Revisiting January's Budget

Areas that I stuck to my budget
Health Care $184
Rent $670
Gym membership $30

Where I was under budget
Utilities $33.31--$30 under budget
Car Payment & Insurance $243--$80 under budget

Where I was over budget
Food $347.28--I was over budget by $147.28! I spent $283.79 on groceries and $63.49 on going out to eat.
Fun/Misc $286.93--I was over budget by $186.93! I spent $42.18 on clothing, $42.22 on dry cleaning, and $13.77 on gifts.
Gas $125.63--Over by $25.63
Parking $64.05--Over by $4.05

Searching for change in the couch....

Right now, I'm looking through all of my account to see if I have any "change" that I can spare to pay off this car repair bill. So far, I have $26.57 from my Prosper account--from a loan payment and a referral (thank you to the person that opened the account). I'm also going to look for acutal change in my apartment. I plan on using the change to help pay my car insurance (through credit union with coin counter), which will leave more money in my checking account to pay for the car maintenance.

While I'm thankful that I do have the cash available to pay for my car repair (no credit cards like the last time), I'm still a little frustrated that I don't have more money set aside for emergencies...this little emergency totally zapped my EF. I'm going to start from zero next month :(

On the plus side, I will be working at my second job a LOT in March. I will be exhausted, but I will be able to replenish my down payment account and start to build my emergency fund.

A little side note on my Prosper account--Both loans are in good standing and I earn approximately 10%. If you have any questions about prosper, leave a comment and I'll answer it in the comments section.

Revised February Budget

With $1,450 in car repairs, I needed to create a new February budget...I just posted the changes...

Car Maintenance $1,450 I'm going to empty my emergency fund ($703.53) and my car maintenance fund ($101.01). However, I still need an additional $284.06. I may have to use cash from my down payment account, which I don't want to do....but it looks like I don't have any other options.

Food $150 (decrease by $50)
Fun Money/Misc $50 (decrease by $50)
Gifts $30 (decrease by $20)

Emergency Fund $0 (decrease by $200)

Uh....car trouble....

Yesterday I was reading I've Paid For This Twice and I read about the required engine replacement a Saturn with 88,000 miles required....and I started to panic. Yesterday, my check engine light came on. I took it to the dealership to have my car inspected and to have an oil change. I was handed a $400 estimation. My February budget isn't going to work! Then I received a call from the dealership. I have a leaking coolant system ($950 to replace), need a cooland flush ($160), a transmission fluid leak ($155), and a transmission fluid flush. This brings the grand total to $1,450! Now I struggling to get the money around to pay for this....I'll post an updated budget later...

Update: I was able to find a place that was a little cheaper. My total repair bill was $1396.93.

January Net Worth

My net worth is currently $21,422. Unfortunately my net worth decreased by $72 this month. I'm a little disappointed with myself. I added about $700 to my retirement account, which decreased by $151. I also added about $400 to my savings accounts (down payment and emergency fund).

Another $10 check from MySurvey

I filled out a survey on MySurvey and I had enough points to redeem for a $10 check (1,000 points). Currently I have redeemed points for $160, but I'm currently waiting for $50 in checks. I plan on donating $20 of the money to charity and I plan on depositing the rest of the money in my down payment account.

Update--I just received a $10 check in the mail. Now, I'm only waiting for $40 in checks. I will use it to help pay for my car repairs!

February Goals

For February, I'm going to have the big three goals (EF, down payment, and weight loss), but I also want to get a few more things done....

1. $200 into my Emergency Fund--I built it into my February budget, so I just need to stick to my budget to meet this goal.
2. $200 to my Down Payment Account--I think I will be able to do this with my second job income.
3. Weight=130--I only lost 3 during January, but I hope to lose 7 during February....wish me luck!
4. Stick to chore list.
5. File taxes. I'm still waiting for the W-2 from my second job.
6. Track ALL income & spending! This is going to be pretty difficult. I plan on tracking all money that enters and leaves my hands this month.
7. Give an awesome gift to my bf for Valentine's Day. Not that expensive, but extremely thoughtful....still brainstorming.
8. Run, Bike, and Swim at least once every week--Prep for summer triathlons
9. Take multi-vitamin every day.

small addition to my down payment account...

I deposited $5.03 into my down payment account. Fatwallet deposited this money in my paypal account today, and I immediately deposited the money into my down payment account. If I leave money in my paypal account, I may be tempted to spend it on eBay purchases. This money is cash back from a coat I purchased about 3 months ago. This brings the grand total of my down payment account to $1,703.51, which is 5.7% of my $30,000 goal.

Did I meet my January Goals?

I only had three goals for January. These goals were made to put me on the right track to meet my 2008 resolutions.

1. Weight=135. Didn't make it. I currently weight 137. I lost 3 pounds, but not the 5 I had planned to lose.
2. Deposit $200 in my Emergency Fund. My EF currently has $703.53.
3. Deposit $200 in my Down Payment Fund. My down payment account currently has $1,698.48. I had a pay check from my second job and some money from MySurvey; but I still had to deposit about $100 to make the goal.

Two out of three is not great...I will try to improve in February.

February Budget

I've been working on my February budget. It's a little tight because I'm still driving to work and paying for parking. After February, my health care costs will be cut in half, so that will help. February is going to be another tight month.

Rent $670
Utilities $20
Internet $35
Laundry $10 (in quarters)

Health care $183.46
Retirement $715 (401k & Roth IRA)

Car Payment $225
Gas $100
Car & Renters Insurance $101
Car Maintenance $40 (mainly for an oil change, any leftover will be added to the car maintenance fund)

Gym $30

Food $200 (dining out & groceries)
Fun Money/Misc $100
Gifts $50 (Valentine's Day)

Emergency Fund $200

I hope to have a less rigid budget when the weather warms up (no more parking pass) and I am able to cut down on my health care costs. I am also considering cancelling my Internet access because my bill is going to increase quite a bit in a few months.

No Second Job Today!

