5 to the 8 MEME, PF-style

I was tagged by Debt Fighter, who centered her answers around PF, and I’ll try to do the same:

What was I doing 5 years ago?

Finishing my junior year of college, I was living in the middle of nowhere, so my spending was relegated to Wal-Mart and the campus coffee shop. Good thing, since I wasn’t working and was graciously supported by my great parents. I didn’t have any debt, and I was living on little, but finances were the farthest thing from my mind. Silently, without my notice, my little stock portfolio was steadily increasingly.

Five things on my to-do list today ( or things I did today):
1. Praised God for beautiful weather, good nights of sleep, springtime and friends (all free, incidentally)
2. Talked myself out of coming home early, even though I felt sick all day: I’m not made of vacation days, after all
3. Heard about a friend who’s being transferred against her wishes, after being with her company for 10+ years
4. Checked my online back accounts and realized I overdrew on my extra account. *blushes* $30 down the drain.
5. Flipped through the latest Kiplinger’s

Five snacks I love, regardless of cost or nutritional value :
1. Dunkin Donuts decaf coffee (If I were made of money, I’d get it every day)
2. Buona Beef’s chicken pomodoro sandwich
3. Any and all bakery from any and all bakeries
4. Chocolate
5. Cheese and crackers

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire, assuming I had to spend it on me:
1. Own homes on both coasts and commute regularly.
2. Try a new restaurant every night.
3. Travel. Extensively.
4. Start my own business, knowing I wasn’t risking my future eating/sleeping probability.
5. Shop.

Five bad money habits I have:
1. Ordering lunch out with coworkers.
2. Fretting about my stock portfolio.
3. Wanting a condo outside my means.
4. Opting to eat out just because I feel like.
5. Overthinking spending.

Five (three) places I have lived:
1. Florida
2. Illinois
3. Wisconsin
4.
5.

Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Editor/Manager
2. Freelance reporter
3. Waitress
4. Secretary
5. Intern

Five PFers I am tagging:
1.The Writer’s Coin
2. Quarter-Life Finances
3. Kim’s Kitchen Sink
4. On the Home Front
5. Full-Grown Single

The New Look!

Well, here she is, up and running.

I have to say, deciding to buy a domain and host it has been a great decision so far. I bought the domain late last night, and it’s already working great! If I’d known it would be this easy, I’d have done it long ago!

How did I afford it?

If you’ve been reading this site long, you know I try to stick close to my budget. What I’ve never blogged about before, though, is my extra stash in my Paypal/other bank account. It’s only a few hundred bucks, but it comes in handy when I want something on eBay or etsy.

Thanks to some eBay sales, a sponsor at the blog and other things, I was able to pay for my hosting/domain without tapping my regular budget.

If you’re a regular reader, please update my link in your sidebar! (Please, pretty please?)

Here’s the RSS feed, too: http://feeds.feedburner.com/thiswriterswallet/feed.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

A few months ago, when I applied for an apartment, I found out my current credit score: 760. All around good, and I’m satisfied with it. It will get higher, I assume, when I need and manage more credit.

Do you know your credit score? And do you know all the things it can impact?

Think about this: when you apply for an apartment (sometimes even a job); when you need a loan–for a car, a house, whatever; when you get certain kinds of insurance; and when you look into refinancing, your credit score plays a huge role. Based on how successfully you’re deemed to handle credit, you can be given many different levels of interest rates. Sometimes, a low credit score can even affect your not getting the loan, the apartment, the job entirely.

Second question: do you know how to improve your credit score?

There are many, many resources online that provide advice for improving your credit score. I’d like to suggest one I like: Credit Report Repair*. They are a reputable company that makes its mission getting knowledge and better credit in your hands. In fact, they promise: If We Don’t Improve Your Credit Score Each Month… Get That Month Free! Check Out MyCreditGroup.com Now!

It’s worth checking out, at the very least.

*In the course of blogging here, I’ve been approached several times by companies that wished for me to advertise for them. Until now, I’ve always declined because I didn’t believe in what they were promoting (payday loans, etc.). This time, though, I can finally stand behind a service I believe in.

