Purse Party

I don't know how many of you have heard of this but it is a little 'home party' sensation happening around here. Ladies gather, drinks and a lil bite to each and then the chaos begins. A couple hundred lovely new purses (from this home company) are gently tossed onto the floor and it's no holds barred.

It might be through this company, but honestly I am not sure. At any rate , it is similar for sure. I have seen purses from folks who have been to them and they are quite nice (in my inexperienced eyes) and they have nothing but good things to say about the workmanship of them. It is highly unlikely they are anything namebrand though. I read some interesting articles on them, including one on wikipedia.

I haven't had a a real purse in forever. I've never had one that costs more than $25. When I was in Toronto we went by Coach and Chanel and I oogled the lovely bags that cost more than I could ever justify spending for an accessory. Ohhh but how I oogled.

I'm picky when it comes to purses. It has to be large enough to hold my things...not a giant pouch type bag but one with sections inside to help keep things arranged. I friend gave me a lovely weaved purse from Arizona a few years ago with the little iconic dancing figures (absolutely I forget their names) on it. I loved it as it was a gift from her from where she was from but it was a one pouch kinda of purse and everything got jumbled up.

My sister gave me in inexpensive black one last year for my birthday. It had the softest leather but had no substance to it and had the lil magnet clips to hold it together. Whenever I set it down it would splay open and everything would tumble out.

I prefer ones with a long strap but I'm willing to try the short handled ones.

I absolutely admit to knowing NOTHING about purses, styles, brand names and such. I've read blogs by others and have been in absolute awe of their knowledge of clothes and fashion. I think secretly I wish I had pots of money, a figure to die for and the fashion sense they have lol

Alas I do not. Will I go to the party? yes. I promised myself I would get to more than a couple 'ladies' kinds of things this year. I tend to be too much of a hermit. I'll take a lil platter of something to share and I will look and see.

I have some of my spending money saved up. While it is not always hard for me to spend money on things like that, it is definitely hard to live with my conscience and guilt afterwards. Will I buy....probably not.

It certainly will be an adventure.

I WILL make a menu plan

Honestly, it's hard. The schedule changes on a daily basis with meetings and extra curricular. Still, I know I need to. It's a way to help alleive stress on 'what to make' and a way to plan better and perhaps spend more wisely on groceries.

Sunday - Potroast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and biscuits

Monday - Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread

Tuesday - Baked chicken, rice and veggies

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Chili with homemade buns, salad

Friday - Chicken fingers and fries.

Achieved another goal or two

One of my goals to cross of my Fall 'to do' list was to snowflake $600 (just slightly over the equivalent of one payment) towards my consolidated loan. With the $ left over from my jars, along with a few other sources, I have acheived that. I needed $152 and I made it with $160.

I had planned to keep $50 or 25%, whichever was lowest, from my jar leftovers, to tuck into a little home emergency fund. Having a very heavy back to school expense month, I was not able to do this AND achieve the goal, so it is all going to the consolidated loan. I will take that in, Monday at noon, to the bank. BMO does not allow one to transfer $ online as a lump sum to a loan, which is a pity. With the bank only open til 4 PM Mon to Thurs, and being busy most noons and after school, getting there takes a bit of organizing and patience.

The other goal I accomplished was to get $400 aside for my new targets (Xmas2010, RRSP 2010, Summer 2010 and up my EF) As I have now maxed out on pension contributions for the year via work, I have the money to do this. wheee. I can take that in to my second bank next week sometime, or I can simply deposit in via the ATM as all those items go in one savings account, and I just mentally keep track of how much each category has.

I have only to decide if I am going to put $100 in each of the four categories, or wriggle it around. I will have to play with those numbers today.

I love the feeling of payday when I can distribute money to my different spots. It is rather empowering.

With these two goals done, what is next.....another $600 lump sum towards the consolidated loan! Bring it on!!!!

Payday!!!

I love payday. I wish it came more than once a month...with the same cheque I get now...but more than once a month LOL

I am gone with my class on outdoor adventures all day so I had to take care of a couple things last night. Since my vehicle loan comes out of a dif bank than where my paycheque is deposited, I wrote a lil cheque to myself from Account A and took it over to Account B to deposit in the ATM (no late open banks here). I wanted to be sure the $ was there for the 26th auto withdrawl as I am not totally when it comes out should the 26th fall on a weekend.

I also got the cheque from work yesterday to pay off the $ on my Mastercard that the laptop purchase put on there. No balance on the CCs again this month. wheeeee.

We get in late tonight so there will not be time for me to get my $ out for my jars until perhaps tomorrow, although that day is crazy busy too. I keep waiting for the treadmill to stop but it does not seem to.

Happy Friday Everyone.

feeling a bit of a hypocrite

I have been blogging for over a year now and working my butt off to pay down debt and just learn to live, spend and save smarter. I am working fiercely to get the consolidated loan paid down. I am frugal with 'most' everything, except perhaps groceries/dining out.

Yet I sit here with my brand new vehicle (57 more payments and it's mine) and my brand new laptop (20 months @$50 through work). I have renos in my home and new furniture over the past 18 months, almost bought and paid for (some of it is on the consolidated loan I am working on). I have the new desktop computer bought and paid for over the past school year.

What triggered the guilt the most was that my spouse, who never buys me anything, bought me an itouch for my bday last week. I feel like 'how can I be frugal if I have all this fancy stuff'?????

It's an interesting and rather disturbing mindset to be in.