We Paid Off A Credit Card!!!!
One down, so many to go. It was especially nice because we took advantage of a 0% offer when our car died, and bought a little deferred entertainment with it. We stuck to a plan and were able to pay it off before the 0% off was over. It's nice to feel like some of our hard work is paying off.
Burnt Out
My life has caught up with me. My work has been steadily increasing, and my sleep is decreasing in direct correspondence.
When I had the idea for 365 Days of Saving Money, I didn't realize how much time it took. I could handle that. What I couldn't handle, was the realization that my blog, my editorial of my life had been reduced to daily sound-bites.
I started rethinking my blogging...I started rethinking my life.
It's odd, but I've cut, slimmed, reduced, and simplified everything I can in my life. We live in 480 sf. We're in the process of selling my car so we'll be a one car family. I've put off having kids. I've cut my life as much as I can, and I'm not sure that I enjoy that anymore.
Many of the blogs that I've really enjoyed have been about reducing expenses for real joy: so that they can be home with their kids, so they can pursue their goals of traveling or starting a business.
I've just sliced my life, for the sake of paying less interest to someone else. It's been feeling empty.
Don't get me wrong, I still love saving money. Instead of releasing crappy sound-bites I hope to release 365 Days of Saving Money as an e-book within the next 30 days so that the writing, the tips, are quality.
I find myself needing to build instead of cut. My entrepreneurial spirit is starting to rev, and I'm excited about my future prospects. The truth is there comes a point where you've sliced as much as you can, and now you have to grow. I hope you enjoy better posts (albeit not on a daily basis) and the upcoming e-book, because you have all been such wonderful readers...you deserve my best.
365 Days of Saving Money: Your Annual Credit Report Is Free, Your "Free Credit Report" Is Not
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
(Thank you to Michelle for reminding me about this gem.) Did you know that by law, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the reporting bureaus each year? But if you go searching for "free credit report" you're probably about to bend over. Why? Because those vidiots with the catchy jingle are selling you something.
Let's ignore the fact that I deplore them for their non-factual material. For example, the catchy jingle about how he'd have a house with a backyard if it weren't for his girl's credit is pure bull. If he could afford it without her, he could afford it period; she wouldn't have to be on his mortgage. There is enough issues with money and relationships without Experian's help.
Wait? Did I say Experian? Isn't that one of the credit reporting agencies? Why, yes, it is. They don't want to give you a free credit report, they want to sell you your scores and a credit monitoring service. In very small print at the top of the website (very nondescript compared to the rest) they let you know that your actual free credit report is available at annualcreditreport.com. I can't wait for website names to be included in false advertising because Experian's little baby will be the first to bite the dust.
If you aren't careful, you can easily end up spending $15 a month on their credit monitoring service. Don't!
Just go to annualcreditreport.com and get your free credit report from all credit reporting agencies. There's no scam. They don't charge you. It's the safe route. To keep a good eye on how your accounts are reported, pick one to check every four months, say Equifax in April, Experian in August, and TransUnion in December.
And don't listen to the doofus with catchy jingle. For goodness sake, he can't even figure out he and his girlfriend are separate entities. Do you really want credit advice from him?
365 Days of Saving Money: $3212 Annually (Running Total)
365 Days of Saving Money: Follow Up On Authorizations
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
So I already told you guys I'm burned out. I'm not burned out on writing the blog, and I really love everyone's comments and kindness. I'm burned out on my tenuous existence. I haven't had a day with my husband in I don't remember how long. I'm coming off of a nasty head cold and I can't seem to stay well, probably in part because I've been running on my husband's schedule and mine. I just feel beat by the universe. So when the universe kicks you in the arse, you say, "Kiss my arse, I'm going to the beach."
My husband and I decided to go celebrate our 5 year anniversary this weekend with a nice stay at the beach instead of the educational anniversary (we'll do that later this year). It wasn't a budgeted vacation (we weren't saving up for it), but we had available cash. It was unexpected money that we were considering putting the money towards paying down a credit card, but decided that we needed the break, and we needed to do something for our anniversary.
So I reserved our rooms online to get the best deal. The next day I was checking my bank statements and found two authorizations on our credit card, one for $150 over our stay! I called the front desk and asked them if they could remove one of the authorizations. (I'm assuming that the $150 may be a refundable deposit as we're bringing our dog.) No problem. I have to wait for the night auditor to resolve this, but even if it's not taken care of by the weekend, I have a heads up. In my experience, hotels generally just complete the authorization. Since I don't want to be charged twice for all stay, I'll remind them of this, and check my statement the next week.
You might be surprised how many times something is authorized to your card. It's easy for these to become permanent, and every dollar adds up. Whenever you place your credit card information in someone's hands, follow up in the next week to make sure you've been charged the right amount.
