2009 taxes

I did my taxes last night, and I should be getting a little over 1k back on or around April 17th. I think I'll put all of it in savings and be done with it.

April 2009 Net Worth

Emergency Fund: $3,189.43
Checking: $51.99
ING Funds (total): $484.77
Roth IRA: $3,663.12 (out of the $5,400 I've invested so far)
401k: $1,286.05 (out of $1,349.92 invested)
Sharebuilder: $27.50 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $8,702.86

Rent: Paid
Phone: $20.00
Credit card: $2,782.61
Student Loan I: $11,079.74
Student Loan II: $0
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Total Negative: $13,882.35

Net Worth: -$5,179.49


Aaand I've got a little over $100 to pay for recent ebay purchases through paypal, which is entirely separate from my credit card debt. Wow. I cannot afford to keep spending like this. How many times have I said that now? I've got to return as much crap as possible tomorrow before my statement period ends around the April 11th. How desperate does that sound? Well, it feels pretty gross. Luckily, I believe I can make a moderate impact on that credit card balance, as long as I stay away from the home shopping networks. And no more ebay.

March 2009 Net Worth

Emergency Fund: $2,952.43
Checking: $100
ING Funds (total): $20.07
Roth IRA: $3,159.67 (out of the $5,400 I've invested so far)
401k: $985.78 (out of $1,349.92 invested)
Sharebuilder: $23.61 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $7,241.56

Rent: Paid
Phone: Paid
Credit card: $534.45
Student Loan I: $11,557.29
Student Loan II: $0
____________
Total Negative: $12,091.74

Net Worth: -$4,850.18


I've been hit pretty hard in my investments (as I'm sure we all have), so at the suggestion of another blogger, I've revised my goals. So here they are in the order of importance:

-Reduce extraneous spending. Namely, no more online purchases.

-Build my emergency fund back up to $6k as soon as possible. Put aside at least $500 a month toward this goal.

-Put at least $500 a month toward my remaining student loan until it's under 10k.

-Start putting money into ING funds again.

-Reduce Roth IRA contributions until the above goals are satisfied.

-Do taxes ASAP for refund. Use refund toward balancing grocery, electric and gas bills with boyfriend, and put the rest in savings. Create a grocery budget for the two of us.

February 2009 Net Worth

Emergency Fund: $3,479.66
Checking: $100.50
ING Funds (total): $234.03
Roth IRA: $3,463.04 (out of the $5,200 I've invested so far)
401k: $940.66 (out of $1,090.32 invested)
Sharebuilder: $27.64 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $8,245.53

Rent: Paid
Phone: Paid
Credit card: $1,685.79
Student Loan I: $11,914.26
Student Loan II: $0
____________
Total Negative: $12,816.94


Net Worth: -$4571.41

January 2009 Net Worth

Emergency Fund: $2,258.57
Checking: $150.50
ING Funds (total): $149.98
Roth IRA: $3,634.04 (out of the $5,000 I've invested so far)
401k: $813.04 (out of $986.48 invested)
Sharebuilder: $31.30 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $7,037.43

Rent: Paid
Phone: Paid
Credit card: $650.00
Student Loan I: $12,166.94
Student Loan II: $0
____________
Total Negative: $12,816.94


Net Worth: -$5,779.51


Luckily, January is a 3-paycheck month. I'm doing better, but I need all the help I can get.

Things aren't going great at work, and I'm pretty sure somebody's going to get axed. I definitely need this health insurance policy, so it would be horrible timing if it's me.

I've signed up for a silver-smithing class at my local adult-ed, and even though it costs a couple hundred dollars, I think it'll keep me from spending more in the long run, at the very least because it will take up 3 hours a week. Plus, I spend so much on jewelry, I should probably know what goes into making it, right? I should also take a cooking class and a pilates class, but baby steps, right?

Take it to the limit

Today has been sort of a big day. Even though I'm at a record monetary low, I paid off my smaller student loan, and I made my final 2008 Roth IRA contribution.

I will welcome any bonus money that may come to me, as well as the "extra" check in January (it's a 3-check month). Both will go directly into savings. I've already "treated" myself enough this year.

December 2008 Net Worth

Emergency Fund: $918.83
Checking: $380.77
ING Funds (total): $254.00
Roth IRA: $3,390.94 (out of the $4,900 I've invested so far)
401k: $668.96 (out of $882.64 invested)
Prosper: $60.83 (out of $100 in loans)
Sharebuilder: $30.41 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $5,704.74

Rent: Paid
Phone: Paid
Credit card: $458.28
Student Loan I: $12,555.22
Student Loan II: $121.02
____________
Total Negative: $13,134.52


Net Worth: -$7,429.78


Clearly, almost everything that could've gone wrong has. I'm desperately trying to pull myself together. I'm returning nearly all of it, but for every package I return, two more show up in my mailbox. I still don't know how this happened.