Funny thing is I have been doing that for months.. probably years.. I very rarely buy my lunch anymore cause I know how much it costs.. so although I find it funny and wonder how long it will last I do encourage people to do that.. after all saving money on the little things like lunches can save up big and im all for helping others save money
This week marks the time of year where people are returning to work, school starts (well in BC only some school has start) and people have realized that summer is pretty much over.. Something I noticed this week which I found funny is how full the fridge in the office is getting by people’s lunches. It reminds me of the first 2 weeks of the new year where people make a resolution to save money so they brown bag it.. I found this funny cause its almost the same now… people now realizing that with summer over its time to save money and/or eat healthy for the fall.. The fridge in the office if packed with peoples lunches. Even those people who seem to go out every day and purchase their lunch is bringing it in.
Funny thing is I have been doing that for months.. probably years.. I very rarely buy my lunch anymore cause I know how much it costs.. so although I find it funny and wonder how long it will last I do encourage people to do that.. after all saving money on the little things like lunches can save up big and im all for helping others save money
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So let me update you on my money situation over the last month or so. Its seems that when it rains it poors.
We were doing so well paying of everything off and our debt was slowly making its way down… then I hit an issue. Well actually I gave in. The BF and I have been saving some money which would be going towards his eventual visa Application to Australia. At the beginning of April the BF came up with an idea that if we put that money on the credit card for our trip to New Orleans then if we had a real emergency we would have money to use it. For some reason I agreed with the idea that instead of using the debt payment plan to pay the card I would use that payment to put back into the ING fund. Everything was going fine until just before we left for this recent trip to Miami and I noticed that there was money on the card. I can’t even tell you how or where it all came from. Some of it was because I BF went through another one of his phases were “oh look have an empty card and I am out with friends.. let me by their dinner”.. believe me that didn’t go down to well.. but a lot of it was little thing that I can’t explain. And some of it was me… why… I don’t remember.. again all those little things added up. OH but the best part had yet to come.. so last Feb the BF borrowed his parents car for a trip and somehow the window got chipped. At the time they said don’t worry about it and they would get it fixed. Well that didn’t happen and their chip turned into a full on crack which they demanded the BF pay for.. I was Livid about this.. if they fixed it in Feb they wouldn’t have demanded $400.00 for it now.. (now I know where my BF gets it from).. anyway they had a huge fit which resulting in my BF and his dad not talking for the better part of June. So I just sucked it up and gave them $400 to pay for the window… SOO all in all if you look at the stats I may have added a extra line for the money still owed into the ING account (which I am determined to pay that back) but all in all its only about 600-700 more.. which now I think about it.. it’s a lot.. DAM On the plus side I saved enough in the debt repayment fund to pay off one card completely. I decided that since the interest is high and the fee to send money to Aussie land is pretty big, I would send that money to Aussie land to pay off one card in full. So its going up yet going down. My next goal is to continue to save and pay off the other Aussie card and then focus on paying back the ING account so we can get the BF’s visa organized. I guess this is what happens when you are having to much fun over the summer and interest and fees, but not putting money back on the card will do.. I can’t entirely blame the BF (well he did put a big chunk of it on the card) I did do some of it as well.. I knew that was a bad idea from the start but for some reason I said yes.. oh well.. just got to dust myself off and continue to pay it off.. One day I will be debt free… So this past weekend I went to Las Vegas with a bunch of friends for a convention in relation to my theater group. People from all around north America converged in a hotel in Vegas for a
