Monopoly

When I was a child I had a lemonade stand, a damn good lemonade stand to if I may. I actually pulled in about $20 a day, everyday during the summer, as I was obsessed with it. I had that job and many others as a kid so I could learn the value of money.

Well I've developed a work ethic and a goal to save, but I still don't know the value of money.

I think of accumulating wealth as a game of monopoly, I want to win the game and to do that I need to have the most money.

Does anyone inwardly feel this way?

Update since I've been a bad PF blogger

Sorry I've been MIA, almost 10 days since I've blogged. I have an excuse though, I have had one of the worst weeks of my life, and I am not exaggerating. Both of my grandparents had medical problems and were sent to the hospital for nearly all of last week, and my grandpa is recovering from a triple bypass (shudder), so if you can think good thoughts for them I'd appreciate it. Besides all that, I just had a string of minor bad luck, my alarm clock didn't go off, I got a bad cold, I banged up my shin, my trash bag broke all over my kitchen floor. Just bad things happening to get me in a horrible mood. Therefore, my finances are slightly off. Two of my three days at work yielded disappointing results and on Friday (my most lucrative day) I had a minor break down and went home. Nothing major, I just couldn't be perky like my job requires and I just wanted to be with my family. All I can say is I am glad my teachers and bosses have been supportive, they all let me make up assignments and helped me catch up.

Anywho...enough about the my issues and on to finances.

I will be slightly behind on my savings this month as I couldn't make as much and my mood affected my spending, so I slightly overused my credit card. Nothing that bad, I will be able to pay it off and still put about $800 in my account, not counting the tips I'll make tomorrow (I'm guessing about $60).

I've made up my October spending list and it goes as such:

Income:
Tips: $1,200
Paychecks: $150
TV paychecks: $60
Sister rent money: $500
=$1,910

Fixed Expenses:
Rent: $640
Phone: $40
Utilities: $60

Fluid Expenses:
Groceries: $140
Dining Out: $120
Music: $10
Amazon: $50
Entertainment: $20

Savings:
SF Move Fund: $1000
SF Vacation fund: $125
Christmas Fund: $75

=$1,715

I'm leaving about $200 in my budget in case I don't make as much as I hope or Amazon crooks his finger at me. I'm hoping I show more self restraint October, because September was filled with presents I bought for myself.

Cheers!

September is two thirds over finances update

A quick update on how I am doing this month with my finances:

Amount currently in account: $1205.00
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Probable amount to come:
Tips: $300
TV check: $30.03
Paycheck: $125

Probable end month amount: $1660.03
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Expenses in order of importance:
Rent: $140
Phone: $35
Credit card $320 (ohh I'm a bad girl...)
SF Savings: $1000
Food: $70
Bring it all together and what d'you get: $1565

I'll put what is left in my emergency fund, as I used a check to pay off some bills earlier this month (oops).

But with the way this month is going I should make all my goals and be able to pay myself back a bit.
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I already paid my electric ($60, ouch) and my vacation fund ($125) and my Christmas present fund ($75).

So other than my horrendous credit bill (curse you ebay!) I have been doing dandy.

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But I need to get back to my lazy Saturday.

Cheers!

Can anyone send this video to the candidates?

Hey ya'll, happy almost weekend. Today I ran across an awesome video on YouTube that anyone who cares the slightest about the national economy should send to the Presidential candidates. It is called "don't buy stuff you can't afford" and it's a clip from Saturday Night Live. It reminded me to register to vote, cross that off my list. Come this election day, I will be one of the huddled voting masses, very patriotic.



On the other hand I just got my new bottle of Sonya Dakaar pimple be-gone (not exact name but I can't be bothered to get up and look at the name). I wonder whether it would work the wonders that other bloggers seem to think it does, fingers crossed.

I also bid on several other ebay items, partly to make up for the longing I have for a J. Crew trench that I want (insert really annoying whining voice).

Isn't it pretty...and expensive, only $355 not including s&h. That is only about one sixth of my emergency fund, and I am embarrassed to say that I was really considering it. However, I do have 3 trenches in my closet, one never worn so I cannot really say I need it. Sigh, I hope it will still be there next year (maybe it will go on sale after Christmas).

I also need to figure out what to do with my change jar when it gets filled. I have no idea how much will be in there, probably at least a hundred. I think I may use it for a mini vacation next spring or summer. We have a great resort a block away that I have been wanting to stay at for one night. Just something to look forward to.

