Bummed

I am bummed today. I was supposed to be going to New Orleans this weekend with a friend of mine from the same town and meeting two other friends down there. Well today, I text messaged my friend in town and asked her to call me after 5 so that we can discuss weekend plans. I get a text message back that she can no longer go because her baby has been sick all week, causing her to miss work, and now she doesn't have the money. While I am sympathetic to the fact that she has a sick baby, I am now the one out of a lot of money. I was the one that purchased our tickets, which she was supposed to pay me back on the way down, I am now the one that has to drive to New Orleans not only by myself, but fork over the gas money, hotel money and her ticket money. After mentioned all this to her all she can say is "Sorry." She didn't even offer to pay a cent. What bothers me the most is that she didn't even call to let me know that she couldn't make it so that I could sell her concert ticket, find another friend to go with me or at least allow me time to save more money. We are talking two days before leaving and I am just now finding out. I am not quite sure what I am going to do about the whole situation. I don't want to have a miserable time because I haven't saved enough money, but I don't want to spend more than I budgeted for either and put myself in debt. I am very upset right now.

Wednesday Night

Another night out with the girls and another $20 spent. I know that I cannot keep doing this forever, but right now it is so much fun and exactly what I need.

I also went to the grocery store and spent $36.09. Hopefully I have enough groceries for lunch and dinner to last until next Wednesday.

Free Jewelry

I didn't have the turn out that I expected last night. I don't know whether people just don't have the money to spend on jewelry so would rather not attend and therefore not feel obligated to buy or whether it just wasn't a good night or whether my friends just really aren't good friends after all. I am hoping it was one of the first two and not the last. However, out of the 5 girls that I did have show up, they really spent the dough. I ended up having $760 of jewelry purchased; thus, giving me $380 in FREE JEWELRY.

That is where the sales pitch comes in because it wasn't exactly free. I had to pay taxes and shipping. The shipping wouldn't have been so bad, but the taxes on $380 are a bit steep. All in all, I spent $93.60. This money is definitely coming out of next month's shopping budget as I have depleted all of this month's budget. So, I put it on a credit card. OUCH... At least I will get rewards from my credit card and can pay it back before interest kicks in.

On the bright side, I got 17 pieces of jewelry for $93.60. I am excited to add this jewelry to my wardrobe as I hardly have any jewelry at all.

Jewerly Party

The time has come for me to host my very first jewelry party. And I must say, it isn't even over with and I will NEVER do one again. Not only is it costing me money - $30.00 in food and drinks for the guest, but a lot of time and energy making sure that there is a good turnout for the party. It is exhausting calling everyone to make sure that they remember that the party is tonight and that they have directions to my house. Don't get me wrong, I am glad to help a friend out who is starting a new side business. However, I feel that I have now done my duty and don't think that I will venture to do it again. This just isn't my thing.

So, I am crossing my fingers and hoping that my friends come to the party and buy jewelry. If I can get at least 12-15 girls to come, I will be happy.

Bachelorette Party Spending

I am sure all of you are dying to know if I was able to keep under my $150 spending budget for the bachelorette party. Let me preface my spending by saying that this does not include the spending for the Lingerie Shower (although that wasn't too bad). In fact, I ended up having plenty of help. The bride's sister sent $100 check to help, the bride's future sister-in-law brought two appetizers and the cake, and a friend of the bride brought alcohol for the weekend plus two appetizer. So split between my mother and I for the lingerie shower were - finger sandwiches, shrimp with cocktail sauce, dip with chips, cheese ball with Frito's, mints, punch and nuts. For about $45 a person. I spent the bride's sister's $100 on the decorations, plates, forks, cups, etc.

Now for the Bachelorette Party:
Hotel Room - $38
Dinner at Rendezvous - $30
Two lunches - $27.00
Gas - $25
Drinks (mostly bought by guys out on Beale Street) - $15.00

Total Spending - $135.

Lingerie Shower

The time has come for the Lingerie Shower/Bachelorette Party weekend. We are going to have so much fun, I can hardly stand it. But of course, nothing ever goes exactly as planned...

