Finance Gets Personal

Try an Anti-Charity.

I read about this in The Oprah Magazine, and it’s a great idea!

Whether you’re trying to get out of debt, lose weight or be on time to work, it helps to have some sort of punishment and reward system. For example, I have a rewards system for getting out of debt: Every time we pay off a debt, our family goes to eat dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings (yes, that’s really all it takes for me).

However, I’ve had very little success with weight loss and punctuality, so perhaps it’s time to raise the stakes. I’ve previously considered charging myself money when I fail to reach my goals, but I’d probably just end up snowflaking that into debt repayment (Which I love, remember? Mmm…chicken tender wrap with teriyaki sauce!).

I could donate it to charity, but it’s hard to feel too bad about that.

Unless…It’s an Anti-Charity!

Goal-setting website stickk.com defines an anti-charity as any organization you strongly oppose or which promotes values which are most contrary to your own. For example, if you have a “She’s a baby, not a choice” bumper sticker on your car, you’d probably work pretty damn hard to not donate to Planned Parenthood.

How fantastic!

I am by no means an economics expert. In fact, the only reason I passed that class in college is because it was graded on a major curve (true story: I once got a D on a test and it ended up an A-).

Regardless, here is my take on the current financial “crisis.”

Something needs to be done. I am not sure that a $700 billion bailout is the answer. It seems unfair to bail out the major corporations on Wall Street, when little concern is given to the economic crises of individuals. Which is not to say that I believe individuals should be bailed out either.

In other words, I don’t really have an answer about what should be done. I really wish we could just ride it out, but apparently that’s not going to work this time (or we’re not willing to take the chance).

What I do know is that I’m not really too worried about my investments in the long run. I believe the market will go up again, if not now, then in five years, or ten years. I’ve got time…I can wait it out. In fact, in times like these, I wish I was out of debt and had even more money to invest.

What goes down, must come up. So try not to worry too much.

I’ll try too.
Photo Credit: Bear Statue by taberandrew, used under Creative Commons licensing.

Hello everyone, and welcome (back?) to Finance Gets Personal!

It’s been a while since I’ve had regular posts about anything besides CVS and Walgreens deals, so I’m re-launching the blog. From now on, I’ll be sticking with finance topics that are more personal (Finance Gets Personal-er?), and hopefully a lot more frequent.

Whether you’re just joining me, or are back after a short break, thanks for visiting! I hope you’ll stay tuned!

And now, to celebrate the re-launch, it’s time for my first giveaway!

I’m giving away one $25 gift card that’s valid at any of following Brinker-owned restaurants: Chili’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, On the Border and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

To enter, please leave a comment about what you particularly like/dislike about the blog, or what topics you’d like to see covered in future posts. I’ll select a random winner on Friday at 5:00 Eastern Time.

Photo Credit: It’s here! by C.M., used under Creative Commons licensing.

As one of my readers pointed out yesterday (I still have readers?), all these CVS posts are booooorrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnng! And while I am still completely addicted to shopping there, for the sake of this blog, my sanity and the kind folks at CVS enforcement who are threatening to sue me for posting links to coupons they never intended to mass-distribute, I will be returning to regular scheduled programming: Personal finance stuff.

Can I get an Amen?

Anyway, stay tuned, because Monday is going to be the start of something big, and I’ll even be having a giveaway (no, it’s not my stockpile of 10 bottles of Robitussin - but damn, does anyone need any? I’ve got tons!).

Thanks for reading, and look forward to commenting with you soon.

p.s. I love comments!

Photo Credit: JUTTA + OMFG! by nayrb7, used under Creative Commons licensing.

CVS

• Excedrin Express Gels 20 Pack
  On Sale $3.99, Receive $3.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
  Final Price = FREE

• Purex Laundry Detergent
  On Sale $2.99, Use $0.50 Coupon, Receive $1 ECB (Supposed to be Limit 5, But My Receipt Indicates Limit 4)
  Final Price = $1.49 Each

• 2 Revlon One Color Eye Shadows
  $4.49, On Sale BOGO, Use 2 $2 Coupons
  Final Price = $0.49 for 2

Walgreens

• Glade 4 oz. Candle
  On Sale $1.99, Use $1 Off Coupon, Receive $1 Rebate (Limit 4 Rebates)
  Final Price = Free After Rebate

• 2 Glade PlugIn Gels with Warmer
  On Sale $1.99, Use BOGO Coupon, Receive $2 Mail In Rebate (Limit 4 Rebates - $4)
  Final Price = Free After Rebate

• Colgate Toothpaste
  On Sale $2.99, Use $2 Super Coupon from Walgreens Ad, Use $0.75 Coupon (Limit 2)
  Final Price = $0.25

I’m super-excited about this week’s deals! Check out these scenerios…

CVS

Transaction 1:

• 4 Right Guard Sport or Xtreme Deodorants
  On Sale for $2.99, Use 4 $1 Off Coupons from Recent Insert, Receive $2 ECB for Each

