Payday was today, I get paid on the 15th and the 30/31st of each month. I paid the car note, the student loan note, the telephone bills (land and mobile), paid back the last money owed to a friend for some real estate fees (yeah!), gassed up the car (gas is $3.55/gal in my area), I transferred money to my HSA and I will pay my health insurance tomorrow. The middle of the month I usually pay my mortgage, my car insurance and my electric bill. I may pay it this week to get it out of the way. I just want to see my bill in-basket more on the empty side rather than the full side.
I'm working my second job this weekend, so I won't be food shopping for a lot of food (my meals will be covered). I do have a food shopping expedition planned for next week. Time to load up on various pantry staples that I am getting low on. That will help me with my meal planning that has gone to the wayside this past month. Not having various pantry staples makes me want to NOT cook or be a creative cook. Uninspired pasta and rice dishes very rarely satisfy the palate, don't make for good lunchovers, which leads to buying over priced food at our local (and only) deli/market close to work. A pint of soup costs $4. I can make 8 quarts of chicken soup for $6.
I will say, it does feel good to have the bills paid early!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
It's Official, I'm a LLC
The paperwork came from the state awhile ago, but I just got around to creating a file for it. As part of my "plan" to re-invent myself, I set myself up as an LLC. For some future unknown to me yet business. I liked the name of my LLC, and filed for it (so no one else could either). It's a name very identifiable with me, so it won't be revealed here.
The filing feels like such a grown up step-wait I AM a GROWN UP. I still feel like I'm 20 years old.
This is one step of a plan I am formulating for taking control of my working life. Small steps, but one that I got to do early for my October To Do list.
The filing feels like such a grown up step-wait I AM a GROWN UP. I still feel like I'm 20 years old.
This is one step of a plan I am formulating for taking control of my working life. Small steps, but one that I got to do early for my October To Do list.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Just When I Think I Have a Handle on All of This
Something crops up to totally undermine my fiscal self esteem. Big Sigh, I hate that feeling. I really do.
Like most people, I have my issues. Feeling insecure about myself when I'm feeling down is one of them. I let those nagging horrible feelings come through and surface in my mind and I play my own set of head games until I can snap out of it and "get a grip". This weekend was one of those head game weekends.
I visited some of my cousins I've not seen in ages. Like ten years plus. They only live 2 hours away, but it could be 20, our paths just don't cross that often. This past weekend I made an effort to touch base with them. And it cost me my sanity for most of yesterday.
It goes without saying that the Bankruptcy was more than a little hiccup in my life. Compounded by other personal and professional non successes last year made for a really crummy 2007 for me. 2008 is getting better, but it's by no means outstanding, but definitely better than 2007.
Fast forward to dinner yesterday afternoon. I'm sitting at the table listening to my cousins talk about homes, jobs, kids, trips, hobbies, and it all sounds so much better than my life. Almost without exception, my cousins are married or partnered up, own their own homes, have successful jobs, own successful businesses, and their kids are nice, well mannered, smart, bright kids. They really are. In one respect I'm very proud of my family. We are second and third generation immigrant offspring and they have lived the American dream. My grandparents came to this country with $30 in their pocket and knew no one. They raised 4 kids and supported and sponsored literally dozens of other relatives who made that trans Atlantic crossing to Ellis Island. The conversation was not about one upping one another, it was a passing of information on to the cousin who has done her own thing for so long and to get me back up to speed on the family. I'm pretty certain too that they don't have a ton of credit card debt or have faced bankruptcy either. Not 100% sure, but pretty certain. I felt like I had been left in the dust of my go getting relatives.
It's just tough for me to see what they have accomplished and for me to wonder why I can not or have not been able to compete (for lack or a better term) on the same level they have. I live in a shoe box house with bad flooring and a funky roof leak, they live in lovely suburban homes with hardwood floors, and granite and cherry kithens, they have family Sundays, I have Sundays at the laudromat. They have trips to Tuscany each year (rent a villa for 2 weeks), I had a trip to Canada for someone else's family party.
Maybe it is comparing apples and oranges, and usually I'm pleased for other folks who are able to do these lovely and fabulous things. This time, I really felt like the poor relative. I just felt out of touch and out of step with what the rest of the family has done.
I really hate those feelings...
Like most people, I have my issues. Feeling insecure about myself when I'm feeling down is one of them. I let those nagging horrible feelings come through and surface in my mind and I play my own set of head games until I can snap out of it and "get a grip". This weekend was one of those head game weekends.
I visited some of my cousins I've not seen in ages. Like ten years plus. They only live 2 hours away, but it could be 20, our paths just don't cross that often. This past weekend I made an effort to touch base with them. And it cost me my sanity for most of yesterday.
