Extra Income

This year I made the goal to earn an extra $100 by selling items online (ebay or Amazon), and an extra $100 by recycling. I am way ahead on one goal, and a little behind on the other.

This month I earned $29.14 by selling stuff online. I sold several beauty products on Ebay (Clinique leftovers from gift with purchase and random Bath and Body Works items I received as gifts but never used-all new of course!). Also, one of my Amazon book listings sold this month, bringing in $8.61. Obviously, the longer I do this, the less stuff I have to sell, but it's been awesome to get rid of items I don't want anymore and earn money by doing it. So far this year I have earned an extra $146.29 just by listing items I already owned. Not bad!

The recycling is a little more difficult. I just took in a few bags today, bringing my total for the year to $26.97. Part of the reason this number is low is because my roommate stopped drinking (good for her!). I used to get extra money by recycling her bottles and cans as well. I am not going to be heartbroken if I don't make my $100 goal on this one, but I'll keep plugging away and see how it goes.

Both of these things require a little extra effort, but in my opinion it's totally worth it. Every little bit has added up, and it's definitely come in handy to have a little extra money in my account here and there, either for unexpected expenses, or to throw a few more dollars at my credit card debt.

It's officially summer...

...which along with getting to sleep in starting tomorrow and enjoying my time off also means that there are WAY more opportunities to spend money. This week we had four days of professional development meetings without the kids, which is always when we're able to actually go out to lunch for once, so I have been asked everyday if I want to go out to eat. I went on Monday, to celebrate the freedom, but I've said no every other day, opting to eat the food I have at home instead. I'm trying to plan some free activities in the next weeks (a hike and a bike ride are in the works), but it really is amazing how summer just kills my budget. I also went to Stroll and Savor last night-an awesome event on 2nd Street, where you get to sample food from all sorts of restaurants for ten bucks. I can go out every night if I want to, walking to get frozen yogurt is one of my favorite summer evening activities.

I adjusted my July envelope money, increasing it by about forty bucks because realistically I'm just going to spend more. But, I also want to try to come up with some fun, free things to do...otherwise I'm going to have a lot of trouble meeting my summer financial goals.

Anyone else have any fun, free summer fun ideas?

Phone Upgrade Success!

I was finally due for my phone upgrade. I've had a Blackberry for almost two years now. I've really liked it, but was looking for a cheaper phone plan and since I've dropped my phone like a hundred times it's pretty beat up. Also, I don't think I use a lot of the services that I am paying for.

I had called T-Mobile previously to ask about upgrading and my different options. I found out that I can save fifteen dollars per month by getting a "phone first" model, which has limited internet capability instead of a full Blackberry. Since I really only use Facebook and Google Maps for navigation, the woman on the phone recommended the Nuron, since it has a Navigation program and can do basic internet. I was online while on the phone with her. When I clicked on the phone, it told me it as $19.99, but whenever I put it in my car it came out at $69.99. I told the helpful woman on the phone about the issue. She looked it up and after putting me on hold for a few minutes came back and told me that the $19.99 price was a system glitch. BUT since it's what the website told me, they offered to honor it if I bought the phone online today. They are going to put a $50 credit on my phone bill so that I will end up with that price. SCORE!

So, I am paying $120 on my next bill, but I will have a $50 mail in rebate and a $50 credit on my account. I'm so excited about my new phone, glad I asked questions in order to get the right phone and the best deal for me, and to pay less each month on my phone bill. Yessss!

Possible Business Trip

I found out today that for the first time in recent history, the yearbook account actually made money this year! Huzzah! Due to gross mismanagement in the past (not by me), this had never happened before. I talked to the Student Store manager and she said it looks like we have made about $2,000! Yeah! I will know a final total on Monday, when I close the accounts with her, so it could be even more, since we'll sell books tomorrow at graduation.

This means possibly adding some cool stuff to next year's book, and that I might be able to go to Yearbook Adviser Academy at the end of this month in Kansas City (everyone's favorite hot spot). It's three days and it's coming up way fast-that might be the only hurdle. I would spend around $1,200 for this trip (flight, hotel, and conference) but I think it would be a great opportunity. I'd get to network with other advisers, learn, and plan for next year's book. I also wouldn't mind getting to go somewhere new. I know Kansas is not exciting for some, but I do want to visit all 50 states...and I am always up for new things. I am really hoping it works out. I will probably have to put the flight and hotel on my credit card and get reimbursed-which makes me a little nervous, because that's not always the most timely process. But I just sent an email to my AP, and I am optimistic that we can make it work.

Productive Weekend

*Walked to grocery store

*Made egg bake

*Gave myself a pedicure

*Cleaned my kitchen

*Watched my Netflix movie (this is productive, I'm telling you...)

*Had a no drive day :)

*Went to church

*Picked up prescription from CVS

*Washed car (including removing sap with Goo Gone)

*Cleaned makeup brushes

*Took bag of clothes to Out of the Closet (Thrift Store that supports AIDS patients)-I had been putting this off for MONTHS, I tell you.

*Cleaned out nightstand drawer

Discipline Spillover Effect

Does this happen to you? When I am more disciplined in one area (finances) that discipline spills over into other areas of my life. For example, I have been much better about cleaning and being organized since I made it a goal to get my finances organized. I'm not sure why this is. I think part of it is just less clutter (less shopping=less random stuff in my house). Also, I think part of it may be that I see how satisfying a little bit of discipline is when it comes to my bank account, so I am more willing to apply it in other areas of my life. It's been so nice to not have tons of stuff all over my apartment and to have a clean car.

Now, if the discipline could just spill over into working out and eating healthier, I'd be in business.

Talking Money at Work

Yesterday at lunch I had an interesting conversation with some colleagues about working after you have kids. I am nowhere near this position, so I was more listening than anything else. Now, I am all about women having options. If you can stay home and you want to, go for it. If you want to go back to work, that's great too.

Two of my friends were both commenting that while they could both technically stay home, it would require sacrifices to their lifestyles that they didn't want to make. For one of them, that made sense to me, but to hear the other talk of the "sacrifices" she would have to make...it just felt odd to me. "I want to be able to shop without worrying about what I'm spending" or "I want to be able to go on nice vacations...I'm not doing sleeping bags" and "I don't want to sacrifice at this point in my life. And why should I?"

Now don't get me wrong. People can spend their money however they want to, and both of these women seem to have their finances in order. And I'd be lying if I said I don't even plan on taking a nice vacation or buying designer clothes in the future. But as someone who grew up in a house where my family really did make sacrifices so my mom could stay home (hand-me-downs, rarely a vacation, only eating out with coupons, etc.) it was weird to think of not being able to travel to Europe as a sacrifice. It bothered me on a level I can't completely explain.

Part of it is also knowing how little most people have. The "why should I sacrifice?" mentality forgets about all of those who sacrifice in ways we can't even imagine. I also think the sense of entitlement rubs me the wrong way. I talked with one of the women after, and we agreed that people's financial backgrounds totally affect how you view these issues. And that money conversations are complicated and should be handled sensitively. But it was certainly interesting...