Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Confrontation
I confronted my fear.... Hard not to on a day like today when the DOW is up 332 points. Sure enough, the total value of the stocks in my account was just a little bit more than what I suspected, although I set my expectations very low, so maybe this is a bad thing? Total portfolio was up 3.6% today, so please let's keep this up....
Disaster averted
Another almost-rant as far as wedding costs go... one of our bachelorette party attendees has suddenly dropped out, but thankfully she said I could keep her deposit for the limo, as I had just drafted an email to all the other girls about how they would now have to pay more to cover the cost of the girl who dropped out. That would have been a real nightmare, because a lot of the girls are on a VERY tight budget and would be sure to groan, and I had also already collected all of the money, so doing another cash collection would be a real pain. I was afraid that if the girls had to pay more, some of them would recommend scrapping the limo, which is not possible because I paid a 25% nonrefundable deposit!!
Thank goodness she said we can keep the deposit. Phew! That was very generous of her.
Total cost for each participant (myself included): $42 for hotel share (might go up if we split into two groups), $60 for limo, $30-$60 for dinner
Thank goodness she said we can keep the deposit. Phew! That was very generous of her.
Total cost for each participant (myself included): $42 for hotel share (might go up if we split into two groups), $60 for limo, $30-$60 for dinner
Wedding Flights
Well, I spoke too soon about not buying any airline tickets for this credit card statement cycle....
I am the MOH in my friend's wedding this fall, which is in Lynchburg VA, and to get there I will have to fly to Richmond, rent a car, and drive the 2.5hrs to Lynchburg. There are closer airports (a small one in Lynchburg, a moderate one in Roanoke), but flights there are from NYC are pretty expensive and usually involve layovers in out-of-the-way cities like Atlanta or Detroit. Given the recent sale at Jet Blue, which flies frequently from NYC to Richmond, I wanted to get some tickets on the cheap!
I purchased my flight to Richmond with JBlu on a Thursday morning for $59 before taxes, I haven't seen fares like that since early 2007! The BF is flying down Friday night for $105 including tax, and we will both have to purchase $105 flights to return on Sunday. Delta has the most flexible flight times for our return, so even though I hate flying small regional jets (motion sickness is a weakness of mine), I'm going to have to deal.
I am thinking about buying the BF's return ticket as a gesture, because he's going out of his way to attend MY friend's wedding, and while they've met several times and like eachother a lot, it's a very long-distance friendship for them. (And they don't email each other every day like she and I do, ha ) I'm happy that he wants to come, but as MOH, I don't even think I will be able to spend that much time with him at the wedding. I think he's coming to make sure I don't spend too much time with the groomsmen at the afterparty...hmmm maybe I shouldn't pay for his ticket after all, ha...
I am the MOH in my friend's wedding this fall, which is in Lynchburg VA, and to get there I will have to fly to Richmond, rent a car, and drive the 2.5hrs to Lynchburg. There are closer airports (a small one in Lynchburg, a moderate one in Roanoke), but flights there are from NYC are pretty expensive and usually involve layovers in out-of-the-way cities like Atlanta or Detroit. Given the recent sale at Jet Blue, which flies frequently from NYC to Richmond, I wanted to get some tickets on the cheap!
I purchased my flight to Richmond with JBlu on a Thursday morning for $59 before taxes, I haven't seen fares like that since early 2007! The BF is flying down Friday night for $105 including tax, and we will both have to purchase $105 flights to return on Sunday. Delta has the most flexible flight times for our return, so even though I hate flying small regional jets (motion sickness is a weakness of mine), I'm going to have to deal.
I am thinking about buying the BF's return ticket as a gesture, because he's going out of his way to attend MY friend's wedding, and while they've met several times and like eachother a lot, it's a very long-distance friendship for them. (And they don't email each other every day like she and I do, ha ) I'm happy that he wants to come, but as MOH, I don't even think I will be able to spend that much time with him at the wedding. I think he's coming to make sure I don't spend too much time with the groomsmen at the afterparty...hmmm maybe I shouldn't pay for his ticket after all, ha...
