Dom and I didn't eat out ONCE this week. I didn't buy any food or drinks at work or during break at class. We made big dinners (pizza, pot pies, quiche, casserole...) and packed leftovers for lunch. The only time we came close to what someone might consider a cheat was due to a miscommunication that resulted in my desperately needing a phone.
Unlike many Americans, I don't feel entitled to walk into a business, demand free samples, steal all the sugar packets, use the restroom, and complain about its cleanliness on my way out...at least, not until I've purchased something from said business. I purchased a $5.24 sandwich at Thundercloud before requesting the use of their phone. The funny thing is that I LOVE Thundercloud and fantasize about it pretty much constantly. But I had just made dinner. Darling packed the sandwich for lunch the next day.
This week Darling and I also spent...
...$10.81 on a good pair of work gloves
...$76.53 on gas
...$3 bus fare
...$20 carpool
...$116 on debt
...Total Spent: $231.58
Total Earned: $750.38
I'm pretty pleased by these numbers. There's a little bit of illusion at play here: our frugality is a matter of getting rent in the bank before it's due next month. I actually came very close to not paying any debt this month to that end, but...well, I'm obsessed.
EDIT:
On Saturday, Darling and I ran around to do truck-related things. We ended up paying $28.75 on renewing the inspection sticker, as well as $30.91 on personal groceries to celebrate not having to pay for an oil change which was apparently covered by the dealership. We also received another paycheck, bringing the total spent to $291.24 and the total earned to $1372.76. Hello, rent!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Story of a Hat
In 2011 I made the amazingly clever decision to track and record every penny earned and spent.
One of my more surprising discoveries was how much Darling and I spent on gifts, because we suck so much at giving gifts. Most of the time it feels like we can't even afford a token. But it seems that when we can afford to get anything, we get something big.
This especially bothered me because I habitually neglect crafting and hobbies for frugality's sake. I sew scraps to make the occasional quilt square and accept friends' unwanted yarn for practicing knitting, but I don't typically invest any money in these pursuits. Nice yarn is expensive, and I'd hate to ruin any in the learning process...but considering what I was spending on gifts, I could afford to ruin a good deal of yarn in the pursuit of a few presents!
After purchasing a baby shower gift from an online registry last Tuesday, I decided to knit a present as well. This would give me a good feel for the hand-crafted gift business, a side-by-side comparison of sorts.
My original plan was to make it in three days, but I hadn't even touched knitting needles in at least a year. It took me about that long to re-learn the basics!
I started with cheap pink acrylic yarn a friend had given me, but it didn't feel nice. My double-pointed needles for socks were also too small. So I bought a silky bamboo yarn in a soft shade of lilac and a pair of bamboo knitting needles. This was significantly cheaper than the single store-bought gift, and the needles are a one-time purchase.
Since I've only ever knitted scarves and a single sock, I decided to teach myself hat making. Most of the week was spent casting on, working a few rows, making one more mistake than I could accept, and unwinding the whole thing. The starting yarn got frayed right alongside my nerves. I spent hours doing google searches, studying youtube videos, and found the pattern I wanted in a book at the second library I scoured.
Yesterday I woke up, gave Darling a ride to work, came home, and cast on for the hundredth time. I knit non-stop until I absolutely had to eat something, and paused very briefly. I was afraid to stop because the yarn was FINALLY forming a hat. I basically knit a newborn's hat in the space of five hours, after a week of starts and finishes and frustration. All I need to do is weave up the side, which I'm asking my sister-in-law for help with later today.
And it is SO sweet! Embarrassingly simple and tiny, but soft and delicate and pretty. I'm so proud!
I already have the pattern for Oblio's birthday present next month: a cute little cardigan. I can't wait to purchase new yarn and start again :)
One of my more surprising discoveries was how much Darling and I spent on gifts, because we suck so much at giving gifts. Most of the time it feels like we can't even afford a token. But it seems that when we can afford to get anything, we get something big.
This especially bothered me because I habitually neglect crafting and hobbies for frugality's sake. I sew scraps to make the occasional quilt square and accept friends' unwanted yarn for practicing knitting, but I don't typically invest any money in these pursuits. Nice yarn is expensive, and I'd hate to ruin any in the learning process...but considering what I was spending on gifts, I could afford to ruin a good deal of yarn in the pursuit of a few presents!
After purchasing a baby shower gift from an online registry last Tuesday, I decided to knit a present as well. This would give me a good feel for the hand-crafted gift business, a side-by-side comparison of sorts.
My original plan was to make it in three days, but I hadn't even touched knitting needles in at least a year. It took me about that long to re-learn the basics!
I started with cheap pink acrylic yarn a friend had given me, but it didn't feel nice. My double-pointed needles for socks were also too small. So I bought a silky bamboo yarn in a soft shade of lilac and a pair of bamboo knitting needles. This was significantly cheaper than the single store-bought gift, and the needles are a one-time purchase.
Since I've only ever knitted scarves and a single sock, I decided to teach myself hat making. Most of the week was spent casting on, working a few rows, making one more mistake than I could accept, and unwinding the whole thing. The starting yarn got frayed right alongside my nerves. I spent hours doing google searches, studying youtube videos, and found the pattern I wanted in a book at the second library I scoured.
Yesterday I woke up, gave Darling a ride to work, came home, and cast on for the hundredth time. I knit non-stop until I absolutely had to eat something, and paused very briefly. I was afraid to stop because the yarn was FINALLY forming a hat. I basically knit a newborn's hat in the space of five hours, after a week of starts and finishes and frustration. All I need to do is weave up the side, which I'm asking my sister-in-law for help with later today.
And it is SO sweet! Embarrassingly simple and tiny, but soft and delicate and pretty. I'm so proud!
I already have the pattern for Oblio's birthday present next month: a cute little cardigan. I can't wait to purchase new yarn and start again :)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ali's Shower
My stepsister, Ali, had the most lovely baby shower yesterday!
My stepmother went all out. She served tarts, cream pastries, and trays of home-made sandwiches on silver serving platters. There were half a dozen choices of loose leaf teas to be served with sugar cubes and cream. She HIRED A HARPIST, which officially made the baby shower more elaborate than my wedding. The tables were set with lace tablecloths, linen napkins, and fresh cut tulips.
