Jackie's Journal

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.

At my strict Job. I am relieved and Happy but at the same time still know this is not my Dream. I am still trying to get my Business off the ground. I get frustrated when I think about it. Considering the Live a Raise Behind option which I should have done with my last raise. Really too tired to get into detail.

Well I spoke with a Credit Counselor this morning and I never felt so much relief before! I hadn't even done anything yet. I am still looking into the Consumer Credit Counseling before I decide who I will go with. But honestly, I really liked the Customer Service Counselor I had spoke with and I may go with her. I know their fee maybe higher but I just really appreciate good customer service and I maybe able to get going on this within the next month, I am so excited!

I am not sure if I had admitted this before but I have high outstanding debt and I am ashamed of it because I am not as irresponsible as it would seem. We all go through a rough time in our life and that was a rough time for me. Bankruptcy is out of the question, although I had many tell me it is the best way out. But really its not. I owe all those people money with tons of interest on these old Credits and Bills, I have to pay them. That was my mistake.

I was doing some research online about and I came across this article

Debt Consolidation and I guess there are various types of ways to do debt consolidation and one of them are Debt Consolidation Loans, which is ironic because I am not even sure if half the population would even qualify for any type of "Loan" regarding outstanding debt and when I think of Debt Consolidation, I think of "Consolidating" Debt into a small monthly payment.

Doing further research I know I can contact each individual company to see about reducing amounts and interest owed - but honestly, knowing that is an option, its still an option I cannot afford. Reading the Article on Self-Debt Reduction, I know that is not an option for me.

I also understand the Government does assist with Consumer Debt Counseling so I can avoid any type of Fraud by illegitimate companies trying to take advantage of my mistake.

Still doing more research, I think I may see what the Government has for Debt Consolidation.

I finally took the Initative to ASK to Reduce My Rate for my Bill of $102.90 since I am a Good Standing Customer...and here is what happened....

Billing says oh I don't know, let me get you to Sales....so I speak to the Sales Dept and I told the lady the same thing..."I am a Good Paying Customer, I pay on time every month is there any Promotion I can use right now to reduce my Rate?" and she says "Oh let me check your area and she checks my area, which is SLC and she says "Oh it looks like we are very Competitive in your area, there is a Promotion you can do without having to get the phone" So now my Bill dropped down to $73!!! I am So Happy! They were so Friendly, I was so Friendly! I told the Sales lady, I really appreciate it and everything! I am just so happy now!!

I HIGHLY Recommend Comcast!

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

My Norton 2006 Anti-Virus was just telling me how my 2006 had Expired...I had just purchased a bunch of $5 TVs from Office Depot.com, you know Stockpiling and so I decided to check out a Friend's site because I missed the Game! LO and BEHOLD! There is a Overage of $7 and Rebate CC for Norton Anti-Virus! So I made sure I purchased it tonight before the deadline which is tomorrow 12/09/06...and now I am sitting here filling out my Rebate form, wondering where my 2007 software is so I can submit my form with the UPC Code LOLOL!

I also had deposited those Checks which brought my total up to $268 and I got a Jerky Check for $15 that I need to Deposit and have some more Pinecone Checks coming in...

*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

Ok I have serious bills coming up. My DD has to get her teeth fixed. I am figuring out right now how I am going to pay for all of this.

Here is what I have:

$300 All Weather Tires
$100 Medical Bill
$100 Car Stuff
$990 DD Dentist (Out of Pocket AFTER Insurance)
TOTAL $1490

Also in December I signed up to work the Season on two Saturdays (both those days count as Overtime) which will give me an extra $300.

I Paid my Comcast Bill today $89
I got DD Pictures from School $36.00
DD had Bookfair $18.92
Put money aside for Rent $65
Daycare for next week $90

I ONLY WORK 3 DAYS NEXT WEEK! WOOHOO!

$9.30 CashCrate (Unexpected)
$5.00 Pinecone
$1.50 Jerky (I need to get busy with this one, they subtracted the $12 a month Autoship fee)
TOTAL: $15.80

Going into my $20 Challenge Pot that I need to work on again, brings my Total to:

$245.77

I need to do more with My Challenge. I need to get back into Couponing and such.

$33 for Over-the-Counter
$24 for more Over-the-Counter
$30 for Medication
$20 CoPay

TOTAL $107

Loss of time at work with no Pay PRICELSS. (Only TWO Days PTO every THREE Months)

I have been sick for over 2 weeks with a horrible Cough, the Doc says it is Viral, and it will go away when it wants too.

Funny how my Job consists of Phone Customer Service.

Still not better, improving Slowly.

Its really BAD LIKE BAD!

I know, get my Finances in order and keep track of my spending...I am so BAD

I think I have a problem when I go Grocery Shopping, these last few weeks I have going over my Budget and buying things I don't need. I don't know why I do that. Am I worried I am going to run out of Food or what?

Anyway, after everything that goes through that is supposed to go through I am going to get back on track. REALLY WORRIED about going in the RED.

Because we have a Sign up List to go Home Early if it is Slow depending on the Call Flow and How many People are working.

I LOST out on $66 I don't think I will do that again.

In fact I need to tighten my belt again.

Rent $525 ($195)
Daycare $90
Simon $32
Gas $16.47
Groceries $71.75
McDonalds $6.11
-------------------
TOTAL $411.33

I got my Rent.com Gift Card today. Its so Pretty LOL!

I am bad, or maybe it was a Good Decision?

I signed up for COSTCO. WHY? LOL. TOO FUNNY.

