27 and Frugal

Reader, Dee recently asked how I went about finding my therapist. This is an excellent question because that was my excuse for not going to one for a long time.

As frugal as I might be, I do not price-shop when it comes to medical services and prefer personal recommendations. While it is acceptable to ask for my co-worker’s dentist, asking for their therapist is a bit awkward; that is if you even know they are going in the first place.

Unfortunately, therapy is a topic people rarely discuss, especially with those who are not close friends. So, where else should we turn, but to the Internet!

Therapist Personals

Thankfully, I have an amazing friend who shared the following resoruce with me: Psychology Today’s Find A Therapist. Put in your zipcode and what you would like your therapist to specialize in and welcome to the world of therapist personals.

Just like dating personals, Psychology Today’s therapist directory offers a bio and photo of each therapist along with their specializations, price range and treatment type. Once you picked one you think you will like, you can email them directly through the PT website.

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Since incomes are relative, my recaps are in percentages instead of dollar amounts.

Fixed Expenses

Once again, I went over my texting plan. This happens from time to time but still not often enough for me to up my plan to unlimited.

However, other utility bills were under budget this month, bringing my total fixed expenses under budget.

Total January Fixed Expenses: Budgeted – 63%; Actual – 62%

Variable Expenses

This was the first budget where I broke “entertainment” out into three separate categories: miscellaneous, clothing and entertainment.

I also made the new category “misc transportation”.

Creating these additional categories really helped me to gain a better idea of my spending, without over-complicating the budget.

By breaking “entertainment” out into other categories, it’s noticeable that I really don’t spend that much on actual entertainment at all.

I really over-budgeted that this month since I was not sure of my actual “entertainment” expenses. For February, I will adjust accordingly.

I did realize that I spend more on “misc” than I had thought, since I was previously including this into “entertainment.” I went over budget in this category, but not enough for a percentage change. I will increase my budget in this for February.

Total January Variable Expenses: Budgeted – 25%; Actual – 20%

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While the USAA and Chase mobile apps do allow you to deposit checks via your mobile phone, they also require you to have a bank account with them. This is not convenient for those of us who do not want to change banks.

Thankfully, PayPal came out with a mobile app that allows you to snap a photo of a check with your phone that is then deposited to your PayPal account. From there you can easily transfer the money into your regular bank account.

The downside is that this takes sometime. For the money to be accessible in PayPal, it can take up to 6 business days. Then the time it takes to transfer into your own bank account. However, for someone like me who never drives past the bank and always forgets to deposit checks, this is far more convenient than even ATM depositing.

Ready to change the way you deposit checks forever?

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A budget is a flexible financial document that provides a guide to keep you living at or below your means. Budgets are not meant to be fixed in stone and are more successful when they are not. Our circumstances change every few months or so and certainly every year. This is why it is important to make a new refreshed budget at the beginning of the year.

If you are looking for a budget that is simple yet gives you complete control, look no further:
Download Leslie’s 2011 Budget Excel Sheet

Monthly Worksheets

Take charge of your finances by manually tracking your expenses every month. Set aside 15 minutes once a week to go over your online bank/credit card statement, adding each expense to the excel sheet. This is also useful to check the accuracy of automatic withdrawals and to be aware of cashed checks.

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Last December, I made some life goals for 2010. Even though I was laid off in the beginning of the year and ended a long-term relationship at the end of the year, I still was able to complete a majority of them.

Let’s see how I do in 2011:

Financial Goals

Pay 10% of my monthly income as a student loan payment
Currently, my student loan payment (my only outstanding debt) makes up 6% of my income. If I continue at that rate, it will take me ten years to pay it off. If I increase that to 10%, it will take me five years. Hopefully by the following year, I can contribute even more.

Double my emergency fund
I will refocus and prioritize putting money into my emergency fund every month.

Track entertainment, clothing and misc expenses better
I have never quite specified what I consider “entertainment.” If I buy someone a birthday card, buy myself a new shirt, or bring wine to a friend’s house, I put all of that in my “entertainment” category even though it does not quite apply. Unfortunately, using such a broad category makes it difficult to track spending effectively. So, my 2011 budget will consist of a separate “clothing” and “misc” category. This is because I want to see just how much I actually spend on these items a month.

