stepbystep

cooking and no spend days

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:20:27 PST

Generally, my biggest expense is food. This is because before I started cooking, I'd eat out all the time. But since I moved, I've been doing a lot more cooking, and I find I don't want to eat out at all.

I've been making a habit of making an extra serving of something, so I can...

Reassessing the situation: the income

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:31:00 PST

I figured that one reason why the money details seem so overwhelming is that I didn't have a clear picture of my spending. Especially for the past few months, when things got crazy everywhere.

So this morning, I made a cup of strong coffee and crunched the numbers for the next...

Things get messy...

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:35:42 PST

I took down an earlier post as a result: too much information in too public a manner.

I'm having a Neo-in-the-Matrix moment, where I'm suddenly aware of problems that had previously flown under the radar. There are a few family responsibilities that are causing (have caused, will...

Grocery Budget?

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:15:22 PST

Ok, I am a ramen/tuna/cornflakes kind of person who, if peanut-butter and jelly were outlawed, would have to live in San Quentin. In the settlements near the Guild, it's microwaves and George Foreman grills. Not the stuff of haute cuisine.

But my apartment has a kitchen, eeek!...

Sorting, Sharing, Shopping

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:46:22 PST

I have too much stuff. And I can't take it all with me! The funny thing is that at the Guild, there are a ton of people that are saying the same thing. So this time of year is like musical chairs: the people change, but the furniture stays the same. In my new apartment: donated...

What's done is done

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:21:44 PST

I sign a lease this weekend. For the original price. So my total rent is about 10/mo more than what I'm paying, but it's less driving, and slightly better accomodations. And I'm alone. So the next step is (pack, whoo boy) and crunch the numbers: I really want to crush my debt.

Gazelle Intensity or Jack*** Decisionmaking?

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:04:28 PST

Trying to keep it clean and family-oriented.

So, I am ending out my current apprenticeship at the Guild, and my Guildmaster has recommended that I spend my summer in the dungeons assisting the Potions Master, instead of in the Guildhall.

This is good, because lowly apprentices...

How I save on textbooks

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:52:01 PST

Being an apprentice at the Guild is a really great experience for me, and I'm truly thankful that they've agreed to take me on. But the cost of materials can be super high -- I eat ramen and tuna for weeks after visiting the storerooms.

But a buddy of mine attends Modernus Universitas,...

Starting Small

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:25:57 PST

Ok, so here's the plan for the rest of the month: use the use the surplus $$ from the grocery money to get a crockpot. I was talking to a girl today who said she loveloveloves her crock pot. I figure if I just use it for stew, I'll be golden.

Second plan: make a list of my favorite...

Sticker Shock

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:08:12 PST

So I'm getting ready to return to the Guild, which begins the new session at the end of this month. It's kind of a wierd schedule, but it gives a nice relaxing downtime for the long holidays. So I've been waiting to learn what I'll need to bring with me: they provide the raw materials,...

Two steps back or h3ll in a handbasket?

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:13:13 PST

I mentioned before that over the holiday, I really overextended myself. I didn't use credit, so I don't owe anything, but travel expenses and gifts took a healthy bite out of my savings.

I knew I'd need to buckle down: I've got Guild fees that are due, and I'll still need to...

Frugality at it's finest (and funniest)

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:07:35 PST

If you haven't had a chance to check this out, go over to the getrichslowly.org blog for the entries for the ultimate cheapskate's contest. The contest is over, but the stories are really good. Some of them are kind of ordinary, and some have a touch of the scammer, but some of...

Unpacking boxes, begging favors

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:12:51 PST

After considering, reconsidering and boring everyone rigid with the topic of my potential move, I've decided to stay put for a little while. I have too much stuff to make a quick or easy move, and there's nowhere so compelling that I need to bend over backwards to get, especially with...

Revisions of Decisions....

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:05:31 PST

So I contacted the landlord of the apt that's losing the current tenant (mentioned in the last post.) He told me (love the lovely Skype) that he's out of the country and won't be back for several weeks. As such, he doesn't want to enter in a lease with me until he returns.

This...

Spending to Save?

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:01:13 PST

Warning: rambling commentary ahead:

Lately, I've been under a lot of pressure to perform. Luckily, it's all self-imposed, but it doesn't stop the feelings of being unprepared to do a really important job.

So I've been doing some self-monitoring, to see where my weak spots...

Plans and Plans

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:57:50 PST

Whooboy. It's been crazy.

First off, the Guild's winter session ended, and I nearly lost my shirt in the process: my first Christmas gifts were passing marks in my final tallies.

Before the ink had dried on the reports, I went off to see my family. I had told everyone that...

Black Friday at the Souk

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:16:07 PST

I'm on holiday from the Guild, and even though I have a TON of work to do, agreed to pull a shift at the Souk.

I haven't been there in months, and there have been a few changes. Now, all the wenches have earpieces and microphones, and we've finally moved into the new millenium...

Investments don't always = money

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:21:42 PST

A few months ago, I started a project for the Guild-- I needed to fill up some gaps in my courseload, and so asked to do an independent assignment. It took a while to find anyone to agree to this: most of the Senior Crafters have heavy workloads of their own, so supervising a stray...

The Forum takes the lead

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:27:11 PST

I haven't really talked about work much lately: the Guild consumes so much of my time, I barely have a moment to think. But I still have bills to pay, and to make that happen, I go to the Forum. Not so much at the Souk anymore - it just doesn't pay enough for full time, and the...

Wake up calls

stepbystepanna@yahoo.com (anna) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:25:46 PST

It's been awhile, I know it. :P

In any case, my buddy Rufus and I were discussing a friend's recent downturn of luck. This friend (Chris) is really struggling: recent job loss and high moving expenses. He's got a little side job right now, but it doesn't cover all f his bills,...