The Winner Is… (and 22 Tips)

pennypincher: (Tip #14 below) I’ll be shooting you an e-mail shortly.

Everyone else, here’s a round-up of the tips submitted. Thanks to all who participated!

1. calgirlfinance: Don’t waste. This applies to everything in life - your time, your money, and the earth’s resources.
2. Watson: When it comes to retirement savings, contribute in the following order:1) Contribute to the 401(k) up to the employer match.
   2) Contribute and max out Roth IRA.
   3) Continue contributions to the 401(k) up to maximum limit.
3. StackingPennies: Know what you are spending on things and make sure it is in line with your priorities
4. Nine Circles: Have one spot where you keep all your bills as they come in so none of them go unpaid because they went astray. No late fees!
5. Aristotle: Deal with cash so you don’t go haywire with credit cards… I take out my budgeted cash each pay period and stick it in different envelopes–grocery, entertainment, miscellaneous, etc.–so it helps keep me honest and on budget.
6. HighClassLowIncome: Leave the plastic at home (including your debit card if you can) and rely on cash. Similar to Aristotle, cash has made me way more aware and accountable of my spending!
7. Linda F: Use coupons whenever possible. The savings really do add up
8. Kari Follett: Buy in bulk if possible. We shop twice a month and it seems to help. Oh, and we use a lot of coupons too!
9. Audrey Larson: Re-use all your plastic shopping bags for garbage!
10. denise: When stopping at the store for one item, no not pick up other items you see and do not really need. Get that one item and get out of there.
11. Joey: Try to find ways to re-create your favourite items from restaurants and coffee shops at home. Generally much much cheaper!
12. michelle: Congrats on your anniversary! My tip: Custom make your own coupon box by using an index card box and making your own index seperaters. Then always keep the box in your car so that you never forget it when you go to the store.
13. full grown single: Don’t worry. In general, it– whatever it is– is usually going to be ok.
14. pennypincher: When going grocery shopping ALWAYS make a list and stick to the list. It is also better not to go hungry.
15. Kam A: Always shop the sales and to always use coupons.
16. John B: Live on less than you earn (somehow)!
17. gildedbutterfly: Know where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. That applies to money, career, relationships, and just about anything else.
18. Steve: If you spend more than you have today than tomorrow you will have to spend less. That is all that a recession is, it is an individual, organization, or nation that has practiced spending more than they have and gone into debt and then have to reduce spending so that they can still buy what they need, food, gas, AND service their debt. Recession results when nations or individuals have overspent and have to reduce cash consumption.
19. michelle rosborough: If you shop at Thrift shops always ask about todays specials. They always have something on sale.
20. Renee Jobe: Shop in re-sale shops for clothes (even though my kids say I should at least buy a new pair of jeans once in awhile from a “real” store!) I am not only getting a great deal for myself but giving back to the community too!
21. financegirl: My tip du jour is to give gifts at retail prices: buy on sale, gift at retail, and snowflake the difference!
22. sfordinarygirl: Stock up on canned tuna when it’s on sale - it makes for a simple, delicious and cheap dinner with plenty of protein. I bought like 10 at Walgreens during the last sale for 80 cents each and it’s saved me a ton of money when I’m too lazy to cook and short on time.

It’s My Blogoversary = Drink Starbucks for Free!

OK, readers. Today is a big day at This Writer’s Wallet. It is the one-year anniversary of the first day I blogged here.

Celebration is in order, obviously. My blog and I are taking a little vacation for the next week. During this time, you can browse through the archives, take a look at some of my favorite posts, get a feel for who I am or (very important) comment here to win free coffee.

So here’s the deal. I’ve got a $10 Starbucks card going out to one randomly chosen commenter. To be eligible, you must:

(1) Leave a comment on this post.

(2) Be sure to include your e-mail address (or some contact info) when doing so, so I can get a hold of you if you win.

(3) Give us one money-related tip–anything that you think is a good rule of thumb or handy reminder or whatever.