weekend of shows, classes, meet ups and general fun. I had an absolute blast. Reconnected with some old friends I haven’t seen in years and made new friends. It was such a great time and Im struggling to get back to reality here…LOL So surprising enough I actually came back from Las Vegas with money still in my wallet. After paying the baggage fees back that I used the Credit card for (apparently airports don’t like cash) I had still had $56.00 American left with me. So this is how I did that.. SHARED A ROOM The room itself was already discounted for the convention rates but I chose to stay with three other people to help cut down costs. I have done this various times at other conventions to. For the entire weekend the total cost for me (arriving Wednesday and leaving Monday) was $140 USA. Which means each night was less then $30.00 per night.. that’s pretty good. As soon as I walked in the room I gave my share of the money to the women who booked it. That way I wouldn’t spend it. I admit you lose certain things when you bunk with four other women, like privacy or the ability not to be woken up in the middle of the night by your room mate coming in drunk at 4am. However for that price I was willing to make exceptions. There were a couple of times where I had to stop to girls from fighting but that’s a whole other story BUDGET During my vacation I kept to a daily budget. In total I brought with me (after paying for the room) was $598 USA. Divide that by 5 leaving me a total of just under $120.00 a day. I counted the Wednesday and Monday as one day so for those days is was shared. I only really needed cab to and from the airport and lunch. However I wanted to make sure I had some money for shopping. So I worked out my budget like this Wednesday - $50.00 Thursday - $100.00 Friday - $100.00 Saturday - $100.00 Sunday - $100.00 Monday - $50.00 Shopping - $98.00 Total $598.00 Each morning I would put that amount in my purse and once it was gone it was gone. The shopping money I only took with me when we did decide to go shopping. If I had money left over from the night before I left that in my wallet to and decided on the whim where I wanted it to go. I think on Thursday I have $35.00 left over so I put that in my shopping fund. DID NOT GAMBLE I am not a fan of gambling as I find it a waste of money. So I didn’t gamble at all during the vacation.. BOOZE Booze in Vegas is relatively cheap.. but enough of it and it becomes the entire budget. Don’t get me wrong I did have a few while I was there but I didn’t get completely smashed either. I didn’t want to be “that girl”at the party so I kept my booze in check. It did also help that the hotel has a bottle shop and we got drinks for the room while we were getting ready. Can’t go wrong with $6.00 bottles of wine FOOD The hotel we stayed in had a few restaurants around.. some were decent and some were very expensive.. obviously we stay away from the expensive ones. Thankfully also there was a market up the road which me and my roomies went to when we arrived and stocked up on some supplies. I brought my magic bullet down with me so we had breakfast smoothies everyday (just simple ones) and I also got some carrots, cup of noodles packs and granola bars. In total I think I spent $30.00 there for my supplies. I had a basic personal rule for the food situation.. if I was with friends we ate at the buffets or at TGI Fridays.. if I was by myself I ate what was up stairs. Not sure what money I spent on food but im sure it was manageable considering I ate what I bought at the market and still had good restaurant time with friends. So yeah.. that is how I went to Vegas and still managed to come home with money.. From this experience I do have some other ideas to help cut costs further and no it doesn’t involve hotel cooking LOL Do you budget while on holiday? Ok.. so I am in need of people’s opinion. I am not sure if people consider this weird, normal, or hitting a new level of fragul.
