Mia's Misadventures Continues...

Increase My Savings

2010-01-05T08:30:00.001-05:00

It's one thing to say I'm going to increase my savings in 2010...it's another thing to have an actual plan of action. Type A me has a plan of action for short term and long term savings growth.

1. Increase my Roth IRA contribution to the maximum (currently $5,000 a year)
As my favorite financial guru, Suze Orman would say, let's do the numbers. Let's say I start investing $5,000 a year in to my Roth IRA, when I am thirty and I make the same $5,000 investment for 30 years. (30 years because at 59 1/2 I can withdraw money from my IRA). That's $5,000 X 30 years for a total of $150,000. But we are not taking in to account compound interest. Let's assume an 8% average annual return on my investment. That will give me about $662,000 after 30 years. If at 59 1/2 or 60 I decide to take all that money out, my tax bill will be zero and I would get all $662,000. Reality Check: I may not be able to invest in a Roth every year for 30 years because there may come a point when my income disqualifies me. That makes it so crucial to sock as much money away as I can in to my Roth IRA.

2. Put more towards my mortgage
You might ask how paying more on my house increases my savings. Do you know that if you were to make one extra payment a year on your mortgage you could shave 5 years off the mortgage? Since it doesn't seem like I'll be able to sell my house any time soon I might as well work towards paying it off sooner.

3. Put side hustle in to savings
I am fortunate to have some additional income from a side hustle. But this is going to be really hard for me to do because I rely on the money I make from my side hustle of teaching to finance my travel plans. I think it is essential to put all the money I make teaching in to my savings account. Where there is a will there is a way and I will ALWAYS find a way to travel.

4. Downgrade to Upgrade
My apartment lease is up for renewal and it's a good time to negotiate for a lower rent. If they won't lower the rent it might be time for me to move. Sometimes you have to downgrade (in this case to a smaller or less expensive apartment) in order to upgrade (and increase my savings).

5. Time for a Raise
The economy has been rough for the last few years but the recession is thawing. I haven't gotten a raise in 2 years...not even a cost of living increase. This might be out of my control. It really depends on if the company decides to do a company-wide salary freeze (no raises in 2010). But I know I have worked my ass off and with the higher cost of insurance in addition to the higher costs of everything it's really time for a raise.

Any other ideas on how to increase my savings? What are you going to do to increase your savings for the short term and long term?

30th Birthday Wish List

2010-01-04T03:38:00.004-05:00

This past Christmas was the first year in a long time that I didn't make a X-mas wish list. Usually the kid in me (and the Type A in me) can't resist making a good list. But I was just so happy to have survived 2009 I couldn't think of anything to wish for.

But this year I'm turning the big 3-0...I'm so excited and I just can't hide it...I'm about to lose control and I think I like it...OH YEAH!!! Seriously I am geeked about turning 30 and to prove it I will be throwing myself a birthday party (more details to come). So this year I'm going to make a birthday wish list instead of a Xmas wish list.

1. New Car
I don't seriously expect anyone to buy me a new car. But I always thought for my 30th I would get a new (or new used) car. I love my current car. I have a 1997 Mazda 626 who just hit the 200,000 mile mark in late November 2009. I have so many good memories in that car. BUT she is old, in need of a few repairs, and it's not worth it to keep putting money in to fixing her when I can use that same money to get something newer. I hate to admit it but it's time for us to part ways. I have had the car for 10 years (bought it in December of 1999). My relationship with my car is by far the longest and most stable relationship I have ever had. (An Ode to my Beloved Car blog will be coming). My top 5 choices for a new vehicle are: Chevy Tahoe, Lexus LS 10, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or Nissan Maxima

2. Macbook Pro Notebook or Mac Pro Computer
I have been longing for a Mac for a few years now. But in comparison to a PC they are just not cost effective. A few weeks ago one of my friends got a brand new Macbook Pro with 15 inch monitor and I was drooling...and I also was really jealous. All I know is I need quality computers that can handle serious web production and Macs are the best machines for that purpose.

3. Bedroom Furniture
Just like my car my furniture has been through a lot. I bought my bedroom furniture in 2003 and got the final piece of the set (the nightstand) in 2004. The furniture has moved as much as I have moved. But it's time for some new furniture. All the drawers are sagging on the inside of my dresser and chest of drawers and I don't have that much in them.

4. Digital Camera
I bought my first digital camera in 2007 (right Tim Haynes...it was the year you came to visit me in NYC). In 3 short years that camera has been through A LOT. Y'all know how much I travel and I carry my camera with me everywhere like I carry a cell phone and wallet. I want the upgrade of my camera so either the Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-W290 or the Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-W220 (in Blue of course).

5. Sex and the City: The Complete Series (Collector's Giftset) and Sex and the City Essentials
It's ashame that I am the black Carrie Bradshaw (or she is the white version of me) and I still don't own all the seasons of the show. I have a few seasons and I own the movie but I don't own the complete series and the essentials.

6. Earrings
I'm a girl with extensions in my hair so I need some bamboo earrings...at least 2 pair...LOL. I buy earrings every year but what I really want are some Harry Mason earrings. I haven't owned a pair since my trip to San Francisco back in February 2006. I loved the earrings and I had them for awhile but when you lose one there is no point in wearing the other.

7. Watch
Like most of the world I rely heavily on my cell phone including to tell time. But I would like a really nice time piece....something simple but classic and sophisticated. Of course I would like to be able to tell the time with it so the face has to have some numbers or some roman numerals. No blank faces where I have to guesstimate the time.

8. Fry Daddy
I have seriously wished for a Fry Daddy for over 3 years and I STILL don't have one.

9. Wine
Y'all know I LOVE a good wine...Rosa Regale, any kind of Moscato...but I'm not picky...oh no, this wino will drink anything and everything.

10. Pearls
I don't know what my fascination with pearls are about. An ex-boyfriend once bought me a earning and necklace set and I have no idea how they got lost in my transition from college to the real world. And they just look so good on Michelle Obama. I want to be the girl with the pearl earrings.

11. Nintendo DS
They had me at the commercial for the Personal Trainer: Cooking game. I don't even want to call it a game because anything that makes cooking easier for me to do is more than child's play.

12. Wii games
I only have the game that comes with the Wii, the game that comes with the Wii Fit, Mario Kart and Yoga for Wii...so I'm seriously lacking on gaming options. I tried American Idol karaoke a couple of weeks ago and was amazed. And I KNOW there are more games out there that I would like. You can reference my Wii wish list for last year.

13. Carolina Snuggie
One of my interns actually tried to buy me this but it's not sold in stores...at least not in NYC. I'm sure it's sold everywhere in North Carolina. I would die and go to Snuggie heaven if I got one. But y'all know my theory on this...you can't buy yourself a Snuggie...someone else has to buy it for you.

14. Gift Card
The easiest gift of all when you don't know what to give. Visa has prepaid cards so it can be used towards whatever I want.

15. Airline Miles
Give the gift of travel. I love to travel and I will gladly accept miles from Delta, American Airlines, Continental, Airtran or US Airways.

16. FOOD
Last but definitely not least on my list is FOOD. Take me out to eat...I love to eat...I promise I will enjoy it...it's the gift I never get tired of receiving.

And there you have it...plenty of options to choose from for anyone feeling generous this year ;)

Goals for 2010

2010-01-01T02:47:00.001-05:00

I'm turning the big 3-0 this year. So at first I was going to set 30 goals for myself...but that's a bit much, even for me. My 10 goals for 2010 are:

1. Throw myself a kickass party for my 30th
Consider this advanced notice. I have never thrown myself a big birthday party before and I'm going all out. I'll be having an all white party at a location and date (early March) to be determined. So what that my birthday is in the middle of winter...we'll just have to wear winter white.

2. Pay off another debt
Now that I paid off the debt consolidation loan I want to turn my attention to another major bill and pay that off.

3. Take a new approach on my health
One of my girls goes to a natural health doctor and I want to try it. I'm tired of the asthma medications and allergy shots and weekly chiropractor visits. I've done the standard, traditional medicines. Now I'm ready to try something new.

4. Re-join the gym
I actually enjoyed going to the gym. I miss my anti-gravity yoga classes, urban rebounding classes and my trainer kicking my ass. I remained a member until my company allotment for fitness ran out. New year, new allotment.

5. Go to Vegas as many times as I can
If I could go once a month (12 times this year) I would. But I think 4-6 trips to Vegas will be sufficient and make up for lost time.

6. Increase my savings
After I pay for my birthday party I have to go back to being responsible and putting more in my savings.

7. Try new recipes
I save recipes from magazines all the time and I own several cookbooks. It's time to start trying out some new recipes.

8. Expand professionally
I have been filling in as a project manager at my job and I like the new challenge. So I want to kick ass as a PM and see what it leads too.

9. Go to more Broadway shows
I've been saying for years that I want to see Wicked...it's time I make that happen. There are also a few other shows that I'm interested in seeing.

10. Purge, purge and purge some more
I once read that if you want to have someone in your life you have to make room in your life. For me, I think I need to start by making room in my apartment.

I'm all about setting realistic macro and micro goals for myself. I feel if you aim too high you'll only be disappointed if you don't reach it. So here's to another year of growing personally and professionally.

Goals for 2009 Recap

2009-12-31T02:28:00.003-05:00

Here's a look back on what were my goals for 2009 and how well I did or didn't do.

1. Read 30 books
I read 31 books. It was a lot harder than I thought. I read newspapers and magazines all the time but the focus and concentration to read books was more than I anticipated. You can watch TV and flip through a magazine. Can't watch TV and read a book.

2. Pay off my debt consolidation loan
My last loan payment was September 28, 2009 and it feels so good to have one less major bill to pay.

3. Get back in shape
I joined a gym for 6 months and had a trainer for 3 months. So that was very good for me.

4. Keep on cooking
I'm proud of my culinary skills.

5. 3 to 6 months of expenses in to my savings
Wasn't able to do this. When I got close to reaching this goal I lost the tenant in my house. My house was vacant for a bit so I had to cover those expenses with my savings. But I was glad that I had that cushion to fall back on.

6. Relax more
This was a very stressful year so I can't say that I really relaxed more.

7. Stay healthy
I had my annual asthma attack. I say annual asthma attack because I'll have one really bad attack, once a year and usually around the same time of year. So I'm happy that despite how stressful 2009 was I was able to stay relatively healthy.

8. Travel some place I have never been to before
The point of me taking a hiatus from Las Vegas was so I could travel to other places and I went to St. Thomas, Asheville, NC and Costa Rica.

9. Purge my apartment
I am constantly throwing stuff out and donating to good will. I've come a long way but I still have more to do.

BONUS: No Vegas in 2009
This by far was the hardest goal to keep. There were so many times that I wanted to go to get away from it all or someone was trying to convince me to go. But I remained strong and stayed away from Vegas for 365 days :)

If I had to give myself a grade for how I progressed on my goals in 2009 I would give myself a "B" I made progress on some things but I know me and I know I can do better and I can do more.

Costco vs Coke

2009-11-18T07:48:00.001-05:00

I'm impartial when it comes to which cola to drink. I have friends that are die-hard Coke fans and die-hard Pepsi fans. Personally I'll drink whatever is on sale at the time that I'm at the store. At one time I did have a Coke Rewards addiction, but that's a topic from a previous blog entry.

I shop at Costco and I notice they have more Coke products (Sprite, Dasani, etc) than Pepsi products. So because of that I do tend to drink more Coke than Pepsi...until now. Costco and Coke are in a dispute about the price Coke charges versus the value Costco promises to it's members.

A few questions comes to mind:
- Will Costco now sell Pepsi products only?
- Is Coke really charging more money or just as much as if I bought it at the grocery store?
- Do Costco members care what brand of cola they sell or do they just want whatever is on sale?
- Will the loss of Costco as a retailer really hurt Coke?

All this talk of cola is making me thirsty. I think I'll go and grab me a Pepsi ;)

I Love My FHI

2009-11-17T10:14:00.002-05:00

I know a lot of people who rave about the Chi flat iron. Well I'm a fan of the FHI Heat Runway flat iron. Some pronounce it F.H.I. or Fee.

I am fortunate enough to work at InStyle.com and one of the perks is that I get a lot of products for free or cheap. All the products I mentioned in my post yesterday I got for $1 each (including the hot curlers). The FHI Heat Runway flat iron costs $450 but a lot of retailers sell it online for less. Every year it's featured as one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys. It has multiple heat settings from 170 degrees to 450 degrees (I usually use it at 370 degrees).

As a regular consumer I probably wouldn't buy the FHI because it is such a high price point BUT if I was a stylist or straightened my hair a lot I would absolutly invest in this flat iron. On average I can spend $40-$60 every 2 weeks getting my hair washed, conditioned, flat ironed and styled. That's about $960 to $1440 a year. I hate to sound like an infomercial but the FHI Heat Runway flat iron practically pays for itself after about 10 uses. Who hasn't used their flat iron at least 10 times in the past year?

If you want sleek, smooth, hair that won't snap, crackle, pop as you are straightening it then invest in a FHI Heat Runway.

Secret to My Hair Success

2009-11-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

This past week I received a lot of compliments on my hair. It was soft with shine, volume and movement. I have a few good hair days, but I can't remember the last time I had a good hair week. So I'm going to share the secret to my hair success.

1. I washed my hair with Dr. Miracles Tingling 2 in 1 Dandraff Shampoo & Conditioner.
2. I conditioned with Aphogee Balancing Mosturizer. I put it on my hair, put on a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. I washed out the Aphogee and conditioned again with Pantene Relaxed and Natural Conditioner.
4. I rinsed my hair thoroughly, making sure no product was left in it.
5. Towel dried my hair and sprayed it with Dove Heat Defense Therapy.
6. I blow dried my hair straight.
7. I used my FHI Heat flat iron at 370 degrees (it can go as high as 450).
8. While flat ironing my hair I heated up my Conair Hot Rollers.
9. Once my hair was flat ironed I put in the hot rollers for about 20-30 minutes.
10. Took the hot rollers out and pin curled my hair so I could go to bed.

I know that sounds like a lot but the extra steps were due to having to wash and condition my hair. Maintaining my hairstyle for the rest of the week was the easy part.

1. Turn on my Conair Hot Rollers.
2. Roll my hair and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
3. Take out the hot rollers and pin curl my hair.

In the morning all I had to do was take out the pins and use my fingers and a wide tooth comb to style. No sleeping with rollers in my hair. No having to get up early to do my hair. I had the Conair Hot Rollers in my hair while I was watching TV the night before. It was fast and easy and my hair looked great all day long.

I honestly don't know what took me so long to get Hot Rollers cause I think that is the true secret to my hair success. Now that I have them, I want more. I want to see if I can spiral set hot curl my hair.

I know my natural hair friends are probably cringing because of all the heat applied to my hair. But I don't have a relaxer and the hot curlers provide less heat to the hair than if I had used my Gold and Hot curling iron every day.

So what do you think? Anyone willing to give my method a try? Got any hair secrets you want to share?

Cold Weather Comfort Food

2009-11-02T11:55:00.000-05:00

When the cold weather hits there are certain foods I look forward to having and cooking. Here is my top 10 list, what's yours?

1. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
2. White Hot Chocolate (preferably from Max Brenner's)
3. Gumbo (brown or red...I make both)
4. Casseroles (usually Chicken)
5. Shrimp and Corn Chowder; Tomato Cheddar Soup; all kinds of soups
6. Beef Stew
7. Apple Pie or Baked Apples
8. Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese
9. Apple Cider
10. Chili

Does anyone have any recipes for the above that they care to share? Or one of your favorites? I already got another Apple Pie recipe ;)

Pre-Marital Financial Counseling

2009-10-30T00:09:00.003-04:00

We have all heard the stats that about 50% of marriages ends in divorce. However this stat does give credence to the statement, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worse." Maybe if more couples engaged in pre-marital counseling or better yet in pre-marital financial counseling that stat might not be so high.

There is a company in Boston, Lantern Financial, that does pre-marital financial counseling through a program they call Harmoney. The New York Times recently did a piece on the company and what they consider to be the four financial issues that should be discussed before getting married. There are of course other issues but I agree with the four.

1. Ancestry
Because so many of our money behaviors are learned, couples should share their earliest money memories. How did your parents deal with money, how does that impact how you deal with it, and how might that impact the relationship.

2. Credit
Full disclosure on the credit history. No real explanation needed, we all know how important our individual credit ratings are.

3. Control
Who will be the person responsible for paying the bills each month? How much will each person contribute to the household account? When you have been living on your own and managing the bills yourself, you may or may not want to give up that control. It's highly unlikely you and your mate make the same exact amount of money so how do you fairly divide the bills?

4. Affluence
What is your desired level of affluence? Basically how rich do you, as a couple, want to be one day? If she wants a big house and a large family and he wants a small house and no kids, you gotta find some happy medium and decide what that is before you say "I do."

