Making Grippy Tweezers and Waxing Your Own Eyebrows

I wax my eyebrows every so often. This last time, I ended up getting some facial hair-removing wax on the tips. It actually turned out cool! It gave the tweezers extra gripping power. So if you have some of this, you might want to try it on the tips of your tweezers and let it dry.

Surgi Wax comes in a little square blue box. I don't wax my private parts, so I use the wax that is for the face. Lately, I've been lying down on my bed and waxing, instead of standing in the bathroom. I have a magnifying mirror, so I scoop a little wax onto the paddle, and carefully wipe it where I need it to go. The mirror really helps, so I would recommend getting one. You could probably find one at one of the dollar stores. I think I got mine at Dollar General.

Doing your own eyebrows is cheaper than going to a salon or those specialty places. They've popped up in our local mall--they use string to remove the hairs. I think the wax costs between $6-11, and I hardly use any wax at all when I do. So investing in the wax is a good deal. I think Eyes by India charges $8 just to do eyebrows. I don't know if they are connected to the Eyes by India in Indianapolis.

My eyebrows are pretty thick. I just started waxing my brows a few years ago, but through practice, I've gotten them to where I like them. If you've never done it before, you might want to wax just a small part to see what it's like.

The wax needs to be at a certain temperature, and that's tricky. You don't want it so hot that the liquid is runny. I think that's the hardest part about this.

Once you've spread the wax on, let it sit for about a minute or so, and gently push the wax against the skin. After another minute, gently peel up on one side of the wax. Get a good grip, then tear it off? quickly in the opposite direction of the hair grown. Do this fast! If you do it slowly, it's way more agonizing.

The advantage to waxing is if you do it right, you can take out a lot of hairs at once, especially the very small, hard-to-see ones. The disadvantage is if you get too much wax on your eyebrow, you'll end up with a lot of hairs missing and maybe some strange-looking holes.

I used to get Sally Hansen wax, and they included a tiny bottle of something called Azulene oil. This helps soothe the skin and ward off bacteria. It's not uncommon for the waxed part to look a little pink. If you don't have this oil, you may want to wash the area with some anti-bacterial soap and maybe put some baby oil on after.

I don't have pictures of the actual procedure, because I usually don't think of photographing this, and I went from making grippy tweezers to the eyebrow waxing process. I should have saved it for another blog post, but oh well! Maybe you could try using Plasti-Dip on the tweezers as well! What do you think!?

Thrift Shopping Rocks!

I checked out the Franciscan Center the other night and for less than $19, got the following items.

Two pairs of Reeboks, a pair of Nikes, several classic movies on VHS, and a children's book by one of  my favorite children's authors, Carolyn Heywood. I used to read the "Eddie" serious voraciously as a kid.

I Forgot

Not only to post, but I also forgot what I was going to post about. It was going to be some sort of hint or trick, but now, I've forgotten.

This Semester's Budget

Despite some unexpected expenses, I did pretty well estimating this semester's budget and how much money I would need to live on. I feel bad about borrowing the money, but let's hope I finish school promptly. One classmate has borrowed $120,000 worth of student loans.

Hair Conditioning

First my hair is up all day after putting a bit of baby oil and vaseline on it. After beihg up all day, I take it down to softbbouncy curls.

Too Lazy

I took the photos. But I'm too lazy to get off the couch and upload them. Really. You'll see them soon.

I'm Doing it!

Yes, today I put my hair up in that ponytail thing. So I will take it out later tonight and show you what my hair looks like, before I do another deep conditioning.

Cheap Hair Conditioning

I found out a way to condition my hair cheaply. I put my hair into a ponytail. Then, I took baby oil and put it on the part sticking out of the ponytail holder. Then, I pull part of the ponytail through the elastic, leaving a sort of half circle/half loop of hair sticking out.

Then, since I have naturally curly hair, there are little hairs that stick out from the side of my head. I put petroleum jelly on those hairs, slicking it back so the hairs are smooth.

I leave my hair up like this anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. The beauty is that it just looks like your hair is up in a bun. The heat from your head helps the oil and petroleum jelly sink into your hair. After a few hours, or at the end of the day, my hair was shiny and soft! Seriously, it looked REALLY pretty. I will have to post pictures some time. But it came as a complete surprise when I did it. When I do it again, I'll take pictures and show you. This probably works really well on people with thick, naturally curly hair. Baby oil and petroleum jelly are really cheap too.

