Danger Will Robinson

Okay, so I am in need of some school supplies. These are spendable items for me, so that's okay. I am thinking I will go to the dollar store, mostly because I am not positive I will be able to go to Target yet successfully. Isn't that bad?

But I am even worried about going to the dollar store too! The good thing is I have my allowance cash for my spendables already and I think I will leave any cards at home. I do need to go grocery shopping too, but I need to do some studying more.

Okay, here is the plan. I am going to go to the Dollar Tree because it's close. I am going to get the things I need and get out. Come home, do some laundry, bills, taxes and studying! That's a long night ahead of me! :)

Alright, wish me luck!

I Would Normally Be Getting A Pedicure Now ...

It's Friday afternoon and to wind down after a long work week I usually go get a pedicure. It has been a little more than a month since I got a pedicure. It seems like forever ago!

But you know what? I know I keep saying this but, I don't miss it. Granted, I need to clip those suckers pretty bad (gross, I know), but I don't miss it.

I really haven't missed spending at all so far. It's only been a month, which is a huge victory, but it hasn't been hard thus far. Aren't ya'll proud of me?

I think between work, school, and how busy January has been it hasn't been hard.

I don't anticipate February being bad either, or March for that matter haha.

February is my birthday month, and Ryan is taking me on a fun vacation. It is Birthday/Anniversary celebration. Plus it's a short month, plus I am in the middle of a HUGE project at work that is keeping me pretty busy, which I like.

March is going to be SUPER busy with said project, so I don't anticipate much free time. Plus I have to start working on my sewing projects for school, and Real Estate class ... whew!

I am glad this is all essentially free, productive, fulfilling and not to mention fun stuff :)

So, so far - so good, for the first three months of the year. That's my prediction anyway.

Have a fun weekend! I plan to go to Denio's tomorrow. NOW, NOW. It's just to buy some food stuff, with grocery money. :)

I Spent Last Night

A whopping $.25. I went to the movies with some friends. It was a lot of fun. I had a gift card that I had gotten for Christmas from my cousin.

So ... a movie that costs $.25 isn't so bad. It's still against the rules. Don't worry I don't care that much. I am still reasonable. Sometimes rules have to be broken, or whatever.

We saw Bedtime Stories, which I was going to see around Christmas time. But instead went to see Ben Button. IT WAS WORTH IT!! Brad Pitt was terrific in that movie and it was LOOOOOOOOOONG but didn't feel like it. The movie flew by, and was funny for a drama.

Bedtime Stories was also great. Adam Sandler has not wore his welcome for me, like Will Ferrell. It was very cute and very child friendly, not that that matters for me much.

Would you have spent $.25 on a movie?

Hello Stalker.

Also ... I want to do this:

Project 365.

But I have a lot going on right now. Maybe next year (or at my birthday, haha!).

Whose On Y'er RSS?

I feel like finding out what everyone else has on their RSS feeds?

And what do you use? I use Google Reader which I have embedded in my iGoogle account. It is always so very exciting when a new post to one of my favorite blogs is up. I have tried having some blogs emailed to me. But they end up cluttering my email a ton and I usually don't have time to read them when they come in to my email.

As for my favorites?

Of course, Bye Bye Pie, I have mentioned that before. But here are others:

-Nesting Place
-Zen Habits
-The Inspired Room
-Post Secret (a guilty pleasure!)
-Small Notebook
-Simple Mom
-Sorta Crunchy (I just added this today, but have stopped over here and there before)


So, there is my tip for FREE blog reading (haha).

-S-

January Has Been A Marathon

So much stuff it's crazy. I already did last week's highlights for you. This week has been busy too.

We went to the cutest wedding. I enjoy weddings, my friend that got married is very simple and her wedding was too. Right up my alley.

Anyhow, I was thinking, I haven't bought anything in 24 days and it has FLOWN by! I actually haven't missed buying anything. It has allowed me to be home more on the weekends, and not use my car. So that's nice.

I am enjoying the having to be "crafty" and I am ready to take it to the next level of not spending ... whatever that might be.

