Jan 07 budget begins

I went a did a little grocery shopping because i had a few coupons that were going to expire if i didn't! I ended up finding a dollar on the floor... that never happens, but i smiled, looked around but no one was there, so i pocketed it... a nice bonus for the day....

but the January budget begins now.

Food: spent $15.39; Left $134.61

• Brown Rice 4.99
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Chicken pot pie .48
• Honey mustard dressing 1.50
• peanut butter 1.99
• canned lite pears 1.00
• canned lite pears 1.00
• eggplant chicken meal free with coupon
• mushrooms 2.49

Basic Necessities: Spent $1.73 Left $48.27

• toothpaste 1.73 (coupon plus an extra buck off...)

I also bought 2 more books for class from Amazon.com. I used my CC gift reward there so for the two books i ended up paying only $23.39 including tax and shipping. They should get here a couple of weeks into January. I took the cash from my Emigrant account to cover the books. Looks like i have to buy books for 2 cal-state classes left and one for HIU independent study.

refinancing isn't all the easy.... and my gym visit

I popped on down to the bank and asked if i could refine my auto loan and they sat me down with a lady. I told her my current rate and that i was looking for a better deal.

She told me that that particular branch didn't offer anything less than my rate. I told her what i found of bofa online and she told me my best bet was to apply on line...

but this got me thinking... i really just don't want to apply online... it makes me skidish...

looks like i might not refinance... grrr

in other news:
I'm on day two of no caffine and chocolate. I decided to just go cold turkey with the caffine thing. i didn't use it before this year, and i don't plan on drinking it after next year. water is my friend and i have a liter of it on the table at work.

As for chocolate... i found myself over compensating with it when i wasn't drinking some diluted coffee (since it has caffine) and i really just don't need it so its getting scratched too. Slowly i'll work out my vices. I hear it takes 30 days to make something a habit... so off we go.

For those of you who are also keeping track of my other non financial goals for '07 ...

I got on the scale this morning and i came in at 141.8 (which was way less then I thought... i figured with the holiday parties and the lack of gym time i was going to be hitting 145ish and have a full 10 lbs to knock off)...
Apparently i only have about 5-7 lbs to get off and keep off... this should get interesting... lol.

Andi gave me a one month pass to her gym and i went to sign up for it yesterday, but i'm not too sure i like it. I really like my gym a lot (and its free), but because that one was free and has more cardio equipment and different classes, i figured i'd go give it a try or something like that... but i'm not a big fan of that place... but i'll go ahead and sign up or whatever, just for the month and maybe i'll take a yoga class or a dance class or something... (but my gym also offers those classes too) lol... what's a girl to do.

plus there's way more traffic to get to that place and its really far from my house...

textbook and school

Well its not even january and the count down to classes has already started... i have to go back tuesday 23rd... =(

which means they are slowly posting textbooks for classes...

I bought my first one today... $18.70 with shipping used from Half.com [the book is actually split in half... which should prove interesting... but i couldn't pass up paying that for it used then paying 48.75 used from the school... Amazon had some used going for around 20 something... but after the shipping... it was cheaper to get that one through half.com

It looks like i'll buy one from Amazon, and another from amazon's market place because those are the cheeper options... and i have that $25 gift card i got from my credit card. Those two books are hitting around $60 bucks with shipping, and after the gift card its now $35!!! I'll buy these tomorrow at work and bring the gift certificate.

but i still have books i need to buy for 3 more classes.... (which arn't posted yet so i have no idea what they are. ) But starting tomorrow i'll start using my amazon cc again... its the only CC i get points on so i need to get me another one of thosegift cards... (i havn't been using it because i need to get a refinance on my auto loan)

January Goals

Not too many goals for January, but enough to keep me preoccupied:

1. refinance my auto loan and get a cheeper rate
2. Pay my debt down to $8823.59
3. Live in the budget... there is no unbudgetted money now. it's game time
4. call the dentist and get a quote to remove my wisdom teeth and another tooth... (good thing i have dental insurance.)
5. look into an IRA

A few non financial goals for Jan

1. start getting off Caffine...
2. start to remove sugar and flour from my diet (or remove the excess that is)
3. and work on that stubborn 10 lbs

back from the Salton Sea with a huge update!

Well i ventured out to heather's house for some dirtbike riding and some quad action.... i loved it! I think once i get my own place and move out, a quad will probably have to be purchased... but until then i'll borrow from heather since she likes to bike (and i can't fit on her's... i'm too small and wouldn't be able to reach the ground for more support. ) I'll post a picture up here (since i have so much gear on, its too funny not to see... Mo thought i looked like a little kid, lol) but i need to get them from Heather later on. I guess it's back to the real world for this little one. update time.


Budget and Account Balances:

• I spent $6.00 something on food while i was up there so i went over by $1.00 or so for the month of december, but Mo drove up there so i didn't spend anything on gas! (i offered to give him money but he declined.) I had 53.80 left in gas so half of that i going to auto main and tags, and the other half is going to vegas fun... woot. woot.

--BANK OF AMERICA SAVINGS: Balance $676.10

--ING ACCOUNTS: (i'm estimating the interest because its so close to the end of the month anyways and i'm bored at work and want to update everything before the new year)

• Vegas Fund: [deposited $26.90] Balance: $27.90 Since gas right now is over budgeted because of the price dip and my changing college schedule, half the money left over at the end of the month is going towards plan tickets, food, and fun money for my 21st birthday trip to vegas!!!!
• Car Maintance and Auto Tags: [deposited $26.90] Balance: $27.90 I'll need $70 bucks or so for the next 5,000 mile check-up according to the lovely people in the service department. After that i need around $300 for my tags, but they don't expire till march. When i find out how much they are, i'll re-do the budget for the following year to include this expense in insurance payment.
• Odds and Ends: [deposited $0.00] Balance: $1.18 This money is the remaining cash from my monthly allowance for grocery and basic necessities. Incase i need to go over one month, i can pull extra $$$$ from here. When i move out, if this has a sizeable amount to it, then i will go ahead and use it to buy things i need for my new place when i move.
• Car Insurance: [deposited $0.00] Balance: $1.00

--EMIGRANT ACCOUNTS: (i'm estimating the interest because its so close to the end of the month anyways and i'm bored at work and want to update everything before the new year)

• Moving Out: Balance $40.19
• Retirement: Balance $1,408.96
• Tuition: Balance $2896.84

I made $13.91 in interest for DEC! WOOT slowly making money without having to do anything... I like it!



My Auto Loan:

• Retail Payoff Amount: $9,911.45 Good Through Date: 01/08/2007 I officially have single digit debt!!!!!!!!!!

