[Super Duper Fantastic] ISFP/INFP. 4w5. World Explorer. Super Hero. Rose-colored Glasses.

If you haven’t heard of Kiva by now, click the link or on the button in the side bar to check it out!

Basically, Kiva is an online micro-lending site, which connects people through lending in an effort to eliminate worldwide poverty. For just $25, you can help fund a loan, and in the given time frame, it is paid back to you. You can choose to either cash out or just take that money and put it into another loan. When deciding who to help with your hard-earned $$, you can sort by country and what they’re using the money for.

I have been a Kiva lender for the last two years. In that time, I’ve helped to fund 22 loans in 14 different countries and turned $125 into $575!

It’s not a huge commitment if you don’t want it to be. It was an investment I made two years ago that is still making an impact today. Whenever my balances reaches $25, I look for another entrepreneur to lend to. While the loans are not tax-deductible, and you don’t get any interest back, keeping money in the Kiva system is about enabling others.

Yeah, it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. If you’re a Kiva lender, link me to your profile! I’d love to see who you’ve been helping out.

I think that when it comes to finances, I’ve been pretty lucky. I haven’t acquired much debt over the years, and I can manage all the big bills that I do have now. I really owe it all to my parents who have always taught me the importance of saving and to be a bit more cautious when it comes to spending.

I am still awed by the fact that when we were growing up, their two incomes combined to support a family of four + grandparents + other extended family who happened to move in too would equal about what I make now as a single person supporting herself. They worked overtime and had other part-time employment to keep all bills paid and everyone fed. Amazing, and thankfully we were good kids, and we knew not to ask for a whole lot.

Here are my Schwab MoneyWise Financial Fitness Quiz results:

Not too shabby, right? I lost some points because I am not as organized as I should be [in general], and I haven’t created a will. I think what also gets me are unexpected expenses each month, like an oil change or a clogged sink. I need to bulk up even more for my emergency fund!

Admittedly, I’ve let the purse strings go a little these days because I’m a social kind of person, and some of the socializing I do involves spending… :/ It never gets outrageously out of hand though.

For the most part, I am comfortable enough with my friends to tell them when I’d rather not spend the extra money, and we end up doing other fun, cool, AND free things in the city [and there are many!]. Being able to talk about $$ with the friends you spend the most time with is a blessing. I can say “NO,” knowing that there’s no judgment or embarrassment.

Some other random thoughts on money:

1) Eyes on the prize – I am absolutely obsessed with account balances! I use a spreadsheet to track some of my regular bills and to make sure I have enough cash in the accounts that I use to pay them. I also use tools to aggregate the information from the various financial sites, so I can see my $$ all on one page. It’s the big picture that motivates less spending and more saving!

1.5) Budget - This goes along with #1, so I’ve dubbed it 1.5. I’ve created a budget of sorts, but it remains rather flexible. Some months, I spend more than other months, but all within a balanced amount. I make sure not to spend more than I make.

2) Interest - Here’s how I see it. It’s money you’re giving away, except it isn’t a charitable organization that you can hope to write-off if you itemize, and it certainly doesn’t give you the right kind of warm, tingly feeling inside. So try to pay balances off that have the highest rate, and keep more of this money yourself.

3) When it comes to buying THINGS, I definitely use the Price per Use Ratio. I ask myself if I actually will use something that I’m wanting. I also like Linda’s price to opportunity ratio, except sometimes that gets me to spend. It’s like, if not now, then when?!

My money habits aren’t in tip-top shape, but I am fairly comfortable with where I’m at right now. Just gotta keep chuggin’ along and keep track of where all the $ is/isn’t going!

Disclaimer: This random money-related post is part of the 20SB Blog Carnival: Friends & Money, sponsored by Charles Schwab. Prizes may be awarded to selected posts. The information and opinions expressed in this post do not reflect the views or opinions of Charles Schwab. Details on the event, eligibility, and a complete list of participating bloggers can be found here.

1) Supplemental Property Tax – This came in the mail a few days ago. With the updated assessment of the property value, it means more $$$ goes to the city. Not only is there a regular property tax bill that I am paying through the bank’s escrow account [all my interest are belong to them], I now have another $1,500+ to tack on.

2) Old Plumbing – Our sink and shower in the 50-year-old bathroom have clogged up to the point of no return. For awhile, the water would still drain out given enough time. With four of us living under one roof at the moment, it’s a little too much for this old plumbing to handle. Yes, four people – one bathroom. Thankfully, it’s temporary. We’ve called in a plumber for a quote on the sink first. It’s in far worse condition than the shower. Hopefully it isn’t too terrible, but regardless of the cost, it still has to be fixed.