COSTCO! Savings analysis
Last night I had a few minutes to wander around my little local Gristedes and take note of the ridiculously high prices I have to pay for simple things, so now I am armed with the info that will tell me how much I saved at Costco on Sunday!
16 cans of 19 oz Progresso soups:
Gristedes: $3.49/can My cost: $1.36/can My savings: $34.08!!
32 cans of Caffeine-free Diet Coke:
Gristedes: $3.50/6pack= $0.58/can My cost: $0.27/can My Savings: $10.03!!
14 bars of Dove Soap:
Gristedes: $9.60/8 bars = $1.20/bar My cost: $0.86/bar My Savings: $4.76!!
6 cans of black beans:
Gristedes: $1.20/can My cost: $0.75/can My savings: $2.70!!
12 cans of green beans:
Gristedes: $1.80/can My cost: $0.58/can My savings: $14.64!!
Gristedes: $5.75/quart My cost: $2.56/quart My savings: $9.57!!
48 Swiffer wet pads:
Gristedes: $10.19/24 pads = $0.42/pad My cost: $0.27/pad My savings: $7.20!!
16 cans of 19 oz Progresso soups:
Gristedes: $3.49/can My cost: $1.36/can My savings: $34.08!!
32 cans of Caffeine-free Diet Coke:
Gristedes: $3.50/6pack= $0.58/can My cost: $0.27/can My Savings: $10.03!!
14 bars of Dove Soap:
Gristedes: $9.60/8 bars = $1.20/bar My cost: $0.86/bar My Savings: $4.76!!
6 cans of black beans:
Gristedes: $1.20/can My cost: $0.75/can My savings: $2.70!!
12 cans of green beans:
Gristedes: $1.80/can My cost: $0.58/can My savings: $14.64!!
8 cans of stewed tomatoes:
Gristedes: $1.80/can My cost: $0.62/can My savings: $9.44!!
8 boxes of whole grain pasta:
Gristedes: $1.99/box My cost: $0.98/box My savings: $8.08!!
48 Trailmix Bars:
Gristedes: $3.50/6 bars = $0.58/bar My cost: $0.25/bar My savings: $15.84!!
10 Chapsticks:
Gristedes: $1.99/tubes My cost: $0.90/tube My savings: $10.90!!
Gristedes: $5.75/quart My cost: $2.56/quart My savings: $9.57!!
48 Swiffer wet pads:
Gristedes: $10.19/24 pads = $0.42/pad My cost: $0.27/pad My savings: $7.20!!
Concentrated Tide w/ Downy:
Gristedes: $13.99/32 loads = $0.44/load My cost: $0.25/load My savings: $15.39!!
I saved a grand total of $142.63!!!
And that is why my heart hearts COSTCO!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
I heart COSTCO!!! (and Weekend Potpourri)
I love Costco. I just love, love, love it. My boyfriend will argue that no person needs two gallons of mayonnaise, 36 rolls of toilet paper, or 40 AA batteries. I politely disagree (well, I agree with him on the mayo- yuck!). Especially in NYC when 4 rolls of toilet paper at the neighborhood drugstore go for $5+, my heart hearts Costco!
We were supposed to go to the beach yesterday, but woke up too late after seeing Wall-E (thanks to everyone who posted about the BOGO Discover Card offer at Fandango- NYC movie tix are $12 each!! I wouldn't have otherwise gone.) Instead of the beach, it was BF's idea to go to Costco, as he needed some new undershirts and dress socks, and since he's not picky, Costco would do. (Turns out, he is picky- they only had crew cut, and he likes V-neck t-shirts... oh well)
I spent $134, broken down:
16 cans of Progresso soups: $21.78 $1.36/can
32 cans of Caffeine-free Diet Coke: $8.49 $0.27/can
14 bars of Dove Soap (I hope I like them!): $11.90 $0.86/bar
6 cans of black beans: $4.45 $0.75/can
12 cans of green beans: $6.99 $0.58/can
Concentrated Tide w/ Downy: $19.99 81 loads= $0.25/load
10 Chapsticks: $8.99 $0.90/chapstick
8 cans of stewed tomatoes: $4.99 $0.62/can
3Q bottle of Tilex: $7.69 $2.56/quart
48 Swiffer wet pads: $12.79 $0.27/pad
8 boxes of whole grain pasta: $7.85 $0.98/box
48 Trailmix Bars: $11.99 $0.25/bar
I'll check on the math later, ha.
