Smiley2009's Personal Finance Blog

I have to start blogging again I had a horrible spend month of july. Geezzz I'm so disappointed in myself I was doing so well.

I found a cheaper apartment to rent its the same size includes electric and saves me $116 or $1,300 annually not much but in my situation every little bit will help. I don't like moving but this one I feel is well worth it. It will make due as I'm looking to the long term of it I'll be out of debt faster with the money I'm saving.

Today I mailed off two payments one bill is a medical bill (my portion that the health insurance company wouldn't pay) the other is an old Pay day loan. I was so foolish back than it was back when I was 18 years old or so. But anyhow I'm cleaning up my debts now so I can fulfill my dream of becoming a home owner some time soon. Another two bits the dust. (thankkkkkk Goodness)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

My lease is up for renewal and I'm wondering if maybe too much of my income is going towards housing. What percentage should be allocated towards this. My annual salary is $39,000 a year currently I'm paying $12,720 per year in rent.

Rent $1,020
Car Payment $291
Cable/phone/internet $156
T-mobile $100
Student Loan $30
Electric $80 (overpaid $32)
Credit Card #1- $57
Credit Card #2- $61
Gasoline $128
Personal Grooming $228
Groceries $172
Fast Food $129
Debt Re-payments $277
Household Items inc computer Desk $312
Clothing $67
Order of Checks $21
Doctor Co-Pay $40
3rd party Telephone service $171
Bank Overdraft fees $85
Annual Renters Insurance $98
Annaual Motor Club $76

Total outgo= $3,169

Wow I didn't think I spent this much money this past month. I'm going to plan alot more Carefully for the month of June. I'm starting today to pack breakfast and lunch for work to cut down on that expense alone. I'm leaving the debit cards at home and only carrying one 20 dollar bill with me each day.

Today its very hot outside I've decided to stay home all day and spring clean and get organized as well. I will post May totals before Sunday and Set new goals for the month of June.

I'm getting my budget lined up for the month and WOW so much is expected of me payment wise. For one my Annual Renters Insurance Bill is due as well as my Roadside assistance plan. I have been saving up for these to expenses over the past 11 months. The biggest issue is a ticket I have urgh... red light camera ticket which is a whopping $100 if paid before June 6th if not it doubles to $200 thats An URGENT priority on my list. Also my cell phone bill is going to be a little higher expected because of text messaging silly me and also my cable bill is $42 higher this month as well. And would you guys believe my cable company CHARGED yes CHARGED me $25 for calling in about trouble with my service. They claim that because the representative had to help me trouble shoot my cable box there was a fee associated with it of $25 they never told me this on the phone either. So now I'm waiting to hear back from a supervisor come tuesday crazy I'll be on the phone with them first thing tuesday they don't have to worry. Also my car insurance company has decided to place me on a 4 pay plan per year this is causing me to pay basically 3 months at once in the month June. I'm not happy about this at all I need to do something is killing my budget this month.

I received a $500 check as a apart of a class action suit. I'm stuck I don't know if I should apply it all to debt or pay 2 car payments with or place it in savings and increase my EF a little while I'm on my debt snowball. What would you do??

I am so excited today is my birthday and Payday btw and I'm paying off two debts at the end of this week. Wooo hoooo

Usually two months out of the year there's a month where you receive 3 paychecks instead of two if your paid bi weekly and 5 checks instead of 4 if your paid weekly "extra paycheck" is what its referred too how do you spend yours????

Do you pay all your bills on pay day or do you wait until the due date approaches to pay them? Just curious as to what works for everyone else.

Today I got a phone call from one of my creditors I've been paying since September 2006. Because I got on a payment plan and made all the monthly payments on time they sent me something in writing at the start of the plan that they would not report the account to the credit agencies and they haven't. So they called me to today because my balance wasn't much to settle the remainder for 50% of the balance. I did and WOO HOO I'm celebrating saved me some money and its over and done with and my credit wasn't effected. Now I just have to re adjust my bills for this pay cycle. But everything is paid current and this paycheck I have some extra money I'll just have to take away that payment amount of $172 and apply less to my next debt on the snowball.

