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Home > Archive: February, 2011

Archive for February, 2011

Ordered Senior Pictures

February 27th, 2011 at 12:45 am

Well, I finally ordered my son's senior pictures. I had no idea they would be so expensive, which is why I have been putting it off. But I got an email today for 20% off. That saved me $79. I feel like I got a good deal but still spent $349. I took the money from my car repair, but have the money in my savings account if I need to replace it before my next payday.

Yesterday was Pay Day

February 26th, 2011 at 10:31 pm

And once again, I have all my payments set up so there is nothing for me to do. Kind of a letdown. But at least stuff is getting paid!

I looked at how much my ex owes me for the house. If he would give me what he owes me, I would be sailing very smoothly. I am torn. Do I let him stay knowing that I will get the money in drips or tell him to leave with no guarantee of getting it rented, especially not for what he has agreed to pay. I know he doesn't have the money. It just seems that he has the worst luck of anyone I have ever met. That is part of why we split up. Too much drama. I just don't know what to do.

State Refund

February 25th, 2011 at 02:21 pm

My state income tax refund is in my account this morning! I filed on Monday night. That was really quick. I now have enough for our trip to Columbia next weekend.

Went to the grocery store last night and spent $168. That was $18 over my budget, but I got ALOT of food. I am glad that I am including grocery money in my budget now. It sure makes a difference knowing that we have food in the house.

Bad News

February 24th, 2011 at 07:33 pm

Well, the repair shop just called and they can't find an engine for my car. They said it will be about 3 weeks before anyone has one. That really sucks. So I guess that I am going to be relying on my parents for longer than I had planned. Bummer. That killed my good mood.

The End of the Tunnel

February 24th, 2011 at 04:09 pm

I can see it!!! I only have one more payment for my daughters monthly Cheerleading dues. And only two more expensive trips to take. I am looking forward to having that extra money each month. I also have been told that I can go back up to 40 hours/week. That will help alot. But what I think I am going to do is take the extra money in the check and put it toward credit cards. That would be $240 a paycheck put toward credit card debt. I could get them close to paid off in 2 months. I mean I am used to living without that money so it shouldn't be so hard to put it toward credit card debt. I would also like to be able to start giving my parents some money toward my house payment. So far I haven't been able to give them very much. They are paying the house payment and the power bill. I am excited about my financial future. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and this is one instance where I want to go toward the light!

Traded in Points

February 23rd, 2011 at 05:01 pm

Someone else mentioned that they traded their points for cash so I decided to see if my points could be cashed in for cash and they could! I spent 3500 points and got $25 in cash deposited into my checking account. I will get another 100 points when I pay for my car and will be able to trade in another 3500 points. These are points associated with my debit card, not a credit card.

My checking account looks huge right now since I put the check from the bank in there. Of course it is all going to pay for the repair to my car. I wish that is what my balance looks like all the time! I will get there.

Car is Finally in the Shop!!!

February 21st, 2011 at 08:44 pm

I dropped the car off this morning to have the engine repaired. I can't wait to get my car back! They said it would be about a week.

We had the cheer competition this weekend. DD's team came in first place! She was so excited. I was excited because I came in under budget for the weekend. I still had $20 left. We even took a taxi to the marta station, my feet were killing me with all the walking we had to do. Staying at my sisters was a great visit! I love seeing her.

My Ex gave me $100 this weekend. He still owes me like $400 for the month of February. I told him that I had to have at least $300 this week. We'll see. He hasn't gotten his engine up and running yet either.

Going to file my taxes tonight. I need to make sure I have enough time to get them back for our trip to Columbia, SC in two weeks. Hopefully they will show up by then.

Loan Closes Today

February 18th, 2011 at 06:35 pm

The bank called yesterday and the loan can be closed this afternoon. So I will be able to take my car to the shop on Monday. Only one more week and I will be close to getting my car back. I can't wait!

I gave my parents some gas money yesterday for the next week. I also plan to give my sister some gas money for coming to get me tonight. DD has a competition in Atlanta this weekend. We saved the hotel fees by staying with my sister. This is a huge competition, something like 1000 teams in all different levels competing. They are saying that it could take 30-1hour to get tickets, and parking will be a nightmare! Thinking I might take Marta, which drops us off right at the center. Or will have my sister drop us off and pick us up.

I have budgeted money for the weekend and I have it in cash. That way I won't go over the amount of money I have to spend.

