MoreThanJustMom

2012 Goals

2012-01-08T20:19:00.003-05:00

Pay off $10250 credit card debt.
Goal June 1st.
Next is pay off the private student loan that NEVER goes down.
Access Group:$18570.

From June 1st -if I then apply my credit card payment to Access, it'll be roughly ten months, so roughly April 1st 2013.

My other two student loans are due to be paid off in less than two years, but they are federal and had low interest rates.

That would leave the mortgage.

Debt hell has a light at the end of the tunnel.

Menu Plan Monday

2012-01-08T20:00:00.004-05:00

$84,158 is what credit karma has that I owe, but that's lagging, as I paid off my car loan and and the credit card balances I charged for Xmas (and paid off as soon as the bill came in), are showing as not paid off.
$10,250 ish is what is still owed in CC debt.
Pay off goal is June 1st.
Menu plan Monday:
Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday: BLTs
Thursday:Hamburgers, french fries, apple bake
Friday: Just me, so easy.
Saturday:Food shopping

Debt, not just Credit Cards.

2011-11-09T10:03:00.003-05:00

$12500 is roughly what I owe in CC debt.
I am getting semi -discouraged, because I am throwing a good amount of money at my overall debt, and when I see my CC debt stagnant or even increase, makes me want to dive into cheesecake.
No bueno.
I am keeping the focus on CC debt, but hoping that seeing the big number go down will help fight off debt fatigue.
After Rainman slammed the already rickety exterior front door, the want to replace went to the damn thing won't open need to be replaced.
As the back exterior door was one good Rainman slam from falling off, ordered through the Home Depot, and after the usual Home Depot incompetence, three weeks later I have new doors :)
I raided the ING house improvement fund (deleted it pretty much), and am waiting for the payment to post to my Discover.
I also hope to pay off the balance on my car loan this Friday, which will make me smile.
Working on Christmas presents.
Forrest is largely done, mostly DVDS (he had a long list), maybe a new DVD player and a DVD or two that hasn't been released yet.
Rainman is next, I've only got him one VHS tape only (he always wants older vids that never made it to DVD), and I need to pick him up mostly inexpensive toys and art supplies.
I need to pin down the other two, Bathboy will most likely want XBox games, and game related gifts, while my daughter has just got her permit and may want money for her car fund.
I know this is a common lament, but Xmas comes way too fast every year.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-10-02T19:09:00.002-04:00

Yes, using this as a virtual to-do list.
Monday:Steak, Seasoned Fries, Spinach
Tuesday: Steak Fajitas, Halloween Cake
Wednesday: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Spinach
Thursday:Spaghetti, Meatballs, Red Sauce
Friday: Chicken for the Lazy, roasted Veggies
Saturday: Chicken Fajitas
Yes, I am in a rut, but balancing the finicky auties with the need for sameness and the more sophisticated palates of the neuro-typicals leads to enough battles as it is.
Plus, I really need to eat out of this freezer.

Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement is a joke.

2011-09-26T13:38:00.005-04:00

$12,364. is my debt.
Got to love when you get a call from the Department of Revenue about back child support and even they are shocked at how much is owed.
Another six months has passed without even a penny in support paid, two court appearances with the Judge doing absolutely nothing, and another $5000 or so added to back support owed.
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue does not take child support enforcement seriously.
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division overall has been useless in collecting unpaid child support for my children.
As of 9/23/11, not including unpaid medicals, anything we were supposed to go half on, the money he owes to the other family deadbeat dad has a son with that he doesn't see either, or the years of back support that I gave up on, the total child support enforcement order $27,219.
The child support enforcement rep I spoke with on Friday actually had a heart, and explained that with the back load of cases, they can't even get a court date for me until a year or 18 months.
She suggested I file on my own.
Great, file on my own to appear in court against a family law attorney?
Um, no.
It's disgusting.
What did happen, after years of him not paying, there does seem to be a consequence, that went into effect Friday.
His driver's license was suspended.
Most likely, he will appeal, and the child support enforcement judge will reinstate it, but please send positive thoughts that she will at least make him pay something before she does.

This is taking forever............

2011-09-19T00:18:00.002-04:00

$12737.
I just keep focusing on the fact that by this time next year, all my credit card debt should be gone.
As well as my car loan.
Then I can kill Sallie Mae and her two ugly sisters.
Then I can get a bigger house.
Then my life can begin ;)
Yes, it's a pity party sort of day.
Trying to get my thoughts for the week together, and this is my virtual menu plan to do list.
Monday: Cheesy Chicken Casserole/Fattening, good, and I need to use up shredded cheese.
Tuesday: Spaghetti &Meatballs
Wednesday: Chicken for the lazy, roasted veggies.
Thursday: Rice, leftover chicken, broccoli
Friday: Leftovers (just me, most likely)
Saturday: Beef &Broccoli stir fry
I really need to get some other kinds of meat, but I have a deep freezer bursting with chicken, so chicken it often is.
Salads served with the above, as well as Rainman's special foods.
I also need to make blueberry muffins, apple bakes, and some cinnamon raisin bread for snacks.
Oh man, the diet for Mommy will be fun this week.

Surfing Credit Card Debt

2011-09-11T14:40:00.003-04:00

$13214.10
New D-day October 1, 2012.
I did a balance transfer, and put my high rate Discover balance to a 0% Citi transfer offer with a 5% fee, for 18 months.
It should help me pay it off faster, but Mint doesn't like it.
I also had a very expensive start of the school year, spending more than I wanted, and as my income took a dip due to less work, I put a most of it on a credit card, so with that and the balance transfer fee, not a good debt pay off month.
I am focusing on my cc debt, and I know it's a marathon not a race, but my car loan feels like it's going down by leaps and bounds, although my student loan debt seems to be dragging along.
Just got to keep swimming.
Menu plan for the week:
Sunday: Leftover take out pizza from lunch (ex pays for this as I take the twins back early)
Monday: English Muffin Pizzas
Tuesday: Crockpot Chicken, potatoes, onions, etc (trying to get rid of some root vegetables).
Wednesday: Cheesey Chicken Casserole (eating from the freezer)
Thursday: Spaghetti meatballs red sauce.
Friday: most likely just me, something easy like salad.
Saturday: Digiorno pizza from the freezer, salad.
Looks not so healthy, but on the side is always veggies, salad, etc.
And I have a lot of stuff that will soon go bad if I don't use it up.

With the weather getting colder, I will be filling in with snacks such as blueberry muffins, baked apples, and there are so many inexpensive bread recipes that I really want to try.
And I may even get really ambitious and start taking pictures ;)

Keep on chugging...........

