August 2009 Spending

8/3/09 $8.57 Thai Time II ($53.57 minus $45 cash the others gave me) with coworkers
8/3/09 $5.93 groceries at Fresh & Easy
8/5/09 $10 lunch at Sushiya with John and random NP
8/6/09 $20 went to Red Lobster with Joe
8/8/09 $19.81 groceries at Costco
8/8/09 $4.44 grilled chicken salad at Costco
8/9/09 $9.49 groceries at Fresh & Easy
8/9/09 $1.00 gas at Arco
8/10/09 $7.49 lunch at Pho Cali with Alan, Zuzana, Nancy, Alyson
8/11/09 $3.26 chili dogs at Carl’s Jr. with Eric, Cassie
8/11/09 $2.00 gas at Arco
8/11/09 $31.94 motorcycle gloves so I can take safety class
8/12/09 $6.47 lunch at cafeteria with John
8/12/09 $4.22 dinner at Arby’s
8/14/09 $10 lunch for Danah and I at the PLN cafeteria
8/15/09 $16.61 dinner at Sushiya
8/15/09 $3 tip for the fire performers
8/15/09 $1.99 snicker ice cream bar at 7-Eleven
8/16/09 $10 lunch with Brent, Morin, and Jen at a Mexican restaurant
8/17-20/09 $20 spent on the USS Vandegrift on snacks, ship’s hat and PT shorts
8/21/09 $3.77 water and oatmeal at Fresh & Easy
8/21/09 $5.10 california burrito at Hector’s Taco Shop for lunch
8/21/09 $11.58 groceries at Fresh & Easy
8/23/09 $15 dinner at Golden State Seafood with Brent
8/24/09 $2 gas at Arco
8/25/09 $9.38 lunch at Sizzler’s ($2 tip included)
8/25/09 $18 lunch at Venetian and gift for Adrian’s wedding
8/25/09 $11.29 grocierse at Fresh & Easy
8/25/09 $0.99 cherry jam at Fresh & Easy
8/25/09 $7.82 Steel Kettle 12-pack at Fresh & Easy
8/31/09 $4.81 groceries at Fresh & Easy
8/31/09 $9.81 water at Fresh & Easy

Total: $295.77

Verdict: Epic win, pretty straightforward

July 2009 Spending

7/1/09 $7.73 footlong Tuscan chicken with avocado at Subway with Eric and Cassie for lunch
7/2/09 $11 dinner with Brent at the Venetian
7/3/09 $16.22 groceries at Fresh & Easy
7/5/09 $11.49 groceries at Ralph’s ($16.49-$5 for Rheta’s cake)
7/7/09 $2.18 water at Fresh & Easy
7/10/09 $4.62 breakfast burrito at the SPAWAR cafeteria
7/12/09 $5 donation to Emy’s blood bank walk
7/15/09 $20 to get oil changed and lock fixed on Scooter
7/16/09 $13.70 lunch at Sushiya
7/16/09 $10.37 bike helmet and patch kits for bike at store with Joe
7/16/09 $40.45 fan, Smirnoff, bike pump, drink for Brent at North Island
7/16/09 $11.35 beef jerky, pierogies and bread with Joe
7/17/09 $7 lunch at Antique Thai with Alan and Brent
7/17/09 $18.04 groceries at Fresh & Easy
7/19/09 $14 to Andy for dinner
7/19/09 $3 for parking split with Brent
7/20/09 $5.44 carne asada burrito at Santana’s
7/21/09 $541 for fillings and teath cleaning at Dr. Maroon’s (got ripped off)
7/21/09 $2.37 jr bacon and nuggets at Wendy’s for lunch
7/22/09 $1.73 drink for a free burrito at Baja Fresh
7/23/09 $2 gas at Arco
7/23/09 $5.44 carne asada burrito at Santana’s
7/23/09 $1.09 snack at Jack in the Box
7/24/09 $11.75 lunch at Thai Time with Brent
7/24/09 $22 lunch at Arrivederci with Brent
7/25/09 $8.65 pad thai entree at Thai Time
7/27/09 $8.57 pad thai at Thai Time with Kurt and Eric
7/27/09 $4.81 groceries at Fresh & Easy
7/28/09 $13 lunch at Sushiya with John
7/28/09 $3 energy drink at Old Town
7/29/09 $1.36 fries from lunch
7/29/09 $1.25 SBUX fracpp
7/27/09 $13.79 groceries at Fresh & Easy
7/30/09 $6.95 lunch at cafeteria with NPs
7/31/09 $16.69 lunch for Kat & I at Lolita’s
7/31/09 $8.45 groceries at Ranch 99

Total:  $875.49
Total without the dental:  $334.49

Verdict: Epic fail. I shouldn’t have gotten ripped off by the dental scam but I did. Thus, the month was a disaster instead of a big win.