Hotel cooking.. It all started out when I was looking at what I need to pack for this convention in Vegas next week. As the last time I went to this convention was in 2010 I wanted to make sure I was prepared. I read a few articles from people who have been there many times before and shared their knowledge with the internet world. I read articles from people who take with them their magic bullet, or vita-mix or, in one case, a mini steamer so she can steam veggies. One guy described it as camping in his hotel room. Vegas is, afterall really not known for its healthy food. And the hotel we are staying in isn’t on the strip or downtown so we can only eat what is there (and I am not sure what is there in the way of restaurants) I thought that was not a bad idea in relation to the magic bullet. If I just bring the gadget, one blade and two cups I can make smoothies in the morning. I checked it over with my roommates and they loved the idea. Just get some fruit and milk and there you go.. breakfast.. AND it will make sure we eat breakfast and a little more healthy foods.. So anyway I started looking more into this and before long I discovered “hotel cooking”. Everything from cooking an egg with the coffee maker to frying an egg using the iron and tin foil. From Cooking rice to making grilled cheese sandwiches. It wasn’t long before I had a whole plan of making meals for myself while in Vegas.. Then I had to stop.. I had a thought that this was getting just a little ridiculous. I mean I have in the past brought cup a noodles or cup of soup and made them in the morning while I have been at other conventions as either a snack or breakfast or having breakfast bars or chips in the room for a quick snack but getting ideas for a full on meal.. prepared in my hotel room using an iron and tin foil. I did have to laugh at myself because I think I might have hit a whole new level.. haha.. I mean I had plans of frying an egg with tin foil and the iron. I mean its good for people who are always in a hotel for work and don’t want to eat out all the time but besides getting some healthy food for snack and maybe a morning brekkie.. why would I need to cook full meals in my hotel room.. Part of me weirded out by this.. BUT part of me wants to try it and see what I can come up with Have I lost the plot Someone at work walked past my desk today as I was eating lunch (homemade vegetarian lasagna) and said “your food always smells so good, why doesn’t mine smell that good?”. My only response was “because I bought it from home”
The look on her face was of almost terror and insult. Until she looked down and realized she had a sandwich in her hand made by the sandwich place around the corner from my work. Don’t get me wrong the place she got her food makes great food and I have gone there from time to time but I think she understood what my underlying meaning was. My food smells so good because not only was it homemade but I guarantee it didn’t cost as much as the lunch you bought (for the forth time this week) AND I have left overs for tonight’s dinner.. This is also the same person in my office who complains about my constant savings and traveling and how she can’t afford to do anything like that, yet she buys her lunch almost every day and coffees to.. people forget how much that adds up… I think she has also bad talking about me behind my back complaining that I apparently make more money they her and its not fair. If only she realized we make the same amount, I just know how to manage mine better… I guess I shouldn’t have used that tone I did, but I couldn’t help it. I am getting sick of being accused of being a snob or broke or cheap or whatever because I am frugal with my money so I can save and go travelling. If people want help creating a budget all they need to do is ask.. not talk smack about me. Anyway I am going back to eating my lunch.. cause it is actually very yummy.. So yesterday at work, as both my bosses are away on vacation I really had nothing much to do.. so, of course I started surfing the web, as one does. I somehow came across a site that has tours in Atlanta for the site in the show “The Walking Dead”. I am a big fan of that show and would love to go visit these sites. So I started looking into more and more and really really REALLY want to make the trip down. I even started looking into dates and started convincing myself that if I leave on Friday Morning and return Monday afternoon it will all work out just fine. At one stage I had to walk away from it all as deep down I knew I couldn’t afford it (right now). But I really wanted to book this trip. Thankfully I held back.
Then last night a show came on the TV “Extreme Resorts”. About the biggest, best and sometimes weirdest resorts on the planet. After watching that show I was again all over planning on how to get there and when I can afford to go.. Arrggg.. why do I do this to myself. We have a plans for the next two years in relation to travel, but I want to go NOW and see ALL the places on my travel bucket list… which seems to be get bigger and bigger every day. I have to keep reminding myself that I can’t just get up and leave and if book all the things I want to do and travel I will no longer have a job and be broke very soon. Just had to hold back. But its difficult. So many awesome places to see and visit.. but all in good time. Just like the saying goes “you can have it all.. you just can’t have it right now” Keep reminding myself of that one. Is what i said to a friend of mine over email last night. She contacted me asking if I wouldn't mind giving her and her husband some tips on budgeting. We made plans for me to come over on the weekend but i said to her in the mean time get together all your information on what you spend and what you are taking in. I was surpised when she said back "well i have no idea what me and the hubby bring home. I bet its way less than you guys" (referring to the BF)
First of all i was shocked and in a way not surprised that they had no idea what their take home pay was every two weeks. These guys just know when pay day is and just spend until the money is gone (and then use overdraft). So i replied with "step 1 - find out how much money you bring home every cheque" Then i thought about her second half of the comment. I know she works as a receptionist for a local counsel and he works in construction and honestly i don't think i make more money than them. I think retrospectively its about par. So i mentioned that to her. Of course she was shocked and replied with "but you guys are always going on holidays and paying debt so you guys must be racking it in" Then it hit me.. do people really see me and the BF like that. Like we make SO much more money then everyone else. Then i stopped and said to myself "i don't care what others think.. i am not here to keep up with the Jones' " I am sure when i sit down with my friend and her husband I can show her that we really don’t earn the big bucks she thinks we do. We just choose to watch our money and save for the things we want, like holidays and being debt free and not partying every weekend blowing $200.00 every night at the bar. Its all about choice and this is what we choose to do with our money While updating my stats in relation to my debts I noticed that we are slightly worse off than we were last month. Even though we paid a good amount on our credit cards and line of credit we had some unexpected things pop up this month (which I did plan for but not enough in the funds) and I had to dip into the line of credit a little bit. The plan is still to get all the cards paid off by the end of the year and as much of the line of credit as possible but I can’t keep dipping into the line of credit every time something unexpected pops up. A lot of the unexpected had to do with the car.
