About Me

Denise

I'm a freelance journalist and crafter who dreams of starting my own business-- a hometown Tiki bar. I am 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**
$1107.31 in fund, $392.69 to go

***Monthly Tiki Fund Total***

Sept: $0
Misc. writing
Saving act. interest
lottery tix

August: $74.17
$5.03 Web sales
$37.50 eBay profit
$24 Google Adsense
$5 festival prize
$2.64 saving acct. 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***
$5,000 in my IRA. GOAL MET!
$2107 to Roth, GOAL MET!
$1500 to 529 plan, $500 to go
$5343 to savings, $657 to go
$2355 to brokerage, $1245 to go
$463.17 in car fund, $186.83 to go
Total: $16,768

***
Debt to pay off:
Student Loan: $14,348.68
(Down from $40,000 in 2001)
By the end of the year, I'd like to pay an extra $1,000 on top of my normal payments.
***
Mexico Vacation Goal: $6,000 by Feb, 2009
Fund total: $3,872.53
***
All of these goals will be a little harder to reach this year because I am now self-employed and the hubby and I had our first baby in April.

We have always lived on one salary only. But we aren't quite sure how a new baby and giving up my full-time job are 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

$400 roller skates

July 3rd, 2008 at 09:02 pm

Yes, I own a pair of $400 roller skates. Did I mention that I play roller derby with the Ohio Roller Girls? Hence, the skates.

I'm normally pretty frugal with the cash. Sure, we buy what we want. The trick is we don't want much.

I was thinking about the skates today, because I really haven't used them as much as I would have liked. I played one game in them, then got pregnant and couldn't play anymore. I have skated maybe 30 or so speed skating practices in them. I just found out today that our league is restructuring and in such a way that a player like me, who has been on maternity leave for 10 months, will have a hard time getting any playing time on game day. My heart is a bit broken.

And, of course, I want to get my money's worth on those skates.

So what do I do? Do I stick it out, go to practices, etc. and risk not getting to play? Or do I leave the league?

I just don't know.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “$400 roller skates”

JanH Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 09:26 pm

Would you enjoy the practices as a way of staying in shape and getting exercise? I used to enjoy practicing tennis a whole lot more than games. Go figure.
klbb90 Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 05:19 am

Stay for the practices as long as no one hassles you in a major way. Have fun, fun, fun!
aevans1206 Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 07:19 am

I would agree that staying with exercise that you love, especially having a baby, is important. It's not a bad idea to keep them and just practice.
compulsive debtor Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 08:09 am

I say keep the skates and keep up the practices just to see what happens.
compulsive debtor Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 08:15 am

And now I have to ask you what your roller derby nickname is.....
compulsive debtor Says:
July 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

That's funny....

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

$400 roller skates

6 Responses to “$400 roller skates”

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