I don't have to work at my second job tonight! I have a long list of things that need to get done including my daily chore and my spinning class. While I will try to get everything done, I will probably be able to catch up on things this weekend. It looks like my boyfriend has to work this weekend, so I will not be able to visit him :( Even though I'm bummed that I will spend another weekend at home, I will be able to catch up on all of the things that didn't complete during the week.

My To-Do List

• Get an oil change
• Do laundry--I also need to get a roll of quarters from the bank.
• Clean out car
• Work out (spinning class on Tuesday, rock climbing & ab class on Thursday)
• Vacuum Apartment (Tuesday chore)
• Clean Kitchen (Monday chore, didn't get it all done last night)
• Clean Bathroom (Wednesday chore, but I have to work my second job so I should get it done today)
• File taxes (waiting for second job W-2)

I'm sure I won't be able to get all of these things done. However, I will try to get everything done within the next week.

I need my beauty rest!!!!!

Growing up and in college, I was usually pretty careful to get enough sleep every night. I also came to realize that in order to be rested I need about 9 hours of sleep (8 hours is okay for a few nights, but it catches up to me). Last night, I slept for about 9 hours (11-8), but I feel horrible this morning! I need about 5 more hours of sleep! Oh well, I have to go to work! At least I don't have to work tonight.

How much sleep do you require?

a long week ahead...

I'm working at my part time job two nights this week. While this will be great for my down payment account (all money that I make from this job is directly deposited into my down payment savings account), all of this working will really screw up my workouts. I will still be able to go to my spinning class on Tuesday and rock climbing & my ab class on Thursday; but I will miss my dance class on Wednesday and swimming & running today.

On the positive side, I will have a hard time spending money because I will be so busy. I will try to plan well, so I pack all of my meals (lunch & dinner). Also, I will appreciate my gym time because I can't go as often.

Since I won't be paid for the hours this week until February, the hours that I work this week will not help me reach my January goal of adding $200 to my down payment account, but it will help in February.

Finally! A quiet Sunday!

Today I finally had the day that I had planned. I went to the library, watched television, and rearranged furniture! It was pure bliss! Also, I didn't spend any money (even more fabulous). I have to admit that I didn't answer my phone when my intruding friend called.

I've been considering an air purifier for quite a while. I have severe allergies, so I think it might help with keeping my sinuses clear. Right now, I just have five plants, which I hope help to clean the air in my apartment. If I do purchase an air purifier, I would probably purchase an expensive purifier and view it as an investment in my health. I've looked into a few units that have HEPA filters.

In order to keep my allergic reactions to a minimum; I use fragrance free soaps (for laundry, dishes, etc), vacuum my apartment weekly, and change my sheets every week. I try to avoid taking medication if possible. I'm also looking into purchasing a neti pot.

Quiet Saturday ruined...still holding out for a quiet Sunday...

I turned down offers to go out on Friday and Saturday nights with friends. I told all of my friends that I was planning on having a quiet weekend alone in my apartment. On Saturday, one of my friends decided that she too wanted to have a relaxing day in my apartment. She showed up at 11 a.m. (yeah, I was in my robe reading a magazine) and didn't leave until 5 p.m.!

While I love my friends dearly, I felt annoyed and couldn't figure out a polite way to kick her butt out! I tried saying that I needed to go grocery shopping, and she decided to tag along. I figured with her frozen goods she would have to go home....nope, she put them in my freezer! I watched annoying TV (Rock of Love 2, QVC, etc), but nothing could get her to budge! She only left when she realized that she was 2 hours late for a family get together.

Do you have friends that over stay their welcome? How do you politely get people to leave?

This post doesn't have a lot to do with personal finance, but I did spend $40 on an unneeded trip to the grocery store.

What would you do with a Google AdSense Check?

I've posted in the past about the Google AdSense ads on my blog. A check is quite a few months (or even a full year) away, but I still like to think about what I would do with the check. I have a few ideas

• Donate to charity. This would make me feel as though my blog was productive in some unselfish way....I write about myself all day, every day; so it would be nice if my blog would also benefit others.
• Add to my down payment fund. All other money that I make from online endeavors goes into this account, so I feel like I should continue this trend. I write on this blog about adding to this account, so I feel like should follow through.
• Treat myself to a massage. I'm trying to spend money on experiences and not things. This would be the ultimate indulgence for me. I used to get weekly massages, but it doesn't fit in my budget.

One hundred dollars is a lot of money for me....so I will probably come up with 100 more options before I actually receive the check. What would you do with $100?

Quiet weekend at home...

This weekend I am not able to see my boyfriend. So, I'm going to make this weekend all about me! I plan on going to the gym, watching TV, reading magazines, and cleaning my apartment (daily chores even apply to the weekends). Instead of going out to a bar with friends tonight, I opted to stay in and watch television. It feels luxurious! I can't believe how great it feels to have a few days with nothing to do! Of course, my parents want me to come home, but I've decided to just enjoy my time alone :) I have to admit that I'm excited!

I probably will get bored...so look for new blog posts!

Making change count...

What do you do with spare change? I used to toss it in my purse, but I can't remember ever using the change for anything. Now that I have my duck bank from CashDuck (I received it last night) I plan on saving all of my change. I'm a member of a credit union through work that has a free coin counter. I will use the change to pay for my insurance (car and rental).

I also deposited $5.30 in my down payment account. I filled out a PineCone survey yesterday and received $5 in my paypal account today. The $.30 is from Fatwallet, 1% back on an eBay purchase. I plan on adding any amount of money that I acquire online to my down payment account. While $.30 might not make a huge difference, lots of $.30 additions will. Considering and initial balance of $.30 and 4% interest compounded monthly, if I add $.30 a month I will have $50.41 in 10 years...

Big Spend Thursday

I spent a lot of money today...mainly because I had to go to the grocery store...condiments don't really cover the 5 food groups....

