Yesterday was a long day. A reeeeeeeally loooong day. So when I pumped my gas, I left my wallet on top of my car. And drove away. I didn't realize that I forgot to put away my wallet until I was in the check out line of the grocery store. Hello panic attack! I deserted my full cart of food and frantically ran back to my car to check to see if the wallet had fallen out. Nope. I checked my purse again. Nope. So I thought back to the last place that I used my wallet. Gas station. Then I drove back to the gas station (not too far from the grocery store) and ran inside like a crazy person and asked the guy behind the counter if anyone had turned in a wallet. And thank goodness someone had. Everything was there. My cash. My credit cards. My random slips of paper. EVERYTHING.
I am so lucky. And grateful. And the icing on the cake was that when I drove back to grocery store to actually purchase my groceries, the same parting spot that I had given up was still available. In the shade.
So I paid it forward. There was a woman sitting under a tree a few spots over. She was there when I first went into the store. When I frantically ran back to my car. And when I finally came back after buying my groceries. She looked like she was waiting or having car trouble or something. So I asked her if she wanted an ice pop that I had just purchased. It was a hot, hot day and she accepted.
Things could've gone so much worse and I feel so lucky. So I'm asking all of my lovely readers to help me pay the goodwill of a stranger forward. Do something nice for a stranger today. Brighten their day and then post about it. Or comment here. Or tweet about it. And hopefully others will follow suit.
Today I'm grateful for: honest people
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
June Money +/-
(+) Surprise $30. Apparently AGES and AGES ago I sent in for a rebate that I never got. It was so long ago that my parents got it in the mail at their home. Now I just have to take it to the bank.
(-) I was trying for a no spend on clothes June. Between alterations on two bridesmaids dresses ($120), a new pair of shoes for said dresses ($45), and clothes from my vacation ($60) that so didn't happen. There's always July, right?
(+) Some new blog revenue coming in. And my first giveaway (hopefully!) is in the works.
(-) I have to figure out my yoga plan for July. There is one local studio that offers a $50 unlimited pass for your first month. However, it's hot yoga which I'm a little scared to try.
(+/-) Dating hasn't been going so well lately, so I decided to bit the bullet and go back to jdate (the Jewish dating website). I'm not a paid member at the moment and I don't know if I'm ready to commit enough to this endeavor to actually pay for it, but that hasn't stopped me from chatting with a number of guys (if you're not a paid member they can im you, but you can't im them). If nothing else, I'll get a few free dinners out of it. And that'll be good for the budget.
Today I'm grateful for: Toy Story 3 friend date. :)
(-) I was trying for a no spend on clothes June. Between alterations on two bridesmaids dresses ($120), a new pair of shoes for said dresses ($45), and clothes from my vacation ($60) that so didn't happen. There's always July, right?
(+) Some new blog revenue coming in. And my first giveaway (hopefully!) is in the works.
(-) I have to figure out my yoga plan for July. There is one local studio that offers a $50 unlimited pass for your first month. However, it's hot yoga which I'm a little scared to try.
(+/-) Dating hasn't been going so well lately, so I decided to bit the bullet and go back to jdate (the Jewish dating website). I'm not a paid member at the moment and I don't know if I'm ready to commit enough to this endeavor to actually pay for it, but that hasn't stopped me from chatting with a number of guys (if you're not a paid member they can im you, but you can't im them). If nothing else, I'll get a few free dinners out of it. And that'll be good for the budget.
Today I'm grateful for: Toy Story 3 friend date. :)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Real Housewives of NJ Make Me Angry!
So you all know of my love of the Real Housewives franchise and the anger it sometimes causes me. Let's turn our attention to the crazy ladies of NJ... more specifically Teresa who just filed for bankruptcy. I was always kind of suspicious about where her money was coming from since she spends it with such reckless abandon. The girl thinks nothing of going to a boutique and dropping a few thousand on clothes for her kids (such a waste since they grow out of it in 5 seconds!). She throws lavish parties, has a house that is full of marble and gold accents and readily admits to being over the top. She clearly is all about the image... I mean after she gave birth she asked her hubby how her make up looked! And I'm pretty sure she doesn't ever wear the same clothes twice... and her kids probably don't either.