Break Down: [balance at the end of the month assuming monthly payments of $1,156]

• WAS----------------------------------------> NOW
• December $10,040.24----------------------> $9,911.45
• January $8,953.27--------------------------> $8,823.59
• February $7,858.82------------------------->$7,728.26
• March $6,756.85---------------------------->$6,625.40
• April $5,647.30------------------------------>$5,514.95
• May $4,530.13------------------------------> $4,396.87
• June $3,405.27------------------------------> $3,271.10
• July $2,272.68-------------------------------> $2,137.59
• Aug $1,132.31--------------------------------> $996.29
• Sept $0.00----------------------------------->$0.00 [last payment amount 1003.14]

Therefore, Retirement:[as of now i need $2091.04 more to meet my '07 goal]

• Sept $152.86-------------need $1938.18
• Oct $1156----------------need $782.18
• Nov $1156---------------met! [373.82 left for moving out]
• Dec $1156---------------moving out cash

-------> moving out fund 40.19 + $30 a month for 12 months = 400.19

• I should have my 1,000 emergency fund funded by March with 36.10 left over... plus 9 months of $90 payments gives me another $810
• 2 extra paychecks about 1600 together

36.10+810+ 400.19+ 373.82+ 1156+ 1600=

$4376.07 for moving out!!!!!! on Jan 1st 2008

My sad avon purchase still haunts me

Well here's what i get for buying something i need on the net... and throwing a few things in the bag anyway...

the eyelash curler is junk... and the foundation isn't right... Soi'm officially done... i'm only buying lotion from AVON (but i like the earrings)... learned my lesson there... kind of glad i got make-up for x-mas... (while clinique is more expensive then i would like to pay for make-up... it works and matches so i'll just have to live with it or without it.)

we live, we learn, and we move on.

Spoiled X-mas

i was totally spoiled this x-mas... i'm still in shock. really. the shock factor is totally still here.

I really don't think i could even list all the things i got for xmas from my mom and my sister... but i'll try:

Media:

• Season 2 Gilmore Girls
• Season 3 Gilmore Girls
• Dawsons' Creek season 1
• 24 Season 1
• MI III
• x-men III
• Bourne Supremacy
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• I-pod shuffle car charger
• DVD/VCR Player
• The garth brooks walmart collection (5 cd's and a DVD thing)
• Rascal Flatts: me and my gang CD
• Sugarland CD

Books:

• Tamora Pierce: Terrier
• Nicholas Sparks: Dear John
• Augusten Borrows (sp): Running with Scissors
• another Gossip Girl Book

Girly Stuff:

• Locket
• Earrings (small really nice hoop one i wanted)
• more earrings
• Make up from Clinique (foundation, powder, blush, plus the gift if you purchased some much $$$ that has nice lip gloss in it)
• 2 pairs of the same cheap sunglasses from walmart
• BCBG gift set of Purfume (the only way you can buy my discontinued fav sent)
• Black Heels
• Black Cowboy boots

Sporty Stuff:

• Asics gel running shoes
• Pack of mens' "wife beaters" grey and black

Clothes:

• 2 black tube tops from The Limited
• nice black sweater
• line danceing button up
• Underwear (i love getting this....)
• brown lacy dress
• pair of jeans
• black button up for dress wear
• Light blue pretty top.
• An over night bag.... apparently oprah likes it... (i don't but i'm not telling her that)

I still think i forgot some stuff.... and that's only stuff from my sister, my mom and my sister's doggie... I got $200 cash from my grandpas and my mom's sister combined for a Disneyland pass and a $50 gift card from my mom's friend anywhere... (plus a Savings Bond... i get a small one for X-mas and my b-day but this is the last year for them... she's gonna up the gift cards next year... she told us that)

and i have to return some movies my mom ancidentally bought for me twice!!! plus some stuff from bath and body works so i'll have even more cash! (insane!!!!!!!!!!) I did mention the whole "my family tries to buy love with money" thing before this... see what i mean.

In a way it makes me feel a bit bad that this year i imposed a personal limit on them... but i know the reasons why i went ahead a did it and everything and in my head it was a smart move... but still i feel kind of grinchy... but also at the same time kind of good because i was able to get some of my friends (who mean the world to me literally) some nice, small presents.

Speaking of friends, I'm meeting up with Blake later on after some X-mas exchange (once i get off of work)

The Monthly Overview--->December Goals Accomplished

the test run is over. For the 1st month i basically implemented all of the budget categories and lived to tell the tale. phew. Lets take a look at this month in debth.
~*~*~*~*

I ended up living in budget...kind of... and while at times it got colorful, even with X-mas spending i was able to keep it and i think that deserves a WOOT. I guess i can call "The dry run" a success. I'm only hoping that it will work for real in January.

Fun money: While i know i'm not supposed to beat myself up for the fun money... i know that if i didn't give myself that unbudgeted money i would have been in real trouble. So yeah for that... but i know next month i won't have that extra padding so i'm going to have to be A LOT better at planning and not shopping on AVON... lol.

I might have a few dollars left to send to my odds and ends and possibly some extra from the gas remnants for some vegas spending which is good. But because of the x-mas spending, i won't really have that much to stick in ING (which has these small accounts since everything pretty much moved to emigrant this month) but i'll continue to be dilligent and keep moving on.

Savings is right on track, both long term and short term. I think it will be easier to update with the blue bars... plus i like them

Auto Loan: I wanted to send them $1020.00.... drum roll, i sent them a grand total of $1,870 God bless overtime and my mother's mistake!

wow.

POST 100--- X-mas review and final budget for dec

Wow. I've hit 100 posts.... and good news to report on my extra holiday spending spree: down to business time. After running the totals and playing the last minuet shopping game, it looks like i got everyone something for a grand total of $103.21 including cards and bags! woot

• Rory- 2 movie tickets
• Dave- 2 movie tickets
• Blake- 2 movie tickets
• Andi and Dusty- Pirate shirts
• Mo- beanie

I had $38.70 from my other budget categories to go towards this, so it looks like i'm snagging $64.51 from my gas category. (and i got gas yesterday too $35.69) Below is the updated budget, which should be final for the most part. I might use more gas because i'm driving out to Heather's desert house for some dirt bike action (possibly with Moe... and some of the guys too) so i'll fix it if i do.

• Bills- Done
• Food- $150 Allotted; $144.44 Spent; $5.56 Left
• Fun and Lux- $70 Allotted; $70.00 Spent
• Short Term Savings- $25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer
• Long term savings (moving out)- $30.00 sent to Emigrant
• Gas- Allotted $200.00; Spent $81.69; X-mas presents $64.51; total spent $146.20; Left: $53.80
• Basic Necessities- Allotted $50, Spent $50.00; Left 00.00
• Offering- $50.00(25 per check)
• Auto Loan [GOAL: $1020.00] Additional $400.00, $360.18 overtime first paycheck, $420 (part of the 1020), $600 (part of the 1020), $90.22 Overtime second paycheck.
• $80 unbudgetted fudge money- left: 0.00

I assumed that i would make $1800 this month when i did the budget... but i ended up taking home more then that, not with the overtime. I rounded down so i wouldn't come up short and because i really don't know how much i get of my paycheck after taxes because there is always overtime on it. (which is a blessing that i won't be seeing much after the Jan 5th paycheck... my boss needs to watch his budget... crap!) I guess i'll just wait to see how much extra i made after everything clears. I know i'll reset the checking "zero" back to $500.00 and i'm not sure what i want to do with the extra.

E-fund??? Auto loan??? Retirement???

While part of me wants to keep the money and possibly stick it in my efund or in my retirement account... part of me knows it will go further in the long run on the car payment. So there it will go.... sadly.... I'll repost the new auto loan balances and account earnings and the like in a few days.

Slowly getting out of debt one day at a time...

extra x-mas shopping

I don't think i'll have time to run down and figure out the refinance on my loan ebcause i'm now going out with heather today and Rhea later on tonight (i love having a social life). Guess i'll have to wait till after x-mas to look into refinancing.