$6.02 for lunch (I had a sub and an Orangina--delicious)

$37.83 for groceries at Whole Foods
$2.99 for organic romaine lettuce
$2.29 for 1 lb. organic baby carrots
$2.50 for a box of cookies (oops!)
$3.04 for pears ($1.99/pound)
$1.72 for organic red potatoes ($1.69/pound)
$1.58 for Tangelos ($1.49/pound)
$1.99 for Organic Balsamic Dressing
$1.99 for grape tomatoes
$2.91 for cereal (on sale for $3.59/pound)
$3.49 for 1/2 gallon organic skim milk
$3.28 for 2 cans of organic chicken noodle soup
$.75 for an organic peach yogurt
$2.69 for Orangina (it was so good at lunch)
$2.83 for organic apples ($1.99/pound)
$2.19 for oranges ($.79/pound)
$1.39 for pears ($1.99/pound--different type than above)

Waiting...

I requested a prize (a duck bank) from CashDuck a few weeks ago, and it still hasn't come. I'm getting a little antsy! Has any one else requested a prize from CashDuck? How long did you have to wait? I haven't acquired very many points through CashDuck. I usually only go about once a month and fill out the daily surveys.

Lending Club....

I've written quite a bit about my Prosper accoutn, but I also have a small account through Lending Club. I really like Lending Club because you only need $25 per investment (Prosper requires $50). If you open and fund a Lending Club account, you will receive a $25 bonus (double your money right away). Also, if you lend $5,000 you will earn a 5% cah bonus on the money you lend (through February 3rd). Full Disclosure: I have NO plans to invest that much money in a peer to peer lending site.

My Lending Club portfolio is small, $25, but I wanted to compare Prosper and Lending Club. So far, I like the Prosper website, but I really like that you can start investing at Lending Club with only $25. Lending Club makes it easy to create a diversified lending portfolio with very little money, which is great for people that are just trying out the peer-to-peer lending sites.

I have what? where?

I automatically deposit my second job pay into my down payment account. Even though I have the best intentions of saving the money, I don't trust myself. Yesterday, I had $57.77 deposited into my down payment account from my part time job. I'm teaching a few more classes this month, but pay day isn't until February.

Right now, I have
$1,593.89 in my down payment account (5.3% of my $30k goal)
$503.53 in my emergency fund (I plan on adding $200 this month)
$101.01 in my car maintenance fund

$4,649.81 in my Roth IRA
$9,835.25 in my 401(k)
$3,669.24 in a mutual fund
It's really depressing to watch my investments going down so much. However, I'm going to keep up my regular retirement savings...

Big Spending Day...

After my no spending day, I thought I could try to keep my spending to a minimum. Unfortunately, life intervened and I have already spent a lot of money. Plus, I need to purchase groceries today.

$42.22 on dry cleaning (I did a large amount, so I saved 30%, $17.73)
$1.50 on parking (I pay $60 for a parking permit through work, but all of the spaces were filled and I had to park at a meter).

The dry cleaning was not in my January budget, so I used a little of my extra income. I feel guilty for not adding this income to my down payment fund, but I really needed to get my dry cleaning done.

Prosper is going well...

My Prosper account has become an obsession. Right now, I have $100 invested in loans. Both loans are to people with AA credit. One loan is for 8% and the other is for 12.25%. My average interest rate is 10.15% (considering the loans do not default).

I received my first payment from one of the loans last week ($1.57). It's extremely exciting to be the bank. I am enjoying my Prosper account, but I'm not going to invest any more money into my account. I currently need to work on building my emergency fund (currently at $500) and other cash savings account (down payment account, car maintenance, travel fund).

How many of my readers have a Prosper account? Do you account for your investment in your networth? Currently, I'm ignoring the $100 in Prosper, but I would be open to suggestions.

No Spend Day!!!!!

WHOA! I didn't spend any money today! I can't believe it! I brought breakfast and lunch to work...I had a snack at work provided by a vendor show (a sandwich)....I also went home and ate dinner at home. My day wasn't very exciting, but at least I didn't blow my budget. I have to go grocery shopping. I have condiments, eggs, and milk in my refrigerator...no fruit, no vegetables (in cans or fresh), no bread....I'll try to go grocery shopping tomorrow, but I feel pretty awesome not spending any money today....

Monday Spending

I ate cereal at home for breakfast and brought my lunch to work. After work, I went to the gym, spent about 45 minutes on the elliptical, and then swam for about 30 minutes. When I was leaving the gym, I realized that I had not purchased gas yet! When I arrived at the gas station, gas was $3.10/gallon so I only purchased 6 gallons ($18.75).

While I prepared dinner, I also cleaned my kitchen and unloaded the dishwasher. A few readers mentioned that I should also clean out my refrigerator, so I added that to my Monday chores. After cleaning out the week old leftovers, I realized that I really need to go grocery shopping. One of my friends came over to hang out and we finished the cookies that I won from My Journey to Eliminate Debt. After my friend went home, I called my boyfriend and watched a little TV (VH1 Rock of Love 2).

Finding cheap gas...

I purchased gas on Friday (12 gallons, $33.58), but I also drove 7 hours (round-trip) to visit my boyfriend. Now, my gas tank is near empty so I can't drive around to look for the cheapest gas (gas stations in my area can range by $.30/gallon within a mile radius). Google to the rescue! Google Maps has a gas buddy add-on. I'm able to look at all of the gas stations on the way from work to gym and check out the different prices ($.19 difference today). I'll probably have to pay about $3.00 per gallon, but it's a lot better than $3.19 a few blocks away!

I'm getting tired of driving to work every day. I feel like I use a lot of gas looking for a parking spot in the parking structures. It's extremely frustrating. The cold temperatures (2*) during my drive to work remind me that I would really hate my life if I had to ride my bike or walk.

I will also start picking up more hours at my part time job. I still plan on depositing all of my second pay checks into my down payment account.

Things going on around the internet

Ebates is giving $10 for opening an account (and making a qualifying purchase--any click through purchase at an online retailer) through February 12th. If you use my link to sign up, I will also get a $10 referral bonus. The regular account sign-up bonus is $5 at ebates.

Janice at 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away an Insignia Bluetooth MP3 player from Best Buy (an a piar of Insignia Bluetooth Wireless Behind the Head Headphones).

