Getting glasses on the cheap

Paying for school is really hard. A lot harder than I imagined. I refer to it as robbing Peter to pay Paul when that's not really true. I am able to pay all of my bills and school but it feels like I'm doing a juggling act to keep everything together.

Obviously there are some places that I can cut back on. I've already switched to a lower priced cable plan and I'm looking for a cheaper cell phone plan. I also cut out some of my food expenses by not going out to eat as much. But there are some things that I'm not willing to cut back on. My eyeglasses and eye care in general is one of those things. Your eyesight is very important so I don't skimp on it's care.

I am glad that I found ZenniOptical.com which sells eyeglasses for as low as $8.00 per pair. They have a huge selection of frames and things like tint, bifocal lenses and progressive lenses to chose from. They sell directly to the customer so there is no middle man taking a cut. They also keep their advertising budget very low which helps keep their prices to customers low.

With the economy the way it is, I'm cutting expenses wherever I can. But because I'm trying to cut back doesn't mean I have to sacrifice quality.

Arguing with my school

I just got a bill from my school. However my tuition for this semester has already been paid. Next semesters bill isn't even generated until the middle of November. When I called they said it was a mistake and it would be taken care of. I'll have to monitor this closely because I don't want them putting a hold on my account.

This is why I watch my school balance so closely.

I need a new pair of sneakers

I don't like to shop that much. Maybe it's because I'm trying to lose weight or maybe it's because I have a ton of clothes that I already don't wear. I don't want to add any more clothes to my closet to just sit there with tags on them. That's why I usually buy everything from the internet. I get clothes, sneakers, a ipod and a mp3 player. I also bought my laptop online and it was much cheaper than I could have gotten it in the store.

Now I need a new pair of sneakers. Mine are very worn and dirty looking. They also don't feel that good on my feet anymore. It looks like the front of one shoe is about to totally crack off. I don't even remotely know how I did that. I probably bumped my foot against something but I'm not sure. I'm looking all over the internet for the 2008 thanksgiving specials. I could care less about Christmas shopping, these purchases will be for me. The best part though is that since I'm shopping during the height of the seasonal rush, I'll reap the benefits of the shopping discounts.

I'm especially interested in eastbay coupons because that's where I always buy my sneakers. They have a large selection and the best prices on the shoes. Then when I add a coupon to my order, they are cheaper than going to a regular store.

I just don't know what color sneakers to get. I do know that they will be either all white or blue and white.

I didn't buy nearly enough comfort food

It's so cold outside today. This is the time of year I really like to have the warm and filling comfort food. I did buy some when I went to the grocery store last week but I didn't get nearly enough. I need more soup, oatmeal and snack crackers. I had a bowl of soup and all I kept thinking was that I needed some crackers with it.

I'll make a list for this weekend so I don't forget anything.

My skin is acting up

I have acne like a teenager. It's pretty annoying especially when you consider how old I am. I'm really too old for this. I plan on going to see a dermatologist. Someone like Dr. Martin Sands who specializes in researching cutting-edge technologies and then putting them into practice. He's not a fly-by night doctor either, he's been practicing since 1976.

Besides I would rather go to a real doctor and get looked at than buy some generic product from tv that may or may not work.

Entering local sweepstakes

I've been entering like crazy. I'm getting mad because I haven't won and the cost of stamps are killing me. I try to enter at least once or twice for each drawing but that's still more money than I want to spend.

I also just checked a second chance drawing by our state lottery. The same person won the top prize twice! I bet she owns a store or something and got the tickets free. I'm pretty sure she didn't buy that many instant tickets.

Then again I may just be jealous!

Hotel Condos in Panama

The economy is terrible not only here in the U.S. but around the globe. Interest rates on bonds and money market funds are non-existent while stocks are sinking like crazy. Of course it provides a wonderful buying opportunity but what if you're close to retirement? I'm not talking close like 5 years, I mean in the 10-15 year range. Just long enough that your money should still be in the market, but short enough that you really can't afford to lose money to these crazy fluctuations.

So what do you do now that your retirement nest egg is much smaller than you anticipated? Would you ever consider retiring overseas. The value of a dollar goes a lot further in other countries even though the dollar is extremely week right now. Retirees especially flock to Latin America. The cost of living is very low so you need cash but not as much.

Panama is one of the countries that's seeing a influx of these retirees. Right now a great place to buy is the Hotel Casco Antiguo which is a condo hotel in the Casco Antiguo region of Panama. Panama represents one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the world. Buying in now would make a great investment for a retirement home or a second vacation home. You can click to Register for an eBrochure Here. It will tell you more about the property as well as give you contact information for the property. You can also see the entire management team and see where their experience and expertise is.

Even if you've never considered retiring to Panama, you should check out the site. It just might change your mind.

I paid tuition today

Big whoop! It's not like I'm happy about that much money coming out of my account at one time. I don't get any financial aid and I'm not using student loans. It's a total out of pocket cost to me. I do break the payments into 3 installments but it's still a lot of money.

Oh well, at least the bill for the semester is paid.

Is buying jewelry considered investing in gold?

I love jewelry. I'm pretty hard on mine so I don't wear it very often. I've broken necklaces and bracelets like you wouldn't believe. I do have several rings that I've had over 15 years because I take extra special care of them.

With the economy in turmoil, a lot of people are turning to gold, silver and other precious metals. Now I'm wondering if my gold jewelry represents more of an investment than I thought. I would love to go to holsted jewelry and buy a nice piece of gold. They have jewelry "wardrobes" meaning I can get the bracelet, necklace and earrings from the same place for a great price.

Hmmm, I wonder if I can justify buying a new pair of earrings. Hey, gold is a good investment right now.

Not having access to my email stinks

Here at work I can't access my email. It stinks because yesterday I had a bunch of emails from my professor that I didn't get. I got to class and received an assignment that I could have gotten done during my lunch if I had it the information in advance.

I realize that some people take advantage but geesh.

Do pets equal happiness?

Most people would say yes. Especially those people who are cat or dog lovers. There are stores like Happiness is Pets that caters to those people. They specialize in matching the perfect puppy with the perfect family. They even have a in house play area where you can interact with the puppy before you take it home. You can also buy all of your pet accessories and grooming supplies there while you're picking up your new pet.

Check them out when you're looking for your perfect furry friend.

I think my cousin lied

He claims he's getting this settlement. Everyone in the family is falling all over him because they want a piece of the pie. Of course if he asks someone to do something, they do it thinking of the reward that they're going to get.

I don't think he's actually getting anything. I think he's playing on their greed. They're all getting played! As long as he doesn't call me and ask for anything I'm not worried about it. I can pay my own way, tyvm!

Is lapband a sound investment?

Although the stock market is in the tank, there are still sound investments out there. Bonds and cds are good investments to make right now. There are cds paying over 5% if you know where to look. But what about surgery? If you look into a program of weight loss woodlands, it's an investment in your health. Losing weight now can prevent health problems in the future. On the other hand you can also use diet and exercise. But what about people that are morbidly obese? Do you think this is a good option for them?

What about you? Would you pay for lapband surgery if your insurance wouldn't cover it?

My job is pretty safe for now

I work in banking. With all of the turmoil in both the banking industry and the financial industry in general, everyone is asking about my job. I work in wealth management. I'm working with people with a whole lot of money. Right now I'm really not worried. However I am trying to figure out a way to start paying down more debt.

Paying for school until March of next year is making it more difficult though.