Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Yay it’s pay day. Today bright and early I was crunching numbers.

For the first time I decided not to pay extra on the mortgage and throw it at the credit card 💳. It was tough because I don’t want to lose the habit of paying the extra on the house but I want the CC gone. Extra payment on CC9 is $181, down to $3,495.18.

I socked cash away to all the sinking funds. I looked at my home repair fund and smiled. It’s $667, for some of you that may seem small but it’s huge for me. I know home ownership can be daunting for some, my sister is a great example. She bought a home last year July, too much home. Her mortgage is $1400, yikes! Her roof started leaking, she got a quote to repair and it was $300, small leak at the time. She didn’t have the $300. Now the leak is getting worst. I don’t want that to happen to me. When I knew I would be closing, I immediately set up a sinking fund and started budgeting for it. I’ve been in my home renting for 8 years prior to purchasing, no major repairs but I know Murphy could decide to visit. I’m praying that I get two years in without any major repairs.

I’m also proud of my Christmas and birthday sinking funds. It feels so good to know that this will be my second year that I can pay cash for Christmas and when birthdays, showers etc pop up I can pay cash.

Today’s spending
$185 HOA
$965.10 Mortgage
$181 CC 9
$65.13 Electric
$187

Savings
$25 EF
$25 Car maintenance
$25 Christmas
$11 Birthdays
$50 Home repairs
$20 vacation/fun
$88.80 HOA
$20 Sorority
————————-
$264.80 total

Sold an item on Poshmark and made $5.05, I’ll be adding this to CC9 💳.
I wish I could sell items like others, I have a bag full of clothes I can’t get rid of.

I broke down and had pizza and a salad for lunch yesterday, $8.50. Today my boss and I are going out and tomorrow it’s an old colleague.

Tomorrow is pay day, I can’t wait to knock these bills out, especially paying on the CCs 💳, who would have thought that paying down debt would be so exciting 🤦🏽‍♀️.

So my fiancé has a friend who recently had surgery. The friend has been out of work for a little bit. He decided, the friend, to sell prepared food meals. My fiancé ordered two meals from him for dinner tomorrow. I said to him, this is why it’s so important us to save. You never know what might happen.

I have a family friend in his 70s who is going to be evicted, he has diabetes and goes to dialysis twice a week. He never paid into SS, always worked under the table. Again, a prime example as to why I want to get my finances in order, you just never know. Plus if I had it together I could help both of these individuals.

Both of these situations breaks my heart.

Checked out my habit tracker and I have 12 days so far of no spending. The cool thing is I should meet and surpass my goal of 15 days.

This week is pay day, I should be sending off the April mortgage, and May HOA. We got the new electric bill and it went up. Not sure how or why but I need to figure out how to decrease this baby. I signed up for auto pay for the water, this drives me nuts because I never get the bill until after the fact. I’ll be canceling this.

If things keep trucking the way they should/are, I would have broke even with the grocery budget, I’m so excited to meet this goal. I’m usually over.

Other than these few miscellaneous items, I’m doing okay. Spending is down as well as debts this month and my net worth is doing a very slow, and I do my very slow shift from negative to positive. Slow and steady wins the race 🐢

I do have one more thing to report. I have a friend who just can’t seem to keep a job. She’s very outspoken and is one of the most helpful people I know. I’ve shared with her my journey paying off my debt, she listens but is not interested, I wish she would join me. Please keep her in prayer, she’s in need of a job desperately.

Found a great podcast, NPR LIFE Kits. Here the host talks about getting out of debt, goals and life. I absolutely love it, the only problem is, there’s four episodes.

One thing that was mentioned, is to celebrate when you achieve little goals to reward your self. I thought yay! Once I pay off CC9 💳 I’m going to do something, I don’t know what but something. I’ve been saving for this day, because I know CC10 💳 won’t be paid off until the end of of year.

I’m so stressed about these CCs 💳 and limiting my spending but what’s strange is I also love it, go figure. Just think, January 2020 I’ll only have these stupid student 👩🏾‍🎓 loans and the house 🏡 . I originally set the goal of five years debt free but looks more like 10. I’m okay with that, I’ll be in my mid 50s.

I’ve decided that if I don’t get a raise at my year anniversary, I’ll just look for another job in December. That will give me close to two years in management and I can really bump my salary. I love my job and my boss but the salary is extremely low. I won’t rush though, the goal is to be in the 90s close to home, with little travel.

