The Frugal Lawyer

One of these things is not like the others: On PF bloggers

During my brief blogging hiatus, I also wasn't keeping up with other blogs.  If I wasn't at work, I was sleeping.  On Saturday, with a bit of fear, I opened my reader and saw the hundreds of articles waiting for me.  I read them all.  A la Carrie Bradshaw, I began to wonder, where do I fit in in this world of money blogging?

Recently, I've also had to define who I am as a blogger.  For example, when I signed up for Blogher.  There was no category for confessional recovering shoe whore who is trying to learn how to be financially responsible.  So I stared at the form.  I eventually selected Personal Finance.  But let's face it.  I'm not a PF blogger.

That really hit home on Saturday when I was reading the blogs I subscribe to.  Honestly, I like the info that they provide, but they often make me feel like I am doing a lot of things wrong.  Right now, though, I am doing a lot of things right for my personal circumstances.  CRAZY AND I ARE KILLING DISCOVER.  We haven't talked about it yet, but I am trying to work on a plan that would allow me to pay off A.L.L. of my credit card debt by the end of this year.  That would mean that I have focused and paid off $36,000 in credit card debt (not even adding in the additional money that has gone to my grandfather and everything else) in two years.  Not too shabby.  

But still, my site doesn't fit into the mold.  It's mostly me telling my story.  It's never going to be the blog that will tell you about the latest swag bucks code.  (I don't know what swag bucks are.)  I am never going to give you a throwdown between a Roth IRA and a regular IRA.  

I still don't really know where I fit in.  I'm not a standard PF blogger.  But this blog is definitely about money, so does that make me a PF blogger by default?  

I know that there are other bloggers out there who are more 'like me."  Somehow they've found me and I've followed them back to their blogs through the comments or through links that I've found on typepad's stats.  I really like these blogs.  So let's give them a brief shout out to some of my favorites:

2 Dog Casa 

Windy City Blues 

All that I Seek

The Hodge Podge Lodge  

j'lynn's world

I've been reading A Gai Shan Life for a while and I love her style too!

Readers, where do you think I fit in?  Does it really matter?  Do you have any other websites to recommend that I would like?    

Have you even missed me?

I've been gone for a few days?  Did you even notice that I wasn't here?  Don't worry - I haven't been on a spending bender.  I've been on a candida detox (if this is all new to you, you will need a long and thorough study of the Fibromyalgia Diaries on Kittenagogo to go through all of that history, but I will refer you to this simple link on the herxheimer reaction).  Mostly, I've been burnt out and crazy tired.  I didn't preload all of last week's posts on Sunday (which I sometimes do) and that meant when my energy ran out, so did the posts.  

To the four of you who missed me, I'm sorry for my absence.  I'm pretty sure things will be back to normal now.  

The Millionaire Nurse - Get Your Copy NOW

Dear Readers, as you know, I have Money Coach.  I am sure that many of you have probably wondered how poor Dr. Dean deals with me and CRAZY and my path to reform.  Dr. Dean is, quite simply, a saint. 

When we entered our Money Coach/Money Minion relationship, I warned him that I am... me.  Plus, one can gain a certain sense of the Danielle flavor from five years of blogging.  I'm wired a bit weird.  Dr. Dean deals with that very well.  In fact, it doesn't seem to bother him.  Even better, he was easily to see the core issues that I was dealing with regarding money and I got homework that was REALLY meaningful and changed my attitude about money.  

As a Money Minion, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at Dr. Dean's book, The Millionaire Nurse: A Proven Financial First-Aid Kit.  

 
The book was simple and it made sense..  I didn't want to punch it, like a certain book about making over my money.  

There is something we should be clear about - As the title of this blog indicates - I am a lawyer.  I'm not a nurse.  While I am occasionally my own unlicensed doctor, I am not usually a nurse.  There are certainly medical analogies, but I understood most of them due to many years of watching ER.  So don't feel that you will not be able to enjoy the book and its many lessons if you aren't a nurse.  This book could have just as easily been called The Millionaire Danielle plus medical analogies and I would have happily read it.  

I have so many pages dog-eared.  I have picked a favorite line:  "Every purchase you make should have a purpose."  I say it over and over to myself now.  To me, this is more important than any of the lines I read in that book by that bald guy that I don't like.  

Okay, sure, I get that I might be biased.  Dr. Dean is Money Coach.  But I think that should be a reason why you would rush to buy this book.  Look at my posts from last summer.  Look at my posts from January until now.  Look at the difference.  Look at the progress.  That's Dr. Dean's coaching and influence.  That's what he can teach you in The Millionaire Nurse.  So go here and buy your copy today. 

Perhaps this is why grocery budgeting is so hard...

My phobia of seeds is finally paying off.  Page 152 of Glamour.  Just had to share.

 
Taken by my phone, so the image quality is exceptional.  Sorry, still trying to get everything transferred to new computer. And this isn't remotely related to money, but I've one to be one of the women interview in Glamour since I was a teen.  Now it's finally happened.  It did cost Zero Dollars to make the dream come true.  My husband bought me copies of the magazine as a gift.

Audience Participation: More talk about financial puberty

1.  This isn't a question, but it requires your participation.  Go pick up April's copy of Glamour magazine and turn to page 152.  Look at my picture and read whatever insane quote is listed under my pre"The Chins" photo.  Behold me living the fame that is the dream of so many 16 year old girls.  (And remember, by pick up, I mean, pick it up in the grocery store, look at it and put it back.  I don't actually mean buy.  Magazines cost assloads.)

