Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Is someone who attempts to count my money. I'm home practicing using Excel and my BF comes home and says, " I don't have any money you need to take her(his daughter) to get some tights tomorrow, I'll give it back to you"

First of all don't tell me what I need to do, second of all I don't jump when a kid says they need something at the last minute, and lastly what makes you think I have money.

I was so annoyed I could scream but you better believe he is going to hear about once I calm down.

Rude just rude. I am so annoyed I can scream.

Yes I finally sent my last car payment to Bank of America!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy, for one, its a purchase I did on my own (no cosigner) and even when I was unemployed for close to a year I managed to keep up the payments. I am so happy I am about to explode. OMG!

On a different note, the step-daughter finally washed her clothes. I had a little talk with her on Thursday of last week, but it doesn't help that the BF wants to be her friend vs. her father. They're both works in process but I have notice a few changes for the better

Now I am focused on the CC debt, and a new job now that the car is paid off.
My current job requires a lot of driving and I do not want to put too many miles which causes additional maintenance, with no raise mind you, on my car

I'm not sure but I'll know after I balance all the accounts the end of the month, but it seems like I am getting the short end of the stick.
Seems like I am spending more money than the BF on the home. We agreed that we would split everything but for some reason I don't think he is giving me enough or maybe I am spending too much.

The month ends pretty much on Friday for me, I'll pay out all bills and would receive my last check. He gave me $200 but I still think something is wrong. We will see

On a different note his daughter is driving me crazy, she is 17 and yet has a mind of a 8 year old. For starters she will not clean up behind herself, which drives me nuts, since I am a neat freak. She is scared to sleep in the dark, so all the lights are on as well as the tv, and she is afraid to stay home by herself. Ridiculous!

We will definitely sit down and talk things out after I review the books

$256.85 is the amount I owe on my car, thank God. But I won't be able to pay it off this month as planned because I need a new bed
I'll be financing a bed today because I do not want to take the money out of my EF. You see, what I have saved is enough to cover two months rent in case something happens. My goal is to have at least 6-8 months worth of expenses saved.

Here is the plan, finance a bed at Badcock for $800, sell the bed we currently have for $500 and use that money towards the payments of the new bed.

So if all goes well I can have the purchase of the new bed paid off by next month with very little interest.

On a different note, yesterday was pay day and I wasn't able to save anything but at least I have about $300 in disposable funds until next pay day and if call goes well, I should be able to sock half of it away

Next week is my Mother's birthday and I thought about calling her but to be honest I really don't want to, and honestly I probably won't

That's it in a nut shell

My Neice has been calling giving me an upto date account on my mother's health, not that I care to know, but wish her the best. Anyhow she says she'll keep calling until I speak to my mom, which I do not plan on doing. I advised her not to waste her time.
She says she knows my mom wants to speak to me because she'll say things like " I would ask Amber but she's not talking to me". I simply remind my Neice she is the one who said "Not to talk to her as long as I'm living" and to my knowledge I'm still living.

On a different note I gave my sister $10 last week, she has harassed me every other week for money and no matter how many times or different ways I have said I don't have it, she still calls and harasses me. Ugh!

Now onto me, my dad gave me $50 yesterday so I added this amount to my EF /Challenge. My boss has not signed off on my request for mileage, so my car isn't paid off yet

Next we went looking for beds because the one given to us has caused me some serious medical conditions. It's in pretty good shape, my bf finds its okay, I want to sell it on Craigslist and use the money towards the new mattress, but the BF wants to give it away.

At the cost of mattresses I think his idea is crazy, yes it was given to us but we really can't afford $900+ for a mattress.

OMG! Who would have thought a bed could cause so much pain. Okay we moved into the new place and was left everything, dining room table, sofa, TVs, a bed etc.
Anyhow since we moved in I have been having back pain. At first I thought because we have been moving things. Well long story short and $400 dollars later, I realized it is the bed.
My copayment for each doctor visit is $50, and now therapy is $50 a visit twice a week. Yikes!

Well I thought could it be the bed? So I slept on the couch and realized I felt better. I ended up buying a topper for $79 and it helped but I was still somewhat sore. So the bf bought a piece of plywood and I almost died. So I ended up back on the couch.

Now the plywood is gone so we will see how tonight goes, but I have never experienced such pain.
Lesson learned, not everything given to you is the best, and choose your beds wisely or you'll end up spending an arm and a leg.
Fingers crossed that the topper does it and we don't have to buy a bed

Okay I am a little torn. I can either pay my car off this month or pay off 1 CC or pay another CC almost half way down.
Now of course the CC interest is a lot more than the car but atleast the car would be paid off

Just wondering what you guys would do?

I usually get a lot of mail that I think is junk and simply just trash it. But thank goodness I opened this one. It was a $25 gift certificate, apparently I earned enough points.
So I went into Macy's and bought a dress and I got $3 back which I added to my challenge.
Had i known I would get cash back I would have bought a five dollar gift, oh well, I love the dress though.