I vacummed the house really well for my mom and she gave me a movie ticket for tonight (since i'm going out with rhea later on... and i talked her into movie and coffee instead of dinner and a movie to catchup on all our girl talk that way its a bit cheaper... (i havn't seen her in a couple of months))

I'll proabably go down to bofa eventually for the refinance since i have no idea where a credit union would be located... but i'll ask my mom and see if she knows where one is. (thanks for the advice G)

I ran into my friend Mo yesterday as i was at church watching the jr highers (everyone was running late and i of course was the only one there with 20+ kids freezing outside with damp hair...) but i ran into Mo and he informed that he wants to know what i want for x-mas... i told him he didn't have to get me anything, but he's insisting... i told him i didn't know. but it looks like i'm going x-mas shopping again... and even tho i was trying not to be miss lets buy something for everyone, i really want to... so i'm buyin my boys some gifts!!!

so i'm going to find around 100 bucks or so and do some more x-mas shopping since i decided i'm not getting the bike after all. (its too cold and if i'm at Kube's house (another new friend of mine i met playing football) till midnight hanging out with the guys playing boardgames... i need my sleep)

Dave and Rory are getting 2 movie tickets probably because i don't want to get them anything real big and make them feel awkward because were not planning of exchanging stuff.

Andi and Dusty (25 gc to fridays and 2 movie tickets) if i don't find something else.

and Mo... i'm not sure yet... but i'm thinking somewhere between 20-30 bucks... i know he wants a beanie so i might try and get him one.

time to look and update the budget:
Money in Blue is going to the extra x-mas shopping

Bills
Done, with $3.00 Extra

Food
$150 Allotted; $144.44Spent; $5.56 Left

Fun and Lux
$70 Allotted; $45.35 Spent; *$9.65 left

Short Term Savings
$25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out)
$30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas
Allotted $200.00; Spent 46; Left $154
Even with driving to the desert and main place today, i think i'm safe taking about 60 from here... if not my OT for this check can cover some of it.
Basic Necessities
Allotted $50, Spent $50.00; Left 00.00

Offering$50.00
(25 per check)

Auto Loan
GOAL: $1020.00
Additional $400.00
360.18 overtime
420 (part of the 1020)
600 (part of the 1020) I'll update the new balance in a couple of days when it posts... i'm also waiting to see how much overtime i got to add to it for paycheck number 2

$80 unbudgetted fudge money
left= $26.05 Total Spent= 53.9510

BINGO... $100.00 =D

x-mas shopping here i come!

Raise + work

Apparently, i will be getting my 6 month raise after all... (probably a merger 3%) it was just pending all this time caught up in paperwork somewhere... And i'll be getting retro pay for all this time it should have been in effect.... which will all go to the auto loan.

and on top of that raise, the city wide raise will go onto of that. SWEET. I might end up making 2,000 after taxes a month! woot. (about an 80 cent raise in total an hour i believe)

Sadly... i won't be working 16 hours of Overtime over the holidays. If i did the math right, i think its 11 hours, but i'm not sure. could be less... i'm never sure how any of it works anymore. (the shifts were redistributed in an effort to stay better inline with the rec budget) i get why... why pay me 20 bucks an hour when they can get a kid to do it for 8... (because there is already a super on duty.)

and part of me is unsure about biking to work... the mornings are really really cold. While it would be really good exercise... part of me doesn't know, especially since i'm thinking i need at least a 7 speed bike and the price in my head was for a 3 speed... I'm going to check out walmart and target. (i don't mind the walking home when exhausted and up the big hill part on the way to work....) but doing that in 45 degree weather and letting the wind from the cars eat me alive... i'm thinking maybe i should wait till summer and do it then. but who knows...

I'm just excited for the double raise~!!!!
---> if i end up making more than 2,000 i'm going to take that money and add it to my church offering.... until its 10%... and if there's any more over that, to the auto payment. (but i doubt i'll make over $2,000.00)

It's only an increase of around $120 bucks a month... and i have no idea with the taxes being taken out too.

toyota

I got my bill for my car... which isn't due for a few months and i noticed something.... they upped my amount due for the month... i think i need to call them... (they didn't change the payoff date... and they regular monthly payment is listed... but this amount is a few dollars more... i'm going to call them today.

Contract Type: Retail
Original Amount Financed: $13,623.75
Scheduled Maturity Date: 06/30/2011
Number of Extensions: 0
Monthly Payment Amount: $278.82
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 8.25%
Last Payment Received Date: 12/12/2006
Last Payment Amount: $360.18
Next Payment Due Date: 08/30/2007
Next Payment Due Amount: $299.60
Past Due Payments: $0.00
Late Charges: $0.00
Miscellaneous Charges: $0.00
Total Amount Due: $299.60

Ya, that's the part that doesn't seem right... and their finance people don't get in till 10:00am... but i have names and numbers and will call until the end of no mans land.



--------------EDIT---------------------

called toyota... got another number and called them...

What they did was add July's bill to August's bill because July was only $20....... lol When i called the first number and told the lady when my bill was due, she was shocked i'd paid so far inadvance... SHOCKED... So was lady number 2.... and it took her forever to subtract 278.82 from 299.60 by the way.

I also double checked to make sure that everything i paid over my monthly payment went to principle and it does... phew.

I also called them about reducing my interest, current 8.25% and they informed me that they offer no refinance programs... So i might pop down to BOFA or some place and look into getting a better loan.

Know of any good places to get a loan for $10,000???

______________EDIT____________________

I was browsing online and i found this:
Refinance an auto loan from BOFA 6.79% (mind you i'd have to fill out the application)
------> I'm paying 8.25% now... right now i'm going to browse some more...but i believe i might just apply for this one on friday. (which is pay day for me.) The day i will hopefully owe under 10,000 in debt.

I also called Wells Fargo looking for a round about figure without filling out the app.... the guy started with 11-20%... when i told him that the auto place gave me 8.25 he was like oh well, it would be lower then that...Guess i won't know until i start applying for the loans...

If i do multiple applications in the same day will it ding my Credit Score?

Tuesday

wow... tuesday was sure different.

First off i actually got to sleep in... and then i biked the 4ish miles to work in about 25mins... i had to walk the huge hill. After taking a 15 min break and getting some water and stretching in the gym, i went back out... problem... really out of shape... very tired... and apparently the whole way home is a slight uphill...

I ended up walking home with the bike most of the way... so it took an hour to get home. I might try it again, but its definiently for sure that I need at least a 7 speed bike. which means more money... who means i'm probably going to hold off... which makes me sad... but i can't why to rush it now.

I let my mom take me x-mas shopping. We spent a few hours together, doing stuff she liked... i guess it was an effort on my part to make her understand that i didn't hate her or anything. But it was good to spend some time with her not arguing.

I think giving my testimony has really opened up my eyes to a lot of things i have forgotten about. I'm more okay with who i am... and i'm begining to discover the me i've left behind these past few months... i'm not a child of rage... but one of exstatic-ness... who knew being happy was so happy.

