HSBC lowering rates...

I received an e-mail from ING about decreasing interest rates (4.5% to 4.3%) , but I decided to stay with ING because I like their site (it is SO easy to use). I was considering moving my emergency fund (now at ING) back to HSBC in order to take advantage of the 5.05% APY. However, I just recived an e-mail, and HSBC Direct is lowering its rate to 4.5%. I also have a savings account with CitiBank (4.75%).

Rate chasing is too difficult for me to keep up with. I'm going to stick with the banks that treat me well...

Over the $1k mark!

I just crossed over the $1k mark with my down payment account! One of my friends signed up for ING with a referral e-mail from me. I just received an e-mail from ING....$10 has been added to my down payment account...yeah!

No Over Draft Fee

I checked my fun/food checking account this morning, and no overdraft fee! Since I ran to my banking account and deposited cash (which was immediately credited to my account), the pending sale didn't go through until after I deposited the cash. I'm feeling super lucky right now! I will DEFINITELY keep better tabs on my checking account. I am used to using a credit card and settling up at the end of the month.

I'm going away for the weekend, so I will be spending quite a bit on gas...however, because of the Visa gift card, I think I will still stay under my $100 gas budget for this month. However, I've totally blown my food and fun budgets out the window!

New Online Survey Site

I've recently started using SurveySavvy. It's an online survey site (like PineCone, MySurvey, etc). I received a $1 check in the mail from them a few weeks ago. Today, I filled out another survey from them. The pay out was $1 and it was supposed to take 15 minutes. I almost didn't fill out the survey (not a very productive use of time), but I was killing time on hold...It took about 5 minutes (maybe even less) to fill out....not bad for waiting on hold...

What other survey sites do you use?

Christmas Shopping

Looking at the list of people that I need to purchase Christmas presents is scary...

Parents (2)
Grandparents (2)
Siblings (2)
Significant other of sibling (1)
Boyfriend (1)
Family of Boyfriend (8)

Co-Workers (12)
Boss (1)

I can't really get around purchasing gifts for my family. We do it every year, and I enjoy giving (and buying) them gifts. This year I will try to be resourceful--using gift cards from credit card points, sales, online coupon codes, etc. I need to talk gift giving with my boyfriend. We've been together about a year and a half, but we didn't really announce our dating to our families and avoided giving gifts. I'm not sure what type of gift giving tradition his family has, so I'll have to talk to him about it.

Instead of purchasing a small gift for my coworkers, I'm thinking about baking or making something. Maybe a few cookies in a cute tin for the co-workers I don't really like (uh oh...) and knitting something (hat, scarf, or mittens) for the coworkers that I'm friends with. This year I will have to come up with another gift to give my boss (the man who has everything), so any ideas would be appreciated.

My friends....most of my friends are newly weds or expecting children (I'm not kidding), so we're not giving any gifts this year (we didn't last year either). I do plan on sending Christmas cards this year (or maybe even Christmas postcards, I might have to check out the VistaPrint offer that NIUiceprincess used for her save the date announcements) to a small group of friends (probably around 50).

Why is the holiday season so stressful? Any present recommendations? Parents? Boss? Siblings? Grandparents?

On a positive note...

My down payment account is at $995.76, which is 3.3% of my down payment goal. I also have not dipped into this account for any reason. Also, any discretionary money (not earmarked for another purpose) has gone into this account. I will be looking into additional ways to make money because I will not start working at my part time job again until the end of December. While I'm spending time studying for the general GRE and the subject GRE, I don't want my spending to run wild. I also need to start saving for test fees, application fees, and other additional costs for applying to graduate school....

Huge Mistake!

Today, I was about to pay a store credit card balance (from the make-up splurge), but then I noticed that I had a negative balance in my fun/food checking account (I keep this separate from my other money). It was less than 50 cents in the red, but it was in the red....How did this happen?! Well, I forgot to record an ATM withdrawal...When I purchased my groceries last night, I went over my account balance. Upon noticing this problem, I rushed to the bank (as fast as my old bike would take me) and deposited $40 in cash (that was just sitting in my wallet from the forgotten ATM withdrawl) into my checking account. I hope this will cover the over draft fee (UGH!). I'm hoping to get the over-draft fee waived...but I probably won't be able to. I was planning on closing this account, and opening another checking account with KeyBank.

Right now, I'm SO disappointed with myself...

