About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
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November 14, 2009
On one friend’s crises [feeling overwhelmed, needing someone to talk to, going to the ER, reporting back from the ER] alone, I’ve squandered at least 6 study hours over the past two days. Add to that my serious lack of concentration, and you might see why my highly productive run-up to the NY trip was so very much NOT duplicated today.
I meant to study a new section, do the homework and take the quiz. Now I’ve run out of time to study and take my quiz since it’s a forced completion deal online – once you start, you MUST finish. Crap.
It’s not like I’ve gotten nothing done since my return nearly 96 hours ago. Au contraire! I have ….
- donated books to the library
- collected and donated two boxes of stuff to Goodwill
- rounded up and junked two more boxes worth of trash, old decrepit mementos from the junior high era
- printed dozens of coupons for MoneyMateKate
- scanned and filed away a sheaf of paperwork
- sorted out half a ream’s worth of used paper for the printing of coupons
- made a Walgreen’s run
- helped a friend sort through some troubles [unspecified for privacy’s sake]
- counseled a friend on family money matters [a bequest, an educational fund, investing, banking]
- run two loads of laundry
- read 5 new comic books
- watched 7 episodes of Sports Night
- began to normalize a sleep schedule of 12 am- 8am
- had a delicious burger dinner one night, an even more delicious BBQ dinner another night
Admittedly, not everything on that list was really truly being productive. But I should get points for honesty, even if not buckling down? Or not. It doesn’t really matter because my books are coming with me to Hawaii and *sob* that should be punishment enough. I won’t even ask the professor for an extension, I’m just going to [finally!] bite the bullet and get it done one way or another.
Use code CMAAWARD to get any song by a CMA Award nominated artist priced at or below $1.29
Offer valid from November 9, 2009 12:00 AM PST through November 22, 2009 11:59 PM PST. You must redeem the credit by November 22, 2009 11:59 PM PST.
Go here to get the code and redeem. The promotion is limited to specific songs: find the list here.
I’m trying to decide between Cowboy Casanova [because I like Carrie Underwood] or Chicken Fried [because it’s so peppy!]. Oh! Or Lady Antebellum’s I Run to You. This is going to be a disaster.
Hat tip to Cents in the City for posting the code.
November 12, 2009
NYC was wonderful. No new ode, I still feel the same way. There was perhaps less glitz sparkling in my eyes, but only because the trip was shorter and it took a little longer for the rigors of traveling cross-country to wear off.
May I recommend, by the by, always using SeatGuru.com before selecting your seats? It’s truly my own fault, but I felt like I was being punished for using an award ticket to travel. The outbound flight was ok, but the seat I was squished into on the return flight: a] wouldn’t recline (way to pick the row in front of the emergency exit), the overhead light was broken, and b] was right next to the galley where business class’s delectables were prepared and wheeled past me. Pasta, garlic bread, and brownies, oh my!
First, in pictures…..
My preflight and inflight snack system …
DFW’s downright neighborly …..
Woefully underdressed upon my arrival, TopShop and I immediately became acquainted. Those tights were really expensive but oh-so-warm. They were daily wear: kept my legs warm AND kept my feet from blistering up a storm in the new flats.
Citi sponsored free ice skating in Bryant Park. Am I the only one thinking that Citi shouldn’t be sponsoring anything at all right now?
Mamoun’s [just off the Astor Place subway stop] makes a mean schwarma sandwich. That was some amazing deliciousness for $5.
Gorgeous weather in the city …
I truly wish that I’d inserted my ARM in the photo for scale. That rib bone lying across the top was the size of my forearm. That platter was well worth the $22. [Blue Smoke restaurant, home of the first time I’ve had an amazing oyster.]
“Not to rub it in, but my treat because I can get this any time. I live here, you don’t!”
I hate you, friend. I love you and I hate you.
You, Ippudo, I love. Always. Home of the snarkiest [in a good way] waitstaff ever.