I arrived early to arrange tarts and fold napkins. During the gift-giving, one of my fears was realized and someone else got Ali the same gift as me, but of course the gift receipt was included and I'm sure the refunded cash will be appreciated. I did not get the hat finished, of course, but I will before the baby is born.
I discovered that I knit like I cook. Recipes are fun and informative at first, especially when learning. But I've never, ever been able to crack open a cookbook, choose a recipe, and select ingredients accordingly. Instead I decide to bake, say, a casserole with sweet potatoes, broccoli, and coconut milk. Then I have to find a recipe that at least comes close to producing what I want with what I have...even if it turns out to be a recipe for spinach and broccoli quiche.
I've done the same thing in pursuit of the baby hat: I chose the yarn and cloth, then tried to find a corresponding pattern. And, of course, couldn't. It also doesn't help that I don't really know how to read patterns in the first place. But in the same way I know that blending sugar, butter, and chocolate in almost any quantity will result in delicious, I'm fairly certain that knitting and purling a beautiful yarn will result, somehow, in a lovely garment. It's just a matter of quantity and care. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. I'll let you know how it turns out.
My stepmother went all out. She served tarts, cream pastries, and trays of home-made sandwiches on silver serving platters. There were half a dozen choices of loose leaf teas to be served with sugar cubes and cream. She HIRED A HARPIST, which officially made the baby shower more elaborate than my wedding. The tables were set with lace tablecloths, linen napkins, and fresh cut tulips.
I arrived early to arrange tarts and fold napkins. During the gift-giving, one of my fears was realized and someone else got Ali the same gift as me, but of course the gift receipt was included and I'm sure the refunded cash will be appreciated. I did not get the hat finished, of course, but I will before the baby is born.
I discovered that I knit like I cook. Recipes are fun and informative at first, especially when learning. But I've never, ever been able to crack open a cookbook, choose a recipe, and select ingredients accordingly. Instead I decide to bake, say, a casserole with sweet potatoes, broccoli, and coconut milk. Then I have to find a recipe that at least comes close to producing what I want with what I have...even if it turns out to be a recipe for spinach and broccoli quiche.
I've done the same thing in pursuit of the baby hat: I chose the yarn and cloth, then tried to find a corresponding pattern. And, of course, couldn't. It also doesn't help that I don't really know how to read patterns in the first place. But in the same way I know that blending sugar, butter, and chocolate in almost any quantity will result in delicious, I'm fairly certain that knitting and purling a beautiful yarn will result, somehow, in a lovely garment. It's just a matter of quantity and care. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Spending Review: Week Three
So, this week. How do I even begin?
Usually I start with how much I spent, then admit how much less than that I earned. Well, this week was a surprise: Darling and I earned Zero Dollars!
It was dumb. We kept expecting his paycheck to come in - any day now - and he's not receiving anything until next week. But because we were in denial, we were very casual until yesterday afternoon.
We spent...
....$124.01 for Darling to work this week, including gas in the truck, snacks for his lunchbox, and the money he pitches in for the carpool.
...$205 on medical expenses, a trip to the doctor for Darling and a trip to the dentist for me
...$23 on Darling's haircut
...$3 cashing a check at the bank on Sunday to put gas in the truck when the banks were closed
...$2.15 making a copy of the truck key after I almost lost the original in a bizarre plumbing accident
...$10 on a library late fee (I know! I hate me too!)
...$68.28 on a baby shower gift
...$14.05 on knitting supplies so I never have to buy another baby shower gift.
...$4 on bus tickets
...$5.65 mailing a package
...$8.80 on a book of stamps
...$244 on debt
...$711.94 Total!!!
I feel like this week shows a more typical picture of my daily life than the past two spending reviews. There's a little more to me than commuting and paying dues...at least, there is when I'm unemployed :)
Darling and I never imagined he wouldn't get a check this week. I don't know why. Most construction jobs hold the first check. We just needed it so much I couldn't imagine not getting it. Finally yesterday we just had to accept that reality. I ended up only get part of the work done on my tooth, which is why the visit only cost me $120 instead of $603. I'll finish the procedure in early February.
Oh yes, I should also mention that my boss called and pushed back my return date. I've been given another week off.
We'll still be able to make rent, but that's pretty much it. I really don't see another debt payment happening this month, or again until mid-February. Instead I'll hang around the house, knitting and cooking, which should be a pleasant enough compromise.
Usually I start with how much I spent, then admit how much less than that I earned. Well, this week was a surprise: Darling and I earned Zero Dollars!
It was dumb. We kept expecting his paycheck to come in - any day now - and he's not receiving anything until next week. But because we were in denial, we were very casual until yesterday afternoon.
We spent...
....$124.01 for Darling to work this week, including gas in the truck, snacks for his lunchbox, and the money he pitches in for the carpool.
...$205 on medical expenses, a trip to the doctor for Darling and a trip to the dentist for me
...$23 on Darling's haircut
...$3 cashing a check at the bank on Sunday to put gas in the truck when the banks were closed
...$2.15 making a copy of the truck key after I almost lost the original in a bizarre plumbing accident
...$10 on a library late fee (I know! I hate me too!)
...$68.28 on a baby shower gift
...$14.05 on knitting supplies so I never have to buy another baby shower gift.
...$4 on bus tickets
...$5.65 mailing a package
...$8.80 on a book of stamps
...$244 on debt
...$711.94 Total!!!
I feel like this week shows a more typical picture of my daily life than the past two spending reviews. There's a little more to me than commuting and paying dues...at least, there is when I'm unemployed :)
Darling and I never imagined he wouldn't get a check this week. I don't know why. Most construction jobs hold the first check. We just needed it so much I couldn't imagine not getting it. Finally yesterday we just had to accept that reality. I ended up only get part of the work done on my tooth, which is why the visit only cost me $120 instead of $603. I'll finish the procedure in early February.
Oh yes, I should also mention that my boss called and pushed back my return date. I've been given another week off.
