No dining out

Wow, I was looking over my March spending. I noticed something interesting. No dining out the entire month of March.

So I looked back to February. One trip to a restaurant with extended family on Feb 16th. And that is it! So basically, if not for a family get together, there would have been no dining out for 2 months! AMAZING!

Credit Card #2 officially paid off

After paying off credit card #2 I had to wait to get a new statement. I knew I would have to pay a finance charge, and I did.

But now, credit card #2 is history!




Oh yeah, zero balance on that one!

I was trying to save money on my water bill

I moved into a new apartment recently. The rent is cheaper than my last place, which is good cause that extra cash can go towards bills. And I have still been employing other techniques to save money. You know - unplugging things to save on phantom power charges and trying to not use much water to keep the water bill low.

Then I get a water bill a few weeks ago. It was $28.25, which was about what I expected. Then I notice how the service date is 1/1/08 - 1/31/08. Well, I did not move in until 1/26/08 so I instantly got mad that I was getting charged for an entire month. Then I read the fine print.

"Residents shall pay a percentage not to exceed 99% of the total water and sewer usage. The total amount shall be divided equally among the complex. The first billing cycle shall reflect the water usage from the first day of the move in month. Resident will not be charged for the move out month's usage."

Now, I have lived in a lot of different apartment complexes over the last 10 years, but this is the first time I have ever encountered something like this.

Basically, it reads to me that it does not matter what I do to try to lower my water bill as I have to split the water cost with every other apt. in this complex. That is hardly fair for the smaller apartments that have one or two people to have to split with the larger apartments that have a big family.

What a bummer.

Hospital bill woes

We have some hospital bills from July that we have been making payments on. The bills were for some MRIs. Insurance covered 80%. But that remaining 20% was no small amount. We arranged a payment plan with the hospital.

Imagine my surprise when a collection agency sends us a letter demanding payment in full. Apparently it does not matter that there was a payment plan. If the bill is past due then they can send it to a collection agency. It just doesn't seem right.

And there will be more MRIs this summer as a follow up. We don't have to go to that same hospital. And after this shenanigan you better believe we won't!

yoga kicks my butt

I have recently taken up yoga. I started with the beginner stuff. And you know what?

It still kicks my butt! It's crazy though! I mean, it is just yoga. But man, yoga can be pretty hardcore.

One year of keeping track of debt - where have we been, what have we learned

I just realized after posting my debt roundup that I have been keeping track of our debt on here for one year. My first post about the debt total was on March 4, 2007.

I thought it might be interesting to see where our debt started and where it is now. Of course, let us remember that I did not get super serious about the debt pay down until a few months ago. So I already know that it is not gonna look too great for us.

When I first posted about the debt, I was employed but my other half was not. So it was going to be working on one income to pay things down. This is how it looked in debt roundup #1:

Total debt as of 3/4/07:

• Car loan = $12,897.43
• Credit cards = $30,466.74
• Student loans = $154,346.77
• Total debt = $197,710.94

My intentions were to pay of the smallest balance card first and then attack a Chase card that had just had an interest rate increase to 29.99%.

The sad thing is - that was credit card #2 that I JUST paid off last month. I spent a whole freaking year with a $3,000-ish balance on a 29.99% rate. D'oh!

Now, let's look at the most recent total debt update. According to my debt roundup #13, here are the current numbers:

As of 2/29/08:

• Car loan = $12,014.03
• Credit cards = $22,187.75
• School loans = $155,444.93
• Total = $189,646.71

So that shows that a grand total of $8,064.23 was paid off in the span of one year. Except it wasn't. Most of it was paid off in the last few months. Oh, the agony. Look what could have been accomplished if it had been applied sooner!

And note how the student loan balance is higher than when it started. Wtf? I blame those high interest student loans that I got suckered into way back.

And look at the difference in the car loan balance. Considering my car payment is $351 a month (interest rate is 10%), I find the small difference between the balances highly disturbing. That is really depressing.

Debt roundup #13

Man, where has the month gone!

I have not even put up where I am with debt for February and March is getting close to being over!

So, here we go. As of 2/29/08, here was where I was at:

• Car loan = $12,014.03 (last month was $12,264.67 )
• Credit cards = $22,187.75 (last month was $25,391.73)
• School loans = $155,444.93 (last month was $155,383.88 )

So, looking pretty good, eh? Well, except for those pesky student loans. They are a real pain, I tell ya. I can't wait till they are on the 'attack list' so that I can be done with 'em!

