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December 15, 2011, at 6:00 am If you're new to BFS, please subscribe to my RSS feed. It shows me a vote of support and keeps me motivated to keep your attention. If you have any questions or comments for me, please contact me and I'll get back to you asap. Thanks for visiting! As I told you all towards the end of November 2011, I am posting updates twice a month here to keep me accountable for the $1200 a year for fitness that we are spending on Weight Watchers and our gym memberships. Yep, I am using you as my accountability partners whether you signed up for it or not, hahaha. I’m posting on the weekday closest to the 15th and last day of each month. Here is how I did for the past couple of weeks.
Weight Watchers
I was getting 29 food points a day and 49 weekly points to use as I wished on food each week, so 252 total points. So, I am aiming for 250 food points or less a week from here on out. I have to use a minimum of 182 or I’d be physically starving my body – that wouldn’t be a healthy diet at all. Let’s see how I did:
Week of November 27 – December 3, 2011:
Sunday – 31 points
Monday – 29 points
Tuesday – 29 points
Wednesday – 29 points
Thursday – 34 points
Friday – 34 points
Saturday – 55 points
Total Weekly Points Used: 241 Points – Yay!
Week of December 4 – December 10, 2011:
Sunday – 37 points
Monday – 39 points
Tuesday - 28 points
Wednesday – 39 points
Thursday – 26 points
Friday – 37 points
Saturday – 43 points
Total Weekly Points Used: 249 Points – Yay, but barely!
Overall, I did okay, but I know I can do better. I splurged with friends when we went on a gambling trip and I didn’t watch myself too hard at a potluck either…I am such a social eater. But I knew that already and am not beating myself up. I stayed under the 250 point mark so I am very happy. I already have started off this week very well. Maybe I will make it through December without putting on 5 pounds. 
Gym Attendance
I set the goal to go to the gym at least 3 times a week when we signed up. I also have a bowling league Thursday nights and walk the neighborhood once in a while as well, but this is just about my gym attendance. Let’s see how I did.
Week of November 27 – December 3, 2011:
Sunday – Racquetball for 70 minutes
Monday – Nope
Tuesday – Racquetball for 40 minutes
Wednesday – Nope
Thursday – Treadmill for 30 minutes
Friday – Nope
Saturday – Nope
Total Weekly Times at the Gym: 3 times – Yay!
Week of December 4 – December 10, 2011:
Sunday – Machine work on upper body for 30 minutes
Monday – Swimming for 30 minutes
Tuesday – Nope
Wednesday – Nope
Thursday – Racquetball for 75 minutes
Friday – Treadmill for 30 minutes
Saturday – Nope
Total Weekly Times at the Gym: 4 times – Yay!
I’m happy with myself since I was only leisurely walking 3 times a week before this. This is really the first time in years that I’m getting my heart rate up and sweating.
Weight Goals Update
Other than the diet and exercise goals mentioned above, here were my weight goals as of November 28, 2011:
- Weigh 155 pounds by December 31st, 2011.
- Weigh 135 pounds by December 31st, 2012.
I am currently weighing in at 155.6 pounds, which is where I started 2 weeks ago. But I very well could be gaining some muscle since I haven’t been active in like a year, so I am trying not to overthink it. I also still have 2 weeks to hit my 155 goal.
How did you do on your fitness goals?
Cashflowmantra – how are the holidays treating you with your goal to weigh less than 200 pounds by the end of 2012?
Jeffrey – how are you doing on completing the Insanity program by 2/15/12 and weighing 155 pounds by 3/1/12?
Suba – you’ve been sick, so blow this off if you’d like of course, but how is the 170 pounds by 12/31/11 coming?
Kris – how is your Half Ironman triathlon training coming and getting your body fat to 25%?
Crissie – have you been getting a jump on that 40 pounds and marathon and triathlon training?
bogofdebt – how is that last 20 pounds coming along?
Andi B – good luck to your hubby for the Maintain-Don’t-Gain competition!
