Credit Card Debt Gone!

And it "only" took 33 months to pay it off :(. $13,700 of debt divided by 33 months--that's an average of $415/month. I'm really glad to be done with this debt. I had no idea when I was charging on the credit cards that it would be this difficult to pay them off. Never again!
I still have the car loan to go ($2300) before I'm free of non-mortgage debt. I'm going to take a break for April, then starting in May, try to pay off the car in three months. With pay from the summer job, that should be possible.
It really hasn't sunk in yet that I finally paid this debt. I think I'll stare at the sidebar for a while!

One Month Later ...

Because of computer problems, it's been almost a month since my last post. I've been able to read other blogs for 5-10 minutes at a time, but if I would try to comment or post, my computer would freeze. No fun.
Quick update on my goals:
1. Pay off credit card ($1125) by March 31. (I think this will be possible with income tax refund and $$ from 2nd job)
2. Pay off car by Oct. 31. On track
3. Save a one-month buffer.($2500) (Emergency fund took a hit because of $700 car repair. Will rebuild with $$ from FSA.)
4. Get a part-time summer job. Got it! This will really help pay off the car and save the buffer.
1. Establish a daily exercise routine. (Not going well. 2x a week instead of daily.
2. Lose 15 pounds by June 1 (3 pounds/month) Lost 3 lbs then gained it back
3. Volunteer 30 hours with Master Gardeners by June 1 There are opportunities to volunteer in March.
4. Find a place to serve in church. Not yet.

Since the financial goals are coming along and should be on autopilot as long as I don't increase spending, it's time to refocus on the personal goals for a while.

Menu for Jan 18-24

I forgot to post last week's menus, so I'm recycling some of them and adding a few new ones

navy beans, cornbread

lemon pasta with chicken (Thanks, MoneyFunk, for the idea)

Pepperoni roll log

Taco style lentils and brown rice

scrambled eggs, bacon

cheese burgers

pizza

I start teaching two nights this week, so I need fast meals or ones that I can prepare in advance.

Goals for 2010, Part 3

I'm keeping my goals for 2010 simple. I will make small goals each month in each category to keep myself on track.
Financial

1. Pay off credit card ($1125) by March 31.

2. Pay off car by Oct. 31.

3. Save a one-month buffer.($2500)

4. Get a part-time summer job.



Personal

1. Establish a daily exercise routine.

2. Lose 15 pounds by June 1 (3 pounds/month)

3. Volunteer 30 hours with Master Gardeners by June 1

4. Find a place to serve in church

Menu Plan for Jan 4-10

Since we didn't eat many meals at home last week, I am repeating several meals.



Steak, roasted potatoes



BBQ's


Italian Chicken


Frozen Pizza


Quesidillas


Roast beef sandwiches



Spaghetti

Goals for 2010, Part 2

Yesterday's review of my 2009 goals was a little discouraging for me, but I'm looking ahead with optimism. I can learn from my past missteps and keep moving in the right direction, enjoying the journey along the way. This journey is my life, so I'd better be enjoying it!

Lessons I'm learning:

1. I have put several financial right steps in place--a spending plan and tracking, but I still have to pay attention to them. Finances shouldn't take as much energy as in the past; I just need to keep to my routines (eg. menu planning, sinking funds)

2. I should plan to reward myself for met goals.

3. I should evaluate my progress more frequently. (Monthly mini-goals?)

4. Blogging helps keep me accountable.

5. Making separate personal and financial goals is a good idea for me, but I need to limit the number of goals.



I feel better. Now on to 2010!

