Week 28 : I want to confess...

I DID NOT BUDGET CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS YEAR - and I don't think I have ever budgeted since I have been giving Christmas presents! However, what I will be doing this year is to readjust the payments I will be making on my past paycheck and spend using cash (debit card) this year!


Current Debts:
Its payday - but I will only be paying $60 to pay the monthly amount due to my Student Loan - I paid the other half the past payday. I wanted to free up some money this for Christmas shopping. Yes, the CC went up because of the medical bills and I am expected to get about $387.46 from the reimbursements. I already got the $86.46 and I am waiting to get the rest - still disputing $120.50 

Current	Current	Paid	Ending
Personal Loan	5,145.00		5,145.00
Student Loan	6,172.00	60.00	6,112.00
Credit Cards	9,723.00		9,723.00
TOTAL	21,040.00	60.00	20,980.00

Starting Debt: $21,040 || Paid/Interest: $ 60 || Ending Debt: *$20,980

Weekly Spending: 
I don't really know how I will be separating the Christmas shopping and the weekly spending. I think I will just put them all together for now. I also got invited to a Yelp Elite event this past week which was so great because the whole dinner was covered. This might be one of the goals next year =)

Gifts Purchased (December) : $313.69 I am 13.5 out of 19 people done or @ 71%! Yay!

Sat - $12 Drinks | $34.74 Gifts
Sun - $12.16 Pet Food
Mon - $98.27 Gifts
Tue - $20 Drinks
Wed -  No Spend Day!
Thu - $16 Gifts
Fri - $7 Drinks

Weekly Spending : End $ 200.17

How's your Christmas Shopping coming along? Are you done? Did you budget this year? 

Medical Plans 101 (for me)

The credit cards have risen - again! $383.92 to be exact.

It really pays to know whats going on with my medical and dental/vision plans. I just assumed everything will be paid for with my Dental/Vision plans - but I guess times have changed. Or at least my employers benefits have changed.

The way I understand it now is - We currently have a reimbursable plan through work that pays the first $150 and the rest at 50% for any dental or vision work. I also have funds in my HSA account that can be used for this.

So what happened?

I went to the dentist and got a bill for $241 - I used my HSA card for this. Then went to get my eye exam and glasses and the total came out to $383.92 - I used the credit card for this.

What should have happened was?

For my dental : 

• Total : $241.00
• Dental Insurance : $150 
• Grand Total : $91
• Dental Insurance pays 50% so... Charge $40.50 into credit card and $40.50 into HSA

For my vision : 

• Total : $383.92
• Vision Insurance (since the $150 was used already, I only get the 50% reimbursement) so charge my credit card $191.96 and charged my HSA $191.96

TOTAL HSA CHARGES SHOULD BE : $237.46
TOTAL CC CHARGES SHOULD BE : $387.46


What needs to be done? My mini check list

• Call my dentist and have them reimburse my HSA account
• Charge $120.50 into both my HSA card 
• Charge $120.50 into my credit card 
• I will get reimbursed for $120.50 from my insurance - which clears out my credit card
• For my vision insurance - I need to check if they can reimburse me $383.92
• Charge $116.96 into my HSA card
• Charge $266.96 into my credit card
• I will get reimbursed $150 + $116.96 from my insurance

So I should get a TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT of $387.46

Have you made any mistakes or realized any mistakes you have from your Medical Plans? 

Week 27 : It's beginning to look a lot like ....

This is going to be another laid back weekends. We have our dental and vision appointments set up - how exciting! and other than the Charger game that's all we really have planned. Which is OK- I needed a cheap weekend after Black Friday shopping.

I will be setting aside much of my paycheck from last weekend and next weekend for Christmas shopping. That's probably another thing Jay and I will be tackling this weekend.

Current Debts:

No Paycheck this week, but these are the current balances for all my debts. I paid an extra $250 into my credit card this week. There was a fee of $135 b/c of the balance transfer.

It feels so good just having to deal with just 3 creditors!

Current	Previous	Current	Difference
Personal Loan	5,092.00	5,145.00	(53.00)
Student Loan	6,167.00	6,169.00	(2.00)
Credit Card	9,311.00	9,127.00	184.00
TOTAL	20,570.00	20,441.00	129.00

 Starting Debt: $20,570 || Paid/Interest: $129  || Ending Debt: *$20,441

Weekly Spending: 
I have been bringing lunch to work, so that's why I haven't really spent as much this week.

Sat -  $25 Gifts
Sun - $28 Dinner | $29 Commute
Mon - No Spend Day!
Tue - No Spend Day!
Wed -  $24 Dinner
Thu - $9 Dinner | $13 Entertainment
Fri - $47 Gas

Weekly Spending : Start $200 || End $175

Have a fun first weekend of December!

November 2014 Month-End Recap

This was sucky month!  I am a bit disappointed that a little retail therapy went on this month, but I am glad I was still able to chop off $1,276 from my debt even though I added about $2,619 into the credit cards. I was able to pay off all the auto stuff are done : Car Insurance and Registration yay!

Financial Goals

• Budget $200 per week - FAIL!
• Week 23 - $155
• Week 24 - $2819 - $2619 (pet misc) = $200
• Week 25 - $325
• Week 26 - $622 - Ouch!!!!
• Pay $1200 towards debt PASS!
• I paid off $1276 this month - which is lower than what I have paid the past few months. It's because I had the car registration and paid off my car insurance for the year.

	14-Nov	28-Nov	Extra	TOTAL
Personal Loan	300.00	-	396.00	696.00
Student Loan	20.00	60.00		80.00
Credit Card		65.00		65.00
Car Stuff	300.00	135.00		435.00
TOTAL	620.00	260.00	396.00	1,276.00

• Pay off Car Insurance PASS!
• Paid $248
• Pay car registration fees PASS!
• Paid $135 and I also paid for a smog check for $48 - that was unexpected.
• Get a 0% balance transfer for veterinarian fees PASS!
• I finally have only 3 creditors left to pay!  

Personal Goals

• Run 5k on Thanksgiving PASS-ish
• Did not run - but we went to the gym and I logged in 2miles. Also, does the 5 hour Black Friday shopping count? There was a lot of walking involved lol
• Finish a book PASS!
• I finished Flat out Love by Jessica Park. Check it out! Its a cute easy read
• Bake/Cook something new Fail!
• I cooked and baked, but nothing out of the usual that I have done =(

December 2014 Goals

Happy December!! Below are the goals I want to keep track until the end of this year.

Financial Goals

• Pay the following towards debt this month. I want to set aside the rest for Christmas shopping
• Personal Loan $396
• Credit Card $100
• Student Loan $120
• No credit card spending
• TWO no spend days per week
• Build Emergency Fund
• Add $200 this month 

Personal Goals

• Finish a book - I started listening to Serial so hopefully I can finish all the remaining episodes this month
• Exercise / Gym at least 3 times per week