I wish I could say it was another Zero Spend Day, but nope, I can't.
I did however take some actions against food waste this morning and will do a few more things this evening.
Had to stop at Publix, cat food, cat litter, small cherry tomatoes, bananas and .... seems like something else? Just a little over $19. Ick
The Boy needed to get 2 more books, so $250 was deposited into his account and that left him with about $50 extra for food. He said that he filled up his pantry the last time they went to Aldis which made me pretty damn proud of him. He said that his girlfriend doesn't like it so much there anymore but he LOVES it, that was a quote. :) Gotta love him just for that. I know, it's because he can buy bagels for $1.39 instead of $3.99 and a gallon of milk for a little more than $2 instead of $4. Yeah. He's a smart kid I think.
Came home and dialed up the Insanity Plyometric Cardio workout ... ummm, sorry, couldn't do it all, no ambition, desire, etc. Plus I was just freaking HOT. Should have done the dance class instead but left the office too late.
Also paid the Macy AE and Amazon today, $40 and $80. I know its MORE than the minimal but I have such a hard time doing that. A few dollars over ... so when I redo the budget next week, I'm rounding them all up to the nearest fifth ... I'm also going to add in for the Boy's groceries AND my dad's electric. Uggg.
Yes, I believe things are about to get a little tougher around here.
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Reviewing Credit Card Statements
In the past, I've not reviewed the credit card statements, nor have I even really looked. I mean, seriously, I get ONE in the mail, the rest are online.
PROBLEM #1 - Failure to review and confirm that the minimum payment really is the minimum payment creates issues. As in "LATE FEE" and "WARNING" on top of the statement.
Hello?? I need to call Capital One today ... I went online to get the balance to enter in the binder and notice that my minimum payment for January was $107.00. That's about $47 more than I had slated.
Because I was paying $50 two times a month for a while there ($100 total) I thought for sure the $50 was the minimum (and I had just been doubling up on it since for awhile it was the ONLY credit card I had) ... well gosh, was I WRONG. Minimum payment is and has always been $60.00.
So I will call today and see if I can't get the $35.00 late fee waived (I mean seriously, $35??) ... this is why I hate credit cards.
I know, I screwed up on it, I admit it ... but geesh.
Balance on the card? $2,600. Yikes.
PROBLEM #1 - Failure to review and confirm that the minimum payment really is the minimum payment creates issues. As in "LATE FEE" and "WARNING" on top of the statement.
Hello?? I need to call Capital One today ... I went online to get the balance to enter in the binder and notice that my minimum payment for January was $107.00. That's about $47 more than I had slated.
Because I was paying $50 two times a month for a while there ($100 total) I thought for sure the $50 was the minimum (and I had just been doubling up on it since for awhile it was the ONLY credit card I had) ... well gosh, was I WRONG. Minimum payment is and has always been $60.00.
So I will call today and see if I can't get the $35.00 late fee waived (I mean seriously, $35??) ... this is why I hate credit cards.
I know, I screwed up on it, I admit it ... but geesh.
Balance on the card? $2,600. Yikes.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Best Buy and Reward Points
I've been putting off getting ink for the one printer for oh, about a month now.
Why? Because I wanted to go to Best Buy and get it ... I have $50 in reward certificates. And quite honestly, I had NO desire to head in there during the holiday crush.
Last night I finally stopped on my way home as Princess really needed to print this paper off and keep in her car (she's a procrastinator apparently) until her new tags arrive. Ha.
I avoided browsing, although I did little longingly at the new printers but moved on to the cartridges.
I debated on the XL cartridge for $40+ or just the ordinary cartridge for $15+. I opted for the $15 one.
Went to check out ... handed over my $10 and $5 certificates and forked over two quarters and two pennies ... thankfully I had change in the bottom of my purse that I scooped out of my car that morning, so I wasn't in the same predicament as I was with Target.
Yes, 52 cents is what it cost me.
I feel good. And I still have $35 left. Yippee Yahoo.
Why? Because I wanted to go to Best Buy and get it ... I have $50 in reward certificates. And quite honestly, I had NO desire to head in there during the holiday crush.
Last night I finally stopped on my way home as Princess really needed to print this paper off and keep in her car (she's a procrastinator apparently) until her new tags arrive. Ha.
I avoided browsing, although I did little longingly at the new printers but moved on to the cartridges.
I debated on the XL cartridge for $40+ or just the ordinary cartridge for $15+. I opted for the $15 one.
