When Money Is Not Enough

My typed words have been silent for a month now.

It would be wonderful to say I went to Hawaii after all with my friend,
Or that the new hunk-of-a-man in my life has taken priority,
Or that I am now famous and above blogging...

As you may have guessed none of these are very true.

What really happened is 3 jobs turning into twelve hour days.
I am now downsizing my life and work.


I have decided that there comes a point when money is not enough.

Yes, I know the economy is hurting and now may not be the best time to walk away from money and a job.
Bills still have to be paid in my crib.  And there has been no shortage of the "unexpecteds".

So I thought it might be best to compile a "sanity" budget along with my financial budget.
The bottom line is is that the psychotherapy I need from working so much (did I mention this is twelve hours with miniature insanity makers -children?) costs me way more than the income I am bringing in.
Couch sessions aren't cheap.  Even for cheapskates!


I am writing this lightly yet it is true that there are many things in life that not even American Express can make priceless.


I was losing my time and energy to do the things that contribute to my purpose here on
earth.
That in turn affects relationships namely the one I am nurturing within myself.


A budget helps us live within our means.
This has now come to include a budget within my mental and emotional means.

Just as I make cutbacks to save money on physical items I am making cutbacks to help me not fly over the cuckoo's nest.

It feels good. 
Oh, a little scary, but more-so comforting to know that someone is looking out for my overall best interest.  
It is wonderful that that someone is me.  I'm free-as in no charge!

 "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."  ~Hans Hofmann, Introduction to the Bootstrap, 1993

The $ Cents-Less Budgeter $

Hopefully I can consistently share a featured money-saving tip.

I just happened to find one yesterday.
(And I wasn't even looking.)
Actually, budgeters ALWAYS have their keen eyes open.


I have always had dry skin and found 7-In-1 Anti-Aging Oil of Olay Moisturizer to work for me.  (Except I'm starting to question the anti-aging part...)
I have used other products I prefer, but this one fits in my budget.
Today I bought two. I will explain.

NOTE: Although I would like to say it is, this is not a picture of me.



$TIP$ 
Keep track of how often you have to replenish something that is on the higher priced end (for me that is $20.00- $30.00+) so that you know when it is coming time to buy it again and you can budget for it.
To originally find out when that was, I wrote on the bottle with a Sharpie the date I bought it. I then logged when I had to purchase another one.
For me with moisturizer that was every 3 months.
Keep track for at least 2-3 cycles so that you can get an accurate idea.
(I know it's a pain at first but will pay off as you get into a budgeting routine.)


I buy the 3.4 oz bottle at Sam's Club.
When I was there today I saw this ad next to the product.
A $20.00 rebate with a $50.00 purchase. 
(Sorry I could not turn the picture?!)

So I decided to buy 2 bottles knowing I will use them and I rarely see rebates at Sam's.
I spent $55.90 on two bottles before taxes.
I will get $20.00 back in a Sam's Club gift card.
That means a savings of almost 36% making each bottle cost only $17.95.
Not too shabby as the smaller version at Wal-Mart costs almost $21.00.


Although this isn't a smok'in deal, it works for me because my family has 5 birthdays in  February that I will be spending for.
(That is when I would be due to purchase another bottle.)



****If you are not a member of Sam's Club, on the Olay website or here, there is a similar rebate for $20.00 also.  It includes more product choices so may be easier to reach.




$TIP$
So what if you don't have an extra 30.00 laying around?
I have a steal-from-Peter-to-pay-Paul account just for these times.

So where does this $ come from?
I have gotten this money from different means.
My daughter has some money at my house she leaves for safe keeping.
So she won't spend it.
(So I do it for her instead.)
She knows I use it and I always pay it back the next month.

It can also be from your savings (I'll address later how you get that when you are already so poor)
Or if I know I have a guaranteed income coming real soon, I will borrow from a bill due at the end of the month.
(I will explain at a later time on how I setup my bill paying .)
I do not borrow money that would charge interest for that defeats the purpose of savings.

