tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62304304040637130822012-01-27T23:42:00.725-05:00a debt blogveronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-74639255253980195672012-01-11T22:16:00.002-05:002012-01-11T22:16:20.161-05:00

When I first started this debt blog, I had eight accounts spread among six financial institutions. And then I added a small local bank to the mix. As of today, I'm down to two banks. I started consolidating a while ago, first cutting one of the two credit unions, and later cutting SunTrust when they decided to charge a monthly fee for using debit cards. (While they gave in to customer pressure

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-75954458953478271842012-01-01T20:59:00.004-05:002012-01-02T10:13:07.184-05:00

I know, I know. It's been a while. My apologies. I've been fairly busy, and to be honest, there hasn't been that much to report. But there are two noteworthy things: First, I entered 2012 free of credit card debt. This is my second year in a row of being able to say that, and you know what? It feels as good as it did last year. Second, I still have savings. Mind you, I don't have as much as I

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-51351465264726133732011-10-21T21:29:00.000-04:002011-10-21T21:30:04.725-04:00

I know I've mentioned him here before and how I've known him for a long time though I only recently started using him professionally. You might be asking, "What are you doing spending what little money you have on this dude?" Well, I questioned that myself a time or two. That is, until I actually started meeting with him. It goes beyond him giving me such "advice" as "Don't spend. Save." Sure,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-26381836460798728612011-10-21T09:43:00.001-04:002011-10-21T09:43:37.721-04:00

I met with my financial adviser yesterday. I hadn't talked to him since summer, before I received my home buyer credit. Back then I had this notion that by October, I'd have a good $10,000 in the bank -- after buying my couch. So it was humbling when I went in yesterday with my paltry $5,500. I'm still not sure what happened. Sure, there was the couch. And I paid off the mattresses. There were

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-71673919479062271262011-09-08T23:15:00.000-04:002011-09-08T23:15:29.140-04:00

This is me attempting to pound out an update through my funk. Let's get through this, shall we? Last week sucked. There's really no other way to say it. It started last Monday when my car was slow to start. It finally cooperated and I made it to my chiropractor. And then it started fine after my appointment. I stopped home before heading to work and when I got back in the car, I got that dreaded

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-57096818879378018552011-07-29T22:19:00.003-04:002011-07-29T22:56:45.099-04:00

Guess who finally received her home buyer credit? Yep, this lady right here! I checked my bank balance this morning and there it was in my account. With interest. I literally jumped for joy.The buzz didn't last long, however. Before I did anything else, I paid off what was due on my mattresses. And then I paid off my AmEx, which was creeping up, thanks to the fine offerings by G*lt Group. And I

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-3378178089236070392011-07-01T19:49:00.004-04:002011-07-01T23:21:11.689-04:00

Hello there!I just realized that I hadn't written since May. Whoa -- sorry about that. June was a pretty busy month. I'll try to get back on schedule here.So ... the update. I've been kind of "spendy" lately, but I think I'm finally finding some kind of balance. I recently went over the numbers in preparation for a meeting with the financial planner. After adding things up, I realized things are

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-38299808338091009382011-05-23T21:10:00.007-04:002011-05-24T07:06:52.915-04:00

Wow. It's been a while, hasn't it?Before I get caught up, though, I want to thank Monia at Losing It All for her sweet e-mail asking if I was OK. That gesture meant a lot.So, where was I? Right ... catching up on what I've been doing the last month and a half. The short answer is that I haven't been writing, not the blogs and not even my journal. I'm not sure why. Sometimes, I guess, I just can't

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-29912095329243338232011-04-01T22:05:00.002-04:002011-04-02T00:02:26.827-04:00

Has it been a month already?I don't have much to report, but I'll give it a go just the same. I had the timing belt replaced on my car finally. It had been plaguing me, so I'm relieved to have had it done.I'm still debt free. Mostly. No, no, it's not like that. I'm not back-sliding, as they say. I've been very careful about paying off any debt every month. The savings picture is OK. Not great,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-60092548342094506122011-03-11T23:37:00.002-05:002011-03-12T00:30:25.148-05:00

Things are going pretty well. I believe when I left off I'd just splurged on a VitaMix blender. One would think there would be some buyer's remorse, but nope. I love it! I've used it practically every day.In other financial news, I filed my tax return. I've received the regular portion of my refund, but not the home buyer credit, which apparently takes longer to process. Granted, I'm glad to have

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-59356642482359231102011-02-05T17:44:00.003-05:002011-02-05T18:53:37.886-05:00

I had to go to Costco today to get a new membership card. It's a bit of a pain to find parking at the shopping center where my Costco is located, so I figured I'd browse for a bit before heading out. And I'm glad I did. There was a deal on VitaMix blenders this weekend. I've wanted one for a long, long time. I've stalked them online for years. A year ago, I would've been forced to forgo the

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-73046547324558322712011-02-04T23:04:00.002-05:002011-02-05T00:38:40.027-05:00

Happy February! I hope everyone is having a wonderful 2011 so far and making progress on paying off debt. And if not? Well ... there's always tomorrow to get back on track.Things with me are going fairly well. I met with my financial planner a few weeks ago and opened a Roth IRA to supplement my 401(k). I had to make a deposit to open the account (of course), and will start the monthly

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-20933648180376199892011-01-01T18:38:00.003-05:002011-01-01T20:25:47.128-05:00