Went to check out ... handed over my $10 and $5 certificates and forked over two quarters and two pennies ... thankfully I had change in the bottom of my purse that I scooped out of my car that morning, so I wasn't in the same predicament as I was with Target.
Yes, 52 cents is what it cost me.
I feel good. And I still have $35 left. Yippee Yahoo.
Friday, December 23, 2011
End of the Year Bonus
I got a lot of the shopping done yesterday morning at Macy's for the kids and picked up some odds and ends too. Spent a little over $100 which was pretty good for 8 items, all quality clothing. Still need to go to Best Buy (ink) and Bed Bath & Beyond (electric knife). Will probably swing over to ULTA too to get a few gift cards (Princess and the Boy's g/f). And then I think the grocery store for some stocking stuffers and bottles of sparkling grape juice and then I'll be done.
So. Wednesday, I got 3 checks for year end bonuses. Two at $500. And one at $1000.
That was way to generous, and I even said so.
The bosses treat me well, I know. But that was way too much. They insisted.
So I deposited them.
I now can pay the remainder of the property taxes AND the rest of the outstanding bills for the month.
Ahhh. I feel so much better now. I may not be going into the new year negative, as I was starting to fear (with my mom passing away unexpectedly, I drained all 3 accounts for airfare, car rental, cremation fees and getting my dads bills caught up so there would be no disconnection of services anywhere). I'm blessed and I realize that I am. Which is giving me all the more willpower to do this for 2012.
It's sad that bonuses should NOT be used to pay bills or get caught up on something. But for me, this was really a lifesaver. I was dreading paying the taxes as it would have left me in the HOLE for the beginning of the year, as in negative balance. No thank you.
What are YOUR resolutions? Did you make any?
So. Wednesday, I got 3 checks for year end bonuses. Two at $500. And one at $1000.
That was way to generous, and I even said so.
The bosses treat me well, I know. But that was way too much. They insisted.
So I deposited them.
I now can pay the remainder of the property taxes AND the rest of the outstanding bills for the month.
Ahhh. I feel so much better now. I may not be going into the new year negative, as I was starting to fear (with my mom passing away unexpectedly, I drained all 3 accounts for airfare, car rental, cremation fees and getting my dads bills caught up so there would be no disconnection of services anywhere). I'm blessed and I realize that I am. Which is giving me all the more willpower to do this for 2012.
It's sad that bonuses should NOT be used to pay bills or get caught up on something. But for me, this was really a lifesaver. I was dreading paying the taxes as it would have left me in the HOLE for the beginning of the year, as in negative balance. No thank you.
What are YOUR resolutions? Did you make any?
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
An Early Start?
Apparently, I didn't get the memo ... but I seem to have gotten an early start ... but not because I wanted to ... more that I needed to.
With my mom passing suddenly and then finding a lot of things have gone unpaid (and prescriptions not refilled) I spent a buttload of money up north those 7 days. Which is fine because I could and no one else was able.
But the after effect is tightening of the pursestrings. Which, again, is ok, but not desired. I mean, heck, it's Christmas time. I've only gotten a few things ... one for Sonny Boy (the microwave pasta maker that I got at the garage sale from neighbor for free), Hubbys DVD set (ordered before all the stuff kicked in) ... each kid has a $25 McDonalds gift card in their stocking, and that's IT. Getting ready to do the early morning run to Macy's this morning to use my $10 off $25 and get both kids some clothes and hope they can return if they don't like (will inquire) ... then after work it's to Best Buy (ink for printer using my $50 rewards) and then Bed Bath & Beyond to get Hubby an electric knife and a Fushigi Ball for the Boy. Princess may just get hair stuff as she still likes that silly girly stuff. I also need to look for something for the girlfriend in the Boy's life.
I feel a little pressure. I've got to pay the property taxes ($5300) by months end. I have the water and cable bill to pay (about $250 total?). Then there is the American Express bill of $750 that needs to be paid (next month will be a LOT higher). I need to make my deposit of $800 today which I think will make the taxes ok to pay now. I'm stressed, but I'm not. Because I know that looking at The Budget I created earlier, it's doable and NOT the end of the world, so long as I don't let myself get behind THIS month.
And that, my friends, is the key, DO NOT GET BEHIND.
With my mom passing suddenly and then finding a lot of things have gone unpaid (and prescriptions not refilled) I spent a buttload of money up north those 7 days. Which is fine because I could and no one else was able.
