I'm Back

2011

I took a month off from this blog so I could have time to really think about what I wanted to accomplish this year. I did not want to do the typical list of New Years resolutions on January 1st that millions of others do with out giving it some serious thought. I took a good, hard look at every aspect of my life: job, house, finances, and future plans. I also took a look at my 35 Before 35 list.

My goals for 2011

1. Eat healthier
2. Work out at least 3 times a week
3. Lose 25lbs
4. Save $1000
5. Get into nursing school
6. Complete 9 things from my 35 Before 35 list
7. Craft something new at least once per month

I did not want to give myself a lot of goals, usually too many goals lead to none being done.

I plan to start working on my goals on Sunday ( I like to start new projects at the beginning of the week ).

Another Year Past

It is hard to believe that we are facing another new year, it seams like 2010 just flew by.

I haven't made any New Years resolutions as of yet, but I plan on spending the rest of the night reflecting on my failures and triumphs of the past year.

Happy New Year to you all.

I look forward to the possibilities of the upcoming year.

Cha Cha Changes

I know I have been gone for a while, but working in retail during the holiday season does not leave an individual with a lot of free time. Also, there have been some financial changes going on in my life as of late.

I can scratch 2 items off my 35 before 35 list.

After all of my car drama I bought a new car (#34). I ended up not getting any of the cars I listed, I purchased a new Mazda 3 and I love it. I financed through my credit union and got both an unbelievable rate and a great deal through their auto adviser program.

I also am about to pay off my credit cards (#9). I applied for a consolidation loan through my credit union and while it is not finalised yet, I am pre approved for a loan to pay off my cards. So, while I am trading one debt for another I will be able to pay less in interest over the life of the loan.

I am planing to pay extra to both of these loans and pay them off early.

Off to update my side bars.

I Hate My Car Part 3

Well, it finally happened.

On my way home from work my car cut off while I was driving.

Thankfully it happened in an area where I was able to pull off the road safely. I called my mother (it's funny, why is it whenever your in trouble the first call you want to make is to your mother?), then I called AAA and had my car towed to the dealership (after sitting on the side of a busy rural road for an hour).

During this ordeal I learned a few lessons

1. If you are having problems with your car DO NOT drive it until it is 100% fixed.

Make the people at the shop believe you. Your life could depend on it. The car could have cut off while I was on the highway.

2. Keep your cell phone fully charged and get a car charger.

While on the phone with AAA my phone started to die and I did not buy a car charger. Thankfully my mother came looking for me and I was able to use her cell phone.

3. Get road side assistance and pay for the extra coverage.

If my mother did not have the premium policy I would have had to pay $5 per mile for towing my car.

4. Get a GPS.

My car broke down in the middle of nowhere, If I didn't have my GPS I would not have been able to tell AAA where I was. That's the problem with Florida, too many little cities. Who ever heard of Thonotosassa, Fl ?

I don't think I will ever feel comfortable driving that car, even if they are able to diagnose the problem.

I better start test driving some cars.

I Hate My Car Part 2

My car is back at the dealership and after numerous test drives the car has not cut off on the tech and they have no idea what is wrong with it. I think they think I am a con artist trying to pull a scam, when all I am is an angry b@*%h pissed that I spent $813 on an unneeded repair. Since I do a lot of driving I need a reliable car, I think it is time to retire my beloved car.

I have my options narrowed down to 3 contenders

1. Nissan Versa - $14,245
2. Honda Fit - $15,830
3. Toyota Yaris - $15,887

I was approved for a loan but my loan offer expires on Sunday. My mother thinks I should wait 3 months and buy in December.

Does anyone have any input on any of these cars?

I Hate My Car

Number 34 on my list of 35 before 35 was to buy a new car, this was something I was hoping to put off until I was 35. Unfortunately after $1500 of repairs the car is still cutting off at long stops. The car has been in and out of the shop for the past 3 weeks and no one can seem to find the problem and the car does not stall when they test drive it. I even drove it around with a mechanic from the shop and the car did not cut off once.

I don't know what to do anymore.

If the car can't be fixed (once they figure out what is wrong with it) I just flushed $1500 down the drain.

Closet Handbag Designer

If you have been following my journey through my many, many blogs you know I went to fashion design school. While in school I learned all of the essentials to become a fashion designer, draping, drafting, textiles etc. While I liked designing clothes, I loved designing accessories. It started with home decor accessories (pillows, place mats, shower curtains) and evolved to fashion accessories. My favorite accessory to make was handbags, I started with clutches and ended with weekend bags. The bag pictured above was made 2 years ago and I haven't sewn since.

I can't remember what made me stop sewing, I'm sure it was a combo of work stress (back then I worked with a pack of ass h&%$s) and working too many hours (12 hours a day will suck the creativity out of you).

