So, I've got to start afresh and get this thing back in gear. The good thing about it all is that I know I can do it because I've done it before.
Goals for 2009:
1) pay off all unsecured debt
2) pay off car
3) save all receipts to track spending
4) purchase a safe to begin keeping cash in envelopes(I live in Chicago. Can't risk a stash getting stolen).
Too many goals and I'm bound to fail. And now, the ugly details.
Credit
American Express: 1879
Chase: 3200
Orchardbank 1: 574.82
Orchardbank 2: 240
CFNA: 577
Capital One: 456.67
HFC: 2749
total: 9676.49
Secured debt
Car: $7800
On the horizon, at least, I am making extra money from tutoring at the moment. I will also be coaching softball this spring, which is an extra 4K. I have decided, however, that since I'm coaching softball, I will not teach summer school. A girl's gotta have a break if you know what I mean. Who knows, though. If an announcement goes around requesting teachers desperately, I may cave 
Extra money is extra money.
Also in the mix is the issue of our housing situation. Our landlord is in foreclosure, which is extremely frightening. Rent for a 3 bedroom apartment is $1800 (for something decent--and not necessarily good). I have a 5 year old (ooh, gotta change that on my profile--it's his birthday today) and will not subject him to some roach infested hell hole to make it a point to save up 20% for a house, therefore...I am planning on borrowing 5K from my parents so we can attain an FHA loan on a house. Property has come WAY down and thus, we can find something decent and pay even less than we're paying in rent now. Chicago is a large city and rent is skyrocketing with higher demand. I know, I've got a lot going on.
So I hope to use the 7,500 tax credit we would obtain in addition to the rest of our tax return to pay off my parents and pay down some of the debt. Our budget is quite solid and we have plenty extra every month for us to hammer that debt to the moon. I won't share my goals for student loans until I've paid all of the other yucky stuff down.
Comment at will.
The ugly details
January 14th, 2009 at 05:16 pm
January 14th, 2009 at 05:20 pm 1231953611
January 14th, 2009 at 05:31 pm 1231954276
But just wanted to add, could be considerable income tax savings as well.
Good Luck!
January 14th, 2009 at 05:36 pm 1231954581
January 14th, 2009 at 06:05 pm 1231956303
January 14th, 2009 at 06:21 pm 1231957268
January 14th, 2009 at 06:44 pm 1231958660
Good luck with the house hunt and with all the other goals.
January 14th, 2009 at 06:47 pm 1231958824
By a little under what you can afford. Remodel one room at a time with cash and never take a shortcut when it comes to maintenance. You will do just fine. God bless.
January 15th, 2009 at 02:34 am 1231986867
January 15th, 2009 at 05:00 am 1231995614
January 18th, 2009 at 03:41 am 1232250101