Wednesday, April 4, 2007
vacation?
Ok I just did a little pricing, just for the hell of it. Flight is going to cost me about $500 if I find a good deal. Hotels I'm budgeting at an average $60 a night for like a week. I'm also thinking about stomping around D.C. taking photos of pretty much everything. I'm think I can pull it off at about $1500.
DMB
Summer Tour dates announced on 3/28. Shoreline 9/29. Tickets on sale 4/22. I'm going to get a pair of seats for it. $61 each plus fees. Guess what, there is no way this is going on my spending account... it is an essential dammit! lol...
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
anticipation
So I hear I might be getting my camera by the end of the week. The call to Sony wasn't very useful. They didn't even have a tracking number for me. She sort of guessed I will have it on friday from FedEx at the earliest. *sigh* She sounded like me, except I know how to look for tracking numbers =P
I was very very bored in class tonight. It was one of those days where I want to just get up from my seat, scream, and get out of the building. Alas, I didn't do it. I just ended up shopping around for rubber stamps. In fact, I did a whole bunch of shopping today, but didn't buy anything.
After a bit of soul searching (yes, that is what I do when I'm trying to tune out the lecture), I've decided I need to implement yet another incarnation of my savings plan. Well actually what I had before was working pretty well, I just need to put in a spending limit/clause/something. I have spent way too much in the last few weeks, I need to get back on the frugal track. With that, I need to do a little bit of math.
-- I net about $600 per month from work. That's after deductions, taxes, stock purchase, 401K, charity and such, and that is how much I have to work with.
-- Priority goes to the essentials and recurring charges such as: Phone Bill ($90.84), Netflix ($19.47), Gym ($28), Gas (budgeted at $50... ouch), Grocery ($80... about $20 a week for lunch stuff), Dinner and Bowling (3 games at $7.50, dinner at $12.50.... $20x4 = $80). At the total of $348.31, and let's round that up to $350.
-- $600 - $350 = $250 is what I have left on what I earned. True my parent do give me some money at the beginning of the month, but I do prefer not to touch that at all. I do have an agenda as I will talk about later.
-- I typically do get a little bit more then $300 on each of my pay check. That extra amount will now go to my newly established vacation fund. Oh you KNOW what that's for =P
-- I actually went and set up 2 shadow accounts on Quicken. Both of these accounts has running totals in it, but the actual amount of money are respectively in my checking and savings accounts. The spending account gets $250 added to it at the beginning of every month. I can spend it as I will, or keep it in there to add to a bigger amount later. The vacation fund is a portion of my savings that is for just that... a vacation. The amount gets added from the excess from my bi-weekly paycheck, and my current system of keeping the change. My collection of change accumulates at the end of each night when I deposit any loose change or dollar bills into my dish. Everytime my bills reaches $10, it is added to my Vacation Fund. Loose change will get counted once my bottles gets full.
-- Ok... back to my $250 of spending money for the MONTH. I would love to put 20% of that into savings. So that leaves me $50 per week... not too realistic I know, but it's something I can shoot for. If I can accumlate $50 per month towards the spending account, I'm looking at an extra $400 for December. Of course I am not going to put every single transaction onto it. I will only put down things I deem nonessential. It pains me to say it, but I'm putting things such as scrapbook supplies, camera supplies, games, extra clothing, eating out and such down on this account. I'm trying to be strict on myself. These are things I don't really need (well some would argue I know...). What this really means is that I can't buy anything on impulse. I need to really think about how each purchase has an impact on my budget for the month. I will probably end up buying things towards the end of the month, after weeding out things that are just wasteful.
So there it is, my savings/spending plan.
I still have potentially another year of school to go. What I really want is to have enough money saved by then to live comfortably after I get out. Get a full time job, get a place of my own. I already have the majority of stuff I need to furnish my place. Everything in my storage unit is enough to furnish a small condo. And of course a fully stocked kitchen. I have so much stuff in there I really can't wait to use them again. It's almost sad to see all my stuff in boxes piled into a corner. I'm suddenly really looking forward to it. To feel that sense of independence. It looked pretty scary before, especially when it became a road I'd walk on my own. I'm really in no hurry to move out. I won't do it until I buy my own place, which I do plan to. Where you ask? I'll think about it when I cross that bridge.
I was very very bored in class tonight. It was one of those days where I want to just get up from my seat, scream, and get out of the building. Alas, I didn't do it. I just ended up shopping around for rubber stamps. In fact, I did a whole bunch of shopping today, but didn't buy anything.
After a bit of soul searching (yes, that is what I do when I'm trying to tune out the lecture), I've decided I need to implement yet another incarnation of my savings plan. Well actually what I had before was working pretty well, I just need to put in a spending limit/clause/something. I have spent way too much in the last few weeks, I need to get back on the frugal track. With that, I need to do a little bit of math.
