Same old story

[timetosave]

Hi guys...I'm still here, just haven't had an opportunity to get online this week...crazy at work.

Well, I made that payment to GMAC, that covers July, I will pay August and September in September then I'm all caught up...well almost, I still have the late payments to do but they can wait.

The cell bill is paid but I did not get to pay the cc's on time. DDs sax broke and she needed it fixed...OMG that sax is soooo expensive.

So I now have the cc companies calling (one day late and they call) I've told them I will be paying on the 7th...I will get a handle on this, really I will.



As far as the charge off's, the majority of them are 6+ years one is 5 yo. DH is going to give me money for ds back to school (finally seeing that I am making an effort to get my insanity under control I guess...lol) so that will be taken care of.

OK, I have to get dd up for riding lessons.

[timetosave]

BTW, I've not made much on the bay yet...I see bb cards sell really well so I think I will concentrate on getting rid of all my old ones...I was given a gift this past week that I'm ashamed to say I'm close to selling...it is a set of 1960s Mickey Mantle cards...they would bring in about 3k...but it was a gift from my boss... so I'm not sure.

I finished my first Pinecone research survey and just received my first 5.00 check yesterday any other ideas of how I can make more money would be appreciated.

[creditcardfree]

I tried some stuff on ebay this past week...and didn't have much luck either. I wonder if its the time of year? Or, maybe it was the items I was selling.

On the bb cards, that will have to be your own decision. What was the reason for the gift? Sounds like a nice gift. Does the boss know your money situation? Maybe the thought was that you would sell them? Maybe its a blessing in disguise. Not knowing the relationship, is it possible to talk to the boss about your desire to sell and see the response? Maybe you could split the sale proceeds? Just thoughts.

[timetosave]

I actually just started working for this boss two weeks ago. He has no idea of my money situation nor do I wish to share it with him...I doubt I will sell them because it was a gift (we just started talking one day about my LOVE of baseball and my card collection...he showed up the next day with these cards...go figure). I have small children who will be able to benefit from them at some point...I am trying to get out of debt now...I may actually NEED the money someday...we will see though, bills keep coming up

G

Originally Posted by creditcardfree

I tried some stuff on ebay this past week...and didn't have much luck either. I wonder if its the time of year? Or, maybe it was the items I was selling.

On the bb cards, that will have to be your own decision. What was the reason for the gift? Sounds like a nice gift. Does the boss know your money situation? Maybe the thought was that you would sell them? Maybe its a blessing in disguise. Not knowing the relationship, is it possible to talk to the boss about your desire to sell and see the response? Maybe you could split the sale proceeds? Just thoughts.

[LuxLiving]

Time to Save -

Glad to see you back and on target.

Did you let GMAC know when they could be expecting the next payment?? If you didn't then I'd get either on the horn or online and post a note to their collections department about your spending plan/budget and the date that you will have the next two payments in their hands. You don't want them to kick you over to the repo department.

Also, you can see that you are going to need to be putting some small amount back for Music for your kids. Be it $2 dollars or $20 a month (I have no idea what your costs involved are) but something needs to be budgeted towards meeting this expense the next time something like it comes up. If music and lessons or band are an important part of your child's education to your family then budgeting for it becomes a necessity. Think ahead, put back $$'s and be prepared.

Were you ever a girl scout??? Aren't they always prepared? I wasn't (never went past Brownies) but it sounds like I should of been!

Keep us posted!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LuxLivingFrugalis
http://luxliving.savingadvice.com/

[timetosave]

Hi Lux. Nope, I never made it past Brownies either...

I will start 'putting back' for the music...that makes sense...if I put away $5.00 each payday I am sure to have the money next time (and there will be a next time) I have to start putting away money for ski lessons (400.00 by the end of October) so that would be 100.00 each payday...there is no way...OMG...every time I think I am getting a handle on this something else comes up...I need to make more money...I have to concentrate on getting more money in my pocket...the planning ahead will really help for next year but right now I'm playing catch up...there simply has to be a way to get a loan...

breath...in and out...in and out...cleaning always helps me think through this stuff...I have to go and clean now...

[LuxLiving]

Time To Save -

How is the budgeting going?

[timetosave]

Hello all. I just wanted to stop in and give all of you an update.

As you all know I really can't start the new program until I am current with my bills which is what I am working on.

This upcoming Thursday is going to be my biggest challenge in doing the right thing with my money.

I will have

Paycheck 898.25
Stipend 559.63
Surveys 12.96
Flex Spending Acct 658.65
total 2,129.49


I will pay out

Braces 1,000.00
Car Payment 489.91 This will pay August car payment (1 to go)
cc payment(s) 281.98 This will bring all cc's up to date

which will leave 357.60 out of which is gas, school shopping for ds, food for the next two weeks. GONE.