2.  Financial puberty is taking hold and I think I am busting out of my training bra.  I have figured out that my training bra was Mint.  I believe my first real bra may be Quicken.  I'm curious for feedback from Quicken users.  Do any of you use Quicken?  I am interested in the home and business version.  I need something that has a bit more flexibility than Mint does.  I also need something that's going to, perhaps, recognize SIC codes properly and understand that Smith's is not just a grocery store.  (I find it very annoying that I constantly have to reassign my groceries.  I believe it should know when it is gas vs. groceries because the SIC code is different on my debit card.) 

3.  I found a nice laptop that I like for around $800.  Yes, I do have that much money from taxes and consignment.  Rather than just torment Money Coach with this, I figured it would be easier for all of you to taunt me and tell me no.  However, the reason I want a new laptop is because I'm still using windows XP, old Office and this laptop is starting to trudge along.  It's days are numbered. 

4.  I realize that you don't know them, but I have two cats.  Tiki and Elmo. 

 
Cats are supposed to be smart and aloof.  Why are they so dumb?????  (They are being particularly dumb now, so I thought I'd throw it out there even though it is not money related.  They didn't have warranties.  My first Sphynx was smart.  These two....)

TFL, Blogher and Business Lady

Once upon a time, I talked about trying to take blogging to the next level.  The blog and I know each other pretty well, so I'm not trying to get to second base or anything.  But maybe do what some of the grown up bloggers do with the making of the monies.  I need money and I have a blog.  Or two.  Or three.  Maybe more that you don't know about. 

One of the blogs that I read in my Reader is Bible Money Matters.  I try not to read the comments much because it PISSES ME OFF when people get judgy and are all "tsk tsk, that's not very Christian."  Then I think, hmm, I took four years of Christianity classes at Padua Academy and I learned that Christ was not judgmental, but that's why I guess things didn't work out for me and Christianity and I'll stick with Buddhism, thanks.  But I like the blog content and I ESPECIALLY LOVE the sections on to make money with your blog.  They are all starred and saved in the Reader.  Bible Money Matters has recently released an ebook if you are interested in the topic too.

As a part of my blogger growth for the year, I've done a couple of things.  First, I made the most amazingly awesome business cards that have all of my websites on them.  My blogger business cards.  Not my lawyer cards.  If you are friends with me on FB, you may have seen them.  THEY HAVE A RAINBOW AND A UNICORN.  They are so spectacularly 1984 My Little Pony meets everything great.  Nothing but rainbows and unicorns.  That's what I'm all about.  They are PERFECTION.  They even have the newly created danielleliss.com.  That website is meant to be nothing more than a few links, so that you can find me when you forget all of my clever little names for things.

The other big factor for blogger growth for the year is that I will be attending Blogher.  I am rooming with Robin.  Right, from Danielle & Robin (which you should check out because we changed formats in March and it is looking pretty rad and there are no unicorns - yet, although I did see something on Etsy that would allow me to make a caticorn).  I am also attending the business conference.  This means that I will have a place to hand out my truly, truly, truly outrageous business cards. 

Is anyone else going to Blogher?  Does anyone else think that I am missing vital steps as I enter blogger puberty?  (Might as well enter blogger puberty at the same time I enter financial puberty.  Maybe that's why my adult acne is flaring up.)

Audience Participation: Tell Me What You Want

I have to be honest with you, other than the need to KILL DISCOVER, there is nothing sticking in my mind, haunting me, that I want.  In the past, when I was a shopping addicted spendthrift, there was always something that I WANTED BAD.  RIGHT NOW.  Nothing specific comes to mind.  Weird to consider.

Are there tangible things that you want right now?  What are they?  What is your must have item for spring?  Is there a non-tangible thing that you want?  I'd like about 5 more hours in each day, but that's something I always want. 

For the sake of full disclosure, if I came across the infamous Kate Spade shoes (in my size) that haunt me, I would buy them in a second.  They are my holy grail.  (Sorry, Money Coach, this is a quest that goes back for years.  Years, I say.)  (This did not drive my recent banner photo change.  However, I guess it does show that I like peacocks.)

 

Quizzle

Last week, I blogged about trying Credit Karma.  Daniel, from Sweating the Big Stuff, recommended that I try Quizzle.  Never one to shy away from a website described as cool, I was all over it. 

First, the website is, as Daniel stated, cool.  When I entered my information, the cute messages said things like 'initiating the flux capacitor' while an adorable cartoon old guy in glasses smiled at me.  Points for Quizzle. 

The website grades you in three areas.  Home.  Money.  Credit.  Then you get a Quizzle Score. 

I failed Quizzle.  I got a 67. 

Home=40.  Money=71.  Credit=90. I decided to dig deeper to see what was at the root of these scores.  (As if I needed to question the house score.)

Home
We've talked about this time and time again.  We owe $373,000 on our house.  Our house is worth, according to Quizzle (and Mint), $192,607.  Therefore, I get an F.  I have simply decided to accept this and be really freaking zen about the whole thing.  This house is huge.  There is absolutely no reason why we will need more than 2900 square feet at any point in the near future.  Since I'll have my credit cards and Grandfather paid off pretty quickly, I intend to work on the mortgage after that.  Sure, it will take some time, but we're not walking away from the house.  This is just something that I'm going to deal with, like we've dealt with everything else.  Sure, we thought we were buying at the bottom of the bubble.  HA. 

Money
I got a C.  I'm living within my budget, but my rainy day fund is not very good.  Well, I know this, Quizzle, but I'm more focused on paying down my debt right now, so that's why.  I appreciate your concern and I appreciate you giving me an 8% in the rainy day fund.  That is a lower score than my house.  It will be better by the end of 2010.  Don't you worry.  But at least I got an 87% on my budget.  That's not too shabby.  I wonder what they would have thought of me in 2008.  Let's not dwell on that.

