One Debtor's Dilemma

November CC Update: $5,906

2008-12-19T14:33:00.002-03:00

CC1 was: $973
New Balance: $0

CC2: Was: $1913
New Balance: $1830

CC3: Was: $4282
New Balance: $4076

CC4: Was: $554
New Balance: $0

Old Total: $7,622
New Total: $5,906

Whew. I don't even remember what happened in November, but am happy and relieved that the CC is down to less than 6k. Christmas presents presented a little bit of a challenge, but I've resolved to not go overboard this year. I've already bought everyone's presents and am not letting myself shop anymore.

This feels good.

October CC Update: $7,622

2008-10-15T00:32:00.003-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $973

CC2: Was: $2045
New Balance: $1913

CC3: Was: $4295
New Balance: $4282

CC4: Was: $748
New Balance: $554

Old Total: $7,088
New Total: $7,622

Disasterous last two months. If I'm in a confessing frame of mind, I'll go over the first credit card, but as I missed the Sept update, I'm clearly not in the frame of mind to discuss failures.

August Credit Card Update $7,088

2008-09-04T22:39:00.003-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with a whole lotta activity ($1079 worth)

CC2: Was: $2120
New Balance: $2045

CC3: Was: $4350
New Balance: $4295

CC4: Was: $801
New Balance: $748

Old Total: $7,271
New Total: $7,088

UGH. Horrible month. Horrible spending month. It's back to old habits, folks. Next month will be just as bad if not worse. At least the debt is still decreasing....right?

July Credit Card Update: $7271

2008-07-28T22:19:00.003-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with some activity

CC2: Was: $2195
New Balance: $2120

CC3: Was: $4404
New Balance: $4350

CC4: Was: $1405
New Balance: $801

Old Total: $8,004
New Total: $7,271

From a starting credit card debt of $15,680 to pass the halfway point ($7840) and get to less than half of what I originally owed the blood sucking credit card companies is a big deal. But it somehow seems less so, maybe because the more you pay off the less special every step feels. So, instead of a big party that I promised myself when I got to under 10k, I'll just have a quiet celebration...that may or may not include eating all of the loverly homemade guacamole I made myself. Priorities change...

June Credit Card Update: $8,004

2008-06-23T23:42:00.004-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $1408 (yikes) in activity

CC2: Was: $2270
New Balance: $2195

CC3: Was: $4457
New Balance: $4404

CC4: Was: $1981
New Balance: $1405

Old Total: $8,709
New Total: $8,004

I could fudge some numbers to get that number below 8k but it isn't worth it, I haven't done the best with the frugality as of late, and don't feel like falsely rewarding myself.

CC1 was very active this month, but was paid off in full because I got a bonus for the year! I bought two plane tickets to visit the future in-laws, a birthday present for the FH (future husband), tickets to Cali and about $400 in business activity that I haven't been reimbursed for as of yet. Once I get the reimbursement check, I will put it towards CC4, that damn pesky college credit card that you sign up for, get a blanket, 18% APR and a slap on the back for your cluelessness. However, I have noticed that their recent APR is about 10% right now for me. Once I pay it off, I may switch CC3 to C4 to take advantage of a lower interest rate, I'm now paying about 37 a month in interest on CC4. Even though I really don't want to give any more money to CC4 as they have made a pretty penny off of me over the last 10 years.

I will say that I don't regret any of the CC activity, it was all necessary and paid for in full. I'm finally rewarding myself for my credit card accomplishments by going on a mini vacation to California to visit a friend. Well deserved, I think.

Once the dust settles on all of the activity and reimbursements, I think July will be a banner month!

Essex Street Market

2008-06-16T23:43:00.002-02:00

The Essex Street Market is great for many reasons. A fish monger, a cheese monger, a meat monger, a vegetable monger and a fruit monger all in one place? all those mongers? I stopped by after work for dinner groceries and picked up the following for under $10:

Shrimp: $3.99
Celery, pears, corn, scallions and cilantro: $3.25
Eggs: 1.75

Um, delightful! and the opportunity to buy expensive cheese. But I held back. Trying to be frugal again and all that.

There is also a great restaurant at the other end of the market that really represents the traditional tastes of the lower east side, the latin-jewish yumminess.

Combining Forces

2008-06-16T23:31:00.002-02:00

My household just became a dual household, which I used to fantasize about when I was making less than half of what I'm making now. This comes with many yet-to-be-realized advantages, like splitting utilities, rent and groceries, but also many sacrifices in the personal space categories and my front closet.

