My Dainty Dollar

2009-05-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky I have a job. I know that, but answering phones is definitely not what I want to do forever (or for the rest of 2009). But I can't complain... They laid off about 10 percent of our staff here. But I'm really scared to find a new job, mainly because I'm scared I'll get hired at a new job, then I will make mistakes and get fired- and then I will have NO JOB!
I recognize that my current job is pretty easy and pays pretty well (for what I'm doing.)

I wonder if other people are feeling the same way. Like, I might as well stay in this unfulfilled career, because it is a paycheck; Rather than starting there own business or going back to school.

I've been toying around with the idea of going back to school to get my master's in Arts Management. But I'm not sure if I really want to go back to school JUST because I LIKE being in school. Does that make sense?
A few of my friends are graduating with their MFA's in Acting this month. I'm definitely jealous of all the training they have received, but I am not jealous of the student loans they are going to be paying.

I'm annoyed and struggling to pay my 10,000 of debt off, I can't imagine having $200,000!!!!!

I definitely don't have the money to go back to school right now. I also want to be out of CC debt by the time I go back... Ick- that could be a while.

2009-05-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Wow I haven't written on this blog in forever!!!!!!!!

I've been doing pretty well paying off my debt. Not great but Ok.

I had completely paid of f my Visa, but somehow I charged another 300 dollars on it :(.

I quit my part time job, because it really wasn't worth it to just work once a week, and let's face it I spent most of the money I earned going out after work. So now I just like to stay in on Friday nights.

2008-09-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here is my delima....

I get paid on the 30th of the month.

Our rent is due on the 1st.

My roommate writes one check for all of the rent, therefore she has to collect the rent ahead of time to deposit it into her account.

So today (9/29) she's depositing my rent check ($650) when I only have $150 in my account.

THIS STRESSES ME OUT! Yes, my paycheck is direct deposited and everything so it probably will be fine. I don't like to risk bouncing the check. I felt like I was doing really well having $150 dollars left over at the end of this month, but now i'm just worried about it.

When my roommate asked for my rent check on thursday (9/25) I had to tell her that I don't get paid until the 30th. It makes me feel like I'm a bad person or a bad roommate not to be able to just hand it over. But tomorrow I could give her the rent in cash if I wanted. But on thursday I can't.

Weekend

2008-09-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

I know this blog is supposed to be purely for Personal Finance, but sometimes life spills over into blogs.

This weekend my friend was intown from Detroit.
He and I were really good friends before he moved out of the city 6 months ago.
We spent lots of time together, and over our two year friendship I began to have more than just friend feelings for him. Being such good friends with someone of the opposite sex is kinda hard sometimes. It always seemed like I was the most important girl in his life (since I was the one he spent most of his time with), but we were just friends. Anyway when he moved away I was heart broken and literally cried for days. Knowing that it would never really work out I tried to get over it, but seeing him this weekend, brought me back to square one.

Ugh. This weekend I spent alot of time waiting by the phone for him to confirm out tentative plans and things like that. I don't like to be that girl and I haven't been since he left.

He's so wrong for me. For example:

He's an Atheist. While I respect his views, I know that I don't want to date someone seriously who doesn't believe in God at all.
He's a Socialist. He is an active member of a socialist group that I can't remember the name of. While I respect his political opinions, I can't really understand how he thinks democracy is going away, and other nonsense.
He's a pot head. I've never done drugs, and I just don't really like to be around it. Especially someone who does it so frequently.

So those are the basic reasons why he's wrong for me. He's a good person and friend. He's loyal and giving and trustworthy. These are reasons I like him.

I just want to be over it.

Ramblings..

2008-09-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm in my new apartment and it's so much better.
It's cheaper. $650! I'm pretty sure I've said this all before.

So it's been nice because I haven't been as strapped for cash as I normally am.
Which means I've been spending more than I should.

May I take a moment and tell you how I loathe group birthday dinners?
I do.

There are normally alot of people, more than 10, so you really can only talk to a few people.
I really hate it when someone is a heavy orderer and orders bottles of wine/appetizers galore. It is assumed I want some of everything, which I don't.
The bill. This is my biggest problem. The dinner is normally divided up evenly among the group, excluding the birthday girl/guy. I am happy to put in some money for my friend's dinner. But I HATE paying a share for the appetizers and wine I did not have.

This dinner came out to $80 a person. To me that is so much. Especially since my dinner was $20 and probably and additional $20 for drinks/tip/friends share.