On a different note, since I have given up sodas, I'm down almost 7lbs, and that's with out any excercising. Wow

Things are going pretty good in the new place, rent was paid today. I pretty much paid it in its entirety; however, the BF had provided me money in which I paid the electric, water and cable. In addition he has given me another $200 I figured all in hall he gave me a little over half for the rent, but I used the money to pay bills (i.e. cable, water) buy groceries and miscellaneous household items. At least it wasn't wasted.

Further more if things continue I probably won't need a part-time job, as I had planned only because my car will be paid off in May and that would free up close to $400 a month. Plus if I budget, and the BF keeps doing what he does we will be fine.

On a different note, I have not any sodas all week, well the week isn't quite over yet but over 6 days no sodas I added $6 to the challenge for this reason

Not sure if I shared this, but my back has been killing me, I think the bed is too soft. I started therapy which has helped but tomorrow I will buy a firm mattress cover; hopefully this helps, verses buying a new bed. We will see.

Day two and no soda, yeah! So I'm adding $2 to the challenge
Wow April will be here soon which means two months in the new place and it feels great.

Not much to add so I'll post later

Car payments and I am done! Thank God! I cannot wait until May when I send off my final car payment. The goal is to continue to put aside the money I was paying on my car, well at least a portion of it. I plan on paying down some debt as well.

On the home front, things seem to be going pretty well, no complaints.

My dad offered my someone money to buy the place that I am in, but I really don't plan on doing so until the end of the year but it's great to know he is supportive. My mother would never offer

In the end, things seem thus far to be moving along very well

I finally received my Visa gift card from BCBS in the amount of $200. I was actually planning on using the gift card later on this year, but guess what? It expires 3/12. Are you kidding me? And if I would like a new card with an extended expiration date, there would be a fee.

So I paid my car insurance early $125.63 and tomorrow I will get an oil change. Once I am paid, I'll add the money saved using the gift card to my challenge.

Either way, I saved money

Back to normalcy. I have been in a lot of pain since the move, back problems.

I believe I have strain/sprain my lower back. The doctor advised that I use heat and I know better from working at the clinic, but I did so and I think it made things worst So I have decided to ice and am feeling much better than yesterday.

On a different note I used 2 coupon for Tide today saving me $2 so I added this amount to my $20 Challenge

My friend came into some extra money and her house warming gift to us to to take us grocery shopping tomorrow this will save $60--good friend

In the end that's it for now, I will go ice

$67.69 is what I had left in my checking account before payday today so I added this amount to my challenge/EF; I can't wait to hit the $2000 goal, only a $100 away.

In other news, I'm loving the new place and at the same time not even remotely missing my mother. I am so thankful for being out of such a toxic environment.

It's only been a few days since I receieved notice of my GC being mailed but I'm still anxious.

Today is payday and I am hoping I'll have my mileage reimbursement check as well so that I can get an oil change.

That's it so far.

Whew! I received an email from BCBS that my gift card has been shipped. Now I can use that money to pay my cell phone bill if I receive in time along with my Internet bill.

Hopefully, I will have it by the end of the week

Okay we are going into month number 3 and I have not received my $200 from BCBS. Well I called them and was advised that there was a delay and the gift cards will be mailed on the 23rd.
Well I'll give it a few days after that and if not received I will call them again. This is crazy

It's been about two weeks, and I am loving the new place. It's funny because I hardly ever think about my mom, but I will say this, when it comes to cleanliness, we are just alike.

Other than my BF daughter, things seems to be going well. I'm definitely going to have to work with her and her cleaning habits

I've still kept track of my spending but haven't really been able to sock away anything. When I get my mileage check, I'll add the $114 to the EF

Oh, I almost forgot, I really need to set up a grocery budget, things are getting out of hand. I find myself at the store every week and I really want to go twice a month ( each pay period). So we'll see

Okay we have moved in, whew! I'm actually loving the place. However, the BF gave me his portion of the rent and he is short $50. All I can do is shake my head.

I haven't said anything but I do know that if this happens next month, there is going to be a problem.

He is currently waiting on $350 from a job he did which he should collect next week and I should have my $50

But moving right along, I was able to sock away $200 to my EF to cover my portion of next month's rent. Also I'm waiting on a $140 check for my mileage reimbursement for February, which means once received I'll pretty much have my portion of the April rent, with out touching my EF.

Also if things go well, I should be able to sock away an additional $200 to my EF by March 15th

Just a few more items and I am done. Came home today and my mother being the lovely woman (scarcasim) she is had some of my things on my bed that was in the storage room.

But the funny thing is she only gave me my items that she doesn't use. For example, my craft stuff but she kept the crockpot.

I know two wrongs don't make a right but I was so pissed that the items that I knew she uses and I was going to leave, I loaded into my car. For example, my crockpot, the cooler. The other stuff I trashed.

I can't understand for the life of me what is wrong with her and unfortunately I recognize the signs in myself as well. There is this mean, selfish spirit and I pray I do not turn into that person she is.

It's one of the reasons I do not have kids, I don't want to be mean and hateful.