Small Deposit

I deposited another small amount to my down payment account today. I earned $5 through PineCone Research. Since I haven't been working at my second job (and won't until December), the only money that is being added to my down payment account is from PPP, PineCone research, and MySurvey.



Total Earnings By Site

PineCone Research $45

PPP $154.26

MySurvey $10

Recycling, Reusing, and trying to reduce

After reading brip blap's post about learning the 3Rs, but living the first two, I started to think about my carbon foot print...or more importantly--am I killing the earth? I know I didn't do all of the damage (or even a small percent), but I still feel responsible. So....here is my ode to the 3Rs....

Reduce
This is the hardest of the Rs for me. Dong had a great post yesterday, Wanting Less, that really sums up this R. I don't think I am able to eliminate my wants, but I hope to delay purchasing an item until I have enough money and know exactly what I want. For example, there are 3 things that I really want right now--a dog, a laptop, and a mountain bike. I haven't purchased a dog because I'm never home. I would feel bad leaving my dog alone while I'm at work (and my job isn't dog friendly). Also, having a pet is expensive and I'm not sure my budget could handle such a large expense! Even my friends that have cats spend thousands of dollars a year on vet bills, toys, food, etc. The next want on my list is a laptop. My current laptop is 5 years old. I would love to get a new laptop. However, I should just invest in a wireless card and a new battery, and my laptop would fit all of my needs. And last but not least, a mountain bike...I currently have two bikes--my road bike (which I don't really blog about) and my old mountain bike (which I ride to work). My old mountain bike is over 7 years old and I ride at least 50 miles a week on it (note to any bikers out there--this does not include my Lemond mileage). Even when I purchased this bike, it was a cheap bike without any bells and whistles. Considering that I ride my bike to and from work every day, I'm considering upgrading to a newer mountain bike. I would love to purchase a crazy full-suspension mountain bike, but I know that it isn't necessary. I will probably end up buying a practical hardtail that I can use on mountain bike trips, but also will work well for commuting.

Torbjorn left a comment on my beauty items post about cutting down on the number of products I use. While I know he's right, I'm very attached to my products. However, I have started to think about dual purpose products. Don't worry, I'm not going to start washing my hair with Pert Plus, but I am considering purchasing a few multipurpose products--a body lotion with SPF and self-tanner (do any companies make this?); a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 (foundation, moisturizer, and facial sunscreen); a hydrating body wash that doubles for a shaving cream. I also will stop using the plastic poufs...they're made out of petroleum (a limited resource). I will start using a wash cloth made from cotton that I already own (my mom continues to buy them for me when she buys towel sets).

Reuse
I need to continue to use the items that I already have. I have fallen into the habit of replacing an item that is in great shape (but a few seasons old) with the hottest thing in the market. NIUiceprincess wrote a post about having a classic wardrobe and avoiding trendy (and cheap) clothing. While I'm not into name brands, I do agree that quality is important...A classic pair of black stilettos will be worn year in and out....I can't say the same thing about my red patent leather heels (but they are SO hot)!

Recycle
I was about to write about how good I am about recycling. However, I just realized...I may recycle the items that I use, but I don't go out of my way to purchase recycled items. I plan on switching to recycled toilet paper. I know it's a small step, but at least I'm trying.

I also wrote about stopping junk mail last week. I called 888-5OPTOUT to remove my name from credit issuers' mailing lists. I did have to provide my SSN (it is the credit bureaus), but I hope this will cut down on the amount of junk mail that I receive (and cut down on the amount of paper that I'm forced to recycle).

more TV for free...

....MTV has a lot of its shows online for free...

Recently, I've been watching The Hills Season 3, but I might have to do some back ground research and watch Seasons 1 & 2 (also online at MTV).

Free TV

In the spirit of everyone cancelling their cable (just kidding, I know how hard it is, but I just can't afford cable), here are the free shows that I've found online.

I just found out that Amazon UnBox has the premieres of Fox Shows (Til Death, Back to You, Prison Break, K-Ville) for free for download on their website.

iTunes is also offering the premiere episodes of Til Death, Back to You, Prison Break, and K-Ville for free. Also available on iTunes, the Newport Harbor: Get to Know the Cast (reality TV show like Laguna Beach), The Pick-Up Artist: Sneak Peak (VH1 show), The Real World: First Look (Australia), and the pilot episode of Three Moons Over Milford.