June Spending 2009

6/1/09 $5.94 groceries at Fresh & Easy
6/2/09 $1 fee to USPS to change address
6/2/09 $25 lunch + tip at Island Prime with Jerry, Matt and some girls
6/2/09 $5.98 bonsai burrito at Wahoo’s with Melissa and Jimmy
6/2/09 $4.30 venti green tea frappacino at SBUX
6/4/09 $8.58 groceries at Fresh & Easy
6/4/09 $10 lunch at South Beach Bar and Grill with Joe, Jerry, Matt and Sharon
6/5/09 $19.52 fill up Brent’s gas tank
6/5/09 $7 Sushiya (Brent covered the rest)
6/5/09 $5 owe Brent for Costco rotisserie chicken haven’t paid him yet
6/5/09 $6 coaster with Melissa from Old Town to Carlsbad
6/5/09 $6 tip for haircut at Sport Clips
6/5/09 $5 to Melissa for the cab
6/6/09 $4.34 meat thermometer at Le Gourmet Chef
6/6/09 $8.68 lunch with Melissa at San Sai Japanese Grill & Sushi
6/6/09 $4.75 white chocolate raspberry drink at Godiva
6/6/09 $44.55 socks and a polo shirt at Adidas outlet
6/6/09 $1.50 premium gasoline at Arco
6/7/09 $13.32 dinner for Brent and I from Roberto’s Tacos
6/8/09 $2.78 groceries at Fresh & Easy
6/9/09 $6.89 groceries at Fresh & Easy
6/10/09 $12.75 buffet + tip at Harbor Inn for Tony’s farewell lunch
6/11/09 $18.12 lunch date at Antique Thai for Sharon & I
6/11/09 $18.88 andes bags, toblerone and SBUX doubleshots at Target
6/12/09 $21.87 beers and pie for Andy’s party (Melissa fan)
6/12/09 $77 donation to Crohns and Colitus for Eliza
6/13/09 $17.05 lunch at Thai Time 2 ($29.05 – $10 Melissa – $2 Brent)
6/14/09 $12.78 dinner with Brent at Lolita’s watching Lakers win
6/14/09 $1.92 drink at Lolita’s
6/15/09 $11.97 wild salmon and other ingredients for dinner with Sharon
6/16/09 $5.08 water and beef jerky at Fresh & Easy
6/16/09 $11 for ticket to Del Mar fair ($33 but Brent and Zuzana paid me)
6/16/09 $10.11 dinner for Sharon and I at Lolita’s
6/18/09 $9 lunch with Zuzana, Nancy, Alan, Matt at Sushiya
6/18/09 $2 gas at Arco for scooter
6/18/09 $1.85 double espresso at SBUX
6/18/09 $3.39 triple espresso at Filter Coffee House for meetup group
6/20/09 $10 light dinner with Brent, Melissa, Zuzana at Sushiya
6/20/09 $3 parking
6/20/09 $3.75 deep fried Snicker bars
6/20/09 $6.50 giant polish sausage corn dog
6/20/09 $2.75 quarters game won a prize
6/20/09 $3 tickets for ferris wheel
6/20/09 $3 funnel cake split with Brent and Melissa
6/20/09 $11 split a Sham Wow set with Brent
6/20/09 $3 tickets for Melissa, Zuzana and I to see Hercules the giant horse
6/24/09 $4 water from Fresh & Easy
6/24/09 $5.20 lasagnas at Fresh & Easy
6/24/09 $6.50 lasagnas at Fresh & Easy
6/25/09 $6.82 groceries at Ralph’s
6/26/09 $26.57 lunch for Brent & I at Sushiya’s with Zuzana, Alan and Dennis
6/26/09 $2.00 gas for scooter at Arco
6/26/09 $16 for wax for scooter and got a free radio
6/27/09 $10 taste ticket for OB Fair to taste 25 chilis
6/27/09 $10 BBQ Gun from fair
6/27/09 $3 to buy Melissa and I drinks
6/27/09 -$3 because I sold some tickets to make $3
6/27/09 $4.30 venti green tea frappacino at SBUX
6/29/09 $8.36 groceries at Fresh & Easy
6/30/09 $2.51 lunch at Jack and the Box