2010 Goals, Part I

Before I can look ahead to 2010, I must look back and evaluate my 2009 goals. I've really been dreading doing this. I really dropped the ball on the financial goals. Here goes:

Financial goals

1.Track spending with YNAB weekly (Grade: B+. I really liked keeping track of my income and expenses. I now have realistic numbers for my budget. I lost track one time in the spring, though and couldn't figure out my mistake)
2. Begin sinking fund account. Keep in checking account. (Grade B-. Got off track with my summer pay. I hopefully have corrected this for 2010. )
3. Pay off $6000 in credit cards by Dec 1 (Grade: C-. I owe $1125 on the CC, but $2725 on the car. Since the total $3850 is less than $6000, I'm giving myself a barely passing grade)
4. Save emergency fund of $1600 by Dec 31 (Grade D-. I have $550 in the EF, so I'm less than half way to my goal, and I have less than last year,)

Personal Goals
1. Work out or walk (1 mile) 2x week (Grade: C-) I did really well on this during the spring and summer, but since school started in Sept., I have been a couch potato!

2.

Walk Gretsky every day (Grade: B. Some "walks" were too short)

3. Do Flylady routines (Grade: D. Forgot about these during the summer.)
4. Bible study (Grade: B. I joined two small groups, which I really like. )
5. Learn something new (Grade: B+. I became a Master Gardener this year and have volunteered with them a few times)
6. Compost bin/garden (Grade: C. I started the compost bin and garden, but didn't protect the tomatoes from the deer, so the yield was poor)
7. Monthly house project (Grade: B. Projects completed: paint touch-up in DR and LR, DR curtains and mirror, bathroom repaired and painted, flowers for deck and front porch, landscaping started (1/4 done), refrigerator and range replaced, kitchen cabinet pulls replaced. I didn't complete as many projects as I wanted, but I am very pleased with what's been done.)

Yep, it's as bad as I thought. Overall grade: C-. I'll have to ponder this a little more before I commit to goals for 2010.

Menu Plan

Leftover turkey, dressing

Roast beef sandwiches

Quesidillas

Mannicoti

Vegetarian chili (Heather's recipe)

Italian chicken (Spark people)




Need moz cheese, chicken breasts, noodles

New Debt

I haven't posted in three months and my finances reflect my lack of focus. I've been on this debt-free quest for two and a half years and I really lost focus. I think several factors contributed to my relapse into spending, including the long-time in this step of debt repayment. Dave Ramsey recommends trying to finish Baby Step 2 in 18-24 months. I can see the wisdom in that.
My new debt is a car loan. I bought a 2004 Dodge Stratus, mainly for my son to use. Sharing a car was proving difficult once school and cross country were in full swing, so after much deliberation and car shopping I found a car that should last him through college. He is thrilled and I am able to make plans more freely.
My total debt is now just under $4000. Not where I wanted to be, but on the bright side, it is less than this time last year!
Time to refocus--plan meals, apply for a summer job.

Enjoying the snow!

This pre-Christmas snow is just gorgeous! We have about 8 inches here and it's still falling! I'm staying inside, making cookies, and listening to Pandora radio.

Menu Plan

1. Cheeseburgers, pasta salad

2. BBQ's, coleslaw

3. Pizza

4. Spaghetti with meat sauce

5. chicken or steak (I have not done the grocery shopping for the week, yet, but I think I have everything else on hand.)

6. salmon cakes, macaroni 'n cheese

7. scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, toast

I know, I know, these menus are boring, but it's what we eat. Having a list of meals does help me save money and not be stressed at dinner time.

Very funny!

I just read the funniest post by Soph at BooMama. Honestly, I laughed throughout the entire post and all 289 comments! The topic is "Christian closing phrases for letters", which doesn't sound too funny, but get ready to laugh. My favorite is from Shannon:

"Training my children up in the way they should go while submitting to my husband and considering a field and buying it and having no fear for my household because all of them are clothed in scarlet"

I found Soph's post because she is BlogHer of the week. It is a classic post.

Menu Plan

1. Cheeseburgers, oven fries
2. Homemade pizza
3. Beefy bean burritos
4. Hot dogs, pasta salad
5. Steak hoagies
6. Oven fried chicken, browned potatoes, broccoli


Only 6 meals to plan this week because we're going out of town for a cross country meet.