I know what you're thinking. "Hey Dainty Dollar, why don't you speak up about it, or just not go to the dinner?"

Well it's hard to do that. The boys in the group are the heavy orderers, and they well off , so they just don't understand.

I could just skip the dinner. That is an option, but it was one of my best friends birthday. She came to my bday dinner (which by the way was about 40 a person. Much more resonable.)

Changing the Subject

Anyway. I need to start a savings account. I like to watch Suzi Orman. I think she has some really good advice. On her segment "Can I afford it?" she often nags on people for only have like $18,000 in their savings account. I'm thinking, uh oh. I don't have $18 in a savings account.

Travel to the Beach

I am going on vacation starting Thursday night! I haven't been on vacation in two years. I fly to Atlanta thursday night after work, then Friday my cousin and I are driving down to a beach house my Aunt rented for us. Nice huh? My aunt is wealthy and generous. My flight ($400) was paid for with my Economic Stimulus Check! The goverment said spend, and I said ok!

I really think that I will spend less money at the beach. I will be in a small beach town outside of Savannah,GA. Things will be less expensive I think, compared to pricey nyc. Plus I don't think we are going to do that much eating out/going out. We will probably just lay on the beach and sip margaritas while reading the latest chick lit. Maybe I'll find a Personal Finance book to read. Any suggestions.

I'm going to try and come up with a budget for the trip.... This may take some time.

Changes!

2008-08-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

I love my new apartment.
My roommates are so nice and clean. They are also healthy eaters and workout, and that encourages me to do the same. I've actually been to the Astoria park several times to go walking/running. I used to be really active growing up. I was a tumbler/cheerleader all my life and I was in good shape. I never really worked out in college, except in dance class and when I was in musicals that required dancing. So now I'm trying to work out and eat better. My body is like WTF is going on? haha. I'll get used to it.

Ok finances......
I didn't have to pay rent in August, which is fabulous. I paid $200 on my VISA and $200 on my AMX.

I'm hoping to do the same in September. I've been kinda splurging lately. I got my nails/toes done $24 and I bought two new items of clothes. But to be fair, my jeans had holes in them. And I desperately needed another dress to wear to work. My shopping total was $98.

Budget

2008-07-16T11:21:00.001-07:00

I want to make a budget.
Never in my life have I ever stuck to one.
I have no idea where my money goes.
I have a hunch it is spent mostly on food/eating out.
I cannot cook. Really the only thing I cook is spaghetti (boiled noodles and Ragu sauce).
Cabs. I spend alot on cabs. Probably 30 week on cabs. (I work really late on Saturdays
and I live in East Harlem).

I try to bring my lunch to work, meaning I bring a Lean Cuisine (about $4). But I haven't in a while, because I have not been to the store in a while.

Maybe I'll start saving reciepts.

Anyone know how to make a budget?
I need help!

Pay Day

2008-07-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was payday for me. I love pay day.
I'm sure everyone does. I paid my bills.
I actually paid $400 towards my debt! I usually only pay about $250.
After pay day I get the urge to spend spend spend.
Buy those things I haven't been able to afford.
My friend invited me to this steak dinner/unlimited wine event at a nice restaurant ($75).
I really want to go. I love steak. I love wine. But I decided that I really shouldn't spend the money on that.
Instead I'm going to spend a fraction of that money and go see a play. I feel that if I am going to spend a chunck of money, I want to go see something that I've been wanting to see, instead of an impromptu expensive dinner.

Moving August 1st!!!! Yay! August rent is already paid. :)

2008-07-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

My room is in the front of the apartment, with my window facing the street, on the first floor.
The fucking people outside are sitting in a car and listening to music really loud and I'm trying to be patient, but I really just want to tell them to to shut the hell up.
Why are you just sitting in a car burning fuel. Your not going anywhere, go inside you idiot!

If you can't tell, I'm not in the best mood.

My best friend came to visit on Sunday and spent a few days searching for an apartment in the city. She and her new roommate found one that was going to be $1100 each. Much more money than I want to pay, but I guess everyone has to make mistakes for themselves.