Update: $225 later, the sink is unclogged. WOO~!

Oh, the joys of owning a home [aka "why I should be saving every penny and not going out" or "why I need my job to become permanent already"]!

I love brunch.

Ever since the layoff of 2009, however, I’ve not made as many brunch plans as I had in the past. Weekends that were once reserved for brunch, bottomless beverages, and afternoon people-watching and lounging in the park were replaced with other plans.

Today, we traipsed across the bay to hang out with a group of friends and enjoy the view at The Terrace Room.

It was absolutely lovely, especially because we saved some big $$ by using a Restaurant.com certificate. That site is amazing – we basically paid for $50 worth of food with about $4 [80% off!]. There are restrictions, of course, so if you do use the certificates, you have to read the fine print. For The Terrace Room, we had to get the group to spend $100+.

That was easy, considering there were ten of us and bottomless mimosas, bellinis [a raspberry version], Bloody Mary’s, AND Bloody Caesars. Delicious times!

I definitely love brunch.

I’m terrible. When I tell RV that we’re going to have to start watching our spending, I really mean that I have to watch my spending. My latest purchase is this BCBG top from HauteLook, a site with limited-time, online sale events [up to 75% off retail].

It is hard to resist a deal when I see one. Instead of the 55% off retail posted on the site, I received a $10 off code in my email, so it was really about 68% off.

I plan on wearing it to work, so it’ll definitely get its price/use ratio down to a ridiculous decimal point. Yes, I calculate these ratios to justify my spending! Does anyone else do this to justify their spending? I am on a slew of these mailing lists that are similar to HauteLook, but so far it seems to be the one most reasonably priced. I mean, sure, your designer is 75% off, but it’s still $300+! Some of us just can’t spend that much…

When I look at my closet, there are some that I clearly have worn their worth [and should probably get rid of at some point], but there are still others that I’ve worn only once or twice… I need to work on reducing that price/use ratio!

I am definitely stressing out about $$ these days. My bills are still at a manageable level, but I would definitely be more comfortable if all expenses related to working on the house and getting settled in would just disappear already.

Anyway, I cannot resist a deal when I see one. That will definitely get me into trouble sooner than later. For now, it has me signed up with Burn SF, a fitness class that mixes Pilates and a bunch of cardio exercises. They usually offer an introductory month of unlimited classes for $100. I signed up for $75. So far, I’ve attended three classes in the last five days, and I am looking forward to signing up for more to make the most out of this. Whether or not I’ll continue after the thirty days has not yet been decided. It’s a 55-minute workout that gets the heart pumping, arms/legs aching, and yes, there’s sweat dripping down. I am not a fan of burpies, and they have you doing a ton of those. It reminds me too much of the workouts we did at crew practice. Everything else is great though. I feel fabulously exhausted after each session, and the following day, it hurts to do just about anything – sit, go down stairs, laugh…

It’s all worth it, even if I’m not super diligent. I’m not one to overexert myself [knees, neck, and wrists included]. My body reacts rather quickly to exercise, so I’m feeling the burn and loving the results. No more soft and squishy parts where muscles should be! Plus, such classes are pretty much the only way to get me moving consistently. At least for thirty days…

When it comes to purchasing a major appliance, I had no idea. Most people are on that very same page until they make their first purchase.

Even still, major appliances are supposed to last long enough, such that in your lifetime, you really only have to buy a few, if any at all. So noone ever really becomes an expert in buying these appliances. Fortunately, we have the internet. We can browse ahead of time, look up how to find the suitable appliance with a given price range. RV and I like walking into the store too, so that we can see AND feel the appliance. Whether we end up buying it in-store or just making a purchase online, we’re as informed as we can be. There are no surprises on the surface. Everything else, you can’t prevent. Ultimately, the appliance we end up getting may or may not be PERFECT, but we’ve come as far as we can.

Here are some tips that’ll help get you end up with a pretty good deal [with examples from our washing machine shopping experience last night]:

1) Competitive pricing – Keep your web-enabled phones handy. Even though the washer that we were eyeing was no longer in stock [let me rephrase - THANK GOODNESS it was not in stock], we ended up with a pretty good deal on a better washer because a competitor had the same one at a significantly lower price. Combined with rebates and no delivery fee, SCORE.

2) Free delivery – Some stores charge an arm and a leg to deliver major appliances. If you’ve got the lowest competitive price, pick the store with the free delivery! No matter how strong you think you and your friends are, you’d rather have the store do all the grunt work. For anyone who has ever moved before, if carrying a couch or mattress is a pain in the rear end, imagine that very heavy stove or fridge! Yeah, no thanks. If you have a broken appliance that you’re replacing, some places will even haul them away for free. SCORE.

