tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228955212011-12-01T20:09:04.525-05:00savingadvicenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1153541118722334282006-07-22T00:02:00.000-04:002006-07-22T00:05:19.990-04:00

As I write that title, I still can't believe it. Our credit card debt is now $29,999!!!!

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1153093067251507852006-07-16T19:35:00.000-04:002006-07-16T19:37:47.270-04:00

Sorry for the delay, so without further ado here is the spending report for June:

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152933012532191002006-07-14T23:07:00.000-04:002006-07-14T23:10:12.556-04:00

For some reason, at least once a month I seem to pull an all-nighter. Usually, I'm on the computer working on a paid project or working on my blog. At 29, I'm getting too old for this stuff - and today it shows. I'm just a wee bit cranky and very tired.I'm also a little bummed today because we had some rain and there is a new leak in our roof. Tomorrow I will check out the roof and hopefully it's

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152844469138454552006-07-13T22:27:00.000-04:002006-07-13T22:34:29.156-04:00

I try to keep track of my stats to see who is linking to me, but I don't always catch everyone. A big change is coming to Blogging Away Debt, so please email me at bloggingawaydebt [at] yahoo [dot] com or leave a comment here if you are linked to me. I'll check out your site and probably provide a link back. As long as I find your blog informative and it isn't offensive then there's a good

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152800709813167922006-07-13T10:23:00.000-04:002006-07-13T10:25:09.833-04:00

Dawn over at Frugal for Life is hosting this week's Festival of Frugality. She did an awesome job and her ABC format is great! Go check it out!Thanks Dawn for Hosting :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152750029072108892006-07-12T20:18:00.000-04:002006-07-12T20:20:29.096-04:00

I had a little bit of fun yesterday, and just started paying credit cards. It was best to get the money out of my checking account before I ended up spending it on something. Seeing that number...$30,616...I am so close to having it under 30 grand. If I didn't have to worry about some final finance charges from Credit Card #2, I'm pretty sure I could do it. I just don't know how much those

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151821860028935592006-07-12T13:21:00.000-04:002006-07-12T13:26:31.523-04:00

It started a few weeks ago...my husband got a tick. Luckily for me, he was able to get it off himself and I didn't have to see it. I wasn't so lucky the next time because it was right on his back.As I looked at that thing ferociously attached to his skin I could feel my heart pound like you wouldn't believe. The buggers have eight legs! Eight legs in my mind = a spider and I am deathly afraid

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152657095865545432006-07-11T18:35:00.000-04:002006-07-11T18:31:36.296-04:00

I checked the mail today and I was pleased to find two things waiting for me:1.) A check for $5.00 for completing a survey with Pinecone Research. I've been doing surveys for them for a while, and it's a great way to earn a few extra dollars every now and then. The surveys don't take long to do (usually 10 minutes) and I've never had a problem getting paid. Jim at Blueprint for Financial

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152590457862793652006-07-11T12:56:00.000-04:002006-07-11T13:05:13.976-04:00

Over at Punny Money he shared his experience with a rude retail worker. Then Mighty Bargain Hunter shared with us his jaw-dropping experiences with retail workers.I can't top those, but I can offer a different perspective - from a retail worker's side.I worked as a cashier for a few years and here's the best er...worst of my experiences:1.) I was training another cashier and scanning through a

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152592118530707562006-07-11T08:05:00.000-04:002006-07-11T08:10:27.333-04:00

I didn't participate in these carnivals this week. I was a little busy and it slipped my mind. But there are some great articles to read.My Money Forest hosted the 43rd Carnival of Debt Reduction. My favorite article is from the one....the only....No Credit Needed. That guy never ceases to amaze me. He has whittled down his debt and pumped up his savings at a speed that takes my breath away.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152585074070989782006-07-10T22:30:00.000-04:002006-07-10T22:31:14.073-04:00

Sorry everyone, I am a bit of perfectionist when it comes to reports and I can't find a single receipt for $22.02! It's from a department store, so I can't just guess what we bought. I am still searching for that receipt and once I find it - the June reports are ready to go.I have a feeling I know where it is, and I just have to remember to ask if he has it when he gets home :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152417286002229222006-07-10T12:02:00.000-04:002006-07-10T12:08:10.133-04:00

I briefly mentioned how HDTVs are tempting in my Keeping Motivated to Become Debt Free post. I mentioned that back in April and here it is July. They are still so tempting.It doesn't help that we didn't have a very nice time at the movie theater yesterday. Our current TV is a 27" and it's about 8 years old. It still works, but the picture quality isn't the best. We did take a look at them

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152484361056538742006-07-09T18:32:00.000-04:002006-07-09T18:32:41.350-04:00

My husband and I haven't been to a movie theater in over 5 years. My son, being 4, has never been to one. That is...until today.We decided to take our son to the "big screen" to see the Pixar movie, Cars. Since we haven't been to one in a while, we were unsure what to expect with prices. For the three of us, the matinee tickets cost $14.50. Wow. Then, a large Coke and a medium popcorn was

Tricianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152299901324253132006-07-08T00:28:00.000-04:002006-07-08T00:28:57.703-04:00

I know, I know...it's a Friday night and I must be drinking or something to write a post title like that. But I am as sober as sober can be. And I am pretty serious about my title because I saw something today that amazed me. I was outside and I heard a rustle from the neighbor's yard. I looked, and I saw a grocery store plastic bag moving around. At first I thought it was the wind, but it

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152225389082538912006-07-07T12:08:00.000-04:002006-07-07T12:13:23.350-04:00

I knew I had a raise coming from work, but I tend to not count my chickens before they hatch. I have received official word that I will be receiving a 7% increase in pay starting this month, so I'm excited. The best part of my current job is that I'm pretty sure they like me and I enjoy working for them. I can see myself working my way up in the company, expecially if I increase my education (

Tricianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152250953606150362006-07-07T01:42:00.000-04:002006-07-07T01:44:21.666-04:00

Whew...it took me a while to get this ready, but I finished running the numbers in Quicken and formatting the charts in Excel. I only ended up reducing my debt by $409 and of course I would have hoped for more progress there. I still had quite a hit with the finance charges of $330.53, but next month should be a very pretty picture in terms of finance charges. It's funny how my attitude has

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152230168126416422006-07-06T19:55:00.000-04:002006-07-06T21:24:58.543-04:00

I've been feeling a little apprehensive lately about the ability to have a trouble-free first payment with Prosper. In fact, there is even one borrower who had Prosper take out her funds twice! For anyone looking to Prosper for a loan, a double-dip like that could wreck havoc on their bank balance. For me, I better keep a buffer in place because normally I run my checking account VERY low.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152223713681160582006-07-06T18:07:00.000-04:002006-07-07T01:46:20.500-04:00

Ever have that feeling in your stomache that tells you that maybe something bad is going to happen? I have that feeling, and I can pinpoint it to the shifting of funds I have done lately. I'm working right now on getting my new debt picture posted for June and I do not like what I see (sorry - still working on it, but I had to get this out). I like the fact that the interest rates are lowered

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152069676461470082006-07-06T11:33:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:37:27.223-04:00

I was sitting on the couch the other day when I heard kid songs playing and I could hear them coming closer. I ran to the window to look and low and behold, it was an ice cream truck!I've only heard about ice cream trucks and never saw one actually cruising the streets waiting for kids (except in the movies). Being a new experience for me and also my son, we ran across the street to grab a

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152072197270074682006-07-06T11:30:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:35:57.486-04:00

The Carnival of Personal Finance is up at Raising4boys. Make sure you take a few minutes and check out the submissions. I thought it took a bit of time to host the Carnival of Debt Reduction this week and I only had 10 entries. I really appreciate all of the work the hosts do after hosting myself so a big thank you to Raising4boys for hosting this week :)My contributions were Hospitals - Gotta

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152129861318667852006-07-05T16:00:00.000-04:002006-07-05T16:21:15.756-04:00

Calling all Johnny Cash fans...If you would like to listen to the new American V album, AOL has the full album for your listening pleasure for free! I just found this, so I'm not sure how long it lasts. But thought I would spread the news!Just visit http://music.aol.com and scroll down until you see "Listen to Full CD's for Free." There are some other albums listed as well.Enjoy!

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152083301242904382006-07-05T12:11:00.000-04:002006-07-05T12:15:38.493-04:00

I wrote a while ago about a program that helped me with the cost of prescription drugs. I was just left a comment by a brand new personal finance blogger, Scarlett from Financially Secure, that gave some great info! "This is a great resource if you can't afford your prescriptions. There's lots of information on this site - eligibility guidlines, application requirements, etc. Just about every

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1152040959208777662006-07-04T15:22:00.000-04:002006-07-04T15:25:18.326-04:00

We slept in a little bit this morning and headed out to watch a local parade. It was a small town parade and smiles were abundant. My son loved all the candy, and my husband liked helping my son find every last piece. As for me, parades always make me happy. Not exactly sure why...but they do.Unfortunately, we will not be watching fireworks this year. We try to go to one of the best displays

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151975750632411682006-07-03T21:15:00.000-04:002006-07-03T22:20:08.350-04:00

Leave it to a woman's anti-perspirant (Secret) to put up a site that I'll probably be checking out for a while. It's all about revealing your secrets (anonymously on the website, of course) for anyone in cyberspace to read.Most are about love and relationships, but here's a few that are personal finance related:This one doesn't surprise me at all, it's about a CEO that doesn't like her job http:

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151121382020821152006-07-03T15:12:00.000-04:002006-07-03T15:37:24.463-04:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, and this latest one I am still struggling with correcting. It's more mental than anything else and it drives me nuts.When I do things I like to do it BIG. My husband is the same way. Meaning, when I make a payment to my credit cards, I like to pay a huge chunk at once. Why is that bad? Because I am actually saving money in my checking account in order

