*sigh*

I've been quite bad, spending money like I shouldn't.

The last few days were spent with new made (from out of town-so it won't happen again) friends and although they paid for more than I did, I still spent more than I normally would. How the money was spent: drinks and entertainment.

Drinks: $22 - they paid for my drinks which totaled more than this, and I paid a small amount for theirs.

Entertainment: $50

On another recent occasion, I spent an additional $20 for winter fun for a cousin's birthday.

The memories and sanity obtained through these outings are more than worth it!!!

However, I sent about $65 on a pair of shoes today. I'm not going to wear them right away to decide if they will go with many outfits and are worth keeping. :). If they aren't, I will return them within a month.

Oh, and spent about $17 on undies. They were all very inexpensive as I went to TJ Maxx. No, I didn't NEED them, just wanted a sexy update.

Oh wow...I've spent a lot! Must re-focus - after a possible quick trip to Chicago soon!

Payday was Monday

Forgot to mention that Monday was payday and my current balance is now $4,231.xx! By the end of February, my balance should be around $2650. This includes income from my job, and housesitting. :) I'm looking forward to reaching this mini goal!

Also, I broke down (again) and bought a pair of beautiful shoes! These cost me $40 plus tax. I've been needing, yes needing, a pair like this for a long time.

No insurance

My throat has been hurting for about 7 days now, and about 5 days ago, I got white spots in my throat. Then it seemed to be getting worse so on the fourth day, I went to a clinic to get checked out. I was worried it was strep throat. The visit cost me about $50.00, the doc took a sample from my throat and ran the test, it was negative. I'm glad for that! I have so much going on right now that if I had to be isolated for the first 24 hours of antibiotics, I don't know what I would do!!

The doc told me that I may have mono (!) although it's too early to tell, and asked if I have been sleeping enough. The truth is, no, I haven't. I've been running my body to the ground which I know isn't good for anyone. So, he told me to get lots of rest, gargle with salt water 4-5 times a day, and that the spots and soreness should go away in time. He also told me that about 95% of the people he has seen with the same thing, were University students! They party and don't sleep enough.

Although I'm glad it isn't strep, it worries me. He also said it is probably just food stuck in the holes of my tonsils...gross!! That's part of what the gargling is for. Sick!

Today when I woke up, it seemed to feel a tiny bit better, I surely hope it gets better soon. I've been doing the salt water gargling which isn't too bad. I think the spots are about the same as they were yesterday.

Luckily there is a clinic for this type of thing which isn't too expensive when you don't have insurance. Even when I do get insurance, I will stick to an HSA, so I'll still have to pay for things like this.

At least it isn't the flu where I hurt all over and am miserable!!! I feel good...besides my throat. :o)

And the ball keeps rolling...

I need to check in as I paid some on my loan with money from housesitting. The new balance is $4563.xx! I don't even think I realized that I'm under $5K! It's amazing...this is the least I have owed in YEARS and it's getting better all the time!

I should get paid on Monday and will be paying more towards the dreaded debt.

I must admit though...I went out with the girls yesterday and spent about $20 on drinks. I needed it.

I'm such a lightweight when it comes to alcohol...which has its pros and cons. It's good because I spend less to feel a buzz...but bad because I have to really pace myself...I guess that isn't a con. I just have to nurse my drinks.

Posting

A lot of the posts I've made lately have been from my cell phone. It's really nice that we have the ability to do this because I don't always feel like going online to post here.

However, when I send an email from my phone to post something, I'm not able to update the sidebar and that's why it doesn't always match my posting totals.

Today I was able to pay $160.00 to my loan making the new balance $4,810.xx. Blows me away! This time I am actually on the PC so will go update the sidebar now. This is so exciting!

Glad it still exists

I'm really thankful that people still use eBay! For some time it seemed that it disappeared, but thankfully that was only true in my circle of friends. Because of it, I have been able to sell and make extra money to pay down my debt.

Today I transferred funds to my loan and the new balance $4964.xx.

Payday

Got paid yesterday and made a payment of $400.00 to my loan which brought my total balance to $5,240.xx and I have updated the sidebar.

Debt free goal date updated!

After going over my budget for the next six months I realized that it is possible for me to reach my debt free goal by the end of April instead of June!!!  I just need to keep up the eBay, bump it up a notch or two, and not miss any work days.  So excited!

New Year...

So, it's a new year. I don't usually make New Year's resolutions because I have a hard time keeping them. After all, shouldn't we strive to be better and reach higher goals daily and not just January 1st hoping it will last all year?

That being said, I (as I mentioned it in my last post) am proud of myself for paying off so much last year and sticking with my goal. It wasn't a New Year's resolution when I decided to get out of debt, I was just sick of being IN debt and was determined to get out.

I've never been much of a goal setter, and I feel like this is why I've never done anything HUGE. Many people think I've done so much, but I am my own worst critic...I want, or expect more from myself.

Not having defined goals makes it almost sad to think that soon I will be debt free. Although I know this is a GOOD thing, I don't have a big goal after this and need to come up with something. Of course I have a small list of things I need and want to do that involve money:

•Get health insurance!!!
•3-6 Month emergency fund
•Save for a better car
•Save for travel
•Take a class of some sort (this is frustrating)
•Save for retirement

Things I don't want:
•Marriage
•Children
•Pets
•Debt (the obvious)

What to do? How to figure it out? I love so much and can't narrow it down. I don't want to start something and not want it 100% in the end, or wish I had done something else.

Hmmm...traveling and soul searching may be needed.

Now I'm just rambling.

~P.S. I paid more to my loan on Friday with money that was in my PayPal account and extra in my checking account. New balance is $5,636.xx! Should get paid tomorrow and will update again.