Last year this time I still owed almost $6,000 on my credit cards. This year? Zip. Zilch. Zero. Happy New Year!I don't want to sound like I'm gloating, and I hope it doesn't come across that way. But it is a great feeling and a great way to start off a new year. If you're still struggling with your debt, please, by all means, keep at it. The sacrifices are so worth it.The other great thing about

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-65113527108877350372010-12-06T21:54:00.004-05:002010-12-31T00:52:35.146-05:00

Several years ago, a coworker/friend who sat beside me got excited when someone who owed him for lunch got a $5 bill. "This'll go in the money drawer!" he exclaimed. "What are you talking about?" I asked. And then he explained: Every year he picks a denomination to save and every time he gets that bill, it goes in the drawer. Some years it was all ones. Sometimes fives. But whatever he chose, he

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-20676649405740349002010-12-01T20:56:00.002-05:002010-12-01T22:48:41.472-05:00

I seem to have picked up one or two new followers. Hello! And thanks for following my humble blog.On to the progress report: All is well, I'm happy to say. I had allowed a small balance to carry over to December -- just to have a little activity on the card -- but I paid that off today.2011 will be the first year in 20 years (or more) that I've started the year off without credit card debt. Allow

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-62428286246418389022010-11-13T11:08:00.002-05:002010-11-13T12:24:58.532-05:00

Though I've paid off my debt, my financial health is still very much a work in progress. To chart my evolution I've decided to check in at least once a month with a progress report.So what's been going on since last month:I've met with my financial planner a few times. We had our initial session in October, during which he collected all my paperwork -- the mortgage papers, insurance papers, bank

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-59600974868575732302010-10-10T09:39:00.005-04:002010-10-10T12:01:36.170-04:00

Today was to have been my big debt-free day. I worried earlier this year that I wouldn't make it, what with the condo purchase. Amazingly -- blessedly -- I paid it off almost two months early.I had wanted to have $10,000 in savings in addition to being debt free. I didn't manage to do that -- what would've gone into savings actually went toward the purchase of the condo. But I do have savings,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-91993394449726154372010-09-03T21:27:00.002-04:002010-09-03T23:02:59.901-04:00

The New York Times published an interesting article in today's edition. "How Debt Can Destroy a Budding Relationship" examines the consequences of having a significant amount of debt and what couples should consider before getting married. In the first example a woman told her boyfriend early in the relationship that she owed $100,000. When he found that she instead owed $170,000, he walked.She

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-32914465704575680002010-09-01T21:13:00.006-04:002010-09-02T22:51:33.454-04:00

I'm happy -- and thankful -- to report that I am still debt free. It hasn't been a month yet; I'm still a newbie. I don't know what to do with myself, to tell the truth. For so long I defined myself according to my debt. All of my actions were driven by my credit card balance.I am working hard to overcome it. In fact, I bought myself a present this evening. Nothing huge, but something to reward

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-83884427441327078632010-08-31T22:37:00.003-04:002010-09-01T00:13:01.444-04:00

The meeting with the financial planner went well. It was more a discussion of the process and what we would work on together, so no actual advice was given. Still, it was good meet with him and lay the groundwork.He typically visits with clients three times a year: during tax season to go over deductions and whatnot and discuss what to do differently in the coming year; during the summer to

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-7315562161722796622010-08-18T22:10:00.005-04:002010-08-18T22:30:53.024-04:00

I was ineloquent in my last post. What I meant to say is that since becoming debt free, I've been thinking and behaving from a place of lack rather than a place of abundance. This is the wrong mindset and I am working to improve my thinking. To help me along, I e-mailed a financial planner today to see about setting up an initial consultation. It'll help to have an objective party provide some

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-77446048492689027372010-08-16T21:39:00.004-04:002010-08-16T23:35:50.872-04:00

Yep, still debt free. But you know what? I'm still living like I did while I was deep in debt.I'd planned to treat myself to a much-needed massage after I moved. Didn't do it; didn't want to spend the money. I've wanted to treat myself to a getaway. Haven't planned anything; afraid to spend the money. I desperately need to replace my old mattresses. Haven't done it; haven't wanted to ... well you

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-32891123706406428432010-08-05T09:06:00.006-04:002010-08-05T09:57:11.960-04:00

The credit card debt? It is done.The payment was posted yesterday but it didn't appear as such until this morning. After working toward this day for over three years, I could barely contain myself the last 24 hours waiting to see that zero balance.I had the goal of 10/10/10, but I very much wanted to pay it off earlier. I couldn't see how that would be possible, what with buying a place and

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-59364757017335877262010-08-04T21:37:00.003-04:002010-08-04T22:06:22.788-04:00

While I wait for that last payment to get posted, I thought I'd check in to comment on something I've been doing lately. Ever since I signed the papers for my place, I've been donating more to charity. It started when I got money back from my settlement on my place. And since then, whenever I've received extra funds, I've made it a point to donate a portion to a worthy cause. It feels amazing.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-50567821563847994242010-08-02T23:30:00.003-04:002010-08-03T00:05:58.337-04:00

The money from savings was transferred to checking today, and the payment -- the full payment -- for my debt is scheduled to be paid tomorrow. Yeah, yeah, I know that it usually takes a day or two for the amount to get credited, but just knowing that the payment is scheduled for tomorrow gives me such joy I can barely contain myself. Only one person knows, and he knows only because I sought his