SO news, I almost fell out of my chair this evening when he came home with actual groceries. Usually he buys junk. He had a pack of pork chops, chicken 🍗 , bread 🍞 , cereal 🥣, drinks 🥤, fruit 🍉 and snacks 🍪. I’m usually the one buying the groceries and I told him last week Thursday or Friday he needed to chip in. My grocery fund was out and I wasn’t buying anything else. As far as the bills, he’s stayed in track with paying, so far so good. 🤞🏾

My mother drives me absolutely nuts. This woman will make a great day go far left in two seconds.

She calls, doesn’t say hello, how are you, zilch. She just starts yelling in the phone. I have a headache 🤕, today we buried my dad’s girlfriend, I took a nap 💤 and I’ve been dreaming about her all day, my head is pounding. To answer the phone to screams is enough to make me want to just hang up on her. She had a document that needed to be signed, she ask me to sign, there’s two signature lines and I signed only one, you would have thought I yanked her teeth out 🙄🤦🏽‍♀️. The woman is miserable. I’d love to have a relationship with her but she makes it extremely difficult. I pray that I’m not like this when I get older.

All I can do is pray for her.

Different note, we got the house rented, I can’t wait to collect the $150, my portion, every month so that I can throw it at the credit card 💳 debt.

Tomorrow I’ll finalize my taxes and just rest.

There seems to be a problem with this site. I can’t view my previous posts or its comments. When trying to visit the site I’m constantly getting an error.

I posted yesterday and it’s gone

I’m so scared now. The Trump administration has proposed cuts that will impact student loans. There’s a possibility that the income driven payment program will be no longer for some, I’m included.

Right now my salary is $58k and based on that my payments are $172. I can’t imagine paying more until I get these credit cards paid off, and even then it will be tough.

I’ve been looking for a part time job so I can start tackling this thing but nothing.

Yesterday was pay day, I’ve managed to save and add to my CC 😀. I’ll update the totals later.

I got the refund check from my insurance company, I switched to Geico, saving me, $60 bucks a month. My mom wanted me to give her the check. I’m not going into details but I’ll say this, any time you get any one money from anything she expects a portion. Nope I’m adding the $101 to my CC once the check clears.

In different news I did not track my expenses all of last year, so my MSMoney software was all over the place. I just started a new one, I hope I keep up with it.

I also created a new habit tracker using, Google. I love filling in these little boxes, I find that it keeps me motivated. I added updating MSMoney to the list.

There was a time if I forgot to use a coupon I would say never mind, but I went back into Walmart for my $1 on Act. Lol

No spend day today, I’m excited and yet anxious. I want to take what I’ve saved in the sinking fund for vacation/fun and throw at my CC.

I’ve been saving to celebrate a small win, it’s been almost two years and I haven’t done anything fun per se. A part of me says CC debt, while another says, hold off until June and do something fun. I really want this debt gone.

Other news, when you’re on a budget you try new things. Today was the first day I made beef 🥩 stew. It was absolutely delicious. I bought the McCormick crockpot package, added onions, carrots 🥕, celery and potatoes 🥔.

This weekend I’m going to tackle the washing machine, I’ll keep you all posted.

Murphy is knocking at my door, I know he’ll be entering soon. The washing machine is on its way out. Thank goodness I started the house fund but I hate to see money spent on a washing machine.

I know of a scratch n dent place my dad use to go to, so Monday I’ll check them out. If it’s more than a $100, I’ll simply buy a new one. I’m annoyed but not upset.

Last night I was unable to update my planner but plan on doing so today. March goal is to get CC9 down to $3,000. I really wanted this sucker payed off by April but with the reduction in taxes (refund) that I didn’t not anticipate nor am I complaining, it pushes the pay off to late May/June. I’m okay with that because, I have pretty much averaged about a grand a month (pay down) on this card 💳 . At the rate I’m going I should have both credit cards 💳 paid off by October, and then I can finally tackle my student loans.

On my way home yesterday, I realized that God has been faithful to me, and I’m so thankful. Since I started this journey, I’ve been tithing. I’ve never did this before and since I have, I haven’t freaked out about expenses. Things pop up and boom 💥 I can pay it. No sweat off my back. We finally got the rental property rented, that’s an extra $150 my way, and I can throw it at my CC debt. I think Hod finally blessed us with a tenant since I’m managing His money properly. It just feels great

Yesterday my dad’s long time girlfriend passed away. She was such an amazing woman, I always wished he had married her. I’m just glad she’s not suffering, she doesn’t deserve that.

Financial news
I cashed out $5 on Receipt Hog 🐷, and I added to my CC debt, every little bit helps.

Yesterday I went to the dentist for a filling 🦷, $200. I was so ticked off you have no idea. One, because I had to spend $200 and secondly my funds from my HSA through my employer has not been deposited. The payroll coordinator is a nitwit, I’ll have to get with her today. I did pay cash, and know that I can get the money back but it’s just the principle.

