Update

So far: $29,470.04. I plan to have 40,000 by the end of this year for the house fund. I am getting closer. I renewed my lease in February for 14 months. They said they would do it for 1250.00 if I renew for 14 months. So I have about +/-10 months to save.

I haven't been going out/shopping - nothing. I think this sacrifice will be worth it.

I love mint.com. I just recently set up an account. I get to see all my accounts, assets, budget all in one page. Helps me stay on track.

Other than that, nothing else new. Been reading, working out, maintaining social connections. Had to cut my idiot mother out of my life. So now 2/4 kids are not talking to her. We are really better off. It is unfortunate that we do not get to choose who makes us.

I went to my nieces' birthday party last week. When I parked my car I saw her drive up in her car to drop my sister off. If I had known that my brother invited her I never would have come. I was like, please just drop her off and go your merry way. I would have just left the presents and went home, I would not hang around if she is there. She dropped my sister off and left. Thank god. She had my step sister N in the car and I think she saw me. I wanted to wait until they left, I want nothing more to do with that woman.

Trying to be frugal....

Gas is now down to $1.99/gal. I just filled up & it only cost $17 for 8 gallons. I love my Honda Civic. I usually fill once every two weeks. My last fill was last Sunday. Last week I drove an hour away to a family gathering on Thanksgiving. The next day drove another hour to San Gabriel to pick up my bridesmaid dress. I usually don’t drive anywhere else but to work and that’s less than 10 minutes away, so sometimes I can make a tank of gas last 3 weeks.

Times are tough all around. So now we are *officially* in a recession (the denial is over) and the governor declared a fiscal crisis. Too boost savings (my bottom line), things need to be cut.

• The landline phone – I haven’t used it, I rely on my cell phone. I should cancel it and just pay for the internet. Last time I called and tried to cancel my landline, they talked me into keeping it “for emergencies” and for “back up.” I haven’t had a need for it; my cell phone is reliable enough. You can still dial 911 from a cell phone, even if there is no service. So I’ll be saving $40 a month.

• Reduce Direct TV bill – This one I can’t cut out but I can reduce. I’ll look to see if they have less expensive package.

• Less cafeteria meals at work. I’ll start bringing my food more often.

• Find cheaper car insurance.

I don’t know what else I can cut. I think I’m doing everything I can already.

• I don’t shop that often for new stuff. If I need (or want) something I find a coupon for it or wait until it goes on sale. And before I buy, I research it do death online.

• Only spend $40 for groceries. Go shopping once every 2 weeks. It’s just me here, I don’t have anyone else to feed.

• If people ask me to take home left overs (Thanksgiving), I do it.

• I’m always home, I very seldom go out. The last time I went out with friends was when I had my birthday dinner in October.

• Don’t go to the movies. The last movie I saw was “Lakeview Terrace,” & my friend treated me to that one for my birthday.

• Watch movies at home. I have Netflix. All the movies that come out, I wait to see on Netflix. I guess I could cut this one also. I have my account on hold for now – because there aren’t any DVD’s out that I want to see.

• Borrow books from the library. I don’t buy books anymore.

• Do surveys online - $5-10 or maybe $50 here and there, which go to my house fund.

• Do My Points - Get $10 - $25 gift certificates. Got a $10 gift certificate last month for CVS, used it to pay for my prescription.

• Bare minimum on my cell phone. I don’t have a fancy phone, it only does what it’s meant for – which is to make calls. No internet on it. I don’t do text messaging. I canceled it because people were leaving me annoying messages (guys & relatives asking to borrow money).

• Conserve electricity. Turn lights off when I’m not it the room. Unplug everything. Try to keep the bill less than $20/month (for a 1 bdrm apt).

• Use water that leaks out of the faucet while taking a shower to water the plants. Also save the water that’s coming out while waiting for the water to get warm.

• Laundry every 2 weeks (or more). Try to wear clothes more than twice if they’re not really dirty/stinky. Hand wash uniforms in between.

• Don’t buy paper towels among other things. There are lots of things I don’t buy anymore.

• Free sampling online. I’ve received shampoo, soap, tampons, razors, deodorant, etc.

• Make everything last. I try to put the purchase date on bottles of shampoo, dish soap, etc to see how long I can make them last.

• Can’t even remember the last time I had my hair cut/colored. I think it was September. I will try to stretch this out every 6 months. A good idea would be to find a beauty school nearby, they always need heads to practice on.

• Online banking with high yield savings account & CD’s. Better than getting a return of .009% at the bank.

• Pay bills online, saves stamps.

• Do not turn the heater on unless it’s freezing cold. I just put a sweater on. Same thing with the ac, unless it gets unbearably hot. Good thing I live near the beach, the highest it gets here is 87 degrees & there’s always a breeze. I just open the window.

That’s it. That’s all I can think of for now.