My Nine Month Goal

[QM]

Sorry to hear about your sickness! Sounds awful! Glad things are picking up and you're starting to feel better.

Also, congrats on picking up three new piano students and getting some extra money. It all adds up.

[Debbie-cat]

I was wondering where you were! Glad to hear that you are beginning to feel more like yourself. Congrats on the new students! You will be hitting that $5000 sooner than you think!

[AmyBoz]

Well, as soon as I stopped my antibiotics, the sinus infection immediately returned, so I've been back down for the count, but I'm fighting my way back!

This weekend was the first weekend in awhile that I've been able to teach all 8 of my piano lessons, and the result is that I have two checks in my purse, totalling $150 that I'll be depositing in my special account tomorrow. That's the good news.

The bad news is really good news, but it's bad financial news, I guess. We are in the midst of having our bathroom redone. So, we had to charge the tub, toilet, accessories, etc. Probably about $500 or more.

Then, my brakes finally failed and I had to have them replaced to the tune of $400.

Then, my laptop finally also just about gave up the ghost, and dh bought me a new one for $399. A great price, but still, not an expense I wanted right now.

So, when that Amex bill comes, it's gonna be giving me the shakes. My hope is that I get my stipend check for being the Student Council advisor on my Dec. 10th paycheck instead of my Dec. 25th paycheck, so that I have that $600 or so to put toward these bills that will be coming. I know that the Amex bill isn't usually considered late until after the 18th, and that I can pay the December mortgage until December 15th, so it does give me a little leeway.

Some good news is that the December daycare payment is about $200 less for Matthew because they are closed for a week at the end of the month.

So, there are some good things happening and some not so good things happening, financially. However, I think we'll be able to make it through December. We may sneak into January with nothing in the bank (except for the extra account which I AM NOT TOUCHING) but I think we will make it.

Another good thing that happened was that we got a new bed for Patrick from my principal. She was redoing her bedroom and bought a new bed, and gifted us with the old one. It's beautiful and in excellent condition.

So, we're going to be taking Matty out of the crib, giving him Patrick's bed, making the playroom into Matty's new room, and then Patrick will have the new, double bed in his room.

In order to do this, we are selling the playroom computer desk on Craigslist, as well as the entertainment center up there and will be doing a bit of a purge of toys. Good thing to do leading up to the holidays.

Other good news is that I am completely done with the Christmas shopping for the kids. Dh gave me an idea for a drill that he'd like, because his drill finally bit the dust after 15 years. So, there's something for him, and I also have some other things for him that I've picked up over the past few months, in cash.

Since we no longer do the in-laws and neices and nephews, that just leaves my parents and dh's dad and then shopping is done. So, I think Christmas isn't going to put that much of a kink in the works.

Just because I haven't been here, doesn't mean I haven't been still working toward my goal. I think about it constantly and have been trying to be creative in getting there.

[Imarachne]

I envy you guys with your clear vision of what to save for--I am still trying to get a handle on mine. All of your posts are very helpful---onward and more savings !!

[Luckybustert]

AmyBoz, sorry to hear you've been sick. Even though you've been down for the count it sounds like you are right on top of your financial situation and have some very solid plans for handling everything. You're doing great!!

[AmyBoz]

Okay, we're moving along...

I just posted both the computer desk and our old pack and play on craigslist. I've had takers for both before, but no one has shown up.

So, wish us luck that we get some real takers!

[Debbie-cat]

Sorry about not feeling well Amy! I hope it clears up soon. I love how you handle your stressful financial crisis'. With your ambition and drive, I know you will have that money saved at the end of the nine months! Good luck on selling the items.

[AmyBoz]

Today was a GREAT day!!!

Someone came and picked up the desk that we sold on Craigslist and paid $40 cash. Happy Dance!

Then, I spent the entire day cleaning out the playroom and we freecycled:

1 bag of kids PC games
1 bag puzzles
1 bag random toddler toys
1 box kids VHS tapes
1 Casio CTK-500 keyboard

Then, we moved the toybox to the basement, took apart ds2's crib and put it in storage. We moved ds1's bed into the old playroom which is now ds2's room. We moved dd's bed into ds1's room, and then moved the new (free) bed we got from my principal into dd's room.

Everyone now has their own room and we are living with MUCH less toys and clutter and the kids are as excited as if it was Christmas. It's wonderful!

So, financially, the only happening toward the goal is that we made $40 cash, however, it all goes toward living more simply and happily. It's been a really, REALLY great day.

[Debbie-cat]

Congrats on the sale! Woo hoo, every little bit adds up. Getting rid of clutter (more of it) is going to be my New Year's resolution next year!

[MomK]

good luck! These are goals we should all be striving for!

[AmyBoz]

So, it's June.

How'd I do???

As of June 2, I have $4,200 in savings, just $800 short of my goal.

However, by July 2, I will have $5,600 in savings. So, although I didn't make the June deadline, two days after the deadline passes, I will have made the goal.

We did a good job of rolling dh's car payment into savings, and dh's car payment already included my old car payment and ds1's old daycare payment. So, snowballing works well!

As for goal #2, I haven't done great with that, however, considering the fact that we CAN pay it off each month and have been able to put money in savings, I think we've done darn good!

For the summer, I'm working on the credit card bills. Summer is always tough for me, as a teacher, without a paycheck for July and August. So, keeping the bills down is essential for the summer.

Feels good to have met one goal, and feeling positive about meeting the second one in the near future!

[Monner 1]

I haven't been around for awhile, just needed a rest, but I just finished reading all of your posts. You are doing a fantastic job and I wish you would send some of that motivation to me. My husband and I live on just his pension since he is disabled now with MD and too young to get Social Security so I really need to buckle down. You should be really proud of yourself.

[mek42]

If you don't already, get yourself a checkbook register from your bank for each of your credit cards. Consult the balance prior to making the purchase and record new purchases immediately. Make people wait an extra 30 seconds in the grocery store line behind you if you need to.

Have a firm number for your budget for each card and then ask yourself before each purchase, "Do I really want to spend this much?"

[taraa]

best of luck dear,.....
my goal is become famous cricketer,...

[mamamia]

Amy, you are amazing! I'm thrilled for you! I was just telling my own hubby that while it's true we need to pay down our bills, we still should some how, some way, have some savings going for doing some actual "living"? I understand where he's coming from, and sometimes it seems like my med bills are never going to leave us, but your inspiration and ideas are contageous...lol!, and suddenly I feel a renewed purpose for "finding a way".

Gee....I'm thinking that might sound a little corny?...lol, but I feel better seeing someone actually making their goal happen. Ya know...."if she can do it, so can I" kinda thing. I'm just tired of the rut too.

Great job! And love following along!

Theresa