Total: $579.16

Verdict: Epic Fail

Why did I exceed my budget by so much? It’s because of a few large purchases that were unnecessary like donating $77 to Eliza for Crohns and Colitus, buying new shirt and socks at the Adidas outlet, eating out too much like going to lunch with Jerry is a bad idea – they pick mediocre expensive places and going to the fair, and finally moving costs. I need to be more careful in July.

May 2009 Spending

5/1/09 $24.47 groceries at Fresh & easy
5/2/09 $20 entry fee for fundraiser party for Brent & I
5/2/09 $20 to buy raffle tickets for fundraiser
5/2/09 $1.00 gas at Shell
5/3/09 $36.05 dinner for Brent, Jerry, Emy, Scotty and I at Pho Ca Dao
5/4/09 $6.58 groceries at Fresh & Easy
5/5/09 $3.68 bagels + toblerone at Trader Joe’s
5/6/09 $0.76 bbq supplies + drinks at Fresh & Easy ($36.76 – $30 LCDR Roth gave me – $6 coupon)
5/7/09 $7.00 sandwich for Zuzana since it’s her birthday at Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe
5/9/09 $2.00 tip for water at Hooters with Andy and Barry since I didn’t eat
5/10/09 $1.25 gas at Arco
5/11/09 $4.59 sandwiches and water from Fresh & Easy
5/11/09 $7.91 groceries from Fresh & Easy
5/12/09 $3.99 sandwich and lettuce from Fresh & Easy
5/13/09 $8.09 pizzas, sandwich and water from Fresh & Easy
5/14/09 $14 vitamin D drops from Mike Stelmach
5/14/09 $10.99 groceries at Fresh & Easy
5/17/09 $5.72 In-N-Out with Jesse

Vegas Interop Conference
5/20/09 +$45 (won $50 tipped $5 at roulette)
5/20/09 +$100 spending money from Dan
5/20/09 $2 tips for drinks with Tim Altbaum at Interop
5/21/09 $7.53 lunch at Panda Express
5/21/09 $4.51 22 ounce Blue Moon at 7-Eleven
5/21/09 $2.10 ice-cream cookie sandwich at M&M World
5/21/09 $100 ticket to Cirque du Soleil
5/21/09 $16 drinks for Joe Altbaum & I on the strip
5/21/09 $7 cab from downtown back to hotel
5/21/09 +$66 (won $71 tipped $5 at roulette)
5/22/09 $1 room tip
5/22/09 $18.23 breakfast buffet + tip Mandalay Bay

5/22/09 $10 treated Andrea to Extraordinary Desserts
5/23/09 $15.05 birthday lunch at Fuddruckers
5/23/09 $17 flipflops x 2 and belt at Old Navy
5/24/09 $9.21 groceries at Fresh & Easy
5/24/09 $15 dinner with  Brent, Emy & Scottie at Golden State
5/25/09 $2 gasoline at Shell
5/26/09 $4.99 grill pack at Fresh & Easy
5/26/09 $3 to rent skates to skate with Emy & Scotty
5/26/09 $23.03 treating the girls to dinner at some Pho place
5/26/09 $10.50 treating the girls to boba tea
5/26/09 $1.50 premium gasoline at an Arco
5/27/09 $8.49 lunch with Joe at the cafeteria
5/28/09 $3.71 screws at Home Depot for bike
5/28/09 $12 dinner with Melissa at Antique Thai
5/28/09 $3 gas for using Brent’s car to take Melissa to Antique Thai
5/28/09 $3.69 groceries at Fresh & Easy
5/29/09 $14 lunch at Hudson Bay
5/29/09 $1 parking at Hudson Bay (Sharon drove)
5/30/09 $4 gummy lifesavers at Target
5/30/09 $7 Portugal Fest food tickets
5/30/09 $2 gas for scooter at Arco
5/30/09 $1.09 water at Fresh & Easy
5/31/09 $5 gas for Brent’s car
5/31/09 $40 party bus fee for Eliza’s Crohns and Colitus
5/31/09 $3 tips at Stone Brewery
5/31/09 $3.91 pizza at Little Caesar’s with Melissa ($6.91 – $3)
5/31/09 $20 gas money for Sahar since she helped me move my bed