For my business writing class we had to find three relevant job ads to tailor our resumes too and I found one advertising a women's blog site wanting writers. I submitted a blog and it should appear on their site next week. So if anyone who enjoys reading my stuff here could check out my stuff their I'd be much obliged.

Other than that, I hope you guys have a great and productive (or relaxing depending on your goals) weekend.

Cheers!

AIG stress and loving life

In my journalism classes today, we all discussed the AIG bail-out. I did the math and the $85 billion the government gave to to guys on Wall Street and what that means to the American public. Since there are about 300 million people, that translates to about $280 a person to save this insurance company, jeepers. I don't know whether I will actually be affected by that, but I am not particularly thrilled by the idea of a big bill looming over me at the end of the month. I've never owed taxes before, I usually get money back. So I don't know. If this will help stabilize the economy and keep us from reliving the Grapes of Wrath (shudder).


But after seeing my bonds fall about 4% (nothing compared to the stock market, but still, I don't like seeing my money getting smaller) I went to see my investment pimp. He told me that my stuff is pretty secure and the market should get close to bottoming out, and that it is a great time to buy. I don't really mind as long as it starts rising again.


But other than that, I am doing great financially. I guess that the students have gotten back in routine because the restaurant has been popping. I made $102 tonight, $89 yesterday and about $150 on Friday. I am very happy with this amount. I will be well over budget if it stays like this. Plus I have plenty of time for school work and even a bit of extra-curricular dating.

The extra amount of work doesn't seem to be hurting my grades (yet), as I seem to have straight A's right now, yay me!

My only issue right now, is I seem to be getting comfortable with my finances and thus begun clicking away at Ebay. I bought a couple winter stuff, a heater for winter, pimple stuff (eww) that everyone seems to think is a miracle cure (for my sister and my occasional icky spot), a nightgown, and a couple sweaters.

Bad me, but I'm sure it will all work out.

Cheers.

Whats up what chivalry?

So I have a question for all you single and dating chicks out there, as I seem to be in a major minority with the girls in my group. I am the only gal out there that thinks that guys shouldn't have to pay on the first date?


I understand why guys paid for dinner a couple decades ago, because most women couldn't. But nowadays most women have careers that pay all or most of what a guy does. So why can't girls pay for themselves. I mean, aren't we all trying to be 'modern' women, but I don't see how we can be when guys are still picking up the tab.

I don't have a problem with guys opening the restaurant doors for us, that is just polite.

Whenever a guy pays for me, I feel guilty because I know for the most part he is also a student
with the same money issues, so I don't buy into the antiquated chivalry system.

So do you guys expect men to pay for dinner on dates or do you prefer going dutch?

Cheers!

Update on finances

An update of my finances:

Income:
Tips: $545
Checks: $171.77

Expenditures So Far:
Electric: $60 (oye, stupid heat)
Dining Out: $56.00
Groceries: $50.00 (ish)
Overdraft charges: $40 (I'm so irresponsible)

As the month is about half over, I am a little less than half to my financial goals. I am hoping to make it up in the upcoming weeks, and to decrease my expenditures.
While I was at Buffalo Exchange (my sister bought me a shirt as she wrecked my other one) we saw a woman selling some stuff, one of which was a cloth duffel bag. She wasn't able to sell it so we offered to buy it from her. I got it for $5, and it turns out it was from Anthropoligie and sold last year for about $135. Yay me, it may work as a back up suitcase for my trip later this year.

My first frugal tips list (wipes tear and flicks)

So far so good. I am semi-on track for the second week in September and I am hoping that I'll be able to make the $300 expected. I am currently at $143, but Friday is one of the busiest nights so making at least $90 won't be difficult. The problem then lies in whether I'll get called in to work on Saturday or Thursday. I don't want to but the mocking glare of my budget says that it would be for the best. We shall see.
Either way, I have survived the bulk of the week and I am two classes and a TV show away from being done with school. Yay! However, for a Wednesday I am woefully off track on my personal expenses. On Sunday as I was riding home from a meeting I remembered the new sushi place located on campus just opened, so I decided to grab a menu. Big mistake, a $15 mistake. The food was good but mini portions, I doubt I'd go back. Then on Tuesday I had a lunch date (platonic, for now...) at a restaurant I used to work at, and that was another $15. So in the span of two days, I use up all but $5 of my expenses. Shame on me.
One bright spot though is at work tonight I was talking to a customer about a small grocery store on campus, and she asked me how I liked it, and I told her I thought it was too expensive. When I came back to the table she told me she owned the place and she gave me $5 gift certificate. I may use that tomorrow.

