May Goals Recap

Here's the scoop on how we fared on the goals we set for May:

• Reduce car debt by $900. Man, oh man. I'm happy to report that we paid $1,352.00 on the car in the month of May- $452 more than we were shooting for!
• Pay $200 toward church remodeling pledge. We paid $387. That means we are paid in full on the $1500 we pledged to give. Woo hoo!
• Bring Emergency Fund back up to $1000. Done.
  
• Spend $150 on clothing. I failed on my spending goal, people. Looking over my weekly budgets, I only gave myself $100 to spend on clothes this month, and I still have $30 of it in the clothing envelope. I guess if there's a goal I could pick to fail on this month, it would be this one. And now that we're clamping down on things, that $30 is gonna have to last until this car is paid off.

The Gazelles: Fed up with debt

Wednesday I decided to take a closer look at the timetable for our debt payoff. I took a look at the calendar and what we're paying per month on average to see about when we'd be debt free. My calculations gave me this answer: September. At our current pace, we'd land in September debt free. I didn't like that answer. At all. So I decided that 2 months max was all I could stand. But how in the world will we pay off $4500 in 2 months??
From there I went to our budget to see where we could cut back to bare bones. The categories I found room for serious cut backs were food, side job I pay my sister for, clothing, car wash, gift fund, vacation fund, and blow money. Additionally we will be paying the final $147 on our pledge to our church remodeling fund, so that frees up more money come June. Still this is not quite enough to make our payoff in two months. But what we lack in funds, we'll make up for in determination! We plan to sweep the house again for any thing else we can possibly live with out and selling the stuff. We've started scouring Craigslist more often in search of any sort of odd jobs we can do for extra money. Truly, if we complete this goal by the end of July, it will be an act of God!
So prepare to be entertained by the next two months of Gazelle Tales and the crazy lengths we go to to finish this car debt off once and for all! And certainly, if you have any advice on how we can pick up additional income, let me know.

Challenge- Do you have what it takes to be gazelle intense?

Anyone notice that I'm most inspired to post on Tuesday nights? Yeah, I just got back from the week 4 Financial Peace University class "Dumping Debt." This little gazelle just drank an energy drink and is totally ready to sprint again. Meanwhile, I want to issue a challenge to the local yocals here that are getting started on Dave's plan. The challenge is for those on Baby Steps 1 or 2.
You need your $1000 emergency fund YESTERDAY. Or for you people on Baby Step 2, you need a shot in the arm- some extra cash to kill a credit card. So let's do it.

Here's the challenge:

Between now and June 15 you need to commit to having a garage sale. Goodness knows most of us have a house FULL of junk (and some nice stuff you just don't need) that you could sell to get this thing moving. If a yard sale isn't possible, commit to listing and selling at least $100 worth of stuff on Ebay or Craigslist. In fact, even if you do plan on having a garage sale, I suggest listing your big ticket items on Craigslist. Doing so will likely bring you more cash.

So there's the challenge. Get gazelle intense- by June 15. Look at everything in your house and weigh out how much it means to you in light of your current financial goals. Then sell some stuff. Lots of it.

And the bonus: whoever has the most impressive (true) tale of their garage sale and/or Craigslist earnings at the June 17th class, wins an audio copy of Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover to either keep or give to a friend, courtesy of Shegazelle.**

Let's kick this thing!!

** "Impressive tale" to be determined by and is the opinion of Shegazelle.

Memorial Weekend Plans

I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing, breezy holiday weekend. I plan to put a few gallons of $4 gas in my car, yet drive it as little as possible. Goodness knows I have plenty to do at home. Yard work and house work are calling to me. I know that may not sound relaxing to you, but I relax when my house and yard are clean. Dirty floors haunt one's dreams.
Payday wasn't overly exciting today. Down a bit from last week. But next week should be a dandy since Hegazelle billed a lot of hours and plus it's the 5th Friday of the month so none of the money is tied up with bills.
I guess I should mention how we pay our bills in order for that last statement to make sense. Since we get paid every week, we divide our bills up weekly and pay a portion of each bill each week. That should mean we divide each of our monthly bills into 4ths. Instead, I split it into 3rds to allow me one "free week" a month. So the months that have 5 Fridays allow me to celebrate 2 free weeks! (I hope that made sense.)
I need to make a stop at the farmer's market for some summer squash. I live for this stuff every year. I've got 3 young squash plants of my own that I hope start producing in the next month. Meanwhile, I'm off and running. Happy Friday and Memorial Weekend.

