Wednesday morning...

I talked with my pastors friend, and wednesday morning will be the day it all comes clean. I'll head over there at 9:30am with Hotel Boy (my best friend and basically my non related brother of choice). The lady i spoke with recommended bringing a friend with me to help support me, and to help keep my mother at bay and to use as an exit strategy if things escalate...

dee tried getting the double to pay her for June's rent... I talked my way around that circle. Its not our fault she got another apartment before her lease was up. If she doesn't want the double to move in earlier, i told her that that was fine and she'd move in on the first of July and that she's in no hurry to move since she's actually doing me the favor of being my roommate so under no circumstances will she pay for one dime of june's rent. I could sense dee's frustration. 325 security deposit 1195 for rent, plus 600 for an apartment shes not living in ..... ouch.... but that doesn't mean i have to cough up for her uncertainty. I think i'll wait till after Yosemitee to have the double move in just to be on the safe side.

I came home for my break inbetween shifts and my apartment was basically empty of all of dee's things. (my APT is HUGE without all her crap in there!!!!) dee's going to keep the garage until the end of the month to be stubborn.... she's peeved that I won't give her a single dime so she's going to get back at me by taking away a parking space if the double moves in early.

So I told her she won't get her security deposit until she cleans the place, empties the garage and gives me all the keys...

(man, i'm getting good at not letting other manipulate me... guess this is what growing up is all about?)

My lifeguard outside is eating soup for dinner.... and now i want soup... too bad the clock ticks by slower every minuet and i'm still stuck at work with only cold cereal for dinner... but my no spending spree will end shortly and i'll buy gas and groceries (but i might hold off on groceries till the fridge and yosemitee are done).

Gas is $4.17 a gallon here...

i'm an emotional wreck

I ransacked my mom's place agian... all the old bottles are gone and there are 4 new ones to replace those. This is really happening.... I'm going to have to tell my mom she's outta my life....

needless to say, i'm an emotional wreck right now. I told my boss what was going on and he was glad to know.

the boyfriend has been so comforting through all of this... dunno what i would do without him.

I'm waiting for a call back from an alcohol and drug councilor about how i should go about telling telling her i know, i'm done, and i'm not moving home.

guess its time to play the waiting game now that i have proof she's drinking.

crazy...

The place i looked was way too small for the 2 of us... and the other one was rent out about a week ago....

So i walked into the apartment complex and told one of the gals who works there what was going on...

my apartment complex manager is going to let me stay there-- perk, no moving... but $40.00 rent increase (it was 140 but when i told her my store and she knocked off 100)...... the double will move in when i got to yosemitee... =)

I'll pay $795.00 a month. She's paying $700.00 (so technically my rent is less then when i originally signed the first lease.) Go figure?

My Stimulus check is gone and then some... went to the fridge and stuff for the apartment.... My mini emergency fund is now $139.98 less.... that was the "and then some" for patio furniture and stuff to decorate with. I still want to buy some bar stools so more money will be spent. (this is after all now my only home and it needs to feel like a home--- i start unpacking soon.)

My boss is giving me days off instead of overtime now... so i only get 3.50 hours of overtime on next check because he couldn't get rid of that. I also get holiday pay for monday. But i can't count on anymore more overtime for a while... which means less to the house since i need to max out that roth of mine.

Tenative June budget:

• Laundry, 20
• food, 120
• water, 16
• gas, 140
• car ins, 76
• ebill, 45
• cell, 55
• household, 25
• fun, 50
• house dp, 325.4
• roth, 316.8

• rent, 795
• roth, 394.20
  

-271.01... Roth [has been added into July Budget to insure it gets maxed]

-139.98 House shopping. --- overtime and good budgeting skills i hope will fix this...

Apartment hunt begins....

I found an apartment on Craig's list/penny saver for $1,325 a month in MY city!!! Its a 2 bedroom, 1 bath (so smaller but cheaper then what i have now) and we pay Electric and Water. Water is a new bill, but the rent is cheaper then my old place so that should even it out. They even have a refrigorator included in the price (WOOT WOOT). It's only 2 miles further from my job then my old place (bonus)-- but walking to work is out-- but i could always drive to city hall, then walk the rest of the way from there.

