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Archive for December, 2009

12-29-09

December 29th, 2009 at 05:58 pm

Current Total = $8125.00
+$50.00 to the EF from DH payday
+$50.00 to Vacation fund from DH payday
+$50.00 Discover Card rewards
New Total = $8275.00


Official 2010 Goals

December 29th, 2009 at 04:47 am

2010 Goals

Debt
-Continue to live debt free other then mortgage
-Pay mortgage down from $138K to $130K or less

Savings
*Emergency Fund
-Go from $2775 to $5000 ($2225)
*Vacation Fund
-Go from $820 to $2600 ($1780)
*Anniversary Cruise
-Go from $2000 to $3000 ($1000)
*MN trip
-Go from $50 to $1000 ($950)
*Checking Cushion
-$750 to $1300 ($550)
*HSA
-Go from $0 to $3000 ($3000)

Retirement
*401K (3%)
-Go from $8200 to $9000 ($800)
*ROTH IRA (10%)
-Go from $1620 to $4000 ($2380)
*403B (10%) ($2400 est)
-Not sure on amounts, but continue to contribute 10% of DH income

Totals Goals
*Total mortgage paydown $8000
*Total savings added $9505
*Total retirement added $5580
**Total money added to net worth $23085
Wow that is about 1/3 of our total income, so we would have to be VERY vigilent to reach these goals! But I am ready to go and will knock them out 1 by 1!

Update on bills

December 28th, 2009 at 07:29 pm

To Do list of bills:
1) Hot tub repair bill $750 - Paid $250
2) Wisdom teeth removal $143.60 - Still waiting for bill
3) Dr bill #1 $141.10 - Paid off
4) Dr bill #2 $59.40 - Paid off
5) Dr bill #3 $94.50 - Paid off

End of year filing

December 27th, 2009 at 08:47 pm

I got my end of the year filing all done. I keep a temporary file with folders for all of the bills, paystubs etc through out the year. Then at the end of the year I move everything into a permanent file that hold 3-4 years of statements. I like to keep everything very organized and easy to find. There will be no digging through shoeboxes looking for old statments in my future!

12-24-09 $20K Challenge

December 25th, 2009 at 06:32 pm

Current Total = $8060.00
+$50.00 to the EF from payday
+$50.00 to Vacation fund from payday
+$70.00 ING from payday
+$35.00 Even out deposit
-$140.00 Monthly ROTH IRA contribution
New Total = $8125.00
YEAH!

Adjusted Retirement Contributions for 2010

December 25th, 2009 at 06:19 pm

My employer cut the employer match for 401K from 50% up to 6% to 50% up to 3% for 2010. So I am cutting my contribution from 6% to 3% and moving the 3% difference to my ROTH IRA. Yesterday was my last payday of 2010, and it was very slow at work so I got the 401K updated. Then I went to my ING and changed my autodeposit from $70 every 2 weeks to $100 every 2 weeks. All ready to go for 2010!

Til debt do us part

December 25th, 2009 at 05:59 pm

I just found this fun show on CNBC called "Til debt do us part". It is about a debt couselor that comes into homes and helps couples get their finances in order with challenges on reducing debt and bringing in more income. Kind of like Nanny 911 only for out of control finances instead of out of control kids. I love watching shows like this to find little tips and tricks for budgeting!

$20K Challenge

December 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 am

Current Total = $8040.00
+$3.82 EF CD Interest
+$16.18 Even out balance
New Total = $8060.00

$20K Challenge

December 20th, 2009 at 01:04 am

I like the idea of the $20 challenge though I don't really understand the $20 part of it.....but I would like to start my own challenge towards $20K in nonretirement savings.

