Amber's Personal Finance Blog

This was a great week, Monday was a holiday and I was off, then I go good news that I was hired full time and yesterday was a no spend day So a buck went to my $20 challenge oh I just remembered I have to add another $1 for going to the gym
Wow I also brought my lunch all week so $8 towards the challenge CC debt

First I would like to thank God for pulling me through this last year, I had no idea how my bills were going to be paid but I did it.
After losing my job it became really hard, I used up my entire savings 6 months worth but at least I had that then I started to use my CCs but I was able to keep them afloat unlike so many others and I am truly thankful for that.
Yesterday I was offered a full time position at the agency in which I did some volunteer work for in the past and am currenlty working as a temp. Mind you this is the same place I interviewed for a different position four times already. Its about $2.40 more than what I am currently making with them and about $2.10 less than my previous salary but it is a heck of a lot more than unemployment so I am very happy.
My goal is to use this as a stepping stool to jump start my career with the elderly. It is a non profit agency which is great and will give me the experience I need with working with such an organization. It feels like the entire world has been lifted off my shoulders--- thank you God for this wonderful blessing and thank everyone here who has said a prayer and lifted my spirits

Today was suppose to be a no spend day but $2 went towards CC debt/challenge because I had breakfast and lunch home. $18.50 at the grocery store and 50 cents towards savings challenge (rounded up the change)

Today was to be a no spend day, when I woke up to make a grill cheese for breakfast there was no cheese and I was cutting it close for work. So I had to stop and pick up breakfast which cost me $2.61. Then I was dying for thirst and only packed one juice bottle for work and ended up spending $.75 for a soda arrrgghhhh
So $3.36 went towards CC debt and $.64 towards my savings (rounded up the change)
All in all $4 went towards my challenge. Plus today was payday and $75 went into my savings.
Looks like as long as I am blogging I am saving

Yesterday was a NSD so $2 went towards my $20 challenge ($1 in savings and a buck on the CC)

Today, wasn't so good but not bad either, I will post the tally later

Almost had a no spend day but I just had to have a cheeseburger and fries

The damage $2.08; therefore, $2 was paid on the cc (part of my $20 challenge)

hmmmm just wondering why I fell off track, just hope I have learned from my mistakes.

Here are today's numbers:

Expense Categories
Bills : Electrcity $124.92
Groceries $15.53
Dining Out $5.75
Sales Tax $0.54

Grand Total -$146.74
Since I ate out today, $6 went towards my $20 challenge (the debt portion) and .19 cents towards the savings. This was the change after I rounded up to the nearest dollar

Ok woke up this morning and didnt want to spend a dime but it did not turn out that way so here it is:

Expense Categories

Loan Payment $100.00
Automobile : Gasoline $40.00
Gifts $26.64
Healthcare: Dental payment $10.00
Groceries $7.91
Dining Out $3.92

Total Expense $188.86

Savings
$10 weekly deposit to challenge
$100 transferred to EF
$3 paid on CC for dining out

So a total of $13 was added to my challenge

Hopefully I am back on track, today was the first NSD of the year so $4 went towards the challenge

$2 towards debt
$2 towards savings (went to the gym)

Yeah I know some people may say "you made a $2 payment on a cc" but those $2 adds up to $14 for the week and $56 for the month and by the end of the year it will be $672 towards a cc. By doing this before was how I became debt free the first time, so I know it can be done

hopefully tomorrow will be a no spend day but here is the tally for today

Expense Categories
Automobile: Registration $57.25
Groceries $10.56
Gifts $4.00

Grand Total -$71.81

I cant find the receipt for McDonald's but we did eat out today

Happy belated New Year, well I went from debt free to more debt. But one thing I do know is I will continue to blog which always keeps me on track. I am still at the temp job hopefully it will turn into full time but I will definitely be back searching. I have explained to my boyfriend that I will not be spending any money what so ever. If I can be debt free in a year I know I can do it again.

Well I am not sure where to beging, I am still at the agency which is a temp gig. I interviewed for the 4th time because the person they hired instead of me they ended up firing. Why do i have interview for the fourth time beats me, I have been there three months, people praise me and yet they are unsure if I am a good fit. hmmmm politics in the work place if you ask me, but its getting the bills paid.
Ok I am ready to tell you guys, I have met this guy (known him for years) on facebook and we have been dating since about June. He is sooooo good to me, really. Unlike my ex he is such a gentleman and I really think I have finally found some one.
Oh yeah, I am back on track with the $20 challenge, thus far I have about $410 saved so that is a plus, nothing compared to a few months ago but hey its better than nothing. I am going to try and keep you guys posted and take care

Well I did the third interview yesterday, I think it went well. I was also work asked to work next week so its looking good

ok i had the third interview, i think it went well. I am still temping for the conmpany so I hope that gives me a little bit of an edge. I think I will be temping next week. Please keep the prayers coming it seems to working

ok i was asked to temp again next week plus i have a third interview with the hiring manager and CEO. Lord I am praying for this job and I will be practicing my interview questions all weekend

well i am still temping which is good, i also had an interwiew yesterday Lord I pray i get it

wow when it comes to work, i have been out of the loop. Today is the second day for the temp job and i am so exhusted, i really didnt do much. my brother callled to tell nme after being layed off for over a year and the job he found in june he was just layed off again...business is slow

Well tomorrow I start a temporary job for the week. It is a place in which I volunteered for before and just recently applied for a job. Hopefully it will up being permanent. The pay for the week is about $4 less than my previous salary but a lot more than unemployment
Thanks every one for your well wishes and prayers i really appreciate it

had the second interview that lasted about 5 mins...really. The nurse only told me what the job entailed and that was it. Its between myself and another canidate and I should hear something by the end of the day. I am so nervous that I keep checking the phone for missed calls...thanks every one for the well wishes and prayers

hi all...i need all your prayers, i am going in for a second interview tomorrow for an office assistant position at a nursing facility. please keep me in your prayers, the hours are perfect as well as the benefits

Well i had the interview yesterday at the hospital...i think it went ok. I also took a test for an officer manager's position and am just waiting for the hiring manager to call, apparently I did very well on it plus the unemployment office asked me to fax over an application. Lord I need a job like yesterday

Well I received my laptop back and it cost me $250, I guess its better than buying a new one. At least I have a ton of new programs.

