Amber's Personal Finance Blog

I know I may be a little late but I've signed up for the Ibotta app, that apparently provides rebates for everyday purchases. I'm just curious, has anyone else signed up? If so what are your pros and cons?

I find the app to be very user friendly, I've already earned $2.25, can't wait to hit the $10 mark so that I can cash in.

Join my team by coying the link below

https://ibotta.com/r/uuvpoqb

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope you all had a joyous holiday season.
I've been super busy with the new job, that I enjoy but think my boss is an idiot

I've started the 52 Week Challenge up again, last year I used the funds to pay down debt. This year it's going to be towards purchasing the condo I'm renting.

I've decided to start with week 52 as well as week 1. The funds started at week 52 will be added to my house fund. And the funds started at week 1 will be towards paying debt. Double the fun

Any extra funds will be added to the house fund. Today dad gave me $168, I won $11 on a scratch off that someone gave me, and mom gave me $20 for my birthday , all added to the 52 week challenge. All in all an extra $199 was added today but I think I'll put the extra buck on it to make $200

Week 51 and 52 was added, new balance $303 I'm so excited.

I notice that over the years, I have always spent money on my BF kids during Christmas, but as of last year no more.

I would buy for his his kids, my nieces, nephews and God-daughter. I often thought what a waste of money. He can add my name to the gifts he buys and vice versesa. He never bought for my nieces and nephews so I'm okay with it. Nor did he buy for my parents, I often bought for his. It's crazy what I would spend during the holidays, but times are changing and as Dave Ramsey says, " I want to live live like no else so that later I can live like no one else."

I earned enough points to purchase a $25 Macy's gift card for my niece and a $25 Toys R Us gift card for my nephew. Two down and three to go.

I'll cash in my Humana points for a Target gift card to but my God-daughter, and two other nephews their gifts and then I am done.

Hi all!

In December I will be eligible for my company's 401k. I'm not too aggressive but have no clue on where I should park my funds.

Can someone help me with this?
If so please send me an email at veronak@hotmail.com

Well I went ahead and paid off the no interest CC. In my heart, I know I did the right thing but my mind tells me differently.

I will say this it feels darn good to know that I went from about 10 CCs to only four. Hopefully by December I will be down to three.

Last week's sermon message was "If you don't have a plan then you plan to fail." With a little bit of determination and effort I have been sticking with my plan and it feels great to see things coming into place.

Normally when I do not blog I tend to fall off the wagon. But I am proud to say, I am still trucking along. Bumped my EF up, added to my IRA and paying down debt. It feels great.

Oh and the job is going great. Been there now for 90-days and had a great review.

Things are starting to fall in place. Thank God.

Hi all!

It's been a awhile but I haven't stop working on paying off debt and saving.

I've been on the new job now for three months and was able to sock away a little over $1000 to rebuild my EF. I've also been able to add about $200 to my IRA account. Not much but something is better than nothing. Not to mention I've been getting the debt down as well.

So I have a question for you all. I have an extra $500 set aside, different than my EF.
I owe about $450 on a no interest CC, interest doesn't start until 2016. I'm sure I'll have it paid off before then. I owe about $1400 on another CC, with interest. I'm not sure if I should pay off the no interest CC first or add the funds towards the CC that is accumulating interest. If I was to pay the $500 on the interest CC that will bring the balance down to $900. Next Tuesday is payday and I can add another $300 on that balance, leaving a balance of about $600. So I wanted your thoughts, which should I pay off first?

I like the Dave Ramsey way of paying off debt starting with the smallest debt, it just seems like I'm accomplishing thing.

OMG! I've been super busy with the new job, that I haven't kept up with my blog.

For the most part, I've been following through with adding funds to the EF, and IRA accounts. As well as paying extra on the CC.

I removed the Target Visa from my wallet. I notice that even though I charge items, then pay the charge right after it's just no worth it. Sometimes I just can't make the payment right then. Sometimes the store is too busy and I don't have time to go to the service desk to make a payment. Not to mention, Target only allows two payments a week. Not worth the 5% saving if I can't make the payment right away.