So, my biggest thing is what to pack for lunch. What is your favorite lunch to pack?

Talk at ya ...
Sarah

P.S. LOST WAS AMAZING!!!

You Know We Rock It

The best way to spend a NON-SPEND night!

I Just Spent, But CHECK IT OUT!

Okay I just spent, but it wasn't against the rules. I found a GREAT DEAL on purchasing ORGANIC, fresh produce! This farm is a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture - Organization. Capay Farms is my local farm (God, I love California) and here is how it works:

I signed up for an every other week delivery (but they do once, twice, three, or four times per month - once per week) of a small box of fruits and vegetables (ORGANIC!!) and they fill the box with in season stuff and deliver it... TO MY DOORSTEP!

The small box costs about $20 per delivery and is freshly picked, seasonal fruits and veggies! I am so excited! I will let you know when my first box gets here on Thursday.

So, if you want to join a local CSA go to this link for Local Harvest, and enter your zip.

If you are one of my "real-life" friends go to the website for Capay Farms HERE. If you sign up, there is a spot to put my name in for the referral. YAY!

I love this, and bonus that it is 100% non rule breaking spending!

Another Dollar Saving Website

Whew, as you know from my last post, this week has really kicked my butt. It has been a pretty good one though, but I am tired.

It is 8:30 pm and I am debating if I should go grocery shopping. I need to, so I can pack my lunches this week. I am so bad at lunches. I wish I knew of a better way. What are good things to pack for lunch? If I could pack my lunch, I wouldn't have to actually take my lunch break which means I could get some work done during that time.

I found another great money saving website. It is Coupon Mom. It is just like the Grocery Game! BUT IT"S FREE!!!! I am so stinkin' glad.

When I was playing The Grocery Game regularly, it took the "chore" out of grocery shopping. It was great. But I didn't want to pay for something I could do on my own for free, even if it meant just a little footwork. Not to mention, it is against the rules to pay for it right now. Although, the thing pays for itself in the savings you get. But, now that is all beside the point, because I found Coupon Mom! Yay!

Anywho, check it out. :)

HOLY SCHMOLIE, What A Week. Seriously, You Gotta Read This One.

I am not sure how long this post will be. Sorry if it is long.

I have had a HELL of a week. Seriously. Both extremes, ups and downs. But for the most part, ups I suppose.

Monday: First night of sewing class for the semester. I love this class, and am glad I kicked my own butt and went. I enjoy the people who are my friends there, and I learn SO much. I never get tired of it. I am looking forward to all the things I will learn this semester.

Tuesday, 2:30 am: Woke up with a sicky feeling. NEVER fell back to sleep.
Tuesday, 8:30 am: Was up, showered, dressed, make-up'd, and downtown-ish for a seminar that started at 9:00am ... on three hours of sleep. The seminar was on time management skills (which I need desperately). But, hey, getting three hours of sleep, that is some time management for ya, if I do say so myself.
Tuesday, unnamed time: Leave said seminar just in time to beat the traffic - which I think gives me actual, clinical, anxiety (the traffic, not the leaving early, err, um... I mean RIGHT ON TIME ...). Sue me. I didn't want to experience the feelings I get driving in traffic, and had gotten a TON of great notes from the class, plus the book that came with it.
Tuesday, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: At home, getting the rest of my sleep I was owed from earlier. It was splendid.

Wednesday: Friends came over, which is always my favorite. I made beer bread, then we ate some of it. Then, Ryan, Mountain Man, Gingy, our friend/cousin GameBoy, our other friend Mr. Witty, and our other friend Beanpole took the partially eaten bread to our new neighbor/friend (he was a friend before he became our neighbor) The Accountant. I am sure he loved our partially eaten delicious beer bread. It was a good housewarming gift, I thought. So then all billion of us came back to our house and hung out. It was a jolly good time.

Thursday.

Okay, now Thursday is where it gets REAL interesting. Seriously. I know it's long, but KEEP READING. (I promise we will get back to the boring, no spending stuff tomorrow.)

