Amber's Personal Finance Blog

as you all know I am entering or have enter my junior year of college. So any way I am thinking about joing the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), which is basically a networking group to help college grads land jobs; the cost however is $75.00 a year. There is also so credentialing involved but I may wait until the fall of 2008 in which I plan on interning then. we'll see, Tuesday I am meeting with the dean over the program I am in maybe he can give me some insight. My goal is work in the hospital as an administrator

I deliberately went to walmart late tonight because I already added my buck to the challenge for no spending today well yesterday (it's after 12am) Any way here are the totals:

Gift; $19.97
Groceries:$15.43
Personal items:12.09
sales tax: $2.23
Added change to the challenge $.28
Total: $50.00

I sat around today until it was time for me to go to work and then when I got here the first 2 hours were like Grand Central Station. I forgot today was a holiday weekend and every cotton head in the building was out (lol)and then it finally died down where I could get some studying done. Wow but atleast I was able to kick back until 2pm and just relax...basically spend no money today

First test for the semester was on Tuesday and he instructor just posted the grades I got an 87.6 I was a little dissappointed since I did study for a while but the last few days I did not review my notes. I hate when you answer questions/take a test and think you missed only 1-3 questions and when you get the test back in some cases just the grade you missed more than you expected. Gosh I hope I do well on the lab assignment we will see

Today is such a beautiful day here in sunny Fl. But I am just relaxing before work I did not even go to Publix like I normally do so I saved on gas I have been in my pj's all morning, wow it feels so nice. BUt I have to head out to work later and I guess I will be studying and practing my lab assignments for Thursday . So basically I am enjoying everything around me until then

Yes I am back on track I just rounded my chanage up I can't tell the last time I rounded change to add to the challenge. So I am adding .24 new total $16.62. Earlier I added $2.00 because I did not spend any money for two days, I don't know what happened. Since school started I had gotten really lazy with my finanaces but I won't again

Just added $2.oo to my challenge money since I had two no spend days this week. I am hoping to have a lot more next week. I notice that when I am not blogging about saving I am spending a lot. So I am back on board

I have been so busy...school, one full time job and a part-time job. I do not really have no time for myself between work and studying. Now next week I am meeting with an administrator at the college to get an insight on what I should be doing before graduation, I am hoping by next fall I will be interning but we will see I definately need to hold on to my part time job. But tonight it is all about me I am surfing the net drinking diet coke and have my feet up

Just paid another $15.00 on my cc because I had to but a notebook cover again,( lost the other one before I even used it) anyway since I am considering this wasteful spending I am matching this amout and paying my CC

New Balance:$2393.34

When ever I log in from my notebook, I do not get all the icons from the site (this one) I find it to be strange because if I use another computer everything comes up. Maybe I need to reset some things I will see

Well I went to Piccadilly�s today for a lunch, I like the food and the service is great. Well I witnessed an insult today that has disturbed me and I think I am writing a letter to their headquarters. Anyway the manager came out to help the other workers serve (who were very pleasant and efficient) however when he (the manager) decided to leave he called the server "mammy" which was an insult. First of all her name is Beatrice and to say something like "Mammy I am going to leave everything up to you" it's more of an insult it's like using the "N" word at the same time trying to be discreet about. Well nonetheless the server was upset and so was I. What upset me the most was he would actually say it in front of other customers

Well I spent money today on lunch $7.97 so I am matching this amount and paying on my cc

$7.03 added to my challenge which is my cc debt

Previous total $2415.37
New total: $2408.34

just got the check from the part-time job $235.23 so I paid $35.23 on the cc, normally I would have added to the challenge but I made my cc debt my challenge.

Previous CC Balance:$2450.60
New Balance$2415.37

I guess you can say I am back on track I am adding $5.00 to my challenge money because lunch was free today and I am positive I would have atleast spent $5.00 so new total $13.38

Wow, I know I am on track because in the past when I got a bill in the mail I was never able to pay ASAP and I did today, what a really nice feeling. I also paid extra on the CC so today's spending

Car insurance(3 months) $207.43
Electrcity $163.28
Home phone $40.75
CC2/Challenge $51.36

I have decided rather than putting the extra money into a separate account for the challenge, earning less on interest versus the interest on the cc I will use anything extra to pay CC, so that's my challenge

New cc balance:$2450.60

Previously I was paying $10.00 for generic meds now I go to the pharmacy today only to be told "$31.63 please" of course I am like excuse me well under my insurance, the plan has increase the cost of generic over brand i just do not get it. But I immediately informed the pharmacist to give me the brand. I wonder why that is?

