PERSONAL: [career | jobless]

FREE AT LAST!

with some recent events that had gone down with me and the company i worked for (yes! that's right past tense) it was only a matter of time in this economy/recession that i would most likely get laid off when the time came. so when i (along with 3 other people) was called into the conference room on friday, i pretty much knew i was probably getting let go.

people ask me if i knew it was coming? no, but i kinda had a feeling especially when we didn't really have any work coming in. but i still felt it was a little unexpected, if that makes any sense ha. especially since i thought i've been work my butt off and have been kicking ass on the jobs we have been working on recently, clients picking my work etc. but oh well their loss right?!

but to be completely honest it's very much bitter sweet. after recent events i've been some what looking to get out, so this really gave me a bigger push. the saddest part about me getting let go is my coworkers... i'm going to miss them. hopefully we'll still keep in touch.

i also truly appreciate the apologies for me getting laid off... but seriously DON'T BE! i'm sure as hell not. ha! i always look at it as "everything happens for a reason" and "when one door closes another one opens" and i truly believe that. now i have time to focus and get back intouch with me and what i really wanna do. life's too short!

but as happy as i am about getting laid off and to start the "vacation", i do however feel exteremly bad to have to put all the financial reponsablities onto daren now. so hopefully i'll be able to find a new job in no time... after a vacation of course! hahaha

i still dont think it's truly kicked in yet that i dont have work anymore. i still feel that "MAN! i dont wanna go to work tomorrow!" whine lol.

well wish me luck on my new jouney.
xoxo

FINANCE//: [coin star | gift cards]

i was doing laundry last weekend and as i used our last quarter up i thought, "we have a whole lot of change that isn't quarters, what am i suppose to do with all that other change?" and then a light bulb when off... ding ding ding COIN STAR!

there's a tiny catch if you want coins for cash.. there's a $0.086 for every dollar fee. unless you want to turn you change into a gift card from their selected stores there's no fee, like starbucks (annie i thought of you!). click here if you'd like to see the other places you can get gift cards from. 

MONEY//: [spending | debt | income]

LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS
i was watching tv (as usual) and i came across a commercial for one of the many day time talk shows. it was a lady yelling at people telling them that they're living way beyond what they can afford. it got me thinking about how the hubby and i spend our money and if we're in fact "living within our means". it's a hard thing to swallow but i think its so important to check and evaluate your finical situation... especially now that our economy is going down the Sh*tter. 

So i decided to search the web and see what it means to "live within your means".  i came across an article online from cnnmoney.com where the article starts off by asking you the reader, what's your definition of "living within your means"?

a) Not spending more than you earn (as in, you make $100 and can spend up to $100 but not more)?

b) Not spending more than you earn and having no debt (other than "good" debt like a mortgage or student loan)?

c) Spending less than you earn, saving the rest and having no debt (other than "good" debt)?

like most people out there the hubby and i have (at one point) spent more than our "means"... when times were rough that is. BUT based off this article, surprisingly we are (living within our means). personally i define "living in your means as the letter C (above). We spend less than we make, we pay off all our bills, pay our credit cards in full, the only debt we have are daren's school loan, and my car loan and we put money away each month, even though i wish we would put more in but we like living comfortable at the same time and even though we seem to be living within what we bring home i still want to evaluate and edit what we spend. 

MTV TRUE LIFE - I'M A COMPULSIVE SHOPPER

last month again i was watching TV and this episode came on and so of course i watched it. it truly baffles me how some people are so irresponsible that they'd rather go shop for clothes then pay their electric bills, rented furniture bills, and/or cell phone bills. my god people!

my parents aren't the best at how they save or spend their money. but when my brother and i were younger they did open up a checking account for us to save our money in. i honestly don't know how it got instilled in me, but ever since i got my first credit card i HAD to pay my balance off in full. no one was making me, but maybe the "chinese" (don't worry i'm chinese and not racist) in me didn't want to pay for the interest you'd have to pay if you didn't pay off your balance. haha it's funny but true and it's still very much true to this day. 

also if you start to let your debt grow just a little... it's way too easier for it to keep going. that another reason why i don't like to leave a balance.

but with all that said.. i need to go shopping. muwahaha jk... kinda! =p

money is always a sticky conversation for most, but ask yourself... 

ARE YOU LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS?