Well tomorrow my tax return is expected to deposited but I'm annoyed because I now need to buy a new computer plus I'm having my wisdom tooth extracted.

I was really hoping to pay off three CCs with that money but now it only looks like one.

I'm glad I have the money to pay cash but I really wanted those CCs paid off

Saw my older brother today and he gave me $40. I was debating if I should pay this on CC 3 and then I thought, why not?

If he hadn't given me the money, I would not have had it to pay but since he gave it to me and I wasn't hurting for the money, I paid the extra cash on the CC.

It feels really good to see the CC get knocked down by so much, I can't wait until its paid off.

Called the accountant today to try and set up an appointment on Tuesday.

On a different note I am itching to tell someone but I have an interview on Tuesday for a HR assistant. As you know I'm in grad school and is set to graduate with a masters in HR management, this will be a great opportunity to get my foot wet. Keep your fingers crossed.

Went to Walmart and forgot my bank card so the BF ended up paying for my personal items saving me $6, so I paid $6 on CC 3

I am really proud of myself I have knocked that credit card down by almost $500 within one month. I am really hoping to have it paid off by the end of the next month

Hopefully I'll have completed my taxes and can submit any thing extra to two CC, we will see

I have been paying extra on tbe credit card all month, and to be honest I really dont know how much extra. The total I would estimate is about $400 thus far

I am hoping to have this card paid off by the second week in March

Sorry but my side bar totals are all wrong; I have to go back and run the reports to update the balance.

Thats it for now just glad I'm making progress.

Well after I posted my last post, I said to hell with it and paid the $300 on CC4 that is my $20 Challenge/debt.

I have approximately 15 days to get another CC paid off, the goal is to pay off 1 CC a month. I actually paid three off last month. So rather than watching the funds in my saving account earn very little interest while the CC racks up a lot more, I decided to knock that card down from $1385 to $1085.

It's scary because you're always thinking of the what ifs, but I have a little more than $5000 in my EF, I am slated to receive another $3000 in taxes that i plan on paying off another $1500 CC and putting the remainder in the EF account. So I should have at least 7 months of expenses if anything happens. The goal is to have at least one year though.

I will say this, it's easy to get into debt but it is hard and scary at the same time getting out.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Tomorrow is the 31st and before the year has ended I'd like to pay off CCs 1, 2, and 3. This will mean that the EF will be a little bit low but atleast I'll have three CC paid off and half way to paying off the 4th.

I asked the BF for the $400 he was short and received it. I told him what the bills average a month and the day I'd like the funds (25th) each month. At this point I explain I do not care how he gives me the money so long as he has his share by the 25th.

Who said eating healthy while making lifestyle changes would be easy?

I saw the doctor a few months back and he advised me I was borderline for high cholesterol, not to mention all the back problems I've been having.

So I decided to change my eating habits and workout more, I must say I have seen some improvements.

Today I worked out using my weighted hula hoops as well as hitting the gym which allowed me to add $2 to my challenge.

Furthermore, I did not eat out so $6 was added as well.

Lastly , today was a no spend day so another dollar was added.

All in all I saved $9 today, $6 of it went towards debt (CC1)

Tomorrow is payday and I have $57 left in my "what ever I want to do account." This time around I can't add it to debt or any to my IRA because the BF is short this month for his portion of the bills. I may as well hold on to it vs. transferring money from the EF later.

Well that's it in a nutshell.

Well I thought today was going well until...

The BF mentioned he needs to borrow money. I don't know how much, so no answer was given. I'm leaving it at that for now.

On a different note (more positive that is) I did not eat out today so $6 was added to the $20 Challenge/debt (CC1)I also went to the gym so I added $2 to the $20 Challenge/EF account.

School is whining down and I'll have a little break after the 8th, whew.

Other than that, that was my day in a nutshell

Today wasn't a bad day, I went to Target to earn my ShopKick points. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have enought points to earn a $25 gift card which I plan on buying some paper towels, soap etc. with the gift card.

My coworker gave me three brand new shaving cream because she no longer has hair since her chemo, and she also gave me a small thing of unopened butter. I figured, total this stuff would have cost me about $12 so I'm going add $6 to my challenge/EF and the other $6 to my challenge/cc account.

Currently I'm still waiting on my BCBS gift card ($200), I plan on paying my cable and cell phone with this and adding what I would have paid to my challenge/EF. But right now I'm in wait mode.

