1 Down, 3 To Go

As you can see on my side bar today I paid off my Master Card. It feels good to have one financial goal under my belt. This card will be going into the vault and will only be used to pay for my online course (automatic payments were cheaper) and it is in my budget for the next 9 months to pay those charges in full when they occur.

Next up is my American Express, if things go according to plan it should be paid off by this time next year.

Amex - $3440

August through December - $500
January - $800 (monthly payment + free check*)
February - $100
March - $1000 (monthly payment + tax return)
April through June - $300
July - $800 (free check)

Total - $3500

(I have taken interest charges into account)

* If you get paid every other week (apposed to twice a month) twice a year there will be months where you get three checks instead of two. That third check is your free check.

Can You Afford to do Your Civic Duty?

I got an unwelcome piece of mail the other day. No, not a bill a jury duty notice.

I wasn't thrilled about it but it is my duty as an American. That is what I told myself until I found out that my job does not pay for jury duty.

No big deal, you say? Just take a personal day.

Well I work in retail and August is blacked out for back to school. I can't use vacation time.

Basically I am going to lose a day of pay so I can be a good American.

What happens if I end up on a case that last a week, what will I do then?

I have a new blog

I have decided to start a new blog.

There are a lot of things in my life that I need to work on besides my finances and I feel that I need a new blog that is not focused on only finances.

In my new blog I still chronicle my journey for a debt free existence but I also write about my journey to loose weight, get a new job, and improve my self as a 30 year old woman.

I plan to keep this blog up to post about any major financial situations, but if you would like to join me on my new journey come see me at

http://alliegetsalife.blogspot.com

Thanks

New Goals

In the 6 months since I started this blog I have made decent progress. My goals were to

• Pay off 2 credit cards (Paid off 1)
  
• Open Savings Account (Done)
  
• Save $600 (Saved $350)
  
• Pay Back Ex Boyfriend (Owe $200)
  
• Pay Back Sister (Done)

Now that we are in the second half of the year I have to update my goals.

New Goals

1. Pay off 1 credit card (Put the new lap top on my Master Card. Will be paid off by July 31st)
2. Save $50 a month (Will have savings account up to $650 by the end of the year)

Now that I am not making as much money as I used to and had some major expenses that I had to pay for (dental work, car repair, lap top, etc.) I am practically starting at square 1.

Up Dates

O.k. now I am officially back in action. I would like to thank all of my followers for not leaving me during my hiatus.

Here are some updates

1. Still with the same employer. While I continue to be angry over everything that want down I can see now that it was for the best (Will comment on this later).

2. Due to some unforeseen expenses I am almost in the same financial position I was in when I started this blog (Only now I am 6 months smarter).

3. I still want to start a small business to do on the side. My office/craft room is becoming over run with things I make. Crafting calms me down, it's my drug of choice.

4. I started taking correspondence courses to get a certificate in Graphic Design, mainly so I can learn Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign (these soft wares are crucial for me getting the job I want).

5. I've started gardening. I am now the proud mother of 4 sunflowers.

In a way I feel that I am starting over, not just financially but in my life as a whole. I don't want to be in the same position in a year and I am working hard to turn things around.

After all, 30 is the new 20.

I'll Be Back

Things are still a little crazy.

I'll be back June 1st.

Out With The Old...

I got my laptop back from my brother in law today (I love it, it's like having access to Geek Squad 24/7).

I am now in the process of rebuilding my Bookmarks, (does anyone know of a faster way to do this other than opening the bookmark on your old computer and typing the addresses into your new computer?) installing my printers and other such things.

I should be back into full blog mode by Saturday.