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Archive for June, 2009

July Goals

June 30th, 2009 at 03:08 pm

1. Keep Grocery/Lunch Expenses under $150. Update: lowered to $120
2. Set up and keep vet appointment
3. Take inventory of items to sell (craigslist?)
4. Place advertisement for items to be sold
5. Plan out BF's birthday surprise
6. Run 4 times a week
7. Loose 5 pounds
8. Learn something new/interesting in my field of interest each week (so that's 4 ish topics -doable)

A great weekend with not much spending

June 29th, 2009 at 03:41 pm

BF came to visit this weekend. We had a great time, with not much spending. I did not do any of my runs this weekend, but we did a lot of walking. So, I need to run today and on Wednesday. I will try to run for 25 minutes continuously, and if I can't reach that goal, no big deal. It's important to remember in the beginning of starting to run is not to push yourself too hard.

Today unfortunately will not be a NSD, because I have a library book that is over due. I will spend about $0.25 on fine, but it's still unnecessary spending nonetheless. I did bring my own lunch, we will see if that is enough. Usually whenever I bring my own lunch, it's never quite enough.


Got a little carried away with decluttering

June 26th, 2009 at 03:23 pm

Yes that happened. If that's possible. To start with, yesterday I went for a run and ran 1.75 miles in 22 minutes. I didn't push myself too hard, so I know I could have done better.
After the run, I got myself a personal size veggie pizza from Subway like I always do on Thursdays after my run. It's my treat to myself. Smile

Then I started to tackle my decluttering project and you will not believe the amount of papers shredded, amount of random little things set aside to toss out, amount of labeling that went on. I stored away all of my winter stuff under my bed in the under bed storage thingo. I sorted my laundry to be done, went through mail.

I also need to do something about this printer I have. What can I do with a printer (a cheap kind but with brand new cartridge) that I just do not want anymore? I suppose I can give it away to Salvation army? I ask because nobody is going to want to buy that piece of clunky printer - actually, they won't take it even if I pay them to probably. It's not that it's too big, but its just in the way. I don't even use the printer at home. I have a very small desk and I like to keep the surface of it clear. I will call up my neighborhood Salvation army and ask them I suppose.

I also have an old bike that I need to get rid of, not because I don't want it, but because it's taking up space and I don't use it often. If I was to sell it, I couldn't possibly get more than $30. But I have read about this organization

Text is http://www.p4p.org/ and Link is
http://www.p4p.org/: pedals for progress , so I might just donate it to them.

Next step in my decluttering project is to make a list of things to donate, things to sell and things to toss. This is not a short project, I am sure it will take some weeks since I haven't even gotten to my hall way closet and kitchen and books that seem to have taken over my place and the cds I mentioned yesterday. Anyway, long story short, I got so carried away, I couldn't go to sleep on time because I didn't want to leave things all jumbled up and now today I am paying the price with lack of sleep and crabbiness. Frown

Ideas for extra income: can clutter be my friend ?

June 25th, 2009 at 04:19 pm

I have a considerable amount of cds that I could get rid of once I convert all the music I want to keep into mp3s, and hard bound text books and paperbacks that I can do without. So I am leaning towards selling them. Would it be illegal to burn mp3s and then sell the cds? Will I get into trouble with the music police?

Also, have you guys any experience with the craigslist or amazon selling your 2nd hand stuff?

I also have some household items that are only taking up space. Hopefully getting rid of clutter will turn into some extra income. Who knew de-cluttering could be potentially inspiring?

How to PFB (personal finance blog) effectively?

June 24th, 2009 at 06:35 pm

Writing a PF blog is hard! I can't always think of PF related topics to write about. I am afraid this is turning out to be a diary instead of a blog. Hopefully I can throw in some financial stuff here and there. I created this blog so that I can be accountable for myself financially and otherwise. So perhaps writing my daily musings will indeed help me keep myself in check?

Oh, I know what!! Here's something PF related that you guys will not be too happy about:
I haven't checked my 401K in a long while. Partly because I was scared, partly because I was finishing up my graduate school and got too busy. Also because I forgot my password and haven't bothered to do anything about it. Bad, bad, bad girl. I need to take care of this ASAP. Don't yell at me.

Yesterday I ran almost 3 miles, after which I had a dinner of organic pasta with fresh courgette, grape tomatoes, sweet peas and sauted shrimp. It took 10 minutes to make, and it was delicous. I like to buy these pre cooked frozen shrimp from TJ's, and mix it in with many of my dishes. I don't eat a lot of meat, but this is something I enjoy from time to time. Also, it's frozen, so I only take out what I need.

So for lunch today, it was pasta salad with above vegetables and tofu added in instead of the shrimp. I also sprinkled some Herbes De Provence on top. I like the flavor it gives. Yum! I also had a banana and an apple this morning. I like to buy mostly organic veggies and fruits, but it gets pricey. So I usually follow "what is worth spending $$ on and buying organic and what is not" rule. Apparently fruits and veggies with shells/peels/cover/extra layer on top that you discard (oh, it's called the skin!) is not worth buying Organic since they absorb less pesticides. Some exceptions are crucifers like broccoli and cauliflowers - which for some reason do not absorb much pesticides either.

Today I have a lot to do on my list, so I won't be running even though I would like to. Actually it's not that I would like to, it's that I have gotten into the habit of running so it feels awkward if I don't.

To do:

[ X ] Remember 401K password and see how it's doing (DONE! How easy was it once I made myself accountable for it? I had been putting it off for months! MONTHS!!)
[ X ] Organize paper works
[ X ] Laundry
[ X ] Return the under bed storage thingo I bought for winter clothes (It's not air tight)
[ X ] Plan lunch/snacks/before run snacks/after run dinner for tomorrow

What constitutes a NSD?

June 23rd, 2009 at 09:59 pm

Does not spending any money apart from "reoccurring planned for" payments thwart a NSD?

For the record, I did NOT have a NSD. I was too tempted by a mini ice cream in my favorite flavor. So there goes $2.50 and a potential NSD.

I did pack my lunch to bring with me though, so that's good. And I am going running this evening so that will keep me away from the shops or any other potential NSD unfriendly places.

Update:

After reading the comments on this post, I have decided that NSD for me will comprise of days where I do not spend money on crap that I don't need. While it's true that there is really no "No Spend Day", I feel that we have control over at least what we spend on. Basic things in life like rent, electricity, food, of course we have no choice but to fork over money for, but we still have some choice over how we spend money on them. For example, you would not want to spend your money on junk food every single day, would you? Or spend exuberant amount of rent/mortgage on a building that is not built green, etc?

Hello World!

June 23rd, 2009 at 01:46 am

Hello everybody. Today's my first day here. I started this blog to challenge myself to save as much as I can in 6 months. Once that 6 month time period is over, I will reevaluate my situation and set up another set of goal(s) for the next 6.

Hello I am Six, and I am very happy to meet you all.