Waiter overhearing a reference to San Diego: “You’re from CA?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it. I just knew it’d play out like that!”
“??”
Waiter: “Miss? Miss? Would you like an extra bowl of noodles?”
Me: *mouth terribly full of pork*
Friend: Uh, she can’t talk right now, she just stuffed herself full of pork.
Waiter: Runs Away.
Me: *mouth still full* Wait!
Waiter to my sloooow-eating friend: “Can I take this away already?”
We: point and laugh at her.
Furry friends
Bye bye, awesome NYC food. Airport food [4 oz veggie orzo, 4 oz red potato salad, 2 oz chips: $6.50]
Then, in numbers …..
Ticket: $7.50
Day One: $29
Day Two: $62.50
Day Three-Five: $0
Day Six: $30
Day Seven: $95
Day Eight: $44.50
Total: $ 268.50
It’s a total budget cheat that I paid next to nothing for transportation [about $40 for airfare and Metro] and nothing at all for lodgings due to the repeat generosity of my friends. What kind of advice could really be derived from this? Have good friends in strategic places? For what it’s worth, I absolutely intend to pay it forward.
I spent a ton on clothes: $55 at TopShop for 2 pairs of tights and a pair of leggings. They’re all super comfortable and made of good material which is not the case for the discounted stuff I found at Filene’s [and they made me look funny.]
There was also a Blitzkrieg trip to H&M where I picked up a grey sweaterdress, black belt and white long sleeve for another $50. The sweaterdress replaces a black cowl-neck dress (circa 2002) and is now falling apart. The long sleeve is the beginning of my replacing ratty old long sleeved layers (circa 2004).
November 11, 2009
Happily, no jet lag, but definitely a little discombobulation after returning home late. The suitcase remains unpacked which is distinctly odd – opening mail and unloading the suitcase are usually the first things I do when I get home.
Some ramblings for y’all ’til I get it together ….
Audio
Had Ramit on in the background for 45 seconds.
Water Bill
48% decrease. What happened?
Piperlime
These shoes came in, but the day after 7 hours of travel and fat feet is not the time to try on new shoes. I mostly ordered them to check for fit (they have free shipping and free returns), and for the $25 off next purchase coupon.
Returns pile
I went to the trouble of buying a pack of AAA batteries in NY for my mouse. That I left at home in CA. And then found out that I actually just needed a single AA. Back to Walgreens later today.
Cobra/Open Enrollment
This is a whole other post – but turns out I still get to participate in O.E. this November. Oh goody! New rates! Oh wait. …
Netbook lust
I was woefully out of touch this past week because my regular laptop [which I love!] is just too heavy to schlock around the city. The longing for a netbook is pushing me to consider …. dun-dun-duuunnnn…. BLACK FRIDAY!
Feel free to weigh in on that last topic, folks, recommendations, warnings, etc. No enabling necessary! I have set the boundary: it has to be under $200.
November 9, 2009
Aren’t these tomatoes beautiful? Eight ounces of mini mozzarella balls cost the same as a 8-oz chunk of the cheese that I’d normally buy; I’m glad I went with these little dollops instead. They were much easier to serve, just peel open the jar and plop – place gently – on the sliced tomatoes. A dash of olive oil and a few dashes of balsamic vinegar finished the plating nicely.
This salad was served with a side of buttered crumpets that I have no photos of because, er, I devoured them. They were awfully pretty, toasted, but you’ll just have to take my word for it. Sorry!
November 6, 2009
The flats-finding mission: When my last pair of flats destroyed my feet, the objective was simple: a pair of basic black flats, comfortable, fashionable, flexible for most events, $40 and under.
Thanks to Chelsea Bea‘s online shopping ninja-ry, we put together The Deal.
