Well, yesterday wasn't perfect, but it was an improvement for me. We really wanted to see a new movie that came out Friday, so we went to the cheap theater and saw a matinee (only $4.50 each). We brought our own small snacks and really had a great time. I sold a book on half.com yesterday too, and it completely covers my movie ticket, so I'm happy about that. I'm about to leave for work soon. I work a 9 hour shift today, so that will be a good earning for today. I also get paid today. That money will be used to pay rent though.

I have been really working hard at not using my credit card at all. I used to pop it out like gum (I don't know quite the right reference here lol), but I've been resisting and saying, if it's not in my checking account, it's money I don't have. I do have to be careful though, because I can risk getting my checking account dangerously low using it all the time. I guess I have to tell myself if I don't want it so low, I can't spend any money.

I'm coming home for my lunch hour today so I can save money by eating at home instead of buying lunch at work (I live literally 5 minutes from work and it's mandatory that we take hour lunch breaks, unfortunately).

I'm trying to make an important decision about something. Months ago, I asked off for this Saturday because I was invited to go to an amusement park with some friends. I'm rethinking it though because even getting in $10 cheaper (my friend has discount passes) doesn't help me with food costs or anything. I mean, I'm already off from work for the day, but I almost think I'd be better off staying home saving money than going off spending money that I Don't Have!

Also, I've just been told the updated carpool status is 5 people will be riding in 1 tiny car. Did I mention, I only know ONE of the people going. The others I've never met, and I'm not thrilled at the thought of being squished up against someone I've never met for over an hour drive. Hmm, I thinking of canceling. I have a nice vacation coming up in August that's already prepaid for anyways, so I don't really NEED this one. Well, I need to pack some snacks for my short breaks at work (I'm hypoglycemic), so I better get going.

Of all the tips I've learned and advice I've received, the following are my favorites and most used:

1. Unplug things. Basically, unless something is a huge hassle to unplug (i.e. all the cords behind the television, alarm clocks, etc) it stays unplugged. I even flip the breakers off to the washer and dryer when I'm not using them. No phantom electricity zappers in my home.

2. Keep lights off. With the exception of the bathroom and kitchen, which both have energy efficient CFL bulbs, I keep lights off. During the winter months, and the summer if it's not too sunny out, I keep the curtains open and use the light from that to do my daily activities.

3. Minimize the a/c in the summer. I keep our air conditioner set at 80 degrees F during the summer. We try to wear minimal clothing when we're home and use box fans to keep the air circulating (we don't have ceiling fans) if it's really hot. I also have a stash of freeze pops that are down to the flavors nobody likes (at least in my household!) - red and yellow, but I eat them when it's really hot and boy do they taste great then!

4. Minimize the heat in the winter! We keep our heat no higher than 60 degrees during the winter. We bundle up in sweats, hoodies, and toboggins and use lots of blankets on the bed at night. I also like to leave the oven open after cooking (with it turned off!) to warm up our home too.

5. Free samples! I am always on the lookout for freebies. I use free samples to prevent having to buy things like deoderant, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, etc. as much as possible. I also collect freebies if I am not interested in them to create gift baskets to give as gifts during birthdays and such. This is especially helpful with people who are hard to shop for, as they have lots of variety in their gift (perfumes, lotions, body washes, etc).

6. Save Gas. I try to leave early to get to my destinations so I can drive the speed limit and save on gas. I also regularly check the air pressure in my tires (we have a local gas station where the air is free!) and keep them properly inflated. I keep our windows down when driving under 45 mph and up with fan if possible, otherwise air if needed when driving on the highway. I try to avoid letting stuff sit in the car. I like it to be as light as possible to keep the gas use down. I also regularly use the sun visor and keep the windows cracked. I figure keeping it cooler in the car as long as possible should help reduce how much gas evaporates when I'm not in it. I also make sure to drive responsibly: always use my turn signal, headlights during the day if it's cloudy, completley stop at stop signs, etc. to help reduce my risk of an accident. I also park far away when I go places to A) reduce how many cars park nearby which could ding my car with their doors and B) get in some extra walking, which is always a good thing for me anyways.

Well, that's all for now. Perhaps I'll post more in weeks to come.

Well, I decided to start over and really work hard on getting myself out of debt, namely credit card debt. In my first few years of having credit cards, I rarely, if ever, carried a balance. I dutifully paid each card in full every month. Unfortunatly, due to personal family problems, I ran into some problems with college and found myself in desperate need of money to pay for my college tuition. Three semesters later, I am in deep credit card debt, and astonished at how I let it get this bad.

I currently have three credit cards with the following balances and interest rates: $1157.00 at 0%, $1797.32 at 0%, and $3179.28 at 14.4%. The third ones is the worst, and I did call and ask to get the interest rate reduced a few months ago (it used to be over 18%!). I am about to transfer MOST of that balance to a 0% card and then throw that card in the freezer for emergencies only, as out of all the cards, it is the one I would like to keep when all the others are paid off and cut up.

I owe several thousand in student loans, but I'm not concerned with those until I graduate, as the credit cards are the most pressing issue for me. Most of my student loans aren't gaining any interest until I graduate anyway.

Anyways, I've worked hard at my job and have just gotten a raise, and a promotion (which means ANOTHER raise) so I should soon be making about 90 cent more per hour. I've created a pretty strict budget using Microsoft Excel and plan to stick to it pretty strictly. I have my regular job, which I will be working 24 hours a week once school starts at the end of August (pretty much full time hours until then). I can't work more than 24 hours a week once school starts because I will be taking 18 credit hours worth of classes, and a 50 hour unpaid mandatory school internship on top of that. In addition, I will continue to do paid surveys online whenever I qualify for them and get free samples of things such as shampoo and the like to keep my expenses low.

I have many goals for myself starting next month (although I have been keeping track of my finances this past month just to have a comparison). One is to stick to my budget and pay off my credit cards. The second is to do my very best in school and earn respectable grades. The third is to eat healthier, while still sticking to my budget. The fourth is to exercise regularly. I feel all of the goals actually work together to support my getting out of debt, as improving my health should help me need less medication (I hope) and fewer doctor's visits (fewer illnesses).

Well, these are my goals and my plans to reach them. I'll try to post more regularly this time.