I got a surprise in my paycheck this week last paycheck I had to pay for my license renewal for work. My boss reimbursed me this paycheck I know I want to place it on a bill because the money was already accounted for. But I'm undecided as to if I should pay ahead on a utility bill or towards my debt snowball what do you think its $69 not a lot but something.

Wow I haven't blogged since April 11th I'm slacking here almost 8 days and no blog. Well nothing has changed except yesterday after analyzing my student loans and finally figuring out that its hurting my credit score that I have 5 open installment loans because of it. So I decided to do a consolidation which I'm hoping and thinking that it will benefit my credit report. It will reflect the current 5 loans as paid in full and there will only be one outstanding with a balance. I'm very optimistic that I made the right choice also not to mention that it saves myself from writing 5 different checks each month. This week my aunty and grandma treated to a vacation (cost me nothing) and I'm very thankful as well. Although I'm missing my BF like crazy already but I'll be fine I think we need a break actually it sounds crazy but its true.
Have a great weekend guys!!!

Woo Hoooooooooo during 2005 I had stopped working and 2 of my accounts went into a serious derogatory status in which 2 years later they both placed judgements against me. I've since in the last 1 year paid off both. I disputed one item with the credit bureau because one judgement was showing twice on my transunion report the other wasn't listing that it was paid in full. Well today i got an email to review my dispute status and the account reported in error was removed and the other two were removed as well and both creditors deleted the orignal derogatory account from my credit file which gave my Fico a huge boost. I am so happy!!!!

Actually towards my AACC Balance and now I have to pay $50 a month from here on out and as long as i pay the WILL NOT report this account to the credit bureau I'm so happy about that. I was so foolish in my younger days if only I knew back than what I know now. But we live and learn.

I've been to at four malls this weekend and did awesome I only spent $25.00 but bought four different pieces. Two dresses one shirt and a pair of ballet shoes. (lol) I'm scheduled for an oil change next saturday and literally 5 minutes before I pull into my parking lot my brakes are sounding really bad. I thought it was just me two days ago when I told my BF that my brake pads may need to be replaced. Sure enough today was confirmation so instead of $35.00 on car maintenance it'll be a lot more. But on a better note ALL meaning every single house hold bill is PAID until the middle of May. Also this payday coming up this wednesday I intended to Apply the entire check to debt pay offs. Which I still am but will have to make a few minor adjustments with the Brake pad situation. I also got a little "spring cleaning" in as well I've cleaned all the old clothes and shoes out of my closet and organized it alot better. I'm off to watch a Lifetime movie and revise this weeks paycheck spending plan. Have a great Day lovely people. (smile)

Just curious I find it much harder to keep my savings and Checking account in the same bank. I don't know if its a mental thing I see the money and want to spend spend spend or just what exactly it is. Is it feasable to have multiple savings accounts for different purposes or what.

January
Car Payment $291
Car Insurance $137.58
Electric $11 Have a credit Pd until March
Rent $1,020
Eating Out $113.59
Clothing $21.18
Gas $36.58
Telephone $53.53
Groceries $42.30
Household Items $81.44
Entertainment $22.00
Debt Payments $269.56
Misc Movie Late Fee $6, Ticket $50 ,Lic Renewal fee $20.80

February
Rent $1,020
Car Payment $290
Car insurance $338.86 (paid 3 months)
Fast Food $194.88 (should punish myself for this )
Household (paper towel etc...) $57.80
Groceries $68.12
Gasoline $149.95
Debt Payments $528.89 (Woohoo)
Entertainment $3.18 (awesome here)
Personal (hair & nails grr) $102
Car Maintenance $51.48
Telephone Service $78.95

March
Rent $1,020
Car Payment $145.00
Car Insurance $78.57
Fast Food $83.43
Household $89.00
Groceries $0
Gasoline $82
Debt Payments $271.78
Entertainment $0
Personal (nails) $14
Cable, Phone, internet $82
Telephone Service $113.90
Clothing $128.34
Misc $104.95

This gives me a basic overview of where money is being spent. In April the beginning of the second Quarter I will be able to better assess area's that need cut backs. Hopefully Apr-Jun will bring much better results. I'm pretty optimistic about this.

