Somer's Personal Finance Blog

but I'm still here. Our 401 and 403 took a bigger hit than last year at this time. My husband who wanted to retire this year will be working another year at least now. Our goal this year is to save as much as possible. We are living debt free so it should be easy.

We're are also trying to go "Green" as much as possible. This is for the Earth as well as our pocket books.

We'll see how it goes. Scrimping and savings can be fun. I am old enough to remember all the tips and tales of my parents and grandparents during the "Great Depression".

It is so hard to see the gains plus the hard earned money in my 401 drop away. I am feeling it was all for nothing. Thank heaven I have money in other things not connected to the stock market. But I was putting so much of my check in my 401 in anticipation of retiring. Sad, so sad. I'm hanging in there hoping for a correction sometime this year or next with a new administration in office.

That is the question. I have decided that this will be my mantra for the year and will only buy if I NEED it. So far it's been saving me a lot of money. I never realize how much I buy because I just want it.

I was taught if you wanted something save for it. I am and always have been a good saver but in my early years I'd save up and spend. I wish I had three savings accounts (back then we had 5 1/4 % interest) I wish I had saved for emergencies and for my future besides my wants.

We had to get groceries, we have this budgeted and we were within our budget. Is this a no spend day? We didn't get anything we didn't need. If it doesn't count then when ever we pay our bills, even though it's budgeted for, counts as spending. I'll have to think of a new challenge.

We had dinner out with drinks and still spent no money. Gift Cards we found from Christmas!! The streak is still on.

At my lunch at home. For dinner we made our own pizza with the stuff we had at home. Day number 2, we are on a roll.

I had a no spend day. We are having a late season snow storm so management ordered pizzas so no one would have to go out. Then, we had a power outage. No work and a free lunch. The power never did come back on and we left early, paid for our normal hours. What a no spend day! I am burning the calories from the pizza shoveling the heavy, heavy snow. It will be snowing until tomorrow. Eck.

I have hit the blahs as far as finances goes. I have much on autopilot as I could. It'great going but kind of boring. So, I want to spice things up. See how long I can go on No Spend Days. See if I can break some of my records using coupons. See how much fun stuff I can do for free. My employer will pay half of a health club fee. I used to join but this year I have not. I'll see how much I can do without. (the club has a great outdoor track that the public can use). We'll see what I can come up with to keep me going.

My one year anniversary. I have learned so much in this past year. I have been so frugal. Using coupons, set a budget, learned more about my 401k, started investing, learned about On'line Banks. Everyone has been so nice with advice and comments. I am looking forward to reading more from you all and learning more.

I spent today, groceries. But it was budgeted for and we were within budget. Otherwise a quiet day. We're waiting for the snow storm and the Bear's game tomorrow.
Yesterday was payday, the budget was gone over, bills paid and accounts all balanced. We're sitting pretty so far.

It's the 18th day of the year and I'm still on track. I have only had one spending day(work pig-out for bosses job promotion). I even found some money (only 7 dollars but hey!) so I think I'm doing all right.

Today was a no spend day. My husband wanted to go out to lunch when I got home from work, but I talked him into doing a 50's drive up lunch at home. (Hamburges, french fries, pickles in a paper plate and holder, with big dill pickles on the side). When we usually do this type of meal we make shakes to go with but no ice cream. We did have chocolate for milk so we did that instead. Seems so simple but we call it this when we saw a retro 50's diner on vacation and us being children of the 50's loved it. So we do it at home every once and a while.

I was so close to ending the week without spending a dime but.... we had a pig-out at work, there was a sign up sheet. I scanned the list and had nothing at home that fit the list so I had to stop at the grocery store. I really tried to be creative with out spending but being the end of the week, I had nothing. So close, so close. I will start again on Sunday and see how far I can go.

It's Wednesday, day four in my no spend week. I am convienced I'm addicted to spending and suffering withdrawal. I think that I wouldn't have spent anything normally today anyway so why am I feeling like I need to go out shopping. Thank heaven I had a very busy day at work and am pretty tired. I'll go to bed soon and day four will be over. Hanging in there until tomorrow. Good night

I have had three days now, not spending a thing. My dinner came from eating down the freezer and pantry. I'm working on a no spend week, which will be hard since one of my weakness is "Kohl's 15% off if you use your charge". I had a day off today and usually I clean the house, do errands and hit the stores. I almost weaken thinking I could hit the stores and just look, but nah, I know myself.

I'm coming to the end of a great "no-spend day". I set up my budget, cleaned out my purse, started up with my coin jar, cleaned out my 2006 files, started gathering the tax stuff, put the rest of our christmas stuff away, cleaned the car, made chili and corn muffins. I did almost run to the store for green peppers for the chili but stopped and we will just do without today. I'm feeling very pleased with my self.We also listed all our credit cards with associated phone numbers, all our emergency phone numbers. I found all the credit bureaus fraud line numbers, we took out all unneccessary items from the wallets. It's all for "just in case" something happens. We have it in a safe place now. I am going to try to have a no spend week.

I haven't added much lately. I started my journey into Personal Finance in April. I have curbed my spending, invested into stocks , discovered EmigrantDirect and went into auto deposits. I have learned so much and saved a lot. The year is winding down and my looking into new goals. I have enjoyed reading the posts too. I (we) don't have any debts to speak of. We just never believed in credit cards. Thanks for a great year and looking forward to the next.

I'm taking in my coin jar to the bank today. I did not do that last month. I was saving all coins and singles. Occasionally taking out quarters for parking when I go to a meeting in town. I'm anxious to see how much there is. Also today is the end of 3rd quarter so when I do my books this weekend I'll see how I did. My second son went to college this fall so took a hit for that last month but I think I did good. So we'll see.

