I started following Stacey Flowers on Youtube and she has inspired me to get my act together. Unfortunately the past few years my income/personal finances have not been good.

She is a follower of Dave Ramsey. So I just recently joined the Dave Ramsey FB Group. I plan to follow the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps.

Here is where I am at right now:
0 Savings
$4078 in Debt
0 Retirement
0 Emergency Fund

Money Goals:
0 Debt
$1000 Emergency Fund
Retirement and Savings

I just started working again as well (2nd job). My current employment I do not make that much ($100/month) but covers my housing/utilities.

My teen daughter is staying with a relative and I want to make it a point to send her money (the relative) for taking her in.

I have been keeping a google sheets of my budget/expenses. I also just started using Dave Ramsey Budget Software as well (Free).

Also Im a paranoid person and would love to know how to download my blog entries from when I was blogging here more frequently. I have over 600 entries.

Thanks for reading

Jackie

Plus I get back credits! : D I just cut my data plan from unlimited to 200 MB on my account! I have a blackberry.

That money will definitely go into my Savings!

I decided to do $20 in each Savings account. I had to call the bank to get my other account# since I haven't used it in so long.

So $20 in my Emergency, Fun & Travel fund and my daughters account. : D That's $1200x3 accounts $3600 Savings a year! That's $20 a week (I get paid weekly)

$50 Walmart GC
$50 Target GC
$50 JCPenney

$60 from bro (he owed me $40 and $20 for Gift)
$40 from Sis (Owed me)
$40 from Daddy as a Gift

I owe my mom $50 so I gave her $40 from that money which left me $100 which was my GOAL for December to SAVE

Now I have that money in a Dollar sock coin purse I received on Christmas away from my wallet and my purse so I do not spend it

Not sure what my Goal will be for January because my daughter for her off track care ($100 a week) and $50 a week towards my Cruise on January 22nd for spending money and Rent ($100 a week). Maybe I will try for $40 or $60?

To Save $100. It is really difficult this month with all the Christmas shopping and all but I want to have something for December. I get paid weekly. I'll let you know by the end of the month. If I could do more I will.

I have wanted to do this for YEARS. She is turning 5 in August and starting Kindergarten - so I thought its now or never. Plus she already receives $2 a week allowance for cleaning her room (which she does a good job at and we take her to the Dollar Store every two weeks) My parents never did it for me and I finally did it tonight. I put in $60 to start at ING @ 3% APR. As I get more money I will be depositing more. I AM VERY EXCITED!

That was also the last thing on my Financial List!

Covered:
401k (Work)
Savings (2 Savings Accounts)
Pay Off Debt (CareOne)
DD Savings (ING)
Own Stock (ShareBuilder)

I started Paying off my old DEBT!

Okay but I am slightly discouraged if you look at the numbers

I take home $457.50 a week

$325 goes towards shared bills (rent, groceries, utilities etc...)

$50 a week is towards CareOne ($181 a month)

$25 a week towards Savings

Which leaves me almost $60+ a week leftover.

Keep in mind - I still have to pay my CCs, Car Insurance and a couple of other things every month.

Am I doing okay and the right thing? I know any extra is going towards paying off my debt.

But honestly, I still like to buy things :P and would like to have things too.

Well, I am really annoyed about my financial decisions lately.

*Bought a Laptop (Laptop interest over 25% I believe)
*Need to pay off CCs again (2 total $675 both with interest over 25%)

So what I am going to do is take out the $900 and pay $200 on each of the CCs ($300 CC and $375 CC) and put $400 towards the laptop and then pay the rest off in payments on both.

I already have $25 a week going into my Savings and I am sure I can come up with ways to make extra income.

Then after I will contact CareOne (they are already knocking the down the door and calling me and I will let him know I am interested and to give me a minute)

Anyway I was also reminded of the Suze Orman segment of "Can you Afford It" when the chick had BIG BUCKS in her Savings and still had ton of CC and Student Loan debt and she told her what is the point of having a BIG Savings if you have all this Debt??? So I agree. Plus I am sure Suze would have DENIED me getting this new Laptop Oopsy!

More later in as The Jackie Financial World Turns later :P

But Last weekend, I finally got ALL My Bills together that I had been receiving at my parents and my house (old debt, medical bills and some new debt) and decided to organize and throw away duplicates and keep the most recent to start paying on every week. WELL starting Friday (or tonight) I am starting to PAY IT OFF WOOHOO!!!

