Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Went to the dentist on Thursday because my crown (that was $900) cracked after chewing gum. Any how when I saw the dentist the week before I was told that they have this new machine and they could replace my crown in the office with in an hour and a half. Well I got my crown alright, but with some serious pain for the last 3 days plus a 3 hour stay at the dentist with my mouth wide open.

First of all, I thought they were going to remove the old one, take a mold of my tooth, give me a temp and reschedule me for the permanent one. No they did surgery on my gums and I still don�t know why and placed the new one on (3 hours later) I am positive that I was a ginny pig for this new machine they have�it seems like he was just learning how to use it and now I am so sore because he did some laser surgery on my gums. I had to call them up today to have pain pills and antibiotics called in

You know I wish they had been honest from the start but after they started on my tooth what was I going do
I knew after I paid $20 I was an experiment and replacing my tooth was not out of the kindness of their hearts

That is what I have to say about my brother in law. He has been driving my nephew's car about 2 months, since he has been sick (my nephew) and my BIL doesn�t have the money to get his car fix which has been broken for about 3+ months. Anyhow, do you think he would have told my nephew that he needed to replace his tire or get it plugged since he is the one driving the car for so long, of course not that would be the right thing to do. What does he do he drops his car and leaves and then call him to tell him he as a flat. Not only that he has been driving the car for so long and knows it is cutting off and is not safe for him (my nephew) to drive, does he say anything, no. He waits until my sister chews him out to say that the car is not safe, idiot. He knows since M has been diagnosed with schizophrenia he has not been working but on the weekends and he hardly makes any money and since he is driving the car you would think that he would help maintain it. I did have an extra $20 so I gave it to M to try and help with his gas or even car repair, it's not much but it is something
Sorry I just had to vent

Well I went on a shopping spree and bought 1 shirt and a pair of pants, grand total $164 Of course everything is going back. I don't know what I was thinking, since my old car that I drive around in needs an alternator and back breaks. My mos says I she get ri of it but I like the fact that I can drive this car around and put all the miles on it. But we will see

I also had $31 left over in my bill account, tomorrow is payday from the parttime job, so I put $25 in my challenge home account and $6 in the car fund

Ok I go into Publix today to pick up a few things. So I hand the cashier my coupon for $.35 which I thought she did not take off in which I am staring at the screen. When I cash out and get my receipt I am looking for the discount, of course there isn't one. So I say to her did you take the coupon off (while she is staring at me) she says no and hand it to me, I say to her were you planning on telling me or keeping staring wondering if I noctice? I was so upset then I go to the desk and the girl is starin at me as if to say it is only $.35. First of all if the first cashier had applied my discount, by doing her job I would not have been at the customer srvice desk. Boy was I mad

I just read an article thatFair Isacc the company which reports FICO scors will no longer recognize authorized user accounts.

And Medicare will no longer cover "avoidable accidents" that occurs in hospitals. Things such as: bedsores, slip in falls, and items left in a patient after surgery

First I leave work early thinking school starts today and it is not until next week so I lost 2 hours. And to top it off it is a class I kept saying I wanted to drop and not attend tonight, I guess we should always follow our gut.

I was able to add $1 to my challange and $1 towards my car account because I did not buy breakfast or lunch today
Ne challenge total $3963.55

And next I got some good news, my uncle heard from our family and every one is fine with little or no damage from hurricane Dean. Now we just have to keep our fingers crossed for those in Mexico, the storm is now a category 5

Well the storm just barely missed Jamaica and last I heard (around 9am) there were no fatalities, which is great. However, we have not heard from anyone

Even though I am happy, here in south FL we won't see this storm (hopefully, anything can happen) I am sadden because my parents are from Jamaica and we have a lot of family there who is about to face this storm. I am really worried. We are talking about a category 5 storm, if any one remembers Andrew was a 4 as well as Katrina. So we know what these storms can do and with all the mountains in Jamaica which can cause a ton of mud slides
oh dear

I know what I am about to say is pure selfishness and I wish I could get rid of this feeling of joy but for some reason I can't. So I figured I will post my feelings
About 3 years ago my BF for about 6 yrs left me for some one else. I was devastated and I know we were having problems (money) but never thought he would just up and leave then the next thing I knew they were married, it was like a slap in my face.

