Thirty Day Overview

Thirty Day Overview

Revenue
Day 3: $65
Day 10: $50
Day 11: $65
Day 14: $50
Day 17: $70
Day 21: $44
Day 24: $61
Day 28: $40

Total Revenue for the Month of March: $445

Expenses
Day 3: $1.25
Day 5: $11.00
Day 10: $1.25
Day 12: $19.00
Day 12: $3.25
Day 15: $7.99
Day 15: $2.00
Day 15: $10.00
Day 15: $10.00
Day 17: $20.00
Day 19: $24.96
Day 28: $20.25

Total Expenses for the Month of March: $130.95

Balance: $314.05
I spent 29% of my monthly income.

At the beginning I didn't know what to expect, and I didn’t know if I would be able to take myself very seriously in this matter. I think I did a lot better than I thought I would. There’s not much I would change about my thirty days, I am glad I went to the mall with my friend. There was a bunch of different things I liked, but didn’t buy. I believe I controlled myself very well at the mall, and I am proud that I did. This quest has helped me tremendously.
I used to spend twice the amount as I did this month, I plan to keep my spending down to this amount, and hopefully I keep improving on my bad shopping habits. Thank you for reading my blog.

Week Four Overview

Day 28, Sunday: Work and made $40, and had to purchase gas after work $20.25.

Revenues
Day 24: $ 61
Day 28: $40
Total Revenues this week: $101

Expenses
Day 28 Gas: $20.25
Total Expenses: $20.25

Overall Balance: $314.05

I think this has to be one of my best weeks, and I hope to keep this up after my thiry days!

Day Twenty-Six

It is Friday, and I am glad it is finally the weekend. My fiancé and I plan to go over to my parent’s house and eat supper. My mom now works night shifts, so she will be leaving around 9:30 PM. My step-dad wants us to come over and play card games after we eat. I think we might do that, but my fiancé won’t get done working tonight until about 7:30 PM. He had to take a load of pigs to Sioux City, and he is training their new employee. The new employee happens to be my “Uncle Curtis” (not really my uncle but step-dad’s best friend) from Jacksonville, Florida. Today I have not spent any money, and I have not spent any money all week! I work again Sunday, and I’ll probably have to get gas.

Balance: $293.60

Day Twenty-Four

Wednesday, I worked like I normally do, and made around $61. I brought two pops to work and my lunch. After work I went home and worked on homework! Loads of fun!!!

Balance: $293.60

Day Twenty-Three

Today, Tuesday, I just worked on my accounting homework. Around lunch time I made something to eat for all of the hired help on the farm. After I finally finished my homework I watched some NCIS with my fiancé.

Balance $232.60

Day Twenty-Two

Monday, I didn’t do too much. I worked on homework, & sat around bored. I didn’t spend any money. Boring day! Boring day! Boring day! Boring day! Boring day!

Balance: $232.60

Week Three Overview

Day Twenty-one-Sunday, I worked and made $44.

Expenses:
Day 15: socks $7.99
Day 15: headband $2.00
Day 15: lunch $10.00
Day 15: b-day present $10.00
Day 17: dinner $20.00
Day 19: Twilight $24.96
Total Expenses this week: $74.95

Revenue:
Day 17: $70
Day 21: $44
Total Revenue this week: $114

Ending Balance: $233.30

This is probably one of my worst weeks, but I think being bored all week didn't help. I am sure I would have spent more money if I would have gone somewhere for Spring Break.

Day Twenty

On Saturday I watched my movie, walked three miles to my parent’s house, did a workout video with my mother, rode my bike home, and later that night went out to eat at Godfathers. I did not spend any money throughout the day.

Balance: $188.60

Day Nineteen

Friday I mainly sat around and watched TV and worked out a little. That night we went over to my parent’s house and hung out for a while. We eventually headed to town, because we had a few things to do and pick up the Twilight movie when it came out at 12:02AM. My family went out to eat and looked around at the car dealers for new pickup trucks. My step dad, fiancé, and I are all looking for a new truck. We eventually went to Wal-Mart so I could get in the line to get TWILIGHT! Right before midnight I would say there were about seventy people in line, and when they came out with it people started to push!! I was in the first ten, and I was one of the fifteen people that got the double disk with the extra features movie. After that I checked out, and the movie cost me $24.96, and that was my only expenses for the day.
Expense: $24.96
Balance: $188.60
P.S. Twilight the movie and the books are amazing!!! =)

Day Seventeen

Wednesday I worked, and made about $70. I did not spend any money during my work day, but after work my fiancé and I went out to eat with our friends for Missy’s birthday. We stayed to eat, and left afterwards. Our meal was $20 with tip. I gave Missy her birthday present and she loved it!

