Admin note: Well, I have been hacked! Someone stole my template and ruined the look of the blog. I have been mulling over moving to Wordpress due to having problems registering this site on various feeds. Labels: Tomfoolery
I have decided to hold back paying off my student loans and focus on building the emergency fund. If I find a buyer, I would have to cough up about $10K in realtor fees and taxes. Did I say I cannot wait until this house is sold? My realtor's daughter is getting married on 16 Aug, so nothing is really happening until that is over. I do need until about Oct to build up the reserves. I almost paid it off until I posted the question on MSN's your money message board. The consensus was to not take out a loan for the $10K and stop paying on the SL. It was not a prudent move, rather an emotional one to pay of my SL.
Anywho, will keep you upadted once I figure out what to do with this blog.
GI Jane
My travels in the states are coming to an end. I have one more pit stop to make before heading back to Japan on Thursday. It has been pretty expensive--with the rental cars and shopping sprees. First, on the rental cars, I will have to pay $287.50 for Maryland and about the same for Chicago. Budget rental car was the business. There was not a line, my car was a brand new Hyundai. They were very efficient and close to the BWI airport. Labels: Financial distractions
I had decided to use Thifty at O'Hare. The distance is a many more miles away from the airport. They took nearly an hour to process the three people in front of me. Handed out the wrong car to the person in front and then later to me. The Chrysler Town and Country minivan was nice, but did not need that much room and do not want to pay to fill that tank. So, I promptly returned it, dragging my luggage behind me. In return, I got a cigarette stained and smudged Chrysler Sebring, for the same price it would have cost for the mini-van. If I did not have a 1300 hrs hair appointment, I would have returned it. A complete nightmare. Note to self, do not ever rent from Thrifty again.
I went on a final shopping spree at my favorite mall. A beautiful dress from Banana Republic was calling my name, along with several other blouses. The final damage was $500 dollars, until I applied for a Banana Republic card and received 20% off. It works out well, because I pay off the card promptly and close it. I also got some stuff at the BR and Ann Taylor outlet in Maryland for about $600.
Vacations are always a setback. Especially if I live somewhere where stuff my size are not readily available or stores I like are not there. My budget right now is a joke. But, I still need to aggressively pay off Sallie Mae in August.
Maybe, my per diem will be a little windfall.
GI Jane
I reevaluate my budget every two weeks. Labels: Cash crunch
Upcoming Budget:
Salliemae: $500
Current balance is $4951.95
Amex: $1076.81
I plan on clearing this off in a couple of days. This includes the New York trip and spa visit. I tried a body wrap Tuscany treatment. The treatment had me slathered in volcanic mud and rinsed off with a Vichy shower. The Vichy shower was cool. I also had a massage due to my neck killing me for the past couple of weeks. The deep tissue massage was very painful. The spa visit was $240. In Japan, a massage is like $20 without tip, for an hour! The Onsen (spa) with an hour scrub/massage and entrance fee is about $56. Can't wait to get back.
IRA: $198.41
Emerging Markets, European Stock fund and Bonds (30% of the money)
Auto/house Insurance: $145.59
I may make an extra Salliemae payment of $500 to bring the balance to $4451. My property tax payment of $1,600 is due in August. The good news is that I expect about $1,000 in per diem after I file my travel voucher.
I have one more week of class. I plan on flying to Chicago on Saturday, staying there for 6 days and flying to Japan. I am so not looking forward to the long plane ride. United Airlines suck big time. The lack of leg room was like sitting in a box for 10 hours. I do not know how obese and tall people can deal with that.
Once I make it back, my cash impulses should settle down. Yesterday, I stayed in and did not spend one dime. Today, I plan on going to a birthday party in D.C. for one of my classmates. It should be fun.
GI Jane
I just saw a wonderful play, "In the Heights," on Broadway this past weekend. I always make sure to see a show when travelling to the east coast. It was not cheap. Here's my expenses that will be out of my cash flow: Labels: Financial distractions
$230 for the Millennium Hotel
$135 ticket for Broadway show (already paid)
$250 round trip Amtrak (could not believe how expensive it was)
Regular expenses:
$ 767 mortgage on house up for sale
$933 rental house
$145 house/auto insurance
$400 Roth IRA
$1000 Salliemae
$39.15 cable
$15 O'club dues
Grand total: 3299.15
Anticipated utilities for house on market ???
Gotta to run...more to follow.
GI Jane
I adore my baby brother. We are seven years apart, but he is turning the big 3-0 in a couple of months. I always worried about him since he started ditching high school. He was on the wrestling team, until the absences proved too much for the coach. I think attending high school regularly is a life skill of stick-to-it-tiveness. He also underachieves and easily distracted. Labels: Aim high
Finally, he started working full-time for the past year. It does not pay much...about $9.50 an hour. He has been living like a rock star for so long, that it actually works a 9-5 now is great progress. I just want to step in and rescue him from the minor debts ($5k student loan and collection debt), so he can restart his life unencumbered.
Brother can make more at my dad's job, but he is so hard headed. My goal is to try and convince him when I visit in a couple of weeks. Wish me luck, he needs it.
GI Jane
OK, it has been a week back in the states. It was a horrific 10 hours to Chicago. The seats had no leg room whatsoever, and I am only 66 inches. United decided to add an additional section called Economy Plus where you can get 5 more inches of legroom. I seriously considered it at the kiosk, but not at a price of $700 more. United is on crack. I really need to figure out the point system, so I can upgrade to first class. Labels: Living the good life
This school I am in has a lot of homework. I have to write a massive essay that is due tomorrow. The instructor had the nerve to email more case studies to read over the weekend. Today's goals are to:
1. Write essay/read case studies
2. Do laundry
3. Exercise
Yesterday, was my free day and prep for the essay. I saw Wanted--which was awesome. I decided to update my wardrobe for a mere $350. I purchased three dresses, one skirt, two Romeo and Juliet t-shirts and two necklaces. Not bad, love being next to an outlet mall. I actually got a coupon for Of 5th Ave: buy one, get one item 50% off from 30 Jun-6 July.
Last night, before drifting to sleep, I remembered all of the bills awaiting me upon my return home. My property manager emailed me about owing her $129 for fixing the washer. I still owe $1600 in property taxes in August. The good news is my student loans will be about $4900 on 1 July. I have about $6000 in emergency savings. I wish it could be used to wipe it out entirely. But my house is still on the market, and will come out of pocket. Today, is an open house with another price reduction--the same amount I paid for it in 2004. Sigh.
At least I found my missing decoration.
GI Jane