Archive results for “April 2009f 2009”

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March Net Worth Update = ($21,038)

I plugged the numbers into NetWorth IQ today and our net worth is now at a negative $21,038. It’s hard to believe that three years ago our net worth was at a negative $55,131. It gives me a little perk-me-up because right now it feels like time is standing still. We are waiting for another payment to arrive so we can pay off more of our credit card debt.

A little off-topic, but I designed a little avatar that displays next to my posts. It was difficult trying to find a picture to put there. I wanted something that represented me. For some of you long time readers, you may remember that I started it was purple and green on here then I changed to gray and blue. With those colors, I didn’t feel at home here. Our debt reduction rate also slowed down – although that could be just a coincidence. I asked everyone what they thought and a few of you said that the purple and green matched my personality.

Being in debt can be a dark place. The purple and green sure brightened it up LOL. Just loading up the site in my browser made me feel more optimistic. So with my avatar I decided to go with a simple purple and green theme with my name in it

Posted by Tricia on April 20, 2009 at 6:48 PM in Net Worth | 1 Comment »
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Metal Water Bottles and Saving A Buck

I continually look for ways to cut costs from anywhere and everywhere including…gasp…bottled water.

I bought one of those ‘earth friendly’ metal water bottles – though I question the ‘friendliness’ of metal. Sure I’ll be using less plastic but how biodegradable is metal anyway?!?

Regardless, I was concerned about the financial impact of purchasing and carting plastic water bottles to work on a daily basis so I thought I’d give the world of reusable’s a try.

I carefully filled the bottle, took a sip……

And I have one thing to say.

I have standards and this… is way below them.

And… my standards aren’t that high to begin with. My city uses reclaimed sewer water that tastes like a cross between Dial soap and dirty socks and I can somehow drink that – but this? My bottle makes water taste like a welders refuse pile.

And trust me… I KNOW what metal tastes like. Twenty-four months of my life were spent with railroad tracks of braces glued to my teeth.

Needless to say, I won’t be re-using the metal bottle again. Maybe I’ll throw it in with the aluminum cans for recycling?

But, I wasn’t going to be deterred! My new job stocks bright red mugs with ‘Company X’ blazed across the front and stores them in the kitchen for community use. Sure there was a risk that I’d come down with communicable diseases from improperly washed dishware but at least my water would be drinkable.

…Unfortunately, as I was washing the mug, I noticed the tiny print on the bottom that read, ‘The colors used to tint this mug contain lead. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.’

Great. Like I need that to worry about. I’m not pregnant but now I’ll always worry about having a child with a mild deformation because ‘mommy wanted to save a buck’.

Thankfully, a co-worker noticed me struggling to bleach a mug and gave me a brand new Nalgene bottle.

Good thing he wasn’t there to witness my interesting way of drinking to avoid touching any colored areas on the mug.

Always looking to save. ; )

Posted by Beks on April 19, 2009 at 1:06 AM in Living Frugal, Saving Money | 34 Comments »
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Deciding That Enough Is Enough

I was pulling stray carts from the parking lot at my former job at the ‘big box’ store when two gentlemen walked by and said, “Don’t they have a machine to do that?!?!?”

I smiled and said, “The machine isn’t reliable. I am, so they send me out here.”

One of the men looked down at my dirty hands and scuffed tennis shoes and said, “That’s when I’d tell the boss to take his job and shove it. I’d never push shopping carts for a living.”

The other man laughed and said, “Oh geez, no!”

They pushed their cart toward me and left. I stacked ten carts in a line and began to push them to the cart corral. As the tears started to trickle down my face, I couldn’t help but think that those words were probably something I would have said before I lost my job. I have a university degree with high honors and over a decade of management experience. I would have never seen myself at this point either.

I stopped, leaned my head on the cart handle (I know – germs – but I was distraught), and thought, ‘I have two options. I can either quit and go home OR I can bust my butt and get a paycheck – tiny or otherwise.’

I wish I could say it was an easy decision – but I had my head on that darn handle for at least 5 minutes.

I finally wiped my face and got back to work.

If this is what it takes to pay my bills, THIS is what it takes.

Our successes and failures are based on our attitudes. We can give up and fail… or we can decide that enough is enough and bear down for a fight.

I’m ready to fight.

Are you with me?

Posted by Beks on April 18, 2009 at 2:56 AM in Keeping Motivated, Life Experiences, Making Money | 41 Comments »
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Chase Raised Rates on Low Interest Cards

I read an interesting article on MSNBC about Chase credit cards. There are quite a few people who did a balance transfer to take advantage of an offer with a low interest rate for the life of the balance. I love those kinds of deals and balance transfers have played a huge part in our debt reduction.