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-51891159943018054032010-08-01T00:12:00.003-04:002010-08-01T00:36:50.174-04:00

How crazy is it that it's already August! Is it me or has this year just flown by? And my, oh, my, what a year it's been. Just a year ago I never would have imagined that I'd be thisclose to paying off my debt and living in my own home. Wow...Anyway, let's get this monthly update off the ground:The Debt: $1,622.74The Savings: $5,947.26The spike in the savings amount is because of money that I'd

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-49707850365922825642010-07-09T20:42:00.003-04:002010-07-10T22:15:39.463-04:00

After I closed on my place, I realized that I had a larger cushion than I had expected. This, of course, is a good thing -- a great thing. It has come in handy in getting my place together. I've used it for home-related things, bills from the old place, and the like. But the party is over.It's time to cut the cord.Mind you, the money is still going to be there. But I'm putting away the card that

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-13689995691230898512010-06-30T23:14:00.003-04:002010-06-30T23:55:07.941-04:00

Once again I'm posting the monthly update a day early. I'd planned to do July's update tomorrow, but I've got freelance work to do tomorrow night, and that takes precedence. I figured it was better to post a day early than to post a day late. So here I am.The Debt: $1,975.69The Savings: $4,790.00Can we concentrate on that debt total for a moment, please? I owe less than $2,000. Me -- the chick

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-30329387580908297992010-05-31T18:21:00.004-04:002010-06-01T08:07:35.212-04:00

It's June, so you know what that means. Time for the monthly update:The Debt: $2,650.36The Savings: $1,966.95The change in debt is more than $100. Actually, it's a bit more than that. I have a credit with one credit card account to the tune of about $50. It hasn't been posted yet, so I didn't factor it in up there, but it's still good to know.As for the savings, well ... it has decreased quite a

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-3717960450839885092010-05-28T20:05:00.005-04:002010-05-28T21:56:09.678-04:00

Today I closed on my first home. Me. The girl who started this blog owing more than $20,000, just bought a place. And not just any place, but a place I love.The closing went extremely well. Honestly, I don't think it could've gone any smoother. My agent and I both got there early, and since the settlement agent was available, he started the bowl rolling. A very nice man. No condescending to me at

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-19672450832452907942010-05-20T20:19:00.003-04:002010-05-20T21:29:09.205-04:00

With all the talk about the condo and moving and whatnot, I've not mentioned my credit card debt very much, except in the monthly updates. And that's really what this whole blog is supposed to be about -- the credit card debt.Well, I'm happy to report that I'm still on the path. My goal has been to maintain the payment plan until the condo purchase is complete and I have to pay my mortgage and

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-66962613270804085602010-05-14T21:52:00.002-04:002010-05-14T22:21:55.164-04:00

So it dawned on me last night that in a month I will be in my new digs. A month. How trippy is that? I'm not sure how unpacked I will be, but knowing me (and my serious OCD issues), I'll be pretty much done with the move.Things are proceeding OK. In fact, I heard from my agent today. She told me that I'm done, nothing to do but wait for settlement. That was good news. I mean, I've been pretty

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-28520262097726675002010-04-30T21:42:00.005-04:002010-04-30T23:22:11.460-04:00

I know, I know. I'm doing this monthly update thing a day early -- again. I'm hoping to get crackin' on packing a few things this weekend, and I also have some freelance work to do. I'm easily distracted these days. I was afraid that if I didn't do it now, I'd forget all about it.I am adding the savings this time even though in four weeks (four weeks!) I go to close on the condo. That's going to

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-58625230422849642572010-04-22T00:41:00.004-04:002010-04-22T00:55:39.038-04:00

I don't know how people do this several times over their lifetimes. Seriously, buying a home is nerve-racking. Well, it is when you're a regular person (that is, not wealthy). I received a call from my mortgage company regarding my financials this afternoon. They need updated copies of my checking and savings statements, retirement savings info, promises of ownership of my firstborn child, my

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-25075316876117719512010-04-19T21:35:00.004-04:002010-04-19T23:36:42.544-04:00

Just wanted to check in. Things are kind of in a holding pattern right now as far as the condo purchase is concerned. Most of the hard stuff is done. Granted, I do still have to write one helluva big check at settlement, but thankfully I'll be able to do that without completely wiping out my savings or leaving an arm or leg there with the title company. Still, it will be the biggest check I'll

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-23672936473718029972010-04-13T23:36:00.003-04:002010-04-14T00:42:04.136-04:00

I got the condo. The last hurdle was the appraisal, and that went well. I have a friend who lives in a building that recently had a condo for sale. The bank sent up some appraiser from Richmond, where prices are very different. He appraised the place for less than my friend paid for her place 10 years ago -- a good $70,000 less than what it was really worth. The buyer had to back out since there

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-61973688781833561402010-03-31T23:00:00.003-04:002010-03-31T23:33:36.195-04:00

Anyone who also reads veronica's day in the life knows that I'm trying to buy a condo. Well, that's not entirely correct: I have put in an offer on a condo and it was accepted. But I still have to go through the appraisal process (which is making me anxious) and then go to closing. I mention this because my savings is totally up in the air these days. So I'm not updating those numbers. I am,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-23957270191997713552010-03-24T20:31:00.006-04:002010-03-24T22:16:42.044-04:00

In 2008, I posted my original "What Did You Learn From This" post. Back then I'd loaned a friend money. But now I'm doing something bigger and more life-altering than helping someone with a couple hundred bucks. I'm buying a home.When I started thinking about buying a place, it was all just theory. I kept thinking about how without my debt to worry about, I could do anything! When my agent

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-77292233374921954262010-03-16T00:42:00.004-04:002010-03-16T00:53:35.775-04:00

I just scheduled my next credit card payment. Once it's credited, I will owe less than $4,000. !!!It's not like I wasn't expecting it. Still, when I did the math and actually saw the numbers, for a second I thought I'd made a mistake. Could it possibly be? As Elaine Benes once said on Seinfeld: "Oh, it be."