As part of my diet, I've been eating a lot of soup, veggies, and beans for dinner, and I've learned to like them, too! Finding them in bulk made me very happy. A woman in my building elevator asked me what I was going to do with so many green beans, and I happily said, "eat them!!" :-D
I'll try to give you a cost-savings analysis tonight/tomorrow...for example, I know that I pay $1-3/can of soup at my grocery store depending on size and type, but I think the cans I bought at Costco were smaller. If I have time on the way home, I might walk into my Gristedes tonight and take notes on how much my bulk items cost when I buy them individually at the store. This should take care of my groceries for a LONG while... the only other things I will need to buy on a regular basis are fresh lettuce and toppings for my salads and maybe some brown rice. You should have seen the huge bags of rice they have at Costco... no way am I tackling those! Of course, I don't have room to store 24 cans of soup in my tiny NYC kitchen, so one corner of my bedroom looks like a soup kitchen right now (no pun intended!) with stacks of canned goods.
Other weekend expenses:
*Bertucci's on Friday night+ RT on the Path: $51 total... my treat, to celebrate my bonus!
*Breakfast and coffee for two at Dunkin' Donuts on the way to BF's parents' house upstate Saturday morning: $9
*Lunch/dinner: provided by BF's fam + Bertucci's leftovers
*Entertainment: $14.50 BOGO Fandango tickets to see Wall-E Saturday night
*Lunch for two at a diner on Sunday morning: $18.50 It's been so long since I've been in town on the weekends that I forgot to make sure I had breakfast food in the apt! I actually ate a piece of cold pizza before both BF and I gave into hunger pangs and decided to get lunch.
*Dinner at noodle shop in West Village: $34
Most of my expenses this weekend were food related, but I acknowledge that this is a weekend luxury, and I don't eat out too much mid-week. These are also moderate eating-out expenses for NYC... dinner for two can easily run $100+ . During the week I eat a lot of soup/veggies/salad at home, or I go to client dinners that are paid for by the firm. I try to minimize the number of client dinners, though, because they are the primary attacker of my waistline :/
On another note, I got my lease renewal form on Friday. I have lived in this apartment since October, 2006, which has to be a record of some kind... I moved twice in my first 16 months in the city alone! Last year we escaped a rent-raise, but this year we were not as lucky. Our $2700/mo rent is going up 4% to $2808, which is not terrible as far as raises go, but it's more than what most people's income goes up by each year. And this is 'rent-controlled!' Further, our unit is not renovated, and as most of the units have been renovated since I moved in, I think the market rate for a new lease in my building is in the $3200-$3400/mo range. Insanity, just to have faux-marble countertops and a nicer stove. Hey, my stove may be older than I am, but it works and I'm not paying an extra $600/mo for it!
I have to find out if they will write a new lease for my unrenovated unit at the same $2808 rate, because my old roommate moved out this summer and my new roommate cannot put her name on the lease unless we open a new one. If it's going to be much more expensive (market rate versus our rent-controlled rate), then I will just keep her on as a subleasee.
We were supposed to go to the beach yesterday, but woke up too late after seeing Wall-E (thanks to everyone who posted about the BOGO Discover Card offer at Fandango- NYC movie tix are $12 each!! I wouldn't have otherwise gone.) Instead of the beach, it was BF's idea to go to Costco, as he needed some new undershirts and dress socks, and since he's not picky, Costco would do. (Turns out, he is picky- they only had crew cut, and he likes V-neck t-shirts... oh well)
I spent $134, broken down:
16 cans of Progresso soups: $21.78 $1.36/can
32 cans of Caffeine-free Diet Coke: $8.49 $0.27/can
14 bars of Dove Soap (I hope I like them!): $11.90 $0.86/bar
6 cans of black beans: $4.45 $0.75/can
12 cans of green beans: $6.99 $0.58/can
Concentrated Tide w/ Downy: $19.99 81 loads= $0.25/load
10 Chapsticks: $8.99 $0.90/chapstick
8 cans of stewed tomatoes: $4.99 $0.62/can
3Q bottle of Tilex: $7.69 $2.56/quart
48 Swiffer wet pads: $12.79 $0.27/pad
8 boxes of whole grain pasta: $7.85 $0.98/box
48 Trailmix Bars: $11.99 $0.25/bar
I'll check on the math later, ha.