Weekend Spending

I'm going to do a better job to tracking my spending...I thought I would share my somewhat irresponsible spending this weekend.

I spent
$42.22 on dry cleaning (I have REALLY put this off!)
$33.58 on gas (about 12 gallons)
$14.00 on movie tickets--27 Dresses
$9.62 Black Clutch from Ann Taylor Loft (I wasn't able to go a full month without spending money on clothing.)
$43.32 at WalMart--Plant Food, automatic shower cleaner, Olay Face Lotion, a new bath scale, and two windshield wipers

SD loves PC

I just received a $5 payment in my PayPal account for a Pinecone Research survey that I filled out yesterday. I deposited the money into my down payment account...each small amount brings me closer to my $200/month goal.

In other news, I received an awesome prize from Louise at My Journey to Eliminate Debt. There were a ton of goodies (cookies, candy, Vegemite, and other treats). Last night, I had a bunch of friends over and we watched Bridget Jones's Diary and sampled all of the snacks. Since one of my friends brought the movie, another friend brought pizza (for dinner), and I received the prize from Louise; the evening was totally free! We had a blast! My friend R loves the Tim Tams and Vo Vos, I'm in love with the gummy bears (they're giant), and P really likes the Vegemite (I have mixed feelings about it).

I planned on posting a picture of the package/remains of the package, but my digital camera won't turn on :( I've tried charging the battery and still no luck! I hope my camera isn't broken!

Visiting the boyfriend...

I will be visiting my boyfriend this weekend. I'm extremely excited to see him. Being in a long distance relationship is a lot harder than I expected!

I'm leaving immediately after work. The drive is about 3.5 hours long, so I won't arrive until about 9 p.m. I plan on eating a snack in the car, so I will be able to eat dinner with him (he's cooking). However, we will probably wait until Saturday to go see 27 dresses (super psyched to see the movie)!

I will be back at home on Sunday. Look for a post on Sunday night....probably complaining about gas prices, traffic, and short weekends.

Squirrel Boxer Shorts Arrive!

My boyfriend called today to let me know that he received the second pair of squirrel boxer shorts. Luckily Banana Republic mailed the right size this time! As a frequent Banana Republic customer, I was a little disturbed at how poor the customer service response was to their mistake. I will return the extra-large size to the store, but I am concerned because the receipt will be for a medium.

Dental appointments make me nervous...

I really believe in taking care of my teeth. Dental work is expensive and uncomfortable. My pain sensitive side has required a few expensive changes to my daily mouth regime, and I hope that these changes will benefit my frugal side in the future.

• I switched to an electric toothbrush. I use the Sonicare FlexCare toothbrush. It has a special setting for massaging the gums. When I visited the dentist, the dental hygienist complimented my gums.
• I now floss twice a day (after brushing). I used to floss a few times a week. Now, I splurge on dental floss (Oral-B satin floss) to make flossing as fun as possible.
• I use an alcohol-free mouthwash after flossing. I pay a little bit more for Biotene mouthwash. I like that it's gentle and doesn't make me smell like mouthwash (ick).

I have cut back my spending on personal hygiene items. I now purchase shampoo and conditioner at the grocery store only when I have coupons. I try to buy inexpensive mascara (a few slip-ups). However, my dental hygiene budget has increased a lot (replacement heads for the electric toothbrush are about $10/head). I hope to keep my mouth healthy to avoid any cavities (haven't had one yet) and try to keep my teeth as long as possible.

10. Spend money on experiences, not things

Brip Blap wrote a post yesterday, A Little Too Late Advice on Building Wealth. I was extremely impressed with the post. While I didn't agree with all of the advice, I was extremely surprised by how much number 10, spend money on experiences, made me think about my current spending habits. I usually spend my fun money on random trinkets and movie tickets. This month, I've spent $90 on exercise class that I'm really enjoying. I'm also going to try one new thing a month...maybe a sushi making class or pottery class...anything fun!

Small Deposits

I purchased a gift for a baby shower in November and clicked through Fatwallet. I just received $3.17 in my paypal account from that Target purchase. I put the small amount into my down payment account.

I will start depositing my pay checks from my second job in my down payment account. I also picked up a few extra hours in January, March and April. I will not make enough at my second job to meet my $200 monthly goal. The extra hours will bring me a lot closer!

1,000 point MySurvey survey

I just went to MySurvey and I had a survey to fill out. I had the option to earn 1,000 points; but I opted out of the second half of the survey. When I finished the first long survey, I had another short survey waiting for me. When I checked my points balance after taking the second survey, I had enough points (1,000) to redeem for another $10 check! If you have a MySurvey account, you should definitely check your account!

$10 referral bonus added to my down payment fund...

My friend P opened an ING account with a referral e-mail from me. I find it flattering that she asked for my advice on savings accounts (she didn't have one). She is considering the Charles Schwab Investment checking account which I also use. I received the $10 referral bonus and added it to my down payment account. Now I just need an additional $170 to meet my January goal ($200 in my down payment account).

My down payment account now has $1527.95, which is 5.1% of my $30,000 goal. In January, I have deposited $29.47. I have a small pay check from my second job next week, but I'm going to really struggle to find the additional $170.53 in order to meet my January goal...

Clean Apartment...Organized work out schedule

My apartment has never been so clean! My cleaning schedule is working extremely well. I spend about 15 minutes a day cleaning. It doesn't feel like too much work...just a small task every day. So...I've decided to try to design a workout schedule. I want to make sure I'm able to get different activities in every week.

Swimming--2 times a week (Thursday & Sunday/Monday)
Running--at least 2 times a week (Tuesday & Saturday/Sunday)
Cycling--once a week (Tuesday)

Climbing--once a week (Thursday)
Dance--once a week (Wednesday)
Abs--once a week (Thursday)

Reordered....

I just reordered the boxer shorts through Banana Republic online. I'm going to return the extra-large pair to a Banana Republic store when I visit my boyfriend this weekend. I only hope the right size comes this time.

I received the following unhelpful e-mail from the customer service department at Banana Republic.

