Amber's Personal Finance Blog

I almost forgot to wish my friends here a Happy Father's Day

I spent $4.98 on my God daughter�s birthday gifts. Her birthday is the end of the month and thank goodness Kohls sent out two $10 GC if you spent $10. Well yesterday I went in and the items came to $13.98 ( I did not realize that the shorts were eight dollars) but oh well and today I went in a found a really cute dress for $11 so $1 and some change was spent and I am done, unless I get another.
Next I ordered Directv for my dad because my brother is moving in and would like it, I had a refer a friend coupon and since I referred him I will save $10 a month on my bill for five months and my dad will save the same . God forbid if they gave you the $50 at once but oh well. I have to remember to add the $10 to my challenge every month
I did go to McDonald's today and spent $3.31 so $3 was added to my EF plus the $20 saved with the GC

Well my brother called to borrow $500 so I loaned him the money. I have no problems with him reimbursing me; my sister is a different story
I also checked to see if grades were posted for my online class and again the professor still has not posted them but he changed my grade on the first assignment giving me an extra 1.5 points. Why I do not know, but I am happy

$35 went to my EF because I did not go to the hair salon. I have been trying the every other week thing and it seems to be working. Maybe I will skip next week also

$163 for the electric bill this month
I can't believe it. Seems like every thing is on the rise. But I must say my Direct TV bill was $10 less so I am adding those $10 to my EF

Well yesterdy I was really upset, and just decided to Hell with the part time job, well I guess things happen for a reason because my brother has all this extra stuff that he wants to sell, so I am going to post them on Ebay and he said I can keep the money made and not only that I have a friend who moved to NY and I have been dying to go so I am going to book a weekend trip.
I transferred $1600 from the house fund to pay cc, but I only paid $1000 I have to balance the account and wait for some oustanding payments to post before I make the final payment either way the cc is under $1000

As much as I love going to my part time job it was not the worth th $9 I was making. I got a call today because I went to visit one of the residence and even though I wasn't fired I am just tired. I get a call every other month about something I did wrong and like I told the boss today it would be nice to be told once just once something nice. I think that is why my BP was up because I am constatly working as if I am walkig on egg shells. I know the economy is bad right now but I am going to look for me another part time job

Ok I went to the dentist today and it cost me $150 for the extraction which I thought was including when I paid half the money for the bridge ($1250) any how I have the temporay bidge in and it will be in for a while. I can't afford this. I have paid so much money thus far on my teeth it is crazy. I have depleted my savings and now I am taking money from my house fund to pay off the CC in which I charged my dental work and my new laptop. Thank God I get paid Thursday from my part time job, which I may not have because now the boss wants me to call her which never is a good thing. I have no idea what is going on but I will soon find out

I did not eat out today so I paid 2 on the cc, my how quickly it adds up I know I have the EF but I hate to see it dwindle down but I went ahead and tranferred the $1000 to pay on the cc; at least it would cover part of the $1250 dental work

I had McDonalds for lunch today so $5 is paid on the cc to match what I could have saved

I have not been keeping track of my budget like I am suppose to, therefore going well over my dining out budget and other things. In addition, I bought a pair of yellow shoes yesterday for $21, which was more of a want than a need. Any how, I have decided to stop adding to the challenge until I pay down the cc. I am planning on paying $1000 once my EF hits $2000. The reason for the high CC, my emergency dental care and my laptop crashed so I needed a new one.
On a different note, I contacted the bank who financed my last vechile (which was totaled) the gap insurance was to pay the difference and did not, thisd I know. Any how when I called they said that there was not a balance due on the account and did not know why it was being reported 120+ days late because the account was paid in full. So the rep placed a request to have it corrected. In addition, a doctor bill that is showing as non payment on my credit report was paid so I sent in a copy of my cancelled check and the bill from the doctor's office to have that cleared up, now it is a matter of finding the other one. I am trying to clear up everythig before I apply for the loan and send in my paper work for the grant on the new house, that way there are no problems

Added my weekly deposit of $25 to the challenge, so my new total is $5876.51. I also went to Macy's today to pay a $20.21 CC bill. Thank goodness I caught it because I would have ben hit with a late fee after today. I never use this card (I guess I did) I usually use the BoA CC because I get points. Maybe I pulled this one out by mistake.
Oh I forgot to post the other day I went to the dentist and the tooth that was extraced is healing nicely, but the tooth that I needed a bridge on fell out. All I could do was laugh, at least I was at the dentist. So I use the CC and paid half for the bridge which is more than the implant ($1250 charged on the CC)
This was a short pay period week but the next time around I'll pay half on the CC since I added the new laptop as well