Walgreens 101

At PJ's request, here's the scoop on how to work the Walgreens system. Except instead of writing up a post myself, I'm gonna let Money Saving Mom explain things in detail (since I have a tendency toward more abbreviated posts.)

$10 Book Sale at DaveRamsey.com

The good stuff is on sale at www.daveramsey.com. Even the Deluxe and Designer Envelope System wallets! Also, free shipping is available on all orders over $65. Word has it that Christmas is in December this year, so stock up on gifts at a great price!

Will Work For Food (but mostly money!)

I should be sleeping. Actually I should be showering and then sleeping.

A couple of single women (whom I also happen to have the joy of being fairly well acquainted with) around the corner from me needed their lawn mowed and edged today, so I took up the task. In 102 degree weather. No, it wasn't the pure kindness of my heart that drew me to push my lawn mower around the block to cut their grass- it was the $30 bucks, silly! Oh yeah, and a lovely dinner with good company. Not a bad deal in my opinion. ;-) Glad they thought of me.

Hegazelle is much smarter than I. After 13 1/2 hours of work in this lovely heat, he has already showered and put his weary bones in bed. Sometimes, after a day like today, I think if the bank could see us haggard little gazelles, they would forgive that remaining $4700 on our car note. :-)

Tomorrow night, is week 3 of Financial Peace University, and so far I am totally digging the new material. Same concepts, but the format and extras are great. A lot of the new class members read this blog for inspiration and motivation, but have yet to brave a comment here! I guess it's up to me to write in such a way that compels them to comment, right?

Anyhow, time to get smart and get headed towards a good night's rest. Good Ni...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Urban Homesteading

I love a good story about the super frugal among us. People such as the Dervaes family fascinate me. Read about them and you'll see why. This family of four lives on $30,000/year. More interesting is their small "farm" that they live on. In Pasadena, CA. A mere 5th of an acre in their suburban neighborhood sustains them. Urban homesteading, as it's referred to appeals to me on so many levels, I just wish I had the fortitude to do it. It sorta made me feel silly about my two tomato and three squash plants in my side yard. Check out these amazing people for yourself.

Stimulus Money

$1200 of our hard earned dollars were returned to us today by the thieves who stole it. Good ol' Uncle Sam gave it back via direct deposit.
But don't look for the piggy to make a $1200 mad dash. We're saving it. Oh yeah, and we're bringing up the E fund back to its $1000.

Pay Per Post Earnings

I made $11 bucks just for writing that little post about wedding invitations.
That's $47 to date that I've made on PayPerPost.
You could be making money too...




Just a thought.

Class Act Wedding Invitations

Weddings aren't cheap. And the planning isn't usually carefree. (One exception was the wedding of us gazelles- and that was long before we became students of personal finance!) Any bride is thankful for a tip of where to find a great deal on wedding necessities that maintain their class whilst remaining inexpensive. So if you're getting married, I have one such tip for you. Wedding Invitations from 1st Class. They have some swell invitations, response cards and other coordinating paper items. One feature on their site that I found to be nifty was the zoom tool that allows you to see the items in greater detail. It makes the whole ordering online thing much easier.
Check out one of my favorites from their site.

No matter how well you plan, you can't prevent mishaps. From a guest's point of view, often mishaps provide a bit of humor and entertainment to an otherwise solemn occasion. The last wedding I went to had one such incident. It was the wedding of a coworker/fellow high school senior. He and his bride were doing the whole unity candle thing while a romantic song was played. Try as they might, they could not get the unity candle to light. A murmur went across the congregation inside the church. The song ceased to have it's romantic effect on the affair as everyone became fixed on this symbol that was not cooperating. Finally the bride gave up and replaced her candlestick in the candlelabra, but the groom promptly shoved his candlestick into the top of the unity candle where it stood awkwardly until the end of the ceremony. Laughter and applause rang out across the congregation as they strode back to take their place before the minister.

