Pennies on the Sidewalk

I turned my heat on today. But it was only for about a minute and a half, literally. It's starting to get that bitter damp chill we get in the winter here and I wanted to make sure the heat was all set and ready to go. It was! Got that dusty smell out of the vents, too. So now, come November 1st, my heat will be ready to go!

I also finally shut the last "always open" window today. Not bad...Oct 25th and I still kept my bedroom window open all day and all night. Thanks goodness I like the cold!

MEDICAL CC Update:

Previous Balance: $412.41
Payment 10/10/06: $220.00
New Balance 10/10/06: $192.41

New Charges & Fees: $113.65
New Balance 10/22/06: $306.06

Payment 10/23/06: $125
New Balance 10/23/06: $181.06

********************

LB CC Update:

Previous Balance: $1,388.39
Finance Charges 10/20/06: $27.07
New Balance 10/20/06: $1,415.40

Payment 10/23/06: $80.00
New Balance: $1,335.40

********************

Debt Tally

$6,844.08 to Mom
$4,369.74 to credit cards
$1,335.40 LB CC
$181.06 Medical CC

Total: $12,730.28

Direct deposit from half.com was a nice surprise in my checking account this morning! I'm a little confused on if I've already transferred this $ into my ING/EF and just figure the DD would replace it into the checking or not. But I am going to go ahead and transfer it anyways, since it's not an amount that will break the bank if it's missing from my checking account, and I love watching that ING/EF grow!


ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $334.09
Added: $9.58
New Total: $343.67

Monday morning....still haven't recieved any of my meds in the mail...not eve the ones she told me I'd have by Friday. *sigh* Now I have to call and try not to yell, but I get so angry when palces play the "Not Important" game w/my meds...

The boy I met...yummy!

LOL

Just had to share! He's so cute and so wonderful!

Happy happy!

Whoo-hoo! Got my raise in my paycheck this week! It works out to an extra $78 in each paycheck (every two weeks). Hey, every little bit helps, right? So, I took $50 and put it towards my CC debt, and am adding the extra $28 into my ING/EF $20 account.

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $306.09
Added: $28.00
New Total: $334.09

Old Savings (CC Debt) Total: $969.44
Added $110.00 automatic deposit
Added $50.00 (extra $ due to raise)
New Savings (CC Debt) Total: $1,129.44

Just a quick post to ramble about some non-financial things in my life right now.

Very, very tired. Been up to 2:30, 1:30, midnight the last 3 nights in a row. Hoping to get a good night sleep tonight, although I wouldn't mind staying up late again tonight for the same reason. Been up late talking with a very cute boy I just met.

Work is the same...my raise kicks in in this upcoming paychcek, which I get on Friday (2 more days!). I'm excited to see what it will work out to after taxes each pay period (I get paid every other week). I'm going to try to "live a raise behind" and just deposit that whole raise into my ING/EF and/or CC debt savings account.

No major plans for the weekend...movies on Sunday with my best friend I think...doing dinner tonight with my other best friend...most likely veg out adn catch up on sleep, laundry, and housework this weekend.

Totally not motivated to work on those archery articles. Shame on me. Gotta get going on those and submit them!

Did I mention I met a cute boy??? I'll admit, been distracted the past 2 days thinking of him.



Pssst...ut oh! The Snack Lady just showed up! Which means she'll replace all the yucky left over snack foods with the good ones we in the office can never resist! Help me not to spend $$$ on a snack! ACK!

I recently switched over my medications (I have 4 prescriptions I take daily) so I am getting them through my health insurance's mail order plan. I was told to go to my Dr, get new prescriptions, and mail them in together. This would set up my account. Then I'd get my meds in about a week.

This was 3 weeks ago and I still haven't recieved any of them. Meanwhile, one has completely run out (2 weeks ago) and one is due to run out the day after tomorrow. So, I called the company.

The woman very rudely told me they were all on hold b/c I couldn't get one filled until this upcoming Friday, the 20th, b/c that was when it was elligiable for renewal. Then (very rudely) told me if I didn't want them all sent together I should have mailed them in seperatley.

Are you kidding me?

They don't split orders automatically, she told me. I bit my tongue trying not to tell her there was no way I knew this since I was a new client there. She split the order manually. Then hung up.

RUDE!!!!