I read through the fine print carefully with each offer that we did. Every balance transfer we did was specific in saying that as long as you were in good standing you would lock in that low interest rate. It appears that Chase had similar wording with one of their deals, but decided to change the terms:

Last November, Chase notified about 400,000 people with these low interest cards their minimum monthly payment would more than double and a $10 monthly service fee would be added.

[Via MSNBC.com]

I would be so upset if one of our cards did that to us. I would definitely feel like it was a bait and switch. According to the article, there is a class action lawsuit pending. I think this lawsuit is one to watch as far as special offers from credit cards. It will set a big precedent.

Posted by Tricia on April 17, 2009 at 6:59 AM in Credit Cards | 11 Comments »
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Isn’t This Supposed to Happen MUCH Later in Life?

First off, I have a correction to make. I wasn’t completely honest with you and as much as that worked when I was dating (like when I said, “I absolutely LOVE football!” when the last game I watched was in the sixth grade), it’s not in the cards in my communication with you readers.

I’m not 27 as stated in my first post…

I’m 28.

I don’t lie about my age because I want people to think I’m younger. I lie about my age because I can’t remember how old I am. I honestly forgot I was 28.

Isn’t this supposed to happen MUCH later in life?

Why does this come up? My co-workers talk about my age a lot. They all assume I’m 21 or 22 and they act shocked when I break the news that I’m 27… er… 28. I guess the assumption is natural. I work for slightly above minimum wage and I’m surrounded by 18 year olds.

It could also be because, thanks to the greasy hot dog burner, I’m breaking out like a pubescent teenager.

Is it just me or does everyone feel 21 regardless of the emerging fine wrinkles and stray gray hairs?

It’s this mentality that continues to make me struggle financially. It’s OK to make stupid financial mistakes in your early 20’s. It’s not OK to continue those mistakes for the next 8 years. I guess I’ve always felt young so I always assumed that I’d live forever – and conveniently, that’s how long it would take to pay off my debts… including those club cover charges… from my freshman year in college.

But the reality is, if I want to retire before say… 2078, I need to take care of my responsibilities. I need a sense of urgency.

My financial class gives me that sense once a week but I find it wears away after a few days. By the following Tuesday I’m debating the necessity of Enya’s greatest hits or a discount cashmere sweater (fortunately I decided those were both non-necessities… for now anyway…).

Any ideas on how to keep that urgency? Other than someone poking me with a stiff cattle prod whenever I pull out my debit card?

How do you stay motivated?

Posted by Beks on April 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM in About Me, Confessions, Keeping Motivated | 17 Comments »
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Credit Card Debt Update – $1,499

We managed to put a little bit more towards our debt today. That brings our credit card debt total to $1,499. We should be able to contribute $500 more before the end of the month so it looks like we will need to use $1,000 from our savings account to pay off the last of our credit card debt.

That’s not too bad. We should be able to get that amount replenished within a few months. With summer quickly approaching we can breathe a sigh of relief that we won’t have huge gas bills for a while and our electricity bill will decrease unless it’s an overly hot summer. We can also spend a little less on groceries since we’re planning on having a garden this year. Nice, fresh produce sounds so good right now!

The end of April sure is coming up quickly!

Posted by Tricia on April 16, 2009 at 11:25 PM in Debt Updates | 4 Comments »
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Dental Debt and What I Want

Some people have good teeth.

Some people have bad teeth.

And even still, some people have teeth that make Steve Buscemi look like a Colegate smile model.

I’m in the last category.

Oh, you can’t tell to look at me. I have a beautiful smile – but I’ve spent more on my teeth than most people spend on their first home.

Either:

A) My dentist was an elephant poacher in her previous life and she can’t rid herself of the desire to create enough pure ivory piano keys out of my teeth to furnish a grand piano… or two.

B) My tooth enamel is as effective at preventing cavities as a double fudge cake is to weight loss.

I brush, I floss, and I rinse twice daily. I avoid soda and sugar. BUT… according to my dentist, some people are destined to have bad teeth.

And I am destined to pay her dental school loans.

Obviously my dental woes affect my ability to pay off debt. I recently finished paying off a $1,500 dental loan, but there is always more work to be done.

I also recently interviewed for a job with one of the most inclusive dental plans I’ve ever seen.

They reviewed the information with me at the end of the interview and I’m hoping they didn’t notice I had stars, exclamation points, and highlighted sections around the ‘Dental Benefits’ section.

Ahh. To be free of dental debt – past and future – would help a lot.

Posted by Beks on April 16, 2009 at 12:03 AM in General Debt, Insurance | 14 Comments »
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About This Site

My Debt

Original Debt: $38,495.86
Added Debt: $1,781.50
Total Debt: $40,277.36
Paid: $36,084.36
Remaining: $4,193.00
Broken Down
Auto Loan 1: $0.00
Credit Card: $0.00
Student Loan: $4,193.00
Auto Loan 2: $0.00
Vet Loan: $0.00

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