Dad gave me $20 last week so I added that to my challenge.

Lastly, three things I'm thankful for:
• Finding a church
• Getting a massage ( I have terrible low back pain)
• getting my finances order

Stop by my mom's because my sister said she wasn't feeling well, and out of the blue she gave me $40. I was both thankful and surprised.

As far as her health, she's dehydrated and was told to drink plenty fluids. My neice, who is a nurse, said she'll go by later and check on her. I didn't stay long, because mom and I don't have the best of the best relationship.

Since it was tax free weekend on clothing and school supplies, I was going to take the extra $40 and buy me something, but the saver in me said add that money to my $20 House Challenge and so I did.

Glad I'm back to saving

Stop by my mom's because my sister said she wasn't feeling well, and out of the blue she gave me $40. I was both thankful and surprised.

As far as her health, she's dehydrated and was told to drink plenty fluids. My neice, who is a nurse, said she'll go by later and check on her. I didn't stay long, because mom and I don't have the best of the best relationship.

Since it was tax free weekend on clothing and school supplies, I was going to take the extra $40 and buy me something, but the saver in me said add that money to my $20 House Challenge and so I did.

Glad I'm back to saving

1. Spoke with my aunt today, I met her for the first time two weeks ago. It feels really great getting to know my dad's side of the family

2. This is always on my list, spending time with my dad. As he battles with early stages of dementia for me it's just great having him in my life

3. A wonderful job. I found myself getting a little overwhelm but I took a break and got things back together, all while managing to stay positive

I know I said three things but I wanted to add one more

4. Having my portion of the rent money. It's been about eight months since I've been able to contribute but it feels good to be able to get the ball back rolling with things

Happy Tuesday


Well things have been going pretty well, just wanted to bring you all up to speed.

First my cousins, uncles, and aunts; that I never met , all returned home yesterday safely. It was really nice to meet everyone. We're all friends on Facebook , so that's really nice.

Next, dad gave me $50 so I transferred the extra money to my challenge/ house fund account. I'm really seeing a difference with this account

Ugh! I had to swing by my mom's to talk with my sister, who lives with my mom, and she (mom) still isn't talking to me because of an incorrect address on a box I shipped. Smh and I really don't care.

On a different note, today was payday, I couldn't do my 10% EF, 5% IRA and 3% CC but I was able to add $40 to the EF; paid $20 on the CC debt and deposited $20 to my IRA account. How I see it, something is better than nothing.

Lastly, three things that I'm thankful for:
• Roof over my head
• running water
• learning VLookup in excel

Well here are my three things that I'm grateful for:
• running water
• my back pain subsiding
• my dad's long time girlfriend, she really takes care of him

Great day today. My new manager is attempting to teach me everything benefits so that I can be the next benefits administrator. I'm a little nervous and excited at the same time.

While in grad school benefits/compensation wasn't my favorite subject, even when I was studying for my PHR, I hated it. But when I say for the exam, I did very well, so go figure.

I'm hoping to be with this organization for the next five years, they're growing and I'm learning.

Today was a good day as far as spending goes. I had breakfast at home, packed my lunch, and dinner is made, so I'm add $6 to my challenge/emergency fund.

I almost forgot, my BF who held the fort down while I was unemployed for eight months, had the nerve to ask me to finance a $8,000 lawn mower. My answer was NO!

Lastly, three things that I'm thankful for:
• My friends here on Saving Advice. The support I receive here whether it's on my finances or my personal life means so much to me. I am truly thankful
• My car. Thank God I have reliable transportation without any car payments
• My BF mom is out of her coma and is responding

That's it in a nutshell

Great day today. My new manager is attempting to teach me everything benefits so that I can be the next benefits administrator. I'm a little nervous and excited at the same time.

While in grad school benefits/compensation wasn't my favorite subject, even when I was studying for my PHR, I hated it. But when I say for the exam, I did very well, so go figure.

I'm hoping to be with this organization for the next five years, they're growing and I'm learning.

Today was a good day as far as spending goes. I had breakfast at home, packed my lunch, and dinner is made, so I'm add $6 to my challenge/emergency fund.