It goes without saying that the Bankruptcy was more than a little hiccup in my life. Compounded by other personal and professional non successes last year made for a really crummy 2007 for me. 2008 is getting better, but it's by no means outstanding, but definitely better than 2007.
Fast forward to dinner yesterday afternoon. I'm sitting at the table listening to my cousins talk about homes, jobs, kids, trips, hobbies, and it all sounds so much better than my life. Almost without exception, my cousins are married or partnered up, own their own homes, have successful jobs, own successful businesses, and their kids are nice, well mannered, smart, bright kids. They really are. In one respect I'm very proud of my family. We are second and third generation immigrant offspring and they have lived the American dream. My grandparents came to this country with $30 in their pocket and knew no one. They raised 4 kids and supported and sponsored literally dozens of other relatives who made that trans Atlantic crossing to Ellis Island. The conversation was not about one upping one another, it was a passing of information on to the cousin who has done her own thing for so long and to get me back up to speed on the family. I'm pretty certain too that they don't have a ton of credit card debt or have faced bankruptcy either. Not 100% sure, but pretty certain. I felt like I had been left in the dust of my go getting relatives.
It's just tough for me to see what they have accomplished and for me to wonder why I can not or have not been able to compete (for lack or a better term) on the same level they have. I live in a shoe box house with bad flooring and a funky roof leak, they live in lovely suburban homes with hardwood floors, and granite and cherry kithens, they have family Sundays, I have Sundays at the laudromat. They have trips to Tuscany each year (rent a villa for 2 weeks), I had a trip to Canada for someone else's family party.
Maybe it is comparing apples and oranges, and usually I'm pleased for other folks who are able to do these lovely and fabulous things. This time, I really felt like the poor relative. I just felt out of touch and out of step with what the rest of the family has done.
I really hate those feelings...
The Check Gets Deposited Wednesday
I previously posted about lending a friend some money. The catch was to have a check made out in advance so I could deposit it on a set date. That date is Wednesday. I'm going to drop the check into my account Wednesday on my way to work. It should clear my account by Thursday.
My friend has not called to say, No don't deposit it, so let's keep our finger crossed.
My friend has not called to say, No don't deposit it, so let's keep our finger crossed.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Another Way to Earn Frequent Flier Miles
Since I've been bankrupt, I've not been traveling as much by air (or at all-once in two and a half years). I used to for a variety of reasons, participate in airline travel several times a year.
Because I've not flown on USAir in awhile, I got my frequent flier miles yanked at the end of 2007. I had the options of losing the miles, taking a flight, or paying a yearly fee for the privilege of keeping my 28,000 miles.
What I have discovered is the two other airlines I have miles with now have a way for me to earn miles. I log into my frequent flier account and then I connect to a specific retailer-(Ebay, Half. com, Lands end, Circuit City). Presto! Frequent flier miles posted to my account. I bought a couple new skirts and a couple books and DVD's over the summer and now have "re-activated" my mileage accounts. The only down part to all of this was had I paid attention to the marketing e-mails about this promotion, I could have gotten a one time mileage credit of 3,000 for my phone upgrade that I did late last winter. It's not a retroactive credit regretfully.
I don't do that much shopping, but the odd purchase or two each month has kept my accounts active, and I occasionally earn multiple miles for each dollar spent.
Even those of us in budget mode should check this out. Think about it, frequent flier miles for your E-bay purchases!
Because I've not flown on USAir in awhile, I got my frequent flier miles yanked at the end of 2007. I had the options of losing the miles, taking a flight, or paying a yearly fee for the privilege of keeping my 28,000 miles.
What I have discovered is the two other airlines I have miles with now have a way for me to earn miles. I log into my frequent flier account and then I connect to a specific retailer-(Ebay, Half. com, Lands end, Circuit City). Presto! Frequent flier miles posted to my account. I bought a couple new skirts and a couple books and DVD's over the summer and now have "re-activated" my mileage accounts. The only down part to all of this was had I paid attention to the marketing e-mails about this promotion, I could have gotten a one time mileage credit of 3,000 for my phone upgrade that I did late last winter. It's not a retroactive credit regretfully.
I don't do that much shopping, but the odd purchase or two each month has kept my accounts active, and I occasionally earn multiple miles for each dollar spent.
Even those of us in budget mode should check this out. Think about it, frequent flier miles for your E-bay purchases!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Neither a Borrower or A Lender Be....
or says Hamlet
From Shakespeare's Hamlet, 1603:
LORD POLONIUS: Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This past weekend, I was a lender. With an explanation. Here is the tale.
