I am starting to freak out about my CC debt. I am almost 31 and this is debt I have charged up on stupid things. I really want it gone.

I already posted about my LBCC payment this month ($75, which is $23 more than the minimum), plus the $29 late payment fee I am getting waived on my next statement.

Here's the stats on my ATTCC. I usually don't post about it since whatever I pay each month is pretty close to what the finance charges are, so it never seems to get any smaller. But this month I was able to put a good smack on it.

ATT Prev Balance: $5,282.54
Payment 1: $250
Payment 2: $250
Payment 3: $12.55
-------------------------------
ATT New Balance: $4,769.99

Estimated Finance Charges for next month's statement is $118.34 This bring my Balance on the next statement to $4,888.33 Let's hope it's no more than this. And nope, I don't use this card for anything. Just want it paid off and gone!

My LBCC payment was due on 12/21, and with the holidays, I totally forgot about it. I paid it on the 26th. What stinks is my minimum payment was $50, but they slapped me with a $29 late fee!! Argh!

I figured since I have been in excellent standing with this card for at leave a year, and they recently raised my limit by an additional $300, I had a good shot at getting it removed.

I called this morning and didn't even have to talk to a customer service rep. They have an automated option now to press 1 and it automatically requests your late fee be waived. Good news: after about 10 seconds, that very nice computer voice informed me that the late fee was waived! Wa-hoo! It will show up as a credit on my next bill.

So right now my balance is at $993.21 The late fee removal will bring it down to $964.21. And I am making a payment of $75 ($23 above the minimum due) so before finance charges next month my balance will be at $889.21 I like that number: I think I can get it down in the next 11 monthly payments!

It's nice to see things like that happen as a direct result of being a customer in good standing and good debt repayment. Now, if only I could get the other CC under control...

Finally got some pics taken. Thought I would share.

These are out mini-trees. We don't really have room for a real tree, so we put up our tiny ones. PS The pink one is mine.


This is the Yule Candleabra. I used to have a Yule Log my Dad made me but that's gone now. Will have to ask him to make a new one for me.


And here are some pics of the necklaces and the pendulum I made. I am going to put these on Ebay and/or Etsy later today.




And finally, here are my babies. Wolfie is the gray kitty and Solstice is the black and white one.


Hope you enjoyed!

I did some calculating tonight, and it seems with bills (rent, cable, internet, home phone, cell phone, health insurance, meds, dr visit co pays, gas, electricity, gas in car, car insurance, 2 CCs, 1 student loan, therapy, netflix, groceries, and eating out) we spent about of $33.5k last year. Big scary number!!!

I mentioned maybe trying Shiela's idea where she budgeted her finances and tried to live on $20K in 2008. Looks like she will make it, too. So I filled in all the bills with a budgeted amount for 2009, and I came up with about $32K. Yup, saved myself $1,500. Problem with that is it is still too high for me. I know I can't make it on $20K, but I would be happy at $30K. Most of the things are not adjustable for next year either, such as health insurance, co pays, meds, therapy, rent, car insurance... I cut down where I can, but I am still not happy. And honestly, I think if I cut down more, we won't hit the goal and will go over budget.

Things I didn't include in the list are things like clothes, entertainment (books, CDs, movies, concerts), holiday adn b-day gifts, money for getting together with friends, toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tp, etc). And I know there are plenty of misc. items that don't belong in any of those categories and need a Misc. category. So, that will bring my total even higher.

I really thought I had this frugal thing down, but it appears I have a lot more to learn and even more to put into practice.

I know rent is a biggie for us. We pay $1,095 a month. Gag! It's for a 2 bedroom about 10 miles outside Boston. Damn city living; I was paying $625 a month in my old pace in the 'burbs! We are looking to move to a smaller (ie, one bedroom) and cheaper apt. We'd love a 2 bedroom for a cheaper price, but I don't think that will happen. We are also looking for a cheaper city, but still near here as BF works here. I know he only works part-time, but it took him so long to get a job (almost 2 years) I hate to move too far away so he can't work. However, even 1 bedrooms are pricey here, and even if they are $200 cheaper a month, we would have to pay for heat, which we don't pay for here. Ugh, damn housing crunch!

So, anyways, I am still looking to trim some fat off our 2009 budget. If I get on MassHealth for free, it will save us $420 a month. Even if I have to pay for it, it will only be about $50 a month, and my prescriptions may end up cheaper (currently pay $90 a month), so that is a big help there. I'll have to do some heavy decision making to see what else we can cut down on. I won't post 2009's budget yet; I want to see if I can make it lower first.