I've also been using something else, when I have the time to put the cap on my head and sit for 20 minutes or so and do a deep condition. The Palmer's packs only cost $1.47 or so at Target and they make your hair smell really good!

I spoke too soon

My neighbor got laid off last night, about halfway through her work assignment. And I gave a price to the guy who wanted copyrighting, but he never got back to me. Figures. People want stuff for free, and I can't afford to volunteer.

More Money-Making Opportunities!

My neighbor is getting some work through her union, so I will be making some money by letting her dogs out. I plan to use that to pay on my credit card bill.

I got my skis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After I turned in my portfolio to one of my instructors on Wednesday, I felt like going shopping. I hit up four thrifts/resale shops and I hit paydirt! I didn't find any handbags I could afford at Plato's Closet and Clothes Mentor, but at the Franciscan Center, I found a pair of skis, boots, and poles for $32.10! Totally amazing! Then, at Goodwill, I found an evening bag and a great leather jacket for less than $20. I capped off a successful afternoon of shopping with dinner at Long John Silver's. It's crazy, but after scoring those bargains, I was feeling pretty good.

Credit Limit

Because I've been a good girl and have paid all my statements from Capital One on time, my credit limit was raised from $1,000 to $1500. It's nice to have more room on that card.

Student Loans

I'm thinking of paying back my trucking school student loans with the money I have coming in now. How ironic.

Working Next Semester

I think I will have some classes to teach next semester, which will ease my mind a little bit when it comes to finances. Borrowing money for school is scary.

More money ...

Hasn' really helped my mood.

Fuck My Life

I'm a failure. I'm always going to be poor and working shit jobs and I wish I were dead.

Not Broke, but Feeling Like it...

Going back to school had better be worth it. I can't take many more defeats...

Half Price Books!

I was feeling particularly depressed yesterday, so I went to Half Price Books here in Fort Wayne. They are the only used book store that's open at NIGHT. We have other used bookstores in town (The Bookmark, Hyde Brothers, and Every Other Book) but they are not open after 6 p.m. As shown in the photo, I have quite the diverse taste when it comes to reading material. And all this cost me less than $25!!!!!!

Sigh...

As I sit in class, I think about the $1,000 per course I had to borrow in order to get my master's degree. So far, I try not to think too much about it, because if I do, I'll get REALLY depressed.

Ugh

When I have money, I spend it. Which is why being broke is kind of cool. You can't afford anything, so you won't buy it.

I've been

Spending too much lately.

Nothing Much to Say

Had two big expenditures in one week. I had the resources to cover them, but I still feel super-guilty about shelling out, but hey, I thought my dog was in big trouble, and my laptop is very old and very slow. Since I'll be doing a lot of writing, I figured a new laptop was an acceptable investment.

Sorry ...

Not feeling up to posting. And I feel like the only time I can live like a normal person is when I'm living on borrowed money, and no, I don't feel proud about that.

Ugh

Spent about a thousand dollars this week. I'm not good with money. I'll never be comfortable in terms of money. I don't know why I bother.

Scary Labor Day

I had to take my dog into the vet on Labor Day. She's okay though. But I'm $400+ poorer.

Student Loan Money

And yes, I feel guilty and bad for borrowing it to go back to school.

Whoops again!

I forgot to post Saturday. I guess I need to upload some more excerpts from my bankruptcy memoir. I also need to work on that, but I'm intent on getting my erotic romance novel done. Plus I'm going to school and working, so obviously, I need a schedule and some willpower!

Sigh...

Seems to me I've lived my entire adult life on borrowed money.

The More I Worry...

The more I eat and spend. And I hate that.

My Do It Yourself Name in Lights!

This post on my other blog has been quite successful! Check it out here for a low-cost gift that's sure to wow!

Another Day, Another Scholarship Application (or three)

After work, I stopped off at school to look over more scholarship matches. One scholarship wanted me to write an essay about how coupons influenced my purchasing decisions. I usually carry a few Goodwill coupons with me. A local grocery store prints them on the back of their receipts, and I stash them in my wallet, or put them in the glove box. The coupons are either for $1 off a $10 purchase, or $5 off a $25 purchase.

