Happy New Year and a safe one to everyone here. I hope all goals for 2007 are met

I use MS Moey to track my spending and I can not firgure out how not to include money that was lent out as not income earned according to MS Money I made over $40,000 last year which is not correct oh well...but for the monst part it is the spending I want to track and it's pretty much right on target. There can be some few minor errors but for the most part I am ok here it

Income Categories
Federal Tax Refund 1349
Income/Interest 65.18
Other Income 7423.27
Wages & Salary 29779.09
Income - Unassigned 1724.21
Total Income Categories 40340.75

Expense Categories
clothing/accessories 30.58
Automobile 1990.87
Bank Charges 1036.04
Bills 5972.55
Charitable Donations 310
Clothing 1624.35
Dining Out 1114.69
Education 1470.46
Food 43.6
Gifts 764.23
Groceries 1786.37
Healthcare 3829.84
Hobbies/Leisure 1.25
Household 98.09
Hurricane Supplies 55.46
Insurance 817.52
Job Expense 1081.53
Leisure 231.1
Loan 40
Miscellaneous 6550.12
Personal Care 785.47
Sales Tax 189.37
Snack 0.99
Software 63.89
Taxes 5279.33
Vacation 100
Expense - Unassigned 173.45
Total Expense Categories 35441.15

Grand Total 4899.6

I just went over my spending for December I was a little afraid but here it is...way too much on clothing,gifts and dining out, not to mention taxes. But at least the cc's are paid off and I can really start saving. Next I will look at my spending for the year also my misc. expenses are high because I had to lend my sister, friend and nephew some money
Category Total

Income Categories
Other Income $30.21
Refund $426.52
Reimbursement $200.00
Wages & Salary $4,222.50
Income - Unassigned $1.55
Total Income Categories $4,880.78

Expense Categories
clothing/accessories $30.58
Automobile $132.00
Bank Charges $10.48
Bills $488.78
Charitable Donations $50.00
Clothing $328.00
Dining Out $135.13
Gifts $350.98
Groceries $99.63
Healthcare $26.65
Insurance $207.44
Job Expense (non reimbursed) $3.73
Leisure $2.50
Miscellaneous $532.06
Personal Care $162.43
Sales Tax $51.27
Snack $0.99
Taxes $842.36
Vacation $100.00
Total Expense Categories $3,555.01

Grand Total $1,325.77

Ok I just finished up the dinner calendar for January and part of February, so when I hit the grocery store I will only buy what's for dinner. This should save me a ton on the grocery bill. I also decided to keep a price book of common items I buy at the grocery stores and do a price comparison with the sale items in Sunday's paper along with my coupon I should sve some money here. It's time consumming and when I lived on my own I use to do this I have no idea why I stopped my groery bill was 3x less than what I pay now
Anyhow I did the shopping for today's dinner which should last until Tuesday and total was $36.22 that includes snack for work and breakfast so I made out ok

Even though I have never been there it felt like I was today. As you all know I work part-time at a luxury senior living facility and the power went out...I got a call from every single resident in that place and it is well over 500. They drove me nuts tonight "my power is out" or "should I take the elevator" oh yeah "what time is it?" even "can someone come up and reset my clock" or "I think I left my stove on" I could not wait to get out of there, I thought just go to bed but no they just kept calling and calling and calling. Then the power came back on and now the calls were "what time is it?" and "what happened" or "will I have dinner" and "my power is on but can you send some one up just to check my place" Hope tomorrowis a better night

I have an HSBC account in which I do not deposit any funds because it is a headache, it is not as easy as ING. My long in ID is about 10+ digits long and I can't remember it this is eally the main reason any how they are offering 5.05% more than ING and now there is a local bank in my area on Thursday I am going to check it out to see if I can deposit there if so all the money for the house will go to this account since I will be earning more interest

When I first found this site early 2006 was actually participating in the 60% solution in which you limit your spending to 60% of your total income or less. Some where down the line I stopped, when or why I do not know. But for the New Year I have decided to start back at it again especially since I really want a house with out any debt..including a car payment. Thank God my card is paid for with very little problems. Here is what I plan on doing it's a little different than what's posted on MSN:

Total income
-10% savings
-10% irregular spending(tuition, insurance, etc)
-20% long term goals (new home)
-5% IRA
-5% fun money
50% other expenses
-----------------
100%

Here is a story I read on another site that I would like to share with others it is very interesting how some one can go from living comfortably to almost a check away from proverty

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/IMake650AnHourAmIPoor.aspx

I get email tips on a daily basis about saving and decided to start sharing these tips here so here is the first entry:

Shredder Lubrication

Don't buy the expensive lubrication oil for a shredder. It's a
vegetable-based oil. Instead, use a couple drops of regular
vegetable oil and put it on the blades. For more even
coverage, put about a tablespoon of oil on a plate and let an
8" by 11.5" piece of paper "soak" up the oil. Then shred that
piece of paper. By doing this, you're assured all the blades
get properly lubricated.
I shred a lot of stuff and this tip was handy

