April 30, 2010
This month was an amazing turnaround from last month’s bleed-out, and honestly come by, I swear!
I’ve been working my tail off, and it paid off. The positive cashflow was nearly equal parts reimbursements, delayed invoices and missing unemployment checks showing up, freelance income, and day job income.
Cashflow in the month of April opened like a nasty joke with a negative balance of 7668.50, and closed with only a negative balance of less than $600.
I can’t really expect such dramatic progress month to month from here on out, of course, but I have to breathe a small sigh of relief that I’ve made up a lot of ground since the car. I now only owe $1730 on that debt. Soon as that’s out of the way, I can make up ground on all the other savings targets set up for the rest of this year. Exciting!
Now, I’m just happy it’s Friday, it’s payday and I can get some *rest*. Purely thrilled!
April 29, 2010
Have you ever rushed to the store with a soon-to-expire coupon because you didn’t want to “lose” the $15 (off $30 purchase)? Or gone shopping online to take advantage of the stackable coupon codes expiring in a couple days? Specifically, have you spent money because you could “save” money instead of saving on a necessary purchase?
Guilty and guilty.
It’s a habitual behavior, I’ve noticed. If you’re ignoring all coupons, it’s easy to keep on ignoring even the juicy ones. But once you open the floodgates and start matching coupons to sales to cashback sites, it’s on.
Of late, I had to purchase some work clothes because of the Bekins debacle which is the only time I’ve shopped without even considering price. That meant my Bargain Antennae (powered by guilt!) went up, which has cost even more.
My clothes went astray just after I’d already ordered a replacement for the “good” jeans that I detroyed; I went for trouser jeans which are even more elusive than regular jeans. Supply and demand totally kicked my butt: trouser jeans that fit never make it to the sale rack.
After resolving to suck it up and jump on the fattest coupons I could spot, I was too eager and bought the first pair at only 30% off with free shipping ($69). When a 40% off regular priced merch came up, I couldn’t say no. I knew it was only a matter of time before I broke the new jeans. With free shipping: $59.
Confession: Since I won’t wear jeans to work right now, saying they’re for work is a little disingenuous.
*Note: I actually wore them to work once. For a half day, as we had an offsite that included 5 hours of walking for which my knees demand tennis shoes.
At least I won’t buy jeans for more than 3 years as the average life span of my jeans are 2 to 8 years.
Last night, another sale was on and there were two work-worthy tops in the right size, so I spent another $52.
Luckily I had some forethought. Knowing that I was tempted, I’d redeemed CC points for gift cards so all but $11 of the above purchases totaling $180 was not cash out of pocket. Regardless, that’s a lot of money spent just because there were sales and/or coupons. It’s not that I won’t use them – I’ve cycled through three pairs of pants and 5 shirts over the past 12 days – but it’s definitely a slippery road where buying because of a “bargain” becomes a reflex.
April 28, 2010
One of the oddest things about starting this new job is taking on a supervisory role, officially performing the duties I was unofficially in charge of in previous jobs, and going to a salaried position. I’ve never been salaried before and this is a dangerous thing.
I run with workaholics. I always have. This particular set seems to avoid imposing their schedules on me, but when your peers or people you report to are diligently at their desks before and after you arrive …. well, I don’t know about you, but that gives me a touch of indigestion and I feel compelled to at least match their time in the office. That seems silly but most especially in the first six months, I think it’s crucial to do your best work and oftentimes, it has to be made evident via face time while you’re just learning the ropes.
The difference between starting this job and any other job in the last ten years is that while I want and expect to excel, I’m not willing to let the job take over my life. So rather than automatically resigning myself to mimicking their behavior, I’m on the lookout for ways to become extremely efficient and good at my job without having to log 14 hour days. As it is, I’ve naturally worked until almost 6:30 every night even on days where I’ve arrived before 8 am.
Part of that is the settling-in process: I have meetings back to back all day and very little time to do actual work. But every single meeting produces more reading, more meetings and more follow-up I’ve got to do. I expect that a third of the meetings will go away, but that’s only a few extra hours in a day.
The real boss has finally been in the office this week, so that’ll be part of the settling in process as well.
Does anyone else have problems balancing work-life-expectations?
April 27, 2010
My friend asked me if I was going to buy a token something for myself when I got my first paycheck. Suggestions abounded. They sounded awfully nice but nothing really blazed up my desire. Well, a netbook, but that’s no kind of a “little” treat running between $400-500.
It’s just stuff. I just spent two weeks organizing, cleaning, and weeding out stuff with still more of it to do.
Besides that? I have a job. I’m facing down huge challenges and I’m getting paid to do what I wanted to learn how to do. I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of at least a few people.
What object is necessary to “symbolize” my intrinsic satisfaction? By its very nature, my “accomplishment” suffices. What need do I have of obtaining an object as a reward for doing a job? [That’s what payday is for!]
