Swanky pet spending

The brave soul over at NYC Money recently calculated the amount she spends per year on her cat. I'm like one of the folks who commented--I don't want to know what I spend on my dog. After we first got him 2 years ago we tracked it for a few months and were fairly chagrined. However, we were starting from scratch and there were beds, leashes, etc. to buy; toys, too, and we had no idea what he liked. I started off buying these expensive "smart toys;" turns out he prefers cheap rubber squeaky things from the hardware store.

Since then I'm sure our spending has gone way down. I keep up with his shots and buy him the best dog food I can afford, but I look for deals on things like toys or snacks, and when he needed a new bed recently I found one for less than $30. However, if there's one weakness I have, it's cute collars. (I justify it by telling myself that since he's a little on the homely side, he can use the extra adornment.) So, when the first collar I purchased after adopting him started fraying recently, I was kind of excited to look for another one. It arrived today and he's sporting it in the picture below. I call this look "stripes on stripes!"

A little Skype hype

J is in India on a business trip. He's been there before and enjoys going, though I think this is the longest trip he's taken thus far. Due to the time difference most of our communication takes place via email, but occasionally it works out that we get to talk for a few minutes. In the past, though, the lousy connection always spoiled it a bit.

We tried using Skype last weekend and I was certainly impressed! It was so much clearer than using a cell phone or even a landline. Due to the distance, there was the usual pause for our voices to reach each other, which of course couldn't be helped--but for all I knew, he could have been in Delaware instead of New Delhi.

Now to get friends and family on board so we can all save a little money...

My Wal-Mart experience

A few months ago, our VCR stopped working. I hardly wanted to go out and buy a new VCR in this day and age, so I planned to see if I could pick one up via freecycle. I hadn't yet gotten around to it when our DVD player gave up the ghost last week. I figured I'd go ahead and buy a combo VCR/DVD player and so I started looking at Consumer Reports.

Yesterday, a coworker asked if I was going to do my usual creepy movie marathon* since J was on a business trip. When I complained about my inability to watch movies at home, he mentioned that when he had to replace his DVD player a few months ago, he picked up one for around $30 that was better than the expensive one he'd bought three years ago. Well, of course I wanted to know where he got this fabulous deal, and after he delivered a minute-long monologue about the guilt he felt about where he'd made his purchase, he finally delivered the name of his source: Wal-Mart.

Now, I know that Wal-Mart has a rather bad reputation, and I've heard bits and pieces about their low wages and unfortunate environmental practices. However, since I haven't darkened the doorway of a Wal-Mart in years, I have to admit I haven't paid much attention. Therefore, when I decided to go there after work last night, I felt free of the guilt that plagued my coworker. In fact, if anything I was a little curious to get a glimpse of what all the fuss was about.

I found the store and made my purchase, and left knowing that I wouldn't be likely to return--not because I saw any evidence of environmental insensitivity or poorly treated employees (if anything, they seemed happier than the people shopping there on a Friday evening), but because I found the store itself to be so unpleasant. The bright fluorescent lights were the last thing that dingy space needed--though I suppose they did make it easier to avoid bumping into something, as the aisles were stuffed to the gills. I found all of the colors and shapes competing for my visual attention to be dizzying and when I asked an employee for the bathroom and he pointed me toward "the big sign in back," it took me several seconds to see it. I felt no temptation to browse and was instead quite glad to leave.

So, that's why I don't like Wal-Mart. I suppose if I'd liked shopping there I'd need to look further into it's reputation and make a difficult choice about whether to continue spending my money there, but luckily I'm saved that decision.

*I like creepy movies, even if they're not very good. Last night after hooking everything up I watched Dark Water, but it wasn't as creepy as I'd hoped it would be...

Even my dog knows the value of saving for the future

Each day before I leave for work, I give my dog a rawhide. And, each day he saves it until after I get home and we've gone for our walk. I used to think it was just an amusing quirk of his, but maybe I should give him more credit. Perhaps somewhere in his doggy brain, he realizes that I possibly won't come home again--better to squirrel a little something away, just in case.

What did I NOT buy today?

Cinnamon sugar. You may have seen it in the spice aisle. We had a jar from who knows when, and I'd started putting it in my coffee in the mornings. We ran out, and without thinking I added it to my grocery list.

It wasn't until I was standing in the spice aisle and looking at the price that I thought, "How dumb; I can make this at home." I had plenty of cinnamon from my last trip to Penzey's, and most of a big 10-lb. bag of sugar from the warehouse club. So, when I got home I made up a HUGE batch--enough to flavor my coffee for months. Cost--$0.00.

I guess the moral of this story is that even when you're trying to watch your spending, it's easy to go on autopilot--yet another classic money wasting mistake.

1st class, Finding more money

I admit it--last week was extremely stressful. I was so excited after I'd signed up for the class and then suddenly, in the middle of watching a movie on Sunday, I got so anxious that I felt chilled and my hands started shaking. Then I had to start wearing my tooth guard at night because I was clenching my teeth so hard my jaw hurt.

Okay, what was that all about?

