Happy New Year

2009. Dang, I seriously can't believe how fast time flies - I mean I can't believe that 2008 has come and gone! Out with old, in with the new right? Soooo ... out with the old spending habits, in with new ones.

I'm still pushing myself to stick to my 20.00 a week allowance. Its really hard... but what can you do? The last two weeks weren't good budget wise - a lot of activities and shopping - but yesterday I took back 100.00 worth of things that turned out to not fit or I had something similar, so that makes me feel a bit better. My dad's parents were also very generous with us for christmas, so my parents will be depositing a large amount into my savings account. Hooray! And... mom also gave me 105.00 to use to get a present for myself. I have no idea what to get - but she said I had to get myself something - I'm in trouble if I use it for groceries.

Speaking of groceries, BF and I went grocery shopping for the first time in awhile yesterday. He spent 40 at safeway and I spent 20 at trader joes. We got lots of lunchmeats, yogurts, pastas and sauce, veggies, and some stir frys. Not bad! Hopefully that should keep us going well into the next pay period. And a friend is treating us to dinner tonight, so yay!

My current fun fund total is 410.00 - I'm so proud of myself! I mean, I did put the 105 from mom in there... but seriously - over 400 in less than 6 months! I have been craving a new agenda... so I may get that... but we'll see.

And tonight I'm going to purge my MAC makeup collection again to try and get rid of things. It turns out that blues are not a good color on me... so anything bright blue is going to go. Oooh I think I have 50 something in my paypal, so I'll put that into savings too.

Anyway - hope everyone is having a fab start to 2009 and that this year is better (financially!) than 2008.

allowance? yes please!

After taking some advice from the efficient money handling BF, I've decided to start giving myself a weekly allowance. 20. Yup. A big fat whopping twenty dollars to last me each week. It can go toward eating lunches out, coffees, anything that I want. And the best part.... if I don't spend it, it can roll over - or I can put it in my fun fund! I will also do the same on weekends - 20 to go toward eating out, movies, bars, etc.

Last week I had $3. Lol. Way to go me. And today, it rolled over to some photos being printed at target as part of my mom's christmas present. So far today I've spent 10 for another part of my sister's present... that came out of my checking account. So I have 20 and no clue what to do with it.... I think I'll sit a bit on this one.

I've been really good with money lately - I haven't gone shopping at all this month (okay, I know Dec is only 8 days old but still).... I have been tempted but I keep reaching out to BF and my mom for support to not spend. It's rough - I'm tellin' ya. But... I hope it just for the time being.

I'm cold. In fact, I've been cold all day. It seems as if December has finally caught up with Northern CA and I might have to turn the furnace on tonight (if I can figure out its location). Temps are supposed to drop to 41 overnight - and that's pretty cold. It's so hard to get up in the mornings too! I think tomorrow will definitely be an ugg day...

Anyway. Almost time to go home here - so hooray for that.

New month, new plan

So I still haven't fully recovered from a 20% pay cut. I feel really bad - especially with Christmas right around the corner - I had wanted to do nice things for my family this year ... but we'll see.

Anyway. So BF and I have kinda worked out a plan for me. Each week I will take out 20.00 for food, snacks, coffees, etc. On my lunch break (I made a sandwich today!), I went to the bank and withdrew 470.00. 450 for this half of the month's rent, and 20 cash to keep for the previously mentioned weekly cash. I did splurge on a hot apple cider today (2.80), but that was on a gift card. I do have to go pick up part of mom's christmas present today (1.50) so that will come out of my 20.00 as well. However... I did sell some unused mac makeup for 25.00 - so that is in my paypal account at the moment.

I spent about 50.00 at safeway and trader joes on Sunday. I bought things for breakfasts and lunches at work (cheeses, yogurts, crackers, salami, veggies for pasta salad, frozen pizzas) that I can prepare and bring ahead of time. Hopefully this will squash my urge to eat out in the financial district.

