Debt UPdate

Adulting.  Why did I not relish in the glory of being a child as much as I should have?  Why didn’t I take more naps?  Draw on more walls with crayons?  Eat more dirt?

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of amazing things about being an adult!  You can go to bed whenever you want and even spoil your appetite before dinner.  Hell, you can have ice cream for supper if that tickles your fancy.

However, all of the luxuries of being an adult are outweighed by the one cruel reality that comes with living on your own:

BILLS.

It is ALWAYS something!  Every time I feel like P and I are getting a handle on our debt and we are starting to make progress in the road to one day being DEBT FREE …

Cue joyful Whoopi gif

life throws in a speed bump, then a pothole, and finally just for shits and giggles one heck of a financial detour.

Followed by discouraged Whoopi

Let me preface this rant by just stating a few things.  I’m so incredibly lucky.  Everyone is healthy, I am 33 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby that I can’t wait to meet in mere weeks, and we have a roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in and bellies full of food.  Life for the most part is amazing…

BUT why does there always have to be a BUT?

When we found out I was pregnant we had been trying for years.  We had definitely planned for the extra finances that a baby requires.  We also bought (ok, we actually financed) a new vehicle that was safer and more family friendly for myself and baby.  We crunched the numbers and an extra car payment could squeeze into our budget.

BUT…

The reality of your computer’s motherboard dying isn’t nearly as stylish as when it happened to Carrie in Sex and the City

Then my husband’s computer crapped out (his motherboard died). It was 8 years old (which is like 150 in computer years) and he works in IT and has to have a top notch computer in order to do his job.  Well, a top notch computer is expensive.  P built it himself with all the bells and whistles.  Let’s just say it’s black with red components (he was going for a Darth Vader theme ) and the red LED lights he placed in his new computer now make our office look like a XXX store.  It was definitely an expense (not to mention office decor) that was unexpected for me.  We ended up having to finance it.  Boo. On the upside we were able to get 12 months no interest, but still its an extra monthly payment that we were not planning on this year.

Then a few weeks later P’s Jeep decided that it was sick and needed to go see the Jeep doc.  That damn Jeep racks up more medical bills then any other Jeep I know.  Then the following week, my old Jetta decided it also wasn’t feeling well and racked up another bill 4 times over what the Jeep bill was!!!!

WTF!

So in a nutshell, our debt is back to where it was last year.  All the progress we made is now back to square one.

BUT…

I’m discovering that all of the bills, the stress, the responsibility, and the unexpected twists and turns are just a part of being an adult.  Time to put my big girl pants on (and oh, how BIG my pants have gotten) shake it off and start all over again tomorrow with a big girl panty attitude!

 

Til next time,

Ang

Why bloggers blog (i.e., a safe place to rant)

Why does one start a blog?

Good question. Glad I asked it.

I suppose there are some bloggers who want to share their works of fiction and poetry. There are some who want to share their love of travel and the arts and photography. Then there are some bloggers, like myself, who need a safe place to rant.

A blog really is the only decent place where one can rant anymore.

The original stomping ground of a good rant was at your local watering hole. But then alcohol happens, which leads to drunken calls, more drinking, follow up drunken texts, more drinking,  and an insanely high tab at the end of the night. Not the best place for a rant (especially for a drunk white girl with a very low tolerance for alcohol and a very high tolerance for drama).

Enter facebook. Ranting would seem to be a perfect fit here, but perfect it is not. I used to love facebook rants but now it seems facebook brings the drama more than a passed out girl who drank 3 wine spritzers at the bar.

If you post something political, people are going to comment on it. If you post something religious, people are going to comment on it. If you post some family drama, you best believe people are going to comment on it.  If you share one of my blogs…well… actually that would be the one time where you would hear crickets on a social media outlet.

Lastly, on facebook you have to watch every little thing you say  because EVERYONE has a facebook. Family, friends, co-workers, frenemies, and bosses. You specifically can’t name names because that person will see it, and isn’t the point of a good old-fashioned rant to name names?