But then on the flip side, on the last episode I watched she claimed that she has no help (meaning no nannies, no housekeeper...) which I find a little tough to believe. The funny thing about that was how adamant she was to the party planner (who wouldn't drop the fact that she needed to get help) that she didn't want it. I wonder how Teresa defines "help" because she MUST have some. We see her out and doing loads of things without her children and she can't expect us to believe that she mows the lawn on her 3+ acres of land and cleans all 16+ rooms in her gigantic home.
Her husband, Joe, is a big supporter of the "happy wife, happy life" motto, but there are limits. I wonder if he speaks with her about their financial situation or if she was totally taken off guard like Lynne was on RHofOC. If only we got to see this on camera...
I'm a big supporter of the Millionaire Next Door phenomenon of "big hat, no cattle" meaning that it's the people who feel like they need to flaunt their money the most who don't actually have as much as they'd like you to think. Looks like Teresa and her hubby fall squarely into that category.
Today I'm grateful for: sushi. And being a reformed picky eater.
But then on the flip side, on the last episode I watched she claimed that she has no help (meaning no nannies, no housekeeper...) which I find a little tough to believe. The funny thing about that was how adamant she was to the party planner (who wouldn't drop the fact that she needed to get help) that she didn't want it. I wonder how Teresa defines "help" because she MUST have some. We see her out and doing loads of things without her children and she can't expect us to believe that she mows the lawn on her 3+ acres of land and cleans all 16+ rooms in her gigantic home.
Her husband, Joe, is a big supporter of the "happy wife, happy life" motto, but there are limits. I wonder if he speaks with her about their financial situation or if she was totally taken off guard like Lynne was on RHofOC. If only we got to see this on camera...
I'm a big supporter of the Millionaire Next Door phenomenon of "big hat, no cattle" meaning that it's the people who feel like they need to flaunt their money the most who don't actually have as much as they'd like you to think. Looks like Teresa and her hubby fall squarely into that category.
Today I'm grateful for: sushi. And being a reformed picky eater.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summertime
Apparently yesterday was the first day of summer. Happy summer everyone!
In the summer things are different for me than the rest of the year. My schedule changes at work (and makes it a bit harder to get to the blog world and update here as much as I should). I work more regular hours which is good, but I also have to get up a ton earlier which is bad. It's nice to have a change of pace, but I don't always LOVE my summer project in the same way I LOOOVE my job the rest of the year. I deal with it though.
My eating habits change in the summer too. I crave more fruits and veggies and less "heavy" stuff (like carbs and warm meals). I want to eat less (not always a good thing for someone as tiny as me) and cook less (the oven makes my apartment sooo warm!).
My spending changes. Electricity bill goes up (I need you, AC, in the hot, humid DC summers). Extra earnings go down (cuz who wants to work when you can play?). Gas spending goes up (more road trips and general traveling).
Is summer different for you than the rest of the year?
Today I'm grateful for: a possible beach trip.
In the summer things are different for me than the rest of the year. My schedule changes at work (and makes it a bit harder to get to the blog world and update here as much as I should). I work more regular hours which is good, but I also have to get up a ton earlier which is bad. It's nice to have a change of pace, but I don't always LOVE my summer project in the same way I LOOOVE my job the rest of the year. I deal with it though.
My eating habits change in the summer too. I crave more fruits and veggies and less "heavy" stuff (like carbs and warm meals). I want to eat less (not always a good thing for someone as tiny as me) and cook less (the oven makes my apartment sooo warm!).
My spending changes. Electricity bill goes up (I need you, AC, in the hot, humid DC summers). Extra earnings go down (cuz who wants to work when you can play?). Gas spending goes up (more road trips and general traveling).
Is summer different for you than the rest of the year?
Today I'm grateful for: a possible beach trip.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Vacation and other Summer Shenanigans
I just got back from a 4 day mini-vacation/road trip (which I suppose partially explains my disappearance from the blogosphere). I went with two friends down to North Carolina (thought of you, MPP!) for some beach time, some southern hospitality, and lots of food. All in all, I probably spent about $300 between eating out almost every meal, a shopping trip (July is going to be a no spend on clothes... probably...), and gas (we drove my car). We stayed with my friend's mom, so housing was free.
Let's see... it breaks down to about $60 in clothes (consignments of course! A great pair of Lacoste shorts, a Loft top, and a Tommy Hilfiger tunic), $50 in gas/parking, probably about $100 or so in food costs, and the rest is just miscellaneous things.
