Home > 2008 > May

Friday lights

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I tend to get a little bit more dressed up on Fridays… because that’s usually when I see CB. So today, I have slipped on dark red patent leather heels ($15 at Ross! When I got home, I googled the brand and found that they retail for $100+ on Zappos, and was even more satisfied with my purchase that I already was) and swiped on some lip gloss.

CB and I are going on 5 years, and things can get (and have gone) badly, but little things like this gives me hope. Because 5 years, and I still put on heels and smile myself silly when he tells me I’m pretty.

Sincere compliments from strangers are wonderful, but sincere compliments from the people you love? Even better.

And because this post needs some personal finance, here’s my tidbit of the day: I’ve set up an automatic investment feature with the Freedom Fund. $750 will go from my checking account to the Fund every paycheck. I hope this helps me stem the rush of spending I’ve been doing lately.

Bane…

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I tried to take a full-length practice exam (2.5 hours+) tonight, but my brain is so fried. Is it possible to feel it physically hurting?

So, for now I will leave 1/2 of Verbal to go… I really need to go to bed. I’ll come back and finish the last bit tomorrow, and though I know that the score won’t be a good indicator because I didn’t take it under exact, timed conditions, and I skipped the essays section for now. At least I’ll have a rough baseline from which to proceed. I don’t need to take the test this early in the process as I don’t plan on applying for several years, but the test is good for 5 years, so… why not get it out of the way?

Quant was fairly very tough, so I’m hoping the baseline won’t be TOO low. My very first diagnostic was a 620, so I’m very anxious to at least better that score.

In an exercise to avoid the GMAT, I’ve begun thinking about more, er, pleasant thoughts – such as… financing my grad school education!

By all accounts, a full 2-year program will cost in the ball park of $120,000+ for tuition, books, and living expenses. As of right now, I can take out $20,500 per year in Federal Stafford Loans. My family has also indicated that they’d be willing to help out (for which I am immensely grateful). The rest will probably be a combination of personal and private loans.

Just looking a little bit ahead, my goal for 2009 would be to contribute $20,000 to retirement ($15,000 401K and $5000 Roth IRA), then save $5,000 to fund my future educational endeavors. I expect a significant portion of my Freedom Fund would go towards application expenses and then later, living expenses. Isn’t it ironic that I am using my Freedom Fund dollars to undertake an endeavor that would require decades of debt servicing (thereby reducing my freedom, at least in the short term)?

Of course, going to grad school has long been a goal of mine, for professional and personal development reasons. I know I can do it. I can get there, all in due time.

But before I have the privilege of applying for admissions, I must take the test.

Indiana Jones!

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Saw it this weekend. Did you like?

More movies I’m excited about:
Sex and the City
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Hancock

By the way, I get $7.50 AMC or Regal Entertainment tickets at Costco (good any time, anywhere… except in Manhattan where I believe there is a $1.50 surcharge), and they have helped me to keep my movie costs down. The theater closest to my home charges $12 for an evening ticket!

Oh, and this weekend, I just filled up my car for $4.05 / gallon. I guess this is only a hint of things to come.

Why PearBudget still rules

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So, right before I depart for a weekend get-away, I sat down, combed through my credit card activities, and manually entered in all my expenditures into my trusty PearBudget spreadsheet.

Yeah, I admit, I got a little tired of entering in every. single. expense., but guess what? Actually typing in $66 (dinner with CB) or $132 (tickets to Disneyland) is different than just seeing the figures on my credit card statement on a screen. The former prompts the reaction: “oh, wow, I’ve been a little liberal with the spending there, should rein it in…”, and the latter inspires more of a, “hmmm, that’s nice. Great modern technology helping me keep track of my spending” attitude.

So I guess just the act of typing in some not-so-big numbers that ADDS UP to pretty big numbers is different than passively viewing the figures.

I don’t doubt that there won’t be times I stray from PearBudget, but I’ll probably find my way back. My wallet will thank me for it.

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Experience, Not Stuff

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Experience, not stuff: I’ve decided to make this my mantra to live by.

experience vs stuff 150x150 Experience, Not Stuff

It’ll be hard, because I like nice things (ex: shoes), but guess which of the following I remember the most?

(a) A $100 leather jacket purchased in Buenos Aires, that I’ve worn ONCE in 3 years.

(b) A $45 hour-long horse ride on the coastline of Patagonia, just me, the horse, and a cowboy tour guide. I rode on the beach as the waves lapped the sand.

So… spending $$$ to go to Disneyland? Fine. Spending $$$ on food at nice restaurants? Yes, please. Spending $$$ on prep classes? That too. Spending $$$ on a trip to Hawaii to visit a good friend? You betcha. Spending $$$ to go to graduate school down the road. Yes sir.

