I heart Kaiser…
Prescriptions $5.00 for a 3 month supply!!!
I’m planning a Rummage Sale with my college group… so its time to weed down possessions and clean the apartment!
Retirement Updates:
I finally got some answers about that old retirement money I had from when I was 16 from Nationwide. The Current Balance as of today is $1,030.03… and it’s apparently earning less then 2%... and I’m not allowed to invest it, change it’s options… or take it out. It’s stuck there until I terminate my employment with the City I currently work for. I can’t use it to buy some of my Cal PERS time either. It will just sit in limbo.
I also have a work 401 account. My employer takes 1% of my paycheck out to pay to Cal PERS… and they take the same amount as a “match” and put it into a 401 account. Apparently I chose to split these funds 3 ways.
• 34% goes to a Bond/Money Market Fund.
• 33% goes to a Target date 2040 Mutual Fund
• 34% goes to a large cap Fidelity investment that deals with something internationally.
The combined total of these investments is worth $268.55
Then I have my Cal PERS pension… which is currently worth: $6,605.55
Then I have my Roth IRA (mutual funds)… This is currently worth: $5,936.66
Then I have my Roth IRA (CD’s… This is currently worth: $1,007.37
For a grand total of: $14,848.16 with the crappy market…
----With and additional $1,000.00 Set aside to purchase some Cal PERS time
Emergency Fund Updates:
BofA Checking $1,286.39 --- I’d like to have a full month of rent in here.
So $208.61 more is needed.
ING Electric Checking $500.00
ING CD’s $2,700.00
I GO Banking $2,300.00
Grand Total: $6,786.39
House Down Payment Updates:
$8,224.03 … Including Closing Costs…
Sadly… interest rates have dropped…
ING Direct : 2.75% interest
Emigrant Direct 2.75 % interest
IGO Banking 3.08% interest…
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
2008... How did I Do?
22 and a 1/2..... here's where I stand:
Made:$42,955.30
Saved: Roth, $5,000.00 & The future House: $7,673.
Which left me with: $30,282.30... before a dime of taxes, rent, and expenses...
House Downpayment:
$8,224.03 (before end of year interest) Year goal was $8,000.00!
Emergency Fund:
$6,665.95 ($100.00 check on its way to add...)
Networth:
$41,852.00 (including cruddy market fluxuations... I was aiming for 30,000)
Roth:
Worth: $6,906.99 out of the $9,000.00 invested (or 2 years fully maxed!)
I'm in a happy and healthy relationship with my Boyfriend of now, over a year...
I made huge strides in the issues revolving my family and not "giving in."
I enjoyed my first "no fights christmas."
I'm still employeed despite a bad economy!
I have a decent roommate!
and I'm still Debt FREE!!!!!
c-ya next year!
Made:$42,955.30
Saved: Roth, $5,000.00 & The future House: $7,673.
Which left me with: $30,282.30... before a dime of taxes, rent, and expenses...
House Downpayment:
$8,224.03 (before end of year interest) Year goal was $8,000.00!
Emergency Fund:
$6,665.95 ($100.00 check on its way to add...)
Networth:
$41,852.00 (including cruddy market fluxuations... I was aiming for 30,000)
Roth:
Worth: $6,906.99 out of the $9,000.00 invested (or 2 years fully maxed!)
I'm in a happy and healthy relationship with my Boyfriend of now, over a year...
I made huge strides in the issues revolving my family and not "giving in."
I enjoyed my first "no fights christmas."
I'm still employeed despite a bad economy!
I have a decent roommate!
and I'm still Debt FREE!!!!!
c-ya next year!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Emergency Fund Update... 2009 goals
I've decided my 3 month emergency fund is adequate at $6,700.00 (which it is now with some overtime I had on my paycheck... maybe a little more actually) The budget I've created if I purchase a condo calls for a 3 month emergency fund around 6,500. So That's all fine and well there with a little buffer to it.
After I buy a place, I'll increase my emergency fund to 6 months of expenses, create a car emergency fund, and then proceed to pay the thing off early. So now its Condo, and retirement with a hit of future wedding plans to begin to save for.
I got an early xmas present from a friend... the Wall-E piggy bank I wanted... I will now be saving loose change and recycle in Wall-E for my future wedding.
Bueno!
