I have not been keeping track of my budget like I am suppose to, therefore going well over my dining out budget and other things. In addition, I bought a pair of yellow shoes yesterday for $21, which was more of a want than a need. Any how, I have decided to stop adding to the challenge until I pay down the cc. I am planning on paying $1000 once my EF hits $2000. The reason for the high CC, my emergency dental care and my laptop crashed so I needed a new one.
On a different note, I contacted the bank who financed my last vechile (which was totaled) the gap insurance was to pay the difference and did not, thisd I know. Any how when I called they said that there was not a balance due on the account and did not know why it was being reported 120+ days late because the account was paid in full. So the rep placed a request to have it corrected. In addition, a doctor bill that is showing as non payment on my credit report was paid so I sent in a copy of my cancelled check and the bill from the doctor's office to have that cleared up, now it is a matter of finding the other one. I am trying to clear up everythig before I apply for the loan and send in my paper work for the grant on the new house, that way there are no problems

Used a coupon yesterday at Publix and saved $1 on plastic cups so I am adding this amount to my challenge. On a different note my laptop is giving me problems; I think there is a shortage so I am taking it in to be service next week. In the mean time I am going to buy a passport to back up all my files and free up space, I think that is the best thing, the funds will come from my misc. account since I am really not saving for anything in particular and I have $447 in that account. But I will use the BoA card in order to get the points and then pay the bill once I get home
As far as the tooth goes, looks like I am pain free I am still swollen but experiencing little or no pain.
Tuesday I am off and will finally drop off the paper work for the grant for the new home. I filled it out just never dropped it off, I am a little nervous...more like scared. Of what I do not know, I lived on my own before with no problems and then I wasn't as conscious as I am now about money
New total for the challenge $5824.38

I finally built up the courage to apply for the $50k grant for first time home owners, well printing out the paper work and filling it out. It is just a matter of turning it in on Tuesday, since I work all day Monday. Even if I do not get the full amount I would be happy with anything.
On a different note I am little annoyed I ordered one of my books on half.com that stated soft cover and it came today but was the international version. When I emailed the seller she said soft cover meant international which is not true, I have ordered and bought soft cover textbooks both on line and at the college bookstore that were not international and now I think she does not want to give me a refund, but I am waiting for her response and if she doesn’t she will definitely get a negative feedback. She should have noted that the book was an international version like every other seller
Furthermore, the swelling from my tooth has not gone down and I have been on antibiotics since Thursday, now I can say I am still experiencing pain but not as much as before. I don't know if this is from the pain meds or not but what I can say is I AM SICK OF THS &*%%& TOOTH ACHE!!!!!!!!!

Hope I am making the right decision. I was listening to Dave Ramsey last night when he told a caller it was ok to hold off from contributing to their IRA temporality in order to save for a house. So I decided to hold off until the end of the year and use the $100 that I was contributing to pay down my car. I really want my car balance as low as possible by the end of the year. I figure I am already paying an extra $100 how about making it $200. I just hope I made the right decision

Any how, I received a copy of my cancelled check so I am sending it to Equifax trying to clean up my credit; I am also filling out the loan papers through the credit union to refinance my car at a lower rate

Well using my debit card with ING for the month of December I earned $6.03 during their 1% cash back reward. So I added this amount to the challenge; first deposit for the year. I also rounded up some change to add as well.

$20 challenge year to date $8.06
New bal $7180.76

I also paid $180 on the cc bal, this was money my friends owed me

I reached my $7000 mark before the end of the year I am so excited. This is a first for me to have money just sitting there earning interest. Now I have to reach $12,000 before April, that is my next goal...hopefully by the end of next year I would have $20,000 saved or more

We'll see

Just checked my credit score and all but 1 went up

657 new--664 Transunion
639 new--647 Experian
622 new--622 Equifax
I am not complaining just a little dissapointed, just have to pay off the cc again and a few MD bills

I also upped my challenge today by adding my weekly $25 to $6761.73
I reaaly want to reach $7000 before the end of the year, but we will see

Since I have joined this site I have been able to get my finances in order. I can't not believe that I am almost at $7000 saved. Just sitting there, I just can not believe. I am positive that there are a number of you who has three times as much but this is a big accomplishment for me I can't ever remeber saving so much money and not only that I can actually see my dreams of owning a home next year coming true, as long as I stay on the same path

I am just excited I WANT TO SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!

New balance 6652.23

I forgot to add my weely deposit of $25 to my challenge, giving me a new total of $5071.85

Can't wait to get to $6000

Hit my $5000 mark, I am so happy. I added $41.54 to the challenge to reach my goal. I also paid all my bills extra on the CCs and still had $400 left. I even socked away about $300 tomy EF,X-mas accountand IRA so I am really happy

Well I am really saving by not eating out, only once this month and that was because I was sick. Today I stayed in did not buy lunch so I added (well rounded up) my change of $.85 lol to add to my challenge

New total $4969.65 So I am happy

I also completed a survey for $2 but won't add until I get thefunds

I had breakfast at home so I am adding a buck to my challene. I am definately try to reach $5000 before the end on the month

In the last few days I have been rounding up change and adding it to my challenge, something I have not done in a while. Anyhow I got my $5 from your2cents so that is definately going to my challenge. I cant wait until I have enough money like $20K for my house. I figure if I can save 12K a year or close to it, it will take me two years

