Planning...

Trying to be organized is a really hard thing for a procrastinator like myself.

It's overwhelming.

Trying to plan is just too much to handle.

I'm hoping that I can start this new year off right by using my little envelope system. It's not much, but it helps out towards the end of the year when I really need to find some extra cash. Around the beginning of the Christmas season the restaurant business is just not booming like one would think. People start cutting back on dining out because they're buying things for the ones they love instead. So when i'm out buying presents, i'm usually strapped for cash. It sucks. I want to be giving, but because i'm such a poor planner, I usually end up putting things off until I actually have the cash or I'll put it on my credit card (fully knowing that I'll be able to pay it off when the restaurant picks up again). I never put anything on my credit card that I can't pay off when the bill comes. That's one of my quirks. I'm terrified of credit cards. I hate them. They're a necessary evil for emergencies, but I only have one. Thankfully I have perfect credit because of my little quirks, so I have a great rate. At the age of 25 I had a 725 credit score; now my score is 800. Not too shabby if I must say so.

This is my little system that i'm enacting again. I got away from it for awhile because alas, i'm a poor planner and I like nice things and instant gratification. But my idea is that each week I put $10 away in each envelope. So thirty dollars a week goes into some sort of savings for myself. There's no point for me to put any of this money into a savings account because let's face it, the one cent of interest I'd make is really kind of pointless, I'd just be taking the money out by the end of the year anyway. 

I like the idea. On the back of each envelope I put the date so it'll keep me honest. I'm really hoping I can stick with it this year. I'm hoping that I can have a little extra at the end of the year. My plan is that anything that's left over I'll put towards my IRA contribution for the year. 

So here's to starting the year off right and having no debt to my name. It is a great feeling!

I Really Thought I Could Do It...

I really thought that I could stay away from HomeGoods, but this weekend, I had an epic fail.  My whole trip to the stores came about because I needed to get a new picture frame from Michael's for the photo I had blown up from our wedding of our family members.  It turned out amazing...

Picture this photo with a beautiful black frame around it...

Unfortunately, Michael's is really close to HomeGoods and I thought that there would be no harm in "window shopping." I guess I didn't realize that there would be so many things that I needed; I guess I just didn't know that I needed them before heading into the store.  I knew I needed a new lampshade because the hubby has been constantly complaining about the one I bought about two months ago because of the lack of light it lets out.  I found the perfect one.  Then I just happened upon the most perfect lamp ever for our living room.  I just had to have it.  And it was on clearance!  Yea, me!

It all started with a little Christmas outfit that I found for Luna.  If it wasn't for those little Christmas pajamas I wouldn't of spent any money.  I walked out with spending only $49, not that bad for three great purchases!  I can't wait for the Christmas cards this year (well, if I actually send them out, I'm really bad with those damn things!)...

No pics until I get new camera batteries.  I think the camera is on its' last leg; we just bought new batteries for our Yankee game is September.  I guess that just means that the Canon 5D Mark II is next on the need list... dammit, I should have never said I wouldn't spend money.  It's like I'm setting myself up for failure... Oh, well... I never said I was perfect.

Until then I'm finishing up my Tuesday with my puppy on my lap, Sex and the City 2 on the TV, and the new Vanity Fair with Marilyn Monroe on the cover... and cooking my hubby some dinner.  I'm a good housewife.

I WILL NOT Spend Money...

I came to the conclusion today that I spend a good amount of money on things for the home. Not in excess and not on silly things, but in general, it may just be unnecessary.

A few months ago I decided that I would no longer buy cleaning products, make-up, or toiletries unless I was out of something. This has been working out pretty nicely and my cabinets are finally starting to empty out. I just would always like to try the new make-up or the new skin moisturizer or facial cleanser. Even though I've stopped buying new stuff, I can't say the same for the hubby. He always like to have two or three of something. I'm pretty sure we have enough floor cleaner to last the next twelve months. I also think that my weekly runs to the store for Zicam is a little unnecessary, unless of course we are actually close to running out. The hubby likes to have a full bottle as the backup.

I want to start taking pride in the things we already have instead of needing to buy new all the time. Maybe a coat of paint on something or a little change in fabric will do, instead of a whole new purchase.

Maybe I'm saying this now because I know I just spent money on an armoire for our downstairs entryway. But I just couldn't stand to look at the shoes strung all over the place for another month! I hate walking in the door and seeing the mess of every pair of shoes that the hubby and I have worn. I've tried a shoe rack; that didn't work.

I've tried a wicker box to no avail:

So I'm now convinced that this will be the solution to our shoe problem:

homedecorators.com

I'm really really really trying so hard not to make a trip to HomeGoods and make a new lamp purchase. Why is it so hard for me to pass up a new lamp? Why can't my hubby like a lampshade that I bring home? Why does there always seem to be something I can buy when I enter that store?! Thankfully, I've been bringing my mom lately so she acts as my purchase buffer; that way I won't walk out with a purchase I'll regret later.

So I'm vowing to not buy anything that I don't need from this moment on. More money into savings; that's a good thing right? I think I'll have to do a little furniture arranging and a little cleaning in order for me to get my decorating fix. I can't wait for my brother to get here so I can get my photos hung going up the staircase. He's always had a knack for those things; just like riding a bike.

My new mantra: "I will not spend money, I will not go to HomeGoods..."