So what's my solution to avoiding divorce and not becoming another bad statistic? Getting married later in life (I'm almost 30 and marriage is not on the current horizon) and I know I will seek pre-marital counseling of every form. Because I'm Type A and have to have a plan for everything ;)

Facebook News Feed vs Live Feed

2009-10-29T05:32:00.002-04:00

Facebook implemented this seperation of what was the news feed in to something called a live feed and a news feed. I have been trying to figure out what is the difference. How does some people's stuff end up in my news feed as opposed to others. I honestly can't figure out the logic of it. So if anyone has any answers, information, links...SOMETHING...send them my way. Because I'm sure if I'm confused my students also have to be confused and will be asking me for an answer as soon as they realize they are confused....lol.

Precious

2009-10-28T11:08:00.001-04:00

I know people are all hyped about seeing "This Is It" or they were hyped about "Good Hair" but I'm actually more interested in seeing "Precious."

I am a movie snob. Meaning there aren't that many movies made today that are worth me paying full admission price for ($12.50 in NYC). And even if a movie is worth paying for, I'll still just wait for it to hit DVD.

I'm also not the type to see a movie on opening weekend. I'd rather avoid the crowds so I can get a good seat. If I do see something opening weekend I get to the theater really early or I catch a matinee.

The New York Times Magazine did an excellent piece on the movie Precious and it's just added to the already positive things I have heard about the film.

For movies based on books I like to read the book first, if possible. As of this blog entry I'm #44 of 156 people that have requested the book on Paperbackswap.com...so it doesn't look like I'll get to read the book before I see the movie. But I still think I'm going to defy my own rules of movie viewing to check out Precious on November 6th.

Is anyone else interested in seeing this movie?

Winter Skincare

2009-10-27T10:39:00.002-04:00

The first sign of winter is the colder temperatures. The second sign of winter is dry skin.

In the summer I don't have to mosturize my skin as much. My face tends to be oily and my body only needs moisture help when I am sunburned and I'm trying to prevent peeling. But in the winter I notice the dryness almost immediately after stepping out of the shower.

My plan of attack for this winter is to change my soap to either a Dove bar or Dove body wash or any body wash that provides additional moisture. In the summer I will use watery lotions or baby oil. But in the winter I use Lubriderm or lotions that have shea butter or cocoa butter. I'll use face washes for oily skin in the summer. I'll switch up to face washes for normal or combination skin in the winter. I'm also trying a new product, Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy, to combat chapped lips. If I do wear makeup I start with a light moisturizer followed by a liquid foundation. I also put lip conditioner on about 10-15 minutes before putting on lip gloss or lipstick.

It's important to drink water in the summer to stay hydrated and keep cool. But it's also just as important to drink plenty of water in the winter to combat the dry heat keeping our homes warm. Drinking water also helps to keep fluids loose to avoid chest conjestion if you get a cold or virus.

I'm also adding something new to my regimen....hand sanitizer. I have hand sanitizer hanging on my purse, a bottle in the car and a bottle at work. H1N1 is no joke. I'm fortunate that I don't have any kids so that cuts my exposure BUT I live in NYC and I ride the subway everyday.

How do you changed your skin care regimen in the winter? Do you stick with the same products? Are there any products you use that you would recommend to someone else?

To Read or Not To Read - Decision

2009-10-26T10:26:00.002-04:00

A few days ago I posted about if audio books count towards my goal of reading 30 books this year. Thanks to Everyone who offered their opinions on the issue. I have come to a decision. Audio books will count towards the goal of 30 books BUT certain criteria has to be met.

1. The audio books have to be the unabridged versions.

2. When listening to the books I can't be engaged in any tasks that require my undivided attention. So I can wash dishes, sort laundry, fold towels, make my bed, drive/ride in my car, etc. I can't sort through papers, pay bills, check email, procrastinate on Facebook.

The thinking behind my decision was that if the audio book is the unabridged version it would have taken me about the same amount of time to read the book as it will take listening to the book. There is nothing wrong with a little multitasking while listening to the audio books. Just like I listen to music while cleaning I can listen to an audio book.

I started my first one this weekend. I'm "reading" RED AND ME: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend By Bill Russell with Alan Steinberg. I listened to 2 of the 4 CDS so I'm about half way through the 187 page book.

To Read or Not To Read

2009-10-21T17:39:00.004-04:00

This year I have a personal goal of reading 30 books. It's mid-October and I have read 25 books so I am very happy that I am close to my goal.

Once a year, People magazine has a book sale for Time Inc employees. They sell the books they get to review and give the money to charity. So I picked up a few more books and audiobooks. But if I listen to a book rather than read a book, am I cheating on my goal?

It would still be time spent listening to the book versus reading it. The benefit of listening to the books versus reading them is that I can also do something else at the same time like fold laundry, sort through papers, wash dishes, clean my apartment, whatever.

For my last 5 books should I read actual books or throw a couple of the audiobooks I picked up today in to the mix?

Living On Less Again

2009-10-01T01:59:00.002-04:00

You may remember that in April I did a "living on less" challenge. To summarize, if you get paid biweekly you take 5% of your gross out of your first paycheck of the month and 10% of your gross out of your second paycheck and put the money in to savings.

I did it and I didn't think it was that hard. Not having that money didn't hurt/wasn't painful but I think the fact that I did the challenge in a month that I got 3 paychecks helped to ease the pain. So I have decided to do the challenge again. October is the month that I'm getting a 3rd paycheck so I thought it was a good idea to do it again.

Anyone want to join me? It's been a rough year but we are three quarters of the way through it. Let's remain financially fit.

A Jamba A Day

2009-09-25T14:55:00.002-04:00

Two weeks ago I got an email from Jamba Juice...I LOVE Jamba Juice. They were offering buy 1 smoothie get a 16oz smoothie for $1. So for the last two weeks I have been drinking Jamba Juice for lunch.

I know you are thinking, how could you drink smoothies for lunch for 10 days? Easy, Jamba has so many different options I used it as an opportunity to try ones I hadn't tried before along with my favorites.

Drinking Jamba Juice every day for lunch had to be expensive? Not at all. I spent $5 a day, $25 a week. That's the same amount I would have spent on lunch anyway.

Sadly the promotion has ended. But I did discover some new favorites and Jamba Juice is perfect as a meal replacement.

Soup Season

2009-09-17T15:00:00.002-04:00

With all the rain we got in June, summer has come and gone...already. Temperatures were in the low 80's at the beginning of the week and we are now in the mid 60's. It's starting to feel like soup season.

I had a gift certificate from Omaha Steaks so I decided to purchase some Lobster Bisque. They have a pretty good one. I also started planning when I'll make my first batch of gumbo (probably mid-October). For lunch I like to go to Hale & Hearty soup and I'm sure they will be bringing back some of my winter favorites like Tomato Cheddar.

I'm looking forward to going home after a long day of work, enjoying a bowl of soup, wrapped in my favorite blanket (because I don't have a Snuggie), cuddled on my couch, watching a movie. Only thing that would make it better is to have someone to cuddle with...maybe I'll get a pet...LOL.

Winter Workout Update

2009-09-16T15:52:00.002-04:00

I finally cancelled my gym membership. It doesn't actually expire until October 31st so I have programmed in to my calendar the classes I like to take. I'm going to try and go to the gym as much as possible for the next month and a half and then I'm going on a winter hiatus. I still have my Wii Fit for a home yoga workout. And I think I'm going to buy a couple more fitness games but come November 1...I'm going in to hibernation.

Winter Workout

2009-09-11T09:54:00.003-04:00

I'll be honest, I didn't workout that much this summer. I seriously think I'm going to cancel my gym membership.

My job will reimburse for 50% of a 6 month gym membership. I could use the money I get back to keep the gym membership going OR to enroll in dance classes. I used to take dance classes through Broadway Dance Center and then my job stopped reiumbursing for dance classes. I could also take dance classes at Alvin Ailey. They have non-professional classes.

Working out at the gym has it's positives and negatives. The biggest positive was I noticed the muscle tone change in my body. But the negative was the physical/health problems working out exposed. I didn't have knee and hip flexor problems to this extent until I started working out regularly. Not being a member of Crunch, I would miss the anti-gravity yoga classes and teh urban rebounding classes. Those are my favorites.

What's your winter workout plans?

Natural Hair

2009-09-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

There was a recent article in Time magazine about why people make such a big deal about Michelle Obama's hair and what it means for Black Women's hair. There is actually a documetary coming out from Chris Rock called "Good Hair."

What bothered me is that the article made mention that pressing or flat ironing your hair is not maintaining your natural hair. I beg to differ. For one, I'm not using a chemical to get my hair straight. AND if my hair is flat ironed or pressed and water touches any part of it, it will not remain straight. I don't think using a tool to straighten your hair temporarily is denying the natural state of your hair. Using a harsh chemical is not temporary. The process to grow out a relaxer takes a lot longer than me just wetting my hair and it not being straight anymore. But again, it's about finding a level of control and style.

For most of 2009 I have been wearing my hair in braids because I was experiencing some serious breakage. Not sure if the breakage was due to stress, hair coloring or a combination of both. But it's the end of the summer so I'm trying to decide what do to with my hair. I have a few options.

1. Get it rebraided.
2. Give the braids a break and get my natural hair flat ironed.
3. If I get my natural hair done, possibly cut it.
4. Get a full head weave.

I'm leaning towards keeping my hair braided and getting it rebraided. Braids are easier to maintain and I'm not happy with the length and condition of my natural hair. Maybe after my Columbus Day weekend vacation I'll take the braids out for a bit. But I definetely want braids when I go to Costa Rica at the end of the year.

The Joy of Reading

2009-09-09T04:39:00.002-04:00

I think the thing I love most about New York City is that so many people read. Get on any subway or bus line during rush hour and you'll see people reading books, magazines, newspapers, textbooks, etc. The New York Times recently ran a story about the joys of subway reading. I do the majority of my reading on the subway. And there have been a few times that I have missed my stop because I lost track of where I was because I was so in to what I was reading. Despite the fact that there are all these people around me I am in my own zone.

One of my personal goals this year is to read 30 books. It hasn't been easy balancing magazine, newspaper and book reading when the majority of my reading is done on the subway. With my commute that's only 45-60 minutes a day of reading/commuting time. But I have read 20 books...10 more to go.

In Debt We Trust

2009-09-08T02:34:00.002-04:00

This weekend I watched a documentary from 2006 that is still relevant to our current economic times. The documentary was In Debt We Trust. You can watch it on YouTube as well.

The movie talked about what would happen when the housing bubble burst...and exactly what they said in the movie would happen did. The movie talked about what would happen when there was a shortage of credit...and it happened.

To illustrate how not just poor people but rich people are affected, Lorraine Bracco from the Sopranos talked about how she had to file for bankruptcy in 1999. She said, "I was land-rich and cash-poor."

Then I watched The Debt Trap on Dateline NBC. It talked about where we are at now. Credit card debt is at an all time high because of unemployment. One couple featured use their credit cards to pay for groceries, car insurance, gas, etc. They aren't using credit cards for wants...they are using them for needs...they need them to survive day to day.

There are many people to blame for our current economic crisis but at the end of the day it's all about personal accountability. So you can blame the banks, credit card companies, mortgage companies, Wall Street...whoever...but look at yourself and how your own situation/spending behaviors may have contributed as well. I understand emergencies, unexpected things happen all the time. I understand losing a job. But part of personal accountability is having a plan. Plan to keep your credit card charging to a minimum, plan to live on less, have a plan to pay back what you charge.

At The End of the Reading Rainbow

2009-09-04T11:43:00.004-04:00

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high
Take a look, it's in a book - Reading Rainbow.

I can go anywhere!
Friends to know and ways to grow - Reading Rainbow.

I can be anything!
Take a look, it's in a book - Reading Rainbow.

Reading Rainbow, Reading Rainbow, Reading Rainbow, Reading Rainbow!

I know a few of y'all were singing the theme song to Reading Rainbow with me. As they say, all good things must come to an end. And thus the 26 year run of the show has come to an end. I don't have any kids but I just can't imagine that when I do they won't be able to watch Reading Rainbow as I did as a child.

I remember keeping a notebook with the names of all the books that were featured on the show. That list was my reading list and anytime I went to the library I was in search of those specific books. Reading Rainbow gave me literary direction.

Luckily there is YouTube (which hopefully that will still exist when I have kids) so I can search the archives and find a few shows for them to enjoy. But for now, join me on a trip down Memory Lane and sing along with the show's theme song.

A New Moon For Wuthering Heights

2009-09-03T11:36:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading "New Moon," book three in the Twilight Saga. The book makes several references to Wuthering Heights. I honestly don't remember reading Wuthering Heights in high school or any other time.

So as a regular user of Paperbackswap.com I searched to see if the book was available. Not only are there several copies of the books available but the Cliffs Notes are also available. And for a moment I had a flashback to high school. I don't know how many times I used Cliffs Notes to help supplement the books I was reading because I didn't fully understand what I was reading and my teachers weren't doing a good job of explaining it. Classroom discussions based on the readings for some books got so off base that the discussion was sparked by the book but not about helping to understand the book.

I'm older now and it's not like reading Wuthering Heights is a requirement I have to meet...so should I order the book, should I order the Cliffs Notes, should I order both? I could read the book but not understand what I'm reading. I could read the Cliffs Notes but as people always like to say miss out on the literary experience. I could order both and use the Cliffs Notes as a supplement, only reading the Cliffs Notes after finishing a chapter I have read in the book.

What do you think?

Roxanne's Revenge Was A Lie

2009-09-02T22:59:00.002-04:00

You may have read the story from the New York Daily News about how Roxanne Shante got her label to pay for her education. WELL IT WAS ALL A LIE!!! According to Slate.com the entire story was false. I don't know who to be mad at more or mad at first. Should I be mad at the NY Daily News for not doing their research? Should I be mad at Roxanne Shante for LYING?

Everyone loves a rags to riches story especially in this current economic state. And we have all heard the stories of music artists getting jilted by the music labels and various people they worked with. It was nice to read about the little person getting the best of Goliath. So I'm just pissed and disappointed. Maybe it's just me. But I will apologize to anyone I forwarded the original story too. It's still a good story...too bad it was all fiction.

Most Relaxing Vacation Ever

2009-09-01T22:39:00.003-04:00

It's official...at 29 I'm OLD. Because only an old person would an enjoy a weekend in a cabin doing absolutely nothing. It was the best waste of time I can remember wasting in a long time.

Several months ago my girls and I started planning our annual girls trip. Every year we go on at least one trip together. I don't even remember how it came up but I suggested we rent a cabin in Asheville, NC. I went to school in North Carolina but I had never visited Asheville. All I knew about the city was that there was a UNC campus there and people liked to visit the Biltmore Estates (NOTE: we never made it to the Biltmore Estates so I will have to find my way back to Asheville).

My girls from college suggested the Cedar Creek Cabins as a good place to stay. We stayed in the Acorn cabin. It had 3 1/2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms and a pool table. I think the most interesting feature was the stove. I'll link to a picture of it when B posts the pictures. The best part of the cabin...the cost. It is $175 per night + $45 Cleaning Fee. For 3 days and 2 nights the total cost for the cabin came to $411 (with taxes).

Although we did a lot of relaxing, reading, sleeping, eating and watching movies...we did actually leave the cabin. We went to a great spa, Sensibilities Day Spa, and the service was excellent. And coming from NYC, the price could not be beat. For a 60-minute European Facial and 60 minute massage it was $152 (plus tip). And we discovered Downtown Asheville (at the suggestion of the receptionist at the Spa). All the local businesses have maps of downtown Asheville and will point you to various places to try. We didn't get a chance to go everywhere but we did get some great homemade ice cream and my friends made personally scented lotions at Bath Junkie (they do have a location in New York City).

Will I go back to Asheville? Yes. Do I recommend Asheville for anyone looking for a relaxing, low-cost, inexpensive getaway? Yes.

Next Trip: Short Bahama Cruise Columbus Day Weekend

Please Take My Class

2009-07-22T16:55:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the shameless plug but I'm teaching a new class "Introduction to Social Media." It's a 4 week online class and we are offering a $50 off discount for the class. Please pass along to anyone you know who may be interested.

Our Intro to Social Media course starts Wednesday, July 29. I'd like to offer you a $50 discount.

Social media platforms -- Twitter, Tweetdeck, LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube -- can do lots more than help manage your personal life (or increase your procrastination opportunities). These web-based platforms can be powerful tools for advancing your career.

In this class, you'll learn how to use social media tools to expand and improve your professional life. Topics include social media and web 2.0, blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, viral video, social bookmarking, social media news releases, and other emerging web technologies.

Seats are limited, so click on the link below to apply and once accepted, use the promo code PROMO4907 to redeem your discount.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Intro to Social Media
starts Wednesday, July 29
https://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs4907.asp?c=mbencrsperse
---------------------------------------------------------------

TV That Made Me Blush

2009-06-25T08:49:00.000-04:00

I kept hearing about this show "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." I had never seen it before because I didn't have ABC Family channel. But Time Warner was nice enough to give me all these channels I didn't have before when I agreed to a two year commitment.

