DebtFreeBy2011's Personal Finance Blog

I find that I am a little unrealistic with my time....and I think it sometimes costs me money.

I am a very driven person and I have high expectations of myself, but I don't seem to have enough time to execute my goals...Basically, I think I have too many goals...but also, variety to me is the spice of life...I just want to try everything....at least once!

I am also a very creative person that needs creative outlets.....I tend to get bored very easily.

Does anyone else have this problem? I have to make time to save money...And to just pay attention to what is going on in my financial life.

A couple examples are: I have to take the time to catch a bus, ride my bike before catching a cab.....I have to spend the time to go to the grocery, plan what to buy before I stop for fast food. I have to spend the time figuring out when my bills are due and make a dedicated effort to pay them on time so I don't get a service charge.

It seems so elementary when I write it out...like, duh! But, I get so caught up in life that I don't always prioritize.

Today I'm going through my list of stuff to do and assigning each one a $ value or consequence....then I should know what to do second....giving my family love and attention comes first.

Update on Red Velvet Cake...well, it didn't turn out as nice as I wanted it to...but I did end up giving away slices which in turn increased my tippage!
So, yes, it was a success....and I got some practice!


Hey everyone,

I work a bar/cafe owned by my grandfather and I am going to start baking cakes...the menu at this place is very sparse and there is no dessert! So, I decided to bake a red velvet cake to sell this weekend. I get to keep the profits, he doesn't care. The ingedients were expensive....I'll let you know how it goes, yum!

Most of my (bare necessity) bills fall around the 15th of the month....I want to get on a schedule so that I pay them all at once.

I have to do a recount and let you know how I did for the month. I did go out to dinner last night....$15.00 for awful service and an unbaked potato.

I am putting off buying milk, mainly for cereal or coffee.....and buying coffee, until I check the best prices....I am a coffee snob....I have my favorites....Starbucks, yes...Starbucks and another local brand....

I was wondering if being very brand specific is more or less expensive? I have been becoming more and more brand specific as I get older - mainly to do with scents...hmmm.....I'm finding that I can focus on these products and find the best deals for them instead of trying to find the best deal on Everything.

Haircare - Pantene, Fructis or Herbal Essence
Laundry - Gain or All
Dentalcare - Crest products
Just to name a few examples...

Have a great day everyone! And, stay warm!
Brrrr...

So, this is what I do on Sundays....I do a Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS circuit....I usually hit all the stores and get the rebates and deals and treat myself to dinner and entertainment.

This weekend I didn't see alot at CVS and Rite Aid that I wanted so I just went to Walgreens.

Here are some of the deals:

Quaker Oats 2/2.49

Geisha Mush 2/1.00

Hallmark card -.42 cpn for Daughter

Campbells Select Soup 4/$5 -1.00 cpn

Fiber One Pastries and Bars - on sale for $2 each...-.50c coupon, and got $2 in Register Bucks, so $1.58 ea.

Bumblebee white tuna 2/1.89

Campbell's Mush Soup...can't have enough of this! .89c had a cpn -.30c on 3

My goal was to have a spend free day and make $100 bucks....

Well, that's not quite what happened.

My daughter's phone bill was due and it was about $9.00 more than anticipated...68 plus change. Now I can account for it next month.
This was part of my bare necessities so it had to be paid anyway.

Now the kicker...or should I say kick in my pants!

I gave away $56 yesterday....a new co-worker wanted to stay and work with me last night. Which means I have to split my tips with her.....minus $40 to me....
I did not protest...now I am a tad angry that I didn't stand up for myself and my money.....I know what to say next time....I just don't have $40 to give you right now. It would have been different if the bar was going to be really busy for a holiday or event....I have the ability to call most of my own shots at this bar....I need to stick up for myself...my co-worker did...and got $40.

I also spent $10 on a burger after work....I don't really know what to do about this, but I was just hungry.

And, I paid $6 for a cab that I didn't need because my co-worker talked me in to taking one home...I paid for my ride home then she got out at the corner, paid nothing....I think I need to stay away from this girl.

