Koppur gave me a great idea and that was to actually look at just how much I saved for 2007 for the $20 challenge.
I have been keeping a tally but was basically rouding numbers and some times not even including some amounts
All in all I was able to sock away $7849.71 out of that I saved $6871.71 only using $978 in the early part of the year.
I am so happy, never really having a savings this is a huge accomplishment
in addition, I made my final depost today of $50, now my goal for next year is to double that

I have a friend who has not worked in years, why I do not know. She is complaining about how they do not have enough money and is about to loose everything. So I say to her why you don’t get a job, her excuse they only have one car. So what happened with public transportation or getting a job opposite the days her husband has to go to work or one that is with in walking distance. Now I told her about my position at the part time job that I have, I am cutting my days she could work one day a week (Sundays) from 3-11 her excuse only have one car. People like this I simply do not feel sorry for.

Now I saw an old high school friend who was recently divorced, lost his house and car, in addition to losing his job. He was at the library looking for work and I did not even think about him for the position; I always run into him at the library maybe will see him on Monday

The weather was beautiful, I had a no spend day; therefore, added $1.44 to the cc debt. In addition I sold one of my textbook on half.com ($30.50) Once I receive the deposit it will go to the CC

Oops I fotgot, I changed one of my checking accounts to an interest earning account, why not earn a little vs. nothing

I know I should be paying the cc with any extra cash I get but I feel obligated to add to the challenge, so I added $50 and paid $49 on the cc (I got paid from my part-time job today).
I decided that after the first of the year my entire check from my part-time job will be added to the challenge. I think it is best to go back to living on one check
I rerally need at least a total of $24k by November 2008 ($14k for a dowpayment and $10k for an EF). See I plan on gradating in December and would like to buy a townhouse as a graduation present

In the end new total for challenge is $7100.10 and CC debt $2981.93

If I had known what I know now, things would have been different. For starters, I would have told my parents about being molested; I would have learned to love myself first.

Thinking back on it I think my shopping and wanted the life of others was a healing (not a healthy one) process for myself.

But life has been much better; after two failed suicide attempts I realized that my life and the way I choose to live it will be my happiness.

I have also learned that I am unique and that if I continue to compare myself to others it will definitely be self-destruction.

From a financial aspect I have learned that if I am happy with my self I am also happy with what I have (therefore spending less and saving more) it is just an amazing feeling

This year has been a blessing; this is the first time in my life that I can say I am truly happy; in addition, if I had known that simply talking about my situations (as I do here) is really more helpful than harmful. Not only has blogging helped me financially but mentally, emotionally and physically as well

These are things I wish I had known when I was young and foolish

Merry Christmas to everyone. Also if you have small children, don't forget to track Santa at http://www.noradsanta.org

Just got 2 more checks from pinecone for $3 each, so I paid the cc

I will have to say I did really well today, I almost bought an iPod but opted out. I said to myslf is this a need or want, so that was the end of that.
I ended up buying another gift for my God daughter's sister, that was only $2.12 I had a coupon for Penney's which expired today for $10

Got my second check from Pinecone and added it to my visa payment. The goal is the have this card paid off by January 31st. No way am I going back into debt

I also ate out today $8.50 so I added this amount to my challenge, new total $7035.51

Remember that $5 payment on the my auto loan and the girl was laughing, well the check cleared the bank and it is not posted to my account....arrrrrrrgh

You know I will be contacting them first thing in the morning

Received a card today from one of the patients which had $5 in it, so I applied it to my cc instead of the challenge. I have no idea when the CC went up so much, I did pay for my classes (over a $1k) and my dental work, boy it really adds up

At our office party, that is. I hate secret santa but this year I got a scratch off which I won $10 (paid it on the cc) and a $30 GC to Victoria secret

I have no idea when I became so cheap or should I say price conscious. Yesterday I went to Sally's for a permanent and they were close, so I ended up at Winn Dixie and paid $9 then I went into the Family Dollar store for batteries, found the same item or $5, bought and returned the one I bought from Winn Dixie. Any other time I would not even worry about but I now feel like $4 is $4

I notice that everything I look at the price of every thing

I went into BoA because I had an extra $5 to pay on my car and the girl had a nice little laugh. So I said to her if I paid $5 extra a day that will equal $25 which is $100 a month and $1200 for the year. Then I took my receipt and left

I have hardly spent a dime for gifts. My part-time job gave us $25 GC to the mall (any store) so I bought my secret santa gift for $15. Then I had a $10 off coupon if I spent $10 so I bought my cousin a pair of pants for 11.99 only cost me $2.12 (I could not find my GC in my large purse and I was holding up the line so I paid cash)and I am going back to get my little neice a pair because I have another coupon plus I still have $35 for Target and I have one more gift to buy

I finally got my GC from my points, I was getting a little worried because they usually come really quick. Any how I only bought two gifts and have two more to go. The first one I spent $6 because I had a GC of $25 from mypoints, the second one cost me $30 (for my nephew, a train set) and now with the gift cards I just received I can go into Target and buy two gifts for two little girls for about $20 each so in all I would have spent $36 for X-mas Not to mention I have two $10 off coupons if you spend $10 from Penney's and since we have the secret Santa at work, the limit is $20, I will find two gifts for $10 that way I only pay the tax (6.5%) I guess you can say I made out like a bandit this year

One of my goals for '08 is to have $12,000 saved by December. That means that I would need to set aside $500 each pay period,since I get a pay check twice a month. I am just sitting here wondering if it can be done. I have also decided to cut my hours at the part-time job, even though I like the extra $460 a month I am starting to get really tired and I plan on taking 4 classes next semester, so I need atleast one day off a week...we'll see

Hopefully I will also be graduating in the fall of '08 as well and my goal is to close on my house/townhouse as a graduation present to myself

I have just started this investing thing and I get so worried when there is a plunge. I know that I am saving for the long run and should not worry too much but my Wells Fargo Advantage (NVSOX) changed yesterday at 5.41 (14.40%)

I never use to pay attention to interest rates, if I got a CC I was just happy I had one, and I never paid attention to how much money the bank was paying me to borrow (in a sense )my money.

Now with the feds lowering the interest rates a quarter point ING has now lowered my interest to 4.025% which for me sucks, especially now that I have more money in that account.

I prefer ING but I may have to transfer my funds to HSBC since their rates are much higher

This housing/credit situation is creating a problem for everyone. Now I do not feel as though the government should step in and bail people out but I do feel as though they should look into the practices that caused this mess

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

Got another bonus from my part-time job for $296 I am not sure if I should use it for CC or the challenge. Since I get get paid on Monday I was thinking to add it to my challenge, we will see