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Archive for January, 2009

February Goals

February 1st, 2009 at 04:36 am

Going along with househopeful, I decided to post my goals for the month

[]$100 EF
[]$100 House fund
[]$100 Additional principal payment(car)
[]Schedule annual MD appointment
[]Reschedule dentist appointment for March
[]Go to the gym at least 3 times a week
[]Pack lunch and breakfast everyday
[]Extra $300 on CC
[]Finish taxes
[]Try to stay positive
Wish me luck

Not much to report

February 1st, 2009 at 12:34 am

Well my nephew and I rearranged my storage so that I can at least get into it. Once a week I am going to go there and clean out 1 box and get rid of stuff I simply do not need, I am such a pack rat. Other than that I did not go to the gym Frown maybe later tonight nor did I get any studying in. I pretty much lounged around tonight. I have a friend who is a DJ at a local bar who asked me to stop by but to be honest, I simply do not have the extra money so I am not going. I washed and colored my own hair tonight saving me at least $45. I can not believe that I have not been to the hair salon since early December and my hair actually looks fine, maybe next month I'll go and get a trim. So in a nut shell that was my day

What happened?

January 31st, 2009 at 01:50 pm

I have been eating healthier but haven't hit the gym in about a week and to be honest I really don't feel like going. But I'm going to make an effort tonight to go, I must. At almost $50 a month I need to go. Prior to classes starting I would go twice a day and now I hardly even go once
Today's going to be a long day because I am going to rearrange my storage. My BIL has his things there and has not paid 1 cent towards keeping it there but I am telling him this week to make some arrangements on getting his stuff out of there. I really never pushed the issue because prior to him and my sister losing their house I kept my stuff in their garage but now I have to pay and it has been about 6 months plus when I want to add things to the storage I can't because his things take up half the space....argghhhhh

Today' spending

January 31st, 2009 at 01:33 am

Well I came home and tallied every thing up for the day. I have $114 to last me until the 16th..wow, hope I can do it. Any how here's the totals starting off the new month

Wages & Salary $1,249.49

Amount Saved
IRA $25.00
EF $49.38
Misc Savings Account $10.00
Personal Checking $10.00
New Home Account/Challenge $10.00
Total Saved $104.38


Expense Categories
Cellular $94.12 (have to work on this)
Charitable Donations $20.00
Misc: Storage $48.47
Personal Care $23.98
Taxes(Medicare,Federal,SS)$229.05
Utilities $177
Total Expense $592.62

Transfers
Auto Loan Principal Payment $265.56
Interest $115.73(this maybe wrong I always over calculate)
Transfer Total $381.29

Income less Expenses $922.67

Grand Total $171.20

Raise

January 30th, 2009 at 07:39 pm

In a time when people are losing their jobs I just got a .78 raise. Which is about $50 a pay period after taxes. I am so happy because I just paid my bills and thought hmmm I can't put a thing into my EF. Anyhow I added $49.38 to the EF
Yeah!!!!!!!! Things are really looking up this year

$5.08

January 30th, 2009 at 05:37 am

This is the amount I had left in my checking account before payday tomorrow; added this to my EF. I am impressed with my self because I managed to sock away $210 (misc savings, EF,home account and IRA) and not touch any of my savings accounts to get by Big Grin
End of the month total:
Total Income $1,776.42

Expense Categories
Automobile $199.17 (not including car payment of $381)
Bank Charges $64.67(interest on cc)
Bills $108.54(storage and internet)
Charitable Donations $20.00
Dining Out $41.67
Education $857.24
Fees $20.60 (charge for paying tuition online)
Gifts $17.25
Groceries $150.27
Health care $15.00
Hobbies/Leisure $30.75
Miscellaneous $40.95
Personal Care $36.63
Services/Memberships $47.91
Taxes $321.84
Utilities $115.92
Total Expense $2,088.41

Grand Total -$311.99

I am really happy because there are no transactions for clothes plus my dining out and miscellaneous categories are way down compared to the last few months. It's strange even though I saved money I still have an overall negative number hmmmm, I'll have to review this
So all in all this was a really great month. Tomorrow's payday unfortunately I can not add anything to my EF but at least all my bills coming due will be paid