I am actually trying to pay these bills that give you the online option and some are just so difficult so some I may have to call about and find out what happened to the debt of it and see who now owns it...etc...I am also going to contact CareOne to help me organize my debt and pay it off quicker, I had such nice feedback from a rep I called a year ago and would like to get in contact with CareOne and actually sign up for it this time even if its not the same rep.

Ugh frustration, a lot of these debt collectors I will need to call and not all offer the online pay option, oh well, my consequences for ignoring stuff...

GUESS WHAT?? My Laptop isn't broken, its actually the power cord that needed to be replaced (again, this would be the third time) so I may cancel my $700 Laptop order with Dell. And still keep the money in my Savings, I am still undecided but I normally just like to buy things I need.

Well I manage to pay $4.52 tonight, I will need to call on the rest of the debt collectors to see what I can do.

Oh I have the form filled out for automatic deduction into Savings, now I just need to turn it in. Its going to be $25 a week.

In the Billing Dept that I had been promoted to last October 2007, I did not get my pay for it. The reason for that is, you have to Certify. Which means I have to pass a certain number of Billing Calls and hitting Quality points before I would get my Promotion Pay...and I had three chances to Pass. Well, the first two times they put in in February I failed. And if I had failed the third time I would be sent back to my prior department. So anyway, 7 months later I FINALLY GOT MY PAID PROMOTION I CERTIFIED!!! WOOHOO!! On top of that but the yearly raise in due in June so I will be getting that as well!

Plus I am waiting on my stimulus check. I am thinking about living a paycheck behind and beef up my Savings...Right now because of my Taxes last year I have about $1,000 combined in two Savings accounts. $300 in my ING and $700 in my regular Credit Union.

With my Daughter's check that is going to start her Savings, $100 of her $300 is going to go for her down payment for her teeth again (she has two new teeth growing in and we have to remove the other two).

I had received my Tax return today and paid few good sized bills...it made me happy. Smile Now I don't have to worry about paying them unless I use them (my credit cards) plus I don't have to pay my Car Insurance till June now.

My Taxes are done and I am getting back
$4507.

I owe
Utah State Tax $598
Mother $450
Partner $610
Credit Cards Pay Off $600 (YES!)
Car Insurance $231.40
GRAND TOTAL: $2489.40

I will have $2017.60 left over.

Last night I was watching Suze Orman and watching her made me realize how I need to kick my butt about my debt.

I was thinking of moving all my automatic items to my credit card so that it would be easier to pay it off quicker.

I have little things like my Hosting and Jerky that come out every month...the biggest thing I have is my Business...

I have to get these credit cards paid off and I do not want to get any fees if something were to happen and I did not have the money in my account for some reason. If I did not have the money in there at the time...I need more control somehow, so after Christmas, I will be moving everything EXCEPT for my Credit Cards of course LOL to my Credit Card.


Expecting two Checks from Pinecone and from my Jerky that will be going to my Savings Account.

FINALLY!

I had booked my first Travel Booking on my site! I booked a flight for two to Mexico.

I had also acquired some Travel Leads and had been speaking to prospects who are looking to book Travel vacations.

I am very excited and looking forward to using this money to Pay off my Debt Completely and Financial Independence!

INVESTMENTS

401K - 2% and my Company will match me 2%

Savings Account - $141.59

ShareBuilder - $8 Automatic in YTB Stock


CREDIT CARDS

MasterCard - $200.41 left to pay off

Visa - $279.44 left to pay off

(They both have $300 Credit on them)

Going to try to make $75 or $100 on the next payment for both of them.


DEBT - Still working on that.

BUSINESS - Still working on it.

from two checks I received in the mail from Jerky and SFI. Its not a lot but it is helping rebuild my Savings & for the $20 Challenge.

I will be Marketing my Business more so I can pay off all of my Debt and finally work from home. Tonight we printed off some Business Cards.

I will also be paying myself $25 per paycheck into my Savings Account here soon.

My Money Goals I have done a couple of them.

I signed up for my 401K, which I am finally glad I did.

Well I did get PROMOTED to the Billing Dept at work. Today was the last day of Training, tomorrow I start in my new Dept. Still working on Business though.

I realized that I am adding Value to myself by signing up for my 401k NOW and not later, as well as getting Health Benefits and depositing money back into my Savings. Pleased with myself.

I also want to get my daughter a Savings. She is 4 and I want to get this for her really bad. Plus, I had added her as a Beneficiary everywhere, every time when I sign up for a new Financial Account.