But the after effect is tightening of the pursestrings. Which, again, is ok, but not desired. I mean, heck, it's Christmas time. I've only gotten a few things ... one for Sonny Boy (the microwave pasta maker that I got at the garage sale from neighbor for free), Hubbys DVD set (ordered before all the stuff kicked in) ... each kid has a $25 McDonalds gift card in their stocking, and that's IT. Getting ready to do the early morning run to Macy's this morning to use my $10 off $25 and get both kids some clothes and hope they can return if they don't like (will inquire) ... then after work it's to Best Buy (ink for printer using my $50 rewards) and then Bed Bath & Beyond to get Hubby an electric knife and a Fushigi Ball for the Boy. Princess may just get hair stuff as she still likes that silly girly stuff. I also need to look for something for the girlfriend in the Boy's life.
I feel a little pressure. I've got to pay the property taxes ($5300) by months end. I have the water and cable bill to pay (about $250 total?). Then there is the American Express bill of $750 that needs to be paid (next month will be a LOT higher). I need to make my deposit of $800 today which I think will make the taxes ok to pay now. I'm stressed, but I'm not. Because I know that looking at The Budget I created earlier, it's doable and NOT the end of the world, so long as I don't let myself get behind THIS month.
And that, my friends, is the key, DO NOT GET BEHIND.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The REAL Budget
About 6 months ago, I started keeping the bills after they were paid.
No, they weren't filed away 'neatly', just put in a folder in a drawer in the desk. Which has come in handy as there have been a few times (damn Comcast) where I had to pull out the previous month bill to find out what the heck they were charging me for differently.
I have a GOOD idea of what the monthly bills are, give or take $15 or so dollars. Everything fluctuates, even though its shouldn't. So I went ahead and made myself a REAL BUDGET and even made them a little higher in the end.
Ready for the REAL DEAL? Here it is:
AT&T $35.00 ($420 a year)
Tmobile $200.00 ($2400 a year!)
Sprinklers $45.00 ($540 a year)
Water $125.00 ($1500 a year)
Bugman $24.00 ($288 a year)
Netflix $23.00 ($276 a year)
Gym $43.00 ($516 a year)
Comcast $110.00 ($1320 a year!)
Credit cards (total) $400.00 (applying the snowball effect at the moment. Pay all but the lowest balance cards minimum payment first and remaining balance of $400 is applied to the lowest balance card. Once that balance is zero, that payment is applied to the next lowest balance. This will eliminate a bill periodically and hopefully done by the end of May 2012). ($4800 a year!)
Medical $50.00. This may need to be re-evaluated ($600 a year)
Food $300.00 ($3600 a year)
Gas $80.00. May be too low but will try to do with the figure ($960 a year)
That's a total of $1,835.00 out the door. Should be noted that Mark pays the mortgage, insurances, taxes, etc.
Then we add in the savings of $574.72 (Rule #8) which I suppose SHOULD be above and added in to the total balance which would make it $2,409.72. But this would also equate to a nice savings at the end of the year for $7471.36
Income should be:
$1081 x 2 = $2,162.00
$143.68 x 4 = $574.72
$400.00 x 1 = $400.00 (not sure how long this will be for)
$250 to $500 bonus a month so lets say $350 average
Total income for month is $3,486.72
Which should give me $1,077 left at the end of the month. Hmmm. That would sound about right IF I was to keep my spending under control.
What I really want to be able to do is sweep the account at the end of the month (before the 1st) to the accessible savings account and start fresh with that paycheck that comes in on the 1st ($1081) to pay all the bills with. The $574.72 savings is hopefully being deposited directly into the no touch savings account with Chase (out of my way to get to for withdrawals and not an online accessible account).
It really looks completely doable, in my opinion. There’s plenty of wiggle room if needed. Which will be needed as I’ve not included the cost of classes and books for The Boy or Princess as those vary semester to semester and I don’t have anything yet to really budget by. Plus, hopefully they will get some financial aid (not loans!) to help offset some of the cost.
Gosh. Looking at this makes me realize just how much waste there must be in my budget currently. Wow. Makes me scratch my head wondering why I am struggling so much at this very second while I type this.
I would really like to give this a test run for December but it's just not going to work that way. I'm starting the month off borderline negative with the family trip over and property taxes being due (Mark and I split this large bill).
Have you set up your budget yet for 2012?
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