People! I am now officially a contributing member of society again. I know you we're all pretty worried about me living on the streets or having to sell off all my shoes. But all is well, I (finally) have another job!

And the first treat I'd like to spoil myself with are these bad boys!

(I know, I know. I WON'T. But I really really reallyreallyreally want them...)

Having a second job again means having the ability to put money aside and not living week to week (or day to day... o_o ) hellooo, could I avoid doing laundry just one more week in order to afford a cup of badly needed fancy coffee? Yes, these are the important decisions I make in my life. And yes, I can always go another week without clean clothes...as long as I have socks.

It means that these next few months I should have more money coming in that going out, rather than having just enough to pay my bills

. 

It means that, hopefully, my phone won't be sending me texts that my bank account is under a 3 digits.

And it means that my relationship can be equalized again. Because honestly, that poor kid feeds me, plays Driving Miss Tiffy, and makes sure I'm able to have a few cocktails on the reg... What a man... ;) 

In the meantime to avoid spending what little money I have, I've been drinking wine from Trader Joe's and baking donuts. SO.MANY.DONUTS! 

I was apparently wearing my "I can do anything" big girl pants the other week, when I agreed to cater a sweets table for a wedding. With 200 guests. GULP. 

On one hand, I'm more excited than a pig in mud! My first job to bake for people that aren't my friends and family! People that aren't obligated to 'Ooo' and 'Ahh' and make yummy noises. Wooo weeee!

On the other hand, what the frogs was I thinking? I'm an amateur baker with an ego at best. 

Anyway, the game plan is to put my head down and just be the donut lady. Easy peasy ;)

For your viewing pleasure!!

I'm ALIVEEEE (to the handful of people that read this and I don't talk to regularly..)

(I'm trying...every day I'm trying...)

It's been a month since I've been here! Oooo weeee!
I'm not being a great blogger and I am NOT being a great money saver. (In my defense, it is prettyyy tough to even think about saving money when practically every penny coming in is going out to totally awful, boring things like rent, bills, groceries, and a weekly bottle of wine...)

But here I am, letting you guys know that I'm alive...and Ba-ba-ba-broke.

Things I've run out of this month and REALLY don't feel like spending the coins to restock:
Sunscreen
Face Moisturizer
Mouthwash
Conditioner
Mascara
Nail polish remover (soon...)
Aluminum foil

And I'm scrapping the bottom of my face powder...bah!

I do have some frugal DIY projects in the works...just as soon as my fickle mind can freaking sort through my priorities for, like, a sec!
I'm trying not to abandon this Spending Fast completely...but I think I warned you about my lack of commitment to...pretty much everything.

Day 109: I should probably cancel my Nordstrom card now.

Yesterday, my dear frugal manfriend and I had a very productive day. We both had the day off work, so we went to the bank, gave his apartment a SERIOUS cleaning, he did all his laundry, and we went grocery shopping. (AND I was spoiled with homemade lunch and dinner...what?!)

Walking through the parking lot of the grocery store, I was having yet another meltdown about my life falling apart and how I'm not making enough money and...basically, being a brat.

He just smiles at me and says, "Don't worry about it, babe. You'll be fine. We're an ALDI family now!"

To which I whined, "But I want to be a Nordstrom family again!"

Sigh...I'm trying, but at least one of us has a sense of humor about all this.

Day 104

In an effort to not go to the grocery store before the fridge was truly bare, I ate a bowl of mush for dinner.

The meal began sensibly enough. I sauteed the last few scallops in the freezer with the last of the edible veggies in the fridge. 

Then I added sriracha. Because, duh.

Then I added cheese. Because doesn't cheese make everything better...?

Um...nope. Apparently, not.

What resulted was chewy scallops covered in rubbery mozzarella sitting in a bed of overcooked vegetables.

I don't have any pictures...to spare your gag reflex. 

You're welcome.