Money can buy me a lot of stuff or a lot of experience. New things lose their luster, but the memory of experiences can be savored over and over again. I think when I’m old and gray, my memories will be those of things I’ve done, places I’ve been, people I’ve met (which, granted, all require money in one way or the other… which is why saving is fundamental!).

image source: realsimple.com

Why is today a happy day?

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(a) I signed up for a prep course
(b) Freedom Fund hit over $10,000 for the first time
(c) Blog hits over 185,000

While, I am truly grateful for (a), (b), AND (c), it’s still (b) that stands out. Just a little. icon smile Why is today a happy day?  

So… what does this mean? That I have ten grand in freedom? I don’t know exactly, but it’s a good feeling.

Decision 2008

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Willpower is apparently a scarce commodity, so I’ve made an executive decision on several personal and financial matters in my life.

1. I am now letting Mint.com keep track of my spending instead of manually entering in my receipts.

2. As long as I save around ~$1,400 to $1,500 a month, I’m content. No need to agonize over a $2 bagel in the morning.

3. All willpower (and brain power, so it seems) is now to be directed toward Project GMAT until August. By the way, did you know that a prime number is a number greater than 1 that is divisible by only itself and 1? I forgot… until now.

4. Non-work life will now focus on studying on weekdays, and class + CB on weekends. And sleep, of course. Can’t forget that.

Would you rather be right or be happy?

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I’d rather be happy. At least in a couple of cases.

First, I’m increasing my $2,000/month budget by $100 to $200 a month – eating out with friends, going on day trips (and vacations) and buying new dresses really do make me feel better, even though they might be not the “right” thing to do for a pf blogger. icon wink Would you rather be right or be happy?

I am still saving at least 25% of my gross income (including bonuses & tax refunds it’ll be closer to 30%) towards retirement and shorter-term savings. So I’ll never get featured on CNN’s Extreme Savers, but I’m a-okay with that.

Second, I am practicing just being happy with CB, because he makes me really happy, so much so that I’d subconsciously pick fights just to protect myself from what-if. But that’s got to stop. I’m going to pray, enjoy, and let go of the past hurts I’ve been holding on to as an insurance policy… one that says, see, it’s dangerous to be so happy.

It’s going to take practice… but practice makes perfect, right?

Life in the country?

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My secret is that I love listening to country music (my friends all make fun of me for it), but I like how the songs tell a story. Anyhow, I listened to Sweet Southern Comfort from Buddy Jewell, and the chorus is just so beautiful.

From Carolina down to Georgia,
Smell the jasmine and magnolia,
Sleepy Sweet home Alabama,
Roll tide roll,
Muddy water, Misssissippi,
Blessed Graceland whispers to me,
Carry on, Carry on,
Sweet Southern Comfort carry on

I’ve lived in big cities all my life, I’ve only visited the 2 coasts (and Dallas… if you count a layover), I don’t know anyone who’s even FROM the South. I’d really love to visit Charleston one day, though, just to see if it live up to its reputation of being the “best-mannered city in the U.S.”

So, I guess, if I have any readers from the Southern states, what’s it like? What are some common misconceptions? What do you love about the South? What do you dislike? Is the pace of life really slower? How does a city in the South (say, Atlanta or Austin) compare with LA or San Francisco?

Why is In-N-Out that good?

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in n out1 Why is In N Out that good?

So one reader, Amy, asked what is so great about In-N-Out burgers…

and… I’m at a loss for words. I can’t really put it in words. They just ARE that good. In-N-Out is the only burger joint I frequent. I don’t fool myself – hamburger is not a health food, but In-N-Out seems like the most healthy, genuine, all-beef burger I can get. The beef patty is good, the lettuce crisp, the tomato slices fresh, the grilled onions plentiful. And you can get a hamburger for under $2.

The sides are also yummy. The milkshakes are thick and creamy (my favorite flavor? Neopolitan swirl). The fries are delicious Animal Style (lots of grilled onions, please). In short, In-N-Out is my favorite fast food place. The giant safety pins are adorable, too.

But, because I don’t think I did In-N-Out justice in this post, I’d like to invite fellow In-N-Out lovers to chime in on why exactly is In-N-Out so good.

Going Meat-less

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But only sometimes.

I’m not the most adventurous of eaters, but I love eating meat – chicken bits in fried rice, In-n-Out burger, slow-roasted beef brisket, or lamb stewed in Morrocan spices.

(An aside: if you are ever in Buenos Aires and have a hankering for lamb, go to Bereber – it’s an Argentine-Morrocan restaurant with AMAZING lamb stewed with onions and figs. They’ve also got a nice mint iced tea. And the restaurant is adorable, embroidered cushions everywhere and ambiant lighting).