DSW.com
+ Free shipping for orders over $35 [FALLSHP, no stated exp. date]
+ $5 off $49 or more [OCTPKG, code implies it’s good until end of Oct]
+ 30% off any single purchase of $35 or more [code expired, via RetailMeNot.com]
+ ebates.com (4% cash back)
= 29% savings after DSW sale prices
This is what they looked like online:
A) Mia Hepburn Reptile Flats
B) Seychelles Frayed Ballet Flats
And this is how they fit:
A) The reptile flats were hands-down soft and comfortable, but that very squishiness may be cause for concern. Will it be sturdy enough to last? The shoe is stamped “leather upper” but the part around the heel is less leather and more … cardboard? I can’t really tell. It’s really soft, again, but seems more papery. I have to pick up something from my shoe repair/tailor shop, I can ask the shoe guy to take a look and give me his opinion. (listed $39.95, paid 27.97 after all discounts.)
B) The ballet flats were very cute, and interesting, and did not squish my toes at all. The downside was that the sole was hard as concrete, and the upper was just about as forgiving. Though I knew size 6 was probably a little generous when I ordered, this brand’s 6 definitely does not fit me, at least not in this style. Too hard, too roomy, and my heel slid out too easily. These guys are getting dropped off back at the next DSW I pass by. (listed $29.94, paid 29.57 after all discounts. To be fair, it was because of adding this shoe to the order that I got the free shipping [$7.95] and the extra $5 off to cover all taxes.)
November 4, 2009
The guest post on Money Tips from Poker at Bargaineering gave me a different perspective on the conversation we’re having at Fabulously Broke about personal spending limits.
As a once and former overachieving student, I like rules. Not because they’re limiting and I like to obey, but because they offer a benchmark to measure performance and the opportunity to go you one better, much like the Stretch goal is to the SMART goal. You’ve got to set the original goal first before you can beat it. [Note: I like my rules best. Who doesn’t?]
That’s why I kept moving my savings goals up as soon as I reached them – it’s boring not to have something to reach for. That’s not to say my rules don’t know how to limbo, they totally do. And have. And probably will again. It’s ok, as long as I don’t completely shatter the major ones.
When talking about the upper spending limits we set and why, it seems we all have a personal comfort level up to which we can spend. Spend more than that and we’re big squirmy excuse-making babies trying to justify the price tags. Or maybe that’s just me ……
But I don’t know anyone who has a mathematical reason for why this can cost up to $100, but that can only cost $15. The general levels rise and fall according to the feeling that one set of pricing is ok and the other is not, but why not set rules with a basis in fact? Mathematical rules? Ones that are rational? I’m talking about the bankroll management from the article.
I love the idea of setting your levels of spending by multiples of your available cash. In the article, the example is between 30-50 multiples of the bankroll. I’d like to steal that formula as is, but it doesn’t quite work out because my expense budget is vastly smaller than my entire bankroll. I’m protective of my savings, the multiple would be something insane like 300.
In our cases, that formula could translate into a percentage of the clothing budget. If you’re planning to save $100/month for clothing, perhaps each season gets 25%, or a weighted percentage because coats on sale tend to cost much more than bathing suits on sale. By a ratio of 5 to 1, in fact. If I were doing this, Winter would get 40%, and the other 3 seasons get 20%. That’s not precisely fair, but it’s probably more true to shopping reality than people realize. Breaking that down:
Winter: $480
Spring: $240
Summer: $240
Fall: $240
Right off the bat that tells you not to spend $400 before tax on a winter coat unless that’s the only thing you’re going to buy.
Of course, seasonality is only one way to break that down. You could just take that whole annual budget of $1200 and allocate 80% for staples like jeans, daily wear shoes, accessories, etc.; 20% for specialty items.
Truthfully much of this is hypothetical for me because I don’t yet have a clothing budget. I’m definitely still just saying “$100 is too much for jeans, I’ll pay up to $40 for them” and “No summer dress can cost more than $20.” As soon as my budget changes, though, I think it’d be great to implement a set of rational rules that I didn’t just make up as I encounter sales.