Day 99: Spring Cleaning

Some people despise spring cleaning, but I LOVE it. There's something about just getting rid of crap that feels very liberating.

This year I've been trying to keep a pretty tight ship due to lack of storage space in my home, so my cleaning and organizing has not been quite as extensive this season. 

In any case, I do have a list that I follow during the week or two it'll take me to get it done. The list is really just so I have something to scratch off when I complete a task. It makes me feel accomplished ...even if I'm just checking off "Wake Up and Brush Teeth."

1. Collect cleaning supplies

Baking soda // Vinegar // Bleach // Multi surface spray // Rags // Trash bags // Sponges

I'll be the first to say I don't live a very "Green" lifestyle...and my cleaning supplies are no different. To be more cost effective I usually pick up items at the Dollar Store. 

2. Clean out dresser

I like to tackle the area that I feel like will make the biggest impact first. I'd say my clothes/shoes/accessories make up about 60% of my belongings. 

I make a pile for donations, a pile of things to toss, and a pile of things to mend. I've already been through my drawers a few times this past year, so I there wasn't anything new to add to my Because I Shop too Much closet.

It felt GREAT throwing away a half dozen t-shirts from the bar I worked at this past year. Seriously...out with the old!

3. Go through delicates

I throw away any socks without a mate (if all my laundry is done...) and all underwear that I would dub "last resort" undies. Plus any bra that I wore during college. Because I'm 27 and that means it's probably been around the block a time or 2.

4. Jewelry

Does anyone else have a hard time parting with old jewelry? Generally, I keep all of my regularly worn items up front and center. But when it's time to get rid of things, suddenly I get sentimental!
The long forgotten boxes in back full of costume jewelry from grandma or gifts from old boyfriends (ahem, a BUNNYfly necklace...Yep. It's butterfly wings with a bunny where the body should be. And it's as horrific as it sounds.)

5. The Closet

I think it's easiest to just empty out EVERYTHING and start fresh. My apartment looks like an hurricane hit it, but I can see everything when it's out!

Color coordinating is my jam. After I try everything on, I hang all the dresses I'm keeping. From there all my black and grey tops (because that's what I own the most of...so those items stay up front!) Some years I've done it by the colors of the rainbow, other years I sort it by warm and cool colors. I like organizing, but I'm no good at consistency!

I've been working on having a cohesive closet for years. One year I bought several clear plastic boxes to store my shoes. I've been swapping out all my plastic hangers for black fancy no-slip hangers. And I've been finding great hooks and hangers for all my scarfs!




At this point, I'm most likely sitting in the center of my old photo albums, wearing an old prom dress, a wig from a past costume party, and have had a few too many glasses of cheap wine. 

Day 93

Today I cancelled my internet service. I usually use it at work or on my phone, so it was kind of a waste of money.  Plus, it rarely worked anyway and now I'm saving myself $52.55 a month. 

Internet access is not necessary. Internet access is not necessary. Internet access is not necessary.

Until I want to be blogging...or updating my Etsy...or catching up on A Beautiful Mess in the middle of the night... 

but we'll cross that bridge when we get there :)

For those of you that DO have the internet, watch this video over and over. And over and over. 

I LOVE LDR.

Then go visit this cutie's blog! She's a sweet and sassy music reviewer who also happens to enjoy Lana Del Rey. She's The Original D-Rose !

Month 3: Complete

 

this little mama is my favorite face and is wearing my favorite new headband in the shop!

Ok, so this month I save ZERO dollars. I was expecting it. Truthfully, I stopped tracking my money activity after my Vegas trip...
I'm sure I've actually spent more than I brought in this month. There's was a tiny bit of extra income with a couple sales from my Etsy shop and a Save the Date photo shoot, but nothing substantial.

Oddly, I don't feel as defeated as I probably should. I realize that I'm trying to correct bad spending habits that have been all I've known for 27 years!

Anyway, tomorrow is another day and begins another month!

Hope everyone is having a Hoppy Easter and a great Spring!