I almost forgot, my BF who held the fort down while I was unemployed for eight months, had the nerve to ask me to finance a $8,000 lawn mower. My answer was NO!

Lastly, three things that I'm thankful for:
• My friends here on Saving Advice. The support I receive here whether it's on my finances or my personal life means so much to me. I am truly thankful
• My car. Thank God I have reliable transportation without any car payments
• My BF mom is out of her coma and is responding

That's it in a nutshell

I try my hardest to stay clear of my mother. She always have a way of making me feel like, why was I ever born.

Long story short, last week I stopped by because she wasn't feeling well. I knew I didn't want to be there too long but when I got there she asked me to address some boxes. Honestly I was extremely tired. I just wanted to stop in and go but she had some tasks for me. I addressed the box, did the other task and left. Well today she called yelling and screaming that I wrote the address wrong and that the person who was to receive the items hadn't. I asked if she had double check the boxes, since she was there yelling at the time that I was writing out the address and she tells me no then hangs up. I'm like what the crap.

First of all I got off late, secondly you have a 101 items for me to do when I get there. I'm exhausted plus frustrated. As I'm completing your tasks, you're yelling about something else. And lastly we don't have a good relationship so the only thing on my mind is getting out of there. I'd say I was bound to make a mistake. Ugh. The thing that bothers me most is she only called to tell me what I did wrong and then hangs up.


On a different note I deposited $4 to my $20 challenge because I had breakfast at home and packed my lunch. I also transferred $5 to the EF account because I went to Boston Market and picked up sides for dinner and had a cheese burger after work.

I forgot to add the $2 I saved today for using my coupons, I'll do that tomorrow.

On a different note, here are my three things that I'm thankful for:
• Another day that God has allowed me to see
• being able to push my mother's words and actions about the mailing address off to the side. I almost cried/crumbled but I looked at the positive, she won't ask me to do it again
• getting to bed before 11, whew

Three things that I'm thankful for today are:

• My health
• God watching over me
• My job

Went back to Publix and picked up five more Capri Sun ( 10 in each) for 79 cents. They're on sale for $1.79 but Publix has a coupon for $1

Since I saved $5 using my coupons, I transferred this amount to my $20. :-)

I picked up a few more coupons so I'll pick up five more cases of the Capri Sun after work tonight

Today I've decided to start back couponing, why I stopped ? I don't know.

I asked the BF to bring home his mom's Sunday paper because she never uses the coupons. I also asked my sister to bring her coworkers papers home (they use to save them for me).

So since I'm back couponing, I went to Publix and picked up three boxes of Capri Sun for 79 cents each. Not bad, each box hold 10. Publix has a dollar off coupon in their coupon book. While there I picked up a few of their booklets and tomorrow I plan on picking up about 10 more boxes. Being that I take these to work, they should last until Christmas

On a different note, I wanted to share my three things that I'm thankful for:
• I'm thankful for this blog. Stumbling on this site about 8 years ago has really changed my financial world for the better. Not saying I haven't stumbled but that this site has allowed me to make better financial decisions.
• I'm thankful for the money saved on the Capri Sun
• Thankful for seeing my great nephews and neice today, it was nice seeing them

That's it for me, wishing everyone a great work week

Three things that I'm thankful for:
• Meeting my dad's brother and sister, as well as my cousins. I'm 40 so this was great
• Spending another joyous day with my dad
• Being happy for a change

Received my final check from Target and made the following contributions, every little bit counts:
• 10% to EF = $30.68
• 5% to IRA = $16.50
• 3% to CC3= $9.40

I wanted to add the 3% off CC payment to my Target card but Target only allows you to make two payments within 7 days, so I applied the amount to my Bank of America account. I thought this was ridiculous, talk about keeping you in debt.

I also ended up eating lunch with my boss and colleagues. I wasn't too happy about spending the money since I had packed my lunch. One of the girls was fired today, so the HR director decided to take us out to try and smooth things over but I ended up spending $12 for lunch and $5 for a tip so I transferred $17 to my $20 Challenge. Ugh.