Thursday 5:00 pm: I leave to pick up my hot date, Newlywed. She and I decided not to torture our husbands by making them go to our company's annual awards banquet, so we went together, so as not to look like losers. Yada yada yada, great time was had by all, Luis Pulau (sp???) spoke, yada, yada, dropped her off and headed home.
Thursday 10, maybe 10:30 ish pm: I pull into my complex and there are four men standing there. I think to myself, "Whatever, people in the parking lot, nothing new. I wish my dumb garage door opener worked better." I drive closer to my garage door, wait for it to open and realize these four men are not talking they are ARGUING and one man has a stick (not like a tree stick, like a broom handle like stick) and is ASSAULTING one of the other men. Since when do I live in the GHETTO?!?!?! HOLY HELL! My dumb garage door FINALLY opens I pull in quickly and close the door and run frantically upstairs to my bedroom, while dialing 911.

I then proceed to give a play by play of the men arguing and beating one another to the 911 operator, since, hey, they're right outside my bedroom window and I have a good view and all. One man is bleeding, the police come. Seriously.

Here is what I emailed to the manager of the HOA (Home Owners Association):

Good Morning and Happy Friday Mr. HOA Manager,

I have done my best to not be a “complainer” around Beautiful California Living Place. I am of the mindset that if I don’t complain about everything, when I actually do it’s because it is important.

The unit at 139 is a renter, I believe. Is that correct? I have noticed since they moved in that there is an extra “room” built into their garage, leaving no room to park in it. The parking in our community doesn’t bother me, my guests always have a place, and Ryan and I always park in the garage, so that’s a non issue for me. But I know that it bothers some people. I am slightly more concerned about the safety of having so much stuff in his garage. And Nicole and I were speculating that he is a renter, so weren’t sure how happy the owner of the house would be.

This is not the real reason I am writing this morning. Last night a line was so far crossed it is UNACCEPTABLE. I believe that the owner would want to know the happenings of last night.

Mr. HOA Manager, I had to call 911!

Police came, an ambulance, a fire truck …

I wrote down what I witnessed, so I wouldn’t forget in case the police needed more than my 911 call. Here is what happened:

I pulled into the complex, my garage door opener never works correctly,
so I was trying to get my door garage open and stopped while waiting
for it to open. I saw the four men. I thought they were just talking
but realized they were arguing. One of the men, he had dark hair and
wore a dark jacket, had a stick like (broom handle like) object that he
was wielding as a weapon.

I saw him swing the man that I believe to reside at 139 Main St.,
that man then fell to the ground. By this time my garage had opened
and I pulled in quickly and closed the door.

I got my cell phone, ran in the house and called 911. I went upstairs
to look through my blinds to see what was going on. By this time the
men were all four standing by the large SUV type vehicle, it was silver.
The man with the dark hair and the man that lives at 139 were still
arguing. I do not know what they were saying. The dark haired man hit
the 139 man again with the stick. The driver of the vehicle, I believe he was wearing
shorts, got to the other side (the driver’s side) of the vehicle, got in
and opened the passenger door from the inside, I assume to get the
dark haired man to leave. The fourth man, who was watching the whole
time, he had done nothing (to help the fight, nor hinder it) until this
point when he got into the vehicle. The dark haired man was still
arguing, got in the vehicle partially. The 139 man slammed the door
repeatedly on the dark haired man, which must have caused injury
it kept not closing, as if there was something (like body parts)
in the way. By this point the men were speeding off, I noticed a police
car coming down the street on Main St.

I didn't see the 139 man run into his home as I went to the other side
of my house to see if the police had apprehended the vehicle.

I believed him to reside at 139 because his garage door was sitting
open, as if they had come out from there.

When the emergency personnel arrived, the man was indeed from 139.


I am not sure what, if anything, can be done about this. However, I do not live in Beautiful California Living Place to have to run scared into my home, calling the police out.

Thanks Mr. HOA Manager.

Sorry for such a downer complaint.

So Thursday was terrific. Really.