It seems like every financial blogger has 'frugal' tips on their site so I've decided to try and find some ideas of my own.

1. Hand wash a small amount of clothes at home.
Take a bucket and a small amount of bleach or laundry detergent and let a couple of items sit for an hour or so. Then hand them up in the bathroom. This works best with T-shirts and undies but probably not as well for jeans or jackets. Since I live in an apartment complex, it costs about $4 a load to do laundry so I'd prefer to do it at home while watching TV.

2. Ditch the alcohol (or ouch-a-hol for your budget)
As a bar wench at a popular pizza and beer joint, I've noticed that people spend outrageous amounts of money on beer. For someone that has been fine for the last 20 years drinking tea and Coca Cola, the idea of downing 5 beers at a sitting seems glutenous and just gross (don't tell my customers that though, because the more they drink the higher the tip!). So for those on a budget, stick with an ice tea or at least try and drink only one beer and alternate with water. Your liver and wallet will thank you.


3. Make friends in low places
I have a relationship with the cashier at the 7-11 across the street. Purely platonic I assure you,! I trade him books from my extensive library and he gives me free soda and often brownies and other small snacks. Over the last year I have calculated it so that I save about $500 (one free drink a day, plus an average of one treat a week, and one old Glamor magazine per month) . All that I had to do to save this was be friendly.


4. Take advantage of cheap thrills in your area
As a student I realize I have an advantage ove those out of the lovely world of academia, but on or near campus, there is a LOT to do, most of which doesn't cost much. Those out of college, if you saved your school ID (and you really should, many places offer student discounts but don't verify that you are a current student...shhh). In my area, there is a cheapy movie theater, where the movies are a couple months out of date but if you missed them the first time then it works, I'm going to see Sex in the City for $3. There are museums and dance halls that are often free or very cheap, fun events around campus that offer music and free food, and plenty others.


5. Take a relaxing vacation one evening
About one block from my house, there is an amazing resort, Arizona Inn. Completely innocuous from the outside, heavenly inside. I've done this a couple times and if you have a bit of panache then you can too. Just wear something great looking and stroll through the lobby, looking like you know where you are going. Walk past the restaurants and the gardens till you reach the pool. Find a lovely spot with enough shade, get a glass of water and pull out a magazine. When you get bored jump in the pool and flirt with the pool attendants. Then for a treat, order a strawberry daiquiri (or insert your favorite drink, something tropical), if they ask for your room number pull something out of your bum, and make sure to pay in cash. Sometimes resorts will have free socials at night, my little bit of paradise has an ice cream social every night, so I make sure to indulge a bit. When this gets dull then head off to the ladies room and shower, take a steam and nick a couple fancy lotions. When you are about to leave, ask normally. Maybe talk to the concierge about local attractions, take a brochure and stroll out. You have had a fabulous mini-vacation for the price of a drink and a nice tip for the pool attendant. Ta!


6. Use amazon or ebay to buy small supplies
My name is Julie and I have an internet shopping addiction. I love ebay and amazon, I literately get a rush of euphoria when I buy or bid on something cheap (until I get the bill of course). But these sites can be a great option if you don't go overboard. For instance, I inherited (from the lost and found box) an ipod mini. It works fabulously and it is my large ones back-up in case it breaks (which I do often, sigh) or it runs out of batteries. The only problem was that I didn't have a charger. 10 minutes on ebay and I got one for $2, s&h included, whereas the store sold them for $30.I also recently bought a winter scarf, hat and gloves set so I don't have to go to Buffalo Exchange, for about $5. And earlier this year I bought a great Kate Spade black handbag for about $20. It's understated and has taken a lot of damage, so it was a great purchase. So if you know what you want, then online shopping can help you a lot financially, but don't stray off the path or you'll end up with 15 packages coming in everyday and a digitally bent credit card.


I hope my mini list has inspired something in your frugal side and who knows, maybe someday it will be Julie's 100 frugal tips.

Cheers

Cans of food everywhere and not a bite to eat

OK, maybe my original estimations about the state of my weekly finances was premature. I was hoping to make quite a bit of moolah tonight, but it turned out to be a dud. I made $25 and decided to leave.