NOTE: This rotation ONLY works if you are disciplined enough to only use what you need and repay it the following month or sooner if possible.
There is also a cap,when I can't buy.
Even if there is a great sale, if my stash is empty, I do not steal from Peter and Paul's friends also.



Disclaimer:

The info provided here is for informational purposes only.
I should not be considered a financial adviser and I am not a substitute 
for seeking financial permission from a spendthrift friend, spouse or child (preferably a nonverbal one.) 
Always seek a telemarketer, Ouija Board or a incoherent bystander should you have concerns regarding spending, sales of any kind or impulsive splurging on whatever it is that is possessing you that day.

"Thrift was never more necessary in the world's history than it is today."  ~Francis H. Sisson

NEW!!! The $ Cents-Less Budgeter $

Hang on....
Unless you are new to my blog,
You know that you will have to read through the fine print before I get to the cheap stuff.

As I am wasting my days and nights perusing around the blogging world, I am finding out how different I am than many of the bloggers I am reading about.

For instance, I am not married to the man of my dreams.
Heck, I am not even married at all!
(Thus one income)

I have raised five children as a single parent.
Just having five (or 8 at once) children is an oddity nowadays!
(And sort of insane!)


I do not live in my dream home.
(Although it can become much closer to it with Nate Berkus paying a visit to me.)


I did not and do not love every minute of parenting.
Some moments are downright painfully hard!
(I get suspicious of people who say they do.)


I do not have a formal education beyond a semester at a junior college.
(Yet all five of my children have graduated from or are currently attending college.)


I do work at a job that I love!

AND I live below poverty level and raised my children (according to the guidelines), close to extreme poverty.
I can say we have been very, very, very blessed,
And we have never had to do without necessities.

As I have Windows shopped (I made a funny) a variety of blogs, I have not seen money saving tips on my $Cents-Less Budget$.
(Budgets, like people and chocolate, come in all sizes.)

So I decided to add a new feature (?) to my blog 
And to share some ways that I have found to save (or spend) money.


As with the original purpose of my blog,
I hope I will share something that may be useful,
or at least spark some creative financial embers
(making sure not to burn a hole in your pocket)
and maybe help you or someone you know to keep their common cents.

Let's get senseless Cents-Less!!!
 

"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need."  ~Vernon Howard

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE ANY MONEY SAVING TIPS YOU MAY HAVE

UNEXPECTED FINDS

Life also some has some fun unexpecteds.


As I 'find' them I will post them.


Here are a few that I have come across.

Liz Claiborne sandals in pretty nice shape.  $4.00

Great white (sounds like I should say shark next) Kenneth Cole slip-ons.  $5.00

NOTE: I do not know if these shoes are 'in style' as I am not a vogue-kinda-girl.
I just like what fits.
And has a price in my budget (which is pretty tight.)  
(I will do a financial blog at a later time.  Right now I have to go spend money.)

Although it may appear so, I also am not an Imelda Marcos.


"I do not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty."~Imelda Marcos

Having cleared that up, I want to show you another find.

 










I know shoes again!
These are my athletic shoes, although I would never think of 
 using them for any athletic event.
Except riding the stationary bike for two-and-a-half minutes at physical therapy.
A total of six times!
One does need to look sharp in order to heal properly.


I had the "Secret" going on with these shoes.
I had seen women with a similar style of Skechers last year.
I wanted them but not for the $59.00 the Mall was asking.
So I just 'wished' to find some and I did.
They were practically brand new so still look good eight months later.
And for only $5.00!

And just so you do not think all I buy is shoes, here is a household item.

Actually two-of-a-kind.  (No we are not in Vegas.)

I was watching ESPN for women--also known as HGTV and I saw these irons.
I had never heard of a Rowenta before and after I priced them I understood why.
I am a Target, $14.99 (cheaper on sale) Black and Decker iron owner, not a $50.00 plus gal.  (I would rather wear wrinkles than make them from worrying about spending so much money.)
So I did the "Secret" thing again and found these!
And the best part is, is that one was $5.00 and the other $6.00.
How could I refuse such a deal so I bought them both!


HAPPY SHOPPING!

"I am having an out of money experience."~Author Unknown