Dear Saving Diva,

Thank you for your e-mail and recent BananaRepublic.com order #XXXX. We apologize for the problems you have experienced with your Squirrelboxer, item #514844. We are extremely sorry that we have sent the wrong size to you. There are two ways you may return your item:

1. Go to a Banana Republic store. You can always return merchandise purchased online to a Banana Republic store (excluding Banana Republic Factory Stores). Just bring your original invoice, photo ID and the credit card you used to place the order. All merchandise purchased wit ha promotional discount will be refunded for the price paid.

2. Mail it in. For returns: Place the merchandise in a box with your original invoice or store receipt, then send the box back to us via insured mail to the address below. All merchandise purchased with promotional discount will be refunded for the price paid. Please allow1-2 billing cycles from the day you return your package for your account to be credited.

For exchanges: Check the "exchange" box on your original invoice, and list the item(s) you would like to receive in the space provided. Then, include the invoice along with your merchandise in a box and ship it to the address below via insured mail. We will send in-stock items to you right away. We will charge your credit card for the new merchandise and process your credit for returned merchandise as soon as we receive it.

Easy exchange: Return merchandise with the original invoice to the address below, and order your new merchandise at the same time by calling 1.888.277.8953 any time. In-stock items will be shipped within approximately 24 hours at no charge for standard shipping and handling.We will bill your credit card for the new merchandise and process your credit for returned merchandise as soon as we receive it.

All returns and exchanges should be shipped via insured mail to:
Banana Republic Online Returns
5920 Banana Republic Blvd
Groveport, OH 43195-0003

Listed below, you will find the guidelines used when handling returned merchandise:

-Online purchases cannot be returned to Banana Republic Factory Stores.
-Please note that all credit card refunds will be placed on the card used for the original purchase.
-Please allow 3 weeks from the day you return your package for your account to be credited.
-Allow 1-2 billing cycles for the credit to appear on your statement.
-If the original payment was a check, money order, merchandise certificate or gift certificate, you will receive a refund check in the mail.
-Returns With An Original Receipt: A full refund in the original form of payment will be issued for unwashed, unworn or defective merchandise. For items purchased with a check processed as a paper check or via e-check, an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), a mail check will be issued. Valid identification is required for all returns and exchanges.

-Returns Without An Original Receipt: A merchandise exchange or merchandise certificate will be offered for unwashed, unworn or defective merchandise at the current selling price. Merchandise certificates of $5.00 or more will be issued by mail. Merchandise certificates are non-transferable. Valid identification is required for all returns, exchanges and to receive and redeem merchandise certificates.

-Returns With a Gift Receipt or Even Exchange Receipt: A gift receipt or even exchange receipt serves as documentation of the purchase price only. A merchandise exchange or merchandise certificate will be offered for unwashed, unworn or defective merchandise for the price paid.

-Price Adjustments: A one-time price adjustment will be issued when an original receipt is presented within 14 days after the date of the original purchase. A return/exchange, gift or even exchange receipt must be accompanied by an original receipt in order to be eligible for a price adjustment. Price adjustments must be made in the country of the original purchase.-Giftcards, Merchandise Certificates and Gift Certificates: Cannot be redeemed for cash and cannot be applied as payment on any account. Anew merchandise certificate will be issued for the remaining balance of a merchandise certificate, unless the remaining balance is less than$5.00.

-Banana Republic Factory Store: Banana Republic Factory Store merchandise must be returned to a Banana Republic Factory Store. Banana Republic merchandise must be returned to a Banana Republic store.

We hope this information is helpful and look forward to shopping with you soon at BananaRepublic.com.

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Gift wasn't as sweet as the thought....

My boyfriend received the boxer shorts from Banana Republic that I ordered for him last week. He thought the boxers were adorable. However, instead of sending the medium that I ordered, Banana Republic mailed him an extra-large! I double checked my order, and I did order a medium. When I checked on BR online, there are no longer any boxer shorts on sale (only full price). I was extremely annoyed, so I sent an e-mail to the customer service department of Banana Republic. I will keep you posted on the outcome of the situation.

Luckily my boyfriend is laid back and thinks it's funny that he received a pair of extra-large squirrel boxer shorts. If my boyfriend purchased an extra-large pair of underwear for me, I don't think I would be so calm and rational!

Second job...

I put in a few hours at my second job tonight. I have another few hours scheduled at the end of the month at my second job. I have to admit that it's rough to work a 12 hour day, but I really appreciate the extra money in my down payment account on pay day!

Electric Bill is under $20 again

My electric bill is under $20 again this month ($19.33). My friend P's electric bill was $55. Before you congratulate her for reducing her electric bill ($80 in November), she was gone for 3 of the 4 weeks! She left a few lights on for her cats and also left the heat on. Her gas bill was over $100. As a reminder, P and her cats live in a one bedroom apartment with cathedral ceilings.

$10 check from MySurvey

Yesterday I received a $10 check from MySurvey. Today, I filled out a long survey and earned enough points to request another $10 check. I have used my MySurvey earnings to pay for my part of my car insurance, help pay off holiday credit card debt and fund my Prosper account. I have earned $120 through MySurvey, but I am waiting for $20 (2-$10 checks).

I like MySurvey because the surveys are usually pretty short. However, it will take a few surveys to earn $10 (the lowest amount you can cash out with). I dislike that MySurvey only mails checks (no PayPal payments like Pinecone).

Prosper Loans

Update on my Prosper account: I have loaned out to two loans (both with AA credit). My profile has an average interest rate of 10.13%. Both of my loans are current, so I think I'm doing pretty well.

If you would like to sign up with Prosper, considering using one of my links. You receive $25 after you loan or borrow money, and I also receive a $25 referral bonus!

Keeping my apartment clean...

Now that I live alone, I have a bad habit of not cleaning my apartment unless someone is coming over. Since my boyfriend lives so far away, I don't get many visitors. Therefore, my apartment has become a disaster area. In order to combat the mess, I've come up with a cleaning schedule and posted it on my calendar.

