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1 Hour and no Luck

October 21st, 2023 at 03:24 am

I spent a hour on hold with my student loan provider and still no luck. 

This is absolutely ridiculous. I was told that this is common practice. Meanwhile my student loan is accumulating $11+ a day in interest. 

 

Binge Watching Dave Ramsey

September 27th, 2023 at 02:54 am

I've taken a break from social media, so I've been binge watching The Dave Ramsey Show. Though I don't agree with Dave 100%, I do follow some of his practices. 

I just heard a caller call who had over 300k in debt, most of it student loans, and another who was almost 80 with student loan debt.

 
I pray this is not me, 70+ with student loans that have ballooned out of control. I'm so waiting on Friday so I can make another student loan payment. 

Scary 

Im

August 10th, 2023 at 04:14 am

Back for Now

July 14th, 2023 at 02:48 am

One of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to my finances continuing on the right track. I get sidelined easily. 

 

I noticed when I’m not blogging, reading, watching, or listening about finances I accumulate debt. Shamefully I used my Home Depot, and BoA credit card to get some much-needed repairs for the house, and used my house savings. I do believe that I added more to the BoA CC, matter of fact I know I did. So I did the thing took the money from my long-term savings, $8000, and paid the card off.  

 

I also decided to start back blogging, reading, and basically staying engaged with my finances. I haven’t quite figured out my triggers. 

 

I am glad that I aggressively paid down my student loans,  I’m still paying on them not as aggressively, my salary slightly reduced but I’m back at it, paying just over $300 a month. 

I'll update my sidebar later. 

 

Back for now. 

New Job Update

August 20th, 2022 at 12:45 pm

 

Started the new job last week and it’s been wild. I’ve been so busy that I can’t even come up for air. 

 

The first week I really struggled. It was crazy busy, a bit unorganized and my manager kept bugging me. S/he wants to make sure I’m “happy” and yet I find him/her a little over bearing. I also dreaded heading back to the office. 

 

Week two, still crazy but I’m starting to get the gist of things. 

 

Though it’s crazy, I’m happy. Everyone is nice, not saying there aren’t problem children but for the most part it’s good. 

 

The salary is a tad bit lower than I wanted, $105k a year, however it’s still doable. Take home I’m estimating $2500-2700 bi-weekly. Benefits, medical I’m paying less $90 a month, there’s a 50% 401(k) match up to 6%, and the company contributes annually to your HSA. Benefits kicks in day one. I also have my own parking space, and lunch is provided daily. 

 

I’m looking forward to getting back on a budget.

 

lastly my kitchen is still a mess 

New Furniture and Opportunities

July 17th, 2022 at 01:11 pm

Checking in, it’s been a wild week. 

Many of you know I’ve been saving to get new bedroom furniture, well every time I save the money, I threw it towards my student loans. 

 

Well this time, I just couldn’t do it anymore. The drawers were falling apart, the headboard wasn’t attached to the bed, so it kept moving, some of the drawer bottom pieces were collapsing. 

 

This set was given to me almost 13 years ago and the owner had it for about five years then, so it served its purpose. 

 

One furniture store had its Black Friday sale so I took this opportunity to purchase a night stand and dresser, cost, about $1000. I tried Facebook market place but people were not responding, and I also tried a few thrift stores, with no luck. 

 

One thing  I’ve learned while shopping for furniture, the drawers aren’t as deep any more, and there is a fee to deliver and a fee to bring your furniture into your home. That’s right, you’ll pay to have your furniture brought into your home. Ridiculous! Of course I didn’t t pay this, I figured the SO and I could move it in, but when the delivery guys came, I gave them water, we chatted a bit (they were from where my parents are from), and they brought it in, and I tipped them which I was planning on doing anyway. Insane to deliver furniture to leave on someone’s front lawn. 

 

Next, I have great news, I’ve gotten third round interviews for two companies. One is at a skilled facility as HR Director, a position I’ve wanted since graduating college. The other is a full time consultancy position with benefits, working remotely. Though for years I’ve wanted to work in a geriatric facility, and I’m excited about this opportunity, I’m more excited about the remote work. It’s more aligned with what I want to do now and that’s HR system (HRIS/HCM). Plus the company pays 100% medical, dental and visions, there’s a 401(k) match, $400 month stipend, they pay my internet and gym membership, and other miscellaneous benefits. Total reward package is about $95k. In addition, this role would allow me to keep my clients and do additional project work. 