2011-08-10T15:30:00.002-04:00

$13,365.
D-Free Day Sept. 1, 2012
Seems like I throw a lot at it, but it's just slowly going down.
I started a sub account at ING for house stuff.
Going to try to direct money into this account for house repairs.
It sounds goofy, but the best way for me to save is to earmark money into an account with a purpose, to not touch the money at all until it's time to buy.
Along with paying off cc debt (my number one goal, although student loans are up there), like any house, mine needs work.
I also plan on selling in maybe two years, closer to three, and I need to really amp up the curb appeal.
By November 1st, I need to replace four doors, two exterior and two entry.
Rainman keeps slamming them, and the front entry door has a full glass panel that is one slam away from shattering.
The others have born his stimming and kicks, and the exterior entry door is essentially duct taped in one section.
My goal is to divert $1500 by November 1st for the four doors plus installation, which I think I should be able to manage.
My design options are limited, as the doors are all odd sizes, which is a blessing in that I don;t really have a luxury door option.
Ten weeks, give or take, that I need to put $150 per week in the pot.
With my cc repayment, it's going to be even tighter than usual, but putting it out there for accountability.
MJ

Menu Plan Monday

2011-07-18T00:03:00.003-04:00

$14,535.
Sept. 1, 2012. D-Free Day.

I need to get veggies tomorrow.
Monday-Meatball Subs, Caramel Apple Crisp (plus need to make some Blueberry Muffins for snacks and breakfasts while the apple crisp is baking)
Tuesday-Cheesy Chicken Rice Dish
Wednesday-Chicken Broccoli Stir fry
Thursday-Chicken for the Lazy
Friday-Leftovers, most likely just me with maybe a random offspring. Chicken Salad, greens.
Saturday-Spaghetti with Alfredo Sauce, salad.

Personal Finance Blogger Rant

2011-07-02T19:58:00.004-04:00

$14984.

Although my credit card debt has not gone down, my other debt, such as student loans, have.
Oddly, I'm proud it didn't go up, because the buy out of my former good paying contracting company has been horrendous.
For what little work there is, I've been paid, but there simply isn't enough to feed everyone.
It's extremely frustrating, as I can see what the new people are doing wrong, lots of beginner mistakes, and when I and some of the other more experienced contractors say, hey, this is a big mistake and if you do this, you get the exact opposite of what you want, there's a lot of, WE are in charge.
Yes, you are, and aren't you the ones complaining that you don't understand why profits have tanked?
And when you get sandboxed by Google for doing idiotic shit, for doing shit after you were warned not to do it, you seriously can't understand why this is a problem?
The new middle men are sending some of the other contractors my way for help, which would be fine, if I was getting any sort of income from it.
If anything, showing them how to do things the right way means even less assignments coming my way.
I had a stellar week income wise last week (the best since the merger), and instead of giving me any sort of monetary bonus (which had been customary with the former owner), I get an email with "good job".
O rly?
I had been putting serious feelers out for the last month, and got a lot of, we'll keep you in mind, love your work but not looking for new contractors, etc.
But, one of the places has just decided to contract me!
I have one more hurdle, but a firm start date.
This place has a very good reputation, and is a perfect match for my skills.
It pays slightly more than I make now, just have to see if it's steady enough to make it my main place.
Wish me luck :)

Menu Plan Monday

2011-05-16T20:13:00.003-04:00

Monday: English Muffin Pizzas/Mac and Cheese
Tuesday: French Toast
Wednesday:Steak Fajitas
Thursday:Chicken Stir Fry
Friday:Just me, something easy.
Saturday: Cheese bread, salad, steak
Sunday: Mashed Potatoes, Chicken wings, not sure.
It's a crazy week, just want to have a blue print.

Menu Plan

2011-05-05T14:28:00.003-04:00

Going to try to stay out of the food stores until next Friday.
Thursday: Buffalo chicken rice.
Friday: Should be only me, so leftovers or something light.
Saturday: Chicken for the lazy, roasted veggies.
Sunday: Leftover chicken, mashed potatoes.
Monday: Steak Fajitas with rice.
Tuesday: Beef and Broccoli
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Alfredo sauce, side salad.
Thursday: Steak/Mashed Potatoes
Friday: Food shopping so have to see.
I pretty much always serve some kind of salad on the side, and Rainman always has Mac and Cheese.
Credit Card Debt: $14,952.

Frugal Kitchen Tools

2011-05-05T09:45:00.003-04:00

Penny has an interesting post up about frugal kitchen tools.
I cook.
A lot.
Bake, stir fry, roast, whatever you want to call it, I do it.
I am not the most frugal food shopper, and it is something I am working on, but I suppose my costs would be even higher if I didn't have my frugal kitchen tools.
In no particular frugal order, here are my favorite frugal kitchen tools:
KitchenAid Mixer : Man, I love this thing. It makes mixing everything from potatoes to cakes to muffins to cheesecake so easy. I also use it to keep Rainman busy (loves to follow recipes), but this is definitely my toy.
Dutch Oven: I got mine at BJ's Wholesale for under $40, right around the time I became one of Dorie Greenspan's disciples (her chicken for the lazy is amazing), and I use it constantly. Stick in a chicken, vegetables, on a bread bed, forget it, and your kitchen smells mouth watering. The finished product is even better. ;)
I have a few kept out of the way sharp knives, and I agree they are indispensable, but I picked mine up at Marshall's, TJ Maxx, or BJ's.
And I won one at Eat At Home Cooks.
There are two things I am keeping an eye out for, when I see a good sale/price.
One is a pressure cooker.
Not sure where my fear of pressure cooker comes from (almost as irrational as my fear of clowns), but I've always shied away from them.
Ice Cream Maker: This is something I really would like to get before summer. This is a want, not a need obviously, but I see this as fractionally money saving but definitely better nutritionally (I can control what goes in, as well as what doesn't).
I love to get a glimpse into others kitchens, so please comment :)

Back in the saddle.

2011-05-01T19:15:00.002-04:00

Been missing in action, but had one of those periods where I put in a ton of effort and am only starting to see results now.
The past few months since my last post where filled with uncertainty, with me not adding debt, but no real income coming in from what had been my steady pay.
I worked on another source, and it helped immensely, but it's still not what I was bringing in.
That needs to change.
Also, between ER visits for two of the offspring (concussion, fractured ribs, deep cut to toe with ear infection) and the fact that everyone has a deep hacking cough that is viral as opposed to bacterial, it sucks to be me right now.
Tomorrow, at least three of the offspring will be home, including Rainman, which makes it next to impossible to get real work done.
And, I definitely see yet another doctor's visit tomorrow, looks like conjunctivitis is in the house.
But, new month and all, and here we go.
I need to get back to meal planning, but right now, it's eat what stays down.