Today I packed my breakfast and lunch, and I already have dinner prepared so $6 will be added to my $20 challenge
-$3 challenge/EF
-$3 challenge/CC

I am really proud of myself, one not giving up on my saving, two- controlling my spending, even when I'm tempted and three- knocking down my CC

To move that is. My mother is an evil and spiteful woman. She walks around the table so she doesn't pass me by or she'll hold onto her dress so that the tail of it doesn't accidentally hit me. For real? She is really a sick woman

Then my sister comes by and ask me again for money, really? What has changed since Saturday to Tuesday? Nothing! I'm sorry I do not have any money that I can afford to lose at this time. I think she asked again because my BF was there and probably was hoping he would have provided it to her but we have had a discussion about him spending money foolishly.

On a different note I think my BF will have the new job, the gentle who he spoke with wife called back and asked for a written estimate. Roughly the job will be about $1775, with $700 of it being our take home pay perfect for the move. Oh BF does landscaping.

Today I added $3 to my Challenge/EF and another $3 was paid on CC1 brining that total down to $144.35. I can't wait until this is paid off.

Went to Target to pick up a few things and to earn some ShopKick points I used my Target Visa Card to save 5% which was about $.64 saved and then went straight to guest services to pay my bill which was $13

It's funny a few years ago I would have charged this amount along with others while accumulating debt not worrying about paying the bill until the bill came. Wow, it feels so good to be on a different path

I almost forgot, I added the $.64 to my challenge EF as soon as I got in the car, lol

Okay I received a call from the HOA to come in for an interview on Monday, I have my fingers crossed but I am still very nervous. See change scares me; eventhough, I have lived on my own in the past and did very well, I'm still nervous.

Next, I went ahead and paid $100 on CC1, I was a little nervous because I really don't want to spend any money since I plan on moving. I know it sounds crazy, I'd rather have no debt, or less debt when I move but I'm still nervous about it. The funds spent came from a personal account which I use for things like my hair, nails etc. so I pretty much cleaned that account out. I still have $ in the EF but that will decrease once I move as well. On a good note, I now have $144 left to go on CC1 before I can tackle CC2.

Moving right along, as I was at my dad's yesterday, my BF stopped by the house and my mother gave him the "low down" per se on why we're not speaking. He says the story she gave was pretty much the same as I told him; however, what annoyed me is he told her about the interview I had coming. I know it's silly but I'd prefer she knows absolutely nothing about me. She told him she wanted her house key, which hurt a little but at the end of the day is fine with me. I guess she doesn't trust me. If that's the case when her cd becomes due this month, she can have it, I'm done paying the taxes on it.

Now onto to my dad, I received a call from my brother who rents the efficiency my dad has to say that my nephew (my sister's) child had just broken his window out and the door. You see this kid is bad news, my sister has allowed him to be rude and disrespectful, and now at 27 he is out of control. Long story short, I'm not in jail because if he had hurt my dad I know I would have been, dad decided not to have him arrested and my brother fixed the window and door temporarily.

Im waiting on the 1099 INT documents from the banks. I don't think I earned over $600 interest, actually I'm almost positive but I'd rather be safe than sorry. The problem is my brother has an account in my name because he is considering filing for bankruptcy and my mother has a cd in my name as well. Both have a nice chunk of change in them but I don't think it's enough that requires me to file with my taxes.

So before I hit the send button, I'll wait.

On a different note I have racked up about $240 in mileage for the month of January, as soon as this check is received I will pay off CC1 and then start on number 2. The good thing is I think by my next pay period I will have about $200 left over and that's going into my savings

Whew within two days I received two checks, $10 from Macy's and $60 from Aflac. Also BF provided me the $200 for the rental car so I'll pay the $270 on the CC.

I had left overs for lunch and was sitting at the table and I notice my mom was banging things. I think she wanted a response but I continued to eat my lunch while reading my book. Next she went into her room and closed the door, something she never does.
The funny thing is I was going to wait to eat but realized it takes more energy for me to change certain things than just going about my daily routine, while realizing that it must be killing her to go out of her way to do things out of spite. For example, hiding food, closing her room door-something she never does, calling all over town for someone to call my brother to tell him to call her( she doesn't have long distance so she usually use my cell phone). I'm just thinking once I just went back to my day-to-day it was easier for me to cope with her words.