But it could have been worse. I could have maxed out all those avenues again but we didn’t so hence the term “half a step back”. Weight Loss
So in January I had a goal to loose 5-10 pounds this month. For the last couple of days I have been boarding on 246-245 and this morning I reached 245.4 pounds.. which makes it a 5 pound weight loss for the month.. meaning I reached that goal. On the lower end but hey its a start. (total loss from last year 8 pounds) We did start a little late in the month when it comes to exercising. With our friend coming over to help set up a program with the gym down stairs not coming until mid Jan but we still went a few times. Out of the 31 days in January I worked out 10 of them. Yes I counted. We every time I worked out I put some money I a jar and the marked it down so when it reaches 100 workouts I can use that money for a reward... :) Workout also included the swimming we have been doing to. This doesn't counting the walking I have been continuing to do with my friend. We walk about, on average about 30 minutes 3 times a week. I don't count that as a workout through.. that's separate. When the weather gets warmer and lighter longer we will increase our walks to 90 minutes like we do every Spring/Summer. I have spent the week or so really being vigilant on keeping track of my calorie count. I think that will help a lot (well I know it will) so that's good as well. I am hoping to loose another 5-10 pounds in the month of February. Already in my calendar is when I am going swimming and I want to do a couple of aerobics classes this month. I have done well so far I want to keep going. Money So far the budget is pretty good for the month of January. Our travel budget is on track which is good. The Bf is borrowing money next week from our savings account to go on a trip with his buddy next weekend.. so hopefully he can pay that back soon. If things go really well I will have all 3 credit cards paid off completely and a huge chunk of the line of credit paid off.. so working hard to pay that off.. I am going to look at ways to get some more cash.. like selling some stuff I have and perhaps some crafts to.. hoping to work on that over the month of Feb. There is one thing i have noticed recently and most of it comes from by boyfriends (BF's) friends. Money and asking for loans.
I am not sure if its just me seeing this or just an influx of askings but i never has this coming form my friends. More often than not as of late many of my boyfriends friends ask for a varying degree of loans for money. Everything from "i need to fix my car, can i borrow $300 until next pay day" to "on your way over can you get me some booze and ill pay you back when i find my wallet". I know this because the BF is calling me first asking, first if we have the money and second is it ok. We always get the money back.. perhaps not exactly when they say they will pay back but it does come back. I am just finding it a little weird that his friends are always asking for loans. Is it because that we seem rich because we are always going on holiday, paying of debt and they think we are made of money or just nothing. Small part of me is thinking its my BF's ploy in getting money off the budget and then gets money from his parents to pay it back.. (long story) I am just getting just a little annoyed with this. When the BF was out of work and people knew we were struggling did any of these guys offer to help us. Apparently they are to broke. I guess the downer to savings, budgeting and planning is that people think you are rich, made of money and have money just to throw around. |
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