Jackie's Journal

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

I have checked settings and nothing there and when I try to update my settings, nothing happens.

Well a lot has changed:
*Quit my Job in March 2012 and I now work from home
*Cashed out my 401k and put it in my Savings
*Doing a new 52 Week Savings Challenge for 2013
Week 1 $1, Week 2, $2 etc...by then of the year I should have $1378.00 in both my daughter and my Savings account with ING. Picture is below if anyone wants to do it.

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)

I swear I am such a flake, not really but can be! Okay so I decided to have $5 pulled from my bank to my ING accounts ($5 in each account) one for emergencies and one for my daughter...come the new year I will be doing $28 (because I am 28) and $7 for my daughter (because she is 7) and increase it every year as we get older. Because me manually trying to do this is impossible. I also canceled my Health Insurance because my mom found a more inexpensive one. I decided to stay at my job - they promoted me and gave me a raise.

I also cashed out of all my MyPoints and Swagbucks. So I will be getting $30 in Amazon.com, $25 GC for Target, $25 GC for JCPenney and $10 GC for Chilis.

I went from deciding to spend $60 per person to $40 per person for Christmas. Since everyone I know basically has what they want anyway.

I also keep a stash, it ranges I went from $80 then back to $30. Its just cash to have handy aside from what I keep in the bank.

I know I haven't posted in a while. I just have been busy. After going back and forth decided to stay with my parents the rest of the year of 2010.

The family dog died on Thursday, June 10th 2010 I didn't find out till I came home after work on Thursday. She was 13 years old. I had grew up with her and she was a good dog. I love and miss her very much.

I am trying to get another Customer Service job with another transportation company. It sounds like the perfect match, I hope they think so too.

I moved back home to my parents last July 2009 because of a bad breakup...I was originally supposed to move in March but decided to move in July 2010...am I just accustomed to have extra money (I still pay rent every week) or just afraid to be out on my own again?

Hmmm I have changed the date from April, May June and now July...

I think an second at home job may help...I decided to stay at UPS CSC unless somethiing better comes along...I don't know...Hmmm...

Wasting food...even if your stuffed...but what I really don't like is if you go to a special event dinner & they throw out your food and don't have to go boxes...I asked them if I could save it and they said that they had nothing to put it in...it was a slice of roast, some sort of chicken, the spinach salad was awesome, but anyway just my vent...I have dogs & I like to eat leftovers..I just don't like wasting...I also wonder what they did with the rest of the food leftover from the event unless they let their employees take it from the catering company. But when they put all the food away I noticed they let this HUGE roast dry out...Hmmmm....

Every night before bed my daughter and I share a bag of chicken ramen...I love it...we eat it with Saltine crackers and Tapatio hot sauce (yes she eats hot sauce too and she is 6)...plus it helps me sleep well

Although I have been with the company for 3.5 years and I am in a good position and make good money...the stress this year with them has doubled. #1 My ex works there but in a different dept. #2 They have threatened to close our Corporate office and they have not renewed the lease for our building. #3 I am on a write-up for not passing over 75% of my calls in a month...we all have bad months but I need stability...they have also let go some people who have been there years and people have quit.

So I signed up for HotJobs.com Monster.com CareerBuilder.com . Refreshed my resume and applied for many jobs today and one yesterday.

I am keeping my job till I can find another one...I have 30+ days depending on how much months go and if I am over 75% every month on passing calls...

$100 is for a Health Assessment for my Health Insurance UHC

$100 Rebate for Renewing my 2 year Contract with AT&T...I at first was going to go online to get a new phone but I ended up going to the AT&T store at the suggestion of my mom and ended up saving 20% a month on my service and getting my rebate, plus they matched the price on the website

I am going to save the GC for Emergencies.

Today I also bought a dining set & living room set for $50 at an Estate sale for my new apt!

McDonalds any size soda $1
Subway Footlong any $5
Walmart Vision Complete Pair of Glasses $38

I LOVE Subway!!! I really need glasses and to get a new eye exam (not included) so this deal came perfect timing.

$5385 is what I am getting

$646 - State Tax
$185 - Visa
$597 - MC
$300 - Parents
$2000 - Car
-----------------
$1556.00

Which will go towards getting my Apartment. I will make sure I have some leftover for Savings.

But a single mom so that might have something to do with it also but today I got my nails filled (at Walmart) and it was $18 plus I always leave a $5 tip. So my daughter is with me and wants French tips also so I told her I would buy her some while we shop at Walmart (she is 6) so I go to get her some and realize for $5 bucks I might want to try to do my own nails. That's what? 75% SAVINGS! $5 vs $15 (or $20)...Hmmm something always to think about...

I have two keys missing from my Dell laptop, and H key and a symbol key..so I give my mom my laptop to take to a PC shop that is in her Chamber member(she works for Chamber of Commerce) and they have the nerve to want to charge me $50! I said HECK NO...I can get either the keys online or a new keyboard for less than $10!! I almost different but I was thinking does this guy think I am stupid? So I am going to fix it myself.

I take out $20 a week for emergency purposes when I can...most of the money those goes to my soda ($1.00) and coffee (.70 cents) I buy at work...I bring coffee to work but sometimes its not enough so I buy more coffee...and I end up getting a bag of chips (.75 cents) or donuts ($1.00). So depending on my mood I end up spending $10 or more a week on junk and doesn't really get used for emergency . Now I could probably do without the coffee but not the soda..or the junk food. I used to just make sure I had $5 a week for soda...I no longer eat lunch because of personal reasons but that is going to change once I get my apt at the end of February.