That said, I've been very non-frugal as of late because I know that I'll have another person contributing to rent, cable and bills. This is not how I wanted to proceed.

Also contributing to my non-frugality is my totally unfounded perception that less than 9k debt is somehow less serious. The frugality is precarious INDEED.

I need to get back on the frugal horse. Esp with a wedding to pay for.

What I Didn't Buy Today

2008-05-14T11:19:00.003-02:00

Damn you jcrew and your sale emails! Yellow is such a happy color...

What I did buy today? Munchkins for the office. There is no cheaper way to create goodwill with co-workers than those happy little balls of fried dough. Besides doing your job competently and without boasting.

May Credit Card Update $8709

2008-05-13T00:36:00.002-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $310 in activity that I paid off immediately

CC2: Was: $2340
New Balance: $2270

CC3: Was: $4509
New Balance: $4457

CC4: Was: $2754
New Balance: $1981

Old Total: $9,603
New Total: $8,709

Eh, am kind of in a rut with the personal finance and am losing a little bit of motivation. Things at work kind of suck and I'm in the beginning of the "what am I doing with my life" cycle. Needless to say, I've been visiting a bunch of grad school and law school sites, still without a clear idea of what I want to do when I grow up.

I've been putting off actually cashing in my reward that I was going to treat myself to once I reached less than 10k in debt, joining the gym, but I did just get two speedos for $16 each at Marshalls...might be time to get the endorphins going...

April 2008 Credit Card Update

2008-04-23T00:25:00.003-02:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0, but with $700 in activity that I paid off immediately

CC2: Was: $2415
New Balance: $2340

CC3: Was: $4566
New Balance: $4509

CC4: Was: $3018
New Balance: $2754

Old Total: $9,999
New Total: $9,603

A few things happened this month, including a wedding and purchasing airline tickets for a wedding next week in Michigan. Also see post on irresponsible spending. I ended up returning one of those dresses.

Overall, I'm okay with toeing the line with the debt after last months amazing progress, but this is a let-down.

I'm due for the economic stimulus check that everyone talks about but have already allocated that to wedding presents. Five this year alone!

video fun

2008-04-14T00:46:00.002-02:00

hysterical bridal fun...warning: there are some curse words, well one curse word, used repeatedly and totally justified.

Calming Down

2008-04-04T14:15:00.002-02:00

I have to admit, I let wedding stress get to me too early and too hard. We have months to plan and as a good friend pointed out, I am setting the tone. If I want to have a fun, relaxed event, that mood needs to start now.

I've found some really helpful sites, added on the side, to help with wedding planning.

All of this stress has not been good for my wallet. I found myself in a shopping high on Tuesday when I went looking for a dress for a wedding this weekend, bought two dresses that were not in my budget, then bought two pairs of shoes and a bunch of clothes for my nephew. I'm afraid to add up the damage, but here it goes:

Dresses: $310
Shoes: $ 70
Nephew: $ 60
-------------
Total: $440

Yeah...that should have been mostly a wedding present.

Saturday Weddings In NYC

2008-03-31T01:33:00.004-02:00

So, maybe you, like me, are planning a wedding. In New York. Possibly in or around the city. Maybe...you actually have a budget, unlike many many many nyc and tv brides. Maybe...you think that it shouldn't be so hard to impose some sort of budget rationale on halls, vendors, caterers, etc. Maybe...you don't want the same cookie cutter wedding that you've been to 10 times. Maybe you cringe at the mention of antipasta and top shelf liquor, because you never really thought that would be associated with your wedding day. Maybe...you want to run away, have a picnic, dance with some grass between your toes, wish on the first star you see for a happy marriage together and call it a night.

Thank you for being as insane as I am.

If you are just curious as to how much a wedding is at some popular sites to the north of New York, here, let me enlighten you from my day in the wedding hell that is the Catering Halls of Westchester.

Botanical Gardens: $190 pp, not including 20% gratuity and 8.5% tax, thanks abigail kirsch!
Tappan Hill: $190 pp, 20% g, 8.375% tax
Glen Island Harbour Club: $155 pp, not including 21% gratuity and 8.375% tax, I'm guessing that extra 1% in gratuity buys you the u for harbor.
Greentree Country Club: $130 pp, 20%g, 8.375% t
Lake Isle Caterers: $110 pp, 20%g, 8.375% t

with a 240 person guest list. so, take the least expensive, take that pp cost x the guest list, + 20% of that, + 8.375% of all of it, and you get $36,333. w.t.f.