NBC has full episodes of 30 Rock, Age of Love, Andy Barker PI, The Black Donnellys, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Last Comic Standing, Late Night with Conan O'Briend, MIss Teen USA 2007, Raines, and Victoria Beckham.

ABC has full episodes of According to Jim, Brothers and Sisters, Day Break, Desperate Housewives, Fashionista Diaries, Fat March, Grey's Anatomy, Knights of Prosperity, Lost, Men In Trees, The Nine, GH Night Shift, October Road, Six Degrees, Ugly Betty, Voicemail, and What About Brian.

The CW has full episodes of The Search for the Next Doll, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, All of Us, The Game.

Does anyone else have any free (and legal) downloading sites?

I just wanted to say thank you....

Thank you to Dimples and Louise for making me feel better after my first mean comments (all left by fred). While I understand his frustration about my blog having sponsored posts, I think of my blog as my journal...and if I can make money selling ad space on my journal, I'm not in the financial position to turn the money down.

Even though fred's comments were more than a little rude, he did have a point.

"As long as you're a slave to 'look' (fashion and all that nonsense) you will make the same critical money mistakes over and over. Sorry, you can't be fashionable and frugal."

I am not able to give up fashion totally (sorry). I do need to make more of an effort to buy classic (rather than trendy) items. When I'm allowed to shop again (NIUiceprincess challenged me not to shop for the month of September), I will try to purchase pieces that work in my wardrobe, and not just in one outfit. I will also buy items that I look great in (which is just about everything) and, more importantly, are comfortable.

As a side note, I will NEVER put aluminum foil up in my windows...even if it saves hundreds of dollars on heating/cooling and keeps light out. I love my bedroom. I feel relaxed looking at the sky blue walls, flower pictures, and great white dresser...I'm not willing to give that up....I guess I'm not truly frugal...oh well, I'll try to shoot for thrifty! :)

Making Money Online

I've noticed quite a few people blogging about Associated Content recently, so I think I'm going to try it out. I'm not sure what to expect, but it will give me something to do when I'm bored (and have posted my two per day at PPP). A question for all of you AC junkies, how do you get paid? Is it through PayPal like Pinecone and PPP? Or is a check in the mail?

I finally deposited my check from MySurvey.com. I had the check in my bag for about a month, but I just don't visit my bank. I went out of my way today to deposit the check. The check was only $10 (earn 1,000 points), but it was $10 that I had earned by filling out stupid surveys. The old me would have let that check sit in the bottom of my bag...and eventually tossed it when I cleaned out my bag. I need to consider that $10 is 2 Chipotle burritos....or a month of rental insurance....

Recently, I've earned money through PineCone Research and PPP. I have also earned some cash back through Fatwallet. I really don't make very much extra income, and I'm looking to increase the amount. Does any one have any sites with low payout amounts (I get distracted if I don't get paid after about $10)? I tried to join CashDuck, but it said that they're "currently not accepting registration from your country." Any advice?

Fall Days

Now that summer is winding down, I wonder what I'll do with myself. I won't be able to play tennis because there is no way that I can afford to join a tennis club. Also, my bike rides (on my road bike, not the bike that I ride to work) will become less frequent. I love to run outside in the fall, but winter is horrible. I need to get back to the gym....maybe the cold weather will force me back into the weight room (and bulk up the scrawny things that I call arms)...

What do you do for winter workouts?

Small Deposit

I made another small deposit into my down payment account...a little cash earned from PPP.

Riding my Bike to Work

With fall weather setting in, riding my bike to work has become even more enjoyable. It's no longer sticky hot on my ride, so I don't have to clean up in the bathroom after I arrive at work. This morning, it was extremely foggy, so I decided to ride on the side walk. Unfortunately, I was caught behind another biker...who was riding really slow. However, instead of being frustrated (like I would if I was in a car), I used the slower pace to enjoy the scenery...

CNN Money--35 Minutes to Riches

I found a link to this article on Young and Broke's blog--35 Minutes to Riches


In summary, you should

Find out your credit score--7 minutes

Raise your credit score--8 minutes--CNNMoney.com offers to ways to raise your credit score. Pay down a balance. Call your issuer and ask for a higher credit limit (and don't spend it).

Stop junk mail--5 minutes--888-5OPTOUT to remove your name from credit issuers' mailing lists. A few fun junk mail facts--62 billion pieces of junk mail are produced yearly. The majority of household waste consists of unsolicited mail. Approximately 44% of junk mail goes to a landfill unopened. $320 million of local taxes are used to dispose of unsolicited mail each year. By cancelling your junk mail, you're saving your time, local tax dollars, and the environment. I would say that's 5 minutes well spent.

