Amber's Personal Finance Blog

There was a time when I looked at my friends and thought how could they get that, why I am still living at home,how come I can not get ahead and I am saving? Well now I know why, it is because I am not living above my means. I just found out an old friend who up graded to almost a half million dollar house is now behind on her mortgage. And the crazy thing is her parents borrowed the money off of their house ($3500) in order to help her pay for hers. Now is this crazy? What is going to happen next month? She is basically two months behind well one since her dad borrowed the money. And I have another friend who is closing next month on a house and has not sold her last one and yet complaining about money

Because I am a eating out fanatic when ever I don't I consider this a saving so I add a buck to my challenge. and today was another day, I am so proud of my self not only am I really saving this month fornot eating out but upping my challenge as well. I am $30 away from meeting my $5000 mark I am excited
My new total $4970.64

Well I am really saving by not eating out, only once this month and that was because I was sick. Today I stayed in did not buy lunch so I added (well rounded up) my change of $.85 lol to add to my challenge

New total $4969.65 So I am happy

I also completed a survey for $2 but won't add until I get thefunds

I am referring to school, this semester has driven me crazy. I just finished up one paper, well not really finish I have to complete my conclusion (1-2 pages ) but other than that it is all finish all seven pages. This is the class that I am not doing to well in I have failed all my tests (2) but have gotten a 100 on my first paper. Plus he gives us 25 points just for showing up and I know my second paper will be fine so I should at least get a "C" in the class. My research class is just what it is research, I have computed so many graphs that I want to jump out of a window but at least I have an "A" in that class. Then I am taking an internet course and more writing

Going to school full time and working full time in addition to part-time is tough. Next semester I am only taking 2 classes I need a break

How I saved today was by utilizing buy one get one free at Publix and adding this amount to my challenge ($8.28) Went to Publix they had BOGO on chips and bacon so I lucked out today . I also rounded up some change (.17 cents) and added this to my challenge as well

New total $4968.80, at the rate I am going I should reach my $5000 mark. It is embrassing to say but at the same time a huge accomplishment but I have pretty much never had more than about $500 saved and to have almost $5000 I feel like screaming

Yesterdat I drove into McDonalds and drove right out with out buying a thing so I sved $5 in which I added to my challenge

New total $4960.35

I hate team work , my instructor suggested that we team up and was really encouraing it. Any way a classmante that I have had in my class for a while we decided to team up ( I thought this was a great idea) She actually teamed up with another classmate on the last assignment and was upset because she stated "she did all the work" Now I am starting to wonder. I thought we would both type up an essay about what we thought about the assignment and combine the two, wrong. She basically took over, I sent her my work and her comments were "it is all right" All right I worked my butt off not to mention I am the one who greated the graph for our assignment that she will be using. Grant it she has a high grade in the class and I have an "A" so why is she so dead set on not incorporating my work? I am PO'd
I think she did the same thing with her last partner who did not mind, but I want to learn, I want to know if I am interpeting the graphs right

Today was a good day, I did not spend a coin; so I added $2.40 to my challenge since I did not buy breakfast

New total $4954.40

Saving. Since this new challenge I have been trying think of a million and one ways to save.

Yesterday I was sick as a dog almost did not make it work but I did. Unfortunately since I was so sick I ended up not cooking and buying lunch which was also dinner today. That was $11.05, in an effort to save I added another $11.05 to my challange to match the funds that was wasted.
I also rounded up some change and added that to my challenge brining my new total to $4945.60

I am always clipping coupons and never using them, well today I finally did. Saved a $1.75 in which I added to my challenge

I had breakfast at home so I am adding a buck to my challene. I am definately try to reach $5000 before the end on the month

Just a reminder to every one, don't forget to change your clocks

I just had to post this my friend spent $3000 for a birthday party for a 2 year old. Is this crazy or is it just me, I have never heard of such a thing. I wonder what she's going to do at the next one. She had planes trains and cars this is just STUPID

I love this new idea about "How I...saved" each week I am depositing $25 to my challenge acount.I use to do this thing with my mom, in which I gave her $25 a week to hold for me and then when it is my turn to gather my draw I would get a big lump sum , I did this because I was and still am at times struggling with saving but I have gotten much better. So I decided to add $25 a week to an account that I can earn interest

New total $4929.88

It's noon here in FL and I will be going to work in 2 hours I have not gone any where to spend any money so I saved today. I am adding $1 to my challenge for not spending and another $1.18 to round up so my new total is $4905.88. Who saysthat the small things dont count

My uncle came home and gave me the $120 my sister owed me. He said he knew she did not have the money to pay me. I asked him if he was sure because I know things were hard with him but he gave it to me any way. I am happy but my sister should be a shamed of her self

Yep Thursday has come and gone and still no signs of my money from my sister (like I really expected her to pay me when she said she would). I really don't need the money right back but it is the point, every day she deos not pay me I loose out on my interest and the harder it is for me to get my money from her. Of course with today being Friday and all she did not miss her weekly hair appointment,that would mean she realized that she owed me money. All I can say is unbelievable

How I saved $2.40 today was by not buying my regular breakfast burito so I added the amount I would have spent to the challenge.