 

Also, I am meeting with a potential client that will bring in $1k a month, it’s a catering company that need a few things done, and they’re looking at a  long term business relationship. 

 

I am still writing articles, last week I made another $100 in gift cards. i also competed a User Review for $25. 

Outside of that, not much has happened. Fingers crossed I get the remote position, my COBRA ends next month and it would be perfect. 

Test

May 30th, 2022 at 03:57 pm

Looks like the blogs maybe acting up 

Finally!

March 24th, 2022 at 11:40 am

Wow, I just wanted to cry or scream when I saw my student loan balance, my student loans are finally below $40,000. My $2k payment hit yesterday and my total balance is now $39,011.66. It took almost two years but I did it. Before COVID, the balance was close to 90k. 

 

I'll admit, sometimes I get so discouraged but seeing this balance gave me hope. I still can't believe that I'm finally below $40k 

 

Just so that it's an even number, I'm going to pay $11.66. Next week I will be able to drop another $300 on it. 😀

 

 

New Site

October 20th, 2020 at 04:22 am

Did we find a new site to use yet?

Happy Easter 🐣

April 12th, 2020 at 12:57 pm

Wishing everyone a happy Easter 🐣

Call Your Auto Insurance for a Discount

April 7th, 2020 at 01:40 am


So I called my insurance company, told them I’m working from home and got a discount of $30 per month, due to COVID-19.

Well worth the 20 minute wait time.

Hanging In There

March 30th, 2020 at 05:23 pm

Pray for me

Humbled

February 23rd, 2020 at 10:11 pm

Outside of a little disappointment, this has been an amazing weekend.

First, I spent time with my sorority sisters, whom I love and adore. Then today, I had the opportunity to walk for an amazing cause MS. It was so special, a good friend, finally embraced his illness, I wanted to cry but held back for him.

This reminds me that life is short, and even though I’m on this journey to debt freedom, I do much to be thankful for.

Recession?

November 5th, 2019 at 10:25 am

Yesterday was a great day, no spend day and no dining out.

I sold an item on Poshmark as well.

I have a question, do you all think they’ll be another recession? If so, what do you think will be the cause? I saw this question on Twitter and was wondering everyone’s thoughts.
I personally think it will be a recession caused by fear. I’ve noticed that the job search has slowed down, people are staying put, it also seems as though people are buying less. I don’t know, I’m no economist

Satisfaction Surveys

November 3rd, 2019 at 05:47 pm

Just curious, do any of you complete the satisfaction surveys found on your receipts? I just recently started and was wondering who actually complete and if anyone has actually won anything?

Saturday Ramblings

October 26th, 2019 at 01:12 pm

Balanced my cash envelopes and I have $246. This amount is a combination of all envelopes (e.g gas, food, household), not bad.

I’m annoyed because I spent $30 yesterday. Went with a friend to an event that she was heading to anyway, paid $10 for parking since I drove with her. But she kept harping on gas, so I gave her $20. That won’t happen to me again, I’ll drive myself. I have the money, in one of my sinking funds, it’s money I save for things such as this, but it just annoys me since she was going anyway and I could have drove myself and spent less. Hey, it is what it is, a lesson learned.

I checked my electric bill and it’s trending at about $65, if I hit that mark, it’s about $30 less than the previous month. I love it. I see what simply turning things off, unplugging items not in use can do. If only I could unplug that water heater, I’d probably have a bill of $30, lol.

Today, is a busy day. One, I need to wash two loads of clothes. Two, wash my hair, and three, pick a few items up from Walmart. After all this, I’m relaxing. I was going to work a little at home but I’ll pass.

Receipt Hog and Other Stuff

October 24th, 2019 at 12:40 am

My co-worker was heading to the store 🏬 , I asked her to buy me a Coke 🥤 and gave her cash. She comes back with two 8 pack Cokes 🥤 and tells me they were BOGO. Well after looking at the receipt 🧾 the items were not BOGO. So I’ll be letting her know today. Why not just buy what I asked you? But it’s my fault because I had no business buying.

Anyway, I logged into Receipt Hog 🐷 and noticed I leveled up so I got an extra 175 points, that allowed me to cash out my $5.00. That made me feel a little better about the Coke 🥤.