I am trying to add $25 a week to my challenge/home account as well as any additional funds I may have, anyhow I went ahead and added the last $10 that I have in my checking account for bills to my new home account. I am very serious about becoming a home owner by 2008 and I need to save as much as possible. My new total is $281.47

I was so lazy today I ate out for breakfast $3.93 so of course I have to pay $4.00 to my student loan debt to match this amount so my new total is $885.03. Wow I am getting this debt down I can not wait until it is paid off

Wow I get up and the first thing I do is read my blogs here, just so happen I was reading a blogger's blog who frequently visits Roubini so I decided to check it out and found that Saddam was dead. I am in like shock I know he did terrible things but I almost feel really bad. At one point I was all for capitol punishment but then I was on a jury who had to first convict some one then determine his faith...it was the hardest decision in my life because I/we wanted to be absolutely sure. It was a teenager who was bullied in school who stole his grandparent's gun. The kids at the school had pressured him to fight so he was nervous everyone who testified stated he did not want to fight and he kept saying so. Anyhow the day of the fight he took the gun and told the kids he did not want to fight he shot the gun in the air and of course we know what goes up must come down but the point is I guess I am a little nervous about any retaliation, I guess I should not be worried

Here it is my New Year's Resolution

1. Be honest with others
2. Live on $10,000 a year (I live at home)
3. Save $5,000 in EF
4. Save $10,000 for a house
5. start buying items for the new house
6. Pay off student loan
7. New clothes (this will be hard)
8. Use more coupons

I am sure I will be adding to the list before the end of the year

Darn, I just checked on the my cc for some odd reason I thought I paid it off but I guess not. I must have missed a X-mas transaction and now I have to find the receipt because I am not sure of this transaction...I am sure I used the card since I was using it during the holiday and paying it off right away as goes, but how could I have missed over $47 now I have to add interest as well. I am soooooooo annoyed but I paid it and kept my goal for 2007

Ate out today for lunch and dinner but at least I have some left over for lunch tomorrow. Any how I had to match the amount (not quite) and add it to my challenge house money. I look at it like this if it is extra money I should be adding it to my saving account for a new house and not eating out. So in the end I added $6.89

New total $271.47

I got this in my inbox today from Bankrate.com and decided to share with everyone. I am sure you are aware of these steps to becoming debt free but just a reminder to 2007
1. Live below your means. You cannot become debt-free if you spend more than you earn. It's that simple! Financial stress relief is called "money in the bank" or "positive cash flow."

2. Decide where you want to spend your money. Don't let others decide for you. Know how much money you are bringing in, how much goes out and to where it goes. If you are not satisfied with the answers you get from this exercise, now is the time to change your spending habits. You (and your significant other) are ultimately responsible for how your money is spent.

3. Pay your bills on time, every time. Managing monthly bills is an essential part of staying debt free and maintaining a good credit rating. If you find this difficult, come up with a system to ensure that bills are not paid late.

4. Set financial goals, both short- and long-term. Having goals in place makes it easier to make the necessary spending cuts to get what you really want. Without reasons to cut spending and save, you will constantly be under pressure to spend money you don't have for things you don't need.

5. Use credit only as a tool and with a plan. Figure out how and when you will pay the balance. Imagine building a house without a plan or blueprints. That's what your financial house will look like, too, without a plan. Your goal should be to pay for credit card purchases within three months. Remember, unlike wine, cheese or my wife, debts do not improve with age.

6. Have an adequate emergency savings fund. Life will throw curveballs at you, ranging from the need to replace a worn-out washing machine to a temporary job loss. Three to six months' worth of bare-bones living expenses should shield you from most of these problems. Can't do three months' worth? Start with three days' worth and watch it grow as saving becomes a habit.

7. Learn how to invest your savings. Your money has to earn more money to keep you out of debt, especially in your later years. Take a class, find a referral to a great adviser or just start reading. Do it your way, but do it; and start now!

My sister paid me the $200 she owed me today, which was a miracle she normally pays in increments...but thank God I got it back. Now I am waiting on $50 from a friend and $30 from my nephew hopefully I will get that some time next month

I added another buck to the challenge because i spent no money today and this was added to my new home account. I am serious now about saving for a house, I definately want to be out of my mom's house by the end of the year

New total $264.58

yippie it was payday today from the part-time job, there was amemo that we may get paid on Friday due to the holiday on Monday, but everything worked out and I am happy. I made an extra $13 after taxes for the tqo extra hours I worked not a really big deal but I am adding this to my challenge/home account. The goal is to have atleast $10,000 saved for a new house by December '08 so every little bit helps

New total 263.58