My money market account interest rate at my credit union is so far below what other banks are offering, I took about 2/3 of the money out and put it into one of those competitive money market accounts paying over 4%. Okay, the rate is not great but I need the fund to be as liquid as possible and still make a little money.

My friend said a CD isn't a bad way to go for since I rarely touch the money in my money market now, but I don't know. I just don't like the idea of my money being locked away from me for any amount of time.

What little money I have, I want to have access to sadly 24/7. This new money market fund comes with checks and an ATM with no charges too!

Thank god my gold and oil funds have doubled since I bought them last year. I am hoping oil goes to a $100 a barrel and gold goes up to $1,000 an ounce. I know this is bad because if oil goes to $100 a barrel, our economy will seriously be up the creek without much of a paddle.

I don't buy that many groceries, but I have been noticing these last few months that shopping at Trader Joe's is now becoming very, very expensive, almost as expensive as Whole Paycheck. I don't know how people are coping if their financial situation is already stretched. And gas is way out of control. I am so glad I don't drive to work anymore. I always picked up gas at a Costco out the city anyway, which retails gas about $0.20 below San Francisco and about $0.10 below the gas price in the area the store is located.

And yes, I am happy that I am used to being a vegetarian because buying food if you're a vegetarian is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying food if you're not. I'm used to eating like a poor vegetarian person who's always on a diet; it's been my MO since I was 19 years old. Going back to eating protein has only been a recent thing. It's probably good I don't drink very much now as well, since drinking adds up. I have an amazingly well-stocked liqour cabinet anway, so it's not like I need to ever buy the stuff for another year or two.

Clothes and anti-aging products like vitamins are my money drainers, and books too! Especially clothes that are on sale as I can't resist a sale; I think it's a genetic thing. And I hate not feeling good and not feeling healthy, and any amount of money is so worth spending to always feel like you're doing the latest and greatest to feel good and be healthy. I'm not sure how this attitude jives with my inability to keep my weight at a reasonable level, since being fat is not healthy. Perhaps it could have something to do wtih the fact that purchaseing another vitamin is so much more pleasurable than denying myself a large McDonald's french fries when I'm cranky and tired.