Monday, May 27, 2013

Month in Review

It's hard to capture a good picture of my spending with Quicken, since it doesn't quite reflect when purchases are made with savings. Case in point, this would be my month in review:

The Shopping section is rather high, yes, because it includes $350 planned purchases (including my phone and camera). I'm loving the new phone! It is a bit larger than my old one, as to be expected, but it actually works. Who knew phones could actually work?! The data plan is finally getting some decent usage.

The debt repayment has gone slow for at least another 2 months when I complete my car fund, and then it will be full power on that. The $2k took priority since the car has developed some new mystery noises we can't pinpoint. And in case it does go kaput, then I'll have a down payment...a very small one, or be able to pay for repairs. One of the two.

My plan was to move on Sunday/Monday, but I worked a ridiculous amount of hours this weekend at my PT job (they even convinced me of working on a Sunday! I haven't done that in YEARS!). Good on the money front, but I am more sore than I'd like, considering all the moving of boxes. So the moving is happening this week, either tomorrow Tuesday or on Wednesday. I'll have no internet either, at least not until it is set up. Woo hoo!... wait, wrong expression. Here's 90% of my belongings not including everyday toiletries and kitchen stuff. Isn't that cute? I'm so move ready!

The new place is quite lacking on the kitchen department. It's very surprising to me how many people do not cook... at all. I was thinking about hitting yard sales if I can work around my PT job's schedule, as most of the yard sales happen during the weekend, when I am working. I need to pick up at least some bakeware and a filtrated pitcher. Went to target to check out prices, and I really would rather not spend up in the $100's in bakeware and bathroom stuff. We have a (very) small 2nd hand store about half hour away which I'll try to check too.

That's my plan anyway. My head has been spinning nonstop since last week, but things are bound to quiet down, and I'm looking forward to a very quiet, very cheap June!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cleaning and purging

What's the best way to get rid of stuff? Why, involve your friends! I asked a good friend of mine for a number between 1 and 100. He gave me 85. So I must get rid of at least 85 things. Ouch! Downsizing before moving just got even more challenging.

I am nowhere near done, but definitely closer than I was earlier this week. As of yesterday, this is what the room looks like...
 

That's the bulk of what's going away (except for the two books and the mouthwash... I just didn't have anywhere else to put them at the time I took the photo). Believe it or not, between what I've gotten rid of and what I'm giving away, that's over 72 items! Still not 85, but really close.

Now, there are some things I am not so sure what to do with... I donate clothes/shoes to the donation spots; electronics go to our local computer shop that recycles them. But what about these?



A bunch of unused lotions/mists/shower gel and a large scented candle (all given to me). Then some really really cute Lock'n'Lock drink bottle, lunch containers (x2) and insulated bags (x2). They're like new. I probably got them as a really good deal once upon a time when I first moved out, but I ended up opting for something different. So they've sat. And sat. They're awesome, which is why it bothers me so much they've just sat forever! Great for adults or kids.

If you want either package let me know in a comment and I'll ship it over at my expense. I'd just hate to throw away things somebody else may need. I'll email whoever is receiving it for their info.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Savings Accounts suck

About 3 years ago I knew little to nothing about savings accounts. I did have a 401k through my employer in poorly-allocated funds, but it was there and it was automatic.

Now that I am slightly more educated in the whole system, I can confidently say that it sucks.  It is such a horrible tool overall. Besides the fact that most savings accounts cannot even keep with half the rate of inflation, we're constantly being fed really high interest to borrow. Am I the only one that has an issue with the bank paying us 0.8% interest to hold onto our money, while they loan it for over 18%?

Looking for alternatives doesn't yield a lot of hope either. I have mid term (EF, car fund, >12mo) and short term savings (Vacation, Christmas, <12mo). I eventually want to have long term savings, of course, like a house down payment, but I'm not ready for that yet. The problem with short- or mid-term savings is that you need to keep them relatively accessible, liquid cash, which rules out most long-term CDs that may offer a slightly better rate, but penalties for withdrawal.

