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Archive for July, 2007

Future Me? and Accountability Log 7/29/07

July 29th, 2007 at 10:34 pm

Through Sparkpeople.com I found this really neat website where you send in a full body picture of yourself, tell them what you would like done to it, and they send you back the revised picture. All for $17. (seeyournewbody.com).

I did this several weeks ago and was starting to wonder when I was going to get my picture. Today it finally came!

So ... if losing 40 more pounds will really make me look anything close to this? Ummm no more junkfood for me and for sure no more skipping out on workouts!

So ... I wonder how much money this picture will save me in the long run due to not eating or buying the junkfood? Smile Of course if I really get to that size, all the saved money will be spent on clothes! Ah well ... the sacrifices one must make for good health. Smile

Accountability 7/29/07:

No spending

Fluidity Barre

July 29th, 2007 at 12:22 am

I decided to check out my local Craigslist to see if anyone was selling a Fluidity Barre on Friday. There were two listings. One had the Barre + about 10 different workout dvds to go with it for $130! The second had just the Barre +3 Dvds for $150.

I sent an email to the first person saying I wanted to purchase it. Unfortunately, late Friday night I got an email from them telling me they had sold it that morning, but just hadn't taken the ad off yet. Whoever got it, got a great deal -- the Dvd's by themselves were probably worth more than $100.

I've also checked out Ebay - but all those listings are pretty close to the like new price plus they are all local pick up only - none in my area. So, I'm going to keep an eye on Craigslist and see if another great deal like this comes up so I can grab it!

Accountability Log 7/27/07 and 7/28/07

July 29th, 2007 at 12:16 am

7/27/07

Outflow:
Rent: $650

Gas: $20 (Didn't fill up all the way) $2.84/gallon

Groceries: $26.49
(Bagged salad, veggies,bread, pb, 2 frozen meals, a couple treats, bananas, string cheese)

7/28/07

No spending -- Did use gas though to go to my mom and stepdads. While there I fed their beta fish named Fred, and did a load of laundry. Love putting off a trip to the laundromat another 3 weeks!

7/26/07 Accountability

July 27th, 2007 at 02:34 am

Outflow:

Car Registration: $55.80
Car Insurance: $37.44

I registered my car online, so I did have to pay an extra $2 convenience fee. But to me it was worth not having to drive over to the DMV and possibly have to stand in line. In fact, it probably would've cost me that much in gas to drive over there and back!

I will be getting new license plates too. This is the first time I've ever lived in one state long enough to have to have my plates replaced! I wonder what you are supposed to do with the old ones?

7/25 Accountability Log & a goal plan

July 26th, 2007 at 03:47 am

Spending 7/25:

$20 - Copay doctor's visit (deducted from FSA account)

$4.16 - Walgreens - rasins (snacks for work), 2 candybars, a bag of almonds

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Goal Plan --
I'm really wanting the Fluidity bar. The two main things that make me reluctant to get it are (1) Cost of $250 and (2) Whether or not I'll really keep up with my exercsie enough to justify it.

So, I've decided that I'm going to "earn" it by proving to myself that I will keep up my exercise consistentally.

Each 30 minute cardio session will be worth $5. Every time I complete at least 5 30 minute cardio sessions in one week (7 days) I will earn a $5 bonus.

Each 20 minute Strength Training session will earn $5. Every time I complete 3 sessions in an 8 day period, I will earn a $5 bonus.

If I earn about $50 per week, I will reach my goal in about 5 weeks.

In addition to my money goal, I need to also lose 12 pounds and keep them off for at least 2 weeks.

So, I figure that within 7 - 8 weeks I will be ready to order the bar and will feel like it has been well earned.

*There is a 30 day return policy on this, so if for some reason it turns out that its not what I think it is, or I'm not really using it, I *will* return it.

*This plan also gives me a lot of time to figure out if this is something I *really* want to spend my money on or not. I have a coworker who has one all ready, and I plan on asking her if I can try hers out sometime soon.

7/24 Accountability & Update on $287 Phone Bill

July 25th, 2007 at 12:59 am

Credit Card:

There were some charges that hadn't come through yet when I made my previous accounting.

Several Target, Walmart and Tom Thumb charges +
Netflix - $8.65
Singles Website: $9.15

= $121.92

Then today I called about my phone bill to dispute the new charges (for the telephone line) and find out where my previous month's dispute was at. I had to wait for the CS rep to get the latest info from the repair dept - then was told that I didn't need to worry about the past due amount shown on my bill - that it would be going off in the next 2 billing cycles.