94.00 today went to paying my car registration... eeek. That one hurt. But at least I only have to register my car once a year - and my parents were nice enough to fill my gas tank up! And those gas prices - holy moly! I saw under 2.00 in SAN FRANCISCO this weekend! I actually snapped a photo with my iphone at one station, lol. I do owe them 60.00 for car insurance though... that will come out of the cash that I squalled aside last paycheck.

I'm trying to keep christmas presents around 50.00 to each person this year - I've already ordered my sisters (30.00+15.00) so hers is done... I have to order my mom's and finish it up and I have no clue what to get my dad. He usually asks for a shirt... and then I give him a close to 50 something dollar gift card to peets.

Soooo... trying to keep things on a low level right now. Since I now have Fridays off I'm thinking of volunteering or doing something good so that I don't sit around the house and mope all day. We'll see how it turns out.

Ooop BF and I need toilet paper... maybe costco run/$1.50 hot dog dinner tomorrow night!

Just plain tired..

So yesterday morning on our way to work BF and i had a great chat about ways to strategize and save money. Work was going good... until a 12 o'clock meeting.. .where our company sat us down and told us that this year there would be no bonuses. And effective dec 1, we would all be reduced to a 4 day work week... with a 20% pay decrease. This is bad. Very bad. 20% of my pay... is more than half my monthly rent.

Needless to say... the past day hasn't been very good. I go between feelings of anger to sadness.. I know its not the end of the world and heck I should be lucky I still have a job... but I feel so crappy. I feel like I can't afford presents this year, and I've been contemplating getting a part time job. I will hate to leave my coworkers... but hey I have to feed and shelter myself, know what I mean?

Happy early Thanksgiving... more later.

Outlet madness

So I'm back from my long weekend away with my mom - I had a great time! We went wine tasting, ate some fab food, and most of all did some hardcore shopping! We actually hit up three outlet mall centers and I wanted to make out a little list to see what I spent compared to what I wouldn't have if I didn't get everything on sale. That's right. Every item I bought was on sale. Yay! So here we go

Stop 1: 

Nordstroms

Pair of shoes marked 47.99 originally 79.95

total at Nordstroms: 53.00

total saved at nordstroms - $32

Coach

2 keyfobs - skull and crossbones (sis for christmas, koala for me) - 16.00 ea marked down from 29.00 - saved 26.00

1 silk scarf - 14.99 marked down from 54.00 

total spent at Coach - 50.63

total savings at coach - $65!

Banana Republic

1 dress, marked 54.99 - 50% = 27.50

1 luxe hoodie marked 59.99 - 50% = 29.99

1 shawl neck shirt marked 29.99 -50% = 15.00

1 sweater vest marked 21.99 - 50% = 10.99, plus addtl 50% = 8.24

1 dressy top marked 37.99 - 50% = 19.00

1 embellished top marked 36.99 - 40% = 19.00

total  = 130.00

HOWEVER, BR was doing a special promotion - use your BR card for an extra 25% off!

New total =  100.72

total savings at BR - $148.46!

Stop 2

J. Crew

1 knit beret hat marked 29.50 - 30% = 10.65

1 fleece collar knit market 49.50 - 30% = 34.65

total at J.Crew = $59.59

total savings at J.Crew - $23.70

Cosmetics Company Outlet

1 MAC eyeshadow marked 10 (retail 14)

1 MAC palette marked 25.25 (retail 38)

1 MAC shadestick marked 11.75 (retail 16.50)

total at CCO - 50.64

total savings at CCO = $ 21.50

GAP Outlet

1 white blouse marked 29.99 - 40% = 18.99

1 headband marked .47 - 40% = .28

plus an additional 10% off my total

Total at GAP - $17.71

total savings at GAP - 14.02 (plus that headband at a quarter?!)

