officially, this experiment is over for me

arc here -

If I haven't already broken the rules slightly the past couple of months, I've really broken the rules this time.

I've purchased Ouendan 2.

Officially, this experiment is over for me. Like all resolutions, it started out pretty strong and just kinda petered off.

Looking back at my rules, they really weren't that harsh at all.
However, my weakness tends to be that "an awesome deal, is an awesome deal." And I would get in on it. (Save on shipping for Ouendan 2, cheap boardshorts, etc.)

Unofficially, I still don't want to give up this experiment either.

So just like the whole boardshorts thing, I'm going to subtract Ouendan 2 from my monthly allowance, which means I'll be borrowing into the next two months.

$21 - $45 = -$24

Include Month of June: -$4
Include Month of July: $16

While it was definitely fun trying to stick to the resolution, it's also officially over for me.

I will continue trying to stick to it as I go: still no purchasing of clothes, lenses and unnecessary stuff until next year.

My rules will just be real...real...lax.

i'm swimming! swimming!

arc here -

i've started swimming, and i've bought some training paddles for $10.

I'm not even going to make an excuse, I wanted to get these.

Here's the kicker.

I've eBayed the board shorts I've purchased and recouped all of my cost.
I can get my 32 bucks back :D.

My spending total's back to $34.

Subtract Paddles: $24
Subtract Chai: $21

I noticed that I've been trying to hang onto my resolution, even though I'm making purchases.
I'm making slight adjustments. I'm converting the money that I saved for books and coffee for just 'purchases'.

Weak, I know.

broken compromise

arc here-

Totals for monthly allotment:
$44 + $20 for april + $20 may
$84 till the end of may

subtract $48 for bryan lee o'malley's books.
with a total of $36 left.

i broke my own rule.

i bought board shorts. i didn't feel like matching alphagamma at a camp that we're going to be counselors at. to compromise, i'm taking it out of my monthly allotment.

so until the end of may, i have $4 for coffee and books.

i guess while i really don't have my priorities straight in life (i.e., vanity about matching some other dude), i'm still trying to make this resolution work.

at least i'm not springing for my $1200 17-55 f/2.8.

(p.s., sara bareilles never made it so no CD was purchased. ;_; )

Proverbial Question…

arc here –

things that have happened since my last post:
-I got my Frisbee and it’s been great playing ultimate.
-I got my cleats for 35 bucks, and it’s been great playing ultimate in THE RAIN.

-I’ve decided that the nano case can wait – I’ve found a sleeve that’s suitable for it with buying anything. Yay!

-Planning on returning the water purification tablets.

To make a long story short, SNOW came in on the weekend of our Yosemite trip, so I don’t need the water purification tablets, cool deal…because that money needs to go towards…

-Another pair of free weight gloves.

I lost my set of gloves, and I have to say, the raw skin does not help me. I’ve decided that I need to get another pair.

Two issues have come back in which I need feedback:

-Linkin Park’s coming out with a new album in two weeks. I have a friend who’s offered to get me a copy. But I would rather purchase their album because I’ve done so with all their other albums, and frankly – supporting artists is the right thing to do. Should I just lay down my resolution and purchase this album?

I think I should.

That segues into the next one:

-Sara Bareilles is opening for Vienna Teng this Thursday in San Francisco.
Try as I might, I cannot find Bareilles’ CD online. She only sells music through iTunes, which I don’t want. (No DRM, thanks.) If she’s selling CDs at the concert, I’m going to break my resolution for this album. Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll actually have another opportunity to purchase a physical CD of her music.

Maybe an appropriate compromise would be to get the Sara Bareilles CD, since I can’t get it elsewhere, and skip Linkin Park until the end of the year. God knows they’re popular enough to be found everywhere by January 1st, 2008.

Am I Losing It?

arc here -

Purchases that has (or will happen) since the last post:

• Disc for Ultimate Frisbee ( a requirement if you want to play.)
• Cleats ( because I'm going to seriously hurt myself on the field if I stay in running shoes)
• iPod Nano Case ( I won an iPod Nano in a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament. I really want to take it with me on a work out and all that.)
• Protein Powder ( It was either get this, or get a whole ton of meat. Protein powder was the cheaper alternative.)
• Water Purification Tablets for Yosemite ( Self Explanatory)

In retrospect...this is a LOT of stuff. I think I'm losing it.

Been quite a bit!

arc here -

Haven't updated in a while. Truth of the matter is, not much ludicrous spending has been happening.
Been doing the daily browsing of SAC and Slickdeals and Woot!, but it's never been a big deal about not buying anything.

There was an issue of whether or not 2 gigs of SD card space would've been enough, but that issue has been solved by a portable harddrive that I'm borrowing.

Aside from birthdays, and drinks and food, I've bought one cup of coffee this month, and a 6 pack of beer.

That brings my total lump sum of spending money down to about $44 dollars until the end of March.

Finally, the necessary purchases of the last month would be:

• 2 GMAT books to help me start studying.
• Registration for the table at APE
• T-Shirt orders to sell at APE

Other than that, nothing new really. Been looking at new lenses just for fun (18-55 f/2.8 ~ $1200. fawk. ) and reading a lot and studying a lot of pictures for photo ideas.

Upcoming purchases will include photo prints I plan on selling at APE as well as stuff I'll need for a camping trip coming up in April for Yosemite.

All in all, it's been relatively easy to stick to this resolution. There's been trying moments, but nothing excessive as of yet.

Update

Looking at all my receipts, there are only 2 things I've spent on this month. Food, and Gas....ack. Have I broken the rules for the restaurnt thingy? Well, I went on the snow trip, and there I picked up food on top of the 2 meals I already had that week. I just thought it ridiculous to bring my lunch/dinner from down here. Not sure if that's really considered breaking a rule or not. Second, I did break a rule, and that was purchasing popsicles/cookies. Definately a snack, but it was a hot day, people were thirsty.....

Also, I don't really know where to place treating people out for food. While I just got a drink, my coworkers got some food, and I picked up the bill. Not sure if this counts towards a meal for me. I don't think these should count towards my 2 meals a week restriction, but it does count towards my drink expense of the day. Any thoughts?

-theJade