Stephany Writes

Categories: Recurring Series

Five for Friday (v. 77)

1) Bloodwork Results

Last Friday, I got bloodwork done. (As expected, they had to bring in their “expert” phlebotomist because I have really deep veins.) I got my results on Wednesday and I was relieved to see that my glucose and A1C levels are normal. I definitely want to improve my numbers (my glucose has remained steady on the high end of normal for two years now), but I’m glad I don’t need to be too concerned about prediabetes. What was super concerning, though, were my triglycerides which were astonishingly high. Triglycerides are part of the cholesterol panel that determines one’s risk for heart disease. While my total cholesterol was normal, my triglycerides were not. Thankfully, all of my other cholesterol numbers improved, even if some of them still aren’t in the normal range (HDL and non-HDL, but they are just a few points away from normal). Anyway, I’ve been doing a lot of research about lowering one’s triglycerides levels and I’m trying to come up with a plan where I can work towards healthier cholesterol without putting myself on a strict diet. I know I will need to continue limiting sugar as well as red meat and carbs, and I want to make sure I’m doing so in a way that aligns with my values and isn’t seen as a punishment. Lots more to come on this!

2) Eczema

I am pleased to report that my eczema/dermatitis (whatever this thing is) seems to be improving. I’ve been applying hydrocortisone cream twice a day and I’ve started to notice a real difference in the way my skin looks and feels. Hooray! I’ll keep applying the cream until the flare-up is gone, but I’m hoping I can restart my skincare routine sometime in February. I’ve really missed doing my skincare routine and I’m excited to get back to it.

3) My Backup Supplies Shelf

Look at my new backup supplies shelf in my hall closet! I am so proud of this little area of my home. I was running low on a lot of my supplies—conditioner, mouthwash, tampons, eyeglass wipes, laundry detergent, and the special sensitive laundry detergent I use when I wash my bras—and it was quite scary to see how much money I was going to spend to double-up on everything I needed. And then Target was running a sale—if I bought 3 boxes of tampons, I could get a $5 coupon; and if I bought 4 bottles of shampoo/conditioner, I could get a $5 coupon. Normally, I would say “no way!” Three boxes of tampons?? What am I, the queen of England?! But I took a deep breath and added 3 boxes of tampons, 2 bottles of conditioner, and 2 bottles of shampoo to my cart and pushed the purchase button. It was scary, but I did it! I’m proud of myself and I feel a lot of joy in looking at my shelf filled with supplies. Lisa commented on my post last week where I talked about the under-buyer/over-buyer conundrum, and said she sees herself as a “just-right buyer” and I think that’s what I’m aiming for. I’ve been an under-buyer because spending a lot of money at one time scares me, and my goal is to become a just-right buyer who has backups of her normal supplies and toiletries, but I’m not, like, stockpiling for the end of the world out of panic.

4) Niagara Falls

My mom and I have started planning our 2022 trip! We thought about taking a cruise, but neither of us is totally comfortable going that route just yet. Maybe in 2023? Instead, I did some research and presented her with three options: Arizona to visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon, Canada to visit Niagara Falls, or an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica. I was so pleased when my mom picked Niagara Falls! Of course, it all depends on the COVID situation, but we’re not planning on going until the summer so we should be okay. (Hopefully.) My plan is for us to fly into Buffalo, rent a car and drive over to the Canada side of the Falls, spend a few days in Canada exploring the Falls (and possibly a day trip to Toronto?), and then driving back over to Buffalo to explore the Falls from the U.S. side. I’ve always wanted to visit Niagara Falls, and I’m excited to tick a new state (New York) and a new country (Canada) off my list, too! Seasoned travelers, please let me know if my loose itinerary sounds ridiculous. 🙂

5) Weekend Plans

I don’t have a lot going on this weekend, which I’m taking to be a good thing. This afternoon, I’m meeting up with my mom so that we can take the dogs to go get their paw prints done. One of the artist studios near us is offering this fun event where pets can come into the studio, get a clay impression of their paws, and then the studio will make a custom painting incorporating their paw prints. Isn’t that such a great idea? I can’t wait to see what they do for Chip and Lucy! (And no, I’m not taking my girls because I think it would be way too traumatizing for them, haha.)

