December 2012 Financial Update

Oh December, How I am so happy to be wrapping you up along with the rest of 2012

This month my spending felt out of control again.  We have been hosting several guests, celebrating several holidays and traveling - very unexpectedly.

As if my $700 freakout on food last month wasn't bad enough, I managed to upstage it this month to $770.  Are there even words for that??? *sigh* I know there was Hanukkah, Christmas, guests to feed, treats to make, and traveling expenses, but it's all just too much.  Then there are the gifts.  Between Sig. O's family and mine we gifted about 37 people.  It sounds like the whole neighborhood, but it's really just my immediately family and Sig. O's small extended family.  Nearly all of the gifts were homemade, with the exception being our parents.

While I love spending time celebrating with family and friends I think 2013 is going to be the year I finally learn to say NO!

 

For the month of December  $1,214.31 is the total I paid towards my student loans.

                   $944.31 Minimum Loan Payments

                   $270.00 Snowball Payment divided between #2 & #3

                   $478.26 Amount to Interest (39.4%)

                   $736.05 Amount to Principal (60.6%)

                   Percentage of Principal Paid (0.63%)

I made a $20 snowball payment to loan #2 and a $250 snowball payment to loan #3.  This month I added an extra tiny snowball to loan #2 because I was so tired of only seeing $50 go towards the principal from a $155 payment. 

Just like last month, I had trouble getting my student loan company to apply my payments to the specified loans.  Again, I called the loan company, again I had to explain why paying principal was better than paying interest.  Another letter had to be faxed, but this time they decided to remove my "Paid Ahead" status.  It's a little confusing, so I will save it for its own post, but the idea is that I am moving my payoff date earlier, instead of pushing my next payment due date farther back. 

Keep fighting the good fight,

Andi

Goodbye 2012

and good riddance.

I know every year has highs and lows, but this past year has had some pretty unrelenting lows.

I won't have time to write a recap for a little while.  I am hosting friends until the 7th, but along with saying goodbye to 2012, I am also looking forward to saying good bye to a lot of the heavy burdens in my life, and saying hello to a new, brighter, lighter, healthier and happier 2013.  

Will fill you in soon!

-Snowball

A little late... but November Financial Update.

Why hello, hello!

I figured it was time to play a little blog catch up since we're almost to the middle of the month now.

First off, I decided to kick my budget posts to the curb for the time being, because I was just juggling too many things at once.  Over and over again I found myself trying to figure out where the money went after the fact instead of just writing down the purchases as they happened.  Now with that being said, I think my November spending proves just exactly how badly I need to get back on a budget that works for me.

This month was a doozy.  Ehhh, more like a complete and total trainwreck.  For the first time in a long time I spent significantly more money than what I earned in the month.  It was bad.  If you have a financially weak stomach look away now, because I am about to tell you is pretty ugly.

Somehow for the month of November I managed to spend $700 on food.  SEVEN.  HUNDRED. DOLLARS!  Whaaaaaaat?!  Yeah, and I am still trying to figure out how it happened.  This month was a far cry from the typical $220 I spend on groceries and restaurants for me and Sig. O.  I know some of it had to do with attending 3 Thanksgivings, and hosting company nearly every weekend, but AY! $700?  According to Mint $120 was spent on Restaurants and $580 was spent on Groceries.  Yikes, what am I feeding these people?  Caviar and Cristal?!

Anyway, moral of the story: I've got some big resolutions coming up, but I'm embarrassed to say that they're going to have to wait until the end of the company-train on January 7th. 

Other than that my only other major failure was my healthcare budget.  That ran approximately $200 over budget, but is steadily improving.

Without further ado...

For the month of November:

     $1194.12 total I paid towards my student loans.

                   $944.12 Minimum Loan Payments
                   $250.00 Snowball Payment to #3

                   $510.97 Amount to Interest (42.8%)
                   $683.15 Amount to Principal (57.2%)

                   Percentage of Principal Paid (0.58%)

I made a $250 additional snowball payment to Loan #3 just as I had last month, but I was surprised to see that October's payment decreased my loan by $280, but the same payment this month only decreased the loan balance by $217.  What gives?  I was really frustrated, because I had already ridden the merry-go-round with my student company in how they apply my payments.  Thankfully I keep them on my speed dial, so I gave them a jingle.  

