Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Well I spent a lot today. I decided to spend only $120 from now until payday on the 2nd so about $60 a week, wish me luck

Added the following:
$25 IRA
$187 EF
$10 Gift account
$20 personal saving account
Total saved $242

Expense
Internet $60.07
Gifts(flowers for friend who passed away)$75.00
Misc.(Storage fee,delivery fee for flowers and mom's cell phone) $98.42
Taxes $233.01
Utilities(Cable/Water) $112.36
Extra $10 on CC
Total $588.86

I almost forgot my sister asked me to borrow $20 because she didn't have money for the train and I said no. I felt bad but she never pays me back when she say she will, I'm just happy I said no

I have been ironing my clothes and packing my lunch the night before and by doing so knocks off about 10-15 minutes in the morning plus I don't feel rushed. It really makes a difference
Last Thursday was my first test in my finance class and I can tell you finance is nothing like accounting which I prefer and to top things off the instructor isn't that great.
I did some shopping spent about $80. What I find is once in a blue moon (every 6 weeks or so) I have to go shopping it is so tough for me but I'm working through it. There was a time when I went every day so every six weeks is much better than every day

All I can say is wow, a family friend was killed today. We just lost a friend on Sunday and now today a woman that I have known since I was a kid passed away after being in a terrible car accident.
And I am so annoyed I got a ticket today for $91 because my tint was too dark

$18.88 was what I spent today on a large pizza and tip. I took lunch today but the rice I brought was terrible and by 4:30 I was starving. So I ended up buying a large pizza for the office. There is one girl who doesn't eat meat and since I'm paying I bought what I like which was pepperoni. Well she has this bad habit of picking things off and leaving it for some one else eat or simply picking over things. But I told her today; do not do that, take a slice and what ever you don't want trash. I know, we are wasting food but I do not want to eat on what she has touched, it is a peeve of mind. Needless to say she was ticked off and didn't have any, fine with me because now I have some left for lunch tomorrow.
On a different note I got about 45 minutes of studying today, tomorrow I plan on being at the library for a few hours.
I also found out today that my friend who passed away yesterday was going through a possible divorce and having a lot of trouble. They are contributing her death to stress, so sad. I pray for her family

It is so strange because I was on facebook and saw an old friend and thought hmmm, I should send her an email . Well I never did and she died today. It's so sad because she has two small children and I felt bad because I never made an attempt to get in contact with her. I saw her a few months back briefly, all I can say is wow. Death has a a way of making us all want to do right

Well a friend of mine ask me to go over a paper with her today. So I explained yesterday that I would be at the library all day studying for my test on Thursday. Well low and behold she shows up but with her kid. I have nothing against kids but when I am trying to study I do not want any distractions (none). He was spoken to by the librarian twice who later gave us a study room. Then he was in and out constantly fidgeting and once again the librarian had to speak to his mom. He is a nice kid but why bring them to the library when you know you're going to be there for a while, studying. I was there almost 3 hours and still did not complete as much as I wanted to. Finally I had enough and said I was going to get lunch and was planning on returning but I ended up spending at little more than $7 at Firehouse and came home and took a nap. Now tomorrow I will head back but I simply won't answer my phone when she calls, I have got to get some studying in

Today wasn't a bad day, I found my ring, had lunch and breakfast at home, got my $28.34 from DollarInbox and went to class which was just an hour long. But the bad part was I had Mcdonald's on the go for dinner (woke up late for class) spending a little more than $3 so I doubled this amount and added it to my cc challenge. On a different note when I was feeling down about being single (still am ) I met this guy yesterday who I am really not into but it is ok to have some one to talk to once in a while. I guess it's the holidays that drive me into this depressing mode. With V-day approaching I guess I just went down hill

I found my ring, thank goodness. I was on my car seat, I think I took it off to put hand lotion on and forgot to put it back. But I am just happy I found it

I have been down lately mainly because this guy that I was very interested in is simply not interested in me so I decided to stop calling him. Any how normally when I'm down I shop and I have come so close these last 2 days of going shopping but opted not to. Then today I lost my ring at work ($200 ring) and I was so tempted to go and buy another, I'm upset but it's not much I can do about it. In the end I just pray I am able to stay strong against temption

Well I called Macy's regarding the buck they say I owe and received a credit, then I called JC Penney's because I had a $13 credit and a check will be issued. It was just two calls and it took me almost 2 months to take care of