I worked in customer service for years and in my job now I still deal with customer service...how can people be so fricken rude? Don't they know anything about customer relations???

Anywho, feeling less stressed b/c the ones I need now should be here in Friday's mail, and the other one will be mailed out on Friday so I get it in Mon/Tues mail.

And this was supposed to make life easier...

Last night was bitter cold! Temp dropped down to 32 degrees when I woke up at 7 am. And did I turn on the heat???

NO!

I slept with 2 windows open!

Yes, I really did! I had a friend stay over and he was complaining it was too cold. So we cuddled under a blanket while we watched a movie. And I was accomidating when we went to sleep -- I didn't turn on the fan. What can I say, I like it cold when I sleep!

Anywho, I was regretting that open window decision this morning when it was time to get up and take a shower! But I made it out alive and am preparing to battle the cold once again tonight. Then, rumor has it, it's supposed to warm up over the next few days.

Think I'll stock up on some chilli pepper, hot cocoa, and wool socks just in case!

Sold a book on 1/2.com this weekend. More money to the ING-EF/$20 account!

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $298.58
Added: $7.51
New Total: $306.09


YAY BABY! Over $300 in only 2 1/2 months!!!! WHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!

There is a class tonight I am thinking about taking. It's one night only, and it is about the paranormal. I love stuff like this. Here's the thing, though: it's $42. Not too expensive, but expensive enough. Especially considering I most likely won't learn anything new since I already know how to "hunt ghosts" and all about orbs, EVP and the like from another class I took back in March.

So why am I even considering it, then?

Well, there is always the chance I could learn something new. I like stuff like this. My friend asked me to go with her. It's something to do. It will get me out of the house. I might meet a cute guy there (cuz I'll never meet one if I don't get out of the house once in a while). There's nothing good on TV on Friday nights anyways. I might regret not going later if I miss out on something good.

Why am I hesitating to buy my ticket?

It's $42. I most likely will not learn anything new. I'm going through a slump right now and am not really feeling up for anything besides moping around the house with my cats. I'm tired. It's been a long week. I'm irritable. I can always watch a movie or read.

I'm so indecisive right now.

Help, anyone?

Dr. co-pay med reimbursement
Weather strip the windows
Archery intro and conclusion
Archery articles
Pay cable bill
Pay phone bill
Med CC charge reimbursment
Transfer 1/2.com $$ (7.51)
Update website

So, as one blogger mentioned, it snowed in Chicago. I live in Massachusetts, and last night my neighbor (I live in an apartmnet) had his heat on. It's in the 60's here today, and last night I slept with the big fan on in the bedroom, plus the smaller fan in the open window and on in the bedroom last night and was still warm! Considered putting on the AC for a few minutes, even.

So, the point to all this?

I'm disapointed fall is getting overtaken by an Indian Summer, because fall is my favorite season. But at the same time, I am wicked psyched because it's the middle of October and not only haven't I had to turn on my heat yet, but I'm still keeping windows open all day and sleeping with the windows open and the fan on!

I'm hoping this year to keep the heat off until November, and try to save some $$. Heat here can be ridiculously expensive (some months it tops $250...and I have a 1 bedroom apartment, and I keep it off during the day when I'm at work and at night when I sleep. It's only on during the evenings when I am home before bedtime!)

That's My HEAT CHALLENGE: Find creative ways to stay warm (cuddling with the cats, anyone?) when it gets really cold to avoid turning the heat on for another 2 1/2 weeks. Of course, the weather is helping quite a bit.....

Here are my ideas...anyone have anything to add?

1. Cuddle with the cats
2. Bury myself under layers of blankets
3. Learn to love layers (of clothes!)
4. Lots of hot drinks
5. Start making my 1st quilt (I can lay under it while I work on it!)
6. Spend lots of time out of the house and in places where I can enjoy the heat cost-free (like Mums and Dads house!)

So it seems my archery knowledge beginning to work for me. I just got my 2nd freelance writing gig! And it's more about archery.

This time it is a bunch of 2-page articles about general archery/archery equipment for a website. Payment is $9.00 an article after fees. Not too much $$, but it is great for my writing portfolio and resume! Yay me!

$15 added into my ING/$20 account! Did a tarot reading last night, earned me $15!