Saturday, I have no plans other than getting caught up on blog stuff and work stuff. And then, on Sunday, it’s the AFC/NFC championship games! I am so excited! While my team didn’t even make the playoffs, both my brother’s favorite team (the 49ers) and my nephew’s favorite team (the Chiefs) are playing. A few years ago, the 49ers and the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl, and that got very contentious, so while I want both of their teams to make it back to the Super Bowl, I don’t know if I want another tense game like that! So we’ll see how it goes.

Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? What are your weekend plans?

Categories: Personal Finance

Quarterly Budget Recap | Q2 of 2021

Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday. It’s that time—my quarterly budget update! I’m still keeping meticulous track of my spending, though it can get a bit annoying, especially if I forget to check in after a week and have so many transactions to categorize! But it’s good for me, even if I’m not doing as well with my budgeting limits as I’d hoped (looking at you, food budget). There weren’t any huge surprises or purchases in Q2, which is always nice! Q3 will hold a vet appointment for Eloise, my trip to Chicago, and tooooons of birthdays. So it should be an eventful quarter!

Here’s how Q2 broke down for my budget:

Overall bills (39.6%) – I spent about the same on bills from Q1 to Q2 (my electric bill went up a bit but my water bill went down). It’s nice that these numbers remain pretty even! Next quarter will include my rent increase, so I expect “overall bills” to be an even bigger part of my budget then.

  • Rent ($1,045 per month)
  • Electric (averaging $107 per month, an increase of $21 from Q1)
  • Water (averaging $37 per month, a decrease of $15 from Q1)
  • Internet ($80 per month)
  • Phone ($109 per month)
  • Student loan ($105 per month)

Food (17.4%) – My food budget remains the biggest struggle for me! I have a very high budget for food ($600) and only came under one month (June, in which I challenged myself to eat 75% of my meals at home). This quarter, I spent $276 more on food than in Q1, eeks.

Savings (13.8%) – I’m continuing to save lots! This quarter, I put away over $1,500 in savings, which feels really good.

Shopping (5.5%) – I definitely got bit by the shopping bug in Q2 and I spent quite a bit more than in Q1. My main shopping categories amounted to:

  • Clothes (39.5%) – A dress for a wedding, Stitch Fix, and an Old Navy order.
  • Books (29.8%) – I’m embarrassed to admit that I spent $184 on books this quarter. Oops.
  • Accessories (11.2%) – Shoes and jewelry.
  • Workout accessories (7.5%) – I bought a cadence sensor for my spin bike, a yoga mat, and a heart rate monitor.
  • Chatbooks (4.4%) – Self-explanatory.
  • Other (2.8%) – I’m not really sure what belongs in this category… but it only amounted to $17 over 3 months.
  • Kitchen tools (2.6%) – I bought some tall containers to store pasta noodles and a lemon squeezer.
  • Hobbies (2.3%) – Markers and a coloring book. I am a child.

Spa (5%) – I ended up spending nearly $100 less in this category in Q2, which is awesome. This category comprises pedicures ($127), hair appointments ($200 for balayage highlights and a cut), and massages/facials ($235 between my Hand & Stone membership and tips).

Home (3.7%) – This category was much, much lower than Q1 since it didn’t include a sectional purchase! But when I remove that purchase from my Q1 spending, comparing Q1 and Q2 spending is not as pretty, as I spent nearly $200 more this quarter! $268 of that was for my office nook, as I bought a new office chair, an ottoman to rest my feet, and some cable organizational tools. I also bought some home goods, like replacement Wallflower scents from Bath & Body Works and a new 4-cube bookshelf. What can I say? I love decorating my apartment!