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151638663221147412006-07-03T02:42:00.000-04:002006-07-03T02:43:59.660-04:00

Today's the day to announce who will receive my copy of "The Millionaire Next Door." I received some great entries: "Hello Tricia, I would love to have your copy of the "Millionaire Next Door". I didn't email earlier because I am of the mind set, to let someone else have the gift. Why? I don't really know. I know, kind of strange. Anyway, I read that you received no emails and that is

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151771255472552322006-07-03T02:25:00.000-04:002006-07-03T13:26:45.430-04:00

Welcome to the 42nd Carnival of Debt Reduction!! Without further ado, here are this week's articles for your reading pleasure:Working on Your Attitude......."No excuses. There is a path to success for everyone. Now, get moving."Steve Faber presents Success is at Your Doorstep posted at Debt Free. ..."if you do take charge of your debt, it will become easier to pay them off."Pete at My Financial

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151858680440276202006-07-02T12:44:00.000-04:002006-07-02T21:51:40.880-04:00

I think the saying goes that a "Picture is worth a thousand words." Well, I have to say this picture is worth a million bucks!!!As of 6/30/06, Credit Card #2 is paid off!! To see where it was back in February, click here.There have been a few times since I started this blog that I wondered why the heck I was doing this and I almost hit the delete button. One time was when I ended up having to

Tricianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151769309600966662006-07-01T11:54:00.000-04:002006-07-01T22:06:26.816-04:00

June ended up being a better month than I thought, but not as great of a month as I had wanted it to be. I love seeing the Net Worth IQ graph heading upwards! May Net Worth $-49,309June Net Worth $ - 48,477Difference: Increase of $832I guess what I would like to see is our Net Worth increasing by at least $1,000 every month. With the extra income we are now making and the credit cards now at

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151623294568101672006-06-30T17:30:00.000-04:002006-06-30T19:30:28.200-04:00

I was very fortunate that my old insurance company covered my prenatal visits 100%. Since I knew sometime in the future I would like another child, I was curious to see what the charges looked like so I asked for an itemized bill of all charges.To my surprise, I was being billed for procedures I didn't have! What really bugged me was that there is no way I could have one of them performed or

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151635384545066222006-06-30T10:06:00.000-04:002006-06-30T10:11:35.323-04:00

If you haven't heard yet, I want to give my copy of "The Millionaire Next Door" to someone who really wants to read it and today is the deadline!!There's no catch, except I'd like you to give it away to someone else when you are done reading it. Each person is invited to sign the book their own way as I will do. I'll pay for the media mail shipping so only US residents please.To enter, all you

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151621446913555592006-06-30T08:32:00.000-04:002006-06-30T08:37:47.823-04:00

Just a reminder for those who would like to participate and read the entries, I am hosting the Carnival of Debt Reduction on Monday. Feel free to send your article to my email (bloggingawaydebt [at] yahoo [dot] com) or fill out the handy form at Blog Carnival. More information about the Carnival of Debt Reduction can be found at Mighty Bargain Hunter.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151636394543486352006-06-29T23:05:00.000-04:002006-07-03T02:31:34.016-04:00

Free Money Finance did a great job hosting this week's Festival of Frugality. Make sure you head over there to check it out.I enjoyed reading the article from Bargain Queen titled How Cheap Can Gardening Be? She gives some great tips, and is giving me a little motivation to finish digging my garden and planting seeds. I am WAY behind schedule.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150334508232196542006-06-29T11:15:00.000-04:002006-07-01T23:09:28.183-04:00

One thing I will never understand about credit card companies is why our credit limits are so high. Credit Card #2 just kept raising and raising my limit when I was near my limit (which was often). It started off in 1995 at $500. Then they kept raising it and before I knew it - my credit limit was more than I made in a year.Out of curiosity, back in March(when I was close to the credit limit)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151121268010868132006-06-28T19:24:00.000-04:002006-06-28T19:25:28.736-04:00

"Instead of focusing on the amount of money lacking in your budget, focus on what you DO have: a willing spirit, an imagination filled with bright ideas, people who care about you and can perhaps help you in some way. These are the things that will enable you to do almost anything."- Phil Keoghan, No Opportunity Wasted"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151447583755195822006-06-28T09:21:00.000-04:002006-06-28T09:24:52.456-04:00

There is a feature in Quicken called classes that will give you the ability to create reports such as the following:I've posted a brief tutorial on how to use classes over at Quicken Tips, so if you are interested take a peek.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1146414537272342452006-06-27T16:38:00.000-04:002006-06-28T10:07:36.510-04:00

While talking with my son the other day (he's 4), he found a penny on the ground. I asked him, "How many pennies would you like to have?"He said, "One hundred."I asked, "Would you like a million pennies?"He said, "No, that's too many. They can't fit in my pocket."You know what, I think he's right. Here's a neat illustration of one million pennies.Part of me feels like I missed the opportunity