But sometimes I avoid coupons, because no matter how good the deal is, you're still spending money. I have precious little cash right now and there's less than $10 in checking, and it's a good week and a half until my next payday. I had to pay house insurance and my student loan, and I spent $80+ at the grocery store, so I'm pretty much wiped out, unless my other job pays me at the end of this week. It still means $5 and whatever change I can find around the house until I get paid. Which won't be soon enough.

King's Hawaiian Sandwich Bread

King's Hawaiian now makes a loaf of bread and it's a good size if you are in the mood for two or three sandwiches and don't want to buy a normal sized loaf of bread and have it go bad. Although, I've tried to get into the habit of putting two slices in sealable sandwich bags and put them in the freezer so if I'm in the mood for a sandwich, I'll have bread handy. Two slices in each bag is just the right size and portion if you are in the mood for toast or a sandwich. I've had three sandwiches so far, and I think I have enough for a fourth, excluding the heels of the loaf.

Very Close to Totally Broke

And of all days when I really, REALLY needed to get paid, I don't. I texted my boss to see if I would get paid for last week's work this coming Friday, and he didn't respond to that. Guess I'll have to text him again.

Here's Something That I Wrote Specifically for the Blog (a long time ago)

People may not want to be tightwads, or be perceived as tightwads. Try to think of it this way: the less dependent you are on others, the less control they have over you. Read that last sentence again and really think about it. People are both stupid and hypocritical, which is why they will buy huge, gas-guzzling vehicles, yet bitch, bitch, and bitch some more about gas prices. These are the same people who refer to Middle Easterners as “Sand Niggers” or worse. Well, I've got news for you. YOU are the Middle East's bitch. All of us are. All of us who drive cars, that is. But you SUV types are OPEC's wet dream. You hate the Middle East, you hate the culture, you hate the religion, they are all terrorists, yet you insist on supporting them by driving your Gigantimobile. And I have to laugh. I've had fuel-efficient cars over the last 20 years. And I'm thinking about getting a moped. I live close to my jobs, and a moped would be perfect to get to work and back. I do have a bicycle, but my city is not as cycle-friendly as it could be, although it's getting better.

Don't You Hate ...

When you rent videos of movies you think you're really going to like, but they are not holding your attention? Tonight is like that.

Saving You Money Since 2011!

I helped a customer save $35 by giving her an empty box to use as a paint tray for her 18 inch Purdy roller she was purchasing. I told her some Saran Wrap, or an old shower curtain liner, or plastic insulating material, and she was all set.

Ugh...

Overdrawn again, AND my car needs $450 worth of work. I may just have to take that student loan amount just to be able to survive, let alone pay for school. I really don't want to bury myself in debt again, but if I'm going to school, I don't see any other choice. I can't work full time as an instructor, because that depends on enrollment. And I'm not even sure if I could find a full time job, with employers trying to dodge the healthcare laws.

Yeah, I got into grad school.

Sorry!

If you don't want to bring pop to the Three Rivers Festival, take advantage of places that offer cheap refills if you buy a plastic souvenir cup. Miss Piggy's Pork Shop is offering such a deal. A $4 cup (looks like it's maybe 24 ounces or so) will get you $1 refills the remainder of the festival. Their pulled pork dinner is pretty good too. For $11, it's probably one of the better, more balanced offerings at the festival. You get a pulled pork sandwich, corn on the cob, and new red potatoes slathered in butter.

Three Rivers Festival

If you live in Fort Wayne, the Three Rivers Festival is going on. It's the place to see and be seen. It's people watching Mecca.

But it can get a bit pricey. One way to save money is to buy your pop somewhere else, and bring it to the festival so you don't pay $4.00 for 32 ounces of pop. Some places have deals where if you buy a large cup, you can get refills for next to nothing the rest of the week. If you plan to go multiple nights, it's not a bad deal. But if you are just going once with your family, bring your own soda. That way, you'll have more room for the deep fried Twinkies for dessert.

Storms are Expensive

The most recent storm knocked out the power to my house.  I ended up losing probably $50 worth of beef and salmon. Oh well.

Time Off

Is great, except when payday rolls around.  But I haven't had a weekend off in months, so I'll take it. I DO have four jobs, after all.