-- I net about $600 per month from work. That's after deductions, taxes, stock purchase, 401K, charity and such, and that is how much I have to work with.
-- Priority goes to the essentials and recurring charges such as: Phone Bill ($90.84), Netflix ($19.47), Gym ($28), Gas (budgeted at $50... ouch), Grocery ($80... about $20 a week for lunch stuff), Dinner and Bowling (3 games at $7.50, dinner at $12.50.... $20x4 = $80). At the total of $348.31, and let's round that up to $350.
-- $600 - $350 = $250 is what I have left on what I earned. True my parent do give me some money at the beginning of the month, but I do prefer not to touch that at all. I do have an agenda as I will talk about later.
-- I typically do get a little bit more then $300 on each of my pay check. That extra amount will now go to my newly established vacation fund. Oh you KNOW what that's for =P
-- I actually went and set up 2 shadow accounts on Quicken. Both of these accounts has running totals in it, but the actual amount of money are respectively in my checking and savings accounts. The spending account gets $250 added to it at the beginning of every month. I can spend it as I will, or keep it in there to add to a bigger amount later. The vacation fund is a portion of my savings that is for just that... a vacation. The amount gets added from the excess from my bi-weekly paycheck, and my current system of keeping the change. My collection of change accumulates at the end of each night when I deposit any loose change or dollar bills into my dish. Everytime my bills reaches $10, it is added to my Vacation Fund. Loose change will get counted once my bottles gets full.
-- Ok... back to my $250 of spending money for the MONTH. I would love to put 20% of that into savings. So that leaves me $50 per week... not too realistic I know, but it's something I can shoot for. If I can accumlate $50 per month towards the spending account, I'm looking at an extra $400 for December. Of course I am not going to put every single transaction onto it. I will only put down things I deem nonessential. It pains me to say it, but I'm putting things such as scrapbook supplies, camera supplies, games, extra clothing, eating out and such down on this account. I'm trying to be strict on myself. These are things I don't really need (well some would argue I know...). What this really means is that I can't buy anything on impulse. I need to really think about how each purchase has an impact on my budget for the month. I will probably end up buying things towards the end of the month, after weeding out things that are just wasteful.
So there it is, my savings/spending plan.
I still have potentially another year of school to go. What I really want is to have enough money saved by then to live comfortably after I get out. Get a full time job, get a place of my own. I already have the majority of stuff I need to furnish my place. Everything in my storage unit is enough to furnish a small condo. And of course a fully stocked kitchen. I have so much stuff in there I really can't wait to use them again. It's almost sad to see all my stuff in boxes piled into a corner. I'm suddenly really looking forward to it. To feel that sense of independence. It looked pretty scary before, especially when it became a road I'd walk on my own. I'm really in no hurry to move out. I won't do it until I buy my own place, which I do plan to. Where you ask? I'll think about it when I cross that bridge.
criminal
It was way too nice outside today to be staying inside. And that is what I did.... in class all day. Great fun that is. I'm still in class... right now.... shoot me.
Oh... and no strike... dammit...
Oh... and no strike... dammit...
guesstimate
I did a little bit of guesstimation this morning while I was allegedly going over the statistics exam this morning (96/100 btw). I went around ebay to look for some lenses. I will go ahead and get the fish eye lens there, since the exact same one my friend got is listed again. That's the best deal I've found so far. I still have like 27 days to get it. I'll probably order it once I get my hands on the camera itself.
Actually let me back up a bit. I haven't been writing much for the past week and a half because I've been on spring break. Lord knows I never get anything done when you give me time off. I was suppose to get around to do a whole bunch of homework and papers and stuff. Guess what, I did none of it. And as you may be able to tell from my previous posts from that week, I did get a lot of creative stuff done. Which is very cool. I did a bunch of just driving around, buying stuff I don't really need nor can afford, and slept a lot. I never knew how much I miss sleeping in until I woke up this morning. Stupid school.... they keep pushing the strike, which is another story. I'm not too proud that I got next to nothing done last week. Felt like I wasted most of it. Sucks I know, but hey, it's a break and I took it as one.
I did have to work my regularly scheduled shifts.... if there is such a thing. That and worked on PI, which was actually more fun then I thought it would be.
I reminded myself that I really love creating art of any form. I've been working on paper crafts now for a few weeks. Not too much to show for it, that's because I think about what I want to put down before I actually start. My mom was surprised at how artsy I actually am. Honestly I am too. I never really thought of myself as a creative person. Scientific is what I usually am. Maybe it's because I never really gave myself a chance to develop in those things. I do recognize that I am more interested in the arts and humanities fields a majority of times. I love going to museums and galleries, classic literature, history, and observations of nature. Sometimes I think I'm living in the wrong century... age even. So anyway. Because of all of that, I'm really excited about getting my camera. As soon as I was able, I ordered it last Wednesday, and it is on its way to me. The only thing that irks me is that I don't have a tracking number.
