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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May 5, 2009
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Some of these are train-related, from back when I Twittered that the train folks were in a feisty mood. I only participated in ONE of these conversations.
“Remember that one girl who always shoved her husband’s photos in our faces? Whatever happened to her?”
“Ugh, that was obnoxious, I’m just glad it stopped.”
“Come on guys, she’s just insecure.”
muttered: “She should be!”
“Congratulations on your new house!”
“Thanks! You have crazy bedhead!”
“…… thanks!”
*burst of giggles from three people*
“That is NOT sexual harassment!”
*more giggles*
“My dad called me this morning: ‘Don’t leave your house, don’t go to work, don’t take the kids to school! Don’t do anything you don’t have to!'”
“Dad, are you going to pay my bills?”
“He says, ‘Oh. Go to work.'”
April 30, 2009
| Retirement Savings |
Roth IRA: $4,031
401(a): $6,551
403(b): $14,390
Total: $ 24,972 (22,362)
|
| Emergency Savings |
Catastrophe: $ 29,352
Problem Cushion: $ 1,000
Total: $ 30,352 (29,721)
|
| Short Term Goals |
Car Maintenance: $1,068
Insurance: $2,539
Travel/Con: $401
Taxes: $3,365
Moving: $3,469
Total: $ 10,842 (8,633)
|
| Long Term Goals |
House Down Payment: $101
|
| Investment Loans |
Prosper-ish: $12,630
Personal Loan: $2,000
Savings Bond: $362 (current accrued value)
Total: $ 14,992 (15,992)
|
| Total Assets |
Illiquid: $ 24,972
Semi-Liquid: $14,992
Liquid: $30,352
Expense Acct: $9,960
Goals Savings: $10,842
Total: $ 91,118 (86,841)
|
| Debt and Liabilities |
Citi 2: $177
Chase: $650
Rent: $1,360
Total: $ 2,187 (1,786)
|
| Net Worth |
$ 88,931 (85,055)
|
Notes and nothings:
Continuing to stash cash in the emergency fund, which may as well be called the unemployment fund at this point, and in the retirement funds to “front load” for the rest of the year in case I’m unable to contribute.
Upcoming expenses: the auto insurance is due mid-May, and I’ll be responsible for paying the life insurance independently once I’ve separated from employer. I’m not terribly concerned, that account is relatively healthy for now. As long as I’m gainfully employed sooner rather than later ….
I spent a lot this month. On the bag which I’m still really enjoying (I haven’t had a “where’s my PHONE??” panic attack since getting it), and on a lot of small eating-out ventures. Small is usually about $5 or less, but they can add up, too. Not to worry, I’m still on the brown-bagging wagon. Oh, and there was the surprise bridesmaid dress.
Of late, there’s been a significant shift in my mentality towards spending and acquisition. First, I really just don’t want all that much stuff. Less isn’t more, it’s just less. And I much prefer that. Second, even though I won’t part with money unnecessarily, some things are worth spending on: travel, quality goods that serve their purpose well and with class. For years, I was willing to buy cheap, and relatively cheaply made clothes that were basically “good enough.” I just got sick of hunting for clothes that fit me and my budget so I settled. Now, good enough isn’t good enough. A serious purge of the closet is underway, and at some point, I’ll need to restock a few key pieces. And thanks to all the fashion advice in the PF world, I might actually be picking up some style points. Is this what growing up feels like? Maybe it’s just what getting older feels like.
[Full disclosure: I’m still happiest in a t-shirt/tank top and comfy pants. But if I want to be taken seriously IRL, webcomic tees are probably not the way to go.]
April 28, 2009
CVS: Picked up another tube of Neutrogena Rapid Clear, a nostrum I’ve hopes to cut out of my life once life and skin become less stressed (on sale, $6.99);
Trying out the Neutrogena Sunblock, Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 70, to ward off sun cancer once I start all that vacationing and sunbathing š (on sale, $9.99);
= $18.xx, and *$5 Extra Care Bucks for buying $15 of Neutrogena products
* ECB to be used towards two packs of Q-tips (2 for $5). I hate paying real money for cotton and paper products.
Vons: Bananas, three (on sale, 86 cents);
New white potatoes, half pound for boiling (not on sale, $1.50);
Spinach, one bag (on sale, $1);
Corn, two ears (on sale, $1.58);
Classico pasta sauce, 2 jars (on sale, $4);
Store brand pastas, 2 boxes 1 lb each (on sale, free with sauce purchase);
= $8.46
Ironic: Digging through my office supplies bag from the desk, I noticed the expiration date on the Tums for the first time. (exp: July 2009) Hah! That is completely a sign of better things to come. In my world. Where I live.
April 27, 2009
’tis back to the grindstone, m’hearties!
Glad to be bringing home a paycheck for another few (9) weeks, but not so much to have to actually do it. Here. With these people. You understand.