I had my friend Adam call up a couple weeks ago and ask if he could crash on my couch for a couple nights, he was working in the area on a project, needed to be local, could not get a hotel reservation, and this would give us a chance to catch up. I said yes, come on by, you are welcome to stay, I've got some stuff going on, but we can catch up over dinner. Friday afternoon I called and left a message on his cell phone stating I was going to leave the office shortly, run by the grocery store-did he need anything. I get a call back about an hour later.
Adam: Hi-finished early today, got here, got settled, got your message.
BB: Great! I've got a dinner reservation at The Bar for 6:15 PM, we can grab a quick bite to eat.
Adam: The Bar sounds fine to me.
BB: Do you need anything from the grocery store?
Adam: Wellll, no, but ah, two of my clients have not paid me yet, can you lend me $200 until the trade show in 10 days?
BB: Four beats of silence-then "OK, but I'm not going by the bank until sometime on Saturday, it's not on my way home and I don't have that much cash in my wallet, can you wait?
Adam: Yes and thanks. Noticeable relief in his voice. Noticeable.
I lent Adam the money because a couple years ago when I switched jobs there was a delay with payroll processing and then another delay when my paycheck was mailed to me instead of being direct deposited. Our accounting office is not local to my current job. He kindly fronted me a bit more than $200 until all my checks came in and things got sorted. I paid him back once the dust settled. I know his business, I know his clients who are late payers, I know Adam will pay me back. (fingers crossed).
What disturbed me about lending the money was the following. Adam and I sat over dinner and talked about his business (he works as a "consultant" as well). He stated that due to the economy, his yearly income is down by at least 1/3rd if not almost 1/2 of what it was the year before. Plus he has several clients, habitual late payers, that are even paying later. He's had to be more creative with his travel, temporary employees, expenditures and finances. Adam told me he was paid and up to date on all his bills, nothing in arrears, but very little if anything left over for this month. (Hence the temporary loan from me). I have also done some freelance work for Adam, one time working on site at a clients office gathering information. The client was in an ultra chatty mood and told me that while he liked Adam as a person and his work was acceptable, he was having an issue with some of the incidental expenses that got tacked on to almost all of Adam's projects. I cheerfully replied, I'm just the gatherer of information, I don't handle the billing! I've heard this before. Adam does good work, but the incidental expenses at times seemed high.
Adam and I went to dinner and Adam decided to have three glasses of wine at $8.25 a pop, a fairly pricey meat dish, plus an appetizer and dessert. I had soup, a burger, and two beers. My meal cost was $22 including tax and tip-give or take a buck or two, Adam's was $60 excluding tax and tip. How do I know this? Adam grabbed the check and said "The meal is on me", but forgot to pick up the receipt. I picked it up and dropped it in my bag to bring it back to the house. The next night, a similar situation. I call some mutual friends and the four of us go out for Mexican food. I'm not feeling all that flush with cash (budget, just doing a temporary loan) or hungry, so I order an appetizer, eat more than my fair share of chips and salsa and am willing to pay my fair share of the margarita's. Adam has several Margarita's, an appetizer and a main course.
The conversation turns to our jobs and expenses. Adam again says he's having a cash flow problem with a couple clients. He again grabs the check, takes cash from the others in the party and puts the meal on his AmEx. Because he is on a business trip, we discussed business, this is a business expense and he will bill his clients.
IF Adam is having a such a cash flow problem, WILL he be able to pay his AmEx when the bill comes due? I have no idea. I did make Adam give me a check for the $200 that I will deposit to my account no later than the day before the trade show he will be attending. That was the stipulation for me forking over the cash. I made it very clear and asked that the check be dated accordingly. I'm not just going to fork over the cash without a little collateral.
At first I really thought Adam was joking about the temporary loan. After our dinner conversation on Friday, I realized he was not. I also saw all those warning signs-paying for things with his credit card, taking cash from others (sounds like he has no cash of his own). He told me he has had to pre-bill several clients for work not yet completed (even his good payers) on two current projects and the upcoming trade show expenses were almost 1/3rd more this year than last. As I listened to the conversation, I could also hear that while a lot of lip service was paid to "cutting expenses" due to "decreased income" that in all likely hood, I really wondered if that was the case. What I saw was a lack of good money management on Adams part and an unwillingness to really cut his expenses (how about a burger instead of a steak?)
Oh well. I made the loan as a payback for a kindness done for me. Let's just hope Adams check doesn't bounce between my bank and his. I'll let you know what happens with that in two weeks.
From Shakespeare's Hamlet, 1603:
LORD POLONIUS: Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This past weekend, I was a lender. With an explanation. Here is the tale.