My old apartment was a little over 1,000 square feet... this place is 789... but like i said, there isn't a second bathroom so that's were some of the space is going. It also has Washer dryer hook ups-- but i don't know if i'll buy a washer/dryer yet.

I'm taking a look at it today after work with the double so i'll let you know how its gonna go. But i don't know if this is too soon for her to make the leap from her parents time wise or if this is something she can actually afford. Were gonna discuss some of that today--- but she couldn't talk to her dad last night because his girlfriend was in town.

I called about another place in another area for around 1300 a month. Its larger (2bed, 2bath--900 sq Ft), but i'll eat the rest of the difference with gas to and from work. With the holiday, the guy probably won't get back to me until Tuesday if the place hasn't been rented out yet.

Someone at my college group said if this doesn't pan out, he might be able to set me up with a family from the church that has extra space. He also gave me the number of a friend of his to contact to talk about my mom. She's an ex alcoholic herself and now an alcohol and drug councilor. I'm going to run my "plan" by her and get some ideas--- give her the background, ect. I'll call her on tuesday.

It's moments like this that i wish my EF was a tad bit more liquid-- instead of in CD's... oh well.... of the 3,000 that's liquid--- i just transfered 1500 to my checking account to cover the security deposit and first months rent if the new place pans out or not-- with a little extra padding to turn utilities on if need be. This is assuming the double can afford it.

if she can't half me on everything and just do a straight 50/50 split--- then i'm going to look into other options.

The school of Hard Knocks

Groceries: $1.54 left
Water bill remains: $0.82
Gas $27.29
Household $1.78
Fun: $27.89

=$59.32

I'm going for a no spend week.... I'll eat out my pantry clean if i have too and to make sure i'm going to do it, i'm transfering the money there right now. I'll be fine on gas, and i'll just have to eat out my pantry. I'll make due. I have a few freebie coupons to some fast food joints for the few doubles i'm working next weekend... it will work. I can make 3 nice dinners with the meat i got at the store... i even have some oranges left.... it won't be too bad. I can always hard boil my eggs to take them with me to work if i have to. I'll fill some water bottles with some milk from my mom's house when she's not home and grab a couple canned veggies from the pantry (she buys 2 gallons of milk and ends up chucking one cause she can't drink it all before it goes bad... and doesn't cook ever so the canned stuff just sits there).

I guess deep down, I really want to get my "oh crap money" squared away. Its all going to make up what i'm short in contributions to my Roth and i need to make it up before i move. If i don't, I probably won't put anything more towards it after the move. I want to say i'm 22 and i've put 9,000 away for retirement already (2007 $4,000; 2008 $5,000). My mom has never put a dime away for retirement and I won't be like her.... I want to be prepaired for myself and my future hubby and family.

Oh Crap Money Now at: $32.01

I'm talking to my potential roommate (The Double) to see what she can afford, and how long she knows she'll be around for in terms of leasing options and prices (she doesn't care where we go)... I'll talk to my apartment complex after the holiday about the wait list for a 2 bedroom place. If i move into the apartment with the double i'll probably get a second job after summer (overtime at my work is nice) and maybe try and start as a cashier or bagger at a grocery shop and work to make up the money i won't be able to save for the house due to the rent payment.

I'm young, I can do it. I'll look at it like i'm going back to school... the school of hard knocks.

Grocery Challenge+ May Budget Update

Ralphs: Annother $22.12 (i'm only having enough Money because i've eaten most of my meals at my DBF's house)

I'm a Fighter... Between the overtime and keeping a good budget (thanks to my birthday and the walk taking up some time) I finally have my Oh Crap money under $100!!!!! I also called up My old Greek Goddess Roommate, and she's supposed to pay me the rest of the money Tomorrow that she owes me, so well just have to see. So who knows what's going to happen, but I'll probably have to roll that money over to next month and try and tackle it with some overtime i have planned.

