pain in the neck, Iron Maiden, shopping, TYDTW Day, and I’m a cheapskate

Jun 19, 2008

pain in the neck, Iron Maiden, shopping, TYDTW Day, and I’m a cheapskate

Oh – my neck is killing me! I think it's from carrying all of the bags yesterday at Tysons – I had a bag from CVS that had about 4 drinks in it – they get heavy! I'll be heading to the chiropractor tonight.

Dan went to see Iron Maiden last night – he said it was definitely worth the $90. I finally told him about the Sunset Strip Festival when I'm out in LA. I'm excited about it.

The price survey yesterday went well. Of course, I did some shopping for myself. Bath & Body had a GREAT sale and I stocked up for Christmas. Borders had a Sudoku book for ½ price - $4 – and it's HUGE (for Dan)! I also got a Better Homes & Gardens book for $4 which I'm pretty sure I looked at before, but didn't buy.

Take you dog to work day (Washington Postpoints tip of the day)

I mentioned to SP that this was tomorrow – she was like – if you're up for it! And added – would we get any work done? I'm like "no, but Esa would love all of the attention" We have a retirement party that we have to go to tomorrow afternoon, so it would be out even if I could bring her. I would love to work at a place where I could bring her.

Tomorrow, June 20, is Take Your Dog to Work Day. This is the tenth year this event has been held to raise awareness of pet adoption.

The event, originally created by Pet Sitters International, hopes to show more people that dogs make great companions. Although there has been no official registration for either office or individual participation according to event spokesperson Beth Stultz, last year over 125,000 people clicked on the website for information. (Their new website for 2008 is www.takeyourdog.com.)

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, one in five companies allows pets in the workplace. If you want to take your dog to your cubicle tomorrow, here are some tips from the organizers:

· First and most importantly, check with your management about doing it.

· Poll co-workers to see if anyone is allergic or afraid of dogs or opposed to your bringing your pet to work for one day.

· Make sure your dog has a bath.

· Prepare a doggie bag of treats, toys, bowls, clean-up bags and pet-safe disinfectant - just in case.

· Have an exit strategy.

Keeping in line to be a cheapskate (from Everyday Cheapskate newsletter)

I don't call it Cheapskate – I call it smart with your money. There are still some tips that I need to work on here.

Think You Might Be a Cheapskate?

Not many people enjoy being called a cheapskate. But I do. I don't think of it as an insult but a commentary on how far I've come. I was born a spender and I took that tendency to a horrible extreme at one point in my life. The changes over the years that bring me to where I am today offer an amazing contrast. If "spendthrift" is at one extreme, I guess "cheapskate" is at the other. And given the choice, I'll embrace the latter any day.

To me a cheapskate is simply one who gives, saves and doesn't spend money she doesn't have. Not long ago a very lively discussion took place at DebtProofLiving.com. Everyone wanted to weigh in on signs you know you're a cheapskate. Here are some of my favorites:

You know you're a Cheapskate when ....

… your spouse hides things in the house because he or she is afraid you're going to sell them on eBay to raise money for your emergency fund.

... you plan meals like your 8th grade Home Economics teacher (if only she could see you now).

... the checker tells you that she has never in her 10 years of working in a grocery store sold a bar of Fels-Naptha soap.

... you call your credit card company's 800 number just to hear your balance going down.

... you use more envelopes to hold your money than you use to mail your bills.

This is how I first started our budget – I had envelopes for each category (eating out, gas, water, etc.). I've gotten away from it, but I probably should get back to it – at least for eating out.

... your ceramic piggy bank has a spotlight over it.

... you go online to check your savings account balance first thing in the morning on the first day of the month even if it means you have to get up early ... then you sit there and giggle with glee.

... you get $60 cash from the bank and it lasts longer than $100 cash used to last.

... you buy something with your credit card and immediately go online to transfer the exact amount from your checking account to pay it early, just so you will never show a balance.

I'm not this extreme, but do pay off the credit card monthly

... every month you take your saved change to the bank, deposit it, then head straight to the nearest computer to transfer that amount to your credit-card balance!

I do need to cash in that change that has been sitting there……

... friends ask you to go out to eat Mexican food and you say you're making tacos at the house if they'd like to come by and join you.

... you're faced with losing your job and you don't lose any sleep at night because you have six months of living expenses in your emergency fund and no credit-card debt!

... you hear about a good book and rush online to put it on hold ... at the library!
I sort of do this – I'm trying to get through the books I have now, post them on paperbackswap.com and get other books that I want to read. I do use Amazon.com to keep a list of books I want to read.
... you discuss your finances with your spouse and you are both SMILING because you know the balance of three bank accounts—to the penny!
YUP – this happens at our house when I print out our "balance sheet". Dan's always happy at the results (so am I!).