kashi's journal

I really think that if I could get my budget under control, I could do the same with my diet, and vice versa. Right now I can't control either one. I record every bit of food I eat and every penny I spend, but I still go over on both. I don't know how to get there. All I want for Christmas is WILLPOWER.

I ate lunch from home today. Maybe that cancels out the fact that I purchased Christmas stockings for my parents last night and now will have to go out and buy things to put IN the stockings. ok, so maybe it won't. At least the stockings were 50% off, and candy will be on sale too. I always feel bad because the grown kids still have stockings (even the cats have stockings!) but mom and dad don't.

Tomorrow I will finish up my shopping. I was planning on doing it tonight, but with the ice storm and all, I think I'll stay in, do some laundry, and finish up my holiday baking.

I made a second batch of snickers fudge today to give out as holiday gifts. it is decadent and time consuming, but worth it.

I brought lunch to work every day last week. today I splurged a bit and got an egg nog shake at mcdonalds, some gorgeous blue gift bows, and the latest john grisham novel, but little things make me happy. unfortunately they also add up.

I am still going to make my goals...but January is going to suck. there will be no "fun money" next month!

...I left my homestay of six months and stepped onto the first of several flights that would bring me back home. Relieved to be heading back to familiar people and things, but a little wistful at the same time, I cried in the cab and mixed my languages. I was not looking forward to below zero temps at home, but I at least I was tan in December.

unfortunately, I am still paying off that experience, but I learned a lot from it. hopefully I will finally pay it off in February.

frugal things I've done lately:
- brought lunch from home yesterday and today.
- prepared a healthy dinner from scratch last night. (except for those stupid oreos...thankfully they are almost gone)
- didn't spend anything when I went shopping with a friend the other night. I didn't even feel all that tempted to spend.

a trip to walmart or target is in my near future. I will make a list and stick to it.

frugal thing I did today: brought lunch from home.

non-frugal thing I did today: spent more on my sweetie's christmas gift than I intended. but it was something he REALLY needs for his health, and even with that expediture, my total for everyone's holiday gifts is under $300.

my goals for 2005:

-pay off credit card in January. like, after the first payday in January.
-start a Roth IRA in January and contribute to it every month.
- sock at least $5 per pay period away in my emergency fund. ($5 is for really bad months...otherwise I want it to be much, much higher than that)
- pay off my car insurance in February. try to be frugal about the wedding I will be going to.
- pay off one college loan in March.
- increase payments on the other two loans starting in April.
- fully pay car insurance premium in June, without going so broke that I have to put groceries on the credit card.
- keep spending to 100% of what I make each month...not more.

*whew!*

Frugal Things I Did Today:
- made crockpot soup and homemade bread, thus keeping myself out of the restaurants or the delivery menus
- finished some homemade holiday gifts
- did not go shopping
- wore glasses instead of contacts (hey, this is stretching it, but not only do my eyes appreciate the break, I saved a few drops of saline)