Mariejensen2007's Personal Finance Blog

I have decided I spend way too much on presents. I can't get away from the fact that I want to give people things that are worth a lot, as I think they themselves are worth it. I am not a person who calls or writes so I am going to try writing a letter every day. I love getting letters in the mail. Instead of gifts people will get cards-little works of art with words.......at .39 a stamp its only $142.50 per year to mail 365 letters. What a bargin! Come on people do it with me! It will be fun, I promise.

Excercise every day
have right speech
__________________________________________++++++++pay off all cc's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lose 20 lbs
do art every day
learn how to play the fiddle

Today I'm at 757. In 2006, lowest credit score was 707, my husband broke his wrist in three places which is a bummer when it's the same wrist you use if you're an acupuncturist. We had one income, my income, for around 6 months-thats how come the crdit cards got racked. Highest was 791. New goal this year is 800.
1/6 791
2/6 776
3/6 776
4/6 766
5/6 709
6/6 707
7/6 745
8/6 752
9/6 752
10/6 748
11/6 741
12/6 757

This paycheck the goal will be to start the EF fund. Instead of paying 100% of it to credit cards, I'm going to split it among 4 new tires, credit cards and ef. The total debt won't go down much this month, but it shouldn't go up either. See? I told you I was a person capable of seeing the glass half full!

I once heard a converstaion take place between a tenant and a counselor. The counselor was reprimanding the tenant for losing her housing deposit therefore delaying her move. "What happen to your money Nina? You don't know? Hmm? "Did someone take it? Who? Space aliens? Did space aliens take your money? Did they or didn't they?" This went on for a good 5 minutes until Nina finally admitted she gambled, smoked and drank it away.
It's kind of too bad I've 'heard that one before' or else when I asked myself where my xmas bonus went I could have given the very rare and creative 'space alien' answer. But I didn't buy it. Buy it was what I did, only not the answer, everything else. $600 bonus -presents for 5 people=$200

As a property manager that has to collect coins from over 1000 rental units, I am here to tell you I think there's money in it. I know there is. A coin laundry machine is about $1000 and maintenance is about $200 per year. Each wash and dry is $1.75 each. Just on one machine alone I collect about $250-$500 for the owner per month.....something to think about.....water isn't that expensive. There are companies who put the machines in themselves then collect the coins every month and split them 50/50 with the owners. Why am I not doing this? Why aren't we all???

Thanks evrybody who replied to the unofficial emergency savings pole. You guys are great. What I have learned is I should do what works best for me with a high emphasis on stash up that ef first then use it if needed instead of the cc's. I am going to putthat plan in action this month. New plan: I am getting a $1000 holiday bonus. With this I will buty four new tires and whatever's left will go into savings. I will deposit $250 a month until I have $1000. Like I always tell my husband....I sure do love you, but your lovin' doesn't pay my bills

Is it better to put $ away for emergencies-then start paying down the cards so that you can use the savings instead of the cc? Or is it better to put every dime towards the cc's then only if an emergency comes up use them?

My vacation officially starts today. I asked my boss to cash it out but she declined. I'm one of those people who usually work during their vacation, although today I made it out of there by 3:00 and handed the pager to my assistent. I get two weeks. I have until today to return some shoes I got on EBAY. This will get me $107 back in the bank. Plus I got my Discover card statement today and I got the $20 cashback bonus on it. I am going to get into my 1984 car now with it's original stereo-no cd, or DVD, just tapes & radio. Music is the best when you catch your favorite song on the radio and don't have a copy at home. Once I buy a copy of the song the next time I hear it played isn't as exiting for me..........I am challenging myself to free music only for one year...........................

So I decided to try out those sayings you hear like, "What goes around comes around." We loaded up the car with our weekly donations for Elizabeth House. This is a charity that takes EVERYTHING. No questions or regulations -they are happy to get anything you offer. After that we went to a garage sale and looked through boxes of free stuff. We took three hats for the kids, one angel figurine and one sweater for me. We were almost home when we spotted the new clothing store with bright kids tee shirts out front. I actually had to do a three point turn to turn the car around. I should have known there'd be trouble. It was a new small store that was half punk half vintage and also sold silkscreen kids shirts. My four year old found a tiger shirt he couldn't resist a shirt for dad who actually has no shirts without holes and a shirt for me. $68 less rich is what I am today. How do people resist the temptation? Payday just came and went so this went on the overdraft. Next payday is December 27th which should yeald around 2 grand. Enough to knock off 10% of the cards. Although I desperately NEED 4 new tires. One blew last night and I'm riding around on the spare.....

Providian $8922.06
A.T & T $1340
Chase $1980
Discover $3670
Patelco $4511.79

My weaknesses: Anthropologie clothing, shoes, lattes, thriftstores, lack of sleep

My Strengths: Good work ethic, nice person, capable of seeing the glass half
full.

I would like to be debt free in a year. I will stretch my capabilities.........today I have not spent any money. I am at home all day doing laundry and thinking of how not to pay 99 cents a song to load up the IPOD. My husband says he can load on songs from cds. I'm going to be seeing what the $77 gym fee really comes down to per day.