The Saved Quarter Challenge:
Credit card debt: 14952.
Goal by June:13500.
Retirement: $650 (Random, but I have an account that is specifically earmarked, and that's what I made from it and will get a deposit within a week or so).
Goal to be made this month for June:$1000.
I also will attempt $45 toward Xmas, and $50 savings per week.
Feels good to have a goal again :)

Money Musings

2011-02-18T16:01:00.000-05:00

It's a marathon, not a race.
My mantra this month.
The one lesson I've learned in paying down credit card debt is that it is so much more than just paying the balance.
I throw money at it, and then interest kicks in, then it makes my payment halved, then I throw more at it, and it seems that the balance is getting smaller at less than a snail's pace.
Contrast this to how fast my money grows in savings (adding small amounts on auto-pilot equals a happy squeal when I do check the balance) and it makes me alternately mad at getting myself in debt, mixed with renewed determination to finally get it all paid off.
Add this to the uncertainty of payment from a formerly great source of revenue that has been slowly dying due to bad business decisions on the part of the owner, and the need to be debt free so that I am at no one's mercy (credit card lenders, student loan creditors, banks) is heavy on my mind.
On the upside, just got off the phone with the IRS, and will be getting a small check and a nice credit for overpayment.
Yes!
I know that I am making progress, if only because I'm not adding debt, and my credit card debt isn't my only debt, as I am making progress on my mortgage, student loans, car loan, etc.
And there's no way around it, four teenagers in a HCOL area equals big expenses.
Just keep swimming.

Credit Card: $15,535.

Food Hoarding

2011-02-04T20:32:00.005-05:00

I was personal finance blog hopping, and came across an interesting personal finance blog "The Quest for $85,ooo".
On an older post, she wrote about overspending and food hoarding.
It never occurred to me that there was such a thing, but it really resonated.
There's a real problem in general society with food insecurity, and for those of us who've spent times without enough food, there's nothing like an overflowing pantry, fridge and cupboards filled to bursting with food.
And many personal finance bloggers recommend stockpiling groceries, but that's not in keeping with the way I'm shopping (fresh fruits and veggies).
But, I do end up throwing out a lot of spoiled food.
I always have fruits and veggies on hand, and I want that to continue, but I am definitely over buying.
With my small kitchen (which has a fridge and chest freezer), opening any kitchen door or cabinet pretty much guarantees food will jump out at you.
For the rest of February, I'm going to make a concerted effort to meal plan around what I already have.
Friday accountability:
Health Insurance paid today.
Still need to pay car ins, mortgage, and aiming for the $400.
Waiting for deposits to clear before I can pay the above.
Credit card debt: $15,465.
$100 to E*Trade.
Goal: $100 week for food.

Christmas 2011 Challenge

2011-02-02T18:49:00.002-05:00

What can I say?
I love challenges!
Sharon posted that she's joining Penny from The Saved Quarter Challenge in making a goal for Christmas, as well as gifts through the year.
I was a little hesitant to join in, because Penny had a $100 goal, and that would set me up for failure (she has littles, I have older teens).
My goal is $1000 total.
I am hoping to shave my out of pocket cash by utilizing swagbucks, and deals.
And, to pick up gifts through the year, on sale.
This is fun, and so much better than going insane at the end of the year during Christmas madness.

The Saved Quarter Challenge Monthly Update

2011-01-31T11:00:00.001-05:00

Hello to all my fellow Saved Quarter Challenge getting out of debt peeps.
My goal is to get on autopilot with my savings and debt repayment.
Oddly, the savings part is coming easier than the debt repayment part.
Transferred $100 to my IRA, and will deposit Bathboy's $45 paycheck (I cash it for him, giving him half and putting the other half into a savings account for him, then deposit the paper check for myself) into my semi Xmas fund.
I only put $300 toward credit card debt (this week), and increased the total owed after paying my IRS screw up from last year.
Overall, this is how it looks for the first month of The Saved Quarter Challenge:
Started January with $16,600.
Now $15,711.
Credit Score was 671.
Now 678.
$300 toward retirement.
$200 toward Xmas fund.
Overall, this month was ok, and would have been great if not for the IRS mix up.
I need to keep my eyes on eliminating the credit card debt, as once that's gone, so much cash flow will be freed up.
Anyone else rocking The Saved Quarter Challenge?
Great Blog: Gail Vaz Oxlade

IRS

2011-01-26T09:59:00.002-05:00

Finally, they took my payment.

Confirmation of Payment

Below is your confirmation for this payment. Please print this page using your browser's print function.
Be sure to write down your confirmation number for future reference.

Confirmation Information

Confirmation #: 20098B

Account Type: Visa

Credit Card Number:

**********

Expiration Date:

Amount Charged: $1,401.20

Now, to pay it off :)

Menu Planning Monday

2011-01-24T18:48:00.000-05:00

Some meals from last week got moved to this week.
The joy of snow days and hectic schedules.
Monday: Angel Hair Pasta, Red Sauce, Meatballs, sub rolls, salad (used up the last in the fridge).
Tuesday: Chicken Fried Rice Stir Fry.
Wednesday: Pork Chops, Salad, Au Gratin Potatoes
Thursday:Baked Ziti (this is Rainman dependent, if he requests it we have it, if not, we shall see, because I have ricotta cheese I really need to use up).
Friday: Soup/Salad (most likely just me).
Saturday: BLTs
Sunday: Fend for yourself
I have all of the ingredients in the pantry, except for salad, which I'll pick up later in the week.
I took the advice of Penny at The Saved Quarter, and called Visa.
They dropped my interest rate 4 points, which isn't great, but it's almost paid off, and it's better than nothing :)
Especially when work is deader than dead.

Credit Card Debt: $14,339
Great Blog: Eat At Home Cooks

Debt Progess

2011-01-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
I find myself saying that quite often, these days.
Especially like today, snow day, stay home from school day for everyone but Rainman, who wants to simply drive for hours to stave off the no school tantrum.
I really have no idea how he's going to handle not going to school every day when he ages out in three years.
Got a surprise child support payment (my younger two's father rarely pays child support), and put that toward Visa.
Not a great week income wise, but that's where the swimming part comes in.
Paid myself $100 into E*Trade first thing ( as suggested by Penny at The Saved Quarter Challenge) and while it's not painless, it's the only way I save.
Going to bite the bullet, and as Grace at Thrifty Cheapskate suggested, just pay state taxes and use the mistaken federal tax payment towards 2010 federal.
This sucks, because it's $1400, and since it's not planned for/budgeted, there's really nowhere to take it from, so will put it on Visa.
And I was getting so close to snowballing the Visa debt off.
Other random bills:cell, student loan, and DunkinDonuts recharge (don't judge me, keeps me sane).
Credit Card Debt: $14,339.

Meal Planning Monday

2011-01-13T13:12:00.006-05:00

Monday: Corned Beef and Cabbage in the crockpot(Rainman Mac and Cheese)
Tuesday: Chicken for the Lazy, mashed potatoes/salad (because someone took out a roaster from the big freezer *shakes fist*)
Wednesday: Leftover chicken and Coconut Rice (depending on how many are home)
Thursday: Baked Ziti/Garlic Bread
Friday: Thai Peanut Noodles
Saturday: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Sunday:Leftovers- fend for yourself.