So while I was waiting for the "Important Announcement" on Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC I decided to watch an episode (or two). I thought ABC Family would be a cross between the Disney channel and Nickelodeon. But I'm almost 30 with no children and I didn't feel completely comfortable watching the show. I almost wish I had a DVR so I could have counted how many times the teenage characters in the show said the word "sex." And the way the adults/parents interacted and talked to the teenagers was more blunt than I expected for a TV show on ABC Family. I guess I should have paid attention to the slogan for the channel, "A New Kind of Family."

Maybe ABC Family is a reflection of the changing times. Maybe I would have appreciated a channel like ABC Family that offered tweener programming with more mature topics when I was that age. But again I'm not a parent yet I don't think I could sit down with my 13 year old and watch an episode of the show.

Have any of you ever watched ABC Family? The TV Show "The Secret Life of the American Teenager?" Am I more old-fashioned than I thought?

Social Media: Photos and Video

2009-06-24T07:31:00.002-04:00

I'm working on the next lesson for my class on Social Media. The next topic is supposed to be about photos and video. I want to write about online photo sharing programs (like Flickr) and the #1 user generated video site YouTube. I also want to talk about Skype.

So I need your input. What online photo sharing programs do you use? Do you rely only on Facebook to post your photos online? What other video sites do you use besides YouTube? What are you using to record video? Your cell phone? A camcorder? Flip Camera? Do you edit your own video? If so, what programs do you use? Do you use Skype? Anyone experimented with video in Google chat?

The Death of Newspapers: A Laughing Matter

2009-06-23T07:16:00.002-04:00

I don't play a lot of video games. But since I was a kid I was always fascinated to watch others play video games. I would sit and watch my nephew play Super Mario Brothers for HOURS. So I remember watching one of my friends play Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City. On one of the missions they stole a trunk and the message on the side of the truck at one point said "Yesterdays news today." I laughed because those 3 words define newspapers as we know them. I was just surprised to see it mentioned in a video game.

And then Jon Stewart had to touch on the subject just in case the masses didn't notice the demise of newspapers. The video is sadly hilarious because it is so true. And it's not just newspapers. All of mainstream/traditional media is struggling to redefine themselves in the age of the internet and getting the information NOW.

It just makes me wonder who will be our credible sources for news and information?

MySpace Layoffs

2009-06-22T01:48:00.001-04:00

MySpace has been a social media juggernaut. Notice I'm talking in the past tense. In the last year Facebook has surpassed MySpace. Sadly this means there will be layoffs at MySpace.

"Beverly Hills-based Myspace confirmed today that it will lay off about 30% of its workforce, which is approximately 425 employees. " according to Mediabistro LA Fishbowl blog Read what the CEO said in his memo about it...a not to be missed quote.

Anyone that reads my blog/Facebook notes knows that I'm working on developing a class about Social Media. I mention MySpace in the course but I don't go in to detail of how to use it like I do for Facebook. I don't think MySpace is not a viable social media platform for professional networking. I have a MySpace page that has nothing on it and the only reason why I joined was so I could look at friends photos. But the majority of my friends post their pictures on Facebook or Flickr so I don't remember the last time I logged in to MySpace.

I hate for anyone to lose their jobs but MySpace is headed on the path to extinction.

Do you have a MySpace profile? Do you still check MySpace? Do you use Facebook or MySpace more? Do you know anyone who is still dedicated to MySpace?

Not Just Another Father's Day

2009-06-19T01:40:00.003-04:00

As most of you know Father's Day holds little meaning for me. Not because I don't love my Father but he has been dead for 23 years. Over the years my Mom would encourage me to get cards for the male influences in my life at Father's Day. But it's not the same as when it's your own Dad.

I have been blessed to have a few good father figures in my life. The other day I went to Hallmark and they had a new category "Like A Father." So I found an appropriate card and sent it to the current "Like A Father," figure in my life.

But this Father's Day is different for me. The stars, moon and calendar have aligned in such a way that Father's Day is also my Father's birthday. If he had lived he would have turned 60 on Father's Day.

A few weeks ago my brother said that our Mom's birthday was his birthday. And I said why? He said, because if she wasn't born we wouldn't be here so it's our day too. That's an interesting concept. My Father's birthday is also my birthday.

If I still lived in Atlanta I would have made the 2.5 hour drive to Tifton, GA. That is where he is buried. But logistics as they are I can't do that. I feel like I should do something but I don't know what to do. Maybe I'll call my father's brother but it's probably a little strange to do that given that I am estranged from his family.

To those that still have your Dads, whether the relationship is good, bad or indifferent, give them a call...send them a text...cause whether they are active or not in your life, you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

2009-06-18T01:27:00.002-04:00

Lately I have been watching a lot of old movies. I'm talking black and white classic movies. And I'm amazed at how some of the best lines in modern movies and TV shows pull from the classics.

In the finale of Army Wives, Season 2 a female character kisses a male character. Male character says, "What are you doing?" Female character responds, "Well, If you don't know I must be doing it wrong." And kisses him again. I thought that was a great line.

Two days later I'm watching "Born Yesterday," a movie made in the 1950's and low and behold similar scene, same exact lines. Only difference was this time the male character kisses the female.

Is anything original anymore? We already know that music gets recycled thanks to sampling but what people from our generation watch movies from the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's to really be able to catch when an already used famous line is being used again.

I guess it just goes to show that if something is really good, it's probably worth repeating.

Summer Sun

2009-06-17T01:20:00.002-04:00

It has been a month since my vacation in St. Thomas and I'M STILL PEELING!!! I don't think snakes peel this long.

On my vacation I was very good about putting on sunscreen and reapplying throughout the day. Those that know me know I usually put on suntan lotion but not sunblock. But I realize you can put on sunblock and still get a healthy tan. So what had happened was that I fell asleep in the sun one day at the beach thus I didn't reapply. When I woke up I knew I was burned.

I hope the peeling stops...soon...but let it be a lesson to all. Light skin or dark skin, wear your sunscreen and remember to reapply.

Diet Shakes

2009-06-16T01:54:00.001-04:00

Working out has not given me the results I wanted. I've gained instead of loss although everyone tells me my body is looking tighter. But I haven't achieved the 6 pack abs I wanted nor can I fit in to the jeans I was trying to wear (my legs are even bigger now). So I'm trying something different.

On the free table at work someone left 2 packs of Slim Fast. Slim Fast by itself is disgusting to me. I just can't stand the taste. BUT when I blend it with fruit in to a shake it's not so bad. From 1 can of Slim Fast I can get about 2 - 8 ounce shakes when I mix it with fruit. So I'm trying to drink a shake for breakfast, eat a normal lunch and dinner is always a crap shoot. Only because I don't know if dinner will be something I have cooked or something I have bought out. I have enough Slim Fast do try this for about 2 weeks and this is already week 2 so we'll see what results I'll get.

Anyone else on a fitness/diet/nutrition plan? What's working for you?

Challenge Carry Over

2009-06-15T01:05:00.002-04:00

I have done a few challenges this year everything from not eating out for a month to purposely living on 5 to 10% less of my salary. But when the challenges end I don't necessarily go back to what I was doing before I started the challenge.

I still try to cook as often as I can. And I'm proud of me when I bring lunch 2 or 3 days a week. Or when I eat dinner at home instead of going for convenience and eating out.

I still try to live on less. I don't buy books I borrow them from the library or wait for my request to come up in the book swap club. When I go out to a club I make sure to get there when entry is free. I used to get a pedicure/manicures every 2 weeks, now I go once a month.

I've curbed my travel plans BUT I do feel like I'm spending more to hang out locally it's just not nearly as much as if I was traveling. And I only use one credit card and my debit card. Any other cards are out of use. I pay the bill off every month or if not the entire balance, most of it.

In what ways are you challenging yourself? Personally? Professionally? Financially? Etc.?

Alter Your Summer Plans

2009-06-12T01:34:00.003-04:00

The economy has taken a toll on my travel plans. I'm in prepare-for-the-worse mode so I had to re-evaluate the trips I had planned or thought about taking.

Memorial Day I was thinking about going to Miami or Atlantic City. Neither happened and I enjoyed just kicking it in NYC.

Fourth of July I was originally going to go to New Orleans for Essencefest. But it looks like I'm going to stay in NYC. I can't remember the last time I was in NYC for the 4th. To mark the 350th Anniversary of the Henry Hudson voyage the Macy's fireworks will be on the Hudson River. So I think a few friends are going to stake a spot at Riverside Park for the day and watch the fireworks. I'm looking forward to laying on a blanket, laughing and talking with friends, maybe reading a magazine or two and just relaxing.

August will still be a busy travel month. I'm going to Tampa for the NABJ convention. I'm going to go to Boston for a weekend to see the Yankees take on the Red Sox. I have never been to Fenway. The end of August I have a girl's trip planned for Asheville, NC. (If any of my Carolina girls are interested in coming hit me up offline.)

October I'm going on a cruise Columbus Day weekend and December will be my BIG trip. I'm going to Costa Rica with my best friend.

I know, I know, you are going to say that's still a lot of travel but for me that's a lot less travel than I am used too. I'm used to go some place every single month. But when I think about the economy and look at my personal goals it's best that I curb my travel, even if it is just a little bit.

Has anyone else had to alter their summer travel plans?

Social Media 101

2009-06-11T01:32:00.000-04:00

I'm developing a course on Social Media. As I work on this course I'll be posting blogs seeking your opinions. So today's topic is Twitter. There are so many different application extensions like TwitPic, Tweetdeck, Twitterfeed, Twitterholic, etc., etc. Which ones do you use?

Also, how often do you use Twitter? What do you use it for? Do you follow conversations based on topics you are interested in? Do you follow Twitter for coverage of live events (NBA Finals, American Idol, etc., etc.)

If someone was interested in signing up for Twitter what would you tell them? What advise would you give? Would you tell them to join or to forget about it, it's a fad that will pass?

Falling Off the Wagon

2009-06-10T01:12:00.000-04:00

We all fall off the wagon. No I don't mean the kind of falling off the wagon that requires rehab. I'm talking about when you set a goal(s) and don't quite achieve it or you are progressing towards it and stop short.

I periodically refer to my goals for the year and at one point I thought I was making really good progress. But I looked back at it this weekend and I realized that I haven't finished reading a book in about 6 weeks.

Everyday I enter my apartment and I realize how much I need/want to purge. I've gradually gotten rid of clothes but I still need to cut the heart strings attached to my t-shirt collection. And papers are a constant problem for me. Most journalists are pack rats.

But the good thing about falling off the wagon is recognizing when you are falling short of your goals.

Obama's First Days

2009-06-09T00:04:00.000-04:00

Don't get me wrong. I think President Obama and his team are doing a great job but the economy is still very much in decline. The stock market is starting to improve BUT the jobless rate is at 9%. The Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 54.9 (1985=100), up from 40.8 in April BUT American car manufactures are entering bankruptcy in order to be able to restructure. I don't blame Obama and honestly I didn't know what to expect. Any predictions/thoughts on what lies ahead? 3 months? 6 months?

Back on the Blog

2009-06-08T01:59:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone!!!

I went on a mini hiatus. It started as me taking a break to go on vacation. It turned it to me not really having anything to say. I know that's hard to believe because I always have something to say. But if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

I teach the students that take my classes to not add to the endless crap that's on the internet. But I also try to set a good example for my students by blogging on a consistent basis. I explain to them how hard it is to do and to stay motivated. Bloggers get writers block or as bloggers like to call it "blogger exhaustion."

I also think micro-blogging (Twitter) has changed the blog game. Sometimes I really can summarize what I'm thinking or feeling in 140 characters or less. So I may micro-blog and normal blog less.

For those who have blogs, how often do you blog? Do you try to keep it consistant or do you blog when the mood hits you?

To Test or Not to Test

2009-05-07T01:20:00.002-04:00

Maybe because I'm on the cusp of turning 30 but once again I'm contemplating graduate school. I've mentioned on numerous occasions that if I wasn't doing what I was doing I would be a librarian. Well maybe this is the time for me to pursue.

The problem/obstacle/hurdle is the GRE. I'm a TERRIBLE test taker and the schools I would apply to all require it. I tried a year ago to take a Kaplan prep course and that was a complete disaster. I signed up for an in person class and it kept getting canceled for lack of enrollment so they gave me a big discount and put me in online learning class. But it was hard to get through the material with guidance. So I gave up on pursuing grad school.

Now I'm looking again. NYU offers a class through their continuing education program. But do I really want to spend $760 for a course plus sacrifice my Monday nights for 7 weeks this summer? Is it really now or never for me when it comes to going to grad school or not? Maybe I should pursue a program/school where I don't have to take the GRE and my work experience will be enough?

Public Service Announcment: Postal Increase

2009-05-06T21:17:00.002-04:00

Postage Increase THIS MONDAY. Effective Monday, May 11, postal rates will increase slightly. The price of a First Class letter stamp will increase from 42 cents to 44 cents (so stock up on those Forever stamps this week!). I know most of you don't care because most of you don't use stamps but I just wanted to share.

All That I Can't Have

2009-05-05T00:58:00.000-04:00

I completely understand why people don't stick to their diets. Now when I think about food all I think about it is all that I can't (or shouldn't) have.

I've never been the type to eat a lot of crap. You won't find me with my hand in the cookie jar or eating lots of sweets and treats. But apparently the foods I like, for me, are also bad for me.

I LOVE potatoes. Trainer says I can't have it because it has too much starch.

I get salt cravings. Trainers says no sodium. So I can't even have Chex Mix which is a lot healthier than the Lays potato chips I used to devour.

I could eat pasta every day because it is inexpensive and easy to cook. Trainer says I have to cut the pasta from my diet.

I used to not eat breakfast regularly. I started eating 2 pieces of raisin bread and a smoothie that I would blend every morning. Trainer says no more raisin bread and I need to curb my intake of fruit (fructose sugar) and yogurt (dairy).

Every day I drink 8-16 ounces of Naked Juice. Trainer says I should only be drinking 4 ounces because of the fructose.

One of my favorite snacks is to take a graham cracker and put a piece of cheese and pepperoni on top. Trainer says no graham crackers and american cheese is the worse kind of cheese to eat.

I make a kick ass shrimp and corn chowder. Trainer says I shouldn't be eating corn.

It's just hard to discern when you are taught that fruit is good for you but if you eat too much fruit then you are having too much sugar. Yogurt is supposed to be good for you but it's bad because it's dairy.

So I don't get it. What am I supposed to eat? If these are all the things I can't eat what the hell can I eat? No wonder I'm hungry all the damn time. All the things I want to eat I've been told I shouldn't eat. I am so frustrated. Some days I just want to say fuck it, I'm not going to eat anything...but wait, can't do that because if I fall below 1200 calories my body will be in starvation mode. It's just too much to think about. What happened to the logic that you could eat what you wanted in moderation if you balanced it with working out? I can deal with the pain and soreness my body is experiencing from working out. But I draw the line when it comes to my food.

Living On Less Challenge - Results

2009-05-04T01:43:00.000-04:00

For the month of April in addition to not using any of my credit cards I also did a living on less challenge. Honestly I think I just picked a good month to do the challenge. There were a few factors that made living on less, less of a challenge.

1. April this year had 3 paychecks instead of 2 (normally May has 3 paychecks). So even though I put 5% of my first paycheck for the month and 10% of my second paycheck for the month in to savings I still had that third paycheck.

2. I did a bunch of balance transfers at the end of March/beginning of April. So the combination of moving debt around actually left me with a few extra dollars to spend. I didn't spend the money but I had it just in case. I'm prepping to make larger credit card payments on the cards that I used to consolidate debt.

3. I got my federal and state refunds. I used the federal refund to pay off a credit card and then balance transferred 2 other cards to the 1 card I had paid off. State refund I used for some car repairs. This is all money I hadn't budgeted in to my monthly budget. But the car repair cost was also not something I had budgeted for and was still able to pay while living on less.

The harder question is could I live on less every month? Every month could I put in to savings an additional 5-10% of my gross salary? And sadly I think the answer is no. I think this challenge proved that if I'm forced to live on less I could. But every month I don't have the factors that I had this month to make it easier to live off less. I have some major expenses coming up (Trip to St. Thomas in a few weeks, cruise in October, etc.) that I need pay for so that 5-10% is going towards that. October is the next month I get 3 paychecks so I may do the "living on less" challenge again?

For those who took part in the challenge, how did it go? Would you do it again?

Suze Orman Challenges Over

2009-05-01T01:36:00.006-04:00

I finished my 3 Suze Orman challenges.

I took one week in February and I didn't spend any money. No eating out for lunch or dinner. No random trips to the grocery store. And I wasn't tempted in that week to spend either. I estimated I saved $50-$100 by not spending for a week.

I took the month of March and I didn't spend money going out to eat. I did have a few friends treat me to a birthday meal here and there to compensate. I was tempted to eat out, especially when I was tired and didn't want to cook. But I didn't give in to temptation. I estimated that I would have saved $300-$500 by not eating out for a month. I say would have saved because I spent what I would have saved on groceries. When your home isn't stocked with food it actually takes about 2 months to realize a saving on the eating out vs cooking at home expense. And eating out is one of my largest expenses second only to travel.