For March, I would like to get that credit card balance down to under $20,000. We'll see if that happens though as I am putting some money in IRAs for us this month too. And I had to pay a $375 hospital bill from last year. :(

Fed Cuts Interest Rate by 0.75

I happen to have the TV on CNN and they just announced another rate cut.

It seems that this time the Fed has cut interest rates by 0.75 % .

And on CNN they are saying that this will not be the last rate cut that we will see.

This is the sixth cut in the past six months too!

So, now I wonder how long it will be until ING and the others lower the rate on the high yield savings accounts. And I suspect the next headline we see will be about the value of the dollar reaching an all time low against the British pound and the Euro.

Economic stimulus payments start May 2nd

Saw on Yahoo Finance that the economic stimulus payments start going out on May 2nd.

And the first round of payments are to be completed some time in July. And they will be sent out in the order of the last two digits of the taxpayer's Social Security number.

The first of my last two digits is a zero. Wonder if that puts me at the front of the line or the end?

This and that

I got an email this morning from where I applied for the coffee beta testing. Woo hoo, I am getting free coffee in the mail!

I love me some freebies and I love me some coffee. So this is a win-win here.

They played the new Madonna song on my local radio station this morning. They said it was the world premiere and that they had it. Kind of hard to believe that a station in Ohio would do the world premiere.

But regardless, I love me some Madonna.

I logged into my ING account this morning to see that my state income tax refund had been deposited. That was exciting! Now to see which credit card I want to pay it on! That is even more exciting!

Want free coffee? Me too!

I was going through my reader this morning while drinking my coffee and came across a post on Blogging Tips on getting free coffee from Joffrey's Coffee and Tea.

Apparently Joffrey's Coffee and Tea is targeting bloggers to beta test their new Jamaican Me Crazy flavored coffee. Sounds yummy.

All you have to do is register with them for free. And then they are going to select some bloggers to send some coffee to for free. And if you get selected you get to "beta test" some yummy free coffee!

If you want to sign up like I did, check out the site here.

The Fed and the Economy

I was just watching CNN to see what was going on in the world. And all of a sudden George W. Bush was on the screen giving a live speech.

Apparently he was at some economy club in NYC. And he was giving a speech on the economy.

There was not anything groundbreaking in the speech. Although he did say that the stimulus checks go in the mail the 2nd week of May.

And after the speech was over they were talking about the economy on CNN. And they said that the Fed meets next Tuesday. And it is expected that they will lower the interest rate again. Again!!!

Hooray for cheaper gas

I was finally able to fill up my gas tank today!

I knew I would need to get some gas when I went out this afternoon. And I was hoping that I would not have to pay $3.45 a gallon for it.

When I checked GasBuddy I saw that the gas stations at the next exit down were at $3.19 today. And none of the gas stations at my exit had been updated since 9am-ish.

So, I left home and saw that the gas stations at my exit were still $3.45.

So, I hopped on the interstate to go to the next exit.

Ten minutes later I was filled up and back at my exit. And I managed to score gas for only $3.18 a gallon. Of course, it is pretty sad when I am thinking that $3.18 is cheap :(

Another day, another gallon

Man, these gas prices are killing me. Killing me I tell ya!

I went out this morning and all the gas stations still say $3.45 a gallon. So I guess that means I'll just be getting a gallon of gas today like I did yesterday.

I refuse to fill up my tank at this price. It's just insane.

So, before I do get gas though I am going to watch GasBuddy.com to watch for lower prices. Maybe I'll get lucky!

Tax refund confirmed

Hooray.

Looks like my e-file tax return was accepted and my refund should be in my account no later than the 25th!

And that means one thing - more money for paying things off! Woo hoo!

So that is pretty exciting.

And then whenever they mail out those economic stimulus checks there will be more money for paying off bills!

You know, I just might be able to pay off more than one credit card this month if things keep going good like this! And that would be sweet!

gas prices - ouch

Yesterday I needed gas in the car. But I did not get it.

You see - it was $3.15 a gallon. I thought the price might go down so I decided to wait till today to get gas in the car.

Imagine my surprise when I went to get gas today. It was $3.45 at all the gas stations!! What is up with that?!

Hooray tax refund!