Goals for 2009
1. Max out Roth IRA. ($5,000 in contributions... you never know when you'll loose that job with the great pension.) $1,000 in CD's, $4,000 in mutual funds with Moderate risk.
2. Save money for the Condo. If i don't buy a condo in 2009, by the end of the year i want to have 21,000 in the condo down payment fund.
3. Buy back the 2 years I worked for my company before I was Vested in the retirement system.
----- other goals-----
4. $500-$1,000 saved for the future happy wedding i will one day have.
5. $800.00 invisiline retainers.
6. $50.00 a month for the Xmas and birthday fund.. this year I'll keep it intact.
7. Establish a car emergency fund for accidents and large repairs. Eventually $500 (my deductible) but I think I'll strive for $250.00 this year.
8. Net Worth of approximately $65,000
After I buy a place, I'll increase my emergency fund to 6 months of expenses, create a car emergency fund, and then proceed to pay the thing off early. So now its Condo, and retirement with a hit of future wedding plans to begin to save for.
I got an early xmas present from a friend... the Wall-E piggy bank I wanted... I will now be saving loose change and recycle in Wall-E for my future wedding.
Bueno!
Goals for 2009
1. Max out Roth IRA. ($5,000 in contributions... you never know when you'll loose that job with the great pension.) $1,000 in CD's, $4,000 in mutual funds with Moderate risk.
2. Save money for the Condo. If i don't buy a condo in 2009, by the end of the year i want to have 21,000 in the condo down payment fund.
3. Buy back the 2 years I worked for my company before I was Vested in the retirement system.
----- other goals-----
4. $500-$1,000 saved for the future happy wedding i will one day have.
5. $800.00 invisiline retainers.
6. $50.00 a month for the Xmas and birthday fund.. this year I'll keep it intact.
7. Establish a car emergency fund for accidents and large repairs. Eventually $500 (my deductible) but I think I'll strive for $250.00 this year.
8. Net Worth of approximately $65,000
Kiva Loan Number 7
December's CC rebate check was really big with all the xmas shopping I did... plus i was able to put my car insurance bill on my CC too... So I got enough to make another loan on Kiva!
I have loans in the following countries:
Dominican Republic- Fruits and Veggies
Peru- Food production and Sales (funded with repaid loan)
Nigeria- Fish Selling
Nicaragua- Housing
Cambodia- Fish Selling
Tajikistan- Pedigree Bull
I have one loan fully repaid
Uganda- Medical Clinic
Kiva Loan Number 7...
Dustmatov Eralboy is 45 years old, and lives in the Gafurov region in Tajikistan. He currently works at a building company, which provides the majority of his income while also raising livestock. Dustmatov began his career working with his father at home, caring for the family business. As the livestock business began to progress, he began planning a trade outlet where he could expand his customer base. Dustmatov is currently requesting a loan to purchase a pedigree bull to improve his livestock business.
Name: Dustmatov Eralboy
Business Name: Dustmatov's Livestock
Location: Gafurov, Tajikistan
Primary Activity: Livestock
Loan Requested: $700.00
Repayment Term: 8 months -
Loan Use: To purchase a pedigree bull
Date Posted: Dec 5, 2008
Disbursal Date: Nov 19, 2008
I have loans in the following countries:
Dominican Republic- Fruits and Veggies
Peru- Food production and Sales (funded with repaid loan)
Nigeria- Fish Selling
Nicaragua- Housing
Cambodia- Fish Selling
Tajikistan- Pedigree Bull
I have one loan fully repaid
Uganda- Medical Clinic
Kiva Loan Number 7...
Dustmatov Eralboy is 45 years old, and lives in the Gafurov region in Tajikistan. He currently works at a building company, which provides the majority of his income while also raising livestock. Dustmatov began his career working with his father at home, caring for the family business. As the livestock business began to progress, he began planning a trade outlet where he could expand his customer base. Dustmatov is currently requesting a loan to purchase a pedigree bull to improve his livestock business.
Name: Dustmatov Eralboy
Business Name: Dustmatov's Livestock
Location: Gafurov, Tajikistan
Primary Activity: Livestock
Loan Requested: $700.00
Repayment Term: 8 months -
Loan Use: To purchase a pedigree bull
Date Posted: Dec 5, 2008
Disbursal Date: Nov 19, 2008
January Budget
I'm editing the new years budget more... and it's for the better
I haven't really felt like there was really a place for me to "give" to with all the hassles that are surrounding the greater on-goings at the "big church" that my small group is apart of...
