Archive for money

A Frugal Hint

June 1, 2008 · Filed under money

Okay, so I love beauty products. LOVE. I LOVE THEM.

Shampoo, conditioner, hair product, facial scrubs, smelly good stuff, makeup, makeup brushes… Of course, this is a rather expensive habit to have. Long-time readers will know I have a rather, erm… checkered past when it comes to cash-flow management. However! 

Here’s the answer, friends. Drugstore.com. Their little tagline is, “An uncommon drugstore.” Well, check! 

First, on all non-prescription purchases, you get 5% back in drugstore dollars, automatically.

Secondly, there are often sales.

Thirdly, you can often times get free stuff!

Fourthly, (did you know you can have a fourthly? well, you can!) there’s no sales tax! Holler! 

Fifthly, if you spend over a certain amount (first order, $25 or more; right now, $49 or more) then shipping is free.

So! Let’s review. Money back, sales, free stuff, no tax, and no shipping. What is there to hate?

I spent $25.29, got three facial care products (for less than they have at Wal*Mart), plus a lipgloss. I was gifted with a free bar of neutrogena face wash soap, plus $1.25 in Drugstore Dollars. I ordered all of this on the 30th, they shipped it on the 31st, and I’m supposed to get it by the 3rd. Sweet marie, great deal! I saved on the product, saved on the tax, got free stuff, and didn’t even have to go to the store!

And that, my friends, is the frugal tip of the day. 

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i think i am cursed

November 15, 2007 · Filed under babysitting, money, sad times

i think i am a cursed babysitter.

the mom i was babysitting for just emailed me to say that she won’t need me tomorrow, because I’m not a good fit for her kids (especially one of them), so she’s going to try out some other sitters.

if you’ll remember, this is the second nannying job i have procured this semester, only to lose. now, the first one, the mother-in-law came to watch the baby, so that was through no fault of my own. but i’m just incredibly frustrated.

i know that it is her decision, and her kids, and her choice. but, honestly! i hate this aspect of childcare, how you can just get let go on a whim. i also hate that i turned down a job opportunity with a non-profit (as an admin assistant) because i had committed to the hours she needed. i’m just frustrated, and disheartened. what the hell is wrong with me? am i cursed? honestly.

so now, we’re about six weeks away from Christmas, i’m incredibly broke, and i have no job. that’s just great.

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Seriously!?

May 31, 2007 · Filed under big girl life, money

Well, I almost password protected this, but… What the heck.

As some of you may know, I’m declaring Bankruptcy. I made the decision because of an irreversible situation that I got myself into with credit cards. So, I’ve been going through the process of declaring Bankruptcy.

This has entailed quite a bit of paperwork, quite a bit of money (oh the irony: I’m poor and can’t pay my bills. Okay, I’ll fix it if you pay me $1,600.) Right. One of the required steps is credit counseling. You set your happy little computer up and you log into their super special website, and you watch these videos. The videos were actual more helpful than I was anticipating. I learned some good stuff. (That’s a seperate post, if ANYONE cares.)

However, the way that they test you’ve absorbed the information? Throughout the video presentations, which takes about an hour and a half, they will randomly flash a word on the screen. I mean, randomly. “Boat”. “Moon”. There are five of these words. You write them down, and at the end of the video, your passing or failing that whole series of videos is based upon your ability to enter those five words. That have nothing to do with what you’ve just watched.

I’m truly not sure how I feel about that concept. If the point is consumer education, then how… It’s No Child Left Behind, for grownups. It doesn’t matter if you really learn the material, it just matters that you’ve figured out how to cheat the test. Good grief, Charlie Brown.

Today, I spent seven hours (!) sitting in a room, waiting for a thirty second (!) “meeting” with the bankruptcy trustee. Oh, mismanagement of money. There were some poor people and then there were people wearing clothes and shoes that cost more than a year’s tutiton at my college.

I have a lot of thoughts about my financial future, and because you are my loyal readers, you’ll be hearing about them soon. Get hype, kiddies.

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$a$$y’s Broke!

January 28, 2007 · Filed under money

So, I have reccently made a big decision regarding my finances:

I’m going to declare bankruptcy.

At the tender age of 22. Ho hum. Can you say it with me now? Loser.

Not so much. I’m proud of myself for making that decision, taking the steps, meeting with the lawyer.

I have $15,000 in credit card debt. Yes. You did read that right. That’s a lot. My credit is just wrecked. Late payments, overlimit fees, high interest rates. The best thing I can do is to declare bankruptcy and move on. It marks a new chapter in my life. (Ha. Pun unintended. Chapter… Chapter 13… I slay me.) So, there it is. I’m going to be declaring bankruptcy, and starting fresh financially. Of course, my credit will still be wrecked, but I can start rebuilding it, and saving.

And now, I’ve shared with the internets.

Open living, indeed!

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A mixed bag!

December 17, 2006 · Filed under babysitting, money

So, I babysat for little Lolly. She was just precious. I only had to change her twice and she was a peach.

The thing is, mom promised me $15 an hour and I was there for 3 hours. Dad handed me $30.

Should I say anything to mom or just let it go?

edited to add: you guys convinced me $15 was a good price, but it was so easy, maybe $10 an hour is enough!

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Question for my nanny friends!

December 16, 2006 · Filed under babysitting, money

I will be babysitting for a six week old infant for 2.5 hours tomorrow night. Mom’s providing me with my favorite snacks, plus amazingly yummy amounts of diet coke.

She wants to pay me $15 an hour, as well!! I think that seems like WAY too much. What do you guys say?

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