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-30506892609789245782010-03-05T20:52:00.005-05:002010-03-06T01:43:41.105-05:00

A few bits of good news to share. The first is that I may have found my mortgage person. I've made a few calls to banks requesting information regarding fees and rates. Everyone has been pleasant and has given me the requested information. All calls and e-mails have ended with things like, "Don't hesitate to call us if you have any other questions."The problem, though, is that I don't know what

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-60127015395298504572010-02-28T19:52:00.005-05:002010-03-01T08:50:57.311-05:00

Let's get this party started:The Debt: $4,566.35The Savings: $4,737.14Notice anything about those numbers up there? You got it: I finally have more in savings than I owe on debt. How freakin' sweet is that? I am so proud of myself! I thought I'd never see the day. But it hasn't been easy. In fact, when I started -- staring down $20K in debt and scant savings -- it was damn hard. But it's gotten

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-7214032602811031972010-02-28T14:03:00.006-05:002010-02-28T14:59:53.258-05:00

I was thinking this morning about the how and why behind my relationship with money. You know: How the hell have I found myself deep in debt not once but twice in the last 20-odd years? And why am I, in my mid-40s, anxious about doing things that people half my age seem to be able to do with barely a second thought?Well, not to point fingers, but it has everything to do with how I grew up. My

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-39766208486637446302010-02-21T19:08:00.005-05:002010-02-21T19:23:28.526-05:00

I met with the real estate agent today. I had butterflies before going, but as soon as I went in and started talking to her, I felt better. It's going to be very different from the last time I tried to buy. Then, she had only about three things to show me, and one was worse than the other. Now? There were enough that we could make three stacks: places I may love, places I may like, and places

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-73891563284122442152010-02-18T00:24:00.002-05:002010-02-18T00:37:11.966-05:00

... but I do have news to report: I officially owe less than $5,000. Yep, you read it correctly. I now owe less than a quarter of what I originally owed. Yay! Pardon me while I take a moment to do a little happy dance....OK, I'm back. This milestone feels good. But what has tempered my excitement is my anxiety on this next step I'm attempting to take: homeownership. Because of my anxiety, I've

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-31511741666154318172010-02-03T09:15:00.003-05:002010-02-03T09:30:55.935-05:00

In addition to blogging about the debt, I've been keeping a paper journal as well. I've also graphed the balances over the last couple years. Last night when I was plotting the balances for February 2010, I noticed how close the two points are. Only about $660 separate the balances. With my federal tax refund and freelance check coming (hopefully soon), my savings will -- drumroll, please -- soon

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-18619728384176830042010-02-01T22:13:00.005-05:002010-02-01T23:16:49.349-05:00

Hello. It's that time again. Let's get to it, shall we?The Savings: $4,533.13The Debt: $5,192.94The change in savings is a healthy $783. In the debt? $562. Not a bad month, if I do say so myself.Just think: After the next payment, I will owe less than $5,000. Can you believe that?! Me, the chick who owed nearly $20,000 on credit cards not three years ago will, in less than a month, owe less than

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-46922318385880119092010-01-23T11:08:00.003-05:002010-01-23T12:09:38.743-05:00

It hasn't been quite the start to the year that I expected, but things are OK. Mostly. ;-)That said, there's a lot of room for improvement. I haven't done a financial fast, though it's still something I'm thinking about for down the road. I had a guest last weekend, and I like being a good host. So I bought a few things for brunch Sunday. And we went shopping that Saturday and I found a cute pair

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-39403259780990480552010-01-03T21:48:00.005-05:002010-01-03T22:17:24.952-05:00

Michelle Singletary, a columnist for The Washington Post, has a wonderful article in today's edition. In it she suggests a 21-day financial fast. My favorite part is this paragraph right here:The second part is eliminating the use of plastic, both credit and debit. There's a real danger in relying on credit even if you pay off your bill every month. Paying with plastic just makes buying too easy.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-27835723005952944482010-01-01T11:12:00.002-05:002010-01-01T13:33:46.591-05:00

Happy New Year! It's always special when the monthly update is also January 1, the start of a new year. This year's January 1 update is even more special, as it is the beginning of the last year of blogging about my credit card debt.Which brings me to this: What will become of this debt blog after the debt is paid off? I won't take it down. (I could use the reminder of where I've been.) But will

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-81981872515747922962009-12-28T21:52:00.003-05:002009-12-28T23:26:34.726-05:00

Ah, my last post of 2009. And how different things are from December 2008! Then, I still owed almost $14,000. 365 days later? Less than $6,000. How awesome is that!I am in a much better place than I've been in in a long time, as far as my finances are concerned. Sure, my savings could be better, but considering the change in debt? Definitely a better place. I'm really looking forward to 2010.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-36956023846549670352009-12-23T23:24:00.003-05:002009-12-23T23:36:46.954-05:00