Buffalo Chicken Strips and Blue Cheese Coleslaw - YUM

2008-03-24T23:45:00.005-03:00

Saw this recipe over at chow and knew I had to make it. Needless to say, it was delightful and will last me the rest of the week in lunches. The most expensive part is the chicken, but I bought that in bulk back when I had the car. The cabbage may have been the cheapest item of produce I've ever purchased at whole foods, at 52 cents, and I only used half of it. The cole slaw is so...freaking...good. I added an apple and didn't have celery. still good. I might just have to eat this for breakfast.

I Know Why Miss Haversham Lost her Marbles

2008-03-19T00:38:00.005-03:00

It's been a little over a week since the bf became the fiance and I've been walking on air when I'm around him, telling the story and laughing with friends. But, when left to my own devices, I'm buying wedding magazines ($22 worth), scoping out reception sites, looking at bridal gowns, AHHHH! Needless to say, I may be fired because I can't help myself at work.

In the midst of the craziness (looking at a 240+ guestlist), I've found some sources of laughter. First, Another Fucking Wedding, two crazy brooklyn kids with a kosher wedding which isn't my main concern, being Catholic and all. The bride had a great idea to look for wedding dresses on craiglist and it is a buyer's market out there. That, and just plain funny seeing what people are trying to sell them for.

Then, a zany lady over at a $10,000 wedding, who hasn't been proposed to yet, but loves all things wedding. I have a few girlfriends who could be behind this anonymous blog and so far, it is full of good ideas.

Finally, this simple sunset wedding for under $2,000 was just gorgeous and to end with grimaldi's is the ticket to my heart.

The bridal magazines all seem to sell the same thing over and over again. I kinda wish my F was a guitar strumming hippie who would take me into the woods, shake my hand and ask me what I was up to the rest of my life. But, I love my Ohio-loving, football watching, big lug of a cuddly guy who almost had me considering a 10 person bridal party to accommodate his 5 brothers and 5 friends. I just hope we can survive the planning process. And no, I will not have 10 bridesmaids. That's just nuts.

What I Didn't Buy Today

2008-03-14T22:47:00.003-03:00

Jcrew is really putting out some fun jewelry and shoes. This is what I didn't do with my tax return. boo.

March Credit Card Update: $9,999 - Four Digits Baby!

2008-03-14T21:20:00.006-03:00

CC1 was: $0
New Balance: $0

CC2: Was: $2488
New Balance: $2415

CC3: Was: $4634
New Balance: $4566

CC4: Was: $4652
New Balance: $3018

Old Total: $11,774
New Total: $9,999

That's right, if only by one dollar, I am BELOW ten thousand dollars in debt. This feels so good. I feel like celebrating. In addition to the fact that I just got ENGAGED. Everything is so insane. Financially, I'm torn between debt reduction and the savings we will need to build up to pay for a wedding. But right now, I am just so happy.

My combined tax return was about $1500, so I used about 900 of that to pay off debt, the rest to take a trip to visit friends, bought a dress for the 4 weddings I have this summer, gave friends their wedding present, gave other friends a nice housewarming gift, bought a fancy candle for another friend's 30th and celebrated.

I may have splurged on a $25 lip gloss. But this only happened because I went into a store that I swore I would not enter during my debt reduction. But I had to buy a birthday gift quick, and they were really the only place I could think of. Damn you Bluemercury on M Street with all of your wonderful products! You tempt me so.

City Car Experiment: Day 3

2008-02-28T00:21:00.003-03:00

Two days ago, my first day in the city with my parents car, I spent about $40 in parking because of New York's love/hate relationship with the car and lack of street parking. I couldn't find alternate side of the street parking for the car, so it had to come with me to my orthopedist appt and then to work. If you are dumb enough to drive into midtown manhattan, you shall pay. Alternate side of the street parking refers to a 2 or 3 hour window, 1130-1pm on my street, during which no cars are allowed to park on one side of the street so that a street cleaner can come through and move the filth around in circles before depositing it a half block down the street. Seriously, these things are like zambonies that do nothing.

When I drove home that night from work, I prayed that I would find a spot on the right side of alternate side of the street parking so that I could leave it there until Thursday.

My sister is blessed not only with the ability to find parking spots but to parallel park on a dime, on a hill, in the rain, in the snow, all with a screaming child in the backseat. I attribute this to the fact that she met and worked for Mother Teresa.

Well, something must have rubbed off, because the car has been parked safe and sound since Monday and I get to use it tomorrow to go to another appt and to help out with my nephew.

This car thing isn't so bad...

City Car Experiment

2008-02-25T19:01:00.002-03:00

I often bemoan my lack of a car to my boyfriend's deaf ears. I just think it would make things like leaving the city for a weekend a lot easier. And I covet mini-Coopers. There! I said it!