Use $2 Off $10 CVS Coupon
Final Price = Overage of $2.04 After ECBs

Transaction 2:

• 1 Right Guard Sport or Xtreme Deodorant
  On Sale for $2.99, Use $1 Off Coupon, Receive $2 ECB

• L’Oreal Age Perfect, Revitalift or Skin Genesis Cleaner 5.8 oz. or Towelettes 25 ct.
  On Sale for $5.99, Use $1 Coupon (Or $3 Off Coupon if You Have That), Receive $5.99 ECB

• Gallon of Milk
  On Sale for $2.99

Use $2 Off $10 CVS Coupon
Final Price = Overage of $0.02 After ECBs

Transaction 3:

• Revlon Nail Enamel (Sunday and Monday Only)
  $3.99, Use $2 Off Coupon (Note: This may not work, as I was unable to use it at Walgreens last week for nail polish), Receive $3 ECB

• Chex Mix
  On Sale for $1, Use $1 Coupon

• Arnicare Homeopathic Pain Relief Gel (Monthly Deal)
  $8.99, Use $2 Off Coupon, Receive $8 ECB

Use $2 Off $10 CVS Coupon
Final Price = Overage of $4.02 After ECBs

Walgreens

• Buy 7 SC Johnson Products, Get $10 Register Rewards
  Here’s My Plan, Based on the Coupons I Have:
  2 Scrubbing Bubbles Flushable Bathroom Wipes $2.49 Each, Use 2 $1 Off Coupons
  2 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner $2.49 Each, Use 1 $1 Off Coupon and 1 $0.75 Off Coupon
  1 Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber Starter Kit $3.79, Use $1 Off Coupon, Mail in Rebate for $3.79
  1 Pledge Multi Surface Product $3.79, Use $2 Coupon
  1 Windex $2.49, Use $0.75 Coupon

• Crest Pro Health Mouthwash 500 ml
  $4.49, Use $0.75 Coupon, Receive $4.49 RR

• Excedrin Express Gels 20 Pack (Monthly Deal)
  $3.99, Receive $3.99 Rebate

• 4 Schick Quattro for Women Refills
  $4.99 Each, Use 4 $4 Off Coupons

• Glade Fabric and Air Odor Eliminator
  $2.99, Use $1 Easy Saver Coupon, Use $1.50 Manufacturer’s Coupon

• Curves Chewy Granola Bars
  $2, Use $0.75 Coupon

Final Price = $3.69 After Register Rewards and Rebates

It’s September, and my net worth is increasing slowly but surely despite the stock market’s performance.

Net Worth as of August 1: $66,904
Net Worth as of September 1: $69,091

Here are this month’s highlights:

• My husband received a bonus of $1,750 after taxes, which we put toward his student loan (in addition to our regular debt snowball payments). The balance on that is now $1,873, and we’re hoping to have it paid off by the end of September. Then, it’s on to my student loan, which is currently at $7,716. Our goal is to have that paid off by the end of the year and then begin attacking the second mortgage of about $35K.
• I started playing the “Drugstore Game” at Walgreens in addition to CVS. With all the free after rebate items, it’s been a little bit of an upfront cost, but hopefully I’ll receive my gift card from last month soon so I’ll no longer be paying out of pocket.
• It was my month to host a dinner party with a few friends, and I managed to keep costs down to $35 this time. That’s still way more than I usually spend on dinner, so I’m always looking for ways to bring it down further. I’ll be hosting again in December.
• My husband began working 68-hour weeks at the start of my stepson’s football season, and I slowly began to go crazy between that and my full-time job. His schedule has since been reduced slightly (54 hours - woo hoo!), so I no longer have to attend football practice for four hours a week (tears).
• I scalped a few concert tickets (legal in my state) and felt guilty about it…for a second.
• It was really slow at my work, so I began bargain shopping online. Luckily, I’ve since found a better way to spend my down time: making money as a ChaCha guide.

So, it’s been a bit of a slow month, but it’s great to see our net worth going back up again and our student loans shrinking! Good luck to you with your goals!

There’s not a whole lot going on at CVS and Walgreens this week, but here is my CVS scenario:

• Cover Girl Wetslicks Amazemint
  $5.99, Use $1 Off Coupon from Yesterday’s P&G Insert, Receive $5.99 ECBs
  Final Price = $1 Overage After ECBs

• 2 Cover Girl Outlast All-Day Lip Color or Aqua Smoothers Lip Products
  On Sale BOGO, Use BOGO Coupon from Yesterday’s P&G Insert
  Final Price = Free

• 2 Colgate Total Advanced Clean Toothpastes
  $2.99 Each, Use $1 Coupon on One and $0.75 Coupon on Other (or Use $1.50 All You Coupons, or $1.50 Internet Coupons)
  Final Price = $0.25 for 2

After using the $2/$10 coupon, your total will be $7.22 plus tax, and you’ll receive $9.99 in ECBs!

For more great ideas, visit Money Saving Mom and The “Cent”sible Sawyer.