I received a financial blessing today. It was totally out of the blue, which makes it all the sweeter -- and makes me all the more thankful. The bulk of it will go into savings, but a little bit will go to me. And I might shoot a little bit toward the debt. Really, though, none of that matters. I just wanted to say thank you.So ... thank you.Wishing all you PF bloggers (and others) out there a

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-14560696149137348142009-12-16T23:27:00.004-05:002009-12-17T01:18:46.476-05:00

So I'm taking some steps to get ready for what is going to be a busy next 6-7 months. In addition to kicking my debt in the butt, I'll also be buying a place. That's right: I'm speaking it into being. I pulled out my financial calculator last night and started running the numbers. I can get a decent place for what I'm paying in rent now. Totally doable. The hardest part will be finding the place

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-6720590467001784212009-12-03T19:51:00.003-05:002009-12-03T20:49:52.882-05:00

I know I just mentioned the extra $1,000 payment I was going to pay toward my debt. It's one thing to mention that I'm going to do it, but it's something else entirely to have done it and to see the amount credited against my balance.The payment was scheduled for yesterday, but it usually takes a day before it gets processed and I see it online. As much as it pained me to schedule such a large

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-33316419466694183232009-11-30T22:50:00.004-05:002009-12-01T00:07:06.004-05:00

The last update for 2009. Let's get this party started, shall we?The Savings: $3,545.02The Debt: $7,286.29Yeah, I know. The savings went down -- again. But I have a good reason: I had a car repair. And it was better to take the money out of savings than to charge it. I also finally broke down and bought a wireless router. That's just how it works for me now. Still, considering the cost of the

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-14630711514994253402009-11-30T20:19:00.003-05:002009-11-30T21:35:32.501-05:00

December is a three-paycheck month. As is the case during months when there are only two paydays, one check will be dedicated to most bills, the other, to rent and my electric bill. When there's a third paycheck, I try to decide what to do with it. How much to put in savings, how much to pay toward debt ... whether to buy myself a treat.But this time, so eager am I to get this debt paid off that

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-11439425835568360642009-11-25T23:52:00.003-05:002009-11-26T00:09:59.351-05:00

I'm wireless again! I'd missed the ease and convenience of using my laptop from my bedroom or living room, so I finally broke down and bought a new router last weekend. I've been unable to use my computer away from my desk for almost a year. I won't go into the details of my computer saga, but feel free to read here and here.Well, it finally dawned on me (very late, I know) that I didn't need to

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-43280684155679462062009-11-19T23:47:00.003-05:002009-11-20T00:18:48.922-05:00

This week was the week our human resources department sent out information regarding next year's benefits options. This year, I'm adding vision insurance and I'm also increasing my flexible spending allowance by a few bucks. (Considering how many doctors appointments I had last year, I feel the need to prepare for 2010 just in case.) But before I finalized my selections, I checked with our

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-71714743749928884072009-11-09T21:08:00.003-05:002009-11-09T21:41:27.485-05:00

Well, I gotta say, I didn't see that coming. My microwave just went kaput. (Is Mercury in retrograde?) I pressed "cook" and I heard that weird sound you hear when electrical things give up the ghost. The funny thing is that I'd been wondering what I would do with it if my next place already has a microwave. And I've hated how much counter space it takes. Still, I loved the convenience of it, so

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-51851802737502333342009-11-08T22:11:00.001-05:002009-11-08T22:13:48.391-05:00

I love this post from Broke-Ass Student. Absolutely love it. It gives me so much hope. I can't wait for my turn.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-2368782795501751582009-11-08T13:05:00.004-05:002009-11-08T14:25:13.416-05:00

I've been lamenting the state of my wardrobe so much that a friend has been advising that I just go for it and go shopping. Buy myself some new stuff that will make me happy.I've tried. I really have. But because I've been so conscientious about spending the last couple years (OK, I'll admit it: I've been cheap), I have grown picky, picky, picky! It used to be that I would buy stuff without

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-59099926925906356722009-10-31T23:34:00.004-04:002009-11-01T00:39:51.757-04:00

I can't believe it's already November. It's a wonder we're not all suffering whiplash from how fast time is flyin'. Let's get to the numbers, shall we?The Debt: $7,913.00The Savings: $3,966.52The good news is that my debt balance is below $8,000. That is awesome! (I hope you don't think ill of me for tooting my own horn for a moment.) And this amount even includes today's purchases. But I'll get

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-41261608738215321782009-10-25T10:58:00.003-04:002009-10-25T11:05:28.083-04:00

So I was just catching up on some posts of a few PF bloggers and noticed on Bouncing Back from Bankruptcy that she made the list of top 100 female PF bloggers over on Her Every Cent Counts. (Congratulations!) So I moseyed on over to that site to check out the links of other bloggers and lo and behold! I made the list too! I am honored. Humbled, too. Thank you!