Photo: mariposa.yosemite.net/weddings

Monday Stuff

*smile*
There are still 3 pay days left in May, and we've already paid $509 on the car so far! And this coming Friday we'll cross the mark into the $4000's. It's getting so close I can taste it!

Hegazelle plays softball on Monday nights these days, so I grocery shop, come home and prepare things for our lunches for the week. For some reason grocery shopping really wears me out. I shop weekly, and only buy about $30 worth, but I'm still tuckered out afterwards. The remedy: Rockstar PUNCHED. This is the most expensive habit I think I've ever had, but I limit myself to one 24oz can per week. It's the lovely taste that has me- I've NEVER liked energy drinks. They always tasted like cough syrup to me. But imagine a lightly carbonated Hawaiian Punch...that's what it tastes like- only lovelier. :-) The moral of the story- don't try one. You'll just get hooked and waste a bunch of money like me.

Hegazelle: Results are in for new pay scale.

Well this past Friday was the first check on the new pay scale. I was very pleased to receive what amounted to an extra days worth of hours due to the number of billed hours. Very nice to get "free" money I would not have gotten on the old system. If I have kept a correct log from this past work week I will have an extra 10 hours over what I actually worked coming to me. I can't wait until we get really busy so I can get even further ahead. More money = Faster piggy. Run piggy run. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 o'clock- would you please hurry?

It's Friday, and yes I am posting at work.
My body is here, but my mind is LONG gone.

The weekend is upon us

I'm worn out. I mowed the yard, rested a few minutes, then went for a walk. We walked to a nearby fast food joint for roast beef sandwiches since I was tired and didn't feel much like cooking. Now I'm thinking I should have just cooked. We did see our city councilman walking the district while we were out though. I have been calling his office off and on about some neighborhood issues for a couple years now, but I only ever get to talk with his staffers. Since my issues remain unresolved, the thought crossed my mind that I should take him by the neck of the shirt and walk him right over to my problem. After all, he's looking for reelection next month, so maybe he'd be more inclined to work for my vote. I let the thought pass and allowed the man to continue his walk.

Tomorrow, is of course my favorite day, and the first day Hegazelle will receive a check under the new pay system. If our calculations are correct, in this first week of the program, his income will jump over 40%. I'm crossing my fingers till morning when we see the direct deposit. The anticipation is killin' us!

Yummy Lunch- Chicken Salad Tostadas

Thanks to my friends who came over last Friday night, I now have something new to pack for lunches! It's delicious, easy & fairly cheap. I made it different than them I'm sure, but these taste just as good.

Chicken Salad Tostadas

You'll need:

Canned chicken
Finely shredded carrots
Finely chopped celery
Chopped green onions
Mayonnaise (I ALWAYS use Reduced Fat Best Foods!)
Black Pepper
Tapatio Hot Sauce
Tostadas

Mixed the desired amount of each of the first 5 items together in a bowl. Spread mixture on tostada and top with pepper and Tapatio sauce.

Yum!

Wired up & Fired up!

Financial Peace University has begun again in my city, and the Gazelles have just gotten home from the first class. Let me tell you- it's all new again. The feeling. We're gonna beat this debt and beat it quick. We're gonna have money in the bank for when "life" happens. And best of all, a whole lot of our friends and family are going with us! Once again, FPU is rockin' our world and a bunch of other people's worlds too.
Tonight's lesson was Super Savers. I am so sick of paying on debt, so I cannot WAIT to start saving for Baby Step 3. I'm ready to start paying myself again.

Watch out on Friday guys- you may have never seen a green piggy run so fast.

Gazelle Holiday: Camping

After 2 or 3 years of talking about it, this time we're finally going. Camping that is. For sure it's us gazelles along with Ma and Pa, and possibly a couple friends if they are of a mind to join us. Our plan is to go the first weekend in June, but our favorite campground is booked out thru July. So, Ma and Pa are the designated campground scouts, diligently scouting out the land for a lovely spot near some water.
My original thoughts included renting the smallest RV available, but after finally getting a call back and a quote from a local RV rental joint, I think that's completely out of the picture now. $450 for one weekend?! Yowsers. I don't know what my next plan will be, but I will certainly have to research some other options. Like sleeping in the Volvo. Or something.

