A NEW JOB

A New Job, A New beginning!

So I started my new job. I LOVE IT!!! Better pay, and most of all, Health Insurance!!! (The coverage does not start before October 1st, so let's pray to God, that nothing happens to us before that).

My car broke down today. I was in tears, did not anticipate $310 in car repairs. Unfortunately, I do not have an emergency fund yet...I know, working on it...so it will make a BIG dent in my budget this month.

I have a problem: I do not have clothes that fits or that are decent anymore. Seriously. I am not saying that because I am difficult or that my clothes are out of style. I need clothes to wear. My current clothes have holes, or are too big. I really do not have the money to buy anything at all. Any suggestions? The Salvation Army Store in my town is really awful, and surprisingly, the clothes are pricey.

My son goes back to school tomorrow, yeah!

Have a nice rest of the week!

Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and others!

I have been reading a lot of books by authors such as Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman.  They do have very good advices - however - I find Dave Ramsey to be very strict? harsh maybe? What do you think? I think we need to find a happy medium...I do not know.

Bye Bye thyroid~

My daughter had surgery this morning. She had a tumor on her thyroid gland removed.The surgery took long and I was having a lot of anxiety issues. Anyway, I was adding up the money in the checking account and my husband upcoming paycheck when I realized that we will not have enough money to cover the mortgage and the cars insurance. So I started panicking and calculating everything over and over just to found out that I had just paid the car insurance... You see, now I am a much better careful person with my money - and sometimes I "forget" that I am a 'changed woman". Sounds funny right?

I used to be careless with money. I am much better now. I still make mistakes, I am still in debt but at least I am working toward a better financial life.

My daughter is home from surgery, everything went well, the car insurance is paid for and I will have enough money to cover the mortgage payment. LIFE IS GOOD :)

Debt - A Curse and...a Blessing in Disguise!

Yes, you read correctly: debt has and is still a nightmare, pure hell. I have the choice to curl into a little ball and hope that it will disappear as fast as it came into my life. Some days, I am seriously depressed and very much alone in this journey. However, I decided that it was a blessing in disguise. Why? I appreciate things, money and life much more. I do not take anything for granted anymore. I am more respectful toward myself and the environment.

One year ago, I lost a great job. I not only lost a good income, but also health insurance coverage. Before I lost my job, I was taking anxiety medications, anti-depressants, and high blood pressure medications. After I lost my job, I could not afford to pay for those pills anymore. I lost a little bit of weight (I still need to lose at least 40 pounds), I cut my soda drinks intake, and unbelievably enough, I do not have high blood pressure anymore. As for the depression, well it is a constant battle, I am not on my meds anymore but I am doing better. So, yes, it is a blessing.

I do not wish for anybody to be in debt, and it will take me at least 6 years to get out of it, but I am learning a lot along the way.

My cousin, whom I do not see often, called me on the spur of the moment the other day, and invited to have dinner on his yacht. Yes, his million dollars boat...I was grateful and had a great time. I was helping him and his wife cleaned up after dinner (we had some "canard" (duck) and guacamole-its was delicious) and my cousin threw away the dinner left over in the garbage. All I could think about was "the money being thrown away" and how it would have made me a wonderful lunch for the next day. I guess I should not criticize him - I used to do the same thing unfortunately.

So, I am learning so many lessons along the way...

Have a nice day!

Car Inspection = fail

When you think you will have just enough money to pay the bills this month...something happens. Three steps forward - two steps backward.

I had the annual inspection on my truck this morning and of course, it did not pass. Total cost to make it work: almost $600. Money that I do not have. Right now, I am super depressed about it.

On another subject, I have been working so hard at "fixing" my credit score. In the last month, I was able to raise my credit score by a lot. I have been "cleaning" my credit report. Now, I think I hit a "plateau"...

Credit Report...Repairs!!!

I have to share this with you all. I have been studying and looking at my credit score. Not so good at all. I have made a lot of mistakes. At least, I am aware of them.

However, I have been doing a lot of reading online and studying and I have been "cleaning" my credit report. Every little bit helps.

If you have a chance, go to myfico.com. I am not selling anything...I just came across that website a couple of days ago. Anyway, they offer tons of advices to help clean your credit report. I know, there is no magic wand, and some things are just not "fixable". However, I learned that sometimes asking a creditor to remove a "negative report" can be a good thing and they just might say yes...

And you? Any advices to share?

Set Back

Yesterday, I was a really bad girl, and spent some money on unnecessary items...I have been so good about not spending on clothes, and being very careful with my money. However, yesterday was disaster day.

So what happened yesterday?

Well, first I received 3 bad news in one day - two about my children's health - and one about a summer job that I did not get because of budget cuts. I know, it is not an excuse to go out on a spending spree.

I was so sad, and stressed out and depressed that I headed to the mall. I bought a bathing suit for my son at Hollister, and a new tie for my son at American Eagle. I spend - $50 at Yankee's candles (for my own defense - everything was on sale 50% to 75% ) and I spend $35 at Target.

I also have been very careful about eating better and exercising more. Unfortunately, I have been eating hamburgers and French fries for the past two days. It is funny how you can go back to old habits very quickly.

It did not make me feel better. So the moral of this story is: the next time I have a bad stressful day, I need to find another way to make me feel better. Overeating and overspending is NOT the solution.

From a very sad and stressful girl :(