365 Days of Saving Money: $3197 Annually (Running Total)
So I already told you guys I'm burned out. I'm not burned out on writing the blog, and I really love everyone's comments and kindness. I'm burned out on my tenuous existence. I haven't had a day with my husband in I don't remember how long. I'm coming off of a nasty head cold and I can't seem to stay well, probably in part because I've been running on my husband's schedule and mine. I just feel beat by the universe. So when the universe kicks you in the arse, you say, "Kiss my arse, I'm going to the beach."
My husband and I decided to go celebrate our 5 year anniversary this weekend with a nice stay at the beach instead of the educational anniversary (we'll do that later this year). It wasn't a budgeted vacation (we weren't saving up for it), but we had available cash. It was unexpected money that we were considering putting the money towards paying down a credit card, but decided that we needed the break, and we needed to do something for our anniversary.
So I reserved our rooms online to get the best deal. The next day I was checking my bank statements and found two authorizations on our credit card, one for $150 over our stay! I called the front desk and asked them if they could remove one of the authorizations. (I'm assuming that the $150 may be a refundable deposit as we're bringing our dog.) No problem. I have to wait for the night auditor to resolve this, but even if it's not taken care of by the weekend, I have a heads up. In my experience, hotels generally just complete the authorization. Since I don't want to be charged twice for all stay, I'll remind them of this, and check my statement the next week.
You might be surprised how many times something is authorized to your card. It's easy for these to become permanent, and every dollar adds up. Whenever you place your credit card information in someone's hands, follow up in the next week to make sure you've been charged the right amount.
365 Days of Saving Money: $3197 Annually (Running Total)
Blogs I Roll: I Pick Up Pennies
If you haven't already, go check out Abby at I Pick Up Pennies. She has a new site address, and a new look!
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired
The flu has me in it's clutches.
My husband hasn't had two days off in a row in over a month.
The dog just puked in the apartment.
I swear it's the plague.
On the flipside, being sick in bed, watching Johnny Depp in his uber-cute '21 Jumpstreet' days isn't a total bummer.
My husband hasn't had two days off in a row in over a month.
The dog just puked in the apartment.
I swear it's the plague.
On the flipside, being sick in bed, watching Johnny Depp in his uber-cute '21 Jumpstreet' days isn't a total bummer.
365 Days of Saving Money: Stand Up For Your Dollars
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.
Did I tell you I almost got cheated out of my apartment rent credit? Well, I did.
When I went in to request our rent credit, the Assistant Manager said, "Would it be alright if that was $150? As of February 1st, the credit was $150."
I just smiled and said, "But I made the referral in December when the rent credit was $250. I don't want to get you in trouble, but I'd really appreciate the full rent credit." In our complex, when you make a referral, the person has to stay for 30 days before you get the credit, so although our friends moved in in December, the rent credit didn't "kick in" until February 1st's rent. I had an argument prepared in my head. The credit has to be based on when the referral is made; otherwise, an unscrupulous complex could tell their residents they'll give a credit with the thirty day requirement, and then cancel the program ten days later once the referrals had come in.
I didn't get a chance to make my argument. She smiled and said she'd make it happen.
It never hurts to pleasantly stand your ground when you are in the right.
Did I tell you I almost got cheated out of my apartment rent credit? Well, I did.
When I went in to request our rent credit, the Assistant Manager said, "Would it be alright if that was $150? As of February 1st, the credit was $150."
I just smiled and said, "But I made the referral in December when the rent credit was $250. I don't want to get you in trouble, but I'd really appreciate the full rent credit." In our complex, when you make a referral, the person has to stay for 30 days before you get the credit, so although our friends moved in in December, the rent credit didn't "kick in" until February 1st's rent. I had an argument prepared in my head. The credit has to be based on when the referral is made; otherwise, an unscrupulous complex could tell their residents they'll give a credit with the thirty day requirement, and then cancel the program ten days later once the referrals had come in.
I didn't get a chance to make my argument. She smiled and said she'd make it happen.
It never hurts to pleasantly stand your ground when you are in the right.
365 Days of Saving Money: Cashing In On Apartment Offers
This year is all about saving money every day while trying to increase your income potential. If you did one thing each day that could save as little as $5 over the course of a year, you could have an extra $1800 in your pocket at the end of the year. Not all of these tips may apply to you, so to keep it fair, not all of them will apply to me.This past year our apartment complex offered a special: if we extended our lease into 2011, they gave us a $200 rent credit. In Oregon, even if you are in a lease, the price to break it is one month's rent, so we really lost nothing to take advantage of the free money.
When they offered a second credit for referring a friend to live in the complex, we started telling everyone we knew. The result was a $250 credit on our rent this month. Cashing in on referral fees is easier than most people know. When you're talking to your friends and family about the things you like that you've purchased or done, service professionals that you like, you are giving referrals. This doesn't just go for apartments, but many other business and service providers will give discounts, gifts, or free services for your referrals and loyalty.
365 Days of Saving Money: $3177 Annually (Running Total)
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