HouseHopeful's Personal Finance Blog

No Spender and More Craigslist Luck

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:10 PST

Today was a no spender. I have my nephew over tonight and we're watching library movies, eating homemade food and having popcorn fights! Too fun

I did sell some stuff off Craigslist today. $15.00 made. I had another reply for a desk that I have for sale for $10.00. It's a bit...

Craigslist Updates

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:18:59 PST

Put a bunch up on Craigslist this week. I already have someone stopping by the house at 4 today to pick up 4 sofa pillows and 2 - 18 quart storage bins for a total of $15.00. Yay

Through an ad on Craigslist, I also applied for a marketing research program thats going to be setting...

Great Start to My Long Weekend!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:34:45 PST

I was out of work by 11 today. Woohoo! I came home & wanted to do something productive before being lazy. So I cleaned out the linen closet. Moved a couple of towels to the 'rag' pile. And moved a few more to the good will pile. That way I have more space!.

After that, I took 2...

Not a No Spender Like I Had Hoped

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:07:34 PST

Well, I was hoping for a no spender today, but instead paid a $0.25 library fine & grabbed bread to take over my mothers with dinner. She offered me a free meal, then calls back and asked for the bread. How could I say no? lol

Tomorrow I work a half day. I'm hoping to get a bunch...

Free Stuff This Week

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:14:10 PST

Well, I've been lucky enough to get a few free things this week.

- Several books/movies from the library
- Borrowed movie from friend
- 2 Hershey bars from work as a promotion
- Gummy lolli-pop (friend's leftover Halloween) Am giving to the nephew.

Other updates:

- Heat...

Had a decent weekend, not so good Monday

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:21:48 PST

Friday night I stayed in and just rested. I ran around a lot last week and just needed to rest.

Saturday, I went to that friend's book signing. I'm really proud of him. There were a dozen authors/artists at the signing (it was a compilation of short stories for the 30th anniversary...

Happy Friday!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:19:52 PST

Hello All, Happy Friday! Today is a no-spender, but the rest of this weekend is going to be spendy. I've got a book signing and birthday party tomorrow. And then my mom & I are driving about 30 mins to get me some new tires at her previous place of work. They're having an employee...

No Spender! New Budget

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:33:43 PST

Today was a No Spender. Yay! Its cold and rainy here and all I want to do is curl up under a blanket. But instead, I managed to get myself to the gym, make dinner and pack food for tomorrow. Thats something at least

Being cold and rainy, the heats kicking in at night. I set it...

Fun Tuesday Night for $3.00!!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:24:45 PST

Ha! Totally made my Most Frugal Night Out tonight! I went to my weekly "Pub" night. A local dive bar with karaoke and bartenders that I love. I met up with the usual group, ran into some friends that just happened to be there. I enjoyed the music, talked with friends and only had one...

Updates

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:47:32 PST

- Well, I had a stone hit my windshield last week and I was able to have someone come right to the house & fix it this weekend. Never had that happen before, so I'm not too sure about the work done. The crack is very much better, but there still is an indent in the windshield. Anyone...

Fun Weekend

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:49:47 PST

This was a good weekend. Friday, I went to the gym after work, hit the grocery store & went home. Did some cleaning to prep for an overnight houseguest and went to bed early.

Saturday, a friend drove into town from about 45 minutes away. We headed downstate about an hour & a half...

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....