Pay and Bonus Day!

Ok, so my bonus was less than I calculated it to be, so it must not be 1% of the gross, probably the net amount, or some things aren't part of the calculation. The bonus: $237.86
$200 of it went to my student loan (which should put it to about $550 - I'll post the final "calculation" at the end of the month to account for my regular $100 monthly payment and interest cost).

Other "payments" for this end of the month paycheque:
-$350.00 Rent
-$100.00 Public Transportation Pass
-$100.00 Student Loan regular payment
-$50.00 Emergency Fund
-$50.00 Travel Fund
-$50.00 RRSP
-$100.00 to BF (I've owed him money from Christmas, this is it though!)
-$109.52 gym (I haven't even gone in Jan yet! Going this Saturday FOR SURE!!! and more regularly starting next week)
=$259.27
Of which I have already spent:
-$40.00 cash *let's see how long it lasts . . .
-$22.60 HMV (CD store)
=$196.67

But, with no real plans to spend this money on anything (other than bunny supplies and some groceries), let's see if I can make it to the next pay without using my credit cards, or even better, not use my credit cards AND have some money over.

We'll see . . . TTFN Morgaine

I did a bad bad thing

So, only 2 weeks into the new year and a few resolutions are already been cheated on.

1) I've ate fast food - no McDonald's, yet. but I had Arby's last night
2) I haven't been to the gym yet this year and the last time I went was before Christmas - oops!
3) I've spent money on my credit card.

#3 is particularly bad (and since this is a financial blog, I will go into particular detail). Not only did I put a shirt on my credit card, I took a cash advance! I ran out of money to pay my cell phone bill and I wouldn't have any money for anything else for the next week if I didn't. My bank account is now at $0

So, this also erases my $200 payment on my credit card.

I've owed by BF money from Christmas so I've been paying him back and putting myself off my budget and "in the hole" before I even start (kinda like being in overdraft). I owe him $100 more and I'm trying REALLY hard not to borrow again (even though I took money from my credit card that I have to pay interest on - wait, that's really dumb! Oh well, too late). So, hopefully next month will be the REAL fresh start. Jan 1st seems like such an arbitrary date anyways.

Also, I'm supposed to be getting a "bonus" (technically 1% of the commission my boss makes) but I haven't gotten it yet (I'm my bank account everyday with fingers crossed). So, I'm sure this will help as well. Although I haven't 100% decided what I'm going to do with it.

Choices:

100% on consolidation loan
100% on Mastercard
100% on Visa
100% on Student Loan
Splitting it up in some way
OR keeping some or all as a "buffer" so that I'm not constantly running paycheque to paycheque.

The problem with this idea is that I am a spender. If I have money, I spend it. So, while this sounds like a good idea to stop borrowing, it may end up that I spend this money too and be no farther ahead in my debt repayment.

So, I'm not sure yet. If anyone reads this blog, I would LOVE suggestions.

TTFN

Week 1 2010

Income $1161.53
Debt$500
Savings $150
Food $57.75
Personal Care & Home $63
Gifts $0
Entertainment $134.52
Other $21.76
Transportation $100
Cash $40
Total Spending $1067.03
Left Over $94.50
In bank $247.49 (some left over from last pay).

New Year, New Start

Ok, so 2010. This is THE year that I get mostly out of debt. I say mostly because in order to pay off all my debt this year, it would require monthly payments of over $2000 and since I make just over $2000 a month, its not possible. However, I AM determined to pay off a significant chunk of the debt and keep my expenses more in line with what I actually make. I'm going to use this blog as a progress tracker. Let's hope 2010 brings with it the willpower I need to meet my goals!