Being Realistic...Financially

          So as I mentioned in the beginning of the month here, that I was in desperate need of a financial makeover and the month of July was the start of it all.  Now that July is officially over, how did I do?  In a nutshell, I did OK considering it could have been a lot worse, but let me explain...

          Unfortunately I strayed from all 2/3 of my guidelines that I laid out for myself in some capacity, the first being my "no eating out" rule.  I managed to go out 4 times for dinner which was more than the 2 times I had allotted myself with one of the bills being WAAAY higher than I budgeted for, but well worth it.  I also gave in a little to buying outside snacks when I ran into a Cinnabon while on my way to a movie and was craving some Moose Tracks Emack and Bolio's Ice Cream while window shopping in the mall.  Good thing about it all was even though I blew my goal of $200 I never once this month went out for lunch and managed to make due with 2 grocery store runs both worth no more than $65 each.  Yay me!

          As for the "no new stuff" guideline, MAJOR fail.  An American Apparel circle scarf, maxi skirt, and new lip stain were no where near in my budget I couldn't resist.  $70 unnecessarily spent ::hangs head in shame::

          However, the "no travel" guideline was followed thoroughly as my feet never left the ground this month with my many usual excursions.  Though a few extra trips to Boston sent my gas budget a little over the norm.

          While I could have stuck true to the guidelines for July, it wouldn't have been very realistic because in reality there will be times when I want to buy a few things for myself and get invited out to eat more than I planned, its life.  All in all it wasn't the best I could do, but it put my monthly spending into a realistic point of view and that's a great start for my new financial plan.   

               

Let's Be Honest...

          Ok so its time I'm honest with myself and everyone around me.  Believe it or not I don't like people knowing my struggles but I feel as though this is one many people can identify with and are too afraid or embarrassed to confront.  So here it goes...

          Ever since I started college, I've been living far above my means.  I took out more than I needed in school loans and spent money I didn't have on things I didn't need.  Did I do it to impress someone? Yes, myself.  I wanted things I had never had before, like a real Coach bag and the latest laptop or phone on the market.  I felt I could finally get those things, after spending all my life saving and putting away, because I could finally afford to.  You see my head was filled with the statistics my school was spitting out.  "Average starting salary for undergrads is $54,000".  "Less than 1% student default rate on loans".  In my eyes I could live it up in school because I could pay it all back once I was done.

          Were the stats right?  Yes, but just because you can pay it back doesn't mean you can afford to.  What I failed to realize was just how much being an adult would cost, let alone $54,000 isn't what you wind up taking home at the end of the day. 

          It's now, a year after I graduated college, that I'm finally coming down from my financial high to face reality.  You can't live Oprah's life with an average person's salary.  So this month I'm giving my budget an extreme make over and going on a financial detox diet.  What will this consist of you ask?

1. No Eating Out:  Alright let's face it, eliminating this completely would also extinguish most of my social life, but drastically cutting down on the amount of times I do and making sure I always bring lunch and make breakfast will save me about $120 a month from my regular $250 budget.
2. No New Stuff:  I'm embarrassed to tell you the amount of money I spend on shoes, gadgets and clothes a month, so I won't.  The aim this month is to buy NOTHING (minus the essentials like personal care and household necessities). 
3. Traveling:  Yeah as much as it pains me, I will not be going anywhere this month minus my annual trip up to Maine for the 4th which requires less than a full tank of gas. 

         That is where the majority of my money goes so its time to address those areas head on.  While this is a trial to see just how much I can save in a month, it is the first step in a much longer process of paying off all the debt I've accrued in the last 5 years and beginning to live within my own means. 

Note To Self

          I know I've neglected posting but LIFE has been calling and that is the reason I blog in the first place.  But any who, here are just a few things I have to remind myself on a daily basis...

Financial

1. "A little goes a long way".  Don't use more than you need to and don't buy more than you have to. 
2. Never pay full price for something, unless its for a good cause.  Chances are somewhere out there you can get it cheaper.
3. Think BEFORE you buy.  Brand names aren't everything.  Do you really need another Coach bag Q?
4. Be happy with what you have.  There are people out there wishing they had just a fraction of what you do.