Expenses: $20

Revenue: $70
Overall Balance: $213.56

(Picture of Me, Missy, and Missy's fiance Brian on New Years Eve!)

Day Fifteen

On Monday I went shopping! :S The first store I met my best friend, Micky, at was Gordmans. I did purchase some things; a package of 6 pairs of socks for $7.99, and some new headbands on sale for $2.00. My total was $10.69. Afterwards we went to Maurices, then the Buckle, and then Areo. I did not spend any money at any of these stores. We then went out for lunch at Olive Garden, and for my meal and tip it was only $10. After Olive Garden we went to David’s Bridal to look around. I found a dress that I liked, and my lovely Maid of Honor insisted I tried it on. I like it, but I want pink instead of red. After David’s Bridal, where I did not buy a thing, we went to rue21 where Micky wanted to go to. After that we went to Spenser’s gifts, and I did buy a few things for my friend (bridesmaid), Missy, for her 21st birthday on Wednesday. I spent around $10 on a shot glass, a funny sucker, and funny card for her. I think we went to another two stores where I didn’t buy anything once again. Overall during the day I spent $30.69. I probably put myself in a bad position, but I do think I did pretty well with spending. I did see a lot of things I wanted, but overall I enjoyed the time with my friend that I live over two hours away from.

Expenses: $30.69
Balance: $163.56

Week Two Overview

Sunday (Day Fourteen), I work and will be making $50 during the day, and I plan on bringing a pop to drink so I do not have to purchase one.

Revenues:
Worked on Day Ten: $50
Worked on Day Eleven: $65
Worked on Day Fourteen: $50
Total: $165

Expenses:
Day Ten pop: $1.25
Day Twelve gas: $19.00
Day Twelve Wal-Mart visit: $3.25
Total: $23.50

Overall Revenue: $230
Overall Expenses: $35.75

Week Two Balance: $194.25

Day Tweleve

On Friday, I stayed home and worked on homework until about noon. After that I went to my mother’s house, and we went to town together. I had to buy gas for my car finally, and it was $19.00 to fill it. We went to the tanning place in Le Mars, and I already had minutes purchased. After tanning we went to Wal-Mart, and I bought some St. Patrick’s Day beads, which cost me about $3.25 at Wal-Mart. After Wal-Mart we went to Hy-vee so my mom could get groceries, and I actually didn’t spend any money. It’s safe to say the beads were a want and not a need. I just wanted to look good at the St. Patrick’s Day party I am going to on Saturday.
Expenses: $22.25
Balance: $144.25

Day Eleven

It’s Thursday, and I worked once again! Today I made about $65, and I spent no money!!! I brought my own lunch and an extra pop for on my break. The rest of the day I went home and did homework. I don't know what I am going to do this weekend, but I hope it's cheap!
Expenses: $NONE$
Balance: $166.50

Day Ten

On Wednesday I had to work. In the morning the roads were really bad so I went to work late. I ended up making about $50. I bought another pop for my break, so I spent another $1.25. I think I am doing really well because I haven’t gone shopping at all. No big spending or really any unnecessary spending. I might have trouble next week, because my friend wants me to go shopping with her over spring break. It will be a pretty big challenge. I could video tape myself looking at the clothes and not buying anything! =( I don’t think you guys want to see me cry though!
Expenses: $1.25
Balance: $101.50

Day Eight

On Monday I got up and went to my mother’s house to help her unpack a little more. We rearranged their bedroom, and then started to make supper. While my mom was making spaghetti, I studied for my Accounting test. Overall I would say my day was pretty boring, and once again I went a day without spending any money. Tuesday will probably be the same, but I will have to take my Accounting test! Fun!
Balance: $52.75

