Travel + Finance Update: July & August 2012

 

Where was I in July?

• Cottage Grove, OR: 7/1-7/4 (pic above is at Dorena Lake, OR)
• Portland, OR (WDS): 7/5-7/8
• Crater Lake, OR: 7/9
• Portland, OR: 7/10-7/12
• Eugene, OR: 7/13-7/14
• Ashland, OR: 7/15-7/16
• Santa Cruz, CA: 7/17
• Los Angeles, CA: 7/18-7/31

 

TRAVEL

• Trip costs (for July): $357.73
  • Crater Lake Road Trip: $97.27 (my share)
    • Rental Car, Gas, Campsite, Gear from REI
  • Portland Metro, Cab
  • Amtrak, PDX-EUG
  • Car ride from Eugene to Ashland
  • Car ride from Ashland to Santa Cruz
  • Amtrak, San Jose-LA (voucher + cash)
  • Gasoline in LA (borrowing brother’s car)
  • Park Inn in Fresno (for points, see below)
  • LA Metro
• Hacking Actions
  • Acquired:
    • Entered a Club Carlson promotion to earn 44K points for staying at least one night; I booked this, did not stay, and got the points (had to call, and worth it)!
• Open Credit Cards
  • Starwood Preferred Guest AmEx (Personal)
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred
  • Continental OnePass (no longer available)
  • Hawaiian Airlines Bank of America Visa
  • Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii Visa
  • REI Visa
• Credit Score
  • These scores are reported by two separate credit agencies. A credit union I use provides the Equifax score as an included service, and I signed up with Credit Karma (free) to obtain the TransUnion score. Since the numbers are so similar, you really only need information from one agency.
  • Equifax: 755, as of 7/27/12 
    • Last month: 765
    • Difference: -10 points
  • TransUnion: 747, as of 8/1/12
    • Last month: 745
    • Difference: +2 points
  • Context: between 700 and 850 – very good/excellent credit score

 

EXPENSES IN JULY

• Food: $605.98
  • Average cost/day: $19.55
  • Groceries: $401.89
    • Cottage Grove: , Cottage Grove Farmer’s Market
    • Portland: Trader Joe’s,  Portland Farmer’s Market, Whole Foods
    • Eugene: Kiva Grocery, Eugene Farmer’s Market
    • Ashland: Ashland Co-op
    • Santa Cruz: Staff of Life
    • Los Angeles: Whole Foods, Ralph’s, LA Farmer’s Market, Trader Joe’s
  • Dining Out: $204.09
    • Portland: PaaDee Thai, Dick’s Kitchen, Paragon Restaurant, Veggie Grill, Prasad’s
    • Eugene: Pure Sushi, Keystone Cafe, Vanilla Jills, Laughing Planet
    • Ashland: Grilla Bites
    • Los Angeles: Cafe Gratitude (Venice + LA), Veggie Grill, Bloom Cafe
  • Total
    • Last Month: $345.59
    • Difference: +$260.39
• Travel: $357.73
  • (see above)
  • Last Month: $158.00
  • Difference: +$199.73
• Lodging: $220.50
  • Portland Northwest Hostel (WDS)
  • Last Month: $0
  • Difference: +$220.50
• Nomad Life: $79.95
  • Housecarers.com annual membership
  • Caretaker Gazette annual membership
  • Last Month: $77.34
  • Difference: +$2.61 
• Cell Phone: $82.04
  • Verizon Wireless and (to landlines in US + Canada)
  • Last Month: $81.42
  • Difference: +$.62
• Entertainment: $63.00
  • Henry V at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX
  • Last Month: $18.75
  • Difference: +$44.25
• Health: $198.95
  • Anthem Blue Cross Insurance Policy, Yoga Pearl class, Life Extension membership
  • Last Month: $355.95
  • Difference: -$157.00
• Technology: $2.99
  • Boomerang for Gmail
  • Last month: $167.03
  • Difference: -$164.04
• Other: $17.65
  • Last month: $17.44
  • Difference: +$.21

•  Total Expenses: $1628.79

  • Last Month: $1221.52
  • Difference: +$407.27