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A few months ago, I wrote about my father needing a new car and that he asked to borrow money so he could buy a new one. At that time, I agreed I could give him half of my emergency fund. Immediately I regretted that. I appreciate everyone’s advice and comments that were left on that post. Here is an update.

When I asked him about his savings account during our last phone conversation, he informed he did not have one. When I suggested he start one, he replied, “Any money I put in the bank the debt collectors will immediately take out.”

My dad keeps his savings in cash in his home to avoid debt collections. I had no idea that his financial situation was that dire.

We both looked at car prices and realized that even with our combined funds, we still could not afford a reliable car. I definitely do not want to waste money on an old car for him that will just be a money pit in a year.

We both decided that he will just drive his car only when necessary until we can both save extra cash to pool for a more reliable one.

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At the end of October, I lost my mind for a moment and voluntarily signed up for NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month.

It is free to sign up and will save you money in November because you will not have time to leave your computer!

Upon signing up, I agreed to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November.

And I did. 50,437 words to be exact.

Writer’s Block

It was much more difficult than I had thought it would be. There are a couple obstacles to face, the main one being ideas. With the time constraint, you cannot waste too many days dealing with writer’s block. From the beginning, make sure that your idea is strong and that you actually like it. You will be spending 30 days with these characters, make sure you like them.

Time Never Stops

Another obstacle is time. Ideally, if you write 1,600 words a day, you will finish on time. However, in the real world that is not practical and I definitely had to spend several Friday nights pumping out 4,000 words to catch back up.

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I have not had a Christmas tree in 11 years. Technically, all the trees before that were my family’s, since I was living at home at the time.

I have never had my own tree since living on my own.

For the past few years, I told myself that I wanted to have one, but when the time came, I could not justify the expense of a tree, ornaments, other decorations and lights along with the space to store everything. I let numerous Decembers pass, not wanting to spend the money on a tree.

This year, however, I decided was going to be the year.

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Dropbox is a free win/osx/linux program you install on multiple computers.

It offers you free (for basic service) storage space on their server that syncs all of your files automatically on every computer you have it installed on.

Simply set up an account and link each different computer install to your account.

Anytime a file is changed, it is automatically uploaded to their server and every Dropbox folder is synced at the same time.

When you first turn your computer on, dropbox will sync up all your files in the “My Dropbox” folder. When installed, it looks just like any other explorer/finder window and you can drag/drop files just as you would any other files. It is seamless to use.

You can also access all of your Dropbox files on their website in any web browser from any machine.

No, you do not have to install Dropbox on your friends computer to access your documents. Just log into your account on their website and magically all of your files appear to view or download.

There is even an iPhone app that provides you mobile access to all of your Dropbox files. No more usb sticks, no more emailing.

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Living a frugal lifestyle often leaves us with a “no spend” mentality for anything, especially when dealing with internal problems we think we can handle ourselves.

However, solving these internal problems can become a useful resource in our lives; which is what frugality is all about. Investing in yourself and spending your own money, means you will appreciate what you receive. 

Because You Really Are Worth It

Has there been something you wanted to do for yourself but are putting it off because it is “too expensive”? Would it make your life better in the long-term? Will you end up needing it in five or ten years anyway? How long have you been considering it?

If we can buy $100+ dresses, shoes, purses, tools, computer supplies, etc., why do we not even consider expensive services that will better our own lives? Although many of these services (therapy, gym) may not be noticeable right away to anyone but ourselves, that does not mean the money is wasted or the service is not worth it.

Budgets are Flexible For a Reason

While I have always dealt with family issues, I have pushed off going to therapy because of the high cost. I knew that it would be beneficial for me but I just could not justify $100/hour to talk to someone.

Then I thought back to a pair of shoes I bought recently, that was practically the price of a one hour session. My new netbook cost three sessions. My monthly train pass is the cost of three sessions as well.

After recently ending a relationship, I decided it was time to finally do something for myself that will have long-term benefits. With the encouragement of my friend Sarah, I adjusted my monthly budget and found I could comfortably afford therapy sessions.

This is what budgeting is for. Making adjustments to fit the important stuff in and taking the less important stuff out.

