Budget Friendly

As you know, September is my month for wiser spending.  One of the trickiest things isn't setting my budget, its only spending within my budget.  


Sadly I am always on a limited grocery budget and need to maximize the amount of money I allocate.  My secret at the grocery store is utilizing Giant's SCAN IT.  








SCANT IT, is a portable scanner that allows you to scan products while you shop.  Not only does it allow you to stay on top of how much you are spending as you go, it allows for a quicker checkout process in the end.  


For anyone who is tight on a grocery budget and always finds themselves spending over what they wanted to, try using your grocery store's scan-tron for wiser spending. 

Ten on Tuesday

Today is Tuesday, but its also the first day of the work week...wah, wah, wah....


However, there are some great things to look forward to this week!!  On Saturday, I get to visit some of my friends from college and life in PA.  Although the visit will be short, I am excited to spend some quality time with them.  


Alright, enough chit-chat...back to Ten on Tuesday!!


1. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on during the day?

My roommates probably want to kill me.  But I love our house at 71 degrees!  Sorry everyone. I love it to be cool.

2. What temperature do you keep your thermostat on at night?  

The same.  I guess we never really change it.  Ok, tomorrow I am immediately putting it at 73 or 74 to cut down on the energy bill

3. In a canister of mixed nuts, do you pick out certain varieties and leave the others?Yes, I am guilty for picking out the cashews…I really do love them! However, if you caught me buying nuts at the store, I normally buy Almonds.  I wonder why I do that. 


4. What is your favorite kind of M&M?
Plain..ok I have to stop thinking about M&Ms. I don’t want to eat any chocolate


5. How do you buy books? (Amazon, bookstore, new, used, electronic, etc)
Usually I buy them new from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com  However, its always nice to find myself at the library borrowing books or walking in a Barnes and Noble to sift through the shelves. 


6.  How do you like your eggs cooked?

Hard question.  Sometimes I looove eggs and sometimes I get grossed out.  I like them scrambled with ketchup or over easy with toast.

7. Can you whistle?

No…I try and try and try.  Ok a little bit, but its not a normal whistle. 

8. What common word to you commonly misspell?Receipt …ok I spelled it right when I did it that time.  I would say unfortunately but its not because I can’t spell it.  For some reason when I am typing fast I always misspell the word. 

9.  Are you afraid of flying?

NOOOO! I love to fly and travel the world.

10. How often do you go shopping?

I would say not often at all, however, I am guilty or buying random things at random times.  No full blown out shopping trips, but I am guilty of spending money.

Fall Cleaning

Growing up in a family where we automatically donated unused items, or traded clothing with our cousins, I never got to experience a true yard or garage sale.  With the end of summer and fall quickly approaching I figured it was the perfect time of year to host one of my own. As old roommates moved out and new roommates began loading boxes in, it was the perfect time for all of us to clean out our rooms, extra closets and common areas to collect goods for the sale.

Although Hurricane Irene ruined our first attempt at the sale, we struck up shop again Labor Day weekend.  I was fortunate enough to have a great team of friends to help me setting up shop and even donating a few items of their own. After a minor rain storm we ended the day with $130 in our pockets and a car load of extra stuff to take to GoodWill.  It felt good not only cleaning out the house and making a few extra dollars for cleaning supplies, but also was rewarding to bring a bunch of stuff to donation as well.  

Cheesecake Fix

Well, my first attempt at making cheesecake went well! It was actually was super easy and I highly recommend it for anyone if they are trying a recipe for the first time.  


From the kitchen of Rachael Ray: 

CHOCOLATE CHIP-PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BITES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup crushed chocolate wafer cookies

4 tbsp. melted butter

1/2 tsp. gelatin

8 oz. room-temperature cream cheese

7 oz. condensed milk

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Mix cookie crumbs with butter; press into 8-by-8- inch baking pan. Combine gelatin with 1 tbsp. water; let sit 5 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, condensed milk and peanut butter. Microwave gelatin 20 to 30 seconds to melt; beat into cream cheese mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill pan and freeze 20 minutes. Cut into bite-size squares.

The only thing I did differently was doubled the recipe and filled it for a 13x9 pan. I also refrigerated the cheesecake all day instead of freezing it.  Turned out great! Oh yeah, and I used Oreos for the crust. 

Only problem was that am still on my no chocolate month and couldn't try it.  

101 in 1001 Days

For those of you who haven't ever visited any of my pages above, I am working on a few personal projects.  From weightloss, to personal growth and personal happiness, I am trying to become the best version of ME that I can possibly be.  

Right now I am currently trying to work on some of my
101 things to do in 1001 Days. 

The story behind this challenge is pretty simple. I was inspired by a blogger from Roots and Rings to challenge myself to do 101 things in 1001 days.  

Its no secret, I am a girl that loves lists, goals, and more importantly self challenges.  

For September I am hoping to complete the following:

8. Buy one quality pair of comfortable heels. <-- Shopping this weekend
13. Wash the car by hand, 4 times.  <-- Do this at least once in September
19. Make a cheesecake from scratch <-- Attempting this for a housewarming party
28.  Finish my brother/sister-in-laws wedding gift from 2010
43. No cokes for one month. <-- Over, one week strong already
44. No chocolate for 4 weeks <-- Over, one week strong already
59. Learn to Knit <-- Class starts on September 11
69. Watch a sunrise
71. Clean out and organize my car
88. Share a meal with a sibling individually
95. Try eating a new meat

I encourage you to make yourself a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days! 

Little surprises

Last night I recieved a text from a friend asking if she could swing by my place. Immediately panic came over me thinking something bad had happened. When she arrived at the house five minutes later with a gift in hand I was immediately relieved she was ok, and surprised to see her holding a present.

I tore open the card and bag to discover a belated birthday gift that went above and beyond the word thoughtful. She had given me two things that she knew I would love! It was at that moment all of the stress from my day lifted off my shoulders. I immediately was over come with happiness. I was reminded at that moment that I was truly blessed to have good friends in my life, not because of the gift, but because of her thoughtfulness and kind heart.

My Happiness Project - Month #3

I am very please with how my Happiness Project has been going.  I have come to realize that analyzing aspects of my life and ways to become happier has force me to evaluate what I am currently doing that prevents me from being happier.  


This month is going to be a hard month for me, but is much needed.

Month #3

September

Finances...aka "Going from Shopaholic to Save-aholic"

This is not one of my favorite topics.  

I hate to talk about money. 

Mostly because I don't have any, and also because it seems like I am always struggling to pay bills and keep my debt down. I have realized money (or lack there of) has caused alot of stress and sadness in my life.  If I learn to get my wallet and bank account under control I might begin to realize that there can be happiness without millions of dollars (or even $5). 

It is not like this isn't realistic.  

I just need to train myself to live the lifestyle I can afford 

instead of the lifestyle I think I can afford.

• Put myself on a strict budget
• Freezing the credit card (maybe even literally)
  
• Figure out a realistic payment plan for IOUs and Credit Cards
  
• Eliminate over-spending
• Find creative ways to be social without spending