Paid the monthly car loan plus principal.
Paid myself first, as suggested by the Saved Quarter Challenge.
On track pretty much otherwise.
Still debating the fund fully 2010 IRA vs get rid of the Visa debt.
:)

Great Blog: Single Mom Rich Mom

Money Progress

2011-01-13T10:54:00.007-05:00

It's still January, and I need a carrot to go with the stick of paying off credit card debt.
$4190. is the balance I have left on my Visa, and once that is paid off, I plan on transferring my remaining Discover debt to Visa, and get 0% interest until it's gone.
What I am still up in the air about is whether to get this debt monkey off my back as fast as possible, to the detriment of my retirement savings this year, or taking a month or so off and finish off my Roth IRA for 2010.
Back to the $4190.
To stave off debt fatigue, as soon as I pay off my Visa, I am going to allow myself a reward in the form of TurboFire Deluxe.
Going over my prior year's tax payments, I some how managed to pay Federal tax that was supposed to go to State, and getting the payment amount credited to the right place is apparently impossible.
Going to try one more time Tuesday or Wednesday, and if no one can help then going to say screw it and just pay State tax outright and then use the Federal payment overage to what I may owe this go round.

Paid Sallie Mae.
$100 E*Trade Roth IRA
Still need to pay my car loan, most likely tomorrow.
Credit Card Debt: $14,642.

Great Blog: Violent Acres

Credit Card Debt Update

2011-01-13T07:19:00.006-05:00

Snow days are really interfering with my Saved Quarter Challenge mojo.
No school today, and late starts tomorrow leave me drained from keeping Rainman entertained while doing the Mommy Taxi thing for the others.
Just no time to do more work than "get by" stuff.
"Get by" does not make my bank account happy.
Since I paid the mortgage and a student loan (2 others are due next week as well as my car loan this Friday), I am not going to beat myself up about not throwing more money at the credit card debt on Friday, but counting what I paid Monday as my Saved Quarter Challenge goal met.
I still need to meet my pay myself first savings goal on Friday, and see what bills are left for the rest of January.
I also would like to incorporate menu planning, as other Mommy Bloggers swear by it for lowering grocery bills.

Great Blog: Budget Bytes
Credit Card Debt: $14,642.

Saved Quarter Challenge

2011-01-10T09:48:00.003-05:00

Deposit came this morning, and out of that, put $620 toward CC debt.
On The Saved Quarter, there is a very timely post about paying yourself first.
I have in the past put this in play, and intellectually I know it works.
My savings will be on hold until I get my credit card debt paid off, but I still need a cushion, bigger than what I have on hand now.
My Saved Quarter Challenge Goal from now until I pay off my credit card debt will be to put away $50 to E*Trade each Friday.
I need this credit card debt gone so bad I can taste it.

Great Blog: Graceful Retirement
Credit Card Debt: $15,170.
On my nightstand: Dirty Secret by Jessie Sholl

Snowballing Snowflaking Debt

2011-01-08T12:28:00.005-05:00

Sounds vaguely obscene, doesn't it?
If it's not clear, being self employed, my income is extremely variable.
At the beginning of the month, certain deposits are scheduled to come in, with others schedule through the month.
As any self employed person knows, never count on money until it's actually in your hand/direct deposited in your bank account.
Got a $250 deposit, and put that right toward credit card debt.
Yay me!

Looking at other personal finance blogs today, there seems to be widely differing opinions on coupons.
I spend way too much on food, and when I read "I spent $25 for a whole week's worth of food with coupons!" entries on Mommy bloggers blogs, I cringe to post what I spend on food.
Part of my problem is, four teenagers simply eat massive amounts of food.
With three of those teens being boys, they inhale food.
Two of the males have sensory issues, and meal time is a minefield no matter what.
My daughter eats like a bird, but she goes through veggies like it's her job.
The other issue I have is- I love to cook.
Not the "what's for dinner" type of cooking, but trying new recipes a la Dorie Greenspan.
I'm not willing ( and am lucky to be in a position to not have to, although seeing my debt others may disagree) cut down on buying fresh fruits and vegetables, but I do need to knock off the convenience junk food.
My compromise is buying most of my fresh foods at BJ's Wholesale Club, and picking up loss leaders according to the grocery flyers.
BJ's does accept coupons, but it really depends on the cashier's knowledge of BJ's coupon policy, and after a few bad experiences with coupons, I have been lazy about match ups.
Also, BJ's generic products (for which there are no coupons), so far have been equal to the name brand toilet paper, shampoo, deli products, and baking goods that I usually buy.
I really need to add "use coupons wisely" to my New Year's resolutions. :)

Great Blog I just found: Broke Foodie
Credit card debt: $15,420.

Saved Quarter Challenge First Week.

2011-01-07T09:07:00.003-05:00

Still waiting on some deposits, which were supposed to come today but nothing as of yet.
Out of the one that did come, paid health insurance and my Saved Quarter Challenge Goal.
I need a new printer (after Rainman did the Hulk Smash on my other one), and will try to pick one up this weekend.
Other planned spending will be jeans/sweatpants for Bathboy, who desperately needs longer ones (teen age growth spurts kill me), and cashing his paycheck, which I will then deposit into my Credit Union Savings Account for next Xmas (only $45 from his one shift a week, but my plan is to use it for Xmas/birthday gifts over the year).
Saved Quarter Challenge: $400/$400 done.
Off to a great start!

Stressed

2011-01-05T21:03:00.004-05:00

Why does when one stressful thing happen, it seems like the floodgates open?
I did pretty well on the food budget, but ended up spending way more than I wanted to on things that could definitely be classified as wants.
Roughly $100 toward food, but on last minute school supplies for my youngest's major project, sneakers for me, and stuff I used to stockpile with coupons but have been buying, skewed my other spending to $150 more, all spent yesterday.
And today, after having one of the twin's home all day unexpectedly, and the other a planned half day which is always stressful, my eating is way up.
And, I need to exercise.
Didn't do anything at all today, and I know the less I move, the more stressed I get, and there goes the eating.
Planned spending today was car insurance, and the planned kid lunch spending.
Still hoping to make my planned $400 toward CC debt on Friday.
Wish me luck.

Saved Quarter Challenge

2011-01-03T10:39:00.003-05:00

The Saved Quarter has a great challenge up.

1.Determine your objective.
My objective is financially, erase CC debt, and personally, lose a substantial amount of weight.
To erase it in one year, I need to channel roughly $400. per week toward CC debt.
Ouch.
Weight wise, I'm aiming for two pounds a week, but will be ok with one pound per week.
For that, I need a 1k per day calorie deficient.
That's really not too bad.
2. Specific, measurable goals.
Above and beyond my other bills, I need to channel $400 weekly toward debt.
(Duh)
For the 1k daily deficient, daily walk or DVD along with cutting calories as tracked by my BodyMedia.
3. List ways to make or save money toward goal.
For January, do a freezer challenge.
Still buying fruits and veggies, but eating through my huge chest freezer.
Bake from scratch.
Aim for $100 week food goal.
Overhaul P Affs, N accounts, goal 100 b's per week.
Off to market my little heart out!

