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

ARC IS BUGGING

I'd like to preface this post by saying that I'm writing this under duress.
Hahaha, as someone keeps poking me to "post it!"
*muttering* So here goes this week's disclosure, which I was going to get to, but am going to write now. I've been mostly good, though some people like to exclaim "bad [rainshiney]! bad [rainshiney]!"

* I bought a half-zip pullover sweatshirt at American Eagle on Friday, prior to watching "Breach" (which you should all see, btw!) because certain relatives who are currently residing with me still haven't figured out how to use the "newfangled" laundry machines and ruined my old comfy sweatshirt. So I needed a new one. But I bought it on clearance, so it was 60% off the original retail price.

* I bought a pair of dress shoes. Because I'm getting glammed up on Saturday. And really, that's it. But I haven't bought a pair of work shoes, so I'm thinking about "trading" the items (as I did with the boots and espadrilles) and just getting the heels on my work pumps repaired instead of buying a brand new pair. Besides, I've finally broken them in. It's just a little sad that the heels are clear worn down to the nail...

The blog has been quiet...and I don't know how everyone else is doing...but I've been...somewhat successful, somewhat not. I have kept to the eating out only with other people rule, and I've been managing to plan ahead and cook a lot over the weekends to take care of lunches & dinners during the week. But somehow, I've been spending a lot on groceries, and when I do eat out, it's been pretty pricey...sushi, nice restaurants, etc.
Still, keep on, right?

I also bought another pan, to replace my 10" skillet. Although, really, I've been cooking/eating off the scraped one for the past year & a half, and it's not like a new pan will retroactively correct anything. Oh well.

Possible Purchase Loophole

arc here -

I'm planning on taking a trip to Yosemite with one of my best friends in April.

AngryToast noted that if I were to go, 266 pictures may not nearly be enough.

I mulled it over for a bit and realized that what he says is definitely true. I'll need to get another SD card for my camera.

I plan on trolling around slickdeals until I can get another SD card for free after rebate.

It's buying, and yet it's not.

I recognize that once someone starts slipping, it's hard to stop. I'm not sure how to justify this, other than "it's technically free."

In Re-stan-t News:

Hrm..nothing new. OH WAIT, I LIED! My Len HASSSSSSS ARRIVEEEEDDDDDDD. A $400 splurge and I won't know if it was worth the investment or not but I'll let y'all know after this weekend. ^_^. According to my rules, that probably will be my last purchase for myself for a while....unless you know...some emergency comes up like all my underwear suddenly catches fire or something...o_O.

That and, just curious, what does everyone get their parents for their B-Day? Mine are coming up and I'm running low on ideas...

That and I've noticed that sometimes I've been breaking my rules, primarily with eating and drinks. But no biggie right now. Why? because every time I break my rules, I realize it, and I punish myself for the following days or week. One extra drink on any given day => no outside drinks for the following 3 days. So far it has worked out. >_<. My "outside meals" rule, I havn't broken yet, so I don't have much to worry about yet.