I have my ING/CapitalOne360 savings account which hold the shortest-term or in-transit funds, like month-end payments or things like my phone fund. The interest yield has came down to 0.75%. My other savings are in an Ally account, which has come to 0.84%. This is quite a depressing state of affairs!

So, where do you have your savings? Do you keep them anywhere? Have you looked or considered at bonds or CDs?

Let me leave you with this very interesting infograph from MoneyRates.com I found in my research.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Monthly vs Biweekly vs Weekly bills

I am thinking about borrowing a very interesting idea from the financial books I've been reading: paying this month's bills with last month's income. Anyone tried that? It sounds like a very fascinating way to pay the bills and let money sit tight for a bit.

Right now I am doing biweekly budgets which would make it so much easier to get it started than if I were to go monthly; just collect 2wks worth of pay and start paying this period’s bills with last period’s pay. I haven’t wrapped my head around the concept, but I think I’d like to try it, at the expense of 1.5mo delay in my payment schedule. If it doesn't work or I don't like it, I can always just take paycheck's worth of income and do a bulk debt payment. Sounds like win-win, no?

This does bring me to a second topic: how do you pay your bills? Do you pay your bills monthly, biweekly, weekly, or as they come? Which one do you prefer or would prefer if you could make a change, and why?

I do the biweekly, and things are paid on the same Friday I get paid. I prefer that because I only have to "budget" and pay bills twice a month. It wasn't as easy, though. I had to change dates of some of my dues in order to make them fit into one payment or another. But it was so worth it. What's your side of the story?

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Multitasking

Before receiving the news about needing to move, I was trying to get myself into reading again, so I borrowed a copy of How to Manage Your Money When You Don't Have Any by Erik Wecks. Sadly, I'm not done with it yet, so I can't do a review on it. I really like this book for some things and disagree with others, but it has me thinking. That's totally worth it in my books!

I haven't started packing yet, which shouldn't be a huge issue for me. Other than the whole dismantling of my huge L-shaped desk, I don't own a lot of stuff. I may take a day off my full time job to complete the move while everyone else is at work.

As far as my rental options... I started officially looking Sunday after being given the 30 day notice, and as of right now, my 3 options are:
1) $450(?) Bayside rundown shack 30min away with lots of amenities, nice views, biking, kayaking, walking/hiking trails and... yes, water. Lots of it. Everywhere. Have I mentioned I am hydrophobic?!
2) $425 Single father of 7yo twin girls on premises, about 15min away in a 4br 2fb. Haven't talked to them in person yet as our schedules do not match. But the place looks very nice from photos!
3) $500(?) Youngling party-goer/entertainer. He's actually 3 streets down from my work. The place is pretty empty to begin with, just stuff thrown everywhere and no real furniture. Nice looking airbeds, though. Haven't had a chance to meet him in person or seen the place either because our schedules do not match either.

All the options have pluses and minuses, and none of them really sound ideal, but I'll continue to look and keep my options open. Considering I have until the end of the month, I'd love to have something by Tuesday of next week.

Nothing new I can share about the whole moving. I am using ream-paper boxes from work and other big boxes we get from ordering supplies. I don't need packaging materials, as my clothes provide enough cushion, and I don't really have much that would break. I could also go to our local grocery store and consignment store to ask for empty boxes if I had to. I will probably borrow my dad's SUV to help me move the stuff, but I may not even need it as I don't have a lot.

Too many things up in the air. Good news is, they will have to be cleared in 2 weeks or so! (Because I have no choice!). That's definitely something to look forward to, right?

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Let's talk roommates

For someone who has already moved on her own once, let me tell you that my thoughts are right along a first-grader leaving for school for the first time. And I'm not ashamed to say I find it very exciting and I am looking forward to the process, yet at the same time, I am slightly terrified.

