Amber's Personal Finance Blog

Well there will be no dollar added to the challenge today, I spent $8.50 at Target, needed some personal things but I was able to add $.50 to the challenge (rounding up the change) new total $464.46
I am just moving right a long My goal is to have $1500.00 by the end of the year and $15,000 atleast in 3years

For the longest I have been try to challenge myself to a no spend day, and yesterday was the first time I did not spend andy money so I will add a buck to my $20.00 challenge...I hope I can keep it up
Challenge money $463.96

Well my family and I has this thing we call the "Parnder" each week one will set a side a certain amount of money, let's just say $25.00 and at some point you get your draw (the amount you put into it) Well now it is coming to an end and since hurricane season is rolling around I will be unable to do it..in way I am glad because atleast I can earn interest on the money that I would have been putting in, the only sad part is I won't get the draw or a big lump sum right away. Don't get me wrong becuase I was never one to save and this helped me to save for my car insurance. But to make a long stroy short I decided to transfer those funds weekly to my ING account..hopefully I will keep up with it. Starting from next week to December 31st I should have $650.00 + interest

Well I finally got my first referral since I have been marketing now for about 2 months hopefully everything will go well. The patient is going to our other office and those guys and be a bit cheeky

Well I made a huge mistake I owe $125.00 on a CC that is not due unitl 6/15 but I wanted to pay something on it and then in two weeks pay off the remaining balance...well need less to say I paid the wrong CC company and of course I can not get that money back..boy oh boy and yes I am adding this amount to my challenge money because it was a silly mistake , becuase you have the option of viewing your payments and of course I did not do that. So litterly I have wasted $50.00

New challenge balance: $462.96

Being lazy I did not return my library books which ended up costing me $4.70
Can you believe it, all because I was too lazy. I could have bought a paper back book, or lunch or something; but no I had to pay the public library. Now because of a "lazy mistake" or a "stupid transaction" in which I like to call them I have to add this amount to my challenge money as well as the .70 cents for rounding up, a total of $5.00 OH BOY
I better take those movies back before I am charged a late fee as well

New challenge amount $437.96
I am entering blogs like crazy today I guess I have a lot to talk about..lol

Well my brother stuck me again he just called to borrow money, not that he deosn't pay back...he deos but the point is he is always borrowing. I had to pay his CC bill $238.66 so now I add .34 cents to my challenge but now he owes me a grand total of $464.00 which I can't really have outstanding. I like to see my money in the bank earning interest. But at least I know I will see it because if it was my sister or a certain friend I may never see it
Challenge/New home now at $432.96

Well since I have started this challenge my previous goal was to round to the nearsest dollar when ever I entered a transaction into my register and to add this amount to my challenge money. Since then my goal now is to add $100.00 a month and I must say today is the 17th and thus far I have added an additional $32.62 to the challange I am sooo happy because it seems as though I am back on track.
Now with that said I have added $1.50 to the challenge and now I am at $432.62
Yeah!!!!!!!! I am on my way to home ownership

You know I normally keep plastic utensils at the office in case I forget mine...well low and behold I am out no one ever buys them just me well because of this I was upset and ended up leaving and buying lunch, cost me $8.99 now of course I have to add this same amount to my challenge money, because it's money wasted. But then I went to buy ice cream an d the machine took my $1.00 but the clerk gave me a refund so it only cost me .25 therefore I added to buck to my challenge money. So the grand total for my challenge money is $431.12
that puts a smile on my face

If you have an ING account, there is a contest (unsure of the name) that is giving away $15000 for the best essay based on how ING helped you save money and why you think you should receive the reward, also several runner ups will receive $1500

This was in my inbox today, just thought I would share:

Getting Rid of Junk Mail

OK, so it's nearly impossible to stop the flow of junk e-mail you receive. But at least you have a fighting chance of slowing the flow of junk mail delivered by the post office. You can start by not listing your address in the phone book. That's how many solicitors track you down. Then get your name off mailing lists by contacting the following resources:

Direct Marketing Association
DataQuick: 877-970-9171
Acxiom: 877-774-2094
Abacus: 800-518-4453

Ok I have to vent, theres this guy that I met at a X-mas party about 2 years ago, he drives me crazy but I deal with him only because I market at his office
Anyway to make a long story short he is always selling something, and of course I feel obligated to purchase only because we have a business relationship...it would not bother me as much if I could get a refund from my job but because this is really personal I can't now I feel like this was a waste and should match this amount and add to my challenge money in which I intend to do but it's the point. I can't understand why some people always ask the same people over and over to purchase itmes, I guess because we are suckers
Now here is my challenge update:

$15.00 money wasted
.44 rounded to the nearest dollar after grocery shopping
$21.50 Payday deposit
grand total now $422.11

Well I started my part-time job today...training that is; only for two hours though. It seems to be pretty easy. I am sure I will learn as I go, like most jobs. Everyone seems to be really really nice and I am especially happy about that. I can't wait to start saving and paying down debt

Well today we took a co-worker out for lunch, (she's leaving Wednesday for PT school) anyway the boss bought lunch today...yeah!!! I did not have to spend a dime. So I figured with my coke and sandwich it would have been about $7.00 so guess what I did , added that amount to my challenge money now brining my total to $385.17. Boy am I glad I am back on track

Well just got my call back re: the part-time front desk position. I am starting tomorrow I really can't wait because now I can use this money towards debt/my new house...we will see how it pans out

