I wonder when the kids are back in school? I wonder if it's the Monday after Labour Day, in which case it's my birthday. The combination of my birthday and the beginning of a new school year has always had a profound effect on me, even once I stopped going to school. It's a fresh start. Even more so than new year's for me! So I have to begin pondering how 33 will be different.
Today I'm ruminating on the idea that you have to do things differently if you want things to change. Doesn't that seem almost ridiculously simple? But how often do we actually put it into practice? I know that personally I spend a lot of time doing exactly the same things and hoping for different results. Which is as dumb as watching "Little Women" and hoping Beth will live to see Jo publish her book or Amy marry Laurie.
I guess I have changed the way I handle and think of money this year, so I'm not entirely intractable. Still, I could use a crane to lift my sorry ass out of some old habits any time now...
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (Just until Friday, I promise!)
Spent today: $3-ish (Old habits...)
But back to the changing of the seasons. Do you realize that there are only TWO WEEKENDS LEFT until Labour Day!? The holiday is really early this year. Or so it seems. I wonder when the kids are back in school? I wonder if it's the Monday after Labour Day, in which case it's my birthday. The combination of my birthday and the beginning of a new school year has always had a profound effect on me, even once I stopped going to school. It's a fresh start. Even more so than new year's for me! So I have to begin pondering how 33 will be different.
Today I'm ruminating on the idea that you have to do things differently if you want things to change. Doesn't that seem almost ridiculously simple? But how often do we actually put it into practice? I know that personally I spend a lot of time doing exactly the same things and hoping for different results. Which is as dumb as watching "Little Women" and hoping Beth will live to see Jo publish her book or Amy marry Laurie.
I guess I have changed the way I handle and think of money this year, so I'm not entirely intractable. Still, I could use a crane to lift my sorry ass out of some old habits any time now...
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (Just until Friday, I promise!)
Spent today: $3-ish (Old habits...)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Shuttlecock Shock!
It is all Olympics, all the time in our house right now. And I'm loving it! I don't think I've watched this much of the Olympics since I was in grade 8. Tonight, while we ate perogies and corn on the cob, we watched women's weight lifting. One of the women really didn't look feminine to me, which made me wonder if they ever look "under the hood," if you know what I mean. A few more thoughts:
What is up with synchronized diving? Sure, it's cool. But isn't regular diving hard enough? Why do they have to do it together? It's not like they make gymnasts vault in sync.
And speaking of gymnastics, the new scoring system sucks. Or maybe it's much better for them, but it sucks for me, because I have no idea how it works. And now there's never going to be a commentator screaming "A perfect 10!" like back in Nadia and Mary Lou's days. Which makes me kind of sad.
And speaking of sad, I wonder if my dad is sad that golf isn't an Olympic sport. Why not? I'm confused.
And speaking of confused, the DP has become enigmatic to me, all because of Olympic badminton. Late last week he had a mini tirade about how ridiculous it is that badminton is an Olympic sport. He said - I'm paraphrasing here - that things you can play in your backyard shouldn't qualify as Olympic sports. (This argument may have a few holes in it, but that was his defense.) This morning, while watching badminton, he decided that it was actually really cool. Then he got totally engrossed in the match and literally made one of those loud "Oooooo!!" noises that sports fans make when the person they're rooting for misses a point. I looked at him and said, "I have never ever seen you react to a sporting event before today." And he just shrugged his shoulders. So I'm justifiably confused about who this person that I live with is.
And speaking of where I live, I would like to offer our couch to any wayward male Olympic divers and swimmers, provided they will walk around the apartment without their shirts on.
Go Team Canada!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent today: $7.50-ish (I had to buy lunch.)
And now, for your viewing pleasure:
What is up with synchronized diving? Sure, it's cool. But isn't regular diving hard enough? Why do they have to do it together? It's not like they make gymnasts vault in sync.
And speaking of gymnastics, the new scoring system sucks. Or maybe it's much better for them, but it sucks for me, because I have no idea how it works. And now there's never going to be a commentator screaming "A perfect 10!" like back in Nadia and Mary Lou's days. Which makes me kind of sad.
And speaking of sad, I wonder if my dad is sad that golf isn't an Olympic sport. Why not? I'm confused.