A new month and new goals. Well today I hit the gym my first of three for the week. Next I went to the grocery store and spent $13.29 not too bad, my goal is to not go back until next Sunday (fingers crossed). Any how I thought I had lemonade mix so I only bought 1 lemon and low and behold no mix. But I am determine not to go to the store until next Sunday so water it is. Besides water is healthier anyway.
I used the cc for my purchase in order to earn points and paid it off as soon as I got home, adding an extra $1.71 a dollar for going to the gym and .71 cents to round up to the nearest dollar (both part of my challenge). I got some home work done, not a lot but it's better than nothing tomorrow I'll hit the library. Now I am just hanging around waiting for the Superbowl...GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going along with househopeful, I decided to post my goals for the month

[]$100 EF
[]$100 House fund
[]$100 Additional principal payment(car)
[]Schedule annual MD appointment
[]Reschedule dentist appointment for March
[]Go to the gym at least 3 times a week
[]Pack lunch and breakfast everyday
[]Extra $300 on CC
[]Finish taxes
[]Try to stay positive
Wish me luck

Well my nephew and I rearranged my storage so that I can at least get into it. Once a week I am going to go there and clean out 1 box and get rid of stuff I simply do not need, I am such a pack rat. Other than that I did not go to the gym maybe later tonight nor did I get any studying in. I pretty much lounged around tonight. I have a friend who is a DJ at a local bar who asked me to stop by but to be honest, I simply do not have the extra money so I am not going. I washed and colored my own hair tonight saving me at least $45. I can not believe that I have not been to the hair salon since early December and my hair actually looks fine, maybe next month I'll go and get a trim. So in a nut shell that was my day

I have been eating healthier but haven't hit the gym in about a week and to be honest I really don't feel like going. But I'm going to make an effort tonight to go, I must. At almost $50 a month I need to go. Prior to classes starting I would go twice a day and now I hardly even go once
Today's going to be a long day because I am going to rearrange my storage. My BIL has his things there and has not paid 1 cent towards keeping it there but I am telling him this week to make some arrangements on getting his stuff out of there. I really never pushed the issue because prior to him and my sister losing their house I kept my stuff in their garage but now I have to pay and it has been about 6 months plus when I want to add things to the storage I can't because his things take up half the space....argghhhhh

Well I came home and tallied every thing up for the day. I have $114 to last me until the 16th..wow, hope I can do it. Any how here's the totals starting off the new month

Wages & Salary $1,249.49

Amount Saved
IRA $25.00
EF $49.38
Misc Savings Account $10.00
Personal Checking $10.00
New Home Account/Challenge $10.00
Total Saved $104.38


Expense Categories
Cellular $94.12 (have to work on this)
Charitable Donations $20.00
Misc: Storage $48.47
Personal Care $23.98
Taxes(Medicare,Federal,SS)$229.05
Utilities $177
Total Expense $592.62

Transfers
Auto Loan Principal Payment $265.56
Interest $115.73(this maybe wrong I always over calculate)
Transfer Total $381.29

Income less Expenses $922.67

Grand Total $171.20

In a time when people are losing their jobs I just got a .78 raise. Which is about $50 a pay period after taxes. I am so happy because I just paid my bills and thought hmmm I can't put a thing into my EF. Anyhow I added $49.38 to the EF
Yeah!!!!!!!! Things are really looking up this year

This is the amount I had left in my checking account before payday tomorrow; added this to my EF. I am impressed with my self because I managed to sock away $210 (misc savings, EF,home account and IRA) and not touch any of my savings accounts to get by
End of the month total:
Total Income $1,776.42

Expense Categories
Automobile $199.17 (not including car payment of $381)
Bank Charges $64.67(interest on cc)
Bills $108.54(storage and internet)
Charitable Donations $20.00
Dining Out $41.67
Education $857.24
Fees $20.60 (charge for paying tuition online)
Gifts $17.25
Groceries $150.27
Health care $15.00
Hobbies/Leisure $30.75
Miscellaneous $40.95
Personal Care $36.63
Services/Memberships $47.91
Taxes $321.84
Utilities $115.92
Total Expense $2,088.41

Grand Total -$311.99
I am really happy because there are no transactions for clothes plus my dining out and miscellaneous categories are way down compared to the last few months. It's strange even though I saved money I still have an overall negative number hmmmm, I'll have to review this
So all in all this was a really great month. Tomorrow's payday unfortunately I can not add anything to my EF but at least all my bills coming due will be paid

I have never seen snow my friend sent this to me today...boy I wish I was there

I figured I would have $81 to last me until Friday...wrong. I paid a family friend who helped me get my washer/dryer $20 plus I gave my nephew $10 for helping. I figured he(family friend) lives about 20 minutes away and neither one are working and times are hard no need in me taking advantage even though I know they would have done it for free. But I can mark my washer and dryer off the list of things to buy
Today I spent $3.50 at Wendy's and added $.50 to my challenge/cc

