Little by Little

Bit by bit... that is how everything is built, everything that's anything of value.  It takes time, but time goes by so quickly.  One week till June and I feel like we just started the year 2014!

I've been thinking lately of starting to have a designated amount going to Montessori savings each week.  Ideally I'd raise $10,000 in the next 12 months which means I would have to average $834 per month going towards it, or roughly $208 per week, unless my bonuses go towards it.  I think my bonuses could go solely towards living expenses while studying (housing, groceries, cell phone, CrossFit).

I have a lot of hesitation to committing to Montessori -- I'd lose my job security and other things -- but at the same time it's a good new direction; I'm just deathly afraid of being unprepared or left high and dry.  I feel like I should work and save for an extra year to have savings as back-up but that may not even be prudent.  You have to have enough momentum to do something; if I put it off too long I will spend the money on something else and never do it.  In a way, when the rubber meets the road you make it work -- that's why it's easier to pay off debt than to save for something, because you have to pay it off so you find a way.  We so often make excuses when it comes to saving for something we don't have to save for (don't have to, in our justifications, that is).

Anyway, if I'm wanting to put aside $208 per week the next 12 months it would be a lot easier if I were splitting rent, and Philly is quite interested.  We're going to talk about it -- maybe next weekend.  If she did room with me, my rent would drop by $225 per month which is a slam-dunk savings towards Montessori.  Pretty great!

I know that if I just didn't think about it (like I do currently for rent) and just kept stowing away that money I would have the savings before I knew it.  If there is anything we finally learn after we turn 25 it's that time keeps going; there is no stopping it.  Why not let its ceaseless, effortless pendulum work in our favor?  Little by little -- Rome was not built in a day.

Clare has me thinking about doing my Montessori training in Europe -- strange as that sounds, I'm tempted.  Both London and Barcelona (oh, and St. Petersburg) :D have AMI-accredited Montessori schools, and although the pros of going to Minnesota are much more in number, I want to weigh the experience as well, because studying something I'd already be studying, but doing it abroad, is tantalizing.  Eduardo says that the Spanish people may seem cold to tourists or not very smiley, but once you start talking to them they are quite friendly and welcoming.  Interesting, eh?  He lives very near Barcelona so that is the folk of which he speaks. :)

That is it for now!

"Shop at KMart"

Well, because the brakes in my car worry me I stuck to local grocery shopping this past weekend and I must say I got almost nothing for what I spent.  Almost $50 at Ray's for some cheese, celery, carrots, hummus (majorly on sale), apples, gum, and water.  I could have bought 4x as much at Aldi's for that price and I have been feeling it!  Granted I didn't spend the gas money to go to Topeka but I think it must cost less in the exchange!

That is my contribution of wisdom for this week!  Whew!

Diet + Lifestyle Accountability Request

Good morning, dear Ladies!

I am posting to let you know that I'd like you to hold me accountable for eating better and being more active.  Lately I have been falling into this slump where I just sit and stare at a screen in the evening and naturally, when I do that, I am tempted to eat, and to eat what's fast and convenient.

It's a super-vicious cycle because I know for a fact that the more active I am the less I overeat and the better I eat, and same for the reverse -- the more and the worse I eat the less active I am.

To be continued - must run! ~

Update from Rose...

The only vocal member of the team ;)

Yesterday I went into Manhattan to do my grocery shopping so I could use today to clean, air out my house, and exercise with Mamma.

After Caff came over and visited for a little while before saying goodbye (she and Bern road-trip back to Colorado today) I headed in to the Mall in Manhattan.  I haven't been in a clothes store in a long time and I have $30 in my clothes envelope so I thought I'd drop in.  Also I think shopping is kind of like eating -- if you savor it you are more satisfied by it then if you rush around, so I figured I would savor it.

Tried on a workout outfit in JCPenney and came so close to buying it (I was in line at the checkout) but decided against it.  The pants fit well except they were too long but otherwise I really liked them.  However, even 50% off they were $18 and I was thinking that was a bit steep for something I'd have to alter.  If I can't forget about them then I'll go back sometime and see if they're still on sale, but otherwise I'm content with the capris I have.  Also, I could not decide on the shirt because the one that matched fit rather dumpily (stretched out easily) and the polo shirt that I preferred was a slightly different yellow.  So all-in-all, I thought, I'll save my money and think about it.