Credit
First, Quizzle believes that 90% is an A.  I'm sorry, but I'm an old-fashioned girl and I don't believe that it's an A until I have a 93.  This is a B.  According to Quizzle, I have a 724 FICO.  I like 724 better than the 682 that I got from Credit Karma.  It says that I can improve my credit 11 points.  Let's see how.

Oh, that part costs money.  No thank you.  I honestly know how to increase my FICO.  That's the beauty of my former life as a banker.  So I'll keep paying off my balances and I'll watch my score get higher and higher.

I loved their list of 55 ways to save money.  I don't agree with the warehouse stores, but other than that, I like the list.  Obey the list.

Well, Daniel, I'm converted.  I'm a Quizzle girl now.  The website is very cute and user-friendly.  Thanks for the recommendation!

Not a good moment

Since I typically play rainbows and unicorns, I thought I'd let you feel a dark spot through live blogging. 

I'm on the edge of a money panic attack.  It's based on nothing. Nothing whatsoever.  Well, I guess something.  I went on Mint.com earlier and my house value dropped again.  My 2900 square foot house is now worth $192,000.  I owe $373,000.  I want to vomit.  Between that drop and the capitalized interest on the student loans that will be added on 2/14, my net worth is taking a huge hit and it is now going to be negative $300,000.  And that somehow seems like a kick in the ass and an intense feeling of failure washes over me.  I really want to cry. 

I realize that this is more about my own brand of CRAZY than anything else.  Before, I wanted to have all of the stuff that I wanted regardless of cost.  Now, I want to get rid of the debt immediately and be successful and I am so impatient.  I want positive net worth immediately.  It's a whole lot easier to get into debt than it is to get out.

Honestly, I'm nervous.  Tax appointment with beloved CPA tomorrow.  Let's hope this goes well.  If we owe, I'm going to be completely batshit insane tomorrow night. 

I need a couple of pills to kick in and balance some of the crazy brain parts.  This is not an easy moment and I am not going to cry over absolutely nothing.  Instead, I'm going to go upstairs, get changed, stop acting like a crazy bitch and relax.  I'm going to breathe.  This will pass.  I am not failing at being financially responsible.  I am doing well at sticking with my budget.  I am just acting like a raving nut right now. 

Let's be thankful that I'm not snowed in with my own thoughts right now.  Welcome to the dark side of being former nobility in the land of financial irresponsibility.

It's Not About The Money by Brent Kessel

I finally finished the last library book in my pile, It's Not about the Money:  Unlock your money type to achieve spiritual and financial abundance by Brent Kessel.  I'm going to be completely honest - when I checked this out in December, I based my decision entirely on the cover.  It was Tiffany blue with white writing and had a cute origami bird on the cover made from money.  Since I've read half of the other personal finance books in the library, I figured why not.

I did not realize that this particular book would make a greater impact on me than any other personal finance book that I've read.  This isn't a standard book on how to get out of debt.  I've got a guru for that.  His name is Money Coach.  This book is about reaching that core story about who you are within your relationship to money. 

Something I've mentioned before is also important, I'm not Christian.  Although I went to Catholic school, I've read the Bible and I respect the religion.  Quite simply, I do not believe in the concept of god.  I am a Buddhist.  I discovered Buddhism in my mid-twenties at a time when I needed direction.  I joke that I am a half-assed Buddhist because I haven't gone on the retreat to the monastery that I'd like to go to and sought refuge, but I believe in the four noble truths and I try to live by the eightfold path.  I know I've had my struggles there, but I am human and I will grow. 

This book heavily involves Buddhist philosophy.  However, it does touch on many other religions.  It was so comforting to me to find a book that reconciles Buddhist thinking with a desire to accumulate wealth, which seems contradictory.  But now I know it is all about the middle way. 

When I completed this book, I felt a bit lighter.  I learned so much.  I think everyone I know could benefit from reading it.  The archetypes are well illustrated and, more importantly, it doesn't criticize if you are a pleasure seeker - there is positive in every archetype and there are suggestions about which other archetypes would benefit.  There are also investment and financial plans for each archetype.  

I highly recommend this book.  I'm really glad I picked it because of it's beautiful cover.  Little did I know what was waiting for me inside.

And for my Losties - there is a nice section on a man named Richard Alpert who is now known as Ram Dass.  Very interesting.

Article About Spending Addiction (and me)

Here is the link to the article that came from the TV interview that I did.  I don't know when it will air or in which markets.  (I linked this earlier and screwed up the link with something I had forwarded to someone from another site.  I totally blame the pneumonia bronchitis.)

Please be kind to my chins.  This is the first time they have been on tv and they are very expressive.  Like jello when you push it. 

I Deeply Love Wells Fargo

I've read so many bloggers who have talked about switching to credit unions recently.  I figure it's time to talk about my bank.  I use Wells Fargo for my primary checking and bill payment and I adore them. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I do work in the Wells Fargo tower in Las Vegas, so it is extremely convenient for me to do my banking.  Everyone there is incredibly nice and friendly.  It isn't the fake nice that I am forced to contend with at the grocery store either.  I like the tellers.  Half of them know me at this point.  I heart them. 

When I first moved to Vegas, I used Bank of America.  I did not have strong positive feelings for them.  In fact, they annoyed the crap out of me.  They just happened to be close to my house.  I switched to Wells Fargo when I needed a bank that didn't charge fees for a checking account that didn't have a direct deposit associated with it.  I've been in love ever since (and I've got direct deposit back now). 

There is no way that I will be switching my bank anytime in the near future.  I am really happy with the service that I get.  They do an outstanding job.  Bravo, Wells Fargo. 

Book Review: How to Complain for Fun and Profit by Bruce Silverman

I should start with a brief explanation.  Bruce Silverman was an expert witness on a case that I worked on.  Bruce is the best advertising expert witness you could ever want for your litigation.  He is amazing.  I knew nothing, other than that I fast forward through commercials on a regular basis, and he made me feel like an expert by the end of the case.  Plus, he is a great guy and a lot of fun to work with.