Stop 3

Burberry outlet

1 pair shoes marked 430 discounted t0 230, marked down to 99 plus an additional 50% = 49.00

total at burberry - 53

total savings at Burberry - $377!

total spent on shopping - $329.29

total saved - $633.97!!!

wowee folks - that's a huge savings - almost two times what I really spent! so although I did spent a lot of money... I also saved a ton too! Buying things on sale and clearance at an outlet center really helps a lot, not to mention I got my holiday party dress for about 25 and change an those burberry shoes! so excited!

anyway... off to get some rest here, not feeling so hot so I'm hoping I can beat a cold that might be coming on. Cheers!

I love Fridays.

I really, really do. Friday - the day that the hours can seemingly melt by - or even if they dragged you wouldn't mind since the weekend is coming up.

With Veterans Day coming up on Tuesday, I took Monday off to have a 4 day weekend. And since I've been saying that I need a vacation for quite some time, my mom and I are going up to the wine country to overnight, relax, eat, and just have some healthy downtime. I'm quite excited - as our rooms were 87 a night - so that seems like quite a deal (compared to the other places that were 250+ a night!).

This evening some of us are going to a comedy show where I was able to get discounted tickets. If you sign up for goldstar you get a weekly email with events in your area - most of the time with half price or even FREE tickets. I'll get us some pizzas with coupons from dominoes and voila! Dinner and a show.

With the holidays fast approaching it starts to be time for holiday shopping. BF and I have already given each other gifts for the holidays - so all I really need to worry about is mom, dad, sister, roommate, and perhaps a friend or two. With my new found photo obsession I was thinking of blowing up some of my prints and framing them for my parents. Or maybe I should just stick to the peets gift card I get dad every year, but we'll see.

Anyway - time to get back to "work". Updates later..

November november

Oh November - you've come up so quickly and October ended so fast!

For the month I spent a bit too much money.. although I did go through a purse this morning and find a check made out to me! So I'm going to deposit it into my fun fund.

Since payday was Friday, on Saturday morning I transferred a chunk into my savings account. I also withdrew almost half of November's rent and am keeping that into an envelope to later turn into a cashier's check for BF. Sounds confusing.. but I'm hoping that it will help me cut down on costs.

My mom purchased us a slow cooker... so I'm way excited. I'm really hoping that this will make lunches and dinners easier and more fun. I'm getting a bit tired of peanut buttery and raspberry jam... so we will see. Again - I do wish we had a microwave at work! Although the bagel bites have been doing well.

Today I do have to make the journey to safeway - they have some meats on sale (i'm thinking beef stew and chili), plus I need more jam, cottage cheese, and some spices. I'm trying my best to scope out some sales so that I can save more money that way. I do need to go to Walgreeens to get my medicine...so that will be another 25 there too. Ugh!

Anyway - I think I'm going to catch up on some other blogs and I promise (really hard this time!) not to neglect this so much.

October updates

Wow, so its been a bit of awhile, unfortunately. When things get busy somehow the blog gets neglected.

Anyway. October has been a very expensive month, sadly to say. With the BF and my upcoming anniversary, I totally splurged on his present - an xbox 360. But now he is a happy boy and that's all that matters. Aside from that there has been some cold weather shopping and a couple of birthday parties to attend. That means money toward dinner and drinks/other activities. But this past weekend BF and I did find some free things to do around town with our public transit passes, so that always keeps costs low.

Since I seem to constantly have the struggle with what works best for my paychecks, I think I may revert to pulling out half of my rent (450) at the first of the month and putting another 450 straight into my savings. That will leave 200 left over for groceries and other necessities. I think having a much lower amount in my checking and taking 50.00 out in cash will really make me think twice about spending (especially with having to hand over cash for things.. hopefully it will make me stingy!). We'll see how that works - and of course the second paycheck on the 15th would cover the other half of rent, more money into savings, and cable, cell phone, and heating bills (2/3 paid back by roomies for apartment expenses).