I took the month of April and tried to not use any of my credit cards. This was a tough challenge and I failed. I used my credit card to pay for some future trips. On the positive, at least those trips will be paid off by the time I take them because I'm paying on them now.

The challenge is over and I estimate I saved $500-$800. I'll be honest. It doesn't FEEL like I saved that much money. But that's because I spent the money elsewhere. The extra money went in to my savings and towards paying down credit card debt. So although the money is not in my hands it was used wisely.

Workout Diary

2009-04-30T01:38:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my friend Kee asked what am I doing everyday to burn 1700 calories. Your body will burn calories if you just lie down on the couch, unmoving, for 24 hours. But I'm at the gym 4 to 5 days a week. So here's what a typical workout week is like.

Sunday
Get to the gym by 9:45am to get in line for the list for the Anti-Gravity Yoga class. The list comes out at 10am for the 11am class. When I get on the list I workout for about 45 minutes, a mix of running on the treadmill and lifting weights. 10:45 I head in to the yoga studio and get my hammock ready for class. The Anti-Gravity Yoga class is 90 minutes long.

Monday
I rush from work to get on the list for the 6pm Anti-Gravity Yoga class. If I don't get in to the class I take Absolution. Both classes are an hour long. Before I take either class I run on the treadmill.

Tuesday
Take a cardio sculpt class during lunch with one of my co-workers as a guest at her gym. Sometimes I schedule to meet with my trainer.

Wednesday
Workout with my trainer for an hour or take the Hip Hop class. If I take the Hip Hop class I do cardio and weights for about 30 minutes before the class starts.

Thursday
Have to get to the gym by 6pm to get on the list for 7pm Urban Rebounding class. Once I get on the list I run on the treadmill and lift weights for about 30 minutes. Run back to the main desk to get on the list for the 7:45 Anti-Gravity Yoga class. Get on the list and run to the group fitness class and grab a rebounder. Urban Rebounding class is 45 minutes long but I usually leave 5 minutes early to have time to put my rebounder away and run over to the yoga studio for my next class to get my hammock adjusted. Anti-Gravity class is 60 minutes long. This by far is my longest and most stressful gym day. Stressful because I have to mindful of time to make sure I get on the list for the classes that I want to take.

Friday
I usually try to take Fridays off. If I'm being ambitious I'll take the Caribbean Rhythms class or schedule a workout with my trainer. Or I might workout on my Wii for 30 minutes.

Saturday
Normally a day off from working out. I might workout on my Wii Fit for 30 minutes.

So I think, based on my workout schedule, that is very possible for me to burn 1700 calories, if not more, a day. And I consider a workout a good workout if I'm sweating when it's done. You would think Yoga is not a class where you would sweat but Anti-Gravity Yoga is on a whole other level and I love it...clearly I love it, I take it 2 or 3 times a week.

What's your workout regimen?

Calorie Counting

2009-04-29T18:53:00.002-04:00

I am soooo not the type that counts calories. Anyone who knows me knows that I just eat and I eat what I like and I don't care what the calories are. That was until I started working out at the gym and with a trainer.

Instead of losing the 9 lbs I was trying to lose I gained 5 lbs. How? Why? Because now I'm always SOOOO hungry. Mind you I had a pretty big appetite before but I can't even describe the level of hunger I deal with ALL DAY LONG.

So as a part of my membership and personal training I was setup on a website called DotFit.com to keep track of my calorie intake. Basically I have to eat 1500 calories a day to burn 1700 calories (and thus lose weight). To curb the hunger I carry Special K breakfast bars and before and after I workout I eat Special K Protein bars. Why Special K? Because they are cheaper than Luna bars, Power bars and all those other bars. Special K breakfast bars were on sale 2 for $5 this week and the protein bars were 2 for $9. That's a hell of a lot less than the other brands.

Y'all that know me know that I love food, I love to eat and up until recently I used to wonder where did it all go. Now I think about food all the time. I'm always hungry and I'm trying to find the happy balance between working out and eating.

Rental Advocacy

2009-04-28T14:41:00.002-04:00

The last time my lease was up for renewal I fought the increase. They were trying to raise my rent $220. I wrote the most impressive letter possible and they only raised my rent $100.

I have shared this letter with others in my building but as far as I know none of them have used it. Sad, because I gave my letter to my boy Sam and he got the best news. NO RENTAL INCREASE! That is excellent news and this economy good tenants need to fight back. Why should we pay more when most of our apartment complexes aren't offering us more?

My lease isn't up until March 2010 but time flies and I have already started looking. I've also entered a few housing lotteries because you just never know. I got picked for one but the place was too small and I would have had to move in by June 1. I have an interview for another one in a couple of weeks. A good apartment is hard to find, especially in NYC. But in this economy owners/landlords should be willing to negotiate.

Kanye's Workout

2009-04-27T01:30:00.002-04:00

I think I need to try Kanye's Workout plan because mine is not working. I've been going to the gym about 4-5 days a week and working with a personal trainer for a month. It was time for my assessment and it was just as I thought...well almost. I gained 5 lbs but I lost 1% of my body fat.

I told my trainer I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm hungry all the time. Now mind you, I have ALWAYS been able to eat and amaze people with my food consumption skills. "Where does it go?" But I cannot describe the level of hunger I have now. You would think that I work out more so of course I eat more but I'm working it off. WRONG!!!

So now I'm one of those people who is counting calories. I told my trainer I've never been able to do a spending diary what makes her think I can do a food diary. But with my training comes an online supplemental program so I'm using that and I'm going to TRY and record what I have eaten that day, at night before I go to bed.

The goal is 1700 calories a day. Day one of calorie counting I had 1500 calories and I was still SOOO hungry. My trainer has recommended protein bars for the constant munchies and protein shakes before and after working out. But why is nutritional stuff so expensive? Now I'm trying to find some reasonably priced Luna Bars and Sport Recovery Smoothies.

Do you workout? What works for you? What do you recommend? And can someone please explain how my weight could go up but my BMI go down 1%?

Property Assessment

2009-04-24T18:47:00.002-04:00

For awhile I have been debating getting a reassessment on my property value because given the recent housing downturn I was sure the value of my property had gone down and I was paying too much in property tax. But I wasn't sure if it would be worth the battle, my property taxes are not that high compared to say, New Jersey. And I know the counties need every penny they can gets. So I let it go.

But today I got the following email:
DEKALB BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS AGREES TO RECALCULATE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY VALUES

The Dekalb Board of Tax Assessors, Property Appraisal Department mailed out Assessment Change Notices. Included with the Assessment Change Notice was a cover letter stating that the Board did not consider foreclosure sales and in some cases bank sales in determining fair market values.

On April 14, 2009, the governor signed into law a bill that changed the definition of criteria to use in determining fair market value of real property. The new law requires that the Board consider among other things, foreclosure sales and bank sales in determining fair market value of real property.

The DeKalb Board of Tax Assessors will be recalculating real property values to include in their consideration the additional criteria of “foreclosure sales, bank sales, other financial institution owned sales, or distressed sales, or any combination thereof, of comparable real property,” as well as “decreased value of the property based on limitations and restrictions resulting from the property being in a conservation easement.”

The Board expects to complete this review and mail new Assessment Change Notices to all affected property owners by mid-May, 2009.

Property Appraisal Department
www.co.dekalb.ga.us/propappr

I paid $136,000 for my house and as of this blog my house is worth $90,000. I think I pay about $1100-1200 a year in property tax. I'm not sure because the money gets escrowed and my mortgage company makes sure it gets paid. Who knows at what value DeKalb County is charging me property tax for. And I know every dollar counts so I'm glad that the property tax may go down but I'm even happier that I didn't have to fight the battle on my own. AND the assessment should be coming just around the time my escrow account gets reassessed.

Obama and Credit

2009-04-23T15:48:00.002-04:00

I know President Obama had a meeting today with the leaders of credit card companies. I appreciate him scolding them but I want the new legislation that I blogged about last month to be implemented ASAP not in 2010.

And I think store charge cards are the WORST. I JUST had another incident with a store charge card this week. I have 3 store charge cards: Macy's, Home Depot and Firestone. Now y'all know how I feel about Home Depot. I have paid off that card but haven't closed it.

I have a Firestone card for car-related emergencies/repairs. They have this deal where every time you make a charge to your Firestone card you have 90 days to pay it off before you are charged interest. So I had one offer that was supposed to end May 5th and one offer that was supposed to end June 5th. With my last payment these mofo's applied my payment to the newer balance rather than the older balance BUT they didn't change the due date for the promotion. AND THEN they were complete assholes to me on the phone. They acknowledge it was a mistake on their part but "there is nothing we can do to change the automated system." So I promptly cancelled that card. One less store charge.

NBA Not So Amazin

2009-04-22T01:48:00.003-04:00

After March Madness I can't say that I get that excited about the start of baseball season OR the NBA Finals.

Overall I find the NBA Playoffs to be pretty boring. I could not watch a single game in the first round (although I've watched 2 because nothing else was on TV) and not feel like I missed anything. So far the best part of the NBA Playoffs has been the Kanye West Promo.

So is it just me? Am I the only one not feeling the playoffs?

Failed Challenge

2009-04-21T01:41:00.000-04:00

This month I was trying to not use any credit cards and I failed miserably.

I was counting on a check from my last teaching gig to come so I wouldn't have to use my credit card. The check didn't come and the deadline came so I used my credit card.

I'm going to Costa Rica for Christmas break and the deadline for the deposit was April 15th. I'm also going to a journalism convention in August and the early bird registration deadline was April 15th. And since I had already made 2 purchases on the credit card I said fuck it and charged the balance of the cruise I'm going on in October. And I still have several plane tickets I need to buy.

So now when the check does come I'm going to use it to pay the balance on the credit card. I also start teaching another class today so when that check comes when the class ends I'll pay off the balance with that check.

I'm a little bummed. Didn't think it would be so hard to go without charging on my credit card. Again, I'm not the type to charge every day but I do use it for large purchases. I guess I'll have to try this challenge again some other month.

How is everyone else doing in the no credit card use this month?

What To Do With My Roth IRA

2009-04-20T06:49:00.000-04:00

I opened a Roth IRA a little over a year ago because my financial shero Suze Orman told me to.

You might remember that Suze Orman was on Oprah and she gave away her book "Women and Money" on Oprah.com for free. I immediately downloaded the book, printed it out, put it in a nice binder and read it that following weekend taking lots of notes. I'm a student of personal finance. Within the book was an offer to get started with an IRA.

Suze Orman has a business partnership with TD Ameritrade (which to some is a source of controversy) To convince viewers of her show and readers of her book to begin saving, Suze suggested going to Saveyourself.com (a Web site she set up) and opening an account with that firm. If you deposit $50 a month in each of the first 12 months, the bank will match you — up to $100. “It’s a savings rate of 15 percent,” she has repeatedly said. The trouble is, after the first $600, the interest rate drops to an ordinary one, making the offer more of a marketing ploy for the bank than anything else.

And actually the offer has changed slightly since I did it a year ago. Now you have to deposit $100 a month in each of the first 12 months, the bank will give you $100 in the 13th month. Still a pretty good return of 8%.

So I started the Roth IRA funding it with $50 a month but I also watched the annual percentage yield (APY) go down. When I first opened the Roth IRA the APY was 2.75%. That's not a lot but it's better than the rate of a traditional savings account. As of this blog post the APY is 0.50%. That's still better than a traditional savings account but overall I think that APY sucks.

My question to everyone is what should I do next? Should I find another bank, brokerage or mutual fund company to move my Roth IRA too? Should I put the money in to a CD? Should I stick with who I'm with because everyone's rates suck? Do I move the money to a municipal bond fund? Should I just call TD Ameritrade and see what they suggest?

Mom Says Thank You

2009-04-17T01:24:00.002-04:00

It's been a few weeks and my Mom is adjusting to her new life as a semi-retiree. She still wants a job but during the day she is spending a lot of time at church. She will go to prayer service and to programs for the unemployed that are held at church.

Being a caregiver can be a thankless and stressful job. I don't think my Mom and I have argued this much since I was a teenager. But in the end things work out I just wish it didn't have to get to the point of an argument to finally reach a solution.

Despite losing her job I think my Mom is extremely thankful. Going to church and seeing how bad some people have it she realizes she is one of the "lucky" ones. Her home is paid for so all she has to worry about is property taxes and home insurance. My brother is doing renovations to her home so she got a new bathroom and the new kitchen is almost complete. She doesn't take that many daily medications so the prices are reasonable and it will be easy to get her on a Medicare Part D prescription plan. She has very little debt; just a car note and a few credit cards to pay off. But I think my Mom is most thankful for me.

One day I snapped at her because she said she hadn't pulled her credit in years. I pull my credit once a year so to tell a person like me that she hadn't looked at her credit in years was the equivalent of saying she had spent her life savings on 1 lottery ticket. So when I snapped at her she said, "Luckily I have a daughter who thinks about those things so I don't have too." Touche.

Well one day we were talking and she said thank you. She acknowledged that it hasn't been easy but she is lucky to have a daughter that is so smart and always on top of things. She said, "I just hope when you get to be my age that you have someone looking out for you like you take care of me." I hate sappy moments so I made a joke. "I thought I didn't have a choice." But even if I did have a choice of course I would choose to help my Mom.

I really think going to church and the various programs and watching the news and seeing how other people are struggling and they don't have someone to help them figure things out made her realize that even though I can be a bitch I really mean well.

So I'm hoping this realization on my Mom's part will lead to more open discussions and less battles.

Caring For Mom

2009-04-16T01:08:00.000-04:00

Once a month I have one of my boy's Mom's come to my apt to clean. She is a retired nurse and just wanted something to do. Well several months ago, before I hired her, I had asked my Mom to clean my place once a month and I would pay her. She said HELL NO!!! I work a full-time job and I have my own house to maintain, hire a maid.

Well my Mom's situation has changed. So one of the first things I offered to her after she got laid off is if I could hire her to clean my place. For some reason she was insulted by my request. So I said FINE, I'll give the money to someone else, excuse me for wanting to pay my Mom to provide me a much needed service. Of course if my Mom needed $100 I would give it to her but I also know that she is the type that doesn't want, like or will accept handouts. I thought cleaning my house was a fair swap. She does it to my nephew all the time. She will pay him to do things for her so what's wrong with me paying her to do something for me?

What I'm learning about my Mom is that she has a very hard time accepting what I say or tell her to do the first time I say it. It's like she has to take a survey of people she knows before she will accept that I'm right. So a few days after I made this offer one of the women that was laid off with her called to check-in. She told her that her sister had made her a similar offer and she jumped on it. Why should that money go to someone else when I need it? My Mom relented. She told her former co-worker that her daughter had offered her the same deal but she had turned it down. Her co-worker laughed and so did my Mom. She realized that she had to get over herself and this wasn't about pride.

My Mom calls me and asks, "So when do you want your place cleaned?" I said excuse me, I thought you said you didn't want to clean my place. So she told me the story I just told y'all. And I'm learning that as her and I move forward through her situation she will need time. What I think might be a great idea she may not be convinced on and just needs time and sometimes someone else to talk to about it before she says yes or no.

When she did come to clean my place she got off easy. Because when I have the maid come I don't stay in the apartment and I don't help her. But my Mom got $100 and an assistant. We cleaned my place together. I did leave for a bit to go to the gym so we wouldn't be in each other's way (or get on each other's nerves). Also as a kid it was always best if I stayed out of her way when she was cleaning. Apparently as an adult that rule still holds true. Not the quality time I would prefer but my Mom likes that kind of thing. She thinks any time spent together is quality time.

Caring For Mom

2009-04-15T01:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I revealed that my Mom was laid off from her job and given her age I've had to jump in to the role of taking care of my Mom. It has already had it's challenges.

My Mom is very independent so I know it's extremely hard for her to have to listen to her 20-something daughter. It's a challenge for parents when they are put in a position where they have to listen to their kids. So our first "debate" was about unemployment. She didn't want direct deposit of her unemployment. I was like are you crazy, do you know how long you will have to wait for your checks if you don't get direct deposit. She reluctantly relented. One week later when she got her unemployment paperwork she was happy that I forced the direct deposit because she would get her unemployment checks in 2 days of her weekly check-in versus waiting 3-7 days for a check to show up in the mail.

Next "debate" was her credit cards. Now y'all know I'm a personal finance junkie. My Mom doesn't quite know the extent of my addiction. She doesn't read my blog, hell she doesn't go on computers. So first she was a little taken aback that I pulled her credit. Now I'm sure you are like how were you able to get past the security questions? I knew just enough about my Mom's finances to be able to answer the questions. I pulled her credit, paid for her credit score, they were all good (surprisingly she has a better score than me). I made her review it to make sure there were no mistakes. That was the easy part.