So I began making small loans on KIVA.Org with extra money that came in.
But my small group has ideas and missions and good things that we want to still accomplish... regardless of what's going on in that drama filled land... Now i admit I was a little hesitant since we don't have a "pastor" and its student lead ministry... but we do have a comission of 5 leaders who each take a part of the ministry and guide it.
With these "projects" in mind, we started awhile back with an offering... an offering that the church slammed down and told us we could not collect apart from the larger church... but we are aparently allowed to take a collection for "snacks" and certain projects....
Over the past couple of months, I've seen what our group can do with so little, and I think it's now my turn to being to let go of some of my trust issues and embrace the greater good... and our group of student led ministry is my "church," my community, my place of fellowship...
So i'm going to start setting some money aside for giving. I figure a little bit at a time... and since we have had this system in place for awhile (i wanted to see how it would work out before I started giving... i have trust issues...)... I think now's the time for me to begin to contribute. Plus, its a slap in the face to the big church and that's just oh so fun for me. (just kidding...)
I'll still be doing my loans on Kiva with the "refund" checks I get off my credit card (and i'll keep re-loaning that money as well so it will be the gift that keeps on giving!) and i'll be contributing a small amount each month to "THE MOVEMENT"
New Budget:
January 2009 Budget
Laundry 20
Food & Basics 100
Gas and Car 100
Car insurance 82.63
Renters ins 10.58
Electric Bill 40
Cell Phone 55
Offering 25
Savings 60
Fun 50
Xmas & B-day 50
Dp Fund 670.66
-------------------------
Rent 795
Dp Fund 468.87
In time i'll slowly increase my giving and change up the budget to reflect this. =)
I haven't really felt like there was really a place for me to "give" to with all the hassles that are surrounding the greater on-goings at the "big church" that my small group is apart of...
So I began making small loans on KIVA.Org with extra money that came in.
But my small group has ideas and missions and good things that we want to still accomplish... regardless of what's going on in that drama filled land... Now i admit I was a little hesitant since we don't have a "pastor" and its student lead ministry... but we do have a comission of 5 leaders who each take a part of the ministry and guide it.
With these "projects" in mind, we started awhile back with an offering... an offering that the church slammed down and told us we could not collect apart from the larger church... but we are aparently allowed to take a collection for "snacks" and certain projects....
Over the past couple of months, I've seen what our group can do with so little, and I think it's now my turn to being to let go of some of my trust issues and embrace the greater good... and our group of student led ministry is my "church," my community, my place of fellowship...
So i'm going to start setting some money aside for giving. I figure a little bit at a time... and since we have had this system in place for awhile (i wanted to see how it would work out before I started giving... i have trust issues...)... I think now's the time for me to begin to contribute. Plus, its a slap in the face to the big church and that's just oh so fun for me. (just kidding...)
I'll still be doing my loans on Kiva with the "refund" checks I get off my credit card (and i'll keep re-loaning that money as well so it will be the gift that keeps on giving!) and i'll be contributing a small amount each month to "THE MOVEMENT"
New Budget:
January 2009 Budget
Laundry 20
Food & Basics 100
Gas and Car 100
Car insurance 82.63
Renters ins 10.58
Electric Bill 40
Cell Phone 55
Offering 25
Savings 60
Fun 50
Xmas & B-day 50
Dp Fund 670.66
-------------------------
Rent 795
Dp Fund 468.87
In time i'll slowly increase my giving and change up the budget to reflect this. =)
Friday, December 19, 2008
bye bye raise... but no complaints
So last year it was approved that there would be two across the board raises for all employees...
This january we were supposed to recieve the final raise... 3.5%
Due to the economy, it will only by 2.0%
But there are no complaints from me, it's still an increase, and I have a job with Good benefits!
Instead, i'll be increasing my federal deductions on my paycheck from 0 to 1.(since my ruff tax estimates showed I way over paid!)
=)
This january we were supposed to recieve the final raise... 3.5%
Due to the economy, it will only by 2.0%
But there are no complaints from me, it's still an increase, and I have a job with Good benefits!
Instead, i'll be increasing my federal deductions on my paycheck from 0 to 1.(since my ruff tax estimates showed I way over paid!)