I’m not above enjoying goodies like the new clothes that were necessary, and I sure don’t mind having the pocket money to have a meal out once in a while. But a reward simply for having a job? The truth is, I don’t need any rewards for doing my job. A job is a contract wherein I ply my trade and the employee pays me a fair wage for that. I’m ok with that.
April 26, 2010
This is probably the most important detail in the whole process of budget-making: how do I ensure that I have saved a substantial amount by the end of the year, even on an incredibly tight budget?
Step One was establishing my bottom-line expenses. I know that they will increase but for now, I need to know the precise minimum I *must* have.
Step Two was establishing my savings wish list. This is what I want and mean to have. On a meta-level, I know that I have a priority list and can switch priorities as necessary.
*Investing in a 401(k) will be automatic and basically invisible.
Step Three was re-establishing my time commitments. I rely on alternate income to make up the difference between the regular income and the goals and that requires careful time management so that I don’t drop the ball on either side.
Step Four was setting up tracking spreadsheets for the income generated so I stay abreast of the tax implications of freelance work.
Step Five is pulling it all together: as income is earned after the month of April, a set amount will go towards the expense fund and the rest will go to savings. All alternate income goes toward the savings goals as well.
My priorities
Providing for my family
Rebuilding my portfolio of savings and investments
Making time to enjoy my new life
The numbers
Expenses: A very conservative $2,800 per month
Savings: I aim to average $400-500 per month on freelancing = $4950-5850/this year. That takes care of my debt to self which is the same as 50% of my Emergency Fund rebuild goal. I would then take the rest and stash it in the insurance and maintenance funds.
It’s a little disappointing to see the numbers are so low, but any other windfall gigs aren’t included in that total. It’s ok, this is a work in progress.
{———-Bonus Round———}
And we now know that I have to budget in extra money for further medical treatment and therapies for my mom (to be determined) as well as to move them. Look forward to Budgeting, Redux!
April 25, 2010
It’s meant to be my supremely lazy Sunday by which the following are banned from my list of Things To Do: no cooking, cleaning, laundry or other chores.
Instead, SO kindly scribed the following stress-free suggestions for consideration:
– Buy a cardigan for the office; these bones would greatly appreciate extra warmth, p’rhaps a parka?
– Go out for brunch; there are a few folks about the area I coulda shoulda called up
– Massage; medical necessity, actually
– Reconnoiter the local garage sales on Craigslist
– Check out the Martin and Osa sales online
– Use the BOGO coupon at Jamba Juice
It’s a cute idea, but right now my idea of destressing actually includes: not spending money, not leaving the apartment, and catching up on work. Taking out all the housework is splendid though I will pay for it later.
It seems nonsensical, but hear me out. At least one-third of my stress is powered up by the knowledge that I have a million things to do and bills to pay. The balancing act of living frugally and earning “enough” is precarious and altogether draining. As it is, just not pre-cooking for the week would have me in knots if I weren’t at least well ahead of the game on one freelance project after logging hours yesterday evening.
Thanks in no small part to rising early (another abnormality when I’ve got any choice about it), today has been both semi-productive yet restful. There’s a banana nut cake with extra walnuts cooling on the stove, some leftover Indian food warming in the oven, and not an unmanageable amount of work slated for today.
I haven’t watched any TV yet (Serenity! Battlestar Galactica! Dr. Who! White Collar! Bones!) this weekend, but if I wrap up at least another project by mid-afternoon, I could still squeeze in a geekfest. After I defrost the chicken, that is. A girl has got to eat something, sometime this week.
Bonus Question: should I trek out for this week’s coupons and a few bags of Trader Joe’s pretzels for work? I need carbs to get through the day.
April 24, 2010
This is one of the less awesome Saturdays because frankly, this week bit. My homemade chicken soup (above) would really hit the spot. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive past the cook night. It was that good 🙂 It was a very simple soup made with homemade stock, a little salt and pepper and fresh veggies.
It’s been a rough week – I’m dragging after an 8-9 hour day, and by Friday I’m drained to the dregs. I was concerned about getting back into the groove of a working schedule, and thus far my concerns were merited. This is the first weekend I’m deliberately not cooking for a week and cleaning because I have got to get some rest. And I’m taking advantage of the extended Spa Week deal at a local spa – maybe a hot stone massage will alleviate some of this pain. Luckily, the FSA is set up so that should defray the cost.
Family’s got me on the ropes, as usual. Mom was released last night, but Dad’s considering pursuing some alternative treatments which means I need to come up with another $500 a month to pay for it. I don’t mind the cost, it’s just going to be rough getting even more creative.
Some links to love
Frugal Scholar’s had a taste of blog anxiety to go with her broccoli soup; I’m certainly not immune to her feelings: “And, of course, I am somewhat paralyzed by the desire to write a killer post.” I try to make my peace with the fact that readers who actually like me when they happen upon me, not just on a good post day, will be the ones who stay and converse.