And speaking of confused, the DP has become enigmatic to me, all because of Olympic badminton. Late last week he had a mini tirade about how ridiculous it is that badminton is an Olympic sport. He said - I'm paraphrasing here - that things you can play in your backyard shouldn't qualify as Olympic sports. (This argument may have a few holes in it, but that was his defense.) This morning, while watching badminton, he decided that it was actually really cool. Then he got totally engrossed in the match and literally made one of those loud "Oooooo!!" noises that sports fans make when the person they're rooting for misses a point. I looked at him and said, "I have never ever seen you react to a sporting event before today." And he just shrugged his shoulders. So I'm justifiably confused about who this person that I live with is.
And speaking of where I live, I would like to offer our couch to any wayward male Olympic divers and swimmers, provided they will walk around the apartment without their shirts on.
Go Team Canada!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent today: $7.50-ish (I had to buy lunch.)
And now, for your viewing pleasure:
Monday, August 11, 2008
Gold medal winner in lounging
Welcome back! Sorry for my lazy weekend blogging habits. I have no good excuses this weekend, except that I was busy doing a whole lot of nothing. And nothing is best done in front of Olympic coverage rather than in front of a computer.
It's true. The weekend started off in a manner befitting people still in the prime of their lives who don't have children - we went out to see Avenue Q and then followed that up by a late evening trip to Taste of the Danforth. It was an awesome evening! Bawdy, raunchy musical theatre followed by stuffing our faces full of ethnic cuisine. Puppet sex and empanadas. Good times.
Saturday began with a trip to the gym and then a trip to the hair salon. I eschewed the student cutter this time and paid $20 more for something that will hopefully grow out a bit better. This new hairdresser also pointed out several flaws in my last cut, so I felt vindicated in seeing someone a little more senior. (She was still younger than me, though.) Saturday afternoon I tidied the apartment and then relaxed with a magazine, a book, the paper and some sudoku. Ah, that's the life.
Sunday also started with a gym visit, followed by grocery shopping. And then I just hung out at home. Watching the Olympics, talking to my far away family, baking cookies, eating cookies (this might be a cry for help), doing more sudokus, reading more magazines... It was lovely and felt blissfully long for some reason.
Despite all this lovely downtime, I've actually managed to crack out the credit card a few too many times, so I feel I should confess. Obviously my theatre ticket did not come out of my weekly budget. Sorry, but I've been aching to see this show for a few years now, so I felt I could go above and beyond for a change. Ditto the haircut. And the hair product that I bought at the salon. AND a trip to the drugstore that I didn't mention, where I had to buy pricey razors, but also caved and bought a magazine. I know, I KNOW! Not good behaviour for a budgeteer. However, I promise that it will all be paid off ASAP. Probably by this weekend. And I'll try to let the credit card cool off.
The DP and I just returned from a lovely evening walk. This is the point in the summer where you really have to grab hold and just enjoy the time as much as possible. But the sun was getting lower and lower as we walked along the beltline trail, and the bats showed up. I can't handle the bats, so we took refuge on the pretty streets.
Okay, let's see if I can catch you all up on the cash spending.
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent Friday: $7.50 (Street food at T of the D)
Spent Saturday: $15 (Japanese/Korean takeout for dinner. Udon soup, bulgogi and tempura. Yum!)
Spent Sunday: $50 (Groceries)
Spent today: $6.50 (A couple of stamps and a belated birthday card for my grandma's 80th birthday! I'm the worst grandkid ever.)
It's true. The weekend started off in a manner befitting people still in the prime of their lives who don't have children - we went out to see Avenue Q and then followed that up by a late evening trip to Taste of the Danforth. It was an awesome evening! Bawdy, raunchy musical theatre followed by stuffing our faces full of ethnic cuisine. Puppet sex and empanadas. Good times.
Saturday began with a trip to the gym and then a trip to the hair salon. I eschewed the student cutter this time and paid $20 more for something that will hopefully grow out a bit better. This new hairdresser also pointed out several flaws in my last cut, so I felt vindicated in seeing someone a little more senior. (She was still younger than me, though.) Saturday afternoon I tidied the apartment and then relaxed with a magazine, a book, the paper and some sudoku. Ah, that's the life.
Sunday also started with a gym visit, followed by grocery shopping. And then I just hung out at home. Watching the Olympics, talking to my far away family, baking cookies, eating cookies (this might be a cry for help), doing more sudokus, reading more magazines... It was lovely and felt blissfully long for some reason.