Bad Storm

A bad storm hit last night. Ironically,  my healthy tree lost three huge limbs.

Payday, Finally

I finally got paid from school. So of course, I went out shopping.

Payday Can't Come Soon Enough...

I think this coming Friday will be payday. I'm sorta hurting. There's so much that I need to take care of around the house, but I've put it off, because there's no money. I really need a new mattress, I need to take Summit to the vet for a checkup, my sewer line needs rooted out...and that's just the pressing concerns.

I'm trying not to charge anything more on my credit card, because it's nearly maxed out. Plus, I owe my ex-boyfriend for paying for a car repair last summer. It sucks being poor. I'm working four part time jobs, and I can't seem to get into the local university for even a part time job, and that's where I'd rather be.

Although, I think full time jobs are going to go away. No one wants to pay for healthcare, and I heard that Meijer's is going to have the majority of their people go to part time status. What a wonderful surprise for all those full timers at Meijer's who will now have to get a part time job in order to survive. Good luck getting your employers to work with each other's schedules...

Doggy Job

My neighbor is going to pay me to let her dogs out Sunday. Every little bit helps.

I Guess I'll Have to Wait

I've got several bills piling up, but I have less than $100 in my checking account. I will have to wait until I get paid again, which will be nearly two weeks from now. I started a Christmas Club account, and I have money in that, but if I keep transferring it over, I won't have a Christmas Club account. I need to find an account that I can put small amounts of money into, but I can't withdraw it for at least six months. A certificate of deposit won't help me. I need an account where I can open it with say, five dollars, and add to it over the course of six months to a year, where I CANNOT withdraw it for any reason, until the six months (or year) is up. That would be a huge help to me, because it would FORCE me to save. If I can access the funds any damn time I want, how does that help me SAVE???

Arrrgh!

Credit card debt sucks.

Lean Times, but Hopefully Not For Long

I nearly maxed out my new credit card about a couple weeks ago. I relied on it way too much to make up for a lean time right now. I'm still working, but my summer class hasn't quite started yet. That means I haven't been paid for that yet. But I will soon, and I hope to start saving money again and to keep current on my utility bills and put some aside, and yes, TO PAY DOWN MY CREDIT CARD BILL.

Giving Seeds a Safer Start

I wanted more marigold plants, but found out I hadn't started enough. So I started some seeds in the garden today. To protect them, I cut up some two-liter bottles and placed them over the seeds, so hopefully the rabbits won't come along and eat the tiny plants.

And hopefully soon, I'll have more marigolds!

Getting Creative With Cardboard

A while back, I noticed that Kilz boxes looked like a good size for holding mail. So when I was at work the other day, I took three of them. I plan to make them into boxes for holding mail and other odds and ends, in an effort to get organized. Here's a picture of them. I will post the spray-painted ones later.

Oops!

I nearly maxed out my credit card this week. I knew I shouldn't have gotten it.

Some Stylish Storage Tips

Well, okay, maybe not stylish, but maybe coordinated. If you go into places like Lowe's, Home Depot, or Hobby Lobby, you see all sorts of storage containers, all going for at least $7 or higher. If you want storage that is uniform and inexpensive, try using document storage boxes from Office Depot. You can get something like 10 boxes for maybe $17 or so. They are decently sized, like maybe 15 by 13 by 10. Try painting the boxes the same color as the wall, if you are putting the boxes on shelves. Or you can paint the boxes the same color as the bookcases. The paint isn't going to be too expensive. A quart does about 100 square feet, and is about $12. So that's less than $30 for 10 storage boxes, whereas if you bought the storage totes, even at $7, you'd be out $70. I think I saw this in an Ikea catalog. If you have a bunch of boxes all the same size, and all the same color, they look nicer and blend into the wall.

By doing this, you save a little bit of money, and you get bigger storage that you can customize by color. You can get different sized boxes if you need to, and there's really no limit to the amount you can get. I've bought storage containers at Lowe's, and wasn't able to get them all the same style. Same color, yes, but different style. And once it's gone, it's gone.

Arrrgh!

Spent way too much this past week. Sort of regretting that credit card now.

