Thursday, March 08, 2012
Lazy Day...
I had the best lazy day ever!!! Migraine subsided around 1pm and I got caught up on One Tree Hill, Law & Order, my reality TV and BET shows. I won't get into all of the Girl Scout cookies I ate today. Nope...I won't tell you about all that sugar!!! Well I didn't spend any money today. :-)
Migraine...
It's amazing how your body will eventually tell you to slow down. The last two months have been crazy busy traveling for work, meeting deadlines, doing some legal work on the side, and negotiating and accepting a new job offer...etc. It's been non-stop and my weekends have been super busy with minimal downtime. Well it caught up to me and I'm exhausted with a migraine. It's a little better now but it was pretty bad. I had to call off work today and I am going to try to relax if I can remember how to relax.
Have a good day!
Have a good day!
Monday, March 05, 2012
New Job & Condo Update...
New Job:
I have been hard at work over the last year on special projects to try to differentiate myself from my peers and gain some exposure. I was offered and accepted a new position in Risk Management at the Bank. I am excited and nervous about the transition and it's pretty bitter-sweet because I love my current team. The new division made me an offer I couldn't refuse. My salary is going from ~ $80k to $100k and my bonus potential is much higher than it is now. With little prospect for growth in my current position, I accepted the job offer and I start my new position in April. Things moved really fast because they approached me and I wasn't actively looking for a new position. It's still very nice that I was on the short list and my efforts were recognized.
That being said, I will have some improvement in my monthly cash flow. Thumbs Up!!!
Condo Update:
I spoke to a Realtor and I am also considering trying to sell my condo and move back home with my Mom and Dad for a year. This will allow me to accelerate the payoff of my private student loans. With current market values, I am not sure if this is possible but the Realtor is willing to market the property so long as I agree to do it for at least 6 months. I am trying to decide if and how much I am willing to buy my way out if necessary in order to improve my financial situation long-term.
The thing about my condo building is that it needs major work (Woodwork and a New Roof) and I can see a special assessment in the $10k range within the next year. So instead of paying the $10k special assessment and then having to pay my way out of a sale in another year or two, I am considering how I can pay my way out now and save myself some money over the long haul. One thing I do know, I really don't want to be living where I am in the next 3-5 years.
So that also being said, I am considering renting out my condo in the event I am unable to sell it.
I have been hard at work over the last year on special projects to try to differentiate myself from my peers and gain some exposure. I was offered and accepted a new position in Risk Management at the Bank. I am excited and nervous about the transition and it's pretty bitter-sweet because I love my current team. The new division made me an offer I couldn't refuse. My salary is going from ~ $80k to $100k and my bonus potential is much higher than it is now. With little prospect for growth in my current position, I accepted the job offer and I start my new position in April. Things moved really fast because they approached me and I wasn't actively looking for a new position. It's still very nice that I was on the short list and my efforts were recognized.
That being said, I will have some improvement in my monthly cash flow. Thumbs Up!!!
Condo Update:
I spoke to a Realtor and I am also considering trying to sell my condo and move back home with my Mom and Dad for a year. This will allow me to accelerate the payoff of my private student loans. With current market values, I am not sure if this is possible but the Realtor is willing to market the property so long as I agree to do it for at least 6 months. I am trying to decide if and how much I am willing to buy my way out if necessary in order to improve my financial situation long-term.
The thing about my condo building is that it needs major work (Woodwork and a New Roof) and I can see a special assessment in the $10k range within the next year. So instead of paying the $10k special assessment and then having to pay my way out of a sale in another year or two, I am considering how I can pay my way out now and save myself some money over the long haul. One thing I do know, I really don't want to be living where I am in the next 3-5 years.
So that also being said, I am considering renting out my condo in the event I am unable to sell it.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
No Refinance Under Obama's Plan...
I am a little...no REALLY BUMMED!!!! I was looking into refinancing my mortgage under Obama's new plan with Bank of America but due to the new Bank of America guidelines, refinancing my mortgage wouldn't have saved me a thing and it would have taken years to break even. At most, it would save me about $60/month as my rate went from 5.875% to 5.25% but it would have cost me almost $2k in fees. Where is the deal in that when rates are so low?
