After making out my budget for a year and a half, I calculated that my personal loan will be paid off in December 2009. For a long time I was only paying $20 / $40 here and there, but now I've worked my way up to $50 per month, for the next two months. In July, I'm bumping it up to $225 per month (and possibly more). Again, all this is assuming my finances remain the same.
I struggled with this debt for a while as far as what priority to give it, because the person is not charging me any interest and doesn't need the money, I know this to be true. In fact, the times when I've brought up repaying the loan, she has told me not to worry about it.
Anyhow, it was a loan from a friend and although it is at zero interest, it should receive priority.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Payday...and I'm broke!
Oh, how I ♥ paydays! It's funny though, because it's not that I'm excited to have money in my account so I can go shopping for things I really don't need. It's more exciting for me to know that I'm one step closer to being debt free!!
A couple of weeks ago, I set up a budget on Excel through the end of 2011. Yes, the year 2011. According to my figures, this is how long it will take me to become debt free. That is, of course, dependent on my income remaining where it is now and my expenditures also being stable, ie. rent, gas, electricity, food, etc. Also, I did not figure any money made through extra avenues such as ebay, the possible occasional yard sale, odd jobs, etc.
So, today I was happy to be able to go online, see the balance in my checking account and pay some bills. It's funny though, because I'm always broke even if I just got paid. I've turned down a lot of things lately such as going out to eat and buying things I normally wouldn't think twice about. My eating habits have changed, I'm eating homemade beans :) and they're damn good!!
A couple of weeks ago, I set up a budget on Excel through the end of 2011. Yes, the year 2011. According to my figures, this is how long it will take me to become debt free. That is, of course, dependent on my income remaining where it is now and my expenditures also being stable, ie. rent, gas, electricity, food, etc. Also, I did not figure any money made through extra avenues such as ebay, the possible occasional yard sale, odd jobs, etc.
So, today I was happy to be able to go online, see the balance in my checking account and pay some bills. It's funny though, because I'm always broke even if I just got paid. I've turned down a lot of things lately such as going out to eat and buying things I normally wouldn't think twice about. My eating habits have changed, I'm eating homemade beans :) and they're damn good!!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Why I will NEVER do business with WELLS FARGO again!
Apparently I’m laundering money…or something, according to Wells Fargo. Yes, me, I’m out there up to no good, you know, working hard, making money, paying off my debts. It’s all totally legal and they closed my credit card account due to “suspicious activity.”
I can’t tell you how mad I was am at them! I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH WELLS FARGO AGAIN!
FIRST INCIDENT
I had paid off my credit card and my brother asked me to get him some concert tickets which he gave me the money for. It had to be done online with a card, so I figured I would get the rewards points and use the WF card. No brainer right? Got the tickets purchased, done.
During this time I also paid WF the amount of the tickets so they would be covered. This charge didn’t go through for a few days and since my account was “overpaid” it sent a GIANT RED FLAG to WF’s Fraud Department.
They blocked my card and I had to call them. The only thing their brilliant rep told me was to not overpay my account again. Ok, no big deal. It was an accident, I guess, if you could say that. Even though I had a charge going through, they don’t like that. -- Don’t overpay your account.
SECOND INCIDENT
Again my card was blocked, only a few weeks later and I had to call WF to find out why. This time a different rep told me that a lot of people launder money by overpaying their accounts. Also, that I was making so many payments and charging things, ie. make a payment of $200 and then charge $200. Um, yeah, I used it like a debit card…for the points. Whatever.
He told me that if this happened again, WF would close my account without notice. Fine, whatever. The information received from both of the reps was different.
THE CLOSURE
Within a month I was at the grocery store and used tried to use my WF card but it didn’t go through. I was puzzled. Swiped the card again…same thing. What the?! Alright, paid another way.
When I got to my car I called WF and apparently my account had been closed that very day. The Fraud rep told me something I had not heard from the other two reps I spoke to, which I did let him know.
He did confirm that people launder money by overpaying accounts and what I was told is true. However, the reason the account was closed, according to him, is that I was using more than my available credit during one billing cycle.
In other words, if you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit, THIS IS ALL YOU CAN USE IN ONE BILLING CYCLE. No, you cannot charge $1,000 on Monday, pay it off Tuesday, charge $1,000 on Wednesday to turn around and pay it off on Thursday. You would be using more than what they “allow” you to use in one month….even if you pay it off!!
The rep told me you cannot, “boost your credit limit,” by paying an extra amount than what is owed.
I told the WF rep that I was not told this by the other two reps, which he apologized for, but really it does me no good when the account has been closed.
He also said he would appeal this closure due to being told incomplete information and see if anything could be done… he would let me know the answer in a few days. When he told me, IF ANYTHING, WF would ask me to re-apply for a new card, I made sure to let him know I would NOT be doing business with WF again if my card was not re-opened.
Never heard from him again.
The thing that makes me really mad is that I was a WF customer from 1996-2009 and THEY closed my account due to their lack of their representatives efficiency. This will also reflect on my credit report and could possibly / likely lower my score and affect my open account with AMEX. I sure hope it doesn’t!
The icing on this cake is….I was going to get a $100 Wells Fargo Cash Reward on the next statement. Now, I can’t.
I can’t tell you how mad I was am at them! I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH WELLS FARGO AGAIN!
FIRST INCIDENT
I had paid off my credit card and my brother asked me to get him some concert tickets which he gave me the money for. It had to be done online with a card, so I figured I would get the rewards points and use the WF card. No brainer right? Got the tickets purchased, done.
During this time I also paid WF the amount of the tickets so they would be covered. This charge didn’t go through for a few days and since my account was “overpaid” it sent a GIANT RED FLAG to WF’s Fraud Department.
