Pink Floyd Crooned About It. All I Know Is I Need It. Moneyyyy. August 9, 2007

I’ve always been bad about budgeting. In fact, I’ve never been able to stick to any budget that I’ve created. I’m not frugal. I’m too generous with my money. I like nice things way too much. I like eating out. I’m a walking talking consumer extradonaire and a marketer’s dream.

Well, it’s time to change my ways.

For the next few months (let’s say at least til the end of the year- so, that’s 4 months), I want to be able to save half of my monthly paycheck. My rent is about 25% of my monthly pay- which leaves me with about 25% to live on.

I think it’ll be hard but doable. That means making some sacrifices- something else that I’m not very good at. That 25% “allowance” money is going to have to cover my groceries, monthly metrocard, entertainment, etc.

So, I guess, for the next few months- I’m going to try to bring my lunch to work. I’m going to try to cook dinner at home as much as possible from Mon – Fri. Any dining out should really only take place on the weekend. Egads.

I am going to avoid stores! Or somehow build up my willpower. I need some fall/winter basics – but that’s it. Have to make a list and stick to it!

I don’t want to deny myself too much because- well, because I DON’T want to. Life is meant to be enjoyed… I just have to do it more responsibly.

Somehow in the next few months that 25% allowance is also going to have help me cover my half of a new imac- a small engagement party I’m throwing for one of my best friends, a camping trip- oh, and we’re making dinner for one of the bf’s best buds and his wife this weekend. Not to mention next week’s trip to Cape May. Raw roh, Shaggy!

I am in desperate need of a new bikini for the trip. Why does such small scraps of fabric cost sooo much? Most of the stores only have odds and ends of swim wear. I couldn’t find any matching tops and bottoms at a bargain price at any of the usual stores.

So, it’s either shell out some big bucks for a bikini or somehow lose some weight to fit in the ones I already have. They’re a little too snug.

Guess who’s going to be dieting and working out like mad in the next week?

How the hell am I going to throw a nice engagement party on a budget?! I’m not crafty!

I need to figure out how to earn some extra dollars!

Nike Half-Marathon August 6, 2007

The bf and a friend ran in the Nike Half Marathon today. I dragged myself out of bed at 7 am to hopefully get a glimpse of them at the last cheering point. It was a weird experience. I’m not usually a sentimental person- but seeing the marathoners pass and hearing the sideline cheerers- made me a little teary eyed. I mean, it’s a huge feat – to run 13 miles?! All these people pushing their bodies to go, go, go!

I can’t do it. Well, not yet. I was inspired by all the runners today. And esp. by the beau. He’s crazy though- he only started training in the past three weeks. But he did awesome.

After that I took the marathoners out for a breakfast for champions at Elvie’s. Elvie’s serves Filipino fare. I had longanisa (yummy sausage), fruit salad (a fruit ambrosia), pancit (rice noodles) and pork sinagog (a vinegary soup). It was all pretty good. The pancit was a little flavorless but usually it’s pretty tasty. I could have probably flavored it up a bit with hot sauce but I was super lazy today. Reaching across the table to grab the hot sauce would have expended too much energy.

I was hoping to have some of their bbq’d chicken wings and lumpia shanghai (eggrolls!) but they weren’t ready yet.

I know why the bf is exhausted but why am I so tired? I must have sympathetic marathoner’s fatigue.

Elvie’s turo-turo
214 1st Ave, New York 10009
Btwn 12th & 13th St