I know, I know, that's so not green of me, but after a lifetime on the public transportation system, there is something freeing about getting in a car and having one's personal space to oneself.

So, today commences the week long city car experience. My parents went to Florida, leaving me with their car. So far, I've already spent $63 on gas and parking in the 3 days that I've had it. The first two days were spent in the poconos, therefore, free parking.

I'm getting ready to hunker down and find a spot on the right side of alternate street parking tonight when I leave work. That's so not exciting nor tempting.

What is tempting is stopping by Fairway on 125 for some groceries. Hey, they even have a Fairway Blog.

What I Didn't Buy Today

2008-02-22T01:43:00.003-03:00

I decided that I need to reinforce good behavior with a little reckoning I like to call "What I Didn't Buy Today".

1. Shadow Bed Linens from Crate and Barrel, even though they are super pretty. How did I end up on this site? searching for a wedding registry gift

2. These dumb jcrew pants. I kind of need new work pants, and they are on sale, but do I REALLY need them? no

I'll try to limit these lists, but I did visit kayak.com for vacation tickets as my hankering for a vacation gets stronger by the hour.

Also...WTF happened on lost? So now Aaron is the fifth of the Oceanic 6? What happened to Claire???

February CC Update: $11,774

2008-02-20T01:23:00.004-03:00

CC1 was: $596
New Balance: $0, zero, zip, nil, gone, out of the wallet, never again

CC2: Was: $2568
New Balance: $2488

CC3: Was: $4754
New Balance: $4634

CC4: Was: $4700
New Balance: $4652

Old Total: $12,618
New Total: $11,774

Dear CC4, I'm coming after you with at least $700 next month. You know what's coming, you've been offering me checks every week for balance transfers, calling me to get credit protection. Well, guess what? You are at the lowest balance you've been in 6 years, and you will get lower. You will get less and less of your nice 13.9 percent. You will soon be gone from my life, gone. For the first time since junior year in college.

Things I don't/shouldn't do anymore

2008-02-19T17:18:00.004-03:00

The nature of budgeting and limited spending really cuts me sometimes. Most times, it is the small things that I pass up that make me sad, the manicures and pedicures I'll live without, the lunches ordered in, the expensive canadian yogurt that I love (my daily pleasure!).

But what bothers me most is the fact that I haven't visited my friend in California since he's moved there, that makes me sad. Other trips have taken priority over this one, mainly weddings and visiting the boyfriend's family. And I haven't spoiled my nephew with gifts and toys in a really long time. I know that he doesn't need all of the toys, but it is still fun to spoil him, that's one of the joys of being an aunt.

I may keep a running tab of little silly things that I miss, just to help me to avoid them, because damn, my cuticles are ugly and in need of some loving attention!

List of things I miss:
1. Manicures
2. Pedicures
3. Buying Lunch
4. Expensive Yogurt
5. Dinners out

Big items I can't wait to spend $$$ on:
1. Plane ticket to California
2. Unlimited gifts for my nephew
3. New curtains for apartment
4. New bedding
5. A proper VACATION

Cupcake Nirvana

2008-02-04T23:10:00.006-03:00

Over the holidays, I received a gift cert to Borders and bought the cookbook Great Fast Food from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living. Love me some Martha.

I really have to say that every recipe I've tried so far has been stellar. From the mac and cheese to the bbq chicken. I just made cupcakes tonight to satisfy a little sweet tooth craving for my favorite: carrot cake.

After a surprising lack of butter, and a runny batter, I have to say that these cupcakes are incredibly moist and the frosting (so simple! cream cheese conf. sugar and vanilla!) is the perfect compliment.

January CC Update: $12,618

2008-01-26T16:33:00.001-03:00

CC1 was: $993
New Balance: $596

CC2: Was: $2648
New Balance: $2568

CC3: Was: $4813
New Balance: $4754

CC4: Was: $4762
New Balance: $4700

Old Total: $13,216
New Total: $12,618

for a difference of $598, sigh, so not the progress that I had been planning during the December update when I was high off of my extra paycheck. I'm really crossing my fingers that CC1 will be gone next month. The only complicating factor is a bunch of business travel, which I'll get reimbursed for, but it still makes me uneasy.

Again and again, paying off credit cards has proven hard and a long slow process for me. I make lofty promises to myself and fancy spreadsheets, but then I get caught in having $7 in my checking account and a week to go until the next one with food being a necessity and then the evil cc is back in my wallet tempting me...baiting me...and I am weak.

