My co-workers and I have decided that we are taking a trip to Disneyland come September. Do you know what this means? Spending way too much on crap like mouse ears and Tinker Bell wands that we will never need! As if my budget wasn't already in the tank...
Seriously, though, I love Disneyland and this will be the first time visiting as an adult. I look forward to going on Splash Mountain and the Matterhorn, getting pictures with the different characters, and eating mouse-shaped ice cream bars.
Let the planning, budgeting, and excitement begin!
Your cartoon hero,
~K
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Battle of the Budget
I guess if it were easy then I wouldn't have had a problem in the first place. But I did, and budgeting is HARD!
Last week I definitely went over, and I don't even want to thing about by how much. I was already over budget due to going out of town for a wedding, but when I got back I also went to a karaoke bar with a friend. A couple drinks and crab rangoons later, I got a bill that was nearly half the week's budget! Boo.
On a related note, I put together a video list of songs you should not be singing at karaoke. This is for everyone's well-being, trust me. If you consider singing any of these songs, put down the song book and just walk away.
Just an ordinary citizen looking out for society while battling a budget,
~K
Last week I definitely went over, and I don't even want to thing about by how much. I was already over budget due to going out of town for a wedding, but when I got back I also went to a karaoke bar with a friend. A couple drinks and crab rangoons later, I got a bill that was nearly half the week's budget! Boo.
On a related note, I put together a video list of songs you should not be singing at karaoke. This is for everyone's well-being, trust me. If you consider singing any of these songs, put down the song book and just walk away.
Just an ordinary citizen looking out for society while battling a budget,
~K
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Budgeting: Review
To review last week. As of Wednesday I was at $37.44 out of $45. On Saturday I picked up tortilla chips, so add another $2.99 for a week's total of $40.43. That means I was $4.57 under!! Woot woot!
Sunday I'm going to skip over since we took the family out to dinner for Father's day and I took my little brother to the movies. Sometimes you just have to let things go.
So today, with grocery shopping yesterday and lunch from Costco today (yummy cheap pizza!), I am currently at $14.33 for this week. I will be spending a bit more at Uwajimaya tonight for dinner with my friend while we watch Downton Abbey, but my pennies are gonna keep getting pinched.
Saving in Seattle,
~K
Sunday I'm going to skip over since we took the family out to dinner for Father's day and I took my little brother to the movies. Sometimes you just have to let things go.
So today, with grocery shopping yesterday and lunch from Costco today (yummy cheap pizza!), I am currently at $14.33 for this week. I will be spending a bit more at Uwajimaya tonight for dinner with my friend while we watch Downton Abbey, but my pennies are gonna keep getting pinched.
Saving in Seattle,
~K
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Budgeting: Hump day
As of Monday I am on a $45/week budget. My recent forays into budgeting didn't really work out because I limited myself too much. $45 is completely doable, right?
Um...
So it's Wednesday. I've been on this budget since Monday. As of today, I have spent $37.44. I went through my receipts, and I have been good and mostly sticking to what I need. That "mostly" is what gets me, though. $2 for Costco frozen yogurt was a splurge today. $2.18 for McDonald's yesterday was not really necessary. Did I need that frozen pizza? No, but at $3.99 it's pretty good for Frescheta. Sigh. We'll see how this plays out.
Broke in the 'burbs,
~K
Um...
So it's Wednesday. I've been on this budget since Monday. As of today, I have spent $37.44. I went through my receipts, and I have been good and mostly sticking to what I need. That "mostly" is what gets me, though. $2 for Costco frozen yogurt was a splurge today. $2.18 for McDonald's yesterday was not really necessary. Did I need that frozen pizza? No, but at $3.99 it's pretty good for Frescheta. Sigh. We'll see how this plays out.
Broke in the 'burbs,
~K
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Budgeting: the story continues
It is now late May, and how close am I to my goal of $5000 saved by the end of the year? Not very close. I have just over $1000 in my savings account. So what happens if there's an emergency? What if my car craps out? I'm stuck.
At the suggestion of my friend, I signed up for Mint, which is a budgeting tool that connects to your bank account or credit card account to follow your spending habits. What have I learned? I spend too much on shopping and food. Yeah, big surprise. But one thing that my friend pointed out (after I tried to grab the check at lunch) is that I should stop paying for others all the time. Not that it's bad or that I can't treat others once in a while, but sometimes it becomes a habit. Sometimes it's ok to just pay my half.
