Manhattan Temptations

Ohhhhhhhh the temptation of working in Manhattan!! Lunch on average cost $6.00 and this is on the lower end. When I step off the train I have the temptation of Starbucks and all the restaurants. Then there are the stores filled with clothes, from the low end to the high end. Lawdyyyy!! I cannot roam around during lunch hour without being tempted by everything.

The one good thing is that I can people watch. As a pf blogger, I find myself wondering how many of the people shopping during their lunch hour are in debt to their eyeballs. The lines in the clothing stores around my office are packed during the lunch rush. I see colleagues buying lunch everyday, and all I can think is wow. I am not judging, for all I know they can be debt free. Just can't help but wonder.

This week was good, I only bought lunch once. Next week I will keeping up that trend. Now if only I can get a damn seat on the damn train I would be happy.

I am waiting on lunch to finish cooking. Yeah!! go me, Single Ma I will Fedex your portion...LOL

Lunch for this week will be....

an assorted variety of sandwiches, fruit (strawberry and banana), rice with some kinda meat, mac & cheese with stew chicken.

Now all I need to do is get my lazy butt up and make stuff the night before.

Half.com Payment Part 2

The second payment from half.com is on its way to my bank account.

Niceeeee!!!

Things are looking up these days.

New Job

I have a new full-time job.

Advantages:
Great move for my career, am finally using that degree
More money
Better Benefits
Less hours in the work week
No more tolls, cheaper public transportation

Disadvantages
Public transportation: the subway is crowded, stink, loud, stink, stink, did I mention smelly!!!!

Brown Bagging It

Starting on Monday...well maybe Tuesday I need to take my lunch to work.

I would like ideas from those who take their lunch to work. What are some of your favorites to take?

I know the left over dinner from the night before is usually standard for some. However, as a single person who hardly makes anything substancial for dinner (read cereal or lean cuisine) that is not a ver good option.

Half.com payment

The payment on one of my half.com sale was direct deposited to my account. Love ittttt!
This is the easiest money I have made in a long time, and it did not take much of my time.

401K contribution has begun

This week is pay week, and my contribution to the 401K at the part-time gig has started.

Yeeeeeaaaahhhhhh goooo me!!

I made a sale....caching

I have made two sales since listing my books on half.com. This is $62.00 that I now have that I did not have before. Love it....not to mention I am cleaning out my closet and having more room at the same time.

Am back

I took a few days off to get my head together. Am back. Not much to report on financially except that I need to get back on the bandwagon. I fell off for those few tumultuous emotionally draining days.

Blogging Break for a few days

I think I will be taking a blogging break for a few days....having a bad Tuesday.

Relaxer and Deep Conditioner - $45.00

Hair Products - $12.53

Resulting feeling of fabulosity - priceless

Random.....am pissed....at men

Stop looking at my ass.
Can you at least be subtle....stop saying stupid shit. Walking around looking like a leprechaun, what makes you think I want you.

I got a man, nuff said. Back off, no I do not want to be your friend, do I look like a people person.

What you like a challenge? Fvck, the screw face was not enough to keep you away. You can walk on the sidewalk next to me, but if you so much as make wind brush up against me, I will slap that smirk off your face.

No you are not getting my digits!! Why you always in front the damn building just sitting there. Get a job.

Little boy am a grown woman, get your 22 year old, mothers milk on your breath face from in front of me.

Stop making up names to call me! I am not your baby girl, empress, Queen, chocolate beauty or none of that shit!! Hell just do not talk to me. You think that makes it cute! No it does not!

I've just had it with the random disrespect from men on the streets. Fvck I know its a speech is free, but one day am gonna snap and slap one of you fools!!

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Debt Challenger to give one piece of financial advice.

For those in debt, and are considering a second job here is some advice. Make sure the second job is flexible, and does not get in way of your main job, a.ka. your bigger bread and butter. The income from the second job should be either close to your main job or close to home to keep commuting costs down. The key is: your income from your second job should not be used to increase your lifestyle. It should be used to pay down your debt and increase savings.

I am participating and random crap

The decision has been made. I will participate in the 401K at the part-time gig. I just realized am in the position where both jobs (well at least when I had the two) have a matching 401K or 403B. I did not even expect that from the part-time gig.

