Back when I was interning as a bank teller (Is that the “This one time at band camp…” line of this blog?), my co-worker Patsy used to go through the Walgreens ads methodically and then show us all the things she bought for “free” after mail-in rebates. At the time, I thought this was a [...]
Archive for the ‘Spending’ Category
The Drugstore Game; Depression and Finances
Posted in Frugality, Spending, tagged CVS, Depression, The Drugstore Game on May 14, 2008 | 3 Comments »
High School Reunion Drama
Posted in Spending, tagged Events, High School Reunion, Spending on May 14, 2008 | 1 Comment »
My 10-year high school reunion is next month. There is going to be a barbeque on Saturday, an evening event with dinner, a DJ and possibly a mechanical bull (!) on Saturday night and an afternoon outing at the lake on Sunday. People are ticked though because the evening event is $50 per person with a cash [...]
Home Improvements Are Tempting Me!
Posted in Spending, tagged DIY, Home Ownership, Spending on May 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I knew that stopping the debt snowball to replace our heat pump and hot water heater was necessary, but also dangerous. You see, once I get started on a home improvement project, I want to keep improving! Here is my list of things I currently want to do to the house: Install a storm door [...]
Finance Girl: Reluctant Patriot
Posted in Spending, tagged Economic Stimulus, Home Ownership, Taxes on May 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
On Friday, we received our $1,500 economic stimulus payment and a $213 state tax refund. So, being proud Americans, we spent $3,467 on a new heat pump and $674 on a new hot water heater before the deposits even had a chance to hit the bank. No need to thank us, America. We’re just doing [...]
What Do You Get a Man Turning 100?
Posted in Spending, tagged Cars, Experience Gifts, Family, Gifts on May 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Why, a Mustang rental, of course! I was looking through a friend’s scrapbook last night and there was a picture of a very old man sitting in the seat of a car. It was her husband’s grandfather, who was turning 100. Apparently he’d always wanted a Mustang (he still jokes that someday he’s going [...]
Give Your Mom an Experience This Mother’s Day
Posted in Spending, tagged Experience Gifts, Family, Gifts, Mother's Day on May 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Every year at the beginning of May, websites and newspaper ads offer Mother’s Day gift ideas. These oh-so-helpful lists always include a version of the following list: Flowers (or alternately, the hanging basket of flowers – my mom’s Mother’s Day present for 15 consecutive years) A spa gift certificate / massage An iPod (yes, this is [...]
Why is Buying Something Always a Good Thing?
Posted in Spending, tagged Consumerism, Spending on May 5, 2008 | 2 Comments »
When you tell someone you are buying a car, a house or even a new pair of shoes, do they ever express worry? Or do they say they’re “so happy for you,” “jealous” or offer, “congratulations!” (that must be one great pair of shoes, by the way…). Now that I’ve become a personal finance geek, [...]
I Think We Need a Bigger Emergency Fund
Posted in Spending, tagged Emergency Fund, Heat Pump on April 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Oh, lord. The hits keep coming. Back in January, our heat pump (it’s like a combination air conditioner/heater) was making weird noises and our electric bills were really high. I had someone come out and they said the compressor was weak and recommended replacing the unit for $3,000 (it’s 10 years old – about the [...]
Define “Living Paycheck to Paycheck”
Posted in Spending, tagged Debt-Repayment, Emergency Fund, Living Paycheck to Paycheck, Savings, Spending on April 18, 2008 | 16 Comments »
The phrase “living paycheck to paycheck” gets thrown around a lot, but the truth is, I don’t really understand what it means. Here are some possible definitions: Not having enough money in savings to survive for a reasonable amount of time without a paycheck (i.e., not having a three-month emergency fund) Spending your entire paycheck [...]
A Day of Unexpected Expenses (aka, “Life”)
Posted in Spending, tagged murphy's law, sump pump, unexpected expenses on April 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Today I spent $244, most of which was unexpected. 10 a.m. – Took my car for an oil change, tire rotation and a state inspection: $56 (this was the one I was expecting) 2:30 p.m. – Arrived to tea party bridal shower without adhering to the “Wear your best tea party hat!” instruction because I [...]
A Guilt-Free Way to Reduce the Gift Budget and Snowflake the Difference
Posted in Frugality, Spending, tagged Budgeting, Frugality, Gifts, Snowflaking, Spending on April 8, 2008 | 5 Comments »
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re planning on giving your sister a $20 birthday present – probably a DVD that she’s been wanting. You get to the store, and the DVD is on sale for $9.99. “Great,” you think, “Now I can buy her the DVD and a CD.” Stop right there. If you [...]
