Well, I think that today's high point was being able to contribute to the kids' college accounts for the first time since my divorce. It's because of the rental property. It doesn't make money every month, but this month I made enough money on it that I was able to sock a little away. Yay me!
Showing posts with label Budget Babe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget Babe. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Budget Babe
To all Budget Babe's fans out there: get lost! I am the anti-babe this month! I'm so sad. I suck. I thought I was going along just fine. But then I glanced down at the dashboard for a split second, and my progress skidded to a halt.
I guess I should just be grateful that neither my metaphorical nor my actual airbags deployed.
The good news was that I came in under or spot-on my budget for utilities, food and gasoline. A miracle, since I spent most of the month driving any other car but my own: my friend Cliff's Toyota Sienna mini-van (I learned when I went to gas it, that it has a 250 gallon tank); Chuck's Franken Audi; and a rental car (which I rather enjoyed not least of all because the Enterprise rental car guy was cute and flirted outrageously with me.)
I budgeted $600 for the trip to Mexico, and ended up spending $540. And NO! I don't have to feel guilty about Mexico, because I paid for it from the special savings account named "Fun!". I have another named "Oh, Shit". It has money in it for me to live off in case of disaster. Mom said I should have enough in there to get me through 6 months without an income. Now that I have been crunching the numbers for almost a year, I realize that this account holds enough to support me for...more like... three months. I need to sock some more away there! But not this month. Then I have an account called "Serious". This is where I put the money Si gives me every month as he gradually buys me out of my share of the house. With it, I will buy my own house one of these days.
He has managed to refinance the mortgage, and I am no longer on it. While I was, I was unable to get credit, because it appeared on paper that my expenditures far outstripped my earnings. I tried to explain to my bank that I was on the mortgage, but not paying it; they clucked sympathetically, and told me to come back for a credit card after Si's refi. I'm fortunate that I have a credit card from my married days.
I digress. This month, it is all about the smooshed up Fiat. $718.74. Oh, I am grateful to that little gecko with the pratty Essex accent. (Sorry, friends from Essex...) Geico has been perfect: the total cost of repair was $6,900, and I paid $500. Yes, I know that when it is time to renew in July, I will be singing a different tune. But for now, I will pay my $500 and sing the praises of that little lizard. $500 deductible on my insurance; then $218.74 for 9 days of rental car.
There really weren't any other unbudgeted expenses, except renewal of my little blog widget that shows me who has visited me.
I spent more than I earned by $400. Sad. If I hadn't crashed the Fiat, I would have had about $300 to put in my "Fun!" account. Instead, I will be tightening my belt. Two notches, because I already know that next month's edition of Budget Babe will be called, "Uncle Sam gets so much of my ass that my tax preparer is afraid to call me". I hope you tune in for that one. Same bat-time; same bat-station.
I guess I should just be grateful that neither my metaphorical nor my actual airbags deployed.
The good news was that I came in under or spot-on my budget for utilities, food and gasoline. A miracle, since I spent most of the month driving any other car but my own: my friend Cliff's Toyota Sienna mini-van (I learned when I went to gas it, that it has a 250 gallon tank); Chuck's Franken Audi; and a rental car (which I rather enjoyed not least of all because the Enterprise rental car guy was cute and flirted outrageously with me.)
I budgeted $600 for the trip to Mexico, and ended up spending $540. And NO! I don't have to feel guilty about Mexico, because I paid for it from the special savings account named "Fun!". I have another named "Oh, Shit". It has money in it for me to live off in case of disaster. Mom said I should have enough in there to get me through 6 months without an income. Now that I have been crunching the numbers for almost a year, I realize that this account holds enough to support me for...more like... three months. I need to sock some more away there! But not this month. Then I have an account called "Serious". This is where I put the money Si gives me every month as he gradually buys me out of my share of the house. With it, I will buy my own house one of these days.
He has managed to refinance the mortgage, and I am no longer on it. While I was, I was unable to get credit, because it appeared on paper that my expenditures far outstripped my earnings. I tried to explain to my bank that I was on the mortgage, but not paying it; they clucked sympathetically, and told me to come back for a credit card after Si's refi. I'm fortunate that I have a credit card from my married days.
I digress. This month, it is all about the smooshed up Fiat. $718.74. Oh, I am grateful to that little gecko with the pratty Essex accent. (Sorry, friends from Essex...) Geico has been perfect: the total cost of repair was $6,900, and I paid $500. Yes, I know that when it is time to renew in July, I will be singing a different tune. But for now, I will pay my $500 and sing the praises of that little lizard. $500 deductible on my insurance; then $218.74 for 9 days of rental car.