For instance, Wednesday night I had two different girls call and RSVP for the shower. And while that is wonderful for the bride, it is trouble for me. I only booked one hotel suite (three queen beds) for six girls, well with two more coming that is eight girls in ONE room. I tried to call and get another room, but apparently it is the start of Elvis week in Memphis and every room is taken. Where are these people's manners? Who lacked in the etiquette department about RSVPing? It wouldn't be so bad, except we ARE GOING OUT OF TOWN. Where did you think that you were going to sleep? Both girls said they wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor (which is exactly where they are going to be), but come on girls, we are 26+ years old. We all have jobs and can afford a room without splitting one room between 8, count them 8, girls. And sleeping on the floor is the only solution. So girls - bring your blankets and pillows because it is going to be a long night.

In better news, I have so much fun stuff for the weekend. I have bling rings (thanks Sallie's Niece for the great idea), I have white boas because we are all wearing black dresses, I have candy necklaces, I have glow in the dark bracelets, I have a game of "truth or dare", I have the bride a "suck for a buck" t-shirt, and a fabulous veil.

Also, this is exactly what I need after a very stressful, fun, relatively easy-going, first week of work. It has been hard to plan all of this, but it will be well-worth it if the bride has a great time. She is truly one of the most thoughtful, considerate, nice, fun girls in my life.

And don't forget the budget, I am hoping to come out of this weekend spending less than $150.00. I will let you know if that is possible at the beginning of next week. So far, so good.

Networking

While I am not as gun hoe about Premier Jewelry as most of the guest at the purse party last night, I did do some good networking. In fact, I met up with a lady last night that I had previously met and chatted with at the jewelry party I attended. She is a real estate agent and is looking for an attorney to close her loans. I told her about my new venture into private practice and we exchanged business cards. Guess what - she stopped by my new office and asked if I had started working there yet. When they told her I would not start until August 4, she said that she would be back. She relayed that my co-workers are really excited for me to come start working, and she is really excited to start doing business with my firm. Not only have I made a new friend, but I have made a new networking contact!

August Plans

I have two very expensive weekends starting off August. The first weekend, the bf and I are heading up to Memphis to catch a Dave Matthews/Willie Nelson concert. Expenses include:

Ticket plus misc at concert - $100.00
Gas - $25 (we are riding up there with another couple)
Meals - $80 (one expensive dinner with drinks on Friday night and then Saturday and Sunday's lunch and dinner)
Vet - $30 (have to board my babies)
Birthday gift - $30 (t-shirt at concert. However, this will come out of my gift fund)

Total - $265
This money will come from various places including travel fund, gift fund, and groceries/dining out.

The following weekend I will be hosting my old roommate's bachelorette/lingerie party. We are again heading to Memphis. Expected cost for the weekend:

Food for Lingerie Shower - $100.00
Lingerie Gift - $30.00
Gas to Memphis -$35.00
Room - $75.00 (my share plus part of the bachelorette's)
Dinner - $50.00 (my share plus part of the bachelorette's)
Beale St. - $100.00 (my share plus part of the bachelorette's.)

Total - $390.00. WOW, things really add up.

I am hoping some of these costs will be defrayed by other friends willing to help. I may dish out some of the food responsibilities and others should help with her drinks and room. Needless to say, once the $390 is gone, that is all I have.

That is $655 in just two weekends. Look's like the other two will be low key.

Jewerly Party

One of my friends is having a premier designer jewelry party at her house tonight. You know the kind of party where you invite people over and then YOU, as the hostess, gets free or discounted stuff depending on how much your friend's spend. I told her that I would come, but I have absolutely no money to my name. I have gone a little wild this month spending (see Michael Kors purse) and I am at the point of no return. Is it rude to go to the party and not buy anything? I don't want to not show up at all, especially since I told her that I would be there, but I "DO NOT" have any money. What if I bring a friend that I know will spend money, would that be better? Have any of you ever been in this situation and if yes, how did you handle it?