Crystal G

I’m keeping track of my payments towards the remainder of our interest accruing debt (besides the house) to kinda see the progress as we reach my goal of having this gone by or in February April 2010. So expect these posts monthly! Each month, seeing the progress should hopefully motivate me to stay on track with this.

• Starting Balance of Debt in February 2010: $2712.16
• Total Payments in February 2010: $2259.79
• Total Payments YTD: $11037.22
• Total Card Charges in February 2010: $900.76
• Total Finance Charges For February 2010: $25.75
• Total Finance Charges YTD: $162.41
• Starting Balance for March 2010: $1353.13
• $0 Goal: April 2010

Notes for this month:
Tax return was applied to the debt, and I’m hoping that by opening my dad a checking account and stopping him from using this card that it will help immensely.

See also:
January 2010, December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009

and My series of paying off dad’s loan in 8 months

Apparently I forgot to post this earlier this month. January was a bad month. February’s will be better.

I’m keeping track of my payments towards the remainder of our interest accruing debt (besides the house) to kinda see the progress as we reach my goal of having this gone by or in February 2010. So expect these posts monthly! Each month, seeing the progress should hopefully motivate me to stay on track with this.

• Starting Balance of Debt in January 2009: $2221.45
• Total Payments in January 2010: $2318.75
• Total Payments YTD: $8777.43
• Total Card Charges in December 2009: $2609.46
• Total Finance Charges For December 2009: $0
• Total Finance Charges YTD: $136.66
• Starting Balance for February 2010: $2712.16
• $0 Goal: April 2010

Notes for this month:
January was a big month, simply because I spent $1500 to have my brake system completely redone on the mustang. Dad also had a lot of automotive work done, which of course came out of my pocket. The key is to not let it get out of control It was just a bad bad month in general.

See also:
December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009

and My series of paying off dad’s loan in 8 months

Nothing of great importance is going on for me right now (that I’m willing to talk about here, anyway). I am steadily chipping away at the Grove membership manual that has been sorely lacking, as well as my CTP. I do a few web projects now and then for my Grove and for ADF, and I make sure I have personal time to just enjoy. Whether this is by watching deer outside with dad or going through boxes in the basement. The key thing for me is to find a balance between duties and life. For some reason people always seem to think I am overwhelmed or too busy with projects. That is simply not the case. I balance my life out very well. I reached a high point of busyness when I was taking my tax class, but that has long been over. I change tasks that I work on now and then, usually because I want to ride the “motivation” for a certain project until it runs out. Then I will move on to a different one. This works for me. I don’t have to complete everything right away, and I’m certainly not taking on anything new (unless it’s freelance work for extra $).

Speaking of taxes, I did get my return back on Friday. I got $1606 back, $114 of which went to state because of some of my freelance work. PA also has what is known as “Local” taxes, which I saved up $600 for throughout the year since work does not take out local taxes. I also spent $200 on some new clothes which was sorely needed as my duct tape was not holding up anymore The rest went to debt, and to starting my dad up his own checking account so I can see if switching him to that instead of credit will help us balance out our financial relationship some. On average he puts about $900 on my credit card, which is about what I pay into it every month, so this was clearly not working.

And before someone preaches to me about getting money back for taxes……I am not stupid. I know what taxes are. But I prefer not to “owe” taxes, I claim one of my exemptions and that is it. I do not care about your opinion on this matter.

I have not had much desire to blog about much of anything lately. I’m note entirely sure why. I’ve had things to write about, but most are summed up quickly and tweeted. I suppose twitter is taking away most of my blogging.

Those on my Twitter, Myspace, or Facebook already heard this, but for those not on either, as of January 26th my dad’s leg is completely healed of ulcers after 18 months of failed treatments. We are continuing the Venacura medication that we started about 2 and a half months ago (the reason behind this miraculous healing) to see if it improves dad’s bloodflow enough to actually turn his leg a normal color (it’s been purple for years). Needless to say we are very happy about this, and expect that it will save us a lot of money just on gas from Dad running to the Wound Care Center all the time.

As for -my- knee, it’s almost back to 100%. I can straighten it and walk fine now, but I can’t press it backwards and sometimes I get sore if I sit too long. I expect it’ll just take more time to get to 100% again but I am very happy not to deal with the tendinitis anymore.

