New Year. New Me.

I am planning on making some real life changes for the year 2009.

1st - I registered for two classes (Math 1218 & History 1140) College MATH! WOOT-WOO! After these two classes (as of Summer 09), I only need 15 more credits, which one more Sociology/Humanities classes and the rest 10-12 credits of elective courses.

Only 15 FRICKIN MORE CREDITS!! I NEVER thought I would get this far!! As you can see how excited I am to take college math, this is my 4th math class, and the ONLY one I'm getting credit for, the rest were all zero level :(

But so 15 credits left x $108 (tuition) = I am $1,620 away from achieving my AA.

I just never thought I could do this.

So there is Summer 09 and Fall 09. I could take like two elective over summer (6-8 credits), then fall a humanities class (3-5 credits) and then one more elective class.

So I think I should graduate after Fall 09!! Wow.

So this is really my biggest goal for 2009. If I can acheive this, I can really do whatever I want.

But so to get me to this point ($1,620), I need a plan.

My current wage breakdown.

Takehome Pay is $658.91 / wkly (which includes $75 of savings & $25 Flex Spending - out of sight out of mind - I used to take this out monthly to pay my AFS payment.)

$658.91 x 4.33333 = $2,855.25 / mo


$2,855.25
-1,245.00 Rent
- 500.00 Car Payment & Insurance
- 300.00 Utilities
810.25 Remaining
- 400.00 Savings ($100 / wk)
410.25 Spending / Misc.

So I will be saving $400 per month, then $400 from my check savings = $800 per month.

I will probably take Charlie's food out of my savings, if I need to, thats roughly $100/mo.

This also includes me paying the entire rent. My mom is supposed to pay $500, but with her unstable work and everything, I dont want to have to rely on that, but if she can pay $300 or something, thats great, I'll put that in my savings.

I finally feel like I have a plan, and that I may get somewhere.

What I really want to do is be able to open a high intrest rate savings account. I applied at Etrade which has one, but I was denied. Hello its for savings, not a cc. It just really sucks earning like 0.2%.

Ok, so that is my plan of action for 2009.

1. Finish remaining credits for my Associates in Art.
2. Really, really save money; then disperse for emergency fund ($3000-5000), and goal savings (school, vacation).

Oh, I would also LOVE to get a 2nd dog this year. But I dont think we will until Mom is in a full time position. And can rely on her paying $500 rent.

Made it.

Well last week I had my trustee meeting for my bankruptcy.

I was pretty nervous, but everything went fine. She said that everything has been approved. My attorney said I should get discharge paperwork in 8-10 weeks.

And then we decided (at work) that Donna should hold onto my garnished wages until I get my discharge papers, to make sure that the entire judgement was accepted, and that I dont still owe the $3150 that has been withheld.

But with that said, the bankruptcy, the garnishment stopped, I have been trying to save $100/wk.

What really sucks is that as I am getting my head out of debt and able to actually save money, my mom is sinking deeper and deeper. It has been an entire year now that she hasnt worked a 40 hr week :( Not one. She has bounced from 24-32 hours, but pretty steady at only 24. This has her bringing home about $1600 a month. And as of Jan 1, she wont have health insurance anymore. I am terrified of something happening and she wont have insurance.

I just wish that we could be doing well together. It just really sucks.

Sad

Isn't it weird how you can feel like you know someone you've never even personally met, but somehow they are part of your daily life?

I have been listening to Steve Dahl daily for the last 8 years or so, just after James and I met. I started listening to him in the afternoons at work until I got home, then they invented the podcast and I began downloading the rest of the show to listen to in the morning. Then last year Steve and Buzz left CKG for mornings on JackFM. I actually liked them mornings, I'd listen on my way to work, then immediately following the show I'd listen to the podcast from the beginning.

Today that part of my life ended. I'm so sad. But its weird because its not like Steve and Buzz were actually my friends or anything, but I spent my days listening to them.

Steve's enthusiasm and excitement about local sports turned me into a sports fan. I even like to hear about hockey.

Steve's antics and quirks have affect my life too. I always call 105.9, Le Douche. I know to always hit the carving station at a buffet and to stay away from the turkey, you'll never eat your money's worth.

At least I have all of the "Best Of's" on my itunes. I'll just have to listen to those until Steve and Buzz find their way back to the air.