Friday, April 30, 2010
My Savings Has Returned!
Well, my DH thought to call our homeowner's insurance about our tree issue. It turns out that since the tree had fallen into the neighbor's property, it is covered! The insurance adjuster priced it at $1500 to get it cut down and removed, we have a $1000 deductible, so we will be getting a check for $500! Awesome. That completely covers what we paid the tree guy today. I am tempted to stick it all right back into savings, but DH thinks we should use some for debt pay down. I think we might put $250 back into savings and send $250 to Chase. We should have the check sometime next week.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Goodbye Puny Savings (For Now)
Last night, I went to take my dog out and discovered that one of the two trees we have in the back yard was split right down the middle! Half of it is in the neighbor's yard, and it is just a mess. I am not sure what happened. The guy we are going to have remove it said that it looked like lightening had gotten it. Blah. This is the same tree we were going to have pruned last fall, but didn't, thankfully. I would be so mad if we have paid $300 to have it pruned, only to have to pay to have it cut down and removed six months later.
Removal is going to cost $500, and that includes the cleanup as well. The guy can thankfully start on it tomorrow. I am pulling $250 from savings and taking $250 from my paycheck tomorrow to pay for it. I am thankful we can pay for it without having to use the cards. Unfortunately, we won't be making as much progress in the next few weeks, but at least it won't be going up either. I am just going to focus on getting things done for our cruise (I can't believe we fly down in 8 days. 8 days!) and resume debt smashing mode when we get back on May 16th.
Here is my final April update
Not a whole lot of change from last time. We are now at $12,253 paid off.
Removal is going to cost $500, and that includes the cleanup as well. The guy can thankfully start on it tomorrow. I am pulling $250 from savings and taking $250 from my paycheck tomorrow to pay for it. I am thankful we can pay for it without having to use the cards. Unfortunately, we won't be making as much progress in the next few weeks, but at least it won't be going up either. I am just going to focus on getting things done for our cruise (I can't believe we fly down in 8 days. 8 days!) and resume debt smashing mode when we get back on May 16th.
Here is my final April update
| Start | 28-Apr | ||
| Sallie Mae | 12762 | 12197 | |
| Wells Fargo | 11700 | 10898 | |
| Campus Loan | 8250 | 7655 | |
| Chase 2 | 2300 | 1450 | |
| Credit Union Card | 700 | 725 | |
| BOA | 9300 | 8834 | |
| BOA 2 | 1833 | 2195 | |
| Car Loan | 7875 | 5567 | |
| Chase 3 | 1710 | 0 | |
| Chase | 2353 | 0 | |
| Car Loan 2 | 2090 | 0 | |
| Target | 149 | 0 | |
| DH School | 376 | 0 | |
| Capital One | 376 | 0 | |
| 61774 | 49521 | ||
Not a whole lot of change from last time. We are now at $12,253 paid off.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
3 Year/5 Year Plan
A few days ago, a couple of my coworkers were talking about their 3 year/5 year plans. One's plan was to get married, lease a new Honda (dumb move IMO), finish graduate school, and save up for a down payment for a home in the next three years. The other guy, who is one of my financial role models, is to close on his and his wife's new forever home (happening next month!), continue investing in taxable accounts and tax deferred accounts to have 150 K by the time he is 30, have a child, and travel more with his wife. This got me thinking about my and my husband's plan.
Here is what I want to accomplish in the next three years (by 2013):
*Pay off all credit card debt.
*Have undergrad and graduate school done.
*Be happily raising our first child.
*Have a six month emergency fund. (around $15K)
*Have our retirement accounts at $50K. (as a side note, we hit the $20K mark Friday!)
*Buy a fishing boat for my DH.
*Be actively saving for our next home.
*Start saving for our child's education.
I think all this can be easily accomplished. Our retirement is on track to hit the $50K mark by 2013 without bumping our contributions up. I intend to increase them anyway, but it is still nice to do know we can do it just with our current saving levels. I just want to continue working towards a financially secure future while still enjoying life.
Here is what I want to accomplish in the next three years (by 2013):
*Pay off all credit card debt.
*Have undergrad and graduate school done.
*Be happily raising our first child.
