Piggy Bank Budget Week 2

 

 

WANT:

 

Price: 19.80

Price: 22.80

 

Price: 34.80

Price: 24.80

 

REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT:

Original Price: 120.00 Current Price: 59.00

Original Price: 129 Current Price: 64.99

Original Price: 210 Current Price 104.99

NEED:

Original Price: 9.99 current price 6.00

 

As you can see from the above, there are lots of things that I want, but I truly just need a new pair of beater flip flops as I’ve almost literally worn a hole in mine. $6 sounds like a good deal to me, and I may order a few of these to keep around. Granted, I wont be ordering anything until July.

The first four items are things that I would have bought just because they are cute, it’s hot here in AZ (so dresses and skirts are welcomed) and because as single items they don’t really have a heavy price tag. The blue shoes from Nine West are one’s I’ve been drooling over for month. Literally, I’ve been waiting for them to go on sale so I could get them. Same goes for the Vince Camutos. I’ve had my eye on these guys for months.

NOW… if I had purchased all these items, which before this challenge I totally would have. I would have spent a total of $331.18.

I wouldn’t have really put the numbers together and look at them, and realized that that’s a plain ticket back to Denver to visit my family plus a $100.00 of spending money. Or a trip for one to San Diego for 4 nights (flight and air – on Travelzoo today from Tucson).

Sooo this week I’m putting $330.00 into my virtual piggy bank towards a vacation that the hubs and I are desperately in need of.

The total so far $465.00 ($135+$330).

That’s a good chunk of change.

What are you saving on this week?

Let’s Save Some Money

Today is the day for our Budget Challenge!!!

When I first met Janna in person, in early May, I was amazed at her take on money. We must have spent a good hour talking about my lack of budget skills and her AWESOME budget skills. She revealed that a Challenge is what really got her into budgeting … she went a whole YEAR without buying clothing!

With a new house, a new businesses, and lots of furniture and equipment to buy I think this is a good time to get this thing going. So I coxed Janna into doing another challenge but this time with a twist.

 

 

For the next 30 days you will give up a vice (or vices) that are not necessities, and then add up what you save and place it towards something big.

For example, I’ll be cutting out buying clothing, shoes and accessories as well as Starbucks, Eating Out at Fast Food places, as well as buying things for the house. My goal is to ONLY spend money on buying groceries and filling up my tank (which I don’t need to do often as I work from home).

My hope is that the money I end up saving (or as my hubs put it NOT spending) will go towards paying off our smallest credit card. From my calculations it should end up actually paying it off.

So are you up for it????

You’ve got till next Friday to figure out what you’d like to save on, and what you’d like to apply it to.

If so, we’ll be linking up weekly. Get a list of the things you wanted to buy and what they cost together. Every Friday we’ll link up and see how much is in our virtual piggy banks!!!

Ready?! Set! GOO!!!!!

13 for 2012 ;-)

I wrote this huge post… and then I realized that you all don’t need to know the nity grity details of every. single. goal. I have made this year. So here is a list:

1. Read more. The first goal is to read at least 2 books a month. I love reading, and realized that I haven’t done very much of it lately.

2. Plan our trips better. We love to travel, but have been slacking in the planning department. Which usually means our trips are very last minute and thrown together. So this year, we are going to plan for it more… oh and step one is to open a Savings account for travel.

3. Become a better photographer. I love photography, really. Working in the field has also opened my eyes to how much there is to learn. So this year I’m doing Project 366, committing to shoot in manual only, and learning how to better my shots.

4. Watch at least one documentary a week. I love documentaries, I love learning about history, I love learning new things. A friend of mine posted a link to the Top Documentaries. These are awesome, there are hundreds of documentaries and most are totally free to watch. No downloading needed.

5. Become healthy. I’ve been healthy, and in general I am pretty healthy. But I’d like to get rid of the jiggle in my thighs, and tone my arms and butt a bit more. I really just want to create a healthier lifestyle for the husband and myself.

6. Do house chores throughout the week. I am one of those people who always leaves everything for one day in the month. This includes, vacuuming, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, dusting and so on to just one day… and this one day ends up being the worst day of my life as I run around the house trying to do 12 loads of laundry, clean out the fridge and vacuum the floors. So, in 2012… I am going to attempt to get things done throughout the week and not waste my weekends.

7. 30 for 30 Challenge: I’ve been meaning to do this since I started this little bloggity of mine. I found Kendi’s blog and fell in love with her and the idea of using the items you have in your closet. I have a shopping problem… however I need to get it under control… so I am challenging myself to do the 30 for 30 for at least 1 month in every season.

