Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Added $15.52 to my challenge, I haven't been lately so now I have a new total of $5563.56. Now that I have gotten the CC's paid off I can start back adding money to my challenge. I was thinking in August I will apply for the first time home owner grant that the city is offering, upto $50k is being offered...keep your fingers crossed

My sister called and was upset because she did not have any money, she wasn't complaining to borrow but she was upset because she'll see my mom today and did not get her; well gave her any money for her birthday and she does not want to see her but she will and I know my mom she will definately ask for her entitled money. Anyhow we decided to go out for lunch and split her bill so for me that is a good thing, since the only money I have is to really pay for my tuition, which is almost $2k not including books. Plus I have to see the eye doctor ($225) plus get an oil change all in with in the next few weeks. So I am really pinching my pennies
Thinking back to my sister, it is sad because she never have any money, and I do mean litterly. She will not stop shopping and cut back on the hair appointments, which are tough for me as well but some times I just don't go.

Just wanted to wish those of you who celebrate Passover a happy holiday

Well Friday has come and gone and of course my sister did not pay me back and the funny thing is, I am not mad. Of course I knew she would not, I guess I am using this as leverage because as long as she owes me she won't ask to borrow any money and if by chance she gets the nerves I will simply remind her she owes me $100 already
On a different note, I just paid our water bill which was up by $3 and I do not know how since we are on water restrictions. But what can you do

Received m tax refund today and paid off the last cc of $580 so I am debt free except for my car.Yippie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom keeps bugging me.Today was her birthday and I wished her a happy birthday, but some kind of a way she is going to get the $20 that I normally spend for her birthday out of me
First she demanded that I give her money instead of taking her out to eat and I said no, now she wants to go out to eat. How come she can not understand that I do not have money to waste which includes eating out/gifts. Next month tuition is going to cost me about $1500, in addition to another $300 for my car insurance plus $200 to get my eyes checked...not to mention my books
My uncle gave her some money yesterday and she gave it back, and she's bugging me for $20 or so....just leave me alone

I finally got my refi papers for my car loan from the bank. I called them up today ranting and raving and I just checked the mailbox and there it was. Now I am confuse, I'll have to sit down this weekend and read over the paper work
Also the cop just came over to ask if I saw/heard anything because our neighbor's house was just broken into. Why is it that the quiet neighborhoods always have all the trouble? I would say 85% of the population is over 69 so why all the crime? I did not hear or see a thing, he said the alarm was going off; and I heard nothing...amazing.
I really don't have the money and wanted to pay off the cc, but I am buying a camera tomorrow

It really doesn�t seem like payday, all I did was pay bills. Paid off one of my cc's ($298) added $50 to my challenge and IRA accounts, and added an extra $30 to the EF and $10 to my miscellaneous saving account. Light bill was $98 this month, thank goodness, cable is still high and I am debating if I should turn off the house phone or not
I checked the IRS website and my tax refund should be deposited tomorrow, so I am paying off my last CC of $580, added to my EF so that I can meet my $1000 goal

I attempted to get my free credit report and was told I needed to pay unless I used the site annualcreditreport.com or something like that. I thought there was a law passed in which I can get my report for free, well in FL you must pay unless you use the designated site, in which you get all 3 at once and I did not want that. I wanted to obtain my report every three to 4 months from the big three but I will have to settle for one so I am waiting until June
Tomorrow I am calling the credit union ans raising you know what. I have called them 3 times for an application to refinance muyu car and have not received it as of yet...what is the problem?
Anyhow, I was able to get one of the last two seats for summer B for the accounting class, thank God
I just can't wait until this week/month is over

My mom is a piece of work, I heard my sister say once that if you only had $1 and she could get $.50 she would take it. Her birthday is Thursday and I usually take her out for breakfast or dinner, well this year I really don't have it. I just spent $300 on my car window and now tuition is due. So she says to me, "don't take me out for dinner just give me the money" I was sooo PO'd when she said this. Now mind you I have not seen a birthday card from her in years or a Christmas gift, but she always has her hand out. My sister and I split her cell phone bill every month and she still wants money. My brother who lost his job gave her $100 and she still took it knowing he is not working. And my uncle who is her brother who lives here may give her $300 and she gives him back $200 because he has daughter, well my brother has kids and a wife that passed away in addition he is not working. I just don't get her, she always has her hand out for money. I use to do this thing with her and would put $25 in a week and when it was my turn to get my draw/money she would automatically take her cut, some times I needed that money to pay my car note or rent when I was living on my own and because she would take it I would be short. I can't wait until I am out of here

Not much going on today, went to work and it wasn't too bad because the boss was gone and further more I wasn't that busy. Now I manange to get a little studying in,not nearly as much as I needed but I will get on the ball Wednesday
I also broke down and had my brows and chin waxed today...lol, I was trying to hold off but the chin hair was getting to be too much, even with the plucking.
Men, they have it made in the shade