We'll still be able to make rent, but that's pretty much it. I really don't see another debt payment happening this month, or again until mid-February. Instead I'll hang around the house, knitting and cooking, which should be a pleasant enough compromise.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Baby Shower Gift
I've really enjoyed having some time off. My weekend was spent in the kitchen, making waffles and potato pancakes for breakfast, muffins and cookies for friends, and an awesome pumpkin and sweet potato ravioli with handmade pasta dough!
Yesterday I purchased a gift for my stepsister's baby shower. This is my third baby shower in three years, and I'm starting to get a little bored by the offerings of Babies R Us and Target. I have a rule about getting new parents something sensible from their registry. My actual rule (and you guys are gonna love this) is that I try and get a more expensive boring item from the registry, something they'll otherwise have to buy for themselves.
Nothing on the registry fit that bill exactly: the only really pragmatic item was way out of my price range. So I bought a (fairly pricey) toy I've seen numerous other babies love to death. Feeling a little dissatisfied, my thoughts wandered to knitting. By the end of the day I'd learned a new technique using my short, double-pointed sock kneedles and a ball of pink yarn which had been given to me.
I've decided to do a hat, my first hat, and I need it by Saturday afternoon. None of my three sets of needles is appropriate, so I'm running down to Hill Country Weavers after finishing this post to pick up a new pair and possibly some soft new yarn. Which isn't going to save me money this month, maybe, but maybe in February my beloved Godson will get something handmade, rather than store-bought, in the mail on his birthday.
Yesterday I purchased a gift for my stepsister's baby shower. This is my third baby shower in three years, and I'm starting to get a little bored by the offerings of Babies R Us and Target. I have a rule about getting new parents something sensible from their registry. My actual rule (and you guys are gonna love this) is that I try and get a more expensive boring item from the registry, something they'll otherwise have to buy for themselves.
Nothing on the registry fit that bill exactly: the only really pragmatic item was way out of my price range. So I bought a (fairly pricey) toy I've seen numerous other babies love to death. Feeling a little dissatisfied, my thoughts wandered to knitting. By the end of the day I'd learned a new technique using my short, double-pointed sock kneedles and a ball of pink yarn which had been given to me.
I've decided to do a hat, my first hat, and I need it by Saturday afternoon. None of my three sets of needles is appropriate, so I'm running down to Hill Country Weavers after finishing this post to pick up a new pair and possibly some soft new yarn. Which isn't going to save me money this month, maybe, but maybe in February my beloved Godson will get something handmade, rather than store-bought, in the mail on his birthday.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Weekly Spending Review
Darling spent last week in Temple, a 1 1/2 hour drive north of our home. After several months of planning, we chose to rent out a room in an extended stay hotel directly across the street of his work-site for the first few days.
This turned out to be an excellent idea. There was torrential rain that first day and many people didn't even show up, and the actual site is difficult to find at the best of times. Darling had almost no problem rolling out of bed, having coffee, and wandering to work.
The big downside is that the room was $249.72 for the week, we spent $108.91 to stock his little kitchen, and driving to and from Temple even twice not only ate up quite a bit of gas (we put $71.68 in the truck), but I ran out of gas on my way to pick him up, walked three hours along the highway, and spent $20 on the cab ride back to it.
Fortunately, next week Darling will have a carpool option from Round Rock. RR is still pretty far from our house, but only two exits further on I-35 than I take to get to the plant every morning. So that will add maybe an hour to my personal daily commute, and the driver is charging $20 a week for gas, but overall we will be saving quite a bit of time and money. Not only that, but the big boss agreed to pay Darling some per diem to offset some of the costs of this week.
I got laid off from my own job on Friday. Our crew wasn't supposed to come back until February 15th, but he asked four of us to come back January 23rd. Granted, I've been extremely unhappy with this job and was half-desperate to get into one of the drywall gigs closer to my house. But with Darling's carpool situation being what it is, it might be best for me to carry on up north for a while longer.
I fell into the habit of buying food at work, unfortunately, even on days that I brought my lunch. This was actually a peer pressure thing that I stepped away from before the end of the week, but it still hurt the wallet. I spent a total of $25.29 on sub-par tacos and bottles of juice. Walking along the highway for lack of $10 in gas was all the retribution I needed for this foolish spending, thank you.
$32.27 spent on dues brings the total amount of money we spent on work this week to a colossal $507.87. Scary, even knowing that some of that will be reimbursed and we'll get about $32 discounted from our rent for the days Darling wasn't here.
We also spent $35.60 on a dinner out, and I spent $1.09 on a bag of chips.
Only $250 went to debt, twice more than last week but only half of what I would have liked.
That brings our spending total to $794.56, which happens to be $14.09 more than I earned. Boo.
To have earned so much, and yet spent so much simply to work, is really frustrating. We could have spent a lot less on Darling's food for the week with a little planning. I could have (and will in the future) abstain from buying lunch at work. Otherwise, much of the spending was inevitable, and most of it - like the hotel - was a one-time thing.
My goals for this week are to spend significantly less on working, cover our medical expenses, update the registration sticker for the truck, and make a larger debt payment.
This turned out to be an excellent idea. There was torrential rain that first day and many people didn't even show up, and the actual site is difficult to find at the best of times. Darling had almost no problem rolling out of bed, having coffee, and wandering to work.
The big downside is that the room was $249.72 for the week, we spent $108.91 to stock his little kitchen, and driving to and from Temple even twice not only ate up quite a bit of gas (we put $71.68 in the truck), but I ran out of gas on my way to pick him up, walked three hours along the highway, and spent $20 on the cab ride back to it.
Fortunately, next week Darling will have a carpool option from Round Rock. RR is still pretty far from our house, but only two exits further on I-35 than I take to get to the plant every morning. So that will add maybe an hour to my personal daily commute, and the driver is charging $20 a week for gas, but overall we will be saving quite a bit of time and money. Not only that, but the big boss agreed to pay Darling some per diem to offset some of the costs of this week.
I got laid off from my own job on Friday. Our crew wasn't supposed to come back until February 15th, but he asked four of us to come back January 23rd. Granted, I've been extremely unhappy with this job and was half-desperate to get into one of the drywall gigs closer to my house. But with Darling's carpool situation being what it is, it might be best for me to carry on up north for a while longer.