So, this week I made $252 in tips, which is $48 under budget. However, I'll come up with exactly the amount needed, if I don't spend anything until Tuesday (which is the next day I work) and use the small amount I had hoarded away in an envelope (it wasn't for any particular purpose, but it's a shame that I have to spend it. But I suppose that is what budgeting is for, so I can learn to be more responsible. Still, it will be hard for me to go another three days without spending anything. But maybe I will learn to be more mature after not eating out for an entire week. I'll keep you appraised of my restraint.


I will admit though, the next couple days will be harder though. When I have classes and than have to work, I don't have time to eat out. But the next two days are my pseudo-weekend and thus I have plenty of time to get bored with my own cooking.


Now let me get something straight. I am not some McDonalds junkie who cannot live without her daily dose of fry grease, but as a student living on campus, I have about 400 cheap restaurants within a couple blocks and I don't usually have the time (or kitchen space) to create meals. I am an adequate cook, my my kitchen is about the size of an airplane's bathroom and even the smallest culinary endeavor makes it look like a war zone. Plus I don't normally buy a lot of groceries as I would rather eat out.

It's funny how I can look inside my stuffed cabinets and overflowing refrigerator and think I have nothing to eat, but most is canned vegetables and food that takes time to prepare. Not exactly the food you want to come home to after a 16 hours of classes, homework and serving customers. I often read about people in the countries that you never hear about except to feel sorry about, like South Africa. The kind of countries that your parents say "Eat your brussell sprouts, kinds in Africa are starving". They could probably live for months on the food in my minuscule galley.

Enough about my eating habits, although I am now craving raw salmon with soy sauce (stop thinking about it, darn it!).

I was reading a post in the blog "Almost Frugal" about whether bloggers should remain completely anonymous or have it be a tell all. I will admit that I am somewhere in the middle, I am not using my real name but I am using my financial figures and experiences. Plus, it would be rather easy to figure out who I really am. I am remaining slightly anonymous because I talk about my job and I would hate to get fired for saying something slightly disgruntled (though I really like my job).

I just don't understand why Americans are so sensitive to the issues of money. I plan on being a financial journalist so I find talking about money easy. But if you ask my grandparents about anything to do with money they get very irritated and say that it isn't polite to talk about money.
Money is something that everyone uses and needs but yet we talk more about our sex lives than our bank accounts.

Jeepers, our society is weird.

On that note, write you later. Wish me luck on not going over budget and getting done with my mountain of homework.


Cheers!

The week is getting better

The beginning of this week started out badly, I left work early on Tuesday because of a scheduling mistake (and because I was feeling lethargic due to being the day after Labor Day). Then on Wednesday, I left work with about $20 because it was sooo dead that I only had three tables. Add the crappy tips, to the groceries I bought on Tuesday and the nice big sushi meal I had earlier, and I wasn't feeling very good about my finances.


But yesterday was a fabulous day. I decided to come in, though I had the day off, and boy I was glad I did. We had an event going on, so it was packed. I managed to make about $105. Today, should also be a great day because Friday's are always very busy and tomorrow should be even better because of the football game.

Go Team!!!

I'm not sure if I'll be able to make my weekly financial goal of $300 but I'll probably come close.


I have also been doing pretty well on not spending any of my fun money. The sushi meal took up $15 which is three days of my fun money. Today is the last day of my no-spend days. However depending on the amount that I make tonight and tomorrow, I may just not spend anything for the rest of the week. I've been doing pretty well at eating at home. I made salad, I made about 4 meals of eggplant Parmesan, I ate mussels and sourdough last night, among other things. I hate to say it though, but eating at a restaurant is so much more filling than food I've made at home.

Oh well, I have been kind of naughty. I've bought a couple things on ebay. I bought more server aprons, though I may be able to sell them to the restaurant for a bit more than I paid for them. I then bought a pair of gloves, which will come in handy during the winter. I am also bidding on a couple scarves.

I need to get ready for work so I will stop rambling.

Cheers!

Naughty PF blogger

I have to say...I was a baaadd girl today. Since I had gone slightly over my $5 fun budget yesterday, I was planning on trying to eat in today. That was not the case however, as I sent myself home from work (there was a scheduling mix-up so I volunteered to leave at there was no need for three servers on a Tuesday night which are usually slow). So I went home with grandiose ideas of buckling down and doing all my weeks homework, and cleaning house and going grocery shopping. Instead, I laid down on the couch and watched a season of Star Trek while eating chips, not very efficient. Then when my sis got home we went to the grocery store and I spent $45 (about half my grocery budget) on some basics, and of course since Safeway is next door to my favorite sushi place, we decided to stop in. Fifteen dollars later I am at home picking at my edamame and trying to budget the rest of the week. I only have $10 left until next Monday. I'm a bad girl. Hopefully I can live on the ten bucks and not have to spend money out of my budget. It's a double shame because I missed a days tips (although I probably wouldn't have made much).