You may have seen Bruce on 20/20.  His book is called How to Complain for Fun and Profit.  It's all about praising with faint damn.  The letters included in this book are literary masterpieces and should be a part of every frugal readers library.  Bruce has the ability craft a complaint letter that gets him big returns. 

I have had success, although I cannot discuss the particulars, using Bruce's techniques.  It really does work.  You simply have to take the time to do it.  And, frankly, if I have the time to write this post, I should have the time to write a short letter to a company who has wronged me in some way. 

I should have written a letter to Air Tran after the debacle they caused with our airline tickets after my grandmother passed away.  But it was not a good time for me.  I still should have written that letter.  We had a legitimate issue and probably could have gotten a free flight out of it. 

First, get this book and read it.  You will be amazed by Bruce's results.  Second, have you written complaint letters?  What were your results?

Thoughts on Impulse Buying

Money Coach warned me that there would be some dark places along the path to becoming financially responsible and I think I am having a staring contest with one of them right now.  I try to be all rainbows and unicorns for you, dear readers, but it's been hard over the past couple of weeks.  I've had my struggles behind the scenes.  My budget spreadsheet makes me want to vomit simply because it scares me.  I'm reading a book right now that ties buddhism to personal finance and it is hitting closer to home than any other that I've ever read.  There's a lot going on internally.  It's change.  I know the change is good.  Change is also scary.  And unknown.  

I spend a lot of time on Cash Commons.  (If you are reading this on the actual site and not in your reader, look to the right.  See that giant dollar sign.  Click on it.  That will get you there.  I cannot stress how awesome this site is.  Questions and answers about anything related to money.)  Someone asked, "What are Some Ways to Avoid Impulse Buys?"  I wrote a lengthy response with some more hardcore suggestions. 

I was excited to see that another one of my favorite money blogs addressed the topic too.  The advice was much more practical and geared toward someone financially responsible.  It struck something in me.  Any money advice that I give is typically extreme - for people like me.  Not for someone who is financially responsible.

Since I'm feeling introspective, I thought I'd talk a little about what it is like to be financially irresponsible.  Without the jokes.  Without giving it cutsie names. 

I am a recovering shopping addict.  I stress shopped because it made me feel better.  I bought shoes because at least my feet hadn't gained weight and I could wear something that made me feel beautiful.  I knew I didn't have money.  I had a budget.  I was well aware of it.  I ignored it.  The only thing that mattered was whether or not I had available credit.  I applied for credit line increases.  I applied for new cards until they stopped giving me new cards.  I made large enough payments to ensure that I could continue shopping every month. 

It didn't matter if I was shopping at the grocery store, a pharmacy or anywhere else.  I could find a way to spend money to make myself "feel better."  It would help for a few minutes.  By the end of my illness, I would start to panic about how much money I spent by the time I was getting into my car with the purchases.  I would sometimes return things, but then I felt an overwhelming sadness.  It was as if the things I made were supposed to be with me.  It was impossible to say no to my addiction. 

When I hit financial rock bottom last year, I had to figure out how to give up shopping.  I still slip.  Hell, in November, I impulse bought a car.  Although, really, I don't regret my car.  Not when I am getting 53 mpg and have finally stopped hitting stuff since I am driving a smaller car.  I'm doing much better.  I have far more self control.  I am focused on paying off my debt and saving more money.  I get $100 per month to blow on whatever I want.  That's it. 

When it comes to not making impulse buys, it really depends on where you are in the shopping scale.  If you are financially responsible (or somewhere close), then listen closely to the lessons on The Balanced Spreadsheet.  If you are anything like I was, you probably need help.  Trust me, it's not going to be easy.  You have to find the root of the problem and figure out what else is going to fill that void.  It hurts like hell.  I never smoked, but I imagine it is like quitting.  It is an addiction.

Who Likes to Win Stuff?

Oh, you do?  Stay tuned. 

Details of my first TFL giveaway will be posted on Friday, 2/5!

I Want Your Feedback

So, I've been doing this for 9 months or now.  I'd like to get some feedback from the readers.  I did a mini focus group with a few friends before I did the redesign and now I'd like to talk to all of my readers.  All seven of you.

1.  What kind of content annoys the bejeezus out of you?  Are you totally sick of hearing about my trips to the grocery store? 

2.  What kind of content would you like to see more of?  I felt a little burnt out at the beginning of the week and it helps to know what people like.  Honestly, this is never going to be a standard PF blog where I teach you the difference between a money market and some other sort of account that I don't know about.  It will always be based on my personal experiences, but I'd like to increase our interactions because I like talking with all of you.  Your such a nice bunch.

3.  Are the new ads annoying?  I figure they are easy enough to ignore if you don't want to look at them.  I tried to pick companies that I thought my readers might find interesting so it wasn't icky stuff.  Honestly, they are killing me.  Do you know how badly I want to click on most of them?  I am not allowed to talk about the companies in the right sidebar for various contractual reasons, but let's say that my Nikon D50 came from one and I love it.  Let's say that I love color coding and want to see what another website has for the CRAZY part of me.  And I want to see what one of them is all about because it just looks cute, dammit.  But I am not allowed to click.  Sorry if the ads are annoying.  But again, tried to pick stuff that was cool.  And if there is one that sells clothes for feet, I may have gotten my wedding shoes there.

4.  Do you want to see some guest posts?  Anyone interested in guest posting?  Email dsliss [at] gmail [dot] com if you are.  I'll send you an invite.  Don't post anything batshit nutters or I will have to exercise some editorial control.  I like money saving and money wasting tips the most.  People enjoy hearing when other people have wasted their money.  I think it makes them feel a little more human.  We all make mistakes.