• Clean kitchen--once a week (on Mondays) Includes loading/unloading the dishwasher, doing dishes, washing the floor, wiping down the counters.
• vacuum my apartment--once a week (on Tuesdays) Vacuuming the whole apartment should take about 10 minutes.
• Clean Bathroom--every other week (on Wednesdays) Includes cleaning up the sink, wiping down the counter, picking up clothes and towels that I've thrown around.
• Clean toilet--once a month (on Wednesdays)
• Clean shower & tub--once a month (on Wednesdays) I have a automatic shower cleaner, but it's been acting up.
• Clean bedroom--once a week (on Thursdays) Includes changing sheets, picking up clothes and putting away clean laundry.
• Clean living room--every other week (on Fridays) Includes dusting, cleaning up my mail mess, picking up random dishes, and picking up leaves that have fallen from my plants.
• Laundry--every other week (on Saturdays) This is self-explanatory. I hate doing laundry.
• Take out garbage and recycling--every other week (on Sundays) I take out my garbage and recycling during the week, but I will make sure my garbage can and recycling bins are empty. I frequently allow paper recycling to stack up.

Can you think of anything else I should add? I'm working on becoming a neater person in 2008! My mother would be so proud.

What did I buy for $9.28?

I went to the grocery store today because I was out of cereal. I'm almost out of money (Friday is pay day), so I really needed to make every penny count. Armed with coupons, a few bottles to return and the newspaper insert; I went grocery shopping!

• Horizon Organic Skim Milk (half gallon) $3.29. I could have saved a lot of money if I would have purchased regular milk in a plastic container. However, I'm trying to start eating more organic foods which isn't the most frugal idea.
• Kellogg's Smart Start Cereal $2.50. It was on sale, and I love cereal! When I finish this box, I will purchase my organic cereal from whole foods bulk bins.
• 2 Organic Apples $0.94. I only purchased these because they were on sale, but I'm sure I will eat them.
• Organic Baby Carrots $1.50. On sale, but this was on my shopping list.
• Store brand ranch dressing $1.25. This was an impulse purchase, but I will definitely eat this with the carrots and cucumber (in my fridge).
• 3 pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream $0. The total for the ice cream was $10.98, but a friend gave me coupons for free pints of Ben & Jerry's for Christmas. I don't think this ice cream will help with my weight loss goal, but I will eat my ice cream instead of running to the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop down the street.

I also received a $.20 credit for returning a few empty bottles that friends had left at my apartment and in my car. My total bill came to $9.28. This was an irregular shopping trip because I'm working on eating what I already have in my apartment.

eBates vs. Fatwallet

I've posted a lot about Fatwallet and the cash back program. I enjoy getting 3%-8% back on my purchases through Fatwallet and about 1% through my credit card company. However, recently I've started comparing Fatwallet's cash back amounts to eBates. At first, I signed up for eBates because of the $5 bonus you receive after making your first qualifying purchase. Now, I notice that eBates frequently has higher percentages and different stores than Fatwallet. However, I'm not a total convert. I still love FatWallet, and here' why:

1. After the confirmation period (usually about 90 days), I can deposit the cash into my paypal account, which is directly attached to my down payment account.
2. No paper checks!
3. The Fatwallet forums have great deals, coupon codes (also check out slickdeals), and awesome discussions.

Horrible tipping...

Last night, I met up with a few friends for a drink. They had already been at the bar for a while and had a table. I ordered a beer (Carlsberg if anyone cares) and asked for a separate check because I didn't have any cash (didn't plan on going out). My beer was $5 and I left a $1 tip. The other bill was $50 (for three people) and one of the guys offered to pick it up. We had to both toss our signed receipts in the same book, so I saw that he only left a $3.50 tip! While our service was not fantastic, I didn't think it was horrible, but I had missed the first few hours. Unsure of how to react, we left. I feel guilty for not putting down more for the waiter....

What would you have done? Do you think I was wrong for not changing my $1 tip to $10? Should I have said something? Since I had just met the guy, I didn't feel comfortable saying something.

PPP pays out again...

I added $5 to my down payment account courtesy of PPP. My goal of adding $200 to my down payment account in January is going to be extremely difficult. I am working about 8 hours at my part time job this month, but I won't receive one of the pay checks until February :( Therefore, I'm trying to be spend less money in my budgeted categories like fun and food. For example, I wanted to go out to get fries for dinner...but I had some frozen fries (my bf made them one night) in my freezer. I made fries and had them for dinner...I guess that may have saved a few dollars, but it will make it more difficult to lose 5 pounds this month (another goal). I'm trying to eat food that is already in my apartment....I have a lot of canned and frozen food that I bought on sale....a while ago...

I spent $4.23 on what?!

My boyfriend now lives 3.5 hours away. I will see him every other week end when I drive to visit him.

Today, I had a moment of weakness when I was browsing at Banana Republic online. I saw the cute squirrel boxer shorts for $4.99. I had codes for 20% off (SHOPSPRING) and free shipping (WELCOME). I also clicked through eBates to get 3% cashback.

My boyfriend just moved doesn't know any one in the area. I thought it would make him smile if I sent him a care package. When I saw these boxers, I thought I would send these instead.

The $4.23 for the boxer shorts is from my fun money budget. I know this was an impulse purchase, but I just couldn't resist. Please feel free to post mean comments. :)

Down Payment Account is slowly growing...

I checked on the progress of my down payment account today after I deposited $.46 from a Fatwallet cash back purchase. My down payment account has a grand total of $1507.49, which is 5% of my $30,000 goal! My down payment account is currently at ING with an APY of 4.1%. I opened this account because I received a referral and a $25 bonus. If you're interested in opening an ING savings account with at least $250, please use link #1 or link #2 for a $25 referral bonus. Please let me know if you use one of the links. Also, I will receive a $10 bonus that will be added to my down payment account. If you're interested in the Electric Orange Checking account, please use link #3 or link #4 (3.15% APY).

Ordered a $10 check from MySurvey

I received an e-mail that I had a survey waiting for me at MySurvey. I went and filled it out...When I was done, I had enough points (1,080) to redeem for a $10 check! I'm still waiting for another check from MySurvey. I need to start checking for surveys more frequently because PPP has stopped giving me opps.