In the end that was it for the day as far as spending goes, I hope.

Now for my three things that I'm thankful for:
• A running/paid for vehicle
• Seeing another day
• Not being homeless

I've decided to add another challenge to my life, and that's staying positive. I can honestly say that looking at the good vs. the bad actually helps train your brain and your attitude.

Since I've started the new job I decided I will not let anything frustrate me. I've decided to stay positive and doing so has really worked. For example, the woman who is training me has raised her voice, snapped at me and became frustrated (literally), when I asked her a question. I just simply smiled, read my positive quote and went on about my day. Normally I would lose it, but I thought, it's just not worth it. She actually reminds me of the old me. Needless to say being positive makes a world of a difference.

So for my challenge, I am suppose to list three things that I'm thankful for, and here they are:

• I'm thankful to be back working
• I'm thankful for meeting my aunt and uncle for the first time
•I'm thankful to be finally working on my attitude, and recognizing that I maybe the problem

Lastly, I deposited $8 to my $20 challenge for 1) making breakfast at home and 2) packing my lunch. Unfortunately after work I headed over to dad's and stop by McDonald's, I ended up spending $3.32 so due to dining out I match this amount and then rounded up to $4 to pay on my CC

That's it in a nutshell

Added this week's fund to the challenge. I am trying to catch up, so I added $50 for week 50 and $3 for week 3, for a total of $53.00

YTD contributions: $159.00

For the $20.00 I added $12.00; $6.00 for packing lunch and breakfast yesterday and $6 for today. Plus my mom gave me $50.00, I almost fell out my chair when she did that.

YTD: $165.00

That's it in a nutshell

Blogging keeps me honest. Even though; we don't know each other personally, I feel as though we're family and I owe to you all (and myself) to be honest while staying on too if things.

Now that I'm back working I'm also back to blogging. I really need to stay on top of this if I want financial freedom. I've done it once so I know I can do it again.

With that being said, today I made breakfast at home, so I deposited $2 to the EF. I also packed my lunch, so I added another $2 to the EF. But I ended up purchasing dinner for two for $12, adding $12 to my challenge

All in all I socked away $14 extra dollars

Tomorrow I receive my final check with Target so I should be able to put away about $55

Yay! I received my first paycheck today, only for one day but I was able to make my deposits/contributions

• 10% to EF - $13.50
• 5% to IRA - $6.07
• 3% to CC4 - $3.46

I really want to keep up with this no matter what. How I see it, it's not much in the short- term but in the long run it will be well worth it.

Tomorrow I should be receiving my final check from Target for the few days I worked. I estimate that might be about $300.

Lastly, I'm going to need everyone's help once I sign up for the company's 401k, I'm not sure how to allocate my funds.

I've decided that no matter what I was going to break down/ allocate funds from my paycheck as follows:
• first 10% EF
• 5% of that balance to IRA
• 3% of that balance to CC debt

For example $300 check
• 10% = $30 to EF leaving a balance of $270
• 5% of $270 = $13.50 to IRA leaving a balance of $256.50
• 3% of $256.50 = $7.69 to be paid on CC debt leaving a balance of $248.80 in checking.

So I'm sure you get my drift , I just thought this will be a much easier way for me to save while living, I think, below my means

In the end, I challenge my self to save the above listed percentages.

I'll have to see how things go

Well I just changed my nail polish. Normally this would cost me about $23 including tip so I am adding this amount to my $20.00

Balance:$291.37
YTD:$103.00

As you all know I was unemployed for quite some time, but I'm back to work and am extremely happy. I have vowed, not to take work home(e.g emails, voicemails), always smile no matter what, stay positive, and to do the best I can.

I think if I stick with this frame of thought, work will be fun, and I won't become anxious or consumed with things that only brings me anxiety.

I've decorated my workspace so that it is fun and positive. I hung some amazing qoutes, purchased a daily devotional/stay positive calendar, a pink lamp and scissors, and I made polka dot letter trays. I think, if my work environment appears to be fun, then work should be fun. In the past I never decorated my workspace because I always went in with the thought of, if I got fired. But for some reason, I feel at home in my new job, and I feel like I will be there for awhile, so why not make it my own.

