November CC Update: $5,906

CC1 was: $973
New Balance: $0

CC2: Was: $1913
New Balance: $1830

CC3: Was: $4282
New Balance: $4076

CC4: Was: $554
New Balance: $0

Old Total: $7,622
New Total: $5,906

Whew. I don't even remember what happened in November, but am happy and relieved that the CC is down to less than 6k. Christmas presents presented a little bit of a challenge, but I've resolved to not go overboard this year. I've already bought everyone's presents and am not letting myself shop anymore.

This feels good.

October CC Update: $7,622

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $973

CC2: Was: $2045
New Balance: $1913

CC3: Was: $4295
New Balance: $4282

CC4: Was: $748
New Balance: $554

Old Total: $7,088
New Total: $7,622

Disasterous last two months. If I'm in a confessing frame of mind, I'll go over the first credit card, but as I missed the Sept update, I'm clearly not in the frame of mind to discuss failures.

August Credit Card Update $7,088

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with a whole lotta activity ($1079 worth)

CC2: Was: $2120
New Balance: $2045

CC3: Was: $4350
New Balance: $4295

CC4: Was: $801
New Balance: $748

Old Total: $7,271
New Total: $7,088

UGH. Horrible month. Horrible spending month. It's back to old habits, folks. Next month will be just as bad if not worse. At least the debt is still decreasing....right?

July Credit Card Update: $7271

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with some activity

CC2: Was: $2195
New Balance: $2120

CC3: Was: $4404
New Balance: $4350

CC4: Was: $1405
New Balance: $801

Old Total: $8,004
New Total: $7,271

From a starting credit card debt of $15,680 to pass the halfway point ($7840) and get to less than half of what I originally owed the blood sucking credit card companies is a big deal. But it somehow seems less so, maybe because the more you pay off the less special every step feels. So, instead of a big party that I promised myself when I got to under 10k, I'll just have a quiet celebration...that may or may not include eating all of the loverly homemade guacamole I made myself. Priorities change...

June Credit Card Update: $8,004

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $1408 (yikes) in activity

CC2: Was: $2270
New Balance: $2195

CC3: Was: $4457
New Balance: $4404

CC4: Was: $1981
New Balance: $1405

Old Total: $8,709
New Total: $8,004

I could fudge some numbers to get that number below 8k but it isn't worth it, I haven't done the best with the frugality as of late, and don't feel like falsely rewarding myself.

CC1 was very active this month, but was paid off in full because I got a bonus for the year! I bought two plane tickets to visit the future in-laws, a birthday present for the FH (future husband), tickets to Cali and about $400 in business activity that I haven't been reimbursed for as of yet. Once I get the reimbursement check, I will put it towards CC4, that damn pesky college credit card that you sign up for, get a blanket, 18% APR and a slap on the back for your cluelessness. However, I have noticed that their recent APR is about 10% right now for me. Once I pay it off, I may switch CC3 to C4 to take advantage of a lower interest rate, I'm now paying about 37 a month in interest on CC4. Even though I really don't want to give any more money to CC4 as they have made a pretty penny off of me over the last 10 years.

I will say that I don't regret any of the CC activity, it was all necessary and paid for in full. I'm finally rewarding myself for my credit card accomplishments by going on a mini vacation to California to visit a friend. Well deserved, I think.

Once the dust settles on all of the activity and reimbursements, I think July will be a banner month!

Essex Street Market

The Essex Street Market is great for many reasons. A fish monger, a cheese monger, a meat monger, a vegetable monger and a fruit monger all in one place? all those mongers? I stopped by after work for dinner groceries and picked up the following for under $10:

Shrimp: $3.99
Celery, pears, corn, scallions and cilantro: $3.25
Eggs: 1.75

Um, delightful! and the opportunity to buy expensive cheese. But I held back. Trying to be frugal again and all that.

There is also a great restaurant at the other end of the market that really represents the traditional tastes of the lower east side, the latin-jewish yumminess.

Combining Forces

My household just became a dual household, which I used to fantasize about when I was making less than half of what I'm making now. This comes with many yet-to-be-realized advantages, like splitting utilities, rent and groceries, but also many sacrifices in the personal space categories and my front closet.

That said, I've been very non-frugal as of late because I know that I'll have another person contributing to rent, cable and bills. This is not how I wanted to proceed.

Also contributing to my non-frugality is my totally unfounded perception that less than 9k debt is somehow less serious. The frugality is precarious INDEED.

I need to get back on the frugal horse. Esp with a wedding to pay for.