Haggle down your credit rate--8 minutes--"If your credit score tops 720, do not be satisfied until your rate is less than 10%, says Curtis Arnold of CardRatings.com. Your biggest weapon: Make it clear that you'll stop using the card if the issuer refuses. Our reporter, helped by the fact that she's been a good customer for seven years, got the rate on her Discover card cut by four percentage points."

Escape Late Fees--6 minutes--I pay all of my bills online. I pay my rent by having a check automatically mailed to my landlord a week before the first of the month. I pay my credit card bills online. I save on stamps and avoid late charge (or bills getting lost in the mail).

Burn more calories--30 minutes--100 calories a day will pack on 10 pounds a year.

Curb Impulse Buys--10 minutes--"By one estimate, two-thirds of all purchases are unplanned. To keep impulse shopping in check, ask the clerk to hold your wished for item, then take a 10-minute stroll. Next ask yourself whether you truly need this sweater/video game/golf club and how you'll pay for it."

Slash Recurring Charges--10 minutes--Cancel the clubs you're not using (Netflix, gym memberships, tanning clubs, etc)

Boost your gas mileage--7 minutes--Check your tire pressure. I recently bought a tire gauge, but I haven't put it in my car. I plan on checking my tire pressure every time I buy gas. "Properly inflated tires improve your fuel economy by 3.3%."

Find it cheaper online--30 minutes--Comparison shop! Use Shopping.com, Fatwallet, or Slickdeals.net to find deals or coupon codes to save money on purchases.

Demand a lower cable bill--15 minutes--"Call and complain that your bill is too high; repeat your message calmly ("This just isn't worth it to me anymore"). Make sure to casually use the words "satellite dish" (as in "I wonder how that compares with a satellite dish") or maybe "phone company." This strategy translated into a $20 monthly discount (for a year) in our test. "

Saving vs. Spending

After reading a post by English Major, her quote, "The last few days of a pay period are always a contest between me and myself to see if I can squeeze another $25 into my savings account" has been stuck in my head. I realized that I have the exact opposite problem! At the end of a pay period, I'm trying to spend every penny that is designated to my fun account....with no plans of adding anything extra to my savings account. I think I need to start aggressively saving...I'm going to try to stay under budget in every category. Any extra cash will not be carried over into the next month (to be spent), but will be added to my emergency fund.

Weekend Splurge

I went to the mall this weekend. Don't worry, I didn't buy any clothes! But I did splurge at the Prescriptives counter. I went to buy a new bottle of the Virtual Skin super-natural finish foundation....However, I also purchased a a bottle of tinted moisturizer, Traceless. I feel like I should feel guilty for this make-up splurge, but I don't. My skin has looked fabulous every day with the tinted moisturizer. It doesn't look like I'm wearing make-up, but my skin tone is even and flawless....

I used my fun money to purchase the make-up....and I have to admit it was a fabulous purchase! :)

No Cable...

Since I don't have cable, I've been looking into cheap/free options for TV viewing. I've started watching The Hills online. It's free on MTV's website. I've also started renting DVDs from the library. I have recently started watching Veronica Mars on DVD...

Does any one have any other recommendations? Please don't tell me to read a book! :)

Small Deposit

I made another small deposit into my down payment account today. Once again this money was made through PPP. If you haven't joined, you should consider it. I realize PPP isn't for anyone...but I really enjoy the extra income...

Low Utility Bill

My rent includes heat and water, but I have to pay my own electric bill. I budgeted $30/month, which I thought would be hard to stay under (but it's a goal). Well, my electric bill came in...$15.85! I'm so proud of myself. Unplugging my toaster, keeping lights turned off, making sure my TV & DVD player are off....Since I live alone, I have become much more conscious of turning off lights when I leave a room. Who would have thought it would be so easy to cut my electric bill in half?

What do you do to keep your utility bills low?

Graduate School

Thank you to all of my readers for the advice about my upcoming application process. I have decided not to take a a GRE prep course, and I will just study my butt off all by myself. I will just have to set up some time every day to study. I might just use my lunch hour to get some studying in. There are a few libraries close by that I could escape to (and get a little peace and quiet study time during the day). By not taking a class, I should save close to $1000. However, the application fees and taking the GRE should add up quickly.