I had my friend Adam call up a couple weeks ago and ask if he could crash on my couch for a couple nights, he was working in the area on a project, needed to be local, could not get a hotel reservation, and this would give us a chance to catch up. I said yes, come on by, you are welcome to stay, I've got some stuff going on, but we can catch up over dinner. Friday afternoon I called and left a message on his cell phone stating I was going to leave the office shortly, run by the grocery store-did he need anything. I get a call back about an hour later.
Adam: Hi-finished early today, got here, got settled, got your message.
BB: Great! I've got a dinner reservation at The Bar for 6:15 PM, we can grab a quick bite to eat.
Adam: The Bar sounds fine to me.
BB: Do you need anything from the grocery store?
Adam: Wellll, no, but ah, two of my clients have not paid me yet, can you lend me $200 until the trade show in 10 days?
BB: Four beats of silence-then "OK, but I'm not going by the bank until sometime on Saturday, it's not on my way home and I don't have that much cash in my wallet, can you wait?
Adam: Yes and thanks. Noticeable relief in his voice. Noticeable.
I lent Adam the money because a couple years ago when I switched jobs there was a delay with payroll processing and then another delay when my paycheck was mailed to me instead of being direct deposited. Our accounting office is not local to my current job. He kindly fronted me a bit more than $200 until all my checks came in and things got sorted. I paid him back once the dust settled. I know his business, I know his clients who are late payers, I know Adam will pay me back. (fingers crossed).
What disturbed me about lending the money was the following. Adam and I sat over dinner and talked about his business (he works as a "consultant" as well). He stated that due to the economy, his yearly income is down by at least 1/3rd if not almost 1/2 of what it was the year before. Plus he has several clients, habitual late payers, that are even paying later. He's had to be more creative with his travel, temporary employees, expenditures and finances. Adam told me he was paid and up to date on all his bills, nothing in arrears, but very little if anything left over for this month. (Hence the temporary loan from me). I have also done some freelance work for Adam, one time working on site at a clients office gathering information. The client was in an ultra chatty mood and told me that while he liked Adam as a person and his work was acceptable, he was having an issue with some of the incidental expenses that got tacked on to almost all of Adam's projects. I cheerfully replied, I'm just the gatherer of information, I don't handle the billing! I've heard this before. Adam does good work, but the incidental expenses at times seemed high.
Adam and I went to dinner and Adam decided to have three glasses of wine at $8.25 a pop, a fairly pricey meat dish, plus an appetizer and dessert. I had soup, a burger, and two beers. My meal cost was $22 including tax and tip-give or take a buck or two, Adam's was $60 excluding tax and tip. How do I know this? Adam grabbed the check and said "The meal is on me", but forgot to pick up the receipt. I picked it up and dropped it in my bag to bring it back to the house. The next night, a similar situation. I call some mutual friends and the four of us go out for Mexican food. I'm not feeling all that flush with cash (budget, just doing a temporary loan) or hungry, so I order an appetizer, eat more than my fair share of chips and salsa and am willing to pay my fair share of the margarita's. Adam has several Margarita's, an appetizer and a main course.
The conversation turns to our jobs and expenses. Adam again says he's having a cash flow problem with a couple clients. He again grabs the check, takes cash from the others in the party and puts the meal on his AmEx. Because he is on a business trip, we discussed business, this is a business expense and he will bill his clients.
IF Adam is having a such a cash flow problem, WILL he be able to pay his AmEx when the bill comes due? I have no idea. I did make Adam give me a check for the $200 that I will deposit to my account no later than the day before the trade show he will be attending. That was the stipulation for me forking over the cash. I made it very clear and asked that the check be dated accordingly. I'm not just going to fork over the cash without a little collateral.
At first I really thought Adam was joking about the temporary loan. After our dinner conversation on Friday, I realized he was not. I also saw all those warning signs-paying for things with his credit card, taking cash from others (sounds like he has no cash of his own). He told me he has had to pre-bill several clients for work not yet completed (even his good payers) on two current projects and the upcoming trade show expenses were almost 1/3rd more this year than last. As I listened to the conversation, I could also hear that while a lot of lip service was paid to "cutting expenses" due to "decreased income" that in all likely hood, I really wondered if that was the case. What I saw was a lack of good money management on Adams part and an unwillingness to really cut his expenses (how about a burger instead of a steak?)
Oh well. I made the loan as a payback for a kindness done for me. Let's just hope Adams check doesn't bounce between my bank and his. I'll let you know what happens with that in two weeks.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Busmans Holiday
It was a lovely weekend here in New England, a perfect way to end the summer. What did I do with my time off. Went to watch a local horse show. I was not working one, but instead went to watch some folks from my barn compete at a local show. It was fun to sit ringside and watch everyone do their thing and not have to worry about running back to the set up to get horses and riders ready.
Great way to spend a warm sunny Sunday.
Great way to spend a warm sunny Sunday.
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