Yesterday was also another expensive day as I ordedred my very first digital SLR camera. I'm so, so excited - I had been shopping around for the best price and once I found it from a shop that a coworker reccomended, I pounced! Plus - dad is giving me 1/2 the cost of the camera too! I just need to get the tracking number and hopefully get myself to sit tight until it comes.

I do still need to go through my makeup wardrobe... I have so much I don't use and its a waste! And I have to keep pushing the fendi bag I have up for sale...

Anyway. More updates to come as needed. :)

today was not such a good day.

will update tomorrow.

Fleet week!

Finally - another item sold! Today I shipped out my LV accessory and the money is waiting to be deposited into a bank account! Yay! Now if only I could get the last big purse item to sell..that would be fabulous. And I swear, this weekend I'm really going to take photos of all the jeans/makeup to sell and get the ball rolling on that! I do have a gal interested in about $90 worth of makeup..so that would be another big help as well.

Today starts San Francisco's fleet week - so if you are out and about in San Francisco and hear a huge noise - look up! If you are fast enough you just might catch some of the blue angels flying overhead. Courtesty of www.visitfishermanswharf.com, here's a list of events going on this weekend:

Friday, October 10
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Air Show Practice Flights
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Blue Angels Practice Flights
Saturday, October 11
Noon to 1:00 p.m.	Parade of Fleet Week Ships
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Air Show
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Blue Angels Air Show
Sunday, October 12
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Public Ship Tours
12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Italian Heritage Day Parade
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Air Show
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Blue Angels Air Show
Monday & Tuesday, October 13 & 14
10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Public Ship Tours

Yay for all this - and a lot of it is free! Very excited - I just hope the weather stays good here in the bay area so we can enjoy a weekend outdoors.

Yesterday I found out that one of my closest friends is in the hospital and will need some physical rehab for her legs. I'm thinking of sending her a little care package - some cards, maybe some candies, and an eyeshadow that she really liked when she stayed with us. I wanted to save the eyeshadow for Christmas, but I figure she may need the pick me up now.

Anyway - the jets are flying overhead again so I'm going to run to the windows to look out - I swear this never gets old!

Autumn updates

Oh blog, I'm sorry that this weekend slipped by so fast and I was unable to write in you. This weekend was a very expensive weekend. I bought BF his anniversary prsent - an xbox 360. BF has been up late the past few nights playing it, but it makes him happy and keeps him entertained. Overall a good choice, haha. That was a dent in my checking account, but it's okay - it's totally worth it.

I also picked up some more sweats and another sweater - all of which were on sale! I did buy another sweatshirt, but I believe I will be taking that one back. I got a great cardigan at Old Navy for 14.92 - they need sales like that more often!

With October in full force the weather is changing so quickly. It's getting darker out a lot more earlier so that means more lights on in the house. I've been trying to light candles to help out and also layering clothes inside so we avoid turning on the heater. I'm quite fond of keeping our heating bills under $25.00!

Another item that I will need to save for will be my car registration and unfortunately this year it needs a smog too. My registration is 90.00 + the cost of the smog. That isn't due until late December so I can start putting a few dollars away here and there to help lessen the blow on that one.

I also made another sale - I sold my LV accessory that I had up for sale. That will ship out later this week and help with the visa bill.

I've also brought my lunch for the past few days - that has been helping keep food costs down, although I think I will be dreadfully sick of sandwiches in the near future. Any advice on other cheap lunch alternatives would be great - but keep in mind I have no microwave or oven or anything to heat up meals here in the office.

That's all for today - will update you later :)

Feeling stressed!

Finally, Friday! This week has gone on for what feels like forever here. The weather is really overcast and the clouds are building so it looks like rain for sure!

I'm totally miffed over something that happened, and quite frankly I don't know what to do about it. The person that I sold my bal bag to is telling me that I misrepresented the item and she wants a partial refund! Seriously, it feels as if the bottom dropped out of my world on that one. I had so many good plans for the money - and now if she demands it back? I have no idea what to do - so I'm going to hopefully try and sit tight on this subject...