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150581755417392842006-06-26T20:10:00.000-04:002006-06-26T20:11:09.893-04:00

Here are a few more sites I thought would be interesting to a Lender or Borrower on Prosper:Who's Bidding on Prosper. Updated daily, you can see all of the Lenders and what they are currently bidding on.Credit Boards Forum about Prosper.And here are some bloggers that I know are writing about their experiences as a Lender (L) and/or Borrower (B). If your blog is not included, please leave a

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151274979502302352006-06-26T14:41:00.000-04:002006-06-26T14:45:05.786-04:00

Would you like my copy of "The Millionaire Next Door"?At the end of my review, I announced that I would like to give my copy of the book to someone else. If you are interested, please check out the instructions at the end of my post here. The deadline is June 30, 2006 and I will announce the winner when I host the Carnival of Debt Reduction on July 3, 2006.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151288977503951232006-06-26T14:39:00.000-04:002006-06-26T14:43:45.976-04:00

For your reading pleasure, check out the following Carnivals this week:Carnival of Personal Finance over at Mighty Bargain Hunter.Carnival of Debt Reduction over at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.Just a note, I will be hosting the next Carnival of Debt reduction. Feel free to submit using the handy form over at Blog Carnival or feel free to just send me an email at bloggingawaydebt [at]

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151119845311894242006-06-25T12:55:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:04:12.603-04:00

I've never been interested in looking into debt consolidation companies. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I like to be in control of my finances. Handing off my debt to a consolidation company just seems odd to me. It's hard to explain.But with the onset of people to people lending via Prosper, I think it is a great way for people to take control of their debt on their own terms

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150943434314820152006-06-25T12:31:00.000-04:002006-06-28T13:09:12.573-04:00

I've been debating for a while whether to discuss this subject or not. Some people have gotten hot under the collar when I discuss Feng Shui. But I believe the little changes I have done with my home has improved my attitude and made it possible for me to improve my financial situation.When I left my job outside of the home, it was a job where a lot of people relied on me. I knew that I would

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151119640174528882006-06-25T11:10:00.000-04:002006-06-30T00:24:22.470-04:00

The great thing about Prosper is that it is people-to-people lending. There is a personal aspect to the whole process. Here are some tips that I have come up with that may help you obtain a funded loan through Prosper.1.) Post Pictures. Now, you don't have to post a picture of yourself if you don't want to, but I have heard that Lenders like to see who they are lending to. For me, I didn't

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151199080658461912006-06-24T21:27:00.000-04:002006-06-24T21:56:54.153-04:00

Now that my husband is working a few more hours and one of my part-time jobs is gearing up, I feel pretty safe in updating our income. I also have a raise due from my full-time job in July, but I will count that after it is a done deal. As of right now, it is safe to say my husband and I are making $45,000/year, an increase of $5,000. I doubt our 2006 income will reach that (because my husband

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151163341636067372006-06-24T11:33:00.000-04:002006-06-24T11:35:41.653-04:00

From time to time, I planned on offering tips on using Quicken to keep track of your finances. I am very much a Quickenheadus Neuroticus as you may have already discovered. I really like keeping track of where my money goes, and I like to manipulate the program to help me do that. I've been posting tips on my blog here, but sometimes the pics are small. I'd like them bigger. So, I have set

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1151109854400382522006-06-23T20:43:00.000-04:002006-06-24T08:49:05.136-04:00

The balance on Credit Card #2 when I started blogging in February:And here's today's balance!A lot of it is due to shifting balances around, but it is still so nice to see that credit card almost paid off :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150938241766476602006-06-22T10:48:00.000-04:002006-06-23T20:54:50.760-04:00

I like to keep track of all spending in Quicken. To me, cash can often be forgotten about when it comes time to looking at your finances. Here's a way that has helped me keep track - and it actually was a big reason why I basically now live a cash-free life. Just too much cash was spent and it added up quickly. It was an eye opener to say the least.The first thing you need to do is create a

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150946956366260052006-06-21T23:28:00.000-04:002006-06-22T01:59:32.506-04:00

I've been checking this site out for a while now, but I keep forgetting about adding it to my blogroll and I keep forgetting to mention it to everyone! If you haven't already, take a peek at Debtspiration. As the name implies, it is full of quotes that provide inspiration for reducing debt. As a "get out of debt" blogger, I found the about page inspirational as well.I hope you will enjoy the

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150867858268748022006-06-21T13:33:00.000-04:002006-06-22T12:11:35.470-04:00

Once all of my balance transfers are complete, here's what my debt will look like (some variation will occur due to pending finance charges, etc.). I've included my "old" debt for comparison.CC #1 is showing at 5.9% but it actually has about $1,000 at 9.9%. The 5.9% was a balance transfer and the rate stays until the balance is paid in full (I love balance transfers like that!). Because of the

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150845704622245842006-06-20T19:21:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:05:00.030-04:00