I was shocked with how little everything cost there compared to DC. I think the most I paid for a meal was $18 and that's when I paid for 2 of us! I guess I've gotten used to the crazy cost of living here and it just seems "normal." I really liked the southern hospitality and everyone just seemed so much nicer... or maybe that was the southern accents? Who knows...
It was a charming place to visit and in my head, I tried out living there. I don't know if I could do it, but it was fun to do. I'm convincing myself more and more that I think I need to make a big change in my life. Moving might be it?
Does cost of living play into why you live where you do? How did you decide?
And Monday Morning Inspiration will make its way back into the regular rotation once I get my act together. Summers get a little crazy, which I will explain in a future post.
Today I'm grateful for: road trip weekends, photo ops and complaining "are we there yet?"
Let's see... it breaks down to about $60 in clothes (consignments of course! A great pair of Lacoste shorts, a Loft top, and a Tommy Hilfiger tunic), $50 in gas/parking, probably about $100 or so in food costs, and the rest is just miscellaneous things.
I was shocked with how little everything cost there compared to DC. I think the most I paid for a meal was $18 and that's when I paid for 2 of us! I guess I've gotten used to the crazy cost of living here and it just seems "normal." I really liked the southern hospitality and everyone just seemed so much nicer... or maybe that was the southern accents? Who knows...
It was a charming place to visit and in my head, I tried out living there. I don't know if I could do it, but it was fun to do. I'm convincing myself more and more that I think I need to make a big change in my life. Moving might be it?
Does cost of living play into why you live where you do? How did you decide?
And Monday Morning Inspiration will make its way back into the regular rotation once I get my act together. Summers get a little crazy, which I will explain in a future post.
Today I'm grateful for: road trip weekends, photo ops and complaining "are we there yet?"
Friday, June 11, 2010
What have you eliminated that you do not miss?
Inspired by Fabulously Broke's list of things she's eliminated that she does not miss. I've eliminated all of these things for different reasons: some for health, some for cost, some for environmental benefits...
* soda (I drink mostly water now)
* plastic bags (99% of the time I use a reusable shopping bag. I have different ones for groceries and for clothing)
* paper towels (I've had the same roll for more than 6 months. I use towels now)
* buying books (I borrow from the library or from friends. If I do buy books, I get them at yard sales for less than $1 and then donate them when I'm finished.)
* eating out by myself (Eating out is social and I only do it with friends)
* tacky crap (I make it a point to be thoughtful about what I bring back into my home. No crappy souvenirs for me!)
* plastic water bottles (After watching this, I realized that I am part of the problem. I've been using my Brita filter and trying to remember to carry around a reusable water bottle.)
* meat (Okay... I know this is a little bit of a cop out since I've been a vegetarian for YEARS, but I thought it should be included because I definitely do not miss eating meat.)
That's all I can think of right now, but I'm sure there's more. What have you eliminated that you do not miss?
PS I updated the look of the blog. What do you think?
Today I'm grateful for: opportunities... in life, in yoga, in dating, in work...
* soda (I drink mostly water now)
* plastic bags (99% of the time I use a reusable shopping bag. I have different ones for groceries and for clothing)
* paper towels (I've had the same roll for more than 6 months. I use towels now)
* buying books (I borrow from the library or from friends. If I do buy books, I get them at yard sales for less than $1 and then donate them when I'm finished.)
* eating out by myself (Eating out is social and I only do it with friends)
* tacky crap (I make it a point to be thoughtful about what I bring back into my home. No crappy souvenirs for me!)
* plastic water bottles (After watching this, I realized that I am part of the problem. I've been using my Brita filter and trying to remember to carry around a reusable water bottle.)
* meat (Okay... I know this is a little bit of a cop out since I've been a vegetarian for YEARS, but I thought it should be included because I definitely do not miss eating meat.)
That's all I can think of right now, but I'm sure there's more. What have you eliminated that you do not miss?
PS I updated the look of the blog. What do you think?
Today I'm grateful for: opportunities... in life, in yoga, in dating, in work...
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Healthcare
It seems like just yesterday I was making a decision about my healthcare. Was it really over a year ago?
This year's open enrollment for health, dental and vision just ended and I thought I'd share my decision with you all. My employer cut my former health insurance plan because the premiums were just too high. I had only two choices: Kaiser and One Net PPO. Since (as I said last year) I didn't want Kaiser, I had one choice so no need to ramble on here about the differences between the plans and ask for your help making the choice, etc.
