Amber's Personal Finance Blog

I was so lazy today I ate out for breakfast $3.93 so of course I have to pay $4.00 to my student loan debt to match this amount so my new total is $885.03. Wow I am getting this debt down I can not wait until it is paid off

Wow I get up and the first thing I do is read my blogs here, just so happen I was reading a blogger's blog who frequently visits Roubini so I decided to check it out and found that Saddam was dead. I am in like shock I know he did terrible things but I almost feel really bad. At one point I was all for capitol punishment but then I was on a jury who had to first convict some one then determine his faith...it was the hardest decision in my life because I/we wanted to be absolutely sure. It was a teenager who was bullied in school who stole his grandparent's gun. The kids at the school had pressured him to fight so he was nervous everyone who testified stated he did not want to fight and he kept saying so. Anyhow the day of the fight he took the gun and told the kids he did not want to fight he shot the gun in the air and of course we know what goes up must come down but the point is I guess I am a little nervous about any retaliation, I guess I should not be worried

Here it is my New Year's Resolution

1. Be honest with others
2. Live on $10,000 a year (I live at home)
3. Save $5,000 in EF
4. Save $10,000 for a house
5. start buying items for the new house
6. Pay off student loan
7. New clothes (this will be hard)
8. Use more coupons

I am sure I will be adding to the list before the end of the year

Darn, I just checked on the my cc for some odd reason I thought I paid it off but I guess not. I must have missed a X-mas transaction and now I have to find the receipt because I am not sure of this transaction...I am sure I used the card since I was using it during the holiday and paying it off right away as goes, but how could I have missed over $47 now I have to add interest as well. I am soooooooo annoyed but I paid it and kept my goal for 2007

Ate out today for lunch and dinner but at least I have some left over for lunch tomorrow. Any how I had to match the amount (not quite) and add it to my challenge house money. I look at it like this if it is extra money I should be adding it to my saving account for a new house and not eating out. So in the end I added $6.89

New total $271.47

I got this in my inbox today from Bankrate.com and decided to share with everyone. I am sure you are aware of these steps to becoming debt free but just a reminder to 2007
1. Live below your means. You cannot become debt-free if you spend more than you earn. It's that simple! Financial stress relief is called "money in the bank" or "positive cash flow."

2. Decide where you want to spend your money. Don't let others decide for you. Know how much money you are bringing in, how much goes out and to where it goes. If you are not satisfied with the answers you get from this exercise, now is the time to change your spending habits. You (and your significant other) are ultimately responsible for how your money is spent.

3. Pay your bills on time, every time. Managing monthly bills is an essential part of staying debt free and maintaining a good credit rating. If you find this difficult, come up with a system to ensure that bills are not paid late.

4. Set financial goals, both short- and long-term. Having goals in place makes it easier to make the necessary spending cuts to get what you really want. Without reasons to cut spending and save, you will constantly be under pressure to spend money you don't have for things you don't need.

5. Use credit only as a tool and with a plan. Figure out how and when you will pay the balance. Imagine building a house without a plan or blueprints. That's what your financial house will look like, too, without a plan. Your goal should be to pay for credit card purchases within three months. Remember, unlike wine, cheese or my wife, debts do not improve with age.

6. Have an adequate emergency savings fund. Life will throw curveballs at you, ranging from the need to replace a worn-out washing machine to a temporary job loss. Three to six months' worth of bare-bones living expenses should shield you from most of these problems. Can't do three months' worth? Start with three days' worth and watch it grow as saving becomes a habit.

7. Learn how to invest your savings. Your money has to earn more money to keep you out of debt, especially in your later years. Take a class, find a referral to a great adviser or just start reading. Do it your way, but do it; and start now!

My sister paid me the $200 she owed me today, which was a miracle she normally pays in increments...but thank God I got it back. Now I am waiting on $50 from a friend and $30 from my nephew hopefully I will get that some time next month

I added another buck to the challenge because i spent no money today and this was added to my new home account. I am serious now about saving for a house, I definately want to be out of my mom's house by the end of the year

New total $264.58

yippie it was payday today from the part-time job, there was amemo that we may get paid on Friday due to the holiday on Monday, but everything worked out and I am happy. I made an extra $13 after taxes for the tqo extra hours I worked not a really big deal but I am adding this to my challenge/home account. The goal is to have atleast $10,000 saved for a new house by December '08 so every little bit helps

New total 263.58

Added another $15 to the challenge/debt which is now my student loan and no cc debt...I love the sounds of no cc debt. Anyhow my new total is now $889.03

Last year my goal for 2006 was to be debt free,well I have pretty much come close...there is no cc debt but I still have my student loan. Now the goal is to pay off student loan and save $10,000 by December 2007 as a down payment for a home. The goal is to save the 20% by the end of 2008 and with no cc debt and student loan that should be really easy as long as murphy stays away

Well I just added $22.53 I usually transfer $25 but things were a little tight but atleast I was able to transfer something