Despite all this lovely downtime, I've actually managed to crack out the credit card a few too many times, so I feel I should confess. Obviously my theatre ticket did not come out of my weekly budget. Sorry, but I've been aching to see this show for a few years now, so I felt I could go above and beyond for a change. Ditto the haircut. And the hair product that I bought at the salon. AND a trip to the drugstore that I didn't mention, where I had to buy pricey razors, but also caved and bought a magazine. I know, I KNOW! Not good behaviour for a budgeteer. However, I promise that it will all be paid off ASAP. Probably by this weekend. And I'll try to let the credit card cool off.
The DP and I just returned from a lovely evening walk. This is the point in the summer where you really have to grab hold and just enjoy the time as much as possible. But the sun was getting lower and lower as we walked along the beltline trail, and the bats showed up. I can't handle the bats, so we took refuge on the pretty streets.
Okay, let's see if I can catch you all up on the cash spending.
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent Friday: $7.50 (Street food at T of the D)
Spent Saturday: $15 (Japanese/Korean takeout for dinner. Udon soup, bulgogi and tempura. Yum!)
Spent Sunday: $50 (Groceries)
Spent today: $6.50 (A couple of stamps and a belated birthday card for my grandma's 80th birthday! I'm the worst grandkid ever.)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Sucks to be me*
A short, but sweet, afternoon post.
More of me! This is my big article from the September issue of Canadian Living, which they obviously also posted to the web. Check it out!
I've also added a new blog to my list of blog reading. A lovely former classmate and then colleague writes this blog. I love the way she uses dictionary definitions. Probably because I am a dictionary lover. And we dictionary lovers have got to stick together in this world, right?
And finally, I won't be around to blog this evening, since we are heading out to see Avenue Q, which I am way, way, way excited about. Especially because it's probably the first musical I've taken the DP to that he actually wants to see.
I'm pretty confident that I'm not going to spend any money today, since I'm sneaking home for dinner before the show, but just in case, I'll fill that part of the post in tomorrow.
Happy weekend everyone!
*It's from the show. I don't actually think my life sucks in any way. Except that all of my favourite foods have lots and lots of calories. But yours probably do, too. Unless you're a big fan of air.
More of me! This is my big article from the September issue of Canadian Living, which they obviously also posted to the web. Check it out!
I've also added a new blog to my list of blog reading. A lovely former classmate and then colleague writes this blog. I love the way she uses dictionary definitions. Probably because I am a dictionary lover. And we dictionary lovers have got to stick together in this world, right?
And finally, I won't be around to blog this evening, since we are heading out to see Avenue Q, which I am way, way, way excited about. Especially because it's probably the first musical I've taken the DP to that he actually wants to see.
I'm pretty confident that I'm not going to spend any money today, since I'm sneaking home for dinner before the show, but just in case, I'll fill that part of the post in tomorrow.
Happy weekend everyone!
*It's from the show. I don't actually think my life sucks in any way. Except that all of my favourite foods have lots and lots of calories. But yours probably do, too. Unless you're a big fan of air.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Afterthought
A question for my Toronto readers: What is up with the terrible lighting in the fitting rooms at the Bay/Bloor Gap? Seriously! When I'm in them I always wish I was carrying my tweezers, since every stray eyebrow hair is so prominent. And then I notice the fact that every pore, freckle and blemish on my face, including the annoying wrinkle on the left side of mouth, is magnified! I don't get it. Something should really be done. Maybe I should start a petition.
A whole bunch of things, including free stuff for you!
Two things that can spoil the euphoric feeling that comes after a therapeutic and relaxing massage:
1. Being splashed with dirty puddle water by a passing car while strolling contentedly along Bloor Street.
2. Randomly deciding to try on jeans at Gap.
That's right. I was enjoying the early evening, window-shopping along Bloor after seeing my excellent massage therapist, when a car hit a pothole with a puddle right beside me. Thankfully I was only splashed on the bottom half of my body, but it was still kind of gross. And then, in my slightly damp state, I popped into Gap and was seduced into trying on a couple of pairs of jeans. My brain must have been a little soggy from my massage, because all three pairs of jeans I grabbed to try on were low-rise. People, I am SO high-waisted. Seriously. Low-rise pants could easily get me arrested. And they make me feel fat, because half of my ass is still sticking out the top of them when I do them up. I don't know what I was thinking!