Thanks to some help from twiggers, who has her own finance blog I will hopefully have some spiffy bar charts that will track my bank and visa accounts. I'll try to get that up and running tomorrow.

Fingers crossed that the bag ends up okay...

October already!

I had a total blast going shopping for winter clothes yesterday. My first stop was victoria's secret's pink - they were having a sale and I got a new sweatshirt for 19.99 - which came to 21.64 with tax. Pretty exciting! I then went on to forever 21 where I got 5 items for 94.00. I got a sweater vest, a thick long sleeved polo, long sleeved vneck, long sleeved cardigan, and a tshirt. Not bad! I'm feeling better about my winter wardrobe since I now have some items to layer under others and keep me warm.

Tonight my mom, sister, and I are going to a breast cancer event at the Melting Pot. I'm excited to eat there but even more excited to help with the breast cancer aspect of it. My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago and lost one breast to the disease, but today she is cancer free. It'll be a good mom/daughter bonding event.. as long as my sister behaves.

I'm also getting the urge for a vacation. I haven't had a long relaxing vacation in almost two years! Although I did go to Europe last year we were running around the whole 6 weeks. And since I haven't taken hardly any vacation time here I think that I may just take Monday Nov 10 before veterans day off and hopefully escape to San Diego with mom for a bit of relaxing! Airfare is cheap on virgin america - 49/one way. I'm also looking at cheap hotels that may offer a kitchenette that allows us to cook to save money on meals. I'll hopefully bring the idea up with her tonight at dinner and sway her to take that Monday off.

So that's whats going on today - we'll see if the vacation thing actually comes through - and I'll still have 9 vacation days left afterward. Thats it for now, recap to come on the breast cancer dinner after tonight.

thank goodness for payday

Just when I thought I wasn't going to make it, thank god today is payday! The only bill that I have to pay for with this paycheck is my share of heat - which is.... $7! Woohoo! I did splurge a bit on lunch today - I had sushi for $8, but at least my sushi/salt craving is gone. I'll make some pasta salad with chicken and broccoli for lunch tomorrow - yum!

Yesterday was my roommate's birthday as I mentioned previously. I bought some cupcakes for her birthday, and then we joined her and some friends for drinks and tapas. The bill was $25 since we all pitched in to cover her share. Not bad - I had a great time and got to meet some new people too!

With the weather changing here, I've decided it's about time for me to brush up my winter wardrobe. I love autumn - being able to wear big fuzzy sweaters and warmer items totally makes me happy. So tonight after work I'm giving myself 100.00 out of my paycheck to get some winter basics. I'm going to look for sweaters and other fall items to keep me warm through winter. I did consult BF on this matter and he just said "it sure as hell beats being cold". True that!

Today during some off time I took the opportunity to make myself an excel spreadsheet for my spending. It has five pages in it - one for my checking, savings, and fun funds with goals, my visa amount and goals, and also a list of monthly expenses (rent, utilities, etc) that need to be paid and by what dates. I think that If I start tracking my spending down to a T I'll be able to see what things are unnecessary and that I can do without. I may even print it out and take it with me, or just keep track of it with a tiny notebook in my bags.

I'm still trying to bump up some of my sales - I have one handbag left the LV accessory. I also had someone interested in a pair of jeans that I've had up - so if those sell that would help too! I'm feeling really motivated about my spending and accounts right now, so lets hope that I can keep my spirits up!

Street fairs and reunion musings

So friends, this past weekend was such a draining one. Saturday morning I couldn't sleep, so I was up puttering around the apartment at 7. I went home at about 9 and mom and I headed down to the annual fog fest in Pacifica. Mom spoiled me again - she got me a soy candle, a pearl necklace, an awesome handmade wooden vase, and we both got matching toe rings. She also took me to lunch - so I did have a great afternoon with her.