I am very impressed. I looked at my account online today and I see a pending deposit for my Prosper loan. It only took 2 business days for my funds to hit my bank.What was the first thing I did? I set up a payment for tomorrow to pay Credit Card #2 :)It won't be paid off in full yet. My balance transfer from Credit Card #4 hasn't shown up. I am starting to get concerned, but it still hasn't

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150843246554119112006-06-20T18:40:00.000-04:002006-06-20T18:40:46.576-04:00

I think I sound pretty goofy, but if you are interested in hearing what I sound like, head on over to Money Blogger Podcast. Scott was a great interviewer and did a great job with a very nervous interviewee (you actually can't tell my voice was shaking in the interview - but it was). If you listen close, you can also hear my son piping up a little bit, and you can hear my northern accent come

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150777620518677002006-06-20T00:25:00.000-04:002006-06-20T00:27:00.816-04:00

I've been sitting at the computer for quite a while today, trying to write something. I have many topics in my mind, and I have a few posts started, but I can't seem to "bring it home." Perhaps this is what is referred to as "writer's block".Actually, I just thought of another thing to write about when I said "bring it home." I love the movie "Walk the Line." I have been a big fan of Johnny

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150650492291401462006-06-18T13:06:00.000-04:002006-06-18T13:08:16.213-04:00

We are pretty light-hearted in our family. I'm the one who gravitates towards the funny card section, so I thought I would share a few funny quotes about fathers. I hope you enjoy, and I hope everyone has a great day today.Jimmy Piersal - how to diaper a baby"Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then, fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150576914347338522006-06-17T16:41:00.000-04:002006-06-18T13:11:58.396-04:00

I was fairly impressed with "The Millionaire Next Door." It made me really think about things and be reflective on my life and who I am. I like that. That means that I am "growing." So, it was fitting that my next book to read is "The Millionaire Mind," which is another book by Thomas Stanley. This book is quite a bit longer (406 pages), so it may take me quite a while to finish it with my

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150574457547115602006-06-17T15:57:00.000-04:002006-06-17T16:00:57.566-04:00

If you haven't yet, make sure you check out the Festival of Frugality over at Aridni. My article on a few cheap ideas to spruce up the look of an old home is included.Thanks to Aridni for hosting this week :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150520142738350732006-06-17T00:54:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:05:18.410-04:00

My loan ended a little bit ago with a 9.9% rate. There was a flurry of activity near the end, so if you happen to have been outbid - don't feel bad. I value each and every bid for I had 108 votes of confidence for what I am doing. It really does mean a lot.It's getting late and I have a few things to attend to yet tonight. Thank you everyone - I am definitely smiling right now :)Index of My

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150496394738254882006-06-16T18:19:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:06:06.413-04:00

It's amazing how a week has almost passed us by. My loan listing now only has five hours left to go. I hope to write more this weekend about the whole experience and I have a few more resources to list that others may be interested in. Plus, I have some calculating to do now that I will shortly know my final interest rate on my Prosper loan. Thank you to everyone who provides sites to find

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150488788696837682006-06-16T16:07:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:05:35.916-04:00

Last night when I was writing my post on my phone call with Prosper, I all of a sudden became a little worried. What if it wasn't someone from Prosper that called me? A lot of talk is occuring of being careful of fradulent borrowers, but fraud can occur to borrowers as well.My phone call was just asking about my phone number, but what if the caller started asking for more information trying to

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150435128035356972006-06-16T01:17:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:06:30.023-04:00

As far as I can tell, the buzz going around is that Prosper calls to verify borrowers AFTER their loan has closed. That can sometimes tie up a borrower's funds a few days or even weeks. But maybe a shift is occuring. A woman from Prosper called me today to verify my telephone number and to verify that I posted a listing on Prosper. She basically told me that they will not be asking for my

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150328077120284112006-06-15T21:32:00.000-04:002006-06-15T21:33:00.150-04:00

At the end of my review of "The Millionaire Next Door," I announced that I would like to give my copy of the book to someone else. So far, I haven't received any emails. If you are interested, please check out the instructions at the end of my post here. The deadline is June 30, 2006.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150411740063627002006-06-15T21:13:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:06:52.480-04:00

I hope I didn't scare everyone with commenting on the bad taste that Prosper is giving me. It's nothing serious - it just has to do with the way I am.A few Lenders said a few things about me that I don't believe are true on a message board. I don't have the thickest skin and I hurt easily. I care too much about what people think about me sometimes. I'm the type of person who tries to make

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150380093484987342006-06-15T09:56:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:07:16.030-04:00

Those following my Prosper loan may be wondering why I haven't announced that the loan is 100% funded. It has been since yesterday. Well, I don't have time to go into specifics right now. But this whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not sure what to do at this moment.After work I will write more about it.Index of My Borrowing Experience with Prosper

Tricianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150341370392649852006-06-15T09:51:00.000-04:002006-06-16T09:20:12.830-04:00

I love it when I read something and things (as I like to call it) hit me like a brick. While surfing my blogroll, I came across a comment left over at Dual Income No Kids. Here's an excerpt:"I share pretty openly with my friends and often times we talk about finances and our futures together because we are the kinds of friends who share those things and support one another in those endeavors.