Health

1. You'll regret not going to the gym but you'll never regret going to the gym.
2. Exercise, its the best stress reliever.
3. Want to feel accomplished? Work out and stick your health plan.
4. That piece of chocolate only has a feel good rating of 10 seconds before you feel like crap for eating it in the first place.

Relationships

1. Let him have his space. You can't make someone forgive you until they're ready to.
2. Trust that if its meant to be, it will be.
3. After you're done crying, smile at the times you had together.
4. No matter how amazing he is, you can't expect him to be the only reason you smile if you can't make your own self happy.  Work on yourself and everything else will start to fall in place.

Life

1. Don't backtrack in life unless whatever it is is absolutely worth it.  You can't move forward if you're still focused on what's behind you. 
2. Things worth having are worth taking the time.
3. Make a difference and do something greater than yourself.
4. On days when you're feeling like nothing can get worse or you're thinking "God, why me?"  Watch this video and count your blessings.
5. One person can make a difference with the help of others.  #kony2012

It's All About The Bejamin's Baby: The Don't Eat Your Money Challenge

          In the spirit of tax season, let's talk money.  We all can't get enough of it but most of us ::raises hand in shame:: will spend it faster than we earn it.  Its bad I know but I believe that if we can get out of the frivolous spending habits that many of us have gotten ourselves into, than a lot of the other aspects in our lives will start to improve.

           So to prove this idea, for 1 whole month I will focus on the effects my spending has on my health/weight loss.  Interesting combo huh?  Well not entirely.  You see when I look at my spending for the month a good chunk of my money (aside from my weekly mall trips) goes to eating out or satisfying my random cravings.  I'm not afraid to admit it, often times I go over my $250 budget on food for the month.

           In order to put my check book back in check and accomplish my goals for Andsoshewrite's Bikini Ready by May Challenge for my trip to Miami, I'm saving my money by doing the following...

1.  Bye Bye Chipotle:  And all other fast food joints.  No fast food at all...PERIOD.  As much as it pains me, there is no need for me to spend $10 on my entire day's worth of calories on one very delicious burrito or cheesy bread from Domino's when I have the skills and means to make a healthier alternative at home.  What will I do when I'm on the road?  Well I guess I'll cross that path when I arrive there :).

2.  If I Don't Buy It, I Can't Eat It:  One of the most easiest ways to cut calories and your spending is to not buy junk food at all!  ::Gasp:: Yea I know shocking.  This is something I've been practicing for the past month and its been working wonderfully.  Nap85 just wrote an entire piece on it yesterday for those who want in depth details but in short if you can hold your ground in the grocery store and only buy the healthy things that you need then you won't find yourself in a daily battle with your pantry... and losing :).

3.  Group Outings:  Let's face it, you're going to have to suck it up and eat out a few times for the sake of your friends but its not the end of the world.  Look at the menu and while the $25 Fillet Mignon with creamy mashed potatoes and garlic bread may sound delicious, the $10 Grilled Chicken Salad is so much better for you and your bank account.

4.  Water Water Everywhere, and a Whole Lot to Drink!:  If I told you the amount of money I spend on drinks alone your jaw would drop to the floor.  I'm a sucker for fancy restaurant concoctions, Dunkin Donut's Vanilla Chai and juices galore.  All of which are filled with empty calories and come with a complimentary dent in my pocket.  But with 0 calories and a whopping price of free99 water is coming to rescue.  My wallet and waist will no longer have to live in fear.  So goodbye drinks and hello water.  All day, everyday. 

5.  Preparation:  Last but most important, PREPARATION!  Cook at home at the beginning of the week so that you don't have to worry about it later.  I usually cook a big meal Sunday night to last me for my lunches throughout the week.  I don't know about you, but when I know I have good food in my fridge it prevents me from spending it on food elsewhere and having something to bring for lunch deters me from spending in the cafeteria.  Saves money and calories, a win win for me.