The Dollar Store Library

If you want to pick up some interesting reads, check out the dollar store. I recently picked up Lips Unsealed, by Belinda Carlisle. You may have to check back every couple of weeks or so in order to see what new books they have, but there is a chance that you'll pick up a pricey hardbound for just a buck. Carlisle's memoir was originally $26.00, but I got it for $1. About the only way I could have gotten a better deal was at a yard/garage sale for 50 cents or so. For $1, it's an entertaining read, and a fun glimpse into the life of a rock star.

Save a Little For the Near Future

Saving just $20 a week for 36 weeks will get you $720. Don't know about you, but that would make for a nice Christmas Club accumulation.

Oh Brother...

Yes, I got the credit card. Yes, I've charged two meals. That. Has. To. Stop.

Don't "Buy" the Plastic Trays

I work in a home improvement store, and every year, we sell those seed-starting kids. You know, those two-foot long plastic trays with a bunch of little holes you fill up with potting soil. They cost $4-7 apiece.

I saved my lettuce and cake containers for the last few months. Sure, they don't have the little individual holes, but if you plant carefully, that doesn't matter. Here's a photo of some of them, plus some marigolds, tomatoes and peppers I've started.

Credit Card

My first purchase with was for a tire. How boring.

It's Just as Well

T J M a.x x  turned me down for a credit card.

The Credit Card Came

And I wanted to buy a handbag, but I couldn't find a single one at Clothes Mentor or Plato's Closet that I wanted. I guess now that I have a bit of buying power, I can get the roots out of my sewer line, go to the dentist, get new glasses, and perhaps trim my trees. And of course, get right back into debt again!

Still Can't Afford Anything

I have so much to take care of and no money to do it with.

Start a Christmas Club Account Today!

Even though I've been very broke for the last four years, I've managed to go to Cedar Point. I only stay for the day. But I start saving for it in January. I occasionally purchase stuff with cash, and when I come home with a spare five or ten dollars, I put it in my Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bank. I do that every few weeks or so. Over the course of five or six months, I manage to save $160 painlessly. It takes about that much to get to Cedar Point, eat one meal, and get back. If I want to have a little more fun and have more food choices, I need closer to $200. I rarely play skill games, but I might play that ring toss game that I enjoyed last fall. If you buy a hatful of rings, you get to keep the hat. Sure, the hat probably cost 20 cents to make, but I felt better spending $10 on a skill game knowing that I'd get something.

But I did start a Christmas Club account at Fort Financial Credit Union. It's the time of year I could use more money. Not because I have gobs of people to buy for (I don't) but because of my schedule, I have time off then, and I'd like to be able to go to movies, and perhaps take a road trip to Indy or Chicago, and of course, go skiing. Skiing is about $100. That includes gas money and equipment rental. That leaves about three bucks over to eat. So saving up the $100 to ski, I'm okay, because I usually have enough in my checking account to eat something at the ski lodge and on the way home.

Time is on your side when it comes to saving. That's why I start saving in January for Cedar Point. It would probably also apply to retirement. I have an IRA, and I'm guilty for not contributing more to it. But I should probably take the same approach to the IRA as I do the Cedar Point fund. If I can spare $5 a week to put in an IRA, sure, it's not much, but at least I'm putting SOMETHING in it. And something is better than nothing.

Started Some Seeds...

Planted a few seeds today, and plan to start more indoors. I love having a garden in the summer!!!

Being Over Bankruptcy Doesn't Mean You're Rich!

I'm through with my bankruptcy. I was discharged a few months ago. I am still getting bills. Needless to say, it's frustrating. I sent one bill back telling them it was included in the bankruptcy, which it WAS.

So a co-worker of mine told me I should take a trip to Canada. She doesn't seem to realize that just because I'm over a bankruptcy means I automatically got a $5,000 a year raise. I work four jobs. Four part time jobs. I'm basically scraping by. It's nearly impossible for me to save. If I had a full time job, I might very well be able to save, since I really don't have much in the way of expenses right now.

But there are so many things I'd like to take care of. Need to take care of. And I honestly don't see how I'll be able to save for a trip to Canada. Because there's other things I want, too.

Isn't it Ironic?

Found out it will cost me $195.00 to take the GRE. That will bankrupt me again!

Music For Free

The library is a great resource, and here in Fort Wayne, our library is awesome! In addition to books, and books on tape/CD, there are movies and music. I recently checked out Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys "epic" album. I ripped it to my computer. I mainly wanted it for the songs "Wouldn't it be Nice" and "God Only Knows." No one can harmonize like the Beach Boys. I plan to listen to the entire album eventually.

I also checked out Adele's 21. The only song I really like from that CD is "Rumor Has It."

I also got Smashmouth's Astrolounge. I really enjoy music from the 90s, as that was a very pleasant time in my life. It brings back good memories. I was fairly happy, I was able to travel, I had friends to do stuff with, and it seemed there was always something to look forward to. My niece and nephew were young and I took them to do stuff, and both my parents were alive. Things in general seemed more mellowed out and happy and optimistic.

So, if you want music for free, borrow the CDs from the library and rip them to your computer. As broke as I am, I can't afford to buy a CD every time I hear a song on the radio that I like. Thanks to the record industry, for the last 20 years or so, if you heard a song on the radio, you had to buy the CD (priced anywhere from $10 to $20, depending where you bought it). I bought a CD just to get that song, "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand", and the rest of the CD wasn't worth it. Imagine how you'd feel paying $15 for ONE SONG. That CD is what stopped me from buying CDs from new artists. And then we had Napster and now we have iTunes and Allen County Public Library cardholders can download three free songs a week from Freegal.

So if you're poor, or a Recovering Bankrupt like me, check out your local library. You'll be glad you did!

Still Waiting

I still don't know if I'll get that credit card.

Must... Not... Spend...

I want to buy stuff.  but I'm trying not to.  I really should write a check to Nilsson, but I also want to build up my emergency fund.

Still Poor

I'm done with my bankruptcy but that doesn't mean I'm rich. Since I still make shit wages, I'm still broke. And I've still got bills.

Goodbye, Wells Fargo

I am overdrawn from Wells Fargo. They charge me $13 a month, probably because I can't maintain at least a $500 a month balance in my account. That's fine. I'm going to pay them what I owe, and close out my account. If they ask me why, I'm going to tell them I can't afford their "poverty tax."

Maybe, Just Maybe ...

I applied for a credit card today. Let's see what happens.

Surprise!

Checked my checking account balance and it seems I have $115 in it. So I grocery shopped. It's sort of nice to know I'm not completely broke, but I hope I don't speak too soon and there's some check out there about to hit the account, and I end up overdrawn.

But it still worries me. All I meant to get at the store tonight was Sominex, and I end up with $60 worth of fruits, veggies, salmon, dog and cat treats, Cadbury creme eggs, paper towels and sleeping pills. I really do need to ditch my debit card and pay cash for everything. It would help me stay within budget and not be overdrawn.

Which reminds me--I need to close out my Wells Fargo account. They charge me $13 a month for being poor. So I figure I'm about $39 in the hole, unless they charge me overdraft fees.

Is the bullshit starting again????

Spent $160 in three days time for a battery and cord for my laptop. I don't need this shot. It will eat up the earnings from my fourth part time job.

Bought More Root Killer

Bought more root killer. Maybe in a couple weeks I'll be able to flush my toilet. If $50 will help me from shelling out for a root clean out, it will be worth it.

Another Argument for Packing a Lunch

Went to Wendy's today for a BLT Chicken Cobb salad. They don't have them anymore. Another reason I should have packed my lunch today.

I Got My Refund...But...

I got my tax refund, only it was $600 less than what I thought it was going to be. I think it's because I was late paying my taxes last year, but I will probably call them just to see if that is what it is.

It's nice to get a refund, but not nice to have it WAY less than what you expected. It means I still have to put off stuff that I thought I could knock out with this money.

Oh well. Could be worse.

Spoke Too Soon

My tax refund was reduced by the feds by $600. So instead of $830 from the government, it's going to be $230. Fuck. This. Shit. I think they are punishing me for being late in paying my taxes last year. So I guess I will take my pets to the vet and put off getting classes and my teeth cleaned for another year.

Can't Wait For the Tax Return

I am eagerly waiting my tax return. Hoping to go to the eye doctor, and the dentist, and take Daphne to the vet. I think she has another UTI. Also hope to get Summit in for her annual checkup as well.

And perhaps I'll get caught up with utility bills as well.

Filed My Taxes!