Friday 7:00 am: I wake up, wide awake, traumatized... pause I hear sirens outside. I need to go peek out my window. - Oh, okay, no worries. It was just paranoia. What? What's that I hear? Agoraphobia calling? ... I wake up and know I won't be able to go back to sleep. So I put on whatever clothes I find first and go to work. I looked real pretty today, let me tell you.

At least I got to watch the cutest baby in the world, my niece! She is sweet as pie.

So, all in all, it was a week full of stories. And buying lunches. Sue me.

I Haven't Forgotten You

Yes, I have been super busy this week. School on Monday, seminar all day on Tuesday, Friends on Wednesday, banquet for work tonight, and baby shower over the weekend coming up!

Whew! I am tired! So more to come later ... don't leave me, stay tuned!

Sarah

P.S. YES I DID CLEAN THE PANTRY, I will show you when I have time to catch up.

BYE BYE

P.S.S. Don't worry I haven't purchased anything illegal this week, but I did buy some stuff for school.

Week 2 Round Up

So over all, I think I spent about $25 banned dollars this week. I know, I know, your like "What?!" The $7 on Monday, which seems like ages ago. Then on Thursday I spent $10 on dumb Wii points because we were trying to watch LOST on the TV, through the internet and I couldn't find a cable for my laptop and ... blah blah blah. Then, finally, on Friday, I went to lunch with my friend (Is it inappropriate to name friends by their real names without their permission? I don't know for sure, so I will call her Newlywed) Newlywed.

I COULD NOT TAKE ANOTHER DISGUSTING CAN OF SOUP! Those dumb soups were killing me, and I think I would have literally thrown up from it, mmm vomilicious, I know. So, Newlywed and I went to Chic-Fil-A.

It was the best Chic-Fil-A I ever had.

I know, I'm supposed to clean out the pantry this weekend. Don't get your panties in a bunch, it's still Sunday. I still have time.

My plan for today is to go through my paper, figure out what groceries I need, get some groceries, then clean out the pantry and put everything away. And clean the living room.

I also want to make some cookies. That would be, bake some cookies. OH and I'm not buying bread this week, because I am going to make my own. Yes, I said make my own! My friend, Mountain Man, and his wife, Gingy, are really into homemade stuff too. They found some great recipe for bread-making. I couldn't find it again, so I am trying another. We are all a little new at this "make your own" stuff. But Mountain Man and Gingy have more experience than I do in it. I think they would be full on hippies if they figured out a way to do it in a modern day setting. Well Mountain Man would for sure. Gingy is a fan of the shower. So am I.

AAAANNNYwho. I will let you know how the pantry goes. I anticipate well.

Speaking Of A Yummy Dinner ...

I have seen this site before but it has been a LOOONG time.

Since I am such a fan of eating out perhaps this will be my best friend this year!

Top Secret Recipes

YUCK

I almost let myself cheat today. The hardest part for me BY FAR is not eating out. Right now I don't know if I can do it. I just ate my nasty microwave soup. BLECH!

I will have to make something super yummy for dinner. We are reuniting our Thursday night group after a long break. YAY!

We love LOST and watch it together, it's coming back on soon! But I think it switched to Wednesday nights?!?!?!

Anyhow, yay for me, I fought the urge and ate my disgusting soup.

A Price Book

I know I mentioned this last time in the grocery post. But I haven't started it yet. A price book is basically a tool that helps you to log prices of the common items on your grocery list.

Those tricky little grocery stores try to make you think something is a deal ... but maybe it's not! A pricebook helps you to know. Grocery items go on sale in approximately 12 week cycles. So the price book helps monitor when you should stock up. AND, when you should use your coupons.

The idea is to stock up so you have enough supply to last you through the 12 week cycle. Plus if it is a non-perishable item ... well you should stock WAY up! It's like creating your own supply of stuff so you have a "mini-mart" in the pantry.

UGH my pantry is another thing that needs to be cleaned out ... perhaps that will be my first cleaning project of 2009. Yes, this Saturday I will clean out the pantry and share the outcome, since I can't spend money, I gotta stay entertained somehow!