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150349556743500182006-06-15T01:32:00.000-04:002006-06-15T03:03:58.536-04:00

Here's our June Monthly Debt Payments:Mortgage: $337 (going to $323 starting July 1)Auto Loan: $258 (will be paid off in September - only 3 more payments!)School Loans: $208Credit Cards: $710Total Payments: $1,513Debt to Income Ratio: 45%Monthly payments are going down and our ratio is going down - I can't ask for more :)May Monthly Debt Payments

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150174720770057892006-06-14T19:29:00.000-04:002006-06-14T19:31:21.623-04:00

I have to smile...I came across a blog where the debt sounds all too familiar (over $100,000 - which is what my total debt was when I started but I focus on just the credit cards). And then I noticed something else, I am listed as a "Financial Inspiration." I must say that I am humbled and honored to have that status on someone else's blog. There's some great info over there, so check out

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150155872244713402006-06-14T10:50:00.000-04:002006-06-14T18:18:28.980-04:00

Every blog in my blogroll I read. I may not get to them every day, but I go through them. Lately, there are two blogs that haven't been updated in a while. Each time I check, I hope there is a new post. But it has been a while since they have been updated so I will be removing them from my blogroll and bookmarking them.Financial Train Wreck - I hope to see an update soon. I'd love to see how

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150172835641279452006-06-13T10:55:00.000-04:002006-06-13T11:00:25.980-04:00

Here's a carnival that hits close to home with me. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Carnival of Debt Reduction over at Adrini.Thanks for hosting this week! :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150173440757319452006-06-13T10:54:00.000-04:002006-06-13T12:34:44.026-04:00

The Carnival of Personal Finance turns a year old over at Financial Fruition.My favorite (because it hits close to home):Can Being Happy Affect Your Finances?I am a BIG believer that financial well-being can be attained if you have the right attitude, so I enjoyed reading this post.A thanks for Financial Fruition for hosting! :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150151448947893062006-06-12T18:25:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:07:34.880-04:00

There's a little over four days left with my loan listing at Prosper and it is currently 43% funded with 21 bids.Here's something I've been thinking about today...I did not join a group on Prosper mainly to keep my anonymity because of my blog. If you join a group at Prosper, the Group Leader is supposed to perform "vetting" on you to get to know you better. They can ask for paystubs, proof of

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148078460468928882006-06-12T17:47:00.000-04:002006-06-12T17:52:46.000-04:00

My home was built somewhere around 1905-1915. It's been kept in decent shape, but it's an old home. There were some cosmetic problems, especially the 50's decorating. We did not have a large budget to help bring the house to current times nor did my husband and I have much experience with home decorating. But - just a few things we did made a HUGE difference.1.) Caulk around the trim in

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150085817546370252006-06-12T00:13:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:07:56.986-04:00

Here are some sites that I found helpful as a Borrower at Prosper:1.) Prosper Discussion Boards (found on the Prosper.com site as a sub-heading under "Help"). Even though there are separate forums for Borrowers and Lenders, make sure you look through both. Not only will you find great tips on how to do your listing, you will learn the general feeling of those lending at Prosper.2.)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150046118817504192006-06-11T13:32:00.000-04:002006-07-08T17:52:14.336-04:00

Last time, I posted January thru April, and I kept in finance charges and interest expense. While they are true expenses, including them can be misleading if one just looks at my total expenses, total debt and income. It does appear that there is no way that everything could be paid without going more into debt. When in fact, the finance charge and interest expense is included with my monthly

Tricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149974170244804612006-06-11T13:26:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:08:21.223-04:00

I've been reading how some people think that the debt-to-income ratio isn't that helpful at Prosper. When I listed my loan, I just plugged in my income and that was it. I didn't have to verify my income as I believe Tim at My Money Forest had to do when he signed up for Prosper. Not verifying the income could be one way that the debt-to-income ratio is off if a borrower chooses to exaggerate

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1150002806034877422006-06-11T01:12:00.000-04:002006-06-25T13:08:58.526-04:00

I just have to publicly thank a few fellow personal bloggers lending support and sharing some link love about my Prosper borrowing experience:It's Your Money: Money MusingsMy Personal Finance BlogThank you...thank you...thank you! :)Index of My Borrowing Experience with Prosper

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149992652621264002006-06-10T22:21:00.000-04:002007-11-18T00:52:46.606-05:00

I've Moved :)I am officially settled into my new home and you can all about my Prosper experience here: http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/category/prosper-borrowing/Come on over and check out the new site. It may look almost the same, but there's some new things to check out and and I am busy finding great new resources to add to my site.Hope to see you there! - Tricia