As far as shopping goes, I don't know what to say. My wardrobe still doesn't fully please me. I wish that I could work with a stylist who could help me find the best pieces for me at decent prices to make me love everything in my closet. Unfortunately, Stacy London isn't my fairy godmother, so I just need to work on making do with what I have....which is not easy.
I have so many unknowns to save for, and now I have another thing to save for: Europe trip next year with my best friend. Wish me luck!
Broke in the 'burbs,
~K
At the suggestion of my friend, I signed up for Mint, which is a budgeting tool that connects to your bank account or credit card account to follow your spending habits. What have I learned? I spend too much on shopping and food. Yeah, big surprise. But one thing that my friend pointed out (after I tried to grab the check at lunch) is that I should stop paying for others all the time. Not that it's bad or that I can't treat others once in a while, but sometimes it becomes a habit. Sometimes it's ok to just pay my half.
As far as shopping goes, I don't know what to say. My wardrobe still doesn't fully please me. I wish that I could work with a stylist who could help me find the best pieces for me at decent prices to make me love everything in my closet. Unfortunately, Stacy London isn't my fairy godmother, so I just need to work on making do with what I have....which is not easy.
I have so many unknowns to save for, and now I have another thing to save for: Europe trip next year with my best friend. Wish me luck!
Broke in the 'burbs,
~K
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
An Early End to Budget Week #4
This morning, I hadn't spent a penny of my $30 for the week, and had a little left over from last week. Then I went to Starbucks, and watched $4 float away. Ok, it's only $4, right?
After work I went grocery shopping. $31 and some change later, I am officially over budget.
The final result? $30/week is hard and NOT fun. If you have any random stuff come up, you'll go over. If I had been including gas, car stuff, prescriptions, etc., then I would never make it.
However, this was a good experience and I look forward to working toward my next goal: $5000 saved by the end of 2012. Hopefully that goal will go better than this one!
Peppermint mocha-ed out,
~K
After work I went grocery shopping. $31 and some change later, I am officially over budget.
The final result? $30/week is hard and NOT fun. If you have any random stuff come up, you'll go over. If I had been including gas, car stuff, prescriptions, etc., then I would never make it.
However, this was a good experience and I look forward to working toward my next goal: $5000 saved by the end of 2012. Hopefully that goal will go better than this one!
Peppermint mocha-ed out,
~K
Sunday, November 20, 2011
End of Budget Week #3
As budget week #3 came to a close, I started realizing that I had finally done the unthinkable; I had come in under budget!
Woo hoo for me! Ok, it was less than $2 under budget, but I'm still pretty happy with myself. The lesson learned so far is that you really can't plan every little thing that may come up, and $30/week will not cover every necessity much less the random things you may want.
When it comes to budgeting, I'm really not that great. However, this experience has changed how I view even simple food purchases. I went with spinach and cheese tortellini over the prosciutto and cheese borsetti because the former was $1 less. Guess what? It was delicious!
This is now the last week of my $30/week budget. Wish me luck!
Happy but not hungry,
~K
Woo hoo for me! Ok, it was less than $2 under budget, but I'm still pretty happy with myself. The lesson learned so far is that you really can't plan every little thing that may come up, and $30/week will not cover every necessity much less the random things you may want.
When it comes to budgeting, I'm really not that great. However, this experience has changed how I view even simple food purchases. I went with spinach and cheese tortellini over the prosciutto and cheese borsetti because the former was $1 less. Guess what? It was delicious!
This is now the last week of my $30/week budget. Wish me luck!
Happy but not hungry,
~K
Monday, November 14, 2011
End of Budget Week #2
So week #2 of my $30/week budget is now over. Whew! So how did I do this time around? I went over. Again.
Saturday really got to me again. The Starbucks I could handle, as it only got me up to $33.40 (a dollar less than week #1 total. However, getting ready to go out dancing threw me for a loop. Oh, Kandee Johnson, why did you have to make such a fabulous pin-up makeup tutorial?
Where did the $10 go that brought me up to $43.40? L'Oreal Infallible Lip Color in Beyonce. Well, perhaps I should see it as an investment. I love having red lips, and this stuff does NOT come off. I seriously had to scrub my lips raw with my toothbrush before it would give way.
Back to the budget. I was over by $13.40, and that rolled over into this week. After grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, I am up to $13.58. WHAT?? Yes, that's right. I only spent $0.18 on groceries today. Fabulous couponing? Tons of freebies? Nope. My sister had given me a $20 gift card for part of my birthday present. I didn't realize how much was on it, so it was a pretty pleasant surprise when I only had to dig out a quarter to hand over before receiving my change. So thanks go to my sister for helping me get through this week. I now have yummy food in my fridge, including a block of Italian truffle cheese. Heck yeah, Trader Joe's!
