Financial: Post Items that I want but am deciding not to buy because of my new school budget

Last night I saw a book that totally reminded me of T. I think he would have really liked it. But I’m on a no spending budget and that doesn’t just include myself. I’ve always been the type to buy things for people as I happened to encounter them. I like surprises and I like letting people know that they enter my thoughts regularly.

But, spending is in extreme lock down so I am just going to have to find another way to show my affection/appreciation.

When my previous roomate moved out she took with her the rug that we had in our living room. Fortunately, all of the other furniture was mine so I didn’t lose everything. But the room definitely needs a rug or two. Last night at Marshalls I found some really nice rugs for only $49.99 and $69.99. There was a big area rug that could have gone perfectly under the coffee table and a long rectangle one that I could have used against the wall.

Decorating the apartment has definitely had to drop pretty low on the spending priority list.

I’ve been walking by one of my old shoe stores just about every day since I now work near it. I’ve past these shoes a millon times and just look longingly at them without going in. Today I decided to go in just to see how much I was saving by not buying them. $89.00 in the store, $39.00 online at a discounted website. Either way, I won’t be dancing in these any time soon.

My old roomate gave me her old printer which just happens to be the exact one that I used to use at my old job. I remember how easily that company dished out $64.99 for the toners. Now, I need a toner and instead I’ve bought a “re-fill your toner” kit for $10.99. I’ve never used one of these…I hope it works.

I’ve never been good at visualizing measurements. When someone tells me to add “a little” or “a pinch” I ask them to term their request in a unit of measurement that I can relate to. My roomate has a very simple kitchen scale that I have totally fallen in love with. I can quickly and easily weigh things and I am teaching myself to become more familiar with portion sizes. But she’s moving out in two weeks and taking the scale with her :(.

Actually, a $75 hair cut isn’t that bad…but when you’ve got $45,000 hanging over your head it seems a bit much. A friend of mine pays ~$200. I’m thinking I can probably get something decent (now that I am wearing my hair long, I don’t need much style cut into it) for about $30-$50. I miss the New Mexico days when a perfectly fine haircut cost $20.

My kitchen is awesome. We have so much space and storage areas. Unfortunately we are seriously lacking in the countertop department. My old roomate bought this kitchen cart at a garage sale that was really nice. But when you moved she of course took it with her. I really miss it and keep thinking about buying one. I’ve seen them as expensive as $300 and as cheap as $50 (used).

Either way, they won’t fit my budget now.

The last few weeks I have been so busy that I haven’t even had time to watch the Netflix I’ve received. I love the service and I really do enjoy the time I spend watching DVDs. I’m just not going to have very much time to do it. But I’ll definitely subscribe in the future again (unless by that point there is something more advanced than Netflix).

Since 2002 when I was diagnosed with a herniated disk in my spine just below my neck I have to be really careful with myself. Working at a desk for eight hours a day puts a lot of strain on me and unfortunately when I get stressed out I hold all of the tension in my upper back. Was getting monthly massages to help relax the muscles. Now I’m just going to have to get T to give me free ones ;). (He did actually offer last weekend!)

I was getting pedicures about once a month. It was just as much of a maintenance thing as a nice way to treat myself. Stopped back in March when I began my non-working hiatus, but definitely won’t have the budget to pick it back up ANYTIME soon.

My toes haven’t looked this good in quiet awhile. Doing it at home just doesn’t work out as well. Sigh.