No fun until zero balance.

In the spirit of micro-managing my finances and reducing the amount of blind eye-spending I've been engaging in, I made up some rules (because that's always an option) related to my spending. These are sort of like Gibbs' rules from NCIS because I know them, and they could very well be numbered, but there's like three #1 rules, and the rest are really quite arbitrary in their numbering. Here goes nothing.
Rule #1: Use my debit card whenever possible and especially on groceries. This keeps me from buying frivolously because I know the state of my checking account, so I really can't stock up on things I already have (which are usually big ticket items) and it also encourages me to not buy that nice piece of meat or fish, but use what's already in the freezer or fridge. Or get creative.
Rule #1: Do not go out with work friends when they take day trips unless I leave my wallet at the office. This will also reduce frivolous spending because I tend to buy things I don't need, convince myself that I need something that I don't really, all while these thoughts are co-signed by my well-intentioned co-worker friends.
Rule #1: When I go errand running with Frank, make sure I follow him around and I don't wander off on my own or the errors of the other two #1's occur. Repeatedly.
Other rules: #2: no rewards until my credit card is paid off. By some loose math work, that will take two pay periods, roughly accounting for next month's bills (rule #5, pay bills that are consistent at the beginning of the month, whether the bill came in the mail or not). #3: Track savings account to make sure it isn't being touched or affected, and to cement in my brain that savings are for saving, and not for transferring to checking to help cover bills (see rule #4). Rule #4: Once money is deposited into savings, the account will be treated like a certificate of deposit where something horrendous happens and I'm penalized for transferring the money out. Rule #6: If I transfer money out of savings and into checking, the reward schedule will be delayed one pay period (2 weeks).
The reward schedule is jam packed with awesomeness. I'm very much looking forward to this spring. It begins the week of 4/16, because that is the week after the bill should be paid in full.
Here's the schedule. Feel free to use it as a template to assist in your own saving adventures. Enjoy!
week of 4/16: steve aoki show (food, gas, etc.)
week of 4/23: frames for home photos
week of 4/30: flowers for the house
check savings account balance.
week of 5/7: tricky tray fundraiser at st rose (tickets, food, etc.)
week of 5/14: mothers' day, SKRILLEX/INCUBUS WOOOOOOOO, and Ray and Frosty's wedding
week of 5/21: Jamba juice and flavored honey for tea that I spotted at whole foods
week of 5/28: get blue pumps fixed and search for gold flats?
check savings account balance.
week of 6/4: Elizabeth's 21st bday week WOOOOOOO
week of 6/11: food shopping at wegman's or whole foods
week of 6/18: nude pumps
week of 6/25: dinner out with special people
check savings account balance.
Now, keep in mind there are things that come before 4/16 that require monies. however, it will be minimal, and based on what my checking account looks like. rule #7: outings will be spent from the checking account (like dear Mau's bday card, etc.) to control costs, because I know if I charge it to discover, it will sit and rot for a while. Let's not add to the scratches on the card, shall we?
Anyway, it's going to be a big spring for many reasons. I need to get back to my saturday which consists of cleaning, laundry, fighting my headache, helping Frank, transferring photos (finally) onto the comp, and taking new pics of the blooming trees outside. I might check in later, I might not.
<3.