I filed my taxes. So hopefully I'll get the direct deposit soon. I need to use the money to take care of myself, like going to the eye doctor and the dentist. I also should take Daphne in to the vet. I think she has another UTI. Also, Summit is overdue to go to the vet. It's very hard to load her into her carrier. I meant to take her when I took Daphne in for her annual appointment, but she refused to load. And to be honest, I'm a bit afraid of her.

So the money will go to take care of some stuff I couldn't really afford when I was going through my bankruptcy. And it will be gone soon.

Tax Return!

It looks like I will get a decent tax return this time around, which means maybe I can take care of some things. Things like going to the dentist, going to the eye doctor, and taking my cat to the vet. Maybe I can also take my dog and have the vet look at her skin. There's some strange bumps going on, and I want to make sure they are harmless.

And maybe I can pay on some bills that I have. From RediMed, where I went the day after Christmas to take care of a cough that got fierce in a hurry, and to pay for my mammogram.

I also should get my plumbing fixed. My toilet overflows every so often, because it can't flush properly. And there might be something going on with my water heater. Just what I need. The return is spent before I've even received it.

Overdrawn Again!

 This time, I was overdrawn on the credit union account. I suppose I'm overdrawn on Wells Fargo as well, because I forgot to close the account and I'm sure they've implemented their monthly fee. Gotta get that taken care of.

Staying Home and Saving Money

Which is what I did on Monday. But here's a moment of weakness/stupidity for you. I had some very small stains on a shirt. I had bleach, so I decided to take care of them. Like a dumbass, I forgot that gravity exists and the bleach ended up oozing into one of the gray stripes of the shirt. So now, it's messed up.

Went online to order another one. Thought I had the EXACT one, until I opened up the package. The stripes were smaller. I liked the way the larger stripes looked on the original shirt, which was a Tommy Hilfiger that I got at the Franciscan Center thrift shop. Maybe someday I will find an exact replica, but I'm so mad at myself for washing out the shirt by hand, hanging it on a metal hanger, and finding rust spots on it, which infuriated me, causing me to use the bleach to try to get the spots out, then messing up the shirt.

I love that shirt. It looks awesome on me. And I go and fuck it up.

But lessons were learned. Hang wet shirts on plastic hangers. And realize gravity never gives up.

Bargains at Ulta

Nearly everything I bought at Ulta was on sale. And that's how you spend nearly $50 at one crack.

Another Post from the Bankruptcy Book!

This is a book about what it's like to live through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy--if you happen to be a single, middle-aged woman without any kids. This is the story of how I survived. This is how I learned how to deal with situations, how I lived with a toilet that wouldn't flush properly (I kept the lid shut to contain the aroma) how I lived with a washer with a clogged-up outake pipe that would occasionally overflow onto the kitchen floor. (I bought a $10 plastic hose, connected it to the washing machine, and ran it out my back door until I'd saved enough to get my plumbing problem addressed.) This is about a woman who collected rainwater to bathe in because her water got shut off. This is about a woman who hung clothes to dry in the backyard, and around her house because her dryer wouldn't heat. This is about a woman who thought differently about money when she no longer had it. This is not a book about how I lost a huge pile of money, this is not really about investing. Financial books tend to assume their readers have college degrees, decent jobs, and fell on hard times. I DO have a college degree, but decades of crappy jobs, “chasing the dream”, being in debt, medical bills and being downright stupid about money was what nailed me. The only thing that kept me from being homeless was my mother leaving me half the house I grew up in. If not for that, I would have been hard-pressed to find shelter.

If you're Catholic, being in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is like doing financial penance. Forgive me Father, for I have spent—way too fucking much. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. So if you're Catholic, think of Chapter 13 as suffering for your financial sins, for the next three to five years. This is how I got through it. And really, that is the only “how to” about it. If you are thinking about declaring the big B, this is how I got there, and how I dealt. I can't speak for you, but do some research, and find a lawyer who will be professional, and not treat you like shit. It's going to be harder than you think. Bankruptcy might seem to be the end of the world, but for me, it taught me a few things that having several million dollars wouldn't have. Hopefully, this book will teach you, as well.

Car Update!

I can't remember if I mentioned my car, but it IS working! It was just a blown spark plug.