December 14, 2011, at 6:00 am
The following is a guest post.
If you’re unfamiliar with the process, privately selling your car can be confusing. How do you get the word out about your used car? How do you transfer a title? And most importantly, how do you figure out your used car’s value? It’s that last question, determining a car’s selling price, which gives people a lot of trouble. It’s a difficult question to answer because a lot of factors can affect the value of a used car. Read on to learn how to determine the value of your used car.
Consult the Kelley Blue Book (KBB). The standard for determining a used car’s value is the Kelley Blue Book, which is a comprehensive index of market value estimates based on the car’s make, model, condition and market demand. The KBB breaks down the condition of cars into the following categories: Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor. Visit kbb.com to get an approximate value for your used car as a starting place.
Research the used car values of similar vehicles. After checking the KBB, try sites like usedcars.com for additional pricing information. Do an online search for used cars like yours to find out how much they’re selling for in your area. You might find there’s a particular demand for your car model and the price is slightly higher than the KBB reports. Or it could be the opposite—a lot of people are selling a vehicle similar to yours, and the lack of demand is driving the car’s selling price below KBB value.
Vast.com, which hosts thousands of used car listings, can generate a graph that shows the average change in list price as mileage increases. Using this tool will help you zero in on the current selling price of your type of used car.
Make necessary repairs. If your car falls somewhere between two KBB ratings, such as ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent,’ consider whether making minor repairs would bump it to the next level. This will give you a clearer idea of how to price your car and a few selling points to give to potential buyers. Minor mechanical or cosmetic problems can make or break a used car sale since potential buyers may want to avoid the cost and hassle of putting money into a car they just purchased. Fixing any small issues may not significantly add to the value of your vehicle, but it could make it easier to sell your car.
Get car dealer quotes. The used car trade-in value you get at a dealership doesn’t always translate to how much the car is worth as a private sale, but an estimate can come with some useful information. Go to a few dealerships and ask them what your car is worth as a trade and, if they’ll tell you, as a private sale. Average the numbers to come up with your car’s approximate trade-in value. Remember, dealership trade-in values are based on several factors including the car you’re purchasing and the price the dealership thinks they can charge for your used car. This method is best when you plan to purchase your next car from a dealership.
If you buy a new car before or after the old one is sold, be sure to protect your new ride with insurance coverage. Compare automobile insurance quotes and coverage options to find affordable rates on the coverage you need.
December 13, 2011, at 6:00 am
This is a guest post by Erika at Newlyweds on a Budget. She writes about managing finances, budgets, frugal living and life as a newlywed.
In the past five years since I graduated college, I’ve been nearly laid off three different times. I wasn’t able to collect a single unemployment check because I was always working at a new place within the week. This is how I avoided being laid off three times in three years.
I Paid Attention
At every job I had, I always knew there was trouble lurking. The rumors start, people talk, and your boss can’t quite look at you in the eye anymore. At Job #1, a small public relations firm, I noticed my part-time co-workers weren’t coming into the office as often. I would spend days just staring at my computer. There was no work to do. That was my clue to look for a job. After three months of scouring Monster, Craigslist, Indeed, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, and any other hiring site you can think of, I started Job #2.
At Job#2, a national advertising agency, the rumor mill started almost as soon as I accepted the position. Within five months of starting that job, I–and the other 50+ people who worked on the same account–were laid off. All five months that I was working there, I seemed to be looking for a new job. It was mid-2009 and I really had no hope of finding a job.
I Networked Like Crazy
I actually used my former boss at Job #1 to help find me Job #3. I let her know that I was almost certain I was going to be let go from Job #2. I felt like I was hitting a wall with my job search but I plowed through anyway. I told everyone I knew that I was looking for a job. With no prospects, I was thisclose to calling it quits and moving to Asia to teach English. No joke.