*Have a six month emergency fund. (around $15K)
*Have our retirement accounts at $50K. (as a side note, we hit the $20K mark Friday!)
*Buy a fishing boat for my DH.
*Be actively saving for our next home.
*Start saving for our child's education.
I think all this can be easily accomplished. Our retirement is on track to hit the $50K mark by 2013 without bumping our contributions up. I intend to increase them anyway, but it is still nice to do know we can do it just with our current saving levels. I just want to continue working towards a financially secure future while still enjoying life.
Friday, April 23, 2010
April To Do List Update
*Get down to 182 by April 30th. I have got to step up my exercise to accomplish this. Still at 187. I kind of fell off the wagon Wednesday, and I still haven't gotten back on. :(
*Pay $400 to car loan. Done :)
*Get Chase 2 down to $1200. At $1473, only $273 to go.
*Pay $100 towards a dental bill. We actually paid this sucker off. Done 4/15
*Add $290 to emergency fund. $140 to go
*Have all garden/yard word done. Thanks to Sarah, I know how to accomplish this in a much more frugal manner :) Still need to do one flower bed. Almost done!
*Have out paid off number at $12,500. This will put us right at 20% paid off. At $12,230. Paying the $273 to Chase will meet this goal as well.
Nothing really new to report. DH's payday has come and gone. I get paid next week from both jobs. I'm really excited that we will meet all our financial goals this month. DH worked another 65 hours this week (mandatory this time), and I think he is starting to feel it. Next week, he is scheduled to work 52 hours, so that will be little bit of a break for him. We are soooo looking forward to our cruise. Only 15 more days!
Next month will not be as good update-wise. DH is taking a couple days off unpaid, we have our cruise, and we will have a few medical expenses. We can realistically be at $13,247, which will still give us about $750 worth of progress. I am shooting for $13,300, being optimistic. 21.5 percent of our debt will be gone! I can't believe we have been able to accomplish this in less than a year. I just keep thinking of how well we could be doing if we had gotten our finances together earlier. Sigh. Oh well, you can't change the past. I just have to learn from it.
*Pay $400 to car loan. Done :)
*Get Chase 2 down to $1200. At $1473, only $273 to go.
*Pay $100 towards a dental bill. We actually paid this sucker off. Done 4/15
*Add $290 to emergency fund. $140 to go
*Have all garden/yard word done. Thanks to Sarah, I know how to accomplish this in a much more frugal manner :) Still need to do one flower bed. Almost done!
*Have out paid off number at $12,500. This will put us right at 20% paid off. At $12,230. Paying the $273 to Chase will meet this goal as well.
Nothing really new to report. DH's payday has come and gone. I get paid next week from both jobs. I'm really excited that we will meet all our financial goals this month. DH worked another 65 hours this week (mandatory this time), and I think he is starting to feel it. Next week, he is scheduled to work 52 hours, so that will be little bit of a break for him. We are soooo looking forward to our cruise. Only 15 more days!
Next month will not be as good update-wise. DH is taking a couple days off unpaid, we have our cruise, and we will have a few medical expenses. We can realistically be at $13,247, which will still give us about $750 worth of progress. I am shooting for $13,300, being optimistic. 21.5 percent of our debt will be gone! I can't believe we have been able to accomplish this in less than a year. I just keep thinking of how well we could be doing if we had gotten our finances together earlier. Sigh. Oh well, you can't change the past. I just have to learn from it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Update Time!
DH gets paid Thursday night, but all the payments are in place, so I am updating. I have been kind of restless lately, just having problems staying focused and getting things accomplished in a timely manner.
We are at $12,203 paid off. I will have one more update for the month of April, and it will all be for the Chase card. Next month, I am going to focus on paying for our cruise shopping, gambling, and such with cash. Here are my May objectives:
*Be at $13,300 paid off
*Have Chase at $1000.
*Have total savings at $630.
*Be at 179 by May 30th.