Wow now I understand what a championship fight feels like. I am on my way to a TKO. Just paid $200 on CC1 and the balance is now about $250. I think by time I get paid again it will be paid off, or knocked out. Lol

I can't believe it's not quite a week yet, and I've knocked off about $300 plus what ever interest I would have paid on this CC. I am really feeling great.

On a different note, I've been using my crockpots and dinner has been delicious not to mention cost effective. So far I have added 12$ to my challenge/EF. Brining my total saving close to $1100

Things are looking great. Now I am just hoping I receive my GC from BCBS before my trip next week.

As the new year approach us, I haven't really thought about what I'd like to accomplish for the new year, but here it goes.

-Pay off auto loan (Balance $1700)
-Pay off 3 CCs (Balance $3500)
-Move (I really want to be in my own place by the end of the year)
- Save an additional $1000 (EF)

I think if I keep my goals at a minimum, it will be less stressful and much easier for me to accomplish. Yes, I have more CC debt than listed but getting rid of the first three earlier in the year will make it much easier to pay off the others.

Moving forward, the Heat won tonight so $1 was added to my challenge/EF. In addition, I had lunch, breakfast and dinner at home so $6 was paid towards my challenge/cc debt.

Lastly, I purchased some really nice Gucci frames today. I always wanted really nice glasses. Anyway, I had about $306 in my Eflex account and my new glasses cost $305. I actually make no contributions to my Eflex, all funds were supplied by my employer so my glasses cost me zero dollars

Well I went to BestBuy with the BF last night, and he bought 2 CDs totaling almost $40. All I could say to myself is You can't be serious? Really? Just two or so days before you didn't have money to put gas in your car and you receive a few payments ( for jobs he had done) and you go and buy CDs, wow. Unbelievable! And to top it off, his family is having a get together and requested, by his aunt, that everyone gives $25, of course I was perplexed, she couldn't be serious. $25 to attend a BBQ? $10 from each person would be more than enough to buy food and drinks. Needless to say I told him I was not going. In the end, the aunt asked him to buy a case of chicken, a little more than $50, and of course he did. He has a serious problem of not wanting people to think he is "broke" per se; however, moving forward I don't have a problem with it. If people think I am "broke" which by the way I am, that's perfectly fine with me, because they won't ask me to buy any thing.

I know when Monday or Tuesday rolls around and he has no gas money or lunch for work, he better not look my way because I am BROKE!

So the good news, I deposited the $150 my dad gave me into my challenge/EF account, keeping my end of year goal--$1000 saved by December 31( I started November 14th).
Also today I will tackle CC1 making a $120 payment vs. the minimum payment, brining the total down to about $520 the goal is to have this CC payed off by January 31st.

I know I have said this before but I am glad to be back blogging about my finances. This blog keeps me accountable, I'm more embarrass to say I spent foolishly to strangers than I am friends, not to say we're not friends.
I feel as though, those of us on this blog is somewhat a sort of family without faces
Thanks to all of you who read my blogs, who are honest about things that you see that I am blind too, your thoughts and opinions mean a lot to me

Dad gave me $20 today so $10 went towards my CC balance and the remaining was split among EF, new home fund and personal saving. I am loving the fact that I'm back on track

Blogging for me is a way to save money. It's a competition, it's also accountability coupled with some form of embarrassment if I do not save or pay down debt. So just a little thank you to SavingAdvice.
Okay yesterday I bought dinner, cost $30 so I split what was spent on dinner was also spent on saving so as follows: $15 CC, $5 towards EF, $5 towards challenge/home fund and $5 towards my personal spending account. It's funny because I have close to $200 in my personal spending account to do what ever I want and I don't want to touch the money.
I also found $10 in my room so this was split 4 ways as well. $2.50 to EF,CC, challenge/home and personal account.
Tomorrow is payday and CC2 will be paid in full

Feeling great, I feel like I'm making progress. Yesterday I paid an extra $100 on CC number 2 and today an extra $14 on CC number 3. Friday is payday so CC 2 with a balance of $500 will be paid in full I'm so excited. Then school is out and I should be reimbursed for my tuition in which CC 3 will be paid off with those funds. I'm also almost at my goal of $1000 for the EF.

I bought lunch yesterday for $11 so I went to pay the same amount on my Target Visa but unfortunately you're only allowed to make 2 online payments in a week, wow.
So I went ahead and paid $15 on the HSBC cc because I also bought breakfast this morning

On a good note I got my JC Penney CC finally under the credit limit

So my little method appears to be working