Using this forum as a means of improving my life

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 9

More gas today - looking forward to a shorter commute (coming in a month or so!) Had to purchase a piece of equipment for work, obviously reimbursable. Also picked up some face wash that I've been meaning to pick up for some time now (categorizing under Groceries)


$32.30 - Gas
$21.38 - Reimbursable
$12.43 - Groceries

DAY 9: $66.11

Total after 9 Days: $289.58

$23.36 - Unnecessary (8%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (35%)
$43.76 - Groceries (15%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (19%)
$66.84 - Gas (23%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Doing a great job...
However, I would take a HARD look at the bachelor party. The amount for a one day party for your friend is about as much as you have spent all week.
Any possibility of hanging out with them for a while, but politely declining on the game and hitting the town? That would probably save you a lot of money.

Just a thought....

Woodie - that's definitely something I should think about. We'll see - I might sacrifice in other areas, do something extra to get a few bucks (I've donated plasma here and there - that's a potential $55 weekly) - in order to still go.

Thanks for the suggestion!!

[wanttogetbetter10]

I'd like to get some feedback from you folks...

I have donated plasma before - and if I go twice in a week - it comes out to $55 per week. It probably takes on average 3 hours to donate once when it's all said and done, considering the drive, wait, and donation.

Because I'm on a mission to pay off debt - it's something I began doing. But, every time I do it - I feel like I'm not making the best use of my time. For example, I could be spending that time further developing my blog - Personal Development : Inspirational Life-Hacks. Or, I could invest that time on my job, or my start-up company, etc.

I think you see what I'm getting at - if I think bigger, think broader, I could be using my time to build something that has a much larger payoff than $55/week or $9/hr assuming a 3hr time investment.

Apologies for rambling - but it's one of those things I go back and forth on. The debt kills me, but I also am a dreamer and have high ambitions.

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 10

As I mentioned before - I'm including all outgoing cash in this experiment / mission. So that includes payments for monthly expenses, debt payments, etc.


$44.80 - Cable / Internet Bill
$23.69 - Electric Bill
$88.33 - Auto Insurance

DAY 10: $156.82

Total after 10 Days: $446.40

$23.36 - Unnecessary (5%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (22%)
$43.76 - Groceries (10%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (13%)
$66.84 - Gas (15%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (35%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 11

Weekends are still very much a weakness - what was meant to be just one or two beers turned into more than that and I spent way more than I planned on. Not good - and I really felt guilty about it the next day. I suppose that's a good thing, because I used to do that on a regular basis.


$39.75 - Going Out

DAY 11: $39.75

Total after 11 Days: $486.15

$63.11 - Unnecessary (13%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (20%)
$43.76 - Groceries (9%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (12%)
$66.84 - Gas (14%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (32%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 12

I like it more and more when I can just stick a zero down for the day.

DAY 12: $0

Total after 12 Days: $486.15

$63.11 - Unnecessary (13%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (20%)
$43.76 - Groceries (9%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (12%)
$66.84 - Gas (14%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (32%)

[woodie96]

a person cant get rid of all of their vices at once.....what would we do for fun then....
just kidding....
keep up the good work....

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 13

Rent check was processed today - also had to fill up on gas again due to a little 150 mile trip yesterday to see family. Still feeling very good about staying on top of tracking my spending for almost two weeks now. Thank you all for the encouragement.

$412.50 - Rent
$35.39 - Gas

DAY 13: $447.86

Total after 13 Days: $934.01

$63.11 - Unnecessary (7%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (11%)
$43.76 - Groceries (5%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (6%)
$102.23 - Gas (11%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (16%)
$412.50 - Rent (44%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 14

My girlfriend is out of town for 5 days - so we opted for some coffee instead of sushi - so pretty happy with spending $5 instead of 30 or 40. Gotta keep on pushing...

$5.40 - Starbucks

DAY 14: $5.40

Total after 14 Days: $939.41

$68.51 - Unnecessary (7%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (11%)
$43.76 - Groceries (5%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (6%)
$102.23 - Gas (11%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (16%)
$412.50 - Rent (44%)

[Ima saver]

You are doing great!

[wanttogetbetter10]

You are doing great!

Thanks a lot!! This forum has really kept me going and motivated.

Day 15

Haven't bought work clothes for a LONG time - so I checked out the Goodwill just down the street from my condo. Found a nice Express shirt for $3.95! Only could find one though. Also, staying up late tonight to work on my start company's business plan (patent pending on a product - exciting!) - so I bought a coffee to keep me going for 3 or 4 hours.

$3.95 - Goodwill
$2.10 - Coffee

DAY 15: $6.05

Total after 15 Days: $945.46

$74.56 - Unnecessary (8%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable (11%)
$43.76 - Groceries (5%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (6%)
$102.23 - Gas (11%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (15%)
$412.50 - Rent (44%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 16

So the girlfriend and I are moving - rent will be $100 more per month but I will be knocking down my commute by more than 60 miles per day. So it should at least be a wash. Had to pay that security deposit though. I also paid a personal debt in the amount of $670.50.

$425 - Security Deposit (Rent)
$670.50 - Debt Payment

DAY 16: $1095.50

Total after 15 Days: $2,040.96

$74.56 - Unnecessary (4%)
$99.62 - Reimbursable(4%)
$43.76 - Groceries (2%)
$56.00 - Family / Friends (3%)
$102.23 - Gas (5%)
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance (8%)
$837.50 - Rent (41%)
$670.50 - Debt Payment (33%)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 17

This begins documenting a rough weekend in the spending department.

$26.91 - Gas
$53.25 - Clothes
$1.69 - Reimbursable

DAY 17: $81.85

Total after 17 Days: $2,122.81

$74.56 - Unnecessary
$101.31 - Reimbursable
$43.76 - Groceries
$56.00 - Family / Friends
$129.14 - Gas
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance
$837.50 - Rent
$670.50 - Debt Payment
$53.25 - Clothes

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 18

This begins documenting a rough weekend in the spending department...(ctd.)

$10.50 - Unnecessary


DAY 18: $10.50

Total after 18 Days: $2,133.21

$85.06 - Unnecessary
$101.31 - Reimbursable
$43.76 - Groceries
$56.00 - Family / Friends
$129.14 - Gas
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance
$837.50 - Rent
$670.50 - Debt Payment
$53.25 - Clothes

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 19

This begins documenting a rough weekend in the spending department...(ctd.)

$144.16 - Friend's Bachelor Party


DAY 19: $144.16

Total after 19 Days: $2,277.37

$85.06 - Unnecessary
$101.31 - Reimbursable
$43.76 - Groceries
$200.16 - Family / Friends
$129.14 - Gas
$156.82 - Monthly Utilities / Insurance
$837.50 - Rent
$670.50 - Debt Payment
$53.25 - Clothes