I might be dipping into that Stimulus check I got from the Government... Since i'm not going to be living with my mom for very long, i'm going to need to buy a refridgerator soon. hmmmm...

May Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)
~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~

• Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
• Water $16.00
• Gas $140.00
• Car Insurance $76.00
• Electric Bill $45.00
• Cell phone $55.00
• Household Goods $25.00
• Fun Money $50.00
• House Dp Fund $345.40
• Roth IRA 2008 $316.80

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~

• Rent $850.00
• Roth IRA 2008 $339.20

~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~

Must Find $47.00 -- Auto insurance quote didn't include annual dues...

• ------> This is taken care of. $0.00

Must find $586.06 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation

• ------> $200.00 late rent... Still Need $386.06
• ------> $140.54 in Overtime.... Still Need $245.52
• ------> $21.11 in Extra Utilities money... Still Need $224.41
• ------> $133.08 in Overtime.... Still Need $91.33

My mother and my conviction

A few of you faithful readers from the beggining will remember the reason i moved into an apartment in the first place... My mother and her alcohol. I gave her an ultimatum. Me or the Booze... she chose it over me... I moved out and stopped talking to her, but left the door open if she wanted to get clean and sober... to change.... over time she started getting clean, wanted her daughter back into her life.... So we began to try to have a relationship.

During this struggle, I, on a whim, ran sacked the house a few months back, found 6 bottles of her alcohol of choice, left them out in plain sight with a note and waited for the call... She claimed she slipped but was going to do better... i kept my distance but still remained in contact. While I stopped our weekly lunches, I did stay in her life, and gradually increased our contact as she remained sober.

I gave her a new chance because I wanted a parent. (my father died when i started high school and they had been divorced since i was in 5th grade). But I reminded her of the ultimatum i gave her when i left that horrible place the first time. I reminded her of future weddings, grand children she would never meet, a life she would never be apart of...

Lately i've been picking up on warning signs that my mother is not so sober like she claims...

• Sniffing glasses before she pours the "water" into her iorn... to make sure its water...
• Not really coherent on the phone when its not late on her days off...

so I "ran-sacked her house" (went through all the old hiding places and some new ones ) and found 4 bottles of her alcohol of choice. I left the bottles hidden this time, but I did hide numbers on the bottles (my mom's eyes aren't that good) so I can see how much she's drinking. I need to have some kind of proof for what i'm going to do.

i'm going to do weekly ran-sacks of her place till my lease is up... I won't give her an excuse to say "it was only that one time." I need to show her the pattern of her drinking so she can't talk me out of it because I will hold to my word.

I'll move in for a month or so and continue to monitor it (this way i can find a place since my current apt complex has a waiting list and know for sure).

I already have a roommate lined up. The Double

I'll rent a new place without her knowing, slowly move all my stuff out, change the mailing address on everything.

After that's done, i'll pack up what's left, change my auto insurance over to the new place and wait for her to come home from work. She will see the empty room, the bag by the door. I'll show her what I know, Tell her how I've marked the bottles over the past few months, and I'll tell her that I can't do it anymore.

I'll leave her my keys, she'll have my number if she needs to get a hold of me if there is an emergency...

$4.00 a gallon Gas

I drove by 2 stations today with prices opver $4.00 a gallon for gas.... guess its really happening.

Kiva Update-- Loan 1 Atim Irene's Group

I recieved the following email this morning:

This is an update on your loan to Atim Irene's Group. Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to the Atim Irene's Groupgroup, consisting of Irene Atim, Sylevester Musoke, Wilson Mubuke,Dirisa Kawooya, Regina Nakintu, Mohamed Salongo, Eriya Kagaba, RichardKasule, Banarbas Mutwe, Teddy Tamale by Pearl Microfinance Limited in Uganda. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 6months, Pearl Microfinance Limited will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Sweetness! I think maybe by the end of next month i'll be able to fund a new loan...