September Earn More Goals

Even though September is a very busy month for me, I going to make several goals for the Earn More Challenge. I plan to learn from the other participants and hopefully add some $$ to September's budget. I'm going to keep my goals modest and practical:

• Collect snowflakes--reimbursement from school and medical savings account


• Post on Craig's list--2 window air conditioners


• Inquire about teaching another class next semester and about summer job

I think that's all for right now. These seem doable and not overwhelming!

Thank you, Money Funk, for the great challenge for September! It should be fun!

Emergency Fund Depleted

It's more of an unexpected expense than an emergency, but I raided my emergency fund today. My house has a pellet stove, and pellets are less expensive if I order them now, before winter hits. Next year, I will plan ahead and save for the pellets all summer.
Using the pellet stove should decrease my heating bill overall this winter. Since this will be my first full winter in the house, I should be able to track my heating expenses by keeping good records in YNaB.
With the September 15th pay, I'll start rebuilding the emergency fund. It's a good thing that September's Challenge is to earn more. It looks like I'm going to need a little income boost!

Results of the Spend Less Challenge

I closed out my "Spend-less" month on August 30, because I began on July 30.


The results are mixed: I did spend less on house projects and gifts, but I went way over in the other categories.


I budgeted $480 total for everything: food, gas, gifts, eating out, school expenses, and house projects. I spent $740--$260 over budget! I had purposely set my limits very low, with the hope that I could raise them if my summer job money came in. Due to paperwork glitches, I won't be getting that money until Sept. 20. I, also will get reimbursed for $100 of school expenses.


One thing that I have learned from this experience is that I need to increase my budget categories for groceries and gasoline to be more realistic. I really was as frugal as I could be for food and travel this month and I still went over quite a bit.



My overall grade: C- Even though I went over in several categories, I did spend less than I would have without the challenge. I also got back into the habit of planning my menus weekly, which helps reduce stress and grocery costs.

I'm looking forward to the September Earn More Challenge! I think I'll learn a lot.

Menu Plan

Menu planning really does help me get through these busy weeks. Even though this past week was super busy with school starting, we enjoyed eating dinner together each night.
Next week DS will eat out with the cross country team two times. I will eat left-overs on those days.

1. Spaghetti Estivi (Summer spaghetti)
2. Mjeddrah
3. Cheeseburgers, oven fries
4. Soft tacos, salad
5. Spaghetti
6. DS eat out (CC meet)
7. pizza

I'll post recipes tomorrow!

Menu Plan Week 4

This will be a busy week with school starting, the menu plan is simple and easy--I hope.



1. Steak hoagies


2. Crock pot Salsa Chicken, rice

3. Soft tacos

4. Cheeseburgers, oven fries, edamame

5. $5 pizza (Thursday)

6. Chicken wings, mac /n cheese


I'm only listing 6 dinners, because I'm providing the drinks and salad for the cross-country team dinner Friday night.

Week 3 Results

Even though spending was minimal this week, my monthly totals are looking pretty sick. I think that almost all of my categories will be in the red by the end of the month (3 of them are there already!) What I spent:

Groceries $50
Restaurants $5 ($5 pizza!)
Miscellaneous $19.50 (dry cleaning)
Gasoline $26

I definitely will increase my budgeted amounts next month to reflect how much I really spend.

September Challenge: Earn More

Saving Savy Pinkie made the suggestion that the September Challenge be an earn more challenge--above our regular salaries. Sharon and Christine are already in. I was intimidated at first, because September is a busy month for me, with school starting, cross country going strong every Saturday, and teaching a class at the community college.



This morning, I decided to try the challenge. The Spend Less Challenge this month has been fun because we were doing it together, so I'm going to join the group for September. I just remembered that I have 3 window air conditioners sitting in a closet--I can put them on Craig's list. It's a start!