They blocked my card and I had to call them. The only thing their brilliant rep told me was to not overpay my account again. Ok, no big deal. It was an accident, I guess, if you could say that. Even though I had a charge going through, they don’t like that. -- Don’t overpay your account.
SECOND INCIDENT
Again my card was blocked, only a few weeks later and I had to call WF to find out why. This time a different rep told me that a lot of people launder money by overpaying their accounts. Also, that I was making so many payments and charging things, ie. make a payment of $200 and then charge $200. Um, yeah, I used it like a debit card…for the points. Whatever.
He told me that if this happened again, WF would close my account without notice. Fine, whatever. The information received from both of the reps was different.
THE CLOSURE
Within a month I was at the grocery store and used tried to use my WF card but it didn’t go through. I was puzzled. Swiped the card again…same thing. What the?! Alright, paid another way.
When I got to my car I called WF and apparently my account had been closed that very day. The Fraud rep told me something I had not heard from the other two reps I spoke to, which I did let him know.
He did confirm that people launder money by overpaying accounts and what I was told is true. However, the reason the account was closed, according to him, is that I was using more than my available credit during one billing cycle.
In other words, if you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit, THIS IS ALL YOU CAN USE IN ONE BILLING CYCLE. No, you cannot charge $1,000 on Monday, pay it off Tuesday, charge $1,000 on Wednesday to turn around and pay it off on Thursday. You would be using more than what they “allow” you to use in one month….even if you pay it off!!
The rep told me you cannot, “boost your credit limit,” by paying an extra amount than what is owed.
I told the WF rep that I was not told this by the other two reps, which he apologized for, but really it does me no good when the account has been closed.
He also said he would appeal this closure due to being told incomplete information and see if anything could be done… he would let me know the answer in a few days. When he told me, IF ANYTHING, WF would ask me to re-apply for a new card, I made sure to let him know I would NOT be doing business with WF again if my card was not re-opened.
Never heard from him again.
The thing that makes me really mad is that I was a WF customer from 1996-2009 and THEY closed my account due to their lack of their representatives efficiency. This will also reflect on my credit report and could possibly / likely lower my score and affect my open account with AMEX. I sure hope it doesn’t!
The icing on this cake is….I was going to get a $100 Wells Fargo Cash Reward on the next statement. Now, I can’t.
Leftovers
My BF made a frozen pizza for lunch today (which by the way was free after rebate!) which sounds great, but is a problem...or used to be! The reason it used to be and isn't anymore is that frozen pizza, once it has been cooked, isn't good when reheated. It's gross!
Anyhow, today I thought, I'm not letting this pizza go to waste...again. So, I turned the oven on broil, microwaved it for a minute and then stuck it in the oven. It came out crispy and yummy!
Consumed leftovers & saved money = happy me.
Anyhow, today I thought, I'm not letting this pizza go to waste...again. So, I turned the oven on broil, microwaved it for a minute and then stuck it in the oven. It came out crispy and yummy!
Consumed leftovers & saved money = happy me.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Updated sidebar
Today I paid WF $250 and my car $180 so updated the sidebar. It's gratifying to see the numbers get smaller and smaller each payday.
I'll be so ecstatic when they are ALL paid off!!
I'll be so ecstatic when they are ALL paid off!!
Friday, April 3, 2009
April Budget
UPDATE: I decided showing my budget on Excel this way is just too much work.
This month I'm not putting money aside for my car payment because I get paid May 1st which is three days before my next payment.
My paycheck was about $750 so you would think I have money left over, but actually I went shopping for things to sell on ebay. I have some paying back to myself to do!
This month I'm not putting money aside for my car payment because I get paid May 1st which is three days before my next payment.My paycheck was about $750 so you would think I have money left over, but actually I went shopping for things to sell on ebay. I have some paying back to myself to do!
Loaning money
Have you ever loaned money to someone and they say, "I'll pay you back next week when I get paid."? I've loaned money out many times over the years, to family, and it always seems that they don't pay me when they say they will.
Suddenly, when "next week" comes and they get paid, they realize that other bills need to be paid and use their paycheck for the bills instead. As if they need my money more than I do. Or, because I had the ability to loan it, I really don't "need" it. That's a bunch of B.S.!!
I'm so upset that this has happened once again. I realize it is my fault for loaning the money in the first place, but there is so much more to the reason she (in this case) needs the money, which is why I did it.
We're not talking thousands of dollars or anything, but just $200, for three different things. Anyhow, it's my money and I want it back!! Her payday has come and gone. Then comes the attempted guilt trip of, "I'm going to sell (fill in the blank) so I can pay you, does that make you happy?!?!" Um, no, but that's just not my problem. You borrowed and owe me. Period.
I just wish people would learn to manage their money and not come to me for my hard earned cash.
~Still trying to get out of debt.
Suddenly, when "next week" comes and they get paid, they realize that other bills need to be paid and use their paycheck for the bills instead. As if they need my money more than I do. Or, because I had the ability to loan it, I really don't "need" it. That's a bunch of B.S.!!
I'm so upset that this has happened once again. I realize it is my fault for loaning the money in the first place, but there is so much more to the reason she (in this case) needs the money, which is why I did it.
We're not talking thousands of dollars or anything, but just $200, for three different things. Anyhow, it's my money and I want it back!! Her payday has come and gone. Then comes the attempted guilt trip of, "I'm going to sell (fill in the blank) so I can pay you, does that make you happy?!?!" Um, no, but that's just not my problem. You borrowed and owe me. Period.
I just wish people would learn to manage their money and not come to me for my hard earned cash.
~Still trying to get out of debt.
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