There really weren't any other unbudgeted expenses, except renewal of my little blog widget that shows me who has visited me.
I spent more than I earned by $400. Sad. If I hadn't crashed the Fiat, I would have had about $300 to put in my "Fun!" account. Instead, I will be tightening my belt. Two notches, because I already know that next month's edition of Budget Babe will be called, "Uncle Sam gets so much of my ass that my tax preparer is afraid to call me". I hope you tune in for that one. Same bat-time; same bat-station.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Budget Babe
Ugh..... I feel awful. I have been so sleepy all day! I have no reason for all this tiredness. Maybe my cancer has metastasized to my brain! Or (worse), maybe I am growing old. Shit.
I have always thought that, once I started to understand my finances better, I should blog about the things that I learned, so here it is: the inaugural run of Budget Babe (February).
Rent and Child Support: I can't really screw them up. I just need to pay them.
Utilities: I am pretty much on target with everything except natural gas. I ran over my budget by 25%. What I really need to solve this problem is spring.
Groceries: a chronic problem for a girl who likes to eat good food and likes to cook for everyone who will sit down and eat. I spent $341 on food this month, which is the lowest ever, and I came in under budget. It still sounds like a lot, though, don't you think? If I only fed myself and not the kids, it would be a whole different ball game.
GAS! A triumph! When I drove the Tacoma, I was spending an average of $348 on gas per month. Since I got the Fiat? $109!!!!
I got my Internet lowered to about $25 by calling the company and negotiating my rate after the original price offer ran out. I thought my rate would surely go up from the rate I had before, but it is now about $8 lower.
I overspent on both of the kids' birthdays, and on the trip to Las Vegas. I need to just assume that trips and celebrations will just be about twice as expensive as I think they will be.
My three pricey items which were not in the budget this month were:
Dry cleaning. Let's see. If you get a second hand suede skirt from the freebies left at school (so it costs you nothing), should you pay $33 to get it cleaned when you get salad dressing on it? Hmmm... I'm not sure this was a good expenditure, but I'm also not sure it was bad. The skirt probably cost more than that when it was originally bought; and I like it and wear it....
Electric kettle. I left my old one at Swiss Oaks, and I missed it, even though I tried not to. After having a stove top kettle for the last nine months, I just decided that I didn't enjoy getting by with out it. I'm OK with this expense.
Mary Kay. Yeah, I know: Me? Really? Well, half the proceeds were donated back to the school by the representative. Aaaaaand, I didn't buy anything after the party, but went home and thought about it a couple days (and bought the eye shadow colors at the grocery store). I ended up getting some moisturizer, 'cause I'm not getting any younger. Maybe this stuff is weakening me, draining me of my superpowers, and that's why I'm so sleepy.
Final verdict (quick, I'm dozing off...) My income stayed ahead of my expenses by $445! BINGBINGBING! Yay, me!
(Of couse, considering the Fiat, March will be a very different sort of budget month for me...)
I have always thought that, once I started to understand my finances better, I should blog about the things that I learned, so here it is: the inaugural run of Budget Babe (February).
Rent and Child Support: I can't really screw them up. I just need to pay them.
Utilities: I am pretty much on target with everything except natural gas. I ran over my budget by 25%. What I really need to solve this problem is spring.
Groceries: a chronic problem for a girl who likes to eat good food and likes to cook for everyone who will sit down and eat. I spent $341 on food this month, which is the lowest ever, and I came in under budget. It still sounds like a lot, though, don't you think? If I only fed myself and not the kids, it would be a whole different ball game.
GAS! A triumph! When I drove the Tacoma, I was spending an average of $348 on gas per month. Since I got the Fiat? $109!!!!
I got my Internet lowered to about $25 by calling the company and negotiating my rate after the original price offer ran out. I thought my rate would surely go up from the rate I had before, but it is now about $8 lower.
I overspent on both of the kids' birthdays, and on the trip to Las Vegas. I need to just assume that trips and celebrations will just be about twice as expensive as I think they will be.
My three pricey items which were not in the budget this month were:
Dry cleaning. Let's see. If you get a second hand suede skirt from the freebies left at school (so it costs you nothing), should you pay $33 to get it cleaned when you get salad dressing on it? Hmmm... I'm not sure this was a good expenditure, but I'm also not sure it was bad. The skirt probably cost more than that when it was originally bought; and I like it and wear it....