Now I find out they are having the same if not worst problems than we had, she has caught him cheating twice, their lights were off and now they are facing foreclosure on their home.

Now I see it as he cheated on me with her and now she is faced with the same thing, he also skipped out on me owing me money now they are in the process of loosing their home and a lot more. Why am I happy, I think it is a feeling of payback, I wish I could shake this feeling because I know I am not exempt from the same thing

I went on a splurge today first with breakfast ($3.29) and then lunch ( I lost my receipt, about $10)
It all started when I was running late for work and left my breakfast; even though I had my lunch, my co-worker wanted and pleaded to go out to lunch but did not pay. But I got lucky and a patient gave me $10 today for lunch so that worked out.
Then I went to Blockbuster's and picked the Bourne series, since I saw the movie the other day ($25) so today was definately a spend day

I was able to pay last month's balance on the cc, so I have until next month to pay the balance remaining before I incur interest. I also added to my challenge the following:
� $25 weekly deposit
� $20 the dentist did not charge me today so I saved his amount
� $2 for not eating out
New total $3944.80

I have finally decided to join the company's 401k investment program. This is with my part-time job, my full-time job does not offer 401k and I have to add to my Ira bi-weekly. Any how they match the first 4%, so of course I will deduct the 4%
I have decided to allocate my funds as follows and hope this is a good move:
� -10% Wells Fargo Stable MMK (DSR1) low risk
� -10% Pimco Return (PTRAX) Bond this has a medium to low risk
� -10% Oakmark Equity (Oakbx) medium to high
� -10%Van Kampen Comstock (ACSTX) high risk
� -10% Wells Fargo Adv index fund (NVINX) high risk
� -30% Dreyfus Appreciation (DGAGX) high risk
� -10%Wells Fargo adv growth fund (nvlcx) high risk
� -5%wells Fargo small cap (nvsox) high risk
� -5% American funds (rerex) high risk

I added $2.09 to my challenge. A buck for not buy breakfast and a buck for not buying lunch 3 days in a row I have not eaten out, this is great for me

New total $3897.80

I finally went to the movies today and used my free passes, I also took my nephew and it was great. We saw "The Bourne Ultimatum" I can't tell the last time I went to a movie, but I am glad we went.
The only money spent was on his luch, I opted out and decided to eat at home

Did not buy breakfast or lunch today so $2 is added to the challenge

New total $3895.09

Ok I open up this new account so that I can pay my car principal online well we already know that isn't the case. Now I am waiting 5 days for this transfer of $20 into my new checking account so that I can withdraw the funds and close this account, this is crazy. Now I get my new CC which was suppose to 0.0% on balane transfers, guess what it a 3% charge or $10 which ever is greater. You have got to be kidding me, of course I cancelled that transfer. Also my contract says introductory rate through July 2008 (no date give)one would think the end of July right? Wrong July 2nd
It's funny because when you do the application online you're not told of the little fee but when you get the paper work in the small print there it is.
You know the old me would have never read the contract I was just happy to have a card but the new me hmmmmm I go through everything with a fine tooth comb

Today was a great day, not too busy not too slow...just right. I also did not eat out for breakfast, lunch or dinner
I added $2.87 to my challenge bringing my total to $3893.09

Only thing is, my nephew seems to be really battling depression, so I have two free movie passes and we are going to the movies tommorrow.

I have fought with depression, I told my sister I think he is more depressed than schizophrenic but of course I am not an MD I just hope he gets out of this stage/phase or what ever it is

ok I packed my breakfast as well as lunch and a few snacks to get me through the day and I am so proudof myself; I did not buy breakfast or lunch today. $2 is added to the challenge

New total $3892.22

was what I got in my health law class, I stumped on the finally which dropped my grade. I am not too happy, but am happy I did not get a C

I finally found someone at BoA who knew what he was talking about. No payments made electronically even with the BoA account will be applied to the principal. I either have to go into the branch, make a payment by phone or mail it in So now I have to close my checking account that I opened with them. What a pain

I don't know why I do it, but I hate lending money, especially to my sister. Since I am off tomorrow, from my part time gig a friend asked me to go to a comic show which was $35. I think I spoke to soon when I said yes, because now I do not want to go nor pay the $35; but anyhow I called my sister up to collect the $50 she owes (3 weeks later) and she rushed me off the phone ( I figured she would). The week when she was suppose to pay me back she says to me "oh I forgot to give B (my BIL) your check", since then another 2 weeks has past. She has a bad habbit of not paying when she says she is. In any event I am going to have to take this money from my EF account to pay my friend tomorrow for my ticket