As you all know I am determine to be out of my mom's house by the end of the year, whether it be me buying or renting but I'm moving. I am too old to live at home plus I have really no privacy, and plus I'm tired of her little mood swings (we haven't spoken since last Thursday). Today on freecycle some one was giving away a perfectly good washer and dryer so I'm picking it up later and sticking it in my storage. It's one of the items that I needed on my list of items to buy. Then I came home and there was a check from Directv for $8.08, nice little refund. I didn't add it to the challenge because payday isn't until Friday

I was taking nap today and got a call from bebe stating that I had a $10 GC that was getting ready to expire. For those you have not shopped at this store, there is nothing in there that is less than or $10 so why would I go. In addition, to the phone call I also got an email stating that my reward was about to expire. I was tempted to go to see if I can find something for $20 (chances are slim to none) but no need in me going to waste gas and to buy something that I simply don't need
On a different note I rounded up the change after leaving the grocery store today and paid. 89 cents towards my challenge/cc

I forget to post my $10 weekly deposit to the challenge, thus far YTD $1762.40
Balance for my new home account $745, it's amazing I had almost $8k the first part of last year and now I'm down to $745 but once I get this cc paid off I will be able to sock away more
I have about $113 to last me until next Friday, hope I can hold out

Today was a good day, I had to work but it wasn't slow and time went by very fast. Next I went to Macy's to use my $25 GC, I needed a sweater for work, so I saved $22 and then I hit the library and got about 2 hours of much needed studying in. I packed my lunch so that I wouldn't buy any thing but in the end I really wanted a cheese burger from McDonald's, now I did have my lunch but 2 hours later the cheese burger won (.95 cents)

Today I bought a bunch of newspapers only because I collect them when there are major events (9/11, the death of JFK.Jr etc) but the only problem is I can not remember what I paid for for them
I put in a buck for the Powerball at work and went to Staples for school supplies ($4.78)rounded up the change and added it to the challenge cc. Also went to the gym so another buck added to cc
On a different note I got an email stating you can get $25 restaurant coupons for $5 so if any one is interested follow the instructions below:
I am not dining out until I get this cc paid off but thought this was a great buy Getting your gift certificate is this simple:

1. Click on the following link:

I am really committed to brown bagging my lunch and having breakfast at home. Today I just did not feel like packing lunch and thought hmmmm I do not have anything to pack for lunch. Then I thought you have to be kidding me
I thought you have every thing there is to make a sald, plus I took a grapefruit as well as other fruits and snacks
Long story short I stuck to my guns and had breakfast and lunch at home No need in wasteful spending

Today was a good day, I was up by 5am. I think it had a lot to do with the inauguration. Went to work and it wasn't too bad. Then headed to Macy's and Dillards to get my free cosmetic...yippie
Came home had 2 candy apples and opened the mail. I received my $120 check from BoA which I was going to apply to the challenge but I have to get my oil change and tires rotated (put off now for a week) plus I got my $25 GC from mypoints which I am considering posting on Ebay
Really good day today

This post is not about finances but the ignaugration...sorry
As a child I use to hear my mom talk about JFK an tear up then she would talk about how she would never vote for a black man unless it was Martin Luther Ling and he was dead. I was raised liberal but as I furthered my education became more conservative (my dad is a republican) In the primary's I didn't vote for Obama, but then I saw Michelle on CNN and thought hmmm and from that point on I was an Obama supporter; however, I must say what solified it for me was Sarah Palin, I wished McCain had chosen some one else but in the end Obama is it
When I watch the inauguration as an African American who never thought I would see this day is brought to tears, words simply can not explain what I am feeling. I kind of understand now when I watch old clips from the 60s and people are in tears to simply see JFK
I may not agree with him 100% but I do believe he will be a great president
May God Bless him with the guidance to lead this wonderful nation

Ok I pretty much stayed in today and only studied for about 10 minutes Then I hit the gym so $1 was paid towards my CC challenge next I went to Publix spent $17.13 on groceries(and only bought fruit no chip, dips etc) as well as personal items so I paid an additional .87 cents towards my cc (rounding up my change) I washed and curled my own hair saving $35 and I added this to my house fund
YTD challeng $1751.99

I am so glad I joined a 24-hour gym. Just left and it's a little before 2am. I had a great work out and I feel so good. Since school has started I can't really go every day but my goal is 3 times a week
$1 added to the challenge CC
YTD $1714.86

The Heat won today..yayyyyyyyyy!!!!
So I paid a buck on the cc.I haven't done that for a while
Go D. Wade!!!!!!!!!
YTD Challenge $1713.86