Journey Towards Financial Freedom

Hi, everyone. I am celebrating here today! CC #1 balance is under $3200! Woo-hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2221.23

$3.00 Pinecone check

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2224.23

New cc #1 balance: $3198.75

Hi, everyone. I sent $20.00 to cc #1. This brings to cc #1 balance to $3201.75.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2201.23

$20.00 payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2221.23

Hi, everyone. I used cc #2 recently to buy something and got 1.5% cash back. Woo-Hoo! I have already requested a credit to the account to help pay off the balance that is there.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2198.63

$2.60 rewards from cc #2

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2201.23

Hi, everyone. I get paid tomorrow and so more money is going to savings, retirement, and debt.

Old 52 Week Challenge: $2041.93

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
Medical Savings Deposit $1.00
Tax/AAA Membership Savings Deposit $1.00
Tax Prep Savings Deposit $3.00
Escrow Savings Deposit $5.00
DH's payment to cc #1 $66.70

New 52 Week Challenge: $2198.63

This brings cc #1 balance to $3221.75.

I have a Pinecone deposit coming in a day or two. I will send it directly to cc #1 when I get it.

Hi, everyone.

I checked my checking account today and found a $0.99 rewards deposit. We get these when we shop at certain stores. Of course, I sent it directly to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance $2040.94

$0.99 rewards deposit

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $2041.93

This brings cc #1 down to $3288.45.

DH gets his check tomorrow. I went send $66.70 of it to cc #1.

Hi, everyone. I overspent some last week, but I am determined not to let it get me down. I was sick with a sinus infection and eating badly, so I wound up buying things I probably did not need. I will be eating a lot of things from my garden for the next couple of weeks. I did use $0.42 pocket change to pay part of my grocery bill today. I will send that same amount to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2040.94

$40.00 regular savings deposit
$50.00 cc #1 payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2130.94

Here are my meals for the coming week:

1) Thai Curry Salad -

http://www.thecandidadiet.com/thai-cucumber-salad/

2) Cabbage Marsala and a steak - http://www.thecandidadiet.com/cabbage-masala/

3) Salad with mustard tarragon dressing and salmon http://www.thecandidadiet.com/spring-salad-mustard-tarragon-...

4) Thai Red Curry Chicken http://www.thecandidadiet.com/thai-red-curry-chicken/

5) Breakfasts - eggs, chicken, and smoothies with spinach, spirulina, almond milk, seeds, and stevia

6) Roast Beef and vegetables

7) Paleo Shepherd's Pie http://paleogrubs.com/simple-shepherds-pie

8) Baked Chicken and Vegetables

9) Chicken Stir Fry

10) Tuna Salad

I decided to take a cue from Dido and find out my money scripts. What do we have to lose, as we learn more about ourselves, right? Here are my money scripts. I am very surprised, as I did not expect to do as well as this.

To find out about your money scripts, take this test:

http://app.keysurvey.com/f/989930/d74e/

----------------------------------------------------


Money Avoidance = 2.00

Your score on the money avoidance scale suggests that you do not exhibit significant money avoidance beliefs. In fact, research has shown that your score on this scale is similar to those who have been identified as wealthier, wiser, and more highly educated.

Money avoiders believe that money is bad or that they do not deserve it. They believe that wealthy people are greedy or corrupt, and that there is virtue in living with less money. Because of their negative associations with money and wealth, money avoiders may sabotage their financial success and/or give money away in an unconscious effort to have as little as possible. Research has shown that money avoidance scripts can be associated with ignoring bank statements, increased risk of overspending, enabling others financially, financial dependence, hoarding, and having difficulty sticking to a budget.

Money Worship = 3.14

Your money worship score suggests that you do not endorse significant levels of money worship beliefs.

At their core, money worshipers are convinced that the key to happiness and the solution to all of their problems is to have more money. At the same time, they believe that one can never have enough money. Individuals who score high on the in the area of money worship are more likely to have lower income, lower net worth, and credit card debt. They are also more likely to spend compulsively, hoard possessions, and put work ahead of family. They may give money to others even though they can’t afford it and are more likely to be financially dependent on others.

Money Status = 1.43

Your score on the money status scale shows that you do not hold money status beliefs.