I don't know if you guys remebered bt I ws told by BoA if I had a checking account with them and paid my bills on line then I can not to make all payments to the principal, well guess what, that is not the case. The following is from their bill pay service:
Bill Pay Help close window
Payment Memo Cannot be Sent
Payment memos cannot be sent to payees that accept electronic payments.
What a joke, now I am closing this account this is crazy

I had abot $50 left in my personal account since my last payday, which is a huge accomplishment for me. So I added $25 to the challenge and $25 to my car account

New total for the challenge $3889.40
In regards to my car I will wait until I get a statement and send a check for the principal it seems like when ever I pay online BoA has a problem with applying it to my principal in the mean time I willearn interest

OK I have about had it with BoA. I was told as long as I write "principal" for any extra payments towards my car it would be applied, well guess what? it wasn't. Now I am PO'd I will be on the phone with them as soon as I get home...this BS

I just realize we have a hall of fame here and I am on it...lol Now I know it has been a while since I have read and blogged

Our office manage is nuts, she is they type of person who will not show you a thing because she thinks you want her job. When I was hired I informed her I was going to school for my BHA any how I informed her that I wanted to learn as much as possible in regards to billing/insurance. Needless to say I have not learned a thing other than insurance verification 3 years later. Now the owner who pays me well decided he wanted to collect on some old accounts and provided me the software that the office manager uses to do the billing. She is sooo upset about it, why I do not know. If she doesn�t realize by now that when I finish school, hopefully in a year I will be.
Now to make a long story short about a month later the owner hires a friend whose company to closed, the woman is driving 80 miles each way to work, the office manager is so upset saying things like where is she going to sit. See this woman use to be the office manager at her old job for 12+ years and knows the billing (and has been showing me things) she is just as nice as she wants to be. When ever she has a question my crazy boss says "it's not important put it aside and I will do it later" basically not showing her our system or she may answer her as "WHAT!" the woman even said to me if it keeps up she may be leaving. Why are people like this, afraid to share knowledge, if she was able to do her job fully and keep up he would not have thought to have me collect on the old stuff and the new person posting obviously her department which was really only for one person has grown (which is great for us) but she doesn�t see it that way

She use to do the ordering for the office and another girl does now, do you know she was so upset about it that when ever L called and ask the quantity we might need she would not tell her just silly and childish and she is in her fifties

I called my friend today because I have not heard from her in a while (she is the one who's philosophy is if she wants is she is going to get it, because you only live once) Any how, one of her daughters went out of town with her sister for a family reunion so when I asked how come the other or herself did not go she bit my head off and stated "NO BODY HAS ANY MONEY" well I thought if you quit buying what you want because you deserve it, you would have money. Any how she is buying a new house because she wants it and the other has not sold yet and I think that is more of her fustration than anything else. I said to her make sure your contract has a contingency stating your house have to sell first she said she didn't need, looks like she will. Now she is complaining the whole time that she is "broke as a joke" but now she has applied for a new position in which she will be making if she gets the job and I am sure she will, $50k a year...and you know what her plans are a new BMW 525. Now the only reason why she has not gotten the car yet was because she was waiting on closing on her house (mind you she used a cc to pay for some fee she needed to pay). The whole thing is crazy. Some times I think how do they do it and I am living at home struggling and they have everything and then I remember they're in debt and I am not

Now that I am blogging and reading more blogs, I am back to my old self...try to save as much as possible. I added my weekly deposit of $25 to my challenge home account bringing my new total to $3874.61. I was trying to save a $1000 a month but now that I have a new car that is out of the question but either way I am back on track. Seems like if I don't read what everyone else is doing or blog I loose focus. Actually I am depositing only half because $12.50 should go on the principal for my car, in that case my new total is $3862.11

Since I am trying to get to $4 before Tina...lol I have added $.74 to my challenge today, rounding up my change
new total $3849.56

Well he seems to be doing much better, he is going back to work tomorrow and will be starting school for his GED. He has a learning disability and when he graduated he did not receive a actual diploma so he has decided to give school a try (this was really depressing him) so I am really excited and happy for him at the same time