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-41327600596953709872009-10-19T23:25:00.003-04:002009-10-19T23:34:18.229-04:00

I read this today and just laughed and laughed. Who are these people? When I first saw the headline, I thought to myself, "Oh, I can relate! I'm so tired of being good and I wanna shop!" But two paragraphs in, I realized that this article was about a whole different group of people. When I have frugal fatigue, I end up spending maybe a 100 bucks. Or even $200 (I'm thinking about the boots). These

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-80091932401159877552009-10-11T14:37:00.005-04:002009-10-14T09:26:02.381-04:00

I've become spoiled by Borders' coupons. For a while, I could be tempted by the 25 percent coupon, but then the 30 percent coupons started coming and I could no longer be bothered by the paltry 25 percent savings.And then came the 40 percent coupon. Sometimes it comes with rules -- like, it has to be for something that costs more than $10 or even $20. But the one I got Friday was that rare and

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-72227335605471589782009-10-10T15:28:00.003-04:002009-11-01T00:49:04.793-04:00

One year from today I will be debt free.I say this partly to restate my goal. But I'm also manifesting it into being. :-)I am kinda sorta freaking out. It's not so much about whether I'll be able to pay off the debt by 10/10/10, but I'm planning to move next year. In fact, I'm hoping to buy a place next year. That will affect things quite a bit. Actually, to be honest, I hope what happens is that

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-41484262731635405342009-10-07T09:10:00.003-04:002009-10-07T09:28:18.332-04:00

Apparently the items I bought over the weekend were gateway drugs.A couple months ago I bought this wonderful dress/tunic from J.Peterman. I know a lot of people laugh when they hear J.Peterman because of Seinfeld, but it was a legitimate company before that show ever incorporated it in its storylines, and it continues to sell beautiful, distinctive, and well-made items. Anyway, this tunic is

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-78545784937921259432009-10-04T16:20:00.002-04:002009-10-04T16:53:03.507-04:00

October was supposed to be a challenge month -- no clothes, books, or music. Three days into it, I downloaded a song on iTunes and ordered two bras, and today I bought a CD at Goodwill.I'm trying not to beat myself up too much. The bras were necessary -- I am down to one black one. I lost my flesh-toned bra during my vacation (how the heck does one lose a bra in an apartment?!) and have since

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-17020521648383850992009-09-30T23:51:00.004-04:002009-10-01T08:54:49.622-04:00

Away we go:The Savings: $3,972.49The Debt: $8,387.82When the year first started, I had a goal of having $7,500 in savings by December 31. That just isn't going to happen. But at least the debt is steadily going down.Speaking of the debt, don't be too impressed by the change since September. The amount posted for September wasn't entirely correct -- $400 hadn't yet been credited. But as I have

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-85540652345121210142009-09-26T16:10:00.004-04:002009-09-27T12:42:51.648-04:00

When I started blogging my debt in April 2007, I did it to give the monster a face. I figured that exposing myself would force me to be accountable. And it's worked. However, this year has found me basically on autopilot. Sure, I've been paying the required amount to be debt free by my original goal of December 2010, but since then, I've decided on October 10, 2010, to be The Big Day.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-73759161637815236852009-09-09T21:25:00.005-04:002009-09-13T10:48:58.473-04:00

I'm going on another art tour. It's not even $200 and it includes transportation, lunch, and a three-course dinner. Oh -- and admittance to what looks like a beautiful museum of post-Impressionist art and a 14-acre arboretum. It's mid-October, right in the middle of autumn. I'm sure it'll be glorious."Don't these tours cost money?" "Aren't you supposed to be saving your money?" "Didn't you set a

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-36330410628429140582009-09-06T19:45:00.003-04:002009-09-06T19:58:30.307-04:00

I'd forgotten that when our payday falls near a Monday holiday, our checks get deposited early. Talk about a pleasant surprise when I checked my account this morning. Whew! I had 23 cents in my wallet and about 13 bucks in my checking account. To say that things were tight is an understatement. I went grocery shopping and I bought a few things from DHC that I've needed. (I have sensitivity issues

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-53623871274883898722009-09-02T09:13:00.004-04:002009-09-02T09:40:58.033-04:00

Last night after I posted the monthly update for September, I finally did the math and realized that my savings went down over $800. I freaked. I knew I had the recent car repair, but that was "only" $400. Where was the other $450?Once I calmed down a little, the fog lifted and I remembered the other things: I treated myself to boots ($208), I paid my personal property tax ($108), I took out $50

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-80712022317282144302009-09-01T19:43:00.002-04:002009-09-01T20:02:49.945-04:00

Oy. It ain't pretty.The Debt: $9,314.57The Savings: $4,345.41Those numbers aren't correct, but they reflect what has been posted/paid as of this morning, so they have to go in. What's missing is the $400 I moved from savings to pay for my unexpected car repair last week. Technically, the debt is $8,914.57.As for the savings ... well, what can I say? I may have to dial back my goal to have $10K in

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-83914863467239111932009-08-27T23:20:00.004-04:002009-08-27T23:36:57.530-04:00

This morning before going into work I decided to get my oil changed. (You can already tell where this is going, can't you?) I had a coupon for service -- oil change, multipoint inspection, tire rotation.Alas, during the multipoint inspection, they discovered a problem. Nothing urgent, but it was something the repair dude said I should get taken care of in the next month or so. I went ahead and

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-38517144434971441922009-08-18T23:49:00.003-04:002009-08-19T00:09:34.857-04:00

I just paid my credit card bill for this month. My balance is now just under $8,900. Remember when all I wanted to do was cross the $10,000 mark? It wasn't that long ago. When I started this whole thing, I was $21K in the hole. I now owe less than half that amount. And how have I done it? By sticking to the plan and paying, at minimum, a specific amount. Even when the savings have had to take a

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-35388258182587732782009-08-17T09:46:00.004-04:002009-08-17T10:04:25.901-04:00

