Save or Die

That you're my evil twin.. or just one of my multiple personalities..

muahaha!


-The other Floridian Regina

I paid 3,000 dollars worth of debt off this month... 1,000 out of savings and 2,000 from being a complete and utter tightwad. It really made me feel great to see that balance drop.

I wish I could construe that in some soft of witty, interesting to read anecdote, but I am just a tad bit burnt out.

On another note, I have inched my hair upwards for the last 6 months, reluctantly cutting a few inches at a time. This weekend I will make my final and most drastic cut into a fun angular bob. Bye bye hair!

Speaking of hair, I had my 3rd laser hair removal appointment yesterday. Its an absurdly uncomfortable process, but it is sooooo worth every penny. Goodbye razor!

It sucks. Really.

All my favorite dishes are completely impractical for single folk. It makes it so very easy to default to eating junk food or eating out. I wish I had a family of 43,987 to feed.

Which brings me to my child wanting.

I am a family girl. Not a career woman or a party girl. I was born and bred to nurture, love and teach. The child bug has bitten me. Sometimes I wish that I could meet Mr. Right and Mr. Right Jr... Instant family, just add [s]water[/s] love.

But back to cooking for one.. This is my meal plan for the week.

Tonight- Osso Bucco w/ cous cous (scandalously inexpensive for lamb, absurdly easy to make)
Wednesday- Chicken Carbonara
Thursday- Chicken Curry w/ Jasmine Rice
Friday- Steak and pomme frites

Saturday is my birthday, but its looking like I am going to be spending it alone. I'm thinking I am going to take myself out to a nice dinner and maybe buy myself a new pair of shoes. =)

I have a relatively small room that is used as an office/guest bedroom/sewing room/music studio/dairy farm. (haha) A small multitask room is never fun to decorate in the first place, but I have two sets of important guests who I expect within the next 6 weeks, and I would really like to spruce the room up without completely breaking my bank. Right now I have a rickety and horrible futon that desperately needs to be replaced. Also, a desk that is less attractive than it is functional. (Which isn't very) Rounding out the furniture is a tiny little bookshelf that fits snugly in a corner. (This could be reused)

So that's my dilemna. Anyone have any suggestions for comfortable, space-saving bedding that is not horribly expensive? Creative ways to snag more space?

I'm at a loss. Grr.

I think I may have acted like a totally giddy, eager spaz. The lady I interviewed with seemed extremely overwhelmed. I must sound like a complete moron on the phone. And god help me.. I have to learn how to not say 'y'know?'

Gah. What a stinky day.

Grrrrr!

I frequent our local 'small business' butcher. He has never been especially congenial, and is always a little higher in prices than the supermarket, but I enjoy the quality of meat and I feel good supporting small businesses. Yesterday, I called and put in an order for 2 small ribeyes at about 6 oz each and 3 veal shanks. When I got there to pick it up and ring it up, he told me the total was 78.88! He doubled the price of both meats.I begrudgingly paid for them and took them home. I then found that he gave me FROZEN veal instead of fresh! That's the whole reason I go to him! I can by frozen veal at publix for a fraction of the price. Then, I found that the ribeyes were HUGE!!!!!! I do not need 2 lbs of cow. He took advantage of the fact that I ordered on the phone and gave me whatever he could. I am just so furious about the whole thing. 80 dollars later... that was half of my grocery budget for this week. =(

I read an article listing the 2008 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Madonna topped the list. It made me think of her song "Material Girl" (Which despite my leanings toward punk, indierock and ska, I must admit is one of the finest compositions in American music. No, really.)
It really made me think about how much we are brainwashed to love stuff, things, and junk. Not to mention baubles, tzchotckees [sic], knick-knacks and thingamajigs. But I must admit- I am a Material Girl and I'm living in a Material World.
In other news, I've stopped dyeing my hair for the sake of my pocketbook. Yes ladies, its true. I have made the ultimate sacrifice and have chosen to submit to the mousey chestnut mop top I last saw sometime before I hit 13. Seriously, I was in utter disbelief as to how light my natural hair color is. I have grown tired of being incarcerated by my colorist dishing out $100 dollars per month like alimony. No more! Now if I can just avoid spending that savings when I hit the MAC boutique.

I have a phone interview with a company in Savannah, Ga. tomorrow. I'm almost drooling researching the lower cost of living paired with a hefty little raise. I have to admit, I am a little concerned with becoming the little screw in the big machine. I don't want to fall mercilessly through the cracks. I feel important where I am right now. I feel needed. Maybe that just adds to my stress though...

Gah! One second I feel jovial and the next I am depressed... Here's my recent roller coaster

Went to Express for new summer clothing. I had saved myself a budget of $500.00. I got about $450 dollars worth of clothing for $300- well under budget.

Tragically, I paid 20 dollars for an adorable sweatervest, (orginally 60) and found out this morning that it didn't make it home with me. Will I look crazy if I bring in my receipt and beg them for one?

On the bright side, (kinda) the dollar dropped to a new low against the euro. I know, I know, this is actually pretty terrible for Americans as a whole, but not so much for me. I went to Europe at the end of last year, and still have about 700 euros in cash. I decided not to trade it in yet, which has helped prevent me from spending it... I bought the euros for about 12 cents on the dollar less than what it is now.. i.e. I made 84 dollars from hanging onto my foreign currency.