Money status seekers see net-worth and self-worth as synonymous. They may pretend to have more money than they do, and as a result are at risk of overspending. They often believe that if they live a virtuous life, the universe will take care of their financial needs. They may have grown up in a household that prioritized the financial aspects of social standing. Research has shown that people with money status beliefs are at greater risk of overspending, gambling excessively, financial dependence on others, and hiding expenditures from their spouses.

*Money Vigilance = 4.00

Your money vigilance score indicates that you endorse money vigilance beliefs.

The money vigilant are alert, watchful, and concerned about their financial welfare. They believe it is important to save and for people to work for their money and not be given financial handouts. Research has found that higher money vigilance scores are positively associated with higher levels of financial health. The money vigilant are less likely to buy on credit. They also have a tendency to be somewhat anxious about their financial futures, inspiring them to save. While they have a tendency to be secretive about their financial status with others, they are less likely to keep financial secrets from their partners. While money vigilance encourages saving and frugality, excessive wariness or anxiety could keep someone from enjoying the benefits and sense of security that money can provide.

We are a little low on funds this week, so I am setting up a food challenge for this week. I am attempting as much as possible to use food we already have in our cupboards and fridge. Here are our planned meals:

1) Breakfasts - eggs, smoothies, veggies, and piece of fruit. I already had 3 out of the 4 dozen eggs needed, butter, coconut oil, carrots, and almond milk. 7 breakfasts

2) Meatloaf w/ side of veggies. I already had sweet potatoes. 2 lunches for DH

3) Lunches Leftover From Last Week. 5 lunches for DH

4) Ham and Bean Soup. I already have the beans, herbs, seasonings, and homemade broth. 4 lunches for me

5) Salads with garbanzo beans. I already have the beans, kale, green onions, sea salt, black pepper, radishes, lettuce, and carrots. The kale, green onions, and lettuce are actually growing in my garden. 3 lunches for me

6) Turkey curry. I already have the seasonings. I will use a turnip instead of a parsnip because I already have it.

http://stupideasypaleo.com/2012/12/26/leftover-turkey-yellow... 1 supper for DH and me.

7) Meatloaf turned into stir fry. I already will have the meatloaf from making it for DH. I already have the seasonings and salsa. 1 supper for DH and me.

8) Tuna Salad. I already had leftover homemade mayo and 3 cans of tuna. 1 supper for DH and me

9) Baked Chicken w/ potatoes and green beans. I already have the herbs and seasonings. 1 supper for DH and me

10) Leftover Chicken. Haven't Decided What to Do With it Yet. 1 supper for DH and me

I think that will come close to meeting all of our food needs this week. I love Food Challenges.

Hi, everyone. I got another snowflake in the way of $3.00 from Pinecone. I sent it directly to cc #1 before I had a chance to spend it on shiney baubles. Woo-hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2037.94

$3.00 From Pinecone

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2040.94

This also brings my cc #1 balance to $3304! That's the lowest it has been in maybe about 2 years?

Hi, everyone.

I got some snowflakes earlier this week, so I am reporting that and amounts for my payday tomorrow. I have decided to save in advance for our fees to have our taxes done, as every year, it seems to creep up on us and I wind up taking it out of regular savings - not good. Here are my numbers:

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1791.20

mrrebates rebates totaling $11.04
cc #1 DH's payment 5/2 $66.70
regular savings deposit for 5/6 $40.00
slush deposit 5/6 $20.00
car savings deposit 5/6 $30.00
hvac savings 5/6 $7.00
2016 tax prep savings 5/6 $6.00
AAA/prop tax savings 5/6 $10.00
medical savings 5/6 $6.00
cc #1 payment 5/6 $50.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2037.94

This is amazing. I have saved or paid off more than $2000 and it's not even June yet!

I am doing a food challenge this week and next to see how little I can spend on food for my lunches and such. I am growing my own kale, lettuce, and green onions, so I have plenty of makings for lunch during that time. I will have some pocket change to put towards my grocery bill and will send the matching amount to cc #1.

I also have a $3.00 payment coming from Pinecone, but I will add it in when I get it.

