Closet Confessions - Part 2 and I think you would call this progress

This sweater was....well...where do I start?!  I have this eccentricity, I buy "ugly sweaters."  I think they are cute, but I stand alone there.  When it comes to sweaters I have gone through many phases: the printed sweater phase, the "this belonged to my father" sweater phase, the "boyfriend" sweater phase, and the "utility over ascetics" sweater phase.  Though I greatly regret a few of those, all sweaters have their place in my closet!

This brings me to this beauty.  The photo is not so much me...I suppose you can tell by the blue faced canvas beauty.  I have come to the realization of a truth - it is really hard to do a self-directed photo shoot without a tripod!  I did attempt a leaning tower of Potter where I stacked all 7 volumes of Harry Potter and placed my precious Canon precariously teetering at the apex.  This frightened me, and Max tried to eat my camera strap, so no photos with me for a bit.

I bought this with my mom, she tried it on first, and she looked fabulous (as she does in everything)!  I have hips and all-in-all a very different physique.  This sweater is not my best friend!  Inexpensive, yes!  Designer, strangely enough yes - Escada...but still being forged by the gods of fashion does not make a garment possess magical powers.  This sweater with its message of friendship overcoming all odds (Yes, I just applied that to a friendship with a cat and dog - very reminiscent of Milo and Otis) is just an indoor sweater now.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that this is the back!

 
As far as the ebay count...total damage totals 1 5 0...
But I was finally able to deposit my paycheck so at least the paypal cleared!  And I am now the proud owner of a beautiful Marc Jacobs bag that makes me feel like a career woman/a woman with a job that pays enough to be considered a career.

On a more positive note, progress!

As I said before, I was thankful that the weekend came primarily because I was able to go to Macy's.  I went on the pretext of returning a pair of pants that I knew I would never wear.  I bought a pair of leather pants thinking that I would be oh so fashionable, but when I got home realized that instead of fashionable they screamed biker chick.  So I did return the pants (YAY!) but then fell in love with a leather jacket. 

Let me just paint the picture for you:
It is one and you, incredibly helpful soon to be daughter in law, take your soon to be mother in law to run errands.  As you are fending for yourself while she explores the Ralph Lauren section of you lock eyes with it: a beautiful leather jacket.  I came to know him as Armani and he was beautiful!  The perfect mix of leather and cotton - exuding the perfect amount of tough girl with a softer side.  As I preyed for the scanner to reveal a radical price drop to 10% of initial value, I was broken hearted to discover that the price remained unchanged at 400.  As I approached the FMIL (Future mother in law) she tried to play the devil's advocate and talk me out of it, but I soon drafted her to team purchase.  I did my best to work my mystical jew discount powers but to no avail.  I was close, why with the return it almost made the jacket affordable!  But alas, I put it down and walked away!  So, yay me :)  PROGRESS      

Closet Confessions - Part 1

Over the weekend I actually went through the vast expanses of clothing and shoes which is collectively known as my closet and came up with some things that I believe to be completely questionable purchases.

I am new to the whole taking photos of myself thing, so forgive the awkward pose.

This is actually like a corset...but instead of channeling burlesque I just get Pocahontas.  When I bought it I knew that it would become an odd niche item that sat in the back of my closet.  The internal dialog with the voice of reason in my head probably went a little something like this:
  Me - Should I get this?
  Voice of Reason - No, you will never wear this!
  Me - Not true, I so will!  Just look at the craftsmanship, name a place I could not wear this!
  VOR - Ummmm...Anywhere but the bedroom would probably be questionable downright inappropriate.
  Me - Skrew you, im getting it!

This is the same conversation that I have again and again; though, let me clarify that this conversation never actually occurs outside of the realm of my mind.  No thoughts are vocalized unless another human being is around me. 

So, that is a positive!  I was rational about it, but I still did succumb to the desire to swipe my card.  In any case,  at least I am set for this year's halloween :)... so if I think about it in that way...this was a real money saver!   

More closet confessions to come soon!

On another note, I did not win the majority of my ebay auctions (thank you Oprah, I knew you would not let me down!!!).

I definitely think you are totally right  readers reader that I should get a password.  That would be the logically thing to do....





But then I would not be able to ebay and I would wither and die like a house plant at a frat house. 

