“insert catchy title here”

March 9, 2009

no spend month day 9

Filed under: no spend month — by stick o dynamite @ 11:11 pm

wow nine days already and the only money I’ve spent have been on necessities.

Approved Purchases:

  1. Toilet Paper (which i’m keeping in my room because I’m not supporting anybody’s habit! ninja get a job and get your own!!!)
  2. Groceries did second round of grocery shopping today! actually stayed under budget!!! I also realized that by not wasting spending money on fast food I can purchase the ultra expensive gourmet foods that I like without feeling guilty!
  3. Gas-I’m still on the first fill up of the month. I have half a tank of gas left and this will probably last me until the end of the week. Monday if I push it to the limit.
  4. laser hair removal. don’t be giving me the side eye! I have a full beard!!! that’s is so not cute on a chick and for $100 bucks a pop I think that’s  a steal!

That’s about it. The rules so far are the same. I can only purchase groceries that are on the list, and the list must be written before the shopping trip. I must check the house to ensure that the foodstuffs I wanna purchase are not already in stock at the house. I can fill up on gas as much as needed. And hygiene items that are non negotiable are approved purchases (i.e. toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant and so on).

Purchases that are not approved and therefore will not be purchased:

  1. Makeup. Although I am debating this one. MAC is making me breakout and I really don’t even need foundation. I do need concealer though
  2. Astringent
  3. a purse-its falling apart
  4. clothes-i need basics that i can wear all the time without people knowing from first glance that they are repeats
  5. jewelry and accessories specifically earrings. Ihave lost all of my earrings
  6. shoes. I have 8 pairs of black shoes, but no brown
  7. hair rollers and flat iron

There is also an added incentive to stick to the plan. Top Boss has bet me that I wouldn’t even be able to make it to the first paycheck of the month. That’s friday. He is so going to have to pay up! But its a beer so its ok!

I even went out friday night and didn’t spend a dime! The venue was free, and I was hanging out with guys who like to throw their money around. No problem with me. Although one of them always pays, and I really don’t want him to think that I am using him for his dineros. Bec I’m not.

i have nothing else…

March 5, 2009

no spend month day 5

Filed under: Blogroll — by stick o dynamite @ 11:52 pm
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i’ve inspired my coworkers to pack their lunches and eat with me since I’m no longer going out to eat. However, they will go out to eat on Mondays and Fridays, you can’t win em all.
that’s about it.

March 4, 2009

no spend day 4

Filed under: Blogroll — by stick o dynamite @ 7:38 pm
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almost hit a snag today and was tempted to spend money!

i hit that im hungry, its 5 o’clock, and i reaaaaally don’t feel like cooking. And all of my options ran through my mind and nothing was enticing me. this is a normal occurrence for me get hungry, have food at the house and not wanna cook it. BUT i was strong!
that’s it. nothing else to report

March 3, 2009

no spend month day 3

Filed under: Blogroll, no spend month — by stick o dynamite @ 8:05 pm
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today was a lot better than yesterday but that’s only because I was sooo busy today that I didn’t have time to think about anything besides work…

i did deposit $13 in change into the bank, hilarity ensued. 

i do want a hot slice of apple pie with a scoop of real vanilla ice cream on top. AND i started counting calories again and i have just enough calories left for a slice of pie and a really small entree (i ate dinner a while ago but i think i might still be hungry, if i’m still hungry in 20 minutes ill go make something) but seeing as I am not allowed to spend money I won’t have it. i don’t need it anyways. jtb made garlic bread and lasagna for the fam. except the lasagna has meat…and there is only enough garlic bread for her and her husband. really?! the deliciousness of garlic bread is permeating my soul and i cant have any. i really don’t know how im going to do this…

[initials]

p.s. i have 20 days left on my probation! so i will allow myself to celebrate that after this month is up!

apparently depositing currency is wrong

Filed under: Blogroll, bitchassness — by stick o dynamite @ 7:35 pm
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Dear Bank of America Broad at Branch on Broadway,

Get over yourself! When a customer deposits $50, $13 of which is unrolled change, don’t get upset. Especially when that customer, is in good standing with the bank, ACTUALLY has money in the bank, and was allowed to make such transactions at other Bank of America Branches, and there was no line to hold up by counting said change. If you didn’t know, that was not good customer service. Not good in a recession, when people are pulling their money out at unprecedented rates.