Later on tuesday i did my normal football session with the guys... we actually had 10 ppl this week and i wasn't the only girl... while i didn't spear tackle anyone, i did take rory and a few of the boys down to the ground... But i think Mo broke me. On one play he knocked me down and i threw my hand out to help brace me so i could get back up and chase him down... my right hand kind of hurts now... but then on the next play... someone fumbled the ball and i went for it... but Mo grabbed it instead and i did a fast 180 to grab him and i think i tweaked my shoulder... not to mention the few regular bruises i come home with every week... (and the boys are gentler with me then i am with them)... I have to admit... i'm hurting today. and my hand kind of hurts from typing... but oh well.

when i came home from football... i had a sit down chat with my mom and i told her that i wanted my old family back... she told me she'd try... its a start in the right direction... I'm hoping she'll stop drinking.

I don't know why, but i feel different now. These past two weeks, giving my testimony, letting everything out of the bucket... its kind of freeing...

I feel more comfortable around the boys... and i'm not afraid of being me for the most part. I kind of feel like that level of understand i have with my friend blake now goes out to Mo and a bit to Rory too...but i don't really know Rory that well because he's kind of quiet... and even more so to Dave even though he wasn't there...

for some reason i feel like its okay to be me... even if me isn't always perfect and pretty. (my bruises sure arn't pretty... but i had fun not letting Rory get the ball. )

If anything has come out of these past two weeks... I feel as though i have friends who would be by my side no matter what...

Budget updates

Bills
Done, with $3.00 Extra (i'll send this to my car loan for kicks next paycheck)

Food
$150 Allotted; $141.94 Spent; $ 9.06 Left......
Ralphs bill split in half (i got enough to make the food for both potlucks) 9

Fun and Lux
$70 Allotted; $45.35 Spent; *$24.65 left

Short Term Savings
$25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out)
$30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas
Allotted $200.00; Spent 46; Left $154

Basic Necessities
Allotted $50, Spent $50.00; Left 00.00

Offering
$50.00 (25 per check) [This money is in my wallet already. That way i won't forget this week to give it to Dusty. I went ahead and just took the whole 50 out]

Auto Loan
GOAL: $1020.00
Additional $400.00
360.18 overtime
420 (part of the 1020)

$80 unbudgetted fudge money
left= $26.05 Total Spent= 53.95
10 tip to bike man
8.61 Gift for the work gift exchange
1/2 ralphs bill 9.37

Bike update:

Well i some how crammed my bike into my toyoto camery and when I got to heather's we transfered it to the back of her jeep... (so much easier to get it in and out of in a jeep)

I didn't need new tires... the man put air into them for me and told me that the bike was just to small for me... (apparently even I, of the 5 foot flat persuasion have outgrown my mountain bike..)

Well i tipped the guy 10 bucks. He told me it wasn't necessary but i insisted.
A) its the holidays and its nice to be nice to people, especially when they decline and then say thank you.
B) he put air in for free and checked the seat for me
C) he didn't try to sell me something i didn't need. He could have told me i needed new tires and i would have believed him and paid for them... and then discovered that the bike was too small and would have been out of that cash.

but the salesman is right...the bike is too of small for me. yes i can sit on it and ride it, but i have outgrown it. I rode a couple of their bikes around and he pointed out the differences. So after thanking the man, we loaded up the old mountain bike and i went "bike price-ing." Kind of like browsing... but with intent to make a future purchase...

and i found one i really like... it's $350.00 tho... plus i'd need a light sense i'm biking early in the morning and that is about another $30 ... so were looking at a whopping 380... then tax puts it at 410 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!

I really wasn't planning on buying a new bike right now... Heather and i are planning on going leisure biking on mondays, (she wants to shed some lbs and because she just bought a house with her boyfriend, money will be tighter for her and she doesn't have a gym membership and already has a nice bike. )

------> So i know i'd use it for mondays...

But the question becomes.... will i really bike to work and get up at 4:00am, leave at 4:15 am and bike to work.... Because it makes no sense to buy the bike now if i'm only doing it for a little fun on mondays. If that's the case, then i slowly save for it and make due with what i have... tiny bike.

But Heather and I came up with a game plan to make sure that this bike purchase isn't just on a whim... but something that i'll actually use! Here's how:

• Were going Biking tomorrow. Heather and I will alternate on the crappy to small bike. this way i can decide if that bike is manigable for the time being.
• I will be borrow heather's bike tuesday (which is very similar to the one i want to buy... but mine will be a 3 speed not a 7 speed). I want to time the ride and also make sure i can do the distance. I told the store guy where i'd be biking and he told me that i should be able to do it in a half an hour, kind of leisure like... but there is that blasted hill.
• If i can make the hill, then in january i will buy the bike.

i know this is kind of a whim idea for me... but i think i can afford it. This is how i'm define it by affording it:

1. I still make what i promised to do on my debt repayment plan
2. I don't accrue anymore debt in the purchase.

How i'm going to pay for it:

1. I'm working 16 hours of overtime for the holidays. I will get this paycheck on jan 5th. (approx $300.00)
2. Half my left over gas money this month approx $50
3. Fun money from Jan's budget $30
4. $ 50 x-mas present from my grandpa.

That's $430... which should cover everything! I'm still going to put this fridays' overtime on the car, as promised. I know the extra 300 would be nice to throw at the debt, but i'm looking for a way to get in shape and save money in the long run. I think it's stupid to keep driving more when gas is going back up... when things get expensive, your suppose to limit your consumption, not cut out other areas and let them continue to charge more and become a slave to it.

I know i can't go completely without gas sinse i have to drive to school still late Jan... but its now only 2 days a week not 4. (i'm officially a tuesday thursday student. No monday nite class, and heather has agreed to drive to incahoots on wed since her bf pays for gas (because he can write it off for his business)

I guess i look at the bike as an investment. even if i can only cut my gas by 1/4 that's $50 bucks a month. 8 months later, the bike is paid for... and/or i'll have a little vegas fund.

any money i win in Vegas will go to pay off my cute little car.

fixing my bike/ Vegas

Okay i've officially decided to take my bike down to the shop with heather and "fix it." I think i need new tires... but i'm not sure since i havn't touched it in years. I went ahead and called a local shop and the guy was really nice... He even told me i might not need new tires, just some air in them. He even gave me an estimate on new tires (around 15 bucks a piece, it depends on what kind... but very affordable)

Why the bike talk since i never mentioned owning a bike before?one word: VEGAS

I keep reading all these posts about how people use bikes and public transportation because its cheaper then traveling by car... and they are right...

I've noticed lately that my work is less than 5 miles away from home, and for the most part flat land... (with one huge ass hill)... and since i won't be driving that much to Fullerton since i'm on break right now, I'm pretty sure i should have excess money in my gas category. If i start biking to work on Saturdays, i should be able to save a bit more. If saturdays is managable, i can try to bike Sundays too. (i'm choosing the weekends because we open later so i don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to ride to work... and its safer because its lighter out)

I'm planning a vegas trip with heather and some friends for our 21st birthdays end of may, early june ish (which isn't in the budget... there is no trip category)... and I'd like to have some extra cash to take with me when i go. Her dad is getting a room for us so i need to worry about transportation, food, and fun money.

after running the numbers, at the end of the year i should have $130 plus my tax return not allotted anywhere (saying i have mad budgetting skills). I technically won't have the $130 bucks till december... but i can borrow this money from the efund since i know it will be replaced down the line (don't worry i'll put it back)... but i don't even know if i'm going to have a a tax return... and i'd like to have some responsible fun while i'm out there.

hense the bike... If i can take 1/2 the left over gas money and funnel it into a vegas savings account, i should be able to have a bit more fun while i'm out there and still keep up on my debt repayment plan.