SO came by yesterday, he’s been really watching what he spends lately. I didn’t ask about the mom’s car 🚗, but I sure as heck wanted to know what happened. I knew something was wrong, because he bought dinner and lately he hasn’t been spending money.

Anyway, finally after eating. He mentioned his mom hurt his feelings, and he felt like he wanted to treat himself since he hadn’t lately, that was why he bought dinner. He managed to get the money together, $1200+ to pay the car off. He went to the bank to do so. When got there he was told the balance was a little over $800. So he paid it and car is paid off. Took her the receipt, told her the car was hers and she no longer needed to worry about it. Her response, “Why did you do that? You should have kept that money because, you need to make payroll on Friday.” Wow was my first response.

I told him, you may not like what I’m about to say, however, “you should have let the car go, that is the only way she’ll understand that this financial mess she’s in, is serious. Maybe when people start talking, she’d get it together.” He said he thought about it, not paying the car, but he had prayed and out of the blue he started receiving checks so he felt like it was God telling him to pay it off. I couldn’t counter, he had a valid point. He did mention that this week he’s taking things over. I’ve heard that song and dance, we shall see. I did asked him if he thought he dad, when his dad was alive if he went through this mess, he said he believes so.
Sad, just sad, that a mother would manipulate her child, to the point in that it’s detrimental for not only her healthiness future but his as well. Sad

Saturday Rambling

October 12th, 2019 at 07:37 pm

Well Friday I sold an item on Poshmark for $7, my earnings was $4.

Checked my cash envelopes and I still have about $221 (total envelopes) left. I’m so proud of myself for not only staying with in my budget but coming well under.

Friday is pay day and I should be able to allocate additional funds to the CC. This is in addition to the extra $100 I have budgeted.

I returned the cable boxes to At&t and was told to hold on to the receipt for a year because they’ll say, “they never received it.” I was so shocked when the rep told me that. I couldn’t believe it but glad she did. Now I’m waiting for the $500+ credit. Smh. They never sent me the shipping label, only to find out I could have taken the items into a UPS store, smh. I called them 3x before they billed me $500+. Now that I think of it, I’ll scan the proof of shipping and email to myself so that I always have it.

I looked at my spending for the year and $806 was paid in interest on a credit card, all I kept saying was, you know what you could do with that money, pay this card off ASAP

Lastly, I’m heading to a local grocery store to get my flu shot, they also provide $10 grocery gift cards

Yay!

October 1st, 2019 at 09:15 pm

Thank God the blogs are back up, I was seriously having withdrawals, miss you guys.


Here is what is happening with me.

I hate when this site is down. For a few days I could not log in. Anyone know of another site that we can join and transition to?

Anyway, I finally got a response from my attorney. Praise God I did not go with my last attorney I had.

Anyway, she received the documents from the bank that debunks my brother’s claims of me falsifying documents and put his attorney on notice if they decide to continue with this frivolous lawsuit. She informed him that if they continued she’d put him (his attorney) on the hook for my legal fees, in so many words to my understanding she’ll go after him. Now we sit and wait for their response, if they’re going to dismiss or not. Knowing my brother he is not going to let this go.

Keep praying for me.

Other news, I ‪read an article that an organization in that I applied for is having financial issues, they’re filling for bankruptcy. I cried after interviewing last year twice and not getting that job, but God had something better. I’m so thankful I did not get that job, there’s people who haven’t received their checks for about two weeks. ‬

‪I got a surprise in the mail today, $8 settlement check, added to the EF. ‬

‪I paid an extra $100 on CC10. Lastly, I lined dried two loads of clothes. I have to get a retractable clothes line so that I can start drying my sheets and towels. ‬

‪Sunday, was quite productive. I mopped the entire house, cleaned my patio, line dried two load of laundry 🧺 , walked 12k steps. ‬

March Budget

March 23rd, 2019 at 10:43 pm

Took a look at my budget and so far I am pretty much on the verge of breaking even for the month of March. I have a new line item to add, hurricane season🌪. Hurricane season is approaching and I want to be ready, it’s always a nightmare in the stores if a storm is named and heading our way.

The SO and I will be sitting down tonight to create his budget. Yes, he’s decided to work on one. He wants this relationship to work and he knows that finances are a huge issue for me. I’ve shared, don’t do it for me but because you want to.