New total $249.79

It took a holiday for me to have a no spend day....lol so I am adding a buck to my student loan debt since I no longer have cc debt, just needed to say that again

New total $904.03

I had to send an email regarding my $30 rebate that was mailed to me on the 23rd of November, now I have to wait another 15 days i order to have the 2nd check reissued...that is nice

just got in and my mom tells me she gave a pair of my undies to my little cousin without consulting wth me first. I may not have been upset if it was a pair of shorts or a T-shirt in which I have a ton of but my underwear? now I have no clue wich one she gave her and I buy expensive bra and panty set which I am sure she gave her a pair of nice ones.I am really ticked off. Not only that but she gave hr room up to a 3 and 5 year old to share my small bed with me which is a double/full so you can imagine with two adults is going to be a pain...you think she would have pumped up the blow up mattress but no...what a way to spend x-mas eve

I was a afraid to look but I had no choice here are the totals thus far for the month
Gas $52
Maintenance/auto $70
CC Finance charges $5.13
Cable %65.87
Cellular $93.15
Electric $104.38
Internet $60.42
Student loan $65.35
Telephone $38.22
Chariatible donations $50
Clothing $310.70... not good at all
Diningout $119.45
Gifts $349.92...way over budget
groceries $51.90
Dental $11.65
Prescription $15
Auto insurance $207.44
Newspaper $125
Loan to family $230 (can't wait to get this back)Misc $287.19
Peronal care $153.84
sales tax $49.72
Being that it is the holidays I am giving myself some slack but it is back to business next month

I just paid off my last cc, my mom was to give me the money for the microwave and i told her not to worry about it and consider it a X-mas gift...so I am prod to say I have no cc debt. This is the first I have always had a credit card debt, now I just need to work on my student loan

Just wanted to wish every one a
Merry Christmas

My brother and his family came down wednesday but my nephew who is three was at his aunt's, anyhow I got to see him yesterday and boy did he have a lot to say. He was up so late talking away, at one point I said to him I was resting my eyes and then he said are you sleepy? and I knew then it was going to be a long night...but we had fun just talking as he would say

I am scared to review my X-mas spending, I went out and picked up additional gifts today. I previously stated I did not want to spend too much money but it did not end up that way. So a little later after work I will have to check, atleast I can say my bills are paid in full

We had our x-mas party at the office yesterday and I really don�t know why we do it, some one always complains and some one always give a crappy gift. My gift that I was received was decent, a margarita mixer (since I like apple martini's) and a small digital camera. But my co-worker who I like received a Christmas ornament for about $8; we were supposed to spend $25. Then my boss was complaining no one ate her dish, I know I had some and so did the people I was sitting with. I mean give me a break there was so much food there and every one taste every thing. I hate these parties

Finally got one of my rebate checks for $20 and now I am waiting on the $30 check...sometimes I wonder is it really worth it

I paid bills today, I am so happy because this is the first time in my life when I can actually I do not feel like I am living check to check. So today's spending:

CC $263 paid in full
Cell phone $25
Cable $65.87
X-mas gifts $58.66
Tithes $20
Dining out $9.74
Personal $40 (hair, I was over charged )
Student loan $20.00
Water $41.39

I was hoping to sell my books like ASAP unfortunately that did not happen. Thank goodness I can keep them listed without a fee, hopefully I wil sell them next month right before classes start. I have my fingers crossed

I finally paid off the last cc I had I am jumping for joy. The only problem now is my mom ask me to pick up a microwave and she owes me for ( I ended up putting this on the cc in order to keep everything seperate) and I also picked up a gift for her friend who will pay me back for her gift . So basically I have met my goal for 2006, no cc debt. However, I won't start dancing and screaming until I get my money from my mom and her friend

I added my weekly $25.00 the challenge/home brining my new total to $227.68. I also paid on my student loan $20.00 brining this new total to $905.03. So I am happy with that

Ok I jut went through everything and needed to place a note here regarding all the money owed to me. My sister jus called to borrow $200 I wanted to tell her no but I went ahead and did, I know come Friday when she is to pay me back I will regret it. My nephew who borrowed $30 was to give it back to me on Saturday did not say one word to me and I did not say a word to him, because I am sure when he wants/need to borrow he won't be able to ask due to embarrassment from not repaying me. Then there is a friend of mine who owes me $50 bringing my total owed to me to $280. Boy I do not miss those days when I use to borrow or return items to the store because I needed cash for gas, food or what ever

I am feeling more confident than ever regarding my debt...it is nice to have little and almost no CC debt. I just paid another $7.00 on my student loan matching the money I spent out at Panera's bringing my new total to $925.03

I just listed two of my books on half.com I hope I am able to sell them. This is the first time that I have done any thing like this...so we will see

I just paid what was left in my regular checking account on my student loan which was $3.35 brining my new total to $932.03. The goal was to be debt free by 2007 but it looks like I am going to only be cc debt free, that is still better than nothing