One of my last PPP payments...

I deposited $5.50 into my down payment account from a PPP opportunity that I posted last month. Since my Google ranking has gone to 0 with PPP, I no longer have any opportunities :( Since PPP has added so much to my down payment account, I requested a few extra hours at my second job (still waiting to hear if I get the hours).

I signed up for another class...

I signed up for another workout class (oops!), so I'm really going to have to scrimp on fun this month. However, this class is through a gym close to work and during my lunch hour. I signed up with one of my coworkers, so I think we'll stick with it. This class also runs through April...However, this class will cost $50...

Last night, I went to my first spinning class, and I'm addicted! It was a really great workout. I also jogged on the treadmill for 3 miles after the class. It felt really good to be active again. I'm hoping this spinning class will help with my triathlons this coming summer.

While working out is going well, my diet still leaves something to be desired. Yesterday, I ate 3 cupcakes! I'm still trying to work on my eating issues. Until I get my diet under control, my weight loss will be stagnant.

Classes at my Gym

I decided to get the most out of my gym membership by signing up for the free competition and the free classes. I also signed up for two classes ($40 total) that start this week. I paid $15 for a spinning class (once a week for 60 minutes) and $25 for a dance class (once a week for 75 minutes). With my membership ($30), I will spend $70 for at my gym this month. I realize that I've doubled the cost of my gym membership, so I'm going to have to spend a lot of time at the gym to make the most of my money. Since I'm also trying to kick start my weight loss, so I'm just going to bite the bullet and spend the money....

January Goals

Since I just posted my year end goals, I thought I should complete mini goals toward my 2008 goals....

1. Weight=135. I plan on reaching this goal by working out at least 5 times a week. I signed up for a spinning class and a dance class through my gym. I will also participate in the work-out competition to keep my motivation high.


2. Deposit $200 in my Emergency Fund. I have the $200 for my emergency fund in my budget, so I just need to spend according to my budget!


3. Deposit $200 in my Down Payment Fund. I'm only working a few hours this month at my part time job, so I'm going to have to come up with the money by staying under budget in other categories.

Goals for 2008

I've been a little slow with posting my goals for 2008.

1. Increase my net worth to $30,000. Since I hope to go back to school in the fall, I think this will be a really difficult goal.
2. Lose weight. I'm currently 140 pounds (I can't believe I just posted the actual number), and I would like to weigh around 120 pounds. I hope to achieve this goal by June 2008.
3. $3,000 in emergency fund. I will have to deposit at least $200 in my EF every month....this is going to be my most difficult goal.
4. $4,000 in down payment fund. Currently, my down payment account has $1,498.48. In order to reach the goal, I would need to deposit an additional $2,501.52, which would be about $208.46 per month.
5. Get into graduate school. I've finished my applications...now, I'm just waiting.

Thanks for the referrals!

Since I had a recent spike in visitors last week, I thought I would say link to my top 10 referrers!

1. Well-Heeled, With a Mission--Wanda is starting the year with a new job and some serious goals. She's going to try to go 6 months without purchasing clothing! I struggled to make one month!
2. My Open Wallet--Madame X is the reason I started my own personal finance blog.
3. Thoughts from a SF Renter--Right now, SF Money Musings is discussing her life (both financial and not) and examining her next step.
4. Give Me Back My Five Bucks--In 2007, Krystal paid off a lot of debt. Now, she's looking for a job and she has some serious requirements. Good luck, Krystal!
5. Mrs. Micah: Finance for a Freelance Life--A few months ago, Mrs. Micah had a job she hated. Now, she's piecing together income from a few jobs (at a library, screening babies) to make ends meet.
6. I've Paid For This Twice Already...I love her snowflaking method! Plus, she gives a lot of great tips about living frugally!
7. Fabulously Broke in The City--She just got a divorce, has a new boyfriend, and is more stylish than ever!
8. Vixen On A Budget--Recently ended a long term relationship and is working on creating her goals for 2008!
9. Iowahippiechick--Reflective (check out 2007 Analysis)
10. Frugal Babe

Thank you for the referrals!

Free Checking with 4% APY

I switched my checking account to Charles Schwab Investor Checking in August. For 2007, my checking account earned $17.70 in interest! Since the account is free, I make money with the interest and I get free checks, which I had to pay for with Chase. I transfer money out of my Schwab account at the end of the month, so I only keep money for expenses (rent, car payment, etc) in the account. I can't believe I made about $3.54 per month without any major changes.

I also allocate part of my paycheck ($300/month) to another checking account. This account has a lot of local ATMs. The money is for fun ($100/month) and for food ($200/month). It has been easier to stick to my fun & food budget when it's separated from the rest of my money.

Back Home...

My boyfriend is now moved in to his new apartment and I'm back in mine. The drive is about 3 1/2 hours. I plan on visiting twice a month, so my gas budget is going to double or triple. I plan on trying to cut back in other categories--eating out, groceries (I'm in the process of eating down my cabinets), movies, and frivolous purchases ($5 purchases that really add up at the end of the month). Being in a long distance is frustrating, I'm going to try to keep the financial impact as minimal as possible!

Keep Electric Costs Down While I'm Gone

Since I'm going to be gone for a few days, I want to make sure that my apartment uses minimal electricity while I'm gone. I'm not going to unplug all of my clocks (I hate to reset them). I want to create a quick check list of things to do before leaving home for a few days (or longer) to minimize electricity usage.

1. Unplug TV, VCR, DVD player, or any device that can be turned on with a remote. They're on stand-by mode. I have all of my remote devices plugged into a power strip that I turn off when I leave.
2. Unplug kitchen appliances--toasters, blenders, coffee makers, etc. I leave my microwave plugged in because I hate to reset the clock.
3. Turn off all of the lights! Double check every room (and closet).
4. Turn off my computer. I occasionally forget and leave it in standby....
5. Remove any chargers from the wall. I have to unplug my cellphone and iPod chargers...they use electricity even when the device is not plugged in.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Helping my boyfriend move...