Why not twitter?  Well twitter limits you to only 140 characters.  Who can produce an all-inclusive and concise rant in 140 characters?!  Me thinks no one (but if anyone is up to the challenge tweet me your rant @frugoal).

So naturally a blog is the safest of safe places for a rant.  Blogs are a bit passe, which translates to a beautiful place to air one’s grievancesI This blogger definitely has a few grievances to air, but ranting about ranting oddly made all of my “ranting” needs go buh bye.

Thanks for stopping by and if you want to rant go ahead and leave a comment below!

Tune in tomorrow for an all new blog in my #93daysofblogging challenge happening all summer long (don’t question the hashtag, just accept it and move on).

Ang

Three things I GOT this May 2014!

Normally on my monthly “three things” blog I mention three fantastic things I want (and normally would buy myself if I were not trying to get out of debt), but since May is home to my birthday I thought I would change it up and share with you all three things I got this May 2014:

1. A Seahawks Jersey…Finally!

P really does listen!  My hubby gave me a 12th man jersey (since I have always told him I don’t want a specific player’s jersey since I am not loyal to the players but loyal to the team).  He also personalized it with my last name on the back!  He got some serious “hubby points” that day!

2. A bouquet of the sweetest kind!

Not much of a flower girl, but I LOVE CHOCOLATE!  My mom and dad (though I have a feeling my mommy is the one that put it together…and yes a grown woman just called her mom “mommy”) gave me this bomb.com bouquet!  Loved this and love them!

3.  A beautiful way to tell time!

Egads!  Holy hair and porous skin Batman!  Nevermind the close up pic, but this gal always needs more time, and the only way to get more time is in the form of a watch!  My in-laws gave me this fabulous Fossil watch (love me some Fossil)!  I just love being their favorite daughter-in-law (by default, but I will take it)!  Love them too!

I also got jewelry, gift cards, candy, an ice cream maker, a crazy cat lady purse, a journal, one-of-a-kind necklace, home decor, a travel organizer, cupcakes, and money from my parents and both of my grandmas (who I always tell them they don’t need to give me any money but they continue to do so anyway).

BUT

The best gift I got for my birthday was all of the phone calls and texts and happy birthday voice mails from all of my loved ones.  I am one lucky girl!

Be back tomorrow,

Ang

A Little Game Called “Just The Tip”.

Hello All!

So how many of you struggle with eating out?  Okay, that sounds dirty.

Let me start over.

How many of you struggle with the tip?  How much?  How little?  Still sounds dirty.

One more time.

When receiving any sort of service from another person, what is the appropriate amount of money to give the person who has serviced you?  DAMMIT!

Let’s just make this as simple as possible.

How much is the appropriate amount to tip a server when dining out?

It is common knowledge that a 15% tip is the standard, but I have friends and family that tip 20%-25% without even batting an eye.  Am I the only diner that gets anxiety about tipping the appropriate amount and running through all kinds of variables to ultimately fill out the tip line on the bill?  Here is a few examples of some of the questions that race through my mind when tipping:

Was my drink constantly full or was I parched throughout my meal?

Did the food come at the appropriate time?

Did the server check in on us?

Did the server check in on us too much?

Did I have a great experience?

Was the server’s attitude that of awesomeness or a little douchey?

And the last question always is:

Does the server deserve a standard 15%, or a tad more or a tad less?

Side note:  Does the 15% tip include the total amount of the meal AND tax?   I always include the tax, but should I be?

I want to hear your thoughts on this.  So please comment below, or e-mail me @thefrugoal@gmail.com or share your tips about tipping on twitter @frugoal.

Thanks for reading and please, please, please give me your input.  Happy weekend and may the tipping forces be with you!

Ang

 

Three things I want this March 2014 (Crazy Cat Lady Edition)!

I love cats (okay, really just my cat), and here are three things feline that I wish were mine!

A cat rug!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/103684852/fluffy-electric-blue-carpet-cat-head

Adorable cat rings!

http://vintagebrighton.com/2011/11/style-heroes-cat-ear-rings/

Lastly, KITTEN MITTONS!