I've had a string of good auditions in the past few months, and I've been receiving those horrible emails from the producers/directors "We think you are so talented, we really loved your monologue, We can't wait to work with you in the future, but your just not right for this specific part."
Ouch. Stings like a bee.
I really feel like when I get rejected, which is often because that is the nature of the business, I take it better if it is just a mass rejection email sent to everyone who auditions,
"Dear Wonderful and Talented Actors,
Thank you so much for auditioning. We loved meeting you, but unfortunately we will not be using you in our upcoming show. Best of Luck," (insert directors name here).
But when the emails or phone calls are personal it makes me feel like I was close to getting the role. second is the first looser. Never so true as in showbiz.

I received such an email on Monday, and was feeling a little down.
When I got home my friend who was staying with me informed me that she had a meeting at a modeling agency ( a really good agency) and they offered her a 3 year contract on the spot.
omg.

Just call me Jealous Judy or Negative Nancy, Bitter Betsy, Jaded Janet, Sad Sally.
I could keep going, but you get the point.

Sorry for the rant. It just seems like things happen so easily for some people.

Oh thank God. The annoying neighbors turned of the music in their car.

(sigh)

Anyway, hopefully the next post will be more positive.

2008-07-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

I'm coming to terms with the fact that I can't really spell or punctuate.

Money and Marriage

2008-07-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

My brother is getting divorced. It's really sad. He's only 26 and he tried so hard to be a good husband and step-father. He is paying off debt that they acquired together.
She honestly is so selfish.

He is paying so much money to move her back to Las Vegas and get a divorce.
Money is such a huge issue in marriage. I am not married (nor do I have a boyfriend or any prospects), but my friend who is married talks to me about issues they have with money.
Her husband makes alot of money, but is still very careful with it. Which I guess is good, but I feel he's overly careful. He doesn't like their checking account to go below $2000. I'm like amazed by this.

*It's none of my business how couples spend/don't spend their money. I'm just rambling.

My friend has to call and ask him if she is going to spend more than $50 at a time.
I know that's probably a smart way of communicating or whatever, but I cannot see myself ever doing that. Why does she need his permission to buy something?
My friend works too, but her husband makes three times what she makes... (that's an estimate)
But she does work full time. I think if she wants to buy something she should. It's her money.

I guess I'm kinda toying with idea that whoever holds the money holds the power in a relationship....

I really don't know much about relationships or money. This is an uninformed post.

Going Away Party

2008-06-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is moving back to Atlanta this week, and a friend of ours arranged a going away party last weekend. I'm honestly not very close with the girl who is moving. We hung out alot when we first moved to Nyc, but I probably had not seen in year.

Friday night we meet at my friend Natasha's apartment for a drink before going to the party at some lounge on the Lower East Side. We are talking and such, and Cloe (the girl who is moving) was saying she's going to buy a car when she moves back to Atlanta. "What kind" we ask.
"A Mercedes or probably a BMW" she replies.

So we go to the Lower East Side and walk passed the pretentious doorman with a clip board , and are taken to our reserved table. Cloe without hesitation orders a bottle of Grey Goose.
I'm like OMG. Because that's like 250 dollars. I ask if she wants me to help pay for it, and she says "Oh no! I got it"! Then after our group had finished the first bottle, she orders another bottle.

This night really showed me that Cloe and I are on completely different financial levels.
She works for JP Morgan as an analyst or banker or something. Two years ago she never would have spent that kind of money. Wow. I can't get over how she just spent at least 500 dollars. I mean I'm happy for her two. I'm not judging how she spends her money. That's not it at all, I'm just amazed that she has so much of it.
She probably makes over 100 grand a year, and she's 24.

Crazy Right??

Making Baby Steps

2008-06-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Let's see...

I have officially paid off my Dental Loan (captial one) !!!!!
Yay! I can finally put that fucking root canal behind me.
So I'm moving August 1st!!! I'm so excited to move. I really need to move.
I currently live in East (Spanish) Harlem. Which is fine, but my management company/super
are horrible and don't fix anything. They are seriously terrible people.
(Beware of Sassouni Management if anyone in nyc is looking to rent).

Anyway. I'm looking to move to Astoria, which is an area in Queens. I have several friends who live over there and they seem to really like it. I also think I would enjoy being in the same general neighborhood as my friends. So we can go have brunch with out a subway being involved. Also, Astoria has alot more young people, than are in my current neighborhood. There are shops, restaurants, cafes and such there too. In my current neighborhood most places of the restaurants are Mexican food, which I like, but it would be nice to have more options.

