So BF and I purchased our plane tickets to Micronesia for December. Though my bank account is now $1858 lighter, I feel so great about it. I've been trying to leave the country to see new places since high school. It only took 6 years... So exciting!

The better news is that I'm not completely broke, even after making such a large purchase. I'm certainly not rolling in the dough, but things are good. Really good.

I picked up an assignment for a website I wrote for previously, and they want me to cover a couple articles for them-- at $100/pop. Woo! Guess I don't feel too silly for giving them the last one for free. That'll be a nice push in the income for October, and they have a couple more coming up in November and December that they'll throw at me. Yay

The writing has been fabulous this week, and I'm feeling rather productive. Not really spending a whole lot. Did have to take Baby to get his shots at the vet this morning. That ran $32. I bought another Groupon... these things are pretty sweet. Restaurants and bars I would go to anyway, and it'll cut the cost down in half.

I've got drill this weekend, so the spending should be way down. Still haven't spent a red cent on campus for meals. Yay for being a packer

Alright, it's really time for me to get to sleep now. I think I'm getting delirious. lol. Just wanted to share in my celebration (there have been so many of them as of late)!

Night everyone!

So keeping up with the theme, August was the month of many good financial things-- my big Army windfall helped out a lot with all this, but it was much overdue.

Today's big news, as you can tell, is that my credit card is PAID OFF. I made the payment just a few minutes ago. I'm worried that the interest may still be charged, because it takes a couple days to process the payment and it's the 31st. Regardless, I still count it a win as it is a big fat zero in my spreadsheet!

So what now? As you can see on my sidebar, there are only 2 longer term financial goals listed... save up for vacation money (as the plane ticket money is already in my account), and pay off my student loans. That will be the big one, for sure.

I also want to start an emergency fund after my vacation money is saved up (which hopefully wont take too long, esp considering I wont be making CC payments anymore).

I feel so much more financially stable than I did earlier this year. I've completed a number of goals for the year, and I'm super pumped about that. It feels like things are really coming together, and I feel a bit more financially responsible. It's a really good feeling.

Next? Once the payment goes through, I want to check my credit score It's been a while, and I can only imagine that paying it off improved it, which was the goal. I'll be crossing my fingers!

Alrighty, time to get moving! Class soon!

Well, went and looked at that snazzy 2001 Toyota corolla... and bought it. It was exactly what I was looking for, and handles great. Ran me less than expected-- $5300 out the door, and with less than 100k miles. And it's a manual

So I have a set of wheels, and just set up insurance with Geico. They did me well before and have discounts that applied. So I even got full coverage (mind you, with a $500 deductible), but for only $65/month. Not bad.

I've updated my sidebar... I have the money to pay for a plane ticket (and will be doing so within a couple weeks), so my savings for now is for actual money to be spent on Vacation. Woot. I put a $500 payment on my CC and I'm down to $764.20. I'll get that reimbursement check from the university today, deposit it tomorrow, and pay off the balance next week. Wooooo hoooooo!!!! Everything not spent on the CC will be put into savings, naturally

So very exciting to be in this great financial place. Today not much going on, except we need to get stuff for the kitty that is coming home sunday. I'm veeery excited about this, and cant wait to get the apartment all set up. Tonight is board game night with friends. Good times all around. So more spending will commence here in a bit, but nothing too crazy. Groceries need to be bought, and cat stuff. woot.

Just wanted to share my excitement. I would post pics, but my battery charger has been at camp since my job ended. I'll be picking that up today as well. Yay errands... yay being able to drive myself to said errands! lol.

Later, guys!

I recently wrote a blog entry celebrating the $2k I found in an old bank account that had been there since June. That was the GI backpay that was owed to me from last semester.

This weekend, I FINALLY got paid my enlistment bonus pay-- minus the $2k or so I had debt to the army because they had overpaid me when I got back from AIT. This means about $5k showed in my usual bank account... holy crap! I can finally buy a car

It's even better though, because my balance with the university is a big fat ZERO. This means that my army scholarship processed correctly this semester AND I got grant money from the government to cover the difference. Best part? They covered MORE than the difference, which means I should have money coming to me from them as well.

Even better... I got notification that my GI bill is set in motion, and will be the correct amount this semester.

Even better... now that my debt with the army is cleared up, I get my full drill payments-- which means closer to $160/month instead of $55/month.

I'm able to buy the plane ticket for december without charging a red cent to my credit card, I'm able to buy a halfway decent vehicle to get me back and forth without incurring any debt, I dont have to work a full time job outside of writing this semester because my GI will cover my bills, and because of all this I will also realistically pay off my credit card in the next few months. WOW. I've never felt better

I've worked so hard for so long, and things are finally paying off.

My vacation was pretty amazing, too.

That's all for now. Just wanted to share my excitement

So I got a call from military services about my backpay for my GI I didn't receive last semester. A string of phonecalls lead me to the fact that I've had over $2k in a bank account I never use anymore since June.

This. Is the best. Day. Ever.

Woooooooo!!!!!

This means:

1. I dont have to charge any portion of my plane ticket for december to my CC.
2. I'm not entirely poor.

YEsss!!

Just wanted to celebrate a bit here. Now I'm off to grocery shop and get ready for vacation What a great week.