*Enroll in summer school.
| Start | 20-Apr | ||
| Sallie Mae | 12762 | 12197 | |
| Wells Fargo | 11700 | 10898 | |
| Campus Loan | 8250 | 7655 | |
| Chase 2 | 2300 | 1500 | |
| Credit Union Card | 700 | 725 | |
| BOA | 9300 | 8834 | |
| BOA 2 | 1833 | 2195 | |
| Car Loan | 7875 | 5567 | |
| Chase 3 | 1710 | 0 | |
| Chase | 2353 | 0 | |
| Car Loan 2 | 2090 | 0 | |
| Target | 149 | 0 | |
| DH School | 376 | 0 | |
| Capital One | 376 | 0 | |
| 61774 | 49571 | ||
*Be at $13,300 paid off
*Have Chase at $1000.
*Have total savings at $630.
*Be at 179 by May 30th.
*Enroll in summer school.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Progress on April To Do List
*Get down to 182 by April 30th. I have got to step up my exercise to accomplish this. I am at 187 now, so five pounds in 13 days isn't realistic, but I am sticking with my eating plan and exercise.
*Pay $400 to car loan. Have paid $75, $325 to go, which is budgeted for.
*Get Chase 2 down to $1200. At $1500 now. $300 more to go!
*Pay $100 towards a dental bill. We actually paid this sucker off. Done 4/15
*Add $290 to emergency fund. $140 to go
*Have all garden/yard word done. Thanks to Sarah, I know how to accomplish this in a much more frugal manner :) Still need to do one flower bed. Almost done!
*Have out paid off number at $12,500. This will put us right at 20% paid off. At $11,708 right now, so I think we are on track!
It is nice to actually meet the majority of my goals for once. I love making lists and goals, but actually getting them done is another story.
*Pay $400 to car loan. Have paid $75, $325 to go, which is budgeted for.
*Get Chase 2 down to $1200. At $1500 now. $300 more to go!
*Pay $100 towards a dental bill. We actually paid this sucker off. Done 4/15
*Add $290 to emergency fund. $140 to go
*Have all garden/yard word done. Thanks to Sarah, I know how to accomplish this in a much more frugal manner :) Still need to do one flower bed. Almost done!
*Have out paid off number at $12,500. This will put us right at 20% paid off. At $11,708 right now, so I think we are on track!
It is nice to actually meet the majority of my goals for once. I love making lists and goals, but actually getting them done is another story.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday Ramblings
I feel like EVERYONE around me is either pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or just had a baby. I am sooo ready to start trying, but I know realistically, the longer DH and I wait, the better our money situation will be. We are planning to start trying this summer sometime. Even delaying TTC one month will give us an extra $1000-$1500 to put towards debt or add to our EF.
On one hand, I am pleased with our progress. We have paid off $11,708 in 9 months. We are on track to end the year with about $7,800 on the BOA card and the student loans, for a total of $24,110 paid off.
I wish we could get the BOA down more, but I need to be realistic. If DH and I want to have some type of a life and start a family, I think $7800 is the most attainable goal. We will turtle along in 2011, just paying the minimum payments on the student loans and extra money to Bank of America. DH thinks we can pay off BOA in 2011 with his overtime. I am happy he is so enthusiastic, and we just have to stay focused on our goals.
I started a new eating plan last week, consisting of a ton of fruits, veggies, beans, wheat bread products, lean protein, and lean dairy products. I an trying to avoid processed and prepackaged foods. So far, it is working BEAUTIFULLY! I am down 2.2 pounds, which makes me ecstatic! I am going to stay on this eating plan until the cruise, but I intend to make eating more fruits and veggies a permanent thing. I forgot how much I absolutely love squash, zuccinni, pineapples, bananas, and strawberries. YUM! I am down 18 pounds, and I would love to lose 5 more by May 8th to get me at 182. I am really starting to notice a difference in my body and how my clothes fit. I am wearing stuff I haven't been able to wear in over a year, so it's like I have a whole new wardrobe.
DH gets paid this Thursday night, so we should have a nice update. I haven't been working my second job as much as I should, but I plan to get on track this week. My first job has just been nerve-wracking lately, and there has just been so much to do around the house, especially with DH working so much.
On one hand, I am pleased with our progress. We have paid off $11,708 in 9 months. We are on track to end the year with about $7,800 on the BOA card and the student loans, for a total of $24,110 paid off.
I wish we could get the BOA down more, but I need to be realistic. If DH and I want to have some type of a life and start a family, I think $7800 is the most attainable goal. We will turtle along in 2011, just paying the minimum payments on the student loans and extra money to Bank of America. DH thinks we can pay off BOA in 2011 with his overtime. I am happy he is so enthusiastic, and we just have to stay focused on our goals.
