Over the last 9 days, we have faced the wavering possibility of budget cuts in the household, gas prices rising drastically, great attempts at enhancing my money management skills, trying to be economical in certain places to make up for the budget being compromised elsewhere, and my regaining contact with my German family with whom I have had next to no contact for 12 years (My aunt, uncle, and their 3 sons), and 15 years for the remainder of the family (5 more aunts and uncles, 6 more 1st cousins, and many 2nd cousins, some of whom I’ve never met but who are still an incredibly important part of my family). 

So I have many things to write about and those posts will come soon and cover many interesting topics.  I just need a little time to gather my thoughts so I can write about everything properly.  

Right now, however, we watch Heroes!

Lesson:

In lieu of renting movies or going shopping, stay home and watch a movie you already have and love or find something entertaining, or better yet, educational on television to watch!  If you can’t find anything that sparks your interest in the tv category, try reading a book, becoming an artist, or playing a game (such as self-made Pictionary or a card game).  There are many inexpensive ways to keep yourself occupied.  Be creative!

Balance:

Checking:  $200

Savings:  $125

I must write in response to a comment made by DJB on my last post about thoughts on why more people don’t get choose to get paid to be naked.

Sure, many women wouldn’t want to be looked at “that way” but I believe it’s more about the person doing the looking than the person doing the posing, as to how the image is viewed. Besides, there is a huge difference between being paid to pose nude for Playboy and to pose naked for Penthouse or Hustler.

I must be honest and say that, even as a straight young woman, I’ve grown to love Playboy for the pictures. (I’ve never read a Playboy article in my life!) My interest started when I found a late 1970s Playboy compilation book with shots of all centerfolds over 25 years. To see how the views of beauty have changed so significantly over time is amazing. Playboy is such a study of what society finds most attractive during the specific time period the magazine comes out. Any of you who have some old Playboy issues laying around, pull them out and take a look at the difference over time. It’s truly amazing and almost mind-boggling how societal views of beauty change so significantly.

Most Playboy shots are done in a completely tasteful manner, especially versus other magazines that are out there, and I recently purchased the Playboy Celebrity book because I am fascinated with the way they make well built, voluptuous girl-next-doors look like absolute supermodels. To me, despite the gobs of makeup done in traditional Playboy style as of late, the celebration of the natural form and women at their most beautiful (and NOT stick-figure) is outstanding to see. Of course, yes, women’s beauty can be celebrated clothed as well, but there’s something to be said about the aesthetic beauty of the female form.

Just my two cents. I’d pose for Playboy — but more 70s style Playboy shots with the big hair and natural lighting — if I were built for it!

Playboy, Suicide Girls, and the lot are all magazines/websites that pay models for their photosets. They pay people to be nude and/or naked (yes, there is a difference) for a few hours while someone takes a few pretty pictures. So why don’t more girls try out for it? Societal rules and views? Personal comfort? Religious expectations? Why is it such a shame to be naked? And to be naked and get paid for it?? I mean, the majority of us are naked every day, at least to take a shower or bath. Many people who live on their own cherish the time they can take to run around their apartment or home in all their naked glory. It’s freeing. It’s freedom. So why don’t people do more things where they get paid to be so free and comfortable?

Probably the same reason people in general simply don’t pursue the careers they love or spend their time doing the things they enjoy most. Rules, expectations, and obligations. Does it pay enough? Can I make a living doing it? Is it going to be okay with so-and-so?

Which brings me to a point that’s more pertinent to my financial theme. It’s sad to know that the majority of people don’t do the job they love or take chances at trying new things because it won’t pay them enough to meet their financial obligations. I’m working at a company that has plenty of issues, and although I am good at the job, I’d prefer to be out running around with a Nikon D40x in hand, snapping shots of everything and anything and getting paid for it. But it simpy doesn’t pay well enough for starters and requires what to me is a large investment (about $1000). So instead, until I can build up my savings/checking enough, I must make it a hobby.

Lesson:

1. If you can’t do what you love, do a job you like (NOT a job you hate) for long enough to save enough money to be able to afford to do that job you love.

2. If you can’t do what you love, use some of your free time outside of doing the job you like to develop some aspect of what you love into a hobby. This will allow you to gain experience, do what you love, and not have to worry about your life hinging on whether it will pay enough (for now!).

Balances:

Checking: $80

Savings: $125

I must apologize for the mess here. I had an issue with the theme I was using on the site, even though I adored it, and am working to customize the one I have there now. Unfortunately, I’m human and about to pass out at my keyboard.

I could be adventurous, keep working, and eventually test the head-to-keyboard luxury pillow.

Update:  No more mess!  By using a few free themes and adjusting a few colors here and there, I achieved a look I like with the features I wanted!

If someone were willing to hand you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, what kind of money would you be willing to walk away from?  Me?  I’d probably walk away from nothing more than $100,000.  Which is why I’d make a poor contestant on the show.