I'm sure that I want to go to graduate school. I'm excited to be going back to school. In the field that I'm going back to school in (not liberal arts), I will definitely make a lot more money than just having a B.S. I will be going back to school for my Ph.D., and I plan on working as a TA and research assistant. This should pay for my tuition, health care, and a stipend (around $25k).

Meg, I appreciated your comments. I may cut back on retirement contributions to build up a large cash cushion, but I'm hoping to avoid such a drastic measure. If I were to cut back on my retirement contributions, I would stop contributing to my Roth IRA because I get a great match for my 401(k). Also, I'm not going to graduate school to find myself. I put off going to grad school right out of college because I wasn't sure what area I wanted to go into (I couldn't decide in college so I was a double major). Now, I'm positive I'm going into the right field for me. I have really thought this decision over, and I realize that I will be in my early 30s when I get out of school (so I realize this will be it).

Thank you for the comments, Mrs. M&P. I look forward to reading about your application process too!

Going back to school...

I've been thinking about going back to school for quite a while. I have been putting away about $700/month for retirement because I know that I will not be able to contribute to my retirement accounts when I'm in graduate school.

I've decided that I'm going to apply for graduate school for next fall. The main problem is that I haven't saved for this at all. I have a feeling my emergency fund will be taking a hit very soon. I have to take the GRE, and I plan on taking a GRE prep course to make sure that I can score as high as possible on the GRE (my score could mean the difference between having a stipend and having to take out loans). I also have to consider application fees (about $75/school). I plan on applying to about 5 school (to be determined). I'm debating if I need to take the subject GRE or not...I'm going to talk to a few undergraduate professors for advice.

I'm concerned about how I will deal with these expenses. However, this is the rest of my life...so I feel like I should splurge...I want to give myself every opportunity to succeed.

Small Raise

I recently received a small raise at work. I increased my 401(k) withholding, but I will still have an additional $60/month. I plan on adding this to my emergency fund this month. Soon this money will be allocated to Internet access because I just can't live without it!

Great weekend!

I had a really great weekend! I had a low key Saturday, which included a trip to the mall (no clothing purchased). I watched a few movies that I rented from the library (free). I also stayed in and ate pasta for dinner. I ran a 10k on Sunday, took a nap, and went out to dinner with friends. I'm a little sore today (pushed the 10k a little too hard, but I had a great result), but I'm in a fabulous mood!

I added a little bit more to my down payment account. The money was from Pinecone and PPP. So far, I've made $103.76 for PPP. All of the money I earn online (survey sites, PPP, etc) is deposited into my down payment account. I also deposit any money that I make from my second job into my down payment savings account. However, I haven't been working at my second job recently. I hope to pick up a few hours a week soon...my down payment account is becoming stagnant without it.

Another Small Addition

I just made another small addition to my down payment account. The $9 is from PayPerPost. I feel like my down payment account is growing without me even adding to it.

I'm thinking about going back to school next fall, so I have to start studying for the GRE and saving up for application fees. I'm looking forward to the challenge of school, but not the cost and hassle of applying.

Small Addition

I made a small addition to my down payment account today ($10.18). Half of the money is from a PayPerPost op, and the other half is from FatWallet's cash back program (I bought some climbing stuff from Moosejaw).

What I use--Beauty Products Part II

NIUIcePrincess asked me about what types of products I (and my readers) use, so please feel free to comment on this post with the types of products that you use.



Skin Care--I think you can use drug store products and not have to sacrifice quality. I used to cling to my expensive skin care products until I found Paula Bedouin. She does a lot of product review (both skin care and make-up).

I really like Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant skin care line. I am currently using the Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion with SPF 20. It's a thicker lotion than I'm used to using, and I think it really makes a difference. I use the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream, which is a nice light eye cream that keeps my eye area hydrated and make-up in place.

I don't have sensitive skin, but I wash my face a lot (morning, after work-outs, and before bed). I really like to use a sensitive skin cleanser. I've been using Olay foaming face wash (sensitive skin) for about a year, and I haven't found anything that works this well.