Total Normal Spending: $421.25

Total Vegas Spending: $168.37
Total Gains in Vegas: $211 ($111 myself, $100 Dan gave me to spend)
Net Gain from Vegas: $42.63

Total Normal Spending less trip gain = $368.62

Verdict: Decisive Victory

I think that this was a pretty good month. I got in under my goal of spending less than $400 but I lucked out because of my disciplined gambling at Vegas. I was actually up several hundred but my friend Joe Altbaum left and he had kept betting on his late-father’s number so since I was drunk instead of betting disciplined I started throwing all my money at the number and broke even one night instead of being up huge. Anyways, I need to be careful of my spending but I’m having tons of fun and I would say this was a pretty decent month because it includes moving costs as well.

Good Quotes

“Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard. Be evil.” – Unknown

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” – Robert McCloskey

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” – Unknown

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” – Plato

April 2009 Spending

4/1/09 $35 Discover Card charged me for rejected ETF fee
4/2/09 $27 overdrawn fee from SDCU
4/3/09 $13 lunch with Brent, Chris, Alan, Nancy at Sushiya
4/6/09 $6.07 lunch with Chris at In-N-Out
4/6/09 $29.60 bagels, cream cheese, beer at Vons
4/7/09 $27 overdrawn fee from SDCU for unauthorized Discover Card withdrawel
4/7/09 $4.99 sandwich & bagels at Fresh & Easy
4/7/09 $15 dinner with Brent, Jen and Stacy at World Famous
4/8/09 $4.30 venti green tea frappacino at Starbucks w/ coworkers
4/9/09 $9 lunch at Antique Thai
4/10/09 $7.56 turkey cobb at Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe with Brent and Zuzana
4/10/09 $1.79 berry sundae at Costco
4/10/09 $89.77 groceries at Costco
4/11/09 $6 tip for haircut at Sport Clips
4/11/09 $4.34 grilled chicken salad at Costco
4/13/09 $10.29 groceries at Fresh & Easy (lunchtime)
4/13/09 $9.52 frozen potstickers at Fresh & Easy
4/13/09 $13.95 fee to file IL State Return through Taxact
4/14/09 $9.81 groceries at Fresh & Easy (11.81 – $2 Nancy gave me for potstickers)
4/14/09 $17.06 dinner for Christina and I at Wahoo’s Fish Taco
4/15/09 $3.26 water and brush from Ralph’s
4/16/09 $10.80 groceries at Fresh & Easy
4/17/09 $4.26 hamburger meat and buns at Fresh & Easy
4/19/09 $36 to Brent for Comic-con, SBUX + BBQ stuff
4/21/09 $3.27 water at Fresh & Easy
4/22/09 $14 lunch with Zuzana, Alan, Stelmak at Sushiya
4/23/09 $3.25 a double double with Jesse at In-N-Out
4/24/09 $8.40 for 20 forever stamps at the Post Office
4/24/09 $6.39 for lunch at Sarku Japan
4/24/09 $17.03 groceries at Fresh & Easy
4/25/09 $1.96 4 bell peppers from Fresh & Easy
4/25/09 $2.72 Revlon blackhead remover tool at Longs Drugs
4/25/09 $2.14 dinner at Taco Bell
4/26/09 $12.32 groceries for Iron Chef Competition at Fresh & Easy
4/27/09 $5 flowers for Pete since his mom died
4/27/09 $9.07 groceries at Fresh & Easy
4/27/09 $3.34 water and dinner at Fresh & Easy
4/27/09 $2.18 water at Fresh & Easy
4/28/09 $1.09 small side dish at El Pollo Loco (2 free pieces chicken)
4/29/09 $3 to Alan for some Carnita Fries at Lolita’s Mexican Restaurant
4/29/09 $3.53 for Asian yogurt at the place next to Lolita’s

Total: $494.06

Verdict: Minor win

I made one major mistake that cost me alot. I accidentally transferred my money from my checkings into savings because I forgot about my upcoming scheduled payments. That cost me 2 bank fees and a discover card fee: $35 + $27 + $27 = 89.  I made it under my $500 budget but still it would’ve been a great month if it weren’t for these retarded fees. I got one of the Discovercard fees reversed but San Diego County Credit Union sucks and won’t reverse it. Oh well, lesson learned. Never get a savings account and just keep all your cash in a checking account to avoid problems like these. I hate my bank so much, it’s the worse. It even charged me money for my starter checks. I can’t wait to change banks. Next good sign up now and get $100 or whatever deal at a bank and I’m switching. SDCCU is the worst!

