Let's Talk Knits...

I know it's summer and it's too damn hot to even think about winter accessories, or even just handling yarn in general, but how pretty is this scarf?

Image courtesy of: Maryse Roudier

It's called the Gathered Scarf, and the pattern is by the very talented Maryse Roudier. Even her name sounds cool! This is definitely going under My Future Projects section, and I can't wait to work on it. As of now, I am currently working on 3 (knitting & crocheting) projects, which I hope to finish soon.

xx,
Pamela

The 52 Week Money Challenge

To help me save, I've enlisted my sisters and the hubby to do this challenge with me.

What is it?
A simple way to save money. I won't have a boat load of money at the end, but it's still extra cash. Plus, I am mostly doing this to condition myself to put away a little money every week. It's starts off small, which I think is great! If I do it this way, I have a higher chance of completing (than quitting) this challenge.

How does it work?
I have to save the dollar amount of whatever week I am in. For example, I have to save $1 for Week 1, $2 for Week 2, $3 for Week 3, and so on... It'll be $52 for Week 52. By the end of this challenge, I should have $1378.

(Image courtesy of: www.savingeveryday.net)

Oh yes, I am dead serious about saving and being frugal. Can you tell? LOL.

On a different note, I was able to catch up on my reading recently. And of course, first up on my list was Dead Ever After, the thirteenth and final installment in the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I don't want to spoil it for the others who have yet to read it, but I am disappointed with it. Actually, halfway through, I was very tempted to just stop reading. But I invested (money and time) in the other twelve novels, and I felt I owe it to the characters, whom I have grown to love, to finish it. I was (still am) disappointed with the main and sub plots of this particular installment. And of course, even though I saw it coming, I was still disappointed that Sookie did not end up with the one I was hoping she would. (If you know me, you know who I'm referring to.) The ending, and how she tried to tie everything up, just didn't make that much sense to me... There were a lot of inconsistencies. The writing felt sloppy and rushed. In addition to the book being very anti-climatic, the author pretty much murdered all the characters. She just didn't seem to care any more. After all that the characters (and I) have been through from Book One to Twelve, this book was a big -please excuse my language- F*CK YOU to the characters and the readers. That's what it was. I will just leave it at that.

Image courtesy of: www.amazon.com

On a good note, the ending wasn't concrete so who knows...? Actually, Charlaine Harris is coming out with another book, After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse, so there is still hope. Although it is not a novel, I may still get the ending I want. From what I understand, it will just list all the characters of the book and what happened to them in the future. I am considering buying it... (Even though I probably shouldn't since, clearly, the author seems to have lost all care for the characters, and her readers... Maybe I'll just borrow it from the library then. LOL.) And yes, I am crossing my fingers that I will still somehow get the "H.E.A." I want. :)

xx,
Pamela

"Budgets are a necessary evil."

Frugal - [froo-guhl]
adjective

1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: What your office needs is a frugal manager who can save you money without resorting to painful cutbacks. 

     Synonyms: thrifty, chary, provident, careful, prudent, penny-wise, scrimping; miserly, Scotch, penny-pinching.

     Antonyms: wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, prodigal, profligate.

2. entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.

     Synonyms: scant, slim, sparing, skimpy.

     Antonyms: luxurious, lavish, profuse.

(Definition courtesy of: www.dictionary.com)

 

-o-o-o-

Ever since I got my first job at the age of seventeen, I have always been financially independent from my parents. I never asked them for pocket money, or allowance. I would buy my own clothes, shoes, etc. And since it's my own money, I didn't have to explain my expenses to my parents. And maybe it's this taste of "independence" that got me where I am today- a person who needs a crash course on frugality.

I have long achieved financial independence, now I need to achieve financial freedom. In order to accomplish the long-term part of Goal # 2 from my previous post (to pay off all my debts), I need to be more careful with how, and where, I spend my hard-earned cash. I don't need to be one of those hard-core frugal people. I just need to be better in managing my finances if I were to follow through on this. With this in mind, I have decided to make a list of things I can do to help guide me.

1. No more eating out.
     Unless, of course, it's unavoidable. Let's be realistic: I am not giving up "going out," or hanging out with friends. And for most of the times, going out comes with spending. Plus, sometimes you have to eat out for special occasions. I just have to limit, set budget, and brown-bag it whenever I can. After all, I am trying to be frugal, not cheap.