          So in short for 1 month I will be to not eat my money.  I'll be checking in periodically to keep you updated.  Join me if you're up for the task!

Mellow Wednesday

          Why is it only Wednesday?  I feel like the week is CREEPING by.  This week hasn't been that eventful and its been a real mellow day for me.  Since there hasn't been anything to do at work, I've kind of just been poking around on the Internet.  One of my favorite things to do on days like this after I do my little routine is to read natural hair blogs. 

          I love hearing other natural's stories, regimens, and rants.  I even put in a request for my friend (a fellow naturalista) to give me a lesson on how to do Henna on my hair.  I'm itching to get out of these braids and if it wasn't for the money I paid to put them in, they'd be gone by now. 

          But any who, my goal of establishing a solid daily routine is going well minus the working out part.  So far I'm getting the swing of my sleep schedule and once I feel good about that I'll move into getting on track with my running.  Baby steps people, baby steps.

          After work my plan is to do a little dive shopping at the goodwill before my weekly sushi session with my old neighbor to see what kind of knick-knacks I can pick up for my apartment.  I don't care what people say about "second hand" stores.  It doesn't matter if its a brand new $600 tablet or a used $5 side table, if I like it I'm buying it. I love finding good deals at second hand shops, craigslist, ebay, you name it.  Guess its the frugal side of me that always comes through :).

          Well I should probably go one of the managers of my business unit is in, and I should probably at least look like I'm doing work.

          Til next time!

Just Call Me Ms. DIM (Do-It-Myself)

          So like I mentioned before I refinished my kitchen cabinets.  I'm a bit of a HGTV freak and love decorating and redecorating my place.  So when I moved into my new apartment and saw the hideously dated wood trimmed laminant cabinets (pictured below), I had to do something about it.  I can't have my place looking like a snapshop from the 70s. 

          That is when I started my research on painting my cabinets.  I found this great stuff for painting laminate ones called Cabinet Rescue that worked really well.  This is what it looked like over the course of a week...

 

          With the help of my handy dandy tool bag, new drill, and countless trips to Lowes, I transformed those bad boys in this...

          Don't mind the missing cabinet, I still have some touching up to do.  But needless to say I am PROUD of myself.  Since starting to have to pay my school loans back I've turned into bit of a frugal fanny.  My new commitment to myself is to never pay full price where it can be avoided.  Part of staying true to that is learning how to DIM (Do-It-Myself). 

          Some of the things I've mastered include doing my eyebrows and nails so the only time I go to the salon is to be pampered once in a blue moon or for vacations.  Another I'm working on is learning to do my own hair.  For the first time since I've been natural, I have washed my own hair,the first giant step in weining myself from needing to go to the hair dressers.  Next up on my list fine tuning my gourmet cooking skills and with a kitchen like this I think (minus the outdated appliances) I think I'll start here :).

My Personal Assistant

          Happy Friday People.  For those who know me, know how organized and sometimes anal I can be (for those who don't, well now you know :D).  But there is a method to my madness and extreme organization and I would like to share with you, in hopes that maybe my tips and tricks will help you too get organized.

Tip 1: Get Your Finances in Order
          After all this is the foundation of your life and goals.  For me, all things financial can be found in my "Personal Assistant."  Essentially is is a excel spreadsheet containing my budget, my accounts, and any possible expense you can imagine.  This thing is accurate down to every penny that leaves and enters my pocket.  Explaining it can't full do it justice so here is a snapshot of the main component of it.

          If you want your own Personal Financial Assistant complete with instructions and tips, just click on the link and download the file.

Tip 2:  Find a way to keep track your life with a good calendar and task manager that works for you.
          I used to be a big fan of Outlook when my life ran off of emails in college.  It had my email, all my contacts, and I could put tasks I wanted to get done in it too.  Best thing of all was that it synced to my phone so no matter where I was I could always be up to date with what I needed to get done and where I needed to be going. 