I'll be gone for a few days because I'm helping my boyfriend move. He's going to be about 3 hours away (ugh), so it's going to be horrible on my gas budget! I hope every one has a great weekend!

Requested a prize from CashDuck

I don't have a place of change. I set it on a dresser or in a purse...but I don't have a set place to let it collect. I decided that I need to get a bank for pennies, nickels and dimes (quarters are for laundry). I've looked a few places, but haven't had much luck. Today, I checked my CashDuck account and realized I had enough feathers (50) to redeem for a ceramic ducky bank. I'm really excited about finally having a place to put my change.

I haven't earned any cash or gift certificates from the site like a lot of other people have. However, I don't really go to the site very often.

130 visitors!

Yesterday, January 2nd, I had a record breaking 130 visitors! Thank you to all of my readers! I'm really excited about getting over the 100 visitors point.

Get the most out of my gym membership....

My gym membership is $30/month. I feel like I get a pretty good deal....However, I've decided to step it up and get the most out of my gym. I'm going to start taking advantage of all of the free activities and programs that are offered.

I'm going to start attending the free classes. I went to one this morning with one of my friends. After the class, we noticed the gym is having a little competition. Sign up for the competition is free and there are prizes...it sounded pretty great, so my friend and I signed up this morning.

If I'm paying $30/month for my gym membership, I should make sure I'm getting at least $60/month out of the gym. Then my gym membership will feel like a GREAT deal! :) Plus, if I'm busy with things at the gym, I won't be able to escape to the mall!

January Budget

My January budget is pretty tight. I'm going to try to add $200 to my emergency fund. However, I will not be able to purchase any clothing during the month of January. I am going to try to jump start my weight loss journey, so I hope that I will be back to a size 2 within a few months...

Health Care $184

Rent $670
Utilities $64 (electric and Internet)

Car Payment & Insurance $323 (this also includes my rental insurance)

Gas $100
I've started driving to work and my boyfriend moved to another state, so I hope to keep my gas usage BELOW $100....
Parking $60

Gym membership $30

Food $200
This is going to be difficult while trying to eat all organic, but I will try to stop eating out. I will pack lunch and snacks for work! I will also try to eat produce that is on sale.

Retirement $710

Fun $100

Emergency Fund $200
I really need to make an effort to increase my EF. I currently have about $500 in the account. If I lose my job, I have enough money to survive about 1/3 of a month!

GRE score reporting $75
It was supposed to be charged to my credit card in December, but ETS must have bumped it back until January.

I have a $1 buffer! I really need to stick to this budget! I have $0 in my budget for clothing, travel, and gifts!

December was a SPENDING month!

I spent a lot of money in December! My poor budget didn't have a chance!

Rent $670 Since my rent is fixed, I can't over spend!

Health Care $141.04
I was $28.96 under budget($170).

Utilities $19.31 (electric)
I've been trying to keep my electric bill down. I switched to CFLs and try to turn of the lights when I leave the room. However, I still budget $30 for this category, so the remainder is thrown into my fun money (motivation to turn of the lights).

Car Payment & Insurance $398
I budgeted $328. I forgot about my annual AAA membership renewal. I know a lot of people think this is a waste of money, but I used it twice this year! Plus, I've received more money back in savings. I saved over $30 on a hotel stay this summer. I also received maps for a road trip I took back in April. I also frequently shop at Target online and save 10% (great for baby & bridal shower registry gifts).

Gas & Parking $188
I was over budget by $88!! Parking was $81 (I was expecting around $50). I spent $107 on gas! I ended up driving a lot more than I expected this month. The trip to the casino was unexpected. I also drove my parents to the airport and picked them up. I've also had to take care of my coworker's cat (in the next town over). My coworker sent me an e-mail today letting me know that he needs me to care for it until the end of January! I'm going to send him an e-mail letting him know that he REALLY needs to find someone else. I thought it was only going to be a week long gig (not 5).

Gym membership $30

Food $272.82
I was over budget by $72.82! I spent $105.78 on eating out! I also spent an additional $167.04 on groceries. I think the increased grocery bill is because I've started shopping at Whole Foods and eating organic produce and drinking organic milk. I plan on continuing to shop for organic food, but I NEED to get my eating out budget down!

Fun $139.06
I went over by $39.06!
$42.56 on beauty--hair cut, Aveda hair product, and a new lip gloss.
$45.50 on movies. I went to see a LOT of movies in the theater.
$51 on home decor--I bought a photograph at a silent auction and framed it. It looks fantastic!

Emergency Fund $0
I planned on adding $175 to my emergency fund. Unfortunately, I spent all of that money on other things!

Gifts $296.27
I budgeted $200, so I went WAY over budget!

I also spent $340.53 on the graduate school application process during the month of December. This includes stamps and postage, application fees, and transcript requests. I budgeted $200 in November, but I didn't think that I needed any additional money during the month of December...I was WRONG!

I really didn't spend according to my budget this month. I'm extremely disappointed with myself. I will try to be more frugal this month. However, I still have a few things that haven't been charged to my credit cards for graduate school admissions....so it will be hard to stay within my budget.

Year end goals...

In August, I wrote a few goals that I wanted to accomplish at the end of 2007....

I would like to have a down payment account with at least $1500
My down payment account has $1498.48! If I would have realized how close I was, I would have deposited the remaining $1.52! :) Oh well, I'm still very happy with my progress.

I would like to have an Emergency Fund with at least $500
I have $503.53 in my emergency fund. I have an additional $101.01 in my car maintenance fund.

I would like to have a net worth of $20,000, excluding my car
My net worth is $21,494!

I only made 2 out of the 3 goals, but I was so close on the 3rd goal that I consider it a success!

End of the Year Net Worth

I ended the year of a net wroth of $21,494. I excluded the money that I have invested in Prosper because I'm unsure of how to calculate the actual value of the money. I have $477.92 on my credit cards. I will pay this off before I acquire any interest on the cards. The high amount is due to the holiday season and my graduate school application fees.