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 Watch them Like a Hawk and Using Classes in Quicken to Further Breakdown Expenses from my other blog, Quicken Tips.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Any Johnny Cash Fans Out There?
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!
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!
More Info on How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs
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 drug manufacturer has it's own patient assistance program. Once you find the correct program - try searching by brand name or generic name - print off the paperwork, fill in your part, provide proof of income if necessary and give it to your doctor to fill out the rest. They'll mail or fax it in for you."
www.needymeds.com
I just took a peek, and the program I was in was listed. What a great resource!
Thanks for the info Scarlett!!
"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 drug manufacturer has it's own patient assistance program. Once you find the correct program - try searching by brand name or generic name - print off the paperwork, fill in your part, provide proof of income if necessary and give it to your doctor to fill out the rest. They'll mail or fax it in for you."
www.needymeds.com
I just took a peek, and the program I was in was listed. What a great resource!
Thanks for the info Scarlett!!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe 4th
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 in the state every year, but my husband has to work tonight. A bummer, but we have a few sparklers from last year that my son and I will go out and have some fun with. I look forward to the day that my husband and I both work regular business hours and get all holidays off together.
That's another one of my motivators to pay down debt :)
Happy 4th Everyone!
Unfortunately, we will not be watching fireworks this year. We try to go to one of the best displays in the state every year, but my husband has to work tonight. A bummer, but we have a few sparklers from last year that my son and I will go out and have some fun with. I look forward to the day that my husband and I both work regular business hours and get all holidays off together.
That's another one of my motivators to pay down debt :)
Happy 4th Everyone!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Oh Great, Another Addictive Site
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://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=6.
I have done this one in the past. I've since learned that when I am just being me I am acting more like a millionaire than I previously realized http://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=15.
This one I know too well http://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=581.
I haven't posted a secret yet, but I will soon. I think it is cleansing to get secrets and I have a few that I would like to anonymously declare. And part of me says...why not do it to just do it and live a little dangerously ;)
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://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=6.
I have done this one in the past. I've since learned that when I am just being me I am acting more like a millionaire than I previously realized http://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=15.
This one I know too well http://www.secret.com/share/secrets.asp?id=581.
I haven't posted a secret yet, but I will soon. I think it is cleansing to get secrets and I have a few that I would like to anonymously declare. And part of me says...why not do it to just do it and live a little dangerously ;)
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #4
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 to make a BIG payment. So I pay one $600 payment monthly but I could be paying $300 every two weeks.
One benefit of paying every two weeks is that on a yearly basis I would make more total payments!
Paying $300 times 26 weeks = $7,800
Paying $600 times 12 months = $7,200
That's a whole extra monthly payment that I would be making if I paid my card every two weeks.
I've somewhat started doing things that way last month. I sent a few hundred to one of my credit cards one week, then a few hundred a few weeks later. I wouldn't say that I am on 2-week schedule just yet but I am working on it. When you are used to paying things a certain way (and making sure there is enough money in the bank to do so), it can be hard to change.
But I am working on it :)
Previous Confessions:
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #3
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #2
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #1
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 to make a BIG payment. So I pay one $600 payment monthly but I could be paying $300 every two weeks.
One benefit of paying every two weeks is that on a yearly basis I would make more total payments!
Paying $300 times 26 weeks = $7,800
Paying $600 times 12 months = $7,200
That's a whole extra monthly payment that I would be making if I paid my card every two weeks.
I've somewhat started doing things that way last month. I sent a few hundred to one of my credit cards one week, then a few hundred a few weeks later. I wouldn't say that I am on 2-week schedule just yet but I am working on it. When you are used to paying things a certain way (and making sure there is enough money in the bank to do so), it can be hard to change.
But I am working on it :)
Previous Confessions:
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #3
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #2
Bad Money Decision Confession Time #1
So, Who Gets My Copy of "The Millionaire Next Door?"