Walk a Success!

the first annual Walk Your Talk Walk of Orange County (held by by buddies and me) was a SUCESS!!!!! We had 254 people come out and actually walk, for a total of around 330 people attending the event. WOOT WOOT. Hopefully i'll have numbers soon as to how much we actually raised for Child SHARE.

The birthday shopping continues

I've nicely dented my birthday money even more. I have about $20.00 left on the gift card and $40 something in cash.... But i finally feel like i actually bought the few things i've wanted for years that i keep adding onto the birthday list every year to no avail. I even bought my graduation pictures with it!!!!! (finally!). the remaining bits will go to a pretty frame for my graduation picture once it comes in.

and i got my new stainless steel thermus/water bottle already. Just in time for my foster care walk tomorrow. =) Hopefully this will mean that i'll actually drink water while i'm at work.

I also realized that on certain days at work, i'll walk 7000 steps before I leave.... and other days i don't even clear 1,000.... I think i'll have to start doing a morning walk on Thursdays before I go into the office. I walk "the lake" with the double on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (3.1 mile walk)... but because i don't work till 10am and i have to stay until 6:30pm... then go to a meeting... its a really slow days for me... My fitness goal for next week is to charge my old Shuffle and walk solo on Thursdays. (i'll try to make it part of my normal week, hopefully)

I like my new pedometer. It makes me want to move more.

Birthday Shopping

Withover $200 in cash and 1 $75.00 Simon gift card... I'm finally making a dent in the birthday shopping.

• Yesterday I went to Target and bought a pedometer (wanted one for years and now I finally have one--- asked for it for 2 christmas' in row and then just stopeed asking.
• I bought a stainless steel waterbottle/thermus thing. 32 ounces, from Amazon... when i get it, all the cancer plastic bottles are getting tossed!
• I bought a small desk fountain (wanted one for years and asked for it for xmas and my b-day, so i went and bought one.)
• I bought a CD I wanted since my last birthday and didn't get.
• and I bought a small map of the world to monitor my Kiva loans.

I'm going to buy a cork board for the map from Target I think today, look for a 24x36 frame... and start looking for a couple shadow boxes to put my 2 graduation caps, metals, and tassels in. Maybe a pretty Diploma Holder.... we'll see.

That extra $10

If i keep to the saving schedule and assume I can earn 3.25% APY on my savings account, by August 2010 i'd have... $54,149.55...

That extra $10.00 I sent to my house dp fund from Dee's e-bill.... will make it $54,234.78 by August 2010... which is $85.23 more... which means that $10.00 gets transformed into $75.23 more then it was originally worth...

ah, the joy of compounding interest... =)

**** I don't include interest in the current house DP schedule since the rate is variable and can change at any time. ****

Utility Bills...

My cell phone bill posted for $54.90. My Electric Bill is only $23.99 (I wasn't there a whole week and i haven't been cooking with the oven). I have Dee's $10.00 for the e-bill. Making it only $13.99 and I normally budget $100.00 for both.

I'll take Dee's $10.00 and put it toward the house DP fund and cover the bill with my money because I could use a pick me up. The Condo/Townhouse that I wanted to buy got an offer put on it... sad, i know,... but deep down i knew that property still wouldn't be there in 2 years when i actually had enough money and income to afford the place. But it did give me a sense of hope and excitement knowing there was a place that the boyfriend and I could afford.

Budget wise, I have an extra $21.11 to go towards my Oh Crap! stuff this month.

May Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)
~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~
Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
Water $16.00
Gas $140.00
Car Insurance $76.00
Electric Bill $45.00
Cell phone $55.00
Household Goods $25.00
Fun Money $50.00
House Dp Fund $345.40
Roth IRA 2008 $316.80
~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~
Rent $850.00
Roth IRA 2008 $339.20
~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~
Must Find $47.00 -- Auto insurance quote didn't include annual dues...
------> Overtime..... This is taken care of. $0.00

Must find $586.06 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation
------> $200.00 late rent... Still Need $386.06
------> $140.54 in Overtime.... Still Need $245.52
------> $21.11 in Extra Utilities money... Still Need $224.41

Grocery Challenge

I'm participating in the grocery challenge over at Give me my Five bucks back" http://krystalatwork.blogspot.com/

Ralphs-----> Damage $11.41

I had to pick up a few things because i was making dinner for my boyfriends whole family.