2. No more unnecessary purchases.
     No doubt, I am guilty of this. However, if I come across the perfect pair of red, strap, stiletto sandals, I will buy it. I have been on the hunt since I broke my favorite pair a couple of years ago. But I will give up buying yarn and makeup (two of my many weaknesses!) I don't need. (Ugh! This means I have to give up my weekly trips to A.C. Moore, Michael's, Target, Harmon, and/or Sephora!)

3. No more new clothes.
     Key word: new. If I want to update my wardrobe, I will try to refashion what I already own, or just borrow from my sisters. That's what they are there for! LOL. Actually, this will give me the motivation to be more creative... Time to break out the sewing machine. :)
4. My savings account is OFF LIMITS!
     I have to remember that a savings account is for real emergencies only. Also, I will try to put a percentage of my paycheck every pay day.

I am also giving myself a weekly allowance, which I can either spend or save. I know it's going to be harder than it sounds but I am willing to really try. Hopefully, this guideline will make it easier. I just have to remind myself that I am doing this to reach a bigger goal- to buy a house. :)

Now since we are on the subject of being frugal, I feel the need to confess... I did just buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 this past Sunday. Did I need it? Of course not, but I wanted it. I promise that this will be my last unnecessary splurge. (I think...)

And speaking of unnecessary spending. I had to go to on an unscheduled visit to my doctor yesterday, which led to me paying a $50 co-pay. It was all because I have a soft spot for spiders. I wouldn't let my co-worker kill a spider yesterday. In fact, I tried to save it. And since I have no fear of them, I decided to bring/carry the little guy outside with my bare hands. Of course, the spider, not knowing what I was up to, decided to bite me in defense. (Oh yes, the irony...)

At first, it wasn't a big deal, but then I started to experience a slight tingling, which then proceeded to slowly spread up my arm. Apparently, that was the spider's venom slowly spreading through. I had to go to my doctor to get medication, which was administered by injection in my uh... gluteal region. Now a day later, the tingling is gone and my arm feels better. All that is left of my experience is a tiny spider bite on my left palm (which now looks like a mosquito bite), a (still) sore butt cheek, and a $50 hole in my wallet. Lesson learned. LOL.

xx,
Pamela

Goals for July and August

"... Okay, so, um... like what are your guys' hopes and dreams?"  - Josie Geller in Never Been Kissed

-o-o-o-

Oh, I have big dreams. And in order to achieve them , I need to make major changes in my life. Lately, I've been thinking about making these changes more so than ever. I do this a lot. I make a list of goals but then fall short of following through on them. This time, maybe if I blog about it, I will actually accomplish them. I will make them realistic and attainable. And if I have to, I will also break each goal down so that I don't overwhelm myself, especially with paying off my debt. I will also give myself target dates, that way I am really forced to stick to whatever it is I need to do to get to where I want to be.

Goal # 1 - Lose 5 lbs by August 09, 2013
Since the husband and I met, I have put on about 15 lbs. My goal is to lose only 5 lbs because I actually lost 10 lbs already. What?! What?! I heard that it is really hard to lose the last 5 lbs but I have gotten this far so I know I can do it! I just need to be stronger. Lately, my cravings have been out of control... I must keep them in check!

Goal # 2 - Pay off two of my credit cards by August 31, 2013
The goal is really to pay off all my debt. Eventually. Sadly, I have quite a collection of credit cards... Let's face it, I won't be able to pay them off overnight. It will definitely take months. But so I don't overwhelm myself, I will just do one or two credit cards at a time. Since this is the internet, that is all I will mention in this category. One can't be too careful nowadays...

Goal # 3 - Organize all my receipts and documents by July 23, 2013
I am giving myself two weeks to do this. This includes checking all those lotto tickets I have bought and accumulated. I could already be a millionaire and not know it! (Hey, that will take care of Goal # 2!)

I think three goals for now should do it. If I happen to accomplish one before the target date, then I will update it, and add another goal or two.

Wish me luck!

xx,
Pamela

Well, hello there...

Whenever I neglect my blog, I always feel the need to start off by explaining myself... to give some sort of a valid excuse. But the truth is, the main reason I haven't blogged is plain laziness. And since I am being honest, the reason I am blogging right now is also laziness. I am supposed to be cleaning, and in the middle of it, I chose to take a little break and blog. Yes, because I just had to. Procrastination in its truest form.

Now that that is out of the way, let me go back to cleaning. Next up on my list... shredding old documents and receipts. Yay! Fun!

xx,
Pamela