Gyms.....

are not in business to help people loose weight and or make them healthier. Gyms are in business to make a profit whether or not you loose weight. I recently decided I wanted to go back to the gym. I could go to my old gym or the new fancy one that opened up close to home. Low and behold last night I called the new snazzy gym to ask a simple question. Instead of getting a simple answer, I got a rather car-salesman-snake-pitch to come in and sign up. For now, I will stick to my dvds that I have at home. No gyms for me, since I am not looking to sign a contract with anyone.

Conversations at the register

TBB: Your total is xyz dollars.

Broke Customer: Can I put x on this card (insert store credit card here)?

TBB: Sure no problem.

Broke Customer: The rest is on this card (insert debit card here)?

TBB: Miss the card declined.

Broke Customer: Really?? (with the surprised look)

TBB: Yes really? (with the WTF look)
Broke Customer: Ok let me take some things off. Am probably over my limit anyway.

TBB: Whispers under my breath (you think).

I am so tempted to give some of these customers the URL to my favorit financial blogs. It is hard being a pf blogger and working retail. I am not perfect but at least am trying.

Stretching my paychecks to the limit

The price of everything is rising. It almost seems as if there is a conspiracy out there to eat up my paycheck. Each week I try to stretch my paycheck as much as I can. Here are some of the things I do:

Coupons: I religiously use coupons now more than before.

Electricity: The lights are off and all the unused appliances are unplugged.

Sales: Every store I go into I try to buy items that are on sale. Even at the supermarket I try to buy the items I need when they are on sale.

My new job came at the right time. Taking public transportation is not so bad anymore now that the price of gas has gone up more than 15 cents in two weeks.

These are all things I have been doing in the past. However, in the past couple weeks I have paid much more attention to how much money I spend.

Toy shopping this christmas season

WTH?? is with all the lead in kids toys. I guess all the cheap sh.it from China has come back to bite us in the hiney.

For the past few weeks with all the recall I pretty much did not say anything on my blog about. However, a report this morning blew my mind. There is this dot thingamagig toy that is the number one toy in Australia. There are little dots that when you spray them with water they are 'supposed' to stick together. Anywho, the lining on the dots has a chemical that mimics the 'date rape drug'. Yes you got that right, date rape drug. Are you kidding me? I hope corporate America wakes up because they are putting our kids lives in danger. Even though I am not a parent I have kids in my family to buy for.

There is website for to help parents and non-parents research toys this christmas/holiday whatever you wanna call it. The site is The Daily Green. It has toys that were made in the United States that has no lead or any of that other stuff.

Financial Updates

The price of gas in my area increased tremendously in the past two weeks, from $2.53 per gallon to $2.72. As much as I do not like public transportation $4 per day does seems like a bargain.

This months unplanned spending for me totalled $52.86. Ann Taylor had an extra 25% off clearance. I used it as an opportunity to stock up on 3 tops for works. Money well spent, unplanned but well spent.

Taxes at the new job are eating me alive. I am in the process of figuring out the retirement options so I can sign up as soon as possible. In the mean time I am still contributing to the 401K at the part-time gig. It is only two cents here or there, but every little bit helps.

The holiday shopping frenzy has officially begun. Tis the season of overspending, declining credit cards and ompteen returns.

The stories from the part-time gig will only get interesting from now on. I will keep you guys posted.