I fell into the habit of buying food at work, unfortunately, even on days that I brought my lunch. This was actually a peer pressure thing that I stepped away from before the end of the week, but it still hurt the wallet. I spent a total of $25.29 on sub-par tacos and bottles of juice. Walking along the highway for lack of $10 in gas was all the retribution I needed for this foolish spending, thank you.
$32.27 spent on dues brings the total amount of money we spent on work this week to a colossal $507.87. Scary, even knowing that some of that will be reimbursed and we'll get about $32 discounted from our rent for the days Darling wasn't here.
We also spent $35.60 on a dinner out, and I spent $1.09 on a bag of chips.
Only $250 went to debt, twice more than last week but only half of what I would have liked.
That brings our spending total to $794.56, which happens to be $14.09 more than I earned. Boo.
To have earned so much, and yet spent so much simply to work, is really frustrating. We could have spent a lot less on Darling's food for the week with a little planning. I could have (and will in the future) abstain from buying lunch at work. Otherwise, much of the spending was inevitable, and most of it - like the hotel - was a one-time thing.
My goals for this week are to spend significantly less on working, cover our medical expenses, update the registration sticker for the truck, and make a larger debt payment.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Debt Resolution
Thanks for the encouragement on my last post, Capricia, Lizzie, and L. Marie.
I've been hoping to be debt free by my twenty-seventh birthday (just before year five of this blog) since 2007. I definitely can't deny dragging my feet at times, leaping ahead at others, and sometimes dropping the matter altogether. I can say that my husband and I have paid off a LOT of debt while taking college classes, undergoing the immigration process twice, constantly fine-tuning our career choices, and trying to live a life consistent with our principles. Theoretically, we could have knuckled down and paid off our debt ages ago. But we didn't. Finances don't happen in a vacuum. Money isn't simply numbers on paper, formulas to work out and forget. Not for me, at least.
I made a lot of good choices and a lot of bad choices, and here I am. Twenty-six, fighting for my right to do the heavy lifting, sharing a house with eight other adults, and married to a semi-nomadic solar installer. Darling and I are capable of earning more money than ever before. That is a fact about right now, not next week or next job. So whatever mistakes I made in the past, quitting this job or that, have brought about this not-so-exciting but unexpectedly lucrative situation. Earning more money has never really been my focus, but the checks clear anyway.
I currently owe $8,580.62 to my student loan company. I have about sixteen Fridays before May. If Darling and I both work full-time and receive a reasonable tax refund, and keep within a moderately limited budget, we could theoretically pay that debt. Keep in mind that I get laid off tomorrow, though I can reasonably expect to be back to work before long, and Darling should be employed steadily throughout that time. Also keep in mind that I am going to the dentist for very expensive care. But still, it's possible.
Starting tomorrow I'm going to do my best to pay $537 a week off my debt. Some weeks we might fall behind, hopefully other weeks will put us ahead. If all goes well, I will pay the mess off and never have to think about it again, except to brag :)
I've been hoping to be debt free by my twenty-seventh birthday (just before year five of this blog) since 2007. I definitely can't deny dragging my feet at times, leaping ahead at others, and sometimes dropping the matter altogether. I can say that my husband and I have paid off a LOT of debt while taking college classes, undergoing the immigration process twice, constantly fine-tuning our career choices, and trying to live a life consistent with our principles. Theoretically, we could have knuckled down and paid off our debt ages ago. But we didn't. Finances don't happen in a vacuum. Money isn't simply numbers on paper, formulas to work out and forget. Not for me, at least.
I made a lot of good choices and a lot of bad choices, and here I am. Twenty-six, fighting for my right to do the heavy lifting, sharing a house with eight other adults, and married to a semi-nomadic solar installer. Darling and I are capable of earning more money than ever before. That is a fact about right now, not next week or next job. So whatever mistakes I made in the past, quitting this job or that, have brought about this not-so-exciting but unexpectedly lucrative situation. Earning more money has never really been my focus, but the checks clear anyway.
I currently owe $8,580.62 to my student loan company. I have about sixteen Fridays before May. If Darling and I both work full-time and receive a reasonable tax refund, and keep within a moderately limited budget, we could theoretically pay that debt. Keep in mind that I get laid off tomorrow, though I can reasonably expect to be back to work before long, and Darling should be employed steadily throughout that time. Also keep in mind that I am going to the dentist for very expensive care. But still, it's possible.
Starting tomorrow I'm going to do my best to pay $537 a week off my debt. Some weeks we might fall behind, hopefully other weeks will put us ahead. If all goes well, I will pay the mess off and never have to think about it again, except to brag :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Waiting For Friday
I'm getting laid off again Friday, which makes me inordinately happy.
I've been so bored. My boredom has been punctuated only by frustration and anxiety. Frustration that guys are extremely intimidated by how eagerly I will work given half a chance (they don't like to give me even half a chance when work is this boring). Anxiety that the friendships I am developing are getting too close too fast, and I don't really know how to navigate the gender/culture/language/age barriers without coming off as too friendly/young/white/racist/distant/feminist/unskilled/whatever.
So getting laid off Friday will be a really, really big relief.
Every day I wonder if I'm on the right track. Yet again I've found a decent enough job that is unexpectedly prone to drama. The challenges I face are not those I pursued, and the learning curve is razor sharp. I drive home thinking, "I should be on a bike. I should be outside. I should be providing meaningful service. I should not be bored sick. I should not spend eight hours a day handling uni-strut in a concrete tomb."
I find solace in paying off debt - another $250 sent yesterday. Darling is working hard and earning good money. My pay is decent enough to compensate for dry spells and unemployment payments fill in the gaps. So...I want to suck it up. At least for another few months, at least until I'm twenty-seven, at least until Darling finds out if he has a job after April.
I can't tell if January 2013 will be exactly the same or absolutely different. I honestly have no clue, and feel as though I have no say. I don't know if we will still be at the co-op, in the state, in construction. The only thing I really, really want is to be debt free. Nothing else seems to really matter.
Not until Friday, at least.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Pros and Cons
Work has been boring. So boring I couldn't imagine it getting more boring. And then it did. Today's mantra was "do it for debt freedom, do it for debt freedom, suck it up for just a few more months for debt freedom..."