I still don't know when I want to move. The landlords said they will probably put their house out for the market within the next 3 months, and if I am correct, that probably means they will be fixing up and dolling up the house to put it for sale. I don't know if I want to be around for that, or for when the showing starts and my already minimal privacy gets reduced to none.

After going to Craigslist and Roommates.com, I must say that there are some comical rooms for rent when you live in the middle of nowhere ("must know to cook edible things", "must not be a clean freak" [photo shows a bunch of shoes and unmated socks in a corner]), and some that are downright scary ("must be ok with spirits--they're friendly", "drugs ok, overnight guests ok").

My current rental situation is super normal, other than for "small stuff" (I'm known to be too accommodating and passive). I don't think I can afford living by myself, so I'll check out more roommate situations. It's only for another 24 or so months!

So tell us! Have you had to move with a roommate? Anything you wish you had considered before moving? How about after? If you are/were single, would you consider roommates as a way to help out your budget, especially since you're not staying in that city/state in the nearby future (1-3 years)?

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Living arrangements about to be changed

"About" is a bit of an exaggeration. My landlords just told me that they are trying to move closer to work (which is 100 miles away each way... I never understood why he's been doing a trip with such distance for so long!), so I will have to find a new place of residency. Joy!

They don't expect to put the house on the market for another 3 months, but that will come before I know it. They are optimistic they can sell the house before year end, and I wouldn't doubt it too much.

What does this means to me? I have to move. And from what I've seen and have been seeing for months, it will cost me at the least, an additional $200-350+ (plus utilities). Deep breath. I can do this. No use getting stressed about that now. It may actually be a great experience, to move on my own! Again! Even if it's still in the same town.

There are a lot of considerations, of course. Since this town (and my job) is in the middle of nowhere, everywhere else is 30+min away, which means moving elsewhere means more gas expenses. What I am a little bit quite afraid of what that will do to my budget and my plans... at the least, I am looking at a $4,200 reduction over the next 24 months. That's 1/3 of my required savings for before I move! But oh well. I still think it will be quite an adventure and that I can still do it and make it work. Let me process all of the information and I'll get back at you.

Have a wonderful night/morning/day!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I have a new camera

I've decided against getting the newer phone, the Blackberry Q10 based on the price tag (still not released, but rumored to be $600+ out of contract via Ebay), and will pursue the latter version, 9930. Seems like I'll have to pay about $180 for it, but I'll be patient. I have time. And that's the beauty of having time when making purchases... I can take my time and wait for the perfect (or great) deal without the pressure of needing it yesterday.

But onto another purchase. Since I wasn't going to vanish the $600 "phone fund", I decided to get something I had my eye on; a new camera. Since a big reason I wanted a new phone was partially for the ability to take decent-to-good photos, I might as well go for the real thing. I also have that concert coming up in July and I'd like to at least get 1 good shot of my first concert.

I was looking for a more AP (all purpose) camera with decent zoom and image stabilizer. I came across the Canon SX260. More than anything, because of the price. As I did my research, it started to sound a lot like what I wanted. It was on sale for 50% off since the newer model had come out. So from $300, it was $150. I bit the bullet and got the display at Target for an additional 10% off for being a display, which brought the price to $143.

As I played and continued reading on it, a lot of these cameras have a noise defect on the video recording side, and when I tested it... yup! My camera also had it. I went to a different target to return it/exchange it, only to find that they had one with no defect... and it was only $75! I exchanged it with no issues. I was only hoping that I could exchange it for a camera that worked, but ended up with a camera that worked AND was $50 less.

I've been messing around with it a bit, trying not to use Auto mode as much as possible, and I am quite content. Once I buy the phone, assuming it costs me $180, I would still have $340 left of this "phone fund". I probably won't let myself indulge anymore, so that money may go to my car savings... Maybe.







Saturday, May 4, 2013

12 Month Countdown

Thanks all for your feedback. Of course I'm still thinking things through, with limited success, but that's a whole other battle. So here's a more cheery/cheesy post.