Does anyone know of any it seems that all of the websites I've visited there's some catch to it. Monetary that is they want you to buy this or that to join panels weird but crazy. Or are there any work from home jobs online that are legit I want to make some extra income but spend most of my times on the computer and feel the need to at least be paid for part of that time. lol

Geez time is flying by rather quickly this year. I am already beginning to plan my finances from Apr-June I'm very optimistic that I will do well. I'm going to stick to the envelope system and plan all paychecks continuously as I've done this first quarter. However, I need to keep my self focus.

I have officially become a faithful watcher of the Dave Ramsey Show. I tune in every single night at 8 pm I'm literally glued to the Tv for one hour. I've heard him tell caller's all the time to get on a Written budget in which I have. Also he insists on using the "Envelope System". Well not until two weeks ago did I finally decide to pull out the envelopes and take his advice there. I'm six days away from payday and I still have "Money in my envelopes" especially for gas. I also have money "sitting" in my checking account as well. Without the envelopes I wouldn't have not nearly as much money left. I must say this really works and feels great to have money to spend, money dedicated to Gas lol and money left sitting in my checking account.

I had two deragatory accounts with Doctor's hospital (as you see on my side bar) my most recent on 12/31 wasn't covered because my health coverage didn't officially kick in at work until January 3,2009 so I've been sending $10 a month since January and walla I checked all three credit agencies today and they REMOVED both derogatory accounts from previously and didn't report the third. I was very honest in a letter to them letting them know my financial situation presently. Also I'm considering taking out a small personal loan to pay everyone in full so I can write just one check a month and there's only 1 derogatory remark showing in Equifax. And also my loan request was not denied like it has been in the past. There only question was my income in which I can provide proof of that. Normally I wouldn't even have made it to "review" the computer would generate denied initally.

And applied it to my student loan payment instead. It feels so wonderful now I am two months ahead on my payments and $10 was added to the principal balance. WOO HOOO Ohh and washed and curled my own hair and it looks just as good.

Do you budget your paychecks to split the rental payment half and half out of each paycheck or do you pay the rent/mortgage all out of of one?? Which method works better for you?

What are the odds this week is the week that I plan to pay off Verizon. I actually received a settlement notice in the mail today from the collection agency they sent the debt too offering me to settle for 1/2 of the original amount which was $269 they'll accept $134. Is it okay to settle or should the full amount be paid. Does anyone know how it will effect me later on when trying to purchase a home.

My mother finally paid me the $200 I let her borrow back in January. I was thinking of going ahead now and paying off Balt Phys. I posted in my earlier post today that I would put off paying ahead my car insurance. Now I'm really convinced that I should simply because when I let her borrow the money I wasn't totally expecting to get it back. (valuable lesson learned lol) So the money technically in my mind has been spent and gone so to speak. So I think I'm going to just go ahead and pay off the $280 that I owe them. I don't simply think It will make since to sit that $200 back into my saving account when I can dump it onto my next debt on my snowball and pay it off a month sooner. So this month I should be tackling Verizon and Balt Phy WOOHOOO

I was going through my bills doing an overview of my plan and I was thinking if whether or not I should hold off on paying my car insurance in advance and send $80 to balt phy to bring the balance down to $200 and I know for sure can pay that one off next month. What do you guys think pay the car insurance a month a head or tackle a payment on my next debt on my list.

Savings Account $229
Debt Payments $95
Verizon $269 (PAID IN FULL WOOHOOO)
Gasoline $75 (two weeks )
Car Payment $289
Entertainment $25
Hair Salon $40
Car Insurance $80 (will be paid up until 5-16-09)
Cell Phone bill $92 (1st bill not due until April 16th)
Telephone Billing Services $56
Fun Money (aka blow money) $75

I have everything all figured out I'm so excited one debt will inch its way up on my sidebar to paid in full thankfully. Also they will update my credit report from charge off status to Paid in full in which I know will give me back a few points on my score. WOO HOO!!! Total debt paid off to date will be $1,124 as of this Friday.

I've been through my closets numerous times and have come to the conclusion that I really need to shop for clothing. Its been so long I don't know how much is too much to spend on clothing in one month. I really have to this is a must with my job and all. But I don't know where to start in terms of what percentage I should allocate towards clothing out of my paycheck. So just exactly how much do you spend on clothing each month?? or annually??? What percentage of your take home pay do you consider a reasonable amount??