My Living Situation.

My Living Situation:
I live a pretty simple life as a 25 year old.

- I live with my parents rent-free but pay for gas, electric, water and sewer.
- I work M-F 9am to 5pm. Boring job, but wonderful co-workers and boss.
Go home after work and relax by surfing the internet, watching t.v, running errands, hanging out at home with my parents and dogs. Sometimes I'll hang out at a friends house or apartment.
- Spend time with my boyfriend on the weekends, if there are any get-togethers or parties with friends and were up for it, well go.
- I try to travel once a year.

I live my life daily thankful for my wonderful family, my pets, my friends who I have known for years or grew up with and a great partner/boyfriend who I've been with for 10 years.


My Financial Situation:
- I make $41,241 per year, before taxes and deductions.
It's funny how the only negativity in my life is my debt! Paying for past mistakes in the present time sucks. I'm more determined then ever to get debt out of my life. That way I can save, spend, give and plan for the future the way I want to.

Budgeting.

How do you budget?

I keep it pretty simple budgeting paycheck to paycheck and I use post-it notes!

My take home pay after taxes and deductions is $1234.
I pay myself first so a direct deposit goes into my ING savings then I direct deposit my dad my car payment (he bought me a car in 2007).

That leaves me with about $919-$1044 (depends on how much I put in savings) for bills, gas, food and debt.

Let's take this coming 5/19 paycheck.

I get out my handy dandy post-it note and write the following:
- Paycheck date 5/19-6/2 (6/2 will be my next paycheck).
- All bills due between 5/19-6/2 in this case a cell phone, student loan, gas & electric.
- I put a (+) sign next to any debt I'm snowballing. In this case my Best Buy credit card at $435.
- $919 on the bottom left is how much money total I have.
- $322 is how much I have after paying for bills and debt snowball ($919-$597). So that $322 is gas, food and fun money.

I set up my next post-it a few days after payday. Tada!

Debt Update.

4/21 Numbers:
STUDENT LOANS $11,364.00
CC $2,493.00
TOTAL: $13,857.00

5/10 Numbers:
STUDENT LOANS $11,322.00
CC $2,168.00
TOTAL: $13,490.00

Managed to subtract $367 from my debt. Next 5/19 paycheck, I'll be making a final payment of $435 to my Best Buy credit card and that will be done-zo.

Then I can tackle my last credit card (Citi) and focus the rest of the year paying off most, if not all of my student loans.

Little Things.

I'm saving myself $120 per year because I cut down my texting/picture messaging from a $20 plan to a $10 plan.

I happen to have an iPhone, so my bill with data and minutes was $58 a month. Now it's only $48! I don't pay as much monthly because I also get 25% off from my employer.

I also got rid of my gym membership. I just haven't been going. So that's another $30 a month, $360 a year I'll be saving! I think gym memberships are worth it, especially if you take the group classes.

It's the little things!

5/5 Paycheck and The Beach.

We've been having lovely weather here in Southern California, I went to the beach two days in a row over the weekend. Best free thing you can do is get your umbrella and beach towel set-up, get your book out and just soak up some sun.

I've been reading Your Money, Your Life and I think it's an "okay" book so far. Not as motivating as Total Money Makeover.

My 5/5 paycheck will be doing some debt damage, can't wait till Thursday to get those payments in. That includes a big hit to my Best Buy credit card! One more payment after this and my Best Buy credit card is officially paid off.

I'm trying to knock out my last credit card, a Citi card in 3 paychecks. That means throwing $500+ at it three times! I can do this!

I'll update my numbers soon.

2011 and 2012.

2011: The Year I Pay Off MY Debt.
2012: The Year of ME.

Dear Self,

After I get all this debt paid off I have some goals. Leave this job by June 2012 and get a job I enjoy with an organization I care about.

You have 13 paychecks in 2012, save 50% and enjoy the 50%, take a trip to some far off place with CASH.

That is all. I will do this!

I Love Paydays.

I feel much better now that I have a plan, now that I'm attacking my debt.

I know exactly where my money is going, I know that I will have my credit card paid off in 2 paychecks! I have money for gas and I even have some fun money.

I have been engulfed in my financial plan. I stare at my handy dandy debts/savings/bills/payday excel sheet all the time!

I can't wait to see where I'm at next year. I look forward to having my debt paid off.