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.