I only want to put half the money i save in the Vegas fund because the other half i'm going to use to put towards my car maintance check that comes in 2,000 more miles. (every 5,000 my car gets serviced) plus i need to put tags on my car in march and i'm already worried I might have to use whatever odds and ends money i get in the next few months for this and not for moving out furniture and the like.... =(

So i'm going to try the bike... if it doesn't work out, Heather and I normally ride bikes down the beach in the summer and this way we won't have to alternate between her bike and her blades.

So how am i paying for the tires if i need them? (i'm figuring about $50 bucks)

• Ovbiously, any fun money i have left at the end of the month. (right now $24.65 but i know i'm going to be going out a lot more to avoid being home and because friends will be in town from other colleges.) So instead of taking the $24 bucks and using it now, i'll use whatever is left for that.
• I can use some of the Unbudgetted money (54.03) that's left after i get a $10 gift for the work party and some food to bring for the party...
• and if i need to, i can take some out of my gas fund as an investment to keep more dollars here in the future. (especially since its got 154 bucks left and i still have half a tank.)

I think I would only feel right about going on the trip if I kept with my debt repayment, kept with retirement saving, and kept with saving to move out.

But i think i'll be able to take the trip. I just need to watch what i spend and not log onto AVON and i should be fine.

An interesting run in with my parental

not to ruin my positive trend... but i feel i should let you be informed... my mom is once again "upset" with me.... but i'm still smiling because her insanity is now becoming funny to me...

Here's the story

Last week i asked if we were doing anything for my sister's birthday ( the 13th)... Normally we do dinner sometime before or after a member's birthday... whenever its convient for everyone else. I kind of dislike the family brithdays. We go to really expensive resturants and i always feel uncomfortable because my mom expects me to order prime rib.... appatizers and the whole nine yards.... and we always get into fights over where to go... but i've always gone... nodded and put on a smile. This year i asked if we where doing anything so i could give heather notice that i wouldn't be going dancing this week. (this is also finals week by the way... and dancing is an amazing stress releaving activity)

i was told that nothing was planned. I asked again a couple of days later... and got the same answer. So i told heather we where all set to go.

Well Tuesday rolls around and my sis starts being really really mean. To the point of morally degrading really. ( i would have packed another box but i packed an extra one last time)... just a lot of personal attacks... She stole something of mine... lied about it.... got caught.... and didn't care one bit.

But after i called her a brat and rejoiced with the fact that in a little over a year i'd be gone outta here, (i throw this around to help break the blow to my mom that i'm serious about moving out... she's really attached to messing up my life apparently...) she asked if i was going to dinner with them for her birthday tomorrow....

tomorrow... apparently they decided to make plans and not tell me.

Well i told her that i wasn't coming because she was rude... and i had other plans...

I didn't go, went dancing instead and had a good time... ( i was finals studying at the club... litterally cracking the books during the crapy songs/dances i didn't know... it was really a good time)

Why mommy is pissed:

• well my mom is angry at me for not going... not caring about my sister

• She also was pissed that i didn't call my sis before 8am to wish her happy birthday on her brithday.....-----> ( i left the house at 5am for work and i wasn't going to wake her up!) but my mom called me cell, yelled something like: CALL UR FREaKING SISTER AND WISH HER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU HORRIBLE SELFISH DAUGHTER OF MINE.... something like that... i kindly ended the conversation... hung up and called my sis... (i told her why i hadn't called earlier... I thought she took the day off and was sleeping).

• I also apparently gave my sis the wrong gift... I bought her the purse she wanted for her birthday... (the one she argued fit into my budget when it really didn't) and for X-mas i got her running shoes and another bag she picked out... Apparently according to my mom my sis wanted the shoes.... It doesn't matter that on her birthday, in the same phone call in which i called to wish her a happy brithday and to tell her i'd leave her present on the table so she could open it with moms.... i asked her what she wanted to open for her birthday... she said she really didn't care what to open, so i told her i'd leave her original birthday present on the table, the purse.... but i'm an inconsiderate brat...

My mom is nuts... and i think i'm done dealing with her... from now on its nodds and avoidance... I guess its just really hard to work/live/deal with a tippsy crazy woman...

but amazingly enough i found the story hilarious... what about u? I think i need to keep busy so i don't run into her much. i like that plan

.... lots of updates

UPDATES:

• AUTO LOAN:The money i sent Toyota posted... i now owe $10,572.60 !!!! I'm almost in single digit debt.... and i think i'll make it by the end of the month!
• RETIREMENT: My CD at ing matured... 401.54 is on its way to emigrant retirement. New total is $1,404.57... $2,095.43 left till i hit $3,500 mark!
• TUITION:Sold a couple of textbooks back... i know i don't get much back from the book store... but i wouldn't have been able to sell them via the net because one was horrible condition (a net buy i got for nothing because of this)... and the other book is now available as a renter... (don't ask... i'm pissed the program wasn't around/i didn't know about it; when i took the class... so i would get more selling it back... the total you ask... $74.75 added to tuition... which brings me to $2,887.45

I don't know what planet i woke up on the last few days... but it was a planet of spending money i really didn't need to....

1. AVON- I logged on to buy some more lotion for my face... i left with 2 bottles, and eyelash curler, some make-up.... and a pair of earings with shipping for $41.94!!!!!!!!!!! ouch.... but let me explain.

• Lotion- My face is weird... when i had more money i used to pay 36-45 bucks for the same size botttle of face lotion from the "high end" retailers of clinique... but unless i used it every day... my face would peel.... not cool. So one day, about a year ago, my mom brought home an AVON catalogue from a girl at work. On a whim... i figured i'd try there lotion... it was $10 bucks... and if it liked my skin better... it was worth the savings. IT WORKED... so now i only pay $9 bucks plus shipping for lotion... ----> i bought 2 because i hate buying and paying for shipping all the time. It seems they always send me a free shipping code after i have bought something... not before.... and go fig... after my purchase... free shipping code..... little crappy jerks.
• eyelash curler- I did break my other one a while ago... and i wanted a replacement... it was on clearence... and it didn't jack the shipping price up.... but it was a $3.00 WANT
• Make-up- In an effort to try and move away from clinique (i still use powders and foundations) i'm tryiong some from AVON... but here's where you can be proud of me... I didn't do the buy 1, get one cheaper gig. I only bought the one... it makes no sense to buy something in bulk you might not like.
• Earrings- Don't yell.... promise? they were sterling silver and on sale for about $10 bucks... the other day i was going through my jewlery and i noticed it was all cheap... and bad quality for my ears... i'm throwing all the cheap pairs out and slowly moving to a sterling silver or better motif... the reason why----> the cheaper stuff now irritates my ears... i wasn't going to pass up 10 earrings....

1. CAL STATE: ewwwww.... transcript fees.... scantrons for finals... and that morning starbucks frap.... set me back $7.48
2. Dinner- It's yearbook deadline time... which means i was at school from 5:00am to 5:00pm... some food had to be purchased because i didn't bring dinner with me... Pick up sticks $7.25.... grrr.... I wasn't sure if the advisor was paying or not... so when the food came, to be polite i asked how much i owed her.... (i'm just glad i had cash, i never do) I'd rather be polite and not expect people to pay for me... then try and be "cheap" and assume...