Lastly, we got the rental house rented, I’ll get an extra $150 a month that I can add to my snowball. It’s not my property I just manage it.

I’m in a facebook group that challenges us to save money. This week we were to recreate a restaurant recipe. Tonight I made a sirloin steak 🥩. This was the first time ever, and it turned out great. Though it wasn’t a restaurant recipe I think I pulled it off.

I bought the steak at a discounted rate at Walmart, cost, $4.64. I already had rice, and my local grocery store 🏬 had salad BOGO, so I had a bag from last week.

I basically seasoned the steak with some steak seasoning I had already. I then left it in the fridge, in a ziplock, for a day. I added a little olive oil, and butter to the pan. I fried both sides for about ten minutes, then wrapped in aluminum foil, placed in the oven until my thermostat read, about 160. This was so delicious! Even the SO liked it. We had Olive Garden salad 🥗 dressing so the salad was amazing.

Overall this meal for two cost me about $6 total, winning.

Tomorrow I’m preparing chicken wingettes I got from Walmart I think for at $1.65, I know it’s less than $2. We have left over rice 🍚, and I’ll make another salad. Basically a $2 meal, can’t beat that.

Financial news, I cashed in my points on Receipt Hog 🐷 for $5, I’ll be adding this to the CC 💳

Finished up my taxes and I’m getting a whopping $750. I’m glad I don’t owe. I thought for sure I would have had to pay, especially since I got the money from my dad’s house.

So many people I know have to pay this year. I’ll be throwing all of it to the snowball.

Other news, I’m excited because my $608 payment hit my CC, total paid this month was just over $1300. I couldn’t help but wonder, what if I was throwing this at my student loans. I’m going to start looking for a second job again

I was talking to my mom this morning, she’s complaining that my 17 year old cousin, her neice, is not saving the money she’s receiving from social security after her mom died. I tried explaining to her that, if you’re not taught how to manage, then you won’t. She thinks telling you to save is enough. She has four children and all of us are bad with money. Three of her kids has lost a home, and one filed bankruptcy. She really upset me, because I’m late in the game and feel like no one taught me.

Hi all!

Today, I paid $608.65 on CC9, it feels greaaaaaaatttttttt! New balance is $3900.

I really thought I was going to struggle with this CC but God has allowed me to push through.

In different news my crazy brother started up again. I told my attorney that I’m not paying any other legal fees so what ever he wanted to do he can. Prior to my dad dying, I spoke with my siblings about putting a AC unit in the house, to bring dad home on hospice, and dad expressed he wanted to go home. The normal cost was over $5000 but we got a break because we paid cash. My brother subpoena the bank and saw the withdrawal. Um (I had power of attorney) like I told my attorneys all talked about and agreed. The ac was put in and three days later dad came home and died. He can give me the unit, I’ll put the money back but once dad dies the money is mine since I’m the beneficiary.

Crazy, I’m over it.

I’m so excited I can scream. I haven’t crunched the numbers but I suspect I’m under budget this month, and I know I’ve paid the CC down quite a bit.

Tomorrow is my day for planning so I’ll be playing around, adding things up to see just how it went.

I’ll also wrap up my taxes tomorrow as well.

I’m so excited I can scream. I haven’t crunched the numbers but I suspect I’m under budget this month, and I know I’ve paid the CC down quite a bit.

Tomorrow is my day for planning so I’ll be playing around, adding things up to see just how it went.

I’ll also wrap up my taxes tomorrow as well.

Yesterday was a great day, I didn’t spend a thing.

Today; however, is a different story. I’ll see the dentist for a cleaning, that’s about $100. I signed up for the HSA at work, so this should be covered. I also feel as though I may have a cavity 🦷, yikes!

In other news, I have two up coming birthdays, one my nephew (16) the other my great nephew (8). My 16 yo nephew I’m sending $50. My 8 yo nephew, I ordered him a walkie talkie, he has a younger brother in that he’s close to. The walk-in talkie was $16.99 via Walmart, with free shipping, plus I had a gift card so the gift cost me $3 total, yay. I hope the 8 yo likes his gift. These kids today want $100 gifts and it’s just not in my budget, I’ll let his parents pay for that.

Even though I have a fund for birthdays, showers and miscellaneous events that a gift is needed, I didn’t need to use the money in that account. I was able to add the gifts as line items to my budget. I’m actually coming in under in that I anticipated for both gifts, by $22. This will be added to CC9.