=)
Kiva Loan Number 6
My first ever Kiva loan was repaid in full, and as a result i'm now able to re-lend those funds someone else and therefore create my 6th Kiva Loan.
I've Currently got loans in:
Dominican Republic
Nigeria
Nicaragua
Cambodia
Uganda ---Paid in full
Peru!-- My new loan
The Community Bank "Ccejelambras" is made up of members that live in the community of Ccejelambres which is in the district of Tambillo, located two hours from the city of Ayacucho. The community is mainly agricultural, producing mostly potatoes and in a lesser capacity livestock.
The members carry out different types of businesses such as the sale of foods, convenience stores, agriculture and raising livestock. As with the case of Victoria Quispe, a widow and mother of 6 grown children, she sells foods in downtown Quechcca. With this business she sent her kids to school, and although the situation was difficult there was always something to eat. Since she has been a member of the Community Bank, she has learned to save money. Victoria requires a loan amounting to 1000 soles, funds which will be invested in the purchase of grocery products for her business. Victoria dreams of having a convenience store.
On the other hand Simona Callanaupa is married and has six children. Simona's business is selling cereals, a business that she learned from her mother. Simona dreams of saving enough to set up a convenience store. Simona requires a loan of 600 soles, funds which will be investe din the purchase of various cereals.
Meanwhile, Zenaida is separated and she has one sone. Zenaida sells food from her home to the natural gas workers fo Camisea, an opportunity to make her business grow. Zenaida requires a loan amounting to 600 soles, funds which will be invested in the purchase of wholesale products. Zenaida dreams of having a restaurant in the city of Ayacucho.
The other members require loans of different sums: 300 soles, 600 soles, 900 soles, and 1000 soles, totalling 13100 soles for the membership of the Community Bank.
The loans will be invested in the purchase of rice, sugar, cooking oil, pasta, wheat, barley, corn, and small animals. The members made mention that they learned how to save money, and above all they are grateful for the loans that they receive, helping them in their daily life.
Group Name: Victoria Quispe de Bautista Group
Location: Ayacucho, Peru
Primary Activity: Food Production/Sales
Loan Requested: $4,250.00
Repayment Term: 5 months - details
Loan Use: To purchase grocery products, various cereals, and other merchandise.
Date Posted: Nov 24, 2008
Disbursal Date: Nov 7, 2008
I've Currently got loans in:
Dominican Republic
Nigeria
Nicaragua
Cambodia
Uganda ---Paid in full
Peru!-- My new loan
The Community Bank "Ccejelambras" is made up of members that live in the community of Ccejelambres which is in the district of Tambillo, located two hours from the city of Ayacucho. The community is mainly agricultural, producing mostly potatoes and in a lesser capacity livestock.
The members carry out different types of businesses such as the sale of foods, convenience stores, agriculture and raising livestock. As with the case of Victoria Quispe, a widow and mother of 6 grown children, she sells foods in downtown Quechcca. With this business she sent her kids to school, and although the situation was difficult there was always something to eat. Since she has been a member of the Community Bank, she has learned to save money. Victoria requires a loan amounting to 1000 soles, funds which will be invested in the purchase of grocery products for her business. Victoria dreams of having a convenience store.
On the other hand Simona Callanaupa is married and has six children. Simona's business is selling cereals, a business that she learned from her mother. Simona dreams of saving enough to set up a convenience store. Simona requires a loan of 600 soles, funds which will be investe din the purchase of various cereals.
Meanwhile, Zenaida is separated and she has one sone. Zenaida sells food from her home to the natural gas workers fo Camisea, an opportunity to make her business grow. Zenaida requires a loan amounting to 600 soles, funds which will be invested in the purchase of wholesale products. Zenaida dreams of having a restaurant in the city of Ayacucho.
The other members require loans of different sums: 300 soles, 600 soles, 900 soles, and 1000 soles, totalling 13100 soles for the membership of the Community Bank.
The loans will be invested in the purchase of rice, sugar, cooking oil, pasta, wheat, barley, corn, and small animals. The members made mention that they learned how to save money, and above all they are grateful for the loans that they receive, helping them in their daily life.
Group Name: Victoria Quispe de Bautista Group
Location: Ayacucho, Peru
Primary Activity: Food Production/Sales
Loan Requested: $4,250.00
Repayment Term: 5 months - details
Loan Use: To purchase grocery products, various cereals, and other merchandise.