Now for the 52 week challenge. Since I was out of work for awhile, I was unable to contribute to my challenges, so I'm trying hard to catch up. And to do this I started backwards with the 52 week challenge.
This week I'm on week 51 so I deposited $51 to my saving. I'm also going to work this thing starting from week 1. Therefore I added $2 since I'm on week two

Total deposited for week 2/51: $53

YTD $106

Not too bad

Hope everyone had a great fourth.

I can say I had a wonderful fourth until we were leaving the fire work display and some idiot decides to set off fireworks into a crowd and guess who got hit with one. Me, ugh.

I couldn't hear for about 2-5 seconds, that was the longest few seconds ever, not to mention I also had particles in my eyes. Ugh!

Made it home and was dizzy as heck, my equilibrium was thrown off. Only good thing was we live close, so I made it home safely very quickly, I didn't have any burns, and it could have been much worst.

All in all that was my fourth.

I have been unemployed for the last 8 months and now I can't believe that I have been offered employment by at least three companies in the last week. I have already accepted a position with a dental practice and for some reason I really like it there and thing that that is where I belong, so I am staying. Even though there is a possibility to make a lot more elsewhere, I just feel like this company is where I need to be so I am staying.

On a different note, my brother gave me an extra $20.00 so I added this to my challenge bring my YTD to $80.00 just in the last week, since I have started things back up. I am super excited to be saving finally again.

That's it in a nutshell

Sorry this is a long post dealing with nothing financial

Once again my mother strikes. For those of you who have been following my blogs, you are aware of my relationship with my mother, that is not great at all.

For those of you who aren't aware, my mother is a woman who is a very angry and for the life of us, her kids and grand children we can't seem to figure out why.

A few years ago she told me to get the F out of her house because of a stupid disagreement over clothes I had left in a washing machine. We didn't speak for some time after that and I now pretty much still keep my distance.

Long story short she's just hateful.

Now fast forward, I still stay away and so does my nieces and nephews as well as my siblings with the exception of one, her favorite.

Almost a year and half ago, my sister moved in with my mother to try and save some money. I told her at the time that if I was her, I would make sure that I stick with the plan and save money, possibly looking for a full time job. Low and behold a few months after my sister moved in she started, my mother that is. My sister has called me crying about the same things I had issues with:
- Mom constantly complaining
-Mom begging for money , even though you pay her rent
- Mom not talking to you because you won't share what happened over at dad's when you visit him
- Mom yelling

As far as the money goes my mom has a nice little chunk of change, her house is paid for her car is paid for, and she has no credit card bills. She's the type of woman that if you have $3 you should give her $1

So my sister calls me today in tears because she attempted to talk to my mother to explain how mom makes her feel ( e.g low self- esteem, afraid to speak to her). Long story short ,
Mom told her what she old me a few years ago, right before she told me to get out and that was " as long a you live don't talk to me." Why she says those things I can't understand. Does she not realize that telling your kids those things are hurtful. Or does she not care?

I told my sister she could come here for a few days if she'd liked until things cooled off but if I was her, I'd make sure my ducks are in a row because knowing my mother it's just a matter of time before she tells her to get out.

I told my sister that maybe something happened to my mother as a kid and that's why she treats us, especially the girls, the way she does. Or maybe her mother treated her the way she treats us.

I was always afraid to have kids because I am afraid that I will treat them the way my mother treated us. I remember once I wrote a letter, I was about ten, talking about how my mother treated and talked to us, how she treated my brother totally different and she found it. Rather than talking to me telling me she loved me, she beat me for writing the letter. I'll never forget that, I thought what type of woman does that? There was also a time I was about 6, she beat me for something, I can't remember but it could have been I didn't eat my dinner or something stupid like that. I remember after the beating/spanking taking a bunch of pills to go to sleep and praying that I not wake up. But obviously I did.

As I got older I still battle with depression, thoughts of suicide when feeling down. But I will say this, and that is I've gotten much better at controlling those thoughts, not allowing them to control