Simple Money, Simple Saving

March Spending Plan

(Caroline) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:20:22 PST

I forgot to post my Febuary Spending Plan but here's my March Plan. When I get time maybe I'll post my Feb Plan with all my updated unforseen expenses. I was sick for the last half of Feb so my pay will be down a bit in March.

Wk 1 March 1-7
Rent $462.5
Apt Bills $0 (will...

My Car Loan

(Caroline) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:27:00 PST

I have only 7 payments left on my car loan!! I am so excited about this. I had no idea I was this close to paying it off. June is now my target date to finish paying this. I had to rearrange my debt schedule but it actually works out better.

I have one last payment for my CC...

Health Insurance

(Caroline) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:17:38 PST

After years of having no coverage I finally can check one thing off my to do list. Starting February 1st, I will be insured with Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC. I got it in case of any emergencies and the monthly premium is $163.84, which isn't too bad. I'm glad I ponied up and did...

Feeling Upset and Stupid About My Bank

(Caroline) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:17:00 PST

I have been working very hard with my money situation. I've been keeping a spending plan, growing my savings, and planning a bit for my retirement. I've even started chipping away at my debt-- using the debt snowball method, and saving for a future vacation (in September) and yet...

January's Spending

(Caroline) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:38:19 PST

I know it's the fifth but it's never too late to draw up a budget for the month, right?

Apt rent = $462.50
Phone bill = $20
Electric = $49.45
Cable/Internet = $41.33
Holiday Trip = $50
-------------------------
623.28
- 45 for what BF owed me
-------
578.28 --PAID 5...

Spending Log for New Years Trip

(Caroline) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:28:14 PST

So New Year's was a blast!! I had saved quite a bit in case I went overload with spending and I sorta did...

$65.12 - CVS
$15 - breakfast for Ben and I
$60 - Gifts from Dogfish Head Brewery
$27.07 - Food Lion (dramamine, snacks)
$8 - Starbucks (needed coffee badly)
$35...

Spending and Saving

(Caroline) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:17:16 PST

I went back to Target to return a shower curtain and spent 47.14, of course part of it was buying another shower curtain (which will be returned AGAIN because it just doesn't go with the bathroom) and then of course we went to Subway and that was 10.66.... While what I got at Target...

Shopping and Spending...

(Caroline) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 07:23:37 PST

So that little shopping trip I had planned went way over budget! Let's see:

At Target for various things around the apt, (shower curtain, mattress pad, some food, etc) Total= $95.11.

Next I went to the mall and visited Aveda and Bath and Body Works. For gifts, at Aveda I spent...

Roth IRA

(Caroline) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:21:50 PST

I think I'm going to go with Fidelity Investments' SmartStart Roth.

Does anyone have other suggestions or personal reviews of Fidelity?

I want to open it before the year ends so I can contribute $4000 by April 15th and then $5000 for 2008.

Spending

(Caroline) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:55:10 PST

I had a bunch of no spend days this week! Let's see, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday were all no spend days. Saturday could have been a no spend day but I had to pay Wachovia my car loan installment, $300.

It's been pretty hard not to spend more, since it's the holidays...

My Food Plan

(Caroline) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:48:11 PST

My food plan is quite perfect for me. I live with my boyfriend and I cook as much as possible for the both of us. When we first moved in together, back in June, it was hard to figure out how to make the food part work. He had been living by himself for about 3 years and I had been...

So far this week...

(Caroline) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:27:04 PST

It's half way through the week and so far I've spent only 17.54. (Monday and Tuesday were no spend days)

At work for the holidays we participated in a White Elephant game so I brought a Starbucks mug and filled it with Italian chocolate. My boss ended up with it and she loves...

Weekend Spending

(Caroline) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:49:49 PST

This weekend had some non-avoidable spending. Starting with Friday, $35 dollars in gas. 12 gallons in my car will last 14 days, which isn't too bad. I usually only drive to and from work. I also spent $45 on medicine Saturday, totally unavoidable. And today I spent $48.05 on food...

College Loans

(Caroline) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:45:02 PST

Thank you everyone for all your great comments and suggestions.

I've dug up my college loan information and it's not the end of the world. I have three loans, one with an interest rate of 7.2% and two with a rate of 2.8%. The first one has a balance of $3,000 and the second...

My Money Enlightenment

(Caroline) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:13:37 PST

Saving more than $100 has been a foreign concept to me. I don't know how and I don't know why but I do know that had to stop.

I have one last credit card that is about to be completely paid off, which I am very proud of. One last payment and it's all done. I'm fairly sure I'll...