Yesterday I withdrew $345 from SMSB:

• $125 rent (joined the $375 in the rent envelope) > all set for May's rent
• $100 groceries
• $10 scents
• $50 gas
• $10 clothes
• $20 car
• $15 fru fru

Spent:

• $56.73 on groceries

And that's actually it.  When I got home I spent $6.99 to rent a movie on Amazon (came out this year; that's why it was so expensive) but that is it for this week so far.  OH!  Not quite - spent XX (very little) at Ray's on flowers and lemon juice for Monnie.  That is my own secret. ;)

Today I am planning to withdraw $35 for May's cigarettes, $1,000 to put in my Emergency Fund envelope (if SMSB lets me withdraw that much in one day).

That will leave about $515 in my savings account and $118 in my checking (enough for tithes on Sunday).  Some other day I'll withdraw from savings -- $180 to put in my car envelope and $270 to put in my Christmas envelope (from my tax returns but I'd rather have it in cash).  That means that general savings is only about $65.  Helps put it in perspective.

This is a little surreal... having money.  Although when you divvy it out you feel rather a pauper but later when you have it there, you feel like a king.  Surreal...  'Nuff said.  Have a fantastic day!

Friday's Trip to Topeka

Hello!

At last I have a chance to update my buddies on my trip into Topeka Good Friday night.

Mom got the scoop when she came over Holy Saturday morning but this is for Monnie if she is interested and for my own records. :)

May I just say that procrastination is key in not spending?  Haha!  The longer you can put off buying something or needing to buy something, the better!

I also would like to insert a brief comment on the psychology of how you dress when you go shopping.  I have quite the hunch that being more put-together and neat in your attire when you go shopping helps very much with feeling put together and organized in your spending.  Strange as that may sound you know how they "dress for success"!

One last note -- I am quite smitten with the idea of separate transactions (at the same checkout) for things that come from different envelopes.  REALLY helps keep it clear -- the change goes back in the right spot and you have separate receipts.

Alright, here's the lowdown, mates!

Withdrew $320 from SMSB:

• $125 rent (joined the $250 in the rent envelope)
• $100 groceries (joined the leftover $13 from last week in the groceries envelope)
• $15 scents
• $50 gas (joined the $35 left in the gas envelope)
• $10 clothes (joined the $10 in the clothes envelope)
• $20 car

Spent:

• $85.69 on groceries (leaving $14 + 13 in the grocery envelope, total = $17)
• $9.95 on a dozen red roses and baby's breath (leaving $5 in the scents envelope)
• $30.75 on gas (leaving $19.25 + 35 in the gas envelope, total = $54.25)

And that's it!  I don't think I'll ever forget the picture of the sale sign in the store saying "You could save 100% if you don't buy anything today!"  LOVE IT.  So true!

What's funny is that I was scrupulously tallying every item as I added it to my cart and found myself around $121 by the end.  I reassessed my cart and put back a few things that I knew I could wait on or that weren't strictly necessary and traded my hunk of cheese for a smaller hunk of cheese.  I did not think I would come in much under $100 so I obviously put back more than I realized.

I have known the taste of regret far too many times to ever want to taste it again.

And do I feel stretched and strained with the groceries I bought?  Just ask me!  No, I don't.  I have a beautiful (organic) cauliflower, gorgeous (organic) beets, (organic) eggs, (organic) yogurt, Bonne Maman jam, fresh bread, cheese, turkey burgers, (organic) milk, (organic) half and half, hummus, cottage cheese, (organic) oats, and (organic) jasmine green tea.

All that and I managed to buy the stuff to make my Easter dessert dish, namely, (organic) Peanut Butter, (organic) sugar, and (organic) chocolate chips.  Oh, and 5 (very important) gallons of water.

And on top of that I still have a pear, a couple kiwis, some turnip, and miscellanea from last week's trip.

I do think I was lucky this time because it seemed like half the stuff I needed to buy was on sale, so I saved $10.09 but I don't think that's something you can't do on a regular basis if you're carefully about shopping the sales and not buying something till it IS on sale.

Speaking of procrastination, though, I still have not actually bought the stuff to make laundry detergent on Amazon.com although my $25 gift card from last week's grocery trip was for that.  I don't mean to sound miserly but it makes you feel like you're your own certificate of deposit in a way, to have money or a gift card just sitting there -- it seems to increase in value the longer it sits there simply because between the time you earned it and now you have done nothing to keep earning it and yet it is still there.  Nothing... except not spending it, that is.  A penny saved is TRULY a penny earned.

