Brooklyn Girl's Personal Finance Blog

Extra $1,400 in this paycheck.

So just paid off my ticket for my China trip in July.
I love going on vacation and not receiving extra bills afterwards, so paying for it well before I go is worth it to me.
Besides, that ticket is now $1,600.

I can't believe it.
This is so embarassing!
My rent check had bounced. I completely forgot that it did not clear yet. I sent it a month ago and they just put it in now. A day after I moved everything around -- to savings, payment to a cc (in full, as usual.)

I could not believe people could forget things like this, and here it is, happening to me. Now I'll have it in my history and everything.

Oh, and I called the bank, and they were not willing to reverse the $25 fee. Even though this is the first time this happened ever. That makes me unhappy and I am thinking of clothing an account and moving to a credit union at work.

During my lunch break I went to buy few grocery items.
From the supermarket:

$7.00 2 packs waffle mix 12oz each
$8.54 1 pound of coffee
$9.98 1 jar of pine honey 14oz
$4.99 0.5 pound of havarti

From farmers market on Wednesdays:
$3.00 Mashroom-swiss cheese sandwitch(similar would be $6 at the supermarket)
$4.00 6" cherry pie (good deal)
$2.50 dozen of organic eggs (would be 4.30 in the supermarket)
$3.80 -- 2 yogurt drinks (not any cheaper)

Total: 48.11 -- and I can't make a meal out of it. And there is no coupons for any of these things (nor would the supermarket take them)

Thank you guys for your responses!

We have done this twice before. Once for 4 month -- with our school and not as much freedom. And once by ourselves, for 8 months and that was fantastic. This was almost 3 years ago, and I long to experience such times again! Since than we only had 3 week vacations -- which where fantastic, but not the same.

My family thinks "enough already". They feel strongly about it, even though I don't see how this concerns them -- we are completely self-sufficient, live by ourselves, never ask for help and don’t have cc debt or car payments (and they do).

Threebeansalad, no I have not read them. Sounds depressing though.
I have been to Russia before (the European part) and I can speak Russian.
Now I am interested in Siberian region for its amazing nature that has not been “civilized” yet.

On our second 8 month trip we lived in China, than hitchhiked across Tibet into Nepal and finished with Russia and Belarus.
I loved that life!!!!
When we studies Chinese we lived in one place. We were biking everywhere, doing homework in the afternoon in bamboo park teahouses. Finishing with classes at 12 noon and going out every single day. We would ride a bike in any random direction for as long as we felt like it. Stopped where we felt like (easy with bikes). So much exploring to do. And everything was cheap to us. For example our rent in a brand new construction apartment was $150 a month. We were always exploring the city, taking daytrips, trying new restaurants, street food, cafes, teahouses, night markets, parks, reserves. Traveling on holidays, taking motorcycle taxis on a highway… (when your motocycle speeds between a truck and a buss on a highway ramp, you get new appreciation for life and enjoy that dinner and drink threefold). But I thought that motorcycle taxis were cool, and that cars were for fat rich tourists.
Ok, I’m getting carried away here...

I want to save 38K in order to take a year off work and study the language in a foreign country, backpack around lake Baikal and Siberia and do other fun things.

My family thinks that these are the years when we should be working (and earning the most) having a baby... They think it is insane to risk loosing great jobs that we have.

What is so wrong with wanting to buy a year of your life when you are young -- to live in total freedom, going wherever the wind blows.
Why is this crazy, but buying a new car for the same 38K is OK? Isn't a year of one's youth worth more than a car?

I don't know if it would have been best to wait to get the cheaper fare. But many airlines were already sold out in lower economy classes for the dates I needed! (and it is in mid-July, 4 month from now) This seems crazy.

So I lost my nerve and bought it today. $1,440 -- on the airline of my choice.

This is the most expensive ticket I have ever bought, and I have traveled a lot.

I have not had much luck. I've been looking for 3 weeks, and it only gets more expensive -- even though the travel time is in mid July!

It is on average $200 dollars more expensive than last week.

And I was hoping to get a ticket under 1K.
Now the cheapest option is 1,200.

Cathay Pacific, my favorite, is over 1,500.

Last time I flew, 3 years ago, I got a one-way fare of $338! It was a fantastic deal and I was hoping for a good deal this time. But it just can't be found.

I am just not a borne cook. To be honest, I can't stand it. So I don't do it. I make belgian waffles with fresh coffee and fruit on weekends, that is a ritual I like, but anything else...
Seems like a huge waste of time, and somehow it does not come out any cheaper.

So we rarely cook dinner, but that is more or less ok, since we enjoy going out, and our family lives close enough so that they share cooked dinner maybe 2-3 times a week.

However, I want to start attempting making lunch to take to work. It should be simpler. Baby steps.
I have classes during my lunch break, so I normally grab something and eat at my desk. And I am quite tired of everything around. Same things all the time.
But to be worth it to me, what I will make got to be better than what I can buy.