The biggest reason I am so bummed is that my student loan payments are going from $1,162 to $1,410 in June and I needed to try to find somewhere to save and offset the increase. BUMMED!!!
So my credit score is through the roof (800), I have never missed a single payment to anyone EVER and I can't qualify for a lower rate because the market values have tanked, there is virtually no market for selling condos in the Chicagoland area and I went to school to invest in my education and my monthly student loan payment is higher than my mortgage payment and my assessments included!!! So is this why people walk away from their homes? I owe about $120K on a property that may be worth $70K.
Okay....Bummed!!! BUT....Thankful I can still meet all my monthly obligations!!!
The biggest reason I am so bummed is that my student loan payments are going from $1,162 to $1,410 in June and I needed to try to find somewhere to save and offset the increase. BUMMED!!!
So my credit score is through the roof (800), I have never missed a single payment to anyone EVER and I can't qualify for a lower rate because the market values have tanked, there is virtually no market for selling condos in the Chicagoland area and I went to school to invest in my education and my monthly student loan payment is higher than my mortgage payment and my assessments included!!! So is this why people walk away from their homes? I owe about $120K on a property that may be worth $70K.
Okay....Bummed!!! BUT....Thankful I can still meet all my monthly obligations!!!
Monday, February 06, 2012
Bonus Application and Update...
I am moving right along through February.
I paid off the credit card I was using the last few months which was right around $5k so all I have left is the $20k card that I have been paying off for a few years now. I can't wait for that card to go away too! I did transfer it back to Chase for a 1% transfer fee and 1.99% interest rate until April of 2013. With my bonus, I paid off the $5k card, replenished my Efund and put the remaining $3k into savings for health/auto expenses. My car needs some work and I may need surgery this year so that money is already earmarked.
I did a real estate closing on Friday and scored $400 in business income. Not bad. My legal/business expenses each year total approximately $2,600 and it includes primarily my attorney registration, state annual filings, professional liability insurance and email/fax service. I tend to have to pay for it out of pocket because I don't have much time to do legal work so I am excited that I did some work to offset those expenses. Yeah Chitown! I am entertaining more calls and legal opportunities so I can put this law degree to use.
That's about it for now folks. I went skiing with my family on Saturday and that was a lot of fun. Work is super busy right now so I have to stay focused to meet some deadlines. I am still exercising and bringing my lunch more often. I will start running again in March. All is well on my end!!! Wishing you all a great week!!! =)
I paid off the credit card I was using the last few months which was right around $5k so all I have left is the $20k card that I have been paying off for a few years now. I can't wait for that card to go away too! I did transfer it back to Chase for a 1% transfer fee and 1.99% interest rate until April of 2013. With my bonus, I paid off the $5k card, replenished my Efund and put the remaining $3k into savings for health/auto expenses. My car needs some work and I may need surgery this year so that money is already earmarked.
I did a real estate closing on Friday and scored $400 in business income. Not bad. My legal/business expenses each year total approximately $2,600 and it includes primarily my attorney registration, state annual filings, professional liability insurance and email/fax service. I tend to have to pay for it out of pocket because I don't have much time to do legal work so I am excited that I did some work to offset those expenses. Yeah Chitown! I am entertaining more calls and legal opportunities so I can put this law degree to use.
That's about it for now folks. I went skiing with my family on Saturday and that was a lot of fun. Work is super busy right now so I have to stay focused to meet some deadlines. I am still exercising and bringing my lunch more often. I will start running again in March. All is well on my end!!! Wishing you all a great week!!! =)
Monday, January 23, 2012
January Update...
Howdy!!!
January has been fun and interesting. In 2011, I got baptized for the first time and I started going to Church regularly in September. When you go through all the things I went through in the past few years, there comes a time in your life when you realize you just can't go about it alone. So, I had to rely on faith because I swear there were times when I felt there was only something or someone Supernatural keeping me on my feet...especially when I wanted to fall to my knees and couldn't get out of bed. Today, I smile! Today, I feel joy! That my friends, is progress and love!