Beauty (3.3%) – The majority of this category comprises skincare products. At this point, I’m spending about $100 per month on products, which feels ridiculously high. But the products are working! So, I guess this is just my life now? I also replenished some of my makeup.

Subscriptions (2.4%) – I have $100 budgeted for all of my subscriptions, which include Book of the Month, Second Nature (air filter; bimonthly), Patreon, Netflix, Spotify, Peacock, Ipsy, and Befunky (photo editing app). I also just subscribed to Paramount+ so I can watch Big Brother (and I had to do their Premium subscription so I can watch it live, sigh) so that will be an additional $10 per month over Q3.

Supplies/Toiletries (2%) – I budget $100 per month for supplies/toiletries and came in under budget every month in Q2, woohoo! I spent almost the same amount as in Q1, too, which is nuts.

Pets (1.7%) – A very easy quarter for the girls! I bought litter ($27), food ($36), treats ($38), toys ($26), and supplies ($40 for a brush and a lint roller to remove cat hair from my couch—yes, in both instances, I was coerced by Instagram ads).

Entertainment (1.6%) – I spent $42 funding my Candy Crush habit and then an additional $140 on adventures, which included some dinners out and kayaking with Bri.

Gifts (1.4%) – A few friends had birthdays and there was Mother’s Day.

Travel (.8%) – I bought flights to Chicago for my mom and me (which were very cheap since I had a credit from 2020) as well as travel insurance.

Health (.7%) – This mostly comprises my Peloton membership, although I did buy some medication in April.

Auto (.7%) – An easy quarter here, as my only expense was gas. I’m still only filling up about once a month, which is amazing!

Charity (.4%) – I donated to Val Demings campaign, as she’s running against Marco Rubio for Senate and I am VERY MUCH into that.

Tell me: Have you ever bought something because of an Instagram ad? What was the most expensive thing you bought this quarter? Mine was definitely my office chair, and it was worth every penny!

Categories: Personal Finance

Budget Update | Q1 of 2021

Hi, friends! I’m here with my first budget update of 2021. I knew I wanted to continue these budget updates (you guys seem to really enjoy them!) but wasn’t sure in what capacity. I *think* this is how I’ll be doing them going forward (quarterly updates), although I’m contemplating a monthly budget update that dives a little deeper into my budget as a whole rather than my overall spending. Let me know if that sounds interesting at all! (I do plan on writing a post soon that gives the nitty-gritty about my budget this year, but the monthly post would be something different.)

Anyway, Q1 was a good one. I received six paychecks, my tax refund, and my stimulus check. Woop, woop! I was able to buy some big-ticket items, like my sectional and spin bike. In Q2, I’m hoping to buy a new TV, desk chair, and area rug, but we’ll see how everything pans out. Here’s the breakdown:

Overall bills (33.3%) – This year, I’m lumping all of my necessary bills into one category. This category includes:

  • Rent ($1,045 per month)
  • Electric (budgeted $100 per month; averaging $86 per month)
  • Water (budgeted $50 per month; averaging $51 per month)
  • Internet ($80 per month)
  • Phone ($109 per month)
  • Student loan ($105 per month)

Food (12.6%) – My monthly budget for food is $600, which may feel insurmountably high to some (especially for just one person), but it’s what works for me. In January and February, I came under budget easily but went over by $74 in March, oops.

Savings (12.2%) – My goal is to save $575 per month ($200 into emergency savings, $200 into a car down payment fund, $50 into a Christmas fund, $50 into a pet fund, and $75 into a car insurance fund) as well as put $5 into my no-spend fund every time I have a no-spend day. Currently, I have $2,200 in my emergency fund and $1,500 in my car fund, which feels amazing!

Auto (12%) – I spent $71 on gas this quarter, $10 on a car wash, and $526 on my biyearly car insurance. This category should be a lot lower in Q2. I don’t really have a budget for auto anymore. My emergency/car savings are used for repairs and I’m still driving so little that I only need to fill up my tank once a month. It’s great!