Well I treated my mom and my sister to dinner today for Mother's day. $43.69 and it really did not bother me especially since it was a special occasion. But what did was I spent $21.29 for a dress and then ended up having to add that same amount to my challnge money...this is what I call wastefull spending as well as $.71 because when ever I spend any money I round to the nearset dollar so I just added $22.00 brining my new total to $377.82. I do not mind adding to the challenge but my double spending theory is sure working I will definately begin to think twice. With that (double spending) I will meet my $100.00 goal a month in no time(money to be added to the challenge). Tuesday is payday so I have to add the money back to my EF in which I used to pay the utility and water bill (mom gave me the water bill 1 day before it was due, boy was i pissed)
We'll see how things pan out, I am still waiting for the $225.00 from my bother a whole month later I guess I should not hold my breath

For all you mothers out there and dad's who are also mommies

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Boy am I on a roll, I treated a co-worker to lunch today, her last day is next Wednesday I will miss her a lot...but the money that I would not have normally spent I also added to my challenge money which was $6.55 ( now whatever I spend that I normally would not I will add that amount also to my challenge money,because it's money that could have been saved) anyway my total is now $355.41. I am so happy because I will think twice about blowing any money; with my new way of thinking because basically I will be spending twice the amount

For a minute I was slipping but now I am back on track with my saving plan I did not buy breakfast this morning and packed my lunch. Now I have added 4.27 to my challenge money again rounding up brining my total to $348.86. I will definately meet my $100.00 goal a month. It feels good to be refocused

Well I made a mistake my $20.00 challenge is now at $344.59 and not $339.59 a $5.00 difference that I did not want to cheat myself of. I am so happy because this money that I am saving is going to go towards a down payment for a house. I have talked about it and never actually took any action. My goal is to save at least $15,000 with in two years and then look into 1st time home owner grants to come up the the difference in order to have 20% down It really feels good to know that I am working towards my goals

Just rounded up my change and made a few deposits to my challenge money brining my total from $321.79 to $339.59 only about $60.00 more dollars to go before I meet my monthly goal of a $100.00 a month deposited to this account. I even gave my self a new alternative that if I waste any money such as shopping eating out etc I would deposit the same amount that I spent to my challenge money because that could have been money saved. Looks like I am back on track

Boy am I glad that I have a saving account for almost everything, today I had to pay fee at the college for $30.00 in which I trnasferred from my college saving account...I did not have to touch my EF wow I just feel great. Even though now the balance is down to about $51.00 and some change the whole point was not to touch the EF. The only regret I have is that I did not start earlier with putting away as well as setting up an account soley for school expenses

Just wanted to tell everyone thanks for responding to my blogs, the words of encorgement are great. Now that I have a new part time job I am getting excited about all he money I will be saving and the bills (cc's) that will be paid off I can't wait
and thanks gain

Well I got the part-time job
3-11 Saturday and Sundays hopefully I can hang in there save some moneyand pay off all cc's ASAP. I really can't wait because this marketing thing is not working. I guess if you're going to be serious about your finanaces you have to make changes that at the time may seem like apin. But I should keep my head b/c I wasn't looking for a job and my sister referred my out of the blue so I am happy

Well I have been at this marketing thing for about 2 months ;( and nothing, but my sister gave me a lead on a part-time job working the fron desk at a nursing home, which I am hoping pans out. I will still keep my full time job and pay all my bills with that but I am determine to save every check (if I get the job) from my second job for a new house, wish me luck. My interview is tomorrow

Well I upped my challenge money to 325.77 from 321.79 a difference of $3.98 simply by rounding up. I am feeling a lot better today than yesterday when I was going over all the money I spent for clothing. But since then I can't wait until payday b/c I will be able to pay off 2 cc

I am expecting about $825.00 Next Monday (payday) I know if I do not write down what needs to be done while I am slightly ahead it won't get done and there will be money wasted so here we go:

$75.00 EF
$10.00 new car account
10.00 Tuition/Books account
$20.00 Challenge/New home account
$40.00 Water bill
$12.00 Dental Insurance
$52.00 CC1
$50.00 C-phone #1
$40.00 Cable
$20.00 CC'2
$33.00 CC3
$26.00 CC4
$20.00 My ME account
$35.00 Home phone
$125.00 CC5 paid in full
$75.00 extra on CC 1
$50.00 Mom
$4.29 for the stamps I would have paid
actually it should be $5.00 because I am rounding up.Leaving me with 132.00 for two weeks. Wow I have way too many d*** CC's that is how I am in the trouble that I am in, now that I see this I am taking every single one out of my purse, you know my mom really does not travel with hers and she owes 0 on a cc, she only uses them when necessary. Wow and I paid off two today my God. It so different when you see things on paper versus estmiating and that is how I get into trouble. I really have an addiction to clothes
it's insane I am so upset right now

I don't know if you guys remembered but I finally reached baby step one (1000.00 EF) and because of my little spending spree last month I used cc and not cash that I should have had, now I had to take money out of my EF to pay CC' s leaving me with $900.00 I used 3 different cc's and was only able to pay off 2 the third has a balance of 125.00 which will be paid next week, payday. I was doing so well and then bam! I don't know what happened. I was thinking about cleaning outmy $20.00/ New house account to pay off my Student loan but now I will pass I really need to get these CC's out of my hair...and I am still waiting for the 225.00 from my brother it seems like I won't see that anytime soon. That is enough of venting now

Ok I went back and reviewed all bills paid since the 1st (online) which came to 2.73 in stamps; if I would have mailed my bills out so I added that to my challenge money as well as $1.03 from earlier now bringing my total to $321.79 now that I have added another option in order to save/add to the challenge I should reach or come close to my $100.00 a month goal (money to be added to the challenge). It feels good to be back on track again, boy did I waste a ton of money last month

Thanks to Boomeyer's previous post I decided any bills I pay online (no stamps) I will add what I would have paid in stamps to my challenge money. I already round of the change this will give me an additional $7.00+ each month now I got the hang og adding well coming up with new ideas to add to my challenge money
Thanks again