I then picked up Tiffany and headed back to the apt to get ready for our 10 year middle school reunion. I had an okay time... I thought that people would've changed a bit - but instead a lot of them were just the same as they were 10 years ago. So I was feeling a bit emotional over the whole thing all evening. It just smacked me upside the head that no matter what to these people I will never be good enough, not funny enough, not pretty enough, not outgoing or spontaneous or bitchy or anything for them. I guess I have to be okay with that - what else can I do? Oh well..

Yesterday would have been my grandpa's 87th birthday if he was still here. So again, I spent yesterday in much of a depressive slump, half dozing around the apartment all day. BF and I did go for a walk for a few hours and then I was in bed by 9. Blargh.

Total money spent for the weekend - 65.00. Ouch. But I did bring my lunch today so that will help me save! Hooray.

And it's Monday..updates to come...

TGIF!

Thank goodness its Friday - this week felt like forever! The weather here today is gorgeous and it looks like we are gearing up to have a great weekend here in San Francisco.

Last night I also made another sale... small, but the 30.00 helps! That and the bracelet I sold will be shipped out today.

Last night on my way home from work I stopped into one of my favorite stores and started talking with a gal who works there. We've chatted several times before about jewelry, bags, makeup, everything. We talked for about half an hour - and while doing so she said that the shop was actually looking for part time help and that she would gladly reccommend me to her boss. I wrote down my email and phone number and she said that she would talk to her manager about it first thing in the morning. Whether or not I get a phone call it was still nice to have someone think of me in the hey i want to work with you sense. A small job (say 10 hours a week) would help - plus the store has great things and I think I would really enjoy it. We'll see what happens though ....

Also a coworker brought me a great treat today - with MAC's back to mac program you can bring in 6 empties of any product and redeem them for a new lipstick or eyeshadow. My coworker brought me 18 empties - so that means I get 3 new MAC products! I'm very excited about this one!

I'm treating myself somewhere cheap for lunch today since it's Friday - maybe I'll be way gross and have McDonalds, haha. Anyway - more to come later.

tiny sale plus free ice cream!

Thursday Thursday. Last night brought the return of our roommate home. I can't wait to sit down and talk to her tonight about her adventures in Africa! Plus girltime and galtalk will be good again too.

Today I sold another item - just a bracelet for 35 but every little bit helps. I think I'll go ahead and add the 35 to my fun fund. That'll bring the total up to about 80 - but its still growing! Today I'm also shipping out my bag sale - it's a little bittersweet but at the same time I'm not feeling any major remorse. I may sell off another balenciaga bag - we will see though. I do know that my tomato day will never leave me - that bag was such a steal and I love it. But obviously if push comes to shove and I ever needed money that I would sell it.

This weekend will be exciting - it's my 10 year grade school reunion. I know - it sounds weird, but since I went to Catholic school and spent 9 years with these people it will be good to catch up. My best friend will also be staying overnight with us - so poor BF prolly won't sleep since we'll be up laughing like morons. But that's okay! Laughter is good. So there will be dinner and drinks - yay!

Also - today is free ice cream day at coldstone! Today is the world's largest ice cream social

Celebrate the 7th Annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social and Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® with Cold Stone Creamery

Throughout the month of September, Cold Stone Creamery will be selling Make-A-Wish wall stars to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Be sure to visit your local Cold Stone Creamery to try two new flavors, Nutter Butter^® and Marshmallow, and the very special “Make-A-Wish Creations” inspired by Jack and Emily, two Wish Children.

• Jack's Creation - Marshmallow ice cream with OREO® Cookies, Chocolate Chips and Fudge
• Emily's Creation - Nutter Butter® ice cream with White Chocolate Chips, Kit Kat® and Yellow Cake

To cap off this special month, don't miss the 7th Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social at participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide, a special night to join together and share the simple pleasures of life with a FREE ice cream and family fun. On September 25th from 5:00 - 8:00PM, guests will be treated to a 3 oz. serving of Jack or Emily's Creation. All donations will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Courtesty of www.coldstone.com)

Hooray for this! Of course I will make a donation - but just wanted to spread the word.