I want to knock out a few big things too in the process:

Chase MC $246.41
National City CC $326.44
Car Insurance $360.39 Optional: $133.51

(I had some issues with them and now I have a HUGE Cancellation & Reinstatement fees from them)

At my Job we had donations for United Way, as a contribution through your paycheck, last year I did the one time option and this year decided to do $2 a week towards the Community Fund via Payroll and then had her verify that the money would go directly those in need and not for 'administrative' costs.

I will also being contributing 2% OR 3% of my weekly income for my 401k, my job will match 3%.

I will be getting Health Insurance through my Job also, although I am already covered, but that coverage won't last forever.

Then the last thing I am going to is put $25 a week into my Savings - Direct Deposit of course.

Lastly I MIGHT possibly get Promoted. I am not depending on it so it will help with all the stuff above.

Oh I hope I don't turn into Analysis Paralysis! But I am trying to figure out the BEST way to Manage my Money.

I want to be able to Save, Invest, Cut Debt,have a 401K and Spend a little bit and open up a Savings for my DD. PLUS pay my separate Bills.

My Check normally is $480, once we go back down to $250 for our living arrangement that will leave me with about $230.

My Partner invests about $25 for the 401K for the company we work at...plus they match whatever you put in and get Company Traded Stock. Works out well!

$230 to work with....hmmmm

I will be using Sharebuilder to invest in Stocks...probably the Automatic Plan because then the Stocks are only $4 when you do it that way. Which I can do Monthly or Weekly. I will most likely do Monthly.

I would like to Save at least 10% weekly in my Savings Account.

Then paying off Old Debt about 10% a week also.

Plus Bills which equals 2 CCs, YTB and Car Insurance. Which are due 09/17/07, 09/17/07, 09/18/07 and 09/22/07.

I want to be more Organized with my Finances. I signed back up for Zooba and it will be sending me a Credit Book. I cannot wait to read it.

Savings Accounts:

Savings Account 1: $25
Savings Account 2: $25
ING Account: $82?

Bills Due:

YTB $50
Car Insurance $50
National City CC $10-$50
Mastercard $50

MEDICAL BILLS:
$100 for Surgery
$10-$30 for Pain Prescriptions
$20 (Mom was sweet to cover) Appointment for Surgery

Main account $350 (for all other bills w/Partner - Rent, Gas, Power, Comcast etc...)

Checking Account: ?

This week I will be getting
$480
The following week
$206

When my Disability Checks come in it would be the first one for only two days $206 and then the following would be $480. I think I can budget all of this for this month. Not sure how Surgery is going to be as I do not have Surgery that often.

Then I will be back to work. Later my Partner and I will be only be doing $300 a week and then $250. We just want to make sure we have all Bases covered with Bills and Surgeries...My Daughter just had her teeth done too. Then I will have more money to focus on Saving, Investing and Paying off OLD Debt.

Stocks- I decided to purchase Stock through Sharebuilder.com through MyPoints.com account so I can get double the bonus and invest in my Business and Company Stock on my own plus a couple of my other favorites.

Well I have a plan to open up a 401K through my Company and I would like to sign up soon, I will try to do close to the minimum but a little bit more if possible. My Long Term future is more important than my Short Term Financial Future.

I am really interested in learning about Stocks and Finance as it is something I am interested in besides Business and Marketing. Money and Business interest me. I would like to take it to the next Level.

Well I just barely logged back into my ING Account after a million years and Updated my Account information and I saw I had earned a TON of interest and still had my money in there...but I also have another Savings account that I cannot touch that is supposed to be used for random checks I received and I would like to Deposit into both Savings but not quite sure how I plan on doing this...what I want to do is possible do automatic transfers every week from my Checking to my home Savings account but then again I earn higher interest with my ING Savings account...not qute sure how I want to do this....

MONEY GOALS:

401K
DD Savings
ME Savings
Pay off Debt
Some type of CD and Investing such as Sharebuilder.com
PLAY Money!
MAKE More Money

Hmmm....need to write this down on paper

IT is painfully hanging over my head. I decided against Debt Consolidation for the time being because I think I cannot afford $80 bucks a week towards paying off my old debt. Every time when I attempted to think about fixing my debt, my head hurts and I feel sort of helpless. Although I know I am sure there is something I can do. Just not sure how I am going to go about this yet. Sigh. On top of that I want to sign up for my Job's 401K, open up a Savings Account for DD and start putting $$$ back into my Savings. I am failing at all of these things right now, PLUS I want to pay off my Secured Card again so I can use it for things again. My Relatives keep insisting the B word and I just couldn't ever do something like that. Like I always say, I OWE this money to them. They don't owe me anything.