Date Posted: Nov 24, 2008
Disbursal Date: Nov 7, 2008
payday
house Dp fund: 8219.72
I accidently send too much money to my Roth IRA... looks like I'll be finding a notoritor to get my extra $100.00 back. **oops**, but alas, ROTH MAXED FOR 2008!
and the emergency fund grows!
I accidently send too much money to my Roth IRA... looks like I'll be finding a notoritor to get my extra $100.00 back. **oops**, but alas, ROTH MAXED FOR 2008!
and the emergency fund grows!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
New Jobless claims...
Taken from CNN MONEY
Midway through the month, December's job cut total stands at 115,416.
In terms of job losses, December could be even worse than November, when 533,000 jobs were lost, according to the Labor Department. That was the largest monthly loss since December 1974.
"Generally companies like to make their cuts by the end of the year," explained David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's. As such, he expects there to be many more cuts announced over the rest of the month.
Full Article:
http://www.money.cnn.com/2008/12/12/news/economy/job_cuts/index.htm
Midway through the month, December's job cut total stands at 115,416.
In terms of job losses, December could be even worse than November, when 533,000 jobs were lost, according to the Labor Department. That was the largest monthly loss since December 1974.
"Generally companies like to make their cuts by the end of the year," explained David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's. As such, he expects there to be many more cuts announced over the rest of the month.
Full Article:
http://www.money.cnn.com/2008/12/12/news/economy/job_cuts/index.htm
Saturday, December 13, 2008
I'm done with xmas shopping
I'm DONE!!!!
I got my boyfriends mommy something else... and it was cheaper so i used the extra cash and a $10.00 coupon to Victoria Secret to get some good quality undergarments for cheap. (i normally get this stuff around the holidays to re stock and toss the ones that have seen better days... but alas not this year.)
To kill time, I went perusing another store, found the original gift I wanted to buy for boyfriends mommy... so my boyfriend bought it for me (cause I wanted one too) and his friend is going to buy it off him to give to me for xmas.
WOOT! Hello Wall-E piggy bank! WOOT!
I got a $10.00 albertson's gift card from my apartment complex... and bought groceries with it and used boyfriend's sister's employee discount! ya!
I also Received a $50.00 AMX gift card at Boyfriends work party. I might wait till after Christmas and see what I wanted that I didn't get and then go get it with this... or I may use it to replace my running shoes... they are wearing to pieces and they are essentially my work shoes since I work at a recreation center/gym...
I got the $95.00 check for working the election. Which will be deposited in my Emergency fund since my new goal is $7,300.00.
I should have 2 hours of overtime on my next paycheck and that will go to the emergency fund too.
I transferred the last $300.00 of my Roth money and I'm slowly buying mutual funds with it so my Roth will be maxed out for the year, and i still have $1,000.00 to buy my "retro" service years for CALpers. I kinda hoped that it would be processed by now so i could take a nice tax advantage this year... but that isn't the case apparently. oh, well... next year then.
And since I didn't get that DREAM job I applied for... There isn't a really big rush to buy a place... although it would be cool to get a government "free" loan.
I got my boyfriends mommy something else... and it was cheaper so i used the extra cash and a $10.00 coupon to Victoria Secret to get some good quality undergarments for cheap. (i normally get this stuff around the holidays to re stock and toss the ones that have seen better days... but alas not this year.)
To kill time, I went perusing another store, found the original gift I wanted to buy for boyfriends mommy... so my boyfriend bought it for me (cause I wanted one too) and his friend is going to buy it off him to give to me for xmas.
WOOT! Hello Wall-E piggy bank! WOOT!
I got a $10.00 albertson's gift card from my apartment complex... and bought groceries with it and used boyfriend's sister's employee discount! ya!
I also Received a $50.00 AMX gift card at Boyfriends work party. I might wait till after Christmas and see what I wanted that I didn't get and then go get it with this... or I may use it to replace my running shoes... they are wearing to pieces and they are essentially my work shoes since I work at a recreation center/gym...
I got the $95.00 check for working the election. Which will be deposited in my Emergency fund since my new goal is $7,300.00.
I should have 2 hours of overtime on my next paycheck and that will go to the emergency fund too.
I transferred the last $300.00 of my Roth money and I'm slowly buying mutual funds with it so my Roth will be maxed out for the year, and i still have $1,000.00 to buy my "retro" service years for CALpers. I kinda hoped that it would be processed by now so i could take a nice tax advantage this year... but that isn't the case apparently. oh, well... next year then.
