November Budget Summary

Expense	Budget	Over/Under	Detail
Necessities
Rent	1050	0	Total is 2100
Gas	100	-44	Yay low prices!
Our groceries/eating out	310	+23
Eating out w/friends	50	-24	1 friend
Eating at school	50	-27	a lot of chai lattes
Cell	120	-11	I pay for mine & bf's
Health/Dental Insurance	109	+109	2 months payment
Drugstore	35	-5
Debt
Car Payment	370	0
Capital One Payment	200	-170
Visa Payment	200	+100
Braces	450	-11
Yearly Expenses
Eyecare	12.50	0
Misc Health	20	0
Oil Change	15	0
Car Registration	12	0
Misc Car	17	0
AAA	8	0
School Books	33	0
Renter's Insurance	8.25	0
Costco	5	0
Misc Household	9	+74	holder/bulb remover
Gifts	44	+140	Christmas
Clothes	17	0
Christmas Tree	3.50	0
Frivolities
Makeup	14	0
Pedicure	20	0
Haircut	16	0
Dry Cleaning	20	0
Entertainment	20	+22	books, movie
Parking	24	-14
Account Fees	0	+6	for transfers
Misc	0	+38	fixed jewelry/stamps
Total		+206	OVER BUDGET

The biggest expenditures I had this month were from Christmas gifts (of course) and household items (I bought a toothbrush holder and a broken light bulb remover. The holder definitely wasn't a necessity, but we were using a drinking cup and it was annoying me. The bulb remover was a necessity, since we've had a broken bulb in our dining room chandelier for months now).

As for gifts, I didn't technically spend any money on friends (I used store credit, and I got some great deals!), but I did spend a fair bit on my bf and family.

I still don't feel like I got enough for my bf. :( (Especially since I already gave him one of the presents! I couldn't help myself) I have two practical presents left (an alarm clock and a book on investing), but he deserves so much more. I'll have to shower some love on him to make up for it. Gallons worth of love (maybe one gallon, I only have so much in me ;)), since I have to make up for the lack of presents AND my very bad mood (courtesy of finals).

This month should be much cheaper for gas (since I only have to drive to school twice, and I'll have one 80 mile trip down south), but likely not so cheap for entertainment. It's my 25th birthday, and I intend to have fun! Not extravagant fun, but over $20 worth! Hopefully I'll be celebrating more than my age... maybe some good grades too? :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Had to emerge from my hiatus to wish my fellow Americans a Happy Thanksgiving! (and to procrastinate from studying. Ahh, procrastination, how I love thee)

What am I thankful for?

• my boyfriend, who is always there when I need a backrub, someone to rant to, or someone to help me with flashcards the day before an exam ;)
  
• my friends, who love me for who I am
• my family, who always find time to help me figure stuff out
  
• my (large) apartment & (reliable) car, without which I would feel claustrophobic (I couldn't live in a tiny place with another person! It would drive me crazy), and frustrated (since LA's public transit system sucks)
  
• my education & no-hassle loans to finance that education
• the internet, which makes everything a million more times convenient, and lets me write this fun blog, and gives me access to infinite amounts of information
• my favorite entertainment: books, video games, & good tv/movies
  

Have I left anything out? Oh, thank you muchly, tasty turkey! ;)

Have a wonderful 4-day weekend, everyone!

Hiatus

I'm going on a blogging hiatus from now until December 1st (when I'll post my budget chart/month recap) and then probably from December 2nd to the 18th.

My finals are the first couple weeks of December, so I'm trying to remain focused. Maybe I should turn off the internet in my apartment. :p

I'll miss the blogging world, but hopefully I'll come out of it with excellent grades! Wish me luck :)

Done with Christmas!

Christmas cards: check; I'm mailing them today or tomorrow. My bf paid for these!

Christmas presents: Done!

I have $88 cash to spend.
Bf: book on investing; plushie from Shana Logic; alarm clock; DVD; dress shirt (170) -- yes, I bought $100 more in gifts for him!! I feel bad that I spent more money, but finally feel like he's getting everything he deserves, so... eh.
Mom: GPS & carrying case (40)
Dad: giving him my Ipod; DVD (8)
Sister: figure collection; 4 plushies; lots of little stocking stuffers (66)
Bf's Sister: dress ($24)
Total = $308; over budget by $220!