Look what I'm missing

January 28th, 2009 at 02:52 am

I have never seen snow my friend sent this to me today...boy I wish I was there

What a day

January 28th, 2009 at 02:10 am

I figured I would have $81 to last me until Friday...wrong. I paid a family friend who helped me get my washer/dryer $20 plus I gave my nephew $10 for helping. I figured he(family friend) lives about 20 minutes away and neither one are working and times are hard no need in me taking advantage even though I know they would have done it for free. But I can mark my washer and dryer off the list of things to buy
Today I spent $3.50 at Wendy's Frown and added $.50 to my challenge/cc

Looks like it's going to be a good day

January 27th, 2009 at 06:57 pm

As you all know I am determine to be out of my mom's house by the end of the year, whether it be me buying or renting but I'm moving. I am too old to live at home plus I have really no privacy, and plus I'm tired of her little mood swings (we haven't spoken since last Thursday). Today on freecycle some one was giving away a perfectly good washer and dryer so I'm picking it up later and sticking it in my storage. It's one of the items that I needed on my list of items to buy. Then I came home and there was a check from Directv for $8.08, nice little refund. I didn't add it to the challenge because payday isn't until Friday

$10 GC

January 26th, 2009 at 02:49 am

I was taking nap today and got a call from bebe stating that I had a $10 GC that was getting ready to expire. For those you have not shopped at this store, there is nothing in there that is less than or $10 so why would I go. In addition, to the phone call I also got an email stating that my reward was about to expire. I was tempted to go to see if I can find something for $20 (chances are slim to none) but no need in me going to waste gas and to buy something that I simply don't need
On a different note I rounded up the change after leaving the grocery store today and paid. 89 cents towards my challenge/cc

$20 challenge

January 25th, 2009 at 01:36 pm

I forget to post my $10 weekly deposit to the challenge, thus far YTD $1762.40
Balance for my new home account $745, it's amazing I had almost $8k the first part of last year and now I'm down to $745 but once I get this cc paid off I will be able to sock away more
I have about $113 to last me until next Friday, hope I can hold out

Good day

January 25th, 2009 at 04:46 am

Today was a good day, I had to work but it wasn't slow and time went by very fast. Next I went to Macy's to use my $25 GC, I needed a sweater for work, so I saved $22 and then I hit the library and got about 2 hours of much needed studying in. I packed my lunch so that I wouldn't buy any thing but in the end I really wanted a cheese burger from McDonald's, now I did have my lunch but 2 hours later the cheese burger won (.95 cents)

Tday's Spending and Restaurant.com

January 22nd, 2009 at 03:30 am

Today I bought a bunch of newspapers only because I collect them when there are major events (9/11, the death of JFK.Jr etc) but the only problem is I can not remember what I paid for for themFrown
I put in a buck for the Powerball at work and went to Staples for school supplies ($4.78)rounded up the change and added it to the challenge cc. Also went to the gym so another buck added to cc
On a different note I got an email stating you can get $25 restaurant coupons for $5 so if any one is interested follow the instructions below:
I am not dining out until I get this cc paid off but thought this was a great buy Getting your gift certificate is this simple:

1. Click on the following link:

Text is http://www.ingoodhands.com/ and Link is
http://www.ingoodhands.com/ 2. Drag your mouse over the photo of the table place setting in the lower right corner that says β€œSpecial Offer!”
3. Click on the yellow oval that says β€œStart looking”
4. Enter the restaurants.com site to choose the restaurants you like, select the number of gift cards you want and proceed to checkout. Don’t forget to put in the Promotion code β€œALL”
5. Print your gift certificate and go eat!

Determined

January 21st, 2009 at 08:10 pm

I am really committed to brown bagging my lunch and having breakfast at home. Today I just did not feel like packing lunch and thought hmmmm I do not have anything to pack for lunch. Then I thought you have to be kidding me
I thought you have every thing there is to make a sald, plus I took a grapefruit as well as other fruits and snacks
Long story short I stuck to my guns and had breakfast and lunch at home Big Grin No need in wasteful spending

Good day

January 20th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Today was a good day, I was up by 5am. I think it had a lot to do with the inauguration. Went to work and it wasn't too bad. Then headed to Macy's and Dillards to get my free cosmetic...yippie Big Grin
Came home had 2 candy apples Frown and opened the mail. I received my $120 check from BoA which I was going to apply to the challenge but I have to get my oil change and tires rotated (put off now for a week) plus I got my $25 GC from mypoints which I am considering posting on Ebay
Really good day today