BUDGET SO FAR:

Bills----->Done, with $3.00 Extra (i'll send this to my car loan for kicks next paycheck)

Food-----> $150 Allotted; $131.94 Spent; $ 18.06 Left......

This would be my Stix, frap, and large water....

Fun and Lux----->$70 Allotted; $45.35 Spent; *$24.65 left

The rest of the AVON order $32.18

Short Term Savings----> $25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out)-----> $30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas-----> Allotted $200.00; Spent 46; Left $154

Basic Necessities-----> Allotted $50, Spent $50.00; Left 00.00

$9.66--- part of the AVON order for the 1st lotion bottle.

Offering-----> $50.00 (25 per check)

Auto Loan -----> GOAL: $1020.00 before overtime-----> Additional $400.00, 360.18 overtime, 420 (part of the 1020)

[$80 unbudgetted fudge money] left= $54.03 Total Spent= 25.97

I also have been suckered into another holiday gift exchange and potluck.... Which i'll be taking the funds from the unbudgetted money for... Glad i put this money aside...

now for some POSITIVE:
from 12/13/06 square space entry

• I got plenty of sleep and haven't needed any caffine since i got to work (at 5:15 am mind u)
• We have an X-mas party over at City Hall... its always good food and a good time. This year because i'm now a real employee i get to go... and they are having somone come in at 11:00am so i can go over there... woot.
• I made most of my yearbook deadline yesterday. I have to run up to fullerton to shap a few pics... but i should get it finished before i go line dancing tonight... which is always fun. (i get to wear my new belt buckle tonight)
• Last night i was out so late with deadlines... that i didn't see a single family member all day... it was amazing.
• I don't think i've smiled this much in a long time.
• I'm going to do some homework here at work and get paid to do it! (normally i don't do hw at work... but its finals week and the gym is empty)

Today's positives!

• The sky is pink as it comes up over the hill... its purdy.
• I'm staying late and picking up some OT today
• i got my country in the back ground... and i got to watch some episodes of ANGEL season 5 last night and not feel guilty about not studying for finals... did i mention i get a month off?
• unless the boys call me to hang out, i'm cleaning my room and watching ANGEL... (cleaning is therapudic for me)
• I'm still smiling! and surrounded by X-mas lights
• i won the raffel at work. But here's the funny thing... the prize i got... the only one with alcohol... went to the only one there under 21... ME.... its a sparkling white wine from napa... apparently that's "good stuff" according to my boss... so its in the fridge till i turn 21 in may.... any ideas how to store wine????????????
• My boss is gonna find someway of getting water here so i don't have to keep bringing bottled/ not drinking anything at work.

a new outlook

With finals around the corner and a sense of normalcy returning... I've decided to take a new outlook on life.

Welcome to the land of Positive. While i know it won't happen over night, i used to be a really positive ray of sunlight... and truth be told. I don't want to dwell anymore in the negative. I want to rediscover myself... Smile more... and enjoy the world around me. At 20 i should be smiling and having fun, not sad.

So what was good about today?

1. I didn't have to Lifeguard today at work. I got to stay in a nice warm building with a coffee pot and X-mas Lights and listen to a couple of X-mas songs as I opened the place up.
2. I got to see a wonderful painting as the sun came over the mountains from my desk at work. (maybe i'll take a picture of it WED)
3. It rained the last couple of days when i was inside (so i didn't get wet) but it washed my car off a bit... and left the air smelling good.
4. And i decided to get serious about loosing weight. A small step. Normally when i make my coffee in the morning, i dump a package of Hot Chocolate in first, then poor black coffee and stir... well this morning i took a Spoonful of the Chocolate powder out of the bag and put it in the trash... It always tasted too chocolately to me anyways. I think i'll slowly cut back till i get a taste that is manageable and less caloric. (small steps.) Eventually i want to start moving towards decaf and eventually be caffine free. I also brought clothes to work out in afterwork since i work at a gym.
5. A long time ago... i joined a program for Over eaters... and i learned a lot about my eating habits... (enough to loose 30 lbs and keep it off for over a year) and i think i'm really going to nail this last 10 lbs... maybe even go so far that i won't let myself move out if i don't hit the 130's... talk about motivation... beside's packing boxes... now there's walking the block or hitting the gym when i'm angry...
6. The final X-mas presents are paid for... I only spend $178.97 on XMAS... that alone is something to smile about.

budget update... again X 10 [DEC]

Bills----->Done, with $3.00 Extra (i'll send this to my car loan for kicks on WED)

Food----->$150 Allotted; $116.08 spent; $33.92 Left

Fun and Lux----->$70 Allotted; $13.17 Spent; *$56.83 left

Short Term Savings----> $25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out)-----> $30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas-----> Allotted $200.00; Spent 46; Left $154

Basic Necessities-----> Allotted $50, Spent $40.34 ; Left $9.66

Offering-----> $50.00 (25 per check taken out in cash) [Its in my wallet... i forgot to give it to Dusty... oh well... next week]

Auto Loan -----> GOAL: $1020.00 before overtime
Additional $400.00 my mom gave me from Insurance...
360.18 overtime
420 (part of the 1020)

[$80 unbudgetted fudge money] left= $54.03 X-mas party i forgot about Friday night.... Gift 14.99; snacks brought with: 10.98 Total= 25.97

help

okay i made a chart in excell... and i want to put it on the page... and i can't!!!

someone help me!

auto insurance quote

I called the friendly ppl at AAA and got my new auto quote (since they fudged the prices the first time) I really did think that was a high amount for auto insurance from me with no accidents and all ... and from a very friendly guy!

it would only be $1,183 a year. with all the same coverage and the like... plus i got friendly information on Renters insurance (ruffly 180 a year from AAA) which means i only have to put aside $100 a month again for car insurance.

And if i don't end up making 2,000 a month it won't hurt my auto loan... I have $44 unbudgeted! For the time being... im going to put the extra money not on my car loan... but rather in the offering. I do want to closly increase this so its 10% of my income... and this is way to slowly move in that direction. woot woot.


January '07
Auto Loan: $1156.00 + Overtime +Recycle
Car Insurance: $100.00
Gas: $200.00
AOL- Dial up Internet $10.00
Cell Phone- Cingular $50.00
Groceries $150.00
Basic Necessities: $50.00
Offering: $50.00........... now $94.00 a month.
Fun Money: $70.00
Short Term Savings: $90.00 (till i hit $1,000.00)
Long Term Savings (A.K.A Moving OUT) $30.00

I went to Costco... i spent a lot of money.... but it was within budget

I think i figured out what i'm going to to with the "odds and ends" (stuff that's left over from some of the budget categories... that i don't want to send over to the Car incase one month i go over or what not). This month i chose not to budget $80.00 and i'm glad i didn't because i forgot about the X-mas party. But i think if i consistantly keep under budget(in the food, necessssities, and Fun/Lux categories), then i will use this money eventually to buy stuff for the new place. That way i'll have some kind of "hopeful" decorating fund without robbing my e-fund later on... and some different motivation for cutting back on these categories.

I really want to take my car and get it washed... i know its a waste of money... but i feel the need to remind myself why i'm okay with signing the dotted line on my auto loan... and to appreciate my car... If i have any money left over in my gas category... i'll take my car to the car wash in a couple of weeks when schools out. I think it deserves a vac and wash.... it hasn't had a realy good one since i bought it... and i'm so busy with everything... i just havn't had the time... I still need to wrap all the gifts i got my family...