The idea of designing and sewing again never left my mind, I would spend hours lurking on Etsy and Art Fire to see what the other crafters and designers were doing. I've done all the research into DBA's, business licences, suppliers.

So, what's stopping me?

I don't know.

New Budget

I have updated my side bars and have become both depressed and hopeful at the state of my financial affairs. Repairing my car ended up costing my $1536 which left me with only $500 in savings. I am trying to decide if I want to put that money back into my savings account or put the money toward paying down one of my credit cards. Now that I know my credit score has improved to the point that a bank was willing to give me a car loan (I was approved, but I turned it down) I am now obsessed with the prospect of paying off my credit cards.

I would love to have them paid off by this time next year, but I know that would be next to impossible. I am now willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get this monkey off my back. My goal is to buy a new car by December of next year.

Here is my new budget.

Monthly Income - $2000

Sallie Mae - $600
Direct Loan - $200
Electric - $200
Cable/Phone/Internet - $170
Cell - $100
Master Card - $100
Amex - $150
Visa #1 - $140
Visa #2 - $90
Snowball Credit Card Payment - $200
Savings - $50

I can't believe that I am throwing $680 a month on credit card payments.

My first goal is to pay off my Amex, it has the highest interest rate. I called them and asked for a lower interest rate, they told me they could not lower the rate on past purchases but could give me 7% on new purchases. I am tempted to do a balance transfer but I don't want another inquiry on my credit report.

726 Isn't what It Used To Be

I am sad to say that my car is back in the shop again and this time it may cost me all of my savings ($2000 down the drain). I started toying with the idea of buying a new car and decided to pull my credit score. Much to my delight my credit score has risen by 26 points to an all time high of ........

726

I was so excited that I decided to try and consolidate my student loan at a lower interest rate. Well, the student loan market isn't what it used to be, I could only find on company that was doing consolidations and they want a cosigner.

Then I decided to try to pre-qualify for a car loan, I am still waiting for a response.

I guess in today's credit environment a score of 726 isn't what it used to be.

MyFico.com has a credit score simulator, you input certain scenarios and it tells you how it will effect your credit score. According to the simulator if I make 3 payments of $800 over the next 3 months my score will improve to the 731 - 771 range.

Time to rework my budget.

35 Before 35

I have been trying to thing of ways to make this blog more interesting. Half of the reason that I do not post regularly is because I don't have much going on in my life right now. I think my last blog was more interesting because I was working toward specific goals.

After surfing around on the Internet I found several blogs where people are trying to accomplish a certain amount of goals before they hit a specific age. Therefore here is my 35 before 35 list, in no particular order.

1. Lose 20 pounds
2. Grow out my hair until it is bsl (bra strap length)
3. Learn how to apply makeup and wear makeup everyday
4. Go to a thrift store
5. Develop personal style
6. Become a nurse
7. Ride in a hot air balloon
8. Start a side business
9. Pay off my credit cards
10. Renew my passport and take a trip overseas
11. Take a trip to Chicago
12. Open an IRA
13. Learn how to hem pants
14. Sew a complete outfit (jacket, skirt, pants, and shirt)
15. Donate unwanted items to Goodwill
16. Work out 3 times a week
17. Not watch TV for an entire week
18. Go on a speed date
19. Bake a 3 layer cake
20. Fly a kite
21. Eat vegetarian for 1 month
22. See an opera
23. Decorate an entire Christmas tree with hand made ornaments
24. Eat dinner in a restaurant alone.
25. Visit a Fashion Week (not necessarily New York's)
26. Make and sell something on Etsy (or Art Fire)
27. Build an ottoman
28. Go to the shooting range and fire a gun
29. Take care of my nephew all day, by myself
30. Take a yoga class
31. Learn French
32. Pay for the meal behind me at the drive through
33. Learn how to swim
34. Buy a new car
35. Fall in love

I plan to take this list on 9 items per year until I have done everything.

What is on your list?

M.I.A

I know I have been M.I.A over the past month, but a lot of changes have been going on and I did not want to post about them until things have settled down.

1. I have a new job.

In previous post I have written about my work schedule changing, working long hours and not being paid for them, and the possibility of my position being eliminated. I am glad to report that I got a new job with a better schedule that will allow me to take classes in preparation for nursing school.

2. I opened a store on Art Fire and Etsy.

Ever since I discovered Etsy 4 years ago I have had dreams of opening a store and selling some of the things I learned to make in design school (I need to do something to justify the $600 in student loan payments I am making every month). I haven't made or listed anything yet, but I am excited at the prospect.

3. I am recommitted to my financial goals.

With leaving my last job I paid off the charge card I opened (the only way employees could get the discount was to charge it on a store credit card), seeing that zero balance has made me eager to pay off the rest of my cards. I am making good progress with my Amex and now that I don't work where I used to work I shouldn't be making any more nonessential purchases.