Now I see

January 20th, 2009 at 09:31 pm

This post is not about finances but the ignaugration...sorry
As a child I use to hear my mom talk about JFK an tear up then she would talk about how she would never vote for a black man unless it was Martin Luther Ling and he was dead. I was raised liberal but as I furthered my education became more conservative (my dad is a republican) In the primary's I didn't vote for Obama, but then I saw Michelle on CNN and thought hmmm and from that point on I was an Obama supporter; however, I must say what solified it for me was Sarah Palin, I wished McCain had chosen some one else but in the end Obama is it
When I watch the inauguration as an African American who never thought I would see this day is brought to tears, words simply can not explain what I am feeling. I kind of understand now when I watch old clips from the 60s and people are in tears to simply see JFK
I may not agree with him 100% but I do believe he will be a great president
May God Bless him with the guidance to lead this wonderful nation

$20 challenge

January 20th, 2009 at 02:33 am

Ok I pretty much stayed in today and only studied for about 10 minutes Frown Then I hit the gym so $1 was paid towards my CC challenge next I went to Publix spent $17.13 on groceries(and only bought fruit no chip, dips etc) as well as personal items so I paid an additional .87 cents towards my cc (rounding up my change) I washed and curled my own hair saving $35 and I added this to my house fund
YTD challeng $1751.99

Work out

January 19th, 2009 at 06:53 am

I am so glad I joined a 24-hour gym. Just left and it's a little before 2am. I had a great work out and I feel so good. Since school has started I can't really go every day but my goal is 3 times a week
$1 added to the challenge CC
YTD $1714.86

$1

January 19th, 2009 at 03:02 am


The Heat won today..yayyyyyyyyy!!!!
So I paid a buck on the cc.I haven't done that for a while
Go D. Wade!!!!!!!!!
YTD Challenge $1713.86

Mid Month Tally

January 19th, 2009 at 02:05 am

I took a look at my total thus far for the month and I am proud to say that my expenses are down.Way down... I'm especially proud because there's not a column for clothes and my hair expense dropped dramatically

Expense Categories
Miscellaneous $23.95
Education : Books $43.99
Federal Income Tax $183.37
Social Security Tax $98.74
Groceries $68.35
Cable/Satellite $64.68
Bank Charges: Interest Paid $64.67
Online/Internet Service $60.07
Gasoline $53.17
Water & Sewage $51.24
Storage $48.47
Services/Memberships $47.91
Dining Out $29.62
Medicare Tax $23.09
Charitable Donations $20.00
Gifts $17.25
Sales Tax $12.59
Hair Care $5.59
Feminine Products $4.01
Hobbies/Leisure: Lottery $4.00

Grand Total -$924.76

$14,158

January 18th, 2009 at 10:40 pm

That is how much my brother owes on my mom's CC. My God, I wouldn't be able to sleep
When she(mom) spoke to his wife, she(SIL) claims she told my brother to stop using it...hello!!!!!!!! he's not the only one who ran it up. They have earned a whopping $48,000+ points meaning that through out the last few years they have charged almost $50,000 on a cc that is not theirs
About 2 years ago they paid about $10k on the cc bringing the balance down to a little more than $3k and now once again charging it back up. My mom had to call the CC company to get the interest down because after a few late payments it went up

Well I did it

January 18th, 2009 at 03:26 pm

I went ahead and paid off my Target CC(part of my challenge), so 3 down and now 1 to go. I struggled with this because I wanted to add this money back to my EF (it's the money my sister owed me) but I know from experience you can save more when there is no debt
YTD challenge $1712.86
CC balance $4008

It's my birthday

January 18th, 2009 at 02:45 am

Today was my birthday and I had a ton of emails wishing me a happy birthday...sites like Mypoints, Macys, Coke rewards and even saving advice. I thought it was neat because of all the emails I got this is the only site that didn't want me to buy anything
My mom and I went to dinner, my treat and TJ Maxx home good store and I did not buy a thing. Mom on the other hand picked up some things I used the cc but she paid me as soon as we got home, which I knew she would
I also finished up one of my projects for school so that was a plus and watched a great Lifetime movie
I paid $1.06 on my cc/challenge and picked up my check from my sister, whew glad that is over
Today's spending:
Expense Categories
Dining Out $14.56
Misc(mom purchase) $13.97
Gifts(dinner for mom)$14.56
Groceries $7.84
Sales Tax $1.01
Total Expense $51.94
All expenses were put on the cc for point but as soon as I got home I paid it

