LRJohnson Saves

Splurge Complete

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:54:32 PST

So I bought it. New shiny laptop. It�s replacing my desktop. I can take it traveling for work, or use it in bed, or sit in a café and use it. It was getting close to the time to upgrade or replace my desktop, and I use the computer a lot, so it feels like a decent splurge, instead...

Getting Ready to Splurge

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:43:22 PST

In March I didn�t spend as much as I thought I might have. My big three day weekend trip to Santa Rosa that included rack of lamb, escargot, and a historical register hotel was $420. Other than that, I spent $1140. $84 on dining out, the first month off The Challenge (not including...

Thrifty Still

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:15:33 PST

I made myself some frozen dinners today! I�ve never really been into frozen meals, but now that I�m on Weight watchers I have fallen into the trap, because it�s a handy way for me to know how many points I�m eating and it�s also handy if I�m pressed for time. I used to not buy any...

This and That

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:07:01 PST

Random

I�ve figured out that in mind, I like being able to buy things more than buying things. In my mind the last month I�ve idly thought of buying some things, and chose not to. Just the lifting of the challenge means I can spend a lot more, but I haven�t. The mental freedom,...

So, It�s the Month After

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:59:46 PST

This month I have spent more than on My Challenge, yet I have also felt very in control of my spending.

My folks are going to Fiji for a month, New Zealand for three months, Australia for three months, and Bali for three months. There was a big going away party in Novato, so My...

I spent $977.74 a Month

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:11:02 PST

I�ve finally crunched My Challenge numbers. I spent an average of $977.74 on living expenses, after savings and taxes.

Here�s a recap of my income.

Here�s a concise summary of my spending.

Here�s the detail.

For some reason, all my current and prior...

Busy is Good

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:44:34 PST

Out of town this weekend, out of town last weekend, fun but busy. This week for work I am out of town twice, next week out of town for three days. I get frequent flyer miles, and I get to shop at Trader Joe�s, and I get to see my dad, so the trips are all good for different reasons....

Just Checking In

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:18:30 PST

March 1: did I go crazy and buy lots of stuff? No, not really. I did feel a sense of giddiness, but I didn�t go shopping. I made a $50 donation to charity; that solved the money burning a whole in my pocket issue. I took My Guy�s car to the shop for him on the 2nd and I�ll be paying;...

Am I a Freak?

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:12:31 PST

Okay, so I just put it together. The first day after My Challenge is the first day I am planning on being a Weight Watchers participant. Meaning�.I can�t go out and have a �It�s Been a Year and Now I can Spend Like Crazy� amazing Sushi and Tempura Dinner. You think I�d have allowed...

I'm Not a Fan of Whining But Here I Go

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:16:37 PST

My body just annoys the crap out of me lately. I�m 36 but sometimes I just feel old. I have had some killer headaches over the last five days, two migraines and a regular bad guy, and it just really saps me of the will to do anything. (On the plus side it meads I don�t spend any...

January 2007 Month 11 Totals

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:53:35 PST

Some delayed totals, eh? Well, think of it this way; your next recap is close and it will be the final for the year!

Standard Recap Info:
I spent $1592 a month in 2005. My Challenge savings are the difference, $1592-$1026 (see below) = $566 times 11 months = $6,226.

Add to...

No Posts Because

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:12:43 PST

My folks are in town!

D & D are visiting prior to leaving for Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Bali. My travel bug was definitely caught from my dad; he was born in East Africa, and has traveled many continents for various reasons; missionaries' child; Air Force; wandering hippie....

Cost of Bathing and Dressing

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:10:53 PST

I�ve written about how I overall keep laundry costs low and household costs low. Prepare to be wowed, or lulled to sleep, or both, by how I keep personal item spending in check. Since February 1st,2006, I have spent $136.88 on toiletries (including haircuts, bathing items, and female...

25 DaysLeft; Wow

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:44:10 PST

I was in a hotel room for work, last week, and for fun I was writing up a wish list of things I wanted or needed to buy. Well, I had a hard time thinking of things. A few items I got for Christmas-a kitchen rug, silicon rubber scrapers, so they were off the wish list. So now, I...

Used Clothes and New Fruit.

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:50:58 PST

An underrated plus of thrift store, garage sale, or hand me down clothes: I know how they�ll hold up. With new stuff, sometimes I�m surprised at how things that look like they have solid construction pill, or dry permanently oddly wrinkled (collars!), or fade, or somehow fall apart....

Rich!

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:40:26 PST

I got a check for $17 in the mail, a check I can actually count as income on My Challenge, and it is huge in Challenge terms! Seventeen dollars is a lot of money when �regular� income is $1026.

(The money was from SurveySpot, for a variety of surveys over the year that I cashed...

A Good Sign, & Hand-me-down-downs

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:00:17 PST

I�ve got an indicator that my spending patterns won�t change much. How do I know? I made an appointment to get my hair cut February 27.

Now how in the world does this mean I won�t change too much? My Challenge is over 02/28/07. The person I made my appointment with is pricier...

Thanks, Guys

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:59:04 PST

Most of you who drop by and peek at My Challenge are probably regular Saving Advice .com Members. For those that aren�t, Well, Saving Advice has a $20 Challenge, and My Minimum Wage Challenge is my 2006 $20 Challenge. (I spent the $20 on the YouNeedABudget spreadsheet to track My...

Boring, Thankfully

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 17:28:30 PST

I have nothing to report on the money front. Why? Nothing is happening. I�ve made some small grocery fill in runs, and ordered some prescription refills. I think my most powerful saving tool is just my non-buying habits. Makes my reporting less exciting, but my January wrap up...

Discovery: Cold Equals Dirty

lrjohnsonsaves@gmail.com (LR Johnson) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 17:19:07 PST

I understand a little more how the cold can really affect our lifestyle. We don�t clean! When every breath is a puff of steam, and we sleep in two pairs of sweatpants and hats on, who wants to spend time in cold rooms?

We do have a little heater in the bedroom and computer room....