My day trip through the Smithsonian to see the Cloisters in NYC was amazing. If you live anywhere near NYC and haven't visited the Cloisters, make plans to do it. You won't regret it. It is a lovely space and is filled with amazing medieval treasures. I am always humbled when I see something that was created a 1,000+ years ago. But on to the financial aspect of yesterday. I'd worried about how

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-83896714926795656222009-08-14T22:08:00.001-04:002009-08-14T23:23:25.635-04:00

After what felt like a financially tumultuous July, I think things are finally settling down. Things got pretty tight there for a bit -- like down to $4 and some change in my primary checking account. And then there was the credit card balance transfer issue, which didn't feel as smooth as it should've been, or, rather, as I expected it to be.Mind you, the transfer took place just fine. I just

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-60648745142174316322009-08-05T23:26:00.003-04:002009-08-05T23:44:37.240-04:00

... that the savings balance and the debt balance were reversed. How fabulous that would be!The boots have officially been paid for (I just checked the card balance), so there's a spot of good news. Otherwise, everything is in a holding pattern. Well, a tight holding pattern. I've been having to be very creative about what to eat for lunch and dinner the last few days. I let things get a bit too

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-89675899163636524112009-08-01T21:11:00.001-04:002009-08-01T21:38:54.770-04:00

Is it me or is summer zooming by? It's August 1!OK. Enough small talk. Here are the numbers:The Savings: $5,194.18The Debt: $9,659.49The savings took a nearly $192 hit. The debt is better, though not by as much as it should be since I bought -- and charged -- the boots. It doesn't matter that as soon as they are deemed to be perfect (that is, that they fit) I will be transferring money from

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-28819910274483617882009-07-26T17:01:00.002-04:002009-07-26T18:02:00.061-04:00

I've been so excited about achieving my recent goal of getting the debt under 10 grand that I've shared the news with those friends who know I've been working on my debt.I've made the decision to stop that. It's not that I don't believe my achievement should be celebrated, but I do believe that I should be more thoughtful of others' feelings. It occurred to me that perhaps my progress with my

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-45856097188533612102009-07-22T20:29:00.003-04:002009-07-22T20:53:02.818-04:00

Several days ago, I listed all the things I wanted to do when I'm debt free. Rounding out that list was that I wanted to buy myself flowers. I received quite a few comments telling me that I shouldn't wait -- I should buy myself flowers now. Well, I haven't bought them yet. What the woman in me wanted instead was a pair of black boots. Yeah, yeah, they were much more expensive than flowers would

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-71842642145498952632009-07-19T21:59:00.003-04:002009-07-19T22:52:06.537-04:00

I started this debt blog a couple years ago as a way to chart my progress. I wanted to have a record of my ups and downs to look back on when I was finally debt free. I'm glad I did. Whenever I start losing hope, I come here and check out my beginning debt balance. Seeing how far I've come encourages me.I didn't really expect anyone to read any of my posts, and I often felt pretty alone. I mean,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-39493720395603063382009-07-19T21:25:00.002-04:002009-07-19T22:51:31.440-04:00

I haven't mentioned it here, but I've been pretty stressed out the last couple months. My new lease was late. It happens every year: In April, I send in my notice that I'm staying for another year, I stress out a bit until I receive it, and then a few weeks later, the lease comes, with a $50/month increase.This year, I sent in my notice, stressed out a bit, and then stressed out some more. My

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-1010947448027570512009-07-11T23:26:00.002-04:002009-07-11T23:45:02.470-04:00

I just found a nifty little online tool for calculating days between dates. I have 456 days until I'm debt free. Considering my first post on this blog was 817 days ago, 456 isn't bad. Nope, not bad at all.

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-20382961807885869662009-07-11T14:18:00.005-04:002009-07-11T21:07:20.590-04:00

Now that I can see the faintest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, I'm starting to think about what I want to do when I'm finally debt free. To stay focused, I've gotta keep my eye on the prize-- or in this case, prizes.I've started a list:Write the Big Beast's bank and tell them just what I think about the rate increase they imposed for absolutely no reason. (I'd do it now but there's no

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-38380468490127580862009-07-03T13:09:00.003-04:002009-07-03T13:13:20.918-04:00

This is a rare double post. Because it deals with changes I believe are going to take place in my life (or are indeed already taking place behind the scenes, unbeknown to me) and how my financial situation is somehow involved, I'm posting this in both my Veronica's Day in the Life blog and here in my debt blog.A few years ago, I signed up for a pottery class. I loved the class. I loved how

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-54739806836922852492009-07-01T20:09:00.004-04:002009-07-02T10:27:36.461-04:00

This has been a better month. Here we go:The Debt: $9,923The Savings: $5,385The debt has gone down nearly $550, and the savings finally swung in the right direction -- by over 700 bucks. I've still got a lot to consider, though. For one, my rent is about to go up. In the past, I've been able to offset my rent increase with my annual salary increase, but this year there are no salary increases, so

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-21487233762883703522009-06-13T17:20:00.003-04:002009-06-13T17:36:40.475-04:00

I desperately want to be debt free. So much so, that I've been thinking about suspending my automatic savings deposits. I've been considering it a while, but at first, the interest rate on my savings account was pretty decent. As we all know, though, interest rates for savings accounts have been in free fall since last year.My idea is that rather than that amount going into my savings account, I

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-71222066142630717662009-06-02T08:48:00.003-04:002009-06-02T09:22:17.286-04:00