3) Rebates – Energy efficient appliances are pulling in the $ for us too. The washer we were originally looking at did not qualify for the rebate. Thankfully, the salesperson told us. SCORE.

4) Warranties – In terms of determining which appliance is worth a look at, check the amount of warranties that comes with the appliance. Usually, a longer warranty included in the price indicates that the company is willing to back up its product. Good sign. The washer we originally wanted only had a one year warranty. The washer we ended up with had a much longer one. PLUS, our sales person threw in an extra few years because we were an “easy sale.” SCORE.

With all those working out for us [taxes/rebates included], we ended up spending $50 less than what we would have paid for the SMALLER basic washer we were originally looking at. Online, the lowest price listed is ~$628. After everything, it will be less than $450.

With the extra savings, I ended up splurging on the sink of my choice. *happy dance*

This is the living room that made me fall in love with this house. Seriously, the large sunny window and spacious living area [which is now FULL of stuff] made this house one to remember on my house hunting spree.

Tonight’s the first REAL night in the new house. We have stopped in every day to move stuff in, tear things out, or put stuff up. It’s an amazing learning experience – I found out that you can use a Lowes coupon at Home Depot and vice versa. SUPER USEFUL, considering we’ve made more trips to Home Depot and Lowes than I’ve ever made, and honestly, I’m sick of it.

We got an amazing deal on back splash tile, and we’re going to pick up some nice discounted floor tiles soon too. While I wanted to go for the bamboo floors, it was more than three times the price. This isn’t my dream home, so I don’t need to spend outrageous amounts on the floor. On my off day [thankfully granted by my supportive company], when I should be relaxing at home, I’ll be wading through cabinet styles and granite countertops while waiting for updates on potential appointments at the oral surgeon’s office. Surprisingly, the work we’re getting done will cost significantly less than originally estimated. We tell people we’re on a budget, but basically, the lowest possible $ amount is our budget.

All of RV’s stuff has been moved in. He’s got a lot, and we need to organize and throw stuff out. Mine will be slowly trickling in over the next few weeks. It’s funny how you can fill up an entire house with just a bedroom and a studio apartment as the starting point. MUST minimize! Even though the house is right off the freeway, the sounds are constant enough not to be noticed once asleep. It’s barely noticeable when you’re in the living room at the front of the house, and the doors to the bedrooms are shut.

Enjoying it so far. I’ll love it more when I’m all moved in, and everything is orderly and in its proper place. I’ll love it more when friends come over and celebrate!

Inspired by a friend’s 2009 recap post, I looked at my calendar and previous blog posts to jog the memory. I was going to include photos to spruce the entry up a bit, but nah, you’ll just have to read through all this blah-blah-blah to find out the news I’ve been withholding… Please ignore the fact that I switch from present to past to present and back again…

January
We rang in the new year with a party at RV’s and then a party at our friend Matt’s place. It was the start of another “busy season” at work, and I would be racking up the hours. Keane and I decide to get a family plan together, so we purchase our iPhones. I also decide to refurnish my room with a loft bed, so that I’d have more space. Months later, it just gave me more room to expand my mess. :p I also flew a kite for the first time after many attempts in the month.

February
Even though it was the shortest month, it was filled with a lot of activities. I attended three Yelp-sponsored events: Burn the Floor, Tru Spa, Project One. RV and I celebrated Valentine’s at the Top of the Mark, and I was inspired by the wetness outside to purchase rain boots. I didn’t receive them until the following month, but I have no idea where they are NOW. My room is a black hole.

March
Sunny days began, so I took advantage of weekends when I could. It was still “busy season” at work, and while it was busy now, we knew it wouldn’t last. I started talking to recruiters in March to explore possible opportunities for someone with my experience. I didn’t seriously start my search though until April after the lay-off.

April
Mid-April seems to be the turning point of 2009 for me. I was laid off from a job that I had gone into right out of school. For four years and nine months, that was really all I knew. So I continue talking to recruiters and started looking online for both jobs and a new apartment for RV. His lease would be up in June. We head down to LA for a weekend for an “alter ego” birthday party, as well as Korean taco truck chasing and the Death Museum.