Another reason, a HUGE reason for leaving Manhattan is rent. My rent is 900 right now. I believe it is going up another 100 dollars or so. It's annoying because my noisey neighbors upstairs only pay 500 for the apt, because the apt has been in their family for a long time. Between my roommate and I, we pay 1800!! Isn't that crazy?
I'm hoping to pay around 750 in my new apt, so with utilities it would be around 850ish.
Which would be much better than my current situation.

What else can I tell you?
Every month or so I try looking for a new job. But I really think it would be hard to find something where I would be making what I am now and still have flexability.
Then I think of all the college graduates coming out of school and busting into the job market, just like I did two years ago. So many college grads and such a shitty economy.
I had dinner with a friend of mine who is a senior at NYU. He's a wonderful smart guy.
He's going to study abroad this summer. He pretty much told me his 5 year plan.
I think about how I was at age 21. It wasn't that long ago. I thought I had my whole life figured out. Here I am at 24 and I'm not sure where I'm going. Just trying to take it one step at a time.

I'm rambling.

I've started to kinda adopt a new philosophy. Just letting things go.
There are people in my life who aren't half the friend to me that I am to them.
And I'm done trying.

Umm.

I got a gig at MTV. It's not really acting, nor is it paying.
There's a new show called F'N MTV. Where they play new music videos.
Basically I just comment about the video in quick little clips.
It's fun. And it's cool to go to MTV.

Ok! Now I'm going to start paying off my VISA card. Right now the balanceis at $1058.17.
Using the snowball method. I'm going to add the $63 dollars a month I've been paying on my dental loan, and now add that to the $50 a month I pay to VISA for a total monthly payment of ..... $113. A month.

I am going to try and pay more. I need to redo a budget. I've never been able to stick to a budget... I suck at anything with money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm an actress/writer. And I work at a law firm.
I'm realizing that my law firm job is pretty cushy. I can wear jeans, google all day, and take off work when I need to. For example last week I left work a half hour early on Wednesday and Friday, for different theatre functions. This hour i missed can easily be made up, by coming into work a little early on other days.

No big deal. But since I do have this flexibility I don't want to abuse it.
Yesterday I had an audition at MTV. Which was cool, but I did only work a half day. I mean I have personal days, why not take them?

I was scheduled to have an audition today at 3:30. Meaning I would have to leave work early again. The issue, aside from leaving work early, is that the film I would be auditioning for is non paying and shooting in Albany, NY, the audition however is in nyc.

I live in Manhattan and I really don't know how much it would cost to travel to Albany. I would assume they would pay for travel. But honestly, you never know.

They said the film would shoot like 5 or so days. That is a long time to be in Albany and to take off work. The producer also said that we would be staying in the house where the film is being shot. Odd right?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sad to turn down an audition for a film that I could do really well in. If I didn't have to take off so much work and travel to Albany, I would love to do it.

I would be happy performing in anything right now, but I can't financially afford to take projects where I will loose money. (sigh).

I've been auditioning more lately than I have ever in nyc. It's been going pretty well.
Last week I had a great audition and the producers were so nice. I got an email later that night saying they had given the part to someone else, but I was their second choice.
It's kinda hard to hear that. Hearing that you were almost cast sucks.

Oh well. Maybe next time.

ps: I have a twitter if anyone is interested: username: sdunivant.

-Sarah

Gifts and Such...

2008-05-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Ok. I have to be honest. I haven't been focusing on my budget.

I haven't been as broke as usual, Therefore, I haven't been thinking about it as I should be.

Working the second job is bringing in about 500 a month ( I really enjoy the job and I only work one day a week).

I know I've been saying this for a while, but I am going to pay off my dental loan this month! (Capital One). I checked yesterday and It's 165.00 so I should just go ahead and pay it.

I'm not sure why I'm stalling.

Yesterday I went shopping for two birthday gifts. For two very good friends.

I spent about 20 dollars on each of them, which I guess is pretty good. They aren't big gifts.
A dvd and a book.

But going out for someone's birthday always gets expensive. Dinner/gift/drinks. You can easily spend 100 dollars.

When I was at Best Buy perchasing the Dvd I had an impulse buy and bought season 9 of Friends.
I love Friends. It was only 26 dollars.....

Fun Money -> Pay down Debt

2008-04-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Is it weird that when type things I always prefer to use the Font "georgia"?
two reasons
1. I think it's pretty.
2. I lived in Georgia for 5 years and the name of the font makes me happy.