But I am out of laundry detergent now, so I am off to buy some Fels Naptha and the like, through smile.amazon.com.  I'm so glad they now let you support a charity through the site!  That is just awesome - a real win-win!

Anyway, that is it, mates!  Thank you for reading :)

Knight in Shining... Qualities

Finally "finished" my List of Qualities for mi hombre (la locura y la razon)!  "Finished" is in quotes because it was HARD!  This is a theoretical list so I mainly went off guys I know and what I like vs. what drives me crazy.

Came up with these qualities in the last couple weeks of March when I realized it is something I really need to do so that if a relationship pops up as they sometimes do, I won't get carried away and forget what I'm looking for.  I have at last asterisked the deal-breakers (the best I could) and written out the corresponding qualities for ME to practice to complement.  It's not a one-way street. :)

Posting it here just kind of for my own reference.  But yes, I suppose you gals could use it to remind me next time I forget. ;P

Accountability Buddy Update :)

My e-mail to Monica April 13th:

Hi Monnie,

Just wanted to let you know I did better yesterday in my trip to Topeka.  My totals added up and my change matches. :)

I also have a clearer image of what's in my savings and checking, since the cost of the Symbicort and whatnot.

I actually had the man at Target do separate transactions so that I paid from my grocery fund for the coconut oil, and put the scents (candles) on my debit card!  That kept it crystal clear so I think that's a good practice.  Even if you pay in cash for both, just to have separate receipts helps.

What I have started noticing is that I used to buy a LOT on impulse, and I didn't realize how MUCH I spent on things I didn't really need or use.  That makes it much easier not to spend, realizing that what I am buying now is actually of value to me.  Makes it a lot easier to put things back, thinking through if I'll actually use it or if I actually need it.

Also results in cherishing what you own!  E.g. my nightgowns are really almost more dear to me now because they are quite functional and pretty and I don't need new ones. :)  PJ's have always been a weakness in the past but now I just love the PJ's I own more. :)

Anyway - all that being said, here are the numbers:

Withdrew $270:

• $130 for rent

• $100 for grocery

• $20 for fru fru

• $20 for car expenses

Still had in envelopes:

• $13 for grocery

• $25 for car expenses

• $6 for cigarettes

Spent:

• $230 in rent (envelope)

• $103 in grocery (including wine)

• $25 of this is an Amazon gift card which will go towards the stuff to make laundry detergent (totaling $30 so will buy next week)

• I didn't get a $30 gift card because I couldn't figure at that moment exactly how much grocery I had left and wanted to play it safe

• left $10 in envelope

• $48 in car (very exciting stuff)

• took $3 from fru fru to cover this

• $6.29 scented candles (SMSB debit)

• $2 coffee (fru fru)

• $0 in gas

• $0 in cigarettes (still have 2-1/2 packs at home) :)

Remaining in envelopes:

• $15 in fru fru (need to deposit $3 to cover an Amazon movie rental or move $3 to scents)

• $10 in grocery

• $6 in cigarettes

Remaining in debit account: $105.18

• $50 SSPX

• $35 gas

• $10 clothes

• $3.71 scents

Savings account: $1657.59

• $268 car

• $180 Christmas

• $1209 Emergency Fund

• $50 SSPX

• $35 gas

• $10 clothes

• $3.71 scents

The cost of fitness is not in debit so there is $30 missing somewhere.  I think it's because I overspent on fru fru last week through Amazon instant video (a few hit my checking account last week that are $2.99 apiece).  I'm going to keep a closer eye on the cost of those and be stricter about subtracting them from Fru Fru.

I don't know if this made sense but hope so :)

Take care and thanks for your support!

And her reply:

Thanks for the update!! That all makes sense to me, except one part - which probably makes sense to you and that's what matters most. :) I just wasn't sure about this - 

"Remaining in debit account: $105.18

Do you mean that the $105.18 is spoken for by the items below it (leaving roughly $6 as buffer)? Or are the items listed still in the account, but after they're debited, you'll have $105 remaining? 

That was the only thing that I wasn't sure about... everything else made sense, and sounds great! It sounds like it's getting a little smoother and you're finding those unaccounted for money-leaks (like buying groceries on impulse). That's a big and very helpful step! 

I clarified:

That means the 105.18 is divvied into those categories with about $6 as a buffer :)