I went into my part time job yesterday after having two weeks off. I was in such a good mood and then an incident occurred with a resident who is not allowed in the main building. The security guard basically told me to mind my own business well I am on final and written warning so I contacted my boss and guess what she did not want me to write the notes in the log (mind you it is company policy to do so) but to write a report and slip it under her door. Well I did that in addition to sending her a email so that I can have proof of what took place and I also noted on the note "per your request� so that there is no misunderstanding in the future; since there always is
On a different note my mom who if you have a nickel wants at least half of that made me so mad last night when I came home. One of the resident who passed away thought enough of me to leave me some perfume and a beautiful handkerchief and when I said to her Mrs. H left me something she says I hope it is money. I was so upset...it was more less the way she said it. Like it didn't matter what she left if it wasn't money
As far as the challenge goes $14.29 ws added in interest yesterday so my new total $5851.51

First my co-worker comes up to me and ask if I would like to order lunch and I assume he is paying since he owes me $10. Anyhow we order and guess what? I paid $10 for my lunch. I actually paid about $2 more than I should have because he did not have enough arrrrrrrrrrrgh. I was so upset, because I had packed my lunch and now I was short $10 for my monthly budget for dining out, plus it wasn't that great.
Next my computer finally gave out so I bought a new one for $900 returned it for a cheaper one which I really don't care for but it saved me about $300 and it gets the job done. But now my file for MS Money which I backed up on my new hard drive won't open so I will have to re-add all the data on this computer. At least my school stuff was saved and uploaded
Next I go to the dentist and the extraction is healing very well (getting an implant) But when I went to get the impression for my bridge on the other tooth (which I was having problems with, that is why I switch dentist) the tooth fell out. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh. It's been one thing after another.
On a different note, I saw on freecycle that a perfectly good washer and dryer was being given away so I responded, hope I am the first. I am starting to look for things that I will need for my new house.
I haven�t bought breakfast for the last two days so $2 went to my challenge and $2 went to the EF
New total for the challenge: $5837.22

Here is a link for $10 off at Walgreens if you spend $30 or more ( I am not sure if you can use it on meds)

If you would like to join Pinecone send me an email to veronak@hotmail.com. I just got a referral email form them to refer those who are interested

Finally set up my budget using my checkbook

I am so afraid of change and I think that is what holds me back. I have had the loan papers now to refiance my car for a possible better rate and have yet to fill them out and I finally went in to the office today and did it. The loan officer stated that once they are able to verify my employment I wll then be contacted regarding the loan status. My rate is very high and I have since cleaned up my credit paid off a ton of things and always paid my current loan on time and well over the amount due. So keep your fingers crossed.
I also cancelled my land line which I have been holding off on for a while, why I still don't know so that extra $40 saved will be going to my challenge every month. Next I am going to drop off the paper work for the grant. I have filled them out but have been so afraid to drop them off. Why? Change...I really need to over come that fear.
Today was a no spend day thus far but the day has not ended as of yet so I will wait to add my $2 but I will add $2 to the challenge and $2 to the EF for preparing my breakfast
$5826.38

I called AT & T for a refund and the idiot I spoke to told me he could not give me a refund. Now I only wanted to refund for the this year being that I never reviewed my bill and simply paid it. When I asked to speak to his supervisor he informed me that his supervisor would not give me a refund either, I informed him to then let me speak to his supervisor. Anyhow to make a long story short I got a credit of $45 from the supervisor who was not going to give me the refund. I also called regarding my cellphone and my contract is up next March so I will cancel then and switch to MetroPCS

This is why I like to receive my bill. I have finally decided to cancel my home phone service and simply increase the minutes on my cell phone saving me about $30 a month. Any how I log on to AT & T and notice that there were charges for a long distance service called Nickel Value Plan for a total of $9.76, because I never called long distance and my bill was the same for months (over a year) I never questioned the amount of the bill I simply paid the amount due. But when I went to cancel I notice this charge, I am POD'd I have to go through all the statement that are available online and try to get a refund. I can retrieve some statements back to May 07, it is my own fault. I don't know what possessed me to stop checking my bill when I was notified of the paperless billing. I know how these guys are, I once had a creit of about $90 because they screwed up. Being lazy I guess

Just wanted to wish every one a happy and safe Memorial Day. I am praying for those of you whose spouses/love ones are serving all over the world. It is definately appreciated
On a different note I am going to see Mr. H today since I did not work this weekend, he is the sweetest old guy I know, it's like having a grandfather.
I washed and colored my own hair today so on Friday when payday rolls around I will add the money saved($50) to my challenge. However, I am adding $2 to the EF and $2 to the challenge because I made breakfast this morning and I usually spend about $3.71 buying breakfast
New total for the challenge $5826.38 and EF $1668.35