The hard part was enforcing a debt management plan. My Mom doesn't have a lot of credit cards but she had a Chase card with a 29.99% interest rate. With her credit score there is no reason that she should be paying that much in interest. So I told her to call her credit card company and ask for the interest rate to be reduced. Explain that she has always paid on time, never been late, always pays more than the minimum and has now lost her job. THIS almost sparked World War III. She literally said to me why should she do that. The credit card company will never reduce it....blah, blah, blah. I was like Mom just call, the worse they can say is NO but if you don't ask they aren't going to offer you a lower APR. We argued about this DAILY. Every day I would ask if she called...answer was always no. It got so bad we didn't talk to each other for a few days.

I was pissed that my Mom was being stupid about something that was so easy and she was frustrated with my lack of patience and why I was nagging her about so many different things. I finally broke my wall of silence and called her. SO she told me that she called Chase and they did reduce her interest rate by 13%!!! I was so happy. I was like do you realize how much savings that is? I'm sure she didn't but she get's that 13% is a lot less and clearly it was important to me so it should matter to her.

So I have won a few battles but the war is far from over.

Role Reversal

2009-04-14T01:34:00.000-04:00

My Mom turns 70 this year. You would think she would be retired. Not my Mom. She has collected social security and still worked 40 hours a week. But a few weeks ago she was laid off from her job and we are now in an interesting transition.

My Mom said she was already prepared for a layoff. She saw that work was slowing down and she realized that being older would qualify her to be expendable. At first I was tempted to sue her former employer for age discrimination but given who he laid off at the same time as my Mom I can't prove it.

Me being ME I immediately jumped in to driver mode. Within hours of my Mom telling me she got laid off I had stayed up all night researching stuff on the internet for her basic concerns. Can she collect unemployment and social security? She has Medicare but needs a prescription plan, which one is the best for her? Are there training programs for older adults? What jobs are there for senior citizens that still want to work? What's her credit score and how much debt does she have? What kind of debt consolidation/debt management plan could I come up with for her? I went to work the next day and created a binder of anything and everything I could find that would help her in her situation. Within 24 hours of being laid off the binder was completed. Within 48 hours of her being laid off I signed her up for unemployment and gave her the binder with ASSIGNMENTS. Yes, my crazy ass gave my Mom assignments of what she specifically had to do and when.

I blog about a lot of things and I'm sure some of you are wondering why I waited so long to blog about this but it's because my Mom and I had to adjust to our new roles. What new role is that? I have become the parent and my Mom has become the child. Not to say my Mom isn't still independent but we are definitely at a point where my Mom has to listen and do what I say and that has been very hard for her. So over the course of the year I'll be talking about this role reversal.

I've known for years because my siblings always made it clear that as the youngest our Mother would be my responsibility. And I resented that. I feel like it falls to me because I'm single, no kids and I'm the youngest. But I really feel it should be a shared responsibility. Luckily my Mom is healthy so I don't have to physically take care of her but in terms of her financial future I really do feel it's in my hands.

Anyone else in this situation where you have become the parent to your parent? For those who aren't yet, how are you preparing for your future and the future of your parent(s)?

The End of Lent

2009-04-13T00:54:00.000-04:00

For lent I gave up wine and I thought that would be easy. It wasn't as easy as I thought.

First, the devil is no joke. So the week before I gave up wine for lent EVERY SINGLE Fashion Week event I went too, I was given wine...bottles of it. So once lent started my refrigerator was fully stocked with wine. And I had to see it every single time I opened the fridge. The devil set me up y'all.

Second, I didn't realize how much food was cooked with wine. So I had to avoid any recipes that listed wine as an ingredient just so I wouldn't be accused of cheating.

Third, I've been having cravings for Sangria. Out of all the alcoholic beverages I could have, I craved Sangria and it happens to be made with wine. Meera we gotta split a pitcher SOON.

Fourth, wine is my sedative. It's about the only thing, or so I thought, that could get my head to shut up long enough for me to sleep. But during lent I found myself drinking a lot more tea and burning a candle that is supposed to help with sleeping and reading a book or magazine before going to bed. Those methods didn't always work as well as a glass of wine would have.

Firth, I think I just replaced wine with soda. Near the beginning of lent I went to Costco and got a 36 pack of Pepsi. Needless to say I reached for a soda instead of reaching for the wine when I went in to my fridge.

So lent is now over and I can't say that I will go back to drinking as much wine as I drank before. But after a long day or a long week sometimes you just want to come home, crack open a bottle of wine, kick you feet up and enjoy. Erin, you still got that bottle waiting for me :)

My girlfriend Elie found a "loophole." Lent is supposed to be 40 days BUT if you got to any calendar Lent this year runs for 47 days. So technically I was supposed to have 7 days off. I broke down and took one day...I gave in to the Sangria craving when I went to my girlfriend's birthday dinner at a Cuban restaurant. I know this may be a point of debate. ELIE - where's that link you showed me to prove we weren't cheating?

Did I or did I not cheat? What did you give up for lent and were you successful?

First 100 Days

2009-04-10T00:02:00.003-04:00

This blog is NOT about the first 100 days of Obama's administration. It's about the first 100 days of 2009 and how far I have gotten on my nine goals for the year.

For anyone who is counting and cares, April 29, marks the first 100 days of Obama's administration.

1. Read 30 books
I have read 9 books and I'm in the middle of my 10th book. So I'm on track to reach my goal by the end of the year.

2. Pay off my debt consolidation loan
My last loan payment is supposed to be September 28, 2009 and I'm still on track.

3. Get back in shape
Although I love my Wii it just wasn't enough so I joined a gym and got a trainer. To say I'm feeling the burn would be an understatement. There are days it hurts to walk but I'm pushing through the pain.

4. Keep on cooking
My not eating out for the month of March definitely contributed to my "keep on cooking" mantra. I still don't like cooking. It's just not something I will ever love to do. I will always prefer eating out. But cooking once a week is not so bad.

5. 3 to 6 months of expenses in to my savings
This is one of my hardest goals and I'm not sure I can do it this year. But it's a good goal to have so I'll keep on striving towards it.

6. Relax more
Anyone knows me knows that I am super Type-A personality. I have a very hard time relaxing. So I'm taking yoga and pilates. I'm also watching less TV. I think TV contributes to my stress. So escaping in to a DVD or spending more time at the gym has been my great escape.

7. Stay healthy
Joining the gym has largely contributed to my "staying healthy" goal. I'm still seeing my chiropractor on a weekly basis. I'm still getting the allergy shots and it's working. I went to my girlfriends bridal shower and the host had a dog and I was able to play with the dog and not get sick.

8. Travel some place I have never been to before
In a month I'm headed to St. Thomas. I have never been there before. Still working on the trip to the Dominican Republic and possibly Costa Rica at the end of this year.

9. Purge my apartment
I feel like I'm in a constant state of purging. I have so many magazines that I'm always going through and getting rid of them. And my Mom has been helping me to throw out even more.

Overall I'm very happy with my progress within the first 100 days of 2009. And in addition to my long terms goals for 2009 I have done various short term goals that also help me to stay motivated. I'm in the middle of 2 challenges right now (not using any credit cards this month AND forcing myself to live on less by putting a percentage of my gross biweekly salary in to savings). Those short term challenges contribute to my long term goals.

How are you doing on your goals for 2009? If you haven't given them any thought, go back and see what you listed as goals and do something to get back on track.

Next update on my 2009 goals will be July 1. That's the half way point of 2009.

Stress On My Body

2009-04-09T05:53:00.000-04:00

Y'all know me and I'm SUPER Type A. As one person described if there was something higher than Type A, I would be it. I say all that to say is I thrive off of stress. Stressful situations just motivate me to work harder. Well stress is starting to take a major toll on my body.

First thing I noticed was the pain in my neck, shoulders and back. I go to a chiropractor regularly but it was only offering temporary relief.

Next was the loss of sleep. I already suffer from mind chatter which makes it hard for me to relax. But combine that with the physical pain and sleep, when I get it, is not restful.

But the thing that bothered me the most was the hair loss. I started to notice my hair thinning and breaking. My stylist was like what is wrong with you? Every time I get my hair done it's like there is less and less of it on my head. I looked at pictures of how my hair used to look and it made me want to cry. And that was the final straw.

So being Type A I can't let stress win. To combat the pain I took my doctor's advice and joined a gym, so I'm taking Yoga classes regularly. As a result of going to the gym I'm also sleeping better. To deal with the hair loss I think I'm going to get my hair cut and get my hair braided. It's almost time for summer and I prefer to have my hair braided in the summer. But I'm hoping my new techniques for stress relief will have an immediate affect on my body, my soul and most importantly, MY HAIR.

What do you do to combat stress?

Money Values in the Midst of a Financial Crisis

2009-04-08T15:23:00.002-04:00

THIS IS AN EXTRA BLOG POST ABOUT A POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FEATURED IN A STORY AND GET SOME HELP. READ ON FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HOW YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR INFO:

IS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN SOME WAY CAUSING YOU TO QUESTION THE MONEY VALUES YOU RAISED YOUR KIDS WITH?

Have you come to feel that your kids had too much before (for example, brand name clothes, electronics, big allowances)? Or perhaps you’d like to curb your childrens’ spending or change those of your family as a whole? A national financial publication is looking to speak with families that are grappling with these family money issues due to a financial change—say a lost job—or just a reassessment of what’s important amid this crisis.

We’d especially love to talk to couples who:

•are in their 40s or early 50s
•have pre-teen or teenage kids
•have professional careers
•have household income over $100,000-$200,000 (and are willing to share this, as well as some numbers about what they spend on kids)

Please send a photograph and contact information (phone and email); and let us know what you do for a living, how you spent on your kids before, and how you’d like to change that.

In return, you will get personally directed financial advice from a financial planner.

If interested, or you know of a family that would be a great candidate, please send information to alexis_jeffries@moneymail.com

So Bad You Have To Laugh

2009-04-07T01:03:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been in a situation that was just so bad you just had to laugh? And in some cases you had to laugh to keep from crying? Or even as you were crying you started laughing or you were laughing and started crying? If you are feeling me on any of these scenarios then you understand why I was not the least bit upset at President Obama for laughing during his 60 Minute interview a few weeks ago. Hell I was laughing too.

The economic situation is so bad some times you just have to laugh. And think about it. He first started laughing about how Americans don't want to put money in to the car industry. And then how banks think Americans should pay for their bailout while Americans think they shouldn't pay any part of any bailout. It's all just ridiculous. Everything is inter-related. We may not like the AIG situation but it would be even worse if the government didn't bail them out. We aren't buying American cars BUT the fallout through multiple industries if the Big 3 were to fail is cataclysmic.

For the President it's a case of being stuck between a rock and a hard place and having the choice of two bad solutions to solve an even worse problem. So if laughing at how ludicrous things have become keeps our President sane and focused, laugh on. Things are so serious sometimes we just have to stop for a moment and laugh...I promise it will keep you from going insane. And after laughing, crying or both you might feel better and might have come up with a reasonable solution to whatever situation got you to laugh/cry.

March Madness

2009-04-06T04:05:00.004-04:00

In honor of March Madness coming to an end and my alma mater wiping the court with any school in our path to #1 I have decided to keep today's blog light and relaxed (kinda like the way those Tar Heels play). Watch my new favorite Guitar Hero commercial featuring The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Basketball Coach Roy Williams (and some other coaches). GO TAR HEELS!!!!

In Suze Orman, I Trust

2009-04-03T00:41:00.003-04:00

Before you mumble and groan that I'm talking about my financial shero again I promise to only bring Suze Orman up when it is absolutely necessary. Well last Saturday I was watching her show and she gave away something for FREE.

Suze Orman has a Will & Trust kit that normally sells for $13.50 (not a bad price) but she is giving it away for FREE. So I know your next question is what is a Will & Trust Kit and what does it include. I snatched the description from the website:

This is an easy-to-use and fast way for you and other members of your household to create your own advance directive, also known as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, living revocable trust, and all the other must-have documents you need to protect you and your family. It’s as easy as 1-2-3—simply personalize, print, and protect. Suze Orman and her own estate trust attorney have created the most state-of-the-art documents found anywhere. There are more than $2,500 worth of estate documents in this kit. Why pay thousands of dollars when you can get the same documents in this kit!

This kit includes:

• More than 50 state-of-the-art documents
• Free automatic on-line updates
• Verbal and written instructions taking you step by step through the four must-have documents (living will, durable power of attorney for health care, living revocable trust, financial power of attorney)
• Password protection securing multiple users’ information
• A tutorial that shows you everything you need to know
• 10 electronic books

Now I know you are like why do I need a will, trust or any of these documents. Bottomline, because you just never know. For example, I'm single with no kids but I have a house in Atlanta. If I don't create a will the house would just go back to the bank. There may be someone in my family I want to will the house too. Or God forbid I get in to an accident, my family has no idea where I stand on wanting my organs donated or if I want to be taken off life support, etc., etc. I know no one wants to talk about/deal with these issues but if this economic crisis has taught us anything it's that at minimum we need to have some plan in place for the future because you just never know.

It's extremely easy to get the kit:
1. Go to Suze Orman.com
2. Click on Will & Trust Kit
3. Click on Gift Code
4. Enter "People First" in to the code area
5. You will immediately be given an activation code to start using her Will & Trust Kit

If you don't want to use the kit right away, just get the activation code so you can use it at a later date. Some things are happening in my family that I'll talk about in the coming weeks but I'll just say that an offer for a kit like this for FREE couldn't have come at a more appropriate time in my life.

Living On Less Challenge

2009-04-02T01:45:00.004-04:00

Where is Erika, Keisha and Monique? I bet y'all thought I forgot. It's time for our "Living On Less Challenge."

1. First paycheck of the month, take out 5% of the gross and put it in to savings.

2. Second paycheck of the month, take out 10% of the gross and put it in to savings.

Bonus Challenge: Find a way to make (or save) 10% of your gross annual salary. I'm doing it through Amazon book sales, teaching, selling stuff on ebay and selling stuff on craigslist.

It's not as hard as you think. I already scheduled to have 5% of my first paycheck for the month of April and 10% of my second paycheck for the month of April to go automatically in to my savings. For the bonus challenge I'm teaching a seminar in May that I didn't originally plan to teach.

The purpose of this challenge, as with any challenge, is to get motivated. And clearly, by how often I blog about personal finance, I get hype about money.

So who wants to join in? Come on, we could all do for a little financial fitness. Let's really push ourselves to live on less this month.

Do Not Use My Credit Card Month

2009-04-01T01:32:00.002-04:00

Here is the last part of the Suze Orman challenge. I picked a month to not charge anything to any of my credit cards. That lucky month is APRIL!!!

I love a challenge and the two previous Suze Orman challenges were helpful. I KNOW the third is a great idea. One month of not adding to credit card debt is obviously a good thing. Again I don't know how much I will save this month. I guess I would have to estimate a certain amount that might have been charged plus the interest on it to see how much I will save.

Anyone want to join me for this last leg of the challenge? For one month just put all your credit cards away. Debit card usage is allowed. Let's keep on saving together.

End of No Eat Out Month

2009-03-31T00:39:00.008-04:00

WARNING: Do not read this blog post if you haven't eaten. It will make you hungry.

I picked the month of March to not eat out unless someone else was paying for the meal. During the month I kept a food diary so all the doubters could see that I could do it. I'm not going to bore you with the day to day of what meals I ate every day so here's a list of some of the things I cooked:

- Shrimp & Corn Chowder
- Ribs
- Chicken Breast with Broccoli and Brown Rice
- Ravioli with Peas & Shallots
- Steak and vegetables
- Spicy Shrimp and Angel Hair Pasta
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Pizza Bagels (I LOVE pizza bagels when it's a New York bagel)
- Loaded Baked Potato (broccoli, cheese and bacon bits)
- Pork Chops (thanks Kristina for the recipe)

I definitely flexed my cooking muscle...LOL. But I honestly think I didn't save any money. I really think eating in is just as expensive as eating out. As you can see from my food diary I did eat well this month. I think I actually gained weight in the process. And as much as I ate I still have a lot of food in my freezer and cabinets. So I'm going to keep the food challenge going. I will go out to eat but I'm going to limit myself to no more than 10 times this month and that will include if I buy lunch. Anyone want to join me for this next food challenge.

Next up: Not charging anything on my credit cards for the month of April.

March Freebies

2009-03-30T01:22:00.003-04:00

I have to say March was a very good month for me. I think it helped that it was my birthday month. Everybody offers birthday specials and you can really take advantage of some sweet deals.

1. Free Meals & Drinks
I want to thank all my friends that took me out for various birthday lunches, dinners and drinks. I also want to thank y'all for supporting my "no eating out" month challenge. Some might say I was being cheap but those that know me knows the challenge was about pushing myself to cook and comparing the financials of paying to eat out vs paying to cook...but I'll blog about that tomorrow.

2. Free Lip Gloss
Sephora has a deal for Beauty insiders that they can redeem up to 14 days after their birthday. This month it was a set of 3 lip glosses.