I think it was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and yes, a little bit of buyer's remorse thrown in. $4995 is no small sum, after all. One night I put my head in my hands and said to J, "I don't know what I'm doing." He pointed out a few things: 1) he's never seen me express the interest and passion for any of my past or current jobs that I have for investigation; and 2) I've never spent money on advancing my career; and 3) when you consider the cost of this 160-hour course vs. what it would cost for me to get an MLIS I've never been sure I want, then $5000 seems like a much smaller amount.

I felt much better after that, but was still a little apprehensive. Honestly, a small part of me was hoping the class would be cancelled so it would no longer be my decision--a fear of change I struggle with occasionally. Then as the week went on, I started getting excited again. Then Saturday arrived and...wow. I'm certain now that I'm right where I need to be. I'm really impressed with the director of the program (a retired police chief with his own investigative company) and excited about the line-up of speakers, one of whom is a librarian! The students seem energetic and smart and the class is pretty evenly split between men and women. The university seems to have put a great deal of work into this program.

Oh, and I've already done my homework for this week. :)

So, about that debt. Well, I'm just going to buckle down and take care of it. I'm continuing to think of things I can do to bring in a little extra cash--Jane Dough's post about her most recent Ebay experience has me looking at some of my clothes a little more critically. I also got an email stating that my Cooks Illustrated online subscription was coming up for renewal in February. I've enjoyed having it, but $20 saved is $20 saved, so I cancelled it.

More as I think of it, now with a clearer head!

Hassle-free home valuation website

We're trying to get rid of our PMI, and an appraiser from the insurance company will come to check out our house once some minor updates are completed (six new windows and a new storm door). I'm really curious about what he'll have to say. I wanted to have a rough idea before he arrived, and finally found an internet home appraisal site that doesn't send my information to a real estate agent (or agents). It costs $5, but I'd rather have that than a bunch of realtors banging down my door.

The site, Smart Home Buy, seems to be geared towards people who are shopping rather than selling--the report also lists things like crime rates, public and private school information, and hazardous-waste sites.

Of course, I have no idea how accurate it is; however, if the appraiser gives me a vastly different figure, I suppose I'll start asking some questions!

Whew

It's been a rather tough week. Change, no matter if it's good or bad, is stressful. Contemplating a career change, even one I'm very interested in, is stressful. First I'll cut to the chase regarding what I've done or will do about that debt:

1) Cut retirement savings to ~11% total (that includes my employer's contribution). That's quite a cut from 25%, but it's still something.
2) Pay $100/week toward my credit card, plus another $250 when we pay the rest of our bills.
3) Cancel the Sunday newspaper subscription.
4) Skip yoga this semester (I take it through my employer--it's only $75, but every little bit helps).
5) Hold off on dog obedience classes for a little while longer.
6) Maybe cancel milk delivery. (I love my milk man, but it IS more expensive.)

Unfortunately, I've been on a mission to rid myself of clutter for a few years now, leaving me with very little I'd want to sell. I'll still consider it, though. I'm also going to pay more attention to focus groups and the like. I recently saw an ad for an MRI study, but I just got one earlier in the year...I'm not sure I'd be comfortable doing that again so soon.

Other last resort options: bonuses and stock options.

More as I think of it!

Thanks!

I wanted to quickly say thanks to the folks who commented on my last post. I'll probably mull things over for a few more days. Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Exciting news and advice needed

Well, I did something yesterday that will seem a bit impulsive to my readers (all 13 of them) who've known me for these few short months, but I assure you it wasn't. I signed up for the Certificate in Professional Investigation class at a nearby university. Private investigation has been an interest of mine for many years--I've saved newspaper articles, etc., and even attempted to take an adult education classes on the topic before, but it got cancelled. (I think it's the same interest that leads me to the FBI and CIA websites every couple of years, too, only I'm not sure I'd want to work for either of those groups--and at 34, I'm likely too old in their eyes.)

So, yesterday I was reading our town paper, and there was an article about this program. I suddenly felt like I really, really wanted to enroll. I looked at the website, talked to J about it, and we decided I should go for it. I signed up. I then attempted to go to bed, only I was so excited that I lay awake for hours.

Here's where I'll stop talking about the "whys" and instead, readers, ask your advice on the financial aspects. The class cost $4995. I was only able to pay via credit card or check, and due to another issue that I haven't yet brought up but will soon, we definitely want to build up our cash cushion comprising 3 month's worth of living expenses. So, I put it on my credit card.

Last night, among other things, I was thinking about "creative" ways I could ease the financial burden. I thought of stopping contributions to my retirement plan for 6 months (bearing in mind that my employer still socks away the equivalent of 5% of my income for me gratis--no match required), and instead using that money to pay down my credit card. That means that in 6 months I'll be in roughly the same place debt-wise that I was before I signed up for the class.

Meanwhile, I plan on shopping around for another card offering 0%APR on balance transfers, when my current 0% card "expires" in March. If I can't get another credit card, I plan on starting a "bidding war" between my two current credit card companies. No guarantees about what will happen with that, so as you imagine, I'm mainly interested in getting the balance paid down.