5.  I've got some stuff around my house that I don't want.  Stuff that has never been used.  Some stuff that is pretty damn rad.  I've been thinking about having some contests for the stuff.  Would you like that?  If only one person is going to play, that doesn't seem particularly fun, except for the one person and then you can just send me an email and I'll send you my stuff.  That would require the FB commenters to make comments here.  Oh, and I don't do that pick a random comment thing.  I'm not all about fairness.  You have to write something to amuse me and then I pick that one.  In other words, I want you to woo me.  And remember, I have weird stuff, so the prizes could be very interesting.  Oh, and I am prone to including surprises with prizes, so extra fun to look forward to. (And surprises are often very inexpensive treats from Tokyo discount in the form of financial lucky cats.)  I'm not going out and getting gift cards for contests.  Can't afford that.  But I have an unused Knock Knock Medical Organizer that retails for $24.95.  I have art prints.  I have art that I can't seem to sell.  I may even have an airline credit on southwest (if I decide to use that).  I have the Abba Gold Box Set.  I can get autographed pictures of Tiki if he isn't acting totally dicky that day.  And the surprise arts and crafts projects that I can come up with for zero dollars are endless and MAGNIFICENT.  Oh, and they may come in the form of trivia questions because those are fun. 

I am really looking for your honest feedback on ways to make the site better and more fun.  Any feedback is appreciated.  I hope this isn't just crickets.

What's Your Net Worth?

Since I've learned to think like a millionaire, I now know that I no longer talk about how much I make a year.  That doesn't mean a damn thing.  It's about how much I'm worth.  My net worth.  Simply put, assets minus liabilities.  

To make it easier for Money Coach to keep track of my evil doing, I started using Mint again.  I used it when it first came out and stopped because it annoyed me for some reason, but now I love it.  They've made a lot of improvements.  

Within the magical Minty world, there is a home valuation widget that is shockingly accurate.  I have not found anything online that is so accurate.  Every week or so, I watch my home value plummet another few thousand.  Generally, it makes my stomach hurt. 

So, even though I feel good about the progress I am slowly making on my debt, my net worth steadily declines due to my continued losses on my house.  (I curse a lot when I look at mint.  I also curse a lot when I look at my ginormous house that can't seem to retain ANY value.) 

Right now, my net worth is around negative $275,000.00.  That includes the full value of the house, which I guess should be split between Brian and I since we keep our finances separate.  But as you can see, that is a daunting number.  It is more than a quarter of a million dollars. 

Sure, I'm all, yeah, I saved my little emergency fund.  And yeah, I paid off Citibank.  And yeah, CRAZY is after Discover.  But then I think, how in the hell am I going to pay off this money pit house.  But that's for another day.  The unsecured debt comes first.  Plus, there's a new article every day that says the market will turn around by 2012.  But I'm pretty sure I read somewhere else that the earth is ending that year.  Who can be sure.

Dear Readers, do you track your net worth? 

Facebook Fan Page

Quick note - if you read the blog and you are on FB, but you aren't a fan, I strongly encourage you to join us on the fan page.  We've had a lot of great discussions recently. 

I learned about the Personal Finance class that was offered at my high school but it was a level three class.  In other words, there was no way the honors kids were taking it.  In addition, it's no longer offered at my old high school. 

I have also gotten some great tips on how to avoid stress shopping when I know I might be in a precarious situation. 

I learned some amazing tips on how to make the most of thrift shops that I absolutely plan to put to use! 

Join us on Facebook and join the discussions!

Where are my Padua Pandas? I need your memories.

I started reading a personal finance book that I took out from the library.  When I realized that it was going to be ... the same as fifty other books that I've read, I put it down.  I'm tired of reading the same book.  In the intro, it made the point that many books have made - not many high schools teach you about personal finance in high school. 

That made me think about my high school education.  I've already grumbled that I didn't take home ec and took a full year of typing.  So I can type like a wizard.  I took far more math than I ever needed as an art history major or a lawyer.  As a buddhist, I took far too many classes on Christianity, but I guess those are required at Catholic schools.  (Plus, I didn't discover buddhism until my mid-twenties.)  But I digress.

I have absolutely no idea if Padua Academy offered a class on personal finance when I was there.  But I can tell you this - if they did, I imagine it wasn't a level one class.  I already took Chorus, which was not a level one class, as an elective.  I couldn't afford to have any additional non-honors classes in my schedule.  If I remember correctly, I wasn't happy when I had to take that year of typing.  However, because I started taking Spanish in middle school, I was a year ahead of most of my class in Spanish, so they ran out of classes for me to take and there was nowhere to put me during that period other than typing. 

Pandas, was there any sort of personal finance class?  If so, what level was it?  Are we talking a level two or was it a dreaded level three class?  In other words was it something that the honors kids never would have taken?  (I'm not trying to be rude, but I wouldn't have.  And those of you who took AP Bio and AP Chem can say the same thing.)

Free Teleclass that EVERY Business Person Should Take

Day in and out, in my home and work email and on my reader, I get offers for free deals, free classes and offers that promise to make me better at what I do in the blink of an eye.  At this point in my career, I've become pretty skeptical; however, there are a few people in whom I've got complete faith. 

One of those individuals is Stefanie Frank.  Stefanie is the visionary behind White Papers for Entrepreneurs.  If you have your own business and need to market it more effectively, she can help.  If you have a job where you have to write as part of your job description, Stefanie can teach you how to do it more effectively. 

On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, she is offering a FREE teleclass.  Stefanie will teach you the fundamentals of how to write in a way that engages your audience, keeps them reading, and subtly persuades them to take action.  To take that critical next step with you and your business.