          Now that I email isn't so much apart of my life anymore, Outlook isn't really that effective.  Right now my tool of choice for keeping track of my life is Google.  Now before you read any further Google is not paying me say any of this shit (though I wouldn't mind if they did).  But in all honesty, they don't have to because their services speak for themselves. 

          It's email, calendar, and task tracking sync to my phone and tablet but does way more too.  Google Maps lets me keep track of places I want to go or more important, for me being in a new place, helps me find and remember my favorite chains that are nearby.  But I must say my favorite thing about Google is Google Voice.  Since my stepmom kick me off the family plan after I graduated, I was forced to find my own plan.  However, I lucked out because my company gave me a cell phone.  Now I didn't want to change my number so I transferred my old number to Google and all my calls go to my free work phone.  So not only was I able to keep my number, but I don't have to pay for a plan.  Another cool thing about it, is because its a call forwarding service from Google every text and voicemail I receive is online, so say I forget my phone at home one day, I can still get all my messages (and send them) from online.  And not to mention my Blog is through them too :D.

Tip 3: Find a place to keep your thoughts, goals and everything in between
          While Google (or whatever you may use)is great for keeping your life scheduled and on time, I find it useless for all the other things that run through my mind that I would like to keep track of.  This is why I use Evernote.  The website takes the simple concept of a blank notebook(s) and makes it accessible anywhere there is Internet access (i.e. your phone, tablet, computer...anywhere!).  For the things I can't find space for in Google, like my grocery lists, food logs, goals, recipes, websites, and the random brainstorming fits I have I use Evernote. 

LESSON OF THE DAY

Get organized.  It will help you IMMENSELY.

Standing Up Against My Financial Raping

          Bank of America, convienient...yes; customer friendly...no.  How are you going to tell me I have to pay you to use my own money?  That's exactly what their saying with this new $5 monthly debit card fee.  Grant it, its only $5, BUT over the course of the year that's $60 just for using my own money.  If used correctly, that could buy me 2 new pairs of shoes.  As if they do not make enough profit from all the overdraft fees and "institution fees" they take from their millions of customers (including myself), they want to continue to rape people's wallets. 

          I don't know about you, but that was the last straw.  I have paid BofA more than enough of MY hard earned money, and this is where I put my foot down.  I have done my research on the whole matter and apparently this new fee could become a industry standard, due to new government regulations capping the amount of money banks can charge merchants for debit card transactions.  So to avoid taking by business to another major bank that could very well turn around and do the same thing, I have decided to put my hard earned money into a Federal Credit Union. 

          I found a good local one that had all the bells and whistles I was looking for with little to no strings attached.  Free checking, no minimum monthly balance, online banking, free bill pay, overdraft protection, ATM fee reinbustment, and plenty of reward programs.  I couldn't ask for more.  After I was done signing up they even had this little petition that I thought was very fitting especially after this announcement from BofA. 

          I must say, genius marketing strategy on their part.  I already I feel much better about my money and being free from constant fees.  Plus for me its like one stop shopping.  I can refinance my car loan and consolidate all my school loans all at the same place for a better rate. 

          I'm saving money all over the place with this switch, which is definitely a plus for me. especially as I plan for some major things in the next few months.  NYC next month, ATL in December, motorcycle in February, Tropical getaway with a special someone, and then Miami Part 2 again in May. 

Mellowing Out

         
          Mellow. That's how I'm feeling today.  Not upset about much but nothing really to look forward to either.  In my fit of boredom at work, I've further broken down my expenses to a T.  In other words I can tell you where every single penny of my money is going all the way up to 2013.  I know excessive right? But what else do I have to do to with nothing to keep me busy at work, plus my OCD doesn't help the cause either.

          Update on the Gym.  I haven't yet joined.  To be honest I don't think I am going to know either.  The Gold's Gym I was going to join doesn't really have that much to offer for the price they are asking.   Plus, the apartments I'm looking at mostly all come with some form of workout room.  Until the and in the mean time I will stick to my Insanity, once I get the energy after work to actually do it.  Needless to say I'm feeling a little unmotivated and I gotta fix it. 