About one month before the lay-off was set to take place, Former Boss from Job#1 called me to tell me about a position at Job#3. I interviewed for the job on a Friday and by Monday night, I was hired. Consequently, I was working Job #2 and Job #3 at the same time for three weeks. The morning they officially laid me off from Job #2, I walked across the street to continue working at Job #3.
Never Give Up
I was really happy with Job#3 and could see myself being there for a long time…until I got a new boss, who seriously made my life miserable. He made Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada look like The Little Mermaid. I began looking for a new job because I was unhappy, and shortly after, the rumor mill started about upcoming layoffs. I applied for countless jobs and ended up landing one with a) better pay b) pretty good job security c) a positive working environment. And that’s where I am today, and I honestly love my job and the people I work with.
Prepare for the Interview
For my current job, I was chosen out of 500 applicants, some who had way more experience than I did. When I recently asked why I got the position, my bosses responded that I had a positive attitude and seemed like I would be a good contribution to the team.
For every interview I had, I practiced interview questions in front of the mirror. I scoured the internet for information on their company and memorized their website and mission statement. I wore my best suit. I gave my best smile. And I sent a thank you note.
Never Sever Connections
After five jobs, I still keep in touch with almost all my bosses–and each provides not only an excellent reference, but a great network. When the rumor mills would start, I would let my “network” know that I was looking for a new job.
Don’t Be Lazy
It is hard work to find a job. It’s practically a full time job in itself. I watched a co-worker of mine at Job#3 tell me about the upcoming layoffs and worry, and while I was polishing off my resume, she was talking about how much work it would be to find a new job. Last I heard from her, she was still laid off.
Except for Job#2, it usually took me months to find a job. Don’t give up and keep trudging on. The job market is getting better every day. Unless you’re giving it your all and you still can’t find a job, there’s always hope.
Crystal’s Comments: This post inspired me to check in with my old job. I don’t see needing a new day job in my future in the next 5 years at least (hopefully never again, ever), but I did want to check in since my old supervisors are good people. Great tips Erika!
How do you deal with layoffs or finding a new job?
December 12, 2011, at 6:00 am
As I’ve written before, my husband owns a Prius. The funniest thing is that we didn’t actually buy a Prius to conserve gas. In 2008, my husband wanted a small SUV in order to haul around his reffing supplies and Curling gear, but then he saw a Prius in a supermarket parking lot and peeked in the back. He was surprised by the storage area and the Prius was cheaper than the Hyundai Sante Fe he had in mind. That is how we ended up choosing to buy a Prius - it ended up being $21,500 for a 2007 Toyota Prius with a ton of extras and the Sante Fe was about $30,000-$35,000 depending on what options he wanted. That said, making double the miles per gallon is pretty great too. Here are the pros and cons we see of owning a Prius:
Prius Pros
- It makes 44-47 miles per gallon on road trips and 47-52 miles per gallon with in-city driving. Yep, that seems backwards but it isn’t since the breaking system is part of the battery re-charging process.
- It has the perfect amount of storage space in the back for all the stuff my husband takes around – reffing duffel bags, Curling broom and shoe bag, and our bowling ball bags for our bowling league.
- It is very comfortable for up to 4 adults and semi-comfortable for 5 if a couple of the adults are not large, lol.
- It drives fairly smooth – a lot smoother than my Chevy Aveo.
- It is a quiet ride since it only makes noise while it uses gas to recharge the batteries.
- It doesn’t require much maintenance at all since all of the systems are enclosed. So far, we just have its oil changed every 5000 miles and it will need a closer look when it hits 100,000 miles.
- The push button start and backup camera are great! Other cars have those too, so keep an eye out.
Prius Cons
- There is a big blind spot thanks to the slope of the rear window area.
- It is so quiet that we’ve accidentally left it running in the garage for a few hours until we went to investigate the periodic vacuum cleaner sound.
- It seems to run through good tires every year or two and it costs about $450 to have them all replaced at Discount Tire.