Here's to hoping I'll make a bigger dent in February.

Also, am considering transferring part of CC4 to CC2 to take advantage of a 0% interest, but CC2 only has a $5,000 limit plus I have to take into account fees and what not. CC4 has a 13.9% interest rate. I hate CC4, it's the credit card I got in college and have perpetually had a balance on. I think they are catching on that I've been making steady payments though because they keeps sending me special "rainy day" checks. Ha! at least I'm smart enough not to fall for that ploy.

December Credit Card Update: $13,216

2007-12-22T15:48:00.001-03:00

Here we go...

CC1 was: $1654
New Balance: $993

CC2: Was: $2768
New Balance: $2648

CC3: Was: $4874
New Balance: $4813

CC4: Was: $4817
New Balance: $4762

New Total: $13,216

By next month, CC1 will be gone. I'm going to take whatever extra money I have to go towards making the usual 800 payment into a 993 payment. Totally within the realm of possibility.

My Christmas present budgeting went pretty well, I didn't go over, although I did splurge on myself with my 'extra paycheck' and only got to one of the wedding presents, which means a few other wedding presents are still in waiting, but I still have a few months before it is officially rude!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Happy New Year! I'll be spending mine quietly, who wants to spend 200+ to go to a weird party and have a massive hangover from cheap alcohol? not me!

Presents, Parties and Politics

2007-12-06T18:31:00.000-03:00

Sad attempt at alliteration, I know. I'm looking forward to my next paycheck as an "extra" paycheck, the blessed gift of the accounting dept that pays me every two weeks, therefore I get two "extra" paychecks during the year. Because my usual pattern for paychecks is #1 - Rent and Utilities and Living, #2 CC Debt and Living, usually allotting 300 to live on every two weeks.

Back to the extra paycheck and what I plan on doing with it.

$100 - Total Splurge - Fancy Haircut
$100 - Gift, the boyfriend (we agreed to cap it this year, in years past it has been up to 200)
$300 - Gifts, family (5 people, with a large percentage on toys for the cutest nephew ever)
$150 - Gifts for parties, secret santas and work people (this will be a challenge)
$60 - Christmas Cards
$100 - Overdue Evansville Wedding Present (williams sonoma gift card)
$200 - Overdue June Wedding Present (no idea here...maybe a murrays cheese shop gift certificate for classes)
$300 - Upcoming end of December Wedding Present

$610 - Christmas Budget, not bad
$600 - Wedding Present Budget, ridiculous! elope!

as for the politics...I'm leaning towards Barack right now.

Addressing the "Alive"

2007-11-26T01:19:00.000-03:00

I'm going to veer off the debt track today and address the alive part of my little story, because the following incident really has me shaken up. Not literally shaking, although at one point I was, but more in the *wow did that really happen* sense.

I almost got into a fight on the subway. On my way to Grand Central and upstate NY, I hopped on the subway to go to 2 stops to catch the metro north. I get on the subway and as soon as the doors close at 59th, this girl starts cursing, f-this and f-you and f-yourself to her friends and basically to anyone that could hear/would listen. I start feeling bad for her because I just thought, what a beautiful girl and what a hard life she must have. Seriously, face of an angel, with two guy friends who were much more fashionable than she was feminine. She was basically ready to pick a fight with anyone that looked at her the wrong way and I gave her the stink eye.

She immediately says, "what are you looking at, b****", I said nothing and looked the other way. A few minutes later I feel something pressing on my foot and it is this girl stepping on my foot (she's sitting, I'm standing). I say "excuse you" in the most stern teacher-voice that i know. she says "excuse you" and unleashes a barage of curses and insults my way. I stand there, not moving, pissing her off more (why am i so stubborn? to her, I'm just another "bit-ch" in a burberry (this is a debt blog) scarf and leopard print shoes, while in my mind I'm someone just like her, from a tough neighborhood, with neighborhood developed cajones that should have been cut off as soon as I went to university.

Anyway. I move away. She and her friends move to get off at 42nd, my stop, I think great, I'll just let them go and follow from a distance. Then I feel her stepping on my foot again, I start to say something and she whips around with "don't touch me! why are you hitting me?" I, flabbergasted, just move to get to the exit, as we are stopped, she is cursing something horrible, with the overall message of: you better just move on, curse curse curse.

And of course I feel the need to say something to her. (why god why) so I say "you'll never get anywhere in life talking like that" like that will jar her angry bitter not even 15 year old self into a reality check. it won't. although one of her friends chimes in with, "you know, she's right." yeah, I am.

