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Home > Archive: October, 2011

Archive for October, 2011

Cell Phone; Sallie Mae & other general musings

October 31st, 2011 at 05:12 pm

I got the new cell phone bill today. I about choked on my dr pepper. $780. Yep you read that right. I was expecting a bill around $450 because I bought my daughter her christmas present and had it billed to me. But I wasn't ready for a bill that large. Turns out that one of the phones my ex has has been getting on the internet and it has no(zero, zilch) data plan. So it charged $1.99 for each megabyte. total charges = $290. I know exactly what happened. His mother has the phone and his brother got ahold of it and started using it to probably look up porn on the internet. I called the ex and he will get to the bottom of it. I know that he will pay me for it, just have to make payments because he just started working in New York. I also blocked the internet on that phone and blocked the subscription text messages from all phones. No more surprises.

I got on the Sallie Mae website to see about my payment that automatically comes out. I was debating cancelling it because I didn't have enough money to cover it. It was too late to cancel it(although I did attempt to cancel automatic debit will have to go back and redo that). But I found out that the payment is $471 this month. They added all the late fees to the $269 payment. Good thing I looked. That is a significant difference that could have gotten me in a lot of trouble.

I am running short on money so I took out a loan from my employer for $1400. I will pay it back $100 per paycheck. I hated to ask him but with the renters not giving me anything I was desperate. Now I can make all my bills and hopefully I will get somebody in there pretty quickly. I am going to drive by there tonight and see if they have left yet.

Plan to have a quite night at home. Trick or treating is a little different where I live. Since the homes are mainly rural everyone goes downtown where the merchants hand out candy. Since my kids are older now, I don't have to go downtown. They go to hang out, not to get candy, and their mom hanging out with them would just be lame(according to them). So I get to relax in the warmth of my home.

My sister is bringing me a wood burning stove this weekend to put into our fireplace. It should help with our heating bills this winter. I just hope that I keep up with it and it works like I hope it does. There is only a narrow opening that heat can get through to get to the main part of the house so I am hoping that it travels well.

Well that about updates all that is going on in my life. Hope everyone has a safe and fun halloween!

I finally Did it!

October 25th, 2011 at 05:01 pm

I sent the renters a letter telling them to be out in 10 days. I sent one regular mail and one by certified mail. I hope they leave the place in good condition. I sent them 3-4 text messages last week with no response. I am just fed up.

My budget isn't looking real great for the next month or so. I am going to have to borrow money from my parents for the first of the month expenses. Just not sure when I will be able to get it back to them. I hope I can find a renter that pays rent on time. That would be such a relief.

Cold Spell

October 19th, 2011 at 08:37 pm

Well the cold hit the south today. The high temp is only 55 and it is only 47 right now. That is cold for this time of the year. Makes me wonder what kind of winter we are going to have. Definately will have to make sure the heat is on before I go to bed. Don't want to wake up to a freezing house.

I have spent the last couple of days helping my son get his college applications in. We have an appointment for Monday to have a counselor help us fill out the FAFSA form. there is no charge for this and I can't seem to get to the right website. So I am going to let her do it. I don't know what kind of financial aid he will receive, I look really good on paper. But unfortunately I am not doing that great. He will probably have to take out some student loans.

The budget isn't looking too good for the next couple of weeks. Not sure what I am going to do. I think I am finally to the point of telling the renters that they have to move out. They either are not working or not taking me serious about giving me more money. I am not sure which it is but I am to the point of not caring. I hate that I have let myself get into this position. I just hate confrontation. And I am scared how they will leave the house.

Good to Know

October 12th, 2011 at 07:59 pm

Campfrugal got me thinking about my account being hacked. I wondered what protection my bank offered. So I called them. I would not be responsible for any of the charges that were made without my permission. Very good to know.

I also sent the renters a text telling them if they couldn't come up with the $200 per week that they need to move out by the end of the month. Technically I didn't give them thirty days notice, but I don't think they know about that. He sent me back a notice that he is trying his best. I told him that I understood that but that my bills are in jeopardy and I can't afford to let them get any further behind. We will see what happens.

Found out today that exdh moved to New York. What does that mean for me? Well I don't know how he will pay his share of the cell phone bill unless there is a suntrust up there that he can deposit the cash into. Will have to see how this works out.

Interesting Phone Call

October 11th, 2011 at 05:19 pm

I received an interesting phone call last night. Seems that the renters have gone to their church to help them pay the rent. The church called to verify how much is owed. They will only pay $100 though so it doesn't get them caught up but every little bit helps. While on the phone with the church, she mentioned that the husband has been laid off from work. I truly hope that isn't the case as then I won't get the $200 for the next two weeks, which I desperately need. They did come up with the $205 for the power bill this last weekend.

Working my budget for the next couple of weeks. It is not pretty. Without the money from the renters I am not sure how I will get through it. Will have to put the mortgage payment off until November 4th. That is late but not over 30 days so it won't show on my credit. I just hate to do that. I worked hard to get it on time and once I push it out, it usually stays out for a while. Need to start working on my budget for November, but just not motivated since I am not sure where the money is going to come from.

Grocery Shopping

October 7th, 2011 at 03:54 pm

Well...I finally went to the grocery store last night. I skipped the shopping last payday, but I budgeted two trips worth. Good thing. I spent $317. We were really low on everything. Should be set for the next two weeks or longer.

I am taking a new approach with the renters. Instead of asking them if they have the money I am asking them when they want to meet, as if it is a given that they have the money. He answered that he has half of the power bill and is trying to get the rest today. I am on an extremely tight budget this week and I need their money for the power bill.

The football game is an away game tonight so I will be traveling. It is about 1 1/2 hours away. I upped my fuel allowance for the week since we also have a cheer competition tomorrow. Speaking of fuel, I had to only get $20 worth last night. I usually fill up twice a week and had already used my fuel allowance. I hate that I couldn't fill up. I can judge how well I stick to a budget by my ability to fill the tank, not just get enough to get by. So I was bummed about only be able to get $20. Gas prices are really low...3.08 per gallon. A new gas station opened up and I don't know if that is the reason it is so low or not, but I am not complaining.

Quiet Weekend

October 3rd, 2011 at 05:10 pm

I had a very quiet weekend. DD went to her Dad's after the football game on Friday night. I did nothing but sleep on Saturday. I ran out of one of my meds so I think that was the reason. I simply couldn't keep my eyes open. Even to watch Football. It was bad. I am worried about starting it again. Seems that when I started it the first time it made me like that. I take it at night now so hopefully I will be able to skip that nice little side effect. I must remember to go pick up my meds today.

For sleeping all day Saturday, I sure managed to spend a lot of money this weekend. I had to fill up sooner than usual so that was $49. I has pizza for dinner one night and taco bell the other night. I stopped on Friday on my way to Atlanta at Dunkin Donuts. I can't believe how expensive they are anymore! When I worked there it was $3 for a dozen. Now it is over $6 a dozen. Sure can't do that all the time.

The renters gave me $196 yesterday. That didn't even pay all of September's rent. I sent him a text message this morning telling them that they need to give me $200 a week until they get caught up. I really hope they do this. I think that is a fair offer. Just concerned that he doesn't always make that much. Not my problem though. Just need to keep repeating that to myself.

Pending what the renters give me, my budget is looking pretty good. I got 6 hours of overtime on Friday's check so that helps out. It is pretty tight though. Need to send lunch money to DD school and get groceries. I have $300 budgeted for groceries since I skipped a shopping trip. That should be plenty. it will be good to get food back in the house.