Mission: Be Less Poor

Discovering a Trend

changg@gmail.com (george) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:32:19 PST

It's been a full 5 months since I've been on this site updating. These past 5 months have been horrid financially. Let's recap:

7/08 - In a moment of frustration with the old car and persuasion from family, I buy a new car. Now I have something called "car payments". Before...

Imma Making a Comeback - Debt, Rent, and Raises

changg@gmail.com (george) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:30:11 PST

That's right. It's been 4 months since I last got on this site. A lot has happened in 4 months.

For one, the debt is decreasing...but much slower. One of the reasons why I suddenly remembered this site/blog is the ridiculous amount of money that I just dropped on repairing my...

On Spices, Spice Racks, and George

changg@gmail.com (george) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:05:04 PST

It's been a while since I've posted...again.

Things pick up at work and I find myself without the copious bored time that I have usually when there's nothing going on. That's my post-writing time.

Today, I'd like to talk about spices. It's been what has been engulfing my life...

No Eating Out For a Week

changg@gmail.com (george) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:31:45 PST

I'm almost there.

Last time I ate out was last Sunday, when I grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers on my way home for lunch. I've been doing a lot better about not eating out so much, and when I do, I try to keep it cheap. I haven't stepped foot in a sit down restaurant in weeks.

So...

Today's Top Story: Food Geek Deal Makes Payday Worthwhile

changg@gmail.com (george) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:40:01 PST

It's payday! Finally!

I can't believe I survived the past 2 weeks on $160. Considering $100 of that went to gas money (bleh), I think I did pretty well. It feels good to have a little breathing room again.

Anyways, you're probably wondering what the food geek deal I got...

Uh-oh. CVS is my new hobby.

changg@gmail.com (george) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:03:12 PST

After hearing/reading about so much CVS savings action, I couldn't help but get ready to jump in. But how? I was lost in a swirl of ECB's and "stacking". I figured, the best way to figure it out was to actually dive in and see what the fuss is all about.

Fortunately, I scored...

A Brief History of My Credit Cards

changg@gmail.com (george) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:54:37 PST

I just transferred/consolidated $7000 worth of credit card debt to my Citi AmEx. It costed me $200 (ouch!) but I'm effectively dropping my APR by about 16%. I figure I'll make that $200 back in mere months. This is one of the first "pre-game" steps in getting this mountain paid...

Never made it to the store...

changg@gmail.com (george) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:04:16 PST

After all that talk last week of not having any food left, I meant to go grocery shopping this weekend. I really did.

Let me explain...

On Saturday morning, after hitting snooze more times than I remember, the first thing I did was inventory what I had left in stock. I try...

All Good Things Must Come to an End

changg@gmail.com (george) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:08:50 PST

Today, for lunch, I went to McDonald's.

I know it's bad for me, but after the scarring from last looking at my bank account balance, $2.14 for 2 double cheeseburgers for lunch seemed like fast food's gift for poor kids. Health benefits of lunch will not be discussed here - as it...

Being Good

changg@gmail.com (george) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:04:14 PST

Just a day after posting how broke I was, I was oh-so-tempted to charge a big purchase on a credit card. I even made a point to take my credit card out with me today. Instead, I walked out empty handed. Go team George!

If I had figured out this whole $20 challenge thing, I guess...

What a Bad Month...

changg@gmail.com (george) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:41:20 PST

...and it's not even half over.

Took a quick peek at the bank account this morning, and I'm a digit less than I thought I was. But HOW?!

Digging through my transaction history, I realized that I have an abnormally large amount of atypical purchases this month. Don't ask me...

Leftovers Left Over No More

changg@gmail.com (george) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:29:51 PST

I love finding creative ways of using leftovers. Being single, leftovers always abound my fridge. Then I just wind up with all these little bowls of bits of this and that, and I never really know what to do with them.

Enter George's leftover omelette/frittata. Depending on what's...

Procrastination

changg@gmail.com (george) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:10:51 PST

I'm a pro at procrastination.

I procrastinate pretty much everything. Stuff at work, paying bills, doing laundry, cleaning my apartment, eating... You name it, I've procrastinated it. I like to think that my single-ness is also a result of this. Yeah, that's it. I'm single...

3 Places to Avoid on No-Spend Days

changg@gmail.com (george) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:36:06 PST

1. the mall
2. supermarket when you're hungry
3. Costco

Guess where I went today. I'll give you three guesses.

That's right, all three.

Okay, so today wasn't really a premeditated no-spend day. I guess I had intended it to be more of a no-spend weekend. But alas, to...

Working from Home

changg@gmail.com (george) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:49:39 PST

A slightly boring/less entertaining post for today:

I'm working from home today!

It sounds a lot better than it really is. I was feeling kinda sick when I woke up this morning. After collapsing on the ground initially, I pulled myself back into bed for round 2 of sleep.

By...

The Importance of Measuring

changg@gmail.com (george) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:19:23 PST

Last night, I did a terrible job of defying my post-paycheck whims and went to Target.

I needed some more shelves for my apartment. Really. It was a NECESSITY, I tell you.

So I walked out with one of those metal shelving units (on sale!) and headed back to put it in the designated...

Baby, it's cold outside...in the south.

changg@gmail.com (george) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:21:25 PST

This morning, I woke up shivering under my down blanket.

I thought to myself, "Maybe southern California wasn't so bad after all."

Why in the world is it so cold in Atlanta? After I mummified myself in my blanket, I spring-hopped over to my computer to see what the temperature...

George's Cheap and Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe

changg@gmail.com (george) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:49:39 PST

By request from mom-sense:

After making this the first time, I realized that it was so easy that I never bought canned chili ever again. Who knows what kind of crazy is in those cans.

George's Cheap and Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe

Servings: 2-3?
Prep time: 30 mins + cooking time

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs of...

Thoughts on Microsoft Money

changg@gmail.com (george) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:19:23 PST

Does anyone else use Microsoft Money?

I decided as part of my soon-to-be-short-lived new year's resolution/plan to set up a budget - for all of 2008. Yes, it sounds ambitious, and now that I'm in the thick of it, I too agree on the ambitiousnessosity (yes, it's a word) of it all.

I...

401(k) and you (or in this case, me)

changg@gmail.com (george) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:19:29 PST

It's been a while. I've been in California for the past week and I'm deathly afraid to look at my account on Mint.

Upon arriving home last night, I flipped through my mail and got a letter from Fidelity. It informed me that I was now qualified to participate in my company's 401(k)...