I finally got around to doing our taxes tonight.

Hooray for tax refunds! Together we are getting back almost $3,000.

That will, of course, go towards paying things off. And that will make a nice little dent too.

I know that people say that you should not let the govt. hold onto your money tax free. And I agree. But it sure is nice to get a lump sum like this.

I mean, if I was trying to save it myself it would probably never look like this.

I did the e-file for it, so as soon as I get confirmation that the returns were accepted I get to plan where I am paying things off.

And now we are all set for the economic stimulus checks. Sweet.

The good thing about a lot of snow

So there is a lot of snow here.

Like 20 inches of snow. Which is just crazy.

But there is something good about there being a lot of snow out.

I can't go out and spend any money. When I look out my window I see a number of cars that have tried to get out. But they are just kind of parked in the middle of the street. Too much snow on the ground!

Lots of snow!

Man, we got loads of snow here.

And it is STILL snowing! I can't believe that! It has been snowing for more than 24 hours straight!

And it is not supposed to stop till later tonight. And then there is supposed to be a little more tomorrow afternoon.

Ugh, I am beginning to hate winter :(

When I pay off my debt...

I am making big strides in paying off my debt.

But sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated. That is what got me to thinking about what I am going to do when I have my debt paid off.

First, it will be nice to be able to hold onto my money without having to send it to someone else!

But I am thinking that I should really start thinking about things like that. Then it will be like there is a rewards system you know. Cause the things that I want to do can be my goals, which will just provide more motivation.

The main thing that I can think of right now is that I want to go to Santorini. Like super bad. Seriously. I watch the sunset cam whenever I can - and dream.

That will be an expensive trip though. So I figure I'll have to save for a couple of months once the debt is gone to make that happen.

Snow day!

Taking a snow day today.

The snow is not here yet. But it is supposed to be coming full force.

First comes the freezing rain this morning.

And then....

6 to 12 inches! Yikes! Sounds like a good time to stay indoors to me!!

Grocery store grumbles

I've noticed something the past few times I went shopping.

They don't wanna put the milk in the bag.

I dunno if there was some grocery store memo or what. And I get that maybe they wanna do it for green reasons. You know, use less plastic bags and such.

But I live on the 3rd floor. If I have a lot of bags of food then I need the milk bagged too so that I can carry it all.

Hitting the pause button

I was all set to get started hardcore on credit card #3.

In fact, I sent off $200 to it already.

Then I remembered I was supposed to hit the pause button for a moment.

You see, we have not done our taxes yet as we wanted to put some cash in some IRAs for 2007 before we did that. And the goal had been to take care of that this month. Oops, I forgot about that.

So, I am hitting the pause button on the payoff of credit card #3 just for a couple of weeks.

Instead I will be putting $1,000 into an IRA for both of us. Sure, it is not the max that is allowed but it is what is affordable for now. And the way I figure it, getting $1000 each into an IRA is better than nothing. After that I think I want to set up some sort of auto-debit each month for 2008.

I already have $500 sitting in an account for the IRAs. Only $1500 more and then I can get back to credit card #3!

A cheap night in

I love being easily entertained at home.

Since I am into politics that means that tonight will be another cheap night at home.

I will be glued to CNN waiting for the updates tonight. And I suspect that it will be a long night.

The last time I think I was up a pretty long time waiting for the results. But it is pretty exciting to me.

And it does not cost anything for the entertainment!

must make more money

I am finding that paying down debt can be fun. But it can also be frustrating.

You see, it is so much fun that I want to do it more and more. But you have to have the cash to pay down the debt.

Argh!

So I am thinking that I need to make more money somehow so I can pay more on the debt.

It would be so cool to see the debt paid off in a super accelerated manner. And it would be nice to get to a point where I don't have to send off my money to a creditor immediately. Ugh.

Vote, vote, vote

If you are like me, then today means one thing.

Vote, vote, vote!

Luckily the weather here is doing okay so far for me.

If you live in a state that votes today - remember to get out and vote!

And then you can spend all night watching CNN like me! Man, I love politics!

credit card #2 update

Okay.

So, I had paid credit card #2 all off last month. But I knew there would be a finance charge to pay off for it this month. Stupid credit cards.

The finance charge was $50.62.

And I just setup the online payment today to pay that off in full.

That means that credit card #2 will be history some time this week!

Hooray!