But now I'm off to a welding class, which is scary and exciting and involves fire and is basically free. So things could be worse.
But now I'm off to a welding class, which is scary and exciting and involves fire and is basically free. So things could be worse.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Darling's First Day
Yesterday Darling and I went up to Temple together and booked him a room at the hotel directly across the street from his job. We went out for dinner, spent a lot of money on his groceries, and tried in vain to hunt down the specific location he'd be working at.
It occurred to me rather late that it would make more sense to spend the night with him and drive an hour straight to work in the morning than to drive an hour and a half home, sleep for a few hours, and then drive the half hour back to work in the morning. Of course that meant sleeping in the clothes I'd spent the day in and showing up to work super gross and tired...but at least I got to be with my love :) We watched some bad television and drifted off fairly early.
Crazy loud thunderstorms woke us up at one a.m. and didn't let off until...well, they eased by the time I crawled out of bed at 4:45 a.m. I drove to work in the pouring rain, a little frustrated that Darling would have to spend the entire day at the hotel since no way would they have him working outside in such weather.
I was mostly wrong. A memo was sent out by Darling's company cancelling the day's work, but he and a few others didn't get the message and showed up anyway. There was work to do and he got to do it in torrential rain and, for a brief period, hail.
He found out that he'll qualify for a small per diam to offset some of our work expenses this week, which is awesome, and he was offered a carpool from Round Rock. Which is not a perfect solution, but doable so far as I can see.
Some of the spending of the past few days was fairly frivolous: My Mom came into town and I bought her pizza and rented a movie, Darling and I splurged yesterday, and this morning I purchased meals at work in something of a daze. Hopefully the next couple of days will be a little less hectic.
It occurred to me rather late that it would make more sense to spend the night with him and drive an hour straight to work in the morning than to drive an hour and a half home, sleep for a few hours, and then drive the half hour back to work in the morning. Of course that meant sleeping in the clothes I'd spent the day in and showing up to work super gross and tired...but at least I got to be with my love :) We watched some bad television and drifted off fairly early.
Crazy loud thunderstorms woke us up at one a.m. and didn't let off until...well, they eased by the time I crawled out of bed at 4:45 a.m. I drove to work in the pouring rain, a little frustrated that Darling would have to spend the entire day at the hotel since no way would they have him working outside in such weather.
I was mostly wrong. A memo was sent out by Darling's company cancelling the day's work, but he and a few others didn't get the message and showed up anyway. There was work to do and he got to do it in torrential rain and, for a brief period, hail.
He found out that he'll qualify for a small per diam to offset some of our work expenses this week, which is awesome, and he was offered a carpool from Round Rock. Which is not a perfect solution, but doable so far as I can see.
Some of the spending of the past few days was fairly frivolous: My Mom came into town and I bought her pizza and rented a movie, Darling and I splurged yesterday, and this morning I purchased meals at work in something of a daze. Hopefully the next couple of days will be a little less hectic.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Accommodation Fail
I had an epic airbnb.com fail! I don't know exactly what happened, but it seemed like the host confirmed our request and then denied it, giving me no explanation or returning communication. Which is fair enough. I mean, I did contact her really last minute. And I really can't blame any woman for not wanting to host a construction worker in her house for five days - even one described as a "vegetarian non-smoker who will quote Monty Python on demand." Actually, Darling thinks the Monty Python is what lost him the bid:(
So today we are going back up to Temple, most likely to book him a room at the Extended Stay hotel closest to the job-site and buy him some groceries. It sucks to send him off like this. I feel kind of sad and hypocritical, worse than when he went to work in East Texas. Fortunately he is working four ten-hour days a week, which means I will be picking him up Thursday after work. I am really, really, really hoping that tomorrow he will strike up a conversation with someone who will say, "oh, you work in Austin? Let me give you a ride," and that will be that.
If he doesn't find a carpool this first week, though, we're going to have to get him an apartment ASAP because the Extended Stay place is just too expensive. According to craigslist, we could rent him a room or efficiency for an average of $450 (22.50/workday) a month including utilities. The hotels are $700 ($35/workday) a month and smell bad. For the record, driving him to and from work in the truck would cost us $480 ($30/workday), assuming I drove him there in the morning and waited to drive him home, and did not take into account the wear on the car.
...This also does not take into the account that Darling will need personal groceries at accommodation he lives at, though it will save us $8/day off our co-op rent.
Blah. It's getting pretty hard to believe that there will be anything at all left over after the cost of the commute. The only bright side is that it will be work, legitimate, paying, good-on-the-resume work for the next six months while we look for something better. A step up, if you will.
So today we are going back up to Temple, most likely to book him a room at the Extended Stay hotel closest to the job-site and buy him some groceries. It sucks to send him off like this. I feel kind of sad and hypocritical, worse than when he went to work in East Texas. Fortunately he is working four ten-hour days a week, which means I will be picking him up Thursday after work. I am really, really, really hoping that tomorrow he will strike up a conversation with someone who will say, "oh, you work in Austin? Let me give you a ride," and that will be that.
If he doesn't find a carpool this first week, though, we're going to have to get him an apartment ASAP because the Extended Stay place is just too expensive. According to craigslist, we could rent him a room or efficiency for an average of $450 (22.50/workday) a month including utilities. The hotels are $700 ($35/workday) a month and smell bad. For the record, driving him to and from work in the truck would cost us $480 ($30/workday), assuming I drove him there in the morning and waited to drive him home, and did not take into account the wear on the car.
...This also does not take into the account that Darling will need personal groceries at accommodation he lives at, though it will save us $8/day off our co-op rent.
Blah. It's getting pretty hard to believe that there will be anything at all left over after the cost of the commute. The only bright side is that it will be work, legitimate, paying, good-on-the-resume work for the next six months while we look for something better. A step up, if you will.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Budgeting Backwards
I now have a reasonable projection of what Darling and I can expect to earn and spend on an average week if this year is anything at all like last year. This isn't a tall order to fill: as long as Darling and I work every other month or so but earn decent construction pay - or even decent waitress or bartender tips, should it come down to that for any reason - we should meet these figures.