- If something breaks that shouldn’t – it would be expensive to replace. The battery pack alone is $3000. So far, we haven’t had any issues at all though.
Can You Save Money in the Long Run on Gas Alone?
Before you yell at me about a Prius being a bad deal, I will beat you to the punch. It isn’t a great deal for everyone. I know. It was an awesome car for us since it saved me from owning an expensive SUV that makes 22 miles per gallon on a good day, but it isn’t the car for everyone. If you are ever in the market for a basic sedan, it would take years for the Prius to pay you back for its extra cost through gas savings alone. Here is a quick breakdown.
A Prius vs Basic Sedan Breakdown
Let’s say you drive 15,000 miles a year (like my husband). Let’s also say a Prius makes 50 miles per gallon and cost $23,000 to buy and the other car you have in mind makes 25 miles per gallon and cost $18,000 to buy (a standard sedan). That means you would need to fill up the other car twice as much but it cost $5000 less up front.
At gas being $3.00 a gallon, the Prius would cost $900 in gas and the other car would be $1800 in gas. You’d only be saving $900 a year in gas. It would take you a little more than 5 1/2 years to pay back the extra cost of the Prius in gas alone. So in our example, if you usually own your cars for 6 years or more, the Prius may make sense for you. If not, the sedan may end up being cheaper if all other things were equal.
The Gas Savings vs Bigger Prius Cost Equation
Basically, here’s how you can use to see if a Prius would save you more in the long run:
1. (Your Average Annuals Miles / Comparison Car Miles Per Gallon) * $Gas Price Per Gallon = Cost of Gas for Comparison Car (CC)
2. (Your Average Annuals Miles / 50) * $Gas Price Per Gallon = Cost of Gas for Prius (P)
3. CC – P = Gas Savings Per Year (to use below)
Extra Cost of the Prius / Gas Savings per Year = Years it Would Take to Break Even
Example – 2011 Prius at $25,000 vs 2011 Corolla at $18,000 (based on prices I found online at a nearby Toyota dealer)
1. (12,000 / 30) * $3 = $1200
2. (12,000 / 50) * $3 = $720
3. $1200 - $720 = $480
$7000 / $480 = 14.6 Years to Break Even
That number of years would go down as gas prices go up and vice versa. But in general, I wouldn’t make my car choice based on miles per gallon alone. Would I think about getting a Prius myself? Yep. But I like it because of its versatility. Keep in mind though, my other favorites are a Mazda Miata or even a Mini Coupe…cuteness can beat out usefulness, lol.
Look at me getting my math on for you.
What do you like and dislike about your vehicle? What do you like and dislike about a Prius? Any Prius owners out there with one 5 years and older? What can we expect?
December 10, 2011, at 6:00 am
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December 9, 2011, at 6:00 am
This week has been crazy in a great way, but now I need to take a day to breathe, lol. While I type this, it is 11pm Thursday night and I cannot believe I don’t have something scheduled for tomorrow yet. I have two guest posts up for next week, lol, but nada for tomorrow. Oops.
With that in mind, I remember Aloysa asked me about my favorite workout music earlier this week. Here is the workout playlist my husband put together for me to get me motivated. I really love the songs below, so don’t be too harsh, lol. And yes, we are eclectic, hahaha. To one of my biggest fans, David, “She Works Hard for Her Money” isn’t on it, sorry.
Crystal’s Ultimate Workout Music Playlist
The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band
If I Had You – Adam Lambert
You Spin Me Round – Dead or Alive
Jolene – Dolly Parton
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Going Under – Evanescence
I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
Bad Influence – Pink
Funhouse – Pink
Numb – Linkin Park
We Will Rock You - Queen
Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Wizards in Winter – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Flash Dance - Theresa Carter
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
So What – Pink
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
Let’s Hear it for the Boy – Deniece Williams
Holding out for a Hero – Bonnie Tyler
Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
Bring Me to Life – Evanescense
What’s your favorite workout music?
