Day 672

672 days of paying off debt and I'm still not there!

While in Vegas I spent less than $500US in the week on food. It's so expensive there! We got groceries for the hotel room but still had to eat out every day as our room didn't have a fridge. However, it was a great conference, I'm glad I went and I did learn a lot for work.

Yesterday I got my check from my insurance so I have a bit of money for the car shopping. I was given $5,800CA. The car I am going to buy is $17,000. It's a Honda, they hold their value and I'm hoping it will last me abut 5yrs *fingers crossed* I was looking for a car around the $5,800 range but I had to look at cars in the 2004 or older and I worry about how long something like that would last.

I've been taking on more work and should be able to increase my income by $2000 a month. Nice right?!! It will all go to credit, taxes and the money I borrow for the car. Taxes are killing me! Ugh!!!

I just put $150 on my Visa -- still owing $8,889.14

Total Debt Paid: $53, 084

Day 655

It's never ending!

I corrected some numbers on my taxes and now owe over $7,000 *tears, tears, tears*

I paid $100 to Visa on Friday

Total Debt Paid: $52, 934

Day 653

New Numbers:

Visa: $8,782.95
Braces: $3,411
Taxes: $4,216.35 (new bill)

New debt total is $16, 405

I paid $1,000 to taxes today as it was $5,216 :(

Total Debt Paid: $52,834

Day 653

Here is what I got from it and need to apply or in some cases apply as much as I can:

Don't borrow money. If I don't have the money I can't buy it. (OK, how am I going to buy a decent car?!!)

80% behavior and 20% knowledge. Change my behavior. If I don't have the money, don't buy it.

- cut up the credit and only use cash (I do need credit for work
- use the envelope system.
- get on a budget and give every number a predestination (I never know month to month how much I make)
- read books about money (these cost money!)

Budget Baby Steps
1. start an Emergency Fund of $1000
2. set up a plan to get out of debt. Start with the smallest debt to pay off and work your way up. Debt snowball
3. Go back to step 1 and raise it to 3-6 months of expenses
4. Invest 15% of your income into retirement
5. set up a college fund for my son
6. Pay off the house early ( I rent )
7. build wealth

I kind of have the emergency fund if I need it. There is money in accounts I do not touch so now I guess I work on the snowball affect and pay off the smallest debt which is my taxes and the one that I should be paying. I think I can pay my taxes before I go to Vegas. That would be awesome!

I think I'll put the Visa back in the freezer :)

Day 651

2010 Financial Goals

1. Pay off debt

2. Read 30 books on debt (any recommendations?)

3. Get a tax free saving account and put the $5,000 in it

4. Get a $5,000 emergency fund

Total Debt Paid: $51,834

($100 to Visa)

Day 650

What day is it?!! I can't believe I am on day 650 of paying off debt and still have $$$ to go!

OK, so it's been a long while since I posted.

Here is what's new:

I finished paying off my car! Yay, right?!! Yeah, and then I was in a car accident and wrote the car off, ugh! Now I need to buy a car. I'm 30 and can't get credit. This year I am cathcing up on my taxes and will be able to get my own car...one day

I paid off the old phone bill :)

I've paid $1,200 in taxes since my last post that I owed (still more to go)

The only debt I have right now is

credit: $8,000+

taxes: $3, 200+

braces: $5,000+

Now, how much have I paid in debt? Well, the credit card doesn't count because every time I pay it off I go and spend it again on biz stuff. However, the $1500 phone bill is paid. The remaining $3000 on the car is paid. So $4,500 - yay :)

I'm going to Vegas in a few days $$$ and I need a car $$$

UGGGGGGH!

Total Debt Paid: $51, 734

Total Debt: $16, 000+

I need some new plans here.

Day 487

I'm sure my goal list will grow but here are a few to start with:

pack lunches for work

make meal plans

grocery shop once a week

make income goals

live on cash out of jars/pay myself

set up payments for credit card

make donate, keep, and sell buckets

track spending

track income

track bills

don't use credit

pay debts on time

keep up with the savings account

don't go into overdraft

pay the phone old bill off this month

This is what I hope to take care of for the rest of the month.

I need to think of how I am going to buy Christmas presents.

If I plan on being debt free by the two year mark then I have to pay off $3,333 a month for the next six months. I'll save the braces bill for last as I am set up on a month to mont payment for them and take care of the high interest/effecting my credit bills first. Oh, but the braces come off the credit card...bad idea. I may need to switch that over to cheques.

credit, taxes, car, old phone bill and braces are what's left to pay before being debt free.

I made a $500 payment to the old phone bill tonight. I should be able to put another $200 on debt tomorrow :) and pay some bills with the rest of the money I'll earn/deposit tomorrow

Total Debt Paid: $47, 234