8. Work out at least 3 times a week. I need to get back on the workout path. So I have decided to reward myself. Every workout I complete, I put $5.00 in our travel savings account. Three workouts a week is $15.00, that’s $60 a month… and if you are as good as me at using a calculator… it’s $720 a year. Which can go a long way when it comes to vacations… and only if I’d work out 5 days a week…

9. BUY a house and move. While this is more of a need rather then a goal, I’m putting it on here because it’s one of the many things on our bucket list. We’ll most likely be moving at the end of May beginning of June and will have our very first house bought by this time.

10. Be a better blogger. The last few months of 2011, I sort of dropped off the face of the earth, or at least the bloggy world. This is totally due to my lack of organization these past few months. I’m never disorganized, but apparently there is a first of everything. So, this year… I will blog at least 5 times a week. welllllll I will try!

11. Be responsible with money. I am awful with money. Really… the more I have, the more I spend. The worst thing is that the hubs is kind of the same way. We spend a ton on travel. Any time we have a few extra pennies we book a trip, or buy a new car or a new computer, or a new TV or… you get the idea. SO, this year, we’re trying to be responsible without really giving up our travel. So we’re cutting back on TVs, computers, anddddd sadly shoes.

12. Clean out our belonging. We have a lot of crap. Most of it in boxes, sitting in the basement of my parents’ house. We need to clean it up, get rid of things we don’t want to move. Sell the furniture off before we move into a new house. I refuse to move things we don’t want or want to replace with us.

13. Be happy.

Guest Post: How to handle money as a couple

 

I’ve got something a little different for you all today! Val from Tangled In Texas shares a little bit about how the handle money in their household. Did you know that financial issues are one of the top causes for divorce? So I feel that this is something every couple needs to work on. We can’t just let ourselves blow all kinds of money and then declare bankruptcy… that’s just not okay, being responsible with money is part of being an adult. SO here is one of the sweetest Texan Ladies I know, and her take on Money.

Hey y’all! My name is Val a.k.a. Tangled In Texas. I am *super* excited to be guest blogging for Zara! She kind of gave me carte blanche to discuss whatever I wanted (which is awesome!), so I thought we could talk about money. Yep, the evil green monster that we can’t live without. I want to share with y’all why and how The Hubby and I don’t argue over money.

I love being married, but I also have an affinity for food and fashion…which can get expensive. The Hubby says we don’t argue over money because we don’t have any - ha ha! (I am currently a stay-at-home-mama)…but I say it’s because of that and because we treat each other as equals. By having a set budget and a small amount of fluff money to work with each month, we really have no reason to argue about money.

The Hubby and I have been married almost ten years - July 2012. Eek! To read our love story click here. He admits that when we were first married, he was a little worried that I would spend all of our money. I knew I wouldn’t do that, but I was accustomed to spending most of what I earned when I lived with my parents. Of course I paid my bills (a car payment and a gas credit card), but I didn’t have any other obligations, so I would usually spend most of what was left. When we got married, I knew that my spending habits had to change immediately. After all, I had a husband, an apartment, and lots of bills now!
In my opinion…in most relationships…
-There is a “spender” and a “saver”. I guess I’m the spender!
-The male is usually the breadwinner. Unfortunately, women’s lib hasn’t completely caught up to our salaries yet.

Here’s what works for us:
1. Having completely joint accounts.
All the money goes in one account, so it doesn’t matter who makes more, etc. We’re supposed to be a team after all.
2. Creating a filing system.
This can be as simple as an accordion folder or as elaborate as a filing cabinet with a folder for each individual category (ex: house payments, bank statements, utilities, etc.)
3. Creating a budget spreadsheet in Excel.
Use formulas to calculate surplus so the amounts can change as needs, expenditures, and income change. We input realistic numbers in every single category we can think of, but also include a miscellaneous category for unexpected purchases.
4. Setting realistic goals for what we want to accomplish financially.
(Ex: pay off our house early, maximize retirement savings, open a 529 college savings plan)
5. Giving ourselves a set amount of “fluff money” .
This amount is withdrawn at the beginning of each month for each person to blow on whatever they want or save it for future fun. Again, adjust as income and/or needs change.
6. All budgeted expenditures are paid with either a credit card or a check.
There is just an understanding that neither person will “go crazy” with the credit card. The only purchases that should ever be on there are normal household things like gas, groceries, tires, etc. The credit cards are paid off in full every month. We only use credit cards that pay cash back or accrue points that can be redeemed for gift cards for household things (ex: Lowe’s or Shell gas). The checkbook stays at home where it is safe, rather than being carted around town all the time.
7. To save money, discuss downgrading household bills.
Go through the spreadsheet to see where things can be cut - such as downgrading cable/dish, cell phone services. You’ll be amazed what you can accomplish when you begin calling companies and researching your bills.
8. For large fluff purchases, allow each person to have the same amount of money.
For example, if I found an amazing bag that I just couldn’t live without, I would either see if Hubby wanted something too or we would discuss the fluff purchase to make sure the other person was totally okay with it.
I realize that these tips and tricks may not work for everyone, but it’s what works for us. It keeps us honest and on budget, which results in…no arguments!