I thought about getting a film camera a few years back, because I can learn to develop photos at the craft center in the Union. I've always wanted to do black and white photos. I had a great time working on yearbooks when I was in junior high. Taking that camera all over campus taking candid shots of students was a rush. I didn't have the money back then, and the folks thought it was a silly idea. So I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. It was until my college years (and long that is) that I seriously started contemplating the hobby again. In the recent months, one excuse led to another, I finally went ahead and bought the camera. Now I have to decide on my accessories. My mom questioned my decision to get the camera a little while back. She didn't get why I would get something so big. True that I already have a point and shoot, but it doesn't give me the picture quality I want. I showed her some examples on flickr and that sort of changed her mind. Anyway... now I'm waiting. I might as well get the rest of the stuff in a couple of months when I have enough reward certificate to cover all the rest of the accessories. I think I guesstimated about $350 is about how much I'll need. I'll be at about $250 next month. I think the total, including pending points, I have about $235. argh... too much thinking...
PI was interesting. Friend of mine expressed that his worse nightmare came true. He was doing clean-and-bright at 1 in the morning... I was doing great until a fricking gaming headset with razor sharp packaging fell on my forehead. I put neosporin on it. I will be very pissed if I get a scar right above my right brow. It wasn't even a cut, it just scraped a patch of skin off. Friggin.... And I was just thinking that morning how I look a lot better now that I don't have any blemishes on my face. aaarrrghhh....
Actually let me back up a bit. I haven't been writing much for the past week and a half because I've been on spring break. Lord knows I never get anything done when you give me time off. I was suppose to get around to do a whole bunch of homework and papers and stuff. Guess what, I did none of it. And as you may be able to tell from my previous posts from that week, I did get a lot of creative stuff done. Which is very cool. I did a bunch of just driving around, buying stuff I don't really need nor can afford, and slept a lot. I never knew how much I miss sleeping in until I woke up this morning. Stupid school.... they keep pushing the strike, which is another story. I'm not too proud that I got next to nothing done last week. Felt like I wasted most of it. Sucks I know, but hey, it's a break and I took it as one.
I did have to work my regularly scheduled shifts.... if there is such a thing. That and worked on PI, which was actually more fun then I thought it would be.
I reminded myself that I really love creating art of any form. I've been working on paper crafts now for a few weeks. Not too much to show for it, that's because I think about what I want to put down before I actually start. My mom was surprised at how artsy I actually am. Honestly I am too. I never really thought of myself as a creative person. Scientific is what I usually am. Maybe it's because I never really gave myself a chance to develop in those things. I do recognize that I am more interested in the arts and humanities fields a majority of times. I love going to museums and galleries, classic literature, history, and observations of nature. Sometimes I think I'm living in the wrong century... age even. So anyway. Because of all of that, I'm really excited about getting my camera. As soon as I was able, I ordered it last Wednesday, and it is on its way to me. The only thing that irks me is that I don't have a tracking number.
I thought about getting a film camera a few years back, because I can learn to develop photos at the craft center in the Union. I've always wanted to do black and white photos. I had a great time working on yearbooks when I was in junior high. Taking that camera all over campus taking candid shots of students was a rush. I didn't have the money back then, and the folks thought it was a silly idea. So I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. It was until my college years (and long that is) that I seriously started contemplating the hobby again. In the recent months, one excuse led to another, I finally went ahead and bought the camera. Now I have to decide on my accessories. My mom questioned my decision to get the camera a little while back. She didn't get why I would get something so big. True that I already have a point and shoot, but it doesn't give me the picture quality I want. I showed her some examples on flickr and that sort of changed her mind. Anyway... now I'm waiting. I might as well get the rest of the stuff in a couple of months when I have enough reward certificate to cover all the rest of the accessories. I think I guesstimated about $350 is about how much I'll need. I'll be at about $250 next month. I think the total, including pending points, I have about $235. argh... too much thinking...
PI was interesting. Friend of mine expressed that his worse nightmare came true. He was doing clean-and-bright at 1 in the morning... I was doing great until a fricking gaming headset with razor sharp packaging fell on my forehead. I put neosporin on it. I will be very pissed if I get a scar right above my right brow. It wasn't even a cut, it just scraped a patch of skin off. Friggin.... And I was just thinking that morning how I look a lot better now that I don't have any blemishes on my face. aaarrrghhh....
Monday, April 2, 2007
somewhat awake
I worked PI last night. It was interesting. Tedious. I didn't really mind it. It was an interesting experience for sure.
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