How great is this? Last month, I got my check, and everything was OK, except I though taxes were too high, but whatever. This month, I get my check and it has my $170 for health insurance taken out pre-tax, which in turn, meant less taxes taken out, which in turn, gave me an extra $210.44 in my paycheck!

Whoo-hoo! Haven't figured out where it is all going yet. Some things from the extra $1,100 we originally have this month were more than I expected, so it may be helping with the cost of the move (TOMORROW!!!). For now, $50 went to the challenge monty, and I can hopefully put the rest to the EF.

I was starting to think I would NEVER have another addition to the challenge!

Well, today was payday, so I added $50 to the challenge, plus $4.77 from half.com.



$20 Tax Old Balance: $407.43
Half.com DD: $54.77
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $462.20

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?

Yes, another one. I'm thinking I won't make it to 10 this month, but even a few help.

February No Spenders: 3

We got the apartment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(I'm very excited!)

Boo_meyers, Veronak, Ima....hugs and thanks!!!!!

Well, after MONTHS, we have finally found an apartment we love, that we can afford, and is a much better commute for me for work. As long as we get approved, we're in. I think we will, since it was not too long ago we were approved for a small mortgage for that condo we loved. Let's just keep our fingers crossed!!

The new apartment is a 2 bedroom in Quincy! It is only 7 miles from downtown Boston! That makes me commute about 1 1/2 hours shorter AND $180 cheaper!

The rent is more expensive, but it includes heat, electricity, and hot water, which we didn't have here. And then the money saved on the commute, plus the fact that we will use WAY less gas in the car because I will public transportation it the whole way to work, allows us to magage a bigger rent payment. So, it looks like as of March 1st, out new budget will be:

Rent/Electric/Heat 1095
Meds 150
Car Ins 82.08
Cable 53.27
Cell Phone 50
Home Phone/Internet 55
Gas (car) 100
Groceries 300
Communter Pass (for 2!) 120
LBCC 100
ATTCC 200
Total expenses 2,307.08

Since I paid first, last, and security when I moved in here 4 years ago, we can pay rent at the new place for March, and the rent for this place will have already been paid for our last month. So, we can either move out over the course of the month, or maybe be out by the 15th and get half that last months rent back. That's what I am really hoping to do, but I don't know if the landlord will agree to it. He's kinda a slumlord.

Anyways, I'm just VERY happy and VERY excited! Now, all the packing....*groan*

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

Another No Spender this week! This is good, starting to get some of them in. I think today will be one, too.

February No Spenders: 2

Small DD from half.com to send into the Challenge.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $401.47
Half.com DD: $5.96
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $407.43

Finally had a No Spender this month. For some reason they are just slipping away from me lately.

February no Spenders: 1

Per Ima's advice, I am reposting...

First I would like to say that I do not expect anyone here to donate to this cause, and I totally understand if nobody does. I was never going to post this, but a few people have asked where and how they donate to my team in the MS Walk.

Second, again, please don't feel like I am hitting you guys up for money (we are, after all, ALL trying to save and be more frugal!). The words and support you all have given me re: my MS has been the biggest gift of all, and I can never thank you all enough. THAT is what means the most to me.

But, like I mentioned, a few people asked for this info, so I am posting it. To those people, thank you from the bottom of my heart (and wallet!). You (and everyone else here) are all so special and totally rock!!

*hugs to everyone*

The MS Walk will be April 13th, in Bristol, RI. It's a six mile walk (no, I probably won't walk the whole 6 miles, but my team members all will). My team is called the Errington Clan, and right now we have 6 members.

To donate to the National MS Society 2008 MS Walk on behalf of my team, please click here:

Just a few small bucks here and there. Interest for Jan, $ saved at CVS last night, and some bills in my CITB.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $396.62
Jan Interst: $.45
CVS savings: $2.40
CITB bucks: $2.00
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $401.47

First I would like to say that I do not expect anyone here to donate to this cause, and I totally understand if nobody does. I was never going to post this, but a few people have asked where and how they donate to my team in the MS Walk.

Second, again, please don't feel like I am hitting you guys up for money (we are, after all, ALL trying to save and be more frugal!). The words and support you all have given me re: my MS has been the biggest gift of all, and I can never thank you all enough. THAT is what means the most to me.

But, like I mentioned, a few people asked for this info, so I am posting it. To those people, thank you from the bottom of my heart (and wallet!). You (and everyone else here) are all so special and totally rock!!

*hugs to everyone*

The MS Walk will be April 13th, in Bristol, RI. It's a six mile walk (no, I probably won't walk the whole 6 miles, but my team members all will). My team is called the Errington Clan, and right now we have 6 members.

To donate to the National MS Society 2008 MS Walk on behalf of my team, please click here:

As (most of) you all know now, I have MS. Well, I have decided to do a fundraising walk for the MS Society. I've gotten a team together and we are raising funds and planning to walk in April. When I got my team registered, I started the fundraising efforts with $50. I'm hoping the team will hit $200 (we should; we're already at $125), but personally, I'd love to see the team hit $1,000.

Any rate, that $50 was the first of my 2008 Donations.

2008 Donations: $50

WOW! A whopping 30 cents!!! LOL

Old EF Total: $100.00
January interest: $0.30
---------------------------
New EF Total: $100.30

Finally got one of my medical refunds! This was the big one ($213.19) from my prescriptions the beginning of November. Still waiting on the one from the Dr. visit, but I am so happy to finally have this one! I got an unexpected bill (from the town of I live in) so $40 of this reimbursement went to pay that. The rest ($173.19) is going to the challenge!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $223.43
Medical reimbursement: $173.19
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $396.62

I love Boomeyer's idea of setting mini goals each month, so I am going to try that this Feb as well.

1. Have 10 No Spenders. (Did this last month; can I do it again?)

2. Limit grocery spendings to $300. (This will be tough, as we tend to overshop at the grocery store.)

3. Put at least $50 into the EF.

4. Get $20 Challenge/tax money to $500.00 (Just updated and am at $223.43)

Thanks for the great idea and inspiration Boomeyer!

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

Relisted that Red Sox Fabric I had on ebay. Trying to sell it (again) and not get scammed this time. Happily, it sold today, so I have another $45 to go into the challenge.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $168.43
Ebay Sale: $45.00
----------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $223.43

Yay!

Well, it is now February, so time to pay myself for the No Spenders I had in January. And I had 10 of them!

$10 to the challenge.

$20 Tax Old Balance: $168.43
No Spenders Payout: $10.00
----------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $178.43