{Cash Is Fab} How One Girl Resolves to Never Use Plastic Again!

This morning I was cleaning out old files from the computer, aka procrastinating writing my next blog post, when I found an old resolution. I wrote in it December of 2013 but never posted it.   I decided to post it today, however, to show what a year of working toward financial goals looked like for me.  I encourage you to write down your goals so you can have a reference of just how far you have come and then take a step back and acknowledge your progress.  Check out my 2014 financial goals  below:

Cash Is Fab! How One Girl Resolves to Never Use Plastic Again!

Some people hear the word “resolution” and immediately shutter. I on the other hand, look at resolutions as a new beginning… a do over to do better. Hey, if you don’t like the word resolutions, substitute it for goals because everyone knows that goals are AWESOME! This year I resolve to pay off my credit card balance before my birthday in August, kick start my snowball toward financial freedom, and say no to plastic forever (ambitious, right?).   I am working toward this goal by paying a set amount every two weeks (each payment over the monthly minimum) and doing the 52 Week Money Challenge (Bingo Style) every Friday. If I were okay with just paying the minimum, it would take me 4 years, instead of eight months, to complete step one of my financial plan. The Bingo version of the challenge plays a big role in completing my financial resolutions because if I am having a tough financial week, I can pick a lower amount to save. Once the credit card is paid off, my monthly credit card payments (including the 52 Week Challenge savings) will become extra payments to my student loans and so on until I have zero debt. I keep myself motivated by constantly reminding myself and my accountability partner, The Mr., of my ultimate goal to pay of all debt, credit card, student loans, and mortgage in the next ten years. If I can’t afford to pay for it in cash, I can’t afford it!

Currency in envelope

Now, one year later my credit card balance is not a concern because it is non-existent.  I sometimes forget about the stress that carrying a credit card balance had on me.  Yes, I paid my credit card off and before my target date by doing this risky move, which worked and then immediately backfired.  I also think about how my snowball plan for my student loans has been transformed into a snowball for my October wedding expenses to the Mr.  Boy oh boy, what changes can happen in a year.

cropped-logo-twitter2014.jpg

Finish the Sentence: I Resolve to ________

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{Week 9 Update} 52 Week Challenge

Hello Lovelies!  It is Friday, which means it is time to contribute to your 52 Week Savings.  Since restarting my Bingo Style  version of the official money challenge back in January,  I have saved a total of $242.00 that have been applied toward my credit card principal.  I seriously cannot stress just how easy this process is.   I revealed early last year that my credit card balance was up to $5300.00 and paying a little over the minimum + the 52 Bingo Style, I have gotten my balance down to $1899.00.  August 1st, my goal date for a zero balance, is right around the corner and things are starting to really pick up!

Do you want a copy of my Bingo Style Money Sheet?  Email Me!

Happy Saving!

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{Looking for Money} Simple Suggestions to Start Saving Money TODAY!

If I walked in a room and asked everyone who is completely debt free to raise their hands and someone did, I would truly be surprised.  It’s not because I’m unaware of the fact that debt-free people do exist, it’s just because I see an abundance of people from all walks of life trying to get their finances in a better place.  I myself am one of those people.  The inspiration for this post comes after sitting down and looking at my finances for this month.  A wrench was unexpectedly thrown into my financial pattern when a mistake was made on one of my checks (hey, it sucks but it happens).  This caused me to take a closer look at my money.  Where is it going and could I save more?

Here’s what I found:

 I started the morning trying to pay a bill online that I have already paid. What can I say, at the point in the day, I hadn’t gotten my Starbucks fix. Once on the site, though I saw something about saving money with a FREE online Energy Audit from GA Power, so I followed the link. It took less than 10 minutes and it showed me how the changes I have made over the past year have saved me money in a monthly comparison of 2011 to 2012. It also provided some suggestions for home improvements that can increase comfort while lowering monthly bills. According to Energy Star, “a home energy audit is often the first step in making your home more efficient. An audit can help you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve efficiency.”

After the Energy Audit, I checked out my credit card balance (insert sad face).  Just to give a little background, a few years ago I paid off my credit card by paying a set amount ($200 a month) instead of the minimum payment. During that time, I saw the decrease in the balance move rather quickly. Now, after living off of my credit card for  one year + span of not working, then a complete career change with a different kind of salary, my credit card balance hit an all time high. I’ve been working to pay it and the balance is moving in the right direction, but it’s not moving fast enough.  So, I decided to input my information into a credit card payment calculator to find out the timeframe of being credit card debt free.  I added a credit card calculator on the right panel of SMC, but I really like this one from the Consumer’s Alliance because it reveals just how much that credit card is going to cost you, or how you can pay off your existing credit card debt a bit faster.  Now, i have an exact goal date and I understand better how a few dollars can make a big difference in the end. 

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