I first questioned the customer service rep. about why my automatic payments are not applied as they are outlined in the payment plan they so kindly chose for me.  The rep. had no answer, but listened when I explained how shuffling my payments around benefits the loan company by making me accrue more interest.  I also explained that by making additional payments to specific loans that I had a specific loan payoff plan that makes sense for my current financial situation.  

It was so nice to hear the rep. agree with everything that I had to say.  He proceeded to make notes in my file, but suggested that I fax in a letter detailing our conversation along with my requests in having my payments applied as the lender actually states they will be applied. 

So far everything has been good.  Student loans can be a constant pain, but tracking your statements and staying on top of them can literally save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Sorry for the long lecture, I just refuse to let you and me be in debt even a minute longer than we have to!

In Solidarity. xo,
Snowball

Post-Grad Reality

I can't believe I forgot to write about this... but I'm now a featured writer for Dimespring.  I write as part of the Dimespring 30, a community of bloggers that share their thoughts and experiences related to personal finance.

Here's a link to my profile and articles.  Be sure to check them out!

xo,

Snowball

The Cost of Family Weekend

As I whined earlier this month, my family was pushing me so far over my budget and I didn't know how to say no or bring the reins back in.  I joke that the opera tickets are the "gift that keeps on giving".  My mom basically found a way to extend my birthday out over the next six months and force me to spend several weekends with her.  To some of you that might sound like a wonderful time of bonding and what not, but to the rest of us... yeah, that's a lot of mom time.  Did I mention that she occasionally likes to sing along with the opera.  I love her, but she's a handful.

Here is what I estimated for spending versus what I actually spent.  If you read through all the comments of the previous post you will see how I eventually reached the $345 estimate.

Dinner:  $30....................................$3 (Sig. O paid for most of my share)
Opera:  Free (Birthday).....................$0 
Opera Tix for Friend: $30................$0 (My parents treated her too!)
Evening Entertainment: $20............$5 (Ice Cream Sunday from Mickey's Diner)
Hotel:  Free (I live in the City).............$0
Brunch: $30 ....................................$0 (Slept through this, oops!)
Football Tix: $195 ...........................$195 
Football Snacks: $20........................$20 (Split snacks with my siblings and Sig. O)
Misc. parking: $20 ...........................$0 (Managed to take advantage of my parents hotel parking and hotel shuttle)
Weekend Est. = $345        Weekend Actual = $223

The weekend still cost me an arm and a leg, but I was thankful for the loopholes that saved me $100!  It helped that the weather was beautiful and we were able to spend part of the evening just strolling around downtown St. Paul.  After the opera we were able to walk to Mickey's Diner and end the night with shakes and sundaes.  

Sunday was the football game and that was the major expense for the weekend.  The tickets were $85 each and I ended up spending $195 because I also paid for Sig. O and part of my little sister's ticket (I owed her for my mom's bday gift).  While it was a really fun experience and a great time with my family, it will probably also be my first and last football game.  For me, especially at this point in my life, it's just not an experience I value enough to justify that kind of spending.    

Now, just to get better at saying no, and working within my budget. 

Thankful that every day is a new day and a chance to start again.

Here's to keeping at it!

Being led by my dreams...

Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene. - Arthur Christopher Benson

 Boy, oh boy, have lots of changes been going on around here.

First of all, I've been so quiet, because of a recent med. change.  My current combo really makes me feel drowsy.  I've even found myself sleeping at work and in the parking ramp!  Thankfully, my body seems to be adjusting, so I'm looking forward to more hours of being alert. 

Gluten free has been going phenomenally well!  I've basically tried to eliminate all bread-type products from my diet, but have recently been playing around with gluten free flours and mixes.  This morning I made an oh, so tasty quiche with a GF crust.  While the crust wasn't as light and flaky as I had hoped... I was still quite pleased with the look and taste of the final result.  Besides the diet adjustment, I've also eliminated one drug from my lupus-cocktail, and have reduced my dosages of the others.  Isn't that amazing?  I'm at the two month mark and most of my days are completely pain free!  I for sure know that the benefit is from the GF-diet, because a slip up like frozen-yogurt or a brat has left me run-down with a flare up that each time lasted for 3-4 days.