::SIGH:: The first issue with this transaction occurred when the first teller rudely told me that the money had to be rolled. I replied with my patented <blank stare> and “most of the money is not enough to fill a roll, plus I was informed by another branch that I could simply place the money in a currency bag and it would be counted for me.” The chick replied by telling me that I had to see you. That’s cool, I understand, maybe she was confused and preferred to allow you, the higher up deal with this situation. But why, why, why, was I made to stand in line again!? But it’s still cool. I’m still not mad, I don’t have anything else better to do, I’m kind of on my lunch break, and this needs to get done today.

I now have the pleasure to deal with you personally. I say pleasure because you actually had the audacity to argue with me about what another bank teller did for me!!! Umm that is HORRIBLE customer service. Don’t you know that the customer is always right? But, knowing me, Miss I Don’t Back Down When I know I’m Right, politely and firmly informed you  ythat I know for a fact I was not charged for having my change counted, nor was I informed that a special service was being performed for me. I actually opened this account by having $25 in change counted and deposited into this account. Apparently I am not trustworth as you refused to believe me. You kept going back and forth with me, telling me maybe even patronizing me by telling me to check my accounts. So I had to give you a little history about me, I check my statements religiously, and if I would have been charged for having the change counted, I would have raised a fit. Just like if you would have refused to accept my change I would have went over you to the bank manager, and if he could not have assisted me, I would have closed my account right then and there. To paraphrase mommy dearest, don’t eff with me, this ain’t my first rodeo! Holla atcha gurl!!!

::sidenote:: I was originally going to deposit the afroementioned $25 in change into my Wachovia account which I opened for the purpose of depositing checks, change and so on, but they gave me hassle about that. When did it become such a hassle to use currency? Am I the only person who not only saves her change, but counts, and deposits it for saving? And wait, I use the bank of America (wait for it) keep the change account so why is it such a big deal for me to deposit change into said account? ::end sidenote::

However, for whatever reason you not only counted my change but you took your sweet time. This did not faze me seeing as I didn’t really have anything to do, and I really wanted my change to get deposited. Especially since all of a sudden I have morphed into a miser; I want every little bit I can find. I digress, I hope you enjoyed the two minutes of icy silence that you attempted to impose upon me. I apologize for not being affected though, seeing as I was reading the literature about CD’s, increasing the interest rate of CD’s, saving more money, and money market accounts. In other words, I was heartily ignoring you because I had bigger things on my mind, i.e. saving dineros. Plus I had already decided in my mind that I was not going to allow you to get to me. For whatever reason, you were having a bad day and you needed  a scapegoat to help you “breathe through the pain”as my friend Kee likes to say. So I am actually happy to have assisted you, I know how it gets working in retail, and sometimes you have to take any little victory that comes y0ur way. I also know that you discussed this with your bank friends. Again, if I provide the day’s hilarity, that made everything better, I’m glad to be of service. 

In conclusion, I hope that you will continue to be your frosty self, because I won’t change my sunny deposition, nor will I stop depositing change. I will however roll the change, because that is the way you all do things here, and really all you had to do to make sure I had a pleasant experience and to make sure I didn’t go away mad was to tell me politely that you were going to do me this favor this one time, but next time I need to make sure that the coins are rolled. I would have thoroughly apologized for being a nuisance and begged your pardon.Seriously, there is nothing sarcastic about that statement. I am not an evil person, plus I used to work in retail and I know how it goes. However, I an not an ignoramus, and an ignoramus would repeat this situation. But not me, in three months, when I deposit my next stash of currency I will make it my business to ensure that the change is counted, rolled, and properly marked AND I will make sure to ask for you. But having the currency properly readied for depost might upset you even more. Who knows, maybe you are used to that, who knows I sure don’t. Stockholm Syndrome or something, you like pain and/or suffering. <shrug shoulder> you might wanna get that checked out.

Until next time,

Your friendly currency depositor

[initials]

March 2, 2009

o btw

Filed under: Blogroll — by stick o dynamite @ 11:03 pm

I changed the theme of the blog if you didn’t notice that

:)

no spend month-day 2

Filed under: Blogroll, no spend month — by stick o dynamite @ 10:59 pm
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ever hear that line “visions of sugarplums” yeah of course you have! everyone knows that line.
well…i have visions of things that i want to purchase when this month is over.

today, during my afternoon walk, at least 10 different “needs” popped in my head. i was all like, yeah i’m going to get this, i’m going to get that because i’ll have earned it.
umm that defeats the purpose.  i’m supposed to learn how to supplant those urges by thinking about the bigger picture. sure some new hair product, shoes, clothes, earrings, would be nice. but having my own space is better!
but i’m proud of myself i didn’t give in today! especially when my coworkers went out for lunch, at one of the somewhat veggie friendly spots in town, nature’s cafe which i’m sure they picked for my benefit. alas I could not go with.

