Amber's Personal Finance Blog

When it comes to convenience ING wins over all. I opened up an HSBC account last year and have not transferred a dime sense. Reason 1) my customer number is twenty digits long and I can not log in 2) even if you verify all your info over the phone the refuse to reset your pass word or give you the account number. No I am closing this account and have to send in a ton of BS to do so

Is what I have beening adding to my challenge, $2 for not buying breakfast and $3 for not buying lunch

New challenge total $2567.19

I am making a slow progress but I am happy

Can you believe it I got my refund from Cingular/At&T $83.60. I can not believe it, I thought it was going to take at least two weeks

I was going to add this amount to the challenge, but since I am only workig one week this pay period at my part-time gig I will hold on

This is why I do not buy cell phone insurance along with the $50 deductible. Anyhow, this was in my inbox from the Dollar Stretcher and I thought I would share:

Used Cell Phones I don't think anyone needs to take out cell phone insurance,especially if you're like me with used cell phones you've notdisposed of. Here's the reason why. My son's cell phone wasrun over by a car and smashed to pieces. He had one month togo on his cell phone contract and would be eligible for adiscounted upgrade in 30 days. What to do? He borrowed afriend's old, used cell phone (from the same provider), calledthe company, and they transferred my son's service to the usedphone. I learned from this to keep at least one of my old cellphones.

My BP was down 110/60 which I think is low but according to the new numbers for BP this is great. Anyhow, I got on the bike for five minutes yesterday...lol I am so out of shape

Oh yeah I forgot, Cingular called to verify CC because of course they were running into problems processing my $83.

Just lovely

Called Cingular or At&t which ever one they go by and spoke with Mike Gagon who stated he needed to look over my account, I do not know why when he clearly sees the credit of $83.60. Then he states it has already been processed I say to him I know tht is why I am calling for a refund I paid the bill twice and what happens next he places me on hold. Come on, I can see if I owed them money, but the same bill was paid twice. Anyhow he comes back and tell me I will receive a credit in about 6 to 10 days, my next bill will be due in 10 days. And of course he could not give me a reference number that is why I am posting here

unbelievable

I just realized I paid my cellphone twice What was I thinking I am going to call and see if i could get this credited back to my account, I'd rather earn interest and have my funds than not

I was reviewing my spending habits, I have since decreased my dining out but upped my personal spending ( seeing the hairdresser once a week at $35) Haven't did much clothes shopping which is great, but I was able to up my challenge. I don't think I will hit the $4000 mark for this month but I think I will make it to $3000. So here are the numbers:
Income/Interest $3.08
Gifts Received $20.00
Total Other Income $20.00
Refund $58.76
Total Wages & Salary $2,994.02
Total Income $3,075.86

Expenses
Gasoline $96.45
Maintenance $87.98
Total Automobile $184.43
Bills
Cable/Satellite Television $82.85
Cellular $167.20
Electricity $106.70
Online/Internet Service $61.19
Telephone $46.57
Water & Sewer $41.39
Total Bills $505.90
Charitable Donations $20.00
Clothing $116.74
Dining Out $41.57
Education
Books $29.00
Tuition $240.40
Total Education $269.40
Gifts $107.73
Groceries $135.88
Healthcare
Dental $381.65
Physician $15.00
Prescriptions $41.99
Total Healthcare $438.64
Hobbies/Leisure
Books & Magazines $20.00
Household
Furnishings $18.99
House Cleaning $2.50
Total Household $21.49
Job Expense
Non-Reimbursed $5.98
Total Job Expense $5.98
Leisure
Entertaining $46.75
Newspaper $3.79
Total Leisure $50.54
Miscellaneous $50.45
Personal Care $195.33
Sales Tax $16.38
Taxes
Federal Income Tax $294.15
Medicare Tax $43.41
Social Security Tax $185.63
Total Taxes $523.19
Expense - Unassigned $15.53
Total Expenses $2,719.18

Income less Expenses $356.68

Saw the doc today and it is official I have high blood pressure and was given BP pills. He wants me to have a series of test for the hot flashes that I am having, and as far the pressure goes he wants me to excercise a little more (being that I don't ) so I will hit the bike at work every day for 10 minutes and will definatley start watching my sodium intake

Thanks to everyone who suggested I see the MD right away you guys were right.

All this saving and investing is new to me. I called the bank today, to transfer money to my IRA account and the rep offered me a CD with in my IRA earning 5.10% for six months, I said ok. I never heard of such a thing and since I will not be penalized in regards to taxes and I do not plan on taking the money out I thought why not and I can continue to contribute to my regular IRA and earn a better return�nice

Today was payday, and I still had $63 left in my personal account and tomorrow is payday from my second job so I am doing great this month any how here is what was paid out and saved:

Month Ending 5/31/2007
Paycheck $1,031.70
Automobile : Gasoline -$33.70
Education : Tuition -$140.40
Bills : Cable/Satellite Television -$82.85
Bills : Telephone -$46.57
Bills : Electricity -$106.70
Orchard Household Bank -$100.00
Transfer To (Contributions) -$50.00
Bills : Cellular -$83.60
Transfer To :New Home -$103.00
Transfer To :New Car -$40.00
Transfer To : Publix Savings -$76.37
Transfer To : New Home -$0.15
Lakeside Methodist Church -$20.00
HSBC Mastercard -$49.27