My last post left off with some uneasiness about the money I've been currently spending.  I took a leap, and decided to follow my dreams and sign up for a jewelry design class.  My whole life I have wanted to chase my creative side, but I've always put it aside in view of more practical ideas.

Well, I went to the jewelry/silver smithing class and I had the BEST TIME!  Instantly I was hooked.  You know that feeling where you just know you're in the right place at absolutely the right time, doing absolutely the right thing?  This was it.  I could not have been more happy or more proud of myself for taking the leap.  Here is what I made that night:    

A stack of 3 silver rings.  I made them by texturing, annealing, soldering, shaping and polishing pieces of silver.  It was such a great experience, I had no idea that we would even make anything the first night.  I can't wait to go back for the two remaining sessions!

Psssssst!  I am so in love with it that I also signed up for a lost wax casting class, where I will get to make pieces of jewelry by pouring silver into molds that I create!

Like I said before, I am making an investment in myself and that's the best investment I could ever possibly make.

xxoo,
Snowball

Spending even more money...

 “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C. S. Lewis

My whole life I've dreamed of doing something creative for a living, but my whole life has been focused on all these superficial milestones that other people, and I have been setting out in front of me.  As a result, I've felt so lost, so unhappy, and completely helpless under the weight of my student loans.   

For way too long, I've been overly focused on the things I should be doing rather than the things I want to be doing.  Starting today, I am putting aside all wonder, all worry, and diving right in.  

I just signed up for a metal smithing course (for jewelry) that starts TONIGHT!  Crazy, right?  Especially after my last few posts... Yes, it's more money.  Yes, my spending already feels out of control.  Yes, I may be having a quarter-life crisis, but...  

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I'm also floundering at my job.  Between my health issues and my correlated depression it's nearing a time for me to consider some career alternatives.  Taking this class will allow me to explore something I am passionate about.  Maybe this will just be one more skill to tuck away, or maybe it's the start of my new future.  All I know is that without trying, I will never go anywhere.  This is one of the many reasons I am thankful I've built up my savings.  I have the means to explore new directions and a small cushion to make a leap if I ever need to.  And yes, absolutely yes, I am being BOLD.         

This isn't about retail-therapy, this is about living my life for me, and not being afraid to dream.

As my friend just said to me.  "Happy not moving backwards day :)"

I'm investing in myself - the best investment I could ever make. 

My soul is happy. 

What to do, what to do???

My spending is starting to get completely out of control.

Heeeeeelllllp! 

It's my family, and I don't know how to say NO (politely) or mitigate the circumstances.

For my Birthday I was gifted two 3-packs of opera tickets.  I wasn't entirely sure what to think of this since I had never been to one before, but I really did enjoy it.  The second opera is this weekend and my Mom thought it would be fun if my sister and her BF, and my brother came along to make a family weekend out of it.  I agreed, but the expectations have been building and building.  This family weekend now entails dinner beforehand, the opera, evening entertainment, hotel rooms, brunch in the morning, a Viking's football game and probably lunch or treats at the game, too! 

Everyone in my family is very frugal, so this is completely outside the norm. for us.  My mom has been in a new relationship for the past year and by some by-product it's really helped strengthen her relationship with her kids, which has sparked all of these new outings.  Prior to the last opera, none of her kids had been to one, and none of us have been to a football game either.  I get that coming from a small town, they really want to make the most of a big weekend in the city, but I am just not used to this kind of spending...

I really don't spend very much money on myself or on entertainment.  Last month I did splurge on $60 leather boots from a discount store.  Though, honestly I had been looking for the perfect, affordable pair for about 3 years now.  Shopping for clothes is based on needs and always, always on final clearance.  I also return many of the items I buy if I know I won't get enough use out of them, or don't absolutely love them.  My motto is make do, or go without, not spend, spend, spend!