I sure hope so, because it really irks me to see "Past Due Amount" on my bill!

I paid the amount I was told to pay -- $61.41

So, my new CC balance will be $183.33

Otherwise, today was a non-spending day.

7/23 Accountability

July 24th, 2007 at 03:32 am

No spending today.

7/22/07 Accountability Log

July 23rd, 2007 at 04:09 am

Ok. Today is easy. I didn't spend anything or do anything to do with money.

I did however eat up a lot of gas. After taking my mom and stepdad to the airport this morning (in their car, which I drove back to their house) I picked up their dog Millie and was almost back home. Then I remembered that I had left all of her food and medicine back at their house! So, I had to turn around and go get it. Ugh!

In need of a reset and accountability

July 21st, 2007 at 11:18 pm

Ever since late April I have been doing terribly on saving. I've been managing to spend pretty much everything I earn - and other than in May when my cat died - the majority of what I've spent has been on a lump sum of junk. My savings haven't taken a hit (other than in May with Monkey) because I was a month ahead in my checking account, and so every month I've kind of "dipped" into the next months monies + just avoided sending off any money to savings.

This has got to stop! Since I am single and have no one to answer to but myself - and have no one to help me out financially (at least no one that I'd willingly ask for help) than myself - I'm the one that has to get a handle on it.

So ... I have decided to post my budget here in full - including the total amounts I have in savings/other non-retirement accounts. Then I will post here at least 3 - 4 x a week and give a detailed accounting for where I spent every single penny. I won't list balances of my retirement accounts because I don't feel that that is really part of what is needed.

My hope is that by giving myself a public accountability partner that I will be able to cut down my spending on the unneccesary items and the junk. This will help both my bottomline and my waistline.

So . . .
I get paid once a week.
From my weekly paycheck I have money withheld pretax:
4% to my 401k plan
$9.32 to my medical account (I have a debit card to pay co-pays/prescriptions, etc)
Post tax:
~$16 -- life insurance, disability, ?

Net pay: $428/week.
Monthly Net: $1712
Fixed:
*Rent: $650
Car Ins: ~$38 (Liability Only)
Renters Ins: $25
Netflix: $10
Cable: $18 (went up from $13!)
Phone (Landline/DSL/Cell): ~$80
Charity: $122
Roth IRA: $75
*Car Fund: $100 (Replacement/Repair)
Emerg. Fund: $170
*Utilities are included in Rent
*I have a 97 Honda Civic ~94k miles -Paid for
Balance: ~$424
Not fixed - Clothing, Gas, Groceries, etc.

I have 3 checking accounts -
One I use for almost everything (ING)
The second one I pay my car insurance and fund my Roth from (At a Credit Union I've had an account with for over 10 years).
The third one I pay my Renter's Insurance from - it is a local account where I can cash checks if need be.

The total amount in my 3 checking accounts as of today: 1369.81

I have two savings accounts -
HSBC (Emergency Fund/Car Fund) and
ING (Slush/Short term savings)
I also have my Charity account at ING

The total amount as of today: 7410.17

I have two credit cards which I pay off in full each month. One I don't ever use, and the other one is a MyPoints Visa which I use for pretty much everything (including paying my rent.)

The balance between my two cards as of today: $81.25

Looking forward I know my gas expenses are going to be increasing quite a bit, and I am going to have to start paying tolls as well. Right now I walk to work everyday and can generally make it on one tank of gas per month. As of Aug. 6 my company will be moving to a new location -- meaning at least a 20 - 30 minute one way commute, plus tolls. I will be having a coworker carpooling with me who doesn't drive - we'll be sitting down soon to work out how we'll split expenses.

There are also a number of things that I am really wanting. One is a digital camera. Another is a Fluidity bar (fluidity.com). I also know that if I actually get back into losing weight instead of being on a rollercoaster of 10 lbs up and down, that I'll be needing to replace most of my clothing. Also, I probably will be wanting to take a trip out to CA soon to visit my brother and his wife, as well as a possibility of making a trip to SC to visit a possible "friend".

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So, instead of waiting for a new month to roll around and start holding myself accountable, I am starting today.

If anyone has actually read this far and is willing to do so, I would appreciate getting an "Ahem" note/comment whatever if you notice I haven't updated in more than a few days.