Current = $7987.06
+10.00 Rebate from UV Vodka
+42.94 Even out balance
New Total = $8040.00

This is our total non retirement savings, including amounts that are already ear marked for purchases/trips.....so I know the balance will be going up and down, but hopefully an overall trend of UP! First I would like to get the total savings to $20K and then move to getting just the EF to $20K.
DH has a check from his great grandma for $200 for xmas.....I am trying to get him to let me put it in savings....but is his check so he can use it for what he wants, we will see what he decides! Smile

To Do List of Bills

December 16th, 2009 at 02:32 am

To Do list of bills:
1) Hot tub repair bill $750
2) Wisdom teeth removal $143.60
3) Dr bill #1 $141.10
4) Dr bill #2 $59.40
5) Dr bill #3 $94.50

The only bill we have received is the hot tub. I will pay that once this CC statement cuts on Dec 27th. Still waiting on the medical and dental bills, if I do not receive them by the first of the year I will need to call and make sure that they are sending them out.

Biggest Loser - Week 4 Weigh In

December 16th, 2009 at 02:13 am

Week Four
Pounds Lost this week = 2
Total pounds lost = 4
% weight loss = 2.21%
Place = 2nd out of 6 people

Glad to be back down 4lbs. Hopefully next weigh in I will start going in the right direction more speedily!

Credit Card number was stolen.....but I still L O V E Discover!

December 12th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

On Thursday I got a text message from Discover that said to call their fraud unit. We had been out of state last weekend so I thought it was regarding that and that they were just making sure that was us using the cards out of state. So I called in and was told that my husbands card was being used in FL! Definitely not us (wish I was in FL, but am far, far away from any sunshine!). The card had only been used once for $200 at a grocery store, and somehow that had a card made because the Discover rep said that the card was physically swiped there I said how could that be, we both have our cards in our wallets, and he said that the technology that thieves have now, if they get your name and CC number they can make their own cards! YIKES! So the rep immidiatley canceled the card and took the bogus charge off of our bill. We will get a new card in a few days and they will continue to monitor transactions coming in for additional fraudulent charges. Bad situation, but so happy with Discover that they notified us right away and took care of everything!

Christmas Shopping - Finally Done

December 12th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

I finally finished Christmas shopping, I dont remember ever waiting this long to finish.....but with the OT project I have really not been feeling much like shopping.
Here is the final tally:

Husband - DONE! $100 on a watch and other misc gifts

Mom - DONE! Went in with my little bro and got her a bike on black Friday $25

Dad - DONE! Card table and chairs $24

Brother #1 - DONE! Cubs memorbilia $22

Brother #2 - DONE! DVD for $5,and $10 GC

Sister-in-Law - DONE! Margarita Shaker and Hand Juicer - $18 total!

Uncle - DONE! NFL Shop Steelers Hat that I got for FREE for sending in bottle caps from Mountain Dew bottles

Cousin - DONE! Book from Barnes and Noble.com, I bought a used version that said status "new" and used a GC that I had won at work, total cost $6.74, plus a Dr. Scholls "Love my Sole" pack $8.67.

Friend #1 - DONE! Book from B&N again, and used another GC, total cost $11.07

Friend #2 - DONE! Book from Target on sale $9.84

Friend #3 - DONE! DVD $5

MIL - DONE! Season of Ally Mcbeal $30

FIL - DONE! Sweater $25

SIL #2 - DVD $5 and $10 GC

DH's Grandma - DONE! Womans Vest $32


Total Christmas Budget = $400.00
$342 spent on 15 people!
15 people done out of 15
So I came in $58 under budget, but this does not include presents for me, and we usually spend about $100 a piece on each other. Overall I am happy with that though...and just soooo happy to be done! Smile

Free money for Kohls and Target shopping

December 12th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

I got a free $10 coupon for Kohls - spend $10 get $10 off. I found tanktops on sale for $4.99 each (regularily $12.00 a piece) since 2 of them only comes to $9.98 before tax I had to get 3 to get the $10 off. So they ended up being $5.27 total for 3 tanktops - that's only $1.75 per tanktop, and a savings of $31.01! I am excited and now I have some new cute clothes for Mexico.

Well I finally finished up my Chrismas Shopping and I had a $5 off a $75 purchase at Target coupon so was able to use that when I bought $100 worth of gifts for my husband.