I received a call yesterday for a job, I passed the first interview and then took the computer test. I am just waiting to hear how I did on that, for some reason I think I did really well.

I also received a call from the hospital for an insurance verification position. At this point it is not what I am looking for but the goal is to get my foot in the door learn what I can and move up the chain.

$10 was added to the challenge, I cooked dinner today...yes on a Friday
So keep your fingers crossed and the prayers coming I really appreciate it

well i got a call that my laptop is ready not sure what its going to cost me but i am just glad its ready

well woke up with a new look on life but now i have a terrible headache as well as an upset stomach...wow!hope i feel better soon I have so much to do today, such as: wash clothes, head to church, finish cleaning my room and sorting through papers, heading to a kiddie party and then dinner. Tomorrow I plan on heading to workforce alliance for assistance with my resume maybe its not eye catching who knows but I am praying for a job by the end of October

Ok good news I am trying to stay focus as well as positive. Why I stopped blogging? I have no idea but I am definetly starting back and am glad to be back.

Well as you all know I lost my job, finally graduated, wrecked my car. Then the a/c gave out in my car, my power window also stopped working in my car, my laptop crashed and last night my tv stopped working. Oh and I pretty much cleaned out my savings. Thats what has happened to me over the last few months not to mention that i apply for at least 6 jobs a day

On a different note I am trying to stay positive, even though I do not have a regular income I have started the $20 challenge again with a weekly deposit of $10. I cranked up my old laptop and hooked up my desk top's monitor so I am officially back in business until I can get the other repaired (make sue you guys always back up files). My a/c was fixed by a family friend for $160 thank God because had I taken it to a shop I would have easily been looking at a few hundred dollars.

I went a retrieve a TV that I gave my brother a while ago but then a friend called and said he had one. My mom's friend gave me $50 today and I added that to my challenge and then the good news...I got a letter from the unemployment office that my benefits has been extended. THANK YOU LORD!

wow its been a long time and so much has happened...i was let go back in march and still have not found a job, i have managed to go through my savings, run up my credit cards and have graduated finally from college. i just want to thank everyone for checking in on me but i have just been down and out. oh my computer crashed so i am using a cell phone i will check back in in a few days. take care and i miss you guys

I have managed to spend over $200 on clothes and I know a lot has to do with the fact of not keeping track of my finances and now it is time to get back on track ASAP.
On a different note today was a good day at school I manage to start my paper and get my abstract done (1 page) and won't be able to start the rest until next week and I have gathered additional info from my practicum site . The goal is to have it done by the weekend.
I am surprised when my mom gave me $40 towards helping with the water bill, she is one who likes to hold onto her money and yours and yes I am thankful. My uncle also gave me $40, the water bill came to 60 (they have increased the rate by 22%) any how I have an extra $20 yippie

Ok I get up to head to my intern. First my alarm sounds and I decided to lay down an extra 10 minutes. Next thing I know I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but I am able to leave right on time in order to get to the hospital bright and early. Next I am waiting for my appointed time. When I finally go in ,the woman I spoke to tell me I am not suppose to start until next week and that she informed me of this. WHAT!!! I say to her in a polite manner, (as much as possible without trying to sound to annoyed) "I sent you an email to confirm this week" she says "you are to start after your first class and an email was sent" or something like that. So I smile and say I'll see you next week, but I am ticked off. So I am thinking maybe I misunderstood, but nope here is a copy of the email I sent her, dated Thursday May 7th:

Good morning C,
I just wanted to confirm that I will be starting next Monday and Wednesdays from 8am-12:30 for the summer internship

Thanks,
Amber

Her response:
Yes Amber. I will see you next week.Thanks

Now did I misunderstand?

I was so upset I forgot to stop at the college to give blood. later I head to class and it was great but then when I got home to down load the assignment windows media player there is no sound arrrrrgh, so I can't even start my assignment and apparently this is common with Vista, so I down load real player and the same thing OMG!. I emailed my professor and now have to wait for a response
So it really wasn't a good day

Ok classes start tomorrow, I am both excited and somber. Excited because starting class tomorrow which makes it's official that this will be my last semester and after working so hard would be finally a college graduate. hmmmm I love how that sounds, lol Somber because I start my internship tomorrow and am hoping that it leads to a job in the end. For some reason I am not nervous which is a good thing, normally I am very nervous when ever I start a job but this seems like I belong there...no butterflies what so ever. Strange
On a different note, I did some shopping this weekend and spent a ton, tomorrow or Tuesday I will calculate just how much; however, there is one shirt for $8 that I will be returning
Also my uncle really went out today for all the moms, we had so much food and music, I saw my nieces and nephews whom I have not seen in months, it felt really good.
Well off to bed, want to well rested for my first day
Good night every one and if you missed my previous post Happy Mother's Day

Just wanted to wish all you mom's a Happy's Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!