Then her friends have to hold her back from hitting me or doing any of the numerous things that she was yelling she would do "get back here so I can spit in your face" "I'm going to lay your white ass out" angry angry angry.

I'm scared (and amazed/bewildered that i said anything), make my way up the stairs after almost taking a dead end up the platform, and rack my brains for the closest police location, because even though she was barely 5'6", I'm sure she could have taken all her rage from whatever went wrong in her life out on me in under 60 seconds.

The police were exactly where I wanted them, as she struggled to get past people (excuse me! excuse me! she knows manners...or at least how to move people) on the stairway after her friends (thank god!) held her back for long enough for me to get away to the safety of eternally
stationed cops. and she went down the corridor to the shuttle with her friends. kicking and screaming. rage.

I proceed to have a massive anxiety attack and almost throw up once getting to the civilized world of grand central station and the metro north.

This may be what pushes me out of NY, to the suburbs, away from the madness.

Does anyone remember the story of the actress on the lower east side who said to a bunch of teenagers "what are you going to do, shoot me?" and then got shot? I need to repeat that story to myself daily and keep my mouth shut! and eyes averted!

Why I love Suze Orman

2007-11-17T18:08:00.000-03:00

Suze Orman is great. I just saw her on Oprah the other week and she always offers the most sensible, straightforward and, my favorite, compassionate advice. She's been there, in debt, trying to keep up the the Joneses (or Garcias), dug herself out and has gotten to a point in her life where she is secure and offering help to everyone who will listen to her.

I keep her Young, Fabulous and Broke book by my bedside for practical advice. Even though I am getting further and further away from young and nowhere near fabulous. Her steps go getting out of debt are what I go by (tackling the cc with the highest interest rate first, the amex). Suze's steps are:

If you are in credit card trouble, you must cut up all of your credit cards now, with the possible exception of one card for emergencies; do not carry this card in your wallet, however.
You must pay more than the minimum payment every month, as much more as you possibly can. If you owe a credit card company $5000 at 18 percent interest and all you do is pay the minimum each month it will take you over 30 years to pay it off.
You must pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first, and the rest in descending order.
You must negotiate for yourself the best interest rates, even if it means switching credit cards every six months.
You must understand everything about how your credit card works--all fees, how the company charges you, all about the so-called grace period, everything.
You must honor all your debts equally--whether it's the money you owe Visa, or the money you owe your brother.
After you pay off one credit card, you must apply the money you have been paying that particular company to paying off another credit card.
If you doubt that you can do this yourself, you must get in touch with a wonderful nonprofit agency known as the Consumer Credit Counseling Service; they can be reached by calling 1-800-388-2227. They will help you organize and consolidate your debt.
You must never let this happen again.
After your debts have all been paid off, you are to apply the money you were paying all those months toward creating your future.

More advice can be found on her website, which is why I'm linking to it here: Managing Debt

November Debt Update $14,058

2007-11-17T17:49:00.001-03:00

CC1: $2044
New Balance: $1654

CC2: Was: $2741
New Balance: $2768 - Payment Issues

CC3: Was: $4934
New Balance: $4874

CC4: Was: $4816
New Balance: $4762

Total Debt: $14,058 - so close to under 14k! yet so far....

I've got a new high interest rate in the room thanks to some issues. CC2, the newbie, has an early in the month date and is a Chase credit card. I have an old Citi credit card (that was paid off a while ago) account in my online bill pay. I accidentally paid Citi an extra $60 and forgot about Chase. So the payment went in 2 days late and they jacked up my interest. I've now applied for a new balance transfer with Capitol One that I should hear about in a few days.

This doesn't bother me, because I knew that I would have to transfer eventually due to the expiration of the balance transfer option on the Chase card. What does bother me is that I didn't get a notice from Chase about the interest, I received and increase in my credit! As in, "now we've really gotcha and are gonna try to make the most out of you while you don't realize you have an incredibly high interest rate (20.5%)." I don't know how the woman on the phone said that while being so cheerful.

The new Cap One card will keep that balance transfer interest rate at 0% until November of next year.

Other than that issue, I've been spending recently. I'm not proud of it, but with the holidays coming up, I really have to buckle down.

as my thighs grow bigger with the lack of a gym membership.

Weddings, Showers, Bachelorettes and the Drain of the 20something Female's Wallet

2007-10-23T01:55:00.000-02:00

SEVEN
That's the number of weddings that I will have attended by the end of the year. And that is with one being called off at the beginning of the year (thankfully before the shower).

