Payday

Yesterday was payday, which is always fun because I get to go down my list and cross things off that I've paid.  Not that I'm excited about paying $100 for my cell phone every month, but it's nice to get those things out of the way.

I've already taken some cash out for spending and putting in envelopes, this way I won't be tempted to use  plastic which is more difficult to keep track of.  On Sunday my BF and I are going to Home Depot or Lowes to purchase vegetable and herb plants!  I'm really excited about this, and am sure he'll be footing half the bill.  I'll make sure to use cash for this.

Ramblings

It sure has been a loooong time since I posted!  Actually, I tried posting from my phone some time ago, but it didn't go through...and now I don't remember what I said in that post :/

I'm still sort of on track, I haven't racked up debt like before.  There is some mindless accumulation of debt built back up on my AMEX card which I chose to keep open for work expenses.  It's really a bad situation because I know that card number by memory so when I shop online, guess which card gets used!?

Overall, I'm happy with how far I've come.  I'm in the process of looking for a replacement car and if all goes well, I will pay cash for it.  If I can't find what I want, I'll have to finance less than $5k.  I could pay for it, but would rather not.  Stupid, I know.

Anyhow, life has been good, I received a (long awaited) raise at my job and need to kick myself in the butt and get back on track with money.  However, I still budget and pay all the bills and myself first.

I've also put myself back in school so I can have a well paying career.  It will probably take a long time, but if I'm alive, I'll either be alive with a degree, or none.  My choice.  When I look at the people around me getting their PhD's, Masters, and Bachelors degrees, it makes me sad to know that I SHOULD be there too!  What's wrong with me?!  Just slow I guess.  Summer classes start in two weeks, I'm enrolled for one class at the community college.


Something I've learned...it's much easier to lose track of your spending if you use plastic.  Cash is the best way to go.  Sometimes I don't get cash from the bank when I get paid, and end up using my debit card for everything and lose track of what's left.  Not good.

The good thing is, I do pay myself first.  This is a must if you want to save any amount of money.  Out of sight, out of mind.

There you have it, some rambling.

State Taxes

I'm a procrastinator (working on this) and a couple of years ago I filed my 2006 taxes late...very late. I received a notice that I owed close to $1,000! Of course I was confused because on my paperwork I showed that I was due something around $20 and I have NEVER "owed" on taxes.

Hesitantly and upset, I started making payments towards this and kept thinking, "I don't owe this, must call them to look at it!" Or take it somewhere for them to run the numbers.

Anyhow, time went by and I stopped making payments because I was going to do something about this, and $100+ was taken from my 2010 return to put towards the amount still "owing."

Yesterday I called the state tax commission and talked to a very nice lady. I explained to her that I have never owed and there must be a mistake. She transferred me to another very nice lady who looked at my records. What do you know, she said, "I see the problem! Looks like an amount of $800+ was entered on the wrong line and the computer didn't know."

So, I am due a REFUND!!! My money is coming back to me!! :) Yes, I'm VERY happy about this. The money they took from my 2010 return, payments I made plus what I was originally due is all coming back :)

YES!!!

The Millionaire Next Door

Finally, my local public library had the book "The Millionaire Next Door" so I checked it out. I've had it for a bit, and am almost done reading it.

One thing, and the reason I am blogging, is regarding the part where it states most millionaires prefer suit jackets/sport coats from JC Penney and don't spend much money on them. It's typically the people who want to appear wealthy who spend much more money on jackets. Personally, I like nice things and if I had the big bucks to spend on them, I might just do that on occasion. However, if I like something practical from a "cheaper" store, I'll take that too.

Today, at work, one of the heads of the organization I work for was talking about a birthday gift for her husband, throwing out ideas, and then mentioned he needs new sports jackets, and he knows it. The husband makes lots-o-money, and I thought of the book when she said, "...but he really likes the ones from Penney's, and they're only $99," implying that they wouldn't be a good gift. She continued to say that he may like the newer updated iPad, or a newer and smaller camera, but she still has time to decide.

Funny that the timing of my reading the book, and her comment were so close, and so true.

Oh, and I'm enjoying the book. :)

Two Year Anniversary

Wow! I just noticed that today is my two year anniversary for the first post on this blog! That's pretty exciting. That means that two years ago, today, I had the heavy debt of $24,187 and I was feeling pretty miserable about it all.

My life is better now, in the sense that I don't worry about who I'm going to pay, if I can make a payment on time, or the, "What if my car breaks down and I can't afford to get it fixed?" scenarios.

Being debt free has really made a difference in my happiness. Just recently I bought a plane ticket, concert ticket and hotel stay for NYC. This is going to be a pricey trip...it already is and I haven't even gone! NEVER would I have been able to do this if I was still in debt!

One friend who I am meeting in NYC asked another friend who is also going, "Is she (me) really going? I thought she couldn't afford these trips!?" Well the friend being asked was able to tell her that I paid off all my debts :) That felt good.

NOBODY I know, knows that I keep this blog. I guess it's a way of me talking to myself? Hmmm... I get to tell the screen everything that other people would just get sick of hearing. Well, I can be happy and tell myself, "Happy Anniversary." Cheers!

Late fee!

Argh...I forgot to ask my guy why Blockbuster charged me $19.xx. I think he returned a movie late which I used my credit card to rent. If it's not my account, can they charge my card?

Health insurance

I did it! I signed up for health insurance today! Well, I submitted my application so we'll see what happens next. The plan is an HSA with a $5k deductible (yikes!), but now I have the peace of mind that if I end up in the hospital with a $20k bill, I won't have to pay it all. Whew, it's about time!

Car upgrade?

I've sort of been thinking about my car situation. Either I keep the car I have, which is a 2001 Japanese made with 141,000 miles -OR- get a newer 2006-2007 Japanese made car with around 40k - 50k miles on it and pay the difference of about $5,000. My car is 10 years old this year, and I know I can drive it at least another 3-4 years with basic repairs. This car will keep going to at least 200k miles!

I've never loved the car I'm in, and would really LOVE to have heated leather seats because I get cold so easily, but should I? Never going in debt to buy another car would be key, and I have the money now, but do I want to do this?

It's something to think about.

Too Much Stuff!

Last year was a great one for me: I got out of debt, met a great guy, learned to fly fish and ski, went to Chicago and NYC, and that's only part of it all!

This year one of my goals is to get rid of lots of stuff that has been holding me back and weighing me down. I mean material stuff. Things I purchased over the years and some even contributed to the $24k that I paid off last year.

Honestly, I don't feel that it is going to take me a whole year to do this, but I am giving myself this long. Decluttering is something I need to do in order to keep my sanity. lol

We'll see how this journey pans out!

*Sigh*

Has it really been a month since I posted? Wow! I've been busy working, playing and shopping.

Unfortunately it seems that I've been shopping a bit too much! I haven't saved what my goal was, November only totaled just over $700. Not enough.

Also, this month I have not saved ANY money! I've been shopping a lot, but will get myself back on track. All my Christmas shopping is done.

I also got hit with a case of Strep Throat last week! Ouch!! I had to pay $70 to cover that bill which really isn't much, but who wants to pay to be sick? The pain was incredibly awful too :(

Must try to not be so hard on myself and just let this one go. I do have some money coming in from October and November housesitting/caretaking, but who knows when it will arrive.