December 8, 2011, at 6:00 am
Hello faithful readers of Budgeting in the Fun Stuff! I’m Brian Carr, author of How to Make a Budget and Family Money: Easy Ways to Cut Your Family’s Expenses for the Amazon Kindle, and I’m here as a guest blogger to talk about an interesting story from my financial past. Enjoy!
First off – let me get this out of the way – I’m a very black and white, true or false, no shades of gray sort of person when it comes to personal finance and, well, everything else in my life. I understand bad and unforeseen things happen, but truth be told, they happen to everyone, so wallowing in self-pity isn’t the answer. Treating your setbacks as nothing more than obstacles YOU WILL OVERCOME is, in my humble opinion, the tact that is most likely to lead to your financial success. As the cliché goes, it’s not whether you fall, it’s whether you get back up that counts.
Oops – I Bought a House
Now that I’m off my soapbox, I’m here to share a personal story. Back in late 2006, at the peak of the real estate bubble, I bought a townhouse in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I didn’t put much thought into it. Rather, I bought something that was just in my price range much further out than I wanted to be simply because I was foolish enough to put blinders on and not realize I was making a bad decision.
Two and a half years and $70,000 underwater later, I was miserable because of the lost money and because of my hour and a half daily commute. For my well-being, I had to move. I had a lot in savings, but certainly not enough to cover all of the difference between my home’s value and what I owed on it.
My Choices
At this point, I had three choices to make:
1) Suck it up and stay in the house (wasn’t a true option for me)
2) Take the trendy path of not paying my mortgage and try to force the bank to allow me to short-sell (wasn’t an option, I’m too proud to do that)
3) Find a way to come up with money fast so I could sell the house (ding, ding, ding!)
Since I was already making pretty good money at my regular job, I figured if I could hunker down and slash my living expenses, I would be able to save an extra $1,000 per month. So, among many things, I cancelled my cable, lived on noodles and water, and sold my beautiful TV (that was tough). With all of my changes, I was able to save just over $1,000 per month, putting me closer to my goal of being able to put my house on the market.
I Found a Second Job
But, I also wanted to be smart and not completely exhaust my savings in order to get rid of my bad “investment.” So, I started searching for the highest paying part-time jobs I could find. The only one that was really worth the money was shift work, loading boxes on FedEx trucks from 2am to 7am Monday through Saturday.
Considering I was working my regular job – the one that paid the bills – from 8am to 5pm, I figured the schedule was tight but doable, so I put in my application and got the job at FedEx.
For the next four months – November through February – I worked from 2am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and had an additional FedEx shift on Saturday. Needless to say, the November and December months – at the peak of the holiday shipping season – stunk. But it was rewarding knowing that I was getting closer and closer to my goal.
And, because I was doing nothing but working and sleeping, I was able to increase my monthly savings to $2,500, which obviously included my new income.
It Paid Off
Long story short, thanks to all of the money I was able to save (and the home buyer tax credit), I was able to get my house on the market that March and sell it within just a few days. I was also able to cover the difference in the sale price and what I owed on my mortgage, as well as not having to completely get rid of all of my savings.
I know not everyone can do what I did. I’m healthy, at the time I didn’t have a wife or kids, and I already had savings because, aside from buying the house, I had always been pretty financially aware. But the point I’m trying to illustrate is that no matter how miserable and bleak things appear, there is always a solution out there.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed my story a bit and, if so, head over to my blog and check out the two books I mentioned above!
Crystal’s Comments: I’m impressed. We’ve all made mistakes before, and I think the way we handle them determines the type of person we are. Brian bought the wrong house in the wrong place and the wrong time for him, but he worked his butt off to get himself into a better situation without laying the problem on the mortgage company or anyone else. And he had some savings left to boot. That’s very impressive to me.
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DISCLAIMER I am not a professional or a financial advisor. BFS posts are informational opinions only. Please make your own financial decisions based on personal research or see a financial advisor.
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