3. Free Game Play
I LOVE Dave & Busters. I have a registered Power Card so D&B sent me an email for $10 worth of free game play. I'm addicted to the Super Trivia game and Deal or No Deal.

4. Free Eye Brow Wax
I am 29 years old and had never had my eyebrows waxed. I had been thinking about it because every time I go to beauty events the makeup artists always comment that I should get my brows cleaned up even though I explain I use my brow hairs to cover some scars I have. So I was surfing around on Bliss Spa website and came across the Free Brow Event. I was able to get a $30 painless eye brow wax for FREE!!! SO I think I'm addicted now. I know people normally pay about $8-10 for a eye brow wax at the nail salon but once you have had a Bliss Signature Brow wax you will never want to let anyone else do it. They use a painless low heat wax that doesn't require the use of a strip to rip it off.

5. Free Workouts
I took some classes at New York Sports Club and Crunch. Right now there are some great deals and everyone is willing to let you try them out for free. As much as I love my Wii it's not enough. So I'm going to join a gym, more to come on that later.

Do you know of any other freebies that you can get, and not just for your birthday? I'm all about FREE!!!

Spring Cleaning Your Wallet

2009-03-27T01:04:00.002-04:00

Discover card did a personal finance series in partnership with Real Simple magazine. So through the course of the year I will be highlighting some of the lessons shared in the series.

Today's topic: Spring Cleaning Your Wallet

The less you carry the easier it is to keep your wallet clean. It's also less to worry about getting lost or stolen. Empty the contents out on the table and try sticking to this wallet diet (that Discover suggests):
- Driver's License/Photo ID
- Primary Credit Card
- ATM Card
- Health Insurance Card
- Prescription Card
- Cash
One thing I would add to this list (because I live in NY), my Metro Card.

I actually have a wallet that I carry every day and I have a wallet that I keep at home. The wallet I keep at home has all my other credit cards, store charge cards, and membership/rewards cards. I also have a separate case for my business cards. They got dirty when I kept them in my every day wallet so it's worth it to carry something extra to maintain professionalism. I don't carry photos in my wallet. I guess if I had kids maybe I would. But then again I would just whip out my phone cause I'm sure I would have some photos stored in my phone.

Does your wallet need a diet? What would you add/remove from the list Discover suggested?

We All Get A Raise

2009-03-26T00:34:00.000-04:00

One week from today we will all be getting a raise.

The centerpiece of the Economic Recovery Plan is President Obama’s “Making Work Pay” income tax credit of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for couples in 2009 and 2010. The money will be delivered through paychecks as a reduction in Social Security withholdings, and is intended to bolster consumer spending by giving a small lift to household pocketbooks. So in your next paycheck look to find about $8 to $16 additional dollars. Officials hope you will spend it and not save it.

I know $8 or even $16 does not sound like a lot so in support of President Obama trying to do something to stimulate this economy listed below is my list of 10 things I could spend (not save) $16 on.

1. With gas at about $1.75 in my area I could buy 1/2 to 3/4 of a tank of gas

2. Get a pedicure/manicure

3. Buy lunch 2 days out of the week

4. Go to the movies

5. Rent about 3 DVD's from Blockbuster

6. Take a cab home from work

7. Buy a book

8. Buy the newspaper every day for a week

9. Buy a bottle of wine

10. Buy a tall chai tea latte from Starbucks, 5 days a week

Notice everything I listed in my list of 10 in some small way does stimulate the economy. I'm sure a newspaper would love if I would buy a newspaper every day. Or the movie industry would thank me if I went to the movies. Maybe one less bookstore would have to close if I bought another book.

Don't get me wrong. I know that $16 doesn't go as far as it used it. But I just think, at least for myself, saving the $16 won't be more beneficial to me than spending it.

What could or will you do with the extra money?

Doctor's Orders

2009-03-25T00:26:00.002-04:00

I have been going to a chiropractor for over a year. I have scoliosis so I will probably need to have adjustments for the rest of my life. I don't mind that. I always feel good after an adjustment.

Every 2 months my doctor re-evaluates my progress. She gave a surprising recommendation on my last re-evaluation. "You might want to consider taking up yoga." I was surprised that a medical doctor would recommend an alternative therapy. I agree with her that I have a very hard time relaxing and maybe Yoga is the way to go.

I'm a little skeptical because I took a yoga class back in college and the teacher wanted me to "feel the space between my toes." Um...yeah...no...to feel the space between my toes I'd have to touch my toes physical, not in my mind. And there were some days I would fall asleep in the yoga class, not because it was so relaxing but because it was so boring. So outside of this class my only other experience with Yoga is my Wii fit.

So for the next two weeks I'll be researching gyms. I'm leaning towards joining Crunch. I was a member of Crunch when I lived in Atlanta. I went to the New York Sports Club that one of my girlfriends attends this weekend. I took an Urban Rebounding and then an Abdominals class.

Why Crunch? They are the only gym that offers AntiGravity Yoga which is highly recommended for people like myself with back/neck issues.

Are any of you in to Yoga? Are you a member of a gym or a yoga studio? What exercise regimen works for you?

25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis

2009-03-24T02:16:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago Time magazine did a great story on the 25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis. I actually missed this story because the main cover story was on faith so I didn't notice that they had done this story until someone else asked me about it. I'm not going to pontificate because the story speaks for itself. It's actually nice to know who we should possibly blame BUT I suggest you check out #5. That one might surprise you ;)

Time News Article

25 People to Blame Slide show

Movie Maven

2009-03-20T00:34:00.003-04:00

I talk about finances so much I'm sure y'all are probably sick of it. So it's Friday and I decided it's time for a lighter topic. Movies. Everyone knows I'm a movieaholic yet lately I haven't talked about any of the recent movies I have seen. So here's my brief summary/review of recent flicks I have seen in theaters or on DVD.

1. Watchmen
I wasn't familiar with the graphic novel before seeing this movie. I was a little apprehensive about the over 2 hour running time. But I actually liked this movie a lot. I liked the back stories of the characters. I liked the overall premise/point of the story. I thought the cinematography was great. Overall this is a movie I would recommend to someone whether they are familiar with the graphic novel or not.

2. Madea Goes To Jail
I'm all for supporting black films, especially Tyler Perry, BUT I'm tired of the same old story lines. And the movie is only about 1 hour and 50 minutes but after the first hour I was tired. The movie was not as funny as I expected, wanted and in some ways needed it to be. But given the economic climate our expectations for laughter are higher. And as I pointed out to my sister Tyler is obsessed with weddings. I won't give the story away but this one you can wait for DVD to watch.

3. He's Just Not That Into You
I LOVED the book so of course I LOVED the movie. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD because I want a copy of it. If you haven't read the book, you should, but it's not necessary in order to enjoy the movie. If you have seen the movie and still haven't read the book, read it. You will identify with the movie because you will see yourself and people you know portrayed in the movie. I think there is something everyone, men and women, can take away from the movie.

4. W
George W. Bush is an idiot, we knew that, the movie just showed it. If you were somehow oblivious to the last 8 years it's worth it to see. But no need to make it #1 on your Netflix queue.

5. Vicky Christina Barcelona
I'm not usually a fan of Woody Allen films but he has a couple that I really do like and this one can be added to that short list. It's worth the rental.

6. The Secret
I just finished reading the book so I wanted to see the movie. The movie is really a summary of the book so for me it served to reinforce what I had read. I would recommend reading the book before watching the movie.

7. Flash of Genius
This was a typical David and Goliath story and it was based on a true story. In this case the inventor of the intermittent windshield wipers going up against the big bad car industry. This was an okay movie. Again, worth watching but not a must see, don't miss.

8. Changeling
The first time I saw this movie it was around Christmas on the internet and I wasn't really feeling it. This is also a movie based on a true story. When I watched it a second time I still wasn't moved by it. This, like Flash of Genius, is about someone sticking to their convictions. And there is something to be said about that but there are so many movies with that premise that I'm not strongly recommending this movie but if it comes up on your Netflix list you won't be disappointed.

9. Defiance
Someone at work recommended this movie. And yet again it's a movie based on a true story. And also a David vs Goliath story line. One thing I have to commend Jewish people for doing is getting their story out. They do not let anyone forget about the Holocaust. There are still people like Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that thinks that Holocaust didn't happen but we all know he only believes what is in his best interest.

Have you seen any good movies lately? Any flicks worth watching/renting?

Manage Your Money, Manage Your Life - Part 1

2009-03-19T00:58:00.003-04:00

Discover card did a personal finance series in partnership with Real Simple magazine. So through the course of the year I will be highlighting some of the lessons shared in the series.

Today's topic: Organizing Your Everyday

The first suggestion for managing your money is getting organized. They suggest saving and organizing your receipts for one area of your life and when you get a grip on that expanding to more categories. The categories they suggest as a breakdown are:
- ATM/Banking
- Business
- Education
- Entertainment
- Grocery
- Home Improvement
- Personal
- Tolls/Gas
- Other (category that you choose)

For me I would start with the Entertainment category, meaning dinners eaten out or ordered in. Because I honestly don't know how much I spend on that but I know it's my biggest expense. I think most people would probably need to start with the ATM category. I think people would probably be surprised at how many trips they make to the ATM machine in a month.

I also think my biggest problem is that I'm not sure how long to hold on to certain receipts. Discover came up with an excellent tipsheet that breaks down what receipts to keep and how long to keep them.

What works for you when it comes to organizing receipts?

New Credit Card Laws

2009-03-18T00:12:00.003-04:00

This week on the Suze Orman show she talked about the new credit card laws BUT they don't go in to effect until July 2010. So Suze says (and I agree) it's a case of too little, too late.

1. No more Universal Default
Currently if you are late on one card the other cards can raise your rate. They will no longer be allowed to do this.

2. End to raising interest rate increases for no reason
Credit card companies will no longer be able to raise your rate for the heck of it. You will have to be over 30 days late for them to be able to raise your interest rate.

3. No more double-cycle billing
Say you charge a $1,000. You get the bill and you pay 900. The next month all you owe is $100 but the credit card company still charges you the interest rate on the full amount of what you originally charged. So they are charging you interest on the $1,000 and not just the $100 you owe. That is a double-cycle billing and will no longer be allowed.

4. Payments will apply to higher interest rate balances first
Let's say you have a $1,000 on your credit card that are purchases with an APR of 15%. But you also have a balance transfer on your card of $1,000 with an APR of 3%. Right now when you make your monthly payment the money goes towards the part of your balance that has the lower APR. So the interest on your higher APR balance is still growing and doesn't decrease until you pay the lower APR balance first. That is going to change. The payments you make will be applied to the higher interest rate balance first.

I'm glad these much needed changes are coming in 2010 but why can't they be enacted sooner. I'm sure the credit card companies are boo-hooing that they need time to update their computer billing systems in order to properly bill customers. But in this age of technology they shouldn't need over a year to update their systems. Congress should force them to do it in the next 3-6 months. This year is already off to a terrible start. Citigroup is probably going to fold so credit card relief of this kind needs to be implemented immediately not in 2010...as Suze said by then it may be too little, too late. I don't even want to IMAGINE what the state of the economy might be by then.

The Next Bailout: Student Loans

2009-03-17T01:34:00.003-04:00

There is a Facebook group, Cancel Student Loan Debt to Stimulate the Economy. In fact, a few of you have already joined the group. The basic premise to the group is that if the government really wants the economy to be stimulated forgiving student loan debt would have an IMMEDIATE stimulating effect on the economy.

I'm torn on the issue and part of the reason is that I agree with Michelle Singletary, Color of Money personal finance columnist for the Washington Post. She wrote a column a few weeks ago about people whining about the fact that they were financial responsible and because of that they weren't eligible for any of the government financial bailout programs. I get how everyone thinks that because so many companies, banks and people are getting helped by the government that we should all get help. BUT I agree with Michelle that people that aren't getting bailouts should be HAPPY they aren't in a position where they need a bailout.

So because of this I'm torn on if the government should wipe the slate clean on my student loan debt. Of course I would love the additional money BUT I only pay $176.50 a month on my student loans. And the interest rate is 3%. The debt is really not a burden for me. My credit card debt is a much bigger problem.

The founder of this facebook group says people would be more inclined to spend the money they now put towards student loans. He also says it would be more successful than the 2 stimulus checks we received in the last 4 years. Most people either saved their stimulus check money or put it towards a credit card debt. So for me, if the government was to forgive my student loan debt I would do just that. Put $76.50 a month more in to my savings or Roth IRA and $100 a month more towards a credit card bill.

But on the flip side I get how some people, particularly people with advanced degrees, who pay a hell of a lot more a month in student loan repayments might be more inclined to spend. I can only imagine how much a month a lawyer, doctor, MBA, PHD, etc. pay a month for their student loans. So let's say a person is paying $1000 a month in student loans and their student loan debt was forgiven. Even if they put half in to savings that would still leave $500 that they would probably be more willing to spend and thus stimulate the economy.

If you go to the group or check out a blog post on the idea on U.S. News & World Report you can see the various comments and they go both ways.

Would I like some economic relief? Absolutely. Do I necessarily think the way to do that is to forgive my student loan debt? I'm not sure. I'm the type of person that believes you should pay what you agree to pay. When I signed on the dotted line on my student loans I knew what I was getting myself in to and if I'm going to be a financially responsible person it is my duty to pay it back, as I agreed too. But I don't know because I could be one of the people Michelle Singletary scolded in her column. I don't like that my hard earned money is bailing other folks out but we live in a democracy and things aren't always fair.

What do y'all think? If your student loan debt was forgiven what would you do with the additional funds? For those that joined the group on Facebook, why did you join?

Tax Time

2009-03-16T00:49:00.000-04:00

By now you should have received your W-2 form so it's time to start prepping for tax filing. Most people expect to get a refund so the sooner you file the quicker you will get your refund. Here are two things to think about:

1. Standard Deductions Increases
The basic standard deduction for joint filers for the 2009 tax year will be $11,400, up from $10,900 for 2008. For singles, the amount for 2009 will be $5,700, up from $5,450.

2. Writing Off Your Loses
Beyond my 401K I'm not really an investor. But for those who do actually participate actively in the stock market. Investors are allowed to offset capital gains and losses, with no limit. If your losses exceed your gains, you can deduct as much as $3,000 of net losses ($1,500 if married and filing separately) each year. Additional losses get carried over into future years. So while most people are taking a loss, some will be able to get a write off for their loss several years in to the future.

To all my tax expert friends or those in the know, what other things should people be considering in prepping their 2008 taxes?

Live On Less

2009-03-13T09:34:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday it was announced that the Miami Herald will cut 175 employees. This announcement is pretty common these days BUT it gets worse. The remaining full-time employees earning between $25,000 and $50,000 a year will have their pay reduced 5%. For employees earning more than $50,000, the pay cut will be 10%. And it doesn't end there. Employees will also lose one week of pay this year through an unpaid furlough program. So what makes this layoff announcement unique is that everyone is financially impacted whether they are losing their job or not. This announcement made me think could I live off of 5% or 10% less than what I make right now?

The one week "forced" vacation (because it's unpaid) I could handle. I would actually take the week to have a staycation and relax. I would use my corporate ID to go to some of the museums that I can go to for free but can never seem to find the time to go. I would read some books and watch some movies. Truly relax and give my body and mind a restart.

But to have to live on 5% or 10% less in salary I would have to take some immediate actions. First thing I would do is go to my apartment management office and see if they could reduce my rent. If they couldn't I would break my lease and move home to NJ. I'm so lucky to be able to go home if I ever have to. Next, because I'm a Diva (the female hustler kind of diva) I would be planning out what I have to do to make up for the loss of income. How many classes would I have to teach. How much stuff would I have to sell on ebay, craigslist and amazon? Are there any additional expenses that I could cut? I would probably resort to Suze Orman's plan of only paying the minimum on credit cards. I guess I say all that to say that I would find a way. By no means am I saying it would be easy but clearly, in that position, you have no choice but to either sink or swim.

My heart goes out to everyone at the Miami Herald; both those who are being laid off and those who are still employed. I would hope that they have been pre-planning for this situation because it has been known for months that the paper was not doing well. So they have had at least 6 months to pre-plan.

Does anyone smell a challenge? WELL when I heard what was happening I thought about putting myself to the challenge. For one paycheck deducting 5% or 10% of my gross biweekly salary and putting it in to my savings account and seeing how I "survived" off less. What do y'all think? Anyone up for the challenge? Could you live off of 5% or 10% less than what you make right now?

What Kids Need To Know About Money

2009-03-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

How did you learn what you know about money? For most of us it was the hard way by running up credit card debt or bouncing a check. Which makes me ask two questions:
1. Why don't our parents talk to us and teach us about being fiscally responsible?
2. Why in the 12+ years of schooling do we NEVER take a class on personal finance?