Despite all the trials in 2011, I scored by first ever Distinguished Rating at work. Only about 2% of of employees score this rating so you know I worked my tush off in 2011!!! I volunteered for special projects and really focused on doing an exceptional job in the office. It paid off!!! I got a 4% raise effective at the end of this month. My salary is now $82k and I got a $16k bonus that also pays out at the end of the month. I have a credit card I've been using that I need to pay off and then I will be able to breathe a little easier!!!
Budgeting for 2012 has been a challenge! It seems like all of my expenses are jumping up including my student loans going up another $250 in June and my train pass going up 30%. Budget issues are being passed along to the consumer big time but I am hanging in there. I am going to look into refinancing my home with Obama's new plan which will allow me to take advantage of a lower interest rate without having to ruin my credit or miss a payment. The closing costs are less than $2k so in one year, I will break even if I can reduce my rate from 5.8% to low 4%.
My boss asked me on Wednesday of last week to fly out on the drop of a dime for business. I was on a flight the very same night. Fun! I couldn't get back on Friday because my flight was cancelled due to Chicago's snow storm so I made it back on Saturday. Since I let my corporate card expire, I had to use my personal credit card so I will be putting in for reimbursement this week.
That's about it my friends. How did you guys do with your finances in 2011? What are your goals for 2012?
January has been fun and interesting. In 2011, I got baptized for the first time and I started going to Church regularly in September. When you go through all the things I went through in the past few years, there comes a time in your life when you realize you just can't go about it alone. So, I had to rely on faith because I swear there were times when I felt there was only something or someone Supernatural keeping me on my feet...especially when I wanted to fall to my knees and couldn't get out of bed. Today, I smile! Today, I feel joy! That my friends, is progress and love!
Despite all the trials in 2011, I scored by first ever Distinguished Rating at work. Only about 2% of of employees score this rating so you know I worked my tush off in 2011!!! I volunteered for special projects and really focused on doing an exceptional job in the office. It paid off!!! I got a 4% raise effective at the end of this month. My salary is now $82k and I got a $16k bonus that also pays out at the end of the month. I have a credit card I've been using that I need to pay off and then I will be able to breathe a little easier!!!
Budgeting for 2012 has been a challenge! It seems like all of my expenses are jumping up including my student loans going up another $250 in June and my train pass going up 30%. Budget issues are being passed along to the consumer big time but I am hanging in there. I am going to look into refinancing my home with Obama's new plan which will allow me to take advantage of a lower interest rate without having to ruin my credit or miss a payment. The closing costs are less than $2k so in one year, I will break even if I can reduce my rate from 5.8% to low 4%.
My boss asked me on Wednesday of last week to fly out on the drop of a dime for business. I was on a flight the very same night. Fun! I couldn't get back on Friday because my flight was cancelled due to Chicago's snow storm so I made it back on Saturday. Since I let my corporate card expire, I had to use my personal credit card so I will be putting in for reimbursement this week.
That's about it my friends. How did you guys do with your finances in 2011? What are your goals for 2012?
Friday, January 06, 2012
2011 Recap and Update…
I know it’s been a while people but I am alive and well!!!
2011 was an interesting year for Chitown. I had some ups and some downs but in
the end…I am still standing!!! I suffered a break up, I got serious food
poisoning, my grandmother passed away, my father had emergency quintuple bypass
surgery and I got the news that I will need another surgery next year. Is that
some craziness or what?!?!?!
I started out the year very focused following Dave Ramsey’s
program and starting my goal of running a 13.1 Mile Half Marathon. I did well
financially for about 9 months and then I went on a mental lapse and put back
on some credit card debt. I shouldn’t have but I did. I also put back on about
10 of the 18 pounds that I lost as well.
I ended the year with a $12k improvement in my net worth and
down 8 pounds. I finished one half-marathon with a time of 2:33 but got serious
food poisoning the day before the second half marathon. I landed myself in
Urgent Care for 2 IV’s and a few shots the day before the race. Needless to
say, that trip to Urgent Care dashed my exercise program and put me in a funk.