Alrighty. Well, my "April" started today, so I figured I would do the breakdown of the month... as I said in previous posts, I went to Columbus this weekend. I ended up having a wonderful time, though I spent a bit more money than I had anticipated. Regardless, I have no regrets... my March was pretty excellent financially. Here is the breakdown:

March Goals:

[ ] Stay under budget
[x] Dont spend any money on clothes
[x] Pay off laptop 3/1
[x] Pay off tuition
[x] Don't use CC at all
[x] Write at least 12 articles this month
[ ] $50 max spending w/ BF per week
[x] Keep track of finances all month
[x] Put at least $500 in savings

March Budget:



As you can see, I was $34.79 over budget. What you don't see here, however, is that I put $764.77 into my savings account this month So I really cant beat myself up too bad...

I made $50 more this month than I thought I would writing, so that's excellent. I'm hoping it to be even higher in these coming months.

In bad news, my hours got cut at work. The good news is, however, that I'll still be making about the same as I had anticipated, due to cutting my hours back for army training starting the 18th. So my budget is more or less unaffected for the next 2 months. I may start looking for another job once I get a car this summer, however.

Other than all that, there really is nothing new. Just busy with writing and getting everything set for later this month. It seems through networking and a bit of internet research that I'm getting some really great leads for freelancing. All very exciting stuff. I hope everyone had an equally wonderful weekend! Take care everyone!

Well, all sorts of news abounds in the Freelance writing world! I managed to network with another freelancer in my area, and she gave me some insight to other places to publish and find work. I found one gig that pays significantly more, and is more of a one time thing It seems this can be even more lucrative than it already is!

So next month I'll dabble even more into this whole freelance writing gig. I did publish a couple articles on AC today:

Daily Haiku Poem: Ping Pong
Top 10 Songs by Radiohead

Things are coming along nicely! Other than working, writing, and all that jazz, I'm hitting up the Rec with a friend of mine after work today, which will be a good time and get me some exercise in for the day

Packed lunch for BF and myself today, so I wont be spending any money on that. Yay for cheap!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and enjoying the sunshine if they have it (we do-- so exciting)! Later guys!

Well, I'm done playing army for the weekend! Whew! Now back to the grind. Got a bit of homework done, but there is much more to go... it's going to be a long night, and an even longer week.

In good news, however, I hit $50 income in article writing for the month And still more yet to come... very exciting! Here are the 2 articles that put me over the top:

Hook, Line, and Drinkers: Excellent Bar and Restaurant in Ak...
Welcome to the Music Industry- A beginners Guide to Independ...

I went grocery shopping, and I'm still under budget for the month. I only spent $23.51- because I have so much left over from last week. I basically bought stuff for lunches over the week. And stuff for dinner last night. Very nice.

Hopefully we'll keep up the low-spending trend. If I do through this week, I will be under budget for the first time really EVER. lol. Crossing my fingers...

Hope everyone had a good weekend, and has an equally good week! Later, all

Alrighty, wrote another article today,which brings me up to 4 this month That goal is moving along nicely. At this rate, I'll have it covered in 3 weeks! Good stuff... though they did decline one of my articles I wrote last week. It was too specific, wouldn't get enough traffic. I have, however, been reading up on SEO a little more. Both for my article writing and for work (that's what I do at work as well, it's just more specialized and the sites I submit to don't pay). So either way, it's good research to do.

Oh! Here's a link to the article that they accepted earlier this week:

"Be Yourself": Sometimes the Oldest Relationship Advice is t...

As for today, going over to my boss' house to clean. So that'll be a little extra income... even though I'm going to have to cut my workday short :/ I wish he would have had the water turned on Sunday when I went over there... would have avoided this mess. Ah well.

Time constraints as is, I'm going to have to work quickly-- as I have a meeting to complete my intercollege transfer at 5:30, then class. Busy busy busy as usual.

I'm so excited for vacation this weekend. It's so close! I cant wait for the sunshine

Okay. Off to do more work. Everyone have a great night!

So. I went and talked to financial aid this morning. I must admit I was a bit nervous, as my aid had not gone through yet. I've been on the payment plan, and I would have been quite short of the $1000 due this month...

I was waiting for paperwork to be processed. I had an audit put on my FAFSA, and it took about a month for them to sort things through. When I got an email from the gov, my expected family contribution was $20. heh. Mom getting a divorce was beneficial in more ways than one

Still, my aid had not showed up. We pinpointed the problem-- a processing error having to do with being a guest student over the summer. The problem was (thankfully) resolved, and my aid was indeed pushed through.

Here's the best news: I GOT GRANTS. Yes, for the first time in my college career, I got grants. I'll get more when I'm full time next semester, but it's great to know that there is $1500 I dont have to pay back... Also, I got subsidized loans for the first time. I feel like I'm in hog heaven. When everything is said and done, between the pell grant, the subsidized stafford, and unsubsidized stafford, I'll be getting a little over $2000 in the mail. That money will be promptly put to pay off the majority of my credit card limit. A 25% interest rate will no longer be what keeps me up at night.

I couldn't be happier

See, I've been thinking really seriously lately about starting to save for retirement, as well as saving for a house, a trip, and little by little, the startup costs for my first entrepeneurial endevour. Needless to say, I want to do a lot of saving. With a (relatively) high cc balance, that seemed rather far off, but I have no doubt I can pay off my cc in a couple months if I get this money. I'll trade 25% interest for 6% interest any day. My credit score is also going to likely improve dramatically. Especially considering I'm not going to have to pay these obscene fees for going over my credit limit (note, it was my interest that put me over the limit, not charging... faulty system).

I feel so secure. Up until now I've been so worried I wasn't going to be able to come up with the extra funding. I'm so used to not being able to cover my tuition with stafford loans solely. It feels great to know that I can do it. I dont have to fret. I can just go to school and feel safe that I can finish out the semester.

Yay for me!

So please, look forward to big plans and savings I'll keep you all updated!