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.

What I Didn't Buy Today

Damn you jcrew and your sale emails! Yellow is such a happy color...

What I did buy today? Munchkins for the office. There is no cheaper way to create goodwill with co-workers than those happy little balls of fried dough. Besides doing your job competently and without boasting.

May Credit Card Update $8709

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $310 in activity that I paid off immediately

CC2: Was: $2340
New Balance: $2270

CC3: Was: $4509
New Balance: $4457

CC4: Was: $2754
New Balance: $1981

Old Total: $9,603
New Total: $8,709

Eh, am kind of in a rut with the personal finance and am losing a little bit of motivation. Things at work kind of suck and I'm in the beginning of the "what am I doing with my life" cycle. Needless to say, I've been visiting a bunch of grad school and law school sites, still without a clear idea of what I want to do when I grow up.

I've been putting off actually cashing in my reward that I was going to treat myself to once I reached less than 10k in debt, joining the gym, but I did just get two speedos for $16 each at Marshalls...might be time to get the endorphins going...

April 2008 Credit Card Update

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $700 in activity that I paid off immediately

CC2: Was: $2415
New Balance: $2340

CC3: Was: $4566
New Balance: $4509

CC4: Was: $3018
New Balance: $2754

Old Total: $9,999
New Total: $9,603

A few things happened this month, including a wedding and purchasing airline tickets for a wedding next week in Michigan. Also see post on irresponsible spending. I ended up returning one of those dresses.

Overall, I'm okay with toeing the line with the debt after last months amazing progress, but this is a let-down.

I'm due for the economic stimulus check that everyone talks about but have already allocated that to wedding presents. Five this year alone!

video fun

hysterical bridal fun...warning: there are some curse words, well one curse word, used repeatedly and totally justified.

Calming Down

I have to admit, I let wedding stress get to me too early and too hard. We have months to plan and as a good friend pointed out, I am setting the tone. If I want to have a fun, relaxed event, that mood needs to start now.

I've found some really helpful sites, added on the side, to help with wedding planning.

All of this stress has not been good for my wallet. I found myself in a shopping high on Tuesday when I went looking for a dress for a wedding this weekend, bought two dresses that were not in my budget, then bought two pairs of shoes and a bunch of clothes for my nephew. I'm afraid to add up the damage, but here it goes:

Dresses: $310
Shoes: $ 70
Nephew: $ 60
-------------
Total: $440

Yeah...that should have been mostly a wedding present.

Saturday Weddings In NYC

So, maybe you, like me, are planning a wedding. In New York. Possibly in or around the city. Maybe...you actually have a budget, unlike many many many nyc and tv brides. Maybe...you think that it shouldn't be so hard to impose some sort of budget rationale on halls, vendors, caterers, etc. Maybe...you don't want the same cookie cutter wedding that you've been to 10 times. Maybe you cringe at the mention of antipasta and top shelf liquor, because you never really thought that would be associated with your wedding day. Maybe...you want to run away, have a picnic, dance with some grass between your toes, wish on the first star you see for a happy marriage together and call it a night.

Thank you for being as insane as I am.

If you are just curious as to how much a wedding is at some popular sites to the north of New York, here, let me enlighten you from my day in the wedding hell that is the Catering Halls of Westchester.

Botanical Gardens: $190 pp, not including 20% gratuity and 8.5% tax, thanks abigail kirsch!
Tappan Hill: $190 pp, 20% g, 8.375% tax
Glen Island Harbour Club: $155 pp, not including 21% gratuity and 8.375% tax, I'm guessing that extra 1% in gratuity buys you the u for harbor.
Greentree Country Club: $130 pp, 20%g, 8.375% t
Lake Isle Caterers: $110 pp, 20%g, 8.375% t

with a 240 person guest list. so, take the least expensive, take that pp cost x the guest list, + 20% of that, + 8.375% of all of it, and you get $36,333. w.t.f.

Buffalo Chicken Strips and Blue Cheese Coleslaw - YUM

Saw this recipe over at chow and knew I had to make it. Needless to say, it was delightful and will last me the rest of the week in lunches. The most expensive part is the chicken, but I bought that in bulk back when I had the car. The cabbage may have been the cheapest item of produce I've ever purchased at whole foods, at 52 cents, and I only used half of it. The cole slaw is so...freaking...good. I added an apple and didn't have celery. still good. I might just have to eat this for breakfast.