I also incurred about $750 in medical bills. So September 11th, I
cheered on my brother-in-law and he finished the race for both of us.
The following month of October on a Wednesday, my
Grandmother finally succumbed to Alzheimers and within a few days, my Father
landed himself in the ER with chest pains. My world and my mind were spinning!!!
We spent the next two weeks in the hospital with him as he went through
angioplasty and then emergency quintuple bypass. He is now home and going
through cardiac rehab.
So the last four months, I didn’t have the focus for
budgeting and I whipped out the credit card and just went with the flow. That’s
about it folks. I updated my Networthiq profile so you can see my
month-to-month progress through 2011. Just click on the blue chart and it will take you to the site. I also updated my little progress charts on the right bar.
I have to sit down and set some new goals for 2012!!! I am
really excited about this year and I hope to come on here a little more often
and give some updates. =)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Update...
Struggling a bit and I have to hit the reset button!
All is really well. I haven't gone into any more debt, my $1,000 eFund is still in tact and I lost 17 lbs since April 1st. Not bad. However, my spending has been a bit out of control this month and my eating has been just awful this week. I have to reel myself back in before I start looking at the credit card again and hiding from the scale.
Some of the things I have found difficult are rebounding emotionally from the $1,500 in car repairs and balancing the grocery/food budget while trying to eat better, cook healthier recipes and train for the Chicago Half Marathon. I needed running hear, I registered for races, groceries are expensive, recipes are expensive to make, and quite frankly I am getting really tired of tracking every single dollar and every single WW point but I still do it religiously.
What do I want? To continue losing weight, to be emotionally okay with gradual progress with my finances and weight loss, to keep a smile on my face and to feel good more than I feel bad. That's what I want. I want to be able to have the time, money and ability to focus on what matters most to me and continue to achieve higher levels of happiness.
I still enjoy my job even though it's non legal. I really love the people that I work with and the organization so I am in no rush to leave any time soon. I have been picking up more complex assignments/files and getting opportunities to work on special projects and that will bode well with my annual review and hopefully reflect positively with next year's bonus and raise.
I am down from 180-163 lbs and I am up to running 6 miles. My goal is 140 lbs and to complete the Chicago 13 Mile Half Marathon in September. My debt has declined, my net worth continues to improve and I update my net worth iq chart and the charts in the right column every month.
So...all is well and I am sorry about the lack of posting. It just hasn't been in my heart to analyze every day and week but I am tracking everything and keeping afloat. How have you been readers?
All is really well. I haven't gone into any more debt, my $1,000 eFund is still in tact and I lost 17 lbs since April 1st. Not bad. However, my spending has been a bit out of control this month and my eating has been just awful this week. I have to reel myself back in before I start looking at the credit card again and hiding from the scale.
Some of the things I have found difficult are rebounding emotionally from the $1,500 in car repairs and balancing the grocery/food budget while trying to eat better, cook healthier recipes and train for the Chicago Half Marathon. I needed running hear, I registered for races, groceries are expensive, recipes are expensive to make, and quite frankly I am getting really tired of tracking every single dollar and every single WW point but I still do it religiously.
What do I want? To continue losing weight, to be emotionally okay with gradual progress with my finances and weight loss, to keep a smile on my face and to feel good more than I feel bad. That's what I want. I want to be able to have the time, money and ability to focus on what matters most to me and continue to achieve higher levels of happiness.
I still enjoy my job even though it's non legal. I really love the people that I work with and the organization so I am in no rush to leave any time soon. I have been picking up more complex assignments/files and getting opportunities to work on special projects and that will bode well with my annual review and hopefully reflect positively with next year's bonus and raise.
I am down from 180-163 lbs and I am up to running 6 miles. My goal is 140 lbs and to complete the Chicago 13 Mile Half Marathon in September. My debt has declined, my net worth continues to improve and I update my net worth iq chart and the charts in the right column every month.
So...all is well and I am sorry about the lack of posting. It just hasn't been in my heart to analyze every day and week but I am tracking everything and keeping afloat. How have you been readers?
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