Now I am home, happily watching SYTYCD. I'm a bit sad that Katee is already out of the running, but glad that she won $50,000. Why isn't there a contest where people compete to write the prettiest sentence? I could stand a chance in that competition!
Okay, I have three things to cover in this post, so I should probably get to it.
First of all, I've got some free stuff for y'all! A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by one of these new viral marketing companies who sent me some free samples of Listerine dissolving white strips. I handed some out to my peeps and I've been using them, too. And my teeth are whiter! The whole dissolving thing is a little weird, but you get used to it. Anyway, here's a link so all of you can all get a free sample.
Secondly, I have to explain a slight change to my weekly budget, so my weekly total makes sense. From now on, since the DP's gym payment comes out of my account every second week, I have lowered my weekly budget on those weeks to $60. Basically I won't have to pay as much in groceries on those weeks, since he'll be covering my first $30 to cover his gym fee, so I can put that towards the debt. Make sense?
Finally, here's my latest freelance piece, in case you're looking for a little extra reading!
Okay, all that said, let's get to it.
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (It won't change this week, I'm afraid.)
Spent today: $15 (Lunch out with some lovely work ladies.)
Weekly total: $60 (Yippee!)
1. Being splashed with dirty puddle water by a passing car while strolling contentedly along Bloor Street.
2. Randomly deciding to try on jeans at Gap.
That's right. I was enjoying the early evening, window-shopping along Bloor after seeing my excellent massage therapist, when a car hit a pothole with a puddle right beside me. Thankfully I was only splashed on the bottom half of my body, but it was still kind of gross. And then, in my slightly damp state, I popped into Gap and was seduced into trying on a couple of pairs of jeans. My brain must have been a little soggy from my massage, because all three pairs of jeans I grabbed to try on were low-rise. People, I am SO high-waisted. Seriously. Low-rise pants could easily get me arrested. And they make me feel fat, because half of my ass is still sticking out the top of them when I do them up. I don't know what I was thinking!
Now I am home, happily watching SYTYCD. I'm a bit sad that Katee is already out of the running, but glad that she won $50,000. Why isn't there a contest where people compete to write the prettiest sentence? I could stand a chance in that competition!
Okay, I have three things to cover in this post, so I should probably get to it.
First of all, I've got some free stuff for y'all! A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by one of these new viral marketing companies who sent me some free samples of Listerine dissolving white strips. I handed some out to my peeps and I've been using them, too. And my teeth are whiter! The whole dissolving thing is a little weird, but you get used to it. Anyway, here's a link so all of you can all get a free sample.
Secondly, I have to explain a slight change to my weekly budget, so my weekly total makes sense. From now on, since the DP's gym payment comes out of my account every second week, I have lowered my weekly budget on those weeks to $60. Basically I won't have to pay as much in groceries on those weeks, since he'll be covering my first $30 to cover his gym fee, so I can put that towards the debt. Make sense?
Finally, here's my latest freelance piece, in case you're looking for a little extra reading!
Okay, all that said, let's get to it.
Total debt: $5149 and a bit (It won't change this week, I'm afraid.)
Spent today: $15 (Lunch out with some lovely work ladies.)
Weekly total: $60 (Yippee!)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A guide for servers everywhere
Three things not to do if you want a good tip:
1. Don't forget anyone's meal or drink. And if you do forget - we're all human - apologize!
2. Don't act like making separate cheques is akin to moving mountains.
3. Don't ignore us.
My dinner out with some lovely ladies was not as pricey as it could have been, because we didn't bother leaving much of a tip for our surly server. Works for me!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent today: $10
1. Don't forget anyone's meal or drink. And if you do forget - we're all human - apologize!
2. Don't act like making separate cheques is akin to moving mountains.
3. Don't ignore us.
My dinner out with some lovely ladies was not as pricey as it could have been, because we didn't bother leaving much of a tip for our surly server. Works for me!
Total debt: $5149 and a bit
Spent today: $10
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Something a little more interesting
Feels like a Monday
Well, it was a nice long weekend. I saw a deer run across the road (I was up north) and a bird shit on my hand. Everyone tells me that's good luck, so I'm going to sit and wait for my ship to come in.
There was no good luck this morning when I checked the winners of the Heart and Stroke lottery. We didn't win a damn thing. Not even a coffee maker or a toastless toaster. (What on earth is a toastless toaster?) I'm trying to console myself by remembering that we made a nice contribution to a good charity. I'm also trying to learn the lesson that 1 in 3 odds means 2 out of every 3 people don't win a single thing.