Thanks again for allowing me to guest post, Zara!

*Tangled lives near Dallas with her husband and their 16 month old son. The Hubby quit his lawyer job to pursue his dream of being a teacher. He is currently a principal in the public school system. Tangled quit her job as a banking officer to be a stay-at-home mom.

What do you all think? What are some things you do to budget? Do you feel you have a good handle on money?

Friday Confessional

 

I’m linking up with Mamarazzi!

Forgive me blog world, for I have sinned.

I confess that this week flew by and I put off doing several things that were planned for this week. OOPS. I am being a slacker and just not wanting to actually get things done.

I confess that I cannot believe that summer is almost over. Really? Is it really almost August? Really?! Where did my summer go? I’m still as pasty white as I was during the winter.

I confess that I am dreading winter and the snow, because our car is awful in it. I am also dreading bringing out the VR4 and putting more miles on it. Maybe, I’ll just stay cooped up for the winter and work from home?! I could see myself staying home the entire winter and never setting a toe out, but then who would go snowboarding.

I confess that I am getting really anxious about moving, and a house and such things. As I stated in this post, I am having major issues with the “NOW” monster, and need my wants satisfied right away. Learning how to wait is not happening for me, and it is hard.

I confess, that I am contemplating rewarding myself with a shopping trip to New York if I am able to go a whole year without spending extra money on clothing I do not need but simply want. The rough idea is that I only wear the things I have and make do with what I have, unless I rip my jeans and need a pair of jeans or a new pair of running shoes or what not. And then once a year… or maybe once every six months or so, I take a mini vacation with my girls to go shopping. Thoughts?!

I also confess that the above idea scares me half to death. The thought of not shopping for an extended period of time is almost as scary as the thought of never becoming a mother. UGHH!

I confess, that I missed my husband more than anything else in the world this past week and wish he was here with me right now. He gets back tomorrow evening! Time for flight anxiety to kick in again.

I confess, that instead of thinking about how we will use the new income to pay off debt, I’ve been contemplating all kinds of trips, new laptops, car tires and such that we can spend the money on. This is bad, since debt needs to go away. I need to get down to making lists before we blow all the money on another vacation… I’m not even going to be making that much!

Finally, I confess that not only have I not been to the gym in weeks, but I also took a nap in my car instead of going to class this morning …. OOOPS… And then went to an interview just because, and then spent the evening talking about the upside of fake boobs, trips to Florida and New York, and farting in front of your significant other with my two favorite girls. OHH and I confess that no matter where we are in the world these girls will always be there.

Hope you all are having a fantastic Friday!

I know I will be once I pick up my sweetheart from the airport.

Instant Gratification Problem

 

I have several huge problems but the current one is instant gratification, I have no patients for waiting around, when I want something I MUST have it then and there.

I realize that the problem is childish, and that as a grown adult I need to realize and accept that I cannot have everything at once, but need to wait, budget and earn the things I want. However, I am very much like a little child and tend to throw fits, even if it is just in my own presence with no one watching. I’ve even cried about certain things when I realized that I couldn’t have them right then and there.

You are probably thinking, what an idiot, of course you have to wait, budget and earn the things you want in life… and I agree… but I need to point out that this is my problem.

For example, I want to re-decorating our room, and what started out as a painting project has now turned into a whole overhaul. I just got the IKEA catalogue and now want to get not just a new mattress but also a new bed, and a dresser and some night stands that match. I also want to redo the whole closet and maybe/hopefully create some more room. HOWEVER, all of this is going to cost a ton of money… and money is what we don’t have right now. I got a job so that we could pay off our debt not add more to it. BUT my little “NOW” monster is kicking in and wanting everything now.

Another example is our newest car. We were in the market for a new car simply because we needed another daily driver that wasn’t our project car. So we went to look for a truck, because I wanted one. Not because we needed one, I simply wanted a big truck. No rhyme or reason to it. Then, we got our senses together and decided that we should look at smaller coups since they would be more affordable and practical, with gas prices and such… OH and more in our budget. BUT then we ended up walking off the lot with a top of the line Camaro…fail! Oh and I’d like to add, just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should get it… why is it that I cannot take my own advice?

While I love our car, and have loved our vacations, and love all the clothes and dresses and crap we have, I realize that we also have a huge problem. The debt we have is not just from these things. I have school loans and such, but a good portion of it is our car. And reckless spending. So another issue comes into play. I want the debt gone. RIGHT NOW. I wish I had the money to pay it off. This is another one of my “NOW” moments.

I guess the point to this pointless post is, how do you handle these urges to have the things you want then and there? How do you deal with the “NOW” monster?

Shoe’s Always Fit #2

 

So here are these weeks finds!