So, back to the pricebook ... No Credit Needed has a good one that you can download for free. Dang, I tried to link to it, but I'm not on my computer right now, so I can't get it to work on this crappy machine. But if you Google "No Credit Needed Price Book" I am pretty sure it will come up. Sorry about that.

He also has some good tips on how to use it. I don't think I will need to go grocery shopping this weekend, but we will see. For setting up your pricebook it is best to go shopping each week. And just like couponing, it takes some footwork in the beginning. But it supposedly pays off. So, if I don't go this week, I will next and will let y'all know how it goes.

I promise I will try to post more pictures! So you don't have to take a nap with every NWIWT post!

OH! I have to share something dumb that I learned. You guys know what CAPTCHA is, right? (If not, Google that too.) We are adding a new thing to our website at work and it has captcha, we were doing a trial run for the customer service group. Have you ever clicked to hear the captcha read to you? OH MY WORD!!! It sound like Satan himself lives in your computer. It's hilarious in a creepy sort of way. You should try it.

Okay buh-bye.

Day Six ... What's A Recession?

Yesterday went very well. I spent $7 which made me bummed, but I will count it as a last "hoorah" and I told all my work friends what I'm doing. I made sure they knew it isn't supposed to be a pity Sarah thing either :) So they are not to buy me things or pay my way HAHA:)

But Incredible John's was pretty fun! We accumulated about a billion tickets among the group we had. We didn't spend them though. The place is really great for doing big groups, which would be anytime our family get's together. But I assume it is normally busy with kiddie parties.

Today I am back to my lunch packing self. I would take a picture because everyone knows it makes a blog post more interesting. But my camera is not accessible and neither is my phone because I can't find it.

Oh well.

Okay, so what is a recession? I have been wanting to look it up for a few weeks now. Let me preface with this story: In my high school economics class my teacher told us, "I feel sorry for you guys. You are learning economics when the economy is SO good it's going to be hard for you when it's bad."

Great.

So it's here, ten years later, the bad economy.


re⋅ces⋅sion [ri-sesh-uhn]
–noun
1. the act of receding or withdrawing.
2. a receding part of a wall, building, etc.
3. a withdrawing procession, as at the end of a religious service.
4. Economics. a period of an economic contraction, sometimes limited in scope or duration. Compare depression (def. 7).


Nice. It doesn't give a great definition, just refers you to lookup depression. DEPRESSION!!!!! AHHH!

de⋅pres⋅sion [di-presh-uhn]
–noun

7. a period during which business, employment, and stock-market values decline severely or remain at a very low level of activity.


Wow. So I would say we are in a depression. What do you think?!?! Scary. I wish I had done a no spend year LAST year!

Oh well. I can only start with the now, right?

OH THE AGONY!!!

Okay so my first day back at work and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!! AHHHHH!!!

It is one of my close co-worker's birthday's. And we had planned this party for her "last year" (don't you hate when people say that?!?!) and I think I am going to have to spend money today. This friend has been going through some stuff, doesn't know I'm not spending and would really be hurt if I didn't go to the lunch party. UGH!! I want to go, plus I helped pick the place we are going to. But it's been giving me ulcers all morning thinking about spending!

I guess since I planned it last year this will be my opportunity to tell them what is going on, so they don't tempt me to spend :)

UGH... I feel terrible.

O'Nine Is Here. So Is The First Grocery Shopping Trip.

HAHA I am watching one of my favorite TV shows (okay, shoot me, I love TV) The Big Bang Theory. It's really funny, but my "real life" friends can attest to the fact that I laugh at anything and everything (well, almost).

Anywho, 2009 is definitely here and so far so good. I haven't spent a dime, I mean I haven't left the house, but that's beside the point. I will also mention that's kind of my fear. Ryan and I are true home bodies as it is, I just hope this doesn't add to a probable misconception that we don't like to hang with people. Don't worry you can come for dinner :)

I am however hungry. And have needed to go grocery shopping for a week ... oops! So today I will talk a bit about some of my already known ways to save on groceries, and also things I intend to learn more about.