But my emergency fund is almost gone. Thanks to hardly any hours at my retail job, the car repair, the usual bills, a letter from the Allen County Treasurer regarding my property taxes, and not getting paid from my teaching job the fund has been depleted big time. The house insurance is due too, which will wipe out whatever I get from this next payday. Ugh.

Save Money on Deodorant!

No, I'm not advocating that you not use it. I've heard of this stuff before, but forgot about it. Since I'm trying to save money AND be healthier, I bought one of these the other day. Depending on where you live, they probably cost between $5-7. But they last a YEAR. Yes, that's right, a year. Plus, there's no aluminum chlorohydrate or whatever that stuff they put in deodorant is. So get one of these today. You'll probably find them in the health food stores. I found mine at Kroger's in the health food section.

There's supposedly no scent and no white stuff to get on your clothes, and I've not noticed any body smell, so give this a try.

Hardly Working

I only got five hours this week at my retail job, which means that I will have a skimpy paycheck at the time I will need it most. Looks like that emergency fund might be paying for everyday things, instead of "emergencies."

My Account Was Compromised

Wanted to make a deposit into my credit union account, only to discover my card had been deactivated. A few phone calls later, I found out mine was one of the 40 million or so accounts that had been compromised while shopping at Target. The credit union sent me a card, I was able to make my deposit (in person) and all seems to be well.

This is another argument for paying cash.

Overdrawn

I'm nearly $100 overdrawn on my Wells Fargo account. Happy New Year.

Also, my Fort Financial Card was deactivated last night. (I was trying to deposit money, to avoid being overdrawn from THAT account.) We'll see what's up soon.

The Emergency Fund

Had to break in the emergency fund today for a car repair. I've GOT to get a low-limit credit card soon.

Check the Oil in Your Car

I think I screwed up royally. I went skiing in Michigan, but didn't check the oil in my car. How long has it been since my last oil change? Can't honestly remember.

Anyway, I stopped to get gas for the ride home. I turned the key and there was a POP! and I swear I saw the hood move up a little. So my car is in Michigan, and I won't know the fate of it until sometime next week. I hope the car is repairable. I CANNOT afford a car payment, as my income dropped. I am only teaching one class next semester. I MAY have another part-time job starting in March, but I'm not sure I can depend on that. The car is super-old, but if I can't afford car payments, I see no choice but to get it fixed, or buy a moped.

So check the oil in your car. I may have thrown a rod, or screwed up a piston. When the kind gentleman at the Mobil at Jefferson Road and M-89 checked the oil in my engine, the dipstick was pretty dry. Oops.

An Excerpt from My Book

I've decided to upload excerpts of my bankruptcy memoir. It's not done, this is just what I have so far. So enjoy!

Disclaimer

This is a book about my time spent in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, it is not a how to declare bankruptcy book. State laws vary, so the situations I talk about in this book may or may not apply to you. The poverty and scraping by will, so pay attention to those parts.

If you are curious about what it's like to be in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, this book IS for you. Bankruptcy is a word that gets thrown around frequently. People are close to it, teetering on the edge, or have been through it, but no matter how you've come to it, people feel ashamed to have to declare it. I was no different. I declared bankruptcy to save the little I had. And to perhaps salvage something for the future. I had fucked up, and I wanted to make amends. Considering I don't even make $30,000 a year working three jobs, it was certain that it would have taken me a looooooong time to pay off the more than $100,000 I had in debt. If, by some miracle, I had been able to pay it off, I would have been much older, and have had nothing saved for the future. But since I probably won't be able to retire, one can argue I should have paid my debt off anyway. Having known an older couple who did just that, and then went out and bought a home costing more than $100,000 right around the age they should have been retiring, I'm glad I declared bankruptcy when I did. There is no way I want to be 75 years old and have to work retail in order to survive. (Which is what that older couple is doing—the wife is 65, her husband is 75.)

Shopping Before the Storm

I wonder what the average grocery bill tab was today in northeast Indiana. I stopped to get pet food, some fruit, and some beef stew, along with some Sominex, and my bill was less than $30. The way some people shop, you'd think they were going to be snowed in for a week. Maybe if you live in a rural area that could happen, but I don't. I live within walking distance of two grocery stores, a Dollar General and a Walgreen's. I have more than enough food (my appetite has been down) to survive three days of being snowed in, and the last time it was really bad, it was the Blizzard of '78.