Spending, Life, Income and Food Updates… 12/19/2011

  I’m off today! But I have tons to do. I have a ton of errands to run and I’m getting another beach wave perm today and a hair cut. And I have a TON of Christmas shopping to still do. I’m glad I’m off this Thursday and a half day on Friday also, or…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: May 26, 2023

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I’m off today! But I have tons to do. I have a ton of errands to run and I’m getting another beach wave perm today and a hair cut. And I have a TON of Christmas shopping to still do. I’m glad I’m off this Thursday and a half day on Friday also, or else I wouldn’t have any Christmas presents for anyone.

Here’s some of the things that I’ve made this past week. Obviously we eat lots of salsa in our house, since I post the same thing nearly every week. Above are buffalo chicken wraps, teriyaki steak, salsa and ham. I also made lasagna and soup.

Family: Things are getting ok here. My mom no longer wants to move in. We still hardly ever talk and when we do, it’s for just one thing, money. Oh well, maybe one day things will change. 

The BF’s grandma (who he is very close to) was airlifted to a hospital the other day and isn’t doing too good. I feel horrible, and I know he feels horrible also. He’s been crying a lot and is very upset. They gave us the whole waiting room at the hospital yesterday though because the WHOLE family was there. Around 100 people and it truly meant a lot to the family. I don’t do well in hospitals because of my dad, so I definitely cried the entire time and I felt horrible for doing that.

$100 Ticket: Haven’t decided what I exactly want to do with this yet.

Extra Income update: I’m still doing a lot of surveys, and made $12 last week in one day.  My Swagbucks have been slow. Got a $5 Amazon gift card last week though. We went on that restaurant secret shop at a really nice place and spent around $125, it was really good. It was nearly all free too!

Vacation planning:  The BF had to turn in his vacation sheet for the weeks that he wants. He gets 3 weeks and 2 sick days. We’re taking a vacation in March, May and August. I can’t wait! For March, were thinking Puerto Rico again, but not sure. We have to start planning soon. Any ideas? Maybe Hawaii? We’re thinking a long vacation (long to us is like 5 or 6 days). All inclusive vacation? Are those good deals?

Volunteer work: I’ve decided that I AM going to volunteer with the animal cruelty group. I start training on January 7th and I have training 4 days in a row, which will be tough since I still have to work, but it’ll be great! I’m so excited about this but I know that I will most likely be really sad all of the time from the type of volunteering that this group entails.

How’s everything going for you?


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. Somehow I missed your original post on the red light ticket. Personally, I think I'd contest it, especially if the additional court costs aren't too high and if it's clear from the video that you came to a full stop before turning. I think they kind of count on people not contesting those things. There has been a big uproar over recently-installed red light cameras one town over from where I live, and it seems like the primary motivation is to get revenue from the tickets, as opposed to actually increasing safety, so it hasn't been sitting well with folks.

  2. Live Simply- Live We

    Dang Lady, you have a lot going on. I took a day off last week to do christmas stuff and felt so much better getting everything done.

  3. I'm so sorry about your BFs grandma! I hope you all have a blessed Christmas.

  4. The Happy Homeowner

    I'm sorry to hear about BF's grandma–I hope she's on the mend very soon!!Enjoy your day off–it might be a good time to take some Michelle time, even if only 10 minutes of it!

  5. Meg {henninglove}

    i'm sorry to hear about your bf's gma. those are always tough situations. and yay for vacation planning, that is always something to look forward to for sure!

  6. Sorry about your BF's grandma:( That is really sad. I hope his family and him are doing okay.I'm jealous of your future trips…I need a vacay badly!!!!

  7. So sorry to hear about your BF's grandma :(. And way to go on volunteering! Keep us posted! I've always wanted to do something like that! xx

  8. Sorry to hear about your bf's grandma. I have a really hard time with hospitals too. I'm also sorry to hear about your mother. It's good that you were strong though. I'm not sure about the whole background but I know what it's like to have family members who need more help than others.

  9. All inclusive is the way to go if you want an economical vacation. Mexico is FULL of all inclusive resorts, some of which are adults only, which we prefer. Good luck!

  10. Hope all goes well with the bf's grandma but Im glad to hear your mom isnt moving in (unfortunately we cant pick our parents!). The vacation sounds like something you guys will really look forward to. We like to go on cruises because they are all inclusive, we wake up in a different port every day, and they can be super cheap when you look at the per person, per day rate. Hav a great Christmas!

  11. Oh no…..definitely will be thinking of the grandma! We are definitely planning/looking forward to a vacation as well!

  12. Thanks everyone! I haven't gotten an update yet, but as of now I believe she is still in a coma and might have a day or two left, so the family is very sad.

  13. So sad, especially around this time of year. 🙁 I will definitely keep you and your boyfriend and his family in my thoughts!

  14. Hi Michelle and happy Sunday again,

    It’s your affiliate marketing friend from Brooklyn again. I wanted to stop by real quick and show my support for some of your vintage blog posts.

    I stumbled upon this charming blog post from 2011 and couldn’t resist leaving a comment. It’s fascinating how time flies, isn’t it? Anyway, I must say, Michelle, your dedication to documenting your financial journey is truly inspiring.

    Reading about your progress in managing your income and expenses, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the good old days when budgeting was done with pen and paper. Ah, the simpler times. Nowadays, we have an abundance of fancy apps and digital tools at our disposal, but there was something undeniably gratifying about the tangible act of tracking every penny.

    Your commitment to saving money and avoiding debt is admirable. It’s refreshing to see someone advocating for responsible financial habits, especially during a time when consumerism seems to be at its peak. It reminds me of my grandparents, who were masters of frugality and taught me the importance of living within one’s means.

    The food updates in your blog post made my mouth water. Ah, the joys of home-cooked meals. It’s heartening to see that you prioritize healthy and affordable eating. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all too easy to succumb to the allure of convenience foods, but nothing beats the satisfaction of a well-prepared, home-cooked feast shared with loved ones.

    Thank you for sharing your financial journey and food updates with us. It’s reassuring to know that there are like-minded individuals out there who value financial independence and the simple pleasures in life. Your blog serves as a nostalgic reminder of the wisdom passed down from generations past and a beacon of hope for a future where financial responsibility is the norm.

    Wishing you continued success in your financial endeavors and many more delicious meals to come.

    Warm regards,

    Drewry from Flatbush Brooklyn

    a.k.a.

    Sha-LO

    #PBC4Life