So I sit here watching one of my favorite shows, Deal or No Deal, and I would love nothing more than to be on this show. I’m watching this guy Brooksy get a second chance (he only won $10 the first time around) and I love to see people win money, even if it’s $10,000 (for those who don’t know, they can win up to $1 million). I doubt most of these people would ever make this kind of money in 4 hours ever again in their lives. (I actually met a producer for the show once working a promo event, but she was working on casting the Mother’s Day special so I didn’t qualify.)

I want this kind of amazing start. I want enough money to pay off my student loans in one payment (that’s a lot of student loans!). But then, who doesn’t? I thought getting a college degree would help to achieve this, but unfortunately, between the time I entered college in 1997 and the time I finished in 2002, the job market changed, and one now needs a lot of workplace experience on top of the degree to be able to seal a good job.

That’s okay though. Someday will be my day, my deal!

Lessons:

1. Study the job market in the field you will be going into. Find out if the job requires more than just a degree. Does it require you to be published? Does it require hands-on experience? Should you get an internship? If so, doing what?

2. If you get the chance to be on a game show where you can win a lot of money, don’t turn it down. You walked in there with nothing, what would it hurt to walk in, have a good time, and walk out with the same at the very least?

3. Keep in mind that you have to pay back student loans. If this concerns you, try finding a career that offers student loan forgiveness once you enter the workforce (many teaching positions, for example, as well as other high-demand fields offer this type of program).

4. When in college, take advantage of the free time you have by getting even a part-time job. Save as much money as you can while still in college because life will just get more and more expensive once you get out!

Balance:

Checking: $100

Savings: $125

I adore my weekends.

But the weekends always kill the mission. I spent too much this weekend. *sigh for setbacks* What can I say, a girl has to eat! I took advantage of some sales at the grocery store though and saved some money that way, as well as stocked up a bit for future meals. Must… have… discipline!

Unfortunately, my bank card is screwy right now, it doesn’t swipe anymore (which might say something about my spending habits that needs addressed) so the grocery store ATM this morning ate an extra $3 in fees.

We kind of splurged on dinner Friday night at the Irish pub (a cheaper dinner than I was going to splurge on, and some of the money did go into savings!). Aside from that, my only other frivolous purchase this weekend was a CD. I can’t spend anymore extra money till I get paid next though.  Have I said it yet?  Must… have… discipline!!

I think Monday would make a great payday, rather than Friday! It’s too easy to spend money on the weekend right after getting paid. I think corporations and consumerism are responsible for Friday paydays. Friday paydays = Good for the economy, bad for my bank account!

Lessons from the weekend:

1. Take full advantage of Buy One, Get One Free sales. (I did this and spent $14 and saved $6. This beats coupon clipping, which is also an incredible way to save money. See #2.)

2. Clip coupons. I’m sure you may have grown up and seen your parents clipping coupons for the grocery. The good news is that coupon clipping isn’t just for the grocery store anymore! “2 for the price of one” or “$5 off $20 purchase” coupons are popular at restaurants these days, as are “Buy 9, get 1 free” style cards which also serve as incredible money-savers.

3. Don’t use ATMs that cost you money. Make it a point to get cash at your bank. Most people bank at banks close to home, so it is just as easy to stop at a bank near home on the way out rather than get cash back at ATMs that cost you an arm and a leg to access your own money.

4. If for any reason you do forget to get money at your Bank ATM, find a CVS, Walgreen’s, or local grocery store which allows you to use your Debit card to get cash back at the register. Buy a small pack of gum for 25 or 50 cents. This way, you get the cash you need for a smaller fee (a fee for which you actually get something in return)!

Balance:

Checking: $150

Savings: $125

So it’s Day 2 on my Mission to become a millionaire, and so far, I’m on my way! I got paid last night (woo) and have taken care of the bills for this check (I’ve created a great system that has really proven to work for me to make sure all bills are taken care of and on time, I love it!).

I know splurging on a big dinner because I have some money now is not going to help me on my way to becoming financially set and stable, so instead, maybe I’ll make dinner for my boyfriend, a special treat of some kind, then we’ll use our Free movie passes we got and go see a movie. That would make for a great night.

Lesson:

When you get the urge to splurge, don’t do it! Put half of what you would have spent on the splurge into savings and instead, only spend the other half. I mean, if you had it to spare on the splurge anyway, don’t you have it then to save instead?

Balances:

Checking: $250

Savings: $125

Thank you for joining me on my mission to become a filthy rich young woman!

I will not only track my progress, but also the things I do to make money and extra money here and there. I’ll also be including any financial tips and lessons learned that will help me (and maybe you) on the way to becoming a Millionaire!

Wish me well, here goes nothing!

Balances:

CHECKING: $100

SAVINGS: $100