I just dropped $80 on art supplies

I MEANT to only spend $30-ish dollars, but i get so caught up when i'm looking around and starting an art project. Every now and then an "image" of something i want to do pops into my head, and i have to do it right away before i forget. Or get lazy, which i often do ;)

In this case, it's a blue/reddish painting on canvas that i'm envisioning. It just really sucks that there's no way to put down EXACTLY how you see something in your mind down on paper. Sorta like when you have those awesome dreams, but you can't ever physically "save" them anywhere (except in your brain).

If someone could please invent a Memory Camera, that would be great. thanks. Anyways, so now that I have this vision or whatever, i took a trip to Michaels to pick up some supplies.

Here is what i was SUPPOSED to get:

1. large canvas
2. paint brush
3. 2 colors of paint

And this is what i ACTUALLY got:

1. large canvas
2. 11 brushes, all diff. shapes and sizes
3. 3 colors of acrylic paint
4. a "sample" box of 10+ colors of oil paint
5. palate
6. and a bottle of turpentine (will explain)

Dang, what am i thinking!!! Here's what: Do i need acrylic or oil paints? Which will work better for what i need? What if i need to paint small strokes vs. large strokes? Do i even HAVE enough paint? Will i even get close to my vision? haha....needless to say, i just grabbed a bunch of stuff and will use as needed.

I asked a guy who "looked like he could paint" about the diff. between acrylic and oil, but it's a bit more than i can handle at this point. So i'll prob. end up returning the oil paints and the turpentine needed for cleaning up, and pocket back the $30 (so expensive!). I'm gonna try and paint using just acrylic if it works out right, so we'll see what happens.

It just goes to show that if you're not careful (or good at averting your eyes), you can spend a LOT more money than you mean to. On a side note, this money comes from my Fun Fund ... so i'm allowed to use it anyway i want, no questions asked :)

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I Pronounce Today "Random Day"

1) I saved $8.50 yesterday at California Tortilla! you know those stamps you always get at fast food places like subway and all? well, i rounded up all mine from the past year and a half from eating at C.T. and it turns out i had just enough for a scrumptious FREE chicken quesadilla. i guess it DOES indeed pay to collect those little guys.

2) F! I just realized i spent .99¢ on an itunes song this weekend :( although it WAS related to this blog (it was "For The Love of Money from The O'Jays, & The Apprentice.), i still broke my Lent Challenge. F. F. F. i was on a crazy roll...oh well, at least i didn't do it intentionally.

3) I re-posted 4 jackets on Craigslist again, since they failed to find a new home a few months back. I'm pretty sure i have a track-jacket addiction, and i've been trying to unload the ones i never wear anymore. This includes these 4 out of the 15+ I have. I'd give eBay a shot, but i find i lose way more there when it comes to clothes. plus one of my jackets is pretty puffy and would require some interesting fenagling to mail it. Either way, the more i sell, the more my Fun Fund pumps up (evil laughs).

4) My credit card bill came in, and for the 2nd time in a row i've gone under my $800 budget! Last month i was around $130 under, and this time i'm under $250. i believe it's the inertia that's moving me along now. i might have to drop my budget down to $700 if i can keep this up to better acount for everything. if only the wedding wasn't coming up... (re: money that is. i do want to marry ;) )

5) Check it: www.trueofficeconfessions.com. Hilaaaaarious! Maybe you could even waste some time on it when you're bored? Thanks Give Me Back My Five Bucks for posting about it, it has made my last 24 hours very pleasant :)

6) It's taken me a good 3 hours to post this. it just so "happens" that i'm at work, and every freakin' time i log in to write, something work related comes up and distracts me. This is actually the fourth time i've tried to push this bad boy out. i mean, what do they expect....for me to work? pshhh.

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How I fund my "fun fund".

Well that's a mouth full, eh? Fun Fund in itself is a hard one, but funding my fun fund, well that's just crazy talk! but i digress...

My "Fun Fund" - An allocated place to hold all side monies earned; to be spent on anything my heart desires, no questions asked.

Mine officially started a good 4-5 months ago, even though i've always bought myself a thing or two a month as I see them. Nothing huge like over $50, but things here and there for like $20 or $35, etc. It feels good knowing you can buy yourself nice things w/out putting much thought into it.

I think it's important for everyone to have a certain amount set aside for anything he/she wants, with no worries or psychological strings attached. Sorta like that "pay yourself first" mentality. Some people add $20 per paycheck to it, or $50 a month, or simply fund it w/ outside money brought in like myself.

Currently I have exactly $265 in it. I know this cuz it's a huge wad of cash in a cool pirates-chest-looking thing on my night stand at home. Although hardcore pf'ers might think it's better to invest it somewhere, and then take it as you need it, it just wouldn't work for me....i'll never want to spend it! This way, i take the cash w/ me when i go out shopping and use it when i find something. And if i forget to bring, i just re-imburse myself from it so all is even.

This is how i got the $265, or rather the $350+ (when i first started): I SELL THINGS! haha...here's how:

1) I walk around the house looking for things i don't need and/or want. Seriously! i think it drives Mrs. Budgetsaresexy crazy sometimes :) Be sure to peruse your OWN stuff though, not those of others. Drawers are also a great place. If you're like me and randomly throw stuff in them, only to forget years later what's actually in them. If you're not sure about parting w/ an item, just ask yourself this: "Would i rather have $XX in cash for it?"

2) Clean/brush off said items, and snap 3-4 pictures of them. This is important, as a pretty picture definitely helps sell the item...even if said item is ugly or super-old. Someone will usually want it!

3) Sell them! I prefer to use Craigslist first, and then eBay if i don't get any hits. Although there are more flakers on CL, i find the face-t0-face action much more pleasant, and i usually dispose of the item quicker as well. Plus, it doesn't cost you anything and you don't have to worry about mailing issues. If i don't sell it on CL after two weeks (includes 1 re-post), then i'll give eBay a shot. I tend to list a "buy it now" price and to also upload all the pics i have of the item in order to get rid of it quicker. There are tons of other options out there too like yard sales, estate sales, and more if you do some quick research.

The $ you get in return is not only nice, but makes you feel like you really EARNED it! I think there's a great deal of pride in that, even if it's silly :) Out of the 4-5 months doing this, i've now sold 5 track jackets, 2 winter coats, a baseball jersey, pair of pants, picture frame, super old stove, printer/fax machine, and a sword! hahah....i'm telling you, there are people out there that want your stuff. and Stuff = money, money, moneyyyyyy!

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