Hi, everyone. So far, I have only received $500.00 of my total conference reimbursement (it comes from 2 different places). I had a lower balance on cc #2 that what I thought, so I have adjusted my original plan as follows.

$500.00 Total Reimbursement Part 1

$192.00 cc #2 payment (the balance is now $0!)
$ 50.00 cc #1 payment
$100.00 yard light allocation
$100.00 trip out of town at end of month allocation

So, with all of that, here is the update to my 52 Week Challenge Balance:

Prior Balance: $2443.25

Payments and Set Asides: $442.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2885.25


I still have $58.00 left out of the $500.00 after all that. I think I may put it on cc #1 because it really needs to be paid down.

This is me right now. I'm so excited!! And this is only the beginning. I have about $1100.00 coming probably tomorrow to spend on debt, savings, etc.

Click on this video of the Pointer Sisters to see just how excited I am to pay off debt and allocate funds for things that I really need.

Hey, everyone. My mortgage is down to $66,187.11. Woo-hoo! We have been paying the amount that we would have to pay if it were a late payment for about 4 years now and it has made a real difference in the balance. Some day, I would like to increase it, but this is management and affordable now.

I should be getting my conference reimbursement (a total of over $1600!) in the next few days and will disburse it when I get it. I have paid all but about $200 of the total trip cost on cc #2 out of money that I set aside through survey checks, rebates, and regular savings deposits. That money is a separate account than regular savings so that I don't affect other savings needs.

Hi, everyone. Well, today was payday (I am usually paid on Fridays, but tomorrow is a holiday), so more money went to savings, debt, and retirement. Also, last Wednesday, I left on my conference trip and returned on Tuesday night. After returning, I also claimed my travel rewards on cc #2 which I used for the trip. After claiming the travel reward, I emptied out my professional account, as shown on the left to pay most of the rest of the bill. That amount covers almost everything, including what I spent on fun stuff, food, hotel, airfare, subway fare, and my share of the rental car. I will also get a reimbursement check from my employer. I am not sure of the amount yet, but in general, I plan to pay off a large amount on cc #1, put money into regular savings and house savings, and also have a outside yard light replaced with something more energy efficient. That is as specific as I can get until I know the exact amount. It may seem counter-intuitive to save my own money to pay off the purchase when I know I will get reimbursed for some of it, but the truth is the amount I get back is only guaranteed up to $500 per year for out of state travel, so I have to save some of my own money also.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2095.25

Regular Savings Deposit: $40.00
House Savings Deposit: $20.00
Car Savings Deposit: $20.00
Travel rewards from going on conference trip $28.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2203.25

I am not counting the amount I paid out of the professional savings to cc #2 in the challenge because I already counted it. However, I will count the reimbursement once I receive it.

One more cool thing that happened recently was on the day I was returning from my conference, my husband who stayed home was supervising the installation of 3 new windows in our home.

Hi, everyone. I just cashed out my mrrebates account for $10.10. I will get it until June 1st and I will directly apply to credit card debt.

Also, I have realized that I have enough funds for my conference trip saved up, so I am not going to set aside any more funds. I will devote the "extra" funds to the following: 1) $40 to the house account for the windows which will likely be installed soon and 2) $100 to credit card debt.

I have also been using my rewards credit card for my one major grocery purchase each week in order to earn rewards. At the end of June, I will have enough rewards to get a rebate. I will use that to make an extra payment to the other credit card.

I just found out that two different funding sources I applied for to attend a professional conference have come through. I had estimated I would need approximately $1600 to attend this conference. Here is what I have so far.

$1252.00 money saved up since last fall through surveys, rebates, payday deposits, etc.

$250.00 grant
$500.00 professional development fund

So, I have a total of $2002.00! So, I can use some of the money I worked hard to save up for fun money and not have to incur credit card debt. Yay! That was my goal.

Hello, everyone. I guess I have been living the high life, because I have had a few too many expenses and need to buckle down for awhile until I get it all balanced out. I think I will start with a food challenge by seeing how many meals I can make out of what is in my cupboards and fridge. And I must not forget that I now have lettuce, kale, and arugula that I can harvest and it's delicious. I have onions every now and then.

Anyway, I got paid today, so more money is going into savings, debt, and retirement.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1627.67

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
Professional Savings Deposit $40.00
Payment on cc #1 $100.00
Slush Fund $20.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1867.67

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1602.67

Cashed in Swagbucks $25.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1627.67


This also brings my Conference Challenge Balance to $1212.00! Woo-Hoo!

Hi, everyone. I get paid tomorrow, so more money is going to savings, debt, and retirement. I don't really report my retirement here except on the sidebar. Here are my numbers.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1482.67

Regular Savings Contribution $40.00
Professional Savings Contribution $40.00
Car Savings Contribution $20.00
House Savings Contribution $20.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1602.67

I will make payments to the credit card tomorrow. See ya'!

Great news today. I got my $5.00 deposit from Pinecone (thanks, creditcardfree for the update about that). So, my 52 Week Challenge Balance is up to $1482.67 and my Professional Savings is at $1147.00. I need to get it to about $1600.00 before the end of June. That's going to be hard but so worth it so I can just immediately pay off cc#2 after attending my conference.

Woo-Hoo!

Hi, everyone. I cashed in my pinecone points for $5.00 today. I requested paypal, so I guess I will probably get it in a week or two. I can't remember exactly what pinecone does. Anyway, when I do get it, that will put my 52 Week Challenge balance at $1482.67. I am concentrating on Professional Savings Account right, so that will bring the balance to $1146.70. Woo-hoo!

Hi, everybody. I get paid again tomorrow, so more will be going in and out of checking, savings, and towards debt.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1238.19

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
Professional Savings Deposit $100.00
DH's payment to cc #1 $37.48
Slush Fund Deposit $22.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1477.67