As part of my diet, I've been eating a lot of soup, veggies, and beans for dinner, and I've learned to like them, too! Finding them in bulk made me very happy. A woman in my building elevator asked me what I was going to do with so many green beans, and I happily said, "eat them!!" :-D
I'll try to give you a cost-savings analysis tonight/tomorrow...for example, I know that I pay $1-3/can of soup at my grocery store depending on size and type, but I think the cans I bought at Costco were smaller. If I have time on the way home, I might walk into my Gristedes tonight and take notes on how much my bulk items cost when I buy them individually at the store. This should take care of my groceries for a LONG while... the only other things I will need to buy on a regular basis are fresh lettuce and toppings for my salads and maybe some brown rice. You should have seen the huge bags of rice they have at Costco... no way am I tackling those! Of course, I don't have room to store 24 cans of soup in my tiny NYC kitchen, so one corner of my bedroom looks like a soup kitchen right now (no pun intended!) with stacks of canned goods.
Other weekend expenses:
*Bertucci's on Friday night+ RT on the Path: $51 total... my treat, to celebrate my bonus!
*Breakfast and coffee for two at Dunkin' Donuts on the way to BF's parents' house upstate Saturday morning: $9
*Lunch/dinner: provided by BF's fam + Bertucci's leftovers
*Entertainment: $14.50 BOGO Fandango tickets to see Wall-E Saturday night
*Lunch for two at a diner on Sunday morning: $18.50 It's been so long since I've been in town on the weekends that I forgot to make sure I had breakfast food in the apt! I actually ate a piece of cold pizza before both BF and I gave into hunger pangs and decided to get lunch.
*Dinner at noodle shop in West Village: $34
Most of my expenses this weekend were food related, but I acknowledge that this is a weekend luxury, and I don't eat out too much mid-week. These are also moderate eating-out expenses for NYC... dinner for two can easily run $100+ . During the week I eat a lot of soup/veggies/salad at home, or I go to client dinners that are paid for by the firm. I try to minimize the number of client dinners, though, because they are the primary attacker of my waistline :/
On another note, I got my lease renewal form on Friday. I have lived in this apartment since October, 2006, which has to be a record of some kind... I moved twice in my first 16 months in the city alone! Last year we escaped a rent-raise, but this year we were not as lucky. Our $2700/mo rent is going up 4% to $2808, which is not terrible as far as raises go, but it's more than what most people's income goes up by each year. And this is 'rent-controlled!' Further, our unit is not renovated, and as most of the units have been renovated since I moved in, I think the market rate for a new lease in my building is in the $3200-$3400/mo range. Insanity, just to have faux-marble countertops and a nicer stove. Hey, my stove may be older than I am, but it works and I'm not paying an extra $600/mo for it!
I have to find out if they will write a new lease for my unrenovated unit at the same $2808 rate, because my old roommate moved out this summer and my new roommate cannot put her name on the lease unless we open a new one. If it's going to be much more expensive (market rate versus our rent-controlled rate), then I will just keep her on as a subleasee.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Some finance ramblings for Friday afternoon
Ahhh, it's a slow Friday in the city, can't wait to get out of the office, hit the gym (I've lost three pounds in two weeks- yeah!) and then enjoy a lazy Friday night, free of airports and train stations and packing suitcases.
A few things I've been thinking about:
1) Should I invest in a Roth rather than Traditional 401k?