Now that I have regained focus midway through the month I am back adding to the challenge, so I paid $24.63 on my high interest CC giving me a new total on this card $1271.85 I can not wait until payday so I can get this thing down to atleast 3 digits but my overall cc balance remains high $2516.96 but I am keeping a open mind since payday is right around the corner for both jobs

Well I am starting a new week and and a new challenge of not spending any money unless it is a fixed expense. So I hit the grocery store today (used no coupons) and spent $25.62 on groceries and picked up some personal items, $8.58 so we will see how the rest of the week will go

I still say my $600 notebook has come in handy, I have been studyiny/practing my lab assignments since 3pm to now (8:06)and thanks to my little notebook I am able to practice my Access assignments and to be honest I have gotten pretty good at it. I guess when it comes to education in the long run the money we spend pays off. I have my first test on Tuesday so wish me luck

Since school has started my CC debt has jumped back up. I had to buy books and a new notebook which was more of a want, but it has worked out because while working at my part-time job (16 hours a week) I study and the notebook has helped tremendously with my lab assignments, I also work on the lab work on my luch break at the other job so this was a great investment. I could not afford the warranty but the guy who I take my desk top to is great. But payday is Tuesday and I plan on paying off the textbooks and the computer that was charged so it should all work . Atleast I was smart enough this time not to use the high interest cc

I am checking my mid month total and it is not too good but not too bad either:

Gas: $57.00
Groceries $98.01
Cleaning Supplies $14.10
Car Maintence $300
Clothing $33.98
Dining out $29.90
Gifts $24.41
Health care $22.64
Misc $817.03 (including notebook)
Personal Care $5.92
sales Tax $58.65
Total $1460.74
The misc items $600.00 of that was for a notebook it wasn't a need so I included under Misc

Since I have not been blogging I have spending spending spend so guess what I am back to blogging. It cost me $300.00 to get some repairs done on the car But I look at this way atleast it was not $300 for a car payment each month. My goal is to keep this car until I complete school hopefully next fall. My uncle whose friend works at a Toyota dealer took my car in so that save me a ton of money (the labor) so I am happ with that and since the boss gave me $60.00 yesterday I only needed to add $240

I have not been on the site in a while (a week) I have so much to post but I just wanted to share that my boss gave me $60.00 out of the blue today and I am using the money to pay down the cc so once I deposit it a payment will be made. That was really nice

Well I went to BestBuy today in order to get a cover for my laptop which cost me about $22.00 well I was rushing to get to work and took it out my car (the cover) Well between my car and punching in I dropped the cover and no one has turned it in I have not even used it yet and plus I am out $22.00 Now I will wait to buy another one and only carry the notebook on the weekends tp my part-time job. I really wich who ever found would have been honest and turned it in

I came in today and the car that I looked at on Thursday was still here, the seller told me she had some one who was ready to buy for $4200 and yet it is still here...my gut tells me that she did not have any other offers. But if she calls I will reduce my offer to $3500 we'll see

I just cancelled my aol dial up since now I have verizon broadband and they gave me the option of keeping my email address I am so glad I got my laptop and Microsoft Access set up that way I can work on my lab assignments for class at the part-time job. Verizon will cost me an extra $25.00 but I am thinking about cancelling my home phone service since I have the cell phone, we'll see..that would actually save me about $26.00. The only reason why I don't is because when a hurricane hit we can not use the cell phone

My brother lent me $3000.00 to get a car, well as you know I did not get the car. Well I was thinking about giving him back $2000.00 and using the other $1000.00 to pay off the high CC (33%) and pay him the $300.00 a month that we agreed on. Let me know what you guys think

I can say I have atually done some back sliding, I went shopping , bought clothes a notebook and have been eating out for lunch and dinner (this is a big no no). Well it is time to get back on track ASAP, what was I thinking...I guess I wasn't . So I just paid an extra $16.03 on my cc I guess it is not extra since I have added to the balance

Spening thus far:
Gas $19.03
Clothing $33.98
Dining out $27.11 ;(
Gifts $19.43
Education $772.77
Groceries $30.71
Cleaning Supplies $8.84
Misc $193.69
Personal $5.92

And it is only the 7th no way Jose will I continue with this foolishness (spending)

Well my brother lent me $3000.00 to purchase a use vechile, so I go and look at the car she is asking $4500 my original thought/offer was going to be for $3500 but I offered $3000 she said no and that she had an offer much higher I then said $4000 she said no well that was it for me because I am not press for a car. Yes my car has problems but I am not in a rush. She then stated she was offered $4200 and if I offer her that then the car is mine well I said sell it to the person who offered you the $4200. I am just not desperate, so I am going to fix my car and make monthly payments to my brother like we agreed. I did call my sister so she can stop calling me about my old car

My sister has driven me crazy since I simply mentioned that I was interested in another car. She wants me to give my nephew my old car and has called and bugged the _________ out of me. Every minute she wants to know did yu call the lady? Well even though I did say if I get the car I was planning on giving it to him, but what she has not realize I need something. I just put new tires, and a tune up on that car I was thinking atleast $300.00 then that way I can get the registration and tag on the oter car. But here is the kicker I have not even looked at the other she just assumes I am going to get it and that is what got me so upset not only that my nephew who will be 19 the end of this month has not even got his DL as of yet and she calling and bugging me. He hasn't even called and said one word like if you decied to but the car I will consider it or eeven give you some thing. Not only that I wouldn't mind keeping the car a little longer and put the miles on it, if I decided to purchase the other car

Whew, just had to vent