I can't remember what 2 of the items on the reicipt mean... but other then those, i got taco seasoning, corn tortilas, beef, pork for another dinner, and a thing of orange tic tacs (the boyfriend loves them).

PAY DAY!!!!

+ as a pretty birthday present to me... my government stimulas check was pending today!!!

$600.00 WAHOO!!!! I know have a wedding fund now, Thanks Uncle Sam!!!

and a pretty $187.54 in overtime!

May Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)
~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~

• Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
• Water $16.00Gas $140.00
• Car Insurance $76.00
• Electric Bill $45.00
• Cell phone $55.00
• Household Goods $25.00
• Fun Money $50.00
• House Dp Fund $345.40
• Roth IRA 2008 $316.80

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~

• Rent $850.00
• Roth IRA 2008 $339.20

~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~

Must find $586.06 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation
------> $200.00 late rent... Still Need $386.06
------> $140.54 in Overtime.... Still Need $245.52

Must Find $47.00 -- Auto insurance quote didn't include annual dues...
------> Overtime..... This is taken care of. $0.00

Yours truly is now 22

As of Yesterday, its nice to not be lumped into the drunkin category anymore. I'm 22!!!! Wahoo

Grocery Challenge

I joined the grocery challenge for May over at "Give me my Five bucks back" http://krystalatwork.blogspot.com/

My goal was to stay under $120.00 for the whole month, without a real fridge, this should be interesting. I'll be living it up dorm style. I thought I just graduated college?

Ralphs <----- Damage $66.38

I did okay, but i think they didn't ring my carrots up right. I think they were supposed to be $1.00 for the whole bag, but I didn't catch it until I got home and i didn't have an ad to prove it cause i looked it up online.

• big bag of flour tortillas $4.59
• big bag of shredded cheese $8.99
• instant mashed potatoes $1.99
• croutons $1.49
• croutons $1.49
• stuffing $1.99
• fish sticks $3.99
• Apple sauce $2.50
• peanut butter (2 large containers) $8.99
• popsicle $2.79
• bread $2.69
• salsa $1.50 <---------- 50 cents off coupn that was doubled
• Salad Dressing $1.67
• Salad dressing $1.67
• Salad Dressing $1.66
• Eggo waffles $0.00 <------ bogo
• Eggo waffles $1.89<-------- plus 55 cent off coupon that was doubled.
• Shake and bake $2.49
• Skillet Frozen Dinner $5.99
• Avocado (2) $1.78
• fruit $0.99
• green onion $0.50
• lettuce $1.50
• carrotts $3.29

+ i got $0.05 of for my reusable grocery bag.

I told you they come in 3's

Financial burden number 3: Cause when it rains, it pours,......

My roommate is signing a new lease on the 17th... and is taking the fridge with her. Apparently I have to have my stuff cleaned out by next weekend... and I just bought frozen food and groceries!!!!

Good thing i never sold my mini fridge from my dorm, its now going to be my only fridge for a month and a half.... guess i won't be able to buy in bulk or stock up when things are on sale...

and get this, I didn't find out until last night when she was asking people to help her move it!!!! She wrote me a note but i didn't ever see it. This is something you tell someone in a note????????????????

Dinner and an additional $200.00

I made a wonderful dinner last night for my Boyfriend. I made shake and bake porkchops, garlic mashed potatoes, corn, fresh salad (mine had Avocado cause he doesn't like it), and apple sauce. it was YUM. I even "Plated it" all pretty like they do on the cooking shows.

