Amber's Personal Finance Blog

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

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

Today was a pretty good day. I received my tax return and so far I paid all the bills coming due in advance. Next Monday is pay day so I'll put the bulk of those funds in the EF.

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

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

So my little method appears to be working

Busy busy busy, haven't blogged and of course I spent money. However, first I'd like to say dad was very I'll, we thought he may have had prostate cancer but with prayer it seems like we are cancer free he goes back to the doctor after a taking some meds and we will see.

On a different note the BF is really pushing to move, so I bought about $150 worth of household furnishings to get ready for the move, I must admit I'm a little nervous but won't know unless I try.

I have completed my taxes and the refund is about 1200 dollars, do I'm paying off one CC and the rest will go in the EF. Until tomorrow that's it.

I am so mad, I spent $18 today on dining out. $3 for breakfast then $15 for lunch all because I didn't hit the grocery store but it won't happen tomorrow. To end on a good note $18 was divided up among accounts for the challenge, $9 on the CC, $4.50 towards house fund and $4.50 for my personal account. I really hope I receive my mileage check tomorrow that would be great

I'm really glad I decided to start blogging. Yesterday was a no spend day so I added two dollars to my CC balance. Today I had breakfast at home so $2 was paid on CC. Now I just had my lunch (homemade) $1 was added to Cc and $1 to saving. At this rate I should have my debt lowered a lot

Glad to report I made my own breakfast; therefore, $2 was saved and with that said $1 went towards CC payment and $.50 went towards the house fund while another $.50 went towards my personal spending account you know people may say why do you transfer a buck here fifty cents there why not just save it and pay transfer at the end of the week? because if I did that I would spen the money on something else, plus it gives me a sense that my debt is being paid off more quickly

Okay went to Miami with the coworkers and did not spend a dime other than buying breakfast for $2.64 this morning and $3.00 for 2 cokes nothing else was spent. I am so happy I did not spend anything Thank God, i always feel as though I am pressured to buy things.

Oh because i bought breakfast$1.50 went towards CC while $.50 went towards my personal account and $1.00 towards the house fund. Tomorrow I will deposit the money my dad gave me and hopefully I will have my mileage check ($204) in my mailbox tomorrow.

First no spend occurrd yesterday, so $4 paid towards the CC, $2 towards the house fund, and $2 towards my personal saving. All in all $8 towards the challenge yesterday. Today a different story, I hit the grocery store and spent $50 but some of the stuff I could have done without. To end the day on a good note, I washed my own hair and styled it. By doing so I was able to save $25 so $15 was paid on the CC and $5 went towards the house fund. The other five went to my personal account. I'm so glad I'm back blogging, it keeps me on track.
On a different note, tomorrow is a staff retreat because we did very well on the audit. We are heading to Miami for the day and I'm having second thoughts because I do not want to spend money I do not have. My plan is to spend only $40 out of my personal account ( money saved for things I want, i.e shopping, pedicures etc) I do not want to spend money on day with my co-workers in Miami. Hopefully, I will not be pressured to buy anything, it's always hard for me to say NO.

My dad called for me to come over, I almost forgot but went. As I walked in he offered/gave me $100. Wow, just because. My mom would never had done that. Lord knows I need it. I'm not sure if I should put it in the EF or pay towards the CC

Well today was payday and after paying all my bills with exception of one( have to pay when I get home) it doesn't feel like pay day. I was however able to transfer $ 25 to my EF an extra $2 on the cc balance and $2 for savings toward my challenge, so not too bad.

I am so glad to be back. Blogging about my finances keeps me accountable. Today I made breakfast so I added $2 to the challenge ($1 towards CC and $1 towards EF). I'm sure the CC companies are wondering why they are receiving a dollar here and there but every little bit helps.