Broke again

January 17th, 2009 at 01:50 am

Today was payday and I'm broke again

I paid the following:
$130 EF
$10 Misc/gift fund
$10 Personal checking
$10 house fund
$25 IRA
Total Saved $185

Expense Categories
$183.37 Federal Income Tax
$98.74 Social Security Tax
$64.68 Cable/Satellite
$60.07 Online/Internet Service
$51.24 Water & Sewage
$23.09 Medicare Tax
$20.00 Charitable Donations
$1.00 Hobbies/Leisure : Lottery
$1.00 Miscellaneous
$47.91 Gym fees
$471.22 CC 2
Expense Total $1022.32
On a different not my sister called to say she has the $300 she owes me so I am picking it up in the morning in order to pay off cc 2

20 Challenge

January 14th, 2009 at 02:23 am

Well I received my $7 check from surveysavy so I added this to my challenge

YTD contribution $917.39

Family, Part 3

January 14th, 2009 at 02:05 am

Well my sister did not call today nor did I call her. I am going to see when she's going to call for me to pick up my money. I know one thing this is definitely the straw that has broke the camel's back.

On a different note I had to spend $21 today at the grocery store
I did have breakfast and lunch at home

Family, part 2

January 13th, 2009 at 02:48 am

Well I had already made up my mine that I was not going to call my sister and she called today to tell me she was waiting on funds from her 401k before she could pay me back. First of all I told her this money was for my tuition, even though it isn't and if she wasn't going to be able to pay me back then don't borrow it. What bothers me the most, is what if I really needed the money for my tuition, it shows just how selfish she is. She knew it was a possibility ( a strong possibility)that she wouldn't be able to pay me back and yet she took the money. In a way I'm glad because this is the final straw, I'm going to tell her that the school dropped me and have her to think I am not taking a class...she won't ask me again and if she did it would be easier to say no
On a different today was a no spend day plus I received a survey check for $4

What motivates you?

January 12th, 2009 at 11:49 pm

My teacher posted a question wanting to know what motivates us...and I thought long and hard and the only thing I can come up with is to be successful and working hard so that, that may come true but I am stumped I am pretty much happy with who I am, yes I have made some mistakes but no regrets
I was wondering what motivates you guys

Why am I not surprised?

January 12th, 2009 at 12:57 am

Called my sister today to tell her I was on my way to pick up my money since she never called to say she had it and of course she doesn't. She said she'll have it on Monday, now my thing is this I told her I needed it back by Friday (like she promised ) and that it was my tuition money (which it is not I lied). You think she would call and say I know I owe you but I will give it to you on Monday? Nope...that is what annoys me with her, when she says she's going to pay you she never does and avoids you like the plague. It wouldn't be so bad if she just called. So I politely told her (in a firm voice) that if she causes me to be dropped due to non payment it won't be nice. We'll see if she calls me Monday

On a different note I got a X-mas from freecycle for next year and hit the gym today so no money was spent, but I have none to add to my challenge...darn
I even managed to get a couple of hours in to study

Family

January 11th, 2009 at 02:56 am

Well Friday has come and gone and Saturday is almost over and I have not heard from my sister, which doesn't surprise me. Tomorrow I am calling her to let her know I will be there to pick up my $300
Then my uncle call to tell me he was waiting on a $1500 check to pay me my $500..what! it's $550 not $500
You know, I know times are hard with every one but lending money always get me in an uproar, I do it because I always think what if I needed the money and then I give in. And I am always driven crazy. My uncle had already informed me that it would be a while before he could pay me but I wasn't thinking 6 months. My sister on the other hand, is a different story and I should know better (no excuses)
I returned my text book for $140.80. I went ahead and kept the homework manager that comes with it
Got my BoA bill and the finance charges were little more than $55, I can't wait to pay this card off
Anyhow I went to the gym missed yesterday and forgot to work on my abs so I'll be headed back tonight. The funny thing is, I went to Publix after wards and could not resists the vanilla cake
I am a little upset because I can not add to the challenge and needed to take money out of my EF to last me until next pay period. I knew I had socked away way too much but but thought I would give it a try
Yesterday and today's spending

Expense Categories
Education : Books 43.99
Gasoline 33.17
Groceries 11.74
Misc (co worker owes me $3) 8.95
Dining Out 2.22
Hobbies/Leisure : Lottery 1
Grand Total -101.07


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