::sidenote:: I had thai cafe lemongrass and chili rice noodle soup, sooo good and im pretty much sure it was better than anything I could have gotten at nature’s cafe. ::end sidenote::
plus topdawg boss bet me that I won’t even last two weeks! omg im so mad that my gangster is not respected…so now i have to show him how awesome I am when I put my mind to something.

I did spend some money today, but, it was a necessary expense; necessary because the hair is on my face.

yeah i have a full beard a la captain red beard, it aint cute. So,  I spent $100 on laser hair removal which is sooooo painful but needed. The full treatment is $600 spread over 6 months. Even still, that is cheaper than what I normally pay for waxing monthly. Which is rolled into my budget. BTW I think I’ve finally figured this budgeting thing out. Everything is separated into categories, bills are non negotiable (same amount every month and cannot be changed) other stuff that is essential but that can be skrimped upon are called, wait for it, negotiable!!! I feel so smart. Hopefully by the end of this month, I would have saved the money normally wasted and I will be one step closer to my ultimate goal of moving out. 

 

holla atcha gurl

[initials]

March 1, 2009

No spend month…day 1

Filed under: Blogroll, no spend month — by stick o dynamite @ 8:35 pm

A few days ago, I calculated how much money I spent over the course of two weeks.

<drumroll> Grand total: $527!!!

YIKES!!!

That\’s a few hundred dollars shy of a rent note, that\’s almost two car notes, almost two student loan payments, and a little over the amount I use to pay down the principle on my credit card. That is a damn shame. That money went to b.s. like dunkin donuts, fast food, clothes here and there, little odds and ends. Blah blah blah. I\’d rather spend that money all at once on a clothes and shoes shopping spree. But I can\’t because I suffer from buyer\’s remorse. Not on small items (that\’s how the total go so high in the first place) but big ticket items, or a lot of money spent at once. That freaks me out and the guilt is overwhelming. 

This has inspired me to corral my spending, save money, and move out of my mother\’s house. At first I planned on moving out when the credit card was paid off, but that\’s a no go. Between the length of time that would take, ten months,and all the money spent on little things, this will never happen. I can\’t wait that long. Nope, not me, no way, no how. These people are crazy (read family), so in order to prepare myself to move out to live  on my own, and to save my sanity, I am going to do \”no spend month\’.

I started today.

The concept is simple, don\’t spend any money on unnecessary expenses. You are allowed to spend money on bills, food, and gas. That\’s it. There are two ways to approach this goal, pay all of your bills and necessary expenses at the beginning of the month, which prevents you from spending money at all. Or you can spend money throughout the month but only on the aforementioned necessities. I think the former approach is the best, since the entire point of this exercise is to get me out of the habit of spending money on a daily basis.

I have a simple gameplan: I was able to purchase any foodstuffs that I wanted to eat throughout the month, because if I don\’t have that item, then I won\’t be able to get it. I will only put gas in my car when it is on E. All bills will receive payment at the end of the month (a long time ago I had all of the due dates on my accounts changed, most are as close to the 30th as possible). Basically I will only use, and/or eat items that are already in my house. So that means no more clothes, no more shoes, no more makeup. I gotta use up what I already have. No more going out for drinks with the \’friends\’  (I spent $100 last night at the bachelorette party…<blank stare>). 

Here are my goals for the end of the month:

 

  1. Put that $500 a month that was previously going to waste in the bank
  2. Learn new spending habits
  3. Find and enjoy free entertainment (library, museum, parks etc).
  4. be closer to moving out of jtb\’s house
  5. lose five pounds (since i won\’t be eating out anymore)
  6. take my lunch to work everyday
  7. wake up earlier everyday (since i will have to prepare my lunch for the day)
  8. eat breakfast at the house everyday

so that\’s the plan. wish me luck!

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p.s. I cooked stir fry veggies and tofu with rice. I made a simple syrup out of pineapple juice, sugar, cornstarch, chili powder, and garlic powder. It was banging

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