Debt Update 3.10.10

Car Loan: $10,218 (655)

Student Loans:

Loan 1: $12,810

Loan 2: Paid Off

Loan 3: Paid Off

Loan 4: $8,548
Total student loan: $21,358

Total Debt including car loan: $31,576

Total debt Jan 08 was: $66,970

I've managed to pay off so far...$35,394

February 2010 Monthly Goals

This month we are going to be traveling Vancouver which I am so excited about. My budget is consist of car payment, student loan payments, entertainment (Vancouver) and misc. expenses. Grocery, insurance, gas, mortgage and everything else in between are covered by my husband.

In February I'll be focusing on my fitness, job search and cpa exam nothing else. Every day I have to make a progress towards these three things. I'm sure Vancouver trip is going to be a life time experience and I'm not going to let unemployment to ruin this experience. On the other hand, we will be really careful with our spending.

Update on $50 challenge:

Wow, total blow out. I spent $155 within 5 days. Saturday and Sunday are no spend days. I'm going to set more attainable goals I guess. $50 was little too little :)

My unemployment days

Today I managed to wake up early. One of the drawbacks of being unemployed, at least for me, is that you lose track of days and start waking grossly late. I used to get up around 7 am now days if I get up around 9-10am, I feel good about myself. After getting up relatively early today, I came to Panera bread to eat breakfast ($5), study and polish up my resume.
Believe it or not I haven’t even updated my resume yet…I had lack of motivation since I got laid of my job. Of course traveling Europe had something to do with it as well. Finally I am back to my normal routine and feeling more motivated about job search. This time I don’t want to jump on first thing I find. I want to pick where I am going to work not the other way around. And I know because economy is so bad, it will take me longer than to find an ideal company.

Today’s goals:
• Make a list of thing I have accomplished at my last job
• Work out
• Painting
• Study

Spending Recap

Today I spent:

• $5 lunch
• $14 at friend's birthday party

Total: $19 Not happy..

Daily exercise update Monday: 45 min cardio
weight: 128

Is $50 enough for a week?Maybe not

I doubt. I officially started my $50 per week challenge but I'm already feeling like I failed. Today's recap (will be rounded):

• $6 postage
• $8 lunch
• $3 coffee and biscotti
• $5 dinner

Total: $22 wow what can I say? $13 lunch and dinner were not necessary. Tomorrow I plan to spend nothing.

Daily exercise update Monday: 1 hour cardio
weight: 128

New Challenge: $50 per week spending

I’ve been using a debit card for every purchase I make since Jan 2008. Although it is working for me, I sometimes spend way too much than I should. Now being unemployed I really need to pay attention how much I am spending day by day. That’s why I decided to go on cash only method for a while. I am going to allow myself $50 per week to spend so my plan is that Monday I'm going to take $50 from my checking and put my debit card somewhere I cannot reach. I think I should be able to pull it off.

Things I should watch out this week;

On Tuesday I am going to meet with my friends to celebrate one of my friend's birthday. I already bought her birthday present and I'll probably get something to drink when we go out thats all.

On Wednesday my friend is coming over to dinner (already have all ingredients for delicious meal) and play wii together. That should be fun!

Daily exercise update Sunday: 1 hour cardio treadmill and some weight lifting

weight: 128

Debt Update 1.23.2010

Here is my latest debt update. Good news, I am doing a lot better than I expected.

Car Loan: $11,394 (655)

Student Loans:

Loan 1: $13,378 (622)

Loan 2: Paid Off

Loan 3: Paid Off (last payment of 600)

Loan 4: $8650 (300)
Total student loan: $22,028

Total Debt including car loan: $33,422 (compared to last month $2,177 less)

Total debt Jan 08 was: $66,970

I've managed to pay off so far...$33,548

Why am I spending money???

I've been spending money like crazzy. As if I have anything to spend. Not only that I dont even have a job!!! I am really mad at myself. Tofay I went to immigration office to give my fringerprints which is all part of coming a US citizen so I cannot complain :) One more step closer! After I left the immigration center I went to an outdoor shopping center and I spent on:

Breakfast $5.00

Lunch $9.00

Victorias Secret $5.00 (soap and nail polish)

Bought 2 Crocs for backyard $10.00 (buy one get one free promotion)

Coffee $1.65 Borders

Puma 2 shoes for $26.08 they had crazy discounts.

Massage tip $10 ( I used prepaid massage but I had to tip)

Crepe dessert w/coffee $11.00

Sunglasses $13.00

Total:$90.73

Now I want to go home and never get out again!Actually, I am going to work out, make my study schedule, work on my website design for the side business and polish my resume...

My 2010 Goals

I don’t know where my 2009 goal list is! At least this time I have a blog where I can write down my 2010 goals and not lose. I am thinking I’ve probably failed most of my 2009 goals since I cannot even find my goals! How embarrassing… I know one thing for sure: during 2009 I traveled a lot which I plan to continue during 2010.


My 2010 goals:

Finances
• Pay off the car loan. Currently, it is $12,049. I need to make couple of extra payments in order to pay off the whole amount.
• Payoff 50% of Student Loans. Currently, it is $23,550. The goal is $11,775. I need to make payment of $980 every month.
• Payoff my sister $3,800 which is for part of the real estate investment we made together. Only $3,800 left to pay.
• Make an additional $5,000 above and beyond my FT job (which I hope I am going to have FT job soon) and Save $5,000 EF fund

Career
• Find a new job!!!
• Pass CPA exam
• Become active within a professional organization

Life in general
• Become pregnant to our first child!!! This is huge. Please pray for me…
• Go to Winter Olympics, Vancouver
• Have many summer parties in our house
• Start writing a book in my native language
• Start my own practice on the side
• Start internet business
• Become a US Citizen

I am hopeful this year... I can accomplish every one of these goals...

Debt Update 1.02.10

Here is my latest situation:
Car loan: $12,049
Student Loans:
Loan 1: $14,000
Loan 2: Paid Off
Loan 3: $600
Loan 4: $8,950
Total student loans:$23,550

Total Debt: $35,599
Total debt as of Jan 08 was: $66,970
I've managed to pay off $31,371 so far...