For the rest of the year I have my great niece graduating, and two other great nephews birthdays coming up. The fund will definitely cover these.

Taxes 🙄🤦🏽‍♀️
So I started my taxes, so far Turbo Tax has my refund at $700. I’ll take that vs owing.

Everyone is complaining about their refund, I adjusted my withholding last year and am glad I did. Of course this money will go to CC9

It’s been about two years since I have been on a vacation. Though I have a vacation/fun account the money always ends up being used to pay down debt.

There was a a time, when every year I took a vacation but since I started this journey almost two years ago I haven’t.

With that being said, I was scrolling through Facebook and I see a friend who is on vacation with friends. I thought, I want/need a vacation. How is it she’s always doing things? But then I remembered, this is the same friend who is constantly complaining about not making enough money and struggling. This is the friend who was whining about money that I cash app her a few extra dollars. She didn’t ask but I figured she’s a friend. After thinking about it I remembered that being debt free is more important to me than a vacation.

This journey is tough but patience will always prevail.

Just cashed out 27.65 in Ibotta bucks. I’ll be adding this to the credit card 💳

Though today is the last day in the week, I reviewed my finances anyway, up until today. Out side of extra on the CC, I paid out $745.11 this week.

* $370 HOA, this covers up to April
* $255 Sorority membership (sinking fund for this)
* $39 gas ⛽️
* $26.84 dining out, budget for this in my fun category but it bothers me that I spent this much. Mostly due to buying breakfast
* $22.82 groceries
* $22.59 household items 🧹. Went over budget this week. I needed a fogger ($10) my car, I have bugs 🐜.
* $6.52 personal car, much cheaper at home. I’d bought a few hair care items
* $2.34 in sales tax.

Other news, my cabinets are starting to wobble. I knew when I bought the place that they were going. I did start a house fund for repairs, I figured by next year I can replace them. To purchase from Home Depot and install myself ( I know someone who will install for free) it’s about $2,500. I feel good with saving for what I need. I can say this, until they fall off the hinge, I won’t replace.

Found a tenant for the other house. $850 a month, so I’ll take $450 a month, that’s $150 each between my two other siblings, and sock away the rest. I manage the place for them. This money is going straight to the CC.

Just paid an extra $164 on CC9 and it feels great. This month I’m slated to have added an $800 extra to that card. Balance is now $4,824.67 with the payment made today. I’m really hoping to get below the $4,000 mark by the end of the month.

I’ll be completing my taxes this weekend, if I get anything I’ll add it to the snowball. At the rate I’m going I should be able to knock CC9 out by end of May. It’s not with in the first quarter buy hey five months paying off 6k isn’t bad.

Great day today.

1. Activated my HSA account, I need to follow up with my employer the funds from the last pay date was not deposited 🙄
2. Switched automobile insurance companies, same coverage, $60 less a month.
3. Threw out old Halloween 🎃 candy 🍬 molds. I haven’t made any candy in years.
4. Found $16 in my car armrest, and $30 in my desk drawer that I had forgotten about.
5. Completed my application for Homestead exemption on the new place, this should reduce my taxes. 😊
6. Completed student 👩🏾‍🎓 loan application for income driven payments. Can’t wait to get rid of this crap 🤦🏽‍♀️
7. I normally don’t freeze leftovers but I froze rice and collard greens 🥬. Today I made a pot roast 🥩 and decided to pair it with the frozen left overs.
8. Walked to the mail ✉️ box vs. driving 🚗
9. Washed two loads of clothes 🧺
10. Turned of the AC and opened the sliders it’s gorgeous out.

As I walked to the mailbox, I was a little nervous. After last night’s dog attack, I really don’t want to be out.

Yesterday, my sister and I was talking. I don’t know why but I got so angry when she told me she didn’t have any money to save so she uses her credit card for emergencies 🚨

I tried explaining to her that she needed to budget, look for areas to cut, but she insisted that the credit card method worked. I left it alone.

She’s terrible with money, owed me right now. But I’ve taken that as a lost. As she talked about why she uses the card and why it works I got more angry. I’m thinking, if you don’t have anything extra for day to day, how did you pay the CC bill when it comes? 🤦🏽‍♀️🙄

Needless to say, I listened, got more angry, and kept my mouth closed. After speaking with her, it validated what I was doing was working and what I needed to continue to do.

Debt is dumb

Today was busy, got my dad’s second place rented. Well we found a tenant and now we start the process. I don’t own the place but I manage it for my siblings who gives me $150 a month. So this will go towards my CC.

I took the car in today and the pcv was broken. The mechanic told me I didn’t have to fix it but if I did it would be $100. I fixed it. That noise scares me as well as annoys me. I had the cash saved, also I don’t know if it’s me but the car is running really well.