Best of Craigslist: Used Mattress
Posted in Spending, tagged Craigslist, mattresses on March 27, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Speaking of used mattresses, here’s a great post from the Best of Craigslist: Zzzzzzz…..King Size Used Sealy Posturpedic Celestial Mattress Date: 2005-06-08, 10:24AM EDT For Sale: 1 King Size Used Sealy Posturepedic Celestial mattress. Just the mattress. No box springs, frame, or headboard. $40. There are two things to consider when buying a new mattress: [...]
Reminder: Time to Shop for Easter ’09
Posted in Spending, tagged Easter, Frugality, Shopping on March 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Shopping at the end of the season can save you big money. Many stores cut prices on holiday merchandise by 50% on the day after the holiday, and keep cutting throughout the week. However, most items are gone within a few days. With that in mind, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going [...]
My Mattress is Pathetic
Posted in Debt-Reduction, Spending, tagged Debt-Reduction, mattresses, Spending on March 23, 2008 | 6 Comments »
This is my mattress, and I can’t take it any more. My husband got it seven years ago when some co-workers donated used furniture to his post-divorce “bachelor pad.” While we’ve I’ve gotten rid of most of his hand-me-downs, we are still sleeping on this thing, which has to be pushing 20 years (my stepson [...]
The Most I’ve Ever Paid For A…
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on March 11, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Pair of Shoes – $140 (shiny black Doc Marten boots back in the day) Purse – $80 (black leather from Fossil that I bought for a business trip) Watch – $120 (Diesel watch that was wedding gift to my husband – he no longer wears because he mowed the lawn with it on and it [...]
A Dumb Way to Spend Your Money: St. Patrick’s Day T-Shirts
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on March 10, 2008 | 2 Comments »
What’s that ya have? A St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt. A St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt? Brilliant! What do you do with it? Well, I have found a way to get thousands of Americans to purchase a shirt that they can only wear one time! So you charge them five bucks and make sure “2008″ appears in [...]
Times When I Just Can’t Say No
Posted in Debt-Reduction, Spending, tagged Debt-Reduction, Spending on March 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Some things are easier to say no to than others. Here are some recent questions I’ve had a hard time saying no to, even though I really shouldn’t be spending the money: Do you want to come out with us to a bar tonight? (friends) Are we going to take another group vacation to the [...]
Spending Money in Ways that Make You Happy
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on February 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I’m a fan of MSN Money columnist MP Dunleavey (although I don’t necessarily agree with her decision to purchase a more expensive house while trying to get out of debt). Back in July, she wrote an article about 7 Ways to Buy Happiness, in which she discusses spending money in a way that brings long-term [...]
My Dog, Cash (Appropriately Named)
Posted in Pets, Spending, tagged Pets, Spending on February 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
So, I just got back from the vet for my dog’s annual physical and shots. $172.25! What happened? Complete Physical Exam: $35 3-Year Rabies Vaccination: $24 3-Year Distemper/Parvovirus Vaccination: $32 Heartworm Test and Tick Screen: $43.25 Fecal Analysis/Centrifugation: $23.00 Express Anal Glands (I mentioned he’d been scooting around): $15 I think they forgot to charge [...]
Prioritizing Your Smaller Wants and Needs
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on February 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Now, I may be trying to get out of debt, but I’m not crazy. If I get $20 for my birthday, I’m going to spend it, not put it toward my debt. But what to spend it on? If I keep the cash in my wallet with no clear plan, I’ll end up blowing it [...]
Much Worse than a Latte Factor: The Gift "Budget"
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on February 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
While I feel like I had a frugal Valentine’s Day and birthday season, I estimate that we spend about $3,500 per year on gifts. That’s almost $300 per month! ($140 if you don’t count Christmas, which we pay for out of one of our two extra paychecks) This includes gifts, dining out on special occasions, [...]
My Latte Factor
Posted in Spending, tagged Spending on February 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Everyone has a “latte factor,” right? Mine is Coke. Not the drug, the drink. My husband and I consume approximately three 12-packs of Coke Zero a week, plus the free drinks my work provides and the plastic bottles he buys once a day. So, I figure that’s at least $500 a year just for the [...]
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