Isn't this what all business people, entrepreneurs, professionals, and bloggers, want?  This FREE teleclass is value packed with persuasive marketing materials that don't feel like a sales pitch; instead your ideal clients will want to work with you. 

To sign up for Stefanie's free teleclass, The #1 Secret Marketing Key to Boost Your Business' Bottom Line!, click here to register.  The live class is on January 26th at 11:00 a.m. PST.  If you can't make the live call, be sure to register and Stefanie will email you the MP3 recording within 48 hours of the call.

(If this simply sounds like a sales pitch, trust me, I don't do those.  I am not benefiting from this in any way.  I have known Stefanie personally since I was in law school.  Stefanie is a tri-athlete, an entrepreneur and an inspiration.  White papers are an amazing tool and if you are not using them, you should be.  Even the writing tips are critical.  I would not post this if I didn't believe in Stefanie 100%.)

A Ninja Stared into My Soul

I'm here, trying to have a peaceful lunch and reading a couple of articles while I nibble on homemade bread and chili when I get to Punch Debt in the Face.  It turns out that the Ninja has figured out the source of my problems with the evil debt.  For anyone who knows me, this will make total sense.  Go here.  Meet the Debt Unicorn.

UPDATE - There Leslie, the link is fixed. Thanks for alerting me!

Money Book Reviews

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

I've heard A LOT about Dave Ramsey.  Everyone in the saving money/personal finance world talks about him.  I wasn't particularly interested, but I thought I should give him a try to see what all of the fuss was about.  I didn't like this book.  [Although, amusingly, during a tv interview about my compulsive shopping, I found myself quoting one of his good sound bytes.]  Mostly, it had a lot of clever phrases.  While I enjoy clever phrases, I also want more than that. 

Quite simply, I don't like his payoff plan.  I understand the idea of paying off the smaller debts first, but I personally prefer paying off the highest interest rate first, regardless of the balance.  I am also not in a position where I can run out and get a part time job during the evenings or weekends.  My primary job requires that I be available during those hours when needed.  My performance at my primary job is far more critical to my income than the income that would be generated from working part time for minimum wage somewhere.  

Ramsey is not for me.  I can understand why others may like his writing.  I don't plan to read his other books.

The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager

I read this book on the plane on my way home from Jersey.  I loved it.  I am not the Ultimate Cheapskate, but I like him.  I like his tips and I like his writing style.  I am not the type to do everything that he says, but I like the idea of taking the time to cut back on spending.  He had some good ideas.  While I'm not aiming to make "enough," and to retire early, cutting back on my expenses will be key to helping me reach my savings goals.

Have I mentioned that he curses?  Let me tell you, that was a relief.  Everyone in the personal finance world seems a lot more serious than me.  I don't know if that is good or bad.  It's different.  I'm not trying to be like everyone else.  But let's face it, I'm a wound-up ball of snark and I type bad words.  So does Yeager.  He also made me laugh, which was no small feat since I had three hours of sleep before my flight. 

I highly recommend this book.  It was really enjoyable and I think there are tips that everyone could benefit from.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker

When Dr. Dean and I first entered our Money Coach/Money Minion relationship, he told me to read this book.  Holy crap, Dr. Dean is a genius at figuring out what I need to crack through my thick skull.  This book talks a lot about money blueprints.  More importantly, it shows how poor people versus rich people behave. 

I behave like a poor person, so it is no wonder that I am broke.  Let me say it here:  that nonsense is done.  Money is not the devil.  I am no longer of the mindset that I don't need or want to be rich.  I do.  I want to make money and pay off my debts.  I want to own my house.  Actually own it.  Without a mortgage.   I want to have a lot of money saved for my retirement so that Brian and I can travel and do all of the things that we've always dreamed about. 

This book is a must read.  An absolute MUST READ.  Go get it.  (I got mine at the library, so do the same unless you are already rich.) 

2010 Major Financial Goals

Reduce credit card balances to $10,000 (or less) by 12/31/10

As of today, my credit card balances are a little over $30,000, so this may seem like an impossible goal; however, I will be paying one credit card in full next month, which will reduce my balances to under $23,000.  Making this substantial payment is only the beginning.  I plan to aggressively attack these balances this year.  My original DMP payoff debt was mid-2014.  I am now aiming to have my credit cards paid off by the end of 2011.  I will focus on budgeting and supplementing my income to achieve this goal.

Increase savings to $10,000 (or more) by 12/31/10

I currently have $1,000 in savings.  Not very much if I am faced with an emergency.  Like my credit cards, I plan to make substantial progress, even though I have to start paying on my student loans this year.  Again, this will come through careful budgeting and supplementing my income.  I will continue to contribute to my 401(k), but my primary savings goal is to continue building my emergency fund until I have a significant amount that equals approximately three to six months of salary.

Decrease monthly grocery spending

One of the biggest areas where I can trim spending is my monthly grocery bill.  This has ranged from $600-700 at times.  Far too much.  It is especially high when you consider how much food we end up wasting.  My goal is to first take a careful inventory of what we have in the house so that I am not constantly buying things that we don't need.  I will resume menu planning, which I have not been doing recently.  I will learn how to bake bread.  I will learn more slow cooker recipes so that we don't have to think about what to make for dinner at the end of the workday.  I will make economical lunches to take to work and cutting back on expensive frozen meals.  (I like the Organic Bistro line, but they are usually still $5 on sale.)  Most importantly, I'm going to go above and beyond to stop wasting food.  This is driving me crazy.  It has to be hundreds of dollars a year.  That money could be used in so many other ways.  My goal is to get the grocery budget under $450 per month; however, I don't want to substitute quality food for unhealthy, pre-packaged food.  The goal will be to track sales, eat seasonal produce and waste as little as possible. 