Week One Overview

Revenue

• Day 3 pay: $65

Total: $65


Expenses

• Pop on day 3: $1.25
• Dinner on day 5: $11

Total: $12.25

Balance from Week One: $52.75

Day Six

On Saturday, I had to get up at 6AM to drive to Carroll (from Le Mars, 2 ½ hour) to move my family. My family is now moving to a little town called Craig, which is about 3 miles from the farm I live on. We arrived to Carroll around 10AM, and at this point I still have not spent any money during the morning. After we arrived I took my mothers vehicle to a tanning salon in Carroll where I still have about five tanning sessions left. I asked if I could get store credit for them. They called their boss, and she wouldn’t do anything for me. The girls working felt bad for me, and offered to cut or style my hair for free. I had a nice lady cut my hair, and it was for FREE! After that I went back to the house to help move. By the time we had the U-Haul filled and moved all the way back to Craig, which is by Le Mars, it was around 5PM. After we had most the things moved into the house we ordered chicken and pork chops from the local bar. Everyone stayed around and had a few beers. My fiancés’ family left around 10PM, and we left for home a little while after. It was a nice night of the families just sitting around. Overall I did not spend any money, and had my hair cut for FREE. By balance is still: $52.75.
(Top left pictures: Our dads sitting down for their first beer and then after a few! :)
Bottom left: My fiances' family sitting on the couch, while my brother plays wii.
Bottom Right: My mommy in her new kitchen!)

Day Five

FRIDAY NIGHT! I did spend some money on dinner when I went out to eat with my friend, Missy. We drove to Sioux City, where we went to Pet Smart so she could get some things for her new puppy. Then we went out to eat at Olive Garden. I ended up spending $11 on my meal. I have now spent $12.25 overall and my new balance after Friday night is: $52.75. I don’t work again until next Wednesday and Thursday, so hopefully I can make it on $50. I think I am doing very well with the no shopping. I have not gone to any store and bought anything I did not need. I believe I will be going to Wal-Mart on Monday, and I know that will be a challenge!

Day Four

Yesterday, I worked most of the day and made about $65. I did spend a little money on a pop for my lunch. I brought my lunch to work, and I just needed to buy something to drink. Overall, the day consists of spending a $1.25, and making $65. After work I came home and worked on homework. Not very fun, but it had to be done. I actually am very surprised that it is day four and I have only spent $1.25. I very easily could have bought myself a snack, or went out for my lunch break. I haven't even had to buy gas for my car yet!

(The picture is from the old Bomgaars I used to work at. They had a FFA tractor ride/grill out in front of Bomgaars on a nice Sunday afternoon.)

BALANCE $63.75

Day Three

I have been shop free for the last three days. It might have to do more with not leaving my house at all in the last three days and being overly swamped with homework. Today I plan on making a financial statement showing how much I earn and how much I spend in a week. At the moment I have spend $0 and earned $0. I work tomorrow at a local hardware store, and as long as I don’t spend my wholes day pay I will be up on money. Tomorrow leaving the house will be the real challenge.

Quest of a Shopaholic

How to bring a shopaholic to a halt? I was once a young teenage girl that shopped away most of her paycheck, and now I am a young college student that shops away her small paycheck. I love to shop, and it needs to end before I am out of money or even worse in debit. Shopping has a great part in my life; I enjoy browsing until I find something, and I when there are savings I do end up buying much more. Currently the money I spend is money that I have earned, but soon I will be getting married and our money will combine. How will my fiancé deal with my shopping? I love buying stuff for our house, our wedding, and things for my fiancé.
In the next thirty days I plan to stop shopping completely. I will do the occasional shopping for things that are needed such as food, toiletries, and any needed supplies. As an eBay shopper I will not sign into eBay at all during the thirty days. Any shopping that is done will have to be clarified as something needed not wanted. I have come to the conclusion that I will punish myself if I do break any of my rules. I will have arranged for my fiancé to keep a close eye on me; if I break any rules I will extend my thirty days without shopping. If any times that I do break any rules I will add another three days to my sentence. After the month is over we will discuss how all of our finances will be taken care of after we are married. I do enjoy dealing with money and dealing with bills. I will record the saving within the month, and it will show how much money I have been wasting.
The main rules to focus on; no unneeded shopping, no clothing will be bought, no wasting money on junk food, a minimal amount will be spent on weekend entertainment (going to the movies with my fiancé, etc.), there will be consequences to breaking any rules, and finally try to save as much money during the month as possible. The outcome is unknown, because it may be possible that I am more of a shopaholic then I have known.