 

 

Three things I want this February 2014!

My goal this year is to be credit card debt FREE!  Which means that this gal has sworn off all unnecessary retail therapy for 2014…but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t daydream about a couple of lovely items she would like to have someday.  Here are three things I am daydreaming about this month.

1.  A candle with some charm.

This is such a clever idea!  Everyone loves a candle, but these candles have a special surprise in the wax:  a piece of jewelry!  Once the candle starts burning, your special surprise is revealed with a retail value anywhere from $10.00 to $450.00.  Maybe my valentine will get me one for 2015.

http://www.bellaj.com/products/lotsa-love

2. Girls.

I am HBO-less but have heard nothing but great things about this show from friends and family.

3.  Another funny AND true shirt.

This shirt says it all!

http://awesomecooltees.com/

Thanks for stopping by and indulging in my window shopping,

Ang

Valentine’s Day Deciphered

Valentine’s Day is here, and if you are in a relationship that means you will be receiving a gift or two from your honey.  The gift is great and all, but what is your sweetie really telling you this Valentine’s Day with the gift they give you?  Read on for some clarity.

Cards: 

• Cards With Just Your Valentine’s Signature:  You are awesome as a friend but I don’t want to see you naked OR I’m just too lazy to write anything besides my name so now I definitely won’t see you naked.
• Card With A Personalized Love Note: You are so very special to me.

Balloons:  You are just swell so let’s get silly and inhale this helium.

Chocolate:

• Cheap Chocolate:  I hate you.
• Expensive Chocolate:  I love you.

Dinner:

• Homemade:  I love you and let’s run the risk of food poisoning so we can have an intimate night at home.
• Restaurant:  I love you and I love food, so why not make this a really delicious threesome in public?!

Movie:

• If You Get To Pick:  I would love to pick the movie, but I love you more.
• If Your Valentine Picks:  I would love to pick the movie, so I will because I love me more.

Wine:  Drink up and let’s get naked before you pass out.

A stuffed animal holding a heart:  I forgot about Valentines Day until 10 minutes ago, so I picked this up at the gas station along with my 6-pack of beer AND I would really love to be single again and move back in with my Mom.

Lingerie:  I find you to be the most attractive person on this planet, now put this on so I can take it off.

Jewelry:  I am wooing the Fruit of the Looms off of you as we speak.

Flowers:

• At Work:  I love you so much I want the whole world to know.
• At Home:  I don’t have to tell the whole world how much I love because you already know.

Anything Not On This List:  Our love is not traditional, so why should my gift be?

Hope this gift guide helps and wishing everyone a very “love”ly Valentine’s Day!

Ang

Special thanks to Trish and Ally for helping me with ideas for this blog!  Thanks ladies!

AutoMO’BILLS

I watch a woman on a regular basis.  Okay, that sounds creepier than it actually is.  Let me start over: I look longingly at a woman every morning with unabashed envy…crap.  Is it just me or am I sounding very reminiscent of Hedy in “Single White Female”?  Please allow me to explain before you judge me (and turn me in to the proper authorities).

I work in a very lovely office with LOTS of windows.  It lets in the natural light, but it provides quite the temptation for distraction.  A few months back I noticed an attractive woman in an even more attractive red pea coat walking through the parking lot.  It was obvious that she was walking to work.

Then I saw her and her fabulous coat the next day.

Then the next day.

Then it was Saturday and Sunday so I didn’t see her.

Then on Monday I saw her again.

Then again.

Then again.  By the way, I am fully aware that you got the point three lines ago, but I am procrastinating on where to begin my next paragraph, so bare with me.

Then again.

Then again. Okay, I’m done now.

So watching the gorgeous red coat with a girl in it got me thinking on how lovely it would be to walk to work.  How much money could I save if my feet, instead of my car, were my transportation?  Being credit card debt free by the end of the year could easily be within my reach.  However, living so far outside of town does not make that a viable option.  Boo.