Monetize blogs for supplemental income

I've been blogging for a long time and I've never attempted to make a penny off of my blogs.  I do not intend to make any of them feel like they are covered in ads.  I do, however, want to run ads and I plan to supplement my income through any revenue generated.  This will be used to help me achieve my goals for debt reduction and savings.  I don't expect to become a full-time blogger, but it seems senseless not to try to increase my income this way.

Obey and learn from money coach

As I've stated in other posts, I hired a money coach.  Our work really begins on 1/1/10, but we've had many preliminary conversations so far.  You may know him from the comments or Cash Commons.  Money Coach is (are you ready for the big reveal) Dr. Dean Burke, author of The Millionaire Nurse.  Dr. Dean is awesome and he is already giving me a ton of great hints and we are putting our plan together for 2010.  He will be a key factor in my path to financial responsibility. 

So this is it.  These are my biggest financial goals for 2010.  I'm trying to keep things attainable so that I do not become overwhelmed.  I think that the savings goal will be the most challenging, particularly since I've never been a great saver in the past. 

Happy New Year to all of my readers.  2010 is going to be a great year.

2009: A not so frugal year in review

2009, it is time to say goodbye.  We were never that close, so I don't know that I will miss you terribly much.  Financially, it's been a strange year, with a lot of twists and turns.  Let's roll the montage footage.

We started our journey together after I decided to join CCCS.  I hit rock bottom.  I knew that things had to change.  I have seen negative things on ye olde internet regarding CCCS and how you shouldn't use them.  Nonsense.  I love CCCS and I think it was one of the best decisions that I've made.  I started this year with more than $38,000 in credit card debt.  When I started CCCS, I had around $36,600.  I am ending 2009 with just over $30,000 in credit card debt.  I am on track to make significant progress on my debt.

I've made progress and then screwed up throughout the year.  I stress shopped.  I stressed. 

My best and worst financial decision was to buy a 2010 Honda Insight.  I was able to make a large downpayment, so my monthly car payment has decreased significantly.  My monthly spending for gas is cut in half, at least.  I really do love the car, so I am not beating myself up over this one.  Hopefully, I'll get a nice tax deduction for it too. 

I am eager to begin 2010.  I have a lot planned for the year.  (That's another post.)  I am on the right path, finally. 

FINALLY

I domain mapped.  I DOMAIN MAPPED.  We are back and open for business. 

Update on Sponsoring TFL

Last week, I broke down and asked for help. I know when the unhealthy behaviors of Danielles past are resurfacing.  I thought there would be crickets, but YOU LOVE ME AND WANT TO HELP ME. I now have at least one sponsor.  Her primary job is to determine whether I need something that I am about to buy.  Things that I know I probably shouldn't be buying.  I'm not going to burden her with things like stupid ugly should never have been invented pantyhose because I have to have those for court and she can't help the fact that I'm clumsy and I rip every pair that I buy.  But we're talking the bigger stuff.  Like how last week, I quietly bought a Tiffany Liu painting for $300 during the wee hours. Here's what my argument would have been:  But Tiffany Liu is my favorite artist in the entire world and I really want to own one of her originals.  It doesn't matter if I have the money for it.  It's for my art collection.  But...  It's called My Boyfriend Is A Monster and it has a little blonde girl and there's a rainbow and butterflies are coming out of his mouth and I am meant to have that.  The only way it would be more perfect is if he had unicorns coming out of his mouth and you can't deny me something that I was meant to have. However, at that time, I was without a sponsor, so I get my painting.  Yay. I am also getting a money coach.  What is a money coach?  Here's my definition.  A money coach is someone who takes a money failure like myself, dives into the depths of hell (i.e., my finances), comes out alive, and finds ways to fix it and makes me financially responsible since I'm not doing a good job on my own. Difference between money coach and sponsor.  Sponsor is there to talk me off of ledges.  Sponsor may also become a blogger on the site.  (You are excited to hear someone else, aren't you?  Especially if that someone actually has money saving tips or can tattle on me and bring me public shame for my naughty ways.)  Money coach is not necessarily there to talk me off ledges.  It's a more big picture thing.  Like, what in the hell am I doing with my 401(k) and how can I get my crap paid off and how on earth do I become financially responsible.  That sort of thing.  See the difference? If and when they are ready to reveal their identities, we'll do that.  No pressure.  But I assure you, they are ten thousand kinds of rad.  You'll like them.  I do.

Tipping

Tipping has been on my mind lately.  Tipping is something that we do on a regular basis.  Lately, I've witnessed under-tipping that has made me cringe.

But, a la Carrie Bradshaw, I wonder, is there a threshold for over-tipping? Before we went to Sedona, I was concerned that I wasn't going to tip the balloon pilots enough.  As always, I took that money question to Cash Commons.  I also asked when we got to the resort.  The concierge advised me to tip like I regularly would 15-20%.  I tipped right in that range, with $60 and I felt like I was undertipping.  Then I saw the tips the crew received from other guests.  $10 from one couple.  $20 from another.  No wonder they seemed so grateful for the $60.  Especially considering it has to be split up between a number of people.  Maybe those people weren't concerned about "the proper amount" like I had been.  Or perhaps I had been tipping too much.

Also in Sedona, I took other tours.  I made sure that I tipped the requisite 15-20% on those tours.  On one tour, there were three people in the same party and I didn't see a tip.  I can only hope it was on their credit card receipt, although I didn't see an option there.

I always try to ensure that those in my life who provide a service receive the proper gratuity.  There are some that I overtip on purpose.  If Kristin ever tries to leave the area, I will try to buy her.  I know you can't buy people, but I will try.  Same goes for Anjala, even though we haven't been together as long.  But they are masters at their craft and they deserve it, dammit.  Kristin gets my hair.  Do you know how long I have searched for someone who gets my hair??