Having just been to a beautiful shower, where women of all walks of life from grandmother to brunching buddy were happy to see this young woman getting ready to get married, I understand the evolution of what a modern wedding has become and I don't go into a rage like some singletons. But I just can't see it for myself. That's a whole other blog, like too neurotic to get married, or cold lower extremities.

Anyway. Back to weddings. With one wedding in Evansville, previously mentioned, one in Buffalo, one in Boston and another in Boulder, and a local wedding where I caved last minute and got the hotel room for a night even though we were an hour from the city, what is a girl to do?

Certainly make the most of that one darling dress you bought on sale last year from Lord and Taylor's. And only give WHAT you can give WHEN you can give it. Martha Stewart, or someone else with better manners than myself, says you have a year to give a gift and most guides that I've read on the topic say that you should only give what you can.

Now, I've had the frank discussion with one group of college friends, who, save for one girl who was planning a big NYC wedding, agreed that it is ridiculous to cover the cost of a plate when the bride and groom have chosen to have something over the top extravagant. That in my mind would equate to a really fancy dinner that I couldn't afford and would choose to forgo. All of my friends know that I work for a non-profit, so I don't think that they are expecting a huge check, but I do like to give them something.

Depending on my relationship with the couple and what I know of their finances, I either give a very personal gift or a check/gift card. If I go to a wedding west of Pennsylvania, I give a gift off of the registry because I've found that that is what people in the west do. If I travel, it is in the $100 range, if I don't travel, it is in the $250 range (for a couple). With all of these weddings in one year, I've had to sacrifice to give these gifts but most of the time, they are welcomed with such gratitude that it makes it worth the sacrifice (and my small bonus).

The whole splitting of the gift with the boyfriend depends on how well he knows the couple. If he doesn't at all, he shouldn't have to pitch in.

Goals v. Practical

2007-10-23T01:53:00.000-02:00

I'm looking at that 12000 in January goal and really just wondering if I will be able to pull it off. I'm already stressed about Christmas presents and have another wedding before the end of the year. But, I think I'll be able to get to at least 12500 by January. It won't be all the way, but it will still be exciting.

October Credit Card Update $14,535

2007-10-17T21:10:00.001-02:00

CC1: Was: $2516
Payment: $823
Dumb Spending: $294
New Balance: $2044

CC2: Was: $2801
New Balance: $2741

CC3: Was: $4992
New Balance: $4934

CC4: Was: $4810
New Balance: $4816 What? this went up?

So, CC4, aka, the bain of my college years who won't give me lower than a 13.9 interest rate so I've been whittling it away through balance transfers (see: CC2, aka the Newbie). But they did give me a reduced payment for October and I took it because I am newly committed to CC1, that which should be gone already. So, CC1 got the bulk of this month's $1033 payment, with $823 going there.

Old Grand Total: $15,126
Total Payments: $1033
Interest Payment: $148

NEW GRAND TOTAL: $14,535

NYSC, I just don't know how to quit you - Literally

2007-09-28T01:24:00.000-02:00

Two years ago I signed a 2-year contract with New York Sports Club for a monthly fee of $92. With my prolonged displeasure with the gym and sneaking suspicions that working out was making me more hungry and therefore fatter, I've decided to end this unforgiving financial partnership.

Quitters be forewarned!
You need to submit in writing you intent to quit your membership a full 30 days before they will release you. I didn't even try to get out of my two year contract and am sure that they make you sign the contract so that you can't get out of it. The woman at the counter basically turned me away saying don't bother until your contract is up.

Reasons to get a membership down the road
I enjoy swimming, but never get to do it, so once I reach that short term goal, I'm going to look into joining my neighborhood YMCA, which will be slightly cheaper (this is nyc) and will have a loverly pool for me to swim in, whereas the NYSC shared one facility in times square with a hotel, not ideal swimming conditions.

Health Insurance Bonus!
I actually get $200 every 6 months if I can prove that I went to the gym 60 times in that six month period, unfortunately, I never quite got it to the 60 visit mark, there are only so many times I can stand on an elliptical machine during the month before I want to hurl or risk hip injury mounting the damn thing.

In the meantime, I plan to put my Firm workout videos to the test and slap some rubber to asphalt, running along the brooklyn skyline is much more inspiring than watching reruns of Bravo shows and Beyonce videos.

Confession of Irresponsible Spending

2007-09-20T22:58:00.000-02:00

As I write this to you, blogosphere, I am tempted to just say that the suit I bought was within my budget, but it wasn't. And that I spent cash, not credit, buying it, but I didn't.

I pulled out that credit card as soon as jcrew.com sent me an email announcing 20% off their final sale and that the suit I had been eyeing was still available. I have about 198 left until my next paycheck, but will need some cash for the weekend and knew that my credit card was in my purse because I used it for business travel the day before.