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $283.58
Added: $15.00
New Total: $298.58

Half.com came through on a DVD for me. Profit: $9.24 to be transfered into my ING/$20 account. Much better than the last transaction! LOL

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $274.34
Added: $9.24
New Total: $283.58

LOL

I sold a book on 1/2.com for $2.00 -$.30 listing fee for a profit of $1.70 Then I was given $2.40 to cover shipping cost. All together this is $4.10 Well, when I went to ship it, I had run out of free mailing envelopes so I had to buy one - for $1.59!! Then it was $1.59 to mail the book. So I spent $3.18 at the post office. All this gave me a net profit of $0.92!!!

LOL

Oh well, it's something I guess!

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $273.42
Added: $0.92
New Total: $274.34

Made the first payment on my Medical CC today. Shouldn't be too hard to get rid of the whole beginning balance. And then it will be just the monthly charge/payoff. *sigh* It never ends, does it?

(For the whole story, see my PP)

Balance: $412.41
Payment 10/10/06: $220.00
New Balance: $192.41


Debt Tally

$6,844.08 to Mom
$4,369.74 to credit cards
$1,388.39 LB CC
$192.41 Medical CC

Total: $12,794.62

I have an FSA at work where a certain amount of my paycheck (before taxes) goes into an account that can then be used to pay for anything medical (prescriptions, doctor visit co-pays, pharmacy items, etc). Only I have to submit reciepts and then get reimbursed for it.

Well, I was having problems b/c I get prescriptions every month and I didn'ty walsy ahve the cash before hand to get them, even though I knew it would be getting reimbursed to me later. So, I have a CC for it. *sigh* More CC debt, but at least this will be manageable. I figure, whatever I put on the "medical CC" will then be paid off with the reimbursement I get for those items. This way the balance will be paid off in full each month.

Only I got a little ahead of myself and now I have a small balance. More to add to the Grand Debt Tally.


Debt Tally

$6,844.08 to Mom
$4,369.74 to credit cards
$1,388.39 LB CC
$412.41 Medical CC

Total: $13,014.62

Notes to me:

Ship book
Ship DVD
Deposit check
Transfer check money
Transfer 1/2.com payment money
Transfer 1/2.com refund money
Balance checkbook
Pay cable
Pay phone
Pay LB
Pay AT&T
Return Book B&N
Buy 1/2.com book

I've had a couple of people ask me about my cc debt and how I am paying it off, so here's a breakdown.

I am on a payment plan with a credit solutions company. This is how it works: They settle my cc debt for me so I have a specific amount I have to pay off to each CC (I have 3 under the plan). When a credit card company agrees to settle my debt, it is for a specific amount. I have to give them that amount up front, all at once. Based on my debt when I enter then plan, I will have to pay about $7,200 in debt. I am on a plan where I am required to put $200 a month into my savings so at the end of 36 months (3 years) I have the $7,200 I need to pay off the debt and be out of cc debt. However, the quicker I save that $7,200 the quicker I get out of debt.

Right now I have one CC I have already settled. It's total is around $2,400. I am making 4 payments of about $700 each for 4 months and then that will be paid off and I only have 2 more cc's to settle. The extra $100 you see me paying in my debt tally each month to come to that $800 is the $100 monthly fee I am paying the credit solutions company who is doing the legal work for me.

It sounds confusing, but it works out to after 3 years, and about $7,200 all my cc debt plus the fee the company charges will be paid off, versus about $12,000 in credit card debt that I pay on my own with late fees, finance charges, and wicked high monthly payments. Yup, you read that right. As part of the plan I am in, I have no finance charges. Plus I have legally signed power of attorney concerning these accounts over to the company so I do not have to deal with credit card companies and collection agencies calling/writing me. Anytime something like that comes to me or someone calls me I let the company know and their lawyers talk to the creditors on my behalf.

It's a great plan. I feel so much less stress knowing I am paying off my cc debt but at the same time not having to deal with $500 monthly payments and finance cahrges. Plus I don't have to stress witht he creditors calling me becasue legally, they can't talk about this with me; they have to go through the credit solutions company.

I know there are some things that could go wrong, but from where I was befiore, this is such a better option. Plus, although my credit rating will show that I settled my debt, it actually rates better than bankrupcy or failure to pay at all. So within about 3 years, my cc debt will be gone, and in about another 2-5 years after that, my credit will be really good again.