I got all 4 pork chops for $1.88 TOTAL... Ya for the meat mark down area. I hate to eat pasta every night with its hot, because its really heavy and then i feel like a fat cow.... so I bought the pork a couple of weeks ago and stuck them in the freezer... then defrosted them yesterday because I knew they were dinner!!. I put fresh garlic in with the instant Mash potatoes to make them taste amazing (and sprinkled the tops with chopped green onion), I had the canned corn cernals already, and with the apple sauce, it was heaven.

My cooking skills are definently improving. I think I'm actually getting good at cooking. "following directions on boxes and packages" I mean. But that's more cooking then what I had when I was growing up. Last week i made a chicken bake recipe off the back of the Stuffing box and it turned out really good--- but that's a recipe to make when chicken is really cheap since you need a 1lb and a half of just white meat...

I got a partial rent payment from my old roommate. $200.00 check from her parents that she gave me. I'm thinking she told her folks that she would give me the other half at the same time... well hopefully i'll eventually get the rest, but for now, that's less money I need to find to catch up the roth and we're still acting really friendly. In the end, she's going to need people in her life to help her pick up the pieces of her partying lifestyle--- and to me, not having that $200.00 and keeping her friendship for the long run is more important. (whenever you live with friends, you run this risk)

I guess in the long run she ended up saving me more money then i'm shelling out now. When Bee left, my rent was going to go up $200.00 a month, but instead it dropped... so i guess it evens out in the end and i'll continue to casually remind her about the money until i get it back.

May Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)

• ~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~
  Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
  Water $16.00
  Gas $140.00
  Car Insurance $76.00
  Electric Bill $45.00
  Cell phone $55.00
  Household Goods $25.00
  Fun Money $50.00
  House Dp Fund $345.40
  Roth IRA 2008 $316.80
• ~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~
  Rent $850.00
  Roth IRA 2008 $339.20
• ~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~
  Must find $586.06 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation

------> $200.00 late rent... Still Need $386.06

Must Find $47.00 -- Auto insurance quote didn't include annual dues...

The New house Dp Schedule

With the budget changes and the bad roommate, i had to change the dp schedule a bit... but i'm gonna aim high and still try and make up my losses so to speak

• May $2,063.08
• June $3,053.48
• July$ 4,949.88
• August $6,846.28
• September $8,742.68
• October $10,639.08
• November $12,535.48
• December $14,431.88 <--Still Aiming to get this to $15,000 by the end of the year.. which means finding $568.12 after i fix my Roth mess

2009

• January $16,328.28
• February $18,224.68
• March $20,121.08
• April $22,017.48
• May $23,913.88
• June $25,810.28
• July $27,706.68
• August $29,603.08
• September $31,589.48
• October $33,485.88
• November $35,382.28
• December $37,278.68

2010

• January $39,175.08
• February $41,071.48
• March $42,967.88
• April $44,864.28
• May $46,760.68
• June $48,657.08
• July $50,553.48 <----- To drop off one month down here, assuming i meet my annual goal this year, i'd need an additional extra $774.80
  

Budget changes for May, June, July

May Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)
~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~

• Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
• Water $16.00
• Gas $140.00
• Car Insurance $76.00
• Electric Bill $45.00
• Cell phone $55.00
• Household Goods $25.00
• Fun Money $50.00
• House Dp Fund $345.40
• Roth IRA 2008 $316.80

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~

• Rent $850.00
• Roth IRA 2008 $339.20

~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~

• Must find $586.06 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation
• Must Find $47.00 -- Auto insurance quote didn't include annual dues...

June Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~

• Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
• Water $16.00
• Gas $140.00
• Car Insurance $76.00
• Electric Bill $45.00
• Cell phone $55.00
• Household Goods $25.00
• Fun Money $50.00
• House Dp Fund $345.40
• Roth IRA 2008 $316.80

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~

• House Dp Fund $645.00
• Roth IRA 2008 $544.20

~*~*~*~*~*~OH CRAP~*~*~*~*~*~
Must find An additional $89 to catch up my ROTH due to the lost roommate situation

July Budget: $2,378.40 A Month (Take Home)

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 1~*~*~*~*~

• Groceries and Eating Out $120.00
• Water $16.00
• Gas $140.00
• Car Insurance $76.00
• Cell phone $55.00
• Household Goods $25.00
• Fun Money $50.00
• House Dp Fund $707.20

~*~*~*~*~ Paycheck 2~*~*~*~*~

• House Dp Fund $1189.20
  

Each Month Assumes I can take care of the Oh Crap Money... if i can't, its going to roll over to the next month and hopefully overtime will eventually take care of it.

oh crap moments just keep pilling up...