Electric kettle. I left my old one at Swiss Oaks, and I missed it, even though I tried not to. After having a stove top kettle for the last nine months, I just decided that I didn't enjoy getting by with out it. I'm OK with this expense.
Mary Kay. Yeah, I know: Me? Really? Well, half the proceeds were donated back to the school by the representative. Aaaaaand, I didn't buy anything after the party, but went home and thought about it a couple days (and bought the eye shadow colors at the grocery store). I ended up getting some moisturizer, 'cause I'm not getting any younger. Maybe this stuff is weakening me, draining me of my superpowers, and that's why I'm so sleepy.
Final verdict (quick, I'm dozing off...) My income stayed ahead of my expenses by $445! BINGBINGBING! Yay, me!
(Of couse, considering the Fiat, March will be a very different sort of budget month for me...)
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Letter to the Edges of the Galaxy
There is no standout headline for this day, so I will spew randomness by sending a letter to the universe.
Dear All-Who-Float-In-The-Ether,
It was a beautiful sunny day here in Salt Lake City. I should have been out running in it, but I had an unfortunate nap-attack. AGAIN! What is up with me?! Have I been bitten by a tse-tse fly? Sometimes, when I feel like making excuses, I tell myself that I am mentally tired from all the changes in my life,and that I am more tired from stress and single parenting than I would like to admit. Or maybe I have become unbelievably lazy! That is probably closer to the truth.
I'm sitting here listening to The Kinks on Radio Paradise. I should really send a message to my cousin Andrew on Facebook and thank him for posting the Radio Paradise link. This is my new music-expansion strategy.
My head aches a little because (this is embarrassing) I cried so copiously at the movie Warhorse today. Yes, Budget Babe actually took her kids to a new-release movie. I try to stick to my guns about only seeing movies once they get to the dollar theater; but Sara loved this book, and has been patiently waiting to see the film for months. I decided not to make her suffer. I HATE crying at movies. Especially schmaltzy, sentimental movies. I always feel like I have lost some sort of contest of wills. "They are just trying to manipulate my emotions! Steven Spielberg wants me to cry. Must! Not! Give! In!" Yet I do. I didn't cry when my father died, but I balled my head off at Charlotte's Web?!? (Sigh!) Go figure. Anyhow, I try to draw attention away from the fact that I have been crying by accusing others. Sara just shrugged and said it didn't make her cry much because she already knew the story. Nate denied at first, then said that he got a tiny bit of sugar from his Sour Patch Kids in his eyes and that made them water.
The best part of today was just the general feeling of well-being that I had while cooking supper. There was a voice mail from Chuck waiting for me after I got home from the movies. Just called to hear how the movie was; but his voice sounded so loving and sweet to me that I saved the message for my future listening pleasure. I got started on a new recipe: mushroom lasagna. It called for half a cup of white wine, so I went to the liquor store yesterday and found a bottle of Berringer Chenin Blanc on sale. Chenin Blanc and Vouvray are my two favorite white wines, and I have not had even a glass of white since I moved out of Swiss Oaks. I opened the bottle of Berringer and started cooking. Sara put on first Rusted Root, then ABBA (both excellent groups to cook/dance to, especially if you are also imbibing). The mushrooms smelled spectacular, sauteed with shallots and garlic. Chuck called and found my tipsiness amusing. Sara interrupted my conversation with him to ask whether he could come for dinner. I extended the invitation, but it was already kind of late and he had eaten. Tomorrow night. He told me that it made him feel happy that Sara asked for him. Sometimes, we get an hour of perfect grace. That was mine. Could it be that I am finally learning to live in the moment?
The worst part of today was disciplining Nate for saying "fuck". He said it yesterday while telling about something his teacher had done that made him mad. I took his Nintendo away for 24 hours. He hadn't had it back in his possession for two hours before he said "fuck" at Sara and I had to take it away from him again. Loud was the wailing, the door slamming, the "I hate you"s. I ignored this and started our evening read-aloud routine with Sara in my room. After a while, Sara went to get the AA Milne poetry books and made a few requests. While I was reading "King John's Christmas", I heard the kids' bedroom door opening. As I continued reading, I heard him creeping closer and closer, then requesting a poem as if he hadn't been screaming at me 20 minutes earlier. Ah, well. That's how he rolls.
I will end this very unfocused vignette with a question from Plinky:
What do you wish you spent more time doing?
