HouseHopeful's Personal Finance Blog

Darker Earlier Means I Get Lazy

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:21:10 PST

Soooo... this Daylight Savings change is really messing with me. I want to go home & snuggle under a blanket instead of getting errands or house stuff done or going to the gym

Today, I had to force myself to run my errands (my 5 Things for today). I hit the library, the Walmart,...

Entertainment Spending Revisited

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:07:58 PST

Yesterday, I met up with friends at the bar we call The Pub. Its a weekly tradition that I've been moving away from and am trying to go only every couple of weeks. I took cash in, and came out with only $10.00 spent. Thats good considering that I only had $38.57 in my Entertainment...

November Goals

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:09:15 PST

I have a bunch of goals for November.

1. Buy all Christmas presents and stay on budget
2. Pack breakfast/lunch/snacks for work 100% of the month
3. Stay within Entertainment budget for both November pay periods. ($38.57 for now until Nov 15th). This is a toughie, but do-able!
4....

Last day of Vacation - Not So Lazy :)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:41:34 PST

Well, I have today off of work & am planning on getting a lot stuff done.

I am working to be uber-frugal to pay down the little bit of debt that I have left from my 'crazy spending time' a few months back. So my entertainment, eating out, and grocery expenses are going to be carefully...

Back From Vacation!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:05:37 PST

The cruise was once in a lifetime opportunity! I had a really really great time! I don't have final numbers, but I spent roughly $550 for a ticket on a 7 day cruise to Florida and then the Bahamas from Baltimore. Plus approximately $80 in souveneirs, drinks & dinner in ports, $169.36...

Beginning of My 10 Day Vacation From Work

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:49:47 PST

Woohoo! Today at 3:30, I started the beginning of my 10 day vacation! I don't go back until Tuesday 11/3

After work, my friend & I went to the dollar store (picked up a makeup travel bag = $1.00). Then to 2 Halloween stores to look at costumes for the Halloween party on the ship....

Christmas 2009 Plans

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:01:55 PST

Well, I have a budget for Christmas. Normally I'm done my shopping by the first week of November, but I'm running late with this vacation coming up. I'm hoping to have it almost all done by November 15th.

I've already ordered some photos that I'm planning on giving from Snapfish...

Gearing up for my trip!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:04:32 PST

I leave Sunday morning & I have a big to-do list to complete this weekend. I want to be prepared to step right back into my daily frugality and organization.

When I leave on Sunday, I will have a clean house, a meal plan for the following week, a grocery shopping list & freshly...

Yet Another Migrane

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:23 PST

I woke up yesterday with a full-blown migrane. There was no chance to pre-empt some of the pain with my normal migrane meds. I did what I could, then called my sister who came over with some soda & crackers. I was too sick to even down that, so she drove me to the medical aid unit....

Making Decisions on Medical Benefits

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:10:40 PST

I work for a big company which sites across the country. So we usually have multiple options to choose from. Its that time of year and once again, I'm comparing my benefits to make my choices for 2010.

VISION: There's only 1 Vision plan option, so I'm going with it I wear glasses...

Had To Turn the Heat On :(

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:21:29 PST

Well, temps dropped overnight and a big storm is on its way. I came home from work to a 63 degree house. So the heat went on! I'm officially out of the No Heat Challange. BOOOO !

Getting Colder

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:13:39 PST

Oh boy, its getting colder. I'm in the fleece pants and have the down comforter on the bed. The kitties are snuggling with me, so I know they are noticing the tempreture changes, lol.

We're expecting a Nor'easter soon and that is going to make things even colder. I may have to...

Somebody's Got a Case of the Mondays

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:23:40 PST

Well, its Monday. I SO can't wait until Friday comes around again!

Today, I skipped the gym and have been chilling at home. We had a big temperature drop today & I'm snuggled up in fleece pants and long sleeve tee & sweater. I'm still hoping to keep the heat off for a while. When...

Fun and Fairly Frugal Weekend

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:21:55 PST

I had a GREAT weekend. Friday night I went to the movies with friends. We saw Zombieland, which was very funny. One friend had free movie passes & refused to let me reinburse her, so I splurged and bought us sodas as a treat ($5.00).

Saturday, I hit the gym, then packed & drove...

Happy October :)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:31:36 PST

So its that time of year. I'm actually a little late putting out the Halloween decorations. I finally got around to it tonight! Woohoo!

Today I packed lunch and came home right after work. So today was a No Spender! I skipped the gym today and came home to have some more Me time....

Busy, Busy Once Again :)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:27:31 PST

Today was a good day. We had great weather, work was not boring for once, I stuck to my Weight Watchers plan, went to the gym and hung out with a friend tonight. I'm home now, catching up on some email & packing stuff for work food & gym clothes.

AND I still have the heat off,...

That Time of Year!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:04:50 PST

As it hits the last quarter of the year, a lot of upcoming financial things come into play.

- Open Enrollment for Insurance. Got the email today and am hoping to go over the options this week. I am not happy with the (cheaper) plan that I currently have and am going to switch back...

Woman with a Plan!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:19:11 PST

Happy Monday All!

If you haven't already noticed, I am a fan of lists and plans. Following them is always a challange though, because I don't like being told what to do. Even if I'm the one doing the telling! LOL

I have a spending plan, meal plan and workout plan for this week....

Weird Weekend and More Things to do

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:31:16 PST

Yesterday, I went to my nephew's baseball game. Spent $5 at the snack stand. Was still feeling really off and I splurged for some food & caffine to help that out.

Afterwards, instead of hitting the gym like I planned, I went home. I thought I'd take a half hour nap & then hit the...

Day Off and not finishing things

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:22:25 PST

So I've learned that although I have a To-Do list, things don't always get accomplished. Lol - I'm sure it happens to everyone

I did not accomplish my calls yesterday, but I completed the other items on my 5 Things list.

Today, I had off of work. I have running non-stop trying...