My idea is to only spend $5 a week again, still take out $20 week and put the $15 towards my $20 Challenge. Because I can guarantee you if its in my account or my little black wallet I will spend it. But in this case I would keep it in my pink sock and I still keep adding $5 a week to my Savings when I get paid. And if I do have an Emergency I will still have the $15 and if I don't need it that week then add it to my Challenge.

Instead of wasting my Gift Cards on junk I bought the items I would need on my Target and Walmart Gift Cards...$35 for the Pink Vacuum and I had been eying it for weeks! My favorite purchase was almost sold out! Bought it at Walmart.

Target I bought the dinnerware set 30% off $20, silverware $8.99 and cookware $18.99 all from a $50 Gift Card. Owed only $2.31.

I am loyal to ATT cell phone service. My parents want to add me to their family plan and only pay $10 a month for doing so but I love my ATT! I don't mind paying the extra $90 a month plus I get to have my independence from my parents...my contract is up with ATT and I can upgrade and do a new 2 year with a new phone or a rebated payment back to myself. My cell now has water damage but still works, I paid about $50 extra to get it working properly again...its a Blackberry Pearl 8810...I want a new phone but my pets shots are more important! So I am just going to wing it I guess till I decide what to do...

My dad gave me an idea that even though its a little to start with, I should save $5 a week...so I started this week.

$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?

I usually get $5,000.

$700 goes to State
$2000 will to buy car (long story)
$700 Pay off Credit Cards
Pay deposit for Apt
Savings

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.

This year I decided to get everyone big gifts this year since I can since I am living at home. I have been buying one gift a week since I get paid every week.

Daughter - DS Lite $129 *Bought

Parents - Guitar Hero Beatles (splitting cost with siblings) $67.00-$100 *Buying Dec 12th

Brother - Laptop (buying from parents) $200 *buying Dec 19th

Sister - Sony Cybershot $119 *Buying Saturday Dec 5th

Daddy - Care Package $? (after Christmas)

I REALLY also want to get everyone Gift Cards since I LOVE Gift Cards (giving and receiving them) but I may not if I cannot afford to.

The ONLY thing I want for Christmas is my dog I got from my hairstylist friend...my parents let me take my cat and she sleeps in the basement with us but my ex took our dog even though the dog claimed me and the cat claimed my ex. I also had another bad situation where when I was first married and lived in Mexico I had to leave my dog there also...so its VERY sentimental I get this dog ...My parents already have two dogs and three cats of their own...but they let me bring my cat and I take care of her here in my basement...my mom also loves that I love taking care of their dogs...the reason why is my dad thinks they already have too many animals here LOL..which is understandable LOL but it would be in the basement with me till I move out like my cat. So please HOPE I get the dog for Christmas!

Pay off my Debt (haven't
Savings & Emergency Fund (Have none
Make Money (Jewelry Parties - Goal 2 a week)

I no longer have a partner, she left me in July 2009 and I had to move back home till March 2010. So its just me and my daughter again.

I already found an apartment I will be moving to (1 bedroom): $688 a month (includes water, cat)

After school care for my daughter $185
My Cell ATT $110
Utilities $100
Credit Card $50
Goal for Groceries $40 a week for two (will coupon & stockpile)
Beauty $110 (nails, hair, tanning - I am a new high maintenance woman but I get my nails done at Walmart and my friend does my hair)
No car payment
Car insurance cut from paycheck
Comcast Internet & Cable $130 (I think it was)
$1348 Month

Now if I can cut my Comcast to start I will put that extra money in my $20 Challenge or anything else I can cut. I am also going to start Kmart Layaway for my items needed again for my apartment after Christmas.

If you have any suggestions let me know.

Thanks
Jackie

Work was slow so I left to go home early because they didn't need me and they gave me the option...well for a couple of weeks I worked only 20 hours and now I am so far behind in my bills and I owe so many people money I don't know what to do! I screwed up so bad. I don't want to ask anyone for the money because my mom will hold it over my head...I keep getting overdraft fees but luckily I am with a Credit Union and only get overdraft fees when something cannot be paid. Its almost Friday and I get paid weekly but because the overdraft my check will be less. I have started to work 40 hours again. Tell me what to do! I have Canceled things that I really do not need. I am worried about my Credit Cards. I tried to make a payment one week and got a return charge because there was no money to pay it. PLEASE HELP ME!! I am so desperate. I know this is a bad way to come back since I haven't posted since July 2008. But I need help!!!

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

Well now I have two! I know some would say I should sell one or give my old one away but the first one I got for free and it still works and its mine, the second one is the new one I got from Dell.

Well, I tried to Cancel with Dell and it was too late.

I bought a $67 ($39 for the cord & the rest for the Fedex Next Day Shipping) Laptop cord to fix my Toshiba and it worked again, we had originally took it apart because we thought the pin was broken on it. It wasn't. The Laptop cord just was broken.

So I got my new Laptop and its Beautifully PINK (It cost me a total of $768)

I am going to make payments on it and I am still putting $25 a week in Savings. I am going to try to have it paid off in about 4 months. So I would almost have to pay $200 a month. Which doesn't seem to much and if I have any extra money I can go ahead and pay it towards it as well.

I think it will all be fine though.

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.