2010-12-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

CC Debt 16,600
FICO 671

For whatever reason, my FICO jumped from 664 to 671 overnight.
Going to adjust my 2011 FICO goal to 750.

Rough 2011 Goals

2010-12-23T10:47:00.003-05:00

$16,600. CC Debt.
$7000. Car Loan
$46,400. Student Loans
Total: $70000.

These are the debt I have minus my minuscule mortgage.
Still chugging away at the CC debt first.
Then car.
Then SLs.

Goals for 2011
Erase last of CC debt.
Finish funding Roth IRA $5000 by April 1st.
Fund Roth IRA $5000 2011.
Set up 401k, fund as possible. Goal 16500, evaluate at six month mark.
Raise credit score from 664 to 700 by end of year, evaluate at six month mark.

Food budget $200 week. (Which to me is low.)
Once CC's paid off, start down payment on Forever House Fund.

Update

2009-11-28T14:17:00.002-05:00

Sat's goals

$21,747.15 Credit Cards

2009-08-19T08:25:00.001-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500/280 done
SL's 900/900 done/900 done
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000/2740. done
Dentist min 300/300 done
Mortgage Sept Goal 1300/1300 done

2009-08-13T23:45:00.002-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500/280 done
SL's 900/900 done/900 done
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000/2740. done
Dentist min 300
Mortgage Sept Goal 1300

:)

Payday

2009-08-07T08:18:00.001-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500
SL's 900/900 done
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000/1220. done
Dentist min 300
Mortgage Sept Goal 1300

August

2009-08-02T15:53:00.003-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500
SL's 900
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000
Dentist min 300
Mortgage Sept Goal 1300

Mid-monthly Check-up

2009-07-17T12:24:00.001-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500/300 paid
SL's 900/done
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000/1000 paid
Dentist min 300/done
Mortgage 1100

July Goals

2009-07-02T01:22:00.002-04:00

IRS 3300
Car 300 Goal 500
SL's 900
Cc's min 700 Goal 2000
Dentist min 300
Mortgage 1100

Checkpoint

2009-06-24T20:49:00.001-04:00

cc 25,554
car 9800

Back to basics

2009-05-03T20:23:00.003-04:00

CC 25,669.
Car 10,100.

Need to pay off cc's

2009-01-31T00:36:00.000-05:00

CC Debt:23818.
Car 10,500?

2009 Goals

2008-12-27T12:00:00.002-05:00

cc debt 24442.
Pay monthly: 2200.

Daily:
one pss blog
one nf blog and new listing
nwsg each pss g
each nf g

Other: double pay car/clear at least half

Max Roth
start personal 401(k)

The cc debt has to go. It keeps me up at night.

Monthly Goals

2008-11-15T01:38:00.003-05:00

Goals
CC's $1200 (nada)/800
Car (double pay ) $500 /done
savings 500/done
Roth 500/550 done
Xmas 500 (nada)
Mortgage (Nov + 200) done
Sl's (overpay) done

Reminder to me
Mortgage Dec.
CC's

Still sick

2008-10-15T13:40:00.002-04:00

Rainman is still hacking, but the antibiotics kicked in, and hoping tomorrow he goes back.
Holiday means no pay deposit until tomorrow, but put $200 in savings and Roth.

2008-10-10T16:24:00.005-04:00

Rainman is sick.
Two days home from school and not eating.

Maybe a checklist will help keep me on track.
Goals
$1200 CC's/700
$500 car payment/ $500./done
$500 water bill
$500 xmas fund/ $100 so far
$500 Roth/ $400 so far.
$200 ef/ $200/done

So far, renewed Dreamhost for the year/business $150
had to buy an industrial fan for the basement, $210.,
Cash $120 yesterday which got gobbled up by Domino's mainly to get something into rainman, Dunkin Donuts for me and Rainman, Babygirl for the mall, her dance, Babygirl and bathboy's lunches, and at some point I need coffee to get stuff finished tonight :)
Serve $86.
Food/$97
Wal-mart $61

Reminder to me-
SL's $600/1100.
Mortgage

Jibberish but I need to save my coherant thoughts for people who pay me :)

October Goals

2008-09-28T11:14:00.003-04:00

No more driving Rainman, which frees up time and money.
Xmas and Babygirl's birthday soon,which means money drain.

Goals
$1200 CC's
$500 car payment
$500 water bill
$500 xmas fund
$500 Roth
$200 ef

In addition to all my other living expenses.

Monthly Goals

2008-09-01T10:31:00.003-04:00

Tight month already.
Goals:
$500 car
$1500 ccs
$500 xmas
$500 water bill
$400 Roth
In addition to my day to day bills.

Murphy Visits

2008-08-21T12:09:00.002-04:00

Back to driving Rainman, so more expenses.
Paying down the debt has taken a backseat to maintaining.

Gas $60
Target-duct tape, Rainman's nachos, cheese, pepsi 1 litre, 6 pack, dish liquid, fruit bowl.
$22
Dunkin $5
paid this month $400 toward car (150 over)
Sl's $600
Nothing so far toward cc's, xmas,or any savings.
Work is in a slump, and I am unavailable at prime times.
Kill me now.

Daily Spending

2008-08-05T22:20:00.004-04:00

Tuesday
Bad day.
At the beach this morning, one of the dogs sliced a leg.
Bled pretty freely, taking care with the advice of a friend who knows much more than I ever will about dogs.
The younger two are really overdoing the sibling rivalry thing.
To the point I wanted to give them both up for adoption.
Spending:
$8 DD me and babygirl before the beach.
$$$ leftover from yesterday, got school supplies
$8 Staples 36 notebooks, 5 packs 6 count highlighters, 20 folders
$3 Four bic pen ten packs, highlighters, 48 pencils
ATM $20
$14 me and babygirl's dinner - the other three went with the ex

Sunday/Monday

2008-08-04T18:44:00.002-04:00

Sunday
$5 papers
$2 rainman's pepsi
$5 my coffee and bathboy's muffin
$22 pizza
$5 babygirl's sleepover
Ex gave $40 for pizza
total:spent $39

Monday
$8 rainman needed snacks at cornerstore and forrest too
$40 from atm- I owe babygirl $25 handbag party plus need spending $$$
$170 ouch groceries
spent $220

Daily Tracking and August Goals

2008-08-02T19:49:00.003-04:00

Daily:
-$2 paper
-$12 dd and my dinner
-$10 ds dinner

$22.