That’s it. One week from today, I will select a random winner from the entries. It will be announced on the blog, and I will contact the winner directly.

Happy Blogoversary to me!

PF Blogs (con.)

When you read 40+ blogs daily, you’re bound to have more than five favorites, and I do. I’m running out of time and energy to mention each in its own post, so this is my final wrap-up.

Here are the other three blogs I want to highlight for now, and maybe I’ll be able to pick more in the future:

#6: We’re Rich: These three Chicago gals were kind enough to shoot me an e-mail when they launched their blog, and I’ve been reading ever since. Some of my favorite posts include The No-Spend Showdown and this post/link to a mind-blowing story from the L.A. Times. Literally, at my lunch break, I was reading it out loud to the people nearby.

#7: Thoughts from an SF Renter: A fellow writer, SF sets tangible goals, whether for freelancing, job-hunting, or spending, and provides interesting stories about her career and everything relating.

#8: Kim’s Kitchen Sink: Kim doesn’t write only personal finance, but she’s always interesting. And she works at Google, people. How cool is that? She wrote this one post a few months back, and I love this bit:
“I think it is interesting that when I am upset, anxious, or out of balance in general, I engage in Retail Therapy. Now, Retail Therapy is common among women (so it’s not too interesting I guess), I’m told, but my particular form of this activity involves a one Bed, Bath and Beyond.” We would so be friends.

PF Blog #5: Make Love, Not Debt

I only found Make Love, Not Debt a few weeks ago, but I looove it!

Great writing, great design, great topics.

I’m not married or in a long-term relationship, but of course I still get the issues of relationships and money. My ex-BF and I talked about it a lot and I already could tell it would have been an issue for us. This site brings that up and wants to talk about it. Everyone thinks about this stuff, but too often we feel uncomfortable talking about it with our peers. This, seriously, is what makes PF blogging so important.

Like some of my other favorites, MLND shows us their budget: here and here.

Added bonus: Because the site is already so popular, there are great discussions, like this one on lending friends money.

PF Blog #4: Full-Grown Single

Full-Grown Single is a newer addition to my reader and my blogroll, but I love reading her stuff. She’s a very clear, interesting, practical writer, and I think she has a lot of great advice to offer.

Her post about picking out outfits totally inspired me to plan better, and I think the way she blocks time for certain things on certain days is brilliant: Saturday is Project Day and Sundays, she preps for the week ahead.

Oh, to be so organized, I think when I read her ideas, and this, my friends, is what will make me get there.

One more thing: she offers great travel tips (also here). Don’t miss her site!

PF Blog #3: Give Me Back my Five Bucks!

So here’s what I love about Krystal at Give Me Back my Five Bucks: She is so inspiring!

Not only did this PF blogger knock out all her credit card debt, but she also built her blog to a pretty large readership in a short amount of time. Looking at her site, you’d think she’s been blogging for years and years, instead of having just started in 2007 (like me!).

Not surprisingly, she’s a 20-something female professional, making her yet another voice in a sea of similar stories I love. Last spring, when I was job-hunting, so was she, so we had that in common, and we got hired around the same time. She’s totally open about her finances, from her budget to her relationships to everything in between.

Recently, she’s got me thinking about how I can tighten my food budget, with her wildly popular February-March Lunch Challenge. I’m not an official participant, but I’m proud to say I haven’t bought a single cup of coffee, lunch out or other snack for the past two weeks. Thanks, Krystal!

PF Blog #2: Well-Heeled, with a mission

Like me, Well-Heeled is a 20-something female professional, with thoughts of someday owning a home. Hers is a blog I’ve subscribed to for months and months, following her financial journey while I try to chart mine.

As is true of all my favorite PF blogs, WH is very real and honest. She bares her budget, something I’m meaning to do very soon, talks about her work life with transparency, and loves food as much as I do.

And her recent six-month hiatus from clothing purchases is probably one of the most challenging, inspiring things I’ve seen in the PF world, which, I suppose, reveals more about me than her.

One more thing: she just recently started this brilliant series on real-life people’s money stories. Check it out here.