New total $4903.70

I was so afraid to look at October's monthly spending, here it is and I went way over in almost all the categories:

Expense Categories
401k:19.44
Auto: Car Payment $153.02
Auto: Gasoline $167.88
Auto: Maintenance $32.96
Bank Charges : Interest Paid $21.8
Bills: Satellite $68.14
Bills: Cellular $149.48
Bills: Electric $341.5
Bills:Internet $121.69
Bills: Telephone $78.79
Bills: Water & Sewer 43.94
Charitable $60
Dining Out $149.83***
Education: Tuition 535
Gifts $26.65
Groceries $164.13
Dental $131.65
Prescriptions $15
Household : supplies 4.29
Movies & Video Rentals $9.99
Leisure : Newspaper $6.25
Miscellaneous $73.18
Personal Care $78.02
Sales Tax $13.93
Snack 0.65
Taxes : Federal Income Tax 363.96
Taxes : Medicare Tax 55.16
Taxes : Social Security Tax 235.9
Total Expense Categories 3122.23

Grand Total -3122.23

this month has actually snuck up on me. I did not realize it was November. Today I did not spend a coin so I added $4 to my challenge in order to save for my new house. I am excited about this new contest which motivates me to save save save. I also got paid today from my part time gig on which I added $41 additional dollars to my challeng, then put $100 in my car account notthis months payment

New challenge total $4900.55

My nephew who graduated from the fire fighter program in June finally got an interview this past Saturday and he took a test...keep your fingers crossed for him; he won't know or about a month. My other nephew who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia got a job...it only pays $8 but at least he got a job with health care. He also has a learning disability so getting a job on his own really meant a lot to him

Just upped my challenge. I added $16.09 in interest that was paid by ING and another $4.87 for not spending a dime today and rounding up my change

New total $4859.81

Just wanted to wish every one a safe and Happy Halloween. We are expecting a lot of rain from Noel so I may not get to see all the kids

Just paid off another cc I do not know how I upped my cc after working so hard at paying them off. I did pay tuition and MD bills but my goodness. Anyhow, I did add another $101 to my challenge today so my new total os $4838.85 I was rally hoping to make the $5k mark this month but oh well

In the last few days I have been rounding up change and adding it to my challenge, something I have not done in a while. Anyhow I got my $5 from your2cents so that is definately going to my challenge. I cant wait until I have enough money like $20K for my house. I figure if I can save 12K a year or close to it, it will take me two years

I have not posted in a while but here we go. My nephew car broke down about two weeks ago and my sister ask my uncle to fix it, she only owes him for the parts. Anyhow, she has not paid him yet and the money he usd to get the parts was his cell phone money (big mistake). She was to pay him 3 Fridays ago and she hasn't. Now my mom is feeling bad and took the money out of some money she is holding (it is a little pool she deos too long to explain) with the expectation that my sister was going give my uncle his money. Well to make a long story short, she hasn't, she called me up n Friday ask me to pay him until she gets paid Thursday.The only reason why I am doing it is because of my mom because I know darn well that when Thursday roll around I will not see one damn dime until 3-4 weeks from now
I just needed to vent... she is so pathetic she'll go and get her hair done but won't pay the money she owes just pathetic

I have been so busy like a little bee. This research class that I am taking is wearing me out...driving me crazy. I have not even updated my challenge. Unfortunately I am afraid to look at the amount of money spent dining out this month, because I am so busy with this class I hae eaten out, on the run almost every day this month

Yep the car sold today for $300. I wish I could have added this amount to my challenge but I had t pay for the new car (payment)and car insurance

I just noticed that ING has dropped their rates I thought this is strange I am making less money than last month on a daily basis. So go back and review my statements compared to my online on and sure enough they went from 4.50% to 4.30% I guess I should not complain since they are paying more than my local bank

The girl who called last week about my car called today to say she has all the money and wanted to know if I could pick it up today, but I was on my way to work. So I will pick it up from her on Tuesday, so basically my car sold