Amber's Personal Finance Blog

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

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