*sigh* It feels great to have the freelance check and to be able to pay bills, but damn, it goes fast!!

Today I paid:
*Cable: $107 (this was for the month, plus the set up fees, plus the instillation fees. It won't be nearly this high ever again!)

*Cell phone: $45 (ugh, still too high for me...)

*Home phone/DSL: $70 (this is for the past 2 months)

*Electric: $45 (need to work on lowering this!)

*Gas: $15 (yay! Lowest we've had so far!)

*LBCC: $50 (bare minimum)

For the rest of the month I still need to pay the ER co-pay ($50), my ATTCC (around $200, ugh). And I need to set aside $425 for December COBRA. Ugh, again. I really hope I can get on MassHealth soon! So I put $775 (bills plus $100 for unexpected expenses) in a holding account. It's a savings account that I can hold that extra money in for now. I know me, and if I see this money in my checking I'll spend it. So I decided to open a Holding Account to sock it away until I need it. This way I can't see it as "extra money" and I won't spend it.

Brilliant, ay? LOL

I got a $3 deposit in my Paypal account from a Pinecone survey this week. I added that (plus a random 11 cents) onto my LBCC. Why 11 cents? The balance was at $863.11 do I figured I'd round it to a nice and even $860.

Still struggling with the ATT CC. I am over the credit limit from interest AGAIN this month. *sigh* I just don't see it ever ending at this rate.

Put $200 on my LBCC, bringing the total down to $841.65

And put $300 on the ATTCC, bringing the total down to $4,665.72


Slowly but surely sinking...

Made a payment of $250 to my ATTCC (ick). This should have it down enough so that my finance charges don't bump me over the limit. I also sent off for my medical reimbursement today, so when I get that I will ahve a couple hundred dollars to throw onto that CC as well.

Also made a payment to the LBCC. Down to just over $900 left to pay. Yay!

So I finally got my stimulus check. Wa-hoo! I really want to use it for some fun things, but I have some bills I need to pay with it, too. Yesterday I made a $344 payment to my CC with some of the money. Ouch! Of the $256 left, I think I am going to try to get another bill or two paid. When over half goes towards one bill, $600 doesn't stretch very far!

Also, since it is "extra" income, 10% is going to my House Fund.

Old House Fund Balance: $103.22
10% Extra Income: $60.00
----------------------------------
New House Fund Balance: $163.22

That leaves $194 left. I need around $160 for my gas and electric bill, so I've got $30 to have fun with. *sigh* Goes so quickly...

Just got my new statement for my ATTCC. I don't have the full minimum payment right now, but it is not due until July 7th, and I can make multiple small payments online. Minimum payment this month is $114.80. I try and put at least $200 on it each month, but it will depend on how much income I have this month. For now, here's a start.

May ATTCC Balance: $4,160.21
Activity: $431.82
-----------------------------
June ATTCC Balance: $4,382.03
June Mini-Payment: -20.80
-----------------------------
New balance: $4,361.23

Still to pay towards Minimum: $94

I am stressing really bad over finances right now. Bills, no income, debt, living expenses. So, to help with the stress, I either go out to eat or buy stuff. Not exactly productive to the situation. I need to get a handle on things.

Put $10 on my ATTCC today. Already paid about $200 on it for the month, but the balance was $4,207. I wanted to get it under $4200 for a "fresh start". Also put another $25 on my LBCC. It is now under $1,000 and I wanted to make sure that it doesn't pop back above $1,000 with the interest charges.

The LBCC is for a clothing store. It's one of the two places where I buy clothes, so it is always in use. However, I have recently been cleaning out for a yard sale and finally unpacking the last of the boxes from the move. I can't believe I have so many clothes!! I actually have things I forgot I even had because I have so many. So, in addition to getting that LBCC paid off by the end of 2008, I have decided not to buy any more clothes for the rest of 2008. The ONLY exceptions this this are: I need a new pair of sneaks (mine are 4 years old and stinky!) and if I need a few buisness clothes for work. At my last job I wore jeans, but if I have to wear business casual at my next job, I may need a few pieces. I'm going to try not to use these exceptions this year, but if I do, then I do. Hopefully my sneaks will survive a wash in the machine, and the clothes I already have will do for work.

This is a big challenge for me. Even though I am very overweight, buying clothes always makes me feel better about myself and gives me more confidence. Time to get that confidence somewhere else.

Made my monthly payment on my LBCC today. I want to work at getting this paid off within the next six months.

