Layout:
Home > Archive: January, 2013

Archive for January, 2013

We're back

January 28th, 2013 at 02:54 am

Hello all!

I have been on a little hiatus, we went to Little Rock, Arkansas for my birthday Smile

As you all know, one of my bucket list items is to hit all 50 states, so this year's trip was Arkansas. It was awesome, we went to Little Rock Central High School (site of the Little Rock 9), the Capitol building, the Old State building, Clinton Muesum, and Market Street. So much history, we loved it

From there, on our way back we stopped in Memphis, TN (2 states in 1 Smile ) and toured the Lorrain Hotel (Dr.King's last stop)

I can say while on our trip I was still able to add to my challenge and I also added to the 52 week challenge.

I'll add the totals thus far at a later date.

A lot to do

January 16th, 2013 at 01:40 pm

Prior to our trip to Arkansas I have a ton of things to do. First off for and eye exam, next oil change and tire rotation, then estimates on the car to be painted and last a ton of home work.

I'm excited about the trip overall it shouldn't be too expensive, hotel is about $120 rental car is less than $200, breakfast is at the hotel so all we have left is sight seeing and dinner.

I'm hoping to get away with spending $250 on this trip and BF will do the same.

I'm addicted...

January 16th, 2013 at 04:26 am

To Saving Advice. I am so glad we're back up and running, whew!
Never thought I would have been a tad bit upset you were down Smile

Having trouble with the blogs

January 15th, 2013 at 12:13 pm

It appears as though I can make an entry but cannot read any of the blogs not even my own, anyone else having trouble?

Having trouble with the blogs

January 15th, 2013 at 12:13 pm

It appears as though I can make an entry but cannot read any of the blogs not even my own, anyone else having trouble?

$20 Challenge

January 15th, 2013 at 11:43 am

Well I just sent my last payment of $20 to CC3. The balance was $19.04 but I paid $20, I'm sure I will owe a few dollars for the interest accumulated over a few days when the balance was over a $1000. It feels great!

Now I'll be tackling CC4 and that balance is about $1500. It will take me a few months to pay off but I have until April, my goal, to do so.

I also added my weekly deposit to the 52 Week Challenge brining my total to $10 Smile

In addition, I added $8 to the $20 challenge yesterday; $2 for breakfast, $2 for lunch and $4 for dinner because I decided to go to McDonalds Frown I match what I spend when dining out.

I have not updated totals as of yet in the sidebar, but will do so later. I can say I am one happy camper who is on the road to debt freedom and it feels good.

Making strides

January 10th, 2013 at 07:07 pm

Well I just cashed in my change I saved up for 2012 and the amount was 51.77 so I paid $51.00 on CC 3 brining my balance down to about $18 Wink

I cannot wait until this CC is paid off and that will be next week.

I have never been so excited about paying off/down debt but I truly am. Next I'll be tackling CC4, the balance on that one is $1500 but I figured I should have it paid off in about two months, sooner if I get the $800 tuition reimbursement.

$100 payment

January 9th, 2013 at 11:31 pm

I received reimbursement for my miles $104+ so I paid $100 on CC 3. I will have a balance of $70 once this post and should be able to pay off by the 15th Smile

$20 Challenge

January 9th, 2013 at 04:09 am

Added six bucks to the challenge today for yesterday. I had breakfast, lunch and dinner at home.

Sort of down because I didn't hoop or read my Bible, so no money was aded for that.

Today I spent about forty dollars on a few feminine products and a 500 count bottle of ibuprofen ( this should last me about a year). I used the BoA CC to earn the points and paid the bill right in the parking lot, lol.

That's it in a nutshell

Just so I don't forget

January 7th, 2013 at 09:53 pm

Okay I am jotting this here so that I don't forget.
I purchased one of my books for school, $65.67. This amount was charged on the BoA CC, so that I earn the point. I have since paid the bill, $70 so $4.33 extra was applied to my $20 Challenge debt Big Grin

Trying to understand

January 6th, 2013 at 12:36 pm

I really think my BF and his family needs some bereavement counseling.

I know it's tough, but at some point life has to return to normalcy.
The mother can't be left alone because they all fear she is going to break down, personally I would think that would be a good thing being that she hasn't cried yet.