Unfortunately, I did have to cut into my monthly budgeted savings, but I still feel it is a justified cost. Investing $300/mo on myself now will mean less headaches later.

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Sex may be free, but safe sex has a price tag.

Condoms

If you are buying condoms, I suggest buying them in bulk on Amazon. If you are buying them to begin with, chances are you will use that amount before they expire.

If you live near a college, see if you can purchase them for a discounted price from their pharmacy.

Go to Planned Parenthood. They hand out condoms like candy on Halloween.

Birth Control

If you do not have insurance, go to Planned Parenthood for your birth control. The cost is determined on the type of birth control you use and your yearly income. It can be anywhere from $5-25. They also let you purchase more than one pill pack at a time, which is very convenient.

If you have insurance, ask for a generic prescription. My generic birth control is $10/pack. Some places offer their generic prescriptions for as little as $4.

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I love hosting even though it really is not that cost effective. Hosting a party at home is a sacrifice I make since I enjoy cooking, baking and getting my friends together. I like the environment of a home better than a bar. While it is cheaper than having dinner and drinks out, it is still costing me more to host than it does my friends for showing up. However, it is possible to throw a party on a budget.

Party Food

Food is the most expensive part of throwing a party. Here are some tips to control your food purchasing for the party:

• Make foods based on ingredients you already have at home. This allows you to try out new recipes and spend less on groceries.
• Don’t over buy. Trust me, people only complain when you run out of drinks! Also keep in mind that there will always be last minute cancellations.
• For movie nights, there is nothing cheaper than home-made microwave popcorn. One bag of popcorn kernels lasts a very long time and three bags of popcorn will cost you pennies!
• Home-made baked goods are another cheap option. Simple items like cookies, brownies or muffins are cheap and snackable.
• Buying whole celery and carrots is always cheaper than the pre-chopped ones. Mange your time by chopping & cleaning while your brownies are baking in the oven.

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Last year, in March, I took what was supposed to be a frugal trip to London, England. I found a flight for about $427, stayed at my friend’s flat, and did not do too many tourist activities.

Then I came home and unpacked.

Physical Signs of Bed Bugs

A few weeks later, I noticed my hand/fingers were itchy, red and blotchy. At first I thought it was a rash. I dismissed thoughts of them being bites as it was March in New Jersey; too cold for mosquitoes. I changed soaps, detergents, and went on a cleaning rampage. The red marks continued. In my search, I found some mention of bed bugs so I checked my pillows and mattress for the marks and, unfortunately, found signs of them.

Visible Signs of Bed Bugs

There were small black/brown dots on my pillow case that had points extending out at the sides (sort of like a 4 pointed star). There were also brown streaks and these dots on the bottom of my mattress. It was not all that noticeable at first, so be sure to look carefully.

Service Estimates

I looked up termination services online and in the phone book and called every single one for an estimate. It was a pain in the tush! For our three bedroom, two level townhouse where signs of the bed bugs were only in one room we were quoted as high as $800 & $743 for a whole house bombing!

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I have previously written that my father lives on a fixed income in Wyoming. I have also mentioned that he borrows money from me.

It’s A Slippery Slope

Perhaps, I started it all. Every month or so, I would send my father a phone card so he could stay in touch. The $30 or so a month was not too much of a burden for me to help out my father who has a limited income. When I visited him two years ago, I bought him some groceries and asked if he needed anything else while I was there. Now, I do not have that much disposable income myself, but I do have more than my father and know that it is my responsibility as a daughter to take care of my parents.

Then, earlier this year, his old beat-up car really started having problems and he asked to borrow $600. I use the word “borrow” as he did but I am not expecting the money back very soon (if at all). I sent him the money.

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There are so many cheap activities in the fall. Last weekend I went apple picking followed by the most beautiful, perfect trail run!

Getting outside for a run, walk, or hike is a great way to take advantage of fall weather and, best of all, it is free!

I am grateful for living in a beautiful part of New Jersey where I am centrally located between two parks and a gorgeous running trail along the Delaware & Raritan Canal.

As previously mentioned, I do not pay for a gym membership. I do not enjoy running most of the time but at least I am not paying for it. On gorgeous days, I would not want to be in a gym anyway!

Need a reason to work out for free, let me show you my running trail:

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