When Brian and I were at Mandalay recently, I parked in valet and then felt guilty because I only had $1.50 in quarters to tip the attendant.  Most people would have just walked away. On Saturday, my super cheap, used casino couch arrived.  It took the two guys approximately five minutes to bring it into the house and put it into the new location.  I tipped $30.  Now, I'm not sure, but I think that may have been excessive. 

Every time we have moved, I've tipped the movers each $50 and they've spent hours moving my crap around.  Is it the down economy?  Is it the bleeding heart liberal thing?  Because I just read something on my reader (which I have started using again for money blogs) that says liberals are stingy.  Did I innately know this and I am trying to make up for the other liberals?

More importantly, am I overtipping?  20% is automatic at a restaurant.  Apparently 66% of the delivery fee was appropriate for the delivery guys who brought me a wet couch.  I can't tell if I am going overboard or if this is normal.  Anyone???

I ' m Baaaaaaack

Break is over.  I figure that you want to see my spaceship.  Here.

eBay is exhausting

I have spent most of the weekend working on getting this photographed and listed on eBay.  And not everything is even there.  I tried to keep it with the stuff that will actually sell.

If you wear a size 6 or 6.5 shoe, go visit.  You're in for a treat.  There's a couple of decent pieces of jewelry.  There's a purse.  There's a CVS gift card. Forward the link.

Buy my stuff.  It will all go toward the Danielle Deficit and not shoes at the half-off Manolo sale.  I SWEAR.

Book Review: Go Green, Live Rich

Go Green, Live Rich:  50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying) by David Bach (with Hillary Rosner)

I grabbed this at the library during my most recent trip.  It is an extremely quick read.  THERE ARE GIANT PICTURES PEOPLE.  Just in case you are anti-written word, like the husband of one of my favorite people.

Since I am already Dark Sage, I was aware of many of the tips in this book and am actively doing those things that I can.  (For example, I cannot use biodiesel in my Accord.  That simply wouldn't work.  I also can't not have a car.  That wouldn't work with the location of my workplace.)

I loved the inclusion of a lot of good websites, which I have already bookmarked.  [Yes, world, that's right, I don't use a reader.  I tried it and I didn't like it.  I like looking at actual websites.  I hated the reader.  We broke up. ]  My favorite part was the inclusion of the potential monetary impact of the changes.

My husband has repeatedly told me that he goes along with the things that I am doing and doesn't say anything even though he doesn't agree with them.  So, I attempt to woo him with numbers.  (I don't think that is working either since he wants to drink the club soda that I buy to clean with and he thinks the rest of the cleaning supplies are for salad dressings.)

For basics on going green, this is a great reference.  I am now tempted to read more books by Mr. Bach.  We'll see what ends up in my giant tote bag the next time I go to the library.

Book Review: Suze Orman ' s 2009 Action Plan

I decided to face my semi-irrational fear of Suze Orman.  I had to wait for a while at Smith's for my prescriptions one day during the plague that I recently had.  So, it made sense to spend $9.99 on Suze Orman's book to read while I was waiting.  I was already really sick and my head was spinning.  What additional damage could it do?

First, I'd like to talk about her cover photo.  She is still too tan for my comfort level and I think she has on a fierce amount of bronzer.  (Perhaps someone could make her look a little less scary with some regular ole pink blush instead of more bronzer???) 

But, she is wearing some sort of leopard print shirt or jacket or snuggie thing.  I liked that. Second, I liked her intro.  She explained the financial crisis in terms that I, as a financial idiot, could understand.  Check Plus. She talked about retirement stuff.  Okay.  A lot didn't apply to me because I will not be retiring soon so I will just keep doing what I'm doing with my 401(k).

I've read a few critiques of her plan that an 8 month emergency fund is a priority.  I think this is good advice.  I've been concentrating on paying off my debt.  If I lost my job, I'd be SCREWED because I have no emergency fund.  I do think that's more important than getting out of debt.  I think that would help me to continue paying my debt if I were to lose my job.  Seems logical to me.  She also had good tips on how to pay off debt.  But I'm already on CCCS.  I clearly still need to trim expenses since I have a burrito line item in my budget.

Overall, I liked the book and thought it was helpful.  I'm sure that everyone on earth who read it when it was timely thought it sucked.  Meh.  Found it helpful. This does NOT mean that I am over my fear of Suze Orman.  I am STILL afraid of her and her tan and how she would yell at me and how I would cry.

That Car I Drive

Let's end the week on a confused note. I have that car.  You know, the one that I use to run into stuff a lot.  It is a 2007 Honda Accord VP.  It's a pleasant car.  I'm not a particularly good owner as one reader will be quick to remind me.  (Fortunately he will be away for the weekend and may not see this.) My lease is up in May 2010.  I do not know what do at the end of the lease.  I have the following options:

• Buy the car at the end of the lease.
• Lease another car.
• Buy a different used car.
• Buy a new car.

Let's just get this out of the way - It is pretty unlikely that I can afford the payment to purchase a new car.  I definitely don't think I can afford a new Accord, which is my vehicle of choice.  My current car has a bad owner who runs into stuff.  The windows also have really shitty tint and have tons of scratches from some unknown problem.  There's also some sort of issue with the carpet stuff on the floor.  So I don't know if I want that particular car.

A new lease seems dumb because I know I am just renting the vehicle.  However, it keeps me in the car I want and it keeps it affordable.  This option is still open.  Then, when that lease is up, I would be essentially done with my DMP and paying off the Bank of Grandfather.

There's also the option of buying a different used car.  Not sure how that would go. I also don't know if I am able to buy my current car and negotiate the buyout price on the contract.  That is also a possibility. Any thoughts?  I hate car stuff.