I Know Why Miss Haversham Lost her Marbles

It's been a little over a week since the bf became the fiance and I've been walking on air when I'm around him, telling the story and laughing with friends. But, when left to my own devices, I'm buying wedding magazines ($22 worth), scoping out reception sites, looking at bridal gowns, AHHHH! Needless to say, I may be fired because I can't help myself at work.

In the midst of the craziness (looking at a 240+ guestlist), I've found some sources of laughter. First, Another Fucking Wedding, two crazy brooklyn kids with a kosher wedding which isn't my main concern, being Catholic and all. The bride had a great idea to look for wedding dresses on craiglist and it is a buyer's market out there. That, and just plain funny seeing what people are trying to sell them for.

Then, a zany lady over at a $10,000 wedding, who hasn't been proposed to yet, but loves all things wedding. I have a few girlfriends who could be behind this anonymous blog and so far, it is full of good ideas.

Finally, this simple sunset wedding for under $2,000 was just gorgeous and to end with grimaldi's is the ticket to my heart.

The bridal magazines all seem to sell the same thing over and over again. I kinda wish my F was a guitar strumming hippie who would take me into the woods, shake my hand and ask me what I was up to the rest of my life. But, I love my Ohio-loving, football watching, big lug of a cuddly guy who almost had me considering a 10 person bridal party to accommodate his 5 brothers and 5 friends. I just hope we can survive the planning process. And no, I will not have 10 bridesmaids. That's just nuts.

What I Didn't Buy Today

Jcrew is really putting out some fun jewelry and shoes. This is what I didn't do with my tax return. boo.

March Credit Card Update: $9,999 - Four Digits Baby!

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0

CC2: Was: $2488
New Balance: $2415

CC3: Was: $4634
New Balance: $4566

CC4: Was: $4652
New Balance: $3018

Old Total: $11,774
New Total: $9,999

That's right, if only by one dollar, I am BELOW ten thousand dollars in debt. This feels so good. I feel like celebrating. In addition to the fact that I just got ENGAGED. Everything is so insane. Financially, I'm torn between debt reduction and the savings we will need to build up to pay for a wedding. But right now, I am just so happy.

My combined tax return was about $1500, so I used about 900 of that to pay off debt, the rest to take a trip to visit friends, bought a dress for the 4 weddings I have this summer, gave friends their wedding present, gave other friends a nice housewarming gift, bought a fancy candle for another friend's 30th and celebrated.

I may have splurged on a $25 lip gloss. But this only happened because I went into a store that I swore I would not enter during my debt reduction. But I had to buy a birthday gift quick, and they were really the only place I could think of. Damn you Bluemercury on M Street with all of your wonderful products! You tempt me so.

City Car Experiment: Day 3

Two days ago, my first day in the city with my parents car, I spent about $40 in parking because of New York's love/hate relationship with the car and lack of street parking. I couldn't find alternate side of the street parking for the car, so it had to come with me to my orthopedist appt and then to work. If you are dumb enough to drive into midtown manhattan, you shall pay. Alternate side of the street parking refers to a 2 or 3 hour window, 1130-1pm on my street, during which no cars are allowed to park on one side of the street so that a street cleaner can come through and move the filth around in circles before depositing it a half block down the street. Seriously, these things are like zambonies that do nothing.

When I drove home that night from work, I prayed that I would find a spot on the right side of alternate side of the street parking so that I could leave it there until Thursday.

My sister is blessed not only with the ability to find parking spots but to parallel park on a dime, on a hill, in the rain, in the snow, all with a screaming child in the backseat. I attribute this to the fact that she met and worked for Mother Teresa.

Well, something must have rubbed off, because the car has been parked safe and sound since Monday and I get to use it tomorrow to go to another appt and to help out with my nephew.

This car thing isn't so bad...

City Car Experiment

I often bemoan my lack of a car to my boyfriend's deaf ears. I just think it would make things like leaving the city for a weekend a lot easier. And I covet mini-Coopers. There! I said it!

I know, I know, that's so not green of me, but after a lifetime on the public transportation system, there is something freeing about getting in a car and having one's personal space to oneself.

So, today commences the week long city car experience. My parents went to Florida, leaving me with their car. So far, I've already spent $63 on gas and parking in the 3 days that I've had it. The first two days were spent in the poconos, therefore, free parking.