I will be there for as long as I can.

While we are on the subject of the part-time gig, here goes:

Yeah people are still writing checks, and am still looking at them like they have three heads.

It is back to school shopping time, I know that. Hell, that little bastard does not need that many clothes. Why you got three pairs of the same shade of jeans for him. Let him alternate what he already has, and you wonder why the card declined.

Make your decision before you get to my register. How many times must I say this? Why do you have $200 worth of clothes if you only have $75. Come on, there are people on line behind you.

401K at the second gig

Apparently I am eligible to participate in the 401K plan at my part-time gig. I am sure some where I was told this a year ago when I started but I did not pay attention. This is how it works. You are automatically enrolled unless you opt out. I was sent a packet in the mail and threw it in the garbage because I figured it was sent by mistake. Then today I got a card in the mail informing me to return the crap that was in the package. Huh??

My question is should I participate in the 401K at the second gig?

Just some additional information:
I resigned from my full-time job a few weeks ago, and am waiting to start a new one. In the mean time I am 'full-time' at the second gig. Which is now technically my only gig.
I will definitely be keeping the part-time, now full-time gig once I start the new job in a few weeks.

Did I mention there is a match, I like free.

Random stuff

1. Am getting to be more and more organized. Once my bills come in, I put the minimum into online bill pay. This way nothing gets paid late. Once those are done being paid then I make an additional payment.

2. Gas is now down to $2.49 per gallon. Am so happy.

3. Velveeta Shells and Cheese at the supermarket is $2.79, at Target it is $1.52 regular price. I am getting better at letting my dollars stretch a bit more.

4. Now that it is summer I would encourage anyone looking to pay down debt, to get a part-time job. It really, really helps. I will be keeping mine for quite a while longer, I actually enjoy it most days.

5. I am glad I do not have children, back to school shopping is no joke.

6. This blog is making me more accountable for my finances each day. I look at prices more closely, look for more bargains and save as much as I can, when I can.

Spending Aug 11 - 18

My stomach = $56.61 ( I just had to crave pizza, bread sticks and hot wings - Dominoes anyone?)

The ride = $30.00

Train fare = $4.00

Shelter = $910.50

Shelter upkeep = $7.46

Credit cards = $411.04

Clothing & Accessories = $10.65 ( I got a pair of shoes and capri pants for this price) Bargainnnnnn!!!

I need to reign in my cravings for certain things. They can be pricey.

I did not keep the best records for the past few days. Things got kinda crazy and I might be forgetting one or two things.

Cleaning house and making some cash

Today I decided to clean out my closet and discovered tons of books. I completely forgot how many books I had stored in my closet. I quickly went ahead and posted those books on half.com. Hopefully I can get rid of my clutter and make a little cash at the same time.

Issues with my 'neighborhood' supermarket

Note to the supermarkets in my 'neighborhood', get it together. I do not always feel like driving to Pathmark or making a detour to Stop & Shop on my way home from work. On those days am forced to venture into your 'little' supermarket, but this does not mean I expect inferior service. So to Metfoods, Bravo and the C-Towns of my hood, here are a few things you can do:

1. Get a few people that speak English to work there. I have no problems with the people that do not speak English, but newsflash there are people in the Bronx who speak English only. We would like to have workers that 'understand' what the heck we are saying when we have a question.

2. Clean please. Just clean. Clean up the fvcking mess. That's it.

3. What is that smell!! It has been three years and your place still smells like shit.

4. Spellcheck your fvcking signs.

5. Note to cashier: yeah it says debit card, but do you see that big Mastercard logo? That means I can use it as a credit card, so shut up!

6. Save the best for last: WTF!! that customer just stepped on the baby mouse and kept it moving like it was nothing. Huh!! Unlike Arnold, ' I WILL NOT BE BACK'.

A cheap breakfast idea

My cheap breakfast for today is cornmeal porridge. Love it!!! not to mention the ingredients can all be had for under $5.00, and makes quite a few servings.

Back to eating my breakfast!

Ms. Behaving thanks for the warning, cuz girllllllll if you made me spit out my cornmeal porridge we woulda had a problem!!!! LMAOOOOOO