March Spending 2009

3/1/09 $13.64 panini at North End Cafe
3/1/09 $10 gas/parking money for our LA trip to Eliza
3/2/09 $5.99 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/2/09 $3.99 soup at Fresh & Easy
3/2/09 $35.25. groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/3/09 $5.97 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/6/09 $19 lunch at Sushiya ($12.50 + tip)
3/6/09 $5 loan to Brent that won’t get back probably
3/7/09 $23 donation to Eliza’s Kona 1/2 Marathon for Crohns & Colitis
3/10/09 $21.97 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/12/09 $6.05 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/13/09 $15 lunch at Sushiya
3/13/09$21.54 Adidas shorts at Big 5 Sporting Goods
3/13/09 $7.25 toblerone, baking soda, peroxide at Target
3/14/09 $20 donation for Eliza’s Crohns & Colitis party
3/14/09 $2 unleaded gas at Arco am/pm
3/16/09 $12.40 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/19/09 $5.17 groceries at Fresh & Easy (10.42-5.25 Alan snackpack)
3/19/09 $8.01 more groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/20/09 $12 lunch at Spices Bay Thai Kitchen with Brent, Alan, Zuzana, Chris
3/23/09 $8.34 groceries at Ranch 99

Business trip to Carson ($64 x 2 + ($64 x 3/4) x 2 = $224 per diem)
3/23/09 $8.20 breakfast and lunch supplies at Ralph’s for next few days of business  trip
3/24/09 $8.14 large beef bowl combo at Yoshinoya Restaurant
3/24/09 $4.95 large beef bowl at Yoshinoya Restaurant
3/25/09 $7.57 lunch with Siamak and Adrian at SK Hawaii B.B.Q.
3/25/09 $24.18 dinner with Brent, Siamak and Adrian at Cheesecake Factory
3/26/09 $2 tip for Brent and my room
3/26/09 $8.11 lunch with Brent, Siamak and Adrian at SK Hawaii B.B.Q.

3/27/09 $15.50 groceries at Fresh & Easy
3/28/09 $10 beer money for Andy & Molly’s B-day
3/28/09 $15 round for Andy, Eliza and I

Business trip to Redondo Beach ($64 x 2 + ($64 x 3/4) x 2 = $224 per diem)
3/30/09 $7.57 lunch at SK Hawaiian BBQ
3/30/09 $9.98 split a 7 inch cheesecake with Zuzana at the Cheesecake factory
3/31/09 $1 two bagels at Albertson’s
3/31/09 $8.11 lunch at Pho place
3/31/09 $9.27 6 empanadas and a drink at El Gaucho Meat Market
4/1/09 $15.82 dinner with Zuzana at the Cheesecake Factory
4/2/09 $7.09 lunch at China Express

Total Normal Spending: $302.07

Total Business Spending: $121.99
Total Per Diem Gains: $448
Net Gain from Trips: $326.01

Total Normal Spending less trip gain = -$23.94

Verdict: Epic Win

I spent negative money last month after factoring in the gains from 2 weeks of travel per diem!