Home (10.1%) – I made a big purchase in Q1: a new sectional! That’s what makes up the bulk of this category (which approximates $1,353). I also bought some decorations, prints for my office nook, and other home goods.

Spa (4.9%) – This quarter, I spent $238 on my hair (balayage highlights, professional cut and style, and tip), $150 on pedicures, and $266 on massages/facials. The only area I really budget for are my massages/facials (I budget $80 per month, but usually spend $100 for facials since I upgrade to a more specialized facial). My haircuts and pedicures come out of my “fun money.”

Shopping (3.5%) – The biggest shopping expense in Q1 was my Stitch Fix box. Also, somehow I spent $116 on books this quarter?! What the what?

Health (3.1%) – It was a spendy quarter for health, as I bought a spin bike! I budgeted for this as part of my tax refund. Otherwise, I only spent $30ish for some medical supplies when I fell and tore up my toe and a prescription.

Pets (1.9%) – Lila had a vet appointment in February and had to get two shots, so that was my biggest expense this quarter ($128). I also bought litter ($54), food ($36), treats ($8), and a new pet food container ($20).

Supplies (1.7%) – I combined toiletries and household supplies into one category for budgeting purposes. I budget $100 per month for these supplies and keep a close eye on this category, as I know it can get out of hand easily. In Q1, I stayed well within my budget ($73, $92, and $59) so I feel good about where I’m at with this category.

Entertainment (1.5%) – I budget $14 per month for my Candy Crush habit (no shame!) and also budget for my monthly lady dates with Bri (I budget $50 but I’m usually always underbudget for that).

Subscriptions (1.4%) – I’m still trying to figure out how much I pay on a monthly basis for all of the different subscriptions I have. In Q1, it was all over the place. Not every month is the same—some months, it can be around $94 and other months, it’s $30 less if it’s a month I’m not getting an air filter shipped to me (my Second Nature subscription is set up for every other month) and I have a Book of the Month credit that rolled over. In general, though, I budget for $100 and always came in under that in Q1. My subscriptions include Patreon, Spotify, Netflix, Befunky.com, Ipsy, Second Nature, and Book of the Month.

Beauty (1%) – This category is getting more of a workout than last year since I’m investing a lot of money into a skincare routine. But I enjoy doing my morning and evening routine and trying new products! Right now, I’m trying out Paula’s Choice products, so I bought cleanser, exfoliant, toner, a morning moisturizer (with SPF), an evening moisturizer, and niacinamide serum.

Charity (.5%) – This year, I’m picking one charity per quarter to donate to, and in Q1, it was the Equal Justice Initiative. I believe in their mission so much and it felt good to donate a tiny amount to them. I set aside $25 per month in my budget for charitable giving.

Gifts (.5%) – Chip and my youngest nephew, D., had birthdays in Q1 so nothing too crazy to budget for.

$0 categories of Q1 include travel and Christmas, for obvious reasons. 🙂

Categories: Personal Finance

My Final 2020 Budget

Happy Friday, friends. It’s a long weekend for me because, for the first time ever (well, since I was in school, lol), I get MLK day off! I’m assuming my company decided to offer this as a day off due to the racial reckoning that so many people and companies, in general, went through last year. I’m glad to see it, that’s for sure.

Today, I wanted to share my final 2020 budget. (No December budget this month, sorry guys!) 2020 was the first time I ever tracked my spending in such a detailed way and while it took some getting used to, I’m really glad I did it and built this new habit for myself. It allowed me to see my spending much more clearly than I ever have and build a reasonable budget for myself moving forward. I plan on continuing my monthly budget recap posts, but they’ll be a little different this year. Stay tuned!