I called my parents yesterday to share with them the good news of my awesome summer bonus and my dad made some joke about finding a way to fool the tax-man... my mom, on another phone in the house, promptly told me not to listen to him, since she doesn't want her only daughter to end up in jail... funny, my parents, these days... But then I asked my dad his opinion on Roth vs. Traditional, and he is of the mindset that taxes are likely to go up, as they've not only been much higher in the past, but the nature of the changing demographic will also likely require taxes to be higher, as well (more elderly people to support, no social security, etc.). I read a timely analysis by Dog Ate my Finances on the cost effectiveness of Roth vs. Traditional if taxes stay the same, and so really the only factor I'm gambling on are that tax rates will go up, which I am willing to bet. (Either that, or I am planning to be in a higher income-tax bracket at the time). I was originally contributing to a pre-tax 401k to minimize the impact to my bottom line, since I needed the extra cash. Now that I've gotten a raise, I think I can afford to deduct a bit more from my paychecks next year. I'll keep you updated, but since I've already maxed out my 401k for the year, it will be next year's business.
2) Why was my cash rebate so low on my Discover Card statement last month?
I never blogged about this mystery, but I found out the answer and will share it with you. My Discover Card statement last month was a hefty $660 or so, but my cash back reward was only $1.41 :(.... Turns out that Discover Card has a pro-rated cashback bonus schedule, as follows:
$0 - $1,500: Earns 0.25%
$1,500.01 - $3,000: Earns 0.5%
$3,000.01 +: Earns 1%
I've definitely spent more than $3,000 on my Discover Card this year with all of my traveling, but it turns out that my "anniversary" with the card is June 25, which is why my July purchases only accrued .25% in cashback awards. Oh well, at least that answer makes sense.
3. How do I actually deduct my losses in the stock market from my taxes?
I have no idea. I know I have to sell my stocks at a loss first, but do I have to sell my winners, too, and write off the difference? I'm confused, but since I've lost a lot of money in the stock market this year (although I'm not exactly sure how much), I might as well take advantage of this tax benefit if I can. But part of me wants to hang onto the losers until they become winners again :)
A few things I've been thinking about:
1) Should I invest in a Roth rather than Traditional 401k?
I called my parents yesterday to share with them the good news of my awesome summer bonus and my dad made some joke about finding a way to fool the tax-man... my mom, on another phone in the house, promptly told me not to listen to him, since she doesn't want her only daughter to end up in jail... funny, my parents, these days... But then I asked my dad his opinion on Roth vs. Traditional, and he is of the mindset that taxes are likely to go up, as they've not only been much higher in the past, but the nature of the changing demographic will also likely require taxes to be higher, as well (more elderly people to support, no social security, etc.). I read a timely analysis by Dog Ate my Finances on the cost effectiveness of Roth vs. Traditional if taxes stay the same, and so really the only factor I'm gambling on are that tax rates will go up, which I am willing to bet. (Either that, or I am planning to be in a higher income-tax bracket at the time). I was originally contributing to a pre-tax 401k to minimize the impact to my bottom line, since I needed the extra cash. Now that I've gotten a raise, I think I can afford to deduct a bit more from my paychecks next year. I'll keep you updated, but since I've already maxed out my 401k for the year, it will be next year's business.
2) Why was my cash rebate so low on my Discover Card statement last month?
I never blogged about this mystery, but I found out the answer and will share it with you. My Discover Card statement last month was a hefty $660 or so, but my cash back reward was only $1.41 :(.... Turns out that Discover Card has a pro-rated cashback bonus schedule, as follows:
$0 - $1,500: Earns 0.25%
$1,500.01 - $3,000: Earns 0.5%
$3,000.01 +: Earns 1%
I've definitely spent more than $3,000 on my Discover Card this year with all of my traveling, but it turns out that my "anniversary" with the card is June 25, which is why my July purchases only accrued .25% in cashback awards. Oh well, at least that answer makes sense.
3. How do I actually deduct my losses in the stock market from my taxes?
I have no idea. I know I have to sell my stocks at a loss first, but do I have to sell my winners, too, and write off the difference? I'm confused, but since I've lost a lot of money in the stock market this year (although I'm not exactly sure how much), I might as well take advantage of this tax benefit if I can. But part of me wants to hang onto the losers until they become winners again :)
Another trip?
Uh oh, my travel wheels are spinning.... B is switching groups at work and is taking a week off during the transition, but since the timing was very last-minute, I wasn't able to get that week off as well (my vacation schedule has to be coordinated with a few people at work to make sure that the markets are properly covered). As a compromise, I was able to take off Mon and Tues Aug 11-12, which will give us a nice four-day weekend!