Apparently his mother called yesterday and told him she’s short $600 for payroll. Smh, she is unbelievable. For reason he still hasn’t gotten to the point where he will take the business over fully. I guess the same reason why I haven’t thrown him out. I simply mind my own business and continue to live like roommates splitting the cost of everything. Basically when he pays me, I use that money to knock down CC9. I tend to pay my bills as if he’s not paying anything. This year so far, he hasn’t been late 🤞🏾.

Next week we have a wedding to attend, I would love to buy an outfit but I’m scrounging around in my closet to see what I have. I think the money I have in my fun/splurge account I’m going to throw it at the CC.

Another one of my items sold on Poshmark, that’s $10 this week, you know where that’s going, CC9 💳

Anyone use Acorn?

March 22nd, 2019 at 09:58 pm

I’m considering signing up for Acorn, any one use it?

Pay day

March 22nd, 2019 at 12:19 pm

Yay it’s pay day. Today bright and early I was crunching numbers.

For the first time I decided not to pay extra on the mortgage and throw it at the credit card 💳. It was tough because I don’t want to lose the habit of paying the extra on the house but I want the CC gone. Extra payment on CC9 is $181, down to $3,495.18.

I socked cash away to all the sinking funds. I looked at my home repair fund and smiled. It’s $667, for some of you that may seem small but it’s huge for me. I know home ownership can be daunting for some, my sister is a great example. She bought a home last year July, too much home. Her mortgage is $1400, yikes! Her roof started leaking, she got a quote to repair and it was $300, small leak at the time. She didn’t have the $300. Now the leak is getting worst. I don’t want that to happen to me. When I knew I would be closing, I immediately set up a sinking fund and started budgeting for it. I’ve been in my home renting for 8 years prior to purchasing, no major repairs but I know Murphy could decide to visit. I’m praying that I get two years in without any major repairs.

I’m also proud of my Christmas and birthday sinking funds. It feels so good to know that this will be my second year that I can pay cash for Christmas and when birthdays, showers etc pop up I can pay cash.

Today’s spending
$185 HOA
$965.10 Mortgage
$181 CC 9
$65.13 Electric
$187

Savings
$25 EF
$25 Car maintenance
$25 Christmas
$11 Birthdays
$50 Home repairs
$20 vacation/fun
$88.80 HOA
$20 Sorority
————————-
$264.80 total

Poshmark Sales

March 21st, 2019 at 01:02 pm

Sold an item on Poshmark and made $5.05, I’ll be adding this to CC9 💳.
I wish I could sell items like others, I have a bag full of clothes I can’t get rid of.

I broke down and had pizza and a salad for lunch yesterday, $8.50. Today my boss and I are going out and tomorrow it’s an old colleague.

Tomorrow is pay day, I can’t wait to knock these bills out, especially paying on the CCs 💳, who would have thought that paying down debt would be so exciting 🤦🏽‍♀️.

Heartbroken

March 20th, 2019 at 01:32 am

So my fiancé has a friend who recently had surgery. The friend has been out of work for a little bit. He decided, the friend, to sell prepared food meals. My fiancé ordered two meals from him for dinner tomorrow. I said to him, this is why it’s so important us to save. You never know what might happen.

I have a family friend in his 70s who is going to be evicted, he has diabetes and goes to dialysis twice a week. He never paid into SS, always worked under the table. Again, a prime example as to why I want to get my finances in order, you just never know. Plus if I had it together I could help both of these individuals.

Both of these situations breaks my heart.

Updates

March 19th, 2019 at 07:56 am

Checked out my habit tracker and I have 12 days so far of no spending. The cool thing is I should meet and surpass my goal of 15 days.

This week is pay day, I should be sending off the April mortgage, and May HOA. We got the new electric bill and it went up. Not sure how or why but I need to figure out how to decrease this baby. I signed up for auto pay for the water, this drives me nuts because I never get the bill until after the fact. I’ll be canceling this.

If things keep trucking the way they should/are, I would have broke even with the grocery budget, I’m so excited to meet this goal. I’m usually over.

Other than these few miscellaneous items, I’m doing okay. Spending is down as well as debts this month and my net worth is doing a very slow, and I do my very slow shift from negative to positive. Slow and steady wins the race 🐢

I do have one more thing to report. I have a friend who just can’t seem to keep a job. She’s very outspoken and is one of the most helpful people I know. I’ve shared with her my journey paying off my debt, she listens but is not interested, I wish she would join me. Please keep her in prayer, she’s in need of a job desperately.