          In my efforts to reach my financial goals I have been searching craigslist constantly to find a cheaper apartment.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE the place I'm in, but the benefits of it don't outweigh my desire to save up for things I want.  The money I'm putting into this place is not worth it to me anymore.  Yes I love finding deals and coupon cutting, but let’s face it, I'm the type girl who loves chai lattes, shopping at Whole Foods, has a weakness for shoes, jackets, and the latest technology, and is also addicting to saving and paying things off in full.  There just isn't room enough in my budget to do all of that and have a pricey pad to lay my head down in.  If my friends and family were around enough so that I could host parties and have people over, I wouldn't imagine giving up but they aren't and for that reason it’s not worth it. 

          So after beating my budget down to a pulp, I realize that I'm going to have to stay with my company for at least a year in order to get financially stable before I can take any risks in following my real dreams. 

LESSON OF THE DAY

          Unfortunately you can't always live life like there's no tomorrow because chances are, there will be one.  The sad thing about it is that in the unfortunate event that I died today, I wouldn't be able to say that I've done all I wanted to do up to this point or that I had no regrets in the decisions I've made or that I have lived my life to the fullest.  In order for me to get to that point of complete satisfaction with my life I need to do something’s I don't enjoy doing today so that I have the means to do what I want to do tomorrow. 

Money, Money, Everwhere But Not a Drop to Spare

"Money often costs too much"
                                                                                                 -Ralph Waldo Emerson

          What would you (or won't) do to have a few more dollars in your pocket?  Today's payday and it got me thinking about all the money that I just got and all the money I'm about to see gone just as quickly as I got it.  Sometimes I seriously thought if I had the body that stripping wouldn't be so bad.  They make a lot of money and its a hell of a workout, but I could never be one reguardless if I had the body or not because I can't stand people touching me.  Anyways, I digress; money.  Its what we all want more than anything in the world because its a means of achieveing happiness.  Whoever said money can't buy happiness was on crack, wait no strike that because even junkies need money to buy their happiness.  Point is, money helps you attain the very things that makes you happy.  For me its having a nice home, for some its having a nice car.  But for the average working person after you get taxed half of your earnings then pay your rent, cable, gas, electricity, health, car note, insurance, and school loan bills, the little bit left, you have to find a way to put a little into savings.  And maybe when its all said and done you'll have two pennies left to rub together and buy food with.

          Its the viscious American lifestyle.  You take out money to make money in order to just give it right back.  I have come to the realization that for the rest of my life I will probably live in debt to someone,  because if its not a school loan, its a car loan, and if its not a car loan its a home loan, you get my point? So...

LESSON OF THE DAY!

          Don't stress about the debt, just live life and do the best you can to pay it back or avoid it altogther.  This lesson should not be taken lightly or to litteral.  Debt in some cases is unavoidable.  For example,  I didn't have $80,000 justing sitting in my closet to spend on a good college, of course I could have went to a cheaper school but odds are I would still be looking for a job with a major that no one knows what to do with (i.e English).  Case and point I had to take out loans to get a job so I shouldn't stress about it because if I hadn't taken the money I'd probably be stressing out about not having a job at all.  I mean according to the Mayans we'll all be gone next December so why not live it up while you still can?  Well in case they are wrong about the ending of the world (which I half believe) I'll do my best to maintain a decent liefstyle for my budget so I won't end up homeless due to bad credit or in jail because I though I could cheat Uncle Sam.  After all like Wiz Khalifa said in "When I'm Gone" I mind as well spend it now because I can't when I'm dead and right now this is what I'll be spending :)

          Oh I should let you know that these lessons and blog aren't for you.  Of course if you learn somthing from them great, I'm glad I helped, but there for me.  Yes I phrase them so that it sounds like I'm giving advise and that's only because I'm giving advice to myself.  That way when I'm bored or wondering about something I can look back and learn something from me.  Its very theraputic putting your thoughts and feelings down, makes you feel like your not alone in your personal struggles and opinions.  Try it, it might help you too.