Today's the day to announce who will receive my copy of "The Millionaire Next Door." I received some great entries:
Thank you for everyone who entered. It was a tough decision. Denise, you are very much like me with wanting it to go someone else. You gave probably the answer that I would have gave - LOL. Jill, I have watched you and your husband's blogs and what you have done with them. Your ingenuity with blogging and your willingness to help others is awesome! Flower, that's great that you will be blogging about reducing your debt. When your site is set up, please let me know I'd love to link to you!
That leaves Kassy. One thing that I believe with all of my heart is that a person can accomplish so much when they have the right attitude and the willingness to improve themself. I see that sparkle in your entry and I hope that reading "The Millionaire Next Door" will open your eyes as it did mine. You will be receiving my copy and I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it and I can't wait till the giveaway on your blog. Please email me your address by July 15 and I will mail it out to you :)
If for some reason I do not hear from Kassy by then, I will choose a runner-up. Again, a thank you to everyone who entered :)
"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 terrible. I am a full believer that you should read and learn anything you can. If for nothing else but the sure growth of self and respect for other opinions.
I would probably pay it forward just as you did with a listing on my blog Divorce 2 Financial Freedom. I think it does more good to send it off into the world. Maybe God will direct it to the person who needs it most.
So, hold my entry to the bottom and give to the one who needs it most. Don't worry I will obtain this book someday anyway!"
From Denise at Divorce 2 Financial Freedom
"I'd like to read the book. I believe current income has very little to do with future income, and I'd like a little inspiration. My husband and I would like to become "the millionaires next door". Blogging is part of the picture, but I'm always interested in other thoughts. By the way, we're in a similar situation with regards to credit card debt. Our blog income is helping to accelerate our payments."
From Jill at www.jillmanty.com
"Hi Tricia,
Ran across your blog through here: http://www.mdmproofing.com/iym/weblog/.
I would like to join you on your journey to pass this book around. I'm personally reading "Millionaire Women Next Door" and it's very interesting. I want to also read the original version."
From Flower
"Hi Tricia
I'm surprised someone hasn't already emailed you already so I thought I'd give it a try. Like you I'm in the 40k range when it comes to family salary and I have no aspirations of ever being a millionaire so I typically avoid books like these, but something you said in your review really struck a chord with me:
"Learning about yourself and the way you live and how you treat money. Learning about yourself and how you view others. Learning about how you perceive wealth. See the common denominator here? It's YOU!!"
I've been thinking a lot lately that it really is all about a person's attitudes and I think my and my boyfriends attitudes towards money need some work so that we can learn to be happy with what we've got and not want more."
From Kassy at Sparing Change
Thank you for everyone who entered. It was a tough decision. Denise, you are very much like me with wanting it to go someone else. You gave probably the answer that I would have gave - LOL. Jill, I have watched you and your husband's blogs and what you have done with them. Your ingenuity with blogging and your willingness to help others is awesome! Flower, that's great that you will be blogging about reducing your debt. When your site is set up, please let me know I'd love to link to you!
That leaves Kassy. One thing that I believe with all of my heart is that a person can accomplish so much when they have the right attitude and the willingness to improve themself. I see that sparkle in your entry and I hope that reading "The Millionaire Next Door" will open your eyes as it did mine. You will be receiving my copy and I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it and I can't wait till the giveaway on your blog. Please email me your address by July 15 and I will mail it out to you :)
If for some reason I do not hear from Kassy by then, I will choose a runner-up. Again, a thank you to everyone who entered :)
Welcome to the Carnival of Debt Reduction #42!!
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."
..."if you do take charge of your debt, it will become easier to pay them off."
Advice on How to Get out of Debt....
..."If the reason you are in debt is because you have a hard time actually paying your bills at all, there are three things you can do"
..."I'm more in
the pay off your debt, then save to invest cash crowd."
Watching Your Debt...
..."If I wanted to refinance, I'd probably have a tough time finding a loan for that price..."
