52 Week Money Challenge - Doh!!

I have to make a confession. 

I haven't kept up with the 52 Week Money Challenge as well as I had hoped.  Honestly, I forget about it.  I need to make a habit of putting the money into the savings account as soon as I get paid.

Today, my balance is $160 whereas $231 is really where it needs to be.

If you're doing the 52 Week Money Challenge - How has your plan for saving been working? 

Time to tighten up the purse strings man bag strings if I want to make this trip to Europe happen!

Keeping my eyes on the prize.

Keepin' My Head Above Water

On my drive home from work I was thinkin', "What did people do before all of these credit cards?"  Then I thought, "Wait.  Credit has been around for ages.  What's happened is that people have learned to abuse the system and companies have learned to take advantage of those abusers."

It all makes me think of the theme song from Good Times.




I've been keeping my head above water. Making a way where I can.  There are no temporary layoffs, or easy-credit rip-offs. Just good old fashioned downsizing. Living without  roommates for about a month now doesn't allow for that extra income.  I also haven't used my credit card since my trip to Las Vegas in March.  Mind you, I only have one left after consolidating all of my credit debt (credit limit of $300). 

When I started thinking about all of this, I started thinking about how not having credit cards and relying on cash finds me with more cash each week - still being able to put money into the 52 Week Money Challenge. It has also helped that I have been getting hired to do freelance graphic design projects! 

One of the tricks I use is giving myself the, "Do I really need this?" assessment. It's actually helped me control my spending and  I only buy what's necessary and don't really go out on the town much.

This is truly a case where less truly is more... more money in my bank account.

Educate. Empower. Economize.

Vegas on a Budget Challenge: The Results

So yeah,  I went to Vegas.  I spent a lot of money.  More than I cared to, however I was able to stay close to budget!  Are you surprised?  I know I am.

Here's how it all went down.

I vowed to only spend $20 per day.  What I should have said was only spend $20 per day on food.  I think that's what I really meant to say. hahaha

My total expenses for this trip to the conference was:

$199.99 for the hotel for 8 nights (Yeah, a TRUE STEAL!).
$230.52 for food over 9 days.  My goal being to only spend $20 each day. I spent on average, $25.62 per day.
$313.72 on miscellaneous ($90 of this was in airport fees! Damn checked bags). Remaining $223.72 involved a taxi cab when I returned to Washington, D.C. a few shopping moments that included alcohol ($100.87) and $122.85 in spending money (some of which included some unnecessary gambling).

Overall - I think I fared pretty well!   Especially on the food front. Had I not gambled I would have done even better.

Would you have guessed that I'd spend more money spending 8 days in Las Vegas?

Whew!  I survived and I still have money in my account!

Educate. Empower. Economize.

Vegas on a Budget

In just two days I will be faced with a challenge.  That challenge being that I am going to Las Vegas and I don't have much money to spend on "stuff". If you keep up with this blog, you know that I am putting money away in my 52 Week Money Challenge.  Now, as I gear up for my trip to The Silver State, I face 8 nights of being surrounded by slot machines, alcohol and food.  While the alcohol is free (as long as I'm playing a slot machine or table game) the food is not.

Now, when it comes to food - I have a plan. That plan is more of a challenge. How can I stay in Las Vegas and attend this conference while spending $20 or less each day?  You know people at conferences are NO-NO-NO... NOTOOOOOOOOORIOUS for large group meals and trying to be on "baller" status. As Sweet Brown has said, "Ain't nobody got time for that!".

During the time I am away in Vegas, I will document my ability to stay within budget.  I already scored a hotel room on The Strip for $16 a night. The cool thing is that I lived in Vegas for 5 years - so I am aware of many of the cheap eats in town.  Let's hope for more amazing deals to come my way because this "Baller" is officially retired.

Viva Las Vegas!

Educate. Empower. Economize.

A 52 Week Financial Challenge

As I settle into the new year I find that I have new optimism.  What was so scary about paying my bills, student loans and cutting back on my expenses to achieve all of that?  Hell if I know - but I do know this much to be true.  I AM STILL HERE!

Print the Challenge by clicking on image.

I was browsing my Facebook Newsfeed and came across a challenge to save money. It looks VERY interesting.  I mean, each week you put away the amount of money that relates to the week of the year it is.  Week one = $1. Week two = $2. Week three = $3 and so on. Okay. Okay.  Sounds easily until you're in week 42 and you think, "What in the hell?  Where am I going to get $42? Honestly, you can make it work and I will take on this challenge. I am tired of only having $5 in my savings account.  If it weren't necessary to have at least $5 in a savings account to have a bank account - I wouldn't have that much saved.

So, this Friday I will begin the challenge. I am still here. I am still paying my bills. I am still sure I can meet this challenge and actually save money. Who doesn't want $1378?

If you're up for the challenge, I'd love to hear from you throughout the experience. I'll be sharing my progress periodically.

Join my adventures on Facebook, too!

Educate. Empower. Economize.