Bit of a relapse...

So sadly today I had a bit of a shopping relapse. I think most people know how much I love my MAC Makeup. Well, if you've ever been outlet shopping I think you may know about a store called the Cosmetics Company Outlet which sells discounted makeup. One was set to open in lovely San Francisco - and it did. Except for the fact that tomorrow the store goes invitation only. So my behind, along with a coworker hightailed it down there to the store on lunch break. And ladies, was it beautiful. Upon walking in they had shelf after shelf of MAC - it was so pretty! And then... my holy grail makeup was sitting there on a shelf. I almost started jumping up and down. So I grabbed two. Plus some shadesticks. An eyeshadow. And a paint pot. And a tendertone. So I charged it..and have been having a fabulous day since.

I broke my makeup for that reason solely - I hadn't bought makeup since August! So tomorrow I go on the makeup ban again, only a much, much happier camper.

Hopefully more updates to come... I'll try and post an updated visa amount later on this week :)

Finally did it.

So friends, today I must admit is pretty bittersweet. I just sold my first balenciaga bag. The 2005 bordeaux was definitely my first love - but alas, she has spent most of her months in my possession in her dustbag tucked away in my closet. So I listed her and she sold. Today I am $1000 richer, and feeling a bit more free.

This past weekend was good, albeit way too fast. My parents had a birthday party for me and I got $150 in cash. Not too shabby! On Sunday I returned a pair of boots that when I put on made me look like an elf. So that is $120 back on my visa card! Hooray! I did spend 67 at Target though... I needed some cleaning supplies, got BF some cereal, and picked up a few winter essentials since the weather will be changing fast. Mom also totally spoiled me - she bought me a painting for our apt, new jeans, two new sweaters and a new blazer. And she bought me lunch yesterday. So needless to say I'm feeling a bit better about everything.

I'm waiting to see what my updated visa bill looks like now after the returns that I've made on it. With the money that I've made on the handbag it's more than enough to get me out of debt and start to replenish my savings. I'm very, very excited - I may even put 100 in my fun fund that I started at BofA.

Today is the day!

That I get to pay off a whopping $900 on my visa card - the bulk of it from work for re-embursable expenses. I feel as if a load has been taken off my shoulders. After work I'm going to stop by the bank and deposit the checks and schedule my payment to chase. Waaahooo!

I also had to pay my cell phone (64) and cable/internet (89) today. Those definitely hurt the wallet. I did, however, monitor my text message usage and saw that I haven't even used 10% of the 1500 texts that I'm paying an extra 10.00 for so I canceled that aspect on my at&t bill. I'm also still thinking of selling the iphone and going back to just having minutes and texts. I don't need anything fancy - email and internet can always wait until home. The only drawback is not having email and my calendar readily available for work ... we'll see what happens with this one though.

I'm torn on a few things. I'm really feeling quite bummed out today. I did put 500 into my savings yesterday, but the utilities and cell phone bill just wiped my account out. This leads me to other thoughts of debt and monetary woes. Will I never be able to get ahead? Will I always feel as if I have to live paycheck to paycheck? What happens when I want to buy a house? I'm so scared and worried that I'll make the same mistakes that some family members have done. I desperately don't want to be like them and try to set different goals and spending habits for myself, but sometimes its just so hard. I hope BF and I are able to sit down sometime soon and make up an actual real budget that I stick to.

I sold a bunch of makeup online - so that's going to make my makeup case and my bank account a bit happier. Once I get the full invoice paid from the lady I'll go ahead and ship that off and deposit the money into my account.

The only other bill that I have to worry about for the next month is our heat - 21 split between 3 people. Somehow, I think I'll be able to come up with the $7.