Emergency Fund: $2,051.10
Checking: $1,039.48
ING Funds (total): $1,529.26
Roth IRA: $3,917.46 (out of the $5,400 I've invested so far)
401k: $1,384.59 (out of $1,557.60 invested)
Sharebuilder: $29.20 (out of $50 initial investment)
____________
Total Positive: $9,951.09
Rent: $825
Credit card: $2,358.11
Student Loan I: $10,379.18
Student Loan II: $0
____________
Total Negative: $13,562.29
Net Worth: -$3,611.20
I just wanted to do an end-of-month checkup to see how my tax return has impacted my finances. Since I'm supposedly renewing my efforts, I really need to put a freeze on that revolving line of credit. I pay it off every month, but it just leaves me treading water. I watched Suze Orman's special again on PBS yesterday, and it helped me to cancel some of the things I ordered that I know I don't need. Though that silicone bakeware had me at "non-stick."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Prospective Budget
I'm sure I don't have to say it, but I haven't even attempted to adhere to or even rework my budget in a long time. So here's my tentative reworked budged:
$2,540.00/month after taxes.
Rent: $825 (up to $850 in June)
Loan: $500 (the required monthly payment is actually $90, but if I keep paying this much, it'll be paid off by the end of 2010, instead of the suggested date of 2026. After payoff, sweep to E-Fund. OR, maybe I should contribute $400 here, and $500 to my E-fund. URGH.)
E-Fund: $400 (after it hits $8,000, decrease to $300 and sweep extra to F-fund)
Utilities: approx. $45
Food: approx. $100
Checking cushion: $200 (this includes incidentals, going out)
F-Fund: $100
Medical/Dental: $100 (after it hits $500, sweep to F-fund)
Clothes: $40
Investing: $100
Vacation/Airfare: $60
Tiffany necklace: $35
Gifts: $35
And I'll say it now before I convince myself that it's not true: I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PIECE OF JEWELRY (...except for one of those Tiffany key necklaces (oy) -- I can't decide whether to get the vintage oval key in silver or the trefoil key in gold).
I will go home tonight and return as much as I can. I can't even say it outloud, but I'll try to believe it when I write that except for on my birthday on Thursday, I will not visit QVC.com or HSN.com at all. Seeing that in writing reminds me that I am my mother's daughter. Please God, never let me succumb to Quacker Factory...
$2,540.00/month after taxes.
Rent: $825 (up to $850 in June)
Loan: $500 (the required monthly payment is actually $90, but if I keep paying this much, it'll be paid off by the end of 2010, instead of the suggested date of 2026. After payoff, sweep to E-Fund. OR, maybe I should contribute $400 here, and $500 to my E-fund. URGH.)
E-Fund: $400 (after it hits $8,000, decrease to $300 and sweep extra to F-fund)
Utilities: approx. $45
Food: approx. $100
Checking cushion: $200 (this includes incidentals, going out)
F-Fund: $100
Medical/Dental: $100 (after it hits $500, sweep to F-fund)
Clothes: $40
Investing: $100
Vacation/Airfare: $60
Tiffany necklace: $35
Gifts: $35
And I'll say it now before I convince myself that it's not true: I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PIECE OF JEWELRY (...except for one of those Tiffany key necklaces (oy) -- I can't decide whether to get the vintage oval key in silver or the trefoil key in gold).
I will go home tonight and return as much as I can. I can't even say it outloud, but I'll try to believe it when I write that except for on my birthday on Thursday, I will not visit QVC.com or HSN.com at all. Seeing that in writing reminds me that I am my mother's daughter. Please God, never let me succumb to Quacker Factory...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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.
Monday, March 30, 2009
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
____________
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.
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
____________
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.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, February 2, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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?
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?
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