Normally I spend $8-10 on a somewhat healthy lunch. A small soup and half a fresh sandwitch. A salad is $8. (to be fair, it is a good salad)
So I am looking for varied and easy ideas for the culinary challenged.

I have one idea already, inspired by the salad I had today.

Spinach, Goat cheese, wallnuts, canberries, shredded carrot, orange and cooked chicken/turkey. I can buy all the ingredients and they don't require much prep. I'll try it on Tuesday.

I will also write down the cost of ingredients, to see how I fared financially.

What else could someone with no cooking skills make?

My relative and her friend who I see often, both recently got new cars. They both make less than us. Both cars are leased.

One is a 37K SUV (and they drive outside the city maybe 1 day a year)

Now they both are complaining that it will cost them a fortune to fix all the little scratches and dents. It is NYC, so bumpers around here take a beating -- some people will try to park in spaces that are smaller than the length of their cars (and will give it several tries before giving up). And since one has to park on the street 100% of the time, you have no control over such things.

The friend makes less than half our income and has 3 dependants. I cannot imagine how she is making it and driving a car 5x the cost of ours(paid in cash).

Both women's main justification is "it would cost us more to buy a used car and keep spending money for repairs." They seem absolutely convinced of it.

Second reason is "working very hard and seing nothing improving in their lives, and therefore deserving it."

That logic sucks. My relative really does work very hard and is always stressed. But I think she would not have to work as hard or feel so stressed about her situation if she did not buy all these high-priced things and did not have debt. She could still live comfortably and within her means if she only gave up on "status symobol" purchases. But she just can't. It is very frustrating. She is 52 and has no retirement savings at all. I really worry about it. But she says "I'll work until I die, such is my fate". I don't believe that she will. But in any case, she'll be miserable. And there is nothing I can do to change her attitude.

Again. I am looking forward to the trip very much! Though this time it is only for 23 days. (last time it was 8 months)

But now I'm being partially funded. I will be receiving full pay and don't have to use my vacation for this trip. Accomodation and courses are also provided. But I'll have to buy my own airfare and don't get any money towards expences.
I am quite happy and feel it is a good arrangement. (Since I really wanted to go, and the company does not really get anything out of it, other than my slightly improved language skills).

It is one thing after another lately.
Now my 6 year old laptop broke again. It has been fixed before (new HD, new memory). But now it is just going hey-wire all over. Many hardware problems. Super-glued parts come off.
I knew I would eventually need to get a new one, but I did not think it would be so soon.

It was an IBM. I am now thinking about a Macbook. Cheapest version will be $1,300. (13" screen, smaller than what I have now)
If I go for the 15" it will be starting at 2K.
I like playing with graphics and videos, so I always wondered what it would be like to have a Mac.

I don't know what to do. Lenovo (ex-IBM) has a small sale now. I could also use Discover cashback bonus to get $120 off and get one for $1,068.
I am still sore over our 2.5K 1 month old!!! IBM with all bells and whistles that was stolen last year (and so I was stuck with the old one again). Now to buy another IBM, that is not even as good... Maybe that's why I am leaning towards Mac.

Got a ticket, first one in our driving life. For "disobeying the stop sign".
(not coming to a complete stop -- just slowing down, looking and moving on)

That day cops were just out to get on a mission -- I saw 4 cars being pulled over in a five minute ride from the highway to our house. I never saw this before.

The most frustraing thing is how much it will cost us overall. With absolutely clean record our insurance on a 7 year old car (with $2000 deductible) is about $400 A MONTH! We entered new information while getting a quote, and with one moving violation it will go up to $500!!! dollars a month, for the next 18 months.

This is such a harsh punishment for such a minor offence. Feels very unfair.

I know it is a no-no. But, I did it anyway. They are very nice and in beautiful colors (I hope the size fits, you never know.)

My only justification is that they are not of the type already own. Something different.

Even though clothing I own is perfectly good, there is this urge for something different. Different styles, colors. A need for change that comes on from time to time.

Overall, it cost me 4 times less money than what I lost last week in the stock market on savings I put into the mutual fund.

Most mornings there is a panhandler (different ones) on the train. And often in the evenings as well. Asking for money to get by.
I almost never give (occasionally give to those on the station whose music is really nice, but not to those going through a train.) They look like they could and should be working. I am on a train going to work to earn money! They are not.

Another thing that bugs me on a subway is really fat people who take up two seats(I'm not exaggerating) in rush hour. Their numbers are increasing. I somehow feel they should be charged double fare. My ride is an hour and a half, and the train is full. A person should only be allowed to take up one seat and be fined if they take 2, for whatever reasons. But in our politically correct society it will hever happen. Grr.

I guess I am being really uncharitable today.

Paid my Discover $967
Chase $72(for where discover is not accepted)
Citi $48 (used when I misplaced my Discover and Chase)
Medical bill $155
and I finally opened a ROTH IRA (I think. I still have to wait for confirmation -- a lot of technical problems)
So that's $4000 - for 2006
I chose a high risk high reward fund.
I'll keep it there for 6 months, than move it somewhere safer.