New spending is as follows:

$ 10 - father's day (I know what you are thinking but no I did not just go super cheap, my parents just had a lot of children thus my portion was minuscule and I cooked)
$ 35 - Sephora - - Father's day present for myself ;)
$ 10 - lunch and coffee break dinero - also bought a coffee for my office husband
$ 25 - gas :(

Add that to the ten from before and I think I am in good shape....until I pay for the things I won on ebay...but why think about today what one knows will not post until tomorrow!

So dangerously close to an overdose!

I feel dizzy, lightheaded, have the chills and hot flashes.  No, I am not referring to any sort of drug induced state...its a bad case of the ebay  consorting with the devil  the ebay.  It has pulled me in with its exciting countdown and the promise of beautiful, coveted things on the cheap/not so cheap/frighteningly high for my bidget. 

I bid a bit too much and really I am preying that people bid on the things that I did...

It is too dangerous to leave me alone with any of the following items: keys (this enables me to access anywhere in the LA area), a phone (it is my direct line to ebay) or a computer.  There are too many ways to get into trouble!!!

I think I need to take a few Aspirin and sleep it off...here is hoping that the ebay will be out of my system in the morning!!!

I was doing so well before the clock struck midnight and my man went to bed.  I had spent all day at home studying math and baking and spent a total of zero dollars.  I have no clue what happened; however I have narrowed it down to two possibilities:  I was either abducted by aliens with a penchant for online shopping or I entered into a carb-induced temporary loss of consciousness and suddenly "awoke" an hour and a half later...Either banana bread or aliens is to blame, in which case I have adhered perfectly to my challenge.  (Yes, I am a sane person and realize that neither instance is likely...but it is late and I think appropriate in the wee morning hours to allow oneself to indulge in the irrational)

Update to come as to whether I go over budget by Sunday and have to beg for money on the street!

Step one - Check!

I did it!  I actually went and requested my credit report.  Though I had a feeling this was going to be an ominous task, it was so easy I think my dog could have done it ;)

For those trying to get out of debt, here is how you do it:

1. Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com
2. Type in requested information
3. Choose from 3 credit report agencies (one to all).  In the interest of ensuring some form of inter-rater reliability I chose to get two reports.  You get one free report a year, or is it two? Not sure, but either way, I left one unused as a safeguard in case something should happen within a year that would require me to get a credit report.
4. Then follow the incredibly easy process of verifying your identity based on their records.

You IMMEDIATELY get access to your credit history and go from there.  At this point you will either break out in tears or be delighted at what it says.  I have not looked for fear that the former will be the case, opting to save the results as a pdf for later viewing...like when I have had a bottle of something bubbly and alcoholic!

Where do I go from here?

Well, the answer according to the interweb is that I cancel unnecessary cards (or just destroy the tangible version...silly internet assuming that people do not memorize credit card numbers) and consolidate to the lowest interest card.  It breaks my heart to think of my precious hello kitty card getting defiled by some lousy pair of scissors...but it must be done.  That, or perhaps something else....I must ruminate on this and decide if the death of certain cards is an unavoidable casualty.

Closet Confessions

You know that things that AA makes people do...I think it is called taking inventory...anyways....I will be doing my own version this weekend.  In honor of my deeply entrenched affinity for procrastination (I should be studying for the GRE right now...but instead im blog-lusting and cuddling with my adorable pooch Max) I will be utilizing my weekend for a less studious project.  I am going to pick five pieces from my closet that have proved to be just that, a piece that resides in my closet.  Well, to be fair, closet, bedroom, living room, etc. because I have so much that there is no demarcation for where my "closet" ends and the living spaces of my apartment begin.  This should be interesting.


P.S. This man is the love of my life ;)

Thank God it's Friday!!!

I say that because Macy's is going to have a super sale this weekend I have, for all intense and purposes, made it through day two.  I have only spent ten dollars, five of which selflessly went towards a father's day card. 