August Goals
$2500 CCs
$Xmas fund $625
$500 car
$900 SLs
Roth Ira $125
Savings $125

Lofty :)

Daily Spending/Goals

2008-08-01T22:05:00.002-04:00

Daily Spending
-$9 DD for Babygirl and me before dog run at the beach.
-$2 Rainman's after school frosty.
-$4 My DD coffee coolatta w Rainman.
+Ex gave $20 for dinner.
-KFC -$9
CVS Motrin, 2 toothbrushes, sunblock -$25
spent $30

Goals
CCs 25117
by 14 months 10/09
Car 12019.
by 1/10
then SLs.
IRA $5000
by taxtime 4/09
Xmas $125 week until 12/1
:)

Wednesday/Thursday

2008-05-08T10:54:00.004-04:00

Just keeping track:
Wally world for school project
BK for Rainman
Rest for Babygirl's lunch etc Total $60

Thursday so far:
Home Depot/ Utility Pump/Replacement Filter / Garden Hose
$177.
Cash $40 Forrest's school trip/DD/petty cash for me
Gas $66.
:)

payday

2008-05-07T12:21:00.003-04:00

last night continued-
Papa's $35 (ex gave cause he's away)
Wednesday
Dunkin Donuts $3
M&P Lunch $6
Wallyworld - $212.
Hannaford's $31.
Visa payment $580.
:)

2008-05-06T09:45:00.002-04:00

Monday -food coop $90
Tuesday -Mortgage + extra $120
DD Iced C + kids $10

2008-05-05T20:45:00.002-04:00

Saturday- $3 dunkins
Sunday -paper $5
Coffee, juice and muffin for rainman $8
Monday $20 BB yearbook
$3 Iced cofee
$50 for the basement clean up at Wal-mart

Eye opening

2008-05-03T14:32:00.004-04:00

Friday continued- I just had to go to the bookstore( eye roll)
$31.
$5 taco bell for me
$5 Babygirl after picking her up from friend's
$32 -3 pillows (dogs ate babygirl's and mine) 2 doggy bone things, pillowcases, chapstick)

Saturday morning:
weekly paper for coups $1.50
Ice tea for child who went $1.

What budget?

2008-05-02T09:34:00.003-04:00

Thursday-
$100 car ins
$40 school bus never showed so Dunkins for Rainman, then dinner at BK
(Ex gave $100 for gas, so not as bad as it looks). Kids lunches.

So far today
$120 - $40 for Babygirl's carnival,
$60 for birth certificates
$20 Dunkins plus parking in Boston

It hurts to see how much is frittered away.

Jane4girls is my new hero.
$800 a year food budget- and they eat very well.
Baby steps.
:)

Payday :)

2008-04-30T11:02:00.003-04:00

Sure goes fast.
Made a $560 disc.
Rainyday $100

Monday: kmart 20
BestBuy 150
Kids'lunches and my coffee :$20

Tuesday: Wet/dry vac $130
Kids/coffee $20

Wednesday: Food $100
Gas $70
Kids & Coffee $20

Back from the money pit.

2008-04-27T18:23:00.002-04:00

Bah.
Never ends.
For this to actually keep me accountable, it needs to be a daily post, at least until Mint decides to add my bank.
Citi 16,108.
Discover 11,111.
Total : 27,233
Up from last time.
Sigh.
I maxed 07 Roth and that's in an international fund.
According to Quizzle, at my income (which varies widely each week), I need $28,333 in a rainy day fund, just in case.
I have $300 in that account.
And the weeks leading up until tax time slowed my billing hours to a crawl.
But, next week, will be the last weak check from my main contractor.
To pay off my debt in 18 months, it will take 1737. a month.
Roughly $450 a week, with an additional $100 going to Roth 08.
Guess I better get busy, yes?

Daily spending:
Sunday papers: $5. +$1 ice tea for child who got them
Last minute book for child who tells me last day of vacation he needs it: $15
Ice cream with babygirl $6
Dunkin Donuts iced coffee to keep me from opening a vein $3.
Total : $30

Chugging at the Roth IRA

2008-02-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Single Ma wrote a post about starting to coupon. She is usually not only very informative but also really funny, so if you don't read her Fabulous Financials, go take a peek.

Ok, chugging away at the Roth. On track and even just a tiny bit ahead, with my 2007 Roth at E*Trade with $1300 deposited, with $2700 to go by 4/15/08. Also deposited $50 this morning. I am trying to get in the mindset of not just trying to pay off the evil credit card debt, but also to save. I have 9 more Wednesdays (where I get DD from my main contractor) to fund this, and when that's complete, I will just continue until I have $5000 for 2008 done, and then see where I am.

I am following the advice in "On my own two feet" which is clear, concise financial advice geared toward women and money. It is short, and you could read 20 minutes here, half an hour there, and get it done within a few days, but it gives a polite kick with concrete advice on what you need to get from here to there.

Off to pick up Rainman :)

Back on Track

2008-02-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

I set up a Roth IRA at E*TradeFinancials and so far, so good. I am on track to maxing out my $4000 for 2007, having deposited $960 ($320 each Wednesday) and started the savings account too, only depositing $150 so far, but it's a start.
What else happened is, my car died. I was in a pretty bad fender bender, and although my car was fixed, it has been stalling on long trips. No one can seem to find exactly what's wrong. The Ex has agreed to give me a down payment and co-sign, and with Rainman and the long commute twice a day to his school, there is no getting around the need for a reliable car. I have been looking at 2006/2007 low mileage Dodge Caravans, and Monday is the big new car day.
Deep breath: CC debt total is $26,661.
I want to have that to $13,330 by next year, if not sooner.
Wish me luck :)

Grape shampoo & Speed Roth

2008-01-15T19:02:00.000-05:00

So, Forrest takes a shower, jumps into bed, and the dogs are all over him. He is yelling, so I go upstairs, and he is sticky, and smells like fruit.
"Forrest, did you use soap?"
"Yes, Mother, I did use soap, Mother, I used the purple soap."
I go check.
He used the grape jelly in the squeezable tube.
Yeah.
I am woefully behind on my retirement savings. And I need to aim for $4000 before the tax year ends.
Eeek.
There are more or less 13 paydays left until taxes close.
I need to have $308 each Wednesday to do this.
I am really going to have to push to do this.
I am going to do this by pushing myself with some drudge, barely pays stuff that I dislike, but I really need to generate income.
I am going to open a Roth here by tomorrow, as I just got a check from a client and I can deposit it tomorrow, as well as I get direct deposit tomorrow from my main employer.
I will post more tomorrow, as the children came back early and Rainman is wiping Chocolate ice cream on my ankle.

2 Girls 1 Cup

2008-01-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

2 girls 1 cup
Shudder.
Do not look.
There are some things that once seen, can not be unseen. But, add Rainman, and just about anything can be entertaining.
This video has been floating around for a while, along with "Four girls fingerpaint" (even worse) and the BME Pain Olympics (no, no, my eyes).
My memory was jogged about this incident that happened about a month or so ago by reading Save Leighann
I was trying to get some cleaning done when I hear the theme song to the infamous vid. Thinking it was Batboy (ds 13), I go running into my bedroom and Rainman is on youtube, watching this.
You will never see Kermit the Frog the same way.

