I’m trying to kick the habit. I’m starting to see that smoking is such an idiotic habit.

Some reasons…

1. It’s expensive.

4 packs a week x 52 weeks = 208 packs a year give or take

Average cost $6/pack x 208 = $1248

Approximately $1248? Now that’s not exactly chump change or anything to scoff at.

2. It’s f*****’ stupid.

3. I can’t participate in rigorous activities like I use to. I get shortness of breath a lot now. I don’t to end up like one of those people in anti-smoking ads with emphysema or whatnot.

4. I’m starting to like money more than I like cigarettes. I’m getting addicted to money. It’s a healthy addiction, since I’m starting to feel less inclined to buy cigarettes.

Today I bought gas using Bank of America’s “Keep the Change” program. Basically the program rounds up your purchases up to the nearest whole dollar when you use your check card and matches that amount.

In New Jersey it is against the law to pump your own gas so it’s all full service here. I’ve heard about people who self-pump and pumping $1.01 worth of gas back to back until they were full.

$1.01 round up = $2.00 = $0.99 match = $0.02 per gallon of gas

Too bad I can’t do that here in New Jersey. However I asked the attendant at the station to pump $10.01 worth of gas. I told him some BS about how I needed to spend over $10 on the card and that explained the 1 cent. He laughed and didn’t mind doing it. So technically I got a 10% rebate on my gas.

In other news… I’m sorry, I find this so retarded I had to post it. “Art” of numbers 1 to 1000. I found out about it on the Stop Buying Crap blog.

One Thousand Paintings

Maybe I don’t appreciate art… or maybe I have enough common sense to not shell out hundreds of dollars for a painting with a number on it. I don’t know.

I just updated my networth IQ chart.

I’m in debt $1250 to my credit cards.

No worries though…
Approx $360 on my MBNA card, 0% APR until august 2007
Approx $780 on my Citi card, 0% APR until october 2006
Approx $110 on my Amex card, no promotional rate so I pay off the balance every month.

I have about $900 in cash. If you’re wondering why I don’t pay off as much of my debts as I can, here’s why: I’m getting free money by not doing it. Since the two cards where I carry the balance are 0% APR, it’s basically a interest free loan on my purchases. I stashed the cash I will use to pay off those balances eventually in a high yield savings account (Emigrant Bank 4.65% as of date). The interest I get is chump change, but you know what? It’s free money. The added bonus is it keeps me more motivated to cut down on my spending everyday.

As for the net worth, it’s only positive because of my stock holdings worth roughly around $340. I initially invested $300 9 months ago and it grew a decent 13% since then.

Also, thanks to the 3 people who signed up for fusioncash using my link and confirming their e-mail address. I earned $3, which buys me a gallon of gas.