This is why I NEED to stop carrying my credit card. But I can't cut it up.

Advice is welcome. You can't shame me more than I already am shameful.

Goals

2007-09-18T00:10:00.000-02:00

I need some sort of incentive to stick with this, so

Short Term Goal
To reduce total debt to 12,000 by January 2007

Short Term Reward
Reinstate gym membership when I reach 10,000, hopefully by March 2007

Long Term Goal
To pay off total debt in 2 years, my 30th birthday year.

Long Term Reward
Guilt free graduate education, to be done with the debt would free up my time and energy to devote to bigger and brighter things.

September Credit Card Update $15,126

2007-09-16T13:42:00.001-02:00

Well, I haven't done that great, but in keeping with my resolution to be honest with myself and my debt, here is a reckoning of September payments and (yikes) usage of the credit.

CC1: Was: $2604
Payment: $450
Dumb Spending: $264
New Balance: $2516

CC2: Was: $2866
New Balance: $2806

CC3: Was: $5099
New Balance: $4992

CC4: Was: $5111
New Balance: $4810

Old Grand Total: $15,680
Total Payments (minus usage): $652
Interest Payment: $146

NEW GRAND TOTAL: $15,126

If you must know what the dumb spending was, it was a totally avoidable trip to Evansville, IN for a distant friend's wedding, a friend who I was once very close with. While I'm not saying that people should skip weddings, this was one of those cases where my irish guilt got to me and thinking that it would be really important for the bride that I be there. Not that I wasn't important, but she has tons of friends and would have been completely fine with a letter and a nice $100 gift. But instead, I convinced myself that using my skymiles and paying for a cheap hotel and car was feasible. Not only that, but a trip to target, which never costs me less than $50.

Bottom line, it wasn't feasible and I didn't have the money for it. I should have checked the regrets box. Lesson learned.

Labor Day Retrospective

2007-09-05T23:38:00.000-02:00

Labor Day Weekend

The weekend was a great low-spending weekend. Here is the tally:

Friday night dinner/dessert: $56 (totally more than I wanted to spend)
Cab Home: $6

Saturday Train ticket: $6
Saturday dinner: $9
Drinks out: $20

Sunday Breakfast:$5
Beach Pass: $5
Sunday Train ticket: Free (didn't check!)

Monday Train Ticket: $7
Monday Dinner: $20

Total Labor Day Weekend Spending: $134

I totally credit my friends who shuttled me around this weekend in absence of the boy. By piggy-backing on their low cost activities, I was able to keep my costs down and enjoy the beautiful (free!) weather at the beach!

A slow slog

2007-09-05T23:05:00.000-02:00

It is hard to keep a good resolution going. The day to day, the subway work subway, sleep wake sleep, tv computer tv, really pulls a haze over the goals. I've been brown-bagging it. skipping nighttime activities, seeking out free ones or glasses of wine with friends. But really have to pick up that effort.

Facing the Music - damn it's loud

2007-08-29T01:58:00.001-02:00

Total Debt

CC1: $2604 (18% interest)
CC2: $2866 (0% interest until May 08)
CC3: $5099 (9.9% interest rate)
CC4: $5111 (13.9% interest)

Grand Total as of 8/28/07: $15,680

The sad part is that I've carried this amount for about 4 years. Although, 4 years ago, I think it was more like $12,000. At that point, my mother opened some of my mail when moving and made me right then and there cut up all of my credit cards and promise her that I wouldn't use them. If I had listened, I probably wouldn't be in this mess right now.

I always point to specific events to explain away my debt but all of them combined really couldn't explain all of the debt. Explanations (excuses) include: switching jobs, being unemployed for one month in 2004, moving cities, security deposits, christmas presents, wedding presents, shower presents.

I resolve to:

Not use my credit cards anymore (have just removed from wallet, but, wait, how did they get back in there after my last big self realization?)
Only buy presents that I can afford that won't put me in a precarious financial position later on
Limit my shopping (will go into at a later date)
Pay down my debt!!!

debt debt debt

2007-08-16T00:18:00.000-02:00

Remember when you first found out you could say a word and it would lose its meaning? No matter how many times I say the word, my debt won't lose its meaning.

I've carried it since college. And now, at the ripe age of 27, I'm ready to start something new, being honest. Being honest with myself and my debt.

I'll try to be honest with spending, my amount of debt (not what I tell my sister when she asks me or my boyfriend when he notices a new shirt), my willingness to pay it off and my goals.