Hi, everyone. I just got a Pinecone survey check for $3.00 and sent it directly to cc #1.

I also will have some other snowflakes coming soon in the way of DH's payment to cc #1 in the amount of $66.70 and my rebates for mrrebates of around $11.00.

Awesome!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1788.20

Pinecone Check $3.00

New 52 week Challenge Balance: $1791.20

Woo-Hoo! I got my mortgage statement a couple of days ago and it is now $64,776.75! Woo-Hoo!

Here is Snoopy dancing his happy snoopy dance to represent how I feel today.

Hi, everyone.

I just got paid yesterday and have already paid all bills due, including car insurance, 1/2 of the mortgage, water/sewer, cc #1, and made savings deposits.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1604.93

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
cc #1 regular payment $50.00
Toluna check paid to cc #1 $25.00
Pocket Change Paid to Groceries also paid to cc #1 $13.43
Shopper Card Savings Paid to cc #1 $14.84

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1788.20

This also brings the cc #1 balance to $3389! Woo-HOO!

Hi, everyone. I got a payment from pinecone today, so I am sending it right to cc #1 before I have a chance to spend it on shiny baubles.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1601.93

Pinecone payment $3.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1604.93


Also, I apparently miscalculated what the balance on cc #1 would be after an earlier payment. After this $3.00 payment, the balance is a whopping $3467.42!



I am going to start setting aside funds each payday, about $40 or so, to get invisalign braces next year about this time. It is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and I have just finally gotten fed up with the problem. I will put the money in my medical savings.

Hi, everyone.

I just got a rebate of $18.02 for a purchase I made earlier.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1583.91

rebate $18.02

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1601.93

Hello, financially savvy neighbors! I will get paid tomorrow and have already paid all bills due, including phone/internet, electric, gas, and 1/2 of the mortgage.

Here are my 52 Week Challenge numbers.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1393.91

regular savings deposit $40.00
professional savings deposit $40.00
car savings deposit $20.00
house savings deposit $20.00
slush deposit $20.00
cc #1 payment $50.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1583.91

Also, my payment of $31.31 hits cc #1 tomorrow, which will bring cc #1 balance to $3519.69.

Oops. I forgot to add my regular savings deposit of $40.00. It is an automatic transfer, so I forget about it sometimes. I have adjusted my numbers.

Hi, everyone.

I just got my epoll.com deposit.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: 1388.91

Epoll.com deposit $5.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1393.91

This brings my cc #1 balance down to $3551.00.

Hi, everyone.

I just got an email that I have $5.00 coming from epoll.com. Woo-hoo! It will take a few days to get it and when I do, I will send it directly to cc #1.

I also just finished a Pinecone survey. I will probably get $3.00 for finishing it.

Hi, everybody.

DH got his regular check on April 1st and paid $66.70 to cc #1 with it. On Saturday, April 2nd, I went shopping and used $15.77 in pocket change to pay to the grocery bill. With coupons and sales, I saved $15.54 on the grocery bill.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1290.90

DH's payment to cc #1 $66.70
cc #1 payment from grocery savings $15.77
cc #1 payment from pocket change paid to grocery bill $15.54

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1388.91


I also accumulated enough rebates at mrrebates to cash in. I will get my funds May 1st and send it directly to cc #1.

Hi, everyone.

I did my grocery shopping today and saved a total of $19.08.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1271.82

Pocket Change Paid to Grocery Bill $.01
Penny Found On the Ground Paid to Grocery Bill $.01
Savings From Shopper Card and Coupons $19.06

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1290.90

After getting home from the store, I sent $19.08 to cc #1.

Hi, everyone. I have been paid today, so I have allocated more money for debt, savings, retirement, and bills. Here are my numbers.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1091.82

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
Professional Savings Deposit $40.00
Slush Deposit $20.00
cc #1 payment $40.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1271.82

I should be getting my Toluna check any time. It is for $25.00. I previously wanted to use it for cc #1, but I will be attending a conference in a nearby town in April. I have most of the funds set aside already in professional savings, but need more. I really did not think I was going to get to go. I am also going to pay whatever savings I have at the grocery store to cc #1. I will also use some spare change to pay some on the grocery bill and do the same with it.

Hi, everyone!