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148696943556814612006-06-10T22:08:00.000-04:002006-06-29T03:19:14.296-04:00

I haven't really discussed where our debt came from. Mostly, it's due to it being a long story and a hard one to explain. It would be easy to say we just blew money like there was no tomorrow, but that's not necessarily the case. The easiest to explain is debt to the tune of 10 grand from financing my husband's business. It's high tech, so it comes with a high price. We didn't have the money

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149972740196676792006-06-10T16:51:00.000-04:002006-06-10T19:57:24.946-04:00

Thanks to those who have brought it to my attention that my Prosper listing has a little boo-boo in it:"...I am a woman on a mission. I am dead set against getting rid of my family's credit card debt."I didn't mean that I am against getting rid of debt, but somehow I worded it that way. I can just shake my head and laugh it off because once your loan is listed at Prosper - you do not have the

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149910201208011452006-06-09T23:32:00.000-04:002006-06-20T06:44:43.770-04:00

UPDATE:My Prosper loan has been funded! $3,500 at 9.9% :) Feel free to click here to see all of my posts about my Prosper experience.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I still have $3,500 left on Credit Card #2 that I cannot do a balance transfer with. I have been debating trying Prosper for a loan, and I decided to just go for it.I couldn't justify going through Prosper unless my rate is below my current

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149900993601097282006-06-09T20:54:00.000-04:002006-06-09T21:00:37.690-04:00

I love garage sales and I love getting deals. But after starting this blog, and taking inventory of the things I don't need, I realized I have gotten some great deals throughout the years - but most of it is stuff I didn't really need. Things like picture frames, decorations, clothes that I don't wear, etc. I have been staying away from them this summer and I have conditioned my foot to not

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149826089814783442006-06-09T14:48:00.000-04:002006-06-09T19:03:25.066-04:00

It took me quite a bit longer than I anticipated, but I was able to finish reading "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D. and William D. Danko, Ph.D.I've discussed my thoughts along the way, from realizing that I was making huge stereotypes about millionaires to realizing that I have the makings of a millionaire mind after all.Now, since reading the last word in the book and

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149831506046862572006-06-09T13:10:00.000-04:002006-06-09T13:15:46.126-04:00

Here are the official numbers for February thru May.Note: Credit Card #2 now has an interest rate of 13.99% which was a welcome result of a telephone call.Not too much else to say, except here's to watching those totals dwindle down to zero :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149724465627361572006-06-08T23:06:00.000-04:002006-06-09T09:02:48.776-04:00

I welcomed another credit card into the family. You may be wondering why I would be getting another credit card since I have so many already. The key here was a balance transfer offer! Zero percent for one year!I thought it was a slim chance that I would get it, but I did. And on top of that, I received a $7,500 limit. I know...I'm scratching my head too on how I was able to get another card

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149545383162363872006-06-07T13:00:00.000-04:002006-06-08T04:49:14.656-04:00

Gosh I hope this works - I am so frustrated right now with Blogger since I can't seem to get into my blog when I want to and now I'm having a hard time posting. I think Blogging Away Debt needs a new home.I didn't participate in the Carnival of Debt Reduction this week. Last week I have been saving my energy to work my jobs this week and everything else (including this blog) has been put on the

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149542927721636822006-06-05T17:23:00.000-04:002006-07-05T01:39:09.683-04:00

Free Money Finance had a great post on how to save money on Prescription Drugs. But here's another tip that I learned first hand a few years ago that will help those of you who may make too much money for federal or state help - but don't make enough money to have your own plan.Ask your doctor, hospital, etc...about any plans that the DRUG companies have that could help you. Yes, I said the

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149383701086374172006-06-03T21:09:00.000-04:002006-06-05T11:08:15.990-04:00

Wow, above the negative $50,000 mark! Even though I am under the weather, that puts a smile on my face. One financial goal reached - many more to go :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149381335706442582006-06-03T20:54:00.000-04:002007-11-18T00:49:46.929-05:00

I've Moved :)I am officially settled into my new home and you can read this post here: http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/06/ouch-11900-for-a-doctors-visit/Come on over and check out the new site. It may look almost the same, but there's some new things to check out and and I am busy finding great new resources to add to my site.Hope to see you there! - Tricia

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149285076689603492006-06-02T17:45:00.000-04:002006-06-02T17:51:16.690-04:00

My son and I are both still feeling under the weather, hense the lack of posts. I haven't even figured out the numbers for May 31 yet (ugh).But I figured out one thing - Nyquil is good and it really does help you get your ZZZ's. Thanks for bearing with me. :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149163363156472652006-06-01T07:57:00.000-04:002006-06-01T11:54:42.846-04:00

I've been hearing the buzz all around that my student loan interest rates will be going up come July 1st. For someone with over $31,000 in student loans, if the rates raise just a few points - it's going to hurt a little. I didn't think there was much I could do since it's a federal loan.Turns out maybe something can be done and we all have until June 30th to make it happen. U.S. News & World