Mint.com

2008-01-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

I was reading Girls Just Wanna Have Funds and saw this cool new money program. It is called Mint.com, and it is similar to Microsoft Money Plus, but Mint is free.
Free is good :)
It tracks expenses by credit card, bank account (although my bank isn't listed), and so far, so good. It is extremely easy to use, and unfortunately, even with pretty software, my biggest expense is still gas.
Give it a look :)

Budget Busters

2008-01-05T12:25:00.000-05:00

Right now, the biggest ridiculous expense is gas. Rainman goes to a school about an hour away, each way. That is four hours a day, and guess who drives him?
The school system is supposed to, there is an IEP with this in place, but for the last three months I have been hauling him there and back. Partly due to the fact that most of the bus drivers should be in special ed themselves, and partly do to a director of sped that is extremely scattered and cheerfully incompetant, I have been spending about $50 a day in gas plus about $10 for Rainman's "raisin bagel honey honey dip orange juice" (and my large french vanilla (don't even think about me driving without coffee) iced regular) and this is just money thrown away.
Bah
The Ex has been throwing a hundred to me about every other week toward gas, but this is killing my snowball (money thrown toward debt). This is supposed to be cleared up in a week or so, when they finally get Rainman a restraint that fits.
My confidence in this ending without going to mediation is zilch.
$300 a week toward gas and donuts.
This is so depressing.

Just a glimpse into my life

2008-01-01T10:38:00.000-05:00

Morning :)
I got a lot done, revenue wise, but I didn't get much sleep, as usual. At some point Rainman crawled into bed with me, and I woke up in a warm pee circle. Rainman has an aversion to body hair, and struggling to wake I feel a razor shaving my dry legs and his dead weight on my ankles.
Just peachy.
Rainman's twin, Forrest (as in Gump) has been up since about 5 a.m., when he came into my room with "Mother, it is 5:02. May I get up yet?"
No, not till 6 a.m.
Then, I hear "Mother, it is 5:18. In 42 minutes it is 6."
Me: "Go to sleep till then"
Forrest :"Mother, I am sorry, so sorry. Mother, I am sorry"
"Fine, baby, just no tv till 6"
"Mother, so sorry I asked. Mother?"
Bleary, eyes burning "Yea?"
"It is 5:28, Mother. In 31 minutes it is 6, and I can watch tv."
Forrest, not till 6, k?
"I am sorry, so sorry, Mother. So sorry, so sorry I asked"
It's ok, just give me till 6,k?
"I am so sorry, sorry, so sorry, but Mother, can I ask you something?"
Garbled , yeah yeah?
"Mother, it is 5:38, and in 22 minutes, I can watch tv!"
Me:zzzzzzzzz
The 6 a.m. rule is in place because of past instances of him getting up earlier and earlier to watch tv or turn on the computer- nothing like being woken at 3 a.m. by the theme to "Shrek" or "The internet is really really great-for porn!"
Forrest is also almost the total opposite of Rainman. Forrest is laid back, communicates well, and presents more with mental retardation than anything else. He is also a lot bigger than Rainman, and very gentle. His social, emotional and academic strengths and weaknesses are all over the place. He reads well- adult fiction such as Dennis Lehane and Robert B. Parker- but also baby books such as The Backyardigans or Thomas the Tank.
And Rainman is always trying to kill him.
Seriously.
Rainman is constantly going after him with anything he can pick up, and when there is nothing to pick up, he will kick, pinch and bite Forrest. I don't see this as much with me, but it does happen. It's one of the reasons I try to take Rainman on long rides and such, to give poor Forrest a break. Forrest is ok being home by himself, and will ask in a round about way, with subtle hints.
"Mother, may I ask you a question?"
Yup
"We are almost out of milk"
Hmm, there is a half gallon left, but, ok.
"Doesn't that mean you need to go shopping? And go today? Children need milk, Mother"
Yup
"Sorry, so sorry, Mother, sorry I asked."
I'll go in a bit, Forrest
Five minutes later:
"Mother, we need milk, Children need milk, Mother. Are you going shopping?"
Yup, in an hour, Forrest.
"Sorry, so sorry, sorry I asked, Mother."
And this will go on until I leave with Rainman.
Isn't autism fun? :)

Just a regular day

2007-12-31T19:38:00.000-05:00

Arghhh.
I am at home, trying to get some work done.This has been a long school vacation with the demon spawn. As usual, Rainman has been sucking up most of my attention. At the moment, he is running around buck naked except for a holiday shopping bag on his head, jumping up and down and screaming "Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!" He is going stir crazy, but the options are mighty limited with what I can do with him. He doesn't have friends, the only thing he has that are close to peers are scattered all over the state, and his unfortunate habit of stripping and jerking on his penis when he is frustrated further limit where I can take him.
The only places I can really take him are places where there is no one else, or the drive thru. Tried to have a no spend day, but had to go the bank to cash a check because my atm card is once again among the missing (thanks Rainman and your habit of tossing stuff out the window when I drive). I just had it replaced less than a month ago and hope (in vain) that I find it.
We hit the Dunkin Donuts drive thru for his usual "large orange juice, honey honey dip donut raisin bagel with cream cheese" (all said as one word by him) but they had no honeydip. This only caused a semi-melt down, and when they didn't have chocolate honeydip either, he took it rather well, with only a half hearted "GoddamitIhatethis". He then wanted to take a long ride, while he ate his stash and I semi-vegged as I drove. He likes to eat and be driven, but any small annoyance (a half missed favorite song on the radio, a too toasted bagel, a loud noise) and he begins to dig his nails into my wrist, kick his feet against the ceiling, bang his teeth against any hard surface, and strip while pulling out his penis. I drove by some playgrounds hoping the cold weather would have kept others away, but each park had at least a few children. I just couldn't deal today with the funny looks, nasty remarks, or even out right hostility which always comes even when Rainman's screeches are happy.
And then, I just didn't want to make dinner. Anti-frugal, but the other off-spring where begging for Wendy's and it was just too easy to give in.
And, for the life of me, I can't find a jumpdrive that isn't full. I need to save some pics I created, but either Rainman or the ferrets have absconded with them. I also need another printer, as Rainman banged the last one and when it fell, it stopped turning on. Oh well, what can you do?
So, it's New Year's Eve, the house is in disarray, Rainman is screeching happily, I am trying to make money, the other offspring are folding towels, and a horrible old Chuck Norris movie is on. Let's hope the old superstition about whatever you are doing at the stroke of midnight is what you do for the rest of the year does NOT hold true, or I am so screwed :)

Best Buy Service Plan Sucks Candy Cane Balls

2007-12-30T17:59:00.000-05:00

Bought my 12 year old an 80 GB silver Ipod, and being as they are relatively flimsy pieces of machinery, I also got the 3 year Best Buy service plan, which states that it will replace or fix the IPOD free in the case of anything except physical damage. I have bought these before, and have only had one problem where I needed to take advantage of the warranty, and Best Buy honored it, by checking the Ipod, seeing that it didn't work, and replacing it.