For now, let’s take a look at where my money went in 2020:

Housing (41.1%) – It’s no surprise that housing was my largest expense overall. This category comprises rent ($11,137), electric ($1,033), Internet ($902), water ($590), and Netflix ($168).

Food (14.3%) – Food was always one of my biggest expenses throughout the year so it’s no surprise that it was my second-largest category. In the end, I spent $2,987 on restaurants and $3,671 on groceries for an average of $555 per month. (I also spent $224 at Starbucks.)

Debts (7.7%) – I spent the first quarter of the year making large payments to my credit card and I also made regular student loan payments throughout the year.

Savings (6.1%) – While I fell off the savings bandwagon in the second half of 2020, I was pretty great at adding to my savings accounts at the beginning of the year (especially in preparation for my move). I saved $2,936 this year for an average of $245 per month.

Shopping (4%) – I’ve never really kept track of my shopping habits so I’ll be interested to see how this changes year over year. In 2020, the standout shopping categories are tech ($574), clothes ($438), books ($412), Chatbooks ($109), cloth face masks ($78), accessories ($89), hobbies ($86), and shoes ($46).

Home (3.6%) – I bought a lot of new things for my home in 2020, especially once I moved. This total is made up of things I bought for my “home office” ($329), furniture ($1,072), decorations ($165), and a new cordless vacuum ($120), among other items.

Auto (3.4%) – This list comprises gas ($313), car insurance ($1,114), regular maintenance ($106), and a simple car repair ($96).

Moving (3%) – Anything I bought specifically for my new apartment during the move is included in this category, such as home goods ($695) and furniture ($295). I also included moving expenses such as my pet fee and paying my brother to help move my furniture into this total.

Phone (2.9%) – My phone bill decreased from $146 to $108 when I upgraded my phone, so that’s a positive!

Spa (2%) – I spent money on massages ($410), hair appointments ($395), and pedicures ($168).

Pets (2%) – The girls were pretty easy this year! I spent $148 on vet appointments (as well as $216 for flea/heartworm treatment), so that was my biggest expense for them. I also spent money on food ($192), litter ($147), treats ($115), and toys ($86).

Christmas (1.9%) – I spent $905 on Christmas this year! That’s astounding to me, haha, because I’ve never kept track of how much money I spend on Christmas. Of course, I bought a new fake Christmas tree so that was a huge expense I won’t need to worry about for another few years.

Subscriptions (1.4%) – I’m subscribed to many different things, from different podcasts’ Patreon pages to Book of the Month to a bimonthly air filter subscription. These subscriptions cost me anywhere from $30 per month to $77 per month.

Gifts (1%) – I spent a little less than $500 on gifts throughout the year. I thought about making a savings account for gifts but it averages out to less than $40 per month so I decided against it.

Toiletries (1%) – I spent around $39 per month on toiletries, which include body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc. Most of this is comprised of body wash, which is what I use for bubble baths. Since I take a bubble bath nearly every day, I buy a lot of body wash.

Travel (.9%) – I bought a plane ticket to visit New Orleans in the spring—a trip that, of course, had to be canceled. I was able to get a credit for the flight so at least my money was not spent in vain! Travel is usually one of the bigger expenses in my budget, so it makes me sad it was so low in 2020.

Household Supplies (.8%) – I spent an average of $33 per month on household supplies, which includes cleaning products, toilet paper, trash bags, etc. My highest spend month was August ($56) and my lowest was November ($3).

Blog (.8%) – My hosting fees were due this year (I pay every three years) and I bought a new blog design.

Beauty (.7%) – I am certain this would have accounted for a much higher total if the pandemic hadn’t happened. In January and February, I was averaging $40+ a month on beauty products. From March to November, I averaged $9 per month! (December is an outlier since I purchased some skincare products and makeup to the tune of $155.)

Charity (.7%) – This was the first year that I made charitable donations a regular part of my budget, and I’m so very glad I did. I picked one charity/cause per month to donate to, giving donations to political candidates, my nephews’ school, animal shelters, cancer charities, and racial justice initiatives.