I also have an idea of what Darling and I will spend every week if our lifestyle does not change drastically. This assumes that we maintain basic (though admittedly slightly boutique) hygiene, continue living at the co-op (buying occasional personal groceries but not getting late fees), invest in our careers (which is about as expensive as community college tuition), maintain a second-hand wardrobe, keep Darling's home-made computer chugging along, devote a significant portion of our income to my dental health, upkeep a variety of licenses, travel, and indulge in casual entertainment and hobbies. I want to review my spending in these areas every week because many of them fall to the wayside for months, then Darling and I have to invest quite a bit of money catching up when we realize neither of us have had haircuts for a year and a half, we started a new job that requires $300 worth of tools, and Christmas is tomorrow.
Okay, so Darling and I now know we typically spend $331.38 a week on needs - which doesn't include late fines, eating out, ore even debt. We know that, on average, we earn $443.47. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but we can rest assured of the fact that most months we are capable of coming out ahead. But here and now our income still fluctuates, what do we do with that information, especially in the lean months?
In theory, we can save the surplus on good months to see us through the bad. We won't go to the dentist every month, but we can set aside $18 a week knowing that visit is inevitable. This will create a short-term savings fund to get us through these predictable "emergencies."
Of course, reality provides a challenging proving ground for such theories. This is what my earning and spending actually looks like for the first week of 2012:
Work: $93.32 on dues, gas, and food
Student Loans: $120
Meal out w/friends on New Years Day: $20
Total Spent: $233.32
Total Earned: $279.38
...So, I ultimately earned less than average as well as less than required to meet my projected needs and spent quite a bit on simply working. I also decided to eat out with friends and make a loan payment. While I technically didn't spend more than I earned, I also don't have much surplus for February rent or my dental appointment in two weeks. Though I am pretty happy with the spending in general, particularly the debt payment.
I'm also just realizing that the first week of the 2012 isn't even over! Yesterday was a no-spend day, though, and maybe I can extend that spirit through the rest of the weekend to keep these figures accurate.
Darling starts his job at Temple on Monday, so next week will look very different. More money spent on work, unfortunately, but more brought home and a better chance of covering a wider variety of expenses (like, say, rent).
I also have an idea of what Darling and I will spend every week if our lifestyle does not change drastically. This assumes that we maintain basic (though admittedly slightly boutique) hygiene, continue living at the co-op (buying occasional personal groceries but not getting late fees), invest in our careers (which is about as expensive as community college tuition), maintain a second-hand wardrobe, keep Darling's home-made computer chugging along, devote a significant portion of our income to my dental health, upkeep a variety of licenses, travel, and indulge in casual entertainment and hobbies. I want to review my spending in these areas every week because many of them fall to the wayside for months, then Darling and I have to invest quite a bit of money catching up when we realize neither of us have had haircuts for a year and a half, we started a new job that requires $300 worth of tools, and Christmas is tomorrow.
Okay, so Darling and I now know we typically spend $331.38 a week on needs - which doesn't include late fines, eating out, ore even debt. We know that, on average, we earn $443.47. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but we can rest assured of the fact that most months we are capable of coming out ahead. But here and now our income still fluctuates, what do we do with that information, especially in the lean months?
In theory, we can save the surplus on good months to see us through the bad. We won't go to the dentist every month, but we can set aside $18 a week knowing that visit is inevitable. This will create a short-term savings fund to get us through these predictable "emergencies."
Of course, reality provides a challenging proving ground for such theories. This is what my earning and spending actually looks like for the first week of 2012:
Work: $93.32 on dues, gas, and food
Student Loans: $120
Meal out w/friends on New Years Day: $20
Total Spent: $233.32
Total Earned: $279.38
...So, I ultimately earned less than average as well as less than required to meet my projected needs and spent quite a bit on simply working. I also decided to eat out with friends and make a loan payment. While I technically didn't spend more than I earned, I also don't have much surplus for February rent or my dental appointment in two weeks. Though I am pretty happy with the spending in general, particularly the debt payment.
I'm also just realizing that the first week of the 2012 isn't even over! Yesterday was a no-spend day, though, and maybe I can extend that spirit through the rest of the weekend to keep these figures accurate.
Darling starts his job at Temple on Monday, so next week will look very different. More money spent on work, unfortunately, but more brought home and a better chance of covering a wider variety of expenses (like, say, rent).
Friday, January 6, 2012
New Career Path Involving Dinosaurs and Spaceships
Had an easy half-day at work today, walked my paycheck to the bank, had a nap, and baked really yummy peanut butter cookies.
My partner is a millwright, so I finally got to ask about what the heck that is. Once upon a time, our local covered both carpenters and millwrights, but there was a split and the latter moved their books to Arlington. They also earn $2 more/hour and supposedly better benefits while working with a similar skill set.
He explained that millwrights work with big machinery, engines and turbines and the like, dealing with the mechanical side of things and more likely to weld than, say, hammer. The do the huge, well-paid turbine jobs I've heard so much about, including wind farms. I totally fell in love with the idea, mostly because I'm crazy and can't help but equate giant machines with dinosaurs (there is no logic to dinosaur love). As an apprentice I could theoretically move my own book and finish my training as a millwright while still working in this area - though I might have to take my classes there and might end up doing some pretty gnarly work with massive energy generators...which to my nerd mind might be like working on a spaceship...
I'd most prefer to do traditional carpentry - wood and hammers and outdoors and houses- and I'd especially like to do renewable building. But that's not an option within the union, which pays me fairly large piles of money for relatively steady work, offers me insurance, and provides me with very cheap training (did I mention I'm taking my first welding classes?!). If I want to do renewable building, it's got to be on my own time anyway. In the meantime, millwrights pay more money for less work and I could learn about engines, a subject matter that interests me so much that I seriously considered paying for auto-mechanic courses at ACC even though I don't especially like cars. I wouldn't have to leave the clean-room industry, but I'd have better opportunity to do so should I desire (which I do). Considering it's either clean-rooms or drywall for carpenters in Austin right now, it seems very sensible to position myself for the welding and energy jobs of the millwrights.
My partner is a millwright, so I finally got to ask about what the heck that is. Once upon a time, our local covered both carpenters and millwrights, but there was a split and the latter moved their books to Arlington. They also earn $2 more/hour and supposedly better benefits while working with a similar skill set.
