Budgeting

can you pay my telephone bills / can you pay my automo'bills / then maybe we can chill / In an effort to cut down costs on EVERYTHING so I can save up for the Elle Street lofts in downtown, I've been keeping a careful eye on my bank account. But writing everything down is such a bitch.

Interesting charges to my bank account

My last three transactions in my checking account made me laugh a little this morning. I ran my debit card at Forever 21 (Halloween costume purchase) for $55.55. The second transaction was at Fuzio (short happy hour but long conversations with a friend) for $18.49. Lastly, the third transaction at Mongolian BBQ (dinner with a friend from high school) for the same as Fuzio, $18.49! WOW! Okay, so it's only three transaction that made me look twice. Made my morning after my hellish, tearful Thursday.

Car Shopping, the experience.

After my parents constant urging for me to get off my lazy butt, Philliam and I went to CarMax to do some research on what kind of car I should get. My parents were opposed to my CarMax visit, but I figured, since I want to start paying for my own car, then I should get a used one to help ME out. Parents... they are so bizarre. I did find some that I like, but they are way out of my price range and “need.’ This was at the Roseville CarMax, you know, just in case you have a good soul and decide to purchase something nice for me. Remember, I did have a terrible day yesterday. Well, I'm still feeling rather shitty today. =(

Those aren't the cars that I'm planning on getting, but WOW, right? I do want that Porsche Ceyenne someday. I even saw the 2007 Shelby that's posted on the CarMax website. Gorgeous, ain't she? Because CarMax had sold a lot of their cars that day, there wasn't much to look at when Philliam and I went there during the evening. I was hoping for some hybrid cars or any car that's good on gas. But I really want to hold on to my current broken car or buy the new model... urgh. After our car snooping, we were hungry little monkeys. We decided to visit his friend who owns a Thai restaurant in the area, but the problem was, he doesn't have her number in his new phone so trying to figure how the name, location, etc. was like finding a needle in the haystack. We even checked her facebook account to see if she posted her phone number on there, but all she had listed was her old disconnected number. So after an hour of searching and wasting gas, we decided to hit up downtown. It was a great idea because we had good 'ol soul food at Sandra Dee's and I saw a huge group of UCD students. It was nice. =) I took some pictures of the back side of a mechanics shop. I love downtown. I'm so glad I work in downtown. I'm still thinking about whether or not I should go to grad school in LA or stay in Sac. That's a topic for next time.

Who would have thought car shopping online would also be so boring, tiring, lame, makes-me-hungry, etc.?? That last picture is of me pretending to get into a car that I want. Can anyone figure out what kind of car that is? Since being back from my vacation, I have a lot of summer reading to catch up on. Someone signed me up for magazine subscriptions 3 months ago and I've been receiving them in bulk. I'd hate for the magazines to go to waste so I plan on reading them along with books that I purchased last year that I have yet to read. I can't wait when session slows down in 2 weeks! That means leisurely reading time. =)

No ride to call my own.

Ever since I’ve been back from my month long vacation, I’ve been having the hardest time getting around town. My car broke down in early June, right after I had completed my last final at school. It’s amazing how my car knew just when to croak! My car had always given me problems in the past and so much repairs/money has been put into it that I no longer have the patience to take my car to the repair shop again. I mean, why put more money and time into the car only to have it break down again and again further down the road?

There are a couple of problems that I am faced with: letting go of the old and getting a new replacement vehicle. I can’t seem to give up on my car. I’ve loved it since the day I got it back in 2006 from a private party (wrong mistake, I’ve learned my lesson) and I can’t seem to give it up for a new car (new and certified used vehicles from now on). I feel as if I am not yet worthy of getting a new car yet until I am able to afford one on my own. When my car was running, I told myself that once we were out of this economic depression and unemployment lows, I will get a nice, new vehicle to my liking. I always knew my car would die soon, but not that soon!

Considering my past problems with that car, it’s not smart to repair it (unless I want more problems haunting me). It’s now onto looking for a new vehicle. And this is where I’m stuck. I am so lazy about this. I am also stubborn about this. I don’t want any other car but the current broken one that I have. How is that supposed to help me out? I can’t seem to let it go. That’s the only car that I want. The only car that I feel is right for me. It may be the only car that I’ll ever love despite it’s jacked up transmission, dings on the doors, scratches from hoodlums, and it’s missing spare tire cover. So there’s my predicament.

I don’t feel like I should get a totally great car seeing that I will be depressed afterwards due to my low worthiness (I have a lot of issues with myself that needs to be fixed, huh?). So what kind of car should I get? Honestly, it should be a car that can take me from point A to point B. That narrows it. *rolls eyes* It should be nothing too fancy and it should be car that I won’t feel bad about giving up to my siblings later when I land a better job or get promoted in a few years. It should also be a car that no one will be jealous of because I'm not that great to be jealous of. Yes, you read that right. XD

I cannot believe how difficult it is just to shop around for a car. I don’t know which make, model, engine type, color, year, specifications, etc. that I want. Should I get a checklist for this project? I just can’t find one that fits my needs. Well, actually, if it were this 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 I wouldn’t hesitate to mumble an excited YES!

lacking some updates

School has stripped me of all my time and money. In two weeks, I have finals and I still owe another few grand to the UC system for this upcoming Spring 2009 Quarter. School has gotten too expensive. My cousin's new girlfriend told me that when she attended the same school 4 years ago, the tuition was $1,500 full time. It's currently now $2,990 full time. Grants and FA are helping just a little. I'm talking about this because the state can no longer assist UC, CSU, and CCC financially. All is not well in the state of California (I guess you can say that about anywhere). There are a few things I have in mind to blog about but that'll be for later since I have papers and finals in two weeks that I need to prepare for. I hope that all is well in the blogging world!

Scary Business

Darrell Steinberg is on CNN right now defending his choices and suggestions on how he rules over the Legislature. California has always had problems with finding the right people with the right kind of leadership. Our buget deficit is scary business. I'm more worried about education right now. Last year, the government pays 70% of our tuition while we paid the 30%. If there's no money left for us, that 70% could go lower forcing students to shell out more. Scary thought during this time.

Lehman Brothers Crisis

Richard Fuld, you are a prick! Can you honestly bs your way out of this in front of the house of committee?? for christ sakes!!! you deserve that nickname, Dick. i'm fuming with anger! >_< *there was a picture of him here, but i took it down* this is unbelievable... is anyone else watching him testify in front of the house of committee? Can you believe how he spends his money? He makes Doolittle look like a saint. >=( **Edit I'm starting to feel bad for for Dick... The the House oversight and gov't reform committee are really brutal in asking him questions and reminding him that he's testifying under oath. Why must I feel bad for criminals?? ok.. criminals is a bit harsh of a word to use. I'll call him by his real name, Dick. Goodness, they sure are grilling him!