First, a couple of websites:

The Grocery Game I tried this website for about two, maybe three months. The quick start version: The site tells you what is on sale from the grocery store you say you would like to receive the list from (that was a horrid sentence, sorry). It then tells you how to maximize your coupons. So if something is on sale and you have a coupon and it's not on the list, it's probably because it is expected to go further on sale and you should use your coupon then. Does that make sense?

My Grocery Deals I really like this one because it is free, and gives you a list of all sale items (I think ALL of them anyway) and all the stores in your area. But you have to do the coupon part yourself.

The good news: YOU CAN DO THE COUPON PART YOURSELF! The bad news: It takes a bit of footwork. The other good news: Some really well versed couponer's and such are able to save like 60% on their grocery bills.

So it pays off. The first step to maximizing your coupons is to do a price book. Which I haven't done yet, but think I will start today.

Other things I will talk on soon: Price Book details, Walgreens Game and I have a new item that I want to share for enveloping.


My definitions:
Couponer: Someone who cuts coupons to save on their grocery bills
Enveloping: The process of using a cash based spending habit; Cash is kept in envelope "accounts" to keep one on budget. When it's gone it's gone!

PIZ-EACE OUT

-S-

The Rules!!

Step One: A list of "spendable" items

• All standard bills:
  
  • Mortgage
    
  • Insurance
    
  • Car payment
    
  • Credit cards – until paid off
    
  • Utilities
    
    • Gas
      
    • Electric
      
    • Sewer
      
    • Water
      
    • Internet/cable – internet is not negotiable, cable is
      
  • Phones
    
• Gasoline
  
• Car repairs
  
• Groceries
  
  • Food from grocery store – organic is allowable
    
  • Walgreen's "game" can be started
    
  • Household cleaners
    
    • Preferred to purchase ingredients that can make homemade cleaners
      
  • Personal care items
    
    • Deodorant, shampoos, razors, toothpaste, makeup (as needed)
      
• Personal care:
  
  • Facials can be kept
    
  • Haircuts every six weeks, color every 8 weeks
    
• Dinner out only at suggestion of Ryan – no encouraging him!
  
• Entertainment only out at suggestion of Ryan
  
  • (See fabric/yarn rule below)
    
• Trips may be taken
  
  • Try to use timeshare when possible, or stay with people we know
    
  • Camping is okay also
    
• No gifts may be purchased
  
  • Exception is for Ryan on Birthday, Anniversary and Christmas. Limit $25 per occasion.
    
• School items can be purchased
  
  • Supplies for projects
    
  • Books if needed    
    
• Fabric for sewing & yarn for knitting – only at extreme discount or with 50% off coupon – no more than once per month (total, either/or)
  
• Clothing, if it cannot be made, may be purchased under extreme circumstances when a true need exists – must be approved by Ryan.
  
• Medical needs, of course
  
• Work conferences and trips – spending kept to a minimum; rules should be adhered to as much as possible
  
• **If anything has been left out it may be added to the list with the approval of Ryan
  

 

Step Two: A list of "non-spendable" items

• Things not listed above J
  
• Starbucks – exception: one per month is allowable
  
• Decorating projects
  
• Scrapbooking stuff
  
• Computer programs (exception would be something necessary for taxes … Turbo Tax, etc.)
  
• Books – please go to the library J
  
  • Personal enrichment books can be purchased if not at the library, when necessary (i.e. Bible studies, etc)
    
• Movies
  
• CD's
  
• MP3's
  
• **Many things may be added to this list!
  

 

Step Three: The Budget

The budget shall include a weekly allowance for both Ryan and Sarah. Lunches will be made at home and taken to work, or "groceries" purchased at the beginning of the week. Ryan and Sarah will be given a cash allowance of $20 per week. Ryan will get a gasoline stipend each week, Sarah's will be once per month (taken from monthly gasoline budget; exceptions allowable when necessary). The envelope system shall be used as much as possible, and definitely for the following items: groceries, weekly allowance, gasoline, and all items that are "purchase-able". Credit cards will be left at home in a special place and not removed. We're paying off, not adding to!

These are what I hope to be a good outline of the year to come. :)