No offense to my Mom but all I was ever taught about money was that we didn't have it. So when you go in to the grocery store, don't ask for anything. So how did I learn what I know? By trial and error. In 1996 I was working at a law firm after school. It was one of the administrative assistants that told me I should sign up for a savings account at the local credit union, so I did. I had my Mom take me one Saturday and from then on I would deposit most of my earnings instead of just cashing my check from the bank my law firm used. Shortly after opening my savings account I got my first credit card. It was Macy's and my limit was $100. When I got the card the only thing my Mom said was whatever you charge you have to pay for plus interest. Right before leaving for college I opened a checking account making sure it was with a bank that had branches in both NC and NJ. I signed up for my account online and somehow I did it wrong so I ended up having to call customer service. And there ends my education on personal finance.

No one taught me about savings, how a bank works and how to manage my checking, the basics of the stock market, credit cards or even how to calculate how much rent you really can afford. Those are basic things that I think everyone should know long before they graduate college and venture out in to the world on their own. I don't want my kids to have to learn from their mistakes or from their friends or from the internet, TV or books. There are some great books out for parents like "Raising Money Smart Kids." You can get a summary of what you should be teaching your kids at every age in this MSN article.

Ultimately you teach your kids what you know. My Mom's knowledge of personal finance was limited to what she knew. I remember one day she asked me if I had a 401K. She said she doesn't know what it is but listening to the news it sounds like something I should have.

I love my Mom but I don't want to be like my Mom. I don't want to have to work in to my later years because I didn't save, didn't have an IRA, 401K or any kind of retirement plans. So the greatest lesson she could teach me is to be an example of what not to do and how not to be when it comes to personal finance.

But it's funny how the world works. For my 29th birthday my Mom bought me an electronic money bank. It counts the money as you put it in to the bank. She said every day I should save any change I have in my wallet. Funny thing is I first learned that from Suze Orman and I have already been doing that for over a year.

How did you learn about money? What do you know now that you wish you knew earlier? Should there be a required course in school on personal finance? At what age do you start teaching your kids about money?

HOA Crisis

2009-03-11T08:56:00.003-04:00

There is another crisis going on related to the housing meltdown. It's the implosion of HOA's (Homeowners Associations).

For those that don't own homes, a homeowner's association is a group of homeowner's in a community that agree to a covenant and pay monthly dues to support the community. Fees from the HOA may cover landscaping, security, electricity for communal spaces, etc. In New York City that would be similar to the monthly required maintenance fee.

When a home goes in to foreclosure not only is the family that lives in that home affected but the community as well. The first thing people stop doing when they know they are going in to foreclosure is paying their HOA fees. And I can't blame them. In the large scheme of things that fee is minimal and not as important as the mortgage. But currently my community in Atlanta is about 30% short on expected dues and it's largely due to foreclosures. I didn't think this would directly impact me...until it did.

In 2007 there was a drought in the greater Atlanta area and as a result my front lawn died. Over time the grass and bushes were not replaced so now there is nothing but red Georgia clay in front of my home that is blowing all over my driveway. So I went to the HOA with my complaint because I always pay my HOA fees, every month, on time and I have never been late. I asked why am I paying for landscaping when clearly nothing has been done to my landscaping in years. I get this boo hoo story about how they aren't able to deal with the landscaping issue of my property because 1 - they can't get a quorum at monthly homeowner's meetings to vote on the matter and 2 - because people aren't paying their HOA fees, they don't have the money to fix my property.

My first instinct was can I sue my HOA for neglect and not abiding by the covenant? If I'm paying they should STOP servicing the homes that aren't and take care of the people who are. But luckily my home is a tax write off. So I'm thinking of taking the path of less resistance. Getting the landscaping fixed by my personal property manager and writing it off on my taxes next year as a home improvement.

Is anyone else feeling the pinch in services with their HOA's? Anyone have any solutions?

Goals and Challenges

2009-03-10T01:51:00.002-04:00

I know some of y'all are saying to yourself why is she always setting some goal for herself or trying another challenge? And why does she have multiple goals/challenges going on at the same time, how does she keep track?

To most people it would probably get overwhelming but it is one of my strongest character traits. I ALWAYS have to be doing something which is why I have a very hard time relaxing. I can't just watch a movie. I have to watch a movie, be on the computer, talking on IM, folding laundry, etc., etc. I've always been the type to try and cram as much in to my day as humanly/physically possible.

But specifically about all the goals and challenges...I love to challenge myself and every day I want to improve. I always have to be striving towards something. There's just this feeling that I get as I get closer and closer to my goal. And I can't even describe the feeling of when I actually achieve a goal. Problem is I probably don't take the time to savor the achievement enough before setting up another obstacle/hurdle for myself.

For example, this year I set a goal to read at least 30 books. And every time I finish a book and add it to my list I'm ready to start reading another one. I should probably take a break. Maybe reflect on what I read before jumping right in to the next book. But I'm just so driven to meet that goal because I didn't meet it last year and I don't take too kindly to failure even small ones. I probably take the small failures harder because they should have been easier to achieve and for whatever reason I didn't achieve it.

Also I don't set up goals/challenges just for the sake of having a goal/challenge. Each thing I do is intended to benefit me in some way. Forcing myself to read 30 books in a year might sound like torture to some but to me it's actually forcing me to relax and focus. When I'm reading a book I cannot do 10 other things. I can't read and watch tv, listen to music, sort laundry, wash dishes, etc. I literally have to take the time to sit down, focus and read a book. So while I'm reading I'm also forcing myself to stop and relax because as y'all know I'm like the Energizer bunny and I'll keep going until I physically drop.

Do you set up goals and challenges for yourself? How much effort do you put in to achieving them? Do they give you a mental or emotional high?

Read The Fine Print

2009-03-09T05:38:00.000-04:00

I'm usually very good about reading the fine print before I accept an offer...Especially if it is a credit card balance transfer offer. But no matter how on top of it I think I am, I'm not perfect. And I made a costly mistake...$944.25 to be exact.

December 2007 I bought my Mom new windows for her house. The offer was if I used my Home Depot credit card it would be no payment, no interest for 12 months. So I was thinking, great...I have a year to pay this off. But what I missed was that even thought I didn't have to pay any interest, interest was accruing. And if I didn't pay the full balance of by the end of the offer all the accrued interest would be added to my account.

I literally had $2,500 left to pay and WHAM! They added the $944.25 to my account. So I went from having $2,500 left to pay off to $3,444.25 to pay off. I was pissed, but I couldn't be mad because it was my fault. I IMMEDIATELY balance transferred the remaining balance to one of my major credit cards. I haven't closed the Home Depot account but I can promise you that I won't be using it unless there is some dire emergency at my house in Atlanta, my apt in NYC or at my Mom's house.

So please, don't get caught like me. Read the fine print and know what you are agreeing too when you sign on the dotted line.

25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You

2009-03-06T05:16:00.003-05:00

So I finally gave in and did my own version of "25 Random Things About Me". But I hope this 25 things virus (yes it's a virus in the sense that it's viral and EVERYONE has caught on to it) finally comes to an end.

Time.com wrote a funny story about "25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You" as a result of people posting their 25 Random Things About Me. Just think about all the things you learned and didn't know or in some cases didn't want to know. I was almost tempted to do a "25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You" like the writer of this piece did, but then I didn't want to offend anyone.

If you find this whole 25 things craze funny here are two more pieces written about it:
- New York Times
- Salon.com

What did you learn about your friends that you didn't know before? Any examples of things you wish you hadn't found out?

Suze's New Credit Card Strategy

2009-03-05T05:57:00.004-05:00

Now y'all know how much I LOVE Suze Orman. BUT she just confused the heck out of me. So ironically on my birthday Suze posted a new credit card strategy.

You can check the link to read the whole thing but the first section of her posting summarizes it:

"If you have an unpaid credit card balance and not much saved up in emergency savings I need you to listen up. My advice has changed. I want you to only pay the minimum due on your credit card balance and instead make it your top priority to build as much of an emergency cash fund as you can."

WHAT!?!??! For years Suze has been telling me to focus on reducing my credit card debt and now she has completely switched gears. I get that you have to change with the times, situations and circumstances but to go from paying more than the minimum to JUST the minimum. My brain is just refusing to accept. I understand her reasoning, to focus on the emergency savings but I just can't bring myself to pay only the minimum. When I think about how long it would take me to pay off my credit cards if I only paid the minimum my ears start burning and my head starts throbbing.

So for me this just goes to show as much as I LOVE Suze and value her advise and wisdom there will be times, like this, that I just don't agree. I am so close to being credit card debt free that I just can't reverse course and pay only the minimum.

She also says, "My new advice is solely for those of you who do not have an emergency savings account, or too small of an account." I am one of those people. The issues I had in 2008 with keeping a viable tenant in my house in Atlanta drained my savings. I'm no where close to having eight months of living expenses (also her new standard for what you should have in emergency savings). But as crazy as it sounds I'm still more concerned with the credit card debt than with the emergency savings. My logic is if I was to lose my job I wouldn't be as worried about the bills being paid if I had less bills to pay...i.e. why I focus on the credit cards.

Is anyone feeling me or do you agree with Suze?

The Price of a Stamp

2009-03-04T05:36:00.003-05:00

Do you even know how much a stamp costs? Sounds like a funny question but most people don't. (It's 42-cents) So it's also no surprise that most people don't care that the price of a stamp is going up 2-cents in May. So for those of you who do care, stock up on those Forever Stamps now.

I actually have a strong memory tied to stamps and the post office. My grandmother used to make such a HUGE deal about her weekly trip to the post office. She had to make sure she looked good. And it was very important to have the mail organized. She made it seem like a very special, important duty to put the stamp on the envelope. So when I was allowed to do it I felt like a big girl. Does anyone remember when stamps were 25-cents?

No one has suffered more from the advent of the internet than the post office. Most people I know don't send mail. They pay all or most of their bills online. But the USPS has a plan to deal with the changing times. The post office has been cutting costs, reducing work hours, and has asked Congress to ease requirements for advance funds for retiree benefits and to allow mail to be delivered five days a week instead of six.

I think the last part is a really smart idea. Do we really need to have mail delivered 6 days a week? If the proposal clears, mail would be delivered on Monday, Wednesday-Saturday. We already don't get mail on Sundays and supposedly Tuesday is the slowest mail day of the week.

So what do you think about mail being delivered one less day a week...or the price of a stamp going up? When was the last time you went to the post office? How often do you use stamps, if ever?

The Joys of Staycations

2009-03-03T03:16:00.000-05:00

I had a good, long (but not long enough) staycation after Christmas. And I noticed a lot of other people did the staycation thing as well. If I wasn't in D.C. for the inauguration festivities this would have been another long staycation weekend for me.

Whoever invented the staycation were they cheap or were they smart? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to travel and I have some great travel plans already for 2009 but after my late December/early January staycation I really appreciate the time at home or in the city that I live in to do what I want, when I want and just to relax and enjoy with no pressure to do anything or deadlines to meet. I also like the savings. There is really no place like home.

But if I had to do my last staycation all over again (or if I had another one coming up) I would do the following:
- read a book
- watch movies
- hit a spa for a nice massage
- do a touristy thing (i.e. go to the top of the Rock, go to the Empire State building, etc.)
- depending on the weather I would go to the park
- go ice skating (last time I tried to go it was too warm)
- go to bed late and sleep in

Oh how my staycation seems so long ago and I'm already ready for another one. Just listing all the things I would do makes me want to jump in to bed and put the covers over my head. But it doesn't look like I'll be able to do another staycation until March (I hope). When you go on staycation, what do you do?

Eating Myself Out of House and Home

2009-03-02T01:21:00.004-05:00

It's a special month. It's my birthday month. The month of March can't start/happen without my birthday on the first day of the month. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

As I said on Friday this is "no eating out" month. I'm not going to spend money at restaurants unless it is other folks taking me out to eat. So by default I have also designated this "eat myself out of house and home" month.

I know you are like what the hell is "eat myself out of house and home month." Well in preparation for no eating out month I looked through my cabinets, refrigerator and freezer to see what I needed to stock up on so I would have plenty of food at home and I discovered I ALREADY have plenty of food at home.

My freezer is so full of food I can't fit much more. I have chicken, beef, steaks, fish, ham and plenty of frozen vegetables. And my cupboards are over stocked as well. I have spaghetti and spaghetti sause, taco dinner kit, cream of mushroom soup for stews, yellow rice and white rice. So it only makes sense to utilize what I have at home. I needed to get a few of the basics (egg, milk, bread, cheese). But I think I need to give this month another name....Cooking with Tiff month. I can't eat out so I have no choice but to cook in order to eat.

One of my biggest supporters, Poppa K, sent me a bunch of recipes, seasonings and sauces in preparation for all the cooking I'm going to need to do. He said he was going to try and help me to do this challenge but he, like others, doesn't 100% believe I can go a month without going out to eat. He cited my crazy schedule and how much I tend to eat as being two big barriers to this challenge. But then he said he has seen me in action and anything I really set my mind to do I can accomplish.

Have you ever looked in your cabinets, refrigerator and fridge and decided to not go grocery shopping until you ate more of what was in your home? How much do you think you would save if you cooked at home more versus going out to eat? Any suggestions of recipes I should try with some of the ingredients I have at home?

No Eat Out Month

2009-02-27T01:14:00.004-05:00

Part two of my Suze Orman challenge. I have picked the month of March to not eat out unless someone else is paying for the meal.

Now this is a hard one because my birthday is March 1 and I will be on vacation in Orlando. So how do I not eat out? Well I have some options.

1. Hope my sister takes me out to eat. I only need one big meal.

2. Maybe I will have leftovers from our dinner out on Saturday so I can eat that on Sunday.

3. Set aside money from my February eat out budget to spend on March 1.

4. The place I'm staying has a kitchen so if I go grocery shopping sometime this weekend I can cook and eat-in.

5. Make March 1 the exception because it is my birthday.

6. Make the no eat out month run from March 2 to April 1st instead of March 1 to March 31st.

Everyone can't celebrate my birthday on March 1 because I will be on vacation so maybe the celebrating can be spread out through the month in the forms of folks taking ME out to eat. We all know I LOVE to eat.

As with the last challenge I have no idea how much money I will save on not eating out. Personally I don't think I will save anything because I will spend it on groceries instead.

What do you think I should do about the March 1 dilemma in my no eat out month plan? Anyone want to join me for a month of dining in? Can you pick a month to not go out to eat?

29 Things About Me

2009-02-26T00:13:00.020-05:00

Since it's getting close to my 29th birthday and I have been tagged quite a few times on other peoples 25 things about me postings I have decided to do 29 things about me. Hopefully by the time you see this blog I will be on my way to Orlando for my 29th birthday vacation.

1. My favorite color is Carolina Blue.

2. I LOVE to eat.

3. I want a boyfriend so I need to seriously get back in to the dating game.

4. I read A LOT...newspapers, magazines, books, websites...if it's interesting I'm reading it.

5. I'm a disciple of Suze Orman. Most people don't know that I've been studying personal finance and it has been a passion of mine for the last 3 years.

6. No matter what I do my hair stays the same length. The minute it starts to grow it starts breaking off or falling out (from stress) and I end up cutting it back to the length it was before.

7. I spend more Friday and Saturday nights home alone than I think people realize.

8. I'm a chronic lister. I make lists for EVERYTHING.

9. My celebrity lookalike is Halle Berry (or at least that's what I have been told). And I dance like Beyonce.

10. Can't figure out why I have better relationships with the Dad's of the guys I have dated versus the guys themselves. Maybe it's a sign I need to date older men.

11. I suffer from chronic mind chatter. Blogging and journaling helps.

12. I really miss my Dad and my Grandma. It has been twenty three years and fifteen years respectively since they each died and I still feel the loss like it was yesterday. I wonder if they would be proud of me. Nothing has impacted my life more than my dad dying shortly after I turned 6.

13. If I could sell my house in Atlanta I would. It's a liability, not an asset. Read Rich Dad/Poor Dad and you'll understand why.

14. I worry a lot, especially about family members.

15. Here are 29 places I want to visit: Costa Rica, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, Australia, Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, London, Dubai, Jamaica, somewhere in Canada, Japan, Thailand, Tahiti, back to South Africa, Brazil, Beijing China, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Morocco, India, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Macau China, Greece, Columbia, and Cuba.

16. Here are 29 states and countries I have visited: NY, NJ, PA, VA, DE, MD, DC, NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MA, CT, VT, CA, NV, MN, WI, WA, AL, TX, IL, OH, Mexico, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Spain, Bahamas

17. There are quite a few people that cross my mind that I haven't talked too in weeks, months, years...

18. When I was 5 or 6 years old I beat up a little boy with my Winnie the Pooh because he pulled one of the flowers off the basket of my bike. I got a whipping for beating up the boy. Apparently the bear injured him because I kept hitting him with the black plastic nose on the bear. They don't make bears like they used to anymore.

19. I love watching movies...notice I didn't say going to the movies. I don't have patience but when it comes to movies I can ALWAYS wait for it to be on DVD.

20. I had more than 29 things I wanted to share about me but when I started writing this I forgot a bunch of them....LOL.

21. I write all my blog posts weeks in advance and reorganize and reschedule them as I write more posts.

22. I have scoliosis and a slight case of arthritis in my neck so I have to see a chiropractor at least twice a month. When I say I have a pain in my neck I mean it literally.

