I haven't been on here much this month. Things have been crazy with the move and all. Been spending WAY too much money as well. Time to reel in the spending and get serious again. I always do better when I am here more often, so here I am again.

Not much new in the financial world. My credit is apparently getting better. My CC limit was raised to $5,000 (from $3,500) without my knowledge. And my APR on the CC, which used to hover around 30% is down to 19.99%! Still quite high, but it has made a big difference. My interest is dropping (lower APR, plus not using the card means nothing new to add interest to), so it seems to be getting paid off a bit. Still a long way to go, but I'm, feeling more positive about it.

Other than that things are tame.

Already paid my CC this month (put $300 on it!) but I decided to throw an extra $15 on it. I did this a couple of days ago. I know I had a good reason for it at the time, but now, I can't remember it. Oh well. Every little bit helps!

OLD ATTCC: $3,164.32
Payment 2/12: $15
---------------------
New ATTCC: $3,149.32

Time to pay the CCs again. But making this fab salary definately helps take the sting out of it.

OLD LBCC: $1,222.66
Interest: $25.56
--------------------
Balance: $1,248.32
Payment 2/2: $100
--------------------
New LBCC: $1,148.32


OLD ATTCC: $3,380.28
Interest: $84.04
---------------------
Balance: $3,464.32
Payment 2/2: $300
---------------------
New ATTCC: $3,164.32

Since I don't get paid until the end of the month, I still can't put anything major on my CCs. I can't wait til I cam slap a $300 payment on each next month!! But until then, here is my Jan payments.


Old LBCC Total: $1,177.07
PLUS Finance Charges: $22.59
PLUS clothes for work: $123.00
------------------------------
LBCC Balance: $1,322,66
LBCC Payment 1/12/08: $100
------------------------------
New LBCC Total: $1,222.66

TOTAL PAID OFF: $277.34

****************************************
Old ATTCC Balance: $3,282.83
Monthly charges: $92.45
Small payment $5
-----------------------------------
ATTCC Balance: $3,380.28

Paid off: $119.72

Sat down to pay all my Jan bills tonight (except phone, cable and LBCC; they come at the middle of the month). After I was done, I had $317.24 in my account, so I added $25 plus the $17.24 (a total of $42.24) as an extra payment onto my ATTCC.

Yay me.

New ATTCC Balance: $3,335.07
Extra Payment 12/23: $42.24
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,292.83

Paid off: $207.17

I am so angry right now! I opened my CC statement and it said I had $114 in purchases! NO! I had $39.95 for my monthy WW fee. The rest was all interest! $75 in fricken interest! AND my interest is down almost 10% from what it used to be! No wonder I can never get ahead on this! I mean, I always knew it was ridiculousy high interest, but I guess it never sunk in b/c I was always using my card. But now that I use it for WW ONLY, it is really hitting me! Time to cancel that from my CC! No more purchases with the CC AT ALL!!!

This means that before I had a total of $139 paid off it, now it is down to $64!! And that is after paying $235 on it last month! God, that is disgusting the way they rip you off! Unless I can get a 0% interest or can afford to pay it off ASAP, no more CCs for me. I'm done with them!


Old ATTCC Balance: $3,360.12
Interest: $74.95
Monthly WW fee: $39.95
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,435.07
$20/UF Payment 12/14: $100.00
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,335.07

Paid off: $164.93

My BIG student loans are on deferrment right now, thank Goddess. However, I do still pay the small one. It is $120 every 3 months, so it's not a problem to handle. Made the last payment for 2007 today. Only 4.5 years left paying on it! HA! Eventaully, I want to send them some extra each month, but the way they do it, is they don't take that off the principle, they "apply" any extra you send them towards the next payment due. Boogers.


Old UMD 2 Balance: $2,315.76
Decemebr 2007 Payment: $120
------------------------------
New UMD 2 Balance: $2,195.76

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,195.76
-----------------
$66,716.04

When I was calculating my current balance for my ATTCC, I totally forgot that my monthly membership to WW gets charged on there. Grrrr... So, my balance is actually $39.95 higher than I thought.

Old ATTCC Balance: $3,320.17
Monthly WW Fee: $39.95
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,360.12
PAID OFF: $139.88

I think for now, with nothing big ahead of us to save for at the moment, our $20/UF will be a kind of holding place for CC payments. I can only make an online payment to the CC a certain number of times per month, so instead of worrying about it being in the checking and us spending it (cuz if it is there, I so will spend it), I will keep it in the separate account. This way, all the small little amounts I get here and there can build up to make one large payment. Every time I hit over $100 in the account, I will transfer that $100 to the CC as an additional payment.

I really want this ATTCC debt gone by Jan 1st, 2009. According to my calculations, at the interest rate I am paying, I will need to pay $300 a month! Yikes! I'm not sure I can manage it, but gods dammnit, I will try! If I can swing at least $200 a month, it will be paid off in 1.5 years, and I can live with that if I don't get it all gone in 1 year.