The Oh Crap moments just keep pilling up for the month... I had a 47 dollar bill for my AAA membership card that I didn't know I had to pay... and didn't budget that in. I had to ship a friend a care package but i don't have a small basic fund anymore so i've no idea where that is coming from.... I think I need to redo the budget.

and while i have an emergency fund with 6200 in it... i have this fobia of using that money because its for a REAL Emergency.

I remember reading an article about how crap comes in 3's...

1. My roommate decides that since she's moving, she doesn't need to pay me rent. $400 for last month, must find $400 for May..... setback $800.00 ----> trying to pay for it in the budget and with overtime... but its not gonna work and my retirement is going to take a hit.
2. AAA didn't include my membership card in the fees that put forward when i paid my balance in full.... setback $47.00
3. The family i house sit for cancelled a whole week on me and that was going to be where i was going to get my yosemite money.. could be a good $50 to $100 lost.

looks like i'm going back to the drawing board with the budget.

KIVA.ORG

I made my first loan on KIVA!!!! It's actually a group loan, so the other members are responsible to pay it back if an individual defaults, so i should be able to make another loan in 6 months when i get the money back. I love Kiva.

Irene is a petite 26-year-old married woman with 2 children, ages 7 and 4, and she helps to look after her sick mother. She is a medical officer, having worked in a hospital in Mityana, but now she has a clinic and has been self-employed for 3 years now. She needs a loan to enable her to buy more drugs for the clinic, like Panadol, Fansidar, Coartem, and syrups, so that she can increase her savings. Her dream is to see her clinic grow into a maternity home to save the village mothers the burden of trekking long distances from Semuti, her village, to Mityana.

I used the money I got back from my credit card rebate check ($25.00). I also sent $2.50 to KIVA to help keep them running since 100% of my loan goes straight to the medical group in Uganda.

I'll keep you updated on Irene and her medical group. She lives in Mityana Uganda [Africa]. I picked Uganda because if you have ever seen the documentary Invisible Children (http://www.invisiblechildren.com/) , and read about the LRA and how they kidnapp children and force them to be fighters... you'd want to help that country too.

raise... and a future raise

My second annual raise is due on May 20th... and the city is pretty good about giving you what your in line for, it just takes a lot of time to get there (but they will retro actively make up the difference). I already submitted the paperwork to my boss last month, so i'm hoping to see the change on my paycheck by the end of june. hopefully

I believe a 6% increase would put me at $16.77 an hour since i'm making $15.83 an hour at the present moment and I recieve $207.19 in cash benefits every paycheck ...

after taxes, a low ball estimate would be $1219.29 a check or an extra 30.08 a check ($60 a month) Which would all go towards my wedding fund.

But, what's really cool, from May 08 to May 09, i'd make $39,854.16 without a dime of OT before taxes. So i can basically claim to make $40,000 a year before taxes at 22 years of age!!! not bad, not bad at all...

I also get a 4% raise in January (city wide) which would jump my pay to $17.44 an hour. or 41,249.00 a year... 2009 is looking like a very nice financial year since i'm basicially just living at home with my mom...

still don't count your chickens...

My roommate said she was only going to pay me $200.00 (the $200 her parents normally pay....)

Her mom's gonna flip when she hears that....

don't count your chickens....

before they hatch.

i'm not house sitting next week... they had to cancell their trip.... which is less money for me....

But i talked to my roommates mom... if she doesn't pay me for last month by the end of the weekend, she's going to pay me the $400.00

WOOT WOOT.


House Dp Fund: $1,717.68