Wow. For me, that's huge.
6. Read more blogs and communicate more with my blog-buddies.
Wanna post in the comment section about things you wish you spent more time doing? Share please.
Dear All-Who-Float-In-The-Ether,
It was a beautiful sunny day here in Salt Lake City. I should have been out running in it, but I had an unfortunate nap-attack. AGAIN! What is up with me?! Have I been bitten by a tse-tse fly? Sometimes, when I feel like making excuses, I tell myself that I am mentally tired from all the changes in my life,and that I am more tired from stress and single parenting than I would like to admit. Or maybe I have become unbelievably lazy! That is probably closer to the truth.
I'm sitting here listening to The Kinks on Radio Paradise. I should really send a message to my cousin Andrew on Facebook and thank him for posting the Radio Paradise link. This is my new music-expansion strategy.
My head aches a little because (this is embarrassing) I cried so copiously at the movie Warhorse today. Yes, Budget Babe actually took her kids to a new-release movie. I try to stick to my guns about only seeing movies once they get to the dollar theater; but Sara loved this book, and has been patiently waiting to see the film for months. I decided not to make her suffer. I HATE crying at movies. Especially schmaltzy, sentimental movies. I always feel like I have lost some sort of contest of wills. "They are just trying to manipulate my emotions! Steven Spielberg wants me to cry. Must! Not! Give! In!" Yet I do. I didn't cry when my father died, but I balled my head off at Charlotte's Web?!? (Sigh!) Go figure. Anyhow, I try to draw attention away from the fact that I have been crying by accusing others. Sara just shrugged and said it didn't make her cry much because she already knew the story. Nate denied at first, then said that he got a tiny bit of sugar from his Sour Patch Kids in his eyes and that made them water.
The best part of today was just the general feeling of well-being that I had while cooking supper. There was a voice mail from Chuck waiting for me after I got home from the movies. Just called to hear how the movie was; but his voice sounded so loving and sweet to me that I saved the message for my future listening pleasure. I got started on a new recipe: mushroom lasagna. It called for half a cup of white wine, so I went to the liquor store yesterday and found a bottle of Berringer Chenin Blanc on sale. Chenin Blanc and Vouvray are my two favorite white wines, and I have not had even a glass of white since I moved out of Swiss Oaks. I opened the bottle of Berringer and started cooking. Sara put on first Rusted Root, then ABBA (both excellent groups to cook/dance to, especially if you are also imbibing). The mushrooms smelled spectacular, sauteed with shallots and garlic. Chuck called and found my tipsiness amusing. Sara interrupted my conversation with him to ask whether he could come for dinner. I extended the invitation, but it was already kind of late and he had eaten. Tomorrow night. He told me that it made him feel happy that Sara asked for him. Sometimes, we get an hour of perfect grace. That was mine. Could it be that I am finally learning to live in the moment?
The worst part of today was disciplining Nate for saying "fuck". He said it yesterday while telling about something his teacher had done that made him mad. I took his Nintendo away for 24 hours. He hadn't had it back in his possession for two hours before he said "fuck" at Sara and I had to take it away from him again. Loud was the wailing, the door slamming, the "I hate you"s. I ignored this and started our evening read-aloud routine with Sara in my room. After a while, Sara went to get the AA Milne poetry books and made a few requests. While I was reading "King John's Christmas", I heard the kids' bedroom door opening. As I continued reading, I heard him creeping closer and closer, then requesting a poem as if he hadn't been screaming at me 20 minutes earlier. Ah, well. That's how he rolls.
Tomorrow... What's on my plate? Our Adult Education Floor Manager, Brittany, will have her LDS Missionary Farewell at her ward in South Jordan. I will go to that and say good bye to her before she heads out for a year and a half in Taiwan. I'm going to make (and blog) a new recipe: Grapefruit Pound Cake. Check this out!
I left my tube pan behind at Swiss Oaks and was a bit dismayed to find that I need one for Grapefruit Pound Cake. I looked at them at the supermarket. $20! "FUUUU..." I mean, "Darn it!" Imagine my delight when I found this one at the thrift store for only $2. A savings of $18! Precisely the amount that I spent at the movies.
Tomorrow, Chuck will come for supper and we will make omelets, I think. Maybe a DVD? Maybe a few games of Hearts? I want to run tomorrow. Clean house. Write a grant proposal. Read my book? NOT nap?
What do you wish you spent more time doing?
