Journey Towards Financial Freedom

Hi, everyone. Here's an amusing typo in a headline from a news story I saw online:

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.

https://youtu.be/YwKRM_835uk

Hi, everyone. The first part of my conference reimbursement just came by mail today. Here is my plan for how to spend it. I have already paid all but about $300.00 of the costs from the conference trip charged to cc #2 with funds I already had saved over the last year from regular deposits, survey payments, etc., so after paying off the $300.00, the rest is gravy. One of the things I want to do is set aside some funds to replace our yard light which is currently using a mercury light and lots of kilowatts, making our electric bills higher unnecessarily.

$500 Total Reimbursement

-$100 1/2 of funds for out of trip at the end of the month

-$300 cc #2 payment

-$100 yard light allocation

0

Hi, everyone. I got paid again today, so more money went to credit card debt, savings, and retirement.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2343.25

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
cc #1 payment $40.00
slush $20.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2443.25

I will put more money into slush and credit card tomorrow.

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.

Well, this month is a three paycheck month for me, so Yay! I have a little extra money and the only thing I have to buy for the next is groceries. So, I sent an extra $60.00 to cc#1. I also put $80.00 into slush.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2203.25

cc #1 $60.00
Slush deposit $80.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $2343.25

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.

Hello, everyone. I needed to buy some T.N. Dickinson's astringent pads for my face today. There was peelie attached that I thought maybe was a coupon, but it's actually a rebate for the full price of the item. Woo-hoo!

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/t.n.-dickinson%27s-hazelets...

So, if you use this product, look for the peelie to get your rebate! This will be $4.99 back for me. According to a comment I saw online, it should take around 4 1/2 weeks to get it. I will apply it to the credit card when I get it. I like this free stuff that keeps coming my way.

I also bought a used bathing suit at the humane society store today for $2.00. Yesterday, at another thrift store, I bought 2 pairs of khahi type slacks and 2 shirts for a little over $2.00 because it was on winter clearance! I badly needed some stuff like this, so this was a boon to me. I don't know why it was on winter clearance, because you can wear khakis pretty much year round, but I am not going to refuse it. That's for sure.

Hi, everyone. I just cashed in 75,000 Toluna survey points for a $25 check. It could take up to 8 weeks to get it. Ugh, but it's something. It will go directly to the credit card bill unless I have some other bill needing to be paid when I get it.

I have written the same exact blog post two times and two times it has disappeared. Anyone know what's up?

Over the holiday weekend, I took 2 Pinecone surveys. Today, I got the email that said points had been awarded in my Pinecone account. I previously had a 100 point balance and after the email, had a 1100 point balance. I quickly cashed in 1000 points for $10.00 paypal. I will get it in a few days and apply it directly to the credit card. My husband will get his check on Monday and $37.48 of it will also go to the credit card. And I will also get my mrrebates deposit of about $10.00. I am just swimming in it. How do I keep bringing it in?

Hi, everyone. I got paid today, so more money went to debt, savings, and retirement.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1867.67

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
House Savings Deposit: $40.00
cc #1 payment $50.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1997.67

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.

Hey, everybody. My mortgage is down to $66,499.09. Last month, between my regular principal payment and extra principal payment a total of $186.12 went to principal. Woo-Hoo!

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.

Hi, everyone. In a true effort to buckle down and not allow spending and debt to get out of control, I decided to make as many meals as I can out of what food I already had in my cupboards, fridge, and freezer. I made an inventory of the food at the same time I made my shopping list.

1/2 pound raw cauliflower
4 ounces raw pumpkin seeds
8 ounces raw flaxseeds
1 pound raw carrots
1/2 raw cabbage
12 ounces frozen french green beans
12 ounces frozen okra
2 onions, 1 red and 1 white
12 ounces almond milk
plenty of dried herbs and spices for making recipes
1 raw beet
2 red potatoes
3 servings of soup I made for my husband
1/2 bulb of garlic

I also have plenty of kale, 2 kinds of lettuce, and arugula to make salads for me. The lettuce is especially loving the moist, cool weather we have been having and so is huge.

1) Potato Salad with avocado with potatoes, avocado, lemon juice, mustard, paprika, sea salt, stevia, pepper, and green onion. I will add ham to this recipe

http://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/potato-salad-with-avo...
2-3 lunches for me

2) Eggs, Meat, Vegetables, and Smoothies. Add seeds and veggies to smoothies
7 breakfasts for my husband and me

3) Burgers with potatoes and kale (potatoes, sea salt, pepper, garlic, kale)
http://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/garlic-hash-browns-ka...
1 supper for my husband and me

4) Salad with lettuce, kale, chives, arugula, garbanzo beans, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, green onion, sliced almonds, sea salt, pepper. 1 salad will have a cut up beet.
4 lunches for me

5) Rotisserie Chicken and steamed vegetables
1 supper for my husband and me

6) Chicken Soup with onion, carrots, green beans, ginger, garlic, and homemade broth
4 lunches for my husband

7) Leftover Soup
3 lunches for my husband

8) Spaghetti Sauce with onion, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, sage, basil, chives
- Add broccoli instead of pasta
1 supper for me and my husband

9) Stir Fry With Beef, Onion, ginger, garlic, bell pepper
1 supper for me and my husband

10) Leftover Turkey Curry with onion, carrot, parsnip (substituting turnip), sweet potato, mushrooms, bell pepper, diced tomato, coconut milk (substitute almond milk), curry, turkey, coconut oil
http://stupideasypaleo.com/2012/12/26/leftover-turkey-yellow...

11) Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls with beef, olive oil, onion, cabbage, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepper, sea salt.

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

Hi, everyone. I used change in the amount of $0.71 to pay for part of my groceries and lessen the amount coming out of checking. That's good, because checking is a little low. I am going to put it toward cc#1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1237.48

$0.71 change used for groceries

New Balance: $1238.19

Old Challenge Balance: $1200.48

DH's payment to cc #1 $37.48

New Challenge Balance $1237.48

For four years now, I have been growing a garden, planting my seeds and plants primarily in a small plot at the back of my house. This year, due to an upcoming trip in late June, I decided to make my garden more simple by planting greens in several pots. I deliberately chose plants that I knew would be close to on their way out for the summer by late June and others that will be drought tolerant if it gets kind of dry while I am gone on my trip. I also know how to do drip irrigation by reusing plastic 2 liter bottles. I did the same trick last year when I went on a 3 day trip and it worked great, but I was very surprised at how well it did work. My husband has not been feeling well and is not going on the trip, so he would not be up to watering the plants. Part of my 52 Week Challenge once my plants get big enough to actually start harvesting will be to save whatever money I would have spent buying that food and put it towards my cc debt. I generally spend about $1.00 for a bunch of organic kale, $1-$2 on lettuce, and occasionally buy arugula, but do not remember the price. Sound like a good plan? Let's see how well it works. I checked outside this afternoon and my arugula, lettuce, and kale are already sprouted and are about 1 cm high. I think I have to wait a bit before I can eat it. LOL

In case you are interested in creating a homemade drip irrigation system without buying stuff or being an engineer, there are several good videos on YouTube about. I tried to cut and paste the url for one here, but SA won't let me. I even did the code, but SA just laughed at me.

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

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $963.48

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Professional Savings Deposit $100.00
Car Savings Deposit $20.00
House Savings Deposit $20.00
cc#1 payment $75.00
Slush fund deposit $22.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1200.48

Woo-Hoo!

Howdy, neighbors and money savvy friends! Well, I got paid again today and so I have already paid the internet/phone bill, gas bill, electric bill, put some money into savings, and made a credit card payment.

Old Challenge Balance: $783.48

Regular Savings Deposit $40.00
Professional Savings Deposit $100.00
Payment on cc #1 $40.00

New Challenge Balance: $963.48

Because I have had such a challenging couple of weeks, I am going to use the current paycheck to get caught up.

Hi, everyone. I have just had the most amazing experience involving my car. A couple of weeks ago, my car started making a flapping kind of noise when sitting idle and I started smelling either a oil or plastic burning smell. Uh-oh. First, I took it to our usual mechanic, who told me that 2 belts, the power steering pump, and power steering rack needed to be replaced for a total of $2500. What I did not understand at the time, and still don't, is what power steering has to do with a flapping noise. After all, the car was sitting still. All of that did not seem to make sense, so I took the car to the Auto Tech department of the local college. They did a really amazing job of diagnosing it. While the power steering is causing a problem, because it is leaking, the flapping noise came from a piece of a belt that was hanging down and flapping against something else. Also, the alternator was about to die. So, to replace 2 belts, the alternator, and add some oil was estimated to be $409. Big difference. I had to give them $200 up front to purchase parts. Yesterday, I was told the car was finished and the total balance due was $181. This morning, when I went to pick it up, the balance due was $160. I was happy and a little surprised, but did not question it. I was also given some advice by one of the instructors and some students on how to keep the car running better longer. To top it off, I also had the money for the repair in savings so I did not go into any debt to fix it! I felt as if I had won the lottery!

It's official, everybody! My mortgage is under $67,000! Woo-hoo!

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $783.48

$22.00 deposit to slush fund
$40.00 deposit to regular savings
$40.00 deposit to house savings
$100.00 deposit to professional savings
$37.48 dh's payment to cc #1
$20.00 regular payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $1042.96

One of my new games this year has been to use all my change in my purse for my one big, regular purchase of the week. And that is grocery shopping. I go through the self checkout and bag all my groceries myself. I use as many coupons as possible. To limit the amount coming directly out of checking, I use all my pocket change and any bills I have in my purse. Usually, it is only a couple of dollars, but one week, it was about $20 I had leftover. Woo-hoo! I have also really been trying to evaluate each purchase I make and to use cash I take out of the ATM for impulse purchases, so that when the cash runs out, I stop buying stuff.