23. I want to go skydiving in some place exotic like Costa Rica.

24. One of my nicknames is Video Vixen and I sometimes wish I had the means to pursue dance. It would be a dream come true to get to be in a music video or be someone like Beyonce's backup dancer...if only for an 8 count.

25. The secret to my career success: networking and transferable skills. How else does a sports junkie end up at a celebrity fashion and beauty website? It was who I knew and who knew me AND I can do what I do for any website no matter what the topic is. Skills required are still the same. As one person described it...I am content agnostic.

26. I wish I had a better relationship with my family but I have always accepted that we would never be "The Cosby's."

27. If I wasn't in my current profession I would be a librarian.

28. If I could have my own business it would be a 24 hour laundromat.

29. My biggest fear is not having a baby before my mother dies. She turns 70 this year so the pressure is on, most days I ignore it.

Season of Sacrifice - Answer

2009-02-25T01:58:00.003-05:00

Thanks EVERYONE for your input. So after weighing all my sacrificial options I chose to give up wine (but not all alcohol). Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it in order to not fall off the wagon. If Jesus could die for me the least I could do is give up wine for 40 days.

Season of Sacrifice

2009-02-24T01:45:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and the beginning of the Easter season. In Lent, it's traditional to give up something that we do a lot of and that we find pleasure in. This 'giving up' is done :
* as a discipline for learning self-control, to free our minds from the chase after material things,
* to identify with Christ's sufferings, and remember what the true pleasures are for followers of Christ,
* as an act of sorrow over our wrongdoings.

The most common thing is to fast for Lent. But if giving up food isn't much of a task for you, choose something else that you have to make an effort to give up. For many people, that means 40 days without television, gambling, shopping, etc.

I thought about giving up alcohol but my birthday falls during Lent and I hope someone(s) will buy me a drank. I think thought maybe I should give up wine. Last few months I have been drinking quite a bit of wine so I could do for a 40 day break. I considered giving up soda. But I already drink a lot less now that I'm over my Coca Cola addiction. So not sure if that would count as cheating.

I contemplated giving up cursing but I know if I didn't verbally curse I would be cursing in my head. So isn't cursing in my thoughts a violation? Next on the list was sex but then I had to remind myself that you have to give up something that you do a lot and find pleasure in. I'm not getting enough sex to give it up. Sad but true.

I could give up TV BUT only if I had a DVR to record the 40 days of TV I would be missing. Next on my list of maybe was DVD's...put my netflix membership on hold for 40 days and avoid the dvd library at work so I wouldn't be tempted to watch a movie.

It's the day before and I have to decide. So what do you think I should give up? What do you plan on sacrificing for Lent?

What Suze Orman Says You Should Do With Your Tax Refund

2009-02-23T01:51:00.004-05:00

So last Friday I posted about what to do with your refund. And then of course my money guru Suze Orman sends out this email:

STASH IT, DON'T CASH IT
USE YOUR TAX REFUND TO SAVE YOURSELF.

You read that correctly. The tax refund you may be getting should be saved, not spent. Instead of blowing the refund today on a plasma-screen TV or a weekend getaway, your tax refund delivers the perfect opportunity to pay down debt, build your emergency savings fund or open a retirement account.

Pay it Off
If you have credit card debt, this could be your chance to put a big dent into that unpaid balance. Right now, the stock market is taking us all on a roller coaster ride, but if you pay off a credit card balance that's charging you 18 percent interest, you give yourself a guaranteed 18 percent return on your money. Even when the stock market is at its best, it's hard to get that kind of a return.

Sock it Away
If you haven't paid attention to this message in the past, please pay attention now. A weak economy and a volatile stock market make it more important than ever to have eight months of living expenses saved. Use your Save Yourself account at TD AMERITRADE to help do just that...save yourself. In fact, I think it makes sense to direct deposit your refund into your Save Yourself account so you avoid being tempted to spend it. (She even included the instructions for direct deposit of your tax refund if you have a TD AMERITRADE account.)

Invest in Your Future
If you already have an emergency savings fund and don't have any credit card debt, great! I still want you to stash this cash. Assuming you have at least 10 years before you plan to retire, use your refund to help fund a new Roth (or Traditional) IRA.

So I think Suze would agree with my answer on Friday of what I'm going to do with my refund. Has reading what Suze said changed your mind about what you are going to do with your tax refund?

What Will You Do With Your Refund?

2009-02-20T05:47:00.000-05:00

I was reading an article on Essence.com and a reader asked the following:

QUESTION: What is the best way to spend your income tax refund? Pay down debt, save or both?-Denelle Hammond, Washington, D.C.

ANSWER FROM TANESHA SYKES, ESSENCE BUSINESS EDITOR: I'd say both, but before you do anything, have a plan for the money. As a part of your money plan, set up an emergency fund. If you can afford to, set aside half--that's right--50 percent of your income tax refund toward this goal. Why? Because the economy is shaky, layoffs are increasing and companies are closing at a rapid pace. We are in serious trouble economically, and it's important, now more than ever to have the financial stability to support ourselves in case of an emergency. Next, take 25 percent and pay down a portion of a major, high-interest debt, such as a credit card. If you owe $1,000 on your favorite department store card, pay $250 toward it. Last, spend the remainder on yourself! Otherwise, you'll start feeling deprived and it's a good way to make our economy thrive. Use this formula for whenever you get an unexpected windfall and let me know how it works.

I like her answer but you really have to do what is best for you. Personally I think I'm going to put it all towards a credit card that had a really good balance transfer offer (3.99% for the life of the balance). So I'll make sure the card has no balance and then transfer my other cards to it. What do you have planned for your refund?

Goodwill

2009-02-19T03:28:00.000-05:00

Volunteering has something that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My family never had a lot of money but we had ourselves and our time to donate. I was always taught to help others because you never know when you might be the person needing help.

But as you get older the one thing you have less and less of is time. It's a good year if I'm able to participate in one or two volunteer projects. So now I try to put my money towards causes that I believe in. I don't have a lot of money to donate but I have even less time to donate.

I am getting ready for tax time and I went through my folder of charitable contributions and I didn't realize how much I have given to Goodwill. I'm talking over 10 garbage size bags of clothes and shoes. I remember how good it felt to be able to purge my closets and drawers. I live in NYC so I don't have enough space to hold on to everything. But I felt even better thinking about the clothes that were too big for me or that I never wore that someone else could get use out of. And the best part, all charitable contributions are tax deductible so you are helping yourself as you are helping others.

When was the last time you shared a little good will towards others or gave to Goodwill?

2009-02-18T05:23:00.000-05:00

I finally took some time to clean out my LinkedIn mailbox. I always tell students that they need to join LinkedIn but is that really true?

I'm an advocate for networking. Networking has been a large part of how my career has advanced. But I can't say I network as much as I used too and clearly I'm not always the best resource because I can be extremely difficult to get in contact with.

LinkedIn is supposed to be the professional version of Facebook BUT does it really help with networking? I'm hoping most professionals aren't like me, meaning they check their LinkedIn inbox more than once a year. I say all this to say that I think I'm undecided on LinkedIn. I haven't really used it in any professional capacity.

What do you think about LinkedIn? Have you used it to network? Has it worked for you? What should people expect to get out of it?

Best Videos Never Made

2009-02-17T01:24:00.000-05:00

I know you are thinking what the hell does she mean by "Best Videos Never Made." There are a lot of songs that are or were hot on the radio or that we just personally liked and videos were never shot for them. Only 2 songs come to mind right now....Lovers & Friends; Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris and A Milli remix; Lil Wayne featuring Jay Z. Can you think of any other songs that never had videos for them, but should have?

32 Ways to Waste Money

2009-02-16T01:15:00.000-05:00

I know you are thinking I have been doing all these blog postings about savings why in the heck would I suggest ways to waste money. I'm actually not. These are really some areas that we are all wasting our money when we could be doing something different and saving.

1. Use Paper Towels
Anything you can do with a paper towel, you can do with a dishcloth or some kind of reusable cloth. It doesn't cost as much to wash the dishcloth as the paper towels cost.

2. Tanning Salons
This doesn't apply to most of my friends. I used to go to tanning salons to even out tans. I actually haven't been to a tanning salon in 4 years. I enjoy laying/sleeping in the sun on the beach. All that tanning will just lead to skin cancer and then you have an even bigger expense for treatment.

3. Movie Rentals
Before you PAY to rent a movie, check first with your local or county library, they have 1000's of movies you can take out for FREE. You are paying for this through your taxes so why not get the benefit. Now I love my Netflix so I'm not giving it up. And when I first moved to NYC I used to go to the library a lot and I would use them for those in between Netflix rental times.

4. Disposable Razors
You spend $10 on a razor with blades and you throw them away and have to spend another $5-10 the next month for replacement blades. That's $65 to 120 a year. So why not invest in a good electric razor. You can spend $60.00 one time and buy a good electric razor and have it for 3-4 years and save in the long term.

5. Pet Clothing
We love man's best friend but man's best friend does not need his own wardrobe. That's what their fur is for. The prices of pet clothing & accessories are ridiculous.

6. Shopping at the Corner Store
In NYC there is a bodega on every corner. But it is an overpriced convenience. You would spend less if you just went to the grocery store and was more efficient about what you bought.

7. Nail Salons
I've said this before. Spending money every week or every other week is a waste money. Go once a month and take care your nails and toes yourself. And if you are the type of person that is willing to cut your own cuticles you can go once every 2 months or not at all.

8. Eating Out for Lunch
Packing your lunch is not only a healthier choice, but also saves you a good amount of money that could be spent elsewhere. If you're eating out every day, spending about $7 a day, you could save around $700 a year, just by packing your lunch two times per week.

9. Energy Loss
Not shutting the lights off behind you is one of the biggest money wasters in the U.S. Energy saved is energy produced. An average household can save at least 10%-12% off their monthly electricity bills. Offices can save much more!

10. Caring for Lawns
This is not an issue for me because I live in NYC and my HOA pays for the landscaping but the amount of money people will spend to have the greenest grass or biggest flowers are wasting time and money.

11. Insurance
Make sure you have the right amount of coverage for you and a high deductible. Why pay for insurance that you won't use. Have enough to cover yourself but don't pay for more insurance than you need.

12. Duplicate Spending
Have you ever bought something because you thought you were out of it to get home and see you have a brand new bottle of it already. This is why I keep a shopping list and regularly check out what is in my cabinets.

13. Clothes Dryers
I live in NYC so what I'm about to suggest is not really an option for me. Hang your clothes to dry or use a dryer only for socks, underwear and other small items you would feel odd hanging outside. You can also use a drying rack. Dryers use lots of electricity and gas, plus ruin your clothes over the long term. Dryer 'lint' is your clothing falling apart!

14. Buying a New Car
You lose a huge chunk of value just driving it off the lot! Buy a 1- to 3-year-old vehicle and you get the same warranties at a much cheaper price.

15. Designer Handbags
I know some people are going to be offended by this one but I have never spent more than $50 on a purse. Don't get me wrong, I have a few coach purses. But I bought them at the outlet store or on Ebay. If you must have the latest, greatest designer handbag then you might want to look in to a membership with Bag, Borrow or Steal.

16. Children's Birthday Parties
You know you love your kids and they know you love them as well. So you don't need to show it by having a big overpriced birthday party. What happened to everyone coming over for cake and ice cream? Why must we spend hundreds of dollars?

17. Big Houses
So many people think that if you have a big house you seem more important. No, you don't. You should buy a house that is the right size for your family.

18. Alcohol at Restaurants and Bars
It is ridiculous some of the prices restaurants and bars charge. Buy two mixed drinks and you could have gone and bought the ingredients to make your own and have a few friends join you at home.

19. Buying Supreme Gas
Why waste money on higher priced gas? It has no effect on the efficiency of your engine.

20. Energy Drinks
I don't like energy drinks. I think they taste bad or leave a bad after taste. They are overprice and it's either the high level of sugar or caffeine in them that makes me have to run to the bathroom almost as soon as I finish the drink. The high levels of caffeine are addictive, so people get completely hooked. I know many people who drink 2-3 energy drinks a day at $2-3 each. That's $4-9 a day.

21. Plastic Cups
Just use a glass. Why pay for a cup everytime you drink at home? I take it a step further if I do use a plastic cup I wash it and reuse it.

22. Junk Food
Just think how much money you could save if you avoided the daily trip to the snack machine to get your through the afternoon. The items are always overpriced. It would be cheaper to bring snacks from home.

23. Disposable Cleaning Supplies
I know you love your Swiffer but it creates waste. Reusable scrubbers, brushes, mops and rags are far more economical and environmentally friendly.

24. Playing the Lottery
I have plenty of family members who play every day because they believe the day they don't they will miss out on winning. I'm SO glad this is a habit I never formed. can't see spending hundreds of dollars a month or a week, just to get thrilled over winning $25-50.

25. The Wedding Industry
It is amazing to me how expensive weddings can be. I know it's a special day and it's about celebrating love and making memories but do you have to go broke to do it? In NYC they just opened a newly renovated wedding chapel across the street from city hall. NYC wants to be the Las Vegas of the east coast. Don't get me wrong, if I was to get married I would have a wedding but I would keep the costs to a minimum. Recently Essence.com had a story of someone who had here wedding for $6,000.

26. Individual drinks
Buying individually bottled or canned drinks is the biggest waste of money and adds up fast, if you do it daily.

27. Four Year Universities
I love UNC...I bleed Tarhell blue BUT if I was thinking economically when shopping for colleges I should have went to a local two-year college for the first two years. Most two-year colleges have 2+2 programs with most universities. My niece and nephew are doing that. They are attending Bergen Community College for their first 2 years. They will save 17-20 thousand dollars and I'll still be paying off my student loans.

28. Designer Skincare
The best way to take care of your skin is vitamins, water, sleep, genetics and sunblock. Spending hundreds of dollars on skincare is a waste. I won't get in to overpriced makeup although my girly card was revoked long ago.

29. Extended Warranties
It's a waste of money to purchase an extended warranty for small inexpensive items such as radios, DVD players, vacuums, etc. The manufacturer's warranty is sufficient. Retailers and dealers will always offer extended warranties -- but they are not always necessary.

30. Brand Names
We make jokes about generic brands...particularly the names of some cereals or Tussin instead of Robitussin. Food brands add marketing and advertising costs ... Is Bayer or Advil so much better than "I-don't-know-this-brand" aspirin and ibuprofen. Sometimes it is, but very rarely. Marketing and advertising don't make products taste or work better they just add to the final price of a product.

31. Hotels
When you go on vacation you don't need to spend for a luxury hotel room. You don't go on vacation to stay in your hotel room all day. Unless you are going to spend 24 hours in your room, why would anyone want to spend $200-$300 a night to sleep?

32. Driving a Gas Guzzler
I should have put this one right after Big Houses. Buying an SUV or other large vehicle is the biggest waste of money and it will get even worse as oil prices inevitably will keep rising.

Can you think of other ways that you or people you know waste money?

Will You Marry Me?

2009-02-13T05:08:00.001-05:00

Those are the four words almost every woman I know wants to hear. I'm not a girly girl so I don't usual buy in to the whole daydreaming about your wedding day. But it's the season of love, Valentine's weekend and I have several weddings to attend this year. So in honor of Cupid I came up with a list of the best ways to propose to ME.

1. Las Vegas
EVERYONE knows how much I LOVE Vegas. And if you don't know that then you really don't know me. If a man wants to spend the rest of his life with me it would be a bonus for him to ask me in the city I love.

2. Dave & Busters
D&B is one of my "happy places." Some people have a happy place that they go to in their mind. I have happy places that I actually visit when I need a boost. Just picture it, as I'm playing the Super Trivia game...Will You Marry Me?...A-Yes, B-No, C-Maybe...lol. Or as I'm playing Deal or No Deal and I've held out to beat the dealer and also score an engagement ring.

3. Top of the Rock
When the love of my life is with me I want him to feel like he is on top of the world. So what better place to ask than on Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center for you non-New Yorkers).

4. Circle Yes or No
Remember in elementary school a guy would pass you a note saying "Will you be my girlfriend...circle yes or no?" That method of asking is guaranteed to get a yes AND waterworks cause the nostalgia of it all would make me cry.

5. Put Me on the Spot
In front of some large crowd or group of our friends. Just unexpectedly grab the mic, get on bended knee and ask me.

6. At A Sporting Event
Live from the kiss cam at Madison Square Garden or on the big screen at Yankee Stadium...pick just about any sporting event and I would be thrilled.

7. Some Place I Have Never Been Before
So I think it's just a vacation to Paris or Costa Rica or some other place I've always wanted to go and never been. But it's a trip that I'll never forget for a reason I didn't fathom.

The one thing that all of these ideas have in common is the element of surprise.
Meaning that the best time to ask is when I least expect to be asked. Y'all are my friends, y'all know me well...don't these examples of proposals completely fit me? Any suggestions of other ways to pop the question? How would you like someone to propose to you?