Make-up

I'm currently obsessed with my Prescriptives Virtual Skin foundation. I go to the same woman at the Prescriptives counter, so she always gives me a few free samples for me to try out. I also have the Camouflage Cream that I use under my eyes (it does a great job with dark circles). For every day, I really like Nars blush because it stays on (even on hot days), doesn't change color, and looks totally natural. I switch mascara almost every time I buy a tube (every three months) because there is always something new to try! If anyone has any inexpensive mascara recommendations, I would love to hear them! For eye liner, I really like Maybelline Expert Eyes Eyeliner. I also have Aveda, Sephora, and Estee Lauder eye liners, but I think my Maybelline liner is just as good (and costs about 1/3 the price).

Hair Care--This is an area that I have just recently been able to cut back on. It's all because of the new L'Oreal Vive line (not for men like Brip Blap). I'm obsessed with the L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss. I've received countless compliments on my hair since I've switched. The only hair care product that I haven't replaced with a cheaper item is the Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid. It's the best finishing product EVER!

Body Products--I love Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. It's a great product that makes self-tanning quick and easy. Since you deposit a little bit of color every day, it's super easy to get a natural, even glow. When I feel like pampering myself, I use Carita dry oil because it is extremely decadent but smells like lemons.

Torbjorn made a great point about cutting back on products for the environment. I find his point valid, and I do try to make sure all of the products I purchase are in bottles that I can recycle. However, cutting back on products is EXTREMELY difficult for me....and I will try....but I don't know how much progress I will make.

Save or Splurge? on beauty products...

I love beauty products. I love the packaging and the smell. I love using different products...and I love the results! At one point in time, I had 6 bottles of shampoo, 3 body exfoliants, 2 conditioners, 1 deep conditioner, 2 bottles of body wash, 1 facial cleanser, 1 facial exfoliant, and a bar of soap in my shower....this is not including the products that I had stashed under my sink. This was about a little over a year ago....Now, I try to keep my products streamlined and effective.

I normally write about what I don't know or what I'm currently struggling with. I thought I would share a little knowledge with my readers about beauty products. More specifically, what type of products you should spend money on and what type of products you should skip or save your money on....

Hair Care

The best advice I have received is to wash your hair every other day. You use less product and your hair is healthier. Even if I work out, I still just rinse my hair (some times I use conditioner, but no shampoo).

hair cut--If you have an easy hair cut like me (long hair with long layers), I would recommend trying out a school. I have a student cut my hair, and I save about $50. I also try to go 3-4 months in between hair cuts.

hair color--Coloring your hair is expensive! I have gone back to my natural hair color and save about $200/session (every 4-6 weeks).

Shampoo and Conditioner--SAVE! Drug store shampoo bottles are great! There are so a lot of great products in the drug store. Try free samples (check out Wal-Mart) to find a product that works for your hair type.

styling products--This can go either way. I splurge for finishing products (like a silicon shine serum) and save on hold products (mousse, gel, hair spray, etc). I'm still working on replacing my Aveda finishing products with a cheaper product, but I haven't found anything that is equal in quality. Also, I don't use very much finishing product, so I spend about $20/bottle which lasts for about a year.

Styling Tools--SAVE! Check out Target! There is no reason to spend $100 on a straightening iron (I used to own a Chi)....especially when a $20 ceramic iron will work just as well. I really like Conair products.

Make-Up

Foundation & Concealer--SPEND! Go to a professional (Sephora and department stores offer free make-up consultations) to match your skin color. By having an exact match, you'll use less product because you can just touch up specific areas (under eyes, problem areas, etc) and not have to place the product over the entire face.

Mascara--SAVE! I'm a make-up junkie, and my favorite product is mascara. Therefore, I have used almost every mascara on the planet. Since you should change your mascara every 3 months to avoid eye infection and product clumping, I try to find mascara on sale. I receive a lot of compliments when I wear Avon volumizing mascara, which I bought about 5 tubes for $2.99/tube. The expensive products do have nicer packaging and better brushes, but some drugstore brands are catching up on the brush technology (try Maybelline).

Eye Shadow--Save! I actually stopped using eye shadow for every day make-up. If you're a die-hard eye shadow fan, try using a primer under a drug store eye shadow for the best results. The product will stay on and be more vibrant with the use of a primer.

Eye Liner--Save! I recommend using a higher end drugstore pencil. The really cheap pencils (like Wet'n Wild) are usually too hard and don't leave a nice line. Maybelline offers great pencils in a wide selection of colors.

Blush--Spend! I'm addicted to Nars blushes. Drug store blushes don't wear well, can change color with skin oils, and don't look as natural. I recommend a make-up consultation to pick out the perfect shade.