It has been a long time since my sister borrowed money and she called tonight to borrow $100. When she called it was close to 11 so I am sure it's something she just found out about(?) but I know one thing if I do not have my money on Friday like she promised I am going to be annoyed because I should knoe better

Six bags later and my closet are not completely cleaned out, but it looks great.
I gave my friend�s daughter 4 bags full of clothes, my sister one and trashed another
And I was able to place several pairs of jeans in a draw vs. being on top of show boxes
In the next couple of weeks I plan on tacking the file cabinets, now that is going to be a job

That's what I was yeterday. First I went to my day job from 8:30 to 12, then did some running around, took an hour nap and went to work from 3-11. As soon as I got home last night I went straight to bed.
Then this morning I got up late and my mother was using all the burners on the stove and I was starving so I had to buy breakfast
And I am still too tired to hit the library today...so I am just relaxing

Well I made breakfast and one of the patient's bought us lunch which was really good, but I bought a book today for $14. On top of that I forgot I have free showtime for a few months, if
I had remembered I could have watched a movie rather than buying a book

67 on my accounting test which is terrible. I notice that the inctructor added 7 bonus points, I do not know if the points were included or we should factor in at the end of the semester. I will check with her on Tuesday. The class as a whole did terrible, there were really low grades. I am a little dissappointed but at least I still have a B average.
On a different note I did not eat out again today, I have saved so much money this week. I have about $14 in checking account number 1 to last me until next Wednesday, let's see if I can hold onto it.
We had an open note test in my organization and planning course so we'll have to see how I do...I think I am ok

If you are wondering what your refund would be just click on the link below. You will need your 1040 in order to enter amounts from different lines
I am in for $600

I finally completed my tax returns and I am entitled to a refund of $1477...guess I loaned uncle same way too much. This amount is close to what my tuition will be in the summer give or take a couple of hundreds, sot that is what I will be using it for now. Now on a different note, when I get my little stimulus package I will add that to my challenge.
I did not go to the hair salon yesterday ( two weeks in a row) so I put those $35 in my EF account. In addition, I made breakfast this morning ( was tempted not to) and brought my lunch and now I am having grill cheese, so all and all I am doing well with not dining out this month
Grades are still not posted from my accounting test...I am a little worried, it was a tough test

For the last two days I have taken my lunch to to work in addition to snacks and I made breakfast both days; plus I cooked dinner so basically I had two no spend days
Further more, I did not go to the hair salon today, saving me $35
Now on a sour note, I took my acounting test today and basically had no clue, this was a tough test and my instructor said it would be...just keep your fingers crossed that I am in the high 70s

Well I went to the library today and got some studying in for my accounting class. While I was there I met two seniors who were really nice we basically talked about the election and the economy
In addition, I did some grocery shopping and filled up my tank at $3.73 a gallon for a total of $57.30. I guess that is not too bad

As you all know I work part time at a luxury senior living facility and these people are something else since they have money. Anyhow one of the resident�s son's came in and I asked how his dad was doing and he tells me he just passed. So I give my condolences and he tells me how great his dad was and that he was 98 as he is telling me how hard it is to lose a love one I say to him I lost my sister law two days before Christmas and he basically tells me her life was not important because she did not live to see 98. WTF!!!!!!!!!!! at first I wasn't going to say anything but I just couldn't, so I say to him just because she did not live to see 98 doesn�t mean that she did not make an impact on peoples lives, she was a teacher whose children loved her as well as I. Can you believe him?

I did not go to the hair salon this week so $35 was added to my EF. I want to reach my goal of $1000 by the end of May

6 meaning classes I need to graduate I just reviewed the college catalog and it looks like I only need a total of 6 more classes I am so happy. If that is the case I maybe graduating this year after all. 3 classes in the summer and 3 in the fall (if they're offered) so I am setting up and meeting with the advisor to go over all my credits and what is needed.
On a different note my ex best friend called me the other day and asked me to move in with him (roommates) I thought are you damn crazy. First of all he always has people over, plus he smokes marijuana on a regular basis, then he has this attitude that you can't even give him constructive criticism plus he is not working. Not to mention he and my bum for an ex are best friends. Then when ever I talk to him he is always hinting about me lending him money and the fact that I so called have it. I can't stand a man who refuses to stand on his own feet and think that because I have a half way decent car that I just have money. Do I have stupid written across my forehead to give him because I know I will not be getting it back?
Sorry about the vent but he just drives me crazy

