The Saved Quarter Challenge Monthly Update

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

Meal Planning Monday

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

Credit Card Debt Update

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

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

Saved Quarter Challenge First Week.

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!

Saved Quarter Challenge

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!