..."The current environment of rising rates can play havoc
with the average family's budget."
..."start locking themselves in a trap where they must keep on working to pay down the mortgage."
Saving/Earning Extra Money to Go Towards Debt
..."We are very tight on our grocery budget and I hate to waste money on any paper products..."
..."For the past several months I've been on the lookout for little, simple ways I could make some extra money"
If You Are Already in Debt, Don't Make Things Worse...
..."Had I been an identity thief, I really could've ruined your life today"
A few notes: A thank you to all who submitted articles this week. It was my pleasure to read them all and I found some great new blogs to visit regularly. Just a reminder, though, that the Carnival of Debt Reduction is for personal experiences with debt reduction and/or advice on how to reduce debt. There were a few off-topic submissions this week that I just couldn't put in a debt reduction category (but were personal finance related): Discover Card Get Set for Fall and Car Buying Tip - Money Down.
Next week, the Carnival moves on over to My Money Forest.
Without further ado, here are this week's articles for your reading pleasure:
..."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 Awareness presents True Story on Prosperity to Get Out of Debt.
..."If the reason you are in debt is because you have a hard time actually paying your bills at all, there are three things you can do"
Supermom_in_ny presents Three Ways To Conquer Debt! posted at Getting Out of Debt.
..."I'm more in
the pay off your debt, then save to invest cash crowd."
FMF at Free Money Finance presents Comments: Over One-Quarter of the Population on the Brink of Financial Disaster, Need Discipline.
..."If I wanted to refinance, I'd probably have a tough time finding a loan for that price..."
Mapgirl at Mapgirl's Fiscal Challenge presents Calculating Your Blended Rate.
..."The current environment of rising rates can play havoc
with the average family's budget."
Julie presents Surviving Rising Interest Rates posted at Money @ Families.com.
..."start locking themselves in a trap where they must keep on working to pay down the mortgage."
Harrison Loke at Journey To Financial Freedom presents Something We Should know about Home Loan and Mortgage.
..."We are very tight on our grocery budget and I hate to waste money on any paper products..."
Amy Allen Clark at The MotherLoad presents Solution for Cheap Trash Bags.
..."For the past several months I've been on the lookout for little, simple ways I could make some extra money"
The Family CEO presents Making My Money Count posted at The Family CEO.
..."Had I been an identity thief, I really could've ruined your life today"
Wenchypoo at Frugal Wisdom from Wenchypoo's Warehouse presents Ebony Hall, I saved your financial life today.
A few notes: A thank you to all who submitted articles this week. It was my pleasure to read them all and I found some great new blogs to visit regularly. Just a reminder, though, that the Carnival of Debt Reduction is for personal experiences with debt reduction and/or advice on how to reduce debt. There were a few off-topic submissions this week that I just couldn't put in a debt reduction category (but were personal finance related): Discover Card Get Set for Fall and Car Buying Tip - Money Down.
Next week, the Carnival moves on over to My Money Forest.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
What a Beautiful Picture :)
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 use my credit card for groceries and had to fess up (which wasn't fun).
I'm glad I didn't hit that button, because seeing progress like this is why I am doing this. There will be setbacks because no one is perfect. What matters is what you do with that setback and what you learn from it. Here's a quote I'd like to share:
"When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."
- Hugh White
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 use my credit card for groceries and had to fess up (which wasn't fun).
I'm glad I didn't hit that button, because seeing progress like this is why I am doing this. There will be setbacks because no one is perfect. What matters is what you do with that setback and what you learn from it. Here's a quote I'd like to share:
"When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."
- Hugh White
Saturday, July 01, 2006
June Net Worth Update
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 $-49,309
June Net Worth $ - 48,477
Difference: Increase of $832
I 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 very good interest rates, that is my Net Worth goal I am shooting for.
May Net Worth $-49,309
June Net Worth $ - 48,477
Difference: Increase of $832
I 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 very good interest rates, that is my Net Worth goal I am shooting for.
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