I've stop going to the house, because everyone is sitting there talking ever so often, with the tv on watching them, while playing with their tablet or smartphone. I find this very depressing.

He leaves here at 7 in the morning and is not back until almost midnight.

The funeral home is constantly sending something, because they are friends of the family but I find it creepy.

Just my thoughts and I'm aware that everyone handle things differently but ones life can't stop because someone else's did. You have to try to do things as if you normally would

Today's spending

January 6th, 2013 at 04:17 am

So I decided to use the BoA CC to earn cash back points. Hit the grocery store and Wal*Mart today, below you will find the totals. After using the card as soon as I got home I paid the charges totaling $97.93 and an extra $2.07 because I rounded up, grand total paid $100 plus I earned 97 points.

Expense Categories
Miscellaneous $34.96
Groceries $32.26
Household : Cleaning Supplies $9.94
Personal Care : Makeup $7.94
Education : Supplies $6.91
Sales Tax $4.06
Personal Care : Feminine Products $1.86
Total Expense Categories $97.93

Grand Total -$97.93


$20 Challenge
$2.07 Debt
$3.99 Saving (Publix had BOGO on cheese)
Total $ 6.06

Had the conversation

January 6th, 2013 at 03:28 am

Well I had the conversation with the BF and explained that all bills are due on the 1st therefore I need the money by the 25th of every month.

I told him he needed to get on a budget and for the first month or so it would be hard. I also gave him the total of what to expect each month and suggested he should put X amount of dollars away each week.

I can only make the suggestions but I'm sticking to my guns, this is a new year and I have a goal to meet, in addition I can't let him hold me back.

Glad we had the talk, we'll I did, he really didn't say much

On a different note, my sister called to borrow money. She hasn't did that in a while. I gave her the $20 that I've had in my purse for a week. The reason I said gave is because I'd be surprised if she paid me back. Don't lend money you can't afford to lose. Apparently she called my mom and she said no.

As you all know next month would have been a year that I have spoken to my mother and to be honest I'm somewhat okay with it. But lately she has been calling. Once for Christmas dinner and today for me to take care of some things. She has yet to apologize, and honestly I don't think we wil ever have a good relationship but at this point it is what it is. I will say this I have plans of being best buds.

Well that's it in a nut shell, my next post will be about money and today's totals.

Okay I did it

January 5th, 2013 at 10:03 pm

I paid the $900 on the JCPenny card. The last statement there was a balance of $1069.10, I have since paid the minimum of $35 and now $900. If I'm not mistaken by time the new bill arrives the balance should be about $140, that is sure to be paid off. This would make three CCs in less than one month paid off, while working on CC4 that has a balance of $1500.

If everything works out and I get the $800 from my employer for tuition reimbursement, plus $120 for my mileage reimbursement, I can have CC 4 paid off by mid February.

Everything seems to working out according to plan, as long as I stay blogging I'll stay on track. I can tell you the truth, it sort of hurt to hit the send button for the $900 knowing that this CC hasn't been paid off but knowing that it soon will be helped a bit.

I was suppose to meet a friend tonight for dinner for her birthday but after spending the $900, $20+ at dinner isn't doable right now. I feel bad but as my dad would say " I have food in my refrigerator"

So for the $20 challenge/debt I am proud to add the $900 brining my total to $2647.36 Big Grin

I need your help

January 5th, 2013 at 03:22 pm

Okay, I have about $900 I can either pay off 1CC that currently has an introductory rate of 0% until about August (I always pay extra on this CC anyway), or I can add this amount to my EF and be half way at reaching my $2000 saved for the year, or pay the $900 on CC 3 that has an interest rate of about 20% and the balance due is $1500. If I pay the $900 on CC3, I should be able to pay the remaining balance of $600 by the end of the month.

Oh geez I forgot, I have a BoA CC that earns cash back, right now the balance is $4600 I was thinking I could pay the $900 on that card and free up a little money that way anything charged on thus card I can earn cash while paying the minimum along with what was charged in full each month, that way I could earn some extra cash as well.

I'm taking any suggestions at this point.

Todays spending

January 5th, 2013 at 01:26 am

Well today was almost a no spend day until I went to Verizon. I ordered a hotspot for my tablet but soon realize it was cheaper to add the service to my cell phone and more convenient thancarrying another device so I took the jetpack back.