But I know that eating meat ALL THE TIME isn’t the most healthy of practices. So… I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to cut back. I’m not rejecting any type of meat in particular (’cause I love them all), but it wouldn’t hurt if I had 3 or 4 meat-less meals a week. It’s healthier and it’s cheaper.

So, tonight, my dinner will be stir-fried veggies with sauce (from Trader Joe’s, of course!) and wheat bread (also from TJ’s).

Answer: Costs Nothing But Is So Great

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Question: What are random, off-the-wall, sincere compliments?

Have you noticed that a nice compliment really makes your day? It does mine.

In high school, I volunteered at a political hearing. At a rest moment a lady came up to me and said in that I looked like “la muneca,” which means ”doll” in Spanish (well, it also mean “wrist”. But, “you look like a wrist” doesn’t have the ring as “you look like a doll”). So pretty, she kept repeating. In that moment, I believed in the magic of good lighting, lipgloss, and well-behaved hair.

A couple years ago, CB and I were crossing the street when a guy in the car behind the crosswalk poked his head out and yelled to CB, “she’s beautiful, man!” It was a beautiful, sunny, California day, and I felt like a beautiful, sunny, California girl. I looked over at the driver and gave him a huge smile. For the rest of the day my step had an extra bounce to it.

So both of these instances happen years ago, but I still remember them. And they still bring a smile to my face. Sincere compliments cost nothing at all, but they cast a warm glow, like little bursts of sunshine.

What’s the nicest, random, compliment you’ve received?

Remember how I lamented over $3.40/gallon gas?

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Silly, silly me.

Only 2 months ago, I was filling up for less than $3.50 a gallon. Now the gas in my area has shot up to $3.85+, and on the way home I saw some stations with $3.99/gal. (I use regular unleaded).

I think I can handle $4/gal gas (but the pain… the pain!). But $5 a gallon? $6? Who knows how high gas can go. The upshot? Maybe people will start driving less, so… the roads will be clearer!

Just another sign post on the road

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Without realizing it, I’ve already surpassed my year-end retirement balance goal for 2008 (see sidebar).

I originally set my goal at $22,500. I contributed $4,000 each to the Roth for 2006 & 2007, then $10,000 in 401(k) (later rolled over) for 2007, and I have $5,000 to contribute to the Roth for 2008. That adds up to $23,000 in contributions… but I adjusted it downward to $22,500 to account for negative market performance.

Now I still have around $1,000+ to go before I max out 2008 Roth, so I think that I’ll exceed $23,000, maybe even by $1,000, depending on how the market performs. In Freedom Fund news, I’ve at ~$9,000. Can’t wait ’til it crosses into the five-figure territory.

This makes me happy, obviously. Another thing that makes me happy is the fact that I have finally gotten a copy of Liz Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love from the library.

What I did this weekend

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Danced. Napped. Ate. Strolled. Watched movies. Studied (but far less than I should’ve). Talked. Loved. Played. Joked. Laughed.

Prayed.

Dear God, thank you for all my blessings.

Something I realized: I’ve been looking for unconditional love in the wrong places. CB is wonderful, but he’s a man. He’s imperfect. I’m imperfect. Perfect love doesn’t belong to us, but human love, imperfect as it is, is worth it.

Dear God, I pray I’ll never be so hurt or so jaded as to stop believing that.

TGIF

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Thank God It’s Friday!

I don’t know why, but as the day went on little things just grated my nerves, and I finished the night in a not-so-good mood.

So, I decided to go shopping (for necessities!). I stopped by CVS to pick up up a shampoo, and as pleasantly surprised by all the organic lines available. (Trying to avoid sulfates/parabens/phthalates as much as possible). I got an Avalon Organics clarifying shampoo that smell deliciously like lemons ($9), a sugar scrub from Aromafloria ($14), and Alba lip tint with SPF 18 ($4). As an aside, I’ve been pretty good about wearing sunscreen every day, but I have to admit I neglect my lips. Well.. not after I read this article about lip gloss and skin cancer.

The products were pricey for drugstore brands, but they all had beautiful packaging and good, organic ingredients. They wouldn’t look out of place at Sephora or at Macy’s. In the past couple of years I’ve really noticed that drugstores are offering more “upscale” lines. When I was a kid, I lived in the middle of suburbia where the only store within walking distance was a Sav-ons. The only things I remember seeing then were the old standbys, Neutrogena, Maybelline, Revlon. I didn’t even know if Aveeno was there then!

Now there are so many great brands available. Style AND substance for a lower price? I’m all for it. icon smile TGIF