New Goal - Project New York

About 5 months ago I got a new job, I got the job so easily that for a long time I was suspicious and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Well, it dropped.

They changed my position to an entry level position and within a year I need to be willing to advance to a managerial position or I will have to quit. On paper it seams like a great opportunity but I do not want to be a retail manager, I want to advance my career in visual merchandising.

I have decided to start looking for a new job and I am focusing my search to New York. It seems like all of the best opportunities are in New York, not just for visual merchandising but in other areas that I am interested in (buying, styling, etc.).

So, now the question is ........

How do I make this happen?

700!!!!!!!!

I found out today that my credit score is 700.

That may not mean much to some of you, but if you knew my credit history you would be as amazed as I am.

It all started when my sister and I were driving in my HOT CAR (the air conditioner is blowing VERY HOT AIR) when she asked me if I really want to pay to fix it. I am not going to lie, after the last problem I had with my car I seriously considered buying a new car, but I figured with my credit history I did not think I would be able to. This conversation put a bug in my head to see what my credit score is, the last time I checked it was 619. I was not hopeful because I am sitting on almost $100,000 of student loan debt plus $10,000 of credit card debt. I logged on to Myfico.com, paid the $15.95, and almost had a heart attack. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Being able to see the progress I have made with improving my credit score has given me the resolve to continue to pay off my credit cards. I am more determined now than ever before.

Lessons To Be Learned

1. PAY YOUR CREDIT CARDS ON TIME, EVERY TIME, NO EXCEPTIONS.
I still have a ways to go in getting myself out of debt, but I pay my bills early if not on time every month. It obviously makes a world of difference.

2. STUDENT LOANS DO NOT HURT YOU AS MUCH AS YOU THINK.
I thought with the amount of student loan debt that I have I would never be able to have a decent credit score. But I do, and so can you.

3.BUT PAY THEM ON TIME.
I pay my student loans on time every month with out fail. When I had some financial problems I deferred the payments until I was able to get back on my feet. Do what you have to do to keep up with the payments.

4. DON'T GIVE UP.
I have had plenty of slip ups but I haven't given up, as long as you are alive you can improve.

I haven't felt this good in a long time.

Tax Season

Either you hate it or you love it.

Tax Season.

If you are someone who makes a lot of money and has to pay Uncle Sam you hate this time of year. If you are poor or middle class and get refunds then you love this time of year.

I am getting a refund of $800 from the government, $400 for my savings and $400 to pay for car repairs.

I know some people feel that it is bad to get a refund because it means that you are lending the government money interest free. My feelings are, I would rather lend the money then have to scrounge around to find money to send them come tax time.

Financially I have not been doing that great lately, I haven't been saving lately like I should. I have been purchasing things with my employee discount and using my extra money to pay off the balance. I think I finally am off the whole shopping thing and am ready to resume saving and paying off debt. To help keep me accountable I am going to start posting my monthly budget on the blog.

I need you guys to keep me honest.

I Must Be Improving

Citi Card (who own 3 of my 4 credit cards) has lowered the interest on two of my accounts and raised the limit on the third. The cards are still in storage and are not being used so this should really help my credit score.

My electric bill was $90 higher than expected this month, so I will be unable to add to my savings until I get my tax refund. That kind of bums me out, now that I am on a roll with debt repayment and saving I am starting to enjoy it.

Perhaps a little too much. Now I hate spending money, even on needed things.

Just call me Ebenezer Scrooge.

1 Down, 3 To Go (Redo)

I'm sorry I've been MIA, I am working fervently on my online courses so that I can complete them on time and not have to pay for an extension. But ......

As of 30 minutes ago my Master Card has been paid off!!!!!!!!!

1 credit card down, 3 to go. I feel so light and free.

Next on my agenda is my American Express. I hope to have it paid off within 6 months.

Also, my savings account is up to $500, that is a lot for me. I am still dropping water in the bucket.

Wish me luck.

How Many Accounts Do You Need

We all know that you need an Emergency account for emergencies.
We also know that you need a Savings account for sort or long term goals.
Then you need a Retirement account (IRA and/or 401k) for when you retire.

My question is how many accounts are to many accounts? How do you keep track of it all?

Is your Emergency account and your Savings account the same account or two separate accounts?

How do you fund these accounts? Is it done simultaneously or do you fully fund one then fund another?

If you want to save to buy a car do you save in your savings account or do you open a Car account?

My head is spinning, can someone simplify all of this for me?

401k Blues

Sorry that I have been MIA, I have been working 12 hour days and when I get home blogging is the last thing on my mind. Sometimes I really hate being salary, at least when I was hourly I never worked more than 40 hours per week.

Anyway, I have been working toward my goal of paying off my Master Card and I am glad to say I am $170 away from that goal. I also have $450 in my savings.

I have also been reading up on finance, and in the near future I plan to open a Roth IRA. But here is my dilemma.

The good news is - my new company has a 401k. The match up to 1% of my salary 100%. From 2% - 5% they will match $0.50 on the dollar. I will be eligible to join in 11 months.

The bad news is - there are no investment options. They take the money to purchase their own stock. I am told I can sell the stock whenever I want but that is a lot to go through.

The question is, should I sign up for the 401k?

I know free money is great, but only having the stock of one company in my portfolio seems dangerous to me.

Help.