I have $235 in Revolve gift cards to spend (~$39 per person)
Friend 1: clothing from Revolve ($22.08)
Friend 2 & hubby: video game for him; DVD for both; clothing from Revolve ($13.80)
Friend 3 & bf: clothing from Revolve ($27)
Friend 4: clothing from Revolve ($26.68)
Friend 5: clothing from Revolve ($12.88)
Friend 6: clothing from Revolve ($27.60)
Total = 130.04 in Revolve credit; $0 out of pocket! (leaving me with $100 to buy my friend's Jan b-day present, and maybe a little something for myself!)

Online Classes

I'm thinking about taking an online fiction writing class in January. I've been wanting to try my hand at writing a novel for a while, but so far haven't found the motivation to start. I used to write all the time when I was younger, but somewhere along the way I just stopped. I write plenty for school, but nothing for myself.

I saw the movie Twilight yesterday, which I know is based on a book written a few years ago (I'm planning to read it soon; I'm interested to see whether I'll loathe or love it, since there don't seem to be too many opinions falling in between. I like strong female protagonists. I've heard Bella is not one. So you can guess which side I'm leaning towards already). The author said the idea came to her "in a dream." I don't doubt that; I have so many dreams where, upon waking, I lie there thinking to myself "this would make a great story." I've never written any of those dreams down, but I want to start!

But, the class is $89. Is an online class worth that? I guess if it gets the creative juices flowing... then yes? I'm sure I can come up with the money somehow.

Health and Dental Insurance

My insurance has now been paid up until 2/01/09 (costing $218).

I am SO tempted to just cancel the insurance (I haven't been/needed to go to the doctor in at least 6 months). But I drive so much, I know it would be stupid. I also have a friend who got cancer at 22, so... you never know.

I'll keep paying it (begrudgingly). But I can't WAIT to get a full-time job again with those delicious pre-tax health benefits (and flex spending plan!). I really took that for granted.

If only my bf's company would recognize opposite sex couples as domestic partners! Then I could just piggyback onto his benefits.

Friends are Expensive

My friend asked me yesterday if I would go with her to an autograph signing this morning and I agreed... It's not really my thing, but she was really excited about it, and she was getting ridiculed by everyone else for wanting to go, so I felt bad.

It was a (semi) amusing experience (even though the stupid celebrity didn't show up), but MAN was it expensive.

She came late last night, because she lives an hour away and the signing was 20 mins from my apartment. I ordered Indian for us when she came... She just picked at it (she's so skinny, I assume that's just how she eats, because I know she likes Indian), but thankfully I didn't order much more than usual. My bf paid for it (which is becoming a regular thing, and my guilt grows by the day :\)... and she didn't offer to pay a cent. My bf would have definitely turned down her money, but I felt she should have at least offered (especially since I told her we were getting it for the 3 of us). Isn't that common courtesy? It always bugs me when people don't do this.

We had to get up at 5:30 this morning to get in the line, and after going to bed at 2:30 (I had a few school related things to finish up, and the three of us watched a movie), I felt like death. I drove us to the signing, nearly having an accident in the process (driving while drowsy = not smart). She bought me a chai tea latte and a chocolate chip muffin, which I appreciated. We then found parking and proceeded to stand in line... for two hours. When we were finally informed that the celebrity wasn't coming out, we went to the car... where I paid $18 for parking. She said she wanted to pay, but then realized she didn't have cash. She said she would pay me back (in a MONTH, when I next see her), but who's betting she won't remember?

Now I'm at work, struggling to stay awake. I had to spend $4 on another chai latte to keep me from putting my head down on my desk and just snoring away.

So, in total $22 was spent on parking and coffee (I also drove 20 miles, so you can throw in the gas), and $50 was spent on food. That's $72 since last night at 10! Ugh.

I was glad to be there for her, and she thanked me profusely for going with her, and I know money is tight for her (although she doesn't pay rent, so it's a little hard to sympathize), and even though outings with friends can be expensive, I still love them, AND I know this annoyance and frustration is partially because I'm so. freaking. TIRED. (maybe blogging while drowsy = not smart, too?) But I still felt the need to vent.

Phew. Ok, I'm done.