So I've been working regularly on the weekends and sometimes once during the week at my second job. It's been nice becuase I haven't been spending alot money on the weekend.
*However if I'm working late and it's getting to be after 1am I take a cab.

It really seems like one paycheck a month goes to rent & credit card bill. And the second paycheck is living expenses. No wiggle room or savings. So with my new weekly checks of 80-100 dollars a week I have a little more flexibility. In May I'm going to try to and put all my second income checks towards debt.

This month it feels like my second job checks have been my "fun money". Which has been fun. But I really need to pay down this debt. Even if it is 100 dollars at a time.

Maria Bamford is a Funny Lady

2008-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

"Before they gave me a credit card, they should have given me a math test.."

Climbing out of the hole..

2008-04-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

So I was super broke last week. I'm trying to be not as broke this week.
But I have to buy some new shoes. The ones I have are seriously falling apart.
And clothes/shoes/bags really aren't what I spend money on. I would take a fun night out with friends over a new purse anyday.

I think my new converse are going to be about $40.
I get paid tomorrow, which is good.

Yesterday I went to the store and bought food for lunches for the rest of the week.

I stayed in Friday night and prepared for my audition on Saturday. (The audition was horrible, but that's another post). Then I worked saturday night and sunday.

Working this weekend helped me make money, and I didn't really spend alot either.
I did take a cab home Saturday night- $20
I did eat out before work on Saturday -$12

Work and Stuff

2008-04-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

It seems about every four days I kinda freak out internally.
I start screaming on the inside and asking myself questions like :
"WTF am I doing with my life?! Why am I in this office? This isn't why I moved to New York!"

Then one of my friends gives me a pep talk and I cry and talk about how miserable I am, then they say "Aww I guess you're just growing up". And then I frown.

I think the fact that I went from working at night to working during the day has had a big change on me. I went from being around all my friends while working to pretty much not talking to anyone. I also thought I was going to be making alot more money, but I'm not really.

Well I am making more, but I've stopped using my credit card and now I'm trying to live with in my means. Which is hard.

On a good note, I am going to start working once or twice a week at my old job.
That will be nice, it will bring in some extra money which I can put towards my debt.
It's also at a comedy club, so it's fun.

Oh sweet life. Maybe someday I'll have a full time job that I enjoy.

Baby Steps

2008-04-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

My Taxes are done! Yay.

I'm very excited about the economic stimulus. I'm going to save it, and then put it towards my debt. I'm hoping to have my dental loan paid off by the end of May.

It's only $310 right now. So If I pay 150 each month... Hmm that may be very hard.
Then I can start to pay off my Visa. That one is $1,000. So if I can put the money I was paying on my dental loan to the visa then I can pay......... ooo I hate math.

Baby steps.

The Interest Found Me

2008-03-27T08:57:00.001-07:00

I had one of those nifty little "NO APR FOR 14 MONTHS" deal.
Well guess what! 14 months is up and I'm now paying 100 a month in interest!
Why why why why was I such an idiot with money when I first moved to New York.

I didn't even buy anything really. I just used my AMX to live on basically. Food/Transportation/gifts everything.

I just did a calculation and if I pay the minimum payement 200.00 a month, I will pay it off in 24 years!!! I will be 48! And that will be so sad! I can do better than this!

I am going to be super frugal. That is not alot of fun. Being poor sucks.

2008-03-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

My Capital One Bill (dental loan) came yesterday and I was excited to see that I only owe 300 on it!!!!

Yay! I'm almost done paying for that fucking root canal!!!!

That makes me very happy.

I was going to be a little short this month since my unexpected dental bill from last week 170.

But I deposited a check today for 650 and I get paid next Monday.

However my rent is due next week also. (Sigh)

I wish money wasn't something that scared me so much. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Tonight I did something I knew I shouldn't.....
I went out with co-workers after work for drinks. None of us had alot to drink, we didn't get wasted or act foolish, but I knew it was going to be financially bad.
The purpose of us going out was to celebrate our friend who is leaving to for her wedding in Texas.
And of course in a situation where you are taking someone for something it is normal for them not to pay. So even though I only had 2 drinks we still each paid 40 dollars.

That's just the way it is.

I don't know what to do in those situations. On my birthday I didn't pay a dime, so I don't want others to either. I mean I guess this was cheaper than getting a wedding gift.