Bronzer--Save! There are a lot of great drug store bronzers. Look for something without glitter (shimmer is okay) and that is made to suit your skin tone.

Brushes--Spend! I recommend splurging on make-up brushes. If you treat them well you will have them forever. Good brushes are the key to great make-up. However, do not spend a lot of money on brand name items. Sephora has a line of brushes that are amazing, but much less expensive than a department store line of make-up.

Skin Care

In general, SAVE on skin care! If the results of a product sound too good to be true, then it probably is...Check out Paula Bedouin's review of skin care lines (http://cosmeticscop.com).

Cleanser--Since a cleanser spends such a small amount of time on your skin, don't spend too much on the product. Stick with a non-irritating cleanser like Olay Sensitive Skin foaming cleanser.

Day Moisturizer--Make sure it has SPF, but most drug store brands (Olay, Neutrogenta, Dove, etc) have great every day moisturizers.

Eye Cream--I think this is a necessary product. The eye area is very delicate. Neutrogena has great eye creams that are gentle and hydrating.

Night Cream--I would recommend doing a little bit more research into this type of product. Find something that fits your skin type, but don't spend too much. Some night creams carry a price tag of up to $400....I have used a few of these creams, and they're totally excessive (and mainly Shea butter).

Exfoliation--I think exfoliating a few times a week is extremely important (note: not every day). Try a gentle exfoliating cleanser from a drug store line. There are tons of options!

Masks--This is the only item that I still splurge on. I mask about once a week, but try to get it in twice a week. I mask after I exfoliate my skin. Finding a mask that works with your skin type is difficult, so if you find one that works stick with it. The reason I splurge on facial masks is because I use it infrequently (about 5-6 times a month) and it stays on my skin for a while (about 10 minutes). Also, masks are an important treatment tool. Using a mask has made a huge difference in the radiance and overall clarity of my skin.

Down Payment Account

I made a small addition to my down payment account (courtesy of PPP). The total amount in my down payment account is $911.74. I know the account is growing slowly, but I'm still proud of myself. I have never been very good at saving money, so it's nice to see such a large (for me)balance. When I reach $1k, I will be totally psyched!

I'm currently trying to beef up my emergency fund (not spending any money on clothing this month, any money left over in ANY of the budget areas, and adding my travel budget) quickly. This month, I should add an additional $180 to my emergency fund. I considered cutting down on my retirement contributions to beef up my emergency fund, but I think retirement is too important.

Cancelling credit cards....

My wallet is over flowing with credit cards. I used to sign up for a major credit card every year...well, now I rarely use credit cards (just for gas), so it's time to get rid of the newer cards. My most recent card (about 8 months) was an American Express card. When I called to cancel my account, the representative talked for about the benefits of the card (rewards, low interest rate, etc). I told her I just was cancelling the account because I had too many cards. Anyway, she asked if I would like a one time $10 credit on my account to keep it open. I declined, but it would be nice to get a free $10.

Just in case any one wants to try to squeeze $10 out of American Express!

Great weekend!

I had a great weekend! I didn't even spend all of the $100 Visa gift card!

Breakdown of Visa spending:
$48 in gas
$11 for movie tickets
$22 for lunch
$12 at Target (for random fun)

I didn't spend any other money. How great are free Visa gift cards?!

Right now or Save for later?

I've always been impatient. I want things and I want them now....I know this may seem childish, but I haven't ever gotten used to waiting...in lines...at a red light...My finances show my impulsivity. I frequently spend money without thinking (or planning). I have a near empty emergency fund...and almost no cash to speak of.

Great mail day!

Yesterday, I received $110 in the mail! I received a $100 Visa gift card from Rent.com because I found my new apartment there. I also received a $10 check from My Survey. I plan on depositing the check in my down payment account. The Visa gift card will be used for gas for my weekend trip...and a little fun!

I also deposited a little bit of money in my down payment account from my earnings at PPP. The total amount in my down payment savings accounts is $903.24 (or 3% of my $30k goal).

Additional Question...

Ms. M&P asked about my FSA. I am a huge fan of flexible spending accounts. Last year, I only put $300 in my flexible spending account to cover prescriptions, appointments, and contacts. Since I take the standard deduction (and don't itemize), I saved about $100 by using my flexible spending account. Some people complain about filling out the forms, but I would file it for buying aspirin or contact solution. I just stored the receipts until I had 3 or 4 items, set-up direct deposit, and faxed the forms to the company. Some times the reimbursement was only $15...but it's nice to know that I'm not being taxed on that income.