I did get a permanent schedule from my boss, I'll be working four days a week, including Friday and Saturday night which are the biggest money nights. I should be able to make my budget , provided I make $75 a night. Unfortunately since I missed a day this week, I probably won't make my budget, but hey fingers crossed.

I was also bad last night because I was reading an excellent blog called Brunette on a Budget and she had a picture of a gorgeous trench coat (I love those, but we don't get to wear them much in Tucson) luckily it was at Target and on sale. So I will get a beautiful trench in the mail, for about $40.

	How pretty! I'm hoping it will feel and look as great on me as it looks in the picture. Well enough of my self-flagellation. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a no spend day as well as a good homework day.

September finances and sister issues

Happy September!

I'm happy that August is over, although I made all my goals, because August was a weird month because I had two jobs and wasn't able to get as many hours at my restaurant job. I made my September budget and I have below. I also graphed the tips I received for August, mostly to learn how to use Excel better, and I added the graph on my sidebar.

September Finances So Far:

Money for September I currently have:

Restaurant Paycheck: $160

Emergency Fund:

Financial Aid Check $102

I already used most of it to pay for ballet tickets for my SF vacation, $86 spent.

Other:

Newspaper check $125

I need to spend this on a new camera because I accidentally broke it last semester (oops).

Things to buy:

Grandpa printer and paper, $46
pay sometime between Sept 1-7

Lunch Date:

I am going to budget for $15 but most likely it will be less

I want to go grocery shopping sometime this week and I'd also like to save up for a nice sushi meal sometime this week, I'll count for sushi. If I'm able to make more than $300 this week than I'll splurge.

Planned Income:

Restaurant paychecks: around $200 for the month, $300 with my other paycheck

I should be able to make around $1200 in tips for the month

I should also be able to pull in another $150 from the travel article (provided I actually get it done)

I should also receive a $30 paycheck stipend from a tv station I work at

I will be able to make my budget if I can do this.

Left over from August:

I need to put $40 into my account to cover the expenses. I am not worried about overdrawing but I want August taken care of... After the $40, I will have $30 to play with for the rest of the week. If my meal does end up being $15 then I will have $15 left for Wednesday through Sunday, not including grocery shopping. My sister should also give me around $8 for the food and movie ticket I paid for her today.

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With that out of the way, I have to rant about my little sis. My kid sister Sara is really lucky because the government sends her money every month. We were both able to receive money because we were wards of the state but I only received checks for about 8 months whereas my sister will receive them for about 5 years. And these are pretty significant amounts, about $2500 each. So my grandpa is her official guardian so he gives me $500 a month for her expenses and he stocks away as much as he can for her future. When she turns 18 she will have around $40,000 to play with.

Although it annoys me a bit that she will be so secure, her current treatment of that money aggravates me to no end. She got a debit card for Christmas and my grandparents keep a constant amount of money on it and she runs through that money like its going out of style. Last month she spent $600 on food (after I bought groceries) and clothes.

It is worrying me because she has no job skills (although I do have to remind myself that she is 16), but she can't do even the most basic math, addition and subtraction. She can barely use a computer past Myspace, and she can't spell or write. I really wish she would get a part time cashier job or something to pull in a bit of spending money and cancel her other card. Then she'd have something to put on a resume.

But everytime I mention her lack of financial responsibility she says "I know I suck at money but it's grandpa's fault for giving it to me" and frankly she is right in a way, she will never learn if she doesn't have to but when does she need to take responsibility? I'm afraid that when she turns 18 she will run through her savings and start with credit cards. I read a lot of PF blogs and I know how easy it is to run up a huge mountain of debt and she'll have no way to get a good job to pay it down. And since we have no parents or other relatives that can handle her (other than my grandparents who seem like they are giving up on her) I'll be the only one she can turn to.

Am I stressing over something insignificant or expecting to much out of her? I don't know.
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On to funner topics. It is less than 4 months till my vacation (and thusly my 21st birthday) and I have been making schedules for my five days and trying to decide what I should do and not do.

Here's a pic of my suitcase, I love it even though it will probably get messed up immediately since it's a pale color. It's a carry on so I won't have to pay the outrageous luggage fees. I just need to figure out what to pack for a SF winter vacation.

Cheers y'all!