And since I didn't get that DREAM job I applied for... There isn't a really big rush to buy a place... although it would be cool to get a government "free" loan.
It's starting.... the weak economy is hitting work.
In just one week:
The department I currently work for is starting to cut hours... of the temporary, part time, seasonal high school kiddos. Were basically cutting them out of the schedule and just under staffing on purpose... just what we can get by with (i.e. 1 specialist and a lifeguard.... not 1 specialist, a lifeguard, a front desk employee, and some occasional hour overlap of other employees in case we get nailed.) we hired 2 part time specialists to help us get by with some of our weaker spots. Although this news hasn't made it around to the part timers yet.
We have cancelled two of our programs that are normally year round due to what they are calling "low attendance" (meaning they are tired of paying the teacher 60 for an hour class for 3 people to attend. We used to run on the basis that we were providing a service even if it needed to be subsidised from our other more successful programs.) Apparently not anymore.
The New carpet we were going to get has been put on hold since it was going to have to come out of our budget... not building maint.
The two computer seminars (photoshop and acrobat)I was already signed up for to help me get a better grasp on the programs we are using to design flyer's (and for which my city paid for already) are scratched and they are getting a full refund for them...
I'm attending one seminar on Tuesday because it is non-refundable and is linked to my performance review... but were scratching my fitness education/seminar which is also apart of my annual review.
The e-mails are being sent out about how expensive the propane heaters we use outside are and how we should be cautious when using those to make sure they are not left on by lifeguards.
---- On another note...
My boss now doesn't complain that I want to recycle and reuse old flyer's to be more Eco friendly and use less paper.... But I bet he hasn't bothered to notice that I bring my own cup from home so I don't have to use the 3-4 paper cups while I'm at work.
I bet it's all coming down this week because my boss hasn't been balancing his books and there was a direct statement that no department can go over budget because there is no branch that they will be able to take money from to cover the expenses.
The department I currently work for is starting to cut hours... of the temporary, part time, seasonal high school kiddos. Were basically cutting them out of the schedule and just under staffing on purpose... just what we can get by with (i.e. 1 specialist and a lifeguard.... not 1 specialist, a lifeguard, a front desk employee, and some occasional hour overlap of other employees in case we get nailed.) we hired 2 part time specialists to help us get by with some of our weaker spots. Although this news hasn't made it around to the part timers yet.
We have cancelled two of our programs that are normally year round due to what they are calling "low attendance" (meaning they are tired of paying the teacher 60 for an hour class for 3 people to attend. We used to run on the basis that we were providing a service even if it needed to be subsidised from our other more successful programs.) Apparently not anymore.
The New carpet we were going to get has been put on hold since it was going to have to come out of our budget... not building maint.
The two computer seminars (photoshop and acrobat)I was already signed up for to help me get a better grasp on the programs we are using to design flyer's (and for which my city paid for already) are scratched and they are getting a full refund for them...
I'm attending one seminar on Tuesday because it is non-refundable and is linked to my performance review... but were scratching my fitness education/seminar which is also apart of my annual review.
The e-mails are being sent out about how expensive the propane heaters we use outside are and how we should be cautious when using those to make sure they are not left on by lifeguards.
---- On another note...
My boss now doesn't complain that I want to recycle and reuse old flyer's to be more Eco friendly and use less paper.... But I bet he hasn't bothered to notice that I bring my own cup from home so I don't have to use the 3-4 paper cups while I'm at work.
I bet it's all coming down this week because my boss hasn't been balancing his books and there was a direct statement that no department can go over budget because there is no branch that they will be able to take money from to cover the expenses.
Monday, December 8, 2008
kiva loan number 5 "Rosa Azime Group"
I made another $25.00 Kiva Loan! (yeah for those 2% rebate checks from my CC)
Group Name:
Rosa Azime Group
Group Members:
Rosa Azime Odius Derval Marie Mariana Lemania Milbin Chrisnar Santillier
Location:
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Primary Activity:
Fruits & Vegetables
Loan Requested:
$1,050.00
Repayment Term:
5 months
Loan Use:
Purchasing products for her business
Date Posted:
Dec 5, 2008
Rosa Azime is a part of a large group of women named "Paz y Amor" which means Peace and Love. She and her whole group are living in extreme poverty, and almost all of them have no form of steady income.
