fbpx
:::: MENU ::::

Browsing posts in: :)

Bonus!

by

Ran an ad campaign for a “on the fence” client recent or rather, still.

I created the assets (graphics), copy, and determined the strategy. And I ran it. Starting with a $250/day budget. (Client pays add spend.)

To date, I’ve made them just over $72K with an ad spend of $2.7K. For a ROAS of nearly $27 for every $1 spent. Not too shabby.

To be honest, it is an easy product to sell, and I know this audience. Very well. So the psychology of the messaging and finding the right audience was easier than most of the campaigns I am charged with.

screenshot of META ad dashboard

Today I received a phone call from the CEO of the company. He gave me a bonus – paid out as soon as our phone call was over. And has verbally agreed to an extension of my contract. Or rather a new contract with new deliverables.

It’s been a few years since I received a Bonus for my work. As far as I know, it’s not a common thing in the contractor world.

The Plan

So what am I going to do with it? I knew you would ask. (It’s $1,000 so I should end up with $600-700.)

Outside of taxes, gov fees, the entirety will go to savings. My dad and I have been talking. He’s kind of my accountability partner. And certainly who I bounce my ideas off of. It’s nice to have one of those after decades of doing things alone.

He would like me to get to $10K in my Ally savings account, $1K in my EF (easily accessible account, and then focus solely on paying off my remaining debt.

What do you all think of this plan?

If all goes well this month, I think I might hit those savings goals. Then turn my attention to my debt alone (outside of the auto-transfers to savings and investments totalling $125 per week.)

Thoughts?

 

 

Hope’s Debt & Savings Update – July, 2025

by

I’m very proud of myself. Here’s why…

Debt

Debt DescriptionOctober, 2023 TotalInterest RateMinimum PaymentCurrent TotalPayoff Date (Est)
Student Loans$22,1212.875%$307$19,036
CC - Apple**$500$0May, 2025
CC - Frontier$3,85729.99%$0$0May, 2025 - Closed
Dad - New Furnace$2,6000%$0$0
May, 2025
CC - USAA$5,00019.15%$0$0May, 2025
CC - Sam's Club$0May, 2025 (again)
CC - Amazon$0May, 2025 (again) - Closed
CC - Southwest$0May, 2025
Painter$0May, 2025
CC - AMEX$89429.24%$0$0Mar, 2024 - Closed
CC - Sams$1,10629.99%$0$0April, 2024
Personal Loan #1$2,5000%$0$0July, 2024
Personal Loan #2$2,5000%$0$0August, 2024
CC - Wander$1,63029.24%$0$0August, 2024 - Closed
CC - Amazon$1,49729.99%$0$0September, 2024
Total$44,206$307$19,036

I paid $1,925 to debt in July. (June’s debt update.) For the first time in 3 decades, I have under $20K in debt, no credit card debt, rather no other debt. My car is paid off and in good shape and I am in a great place mentally.

There is a light at the end of this very long tunnel. On top of that, I have money in the bank!

Savings

I have more money in savings than I’ve had in DECADES. And not only that, but I’m not touching it. I have no immediate plans for it (you’ve seen my Budget and the Buckets I’m using in Ally). I have literally not touched my Ally account since I initially opened it with $5,000 from the house sell.

I have WEEKLY automated deposits going to both my Ally account and my investments account. (For the record, these screenshots are from the end of July.)

Summary

Listen, I know it’s not where I need to be at my age. I get that. Truly.

But I can’t go back. I can go forward though, and I am. And I am proud of myself.

My attention is split…debt and savings. Maybe not the most efficient way to do it. But I am doing it. Debt is dropping steadily, savings is growing rapidly.

I literally went from $0 in savings, living on a shoestring to having close to $10K in savings accounts in just over 2 months. And as my income grows, my savings and debt payoff goes more quickly.

This Month

Now this month, I will spend some money. Princess and I are throwing Beauty a bridal shower. I budgeted $1,500 – most coming from my monthly “allowance” that I haven’t really touched. I’ll share the details on how that goes later as I’m still trying to figure everything out.  As of today, I’ve spent the following:

  • $33 for invitations. I designed them on Canva and then had them printed there. I used stamps I had so not counting that expense.
  • $50 to hold the event space. I will pay another $200 before the event. The event space includes tables, chairs, table cloths, and serving ware.
  • $11 for my flight to and from ATL – yes, more points.
  • $196 for table decorations (flowers) and supplies for an activity.

I know I’m going to supply some food. And another game or too – thinking of the toilet paper to make wedding dresses. I’m honestly just feeling my way as I’ve never had a bridal shower or attended one. But it will be fun to experience this with my girls and celebrate Beauty!