May LBCC Balance: $1,079.93
Interest: $19.86
-----------------------------
June LBCC Balance: $1,099.79
June Payment: -110.00
-----------------------------
New balance: $989.79

Minimum payment was only $55, so I decided to double that to help pay it down quicker. I want to add another $50 towards the balance as well this month to make sure whatever finance charges are incurred don't pop me back over $1,000.

In August of 2006, I owed $1,300 on this card. By not paying more than the minimum, and continuously charging on it, I have managed to only completely pay off $300. If I had paid more than the minimum and stopped using it, it would have been paid off a year ago. I get sick thinking of how much interest I paid them and how much money I have thrown away. *sigh*

At least it encourages me to keep paying it and not use it.

I need to find a new bank that ffers free checks. I just went and ordered new ones and they are going to cost me $20. OK, so it isn't a huge amount, but still, paying for checks bugs me when other banks offer them for free. When I mentioned this to the woman at my bank, she goes "No they don't." Uh, yeah they do. Wa-Mu: free checks FOR LIFE!! Unfortunately there are no WaMu's around here. Bleh.

Spendings:
$20 for new bank checks
$24.52 balance due on old car insurance
$15 co-pay to Dr. from last month
$120 Student Loans
$10 meds
$410 COBRA enrollment and 1st month coverage

Will also pay phone bill and electric bill later today, but I might need to buy money roders for them later if I can't pay via phone.

I know it is all for necessary stuff, but it still kills me to spend this much in one day. Plus, added to the $250 I spent yesterday?? EEK! Money is getting low, quickly, and I still haven't heard anything new about that damn phone interview.

STRESS STRESS STRESS!!!

Seems like they all come in at once. I need to pay:

1. rent
2. June student loans payment
3. electric
4. phone/internet
5. Dr. visit co-pay
6. Cancellation fee to old car insurance (??? I'm double checking on this whammy before I pay it...can we say...SCAM?)
7. cable

and the best part of it all? I only have 1 check left! HA! I usually pay all of our bills online and just do checks for the random ones, like the Dr. co-pay. But since we have all new accounts for everything because of the move, I am still setting those up and everything right now is still paper bills. Ugh.

And my bank charges for checks. Bleh.

I am thinking about switching to Wa-Mu, but I need to see if there are any brick and mortars around here first for those rare occasions I need to deposit a check.

Blub blub blub. That's how I feel. Blub.

I had a busy day today. I made a bunch of phone calls, and then went out and did some errands. I filled up the car before prices get much higher. Hopefully this fillup will lat me at least 2 weeks. Ahh, the joys of public transportation!

I also checked out a local consignment shop that sells women's clothes. I got all the details about bringing clohes in to them. I'm really excited they take plus size clothes. I have so nice pieces that I never even wore. Plus, they give you 50% of what the item sells for. Pretty nice! Tomorrow I'm going to go through my clothes and see what I can rustle together.

Made a payment on my ATTCC, $200. Works out to about $120 on the principle. Slow going, but at least it is going.

I've deciced to start tracking my daily spending again. Spendings today:

$8.83 breaky for me and the boy at Dunkin Donuts

$15.75 at the Dollar store (new shower curtain, new can opener, package of yard sale price stickers, air freshner, hand soap, etc.)

Total: $24.68

And finally, I found $.06 on the ground today (all pennies!). (total: 66 cents)

FINALLY got my taxes done today...I know, I'm a slacker. All in all it worked out good: I am getting a return of $196! Yay! My fee to HR Block was really high, but it is OK since I had so many forms and so much paperwork that I know I never could have done on my own. So, the HR Block fee comes out of my Saving for Taxes account, and I don't have to take any out to pay taxes (which is what I had originally started it for). When I get my refunds, I will pop those back into the Taxes savings account. Now that my taxes are done, I will have to think about what I want that savings to go to; and what i will be saving for next!!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $513.13
- HR Block Payment: - 270.00
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $243.13

OLD ATTCC: $3,149.32
Fees: $174.98
---------------------
New ATTCC: $3,324.30

OLD ATTCC: $3,324.30
Payment 3/5: $200
---------------------
New ATTCC: $3,124.30

So, it looks like we will be getting an extra $1,100 in March! Yay!!!! Great timing, too, with the move! I have already budgeted it all out:

$200 for the move (truck rental and treating friends and family to dinner afterwards)
$100 extra to LBCC
$100 extra to ATTCC
$100 extra to grocery budget (after the move, we will need to restock basics)
$100 into the $20/Taxes account to replace the $100 I had to steal out of it for groceries this week
$100 for new apartment things (dinning room rug, computer desk)
and the big one...$400 to the EF!!

I am actually excited to get the $1,100 so I can start transferring it around! Who knew paying bills and saving could be so much fun?

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

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