I'm back, and I plan to start posting more regularly.

Working In Retail Can Be Hazardous To Your Financial Health

Looking at the calendar I realized that it has been 3 years since I moved in with my mother. In these three years I haven't made any significant changes in my debt total. Granted, I am in better shape than I was when I started, but I should be out of credit card debt by now.

But I'm not.

So, I looked around the house and realized why I am still in credit card debt, I have been doing too much shopping.

Working in retail makes it very hard not to shop, between the employee discount and markdowns you can get some fantastic deals. Here are some of the items that I have purchased over the past year and what I paid for them.

1. Black leather Coach handbag - $150 Retail Price - $350
2. Brown leather Coach Handbag - $100 Retail Price - $350
3. Purple fabric Coach Handbag - $85 Retail Price - $350
4. Armani Watch - $85 Retail Price - $295
5. Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses - $10 Retail Price - $295

Can you see why I bought these items?

I have improved, everyone of these items was paid for with cash, I did not charge any of them.

But now that I want to go to nursing school, and I am just sick of being in credit card debt, I am banning myself from shopping. No more shoes, bags, clothes, etc. From now until my credit cards are paid off I will not make any frivolous purchases.

There are a few more things I want to buy

This jewelry box
This embroidery machine
This software.

But they can wait.

Postponing Nursing School

As you read in my last post I have been working a lot of hours in the past couple of weeks. Due to this I haven't been able to study for the nursing school entrance exam. I was planning on taking it September 9th, but I do not feel prepared.

I have decided to start taking the pre requisites for RN and continue to study for the exam and try for the LPN program in Fall 2011.

In order to accomplish this I realise that I am going to have to get a new job relatively soon. My current working situation requires too many free hours and leaves me exhausted with little time to study. Also, night nursing classes are 5pm to 10pm, and my current work schedule wouldn't work with those times.

I am 31 and I hate to loose this much time, but I need to take these classes anyway so I guess it all evens out in the end.

Salary Vs. Hourly

From the time I was 16 and started my first job I would say to my self "I can't wait until I get a salary job." After the events of the past week I declare "I never want to work a salary job again."

Over the past week I have worked about 60 hours, and am only going to be paid for 40.

Why did I work so many hours, you ask.

The owner of the store I work for was flying in for a store visit. That turned everyone in the store into a crazy person trying to prepare for the visit. I would get to work at 7 in the morning and not leave until 9 at night.

I am so tired.

How old is Jamal? Correction

Sorry, typo.

Jamal is 25 and Henry is 14.

Gotta love that algebra.

Damn you Al-Khwarizmi!!!!!!!!!!!

ohnoamy and nicoleandmaggie were correct.

What Are You Thankful For?

My birthday was last weekend, I am now 31 years old.

While eating dinner with my family I started to feel depressed. I was reflecting on my life and how it did not turn out the way I thought it would. While discussing this with my sister she said to me

"Your life could be a lot worse, find something to be thankful for."

So.........what am I thankful for?

1. I have a job.
2. I have somewhere nice to live.
3. I have $1800 in my savings' account.
4. My car is paid off.
5. I am relatively healthy.
6. I have a very supportive mother.

So far that is all I can think of.

What are you thankful for?

How old is Jamal?

A few weeks ago I posted about the TEAS exam and the problems I was having with the algebra portion on the math section. I also posted a question from the practice questions that was just kicking my butt. Two of you answered the problem.

Lindsay and nicoleandmaggie were correct

Jamal is 14.

This one problem has caused me many a sleepless night trying to figure it out.

I just completed the practice test for the math section and got 48 out of 60 correct.

Not bad, but not good enough.

Slow Going

I know I have been quiet lately, that is because I have been studying for the TEAS exam.

In order to teach my self algebra I bought a GED study guide, the book is thick as hell but it is very good. After years of teachers and tutors giving up on me because I couldn't get the concepts I am now doing algebra. I am so proud of myself.

I am hoping to be able to take the test in early September, score in the 90's, get accepted into a LPN nursing program and start the rest of my life. But, if I don't score high enough I will start to work on the pre-requisites for the RN program.

3x+7=13. Solve for x

I finally received my study guide for the TEAS exam and boy is my brain tired.

The study guide is broken down into 4 sections

1. Reading
2. Math
3. Science
4. English

I am not worried about the reading and english sections because I have always excelled in those areas. Science has me a little concerned because it has been years since I have studied any kind of science. But the math has me terrified. Math was my worst subject in school, I barley got through it the first time.

I have basic math down pact, but algebra is not my friend. I mean, when is the last time you used algebra in real life?

Can anyone solve this problem?

Jamal's age is 3 less than twice Henry's age. The sum on Jamal and Henry's ages is 39. How old is Jamal?

a. 14
b. 39
c. 21
d. 25

I may have to find a tutor online.

Thank god for the Internet.