Money Musings

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.

October Goals

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.

payday

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.
:)

Eye opening

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.

Mint.com

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 :)