I just added $6.35 to the challenge because I spent that amount dining out
so my new total is $4213.35

I made it to the $4000 mark for my challenge. I am happy but know I should have a lot more. I wasted a lot of money this month, I am ashame to say but will post my spenindg later on. But for now my challenge is at $4036.32 after add $40

Now that I am blogging and reading more blogs, I am back to my old self...try to save as much as possible. I added my weekly deposit of $25 to my challenge home account bringing my new total to $3874.61. I was trying to save a $1000 a month but now that I have a new car that is out of the question but either way I am back on track. Seems like if I don't read what everyone else is doing or blog I loose focus. Actually I am depositing only half because $12.50 should go on the principal for my car, in that case my new total is $3862.11

Since I am trying to get to $4 before Tina...lol I have added $.74 to my challenge today, rounding up my change
new total $3849.56

Saved $15 today plus the item I bought was tax free (tennis shoes) I was looking for some new tennis shoes and Penney's had them on sale and since it is tax free week I decided go for it
I am adding the $15 to the challenge, $7.50 towards my new home and $7.50 my car. My mom was laughing because I send $5 here and $10 there on my ca but it adds up and I figure the more I pay it down the better

New total for challenge home $3848.82

Well I have not been adding to the challenge like I should but I did ad my weekly $25 deposit; new total $3352.85
I also added $148 to my car account, I firgured I still should be adding to this fund for any repairs or insurance etc that will be coming due that new total $756.11. I almost forgot I added$30 to my EF account and $50 to my IRA, paid $100 on the cc as well

In two weeks I have not gone to the hairdresser so I have saved $70 ($35 each visit) I added the $35 for this week, so my new total is $3328.85
I am still waiting for the $500 my brother borrowed

I am earning about a buck a day in interest on my ING account that is nice, I can't wait until I am able to double hell triple this amount. It's nice feeling to be interested in how much money I am earning. So of course all this extra money will be going to my new home

Well my week is ending and it was great.I brought my lunch and breakast for the last 5 days to work and also had dinner at home So a buck for the day was added to my challenge ($5) since I am adding the $5 a day to my cc that too is down (this was because I did not eat out)
I also took my mid-term and missed only 3 questions

New challenge $4080

Today was a no spend day and I normally add $5 to my challenge/home account but since I have accumalated CC debt I added it to my credit card.

However, I did add my weekly $25 to my challenge today. I use to do this thing with my mom and family members where we all put in X amount of dollars and we each got a draw. I figured why not earn interest on my money and besides, that was a time when I couldn't save a dollar

New cc debt $1279.37
Challenge home balance $4055.43

I just added to $30 I would have spent at tne hair salon to my challenge. I decided not to go this week and try the week and a half method vs the every week method at $30 a pop

New total $4047.38

I just wanted to say thanks to every one on this site, who not only read my blogs but encourage me as well. I have come a long way and still have a way to go but blogging has really help me open my eyes. Now you all know that I got a bonus today and the old me would have thought about all the things I could buy but instead my focus was on upping my challenge.

I feel as though we are one big family here and I am comfortable with blogging and sharing things that I am afraid to share with family members or friends. I don't know but we all share something here and it is wonderful.

I am aware that $4000 to some is not a lot but to me I feel like a millionare, lol... I have never just saved $4000 not even $200 for that matter. lol but any how I am happy

Last year, I wrote about my attempted suicide and my battle with depression, I can honetly say sincee I have joined this site I am the happiest I have every been in a long time (even though I am single)

Just felt like I needed to share this with you and again I just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!

oops I forgot I added $7 more dollars to my challenge

New total $4007.00

PS for anyone who is going through anything, I know how you feel; just hang in there the best is yet to come

What a nice surprise today I got a two week bonus check in addition to my regular pay I am so happy. So I transferred the funds to my challenge (may as well since I was not expecting it ) and I have met my $4000 goal for my challenge this month. I am so excited. Now for June I need to up my challenge from $4000 to $6000 and then I will be on track with adding $1000 a month for the year. I can actually sense one day I will be a home owner wow am I happy

New total for my challenge a whopping $4000 the most I have ever saved yippie

I was on a roll and just broke my cycle today not only did I buy breakfast but lunch als0 so I had to add $11 to the challenge. It is not the $11 that I am upset about but the fact that I was too lazy to pack lunch

New total $2660.94

I like the idea of the $20 challenge, since starting I have been really saving and not touching these funds. I just added another $10 for not buying breakfast or lunch new total $2644.94(I made a mistake in an earlier post regarding my balance). At my age I am a shame to admit but I never had a savings with more than about $200 or so dollars, it feels really good
When ever I add even just a dollar I know I am closer to home ownership

Well that is not the case with my challenge (knock on wood) I have been fortunate to add and continue to add with out withdrawing, I am so happy. I just added $9 which brings my total to $2694.94 I was really hoping to have atleast $3000 by the end of the month but no such luck; my original goal was $4000 but minor things came up

For every day, I do not buy breakfast or lunch I add $5 to my challenge and let me tell you it has really been helping me to up my challenge. At the start of the month I had $2337.99 now I have $2595.15