I absolutely hate going to the store with other people or letting anyone know I am at the store. First I'm with my boss at Target who convinced me to pick up things I did not need (I have a hard time saying no). Any how after I ditched her I put all the unnecessary items back. Then I call my BF who asked me to pick up something for him, when I ask what he says anything uggghhh. Lately he's been making little comments about him always buying me stuff and I don't ever buy him anything, well I'm in the world of debt which is no ones business. I'm simply not spending money. Long story short I spent $4 so because $4 was spent foolishly I will add $2 to the EF and $2 to CC . I plan on informing him from here on out we will go dutch. I have no problem with him paying for his stuff and I do the same

Trying to start over using the same method as before when I first paid off my debt. So I brought my lunch which saved me $4. I paid $2 towards my CC debt( a total of $4) and $2 towardsmy saving all in all today is off to a great start.

off to a great start. Brought breakfast to work so that saved me $4. Therefore, $2 went towered CC balance and $2 towards my savings I'm glad to be back blogging it keeps me on my toes.

Just wanted to say thank you very much for all the welcome backs and support it means a lot. I'm in the process of paying down approximately $20,000 in debt. I went from owing $0 to 20, 000 with nothing to show for it. Well no need to dwell on should of, could of, so to begin today was a no spend day and I added $2 to the $20 Challenge (a buck to my CC with the lowest debt and a buck to savings). This method helped me to pay off debt in the past, so it should work. Once again thanks everyone i really appreciate all the support

Wow since I have stop blogging about my finances everything has gone haywire so I'm tryiing it again. I have so much going on it is ridiculous but I'm trying it again. I've done it before so I can again

First I realized there wasn't any eggs in the house so I bought breakfast ($1.07) then what was suppose to be lunch from my job, turned out be sucky so I had to buy lunch ($5.37). On a good note, I added $6.44 to my $20 challenge--matching what was spent on breakfast and lunch plus another $1 for going to the gym today.

I cashed in my change in my piggy bank, $67.87, this was added to my EF

All in all it wasn't too bad today

Today I made it to the gym so a buck was deposited to my challenge home fund. As far as spending goes, here it is:

Expense Categories
Health care: Dental $30.00
Gifts: $56.79
Groceries $2.99
Job Expense: Non-Reimbursed $1.89
Taxes: Sales $0.57

Grand Total -$92.24

I almost forgot, I brought my lunch to work and had breakfast at home so $2 was paid on CC debt

I finally had a no spend day so $3 was transferred to my new home account; in addition, I took lunch to work and had breakfast at home so $2 was paid towards my CC

It seems as though I spend a lot more when I am in a relationship, especially gas. But let me turn my attention on other things. No venting today.

Today $18 was spent, and $2 of it was paid on my lowest credit card (Victoria Secrets). I am doing what I have done in the past and that is paying $2 a day for not buying breakfast or lunch; in addition, to my regular payment. This was how I got my debt under control once before so it should work again.

Expense Categories less CC Payment
Groceries $7.46
Personal Care: Makeup $4.44
Personal Care: Feminine $3.12
Taxes: Sales $0.98

Grand Total -$16.00

After being on a hiatus, I decided to balance my accounts to get a real picture of what I owe, and I can tell you I am very disappointed. I went from debt to debt free, back to debt I can just cry,I am over $13,000 in credit card debt, plus my car. But I am optimistic that I will be debt free once again.

On a good note I found 4 cents today, added $10 to my challenge home account And will be cashing in my change bank tomorrow

I'm ready and with that said, lets do it!

Well today I made it to the gym so finally a buck was added to my challenge. I also had lunch at the office and breakfast at home so $2 ($8 for the week)was added to my CC challenge.

Today's spending:

Expense Categories
Groceries: $25.93
Household : Supplies $2.99
Sales Tax $0.17


Grand Total -29.09

Today was almost a no spend day, but then the gas light came on

So today's expenses:

Automobile-gas: $45

I also paid $2 on the CC challenge for a grand total of $6 extra on the principal for the week

Well I didn't make it to the gym so no buck for the challenge, I did bring my lunch and had breakfast at home so $2 went towards my CC challenge ($4 thus far).