February Spending 2009

2/1/09 $7.50 chips and dip for Freddy’s superbowl party at Matt and Nicole’s
2/3/09 $16 dinner with Michael at Cho Sun OK Restaurant
2/3/09 $4.45 6 pints of PBR from Jewel-Osco for our dinner
***2/3/09 Sold fridge $80 + $10 tip, $75 mattress
2/4/09 $647.10 Alamo minivan rental
2/5/09 $18.90 sausage biscuit meals at Bob Evans for John and I
2/5/09 $33.85 for 17.549G of unleaded gas at Divernon Marathon in Divernon IL
2/5/09 $47.82 a double room at Motel 6
2/6/09 $26.02 for 14.876G of unleaded gas at Kum & Go in Joplin MO
2/6/09 $3.50 Turner Turnpike Mainline Plaza Lane 11 in Oklahoma
2/6/09 $3.50 Will Rogers Turnpike Mainline Plaza Lane 3 in Oklahoma
2/6/09 $2.39 Red Bull at Laguna Superette in Laguna New Mexico
2/6/09 $26.36 for 12.804G of unleaded gas at Laguna Superette
2/6/09 $16.68 for 8.068G of unleaded gas at Double D Fuel Stop in Texola OK
2/6/09 $27 unleaded gas at Allsups in Vega TX
2/6/09 $32 unleaded gas and Rockstars at Conoco in Amarillo TX
2/6/09 $77 steak for John and I at The Big Texan in Amarillo Texas
2/7/09 $5.55 for 2.501G of unleaded gas at Flying J Travel Plaza in Winslow AZ
2/7/09 $28.90 for unleaded gas at Loves in Buckeye AZ
2/7/09 $10.20 a banana and $10 of gas at Circle K in Yuma AZ
2/7/09 $5.75 for 2.641G unleaded gas at Shell Oil in San Diego CA
2/7/09 $35 breakfast for Brent, John and I at Denny’s
2/7/09 $34 lunch for Brent, John and I at Antique Thai Cuisine
2/7/09 $50 dinner a Miguel’s for John and I
2/8/09 $44 breakfast at Hash House for John and I
2/8/09 $2 to give Brent since he was short for breakfast
2/8/09 $2 to give Andy since he was short for Eliza’s flowers
2/9/09 $24 lunch for Brent, Zuzana and I at the base cafeteria
2/10/09 $34.53 groceriees at Trader Joe’s
2/11/09 $1.08 jr. bacon at Jack in the Box
2/12/09 $14 lunch with coworkers at Sushiya
2/12/09 $2 parking fee for AFCEA Conference
2/12/09 $4 cover for Brent and I at Portugalia
2/12/09 $7 cheesey fries for Brent and I at Portugalia
2/13/09 $14 lunch at Sushiya
2/13/09 $27.14 dinner for Brent, Zuzana and I (Brent split) at Antique Thai Cuisine
2/14/09 $3.28 pint of Newcastle at 7-Eleven
2/15/09 $1450 IL Bello Flyscooter from Point Loma Scooters
2/15/09 $5.39 large pepperoni pizza from Little Caesar’s for homeless Charles and I
2/16/09 $107.24 1TB Western Digital External Hard Drive from Buy.com
2/16/09 $2.35 jr. bacon and nuggets at Wendy’s
2/16/09 $5.78 candy and redbull at Target
2/17/09 $11.93 lunch for Zuzana and I at the base cafeteria
2/19/09 $1 cup-noodle and drink at employee snack stand at sea-side base
2/19/09 $13.72 groceries at Fresh & Easy
2/20/09 $16.21 groceries at Fresh & Easy
2/20/09 $22.99 groceries at Fresh & Easy
2/21/09 $11 food at Antique Thai
2/21/09 $6 gelato at Gelatiaria Frizzante
2/21/09 $42 dinner for Zuzana and I at Miguel’s
2/22/09 $28.30 U-Haul Fee
2/24/09 $1.94 jumbo jack with cheese at Jack in the Box
2/25/09 $1 donation to Children’s Miracle Network
2/25/09 $1 tip for free IHop pancakes
2/25/09 $20.33 for tape to make Taiko drum
2/26/09 $3.48 groceries at Fresh & Easy
2/27/09 $28 DMV motorcycle permit/license and CA license
2/27/09 $1.62 polish sausage + pop at Costco
2/27/09 $6 tip for haircut at Sport Clips
2/27/09 $13.30 groceries at Fresh & Easy
2/28/09 $10 2 cab rides to and from Manhantten Beach
2/28/09 $45 dinner at Rock n’ Fish
2/28/09 $23 drinks for Andy, Adam, Eliza, Becca at Ercoles
2/28/09 $15 drinks at Hennessey’s

Total:  $3232.08

Money in from selling fridge and mattress: $165

Total Moving Expenses: $1175.52

Total Spending less money in and moving expenses and scooter: $606.56

Verdict: Epic Fail

I still spent $600+ dollars on stuff but the good news is that I have a higher paying job now here in California.