I had it again, that urge to shop.  I grappled with my desire as I weaved through the traffic ridden streets of LA, losing a little more of my sanity each time an elderly person passed me...them walking and me driving?!?!?!   Only in LA is that normal.  As I passed my normal haunts, I turned on the turn signal.  The sound of the blinker akin to the beating heart in that Poe-m that is so famous.  As I pulled over it was as if the world wanted me to succeed on my quest for financial independence.  I look up and see that because of the lovely and omnipresent LA traffic, the street, and thus the available parking, becomes an anti-gridlock zone at some point.  My first attempt thwarted, I head towards the gym.  Yep, I work out occasionally!  Anyways, I keep driving at a crawl and somehow make it to my destination.  Unfortunately, my gym has an all-too conveniently located boutique inside...so I went in.  I didn't do this for myself, oh no, again selfless me did this because I felt sorry for the shop girl.  She looked so lonely, as if no one had come into the store all day!  So I went in and shopped.  As I gather up my loot - a purse, a shirt, and a third pair of the same workout pants (may I add the only workout pants I have ever liked) and head for the register.  This is where technology swooped in and saved the day.  Oh blackberry, how I do love you...sometimes!  It turns out that my earlier "shopping spree" had depleted the funds in my checking account so much so that my debit card balance was dangerously close to zero.  Thank you BofA for letting my know...but why did the pants have to be punished :( .  So no purchases to add to the wopping ten dollars that put me over the edge.  I am proud of me!  Yay me!

As I headed home, I felt something quite delightful, the sense of accomplishment that comes from saying no to something - a foreign state for me, but nonetheless delightful.  I could have pulled out the trusty credit card, but I made a vow, I issued a challenge, and I am going to try my best to see it through!

In case you are wondering, this is me :)  I will post photos soon.

I have been reading a lot of literature articles yahoo finance articles about how to get out of debt; therefore, tonight I shall apply for a credit report.  This is a great idea considering that I have lost track of the number of credit cards in my name.........   Financially competent people should/do apparently do this on a somewhat routine basis...

So, we shall see!  This is day two and even now as I type away I have ebay open in the very next tab and a gigantic mall two easily traversed blocks away.  Oprah give me strength!

Day One: The Day of Reckoning

I feel like I was tricked at a young age.  I blame Monopoly, that's right, I said (wrote) Monopoly.  Sure it is a fun game, purchasing properties and acting like a real estate tycoon.  Fun, that is until it instills poor values.  It teaches overspending.  When you run out of money, you and your fancy top-hat game piece can go right to the bank and borrow some cash.  Stupid monopoly!  It ruined me!!!!   

Have you ever had one of those moments when some previously elusive aspect of your life suddenly becomes clear?  Well, today I had an epiphany.  Before, I used to laugh off the countless comments about my "shopping addiction."  As I received the fifth box this week from Ebay, I had to admit it to myself -- I have a problem.   It started out harmless enough...a shirt here, a pair of boots (or five) there.  Perhaps this would be okay, if my bank account balance was... shall we just say positive.  Suddenly, I think it has taken a turn for the worst.  Rather than succumb to the ever spiraling addiction, to the firm hold that shopping has on my heart and soul, I am embarking on a journey.  I am going to challenge myself (literally) and in the process get out of debt before the bill collector comes knocking on my door.

Why a challenge you ask?  Because I need a modicum of accountability.  I need something concrete to remind myself that, contrary to what I have been telling myself(what harm has paper ever done (other than kicking ass against rock and that terrible cutting problem)?), the paper statement that comes every month is a REAL concern.

I am going to give myself a few rules:

1.  I have never believed in jumping in feet first...because why just jump in the pool if you don't know the temperature?  You have to dip your feet in before you take that leap.  Instead of going cold turkey and probably making a huge addition to my credit card balance, I will start by adhering to a budget.  Currently the budget is...too high...embarassingly high considering what I make a month.  But that is all over now, lets just forget about the past and live in the present!  The new, and might I add first ever budget will be four hundred dollars a month.  That's right - four hundred dollars, one thousand six hundred quarters, or a small person's weight in pennies.  And we are not talking just clothes and shoes, oh no!  This needs to be the all-inclusive budget.  This is the magazines, shoes, drinks, and generally anything that catches my attention out of the corner of my eye budget.  Four hundred a month to spend on things that do not have a creditor associated with delinquency on one's payment.

2.  With the leftovers do two things: (a) Take 3/4 to pay off various debts and (b) put the remaining 1/4 and deposit these funds in a ... that thing I have not had for years ... what's it called again ... wish I already had one ... oh yeah!  A SAVINGS ACCOUNT!  We shall see if this happens.  This may not be feasible, but if you are going to dream, why not dream big!!

3.  Perhaps seek some sort of counseling.  I like the sound of joining the DA more so for the acronym than what it actually is... I suppose it will be okay to start this journey with a simple admission: This is going to be difficult facing my demons.

That is it for now.  Simple enough, right?  Spend less, save more, treat the underlying cause while simultaneously addressing the symptoms.


This is day one of my shopaholic intervention -