I'm getting ready to hunker down and find a spot on the right side of alternate street parking tonight when I leave work. That's so not exciting nor tempting.

What is tempting is stopping by Fairway on 125 for some groceries. Hey, they even have a Fairway Blog.

What I Didn't Buy Today

I decided that I need to reinforce good behavior with a little reckoning I like to call "What I Didn't Buy Today".

1. Shadow Bed Linens from Crate and Barrel, even though they are super pretty. How did I end up on this site? searching for a wedding registry gift


2. These dumb jcrew pants. I kind of need new work pants, and they are on sale, but do I REALLY need them? no

I'll try to limit these lists, but I did visit kayak.com for vacation tickets as my hankering for a vacation gets stronger by the hour.


Also...WTF happened on lost? So now Aaron is the fifth of the Oceanic 6? What happened to Claire???

February CC Update: $11,774

CC1 was: $596
New Balance: $0, zero, zip, nil, gone, out of the wallet, never again

CC2: Was: $2568
New Balance: $2488

CC3: Was: $4754
New Balance: $4634

CC4: Was: $4700
New Balance: $4652

Old Total: $12,618
New Total: $11,774

Dear CC4, I'm coming after you with at least $700 next month. You know what's coming, you've been offering me checks every week for balance transfers, calling me to get credit protection. Well, guess what? You are at the lowest balance you've been in 6 years, and you will get lower. You will get less and less of your nice 13.9 percent. You will soon be gone from my life, gone. For the first time since junior year in college.

Things I don't/shouldn't do anymore

The nature of budgeting and limited spending really cuts me sometimes. Most times, it is the small things that I pass up that make me sad, the manicures and pedicures I'll live without, the lunches ordered in, the expensive canadian yogurt that I love (my daily pleasure!).

But what bothers me most is the fact that I haven't visited my friend in California since he's moved there, that makes me sad. Other trips have taken priority over this one, mainly weddings and visiting the boyfriend's family. And I haven't spoiled my nephew with gifts and toys in a really long time. I know that he doesn't need all of the toys, but it is still fun to spoil him, that's one of the joys of being an aunt.

I may keep a running tab of little silly things that I miss, just to help me to avoid them, because damn, my cuticles are ugly and in need of some loving attention!

List of things I miss:
1. Manicures
2. Pedicures
3. Buying Lunch
4. Expensive Yogurt
5. Dinners out

Big items I can't wait to spend $$$ on:
1. Plane ticket to California
2. Unlimited gifts for my nephew
3. New curtains for apartment
4. New bedding
5. A proper VACATION

Cupcake Nirvana

Over the holidays, I received a gift cert to Borders and bought the cookbook Great Fast Food from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living. Love me some Martha.

I really have to say that every recipe I've tried so far has been stellar. From the mac and cheese to the bbq chicken. I just made cupcakes tonight to satisfy a little sweet tooth craving for my favorite: carrot cake.

After a surprising lack of butter, and a runny batter, I have to say that these cupcakes are incredibly moist and the frosting (so simple! cream cheese conf. sugar and vanilla!) is the perfect compliment.

January CC Update: $12,618

CC1 was: $993
New Balance: $596

CC2: Was: $2648
New Balance: $2568

CC3: Was: $4813
New Balance: $4754

CC4: Was: $4762
New Balance: $4700

Old Total: $13,216
New Total: $12,618

for a difference of $598, sigh, so not the progress that I had been planning during the December update when I was high off of my extra paycheck. I'm really crossing my fingers that CC1 will be gone next month. The only complicating factor is a bunch of business travel, which I'll get reimbursed for, but it still makes me uneasy.

Again and again, paying off credit cards has proven hard and a long slow process for me. I make lofty promises to myself and fancy spreadsheets, but then I get caught in having $7 in my checking account and a week to go until the next one with food being a necessity and then the evil cc is back in my wallet tempting me...baiting me...and I am weak.

Here's to hoping I'll make a bigger dent in February.

Also, am considering transferring part of CC4 to CC2 to take advantage of a 0% interest, but CC2 only has a $5,000 limit plus I have to take into account fees and what not. CC4 has a 13.9% interest rate. I hate CC4, it's the credit card I got in college and have perpetually had a balance on. I think they are catching on that I've been making steady payments though because they keeps sending me special "rainy day" checks. Ha! at least I'm smart enough not to fall for that ploy.