Wow. For me, that's huge.
- Reading! If only I had about two hours a day just for reading. That would be heavenly.
- Making music. Here, in my present incarnation, that means practicing guitar. Someday soon, I hope to be reunited with my piano.
- Writing curriculum for my students.
- Playing outside.
- Hanging out with people, having fun conversations. With some Chenin Blanc. And mushroom lasagna. I can't wait to make it again.
6. Read more blogs and communicate more with my blog-buddies.
Wanna post in the comment section about things you wish you spent more time doing? Share please.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
High Point, Low Point
High Point? Budget Babe rules! Today's paycheck was the one that achieved my saving goal, and I am proud because six months ago I didn't know a thing about my financial situation or how I was going to get by. Now, my checking account has a reasonable amount in it, but not too much. Enough that I know I won't go into overdraft, even if something crazy happens; but no more than that. Then I have a savings account, called "Serious". That is where I have been saving enough money that I would have a cushion if I lost my job or my cancer came back. I reached my goal amount there. I could keep socking money away there, but I've decided to reward myself by opening a new account, called "Fun". Here's where I'm going to save up so I can travel. Yay, me!
Low Point? Big fight with Si. He said weeks ago that he would keep the kids overnight tomorrow night, so I can go to a party. Then he called me and said he wouldn't watch them after all. Then he acquiesced and said "Fine. Whatever you want." Then tonight, he declared that he would not watch them. At this point it is too late to get a sitter. He's mad because, when he agreed to do it, he was happy and together with Debbie. Now, he is trying to date; and he thinks he needs to have all his weekend non-custodial nights free to do this. When I said that he had agreed to keep the kids, and that it wasn't fair to just cancel at the last minute because he felt like it, he turned on me and shouted that he didn't have to be fair. He didn't have to be nice to me or reasonable with me because I had left him. Then he stomped into the house (when I asked if we could talk about this away from the kids, he offered to let me discuss it outside while he checked the mailbox), locked the door and wouldn't let me in. My purse was in there, and the kids were in there (Nate crying). I had to stand there knocking at the door, asking to be let in. Nate tried to unlock the door once, but Si didn't want him to. Si finally let me in so I could get my stuff. I understand his frustration; but he lets his rage just take over, and he doesn't care what he says or does. I have asked for help with the kids a few times. So has he. Tonight, he told me that he has never asked for help with the kids, but I have helped him a couple times; and told him I would keep them while he went to Costa Rica on vacation in January (although, he has forgotten this,now, since he is split up from Debbie and probably not going to Costa Rica). He also sent me dates for three business trips coming up in the spring!
Low Point? Big fight with Si. He said weeks ago that he would keep the kids overnight tomorrow night, so I can go to a party. Then he called me and said he wouldn't watch them after all. Then he acquiesced and said "Fine. Whatever you want." Then tonight, he declared that he would not watch them. At this point it is too late to get a sitter. He's mad because, when he agreed to do it, he was happy and together with Debbie. Now, he is trying to date; and he thinks he needs to have all his weekend non-custodial nights free to do this. When I said that he had agreed to keep the kids, and that it wasn't fair to just cancel at the last minute because he felt like it, he turned on me and shouted that he didn't have to be fair. He didn't have to be nice to me or reasonable with me because I had left him. Then he stomped into the house (when I asked if we could talk about this away from the kids, he offered to let me discuss it outside while he checked the mailbox), locked the door and wouldn't let me in. My purse was in there, and the kids were in there (Nate crying). I had to stand there knocking at the door, asking to be let in. Nate tried to unlock the door once, but Si didn't want him to. Si finally let me in so I could get my stuff. I understand his frustration; but he lets his rage just take over, and he doesn't care what he says or does. I have asked for help with the kids a few times. So has he. Tonight, he told me that he has never asked for help with the kids, but I have helped him a couple times; and told him I would keep them while he went to Costa Rica on vacation in January (although, he has forgotten this,now, since he is split up from Debbie and probably not going to Costa Rica). He also sent me dates for three business trips coming up in the spring!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
What's it Gonna Be?
I have a short list of little hatchbacks. The big Tacoma has been really useful for camping and stuff, but I need to save gas. Vehicles with an MSRP higher than $17,500 or lower gas mileage than 38 MPG, highway need not apply.Yesterday I test-drove a Toyota Yaris. Or there's the Subaru Impreza, the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat 5000.
These appeared before me after supper. Do you think Chuck has an opinion?
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