This month is a three-paycheck month. That means I have the opportunity to start making things right -- to, as James Brown sang in his inimitable way, get on the good foot.More than half of the first paycheck is going into savings, with the bulk going into an account I don't have the easiest access to. These deposits have already been scheduled. I've also scheduled the payment for the Little

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-72030767374863552812009-06-01T08:28:00.005-04:002009-06-01T20:11:49.192-04:00

Let's get straight to it, shall we:Big Beast: $10,405.24Little Beast: $68.00Total Debt: $10,473.24Total Savings: $4,682.82Yes, I know. The Little Beast is back. But there's a reason: I bought a shirt. I'm going to do what I do when I use the Big Beast card: Pay it off immediately. I get the rewards from using the card (in this case, a rebate) without carrying a balance. I had been using the Big

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-5282663009183257332009-05-30T14:18:00.006-04:002009-05-30T17:16:15.279-04:00

I love gift cards. So much so that other than cash, that's usually all I want as a gift from my parents at Christmas or on my birthday. I never use them right away, though. Some people rush out and buy something immediately. Not me. I've been known to hold gift cards for almost a year, saving up for a rainy day. For me, a "rainy day" is when I've got the strong urge to buy something but don't

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-46786432503861997322009-05-28T22:31:00.004-04:002009-05-28T22:56:23.513-04:00

I know exactly when it happened. It was when I decided to go to the Cape. It's not that I couldn't use a vacation. Believe me, I was thankful to go and I needed the break.The beginning of the end was when I didn't move my friend's half of the plane ticket over to my savings. Since then, I've turned a blurred eye to my finances. I've used my savings as an easy backup to cover my misdeeds. And the

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-3795415115414110002009-05-24T18:49:00.003-04:002009-05-24T19:08:41.099-04:00

Today was the kind of day that made me thankful to have savings.It started innocently enough. I woke up early to meet a friend to go to a neighborhood festival in another city. (She drove.) While I spent a little here and there -- a corn dog, a (fairly expensive) frozen lemonade, and a Father's Day gift for my dad -- I kept things pretty much in check.Back at her place, I commented that I'd

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-80624838759032760062009-05-22T21:48:00.004-04:002009-05-23T22:19:37.949-04:00

All my life, I've chosen quality over quantity in my friendships. Now, in my 40s, I have a wonderful group of fascinating and diverse people in my life. I revel in their differences. But despite all those differences, they share one thing in common: They all have or make more money than I do.That's right: I'm the poor friend. They all have homes or condos. They redo their kitchens and go on

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-21910941347390427642009-05-19T09:13:00.003-04:002009-05-19T09:20:19.257-04:00

I'm back from the Cape. And I have to say, I did quite well with the spending. I'd withdrawn 100 bucks in cash to use for small things and food, and had set aside $200 in my checking account. I spent only about $22 from the checking account, and I brought back $20 in cash. Not bad. What few things I bought were very inexpensive. Like the $5 coat. Yeah, that's right: The $5 coat. I wasn't even

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-32355147833469843222009-05-14T21:39:00.003-04:002009-05-14T21:59:51.700-04:00

I leave for my weekend on the Cape tomorrow. I'm so glad to be going away for a few days. It's been over a year since I've gone somewhere -- well, other than to my parents', and that's hardly a vacation. (If anything, that feels more like a job, and one I don't get paid for.)I am a little nervous about the shopping, though. I'm not taking a credit card, so at least I won't be digging myself

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-86292540026649486142009-05-02T00:47:00.003-04:002009-05-03T20:51:48.079-04:00

So, it's that time again. Some of it ain't pretty.The Debt: $10,924.07The savings: $5,045.16The change in the debt isn't bad; it's a respectable difference of about $480. The savings, though, took a hit -- a nearly $700 hit.It's because of my upcoming trip. Well, that and my irresponsibility. I'd put my and my friend's airfare and ferry tickets on my credit card (which I paid off from savings),

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-47528150469303221022009-04-28T23:40:00.003-04:002009-04-28T23:48:17.383-04:00

I have fallen off the wagon. Hard.The last two weekends have seen me spend, baby, spend. It's like I can't leave the apartment without shopping somewhere. Just a few things at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Ooo! Flip-flops are on sale at Old Navy ... while I'm here, I'll check the clearance rack! Gotta swing by Wal-Mart for a few odds and ends. As a result, I've spent a significant portion of the money

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-55695974536125805792009-04-15T22:29:00.003-04:002009-04-15T22:41:38.438-04:00

I'm still a couple hundred bucks ahead on my debt repayment. Because of this, I will be under the $10K mark in June, not July. I think that's some pretty sweet news! In April 2007, I owed over $21,000. After tomorrow's scheduled payment, the debt balance will be just over $10,800. I've paid over $10,000 in debt in two years, most of which was on my credit cards. That's some progress.In other,

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230430404063713082.post-24591467098945238432009-04-13T21:26:00.003-04:002009-04-13T21:52:57.280-04:00

I bought my plane and ferry tickets today. The total cost: $320. Not bad for a four-day trip. I was a bit hesitant when my friend asked me to come along; I was so focused on the financial aspects of it all -- how it would affect the savings picture. But you know what? Sometimes I've gotta be more concerned about my mental and emotional picture. I'm excited!I'm going to work hard not to spend a

veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09805747891631221848noreply@blogger.com2