All of a sudden, I am almost panicky about carrying CC balances. I don't know why. I mean, yes, I've wanted to get rid of this debt for a while, but all of a sudden, it's like an urgent need to get rid of it. I guess that is good, right?

So, I made some small payments today. Well, one small one to the major CC and then the regular payment for December to the other CC.

This is a good thing, this is a good thing, this is a good thing...

Old ATTCC Balance: $3,345.17
Payment 12/4/07: $25
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,320.17
TOTAL PAID OFF: $179.83


Old LBCC Total: $1,218.45
PLUS Finance Charges: $23.62
------------------------------
LBCC Total: $1,242.07.45
December 4th payment: $65.00
------------------------------
New LBCC Total: $1,177.07
TOTAL PAID OFF: $322.93

Had a brief moment of panic today when I realized that

1. I still owed like $25 on the CC for the minimum payment this month
2. If I didn't pay more than the minimum, the finance charges would bump me over the limit and then I would have another $40 Over the Limit Fee, too.

Crap.

So, sucked it up, realized there will be NO fun for the next month, and added another whopping $60 onto it. Let's just hope our groceries last us a bit and I get working SOON!!

Old ATTCC Balance: $3,405.17
Payment 11/29/07: $60
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,345.17

TOTAL PAID OFF: $154.83

Payment on the ATT CC today. *sigh* I wish I was still on vacation!

Old ATTCC Balance: $3,480.17
Payment 11/27/07: $75.00
-----------------------------------
New ATTCC Balance: $3,405.17

Old LBCC Total: $1,317.74
Last months payment: $65.00
Finance Charges: $25.71
------------------------------
New LBCC Total: $1,278.45
This months payment: $60.00
------------------------------
New LBCC Total: $1,218.45


Can't wait til I hit under $1,000 on this baby!

Finally made it to the bank to deposit my refund check from my cell phone. I was going to put the $$ into Vegas, but then I remembered what I told myself when I got the phone: I'll put it on the CC and then use the refund as a CC payment when it comes in.

As much as I would have loved another $50 for Vegas, I need to start being responsible and an adult and focus on paying off this CC debt.

Old CC Total: $3,482.50
Refund Payment: $50
-----------------------
New CC Total: $3,432.50

Transferred the money I got from the refund on The Boys b-day gift to my CC as a small payment. Want to hear something sick??? In 1 month I made a total of over $700 in payments to my CC. I am only $60 under the limit. UGH!

That's how bad I got again at using it. I just don't learn my lesson, do I? This MUST stop. After Vegas, it's getting dumped in a bucket of water and frozen into a block of ice in my freezer. (I say after Vegas, b/c for the car rental, even though I already paid for it, they told me I had to have a CC w/ $200 worth of room on it in case I got into an accident while driving.)

So, here is my new CC numbers:

Old ATT Balance: $3,480.25
Refund payment: $37.70
------------------------------
New ATT Balance: $3,442.55

*sob*

Yes, I know..., it's been MONTHS!!!! And still, I haven't really made much progress...

ATT CC
Prev. balance: $3,468.38
New charges: $142.65
Payment 8/31: $250
--------------------------
New balance: $3,361.03


LB CC
Prev. balance: $1,149.30
New charges: $188.96
Finance Charges: $25.47
Payment 8/17: $100
-------------------------
New balance: $1,263.73


CC DEBT TALLY TOTAL: $4,624.76

It's been a long time since I did a debt tally. I figured I'm long ovedue...

PERSONAL DEBT:
LB CC: $1,248.29
AT&T CC: $3,351.20
------------------
$4,599.49

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,315.76
-----------------
$66,836.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,435.53

Updated 8/11/07

Well, looks like my fancy July budget is in the crapper. I got a letter in the mail stating I never paid my June payment for one of my student loans (I was POSITIVE I did...) So, now I have to come up with $135 ($120 plus late fee) to send them ASAP.

What is really bugging meis, I KNOW I wrote out that check. I remember thinking "Oooh, this payment will be early." And I updated my Debt Tally here with it. But I checked and the check number hasn't been cashed. I guess I will assume it got lost in the fricken mail. Grrrr.

So, looks like there will be some struggles for the rest of this month, as the budget was already pretty thin. We're trying to meet new budget amounts (gas in car, gas at home, electricity, groceries, etc)but this is the first month trying it and as it is, I don't think we are going to hit those new numbers. *sigh* What's another month of struggling when you've been strugging for almost 12 years, right?

I finally got my student loans sorted out. I have 3:

UMD 1: $2,315.76
UMD 2: $38,044.87
RWU: $26.475.41

For a grand total of $66,836.04

Anyways, my payment for the UMD1 loan is fairly small, only $40 a month, so I always make that payment, no problems. The problems came in when it was time to start paying back my big loans.