He explained that millwrights work with big machinery, engines and turbines and the like, dealing with the mechanical side of things and more likely to weld than, say, hammer. The do the huge, well-paid turbine jobs I've heard so much about, including wind farms. I totally fell in love with the idea, mostly because I'm crazy and can't help but equate giant machines with dinosaurs (there is no logic to dinosaur love). As an apprentice I could theoretically move my own book and finish my training as a millwright while still working in this area - though I might have to take my classes there and might end up doing some pretty gnarly work with massive energy generators...which to my nerd mind might be like working on a spaceship...
I'd most prefer to do traditional carpentry - wood and hammers and outdoors and houses- and I'd especially like to do renewable building. But that's not an option within the union, which pays me fairly large piles of money for relatively steady work, offers me insurance, and provides me with very cheap training (did I mention I'm taking my first welding classes?!). If I want to do renewable building, it's got to be on my own time anyway. In the meantime, millwrights pay more money for less work and I could learn about engines, a subject matter that interests me so much that I seriously considered paying for auto-mechanic courses at ACC even though I don't especially like cars. I wouldn't have to leave the clean-room industry, but I'd have better opportunity to do so should I desire (which I do). Considering it's either clean-rooms or drywall for carpenters in Austin right now, it seems very sensible to position myself for the welding and energy jobs of the millwrights.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Pay Raise!
I got a company raise today!
Apprentices at my local get a dollar pay increase every six months. I've been pretty excited about reaching the halfway point, so getting an early boost from my employer is a real treat!
Granted, most of the employees received the same raise as a reward for not complaining too bitterly about only working 3-4 days at a time for the past few weeks. Tomorrow will be the third Friday in a row that most of the crew isn't needed. But then I was one of the two people (not including the foreman, of course) asked to show up tomorrow! Which is pretty impressive, even if it is just because I draw the lowest pay :)
Unfortunately the raise couldn't really counteract the effect of only working three days last week. Today's was the smallest check I've seen since waiting tables. Last month such a figure would have aroused panic: how could I possibly afford my dental appointment, the truck's perpetual thirst, BabyO's birthday, dues, and February's rent?! Since reviewing last year's monthly tabulations, however, I'm okay with the ebb and flow of income and even looking forward to having a Friday off for myself.
Apprentices at my local get a dollar pay increase every six months. I've been pretty excited about reaching the halfway point, so getting an early boost from my employer is a real treat!
Granted, most of the employees received the same raise as a reward for not complaining too bitterly about only working 3-4 days at a time for the past few weeks. Tomorrow will be the third Friday in a row that most of the crew isn't needed. But then I was one of the two people (not including the foreman, of course) asked to show up tomorrow! Which is pretty impressive, even if it is just because I draw the lowest pay :)
Unfortunately the raise couldn't really counteract the effect of only working three days last week. Today's was the smallest check I've seen since waiting tables. Last month such a figure would have aroused panic: how could I possibly afford my dental appointment, the truck's perpetual thirst, BabyO's birthday, dues, and February's rent?! Since reviewing last year's monthly tabulations, however, I'm okay with the ebb and flow of income and even looking forward to having a Friday off for myself.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Spending Reporrt: 2011
Airbnb.com? Absolutely amazing! Thanks to Sam and Michele P for the recommendation. There is ONE house in Temple, and it looks perfect :) Definitely following up on that as soon as Darling gets the call that the project is going ahead.
I'm kind of exhausted and pretending to do the dishes just now, but I need to go ahead and posts the results of my 2012 tabulations before I forget. Fortunately, I wrote most of the following several days ago:
My first big surprise was our total income for 2011. Besides May, when Darling and I earned only $538.16, we brought home an average of $1,921.56/month. In October, when Darling and I both worked full time, we earned nearly twice that. That is significantly more than I would have guessed. It was also fairly steady, despite what felt like huge gaps in employment and a total career change.
That's the good news. The bad news is that we spent significantly more than I figured. Every month we swung from deficit to surplus and back again, but ultimately the deficit reigned. All told, we spent $1,179.71 more than we earned.
What did we spend $98 a month on that maybe wasn't totally necessary? Gods. Well, eating out. A lot. It didn't seem like a lot on a weekly basis. Meals with friends, dates with Darling...each hour at the table seeming as lovely and worthwhile as anything. Only now, totaling the yearly bill, do I blush with embarrassment...How much did we spend eating out? An average of $140 a month!
What else could I have curbed? I spent nearly $230 on late and overdraft fees this year. For $19 a month I could have purchased used books or DVDs instead of going to the library and video store (or, dare I say, get that subscription to Netflix I do not want).
I spent $107 on entertainment a month, mostly on gifts and my birthday party. I'll have to keep that in mind in the coming year...All other spending was fairly minimal: a total of $166.84 for office supplies, $308.22 for licenses (particularly Darling's pricey passport renewal), $103.92 on non-work clothing, and $300.48 for non-commute travel.
I spent an average of $351.64/month on debt, $42.39 of which went straight to interest. We spent $81.52/month on health-related expenses, and I spent $2,283.52 on work and work alone. Living at the co-op, where share the cost of the bulk of our groceries and utilities, costs us $11,620.94 (besides the late rent fees).
So, what do we do with all this information?
The really cool thing about last year was how, well, normal it was. Now, quitting multiple crappy jobs, experiencing months of unemployment and uncertainty, and undergoing a drastic career change isn't a daily occurrence in the Softly household, but overall our lifestyle, earning, and spending patters were steady. And that's really what counts. I knew how much we basically needed to pay rent, but not how much we tend to spend on top of that, especially in terms of holiday spending and the like.
With this information I can realistically plan for the future. I have a basic idea of how much Darling and I should bring home a month, despite our fluctuating schedules, and I can make educated choices about expenses. For example, I've always believed that knitting birthday gifts would be too pricey, as yarn is quite expensive. Now I know that if I spent $50 a month on crafts supplies, I'd probably come out ahead (Feel free to announce "I Told You So," in the comments).