But at least I am one payment closer to bringing my car current (I will pay that on the 21st) and I am caught up on ALL my cc's. So by the 1st of October I will be current on my bills. My bday is the 2nd so this is a great gift to me At that point I will do a budget and hopefully get more guidance from all of you.

Thank you all so much...this is consuming my thoughts! Seriously I spend NOTHING anymore...I find this really fun, I read everything I can get my hands on. My dream...to be able to afford to flip a house some day...I think I can...I think I can.

G

[Homebody]

Good for you! If you have a full pantry, the food should not be bad. Will you DH eat anything, or is he picky? Hopefully if he knows how hard you are working on this, he will cooperate.

I'm pretty obscessed too. I took an inventory of my pantry and freezer since I know I have to start cooking in order for us to save money. You see DH has been doing it all for 25 years and now I am home to review what needs to be used and incorporate leftovers. Yesterday I made refried beans, cooking the beans in my new crockpot, made spaghetti sauce both from ingredients on hand.

Today I am putting together burritos (only had to buy tortillas and hamburger) and lasagna (had to buy ricotta cheese and italian sausage).
Then I am also making a large pot of lentil soup (2 pounds lentils). 1/2 will go home with OD and the rest for us.


I'm looking forward to your posts!

[timetosave]

Originally Posted by Homebody

Good for you! If you have a full pantry, the food should not be bad. Will you DH eat anything, or is he picky? Hopefully if he knows how hard you are working on this, he will cooperate.

I'm pretty obscessed too. I took an inventory of my pantry and freezer since I know I have to start cooking in order for us to save money. You see DH has been doing it all for 25 years and now I am home to review what needs to be used and incorporate leftovers. Yesterday I made refried beans, cooking the beans in my new crockpot, made spaghetti sauce both from ingredients on hand.

Today I am putting together burritos (only had to buy tortillas and hamburger) and lasagna (had to buy ricotta cheese and italian sausage).
Then I am also making a large pot of lentil soup (2 pounds lentils). 1/2 will go home with OD and the rest for us.




I'm looking forward to your posts!

Hi Homebody! Yep, dh eats, not really picky we all eat only healthy foods which tend to be more expensive but there will be no changing that for all of our sakes...he cooperates...he pays all of the house expenses...

he even paid the cell bill! I think he sees what I am doing and is trying to be more supportive in his own way.

Good luck on your cooking, I for one love to cook but since going back to work only cook on weekends...

More to come!

[BCHGRL]

Hi timetosave,
I would like to commend you on your honesty and your progress towards your goals - kudos to you and keep it up!

I read most of the thread this morning. I know that it is hard to hear.you The feedback may come across judgmental and self-righteous, but the intent is to help you regain your financial independence. I think that it is honorable that you wouldn't want to drag your husband into a mess you've created. You already are seeing changes from your own initiative, not someone swooping in and helping. Now that is an independent woman!

What worked best for me was to change my paradigm of wants and needs. I only buy something to replace something else. I try to stay away from shopping locations, but when I am there I try to shop with strict discipline. For instance, I might see a beautiful pair of black heels at TJ Maxx. Do I own a pair of black heels? Yes. Do I need to replace the ones I own? No. They stay on the shelf. When it comes to things I don't own (IPOD, etc.) I ask myself, "Is this something I can absolutely live without?" If the answer is yes, I put it down. You can track costs, make lists, etc., but if you are not honest with yourself, it won't help.

Keeping active with this forum helps tremendously because at least you know you are not alone. Plus, there are a ton of get great tips.

By the way, IMA is like our sweet little mom or grandma, and I'm sure if you read any of her other posts you'll find that she is a wealth of knowledge!

Best wishes!
Sara

[timetosave]

Hi Sara, thanks for the input! I feel more in control today than I have in years...actually ever.

I like the idea about replacing things...that is what I will do for now on, now understand I am in the process of losing weight (down 30lbs already) so I do need to replace clothing.

I did something yesterday that I thought I would share. My biggest problem when it comes to spending is shopping with dd. Yesterday we spent the entire day in the mall without buying a single thing and it was fun! We both left with big smiles on our faces...this is definately a first for both of us. But I need to start training her also...I don't want her where I am when she is my age...

As afar a Ima is concerned, we have agreed not to argue, but I can tell you she is nothing like my grandmother...

G

[Ima saver]

Just bringing this to the top for those of you following this.

[creditcardfree]

Good idea. There is a lot going on here! It does help to go back and see how far she really has come. Not everyone can make changes overnight. It's taken us several years to get where we are in our financial lives.

[Ima saver]

She listed her total debts on page one.

[Squeezing Pennies]

OP's last post was roughly a year and a half ago and kinda left the thread hanging!




WHAT happened?????????



Where is a nail biting smiley?

[Squeezing Pennies]

Ok nevermind, I just found the threads.