I actually think One Net will be pretty good. Their plans are "age banded" so you pay less if you are younger. Since I am in the youngest age bracket, I will pay just $31.30 per month which is a savings of $21.90 per month from what I was paying before. The only downside is that my co-pays are going to go up a little bit. I think that even with the slight increase in co-pays, I will still be a little bit ahead in terms of finances. And all of my current doctors take this insurance... phew!
One Net PPO (this year's plan)
* I pay $31.30/month
* $25 Primary care co-pay
* $30 Specialist co-pay
* Rx: $15 generic/$25 name-brand preferred/$50 name-brand non-preferred
UnitedHealthcare Choice High (last year's plan)
* I pay $53.20/month
* $20 Primary Care co-pay
* $30 Specialist co-pay
* Rx: $10 generic/$30 formulary brand/$50 non-formulary brand
Anyone have experience with One Net? All good things to say, right?
Today I'm grateful for: taking a risk and hopefully having it pan out the way I want.
This year's open enrollment for health, dental and vision just ended and I thought I'd share my decision with you all. My employer cut my former health insurance plan because the premiums were just too high. I had only two choices: Kaiser and One Net PPO. Since (as I said last year) I didn't want Kaiser, I had one choice so no need to ramble on here about the differences between the plans and ask for your help making the choice, etc.
I actually think One Net will be pretty good. Their plans are "age banded" so you pay less if you are younger. Since I am in the youngest age bracket, I will pay just $31.30 per month which is a savings of $21.90 per month from what I was paying before. The only downside is that my co-pays are going to go up a little bit. I think that even with the slight increase in co-pays, I will still be a little bit ahead in terms of finances. And all of my current doctors take this insurance... phew!
One Net PPO (this year's plan)
* I pay $31.30/month
* $25 Primary care co-pay
* $30 Specialist co-pay
* Rx: $15 generic/$25 name-brand preferred/$50 name-brand non-preferred
UnitedHealthcare Choice High (last year's plan)
* I pay $53.20/month
* $20 Primary Care co-pay
* $30 Specialist co-pay
* Rx: $10 generic/$30 formulary brand/$50 non-formulary brand
Anyone have experience with One Net? All good things to say, right?
Today I'm grateful for: taking a risk and hopefully having it pan out the way I want.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday Morning Inspiration: It's Frugal being Green
This Monday we'll get our inspiration from Carrie of It's Frugal being Green, a blogger who has inspired me by not letting her battle with cancer get in the way of finding the best ways to save money and save the earth.
What inspired you to start your blog?
Within a couple weeks of getting the internet at home back in 1995 (I was 10), I had already taught myself some basic HTML and made my first website. I went on to major in graphic design in college and then interned at a magazine. Blogging is my current outlet for that content creation and design passion.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
I think it's genetics. My mom loves to tell a story about how she gave me $20 to pick out Christmas gifts for my four family members when I was a kid and even though I hadn't learned division at school yet it was still obvious to me that I could spend $5 on each of them. I was budgeting at 5 years old.
What is a challenge you've overcame?
Six months ago, I would've been hard pressed to think up a serious challenge I've faced but then I got diagnosed with cancer at 25 years old. I was trying to continue to work full time at my job where I'm the only person who does what I do, be in pain so extreme my doctor prescribed morphine, make it to what seemed like two appointments or tests every day, and still maintain some semblance of personal hygiene all while I was unable to sleep or eat. The decision to go on disability leave (at about two thirds my previous income which has me dipping into my savings and pushes out the time line on my financial goals) so that I can focus on my health was the hardest decision I ever made.
What is something you are working towards?
I'm hoping that, even with the financial setback I'm experiencing right now by being away from work, I'll be able to buy a home in the next year or two. I'll need to get back to work (looking at three months from now), maybe get a raise, pinch my pennies, stick to my budget, and have my investments continue to perform well. Hopefully the economy as a whole will be back on it's feet then too.
Name one ... that inspires you:
Book: I love to read but mainly for entertainment value so I rarely read the same book twice. One story that really struck me over the long term though was The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson.
Song: This is a tough question to pose to someone with almost 10,000 songs that they actually listen to in their iTunes library but I'll pick The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.
Place: The Silicon Valley. It's my home and some of the most awesome stuff in the world comes from here.