1. Alexander Birman – $495.00 (Find here)
2. Christian Louboutin – $595.00 (Find here)
3. Valentino – $885.00 (Find here)
4. Aldo’s – $70.00 (Find here)
5. Guess – $90.00 (Find here)
6. Paris Hilton – $63.00 On Sale Originally $89.00 (Find here)

While I will one day buy a pair of the Louboutin pumps, I can say that the Carrie’s from Guess are my go to. I have several different colors of this style and they are the most comfortable pumps to spend a day in. When I worked in retail and banking these are the only shoes I wore for a 12 hour day on my feet. I’ve gone through at least 3 pairs of black Carries and I always buy more. They are perfect!

The Paris Hilton imitations of the Valentino, I bought completely randomly not even realizing that they were a copy of the designer until after they were delivered. When they first came out about a two years ago, I bought the Paris Hilton black patient leather pumps. They aren’t the most comfortable thing in the world, and I wouldn’t suggest wearing them for a day on your feet, but they look amazing and are perfect for a cocktail party.

As far as purchasing cost, it would cost $1975.00 to purchase the designer shoes, and only $223.00 to get the “lesser designers.” So for 11% of the designer cost you can have 3 pairs of very similar and equally gorgeous shoes!

Hope you all are having a great Tuesday! I’ve got a small treat for you in an hour or so, so check back!  

Tuesday Travels – Cruisin’ Away Part III

 

You can read all about our Cruise Part I where I talk about the excursions we took and Part II where you can find out all about the things to do on board while at sea.

When it comes to vacations money seems to be a key factor that determines where you can go, what you can do and so on. I know quite a few people who believe that Mexico is the only affordable vacation, since you can get an all-inclusive hotel and a flight for under a $1000 a person for 7 days. However, I’m here to tell you that cruises are quite affordable as well, especially if you keep your eye’s peeled for a great deal.

This are some of the current deals on Royal Caribbean

On our last cruise we decided to splurge a little, since it was our first anniversary, however we could have done the whole thing for half of what we paid.

Here are a few tips…

Don’t be hesitate about inside cabins – while they are dark with no windows, these cabins are very, very affordable. You can find deals for as low as $350 a person for a 7 night cruise. My brother shared an inside cabin with my brother-in-law this past trip, and they barely spent any time there, other then to sleep. There are so many things to do on the ship, that you spend maybe 8 hours in the room, and all 8 hours are devoted to getting your beautify sleep. Aside from the lack of windows, these rooms were the same size our our balcony room and had the same exact shower, couch and dresser. hence you really aren’t loosing out on anything by getting an inside cabin, but saving a TON of money.

Our balcony room cost us about $1250 each, so a total of $2500, but the brothers’ room was $600 each, which was a grand total of $1200. Also, keep in mind that our cruise was during Thanksgiving, which is one of the most popular cruise times, add in the holiday and the prices double.

Here is the basic layout of an inside cabin. The bed’s can be pushed apart, and the couch usually opens up into a sleeper.

The more people in one room, the cheaper the cruise!!! – Cruises are an awful deal if you are going by yourself, unless you’re working on the ship. The cabins are almost always priced for double occupancy, hence if you are alone, you have to pick up the coast of that second person. Hence, if you are going with some girlfriends try to get 4 of you to share a cabin. The 4th person will be practically free, and the 3rd is at half cost (usually).

This was a picture from our last trip to Cancun with a couple that we met there. After we met them our trip was much more entertaining, and full of funny stories that we laugh about now.

So if you have a room that will cost $700 for the first two people, the third person will pay $350, and the fourth less then that. And BOOM, you have a trip with all meals included for 4 people at the cost of under $2000. Split this 4 ways and it is $500 a person.

Preorder your alcohol – it’s very true that drinks aren’t cheap, however they are also not ridiculous like some people think. On average a cocktail cost us anywhere from $4.00 to $7.00, which is a pretty rational price. However, if you want to drink wine at dinner, it is a better deal to order one of the wine packages which are anywhere from $50 to a $200. This way you can have a bottle to enjoy at a bit of a discount, rather then paying per glass or bottle while at dinner.

Pic via

Make sure to plan your excursions a head of time – when you book the excursions before you live on your cruise, you can insure that you have a spot as well as paying up front. The costs of excursions varies, but they range anywhere from $20 to $100 (on average). When you book these ahead, you pay them and can keep it within a budget, unlike when you are on the cruise and book a last minute excursion. The price may be the same as booking it ahead of time, but it really is an unexpected expense that added to your sea card.

pic via

Finally, bring cash with you – bring a bit of cash is a great idea, because you don’t have to pay the “set” tip, and can simply put the appropriate amount of cash in the envelope and hand it to your waiter, your room Stuart and so on.

    

pic via

Do you have any other tips for taking a cruise? Do you have questions? Please feel free to leave them in the comments section.