Today's spending total:
Expense Categories
Utilities : Water & Sewage $65.25
Groceries: $17.51
Miscellaneous: $15.00
Sales Tax: $0.26

Grand Total -$98.02

Today was not a bad day, I spent the following:

Expense Categories
Miscellaneous 51.67
Personal Care : Hair Care $5


Grand Total -56.67

And since I did not eat out $2 was added to the challenge.

For the month $20 challenge : $2

It has been a long year and a half, but I am hoping that you guys will welcome me back and that I can get these finances back on track.
Over the last year and a half, I paid off all my debt only to run my CCs back up again. I finished college and was unable to land a job for a while but I found a job (not in my field of study) with less pay but was recently promoted making 2k more than previous hired. Thank God, I am truely thankful.
Now I am returning to school, my new employer reimburses upto $1200 a year so I have decided to get a nursing degree vs. my masters which is three times expensive. With an RN I will be able to land a job must faster and work my way into a health administrator position soon after.
For the first semester the only thing I am responsbile for are my books and other misc. supplies, tuition will be paid in full after grades are turned in and I always do well in my classes so thats not a problem
I have finally found a great guy, we have been together for a little over a year and he is amazing. I am really happy
In addition, I have been addicted to FaceBook and lost my way but I am back and am ready to get back on track.
So if you will have me again, I would love to get back to the good 'ol days, making progress with a group of amazing people

Ok this is a long post, nothing to do with finances but I have to get this out.

Ok I am at work and did not notice my phone ringing. I see a text from my boyfriend "Call me 911" I try calling him no answer. Then I notice I have a missed call from his daughter. I call her she sounds as though she is crying, she answers and says " that's ok I got him/it" I wasn't sure, so I ask are you ok she says yes. I hang up but I am still feeling a little uneasy so I try calling both of them again and no answer.

Finally my BF calls back and tells me K (his daughter) tried killing herself and slit her wrist and that he was on his way to the hospital near my job. Because I just started I am afraid to leave I tell my co-worker and she advises me to leave and I did.

Get to the hospital both he and her are pulling in behind me. Where is her mother I wonder. I give her a hug and ask whats the matter, she begins to cry I leave her alone and don't push the issue and upset her more. Thank God the wombs are superficial.

My concern is mom never shows and then we find out through her counseling session at the hospital that she did this on Sunday; mom, mom's BF, moms sister and her baby sister all knew and no one has contacted Dad---my BF.

My BF tries contacting his ex wife who yells at him for calling and states that she will deal with K later. My first response is frigging later? Are you frigging kidding me? This is a serious issues, obviously she is crying out attention from mom who still isn't giving her the attention she is seeking...my God, I have no kids but where is the motherly bond, instincts etc that I always here about?

Long story short the hospital discharged her, she insisted on going back home (which I thought was a bad idea) but dad did not want to upset her any more so allowed it. I talked to her today, she sound ok but counseling will start the first part of the week

Ok even though I am making less money, I am actually liking my job and the people I work with. I'm not dealing with the phones which is a blessing

this year is really starting off great, I was able to save a total of $592

But my spending is up, clothing because I needed work clothes and have put on a ton of weight since I wasn't working
Expense Categories
Loan $253.69
Miscellaneous $241.18
Bills : Electricity $210.59
Bills : Cellular $208.68
Dining Out $148.52
Groceries $145.28
Personal Care : Hair Care $126.68
Automobile : Gasoline $124.52
Insurance : Automobile $110.62
Bills : Cable $106.70
Taxes : Federal Income Tax $94.95
Gifts $94.66
Job Expense : Refundable $77.61
Taxes : Social Security Tax $77.50
Bills : Internet $65.07
Bank Fee : Finance Charge $61.65
Utilities : Water & Sewage $58.30
Automobile : Registration $57.35
Personal Care - Unassigned $42.91
Clothing $41.59
Healthcare : Eyecare $33.99
Cleaning Supplies $30.68
Charitable Donations $30.00
Healthcare: Dental $30.00
Taxes: Medicare Tax $18.13
Taxes: Sales Tax $14.27

Grand Total -$2,505.12