Blog: http://www.getrichslowly.org/. Probably the first blog I ever started following.
Person: Cheesy I know, but my mom. Before I was born she was a chemist, but she worked with some dangerous stuff and had to quit when she got pregnant with me. For over 20 years now she's made a steady income off her creativity and I'd love to do that too.
Movie: As with books, I rarely watch the same movie twice. I do love movies that are twists on classic fairy tales and while I'm debating donating or selling off my DVD collection (it's not huge, I have maybe 20), I'd keep my Ever After DVD.
What are you grateful for today?
Warm breezes thick with the scent of blooming flowers.
Today I'm grateful for: Carrie's inspiration
What inspired you to start your blog?
Within a couple weeks of getting the internet at home back in 1995 (I was 10), I had already taught myself some basic HTML and made my first website. I went on to major in graphic design in college and then interned at a magazine. Blogging is my current outlet for that content creation and design passion.
What inspires you on your financial journey?
I think it's genetics. My mom loves to tell a story about how she gave me $20 to pick out Christmas gifts for my four family members when I was a kid and even though I hadn't learned division at school yet it was still obvious to me that I could spend $5 on each of them. I was budgeting at 5 years old.
What is a challenge you've overcame?
Six months ago, I would've been hard pressed to think up a serious challenge I've faced but then I got diagnosed with cancer at 25 years old. I was trying to continue to work full time at my job where I'm the only person who does what I do, be in pain so extreme my doctor prescribed morphine, make it to what seemed like two appointments or tests every day, and still maintain some semblance of personal hygiene all while I was unable to sleep or eat. The decision to go on disability leave (at about two thirds my previous income which has me dipping into my savings and pushes out the time line on my financial goals) so that I can focus on my health was the hardest decision I ever made.
What is something you are working towards?
I'm hoping that, even with the financial setback I'm experiencing right now by being away from work, I'll be able to buy a home in the next year or two. I'll need to get back to work (looking at three months from now), maybe get a raise, pinch my pennies, stick to my budget, and have my investments continue to perform well. Hopefully the economy as a whole will be back on it's feet then too.
Name one ... that inspires you:
Book: I love to read but mainly for entertainment value so I rarely read the same book twice. One story that really struck me over the long term though was The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson.
Song: This is a tough question to pose to someone with almost 10,000 songs that they actually listen to in their iTunes library but I'll pick The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.
Place: The Silicon Valley. It's my home and some of the most awesome stuff in the world comes from here.
Blog: http://www.getrichslowly.org/. Probably the first blog I ever started following.
Person: Cheesy I know, but my mom. Before I was born she was a chemist, but she worked with some dangerous stuff and had to quit when she got pregnant with me. For over 20 years now she's made a steady income off her creativity and I'd love to do that too.
Movie: As with books, I rarely watch the same movie twice. I do love movies that are twists on classic fairy tales and while I'm debating donating or selling off my DVD collection (it's not huge, I have maybe 20), I'd keep my Ever After DVD.
What are you grateful for today?
Warm breezes thick with the scent of blooming flowers.
Today I'm grateful for: Carrie's inspiration
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Great Closet Cleanout: The End Results
My great closet cleanout inspired me to do a bit more getting rid of stuff. I went through drawers and shelves (aka more than just the closets!) and this is the final result. I got rid of:
3 pairs of Jeans
5 skirts
2 jackets
1 dress
6 sleeveless tops
4 tops
1 pair of yoga pants
3 purses
2 pairs of shoes
8 books
2 VHS casette tapes
Consignment store #1 took 4 items (2 skirts, a jacket and a shirt). Consigment store #2 took 11 items (3 purses, 3 skirts, 2 jeans, 1 dress and 2 shirts). Then the rest is going straight to Goodwill. I feel lighter already!
Today I'm grateful for: friend sleepovers
3 pairs of Jeans
5 skirts
2 jackets
1 dress
6 sleeveless tops
4 tops
1 pair of yoga pants
3 purses
2 pairs of shoes
8 books
2 VHS casette tapes
Consignment store #1 took 4 items (2 skirts, a jacket and a shirt). Consigment store #2 took 11 items (3 purses, 3 skirts, 2 jeans, 1 dress and 2 shirts). Then the rest is going straight to Goodwill. I feel lighter already!
Today I'm grateful for: friend sleepovers
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