Rosa is a mother to 3 children, and has to take care of them all by herself without a husband. She is so excited about the idea of starting her own business, and needs this to help provide for her 3 children. She plans on starting a small business selling fruits and vegetables in her area.
She hopes to have a thriving grocery store someday, and to save enough to send her children to college. She said she wants nothing more than for her children to have a better life than she has had, and said she is willing to do anything to give that to them. She said she feels that having her own business is the first step to reaching her goals, and she is ready for this challenge!
About Group Loans In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults
Group Name:
Rosa Azime Group
Group Members:
Rosa Azime Odius Derval Marie Mariana Lemania Milbin Chrisnar Santillier
Location:
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Primary Activity:
Fruits & Vegetables
Loan Requested:
$1,050.00
Repayment Term:
5 months
Loan Use:
Purchasing products for her business
Date Posted:
Dec 5, 2008
Rosa Azime is a part of a large group of women named "Paz y Amor" which means Peace and Love. She and her whole group are living in extreme poverty, and almost all of them have no form of steady income.
Rosa is a mother to 3 children, and has to take care of them all by herself without a husband. She is so excited about the idea of starting her own business, and needs this to help provide for her 3 children. She plans on starting a small business selling fruits and vegetables in her area.
She hopes to have a thriving grocery store someday, and to save enough to send her children to college. She said she wants nothing more than for her children to have a better life than she has had, and said she is willing to do anything to give that to them. She said she feels that having her own business is the first step to reaching her goals, and she is ready for this challenge!
About Group Loans In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults
For those who asked...
Info on the 7500 "interest free" loan for first time home buyers.....
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/7500-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit.html
ALWAYS CHECK THE IRS.GOV website for more information.
___________________
My Mother called and left a message for me.... she started crying through half of it...
And apparently i'm not done xmas shopping... The gift I bought boyfriends mommy was cancelled because its out of stock!
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/7500-first-time-homebuyer-tax-credit.html
ALWAYS CHECK THE IRS.GOV website for more information.
___________________
My Mother called and left a message for me.... she started crying through half of it...
And apparently i'm not done xmas shopping... The gift I bought boyfriends mommy was cancelled because its out of stock!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
xmas shopping complete
I must say that next year I'll be sticking to a more defined budget... and I got carried away... getting little somethings for everyone here and there... meh
But I paid all in cash and for that I can be proud.
any who, I'm sticking to a strict budget and I'm trying to beef up my emergency fund. I got a $450.00 rebate check from AAA so I'm adding $400.00 to my emergency fund!
I want to get it to $7,300 before I buy a condo (that would be 3 months worth of income with the condo budget i have planned out)... and I just learned that the government is giving a interest fee loan of 7500 to everyone who buys a house by July 1st, 2009.
Makes me wanna buy before July 1st... But I can't seem to get realistic about my goals for home ownership. It would be more financially stable to find a 1bedroom place, around 700 square feet... but those become harder to sell later down the line... and if I'm married in a year or two... a one bedroom condo could be too small to meet our needs... and the market too volatile to make a profit or break even (closing costs are gross).
so the two bedroom is ideal, around 1,000 square feet.... and I could make all the payments solo so when I do get hitched, the income rises (and renting out the spare room to a friend will generate income in the time being)... I just don't know if I could qualify for a loan that big... without 20% down..... and that's where all my freaking hesitation is coming from... I only make 43,000 a year and I want a condo that's priced at 209,900 low ball offer.
But waiting for a larger down payment could affect the rates that are so amazingly excellent right now... plus there is that lovely 7500 interest free loan from the government (pay 500 a year back for 15 years or when you sell the property) that I would miss out on... ... but 7,500 is a nice chunk of change to help with buffer costs and give me more of a cushion in case things went crazy my first year in the home.
It makes home ownership happier... ... ... but how on earth do i get qualified for the condo that fits in with the whole plan...
But I paid all in cash and for that I can be proud.
any who, I'm sticking to a strict budget and I'm trying to beef up my emergency fund. I got a $450.00 rebate check from AAA so I'm adding $400.00 to my emergency fund!
I want to get it to $7,300 before I buy a condo (that would be 3 months worth of income with the condo budget i have planned out)... and I just learned that the government is giving a interest fee loan of 7500 to everyone who buys a house by July 1st, 2009.