Loan Should Close Tomorrow

February 17th, 2011 at 05:58 pm

And I will finally be able to get my car into the shop! Then just 1 short week and I will have it back! I can't wait. I hate having to rely on other people for rides. And I don't like the fact that my parents don't have a car most nights.

I transferred $57.99 into my car fund since I didn't have to all of my gas allowance for the week. I will give my parents some more money tomorrow toward gas for the next week. Will probably have some left of my gas allowance for next week.

We have a cheer competition this weekend. I am saving money by staying with my sister in Atlanta. It is a huge competition. The awards ceremony doesn't even start until 9:00 on Sunday. Probably won't make it home until Monday morning since my sister doesn't want to drive so late at night. Once again, relying on other people to get where I need to be. Can't wait for my car to be fixed!

Goody's

February 16th, 2011 at 03:01 pm

My parents rode with me to Calhoun Monday night so to kill time we went into Goody's. I purchased 5 shirts for $31. I was in desperate need of some shirts. I feel like I got a good deal. they were all marked down.

Still waiting on the bank loan to be approved. Should be either today or tomorrow. They are having an appraisal done on the mountain property.

My budget is doing well, still within my range. Hopefully my ex will have some more money for me on Friday so I can order my son's senior pictures. I can't believe how expensive they are!

Waiting on the Loan

February 14th, 2011 at 04:56 pm

Not much Financially to report. I am waiting on the bank to approve the loan so I can get my car fixed. I hate being dependent on other people. It is getting really old really fast.

My checking account is in a good position. I transferred $100 to my savings account. The budget is looking good through February and into March. Will have to tweak a little bit. Went to the grocery store yesterday and spent $160. But I had budgeted $150 so I feel good about what all I bought. Actually made dinner last night. It was good. Just living a boring life.

Decision about the Car

February 9th, 2011 at 02:49 pm

Well, my parents and I have been thinking about this alot and have decided to have the car fixed. It will have a new engine and a new transmission. Should go for another 100000 miles. We are taking out a loan big enough to pay off what I owe to the high interest finance company. Therefore, even though the loan is for more money, with the better interest rate, my payment won't go up any. Just have to pay for another 3 years. Bummer. Only had a little over a year left to pay for the car.

OUCH!!!

February 3rd, 2011 at 08:30 pm

I just got the estimate for my car repair. 4902.95. OUCH!! That hurts! My mom suggested that we go to a local bank and take out a loan to pay off my car and pay for the repairs. They would cosign for the loan. With their good credit, the payment would probably be about the same as it is now with my high interest rate. She has suggested using the car as collateral, but then I had a thought. If there is a wreck or something and their name is on the car, someone could come after them for money. So now I think that a signature loan would be the way to go. The rest of the car is in good working order and the transmission is new. So I definately feel that repairing it would be the way to go.

Another Car Update

February 3rd, 2011 at 02:39 pm

Well, I got my car back today. The mechanic said it could last a long time or it could last a day. It makes a funny noise every once in a while. But because of this, my mom won't let me drive it very far, including to work. They brought me to work again today. I am trying to get an estimate for a new motor. My mom suggested trying to trade it in. But I think the smarter thing to do is to get a new motor. That way I am only going into debt for the cost of the motor, not $10k - 15K or more for a new to me car(because they would add the balance still due on my car to the loan). Plus the two major things would have a 100000 mile warranty's. There isn't much else that could go wrong. What do you think?

I am losing my good nature about this. At this point I am close to tears. I need to resolve this quickly.

Car Update

February 2nd, 2011 at 02:20 pm

I called to find out about my car yesterday and they told me that it had been out of oil. I apparently ran it out of oil. I knew it was well past an oil change but I thought there was a light on the dash that would tell me if the oil was low. Guess not. He said they put some oil in it and are hoping that I didn't do any permanent damage to it. Should know something this afternoon.

Add benefit of not having a car is not having to buy gas. My parents insist on putting gas in their car and since I am driving it, I don't have to buy any gas. I will probably try to give my parents some money toward gas, but they won't take it.

Speaking of parents, mine have been truly wonderful. They have let me borrow their car leaving them at home without one. They have worked with my schedule to make sure that DD makes it to her cheer and I make it to work. They are going to help with the repairs to my car. I am truly lucky to have the parents that I do. My mom told me this morning that they were so proud of the way I am handling things...meaning my attitude. I am not giving up or upset. I have come to a point where what happens happens and I am not going to stress over it. There are people with much worse things going on.

I redid my taxes last night and now it looks like I am getting a refund. I received my second mortgage interest statement. Since I renewed the loan last year, I have two statements. That made a huge difference in my return.