So, to answer a question that started this long ramble, ( Are you saving up the whole amount or paying off in intervals like monthly?) I have a minimum savings of $200 a month, but anything extra I get I try to put into that cc/savings account so I can pay it off quicker.

My paycheck is DD (Direct Deposit) so on paydays I just check my account to make sure it was deposited for the right amount. As I mentioned before, I often get extra money that is travel reimbursement. Well, this week I didn't have any extra in my pay, and I didn't even think about it. Then today I open the mail and I have a check for $248.60 from work! Milage reimbursement! YAY!

Since I hadn't had any plans for this extra $$ because I had totally forgotten about it, I am going to deposit this whole check into my CC account/savings. If I need to use a bit for bills, it's there for me. If not, it just helps me get down the CC debt all the more quicker. And if I put it right into the savings, I won't be tempted to spend it on other things, like I would if it was just sitting in my checking account (which my ATM/debit card is attached to).

Watch out CC Debt! I'm coming for you!

Old Savings (CC Debt) Total: $720.84
Added $248.60 milage reimbursement
New Savings (CC Debt) Total: $969.44

Our new Target finally opened! I luvre Target, and this one is better than I could imagine: it's HUGE! It even has the food aisles! The one I went to before (1/2 hr away near Mums and Dad's house) didn't have the food and so I could never use my Target coupons. Now I can! Yay!

So, I had an invoice for $2.13 foe e-bay fees, but I also had a refund from an item I never recieved from a seller at $7.98. I was refunded the $7.98, but still had to pay the $2.13 so I came out $5.85 ahead. I'm going to transfer this to my $20 savings/ING account.

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $267.57
Added: $5.85 e-bay refund
New Total: $273.42

It's Friday and I have the day out of work, plus Monday out for Columbus Day. A 4 Day Weekend! YAY!!!!

Here's what I'd like to get done this weekend:

Laundry
Clean laundry away
Clean bathroom
Clean kitchen
Clean out for yard sale
Move boxes to storage unit

Tomorrow I am helping my sis move, but other than that no big plans. I'm going to try to stick to my budget of $100 this long weekend. I think I can do it, but it will be hard since I tend to pass long weekends shopping! I'll keep you posted!

And thanks for all the feel better wishes! You guys rock!

So, I've been sick these last few days, and yesterday I stayed home from work. No, I'm on salary, so I didn't lose any $ from my paycheck for missing a day. And, it turns out, being sick helped me save.

How so?

1. No coffee in the A.M. since I slept in and didn't have to "wake up" for work.

2. Didn't leave the house, so I used no gas in the car.

3. Didn't go anywhere/do anything so it was a NO SPEND DAY!

4. Sick to my tummy, so I ate very little: a can of soup, some crackers, and some oatmeal. All stuff I had in the cupboards, therefor I spent no $ on food.

5. Spent a lot of the day sleeping, so I used less electricity than if I had watched tv or read with the lights on.

6. Kept getting hot then cold flashes so I kept putting on/taking off layers instead of using the heat/ac/fans.

Never knew being sick had so many financial benefits! Of course, I was lucky: I was sick in the way that I didn't need a Dr. visit or meds. But still, trying to find the financial bright side!

CC
$5,172.43 old total
- $802.69 (10/01 payment)
---------
$4,369.74 new total


Debt Tally

$6,844.08 to Mom
$4,369.74 to credit cards
$1,388.39 LB CC

Total: $12,602.21

So, I decided to add the $90 payment from my freelance writing gig to my CC savings account. And I have $.31 interest added to my $20 account.

New totals:

ING Account (aka $20 Challenge) Old Total: $267.26
Added: $.31 interest
New Total: $267.57

Old Savings (CC Debt) Total: $622.31
+ $.10 interest
- $3.00 service charge
- $98.57 payment
+ $90.00 freelance payment
---------------------------
New Savings (CC Debt) Total: $610.84
+ DD from paycheck tomorrow $110.00
---------------------------
New total as of Friday, Oct 6th: 720.84

So, I accepted a freelance writing job a few weeks ago. It's $400 - $100 for a first draft, $100 for a 2nd draft, $100 for a 3rd draft, and $100 for the completed project. A total of $400! I got my 1st payment this week.

Payment: $100
FEES: -10% (fees) = - $10
Total payment: $90

When the transfer goes through, I'll be adding this to my savings account (CC account).