My mortgage is now under $65K! Woo-Hoo!

Hi, everyone. I got paid yesterday and so more money went to make payments on debt, retirement contributions, and bills. Here are my numbers so far.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $925.82

slush fund deposit $20.00
regular savings deposit $40.00
house savings deposit $25.00
car savings deposit $25.00
professional savings deposit $20.00
escrow savings deposit $3.00
hvac savings deposit $3.00
extra on shoe allocation sent to cc #1 $30.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1091.82

And in other excellent news, I really, really needed a new pair of Asics tennis shoes. Because of feet and leg problems, they are the only shoes I wear and mine are about 1 year old. My husband found a new pair of all black ones on Ebay for $59.99 with free shipping. This is a pair of shoes that normally costs around $150.00 in the store, but I usually look for last year's model. I had allocated $90.00 for the purchase already, so after looking at my budget, I plan to put the rest on cc #1.

Hi, everyone.

I got a deposit of $3.00 from Pinecone today. I am sending it right away to cc #1 before I have a chance to spend it on shinies.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $922.82

$3.00 Pinecone deposit

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $925.82


This also brings cc #1 to an all time low balance of $3615.25.

Hi, everyone. And they just keep on a rollin' in. I cashed in points at epoll.com and Pinecone.

From epoll.com, I will get $5.00, and from Pinecone, $3.00.

That's a total of $33.00 pending on the 52 Week Challenge because I also have $25.00 coming from Toluna.

Woo-Hoo!

Hi, everyone.

I cashed in my Toluna points for a $25.00 check. I guess I will probably get it in a few weeks or so and send it to cc #1. I will count it on the challenge it when I get it.

This is cool.

Hi, everyone. I finally got my mrrebates deposit of $10.98. I sent it immediately to cc #1.

My cc #1 balance is now $3618.25! Woo-Hoo!


Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $911.84

mrrebates $10.98

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $922.82



I will be going to a professional conference for 2 days in April. It is in-state, so the only travel is by car and my employer can loan me a vehicle. So, my expenses will likely be the following:

$60.00 conference registration
$80.00 estimate for food
$100-$200 for hotel (I am not sure if it will 1 or 2 nights)

Hi, everyone. I hope everything is going great with all of you on this March 1st. My DH got his paycheck today, so part of it goes to pay a couple of bills, but we send $66.70 of it to cc #1. This is what is making me so excited. This is the lowest cc #1 has been at in over a year!

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $845.14

DH's payment to cc #1 $66.70

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $911.84

This brings the balance of cc #1 to $3629.23. Woo-Hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $835.14

Pinecone deposit paid to cc #1 $3.00
Spent pocket change on part of grocery bill, so I am making matching payment to cc #1 $7.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $845.14

Tuesday is my husband's monthly payday, so he will be making a payment to cc #1 also. I will also get a deposit from mrrebates for almost $11.00 that I will send directly to cc #1.

Woo-hoo! It just keeps rollin' on in!

Hi, everyone. I get paid again tomorrow, so I have already allocated funds to go to savings, debt, and bills. My retirement comes out of my pay before I see it.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance $678.14

Deposit to Car Savings $20.00
Deposit to Regular Savings $40.00
Deposit to House Savings $20.00
Deposit to Professional Savings $20.00
Deposit to HVAC savings (eventual replacement) $3.00
Deposit to AAA/property tax savings $4.00
cc #1 payment $50.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $835.14

I found a penny in my desk at work today. I will use it to pay part of my grocery bill Saturday.

I am going to do a pantry challenge, as I think I have been spending too much on food and need to scale back to pay more on debt. I have been really busy and stressed out with a big project at work, the biggest part of which will not end until about the beginning of April. In an effort to keep myself sane, I need to get out of my building at lunch and think about something else. I need to find a way to do that involves buying less stuff when I do it. I can't do the usually obvious things like bringing a sandwich or some kind of pasta/rice dish from home, as I can't eat grains. I think I will try to do something like buying a vegetarian salad and taking a package of tuna and some fruit with me. That makes my salad at least $1.00 cheaper. I can also use my fountain card (I already do most of the time). This strategy should help me to still say sane and get a break from work while also not breaking my budget.