While playing for the 542nd time with my budget spreadsheet (yes, I am registered at Obsessive Spreadsheet'er Anonymous), I made a really interesting change. My original plan had me being debt free by August of 2014. The "delay" is due to me wanting to start saving for my move Jan 1 instead of paying all debt first. I never really questioned why I wanted that, maybe for peace of mind.

Numbers are realigned, and now I am set to be debt free in 12 months, if all remains the same. That is April 2014. I still get to my savings mark, but it just starts later.

Let me say this, though... putting 48% of my FT job's earnings into paying debt is hard. Eating for 2 weeks on $60 sucks. Not being able to buy things I want (within reason), or even things I need, can get tiring pretty quickly. But there are so many people I've learned about in blogs (looking at all of you), that I just couldn't bring myself to give up or go easy. I've learned to pick my battles, and giving up a lot of small things for a bigger thing makes sense. It's not about getting all you want, but making choices (some of which I will reveal later on!).

I am sure a lot of you get told this on a semi regular basis, but I think this blogging community is indeed pretty awesome and quite an inspiration, at least for me. My struggles seem so small and meaningless at times, even if they come with a crushing force. I'll get stronger, just as all of you have learned to do. So I'll keep plugging along with my plan and following others along knowing I'm not the only one. Hey, misery loves company after all, and I have to say the company in this road is pretty alright.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Mother's Day...

Yeah, I know I probably don’t have a whole lot of good things to say about this holiday. For those that have followed me a bit, this comes as no news. For those that haven’t, let’s just say me and my mother do not have a good relationship. I doubt we have a relationship. I will clarify it is not about the money. So fine, most of my debt (about 80-85%) is her doing, with or without my knowledge or approval, but I am really not bitter or upset about it, most of the time. What’s done is done. I’ve long moved on.

However, something I AM bitter of is our relationship, lack of thereof, and how her behavior has shaped me at an interpersonal level. I take full responsibility for who I am, but it doesn’t mean I can’t be upset at things that shaped me. At things she did that shaped me. And I won’t get into that today or probably ever, so let’s go back to Mother’s Day.

Up until this weekend, I thought nothing of it. I don’t call her on her birthday (I don’t even talk to her), so it just seemed logical to move along. While I was cleaning at my parents’ house on Sunday (I stay in my dad’s office/workshop/spare room), I saw a Mother’s Day giftcard in a bag. I opened and my dad had written something very brief. It said “from your children”, and only his signature at the bottom. Tell me if that’s not a very sad, sad sight.

Not sure if that is sadder, or the fact I felt sad for my dad. This division in the family, mostly caused by my mother, has to be really hard on him. He’s the kind of man who I’ll forever wonder why he wouldn’t move away, divorce or stayed away the few times my mother kicked him out. His sense of loyalty is definitely way past the point where it became a fault. And whether I like it or not, he loves my mother and misses her when she’s away. He talks to her every day. She’ll return today from an almost 4-month trip out of the country, and I can tell he’s excited. Even when they bicker a lot, he’s still happy (or non-caring, I can't tell).

Anyway, back to the issue! Mother’s Day. Right. So I saw the card, and that made me sad for my dad, instead of sad for my mother. I brewed the idea of getting her flowers, if just for my dad. It'll only cost me $30-40, and I won't even bother asking my siblings to contribute. That'll just add more undue frustration. I'll just send them "from your children" and have my dad get a vase.

I still have a lot, lot of reservations about this. Just to be clear… I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t want a relationship with her. I don't want her to want to start talking to me; I'd actually really dislike it if she did. Even when I deep down do yearn for a family relationship like what other people have, I refuse to surrender to get it. And I'm ok with not having it. I'm not bitter or mad at her, but at what happened. Hate the sin and not the sinner, eh? At least, that's what I keep telling myself. I don't know if it's right or wrong to send flowers that are not meant to make her feel better. I know it's just superficial and may appear inappropriate and mean, but I don't really know what else to do about it. Also, I am not trying to appease her, and I don't feel like I owe her. I am doing what I think is right. I hope.