Amber's Personal Finance Blog

September updates

The following categories decreased:
* Cable by 28%
* Dining out $71%
* Groceries 54%
* Household 94%
* Personal care 82%

Net worth didn’t decrease by much, still negative, but at least there was a reduction.

Overall on my committed expenses (e.g loan, mortgage) I came in under budgeted by $1,103.74 or 14%.

Odd report shows only $50 added to retirement, I need to double check this.

Thank God the blogs are back up, I was seriously having withdrawals, miss you guys.


Here is what is happening with me.

I hate when this site is down. For a few days I could not log in. Anyone know of another site that we can join and transition to?

Anyway, I finally got a response from my attorney. Praise God I did not go with my last attorney I had.

Anyway, she received the documents from the bank that debunks my brother’s claims of me falsifying documents and put his attorney on notice if they decide to continue with this frivolous lawsuit. She informed him that if they continued she’d put him (his attorney) on the hook for my legal fees, in so many words to my understanding she’ll go after him. Now we sit and wait for their response, if they’re going to dismiss or not. Knowing my brother he is not going to let this go.

Keep praying for me.

Other news, I ‪read an article that an organization in that I applied for is having financial issues, they’re filling for bankruptcy. I cried after interviewing last year twice and not getting that job, but God had something better. I’m so thankful I did not get that job, there’s people who haven’t received their checks for about two weeks. ‬

‪I got a surprise in the mail today, $8 settlement check, added to the EF. ‬

‪I paid an extra $100 on CC10. Lastly, I lined dried two loads of clothes. I have to get a retractable clothes line so that I can start drying my sheets and towels. ‬

‪Sunday, was quite productive. I mopped the entire house, cleaned my patio, line dried two load of laundry 🧺 , walked 12k steps. ‬

Finally back on track. I took a week’s hiatus, things were super busy at work and this last week has been crazy.

First, the SO cousin’s wedding was beautiful, but his mom act a plum fool because she was sitting at the wrong table and had to move 🤦🏽‍♀️🙄

The next day at 6 am we took my mom to the hospital 🏥 she had an allergic reaction to something. Then at 11 am we took the SO grandson to the hospital for a possible seizure, all in one day.
Mid week the SO was attacked by bees 🐝 while working and his face looked like the elephant 🐘 man 🤦🏽‍♀️🙄. Thank goodness the Benadryl worked.

All this coupled with a work week from hell, open enrollment, employee relationship issues etc.

Today I finally took a look at my budget, last month was okay. I’m annoyed that I had to stop the snowball temporarily.
So last month...
* Paid only $409.18 to CC9
* Saved $506 of income ( this include the dividend of $4.04)
* I had a few items I went over budget in, not too bad
Tomorrow I’ll take a look at my habit tracker, to see how things went

Revisited my budget and this is a tough month. I signed up for something last year, that I really didn’t want to do but hey, it’s done now. I’m just ticked off at myself and the fact that I won’t be adding anything extra to the CC 💳, other than about $70.

Other news, I’m really glad that I’ve socked away for birthdays and other things that require gift buying, that I may have forgotten. We had a wedding this past weekend, and we (SO) split the gift, $25 each. I took my portion from my fun envelope but transferred the money from the birthday sinking fund right back. Lol, what’s weird is I forgot about the account and was upset I had to spend the money, I thought how could you not budget for this. Then I realize I had actually saved for it. Duh 🙄 It feels so good to not use CCs 💳 and to save for things.

Last night I came home my car window won’t go up, it appears as though there’s something with the rubber, it’s off track blocking the window to go up 🙄. Murphy always seem to appear when things are going great.

Lastly, the weekend was crazy, mom went to the hospital, allergic reaction and the SO grand baby went as well, all in the same day. Plus I started feeling like crap 🤢. Thankfully everyone is home and I’m feeling better.

Credit card 9 💳 is really getting on my nerves. I want this sucker paid off. I’m contemplating taking the money saved for any home repairs and adding it to it. I have an EF so if anything happens I can use that. One minute I’m stoked about doing it, the next I’m nervous as hell. 😬

I finally completed my taxes, and hit the submit button. I’m looking at about $633 return. This will be adding to the CC.

The budget meeting with the SO didn’t happen, I was a little disappointed but hey that’s on him. I’m still trucking along on my financial peace journey without him. Something drastic has to happen for him to change. I told him we will continue to live as roommates, splitting everything.

After reviewing and crunching numbers, it looks like I should have both CCs paid off by early September (CC9 should be gone by end of April early May) and from that point on it’s the infamous student loans 👩🏾‍🎓. I’m really hoping to pick up a second job by then.

Lastly, though I follow Dave Ramsey, I never read his book, “The Total Money Makeover.” 📖. I have listened via audio 🔊, but you know how that goes, your cleaning 🧹, doing other things so you’re more likely to miss something. I’m excited to dive in. Last month I finished, Rachel Cruze’s, “Love Your Life, Not Theirs.”
I’m also read a book by Zig Ziegler, that I checked out online at my local library. What’s great about this is, in the middle of the night 🌙 when I can’t sleep 💤, I can read.

Took a look at my budget and so far I am pretty much on the verge of breaking even for the month of March. I have a new line item to add, hurricane season🌪. Hurricane season is approaching and I want to be ready, it’s always a nightmare in the stores if a storm is named and heading our way.

The SO and I will be sitting down tonight to create his budget. Yes, he’s decided to work on one. He wants this relationship to work and he knows that finances are a huge issue for me. I’ve shared, don’t do it for me but because you want to.

Apparently his mother called yesterday and told him she’s short $600 for payroll. Smh, she is unbelievable. For reason he still hasn’t gotten to the point where he will take the business over fully. I guess the same reason why I haven’t thrown him out. I simply mind my own business and continue to live like roommates splitting the cost of everything. Basically when he pays me, I use that money to knock down CC9. I tend to pay my bills as if he’s not paying anything. This year so far, he hasn’t been late 🤞🏾.

Next week we have a wedding to attend, I would love to buy an outfit but I’m scrounging around in my closet to see what I have. I think the money I have in my fun/splurge account I’m going to throw it at the CC.

Another one of my items sold on Poshmark, that’s $10 this week, you know where that’s going, CC9 💳

I’m considering signing up for Acorn, any one use it?

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.