To Confess... i'm not sure i'll actually make 2,000 starting in Jan... My work never processed my 6month review (which i'm talking to my boss about on Monday...) and i don't know what the Dec raise (that's department wide) will look like in terms of my take home pay... since i have no idea how much i make since i havn't had a paycheck without ot on it... and i have no idea how much they take out for taxes % wise... or i'd calculate it...

Bills
Done, with $3.00 Extra (i'll send this to my car loan for kicks)

Food
$150 Allotted; $103.01 spent; $46.99 Left
---These Sunday nite dinners are getting expensive... bringing food for 8-12 ppl to eat (one week it was chicken cesar salad... last week it was ice cream... this week i'm back to salad because i make yummy salad and most of the ppl there are guys... so... they don't think about green unless its food dye... but i love them... =D

Fun and Lux
$70 Allotted; $13.17 Spent; *$56.83 left

Short Term Savings
$25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out)
$30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas
Allotted $200.00; Spent 46; Left $154

Basic Necessities
Allotted $50, Spent $40.34 ; Left $9.66 [Lotion, Laundry detergent (bulk at costco), shampoo, conditioner (so i have a spare for when i'm out)]

Offering: $50.00 (25 per check taken out in cash)
First this Sunday since i got paid. I'll take the cash out today.

Auto Loan: GOAL: $1020.00 before overtime
Additional $400.00 my mom gave me from Insurance...
360.18 overtime
420 (part of the 1020)

[$80 unbudgetted fudge money] left= $54.03
X-mas party i forgot about last night.... Gift 14.99; snacks brought with: 10.98 Total= 25.97

Auto loan update...

My new balance on my car loan is $11342.44 right now since i sent them the 400 my mom overcharged me. I'm sending them $360.18 in Overtime... and $420 of the 1020 i was planning on paying towards my car which should post Tuesday.

SO far I have sent them 760.18 that wasn't budgeted into the 1020... I think i'm going to end up giving them 1780.18 this month... total.... WOW...


End of the month balance:
NOW $11,342.44
December $10,040.24
January $8,953.27
February $7,858.82
March $6,756.85
April $5,647.30
May $4,530.13
June $3,405.27
July $2,272.68
Aug $1,132.31
Sept $0.00

Retirement/Moving Out Contributions
Sept 15.91
October 1156
Novemeber 1156
December 1156

TOTAL 3,483.91
Retirement: 2,096.97+ 400 CD+ 3.03 interest earned so far = 2500 GOAL
Moving out $1,386.94

Moving out fund:

• Started at 10.06 + 30 a month = 400.02
• Floater paycheck approx 800
• Floater paycheck approx 800
• + $1,386.94
• Tax return?????

= $3,387.00

I'm short only -$613.00

If i never have to rob my e-fund...i should reach the 1,000 marker by April... so i have 8 months of 90 payments that can go towards moving out... which equals $720...


which means at the Very End of Next December... i'd hit the

BLACK!!! by $107... and could move out!!!!!! and i havn't calculated my tax return into everything

I finally hit the POSITIVE... in the land of just prospective numbers. which in reality means anything can still happen especially if i'm over one month, don't have enough saved for tuition and the like... It's still all a numbers game... but i do believe i'm one step closer because my final number is BLACK

BofA rant again...

I'm getting pretty fed up with their inacurate online banking....

my paycheck was deposited on Friday... was posted as pending (like normal)... and has now disappared from the screen... not in posting... not in pending.... GRRRRRRRRRRR and the balance in the account isn't right...

i hate being afraid to spend my money!!!!!!!!!!!! And while i know TOYOTA was paid... (because they reposted my auto loan amount with amazing speed (since i gave the $400) it doesn't show up anywhere in my records with BOFA.... AND I PAID IT THRU THEIR ONLINE BANKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its one thing to update things late and leave them all as pending... but this is freaking rediculous to have things be there and then be gone the next!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought online banking was suppose to make my life easier... but its turning into a hassel... i'm calling BOFA....

*****EDIT*****
I called... got the wrong person... got hung up on....

Called again... didn't need to be transfered.... and they don't know why my paycheck dissapeared... but my balance is accurate... whew....

and they kidnly told me how much i made so i could pay my OT and start the auto loan payments...

I've learned that Woman tellers are nicer then men... they get impacient and talk too loud in my ear...

But apparently this problem started this morning... and i'm not the only one with it...

But at lead i got my balance.... which mean... more car payment stuff and i can reconfig my budget for my massive costco spree.

budget ...again.... again....

Bills---Done, with $3.00 Extra

Food---$150 Allotted; $52.11 spent *$97.89 Left

Fun and Lux ---$70 Allotted; $13.17 Spent; *$56.83 left

Short Term Savings--- $25.oo auto transfer ; $65.00 manual transfer

Long term savings (moving out):---$30.00 sent to Emigrant

Gas:---Allotted $200.00; Spent 10; Left $190

Basic necessities: ---Allotted $50, Spent $10.20; Left $39.60

Offering: $50.00 (25 per check taken out in cash)

Auto Loan: GOAL: $1020.00 before overtime

• Additional $400.00 my mom gave me from Insurance
  

[$80 fudge money]

Yin and Yang

Bad: i havn't had time to pack those two boxes and i keep tripping over them... (and my foot is sore from football yesterday)

Good: on the flip side my mom acts like nothing happened and she's now mad at my sis... and likes me...

Bad: this will proably change tomorrow when she gets pissed at me and embraces my sister

Good: my mom overcharged me $400 on my car insurance... AAA made a mistake in the price... so i now have $400 extra dollars to put towards my car... inaddition to Overtime and my paycheck which is coming on friday =) I'm going to call them and get the new quote for my insurance if i go solo... and hopefully have more money to hit the car payment with... woot.

bad... I have sooo much homework because finals are next week that i want to curl up in a ball and hide... never take 18 units with a fulltime job, commuting an hour and a half a way to school 3-4 days a week, getting up before 5am to make it to work... when your volunteering at your church 2 days a week and trying to maintain a social life..

on the good side: one assignment got postponed a week and i probably don't have to write the paper for it... just chat with the prof... and i have only one project to do left tonight...

Bad: I have yet to make 30 copies of the project i'm still working on and i won't finish it before the library closes...

Good: The libarian gave me all the research i needed in 5 mins... and printed it free from her computer... and there is a walgreens open till midnight so i can probably cross my fingers and hope they have a copier...

Bad: my yearbook picture turned out ugly... and i have a huge deadline tuesday.... and i'm no where near finishing it and won't have time because of finals... and i'm going to piss my advisor off when i crack..... eeeekkkk

and to end on a good note.... Tomorrow is my last day of class before finals which means soon i can veg and be laxy and sleep in past 6am....... sweet beautiful sleep. I don't have to go to class monday.... and not all my classes have finals... (lots of paper tho.... eeek) and i got a hour of OT today at the work party plus yummy food...... and a very nice friend of mine is single... and fun to flirt with.... and also fun to play football with (that was tuesday night... i'm the only girl who plays tackel football with the boys... is pretty decent at football... and then wears heels and a dress the next time i see them....)


I like me.