I started a new eating plan last week, consisting of a ton of fruits, veggies, beans, wheat bread products, lean protein, and lean dairy products. I an trying to avoid processed and prepackaged foods. So far, it is working BEAUTIFULLY! I am down 2.2 pounds, which makes me ecstatic! I am going to stay on this eating plan until the cruise, but I intend to make eating more fruits and veggies a permanent thing. I forgot how much I absolutely love squash, zuccinni, pineapples, bananas, and strawberries. YUM! I am down 18 pounds, and I would love to lose 5 more by May 8th to get me at 182. I am really starting to notice a difference in my body and how my clothes fit. I am wearing stuff I haven't been able to wear in over a year, so it's like I have a whole new wardrobe.
DH gets paid this Thursday night, so we should have a nice update. I haven't been working my second job as much as I should, but I plan to get on track this week. My first job has just been nerve-wracking lately, and there has just been so much to do around the house, especially with DH working so much.
Monday, April 12, 2010
I hate Wells Fargo
I have a student loan through Wells Fargo. I have been paying on this student loan for the past two years faithfully, using my online bill pay through my credit union. I get a call from the credit union and the rep tells me Wells Fargo returned my bill payment! I called Wells Fargo, and first they tell me they did not return it, that my credit union must have been the problem. I send them a letter from the credit union saying that Wells Fargo returned it. Then, Wells Fargo tells me they could not find my account and that is why it was returned, even though the account number is on the check, and I have been paying like this for two years! I went ahead and paid this months payment through the Wells Fargo site. Their poor customer service just irks me.
$11,708 paid off. Soooo close to being under $50K!
| Start | 12-Apr | ||
| Sallie Mae | 12762 | 12304 | |
| Wells Fargo | 11700 | 10898 | |
| Campus Loan | 8250 | 7655 | |
| Chase 2 | 2300 | 1500 | |
| Credit Union Card | 700 | 725 | |
| BOA | 9300 | 8925 | |
| BOA 2 | 1833 | 2220 | |
| Car Loan | 7875 | 5839 | |
| Chase 3 | 1710 | 0 | |
| Chase | 2353 | 0 | |
| Car Loan 2 | 2090 | 0 | |
| Target | 149 | 0 | |
| DH School | 376 | 0 | |
| Capital One | 376 | 0 | |
| 61774 | 50066 | ||
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Update Time
| Start | 9-Apr | ||
| Sallie Mae | 12762 | 12304 | |
| Wells Fargo | 11700 | 11051 | |
| Campus Loan | 8250 | 7655 | |
| Chase 2 | 2300 | 1500 | |
| Credit Union Card | 700 | 725 | |
| BOA | 9300 | 8925 | |
| BOA 2 | 1833 | 2220 | |
| Car Loan | 7875 | 5839 | |
| Chase 3 | 1710 | 0 | |
| Chase | 2353 | 0 | |
| Car Loan 2 | 2090 | 0 | |
| Target | 149 | 0 | |
| DH School | 376 | 0 | |
| Capital One | 376 | 0 | |
| 61774 | 50219 | ||
We are now at $11,555 paid off. DH worked a ton of overtime last week, and sadly, $350 had to go to a dental bill. Blah. Oh well, at least we have the money to knock it out in one swoop. We made $226 worth of progress, and we were able to put some money back for our cruise in May. By the end of the month, we should be well under $50 K, and our paid off amount will be over $12K. Just gotta keep on paying down and moving in the right direction!
I haven't weighed in since before Easter. I have done horribly lately, with all the Easter treats hanging around. I am going to get back on track, and try to be at 182 by May 7th.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
First Quarter is Over-A look at 2010 Goals
Now that the year is 1/4 of the way over, I think it's time to look at the goals again.
Financial Goals
Pay off Chase 3-1586-This card is now gone. I will continue to use this card for all expenses and pay it in full every month for rewards.
Pay off Chase-2190-This is at $1700. I am currently attacking this card and the car loan.
Pay off Chase 2-2353-This card is gone. Yay!
Pay off BOA 2-2300-I will start working on this in the summer hard. Now at $2220.