Finanically things have been going pretty good for me. Sending a son to college has set me back this month, but happy I wasn't sending him to the Marines like he wanted.

My budget is working very well, I'm using percentage instead of a set dollar amount. I readjusted my 401K and it has settled down alot. I did lose a lot of ground the first half of the year.

I've invested in the stock market this year. Just a little but it's been doing very well so far.

I looked into EmigrantDirect for my savings and that has been great. My I bonds on the other hand. When I purchased them, 6% now maybe 2% and I can't do anything about it for another 4 oonths. Hopefully the rate will go up again in November.

I've been letting my coinjar ride this month. I'll cash it in, in October.

Coin jar total for June was 89.52, not bad considering how many no spend days I had in June. This is vacation month so I don't plan on much headway. I still put in to savings and investments as on budget but I don't plan on anything extra going in.
We are doing much more planning with the car trips with the gas prices climbing. Something we did before but extra trips weren't that big of deal, now, well we really think. We travel a bit to get our groceries but the store is a big savings for us. We ran out of bread the other day, our local store charges a dollar and quarter more for the same loaf we buy, it just wasn't worth it for us to travel to our other store for the difference. Still,it was so hard to pay that much for bread when I know I could have gotten it cheaper. Ouch.

I readjusted the budget for this month and so far it's worked quite well, I think I'll keep it going next month without changing a thing.
No spending days have added to my savings nicely. I haven't noticed much change in feelings (like I'm bored or feeling poor) I took my 401k from risk to low risk. It was just making me crazy losing my hard earned cash so fast. My American Freedom accounts interest rate went up to 4.80% I am jumping for joy and so, so glad I found out about Internet Banks. I did close my savings account I had in town here, earning .40%. I'm ending this month feeling pretty good about things.

We joined a gym in February for my sons who wanted to weight lift and work out. My employer paid for half our membership and it was bascially only for the kids. We had to get a family membership to get them both on and in. (with the employer paying half was a great deal) my husband and I did not plan on ever going. But, I am trying to manage my health this summer and was told to start doing cardio and some weight lifting so I started going to the gym. It's great and I feel great. I almost feel like I'm cheating and getting in for free.At first I felt intimidated with all the young people there but I forged ahead anyway. I do see people my age and shape there when I looked deeper. I feel an ole pro now zipping in and out, jumping on machines without haveing to read all the instructions and figureing out how they work. Now if I can get my husband to go we just might retire healthy and in shape???

To try to off-set the market and the big chunk leaving my retirement fund I frugled my way through the week. I usually burn a quarter of a tank of gas a week, I managed to cut that in half. I ate at home, used the library, stopping on my way home from work to save gas. I drank less soda and more tap water. I spent my free time decluttering in and found 250 in travelers checks. WOW. I do not know how long I have had them. So I almost could say I made money this week. I deposited it in my Emigrant account. I also closed my .40% interest savings account and moved that monies to the Emigrant as well. I also rebalanced my 401k. I think I'm set for the summer and just relax with my finances for a bit. It's a little hot and humid this weekend, summer has arrived. I made some hard lemonade and will drink away.

My husband had a golf outting. In the past, I would go shopping on this day, you know, he's having fun so I'm going to have fun. This past Saturday I didn't go. I stayed home, made my grocery list, pulled coupons, settled my weekly finances, gardened a bit, baked a bit and watched a movie on TV(made popcorn and everything). My bottle line finanially is in tact. I didn't miss a thing and felt good doing it.

In my old age, is that every trip to the store needlessly cost my bottom line. I am now to aware of what I spend and why. It is like a light bulb suddenly when off in my head.
Yesterday was my day off, normally I would have zipped to the car wash and have my car done, zip to the mall, look, spend on something I really didn't need, run to the grocery store grap a fast something for dinner.
This is what I did yesterday, washed car at home, (saved 15.00) and got exercise. Did not zip to mall, gardened instead. (who know how much saved but I know it was something) and got more exercise. I went to my freezer and pantry for dinner. (again who knows how much I saved but I know it was something).
I'm feeling pretty good this morning doing my weekly tally, even with the market drop I am still charging (or more like crawling) ahead.

In April I started investing in the stock market, I did well in April. May, well, I learned what it's like to play with the big boys. Now, since June 1st I've been doing a lot of self talking "I'm in it for the long haul, I'm in it for the long haul". I have a 401K as well taking a hit, but I'm diversified. I am trying not to look at the market as much as I was. I'm holding tight and staying the course.

Well, after reading everyones entry I have decided to make some June goals.
This month I will take charge of my health.
I will start a walking program(I have a program ready to follow).
I will get my stats(I have an appointment for June 8th).
I will make an appointment with my doctor for a physical.
I will continue to save 10% of my income.
I will continue to follow my budget.
I will continue to feed the coin jar with dollar bills and coin at the end of each day.
I will continue to put 10% into Investments.
I will look into getting extra income from something I love doing.

Even with the market drop last month, I was able to increase my money total. Last month was the first month I used a budget. A complete success in helping me see where my money goes. I was in control of my spending except for a little splurge I had. My coin jar had less in it than last month but that was due to the controled spending. EmigrantDirect has even raised the interest rates on the savings account. I have moved most of my savings into that account now due to the higher interest rates. I've started using coupons again, although our grocery store does not take internet coupons. I am a very happy girl this June 1st. Something I didn't think I could say with the market drop a couple of weeks ago.

I just finished doing my weekly finance chores and it looks like the month of May was pretty flat for me. The stock market pretty much wiped out my earnings for the month. I'll see the total picture at the end of the month but it doesn't seem as bad as I was thinking it was.