Dentist

2008-03-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Last week was very long.
I had company in town from Sunday through Saturday. Having company is expensive because they want to go out and experience New York and have dinner out etc. I also guess it's kind of embarrassing for people to see how broke you really are.

I had been pretty good during the week of saving money, and not eating out. Yay! I thought I would save some money for my moving out of Harlem fund. Then Thursday I went to the Dentist to have some cavities filled. It ended up costing $170 (even with my insurance). So sad.
I had budgeted in my mind about a fifty dollar co pay.

This is a brand new saving money week!

Tuesday's Spending

2008-03-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Drug Store : 23.60
Make up-10.95
Mascara-7.95
Hair Tyes-1.59
Candy- 1.29

I went to dinner with a friend from highschool who I hadn't seen in six years.
It was alot of fun. I didn't spend any there.

Perfect Pint (a bar): $28
He bought dinner, so I bought some drinks.

Cab: $11 (it was after 2AM. Safety first!)

Total: 62.60

IRS WTF!!!

2008-03-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

I know at some point I'll have to start doing my taxes myself.

But this time my dad did them. I mailed him my W2s. All four of them.

I am single. No kids. 24 years old. Recent college grad. NYC resident.

I owe the Federal Government Money!! It's only like 45 dollars. But still!!!

I made about 16,000 last year. (I worked at a comedy club, I temped, I waited tables, then in Dec. started my current big girl job at a law firm.)

How is it possible that I owe them. I think I'm barely above the poverty line. I don't have anything. I really upset about this. I've been working since I was 16, part time, and I always got money back, so I'm upset that I have to pay now.

Sigh.

My dad suggested I take my W2's to an accountant or H&R Block up here in New York just to make sure.

I'm so upset. I wanted to put whatever my refund was toward my moving out of Harlem fund.

2008-03-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today I spent:
$0.80-Pack of Twizzlers in the vending machine
$2.95- BackStage newspaper. (the acting trade paper).

Pretty good right?

This slight celebration may be premature. It's only 5:23 pm.

2008-03-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I ordered pizza for my friends who were staying with me. They had flight problems and I knew they would be starving when they got in.

Pizza/Breadsticks/Soda/tip for driver: 26.00

Now I know this is something I should not have done. I can't afford to spend this amound of money on other people. Shame on me.

This week I will have to make up the money lost by eating in for other meals. (sigh)
Having company stresses me out. I wish I could hang out, and eat dinner at nice places and go to museums and broadway shows, or even out for drinks. But I can't afford it.
I feel like it makes other people uncomfortable when I say I don't have the money for _______.
Sometimes they offer to pay my way and I feel like that is even worse.

I dropped off 40 pounds of laundry to be washed the other day, and it ended up costing me $33.70.

I didn't do it myself which would have cost probably $20, because I didn't want to wait around at the laundromat all day. I don't live in the best area. And there aren't benches to sit on while your laundry washes, you basically have to hover over your machine and wait. It sucks.

So this morning I gathered up the loose change around my room and found enough money to get a bagel from the deli by my work. $1.60

It's really sad how much I love my morning bagel. It's like the reason I wake up.

2008-03-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

MY DEBT
9,982.51 American Express 200/month minimum payment.

400.00 Capital One Dental Loan 62.62/month payment

1,006.98 Visa Bill 25.00/month minimum payment

3,000.00 Personal Loan from my rich Aunt. To move into my apartment.

Total: (14,389.49)

Eww. I've never added it all up before. I've been trying to pay a little more on my Visa bill each month. I paid it today, and I paid $50 which is a start.

Anyone have any advice out there? I'm a financial mess.

Income this month: 2156

Bills I've Paid:
-Rent: 900
-Cable: 77
-Power: 35
-Capital One: 124.25
-Visa: 50
-AMX: 200

My Story

2008-03-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

I've 24 and in debt. It really really sucks. I chose not to take the advice of my friends and family regarding credit cards. I moved two New York from Alabama almost two years ago. During that time I used my credit card for pretty much everything. I stayed at a job that only paid about 280/week for a year and a half. I have a problem with moving on from jobs. I get really attached to the people I work with and would rather stay somewhere safe than move on. So I started getting additional jobs to suppliment my income, but I was still not making enough money.

So I have a new full-time job. Complete with health/dental insurance. This makes my family very happy, but I would rather have the extra 1oo dollars a month added back into my take home pay.

So now I'm trying to live within my means and pay down my debt.
It's a challenge and I'm hoping this blog will keep me on track.