About Me

Denise T.

Denise is a freelance journalist and crafter who dreams of starting her own business-- a hometown Tiki bar. She is a former New Orleans Bourbon Street bartender.

The challenge: I can't use my primary income to fund the tiki bar. I can only use money I earn in other ways. Part of the challenge will be to develop new, creative revenue sources. It's like a pumped-up,long-term $20 challenge.

***2008 Tiki Fund goal: $1,500***
$990.56 in fund, $509.44 to go

***Monthly Tiki Fund Total***

June: $2.21
$2.21 interest on tiki saving act.
: (

May 2008: $98.70
$9.00 Web sales
$87.61 Google Adsense
$2.09 Tiki savings interest

For a full breakdown of Tiki fund money, visit my $20 challenge page.

***Personal Savings Goals for 2008***
$5,000 into my IRA
$2,000 into hubby's Roth IRA
$2,000 into 529 plan
$6,000 into savings account
$3,600 into brokerage account
$650 into new car fund
Total: $19,250

***Progress Report***
$4,199 in my IRA, $801 to go
$1459 to Roth, $541 to go
$1100 to 529 plan, $900 to go
$5200 to savings, $800 to go
$1995 to brokerage, $1605 to go
$357.25 in car fund, $292.75 to go
Total: $14,310

***
Debt to pay off:
Student Loan: $14,841.42
(Down from $40,000 in 2001)

***
No Drive Days (where me AND the hubby don't drive! Since May 15):2

New car fund balance: $285
For a Hybrid Honda Fit!!

***
All of these goals will be a little harder to reach this year because I am now a self-employed journalist and the hubby and I had our first baby in April. Last year, I was a staff reporter at a major metro newspaper so saving was easy.

We have always lived on one salary only. But we aren't quite sure how a new baby is going to affect our finances.

***The Big Picture***
Me 33, Hubby 35
-No credit card debt
-No car loan
-House paid off because we moved to a cheaper city

My Pages

$20 Tiki challenge

$30 to fill up- a Civic?

April 20th, 2008 at 02:30 pm

Wow. I'm not usually one to pay that much attention to gas prices. Hubby and I work from home a lot and live close to shopping, but even I had to take notice when it cost almost $30 to fill up my Honda Civic hatchback. The gas tank is barely 9 gallons!
I really don't know how folks with big commutes are doing it...

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “$30 to fill up- a Civic?”

Amber Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 02:44 pm

I don't know either my little camry cost me $51
NJDebbie Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 05:12 pm

Half a tank on my Suzuki= $30.00 ($3.23 a gallon)

Ouch!
Petunia Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 05:26 pm

Yup. It's about 3.50 a gallon here. The last time I filled the tank it cost about $40. I don't know how much it costs to fill DH's truck - full sized, with 2 tanks. I think he is hiding the receipts.
Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 05:46 pm

Last time I filled the Kia tank it cost $42 Price is up 20 cents since then.
Broken Arrow Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 06:09 pm

Yeah, things are really bad.... Now it costs me more than $30 just to fill a tank of gas as well.
dtjunkie Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 08:28 pm

I'm past complaining about this already. Something has got to give, people are at their breaking point.
dickyvman Says:
April 21st, 2008 at 05:34 am

I don't think people are at their breaking point yet. I think once gas hits $5 then it will be a breaking point.
sagegirl Says:
April 21st, 2008 at 07:55 am

I agree DickyV-I went to fill up my old junker (1993 Chrysler) and there are never fewer than 3 GIANT SUVs filling up beside me. I have pulled up to the pump before to see that the person before me put in $70 worth of gas. We live in the burbs and there are tons of people who drive these huge SUVs and I can't imagine footing that bill every week. I think it will take paying $5 per gallon for some of my neighbors to consider it their breaking point. Personally, I am at my breaking point ($3.45 per gallon with a 16 gal tank is $55.20). But I don't think everyone else is.
Sunshine Suz Says:
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

I have a 1999 Chevy Cavilier. I have 3 acres and a small Sears riding lawn mower. It now costs me more to mow my yard than it used to cost to fill up my car.

That JUST AIN'T RIGHT!!!! :

Thrift-o-rama and the quest for a Tiki Bar

One girl's quest to shore up her personal finances and save for her own business

$30 to fill up- a Civic?

9 Responses to “$30 to fill up- a Civic?”

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