I went to get my taxes done last night by my cousin since we wanted to do them together for practice. Retirement accounts still mix us both up, and I really need to sit down and practice more. Finding the time is another story, however. They will hopefully be finished tomorrow, but it’s looking at about $1500 back, which is all going to the interest debt. I suspect it will be paid off in full in March, but I will still need to keep an eye on my dad’s use of it. Looking at November and December, he spends between $900-$1000 a month on it, which is about what I put on it every month, so that’s why it’s been stalling the last month or two. In theory I’d like to get his spending on it down to $200 or so, but the way he’s been having vehicle trouble lately I dunno.

I’ve been pondering opening up a checking account for him instead of letting him use my credit card. That way I can put a set amount into it and he’ll know what he has left to spend. I’m willing to experiment with it at least, till I can come up with a solution that works for us both.

Either way I am going to start paying off the last person that donated our down payment in March, and all freelance money I bring in will also go to that so I suspect it’ll be paid off sometime in the summer and then I am throwing all my extra cash towards the mortgage and into savings/retirement. I look forward to the day where I my extra money is going towards savings and not towards a debt. I’m slowly but surely getting there.

Some folks also have been asking me some financial questions that I’ll probably start organizing into actual blog posts and relate to my personal experiences at the very least.

I am very glad the holidays are over. We had my paternal family over last weekend for a holiday get-together, and I’m just glad to have all the Christmas Clutter down. Clutter drives me batty in general, having to deal with it for 2 months messes with my head.

I’ve been starting to think about what I want to accomplish this spring as part of my Imbolc and Equinox celebrations. Here’s a small list anyway:
- Complete my Nature Awareness essays for the CTP
- Make significant progress on the Grove Membership Manual
- Continue bringing in more money for our year-long fundraiser at the Grove
- Start putting money into my home improvement account again for bringing someone in this spring to see why the basement is leaking during heavy rains as well as a new hot water heater (my 2010 projects)
- Maybe start putting together things for a yard sale this spring when tourist season opens up
- Explore a little more of Gettysburg
- Tons of other small remedial tasks that are on my todo list

Here’s to a progressive and healthy 2010 I love it so far, despite some setbacks (new brakes anyone? ). But I’ve become an eternal optimist in my years it seems.

I’m keeping track of my payments towards the remainder of our interest accruing debt (besides the house) to kinda see the progress as we reach my goal of having this gone by or in February 2010. So expect these posts monthly! Each month, seeing the progress should hopefully motivate me to stay on track with this.

• Starting Balance of Debt in December 2009: $2937.26
• Total Payments in December 2009: $1757.17
• Total Payments YTD: $6458.68
• Total Card Charges in December 2009: $1013.36
• Total Finance Charges For December 2009: $28
• Total Finance Charges YTD: $136.66
• Starting Balance for January 2010: $2221.45
• $0 Goal: February 2010

Notes for this month:
At this point I think I’m hoping for a big tax return to still reach my goal for a $0 balance in February. Even after I hit that balance I’m going to have to make regular payments on this card just because it’s the one my dad uses to supplement how little money he has left over from his social security. I just have to really keep watch on how much he spends because sometimes I don’t think he realizes it.

See also:
November 2009, October 2009, September 2009

and My series of paying off dad’s loan in 8 months

I’m keeping track of my payments towards the remainder of our interest accruing debt (besides the house) to kinda see the progress as we reach my goal of having this gone by or in February 2010. So expect these posts monthly! Each month, seeing the progress should hopefully motivate me to stay on track with this.

• Starting Balance of Debt in December 2009: $2937.26
• Total Payments in December 2009: $1757.17
• Total Payments YTD: $6458.68
• Total Card Charges in December 2009: $1013.36
• Total Finance Charges For December 2009: $28
• Total Finance Charges YTD: $136.66
• Starting Balance for January 2010: $2221.45
• $0 Goal: February 2010

Notes for this month:
At this point I think I’m hoping for a big tax return to still reach my goal for a $0 balance in February. Even after I hit that balance I’m going to have to make regular payments on this card just because it’s the one my dad uses to supplement how little money he has left over from his social security. I just have to really keep watch on how much he spends because sometimes I don’t think he realizes it.