Have BOA 1 card at $8000-Now at $8975. We are on track.
Have credit union card at $367-Now at $740. On track
Continue to pay student loans in a timely manner-Doing.
Pay $450 a month to my car-If I can do this, the balance will be $1777 by December 2010. I am paying at least $300 a month, but have not been able to do the full $450. When the BOA 2 and Chase Card is gone, the car loan is next to go.
Save $900 total in baby fund-I actually adjusted this because DH and I bought a travel system on sale this weekend. It was $140, and it is normally $220. We bought some other, smaller items on clearance. And No, I am not even pregnant yet! I figure if it is stuff we are going to get anyway, we might as well save money on it. Now at $150, $750 more to go.
Save $2100 total in emergency fund-have $300 (pathetic!), so $1800 more to go-Cleared this out too, so it only has $100. I am saving $87 every pay period, so we will have $1927 at year end just from this. I will also start putting some found money in here.
Save $630 for DH's crown in February-have $315, so $315 more to go.-Done. DH now has a new crown.:)
Leave 401 K and IRA contributions alone. If I do this, we should contribute around $8K to at least hit the $22K.-Actually increased these. Yay!
All in all, I think we are doing pretty well this year. We have paid off two cards so far, so we have two more to go, and then the car loan. Savings will get higher with time. We have the automatic contributions set up; now we just have to let it grow without touching it.
Financial Goals
Pay off Chase 3-1586-This card is now gone. I will continue to use this card for all expenses and pay it in full every month for rewards.
Pay off Chase-2190-This is at $1700. I am currently attacking this card and the car loan.
Pay off Chase 2-2353-This card is gone. Yay!
Pay off BOA 2-2300-I will start working on this in the summer hard. Now at $2220.
Have BOA 1 card at $8000-Now at $8975. We are on track.
Have credit union card at $367-Now at $740. On track
Continue to pay student loans in a timely manner-Doing.
Pay $450 a month to my car-If I can do this, the balance will be $1777 by December 2010. I am paying at least $300 a month, but have not been able to do the full $450. When the BOA 2 and Chase Card is gone, the car loan is next to go.
Save $900 total in baby fund-I actually adjusted this because DH and I bought a travel system on sale this weekend. It was $140, and it is normally $220. We bought some other, smaller items on clearance. And No, I am not even pregnant yet! I figure if it is stuff we are going to get anyway, we might as well save money on it. Now at $150, $750 more to go.
Save $2100 total in emergency fund-have $300 (pathetic!), so $1800 more to go-Cleared this out too, so it only has $100. I am saving $87 every pay period, so we will have $1927 at year end just from this. I will also start putting some found money in here.
Save $630 for DH's crown in February-have $315, so $315 more to go.-Done. DH now has a new crown.:)
Leave 401 K and IRA contributions alone. If I do this, we should contribute around $8K to at least hit the $22K.-Actually increased these. Yay!
All in all, I think we are doing pretty well this year. We have paid off two cards so far, so we have two more to go, and then the car loan. Savings will get higher with time. We have the automatic contributions set up; now we just have to let it grow without touching it.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
| Start | 31-Mar | ||
| Sallie Mae | 12762 | 12304 | |
| Wells Fargo | 11700 | 11051 | |
| Campus Loan | 8250 | 7655 | |
| Chase 2 | 2300 | 1700 | |
| Credit Union Card | 700 | 740 | |
| BOA | 9300 | 8925 | |
| BOA 2 | 1833 | 2220 | |
| Car Loan | 7875 | 5850 | |
| Chase 3 | 1710 | 0 | |
| Chase | 2353 | 0 | |
| Car Loan 2 | 2090 | 0 | |
| Target | 149 | 0 | |
| DH School | 376 | 0 | |
| Capital One | 376 | 0 | |
| 61774 | 50445 | ||
Check:1740
Mortgage:-855
Car Insurance:-137
School Loans:-229
Dental Bill:-350
Credit Union Card:-20
That leaves $149 left. I think we will put some of this to our cruise cash, but the rest will go to Chase or the car. DH might get a $100 bonus on this next check, so it will be even better if that comes in.
For our cruise, I still need to book the rental car and two excursions. I am soooo ready to go! Only 37 days!
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