Last October, I decided to put more money into my FSA and get some major dental work done. Since I had the work done in January and filed the reimbursement in February, I am receiving an interest-free, tax-free loan. Every month, I pay back $140 (tax-free, so it's more like $100).

Do you have a flexible spending account? How much do you put in your flexible spending account annually? Do you think I am wasting my time with my FSA?

Answering Comments....

Wooly Woman mentioned my high health care costs--most of the money $120 goes to my FSA...I had some major dental work done this year, so I'm still paying for it (pre-tax).

My favorite comments came from Dimples. All I could do was laugh at this quote..."$100 for fun?? Girl what type of fun you into?" Well, I'm trying to do one new activity a month, so this covers it...whether it's a workout class, a cooking class, maybe even pottery...and it just covers any sort of entertainment that I might need...video rentals (usually I get them from the library)...books (ditto)....

Once again answering Dimples comments about my food budget...this covers groceries and eating out...and I know I eat a lot! :) I'm trying to cut down on eating out, which will bring down my food costs.

And Dimples on retirement--I'm not sure when I want to retire, but I don't want to work forever. Also, I'm contemplating going back to school, and I probably won't be able to contribute to my retirement all that much. I have a 401(k) and Roth IRA, so I hope to spread my taxes out...pay a little now (with the Roth) and pay a little during retirement (with my 401k).

NIUIceprincess, I have a separate travel account because I want to be able to take spur of the minute week-end vacations. Plus, I would like to have a large chunk for a nice vacation next summer.

Fine line?

Krystal had a recent post about letting her openness about her personal finances in her blog pour out into her real life. I have to admit that I have unfortunately had the same side effects from this blog. While I haven't experienced the blank stares, my friends and family now bizarre aspects about my finances. For example, while eating with my friend, I let is slip that I want to retire early...and I set aside $700 a month in retirement funds. While she was pretty good natured about it, I still felt extremely awkward! Why do I feel the need to tell every one about how I spend my money? I also let it slip to another friend that I spend $200/month on food...She thinks I eat too much :)

Are you extremely open about your finances in your blog? Are you open about your finances in your face-to-face interactions with people? Do the lines some times blur?

Proposed Budget

My proposed budget for September

Rent $670
Utilities (only electric) $30
Rental Insurance $10

Health care $170
Gym $30

Car Payment $225
Car Insurance $100
Gasoline $100
Maintenance $100 (into a savings account for the next expensive fix)

Food $200 (still trying to bring this down to $175)

Retirement $700

Fun $100
Travel $30 (saving for later)
Gifts $50 (starting to save for Christmas)

Emergency Fund $150 (this includes the normal $100 contribution, plus the $50 from my clothing fund)

September Goals

Since all the other kids are doing it, I thought I would join in....and write my personal finance goals for September. If I remember, I will write a post at the end of the month about my progress in reaching each of the goals.

1. Don't spend any money on clothing. I plan on saving the $50 set aside in my budget in an ING savings account.
2. Add $100 to my emergency fund (which is non-existent right now).
3. Readjust budget to save $100 for car maintenance.

No clothes for September!

NIUIcePrincess and Krystal have challenged me (through comments) to stop spending so much money on clothing....well, to stop shopping...so....I've accepted their challenge. Girls, I will not buy any new clothing for the month of September! Wish me luck (especially because the cute new fall jackets are coming out)!

September NetWorth

My net worth as of September 2007 is $16,959....I'm excited because I'm getting close to the $20,000 mark...



I changed a few things about my NetWorthIQ profile this month. For cash, I put down my checking account balances. For stocks, I put down my savings account amounts.

I calculate my net worth without considering my car (which is running very well right now) or any personal possessions. I'm too lazy to post how much I owe on my car loan (which is much less than the car is worth) and the decreasing value of my car. My car loan will be paid off in a little less than a year (I can't wait), so I think my car and loan balance each other out. As for personal possessions, I don't think anything (except for my bikes) would be worth very much. I would find it depressing putting a price tag on my possessions, but they're insured (through renter's insurance) for $30k....

Small addition...

I had a few small additions automatically deposited into my down payment account. I had a SMALL paycheck, a PPP payment, and a little interest added to my down payment account since the last time I checked the balance. The grand total of my down payment account is $875.24 (2.9% of my $30,000 goal).