Interest again

I want FRIDAY now... yes i sould like a 13 year old girl... but i want to get paid because they just poseted more interest on my car..... GRRRR

$11,727.69.... how much i'm in debt for my car... (good till 12/15/06)

I really want to hit it hard....

Maybe i'll go turn in my recycle and knock it down a couple of bucks... (if i have time...)


On another note, i'll be backing another 2 boxes to move out tonight. Yup another family argument that i thought was morally wrong and invasive upon my rights as a human being...

Counting down the days till i move out.

Budget continues...

I get paid on friday.... woot... i hate it when my account gets low... lol

[Assuming take home Pay for DEC is $1800.00]

BILLS PAID For December:$60 allotted; $57 spent

• AOL- $9.95
• Cingular- $47.05 (auto bill pay 12/12/04)
• ----->EXTRA $3.00 to Auto Loan will be sent 12/12 [woot]

FOOD: $150 Allotted; $48.11 spent *$101.89 Left

• Coffee Bean- $5.55
• Target- $6.65
• Ralphs- $35.91

FUN + LUX: $70 Allotted; $13.17 Spent; *$56.83 left

• Target- Gloves (2 pairs) $1.49 + .12 tax
• Target- Gum (three packets) $1.50
• Bath and Body works $10.06 (its a lux... )

SHORT TERM SAVINGS: $90 Alloted; $90 Transfered

• $25.oo auto transfer
• $65.00 manual transfer

LONG TERM SAVINGS (moving out): $30 Alloted; $30 Transfered

• $30.00 sent to Emigrant

GAS: $200.00

• I'm getting some today...

BASIC NECESSITIES: $50.00

OFFERING: $50.00 (25 per check taken out in cash)

AUTO LOAN: $1020.00 before overtime

[$80 fudge money--- if its still here at the end of the month... i'm sending it to my e-fund]

Limit Increase

So.. i was browsing the links by my credit card for bank of america... and there was this pretty little link asking for a credit increase....So i clicked the button... typed in how much i make...and bam! My credit limit shot up a grand... BofA CC limit is now $2,700.00.

woot... I figure that's gotta push the FICO score up since i don't carry a balance on that card... so that's avilable credit i'm not using... that's gotta help with that anal auto loan... and i have another CC with a 1700 limit that i never carry a balance on either...

come to think of it... i wonder what my FICO score is....I ran reports for free from all the major credit places in AUG... and there was nothing there that shouldn't have been there... but i never remembered seeing the FICO score...

I wonder if i should wait a couple of months, and get one of the places to send me my FICO... especially if i'm thinking of refinancing my auto loan... but i don't know how to refinance my auto loan... maybe i should just pop down to BofA in a few weeks and make them explain things to me... like my FICO and auto loan redo stuff

my addition error brings new hope... i might just save the world!

Auto loan as of today if I pay $1,020 for the month of Dec, and $1157 for each month till balance is paid off:

10785.66 End of December Balance
9702.80 End of January Balance
8612.51 End of February Balance
7514.72 End of March Balance
6409.38 End of April Balance
5296.45 End of May Balance
4175.86 End of June Balance
3047.56 End of July Balance
1911.51 End of Aug Balance
767.65 End of Sept Balance
0.00 End of Oct Balance.
 Last payment amount $772.93 in Oct.

Therefore: Annual Retirement Contributions
• Retirement Oct= 384.07
• Retirement Nov = 1157
• Retirement Dec = 1157
• 400 CD
=$3098.07…+ 3.03 in interest = 3,101.10 (goal 2500) =601.10 for moving out


Moving out
Start: 10.06 and each month add $30 Dec 06 – Dec 07
= 400.06… + 601.10 from extra Retirement = 1,001.1
short 2,998.9 of moving out goal...

only income not calculated:
Hopefully a Tax Refund
Ovetime
2 "floater paychecks" (i'm on a two weeks pay schedule... so there will be 2 months i will recieve 3 paychecks)

-----> if i only count my floater paychecks combined as 1600... i'm going to ultimately be short -$1,398.9

I could probably get that in a combination of Overtime and my tax return...

oh my... for the first day... this seems do-able.

I can't add

I just added up the proposed budget for January... it equals 2,020... crudy bupkins... grrr... Now i have to redue it... and everything else.... ---->SAD!!!
But at least December is okay since i was assuming an 1800 take home amount... and i'm just glad i caught that before Jan rolls around.

Pretty much i need to cut $20 bucks...

----> i think i'm going to take it from the auto loan... i don't want to kill the fun category... and if i don't spend all the fun money, half of whatever is left goes back to the auto loan anyways... so its official...

Auto Loan: $1156.00 + Overtime + Recycle $$
Car Insurance: $144.00
Gas: $200.00
Cell Phone- Cingular $50.00
AOL- Dial up Internet $10.00
Groceries $150.00
Basic Necessities: $50.00
Offering: $50.00
Fun Money: $70.00
Short Term Savings: $90.00 (till i hit $1,000.00)
Long Term Savings (A.K.A Moving OUT) $30.00

=2,000... there

-----> blogger is having issues... i can't change my side bars... errors keep coming up

Budget so far (yeah... where 2 days in and i'm already posting... lol)

[Font sizes and bullet points arn't working so i'm going to attempt to make this as easy to follow as i can.]

Since things need to be paid before i get my first paycheck for DEC... [and because i want my money to tackel interest/gain interest sooner] i'm dipping into the $500.00 zero right now since i'm getting paid friday and that way when i'm paid, everything will have had time to move and i can begin to really monitor my money since i'll know how much is really left (this is mainly the small saving things).


~*~*~*~*~*~*~BUDGET SO FAR~*~*~*~*~*~*~
[Assuming take home Pay for DEC is $1800.00]

BILLS PAID For December:$60 allotted; $57 spent
------->AOL- $9.95
------->Cingular- $47.05 (auto bill pay 12/12/04)
*EXTRA $3.00 to Auto Loan will be sent 12/12 [woot]


FOOD: $150 Allotted; $12.20 spent
------->Coffee Bean- $5.55
------->Target- Yogart(6) $3.12
------->Target- Onion Dip Mix (for my work X-mas party) $1.34
------->Target- Lean Pockets $2.19
*$137.80 Left

FUN + LUX: $70 Allotted; $3.11 Spent
------->Target- Gloves (2 pairs) $1.49 + .12 tax
------->Target- Gum (three packets) $1.50
*$66.89 left

SHORT TERM SAVINGS: $90 Alloted; $90 Transfered
-------> $25.oo auto transfer...
-------> $65.00 manual transfer

LONG TERM SAVINGS (moving out): $30 Alloted; $30 Transfered
-------> $30.00 sent to Emigrant


Gas: $200.00
Basic Necessities: $50.00
Offering: $50.00 (25 per check taken out in cash)
Auto Loan: $1020.00 before overtime
[$80 fudge money--- if its still here at the end of the month... i'm sending it to my e-fund]

Tuition Change

I signed up for a dance class at my local JC with a friend of mine... the cost of the class... 24 bucks for the whole symester... so that is coming out of my tuition money... New Balance (when everything hits the same place) $2,814.75.

=D Its a new month... that means interest is posted in my accounts

Emigrant Direct $3.03
ING Direct $9.34

I earned $12.37 by doing nothing!!!!!!!!!!!! woot.

Its little things like this that get me motivated all over again! wooot!