It's strange....I just want to go and buy something...thinking about going out to lunch...thinking about buying some cake mixes and baking up a storm....Just because I'm thinking about it doesn't mean that I have to do it.

The urge will pass if I just get occupied with something else. There is plenty more to do at this house! Also, I am training for a walk/run/jog in April. (Probably a walk/jog)......

I want today to be a spend free day. I want to corral my spending to Sundays. Sundays are when I hit the Walgreens, RiteAid and CVS....I make a day of it and go to lunch. I also visit a Borders and cruise the books and get a pot of tea for under 3 bucks!

My goals today...have a spend free day.....train by walking 3 miles and work on my house and internet quests.

Spend Free Wishes to you all!

Spent $0 today...and made $107.00...

Yes!....

$76.00 Gross
-$10.00 Cab
=$66.00 Net


My Dear Accountant loves it when I talk in acounting terms. He is so busy right now with year end financials.....and I love him so much, even though works way too much!

I spent $10 on a cab ride...it should have only cost me $4.00....my drunk friends didn't have their share....lovely...

I called the library to see if they have this month's bookclub and yes they do. They have to loan it from another library, but they have it. My typical behavior would have been to just buy it at the bookstore...thinking I got a great deal at 10% off. So, I imagine I just saved about $10. Yippee...but....but...guess what? I owe $35 in fines...from a few years ago. So, I must be responsible and pay the fine and enjoy other free books!

Also, I am working on my Cafe Press store. Looking for free use of Adobe Illustrator...the library here does not have it. Kinkos has it for .40c per minute.

$60 for Bartending a Super Slow Night.

$0

Today I brought home $68.00.

Not much, but hey its something. We have busy days like holidays and special events. On the weekend days (Fri and Sat.) I can make around $100 to $150.

I guess I should think about tomorrow and what my goal should be. One of the things I need to do is face my debt and responsibilities. Writing about it certainly helps. But I feel embarrassed to share some of the stupid things I have done. I have a lot of anxiety revolving around budgeting. I have made more budgets over and over again each time failing to execute my plan. I think it is a inside thing that I need to address and why I might not feel like I deserve financial freedom. I sometimes get caught up in a spiral of self-defeating behaviors.

$5.00 on shoes....and dog bowls...

My thrift store has a blow-out sale for shoes on Tuesdays. Some people are grossed out by wearing other people's shoes....luckily I am not....I look for semi-new shoes...for my $5.00 I got a pair of black suede, ugg-like boots, a pair of old navy flip-flops, a pair of Me Too's all leather with leather flowers and a pair of mary-jane mules from Naturalizer, oh and a pair of suede and sparkly flip-flops. I also got a pair of ceramic dog bowls for my beloved hound, Delilah. Okay, maybe they were meant for cereal, but she likes them.

I also spent $38.00 at the grocery for turkey sandwiches, barbecue shrimp and turkey enchiladas which will be more than enough food for the week. I get to eat at my bartending job...which is nice. The menu gets old though.

I plan on spending a few dollars to send my daughter her birthday gift and a few for my bookclub book...I get a 10% discount on the book....a bookclub I've never really been to because of scheduling. I have to pick up the Accountant's monogrammed Christmas present shirt....which I already paid for.

Now that I'm thinking about it....I might just borrow the book from the library instead of buying it.

I am a bartender right now at a very slow establishment. I bring in about $500 per week. My rent is high..$995 and car expenses low....I live in the City. So, I rarely drive. I ride my bicycle everywhere. My Accountant just bought me a removable wire basket for my bike. And, he attached it for me! He is so awesome! Recently I got laid off from my professional job. I have a business on the side - that I'm not really making any money at (right now) - due to holidays and scheduling. I am ,also, trying to do snowflaking and couponing and rebates. OH MY...I am very interested in online moneymaking projects like cashcrate, inbox dollars, ebay, affiliate marketing, cafe press and more.