Day after Christmas, go into Best Buy with the Ipod that will not reboot. Mind you, I have the above mentioned 12 year old and 15 year old Rainman, a large adolescent with classic autism. Mentally picture a 200 pound two year old having a bad day, and you have Rainman.

Wait in the returns/customer service line for a little over an hour. Finally get up to the desk, and am told I have to go to computers. All right, no problem, let me heft Rainman over to computers. First hour, he is a bit cranky but the promise of a DVD still works. By the second hour, third in the store, he is pinching and kicking me, and starting to yell out such utterances as "Sniff my penis" and "Stick fingers up my butt". After another hour, we are next in line, but wait- a couple with a newborn cuts us! I explain to the computer service person that, hey, I have been here for hours, and my children are getting antsy, and am told- "But, they have a newborn"
Sigh.
Rainman by this time is repeatedly stripping his coat, then shirt, then pulling his pants down to his ankles and screaming "Sniff my butt". My daughter is beet red, I am trying to stay sane, and it is ANOTHER HOUR before anyone waits on us.
We get up to Best Buy's computer repair people, and am told they can't do anything because I didn't buy the warranty. I explained that yes, I did buy the Best Buy three year service plan. Rainman is now kicking me hard in the shins, and I am trying not to strangle him. I explain I have been in the store for hours, that I do have the warranty, and what do I do? I am told to call the 1 888 Best Buy service number. I ask them to do that while I am there, and am told that Best Buy will not do that.
Sigh.
I go home and call the Best Buy service number, and am told that yes, the 3 year service plan is right there in the computer. Back in Saturday, same thing.
Sigh.
Today, call #1 888 Best Buy again, to get the number of the warranty that no one in the store can access. I am on the 1 800 Best Buy number for well over half an hour, and am told to just bring the number they gave me into the store, and if there are any problems, have them call 1 888 Best Buy.
See where this is headed?
I wait in the Computer line, and once again when I get to a Best Buy Rep, am told that they can see I bought the 3 year service plan, but they can't honor it.
*head bang*
I was told they could ship it to somwhere but it would take up to eight weeks, or that I could simply return it, my credit card would be credited, and I could buy the same item again. I explained that this didn't make sense, I have the warranty, and am told I would have to go explain this to customer service. Again, wait in line, and explain this to a Best Buy customer service rep. I am told that although I have the warranty, because I bought it at Best Buy online, Best Buy stores will not honor it. I explain that I have never had that problem before, and I had called the 1 888 Best Buy and was told the store would honor it. I was told by Best Buy Store Customer Service that I could return the item and buy the exact same Ipod, BUT:
I would be charged a 30% restocking fee
Would forfeit the warranty
Since this was not acceptable, I was told there was nothing that Best Buy could do.
I then again called the 1 888 Best Buy customer service number, and was told to take the Ipod to any Best Buy and they would exchange it. Best Buy would "launch an investigation" but that still leaves me with a $335 piece of junk. I explained all the hours I had put in trying to get this fixed, and that my only recourse would be to cancel the charge. I was told again to take it to any Best Buy, and the warranty would be honored.
*Head bang*
I then called the Best Buy store and asked to speak to a manager. I explained what was happening, she asked if I had the warranty, I said yes, and she told me to bring it in and there would be no problems.
I then waited in the line again, and had the customer service rep call the manager. I was indeed in and out :)
And I shop at Best Buy because?

Saving money with coupons

2007-12-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

It's the end of the month, and I am organizing :)
First, I go to P&G BrandSaver and see that the monthly coupon booklet is coming out. It is coming out in two of the three newspapers I buy on weekends. (On holiday weekends, there are not coupons, so if you buy the papers only for coupons, you know not to). I see that there will be coupons for brands I use, such as Tide detergent, Secret deodorant, Pantene, Iams and Herbal Essences, among others.
I then go to HotCouponWorld and browse the store ads. You can browse by store, and it gives a heads up to what will be on sale in the coming weeks at some of the drugstores I frequent. There is also information on store policies from corporate offices, as unfortunately cashiers and even managers are unclear on their own policies, and may try to disallow you from taking advantage of an adertised deal. I love CVS, and get a ton of free and low cost products there, but the cashiers make up their own rules as to what they will or will not allow. Having a printed out copy of CVS policy with me usually makes my shopping much easier.
Tired yet?
It does sound like a lot, but it really doesn't take long at all, once you get the hand of it, maybe five-10 minutes of online reading a week.
I also picked up 2 copies of Wal-Mart's "All You" magazine for $1.97 per copy. Usually it is packed with coupons, but the Feb issue was pretty scant coupon wise. I more than made up the couple of dollars I shelled out, but not up to the usual deals.
This took a lot longer to write up than it did to actually peruse the sites and magazine. And I haven't even got to clipping the coupons yet!
That'll have to wait for another post :)

At least someone agrees with me :)

2007-12-27T22:33:00.000-05:00

Get a Cash Advance

Food Budget

2007-12-27T20:37:00.000-05:00

Food is a huge expense in my home. My grocery bill easily runs $1000 a month.It really shouldn't be, as I do all of the following:
Food Co-op: Angelfood Serve New England Share
I belong to one of the above, where for about $130 I get enough food to make up the bulk of my shopping for a month. It's brand name food, easy to prepare, with staples such as potatos, carrots, oranges, rice, etc. Where am I going wrong?
I have fallen off the coupon wagon. When I seriously coupon, I slash my bill in half and stockpile. And I have been buying shampoo, deodorant and toothbrushes at full price, when I can get them free and make a profit if I combine coupon + sale at CVS with the extrabuck program.
My goal for January is to spend no more than $550.00 total plus $100 at CVS.
Wish me luck,
M

Autism, Debt, and Being More Than Just Mom

2007-12-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hello,
I am the mother of two children with autism, and two without, and for the longest time I feel as if that is all I am. Due to finishing my undergrad and attempting grad school, I am currently in debt up to my eyeballs.

The debt is about $25,000 in cc debt, and there is also substantial student loan debt. For 2008, my goal will be to:

1. Wipe-out the 15k on Visa and 10K on Discover.
2. Start a Roth, and max it out.
3. Begin a fund for a bathroom renovation.

Nothing like shooting for the stars :) I get child support and fiscal help from one bio-dad that covers my mortgage and other housing costs, and zilch from the other. I am limited in that I am unable to hold a "real" job, as being a mother to disabled offspring precludes it. I do work at home, and am able to make a living, and based on the past few months, am on my way to making a living to get me out of debt and back to having a life :)

And, here I go
M