I am currently enrolled in something called the Income Contingency Plan. How it works is this: They take the amount I make at my job yearly, before taxes, and then calculate a percentage of how much I can “afford” to pay each month. It worked out great when I had $25,000 in loans and was only making $14,000 a year. I literally paid $7.00 a month! And I wasn’t worried about “never” paying off the total amount, because the ICP comes with a 25-year max payout. What that means is after keeping my account in good standing and making monthly payments for 25 years, whatever remains after that 12th month of the 25th year, is forgiven. Whoo-hoo! So, even though I had a good chunk to pay, the IRC Plan worked for me.

Now, however, I’m still on the ICP and I still get the bonus of the 25-year max payout. But the problem is now that I owe a while lot more, and now that my salary is a little bit bigger, my payments are a little bit bigger, too. And I just don’t have it in my budget (even if I cut back on some things) to come up with another $300 a month right now.

But here is the good news. Turns out, because my salary is so, well, crappy, I qualify for a 12 month deferment called Economic Hardship. Under this deferment, no monthly payments are required for 12 months, at the end of which, I can reapply for another 12 months if needed. As a bonus, about $15,000 of my loans will not accrue interest!! Yay! And in months when I have some extra money, I can still make a payment of any amount onto the loans to help keep the interest rate from stacking up too much. This is perfect!
I won’t get charged full interest rates, I can still make payments, but there is no required minimum, and this doesn’t affect my enrollment in the ICP. Even though I am getting a 12 month deferment on repayment, I am still enrolled in the ICP and still get those benefits, as well as the 25 year max payout option.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am to know this is all sorted out and the scary men won’t be knocking on my door for money I don’t have!

Transferred some paypal money onto my ATT CC for a payment. Also made a payment onto one of my student loans this month. It’s slow, but at least I’m not moving backwards!



DEBT TALLY
CC Activity:
ATT Prev Balance: $3,348.42
Finance Charges: $120.89 (ouch)
Payment (today): $54.06
NEW BALANCE: $3,415.25

Student Loan Activity:
UMD 2 Prev Balance: $2,436.76
Payment (today): $120.00
NEW BALANCE: $2,315.76


PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $0
CS fee: $0
LB CC: $1,096.45
AT&T CC: $3,415.25
------------------
$4,511.79

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,315.76
-----------------
$66,836.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,374.83

Today was a great money day. As I mentioned, I took today out o work to get some things done. And I got some things done, let me tell you!!

And here's the good money stuff:

1. Went to buy tp for the house. The kind we usually use is $3.49 for a 4 pack (I know, expensive, but I have a sensitive toosh). They have a new one out, better for septic tanks, same price. But, there was a $1 coupon for it! Yay! Saved $1.00 Adding that to the $20 Challenge/EF.

2. While I was at the grocery store, I turned in all our soda bottles and cans, plus cashed in 2 old soda can vouchers I had sitting around. $5.05! $5 goes into the $20 Challenge/EF and .05 into our Cash in the Bag bag.

3. Finally deposited my freelance check. Then came home and immediately transferred that same amount onto my CC as another payment.

4. Mailed out 2 of my last 3 ebay items. Still waiting for payment on one. As soon as I can get into my paypal account, I'll transfer that money straight onto the CC as well. (Having issues with the paypal account lately).

$20 CHALLENGE/EF
Old $20 Challenge Total: $60.49
ING Interest: $.09
Grocery Savngs: $1.00
Bottles and Cans: $5.00
Bills from Cash in the Bag: $14.00
--------------------------------
New $20 Challenge Total: $80.58


CASH IN THE BAG
Dollars: $0
Quarters: $8.50
Dimes: $3.30
Nickels: $1.30
Pennies: $1.05

TOTAL: $14.15


DEBT TALLY
CC Activity:
ATT Prev Balance: $3,406.83
Payment (today): $58.41
NEW BALANCE: $3,348.42


PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $0
CS fee: $0
LB CC: $1,096.45
AT&T CC: $3,348.42
------------------
$4,444.87

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,400.91

Although I try to save up as much towards extra payments on the CC’s, the big payments really come on paydays. So, two more CC payments today: $100 on the LB CC and $215 on the ATT CC. Plus, another $58 to the ATT CC after the freelance check gets deposited tonight.

CC Activity:
LBCC Old Prev. balance: $1,171.91
Charges (interest): $24.54
Payment: (last week): $100
Prev Balance: $1,196.45
Payment (today): $100
NEW BALANCE: $1,096.45

CC Activity:
ATT Old Prev. balance: $3,347.10
Charges : $274.73
Prev Balance: $3,621.83
Payment (today): $215
NEW BALANCE: $3,406.83



PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $0
CS fee: $0
LB CC: $1,096.45
AT&T CC: $3,406.83
------------------
$4,503.28

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,459.32

Just put another payment on the big CC. Paid $100, but somewere in there I missed $.65 in a finance fee or something, so only $99.35 went towards my debt balance. Slooooooooow going, but hey, I didn't build it up overnight, either. OK, it took a few bad months, but tis OK. It will get paid!!!


PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $0
CS fee: $0
LB CC: $1,171.91
AT&T CC: $3,347.10
------------------
$4,519.01 (Down $1,000.60)

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,475.05

With that big freelance check I got last week, I did something FAB today. I paid off the balance left on my car AND on the CS fee!!!

Whoo-hoo!

It feels amazing to have 2 of my 4 personal debts paid off! And even better, that's almost $300 a month towards other debt now!


PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $0 PAID IN FULL!
CS fee: $0 PAID IN FULL!
LB CC: $1,171.91
AT&T CC: $3,476.45
------------------
$4,618.33 (Down $901.28)

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $86,574.137

UPDATED 5/23/07

Right now my checking account is in the negative until that big check clears (tomorrow). Goddess, I hate that. Anyways, I checked my ATT CC and saw that there were a few small charges that just got on the statement. I also paid $30 onto it today, which will actually go through tomorrow. The $30 was money I got from eBay auctions. Yay!

Anyho, due to the other charges, my debt tally balances have changed. Here are the new ones:

PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $194.46
CS fee: $394.28
LB CC: $1,171.91
AT&T CC: $3,476.45
------------------
$5,207.07 (Down $312.54)

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

Other: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $87,163.11

UPDATED 5/21/07

Made some payments on the AT&T CC ($125), the LB CC ($100) plus my car payment ($195). Slooooooowly coming down, but hey, it's a start, right?



PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $194.46 (only 1 more payment!!!)
CS fee: $394.28
LB CC: $1,171.91
AT&T CC: $3,352.46
------------------
$5,113.08 (Down $406.53)

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

MUMS: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $87,069.12

OK, I did it. I sucked it up and honestly looked at my debt. I have a new, updated as of May 1st debt tally. It's BIG. Here we go:

PERSONAL DEBT:
Car: $389.46
CS fee: $394.28
LB CC: $1,271.91
AT&T CC: $3,463.96
------------------
$5,519.61

STUDENT LOANS:
RWU: $26,475.41
UMD 1: $38,044.87
UMD 2: $2,435.76
-----------------
$66,956.04

MUMS: $15,000

TOTAL DEBT: $87,475.65


Ouch.

So, thought my car had about 4 more payments left on it. I owed about $800. This totally rocks, since I got the car in 2001 and have been paying on it for the last 5 months. We could use that extra $200 a month after the car gets paid off.

But....

I WAS WRONG!!!!!!!

Called to get my actual balance and its LESS THAN $400!!!!!!!!

KICK ARSE!

Turns out I only have 2 monthly payments left (May and June). I put $200 a month on it when I can, but the actual monthly payment was less than that. Had no idea!

So, it looks like next month will be it and then the CAR IS OURS! I'm so excited! Not only will the extra money be great (going right towards other debt) but this is my car, all paid for. It's about to hit 100,000 miles and is about 7 years old, but god damn, I love that car!
I called

So I rolled up my change for the month and counted some of the $1 bills I threw in there. $33.50 Not bad at all, especially since $20 of that was ust quaters!!

So, normally this would go in my ING/EF but I am backing off on saving in there so much and working on paying down my CC debt. Not a whole lot goes on it each month (about $100-$200 on the Med CC which has an APR of 33% and abput $100 on the LB CC which has an APR of 23%). We need towrok out a new system for saving for rent and car payments as well since there has bee some changes in our finances.

So, since I already made a payment to both CC's this month, this $33.50 will sit in the checking account. If, at the end of the month it is still there, it will go to the CC balance. Any oter money that I normally get for the ING/EF/$20 challenge will sit with it until the end of the month. Then, bam, a second payment on the CC's.

February $20 Challenge total: $33.50

OLD DEBT TALLY:
$14,804.08 to Mom
$1,399.48 LB CC
$1,678.04 Medical CC
$986.49 CC Debt
------------------
TOTAL DEBT: $17,968.09

OK, used the CC again.

Med CC
$1,678.04
+ $274.63 (charges and finance charges)
------------
$1,952.67
- $100.00 pymt 2/3/07
------------
$1,852.67


LB CC
$1,399.48
- $144.59 pymt 2/3/07
-----------
$1,254.41


CC Co Debt
$986.49
- $98.57 pymt 2/3/07
----------
$887.92


OLD DEBT TALLY:
$14,804.08 to Mom
$1,254.51 LB CC
$1,852.67 Medical CC
$887.92 CC Debt
------------------
TOTAL DEBT: $18,799.18