This school thing is driving me nuts, not only did I find out that the course required for internship maybe dropped in the fall I am now committed to my internship for the summer Any how on the bright side I was able to set up to have a speaker come out and speak with the seniors about emergency preparedness since we are approaching hurricane season.
Now the woman who is over my internship is an idiot, we agreed that I will be in charge of activities now it seems like she has new plans. When I speak with her on Monday I am going to confirm that I will be in charge of activities for my internship

well I went to the dentist and he wants me to have some scaling done, I don't think so...I have had scaling after scaling and it seems like it is not helping my gums. But the dentist gave me a mouth wash that I have used for about 2 weeks and he says my gums are much better, then why the scaling? Let's just hold off until after my scheduled cleaning which I plan on doing, if my gums are getting better with the mouthwash rather than spending $400 I would like to $15 copay for a mouthwash
Next I go to register for class and can't because I am not listed as a senior, arrrrrrrrrrgh. Now I am able to register and because of budget cuts so many classes have been dropped from the schedule or there maybe 1 class that is from 9-11 with a 21 students on a waiting list (this is from the instructor) and of course even if I was on the list I can not attend due to my work schedule. So basically my plans to graduate in the fall is out of the window.
But on a good note I upped my contribution from 4% to 6% for my company's 401k

Two days in a row I have had a great day. Today was a no spend day other than gas of $30 which I do not count. I got up early enough to make breakfast, took my lunch and snacks for work; in addition; to having left overs for dinner
Then I headed to the library because I was having some problem with my accounting, I was able to complete chapter 10's homework other than the hand out in which I will tackle tomorrow but it felt good to be able to understand what I was doing wrong. I also had $7 left over from last pay period in checking account 1 so I added that to the EF and looks like I will have $85 left from last pay period in checking account number 2 on Thursday so that will be added to my car/tuition fund

I am not sure whose blog I was reading regading directv, but I gave them a call and my bill was reduce to $44.99 in addition to 3 months free of Showtime. I will pay $61.53 (including tax) for 1 year and then after that I will switch to Comcast to get their introductory rate
Overall I will be saving about $10 a month and will be adding this amount to my challenge...never hurts to call

Inspired by sillyoleme I decided to pay off the BoA cc so I took $2200 out of my house fund. I don't mind because I am easily going to get it back to $7642.45 in no time. With a tax refund coming due in addition to the so called stimulas package I will be back at $7600 in no time. I have been battling with this for a while, even though it was zero percent interest until july I wanted it cleared. I really did not pay it off completely because the dentist owes me a credit of about $300 plus I have some clothing that I bought that I am returning so once I get my refund and return those items it will be a zero balance Thanks sillyole me...it seems like I am back on board with have no debt

First I started my taxes and got the bulk of it completed, just need to add in the deduction for sales tax (I bought a new car last year so I will save on that), in addition to my IRA contributions and I am done. I went to the grocery store and bought snacks and made dinner that will last me at least two days including lunch. Then I headed to the library to get some studying done. I am stumped basically on one chapter...but will review tomorrow night. Next I took a nice long nap and my brother who I hardly see stopped by for a little while which was really nice.
As far as finances goes today is the end of the month for me because payday is Tuesday so I am uploading this month's spending
My hair expense is really up there, I will start back perming my own hair which will save me an extra $40
I normally would not have nonreimbursable job expenses but I bought several dress pants and tops for my summer intern
Expense Categories
Taxes : Federal Income Tax $303.87
Insurance : Automobile $291.00
Automobile : Maintenance $281.00
Personal Care : Hair $198.00
Taxes : Social Security Tax $190.57
Groceries $161.69
Automobile : Car Payment $141.69
Miscellaneous $131.63
Job Expense : Non-Reimbursed $114.13
Clothing - Unassigned $106.85
Automobile : Gasoline $100.02
Bills : Electricity $94.05
Healthcare : Dental $85.00
Bills : Cellular $74.69
Bills : Cable/Satellite Television $71.53
Bills : Online/Internet Service $61.25
Dining Out $59.27
Gifts $54.55
Clothing : Acessories $45.50
Taxes : Medicare Tax $44.58
Bills : Water & Sewer $43.94
Sales Tax $43.03
Bills : Telephone $40.01
Charitable Donations $40.00
Personal Care : Make-up $19.00
Healthcare : Prescriptions $15.00
Hobbies/Leisure : Entertaining $11.00
Leisure : Entertaining $10.00
Healthcare : Eyecare $8.99
Household : Laundry $7.00
Household : House Cleaning $6.38
Personal Care : Hair Supply $4.99
Leisure : Newspaper $3.00
Snack $1.80
Household : supplies $1.50
Total Expense Categories $2,866.51

well I got the intern position. I will be pretty much working as th director of activies. Which is fine with me because I can pretty much work my schedule as I see fit. And since I already work at a senior facility, I can use some of their ideas and incorporate that with my internship.
In regards to my part-time job I got a call from my boss' boss assistant to set up a phone conference. I thought a phone conference you have got to be kidding me, you are too busy to meet with me or my concerns are not that important that you can do a quick conference call. I was so annoyed I just left her a message that I did not want a phone conference and to forget about the entire thing