Now I have $280 left to my name. (and $290 of lucky money from this Chinese New Year -- and I'm not even Chinese But that money I should not use for regular stuff. I should use that for something where luck is needed. )

Tomorrow is payday (I hope my little raise got processed in payroll this month)
Most of that paycheck will go toward rent.
And I got lease renewal in the mail yesterday -- in three months our rent will be raised by $67 a month

Most goals require money and it is necessary to plan for them financially. But one can get too obsessive that way.

It is good to have parallel goals that will make one feel good accomplishing and would not require money to achieve.

I will make a serious effort towards one of mine: studying Mandarin.
I am taking classes 3 hours a week (free from my employer) but need to spend more time studying at home.

My major money-related goal is to save enough for a fun year of studying and traveling in China. (and not working!)

I also hope to go this year for 3 weeks (pending employer approval).

I can maximize what I get out of it by getting my level as high as I can before going. (And it is not easy).

Trying to figure out a way to beat them, but can't.

When withdrawing money from an ATM overseas you get charged: 1% by Visa/Mastercard + 3% by your bank (citibank, chase and most) + ATM fee from your bank for using another banks ATM, plus the foreign bank's fee.
This is crazy. I thought I was doing well by withdrawing maximum allowable amount and therefore reducing fees... but I did not know I was still paying 4%, since it is build into the conversion -- and they don't advertise doing this.

It works out to a lot of money over the 15 months I spend abroad in the last 3 years...

If you buy currency, it does not seem better. For 7.75 exchange rate you get 6.6 in reality.

Today I finally bought a garment steamer I wanted for a long time! I promised myself I would wait to buy it until I get a raise, and I did wait.

It is pricey ($250) -- but with the amount of silk skirts, blouses, pants and thin cotton shirts I have, I think it is wise investment (comparing to paying $4 a piece)
It is supposed to be very poweful, so I am hoping to be able to just load all work shirts/blouses for the both of us in one load and than steam them all. I hope to cut dry cleaning bill by 90%.

It also can be used on a rug and for steam cleaning (different attachments) I can't wait for it to get here.

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Had nice dinner at a Korean restaurant yesterday. (I love Korean BBQ!)
A friend from out of town treated (she was coming into town for an interview and asked to stay with us)

I found out about it 1 hour ago from reading another blog.
Donated $125 today.

It is an inspiring concept.

Besides, keeping my mind on my money so much lately, I need to keep from getting too greedy.

And it was not automatic (had to go in front of a pannel, even for this small amount).

after tax works out to $140 more dollars a month. Not much, but more than I had before. So I am happy with this small victory.

I got lazy and not posted for few days. Got to keep it up. Now I barely remember what I did in these few days, and summaries are boring.

Let me recall. Saturday - Chinese New Years Eve dinner. (got $150 in red envelope) Next year we'll be married so this is the last time.

Sunday -- went to Staten Island for dinner (around $70 + $8 for the bridge)
But the meat was good (not like Peter Luger of course, but hey, it is not Peter Lugers price either)

Monday -- I think we had Vietnamese. Need to cut down on eating out. But it is so difficult.

Tuesday and Wednesday -- got treated to homecooked dinner.

Got $155 bill for the lab tests done 3 months ago. grrr Hate spending money on medical bills. Always feel like it is a rip-off.

Today I got a 70$ fruit arrangement delivered to my office from my SO. It was a surprise. I found out it was supposed to come on Valentines day, but due to weather...

He was on his way from Boston when I received it. When he got to NY few hours later, I took half a day off and he picked me up from work. We had a nice dinner. (after 2 hours in traffic to get out of Manhattan - and we were relatively lucky)

I had 2 margaritas at dinner, so I may be a little drunk right now.

Our two kittens have torn the house apart (all the clothing that was movable is on the floor, a flower pot is broken into pieces and there is dirt all over the room. And they are laying with bellies up and expect to be petted.

Today I made 50$ on Discover cashback by bying airline tickets for my MIL on my card (she'll pay me back by check). I can double the reward to $100 if I choose to get a selected retailer gift card instead of cash.

Not only that, but getting that check 45 days before the payment is due will give me an interest free cash advance.
I will use it to finally open ROTH IRA next week instead of next month as I had planned. And by the time that Discover statement comes, I'll have enough to pay it off.

I also just cashed my first $1,000 CD -- $1,027 with interest, and will add that to the ROTH as well. My immediate goal is to max it out for 2006 -- 4000$. Than I can stop worrying about adding to retirement for another 10 months. (I have a pension plan at work to which I automatically contribute).

Today I spend no money (it is a very rare day). I was treated with great breakfast, and brought my lunch. My SO is still on a business trip, so no going out later either. Besides, I need to clean up the apartment before the Chinese New Year.

There are so many things I want to do!
But the budget only goes so far.

So this is about making the best of what we have. To get the most fun while being financialy responsible.

My main medium-term goal is a year off to travel and study another language (in the country of origin).
I have given myself 3.5 years to save for that. In the meantime, it is about finding ways to cut that are not so important to me and still having some fun.