Health (.4%) – Nothing too crazy to report here. A visit to a specialist, over-the-counter meds, medical supplies, and my gym membership for the time the gym was up and running.

Entertainment (.4%) – Well, the stats are in. I spent $148 on Candy Crush tokens in 2020. That amounts to $12 a month. Should I be embarrassed about this? Perhaps, but that game really is so soothing and fun to play!

Categories: Personal Finance

Monthly Budget Update | November 2020

Another month, another budget update! I’ve been thinking about whether or not I want to continue these monthly budget updates in 2021. Is it really necessary to list out everything I’m buying in such a detailed way? While it’s helpful for me to see my spending habits and all of this data will be used to create a much more robust budgeting system that actually works for my lifestyle (for example, budgeting $250 a month for food is LAUGHABLE), I am not sure I want to continue with this style of budget updates. Maybe I will, or maybe I’ll figure out a different way to talk about my finances in 2021. We’ll see!

For now, let’s dive into the numbers from November!

Housing (34.6% – $1,271 compared to $1,094 in October) – This will be my more normal housing budget going forward. Rent, electric, water, Internet, and Netflix.

Home (15.9% – $584 compared to $20 in October) – A much more expensive month on the home front. I bought a new dining room table and bookshelf, as well as a candle.

Groceries (9.7% – $357 compared to $298 in October) – I spent a lot on groceries this month, much more than I have been spending lately. I’m not quite sure why! Perhaps I did more grocery store visits this month than usual? I tend to go two times a week, but I think I was going more often in November for some reason.

Christmas Home (9.3% – $341 compared to $0 in October) – I’ve never, ever kept track of my Christmas purchases so good thing I’m dissecting my spending habits this year! I spent $341 alone on just decorations. Of course, $215 of this was my Christmas tree, which will last me for at least a few years. I also spent $25 on new stockings (I finally have stockings for the girls!), $13 on a holiday doormat, and nearly $80 on ornaments. (Oops. My new tree is so much bigger than my old one that I needed more! Eighty dollars worth of more? Probably not.)

Restaurants (8.3% – $307 compared to $334 in October) – Another spendy month for restaurants. But that’s just the way it goes for me!

Christmas Gifts (6.6% – $242 compared to $0 in October) – I am nearly finished with my Christmas shopping! I think I’ll maybe spend $100 more? Like I said, I have never kept track of how much money I spend on Christmas (which means I’ve never had a Christmas budget). I’m glad I’m doing that now so I can actually start a sinking fund for Christmas in 2021!

Shopping (5.1% – $189 compared to $84 in October) – I bought a handful of books (three e-books, four print books), five pairs of underwear, a coloring book, some face masks, and two Chatbooks.

Phone (2.9% – $108 compared to $108 in October) – Fixed expense.

Auto (1.9% – $69 compared to $31 in October) – I filled up my gas tank twice and bought new windshield wipers.

Gifts (1.1% – $39 compared to $60 in October) – A friend’s baby turned one so I bought some fun gifts for her! 🙂

Spa (1% – $35 compared to $78 in October) – Tips paid to my massage therapists (I got two massages in November).

Toiletries (.9% – $34 compared to $50 in October) – I bought mouthwash, shampoo, deodorant, and a few bottles of body wash.

Subscriptions (.9% – $33 compared to $70 in October) – Just Patreon, Spotify, and PicMonkey this month!

Entertainment (.8% – $31 compared to $10 in October) – Parking downtown and way too many credits on Candy Crush.

Beauty (.7% – $24 compared to $0 in October) – I bought an eyeshadow palette, a new hairbrush, and a blending sponge.

Pets (.4% – $14 compared to $50 in October) – A small toy and a set of disposable litter boxes (panic-bought when I was worried about needing to evacuate due to Hurricane Eta).

$0 categories in November: household supplies, health, donations, travel, savings, and debt payments.