Next I got a quote with Geico, it’s half of what I’m paying every month. Savings of about $80. Tomorrow I’ll finalize everything and move forward with them.

Other news, I’ve been shopping at Walmart for some time. I’ve never seen meat at a reduce price. Went in today and bam, five packs of chicken and one pack of pork chops for a little over $14. That’s about $2+ per package. I then headed over to Aldi and picked up grapes 🍇 strawberries 🍓 and carrots 🥕 $6. I’d say I scored.

Lastly, as I was walking up my walkway a pitbull 🐕 charged at me. I’m petrified of dogs, big or small, so for this happen made me even more scared. I emailed the HOA right away because all dogs are to be on a leash at all times. My neighbor has cameras so she will share the images with me. We think it’s one of our neighbors dog. Thank God all is well

Pay day and everything is paid. I love online banking, and the fact that I’m in a positioning that I can pay my bills early plus extra. The SO will provide his share on the 20th, I like paying things early. With the money I get from him, I throw it at my debt. It’s like a second job in that I’m not working. He seems to be on track, but again I’m not going to get my hopes up. Bad habits takes months to break and we are only about three months in.

Yesterday I paid an extra $25 on my mortgage, and extra $93 on CC9, I socked away about $300 all for sinking funds (e.g HOA, car insurance) and I have about $70 left this will be my fun money. Depending on how many no spend days between now and the next pay day, I’m sure I’ll be throwing this at CC9.

I’ve started back using the envelopes. Though I under spent last month, I can’t help but feel that the amount I’d under spent by would have been far greater had I used the cash vs. debit card 💳.

I’m also happy that I decided to have a sinking fund for any household repairs. I’ve been living in this home before purchasing for about 7 seven years and there hasn’t been any major repairs but as Dave says, Murphy is sure to show up so you need to be prepared. My privacy fence looks okay but it’s getting there so I want to be ready if need be. I’m also saving for hurricane shutters, this will reduce my insurance. I just like having the $500 in the repair fund just in case, it’s silly but it’s a natural Hugh watching this pot grow. Each pay period I’m adding to it.

Also my car 🚗 is making a strange noise, guess what I have money set aside for that. I feel so good about this. The last few car repairs I’ve been able to cash flow. By saving for upcoming repairs it definitely takes the stress out of things. I never use to do this, I’d just put it on the credit card. Only thing that bothers me is that as soon as I have a cushion of about $500, boom 💥 the car 🚗 needs to head to the shop. But it beats $300-$500 a month car payment.

My car 🚗 is a 2002 Camry with about 244,000 miles. I know sooner than later she’s going to head onto car heaven, and that’s why I haven’t touched the EF to pay off CC9. I’ve been pricing older model Camry and they’re anywhere between $6k and $8k. Goal is to pay cash. I’m done with car payments.

Last thing, I’ve practically cut out the salon 💇🏾‍♀️. Primary reasons, one it’s expensive, $45 a week. Secondly, I’ve asked her not to use a certain product because it’s drying out my hair and she continues. My hair has gotten so dry, and brittle, it’s awful. I’ve decided that I’ll go when there is a special occasion and when I need a hair cut.

January review
* Saved a total of $582.69
* Paid an extra $1079.93 on CC9
* Had 15 no spend days
* Lost one pound - I have to do better
* Almost finish book 1 for the year, I have to do better
• Paid an extra $100 on the house

$5156.20 is the balance as if today on CC9, before the new interest hits. I’m feeling really good. I’m trying to figure out how I can knock this down to $5000 before the new bill.

I was able to pay a total of $1074.69. If I can keep this up, for next four months, I’ll be done with this card by April. The goal was March but hey.

Feeling really good and accomplished.

My month in review

Well it looks like January was a great month. I crunch the numbers using my MS Money and I actually came in under budget. I did spend over in a few categories such as dining out and gifts 🙄🤦🏽‍♀️ but over all things were good.

The software isn’t sharing with me how much I paid down CC9 for this last budget period. I’m not sure why it’s not appearing on the report, strange. At any rate I’m going to log in and check my account later. I did drop the $500 payment today on it but it won’t post until tomorrow or Tuesday, I hate that.

Not sure what made me look but I was disgusted at what I paid in 2018 on CC9 interest, a whopping $1,102.65. All I could say was so much money wasted. This makes me want to get rid of this thing and others fasters. 😡

Different note, I’ve meal planned for the week and need to hit Walmart and Aldi, but it’s raining cats and dogs. Hopefully things will clear up