And the grand finale.. the DH is looking for a new job. I use the term 'looking' very loosely, since about 8 companies are actively begging/competing for him. He is an aerospace engineer, an industry where there is painful shortage. So far, the best offer is about 170k/ year and we get to stay in sunny florida, I keep my good-paying job, and I don't have to uproot my entine life. That would put us grossing about 225k/year. It would bring life to my financial plan, and we would be out of debt with a hefty savings in a matter of months. I could probably even pay off my car- 7000 and 2.5 years remaining.

I have to admit I am more than a little excited.



It would be very nice.

It seems like every time I go grocery shopping at Publix, I swear them off. I spend a small fortune and cringe as I pay their overinflated prices. For one week of well-planned food, it was $225.00, even with $36.00 in coupon savings. (Keep in mind, I live in outrageously expensive South Florida. Fuel is about $3.50/gallon now and milk is $7.00/gallon.)
"Next time, I'm shopping at Wal-Mart!"

But I can never do it.

Let me EMPHATICALLY say that I am not predjudiced in any way, shape or form. The fact remains, that I live in South Florida and that non-english speaking illegal aliens are the majority. As a relatively young woman, when I go to Wal-Mart, I get cat-called, stared down, 'brushed' against and on one occasion even groped, and this demographic has ALWAYS been the culprit. It terrifies me to go anywhere but my local Publix, especially since I am typically grocery shopping at night and have to make the trek across the 5 football field long parking lot in the dark. Its so frustrating. Even when I bring the hubby, its uncomfortable at best.
I was hoping to find a grocery delivery service, but there isn't one in my area.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

It gives amazing insight into the way that consumerism has completely seized our culture. It looks into every aspect from environmental to social to financial. It empowered and reaffirmed my obsession with reducing my consumption.

Feel better about cutting back.

Really, I did. But before you call the police, I assure you he is alive and well. (Albeit a little sore)
We spent all day Saturday playing paintball. It was a blast! We ran around like fools pelting each other with hot pink paint and getting out all that pent up aggression that builds up from spending 24/7 together. Best of all, including the rental gear, the paint and all day unlimited use of the field, it was only $15 per person! 8 hours of sun, exercise and fun for $15 dollars. Then, they order pizza from a local pizzeria- a small was $8 which me, hubby, and a friend all split. An entire day of fun came out to 35 dollars for both of us. I really suggest that anyone looking for a fun and inexpensive child's birthday party idea look into their local paintball place.

Sold my Wii and a video card on Ebay. Made about 500 for those. I have a lot more stuff to list, and I am hoping to have a yard sale within the next couple weeks. I'm struggling with whether or not to sell my All-Clad pots and pans. I have about $2,500 worth of them, many of which I really don't use or have room for.(Insane, I know.)

We have 3 day park hopper tickets to Disney that we have to use within the next month. I'm trying to decide if it is worth the money to drive 1.5 hrs to Orlando, eat at Disney, (yikes!)and pay all of the tolls, buy the drinks, etc. etc.

Money is taking over my mind right now!

Even though the week isn't over yet, I got an icky feeling as I was running through the total expenditure on discretionary spending. I'm starting to think the blissful denial was better- even though I know that's what got me into this mess.

I just got done shoveling out 251.34 for a new set of binoculars for the man. He is an avid birdwatcher and has wanted this pair of binoculars for as long as I can remember. Even as I bought them, I started to feel physically ill. They're supposed to be a gift for our anniversary. I know that generousity is important, but I feel like we have become so consumed with giving gifts. Its actually becoming difficult to think of things to buy him because I have indulged every whim he has ever mentioned. Believe me, I know that things are not the building blocks of a great relationship, but it feels so expected. Not from him, but everyone else.
A couple of days ago, I spent 159.00 on tickets to see a Dodgers-Red Sox game. Let me preface this by saying that I am, in fact, a fanatical Red Sox loving fool, and I completely understand that the hubby was just trying to do something nice for me, but as hard as I tried to talk him out of it, he bought those tickets anyways. When someone is so excited about a gift that they've decided to get you, how can you crush them by saying, "Well, that's very sweet, but its too expensive. Its the thought that counts." It feels like guys just can't comprehend that.
So there goes over 400 dollars.. poof... just because we want to show someone we care. How has this been engrained so deeply?
On the bright side, I am looking forward to making my fabulous tasting and fabulously cheap chicken curry for dinner tonight.
And thank you all for your kind comments. It takes a lot to get started on this.

I thought I would start this blog with a good introduction- trying to explain my seemingly obsessive addiction to... Stuff!

"What stuff?" you might ask.

Tragically enough, any stuff. Any item that can be sold, I think I have bought at some point or another. Oh, and did I mention that I have no self-control whatsoever and will spend riotously on anything that strikes my fancy. Yeah, its that bad.

To add fuel to the fire, I love eating out. Being somewhat of a self-proclaimed foodie and complete sushi-addict, its not cheap. I don't even cringe at spending 100+ dollars for the hubby and myself to go out to dinner.

So here's the thing: Up until this point, I've been in glorious denial, convincing myself its not that bad. But it is. Lucky enough, I think I've caught it reasonably early and I really feel like I have time to do something about it.

A note about the debt. It is the entire family debt. It incudes the absurd engagement ring that my hubby bought me and financed. (ugh)

If all goes according to plan, I hope to have the debt under 10K by the end of the year, and savings up to at least 10K.

Wish me the best of luck.