Well I bought a passport today in order to save all my files and free up space on my laptop, since I am having problems. But I have not deleted anything as of yet until I am positive that it will work ok and I know what I am doing. So $100 spent but this came from my miscellaneous account since I am really not saving for anything in particular other than furniture I guess. Any how I wanted to hit the beach today but because I forgot to shave I opted not to go but will go first thing in the morning for about an hour. I have to look at my transaction for the month which I know I am way over on the food and gas bill

Used a coupon yesterday at Publix and saved $1 on plastic cups so I am adding this amount to my challenge. On a different note my laptop is giving me problems; I think there is a shortage so I am taking it in to be service next week. In the mean time I am going to buy a passport to back up all my files and free up space, I think that is the best thing, the funds will come from my misc. account since I am really not saving for anything in particular and I have $447 in that account. But I will use the BoA card in order to get the points and then pay the bill once I get home
As far as the tooth goes, looks like I am pain free I am still swollen but experiencing little or no pain.
Tuesday I am off and will finally drop off the paper work for the grant for the new home. I filled it out just never dropped it off, I am a little nervous...more like scared. Of what I do not know, I lived on my own before with no problems and then I wasn't as conscious as I am now about money
New total for the challenge $5824.38

I have not been adding to the challenge like I should so I added $70 today. The reason, for two weeks I have not gone to the hairdresser saving $35 for each week. I have been eating out a lot though since I had the tooth ache, I was just not in the mood; but now that things seems to be getting better since I had the extraction I can go back to making dinner/breakfast
so new total for the challenge $5823.38

Finally this tooth that has been giving me trouble was extracted today and I did not feel a thing. But now I have a canker sore on my tongue...it's never ending. After researching it says that they can be triggered from Motrin (which I was taking for the pain) and stress, of course I have been with this tooth
But all in all it says to allow a few days for it to heal itself

Well tomorrow is the big day, I am heading to the dentist and next week I am going to go ahead and fix the tooth that was giving me problems last year before that starts up. So when it is said and done I should be about $3k in the hole.
Everyone knows that I work a part time job with an idiot as a manager, anyhow I get a letter from her yesterday regarding my raise since I am on final warning I did not get one, which doesn�t bother me but what does is the fact that a resident 3 months ago wrote a letter about how professional I was and she said not one word as if it did not exists. So I emailed her and the direct of HR who stated he received the letter and it was in my employee file, and that it wasn�t given to my boss but her boss, here is my response:

Thanks a bunch, I really appreciate it. It's just that I was never told and was reminded of my errors; it would have been nice if management would acknowledge it, being that it is their duty to provide not only a positive environment but feedback as well. Again thank you, have a great holiday weekend

The funny thing is, is that if the resident never told me I would have never known? And even if it was given to my boss� boss you mean to tell me she doesn�t have sense enough to tell me. The bottom line is she doesn�t like me and I don�t like her

Well I went to the oral surgeon and he will extract and place some packing in for the implant on Friday, today was a no charge thank goodness. I must say since I have been icing this tooth and started a different antibiotic I am feeling much better; so I am going to try and go in tomorrow, hopefully I will as good as I am feeling now. It is going to cost me $410 so I went ahead and paid it that way Friday I am in and out
Thank goodness for my EF because Murphy has been bugging me lately

Went to the periodonist today who said I have a fracture and the tooth must be removed, so off to the oral surgeon. I experience the worst pain today and have been icing it all day, now I see how people get addicted to pain meds, I had to stop myself today. What a terrible feeling. I tried to work a little today and the pain,OMG. I found myself being rude to patients
Now I am starving

Today my mom and I spent the day out we hit the outlet mall and did some shopping which I know I should not be doing but it's too late now. Anyhow we went to visit my aunt who lives in Palm Bay, FL (Brevard County) where all those fires took place and all I can say is OMG. I can't not even imagine staying through that, grant it where my aunt lives there were maybe one or two homes damaged and a couple of cars, but the fire department (hats off to them) contained that fire. You could see how the fire burned the grass right up to peoples front door (no kidding, I mean litterly). Who ever started those fires if it is anyone else besides the guy they caught, should face some really hard times. The damage I can not explain and what could have happened, you had to see it for your self. I mean acres and acres of land where there was no homes were burned to the grown, unbelievable that no one got hurt. My aunt and uncle and their neighbors actually fought that fire with all the hoses they had and raking up dry leaves to save their homes...unbelievable.I wish I had a camera. Thank God no one was hurt

I went to Publix and picked up some sweet potatoes and 30 minutes later the rat had eaten a big chunk out of one. My uncle moved the trap and at 12pm tonight I heard snap called my mom and she said he was dead. Gross, his tail is so long and he was about the size of my hand with hair and will stay there until my uncle comes in the morning...yuck
Thank goodness he's dead