They had this cute little Thermos that says "Costco Wholesale" on it, I was able to get a couple of Costco Pens and a $10 Cashback. I LOVE FREE STUFF! They were at my work. I am a freak like that but I did get a Membership. But here is the deal! I can Request a Refund anytime! No Trial period or anything! But I wouldn't do that unless I knew I absolutely wasn't using the Membership. THEY ALSO DELIVER!

Also...on a side note...to get the Thermos, I filled out a Credit Card! Which I know I may not be Approved for. There goes a mark on my Credit Score Kind of embarrassed.

My Membership was $53.30!

HOW quickly, Daily all the money comes out that I have spent over the weekend! Everyday at least $100 comes out...Like I said in an earlier Post, I did not keep track too well...so I hope I don't end up in the red.

That is the most rediculous thing I have ever heard. THIS IS TWICE I had to pay it, would prefer to Pay my Bills Online but I cannot seem to do that when the Website is not functioning correctly.

Anyway, HOW Can you Charge someone for PAYING their BILL??? That is just so rediculous!


Two $3 Convinence fees for WANTING TO PAY MY BILL! Next month the website better be functioning so I can Pay my Bills Online LIKE I like to do!

EDIT TO ADD: It is an Automated System via Telephone to Pay by Phone.

I am Excited! I am getting my $100 Gift Card from Rent.com.

I am expecting my Free IPod sometime in a few weeks.

I also can cash out at MyPoints $50 worth of Gift Cards.

I am close to cashing out at Inbox Dollars for $30.

I am also expecting another Check from Pinecone.

How do Save Gift Cards?

I had slacking in the Keeping track of Spending department. I had been just Spending and seeing hopefully I wouldn't go into the Red. Well, I am going to try to keep track of everything I spent this week, although I am not quite sure....

CC $127
Rent $40
Gas $17
Power Bill $31.80
Comcast $85.41
Gas Bill $24
Daycare $90
Groceries $40
Ad in paper $28
Friend's B-Day Gift $34
-----------------------
TOTAL $516

Hi Jacquelyn,

Today, we mailed your $100 Rent.com Reward. You should expect to
receive it in the next 7 to 10 business days. If you don't receive
your reward within 2 weeks, please email us at reward@rent.com.

Your reward will arrive in the form of a prepaid $100 Visa card that
can be used anywhere that accepts Visa debit cards. It is not a
credit card. You will never receive any bills associated with this
card. It is a prepaid $100 gift from us for being an excellent
customer.

Before using your card, you must activate it with your 4-digit
activation code. To activate your card, call 1-800-279-5412 and
follow the instructions provided.

Your activation code is: XXXX

If you have any questions about your card, please read our Frequently
Asked Questions:

http://www.rent.com/company/reward-card/

Enjoy,

The Rent.com Team

I have enough to Pay all my Bills and EAT! I am happy. For some reason I think we are ahead one week but we aren't. My friend's Birthday is on the 18th so I can buy her present now too.

My CC, Power, Gas, Comcast, Daycare and then I have to put aside Money for Rent.

I think since I am paying part of my CC, I could use that for Grocery and Gas since paying it will give me that Balance I need. It is a Secured CC. I could then Pay off the rest next week.

I don't like having all my Bills due at once.

But I do have some Good News! A Company that had charged me after I Cancelled put the Money back into my Account today.

$85 for Food
$50 for Alcohol
$40 for Extras
$25 Hair Updo
$61 for Outfit
----------------
TOTAL $261.00

People having a Good Time PRICELESS

Preparing for Party. Cleaning like a mad woman. I have so much to do!

Having a Party is not cheap. And I am going all out. This is my first party and I have Invited over 20 People! YES! I cannot believe it.

I do not have time to prepare food. I bought a Chocolate Fondue Fountain I am Excited about using! I have to buy the Chocolate for it and Toothpicks.

I also have to buy food for the week and put money on my Prepaid and so many other Costs. I arleady set aside money for Rent for November. Which is the first thing I cover and then I pay any additional bills I may have then the rest of the money is leftover for FUN! I have been slacking on my Challenge and I owe myself some money still. I just need to get these things out of the way.

I still need to buy myself a New Vacuum. But I can wait. I am going to borrow my mother's this weekend.

My Brother was going to help me but then we got into a tiff. So not anymore!

I TRIED to sign up for OT at work and they said they do not need me during the hours I requested. But that is ok, I will make extra money other ways. I just thought I would take advantage of the OT since they keep me there so many hours anyway.

I have some sweet people that want to bring me Gifts. Although I made sure I had EVERYTHING when I moved in. People are so sweet.

Buy a Prepaid Credit Card to track my Spending for just 'whatever' stuff and set myself a Limit. I think it would work, put a specific amount on it a week (Because I get Paid Weekly) and then use it that way...

You know there are weekends when you really do not feel like Shopping...? Its weird, last weekend I had a shopaholic moment and then the weekend before I had no urge to buy stuff period. WEIRD.

Jacquelyn

I bought Gas $5.82

I also went to Walgreens for the first time and I picked up their new Sales AD and Little Saver booklet I kept hearing about. I saw a couple of deals in there I seen Coupons for and I was mad I didn't clip THOSE Coupons. I also bought a Sunday Paper for the Coupons. Now I REALLY need to go through the Ads and my Coupons.

$21.71

Lunch $4.75
Amazon.com $43.91
Walmart $79.60
McDonalds $5.02
KOHLS $61.91
Albertsons $24.96
Rent $75.00
Daycare $90.00
Medical Bill $10.00
Comcast $75.57
---------------------
TOTAL: $470.72

I think I have it all Covered. I need to get on my Challenge though...I still owe myself money. I will be depositing $50 + $5 Pinecone Check next Saturday.