There is a lot more I'd like to do with these numbers, including creating weekly goals to shoot for and regular updates - maybe on a Friday? I can come clean on the fifty-million times I've eaten out, you can chide me for being naughty, and I'll brag on sending that same amount (or more) to debt. Oh yeah, did I mention I'm going to use this all as incentive to pay down my debt super fast this year? I'd ask you to wish me luck, but you all have about a dozen times...so, I'll just say it again: Happy New Year and Clean Slate everybody!
I'm kind of exhausted and pretending to do the dishes just now, but I need to go ahead and posts the results of my 2012 tabulations before I forget. Fortunately, I wrote most of the following several days ago:
My first big surprise was our total income for 2011. Besides May, when Darling and I earned only $538.16, we brought home an average of $1,921.56/month. In October, when Darling and I both worked full time, we earned nearly twice that. That is significantly more than I would have guessed. It was also fairly steady, despite what felt like huge gaps in employment and a total career change.
That's the good news. The bad news is that we spent significantly more than I figured. Every month we swung from deficit to surplus and back again, but ultimately the deficit reigned. All told, we spent $1,179.71 more than we earned.
What did we spend $98 a month on that maybe wasn't totally necessary? Gods. Well, eating out. A lot. It didn't seem like a lot on a weekly basis. Meals with friends, dates with Darling...each hour at the table seeming as lovely and worthwhile as anything. Only now, totaling the yearly bill, do I blush with embarrassment...How much did we spend eating out? An average of $140 a month!
What else could I have curbed? I spent nearly $230 on late and overdraft fees this year. For $19 a month I could have purchased used books or DVDs instead of going to the library and video store (or, dare I say, get that subscription to Netflix I do not want).
I spent $107 on entertainment a month, mostly on gifts and my birthday party. I'll have to keep that in mind in the coming year...All other spending was fairly minimal: a total of $166.84 for office supplies, $308.22 for licenses (particularly Darling's pricey passport renewal), $103.92 on non-work clothing, and $300.48 for non-commute travel.
I spent an average of $351.64/month on debt, $42.39 of which went straight to interest. We spent $81.52/month on health-related expenses, and I spent $2,283.52 on work and work alone. Living at the co-op, where share the cost of the bulk of our groceries and utilities, costs us $11,620.94 (besides the late rent fees).
So, what do we do with all this information?
The really cool thing about last year was how, well, normal it was. Now, quitting multiple crappy jobs, experiencing months of unemployment and uncertainty, and undergoing a drastic career change isn't a daily occurrence in the Softly household, but overall our lifestyle, earning, and spending patters were steady. And that's really what counts. I knew how much we basically needed to pay rent, but not how much we tend to spend on top of that, especially in terms of holiday spending and the like.
With this information I can realistically plan for the future. I have a basic idea of how much Darling and I should bring home a month, despite our fluctuating schedules, and I can make educated choices about expenses. For example, I've always believed that knitting birthday gifts would be too pricey, as yarn is quite expensive. Now I know that if I spent $50 a month on crafts supplies, I'd probably come out ahead (Feel free to announce "I Told You So," in the comments).
There is a lot more I'd like to do with these numbers, including creating weekly goals to shoot for and regular updates - maybe on a Friday? I can come clean on the fifty-million times I've eaten out, you can chide me for being naughty, and I'll brag on sending that same amount (or more) to debt. Oh yeah, did I mention I'm going to use this all as incentive to pay down my debt super fast this year? I'd ask you to wish me luck, but you all have about a dozen times...so, I'll just say it again: Happy New Year and Clean Slate everybody!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Visit in Temple
Today Darling and I bounced out of bed, had breakfast, and drove up to Temple. This is the location of the mister's upcoming gig, due to start "soon," which we are getting fairly anxious about. We figured driving up there and getting a feel for the place would give us some peace of mind.
The extended stay hotels are not a viable long-term option: they are expensive, unpleasant, and cost about $40/weekday. If Darling starts this week, we'll put him in the nicer (more expensive and convenient) location, but only for a few days. Surely he'll convince someone to accept his carpool request! He's already e-mailed his company and coworkers and posted a ride-share request on Craigslist, so now we don't have much to do but cross our fingers and wait.
The extended stay hotels are not a viable long-term option: they are expensive, unpleasant, and cost about $40/weekday. If Darling starts this week, we'll put him in the nicer (more expensive and convenient) location, but only for a few days. Surely he'll convince someone to accept his carpool request! He's already e-mailed his company and coworkers and posted a ride-share request on Craigslist, so now we don't have much to do but cross our fingers and wait.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
January 2012 Net Worth
I had a really lovely, quiet New Year's Eve Weekend. Friday I caught up with some chores and spent the evening playing board games and enjoying dinner and drinks with friends. Yesterday I made black-eyed peas, creamy potato leek soup, and cranberry muffins and Ambi and Mordi brought over some cider, white wine, and a pumpkin cheesecake. We played a few boardgames and watched the firecrackers set off by the convention center from my garden.
Darling and I chose not to spend for the past two days because I did my monthly tabulations a little early :) I was really amazed by what I found. Basically, we earned way more than I realized: an average of $1,921.56/month. And I have to admit that we spent, on average, $98/month than we earned. Which is a bummer, and I'll give a more full background of where our money went in another post (it's already written, just needs editing), but I want to get my net worth out of the way first.
My net worth is, by the way, a total and complete bummer. My assets total $824.91, and my debt is $10,036.78. That gives me a total net worth of -$9,211.87. I haven't such sorry numbers since 2010...but again, we'll talk about why and how in an upcoming post, as I had friends on their way for lunch.
Hope everyone has a lovely New Year!
Darling and I chose not to spend for the past two days because I did my monthly tabulations a little early :) I was really amazed by what I found. Basically, we earned way more than I realized: an average of $1,921.56/month. And I have to admit that we spent, on average, $98/month than we earned. Which is a bummer, and I'll give a more full background of where our money went in another post (it's already written, just needs editing), but I want to get my net worth out of the way first.
My net worth is, by the way, a total and complete bummer. My assets total $824.91, and my debt is $10,036.78. That gives me a total net worth of -$9,211.87. I haven't such sorry numbers since 2010...but again, we'll talk about why and how in an upcoming post, as I had friends on their way for lunch.
Hope everyone has a lovely New Year!
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