New total for challenge $2529.18

I contacted my brother when I was in my depressing mode(comparing myself to others) and ask if he was selling or wanted to sell one of his lots, well when I calm down from my hiatuses he called today and said he will give me one (free ) if I wanted isn't that great I am so happy, I did however offer to help him pay on it ($150 a month for about a year) I am sooooo happy, the deal is not quite final but I am sure it will be no doubt

So now I can really start socking away for my house because he said he would help me build I am just soooo happy right now, by doing this I am sure I would save about $80,000 in the long run

just wanted to tell every one thanks, and give you a heads up. I am seeing the doctor tommorrow; my pressure did go down but I am still going because of the slight headaches

Lately I have not been feeling well, last night I got up to take a shower and could hardly stand up; I felt faint

The nurse at my part time job took my BP which was 145/90, I don't know why and today I have a terrible headache but I have to drag myself to class

I will definately keep an eye on my pressure and make sure to get into the MD next week

I want a house so bad I can taste it. I have got to get more serious than I am. I mean I deposit funds regularly but I think it is time to eat peanut butter and jelly for a while. I must admit I am a little jealous, my friend just purchased her second home (she is selling the other) and we are just a year apart and I have not even bought my first house. Yes, we make about the same and it seems like she is doing much better than I am. I know some times people steal from Peter to pay Paul and in her case that maybe the case, but the point is at my age I am sick and tired of living at home with my mom.

Well I guess I could look at the bright side in just a little over a year I will have my bachelor�s and that will be a really big accomplishment, the first in my family. And the money that I am saving is adding up, so I should have a nice down payment in two years maybe I can get a 15yr fixed vs a 30yr . I guess patient is a virtue

Just added $7 to the challenge for not buying breakfast for two days and not buying lunch yesterday. I am doing really well with cutting back on the dining out. Friday, however I did splurge and hit TGIF for lunch but other than the one minor set back I am doing great this month

New total $2411.01

Just checked my points on MYPOINTS.com and I had a total of 5,105 simply by reading their emails this is great. At the rate I am going I should have at least $10,000+ points by Christmas in which I plan on cashing in for gift cards to give out as Christmas gifts more money saved for me and less stress

I fogot to post about this, my tooth that cost me about $1000 is now loose and of course the dentist can't save it and it will cost me $2040 (minus the $1000 break she gave me ) for a bridge. You have got to be kidding me was all I could think of, why didn't she tell me all this before I spent money I really did not have. I go back on the 31st for a crown and will speak to her then about this $4000 tooth...that just sucks

To all you moms out there:

To home ownership that is. When ever I add any amount to my challenge it is a reality that I am actually serious about home ownership and I am actually making progress and not just talking about it. I just feel so good; even though my additions may not be much but it all adds up. I just added $3 for 3 loads of clothes that I line dried rather than using the dryer bringing my total to $2404.01 My goal is to have $12,000 by the end of this year and another 12,000 by the end of next year brining my total to $24,000, which should be a nice down payment

Here is a map of all the brush fires in FL, this is scary when we are in the middle of a drought

Ok still no rain and a ton of brush fires
and we are now in phase 3 of the water restrictions meaning we can only water our grass once a week;
and people are watering their grass every day, nuts
Now we have salt water entering in some areas and no one seems to realize how serious this is. When we don't have drinking water or water to take showers I guess that is when the reality is going to hit. But from here on out I will definately call the police when I see some one wasting water or watering on days when they should not be watering

I have done very well when it comes to dining out; I have been brown bagging it and have lunch and dinner at home so that is good news.

My dad also gave me $20 so I added this to the callenge as well as $4 (two days no breakfast) and $6 (two days--not buying lunch

new total is $2389.01

First I'd like to say how my day went:

I got up early today in order to make breakfast and there was no eggs so I ended up buying breakfast for mom & I ($6 added to the challenge)

Then I took my car to the shop and the mechanic did not charge me for the a/c but he fixed my lighter (that I asked him to look at over a month ago and now did not want fix) that was $48. It actually worked out to my benefit because now I can bring my laptop along and charge my cell phone when low.

I also was able to find a used but practically new book for school at $29, not bad

Now in regards to my goal I added $9.91 to my cchallenge today I am desperately trying to reach $4000 before the end of the month, I really hope I can or come close to it

I am 33 and lately at night I am either sweating to death or freezing, could I actually be going through the changes? Is this normal for my age? This is insane, I hate feeling like this

As you all know i drive a very old car and just paid $400 to get my a/c fix; well guess what it's out again Now I am taking it to the shop to see what's what

By using a coupon. I went to The Honey Baked Store today and bought a mini ham for $19.99 and used my little coupon which saved me $4.63, I added this amount to my challenge. I also made myself breakfast this morning so that was another $2 saved and this was added to my challenge

New total $2344.62

The return queen. I just bought a lot well not too much but am returning the items. I returned a shirt and a neckalce for $12.14 today and another shirt will be reutrned tomorrow for $26. I do this all the time, I go on these shopping sprees and then return the item because I feel like I should be saving instead of spending
My friends just laugh but it is a stress reliever I guess

Added another $2.05 to my challege for not not dining out (breakfast)

New total: $2328.97

we got a little thunder storm today nothing comapred to what we really need but something is better than nothing and I am thankful