Living it up,
~K
Saturday really got to me again. The Starbucks I could handle, as it only got me up to $33.40 (a dollar less than week #1 total. However, getting ready to go out dancing threw me for a loop. Oh, Kandee Johnson, why did you have to make such a fabulous pin-up makeup tutorial?
Where did the $10 go that brought me up to $43.40? L'Oreal Infallible Lip Color in Beyonce. Well, perhaps I should see it as an investment. I love having red lips, and this stuff does NOT come off. I seriously had to scrub my lips raw with my toothbrush before it would give way.
Back to the budget. I was over by $13.40, and that rolled over into this week. After grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, I am up to $13.58. WHAT?? Yes, that's right. I only spent $0.18 on groceries today. Fabulous couponing? Tons of freebies? Nope. My sister had given me a $20 gift card for part of my birthday present. I didn't realize how much was on it, so it was a pretty pleasant surprise when I only had to dig out a quarter to hand over before receiving my change. So thanks go to my sister for helping me get through this week. I now have yummy food in my fridge, including a block of Italian truffle cheese. Heck yeah, Trader Joe's!
Living it up,
~K
Sunday, November 6, 2011
End of Budget Week #1
Yesterday was the end of my first week on the $30/week budget. How did I do? Not so well. I spent $34.76. I had spent only $13.76 up until Saturday night, but I figured I could spring for Taco Time for my mom, little brother, and I. Yes, it went over, but sometimes that happens.
So what happens this week? I could give up as a complete failure. I could shrug it off and just start over. Or I can do what I am already choosing to do...roll over the amount I spent over my budget to this week's expenses. Today is only Sunday, but between that and a Starbucks run (caffeine was necessary today), I'm up to $11.93 for this week. I think I'll be able to manage. I have food in the fridge as well as some $0.79 pot pies for lunches I bought on Friday.
It's good to know that I can manage well enough, even if I did go a few dollars over. In the scheme of things, it really isn't that much and I'm learning where my money goes.
Saving-challenged in Seattle,
~K
So what happens this week? I could give up as a complete failure. I could shrug it off and just start over. Or I can do what I am already choosing to do...roll over the amount I spent over my budget to this week's expenses. Today is only Sunday, but between that and a Starbucks run (caffeine was necessary today), I'm up to $11.93 for this week. I think I'll be able to manage. I have food in the fridge as well as some $0.79 pot pies for lunches I bought on Friday.
It's good to know that I can manage well enough, even if I did go a few dollars over. In the scheme of things, it really isn't that much and I'm learning where my money goes.
Saving-challenged in Seattle,
~K
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Budget Begins
I am on day two of the $30/week budget. So far so good, but I haven't really felt like shopping today or yesterday. I think that as the month moves on, it may become more difficult.
My co-workers and I got together so that Kat could teach Mariko and I how to crochet. Kat suggested grabbing pizza, but as we were all on a budget, I started thinking of cheap options. Then it hit me like a thunderbolt! Little Caesar's has hot $5 pizzas available all day everyday. Split 3 ways with tax, it was only about $2 each. Very nice. Pair that with the soda I already had stocked up on when it went on sale for $0.69/2 liter, and we were set.
My hope is that I will stumble across the secret to truly saving money. It isn't just about cutting back here and there, it's about making changes. It's about giving up on things that really don't matter than much anyway. I don't need new dress shoes, but look at where that $40 could go - toward a trip somewhere exotic! Or perhaps toward an evening out with friends. Either way, if I can go without, I need to do so for right now. This may be a bit trying, but I plan to make it through the month and maybe have a few dollars tucked away.
Saving in Seattle,
~K
My co-workers and I got together so that Kat could teach Mariko and I how to crochet. Kat suggested grabbing pizza, but as we were all on a budget, I started thinking of cheap options. Then it hit me like a thunderbolt! Little Caesar's has hot $5 pizzas available all day everyday. Split 3 ways with tax, it was only about $2 each. Very nice. Pair that with the soda I already had stocked up on when it went on sale for $0.69/2 liter, and we were set.
My hope is that I will stumble across the secret to truly saving money. It isn't just about cutting back here and there, it's about making changes. It's about giving up on things that really don't matter than much anyway. I don't need new dress shoes, but look at where that $40 could go - toward a trip somewhere exotic! Or perhaps toward an evening out with friends. Either way, if I can go without, I need to do so for right now. This may be a bit trying, but I plan to make it through the month and maybe have a few dollars tucked away.
Saving in Seattle,
~K
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