My BF said to me, when I was telling him about all this nonsense is that he realizes that my mother pushes people away. I thought hmmm, yes she does and because no one says anything she thinks it's okay, but it's hurtful

In the end, the end is almost here. For hers and my sake I hope both of us can move on without regrets.

I haven't given up on saving but I've been so busy. A ton of money was spent on household supplies for the new place (i.e. paper towels, toilet paper, shower curtains, trash bins).

I did receive my tax refund and was able to sock away $1000 into the EF

The date to move in is next Wednesday, but I must say, I have moved 95% of my items. I'll be done Friday.

Things appear to be looking up. I have moved a lot of things to the new place and will take more over tonight and this weekend.

I am still adding to my challenge and paying down CC1

I received a notice that my tax return will be deposited tomorrow so I'm paying off CC1 and will start on number 2, the remaining funds will be deposited to the EF account.

I used my ShopKick points for a $25 gift card and purchased an ironing board and shower mat. Since I saved $25, I'm adding it to the EF

Now I'm waiting on the $200 gift card from BCBS in order to pay my cell phone bill and Internet bill.

I called ING today because I have yet to receive my $114 refund for a check that was not cleared and was told it should have been deposited a few days ago. Now I'm waiting on a response.

In the end, the BF dad offered to buy a drive up store for him. Long story short, the store belongs to his uncle and is up for auction since the taxes were not paid. Also, the year before last my BF dad paid the taxes with an agreement that if he wasn't paid back the store was his. In the mean time my BF and friends cleaned the place out but the uncle never reopened it. I say go for it. It would be a great investment because the store is always busy when it was open.

That's it in a nutshell

Whoooo I sympathize with anyone who moves, it is a lot of work. I woke up this morning and said I was taking my shoes and most of my clothes to the new place.

I notice that the minute I came out of my room with boxes, my mother who was talking to my uncle, stop dead in her tracks. But I didn't say anything I just kept loading my car up.

Next the BF came by and he had a newspaper but she, my mother, refuse to look at it because she feels like, I think, I'm going to be mad. All I can say is oh boy. I think she thinks I am hiding the paper because last week she did not get it but actually we bought one, never read it and have been driving around with it in my car all week. My mind has been on a number of things (i.e. work, the move, saving money, 2nd job)

Anyhow now I'm ready to leave with my things and when I go outside my mother is sitting in her car with the radio blasting, crying. I did not say one word I got in my car, went to my new place, unpacked came back home, washed a few load and washed my hair.

Now I don't know if she is sad about me moving, mind you she told me to get the $@) out!, sad about something else, in pain or what because her last words to me were "Don't say anything to me, as long as you live don't say anything to me and when you get back, get the ($@;: out my house!" But I am doing just that.

Unfortunately I have a lot of hate for my mother and I'm glad I'm able to admit to that, I think it's part of the healing process but I do think I need a little bit of therapy and plan on seeking a therapist once I move. There a lot of things I'm willing to admit and I think it's making me better

Okay I picked up the keys today to the new place. I must admit I'm really nervouse. But I've cleaned the master bedroom and bath, wiped down the kitchen counters and cabinets, swept and moped the guest bedroom. I've put away the culinary and made the bed in the master bed room, so when I move in ally I gave to do us shower and get into bed

Tomorrow I will take all my shoes and clothing hanging in the closet, as well as my purses, and belts. Since we are expecting a cold front I'm going to hold off on the sweaters.

I'm really glad we got the keys early it makes the move do much easier.

I plan in having my BF brother-in-law who is a pastor come by and bless the home before we move in.

So that's it in a nutshell.

...the Heat won so I am adding $1 to the $20 Challenge/EF

Okay I was a little nervous about withdrawing the $950 for the deposit on the new place, I really didn't want to empty my EF that I worked so hard to build up since November. Actually I was trying to wait closer to the date to move in and when my tax return was to be deposited but I said to Hell with it and took the money out .

I'm glad I did, for one my landlord/friend was really happy. Two, I got my keys early so I'm able to clean the place and clean out my storage early. Lastly, I was able to talk to my friend about keeping the electric and water in her name that way I wouldn't have to pay a deposit.

The reason why I said God works in mysterious ways is that, I receieved my mileage check today ($290) and deposited it right into my savings. Usually it takes close to two weeks for me to receive my check but this time just a few days so rather than my EF being more than less than half of what I started with this year its about half that amount and once my tax return is deposited I will be a little bit over than what I started with.

Unfortunately it will take me a little longer to pay off CC1 but that's okay

On a different note my crazy mother had my sister to call me to ask if I paid the electric and water bill. My sister was like "y'all need to stop that" I said to her she needs to stop because I'm in the next room from my mother and she is the idiot for making the phone call.
Thank God I'm getting from out of here

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

Just hit the send button for my taxes which will be received in perfect time. The money I socked away for a rainy day will be used towards moving but yet replaced with my taxes. I felt sad that I'll be spending the money towards moving but happy it will be replaced.

Please say a prayer and keep your fingers crossed, BF did an estimate for a job of about $2000, the gentleman stated he needed to discuss it with his wife. I figured if he got the money we could pay the rent up for two months.

Now I'm just in wait mode.