The Hustle of Sistah Ant

We finally made groceries on Sunday.  The prices of bread, milk, and fruit were noticeably higher.  Anyway, at least now I can take lunch to work again.

Sistah Beginner and I went shopping on Saturday - maternity wear for her and work wear for me.  I picked up some otherwise-expensive-but-outlet-priced makeup, a very nice belt, and a cute skirt suit which was about 50% of its original price because I took advantage of my new favorite outlet store’s sale.  I also got some unmentionables and some slippers - those things I always forget to get for myself even though I need them.  Surprisingly, despite my recent acknowledgment of a burgeoning shoe fetish, I didn’t look too hard for shoes and consequently, I didn’t get any.  My entire shopping trip, including lunch and dinner, came in under my $200 budget.

I contributed 10% of this week’s check to my IRA and paid my bills.  I contributed enough to the my My Own Home savings account to bring the amount saved to $8,000 even.  I still haven’t paid the camera off of my credit card, but that’s because I have to deposit some cash I received from Mister Ant’s mom for her end of Mister Ant’s birthday gift.  Once I do that, the card will be cleared off in time for the end of the month.  Then less than $100 will remain in my checking account to last me until the end of the week when I get my next check.

My next check is already spent.  I have to pay my car note, my share of May’s rent and April’s household expenses, and contribute both to the IRA and the My Own Home accounts.  I am considering giving less to the IRA account because I want to keep my money more liquid since I’m contracting, and because I want my house sooner rather than later.  But I’m trying to remain disciplined.  It’s not like a 401K where I’d be contributing and getting a match without even thinking about it.  If I don’t make the conscious disciplined effort to save, the account won’t grow.  And I’ll have to make catch up payments later on if I want to increase 2008’s tax deduction for contributions - who knows what kind of money I’ll be making on my next gig, or for that matter, how long it will take to get my next gig.  That thought encourages me to contribute and save while I still have the wiggle room to do so.  What do you think?

Anyway, that’s what happened to last week’s check.