At any rate, I feel better about putting this kind of debt on my credit card than what I have on the past--kitchen upgrades, LASIK, furniture. This feels like "good debt."

What do you folks think of my idea about my retirement plan? Any other comments/suggestions?

The Grocery Game

Sound Money Tips wants to know if you've tried The Grocery Game, and if so, what your experience was. I have, and I left the following on his site:

I signed up for the $1 trial, but cancelled it before it ended. There were a few reasons: I’m shopping for two people, and rarely spend more than about $30/week on groceries anyway. Also the list had a lot of convenience foods/non-food items on it (air fresheners aplenty), which I rarely buy anyway–that’s not The Grocery Game’s fault, since they’re pulling information directly from the circulars, but again it just wasn’t helpful info for me.

Also, some of the savings on the list are dependent on coupons from the Sunday paper. I don’t get the Sunday paper, so those savings didn’t apply to me.

I think the folks who would get the most out of the Grocery Game are large families who 1) like convenience foods, and 2) get the Sunday paper or know someone who will give them the coupons.

Oh, one more thing I wasn’t particularly pleased with–-the only grocery store they showed for my area was Stop & Shop. I prefer Shaws because of their larger natural foods (i.e., “hippy dippy”) section.

One goal met

Just wanted to share that I've met one of my goals: I moved the bulk of our savings from an account with a .25% APR into ING Direct. It feels great! Now we just need to get the rest of the 3-months living expenses saved--should be within 10 weeks.

Times like this it's nice to have a financial blog. I doubt my coworkers and friends would have cared a whit.

Which online bank?

UPDATE: We've pretty much decided to go with ING, but we still welcome any comments!

One of my goals was to move the bulk of our savings into a higher-yield account. I have accounts at HSBC, Emigrant and ING Direct (I went a little nuts with the opening bonus offers), but I haven't moved much money in and out of them since opening them in the fall. Now I'm wishing I'd made a note of every PF blog post wherein the author stated his/her preference from among the various online banks.

Our main concern (after the overall bank trustworthiness and interest rate, of course), is how quickly we'd be able to get our hands on our money if we needed it. It would also be nice if deposits posted quickly to the account. I'd appreciate your comments on these two things in particular, though if you have anything else to share, please do!

Thanks!

LASIK, one year later

It just dawned on me that tomorrow marks my one year anniversary of getting LASIK. This time last year I was feeling a wee bit nervous.

And, since it was the last thing I put on my credit card (after maxing out my medical savings plan), I'm technically still paying for it. Bah!

Refund Please, née Amazon Credits You

Amazon Credits You is moving and has changed its name to Refund Please. They’re going to start adding other retailers to their tracking system. I think that’s great!

I just learned about this service a few weeks ago, and already it’s saved me money. I ordered this reversible throw after my darling dog chewed up my other one. The day I ordered it, it was priced at $49.99, but a few days later it went down $5.

First pass at goals

Here's the first draft of my goals. Some require much more work than others. I still need to talk some of them over with J, whereupon they might be tweaked:

Concrete goals:

1) Draw up will or trust
2) Save 3 months of living expenses for a total of $16,500 (currently at $12,700)
3) Move bulk of savings to an account with a higher interest rate
4) Figure out household net worth
5) Change cell phone provider--I want a better deal, so technically it's a financial goal, albeit a small one (nevertheless, I've been putting it off for months)
6) Review insurance policies to ensure best deal

Less concrete goals:

1) Continue learning about investing and personal finance
2) PAY OFF CREDIT CARD DEBT (currently $6370)
3) Continue contributing at least $140/week to 403b

<-- I'm with Doofus

I've already confessed this on a personal finance site I frequent, but figured I needed to here as well:

Well, I did something pretty stupid. Remember that Roth IRA I opened? Well, it turns out I'm ineligible for it. Depending on how you file and--if filing married/jointly--how much you and your spouse make combined, you may be ineligible for a Roth. I remember reading that a while back, but I'd forgotten. Also I didn't know for certain how much my husband was making these days. It turns out--and this is a little depressing--he makes four times what I do, and because of how we file, I am ineligible for a Roth, my paltry salary notwithstanding.

Upon realizing my mistake, I said to my husband, "Guess I get to blog about what a dummy I am!" To be honest, though, I'm a little relieved. I jumped into it without checking it out fully, and I wasn't maxing out my 403b. I think I just liked the idea of having a little batch of tax-free money waiting for me when I retire. Maybe the tax laws will change, or maybe we'll find that we should change how we file anyway for other reasons. I think I'll look into the latter, though I have my doubts we'll do anything differently.

Anyway, I called ING and told them what I'd done. Apparently it happens all the time, which made me feel better. I'm getting the money moved to my savings account. Sadly, however, my Roth account had gone down $10.00. Feh! Lesson learned: No more jumping into things I don't understand!

Dog bed from BJ's: $29.95

A dog that jumps on our bed less often: priceless.

We have more spacious areas of the room where we could put it, but I think J likes having the dog right next to him. :)