So realistically... this is what the spending will look like for this weekend.

Dinner:  $30
Opera:  Free (Birthday)
Evening Entertainment: $20
Hotel:  Free (I live in the City)
Brunch: $30
Football Tix: $85
Football Snacks: $20
Misc. parking: $20
Weekend Total = $205

But then... I owed my sister $25 for my Mom's birthday gift.  And my brother bailed on the Opera.  My ticket was a promotion so it was $25, but my brother's single ticket was $60.  I asked a friend to come in his place, knowing she doesn't have a huge income, so I offered to pay $30, for half of her ticket.

So that puts my portion up to $260. 

AY YI YI.

Thankfully I live in the city, so the hotel room is not needed.  But why on earth is football so expensive!?!  It also doesn't help that my mom and her partner have very expensive taste when it comes to dining out.  Ugh.

There goes my date night, unexpected, misc cash budget, ummm... food budget... uh...sheesh.

It's still 5 days away, so I'm hoping that I can talk to my mom.  This is just too much money... 

I think I will propose hosting Dinner at my house, and bailing on the Evening Entertainment since we will be spending so much moolah on the game. 

Any other suggestions?

New Month, New Budget!

Greetings November!

I'm back, and I'm ready to try and reduce my spending once again!  I've made some adjustments, and hopefully this one is a little more realistic of my current needs.  I know I have some more car repairs and more doctor appointments coming up, so I've increased both of those budgets.  I've also added a Miscellaneous Cash and Chicago Category.

You're probably thinking, "Waaaaaaaait! can't this girl just sit still!  New York last month, Chicago this month...." Well, ya see, this trip is kinda special and deserves a post all of it's own.  So all I'm going to say is that I am taking a road trip to support Sig. O for a huge event related to his business.  :)  I'm so excited, and so proud of him.   

My goal is to use my Misc. Cash to cover my Personal Care and Restaurant Expenses.  It makes me a little bit nervous because I always seem to find a reason to pick up little gifts for other people...  Speaking of gifts, I know I will be making Holiday gifts with my sister the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Hmm...  looks like some of my Misc. Cash has just been re-purposed.  

*Note*  My budget excludes fixed expenses, retirement, and savings.

Here's to better budgeting!

Snowball.

October Budget... ay yi yi

So, how did I do?

Not so great...  I went over in nearly every category and didn't meet my goal of $550 towards my snowball student loan payment.

Car maintenance pushed my automotive category pretty far over the edge...  In addition to an oil change, I had a winter tuneup and a new battery put in.  Normally, I would have changed the battery myself, but in this case having the repair shop put it in was equivalent to me buying the same battery off the shelf.

Medical went way over budget again.  Sadly, I don't see this changing any time soon.  I have referrals for three more doctors... It is so overwhelming.  Autoimmune diseases are expensive!  But on the bright side, the gluten free diet is really helping, and I've already been reducing the amount of anti-inflammatories I take.  Woohoo!

Personal Care...  That was a doozy...  After attending a fitness class in NYC I got hooked!  The lessons are out of my price range, but I pounced on a 60% off Dealio and also... maybe... pounced on a pair of boots... but they're really cute.  :)  They were also something I've wanted for years, but I always felt like they were out of my price range.  Now that I have my finances mostly under control, I can afford to splurge on something once in awhile.

I'm pretty happy that I stayed fairly close to my budget for restaurants and my NY trip.  Most of the "restaurant" expenses were from taking Sig. O and his dad supper while they were working late a few nights.  That is about as close to a date night as we got this month... 

Gifts, gifts, gifts, basically make up my entire Unexpected category!  I brought early and late B-day gifts (plus a gift for the host) for my closest friends when I went to NY.  I also unexpectedly ended up funding a crafternoon for my sister, my cousins, and myself.  oof!

As a result, I really had to pull back on the amount of money I was able to put towards my extra student loan payment.

On the bright side, every little bit helps.  I still managed to pay an extra $250 on my student loans and put some money into savings.  November is a new month, so time for another new beginning!

xo,
Andi