Had a wonderfully *waiting* weekend with the BFF et al. We’re anxiously awaiting her new bundle of joy and have bets going on how much he’ll weigh. Your positive thoughts are much appreciated, I’m worried that he’s been so quiet.
We had other good news to celebrate: her sibling is engaged and will likely be having an Aussie wedding. I promptly texted my congratulations and asked if I was invited to the shindig. š [Yes, I am.]
I figured that I should invite myself early on to guarantee that I can find a decent flight. I’ll be doing my travel research soon, it’d be so cool if I were, ah, still unemployed and able to do a NZ and Australia jaunt in the fall. [Cool minus the part where I’d still be jobless ….. priorities, priorities…!!]
Oh, and I just realized that this will be the first wedding that I’ve attended in years where I won’t be part of the ceremony. Oh, to simply be a guest and not a working participant! Fun!
Spent $6 on admission to the Fair on Saturday, another $9 on funnel cake (with powdered sugar) and roasted corn on the cob. Friends treated us to our demolition derby tickets ($8/each).
Overspending goes hand in hand with unhealthy fair food. Refrained from buying apple butter, peach butter, cinnamon apple butter, and apricot butter. Luckily, I really only had $20 in cash, so I put a couple things on my card, and stuck to cash only the rest of the time. Total spending was about $32.50.
I wanted to treat them to lunch on Sunday for putting us up and all, but didn’t get the chance to. I did run their dishwasher for them, though. Imagine that, an Asian using the dishwasher to wash dishes! Such a novelty.
The real plan is to trade them manual labor (babysitting, cooking and cleaning) later this summer when I have time on my hands. We’ve been such close childhood friends that we’ve never practiced such etiquettely habits as host gifts and bringing wine to gatherings before, I guess there’s no reason to start formality with practically-family.
April 24, 2009
Or was that just my family?
I didn’t even score an A- on this CNN money quiz, I pulled down a whoppin’ B+ but I’m not ashamed. They dinged me on diversification, but frankly, it’s because my allocation used to be 90/10 and the stock market changed it to 75/25 just for me.
I was just working out, with pen and paper, how to reallocate but instead decided to dump a whole bunch of money into the stock side of my retirement funds. That’ll make up for the low contributions throughout the year and increase my exposure to stocks. That’s a quick fix and easier than selling off some of my bonds in the Roth IRA and buying stocks with it. Probably. Yes? No? Whatever, I’m taking the path of least resistance for now. Until I start sleeping through the night again, I’m not making life any harder than it needs to be.
As for life insurance? I got sick of dealing with private insurance brokers and enhanced the term life insurance that I get through work after making sure of its portability. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing and will serve as a safety net until I buy private life insurance. (Which I should do while I still have an income!)
April 23, 2009
Nickel’s article, Economy Got You Down? Pig Out! made me laugh out loud. Just this weekend, I was taken to the grocery store for snacks for the week because, “food is the only thing that makes you happy, at work.”
Too right!!
Forget the whole losing-your-job bit, now I have to listen to coworkers scheming to move their cash out of accounts to “prove insolvency” so they can claim their bit from unemployment and food stamps. Yeah. They’re planning to really make the most of this situation by defrauding the system to the highest extent. Money, and keeping food on the table, is not the least of my worries, but this is just wrong.
Anyway, since there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it whilst they’re plotting, I’m preventing an irrational reaction by feeding my soul. And not incidentally, my mouth š
So if Nickel’s citation is true, “The calmer you feel, the less likely you’ll do something irrational,” bring on the comfort food!
This week’s treats stashed in my “drawer of inappropriate starches” (Topher, Dollhouse):
Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Cookies
Lemon Zest Luna Bars
Middle Eastern flatbread, and tzatziki (which is actually quite good in a breakfast burrito!)
Honey whole wheat pretzel sticks
Hmm…I’m lacking salty stuff. I’ve finally developed a taste for salt and vinegar chips which I used to hate! FB keeps talking about golden Oreos on Twitter, though, and that’s tilting the imbalance further in the direction of sweets.
I’ve also soothed my agitated soul by watching Psych and Burn Notice during my off hours. Friends with a ready supply of DVDs and comic books are great, I never watch TV in my normal life so this is like a free, at-home hiatus.
Of course, then I get to figure out how to repay friend for the loan and support. ’tis a cycle!
What nice things are you doing for yourselves these days?
April 22, 2009
These are the best CD rates Citibank’s offering right now:
What’s even sadder is that the 2.25% APY is still marginally better than my regular savings accounts which hover just around 1.5%. Yay. P’raps it’ll be worth my while to lock up about 10K in the one year CD. It’s certainly not worth my time to hunt around for slightly better rates if I don’t want to open up yet more bank accounts. (I don’t.)