Only to be told there is a $35 restock fee Frown however since I was within a certain time span it cost me $13.81, saving me $21.19 (of course I added this to my challenge) .

Today's total to challenge saving $29.19
$2 breakfast
$2 lunch
$2 dinner
$1 workout
$1 Bible read
$ 21.19 Verizon

Today Was a Good Day

January 4th, 2013 at 02:03 am

Well as you all know I paid off CC1 and 2 totaling $1747.36, the sad part is I owe over $11, 000 in CC debt. Goal is to get this debt down by half by August.

On a diffrent note, I received an email from HR requesting that I submit my grades, hopefully I'll receive the $800 I was originally approved for being that I have since changed my major. Please keep your fingers crossed.

In the end here's today's total:
$3 Car wash

$20 Challenge
--$8 added to savings ($2 breakfast, $2 lunch; $2 dinner; $1 Bible reading $1 weighted hula hoop)
-- $1747.36 Debt

All in all today was an amazing day.

Yay I did it!

January 3rd, 2013 at 03:06 pm

Woke up this morning and paid off CC1 and CC2 total cost for both, $1726.63; well worth it.

Next I emailed our HR department. I was offered tuition reimbursement but I have since changed my program degree and wasn't going to ask for the money. But a thought came you could use that money , about $800 to pay off CC3, so I asked. Now I'm just in wait mode, the least they could say is no and I wasn't expecting the money anyway.

So today's challenge a whopping $1726 Big Grin

Not Enough Hours in a Day

January 3rd, 2013 at 03:06 am

Whew, super busy. First day back to work and we lost a coworker who was terminated last week. Honestly, she wasn't great for the job but I also think she was set up only because she was handed a mess and wasn't properly trained, the Agency failed her.

After work I hit Wall*Mart; not one of my favorite places, but I needed some items. Keep in mind I end up in a line with a problem and a manager was called. Next I went to another line to be skipped and the woman ahead of me held the line up checking price after price after price, only to tell the cashier she did not want the 15 or so items.

Next I made it home, updated my MS Money, made dinner, hula whooped for 20 minutes, completed the required professional development quizzes for grad school, read a chapter in my Bible, showered and now finally in bed. I am super tired, it seems as though there aren't enough hours in a day.

All in all I was able to add $18 to my challenge, giving me a grand total
of $26 since the start of the new year.
-$2 breakfast
- $2 lunch
-$ dinner
-$ 1 Bible read
$-1 work out
-$10 weekly $10 deposit to challenge.

Ended on a good note

January 2nd, 2013 at 01:55 am

Today ended on a good note. I am using ghee tablet, so I do not have my daily spending amount for today ( added to MS Money on the laptop).

I used the weighted hula hoop for about 35 minutes burning 207 calories.

I've decided to start slow and hit the gym twice a week , with a little cardio and strengthening.

$20 Challenge update:
$2 breakfast at home
$2 lunch at home
$2 dinner at home
$1 workout
$1 Bible read
Total $ 8.

Not bad for day one

What a day

January 1st, 2013 at 06:46 pm

Wow this day has hit a lot of bumps.

First my cellphone no longer works, and cost me $105 to upgrade. I do not buy the insurance because usually what I pay a month, adds up to more than if I upgrade after two years.

Next I went to Wal*Mart to purchase a new case and film cover (old one would not fit); cost, about $30.

Then I headed to Sam's to have my tires rotated, but they were closed Frown

On a good note, so far I've had breakfast and lunch at home, so I will add $2 to the challenge. Next I used my weighted hoops for twenty five minutes therefore, $1 will be added to the Challenge.

Now it's time to relax a little before I tackle some things for school.

2013 Goals

January 1st, 2013 at 01:44 pm

Happy New Year everyone!



Well it is day one of the new year. So I have decided to list my goals.

1. Pay off CCs 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Save $2000
3. Visit any state and tour
4. Get all As this semester
5. Purchase the villa I'm currently living in
6. Graduate with my Master's in Human Resource Management
7. Land a much better job
8. Do a little bit more networking and community activities
9. Cancel gym membership by 2/15, if we are not consistant

I think that's it. I made these so simple but doable