Mid-Month Progress

This year my main goal(s) is/are geared toward making some progress in my spending and debt reduction. Primarily I am keying on making sure my current necessities (ie. rent, utilities, and defaulted student loan) are paid. As for reducing debt the only one I will focus on at this point in time is the rent I am past due on. My other debts (except for 2 medical bills which arrangements have been made) are past the 7 yr SOL, therefore I will not focus on them as of yet.

I'm not doing well with tracking my daily spending, but having only a savings account without a debit card has helped immensely. In order to get money I have to physically go to the bank and make a withdrawal. The benefit of this, no NSF fees, better documentation of what funds are available in my handy-dandy register, thinking about why I want to withdrawal money, and actually seeing a positive balance in my account. I would like to try and track daily spending but am finding it a bit "difficult". My days are very hectic with 2 jobs and the daily tasks in running our household. I will re-evaluate as the month progresses and see how close I stay on budget.

At the beginning of the month I had the following balances in various monetary accounts:

• Sharebuilders--$177.17
• PayPal--$.20
• Savings--$87.12
• 401k--$250 (approximately)

Income so far for the month:

• Paycheck--$98
• Paycheck--$171 (earmarked for meat order received in December & January not included in this months budget)
• UEC--$175
• Paycheck--$350
• TOTAL--$794

Money Spent & Bills Paid:

• Sharebuilders Commission--$12
• Rent (current)--$100
• Meat Order--$133
• Phone & DSL--$103 (will receive $50 rebate--$46 normal bill)
• Satellite TV--$73
• Dial-up Internet--$22 (temporary till I upgrade my puter)
• Heat--$136
• Loan--$95--Paid in Full
• TOTAL--$674

So far so good A-B should equal approximately $120, my savings account balance is $224.

For the remainder of the month I have the following:

• Paychecks totaling $858 + $120 (from above) = $978
• Water Bill--$120
• Sharebuilders--$17
• Student Loan Payment-$405
• Personal Loan--$50
• Old Checking Account--$330
• Garbage Bill--$15
• Sewer Bill--$32
• Sharebuilders Commission--$12
• TOTAL BILLS--$981

Dag nab-bit I'm $3 short. Hopefully my partner will make an attempt to give me money for the utilities (not counting on it tho). If by chance she does I will then have spending money. Groceries are not an issue other than bread, milk , and cereal.

Overall not too shabby--all bills will be paid!!