Soooo..... travel itch coming on. B is not as spontaneous as I am when it comes to finding great travel deals and just booking them immediately, so even though I found RT, non-stop flights to Puerto Rico for $300/pp and can use my corporate discount at a beachfront hotel there, he said NO :( Grumble grumble... I hate to say it, but my ex would have said "OK!!" and I'd have a Caribbean vacation to look forward to. Yes, I just pulled the "ex would have done it" card because you are my anonymous readers, and I know better than to say that to B's face. I get where he's coming from, because it's very last minute and air travel has not been that smooth this summer, but I'm a little disappointed that he's limiting the destinations for our four-day weekend to places where his car will take us.
Some other ideas I'm tossing around:
*All-inclusive resort in Cancun (haha I know, I'm cheating, no airplanes! But I've still used kayak.com to look up some flight prices for that weekend)
*Newport, Rhode Island to check out some phatty mansions and hang out on the beach. A colleague recently stayed at a B&B there, but it's not cheap.
*Williamsburg, VA- I used to go there as a kid, and it's really a lot of fun (Busch Gardens, too!), but it's a very far drive from NYC, hence the thought to go for the long weekend.
*Adirondacks/Lake Placid- B has some relatives with cabins in the area, so we could likely stay for free, or if we want to go all the way up to Lake Placid, we'd have to find a room. We're planning a trip up there in October for an overnight hike, so maybe we should just wait until then?
*Hang around our apartments in NYC? Make some trips to Costco and Ikea and other fabulously fun places where I will most likely spend money on things I don't need? "Staycations" are very popular these days. My only hesitation is that since it's so hard for us to get the same time off, I don't want to "waste" it doing what we could do on any other weekend.
If you're from the NYC area, or even if you aren't, any suggestions?
Additionally, I just found out that I will be able to take off the week of New Year's, and while B might have to be in that week because of a colleague's paternity leave (yup! paternity, how cool is that?!), he might be able to work something out, and then we'll have to figure out something fabulous to do for New Year's! I want to go to New Zealand!
Soooo..... travel itch coming on. B is not as spontaneous as I am when it comes to finding great travel deals and just booking them immediately, so even though I found RT, non-stop flights to Puerto Rico for $300/pp and can use my corporate discount at a beachfront hotel there, he said NO :( Grumble grumble... I hate to say it, but my ex would have said "OK!!" and I'd have a Caribbean vacation to look forward to. Yes, I just pulled the "ex would have done it" card because you are my anonymous readers, and I know better than to say that to B's face. I get where he's coming from, because it's very last minute and air travel has not been that smooth this summer, but I'm a little disappointed that he's limiting the destinations for our four-day weekend to places where his car will take us.
Some other ideas I'm tossing around:
*All-inclusive resort in Cancun (haha I know, I'm cheating, no airplanes! But I've still used kayak.com to look up some flight prices for that weekend)
*Newport, Rhode Island to check out some phatty mansions and hang out on the beach. A colleague recently stayed at a B&B there, but it's not cheap.
*Williamsburg, VA- I used to go there as a kid, and it's really a lot of fun (Busch Gardens, too!), but it's a very far drive from NYC, hence the thought to go for the long weekend.
*Adirondacks/Lake Placid- B has some relatives with cabins in the area, so we could likely stay for free, or if we want to go all the way up to Lake Placid, we'd have to find a room. We're planning a trip up there in October for an overnight hike, so maybe we should just wait until then?
*Hang around our apartments in NYC? Make some trips to Costco and Ikea and other fabulously fun places where I will most likely spend money on things I don't need? "Staycations" are very popular these days. My only hesitation is that since it's so hard for us to get the same time off, I don't want to "waste" it doing what we could do on any other weekend.
If you're from the NYC area, or even if you aren't, any suggestions?
Additionally, I just found out that I will be able to take off the week of New Year's, and while B might have to be in that week because of a colleague's paternity leave (yup! paternity, how cool is that?!), he might be able to work something out, and then we'll have to figure out something fabulous to do for New Year's! I want to go to New Zealand!
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