January Spending 2009

1/1/09 $2.09 Ice Mountain water at 7-Eleven
1/1/09 $2.21 McDouble and Small Fries at McDonalds
1/1/09 $6.30 Art of Pizza with Adam, Becca, Scott M + his gf, Homeboy, Ali, Kat, Rachel
1/2/09 $5 a beer n’ tip with everyone at Lionshead
1/2/09 $13 dinner + tip at Blue Light with everyone
1/2/09 $2 cab ride to Rockit with Ali, Adam, Rachel
1/2/09 $7 bass and tip at Rockit
1/2/09 $5 cabride to Barleycorn in Wrigleyville – lost my expensive leather gloves
1/2/09 $12 beer for Adam and I at some random bar, too fucked up to remember name (covered for Adam)
1/2/09 $9 cabride to Ian and Sean’s bar with Adam (covered for Adam)
1/2/09 $5 cover for the bar Ian and Sean were at
1/2/09 $12 another 2 beers for Adam and I at some bar with Ian and Sean (covered for Adam)
1/4/09 $22.65 + 30.88 groceries at Jewel-Osco (got a $15 off net purchase coupon)
1/4/09 $1.12 drink from 7-Eleven
1/6/09 $1.12 sausage biscuit and hashbrowns at McDonalds
1/7/09 $2.44 double cheeseburger + small fries – accidentally ordered it instead of McDouble… same sandwich
1/7/09 ** earned $40 from certified for building display stand for Underworld 3… took 7 hours though
1/7/09 $10 paid to Kevin for helping me build the stand
1/8/09 $8.37 pad thai from Siam Rice
1/9/09 $4.36 potluck lunch from Siam Rice since people tipped me
1/9/09 $5.40 12-pack of Bass, fruitcake, dumpling peels, Cherry coke for Lisa for the potluck dinner (-$15 coupons)
1/11/09 $1 toll back from Palatine with Adam & Becca
1/11/09 $5 bribe to Adam to drive me back after going to his place to pickup my shit
1/11/09 $3 garbage bag money to Andrew
1/13/09 *** should’ve had to pay $12 for lunch @ Stocks and Blondes but Patrick Savage insisted, he’s a good guy
1/13/09 $2.23 McDouble and Small Fries
1/14/09 $4.60 chicken breasts from Dominick’s
1/19/09 *used Panera giftcard for sandwich
1/21/09 $34.75 groceries from Jewel-Osco
1/22/09 $2.14 2 gallons of water from Jewel-Osco
1/24/09 $2.43 double stack and nuggets at Wendy’s
1/27/09 $4.29 4 gallons of water from Jewel-Osco
1/31/09 **earned $12.50 for a trailer check
1/31/09 $11.17 Irish nachos from Jefferson-Tap

Total: $237.55

Less Earned Total: $64.50

Real Total Spent: $173.05

Verdict: Epic Win

This was a tough month. Got laid off on 1/16/09 but spending is excellent.

Moving forward with my 2009 goal

Proactivity is hard but I’ve been doing it. Took some big steps forward today.

I joined the Wolverine Occupational Resource Center and signed up for a mentor in entrepreneurship, environmental or management consulting. Looking forward to that! I’ll take some interesting alums out to lunch and just listen to what they have to say about their lives and hopefully learn something interesting from them (i.e. hopes, regrets, advice, etc.)

I also signed up for the UMCGC Dinner Club which is basically a club of potlucks for alums for the U of M Club of Greater Chicago to potluck at different people’s homes. I have some decent recipes and I would love to meet older people as well and learn from their wisdom.

I also signed up for the Ross Alumni Club of Chicago and I will start attending the monthly events to network and make new friends. I did notice they don’t have a monthly event so hypothesize that they are a little disorganized and I can’t count on this club for regular networking unless I step up and help coordinate events.

I did 3 very important things today and this is a step in the right directionl. Furthermore I was reading some psychological research on procrastination and learned from an interesting study that procrastination is more likely to occur when a goal is vague and difficult. When a person breaks it down into small manageable steps they are much less likely to procrastinate. Thus, I am in the process of outlining all my goals and breaking them down into steps in which I can measure it quantitatively so that I can meet my goals. I’m following this guide:

http://thinksimplenow.com/motivation/how-to-design-your-ideal-life/

I feel good right now. I also rearranged my room and built a desk on Sunday and I’m much more organized now. I’m trying to make 2009 a meaningful year. I’m going to try to complete this goal breakdown by tomorrow end of day.