So I watch the woman who walks to work with envy.  Why?  The answer is simple:  Cars are a LOT of maintenance, and by “maintenance” I mean “money”.  I do love my car, who I affectionately refer to as Napoleon.  Napoleon gets decent gas mileage and is fairly reliable for the most part.  The only thing about Napoleon is he constantly has his “check engine” light on.  It is a tad bit annoying to say the least.  I assume it is nothing, just one of his “quirks”.  I have had him for nearly a decade and his “check engine” light has been on for most of that time on and off.  Before I go into the check engine light saga any further, let me back “pedal” a little bit (pun very much intended).

So January started off promising for Operation:  Get out of Credit Card Debt in 2014 (side note:  I realize the operation name has zero pizazz, so if you come up with anything more pizazzy let me know).  All of the bills got paid AND there was even some extra money left over that I was planning on using for an extra credit card payment.  Success, right?  Not so fast because P took both cars in for an oil change (which we had budgeted for), but Napoleon’s “quirk” was discovered.

Back to that “check engine” light.  Turns out Napoleon couldn’t control his “temper”ature and his thermostat was out (part of me wants to give myself a pat on the back while simultaneously punching myself in the face for that joke). Bad jokes aside, it’s winter and it had to be fixed.  The cost:  Well with the part plus labor it totaled almost exactly the “extra” amount of money that I had planned to pay for the credit card.

So woman with the red jacket, you walk girl.  You walk.

Thanks for listening,

Ang

Three things I want this January 2014!

If you are one of my regular and faithful readers, you know that this girl is on a very strict budget for 2014.  If you are new to this blog…well howdy…and just to let you know:  I am on a very strict budget for 2014.  With that being stated, a girl can still look and romanticize about a few items she would buy if she weren’t on that strict aforementioned budget.  Here are three things I WANT this month.

1. A crazy cat lady shirt.

I want this shirt!  Who doesn’t love a shirt that is hilariously quirky?  Not to mention a conversation starter with other lovers of felines.

http://www.lookhuman.com/design/29519-cat-hair-is-lonely-people-glitter

2.  Sad Keanu action figure.

This just makes me happy.  What began as a paparazzi photo of Mr. Reeves in a thoughtful moment at the park has turned into an action figure.  His action figure does such diverse things like sitting in your car and sitting on your kitchen table and even sitting on your desk.  Maybe someday I can splurge on a sad Keanu of my very own.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/364717/1a5bb536cacb80d38bffa0efe23dd2bf

3.  An inappropriately delicious game!

Special thanks to my brother Mike and his lovely girlfriend Emily for bringing this game to the table (literally) for Christmas Eve festivities.  The best way to describe this game is that it is a very dirty and perverted version of Apples to Apples.  Our family had so much fun being dirty that we went through all of the cards in one sitting.  Highly recommend it to anyone out there who has no issue sinning and then laughing about it.

http://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

Those are my three things that I want this month (but I am not allowing myself to buy).  I did provide the links if any of you are interested in getting them for yourself or someone else.  Maybe a blogger who has a birthday in a few months.  Just sayin.

Thanks for reading!

A cat T-shirtless, sad Keanuless, and cards against humanityless Ang

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Howdy all and HAPPY 2014!

Every new year brings one sure thing:  broken resolutions!  In the past few weeks I have asked several members of my family and friends what their 2014 resolutions are and the most common response was “I don’t make resolutions because I just break them anyway.”  Haven’t we all.  So let’s just rid ourselves of those pesky “resolutions” and make 2014 a great year! Simple.  Sweet.  To the point.

Whether it is treasuring the small things in life, finding love, losing weight, or making a career change, let’s just make a plan and do it.  No matter what 2014 throws at us there are two factors that we can always*  control that can make or break this year:  our actions and our attitude.  I am definitely going to try my best to make my actions and attitude positive ones this year.  First step: Don’t eat the Butterfingers in the cupboard that are currently tempting the crap out of me.

Thanks for reading my first post of the new year and feel free to comment below and share what your goals for 2014 are.

Ang

*with the exception of women during “that time of the month”