Makes me wanna buy before July 1st... But I can't seem to get realistic about my goals for home ownership. It would be more financially stable to find a 1bedroom place, around 700 square feet... but those become harder to sell later down the line... and if I'm married in a year or two... a one bedroom condo could be too small to meet our needs... and the market too volatile to make a profit or break even (closing costs are gross).
so the two bedroom is ideal, around 1,000 square feet.... and I could make all the payments solo so when I do get hitched, the income rises (and renting out the spare room to a friend will generate income in the time being)... I just don't know if I could qualify for a loan that big... without 20% down..... and that's where all my freaking hesitation is coming from... I only make 43,000 a year and I want a condo that's priced at 209,900 low ball offer.
But waiting for a larger down payment could affect the rates that are so amazingly excellent right now... plus there is that lovely 7500 interest free loan from the government (pay 500 a year back for 15 years or when you sell the property) that I would miss out on... ... but 7,500 is a nice chunk of change to help with buffer costs and give me more of a cushion in case things went crazy my first year in the home.
It makes home ownership happier... ... ... but how on earth do i get qualified for the condo that fits in with the whole plan...
Friday, December 5, 2008
the horizon goals...2009
House dp fund:
$7,787.07
I have 108.45 in overtime and holiday pay, but i'm going to leave that in my rent checking account to beef up my emergency fund some more... If i buy a condo, i'll need around $7,300 for a decent 3 month emergency fund. (I have 6,000 now.)
I used most of the retro pay to cover my new renters insurance policy... when I get the car rebate (around $400.00) that too will go towards my emergency fund.
Ideally, I'd like to get my emergency fund to 7,300 and have an auto emergency fund of $500.00 before I buy a condo. ($3,000 of my house down payment fund will go to closing costs in the long run, so it will definently be a year of massive savings... and cutting out the spending to make all this happen.
Plus, there is still that Roth IRA to max out in 2009.... and a year of service credit to purchase (I have around $1,000 saved for that...)
Time to crunch numbers and take hold of the crazy financial market. Interest rates are 5.25% for a mortgage with less then 20% down payment... So it looks like I may not wait to have a full 20% to buy...
Ironically, with the overtime on my paycheck this month, I could have grabbed my rent check out of my first paycheck, and saved all of my second one!!! (but that's a little too crazy for me to muster right now.)
$7,787.07
I have 108.45 in overtime and holiday pay, but i'm going to leave that in my rent checking account to beef up my emergency fund some more... If i buy a condo, i'll need around $7,300 for a decent 3 month emergency fund. (I have 6,000 now.)
I used most of the retro pay to cover my new renters insurance policy... when I get the car rebate (around $400.00) that too will go towards my emergency fund.
Ideally, I'd like to get my emergency fund to 7,300 and have an auto emergency fund of $500.00 before I buy a condo. ($3,000 of my house down payment fund will go to closing costs in the long run, so it will definently be a year of massive savings... and cutting out the spending to make all this happen.
Plus, there is still that Roth IRA to max out in 2009.... and a year of service credit to purchase (I have around $1,000 saved for that...)
Time to crunch numbers and take hold of the crazy financial market. Interest rates are 5.25% for a mortgage with less then 20% down payment... So it looks like I may not wait to have a full 20% to buy...
Ironically, with the overtime on my paycheck this month, I could have grabbed my rent check out of my first paycheck, and saved all of my second one!!! (but that's a little too crazy for me to muster right now.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
I Cancelled it!
My water machine will be picked up on the 11th and this month will be my last bill!!!!!!
I'll now be buying a couple of jugs a month for a fraction of what I was paying. If I bought the same amount of water, It would only cost me $5.50 with CRV...
***Slowly getting on Track***
2009 will be the year of the Condo and The Retirement accounts!
I'm down to one present left to purchase for Christmas.... well maybe two... Apparently i'm spending New years with my sister and her roommate... and it might be weird to come empty handed....!
I'll now be buying a couple of jugs a month for a fraction of what I was paying. If I bought the same amount of water, It would only cost me $5.50 with CRV...
***Slowly getting on Track***
2009 will be the year of the Condo and The Retirement accounts!
I'm down to one present left to purchase for Christmas.... well maybe two... Apparently i'm spending New years with my sister and her roommate... and it might be weird to come empty handed....!
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