Biggest Loser - Week 3 Weigh In

December 9th, 2009 at 12:49 am

Week Three
Pounds Lost this week = +2
Total pounds lost = 2
% weight loss = 1.10%
Place = 4th out of 6 people

We were out of town for 4 days, and then the night before the weigh in I pigged out on pizza....bad girl! So all things considered I am ok with the 2 lb gain, I think it could have been MUCH worse! Time to get back on the wagon.

December 09 Savings Update

December 8th, 2009 at 02:15 am

Regular Savings:
Emergency Fund $2660
Anniversary Cruise $1900
Cushion $700
Vacation 2010 $665
Mexico $50
HRA $0
MN Trip $0 - Spent
King Mattress $750 - Complete
Big Screen TV $425 - Complete
Total Regular Savings = $7150

Retirement Savings:
Roth IRA $1490
Rollover IRA $1700
401K $8100
403B $6000
Total Retirement Savings = $17290

Total Savings = $24,440
Up $1370 from last month

Current Goal - Mexico $800

Spring break travel - MEXICO!

December 8th, 2009 at 01:14 am

We are going on a trip to Mexico in March....I am very excited!! My Mom is actually flying myself, my 2 brothers and our spouses/significant others there and paying for our hotel and most of our food as well. This is not normal "Mom" behavior at all.......but my Grandpa passed away this last year.....and a very large portion of his estate went bu-bye between inheritance tax, lawyer fees....blah blah blah.....my parents are well off and now my Mom is thinking she would rather enjoy her money with her kids before she is gone and it goes to the government. So all we need to come up with is some food/drinking money and souvenir/shopping money and any other entertainment we might do tours or something. I am thinking $800ish for 2 people should be more then enough for a week of drinking margaritas on the beach! There is also a casino there so we may do that too. So we have till March to start a new account and save it up. We are at $50 and Friday it should go up a lot as it is bonus time at work.

12-6-09 Shopping at Target

December 8th, 2009 at 12:59 am

Coupon time at Target again - I didn't need any of this right now, but it is all stuff I will use, so wanted to use my coupons up before they expire.
Checked all the prices against the brand name, but generic was better sale for everything, and the coupons I had were for Target brand.

$1.50 off toilet paper
$1.50 off Laundry detergent
$1 off Disinfectant wipes
$1 off Dishwasher soap
$1 off Puffs
$.75 off dryer sheets
$.75 off tampons

Also bought batteries - on sale $2.10 off
Saved almost $12 on house hold products we will use.

Can't stop the money leak :(

December 2nd, 2009 at 03:42 am

So on top of the $800 in car repairs, $400 in medical bills, $100 in dental bills (estimated), and Christmas shopping.......now our hottub stoppped working and will cost at least $600 to fix. Frown Bummed. If we don't fix it now it would freeze and be completely ruined....so I guess we need to come up with that money too now. Whine whine whine......hoping 2010 will bring a few less unexpected bills.

December Mortgage

December 2nd, 2009 at 03:33 am

Mortgage for December

Balance $138,970.00
+$564.57 Interest
+$381.65 Escrow
-$1322.08 Regular Payment
-$594.14 Principle Payment
New Balance $138,000.00

Additional Principle Payments 2009 = $3806.10
Current Position on Mortgage Amortization Schedule....September 2013...3 years + 9 months ahead of schedule!

Biggest Loser - Week 2 Weigh In

December 2nd, 2009 at 03:20 am

Week Two
Pounds Lost this week = 2
Total pounds lost = 4
% weight loss = 2.20%
Place = 1st out of 6 people

I am happy to report a 2lb weight loss even with Thanksgiving in there! Awesome! My coworkers did well too, several of them lost 2 lbs and one even lost 4 this week! Stiff competition, but will keep me going! So I am pretty worried about this next week, we are going out of town for 4 days.....and you know what that means...fast food, fast food, fast food...UGH! I am mentally preparing myself though and have conciously decided I need to make good choices and not just eat what I want because we are out of town. Besides McDonalds and lots of other fast food places have salads and other healthy options now, so there are options for me.....I just have to make myself choose them!