Note to self: Next time just buy brown carpet

The chair mat finally became a high enough priority that we replaced it this weekend. I was appalled, however, to find the original color of my carpet under the mat is no where near it's current shade elsewhere in our house. Seeing that contrast made me feel like a dirty, rotten scumbag.

May Goals

Yeah, I know I've been a slacker on posting my monthly goals. I suppose other items have occupied my thoughts for a couple months. Let me give it a shot today.

• Reduce car debt by $900. Although those aren't exactly the numbers projected in my monthly budget, I'm hoping things move in an increasingly positive direction this month.
• Pay $200 toward church remodeling pledge. You may remember this pledge as I've mentioned in previous posts. $1500. We only have $337 remaining, due by mid July. If we pay the $200 this month, we head into June with only $137 remaining. Nice.
• Bring Emergency Fund back up to $1000. Yeah, with the nail in the tire and all, the EF is down. But only by $57.73. ;-)
• Spend $150 on clothing. Yes, I know...it's a spending goal- the first of its kind for me. I am literally wearing several items dating back to my early high school years. No lie. I actually have a suit jacket I still wear from 8th grade. Not to say I haven't gotten anything new to wear since high school, just not enough to where I feel comfortable throwing out my old stuff. I need to replace some shoes too. $150 is not much, but I am well capable of maximizing it's potential.

And that's it. At least for you. All other goals are held tightly in our little gazelle hearts. :-) The outlook for our future income seems bright. Hegazelle began his new pay scale as of April 28, and if our calculations are correct, well, it just looks really good. Our goal is to continue living like the poor little gazelles we have been (ha!) and sock all the new money at this car loan, killing it in short order. I'll believe it when I see it though. His first check under the new system is this Friday.

Good Food, Good Friends

Just had a nice evening at home with friends. Two of my favorite things are good company and good food. We enjoyed one of our favorite desserts tonight, introducing it for the first time to two of our friends who were present. Fried Ice Cream. Y-U-M. It's funny to tell people we're having fried ice cream for dessert, they don't say much, but they're trying to figure out how that works.
So in case you've never had it, I'll share the "secret."

Fried Ice Cream

You'll need:

A cookie sheet
Vanilla Ice Cream
Frosted Flakes
Honey
Fresh Sliced Strawberries (or other fruit of choice)
Whipped Cream

Directions:
Crunch up Frosted Flakes and pour out onto cookie sheet. Scoop nice round scoops of vanilla ice cream and roll on Frosted Flakes until coated. Place desired number of flake coated scoops in a bowl, then drizzle with honey. Top with sliced strawberries and whipped cream. Eat and repeat.
Best when enjoyed with friends.

I do not borrow, therefore I drive bad??

As many of you probably know, and some of you may be surprised to learn, some car insurance companies use your credit score as a basis to determine your insurance premiums. It was confirmed to me the other day while browsing their website that the company I hold a policy with does just that. I am here to announce that this has got to be one of the stupidest concepts I've ever heard of.
A FICO score (or credit score) is nothing more than a number that says you are good at borrowing money. If the number is low, that means you are good at borrowing, but not very good at paying it back. If the number is high, you are good at borrowing as well, but better at paying it back (both instances allowing you to pay lots of interest. Yay!) Right now, because I still have a car loan I'm repaying, I still have a credit score. Once that goes away there will be no other loans or revolving credit accounts for the FICO gods to judge me by. (My mortgage is held by the previous owner, not a bank, and thus has no effect on my credit score.) Because I have sworn off ever borrowing money again, eventually the number will dwindle until I no longer have a FICO score.
So because I choose not to borrow money, there's a very high possibility that my auto insurance premiums could rise in the future. Because I choose to put myself in the best financial position possible (owing NO man anything) the auto insurance folks are supposing this will effect my driving habits negatively, increase my chances for auto theft, and also increase the chance that the guy driving behind me will rear-end me. RIDICULOUS.
For the record, I will not be playing this game. There are companies who do not base your premiums on your I-Like-To-Borrow-Money score. As soon as my current company shows any sign of raising my rates because I cease borrowing money, they have lost a customer.
I wonder how long it took the banks to convince these insurance agencies that people who are not paying interest on loans are terrible drivers?