See also:
November 2009, October 2009, September 2009

and My series of paying off dad’s loan in 8 months

Amount of Debt paid off in 2009:

Debt Amounts Broken Down:
1. Dad’s Loan: $5516.41
2. Interest Accruing Debt: $6458.68
3. Friends Down Payment Loans: $775
4. Car Loan: $6204.30

5. Amount paid off on house (principal only): $2,220 (with interest and taxes: $12693.53)

Total: $18954.39

(including house principle: $21174.39)

Amount of Money saved in 2009:
1. Car Loan: $1900 due to paying off the car loan 2 years early
2. Cable/Phone/Internet: Saved $40/month by threatening to cancel. Will save me $480/year.
3. Bank interest: $51.87
4. New Back Deck: $2525 from insurance claim
5. $19.80 in MUD related Zazzle sales
6. $292.64 in MUD donations
7. $5.37 in personal Zazzle sales
8. Saved $391/year by paying 6 month car insurance premium all at once.
9. Hosting for the Grove Website: paid 2 years in advance at $118 every 2 years giving me a savings of $264.
10. Profit sharing from insurance company rebate: $47.22
11. Cash rewards from my USAA card: $63.35

Total: $6,018.38

Amount of tax refund in February: $9696 (which most went to paying off the car)

Amount of money made through freelance in 2009: $3842.50

Amount donated to charity: $515.22

Income increase from 2008: $7400/year at main job only.

I included house separately in the debt paid off total, because house payments somewhat skew the “extra work” that goes into debt repayment with the general populous. Since most people either pay rent or pay mortgage, it doesn’t really count as a debt repayment in this sense.

I wasn’t as gun-ho this year about finding ways to save money, because 2008 was such a stellar year for that, there really isn’t -that- much left I could reduce. Still I am always on the lookout for changes I can make to save money.

The interest accruing debt is a little skewed too, simply because it includes the amount of money my dad spends on my card right now, not necessarily debt. I just happen to pay it off every month and include that in the total.

I’m keeping track of my payments towards the remainder of our interest accruing debt (besides the house) to kinda see the progress as we reach my goal of having this gone by or in February 2010. So expect these posts monthly! Each month, seeing the progress should hopefully motivate me to stay on track with this.

• Starting Balance of Debt in November 2009: $2681.67
• Total Payments in November 2009: $877.17
• Total Payments YTD: $4701.51
• Total Card Charges in October 2009: $1099.64
• Total Finance Charges For October 2009: $33.12
• Total Finance Charges YTD: $108.86
• Starting Balance for December 2009: $2937.26
• $0 Goal: February 2010

Notes for this month:
Not a good month for me. But I have $950 in freelance working coming in, so that’ll help. My February goal isn’t looking so good. Hopefully a decent tax return and some more freelance will give some relief. May need to talk to dad about reducing small trips to the grocery store and sticking with two big trips a month.

See also:
October 2009, September 2009

and My series of paying off dad’s loan in 8 months

According to the Associated Press, on July 1st the government will require that banks allow customers to opt out of overdraft protection for debit/credit transactions. This is something I’ve wanted for my dad for ages now, and I think it will help him out greatly. Basically any transaction he attempts to put through with his card that would normally make him overdraft, will instead be denied.

“Under the Fed’s new rule, which will take effect July 1, banks will be required to notify new and existing customers of their overdraft services and give customers the option of being covered. If customers don’t “opt in,” any debit or ATM transactions that overdraw their accounts will be denied, Fed officials said.”

However checks and regular bill payments are not covered by this rule, simply because the majority of people would rather overdraft than bounce a check or a bill (like rent) not get paid. Which makes sense to me, and is probably for the best.

“Many consumers do want checks and regular electronic bill payments to be covered in the event of an overdraft, Fed officials said. As a result, those transactions aren’t covered by the rule.”

Why this has taken so long to come into effect is boggling, but at least it’s finally happening.

This is a mini-rant that only applies to SOME people. I’m only mentioning it because I know people in this situation.

The problem with certain people in debt is that they pay their unnecessary bills first before taking care of their necessities.

Perfect example: Someone goes out to buy a new xbox controller with the last $100 they had in their account, and 2 days later they need food or to pay the electricity. They deem that an “emergency” so they use credit to pay it off. This is called ass backwards thinking. The problem is you can make anything an “emergency”, and the food and electricity should have been forseen and taken care of with your own money. Obviously the xbox controller isn’t an emergency, so you do without. What a pity.

Another example is going out to buy a new video game or new jewelry before paying rent. I don’t know why some people think this way, it’s completely backwards.

Who cares about the credit cards anyway, seriously. Buy your diapers, food, pay your utilities and rent, THEN worry about the damn credit cards. So what if you get bad credit. I had bad credit. I had 525 credit score in 2005. You can FIX that. I have a 700 credit score right now. You don’t need to be going out and buying anything that looks at your credit score anytime soon anyway if you’re buried in debt and can barely get by.

Necessities first, credit cards last. It’s a process that requires dedication and time. And of course not using your credit cards anymore as your emergency fund and learning what real emergencies are.