2 Priveleged 4 Too Long Personal Finance Blog

DisneySteve made a comment today that he knows someone who goes to a convenience store to buy milk...even though he over pays by .50 he really saves because he doesn't buy other unexpected items.

I took his advice to heart today. I needed to refill our propane gas tank for the forth of July; I also needed diapers, milk and a new collar for our cat--the old one broke off one night while she roamed the streets.

It was my plan to conveniently go to Home Depot and to Target...two stores that get me to overspend every time. Instead I went to Petco for the collar and new tag ($14). The collar was .30 more than Target, but over all a much cheaper shopping trip (I never leave Target for under $100). I went to a mom and pop boat store for the propane gas and actually spent much much less for the gas than at Home Depot as they refill your empty tank for 1/2 the price as a tank exchange...you just have to wait 10 mins--for 1/2 the price I had time). I was stoked! I saved almost $15! Not to mention the $85 I saved by not buying "no needs" at Target!

I went to Albertsons for the store brand bulk diapers and 2 gallons of soy milk which I just discovered is cheaper than Vons.

For the first time in my life I cut up a credit card that was not yet expired! Wow how surprisingly inspiring it felt!

The only bummer was that upon paying bills later I realized that another credit card with a low promotional 1% rater had a minimum due on July 1st...yesterday...a Sunday that I didn't realize. I really hope they don't increase my rater considering the due date was a Sunday. I went first thing this morning to the bank to pay it directly.

Any suggestions, or prior experience in this area?

Just got groceries for the week at Trader Joe's. Again I went over by about $25. I also need to make my quarterly stop at Smart and Final where I get our cleaning supplies/paper towels/etc. I wanted to keep it to only $100.00, I went over by about $25, because they had sugar free Popsicles $4.00 which my 3yr old loves, also they had a special on Eggo Waffles $8.00 for 60 waffles (normally 3.99 for 12), and the large Hebrew National Hot dogs on special for $7.79; Oh...and also 2 boxes of snack pack size gold fish crackers. So I bought 4 things that I wasn't anticipating on buying, but at least they are things I know we will consume, and things I know I would have paid almost twice as much for at the regular grocery store.

Found 2 checks in unopened mail we just received today from our escrow that closed in April.

The first was for $35.00; The second was for $375.00!

$400.00 going towards the credit cards!!! yeah!

I didn't spend any money yesterday thank goodness. However, I really have to get my husband to join in on this savings plan with me--he spent about $100 yesterday on a boogie board and wet suit that he'll probably only use 3 more times this summer! I haven't yet told him what I'm doing as I want to make sure I can really commit to this! Not that I really have a choice. From what I understand, it takes about 3 weeks to start and really commit to a new routine. I hope thats true!

So far today I'm doing pretty well. We have friends in from out of town. Usually in the mornings we go to breakfast at a restaurant. I skipped the restaurant for financial and dietary reasons...however I used my youngest fussy daughter as an excuse. My husband and other daughter still went, but still it is a savings of about $15 for my breakfast alone. So that's good!

I went into Trader Joes today to buy food for a lunch barbecue we're having with friends tomorrow. I went in with the intension of only spending $50 and only grabbed a hand basket so as not to spend too much. I went over by $25. I spent $75 total. At that I still forgot to get Avocados and lemons. I did tell my friend to bring avocados which will cost me nothing!

Today I was hungry. I passed La Salsa...craved their shrimp burrito and passed it up. 1 because I promise to cut fast food out of my life for dietary reasons and 2 because I made a pledge to save $20 a week and I know fast food is a money drain. Instead of spending I came home and ate a low fat left over Top Ramen instead of letting it go bad. I saved about 300 calories and about $8.00!

After I talked myself down from a Party City 4th of July spending spree, I found myself in CVS pharmacy picking up some photos I had dropped off the day before. My daughter was with me and begged me for a $7 Hula Hoop. Instead of saying no, I bought it, plus I bought one for me! Ridiculous. So a $13 photo trip turned into a $29.00 waste of money. I am really not allowed to go to party city now--only $30 in the save pot now

I realized today that I hadn't gone to party City today to get any goodies for the 4th of July festivities on our block. I always say to myself each holiday, I'm just going to spend $10. Somehow I never seem to get out of that store for less than $60. So I promised to not go anywhere near that store this week. If I am sucessful, I will put the $60 I would have spent in my monthly savings account.

Currently our saving is at $30,000...this is mostly stocks.

In the past I have cashed in the stocks to pay off credit card debt, but the money never seems to get paid back and the credit card debt returns very quickly.

I need a good plan for saving each day or each week.

I think I should start by putting extra money each morning I get from my husband's pants pockets before I wash them and squirrel that away.

Our first goal is to Get Out Of Debt ($75,000 )by July 2008 ($28,000 CC; $30,000 loan; $15,000 loan). Our second goal is to Replenish Our Savings back to $250,000 ($60,000 stock; $150,000 DwnPyt $40,000 extra)

My husband nor I are gamblers. He had to go to Hollywood Park today for a story he is researching (he is a writer). As a result he took $200 out of our account and won $400! Much of that went to paying the house cleaner