You Never Know When Money May Knock On Your Door

I participated in the taste test today and discovered they are looking for more people next week. It looks like I will have another opportunity to make $20. It usually takes less than 30 minutes and I try to schedule it during my lunch hour so I get lunch as well. I also got a confirmation from the Mock Jury project. Yeah!

Take Advantage of Holiday Savings

Holidays are a great time to save money on groceries. Ham, pineapple, asparagus, strawberries, butter, breakfast sweets, eggs, and entertainment items, now is the time to push your grocery budget and stock up.

Unfortunately, I've never had any success freezing ham. It oozes water, becomes mushy and just doesn't freeze well. Instead, I'm looking for smaller portions to use in sandwiches, omelettes, casseroles, and soup. My favorite dish is an adapted spaghetti carbonara, a pasta with a parmesan, cream sauce, peas, and panchetta. Panchetta is an italian style bacon.

This is also the beginning of the growing season. California strawberries are at their best, big, juicy, and flavorful. Not only am I picking some up for breakfast and snacks, but I'm also getting some to freeze for smoothies later in the year. Stawberries also bring homemade jam to mind, but I admit I'd rather just eat them fresh.

Other items to think about picking up include:
For the freezer ~ butter. rolls, baked goods, and fish.
For next easter ~ baskets, easter grass, plastic eggs, and paper goods.

The Tax Man Cameth

I know it was my money already, but that doesn't make the day I receive my tax refund check any less exciting. Due to decent planning, my check was only a few hundred dollars. You may ask why that's a good thing, but it means that I didn't loan the government much interest free money.

My first stop was to make a 2nd payment on a Visa card. The second stop was to a department store to pay off a card. Yes, I agree that store cards are high interest, but this one is a rewards card and I pay it off quickly if not monthly. Felt good!

I did the shift this weekend, but didn't work as many hours as I hoped. At least I was able to put $5 towards my emergency fund and fill up the tank of my car. Tomorrow I have a taste test that will bring in another $20 for my emergency fund.

Lastly, I received an email from a local college asking me if I was still interested in participating in a mock jury. If I fit the criteria I will earn $100 for 5 hours of work. That will be a nice addition to the pot.

Every Bit Helps

I picked up three hours of work tonight, which unfortunately is a lot less than I thought I was going to work. Oh well, at least its something. I was also able to pick up some bakery product at a discount so my Easter baskets are finished, I picked up the rolls for Sunday's dinner, and I picked up a poppy seed loaf for a fundraiser where I am providing the refreshments. So I'm still ahead.

Do Over!

Paying off debt is a lot like weight loss. It takes years to put it on and its going to take time to get rid of it. Knowing that fact doesn't make it any easier. Instead, I tend to get frustrated, do something really stupid, beat myself up about it, and then get back on the wagon. Its a vicious cycle, but when I'm done, I know I'm good for awhile.

To readjust my thinking, I officially published my full debt load and replaced my previous pie chart from No Credit Needed. (For the record, I really appreciate NCN for everything he does, but I felt I needed to be brutally honest with myself.) I pulled all of my hidden cash and made an extra payment on a credit card to get a jump start. The hidden cash came in the form of:

• $5.50 from returning pop cans for their deposit - I also return the cans from work
• $28.67 from my loose change jar - I save all of my loose change in a glass which I turn in when it reaches a certain point
• $20.00 from my dollar coin stash - When I have a few extra dollars and find myself making a deposit at the bank, I swap them for dollar coins and save them as an emergency fund for end of the month gas in the tank or other surprise expense

The next step in my "recovery" is to look for ways to make extra money. This week I am putting up Easter orders at a bakery I used to work at. That will be an extra $50 for the evening. Next week, I'm participating in a taste test which will earn me an $20. Its a start for the snowflakes.

Finally, I get to have an honest look at my spending habits. I was lucky enough to have a very nice gentleman buy me lunch today, which was a complete shock because I didn't know him. He apparently won on Keno and appreciated the fact that I talked to him. I still feel guilty about it. My kitchen is not set up for cooking right now. I somehow have lost my can opener. Don't ask me how. I have NO idea. The fridge is looking like a bad bachelor commercial. Its time to get real and time to put the plan together.

And In One Moment Everything Can Change...

In the last few weeks there have been some pretty heavy issues that I've been dealing with. First, my grandmother passed away. While we become more accepting of death as we get older, it can still take us by surprise. I can thank my grandma for being one of the people that taught me the value of being frugal. She didn't have much money to raise a family with 5 kids and things were tough. After the funeral I heard many stories of my grandma taking care of not only her family, but others that were struggling as well. She was known to stretch a frugal meal to feed an extra family. The most important thing to her was family.

On the flip side, this morning I found out that my brokerage closed its doors Monday at 5:00pm. The first thing that springs to mind is the Bear Sterns fiasco and the investors that have lost millions. Luckily (or unfortunately,) my savings is no where near that. I did a bit of research and have been assured that my money is in safekeeping with the brokerage's backer. I can transfer it to a new brokerage at any time.

Tomorrow is inevitable and there is no excuse for poor planning today. The things I've learned from both of these events are:

• Make sure retirement accounts are protected with reputable companies.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions when the market is getting weird.
• Diversify! If all the eggs are in one basket there is a ton more risk. Ask the investors in Enron, PanAm, and Bear Sterns.
• Start early, but its never too late to start.
• You can always stretch a meal help someone in need.
• Resourcefulness is the basis of frugality.

If Writers Have Blocks Can Reformed Debtors Have Them Too?

I have been struggling big time. I have had back pain that has kept me from wanting to sit in front of a computer and there has been the creep and crud going around the office keeping everyone in bed.

Last weekend I got some help with my taxes. They were sent in on Monday and I'm happy to say that I am getting a small refund. Unlike a lot of people, I feel very unsuccessful if I get a big refund back because that means the government has had a loan from me that they don't have to pay me interest on. My plan for my refund is to pay down my highest interest rate credit card. I'll be adding my kicker check to that same debt repayment.

This weekend, I've been looking around my apartment thinking that I really could get rid of a lot of things and be very happy. I have been going through the stress that most people trying to get out of debt go through. I feel really frustrated with my situation and am really working on not loosing focus. I have my LASIK surgury scheduled for April 2nd, but the added expense is stressing me out. So why don't I wait? Honestly, I've put it off for three years already and I may reschedule it, but I'm really trying not to.

Weekend earnings:
I made $3 from taking back pop cans which I promptly spent on kitty litter. Something I really needed.