Podcast

March 18th, 2019 at 01:35 am

Found a great podcast, NPR LIFE Kits. Here the host talks about getting out of debt, goals and life. I absolutely love it, the only problem is, there’s four episodes.

One thing that was mentioned, is to celebrate when you achieve little goals to reward your self. I thought yay! Once I pay off CC9 💳 I’m going to do something, I don’t know what but something. I’ve been saving for this day, because I know CC10 💳 won’t be paid off until the end of of year.

I’m so stressed about these CCs 💳 and limiting my spending but what’s strange is I also love it, go figure. Just think, January 2020 I’ll only have these stupid student 👩🏾‍🎓 loans and the house 🏡 . I originally set the goal of five years debt free but looks more like 10. I’m okay with that, I’ll be in my mid 50s.

I’ve decided that if I don’t get a raise at my year anniversary, I’ll just look for another job in December. That will give me close to two years in management and I can really bump my salary. I love my job and my boss but the salary is extremely low. I won’t rush though, the goal is to be in the 90s close to home, with little travel.

SO news, I almost fell out of my chair this evening when he came home with actual groceries. Usually he buys junk. He had a pack of pork chops, chicken 🍗 , bread 🍞 , cereal 🥣, drinks 🥤, fruit 🍉 and snacks 🍪. I’m usually the one buying the groceries and I told him last week Thursday or Friday he needed to chip in. My grocery fund was out and I wasn’t buying anything else. As far as the bills, he’s stayed in track with paying, so far so good. 🤞🏾

My Mother

March 17th, 2019 at 01:05 am

My mother drives me absolutely nuts. This woman will make a great day go far left in two seconds.

She calls, doesn’t say hello, how are you, zilch. She just starts yelling in the phone. I have a headache 🤕, today we buried my dad’s girlfriend, I took a nap 💤 and I’ve been dreaming about her all day, my head is pounding. To answer the phone to screams is enough to make me want to just hang up on her. She had a document that needed to be signed, she ask me to sign, there’s two signature lines and I signed only one, you would have thought I yanked her teeth out 🙄🤦🏽‍♀️. The woman is miserable. I’d love to have a relationship with her but she makes it extremely difficult. I pray that I’m not like this when I get older.

All I can do is pray for her.

Different note, we got the house rented, I can’t wait to collect the $150, my portion, every month so that I can throw it at the credit card 💳 debt.

Tomorrow I’ll finalize my taxes and just rest.

Scared

March 12th, 2019 at 08:17 pm

I’m so scared now. The Trump administration has proposed cuts that will impact student loans. There’s a possibility that the income driven payment program will be no longer for some, I’m included.

Right now my salary is $58k and based on that my payments are $172. I can’t imagine paying more until I get these credit cards paid off, and even then it will be tough.

I’ve been looking for a part time job so I can start tackling this thing but nothing.

Saturday Catch Up

March 9th, 2019 at 05:01 pm

Yesterday was pay day, I’ve managed to save and add to my CC 😀. I’ll update the totals later.

I got the refund check from my insurance company, I switched to Geico, saving me, $60 bucks a month. My mom wanted me to give her the check. I’m not going into details but I’ll say this, any time you get any one money from anything she expects a portion. Nope I’m adding the $101 to my CC once the check clears.

In different news I did not track my expenses all of last year, so my MSMoney software was all over the place. I just started a new one, I hope I keep up with it.

I also created a new habit tracker using, Google. I love filling in these little boxes, I find that it keeps me motivated. I added updating MSMoney to the list.

There was a time if I forgot to use a coupon I would say never mind, but I went back into Walmart for my $1 on Act. Lol

The Struggle

March 4th, 2019 at 02:18 am

No spend day today, I’m excited and yet anxious. I want to take what I’ve saved in the sinking fund for vacation/fun and throw at my CC.

I’ve been saving to celebrate a small win, it’s been almost two years and I haven’t done anything fun per se. A part of me says CC debt, while another says, hold off until June and do something fun. I really want this debt gone.

Other news, when you’re on a budget you try new things. Today was the first day I made beef 🥩 stew. It was absolutely delicious. I bought the McCormick crockpot package, added onions, carrots 🥕, celery and potatoes 🥔.

This weekend I’m going to tackle the washing machine, I’ll keep you all posted.


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