organize my finances

I have not been working on this goal at all. Uf.

I have to do a budget to figure out what is possible. These are just some shoot-for-the-stars goals.

Medical insurance: Must get

Emergency fund: 3-6 months take-home pay in readily accessible online account earning 4% or more

Padding: An extra 1K in checking account

Pay off student loan: 5H/month until gone

House fund: Wait until student loan gone, then take over that monthly contribution

Retirement fund: 1K/month in 401K or IRA

Vacation/Travel fund (carpe diem): 2H/month in savings account

I have been paying lots extra every month so I can get rid of these damn loans that have been following me around for almost ten years now. The loan payments keep me from saving money, but I’d rather get out of debt.

Some things I’ve done to be more financially responsible:

Reported fraud on my phone account
Examined my credit/checking accounts
Canceled antivirus (no computer)
Checked my credit report

Plan to:

Cancel gym
Examine phone plan for possible downgrade
Go through mail & pay one-offs
Close store cards
Report stolen card & reassign auto-deductions
Start monthly payment to home-buying account

Some planning is in order:

Post due dates on wall – always pay on time
closely examine credit report – improve as possible
evaluate phone plan – switch to cheaper plan as possible
set up retirement account – use Bach book
Add IRA to bill pay
balance accounts (don’t trust, know!)

I filed my taxes for this year and last year (a little late). Thank God it’s over. I owed for last year, but got a refund for this year so I ended up in the black.

I don’t mean to sound like a commercial, but I went to H&R Block and it was so worth the cost.

I wanted to close my cable account in September. They won’t allow you to cancel over the phone. You have to drop off the equipment at their service center first. I didn’t want to follow their rules. I stopped paying the bill. Once the service was shut off, I packed up the equipment and then kept meaning to return it.

Today I finally had to return the equipment, and pay an outstanding balance of over $200. The worst part is the account wasn’t in my name. I got a worried call from the previous tenant who had received a collection notice.

I am traumatized because this shows I’m not past acting out and being duped by my own powerful denial mechanism. On some level, I knew I was messing up, but I let it reach a crisis point. Now I have to forgive myself (let go of the shame) and learn so I won’t repeat this type of mistake in the future.

Last night I finally dealt with my duty as treasurer for a group. I counted cash for deposit and prepared checks/envelopes to mail payments. Today I’m going to the bank and post office to complete. Phew! This has been hanging over my head for months. My mistake – taking on an extra financial responsibility when I haven’t got my personal finances under control. (Later: did the bank and PO!)

Today payed my bills via my bank’s online bill pay. But I missed some due dates. Must track due dates! I pay too many late fees and probably won’t get letter of recommendation from landlord.

Paid extra on student loan. Also put more money in savings account. I have saved up enough that I can move.

Must check credit report (gulp) and file taxes for 2 years (ugh, didn’t file last year due to procrastination). Must return cable equipment (I canceled cable months ago). I struggle so hard with this.

This goal includes saving for retirement and paying off my college loans.