May
RV signed a new apartment lease, and we began moving his stuff over. It’s much smaller, but the location is nicer, and he’s living alone. It’s more convenient for the two of us in that sense, and since it’s centrally located, we can hang out with friends more easily. During the month, I interview with various companies, and it’s a frustrating process. It seems that the companies look to hire someone with a little less or a little more experience than me, but never the right amount. When Keane mentions wanting to take a quick trip to Fort Bragg and Fort Ross [both places neither of us have visited], I jump on it. It turns into an amazing weekend.

June
Still unemployed. By this time, my severance has run out. To keep my head above water, I kept my calendar full. I planned RV’s surprise party, which thanks to friends, was a success. He was definitely scared – hah. I also put together a birthday party at a local wine bar. Later in the month, we took a weekend trip up to Fort Bragg where we went crabbing and fishing. This was sort of where his obsession with fishing started…

July
I helped plan a benefit for the SF Food Bank called Pig Eat Fest, and it is successful! Meanwhile, I’ve been going to my orthodontist and dentist regularly. My teeth are ready for scheduling surgery, but the hospital isn’t ready to schedule anything for me. Figuring out COBRA puts my head in knots, but I finally figure it out. RV and I decide to go to Burning Man this year, but we want to take RV’s dad’s RV. To do so, I join him on a road trip to Oregon in this RV, and it turns out to be a very frustrating week. RV’s father is not an easy man to coexist with. Somehow, I survive the week…

August
We began preparing for Burning Man. I also learned about the All You Can Jet in August, and because it’s a difficult offer to resist, I buy a pass. Of course, the month couldn’t end without a hitch, so I find out that my house in Portland has caught on fire. Luckily, the damages aren’t too bad, but still, I have to deal with an incompetent insurance agent and all that fun stuff.

September
Burning Man! It’s awesome and fun, and I want to go next year. Of course, right before the week, I’m called in for a last-minute interview. It went well, so I had follow-up interviews… All this went down while I’m getting ready for Burning Man, and as I head out for the first stretch of my All You Can Jet travel. I end up only going to one place because I’m offered a position with the company. It’s on a temp-to-perm contract. Meanwhile, my surgery was scheduled for early October, so I go to my surgery pre-op. I then find out that someone messed up, and my surgery has to be moved due to scheduling conflicts. Not happy.

October
Birthday month! I’m at the new job, getting used to it all. I attended a Kylie Minogue concert because a friend had extra tickets; we were in the very last row, which worked out because we ended up dancing the whole time anyway. As usual, I am frustrated with the oral surgeon’s office. I’m given a December date, which is fine, but they decide to try for a November surgery date, only to find out later that it won’t be possible either. So back to December! We spent Halloween resting up because I over partied the night before. Oops. It’s also in this month that a former coworker of mine asks for a place to stay. Since I live at home with my parents, I ask a friend from high school who agrees… Little did we know, getting her out would be an ordeal.

November
I spent Thanksgiving at RV’s mom’s. Fun parties all month long led up to it, including a Festizishow and a post-Thanksgiving meal with friends. CPA exam on the last day of the month, which I didn’t pass [Found out today - Ugh]. Plus, I started volunteering at the SPCA. The year has not been an easy one, but I am ever so thankful for all that I’ve got.

December
Unusually cold temperatures, so we’re all keeping warm. I’m a fan of the holiday parties with warm and tasty alcoholic beverages. I decide to ask for advice on the blog regarding the former coworker who won’t get her shit together and move out of my friend’s place. I passed the responses on to him, and I think she’s finally out of his place!

As for other news, I’m in the process of closing on a house that I bid on earlier in the month. There was little mention of it before because I didn’t want to jinx it. You heard it here first. I’m buying a house! There’s so much involved though – financial documents, insurance, appraisals, blah blah blah!

I also have surgery coming up in a week and a half. During the early Christmas party at RV’s mom’s place, she gifted me with a care package of Ensure and bendy straws. LOL.

Fingers are crossed that this will ALL go down smoothly. It looks like I’m going into 2010 head first. Or perhaps face first. Hopefully, I will have a new house AND a job that I can call permanent to go with it. This temporary status just isn’t enough!

I have been on the prowl lately.

There’s a house that’s caught my eye. It’s in a neighborhood not too far from the one I live in now, which for many people who want to live in San Francisco is a little out there. But I’m okay with that. If I want to afford a single family house in San Francisco, there will be sacrifices made on location, size, newness, etc. I’m currently working on getting pre-approved for a loan, and based on certain circumstances, bidding on the house will actually take place in court on some date still to be determined.

I will likely not get the winning bid, considering that it’s definitely of move-in condition and is starting out under $500K. For SF, that’s amazing for not being in a particularly bad neighborhood. I am hopeful, however, that I will find something eventually. I’m not in a rush, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look around.