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149162175332061252006-06-01T07:39:00.000-04:002006-06-01T07:42:55.333-04:00

I participated in two carnivals this week:Carnival of Debt Reduction at Kirby on FinanceCarnival of Personal Finance at My Open Wallet.Enjoy!!A special thanks to the hosts this week :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1149076354155735022006-05-31T07:49:00.000-04:002006-05-31T11:35:22.986-04:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know I'm still here. I usually post daily, but over the weekend I picked up some type of bug. My poor little guy got it too, so we are two happy campers - LOL.He's already feeling better today so I should be almost back to normal hopefully tomorrow, which is good because that means May 31 updates :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148955510372666282006-05-29T22:15:00.000-04:002006-05-30T10:55:38.673-04:00

Here's the May update on the minimum monthly debt payments. Mortgage: $337Auto Loan: $258School Loans: $208Credit Cards: $743The grand total for May $1,546 / month. A decrease of over $200 from April! Just a note, the auto loan will be paid off in September! Only a few months left to go on that one and that payment will be snowballed towards other debt payments as well :)

Tricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148790596617232792006-05-28T18:28:00.000-04:002006-05-28T18:29:15.970-04:00

Part of the compromise with my husband was to spend some money on "fun" things this summer. I admit, I was so focused on eliminating debt that I soon forgot about having some fun. After we put them in our shopping cart, I told my husband to head for the check-out before I change my mind - LOL.We bought one 2-Person inflatable kayak and one 1-person.And let me tell you, we took them out today

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148682336670967142006-05-27T11:15:00.000-04:002006-05-30T09:16:46.593-04:00

I have the ability to transfer $8,000 from Credit Card #2 to another card. Unfortunately, the balance transfer offer is only for 6 months but it is at a great rate (3.9%). That can work well if I just keep shifting the funds back and forth between cards to keep that balance at a low rate.The problem is the remaining $11,000 balance on Credit Card #2. That will remain at 13.99% until the entire

Tricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148663910871760522006-05-26T13:13:00.000-04:002006-05-26T17:43:37.193-04:00

I can't believe it! I called credit card #2 and they actually reduced my interest rate! I sit here amazed. I've called them before and they wouldn't budge. Perhaps they are noticing that I am very agressively paying off their card and decided they better do something. They reduced the interest rate from 16.99% to 13.99% and my account was technically upgraded to a "new" card to get the new

Tricianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148618426944510092006-05-26T00:39:00.000-04:002006-06-17T16:31:53.463-04:00

It's past my bedtime, but I thought I'd mention a few things while they are on my mind.I haven't posted as much as I would have liked to this week. I guess I just have been a little bummed about having to use my credit card to buy groceries. But I am happy to report that just a few minutes ago I paid the amount back that I spent and I also sent some extra money to another credit card. Total

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148564294431438092006-05-25T09:34:00.000-04:002006-06-02T18:02:41.206-04:00

This morning I received a dreaded "alert" from my identity protector program, but it ended up being a very good thing.My new FICO score was ready, and there was an increase from 711 to 732!They still quote the same negative factors on my score: the high amount of credit being used and the length of my credit history (relatively short in their eyes). But the balances dwindling on the credit

Tricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148142643294131222006-05-24T12:10:00.000-04:002006-05-27T10:37:15.896-04:00

Even with all of my debt, my FICO score is 711 and that is considered a good score. According to some literature, I should be able to get a loan with no problem but as soon as lenders see my debt to income ratio (52% - the desirable is less than 15%) I think they head for the hills. How could it be that my score is so high given all of my credit card debt and other debt?It all boils down to how

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148157343682269882006-05-24T07:40:00.000-04:002006-05-26T15:39:03.556-04:00

My husband and I get along fairly well, except for one little thing. We often do not communicate clearly with each other. He knows that I am really trying to pay down debt (I take care of all of the finances), but I didn't make it really clear to him how aggressive I was being. And when I say aggressive, I mean that I am often leaving only a few dollars in our checking account. That action is

Tricianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148384260722062442006-05-23T07:32:00.000-04:002006-05-23T07:37:56.600-04:00

My favorite time to get some reading in is at the beginning of the week because of the great carnivals and festivals. Here are the ones that I participated in this week:Carnival of Personal Finance #49 at Frugal for Life.Carnival of Debt Reduction #36 at Make Love, Not Debt.Festival of Frugality #24 at Tired but Happy.And here are the posts that I submitted:Could Prosper Help Someone Like Me?

Tricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22895521.post-1148340043222135682006-05-22T19:50:00.000-04:002006-05-29T21:20:50.213-04:00

When we purchased our first home, we made a big decision. No gas powered mower. I think most of our neighbors give a chuckle when they see us see us mowing our decent-sized yard with our reel mower, but that's okay.We wouldn't have it any other way.1.) My son can mow with his little toy mower basically right next to me. I don't have to worry about things shooting out at blazingly fast speeds

Tricianoreply@blogger.com5