I also want to go to College badly . I am looking into Grants and Scholarships before I consider a loan. I want to get my Bachelors of Science in Sales and Marketing and take Online Courses. My Job has Tuition Reimbursement but I do not see myself there for another million years and still have BIG Goals and Dreams to be an Entreprenuer and that I am working on DAILY.

Sigh there now I whined my sorrows about Finance will be getting all of that sorted. Sigh.

Well at the advice of my Beau, I began using my Check Registery for my Purchases on my main Checking/Debit Account. I now right down everything I use on the account.

I am expecting a $34 Refund Check for my Daughter's pictures that came out crappy and a $10 Total from Pinecone for Surveys. I also cashed out MyPoints for myself as a Birthday Present...I had enough for a $50 Gift Card.

Las Vegas was Great, we lived off of Comps and we had a Free Room for a couple of days...we also won which means everything we did in Vegas was absolutely FREE

I feel bad for taking the $400 from my Savings account but I plan on replacing it again later plus with extra that I have been keeping in my main account just fear of going in the red again.

I also started working on my Business...going to try to boost it a little bit more.

UGH I have been in the red two weeks in a row! :O Most of it has to do with, my beau and I eat out alot and we take turns paying for things and I end up forgetting what needs to be Paid and I go overboard.

So now I have to actually figure my Budget (I know, should have done this previously) and figure out what is going to be Paid and When. Sigh.

Right now I am writing down Dates of when things go out of my Account.

I am also working on my Travel Business and Jerky Business, or will be attempting too once I figure out my Finances.

I still need to fix My Credit. I saw something in a Magazine today about fixing Credit so I will be reading more about it tonight.

I got my Taxes back and I put $1300 in Savings and paid something that I cannot remember LOL. $1,000 of it is to fix my daughter's teeth once I find a Pediatric Dentist.

Plus I went to Wendover, Nevada (I live in Utah) and won a total of $1,000 on the $1 Slot Machines with the tip from my new Beau

*Get myself out of the Financial Blunder I had put myself in.

*Pay off my Parents in 4 weeks because they helped me get my all weather tires.

*Pay off my CC again.

*Pay ALL my Bills before anything else.

*The BIGGEST OATH OF ALL is do not sign the list to go home early anymore.

Jacquelyn Butler 11/28/2006

All the Checks I get in the mail for doing little things like Surveys, Jerky and Rebates etc...all go in my $20 Challenge Savings account.

Right now I will be Depositing:

$12.00 Rebate Check for Gillette Razor
$9.30 Cash Crate Check
$5.00 Pinecone Check
$1.50 Jerky Check
TOTAL $27.80

Which will bring my Challenge up to:
$257.77

I will be looking for more ways to get Checks in the mail

Jacquelyn

1) Pay off Debt - Thinking of seeking Credit.org for their Service to help pay down my Debt.

2) $20 Challenge Savings.

3) Savings for my Daughter.

4) BUSINESS! I am going to use $40 a week towards Promoting.

5) I still need to keep track each week as is to what Bills I am paying and which Bills at which time need to be Paid Monthly.

I OPENED up a Savings and PHYSICALLY put my $20 Challenge Money into my Savings today!!!

ITS SO AWESOME!!

I have:

$150 (Loan was Paid back to me)
$8.61 (Jerky Business check)
$20 (For the initial $20 Challenge)
$40 for my daughters Daycare that was reduced by $40 a month for turning 3!
--------
= $218.61

and I opened it up at My Credit Union and told the Bank NOT to link it to my Checking account and I want NO ATMs or any kind of Card. That Account is ONLY for DEPOSITS.

PLUS I am EXPECTING $100 from Rent.com and
$5 Pinecone Check.

Which will bring my TOTAL up to: $323.61

I LOVE THIS CHALLENGE!

I am right now thinking of a thought out Plan for a Customized Life/Home Organization Planner. I was going to buy one but I decided I can customize my own and Save Money in the process by adding things that I think I need & want in it.

Then my Budget, I almost have everything figured out as it to what is coming in and what is going out every month. But first I have to wait and see what my Raise/Promotion entails. I want to live a Paycheck Behind.

I am also looking at my Debt. I am ready to start Paying it off. I need to obtain my Credit Reports first to see where I stand.

I am VERY Excited about Couponing, Winter Gardening and everything else in between!

I FINALLY feel like I have my Life under MY Control, well at least I am to that Point. I just need to do some more Organizing. Hmmmm....

I want to Save Money, Make MORE Money and Pay off My Debt.