But it wasn't a bad day overall. It just sort of plodded along. I had a few treats. But I did work out. And we got some groceries. And we just made our molasses bran muffins, which we healthified with some ground flax and frozen cranberries and then de-healthified with some chocolate chips. It's all about balance, right?
I'm remarkably without things to tell you all this evening. And so I'll just give you my totals and let you go on with your lives.
Total debt: $5149
Spent on the weekend: $0! (Many thanks to the DP. He kept me in car trip treats.)
Spent today: $35-ish
There was no good luck this morning when I checked the winners of the Heart and Stroke lottery. We didn't win a damn thing. Not even a coffee maker or a toastless toaster. (What on earth is a toastless toaster?) I'm trying to console myself by remembering that we made a nice contribution to a good charity. I'm also trying to learn the lesson that 1 in 3 odds means 2 out of every 3 people don't win a single thing.
But it wasn't a bad day overall. It just sort of plodded along. I had a few treats. But I did work out. And we got some groceries. And we just made our molasses bran muffins, which we healthified with some ground flax and frozen cranberries and then de-healthified with some chocolate chips. It's all about balance, right?
I'm remarkably without things to tell you all this evening. And so I'll just give you my totals and let you go on with your lives.
Total debt: $5149
Spent on the weekend: $0! (Many thanks to the DP. He kept me in car trip treats.)
Spent today: $35-ish
Friday, August 1, 2008
Introducing...
My new phone!
It flips! It has cute rings! (I've chosen an accordion piece, so it sounds like I'm eating a baguette just a hop, skip and a jump from the Louvre every time someone calls.) I got to choose "wallpaper" for the inside. (A serene pond scene.) I'm a little bit in love.
I know, I know. I'm WAY behind the times. I mean, my google ad is sometimes for iPhones and my new toy doesn't even come close. But let's have a look at what I just retired:
Can you understand my excitement now?
Anyway, I have a bit of money news to share. Since I am getting closer and closer to finishing this thing off once and for all, I asked the DP how he would feel if we put a pause on my monthly payments to him, until this other sucker is gone.
Quick aside: If you're just tuning in, the DP gave me a very generous loan last year that allowed me to pay off my line of credit, so I could concentrate on the student loans. He hasn't charged me any interest and I've been making regular monthly payments to him since then. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT HIS HELP! I can't even express how grateful I am for his help. And I'm proud to say that nary a cent has gone on my line of credit since then.
He agreed, because he is pretty much the best DP on the planet. (And he does laundry!) So hopefully we'll all see this number go down even faster. Major SHOUT OUT to my DP. Thank you, thank you, thank you, my love.
We're headed north in a couple of hours, so I'm not posting a "spent today" total just yet. I'll give you the weekend total upon our return.
Happy August long weekend everyone!
Total debt: $5149 (Should be under $5000 by next weekend, if all goes according to plan)
It flips! It has cute rings! (I've chosen an accordion piece, so it sounds like I'm eating a baguette just a hop, skip and a jump from the Louvre every time someone calls.) I got to choose "wallpaper" for the inside. (A serene pond scene.) I'm a little bit in love.
I know, I know. I'm WAY behind the times. I mean, my google ad is sometimes for iPhones and my new toy doesn't even come close. But let's have a look at what I just retired:
Can you understand my excitement now?
Anyway, I have a bit of money news to share. Since I am getting closer and closer to finishing this thing off once and for all, I asked the DP how he would feel if we put a pause on my monthly payments to him, until this other sucker is gone.
Quick aside: If you're just tuning in, the DP gave me a very generous loan last year that allowed me to pay off my line of credit, so I could concentrate on the student loans. He hasn't charged me any interest and I've been making regular monthly payments to him since then. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT HIS HELP! I can't even express how grateful I am for his help. And I'm proud to say that nary a cent has gone on my line of credit since then.
He agreed, because he is pretty much the best DP on the planet. (And he does laundry!) So hopefully we'll all see this number go down even faster. Major SHOUT OUT to my DP. Thank you, thank you, thank you, my love.
We're headed north in a couple of hours, so I'm not posting a "spent today" total just yet. I'll give you the weekend total upon our return.
Happy August long weekend everyone!
Total debt: $5149 (Should be under $5000 by next weekend, if all goes according to plan)
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