Credit Cards as a tool

For the first time I am proud to say credit cards are not my enemy. They are a financial tool, which if used wisely can reap great benefits. For example, my spanking brand new $100 gift card to Marshalls. Oh!! the joys of shopping with someone else's money.

I am less stressed out these days about my finances. Why? well, I have a few dollars in the bank. It is not a lot, but there is a certain amount of peace knowing if something minor happens, I got it covered.

403B Rollover

Is there a wrong or right time to roll over a 403B from an old job? I am rolling it over to Vanguard. However, with the markets the way it is, is now a wrong time roll over?

Saving my second pay check

Starting with the first payroll in April my goal is to save the entire paycheck from the part-time gig. The hours have declined in the past few weeks. I will be back to regular schedule in a few weeks. This is my new mission. It is not a huge amount of money each month, but with regular hours can add of to around $600 per month after taxes.

Am so excited with this new goal.

Cash flow planning

Car insurance bill is due at the end of April. Normally, I pay half of the 6 month premium. My goal is to pay the entire bill at once.

MTA MTA Oh how I love thee

How can an organization provide progressive deteriorating service and still charge more for said service?

Just follow the lead of the MTA.

The cost of the subway fare went up this past Sunday. I still have not been able to get a seat in the mornings, and must be squished in the evenings. Oh and my train goes 5 milers per hour.

Random Thoughts

A coupon to a store is not a license to shop.

I am me. I may not be the most stylish or flashy. So, your flashy-brand-name-wearing-no-pot-to-piss-in-behind need to just get over it.

Stop complaining. Get a solution.

I have decided that my ultimate goal is to pay my car off this year. Had a lightbulb moment and realize this would be quite an accomplishment.

The price of gas no longer gives me the hives. Public transit all the way. Now if only I can get the people who take NY subway to be a better judge of size. Your size 12 behind cannot fit in the seat a size 2 just deserted.

Taking care of my own hair is not as bad as I thought. Plus it is a whole lot cheaper.

I was watching CBS News Sunday Morning

Random facts I learned from this morning's show:

Musician Kenny G majored in accounting in college. He also asks the right accounting questions before decided to go on a tour. He was one of the initial investors in Starbucks.

Suzie Orman says we should not buy more than we need, which is why she only has one pair of earrings.

One million dollars in hundreds is about a nice 22 lb package.

Paper money is not paper, but cotton and linen.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet plays bridge. I wonder if playing bridge will make me rich.

OH and some fool, sorry I mean entrepreneur is selling plots of land on the moon. Is that an oxymoron?? Plots of land on the moon?? Da hell!! I wonder if I can get a mortgage to finance that. The deed is called a Lunar Deed. There are people out there who are buying it. $19.99 and a part of the moon can be yours. LMAOOOOOOO

Increase in credit card offers

Ever since I consolidated my credit card debt the number of credit card offers have increased drastically. Before the consolidation I almost never got any offers....this week alone I received four....yes 4. Straight to the shredder I go. Now I see how easy it is to get into the cycle of credit card debt over and over again.

Well, credit card companies TBB is not playing around. She is paying down the debt consolidation loan through payroll deductions. So go away and leave her alone.

Did anyone catch the Oprah Winfrey Show last night?

This show was soooo sad. There was a lady who was deep in debt after her husband died. He committed suicide and left her with thousands of dollars in credit card debt, a huge mortgage and no job.

I missed the first few minutes of the show. However, that was the gist of what I got.

Bottom line: Ladies there is no knight in shining armour who will take care of you forever. Even if you are a stay at home mom, make sure you are in th loop where finances are concerned. Know where all the financial documents are, know how much money is coming in and going out. This information is crucial.

Additional information on the show is available at Oprah.com.

Has the 'recession' hit home?

It has for me. Sales are down at the part-time gig which means hours are also down. This decrease my bottom line (a.k.a) paycheck every two weeks. I am learning to adjust by making sure I keep my variable expenses as low as possible. My budget is tight and every dollar is needed. This means any reduction is felt.

Has the 'recession' being to touch anyone else?

I am actually looking forward to those $600 - $1,200 rebate checks. Hopefully, consumers will decide to spend a portion of it.

A raise is on its way

A raise was just approved for a little over 6.5%. Now lets see how much Uncle Sam and his munchkins gonna take before I can see my share.

To retirement and beyond!!!!!!!!

The pension contributions have started. My retirement picture looks brighter each day. Short-term my financial picture is still a bit bleak but am making progress.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Recession!! The sky is falling!! The tax rebate savior

Recent financial news has me feeling like burying my head in the sand, and not coming up for air.

Am I the only one that feels like that?

Best Buy Customer Service Sucks

I will never again attempt to buy anything from BEST BUY.

A word to BEST BUY management, customers come first. If you did not have customers you would not be in business.

To management at the store at 622 Broadway in Manhattan, if you are not going to answer the phone, then the option to speak to a 'sales' associate should be taken off the menu. I guess you guys met your sales goal for today so you are not interested in answering the phone and speaking to additional customers.

My w-2s have started to come in. There is one thing that is shocking. The part-time gig brought in over $12,000. Huh!!!!!!! 2008 will not be that high since the hours have been reduced. However, I really need to get a handle on where that money is going.

I made another sale on half.com

Love that site.

$161 for 10 minutes of work......

Gotta love credit card companies. I was able to convince them to give me credit for the finance charges.

My day to day goal

is to not use my credit cards.

Now my credit card debt is consolidated, I use only one credit card. It has my netflix membership and tolls. I make sure to leave it at home so that I am not tempted to use it. I can't wait for those $0 balance statements to come in the mail.

Tax Time Again

How exciting! I am starting to get my documents together for tax time. It does not mean I will be doing my taxes early. I will be filing electronically for free via the State Farm website. However, I will wait until April 10th or after, LOL.

I am still paying back taxes from last year. Oh the woes of being childless and propertyless (is that a word) in NYC.