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Archive for March, 2013

Happy Friday!

March 29th, 2013 at 11:10 pm

I have been sick all week & worked from home Monday-Wednesday. I went back in office yesterday to handle some month end things that absolutely had to be done. Instead of taking a true sick day, this seems to have lasted longer because I still worked instead of resting.

So today, I took a sick day. I slept most of the day & seem to be feeling better. Rest is really what I needed!

This weekend will be fun - tomorrow friends are coming over for a game night. Frugal and fun - we provide the food & game, they will bring the drinks.

Sunday is Easter dinner at my parents, then another Easter dinner at the boyfriend's parents. Yummy food!

New Job - Part II !!!

March 28th, 2013 at 11:21 pm

To address some of the comments/questions from the previous post, I figured starting a new one made sense.

I am still super excited about the job change! And the additional money, of course!

Creditcardfree - I see where you are going with the question. Although I know I will likely be asked to leave, the norm is that I am still paid the 2 weeks. I also do not know for sure that I will be asked to leave the day I give notice. To keep a good relationship, I do want to offer them the full 2 weeks notice.

Snafu - the benefits are as good as my current position. Distance is not an issue either as both are within 10 minutes driving distance of my home.

This new position will have a learning curve as any job in my industry, but I am looking foward to every challenge!

As for a holiday, I won't be giving notice until next Friday and I start the new position on April 22nd. I will just have almost 30 days between pay period. I may or may not get some vacation time based on whether they ask me to leave the day I give notice or not (I am hoping yes so that I can take some time, get the house in order, ect).

Patient Saver - no - I am not leaving any money. I have been planning this. I used my personal days already (3) and 2 sick days. Everything else will be paid out, so I used the non-payout options first for days off.

I won't have any flex spending to do as I used more than I contributed already. I will actually end up owing about $100 back to them. This was accounted for in my $900-1000 figure that I think I will get paid out at the end of my employment.

I also have insurance going through the end of April, so I am getting a normal dentists appt in. I also refilled all my maintenance meds so that I have plenty during the transition.

In preparation for the new position, I am currently jumping through the normal hoops. I am also planning on doing a little business clothes shopping as my current work wardrobe is uber-casual and I need to be more of a business casual. I DO plan on sticking to a budget though Smile

New job!

March 28th, 2013 at 02:18 am

After I had the phone interview 2 weeks ago, I had an actual interview last Thursday. I was supposed to interview with 2 people, but one did not come due to a conflict.

The position was a little different than I originally thought it was. The person that I met with and I had a nice conversation but I did not get a 'connection' vibe. When I left, I did not feel that it had gone that well.

However, I received a call from HR on Monday. They offered me the new position. $15k more than what I make now! I know, I was completely under-employed before this.

So now, I have a start date of 4/22. I will give my current position 2 weeks notice, but they will probably have me leave the day I give notice (normal for my industry).

Leaving my current position, I will be paid my normal salary 3/29. Because I give my notice prior to the next payday, that one will be held to account for any other money owed in/out.

-I will get paid out acrued (unused) vacation time
-paid out 16.00 hours of floating holidays
-owe $116.00 to HSA (for prefunded usage)

All in all, I will gross approximately $900. This, plus my last paycheck, will come around 4/30. So essentially, my 4/15 paycheck will be missed (timing-wise).

The new position pays bi-weekly and I think it will take effect to be paid for the first time on 5/3.

Right now, my extra cash flow money is going into a savings fund. As Dave Ramsey calls it, a storm cloud fund. Once the new pay starts, I will be throwing all the extra funds at debt (leaving a $1000 baby efund plus my cashflow catagories).

I still can't believe that I got the job AND negotiated a 15k increase!

Phone Interview today!

March 11th, 2013 at 10:52 pm

I have a steady job, but I really want to get out of the environment that I am in. The job is changing locations and I don't want to drive into town every day.

So I have started job searching. I have been slow with it as there is no urgency and today I had a phone interview with the HR of one of the companies. I feel that it went very well. I enjoyed hearing about the position and I am hoping that I get to the next stage and get a face to face interview. Wish me luck!

In other news, I have tomorrow's food packed. Cereal for breakfast & salad & sandwhich for lunch. Yum!

Coming Clean - completely

March 7th, 2013 at 03:09 pm

I have mentioned getting back into debt over the last 2 years. I admitted it a while back and was pretty upset with myself.

NOw I am sharing the #s with you guys. Please be kind. I DO Have a plan to get this paid off. It starts with a $1012 payment being sent to the AMZ cc. ON will be paid off in the next 30days.

ON $122.56
AMZ $1031.56
FRE $2715.50
DIV $3487
DIS $4343.09
ELA $5739.78

TOTAL: $17,439.49

Additional debt:
HELOC: $1892.33
CAR: $6640.85

TOTAL DEBT - $25,752.21

Fun with Freebies!

March 5th, 2013 at 03:16 pm

Freebies have been appearing a lot lately. I got a huge mail rush of samples - shampoo, conditioner, lotion, feminine stuff, ect.

I received a free nail file from a friend's 31 party.

My sister moved & 'lent' me her new grill & deck table/chairs. She also decluttered and gave me a magic bullet & small george foreman grill. Woohoo!

My parents are cleaning out my grandmother's house & my mom brought over some never used purses to look at. I ended up taking 2 very nice, still with tags purses.

My friend is lending me the Beautiful Creatures books.

I have been earning swagbucks like crazy. Just cashed in points for 2 more $5 Amazon gift cards. I also have 2 coupons for free 12 packs of coke coming from mycoke rewards.

Yay freebies!

Budget & Spending are all over the place

March 4th, 2013 at 10:55 pm

I am trying to knuckle down after a few crazy weeks. I haven't gone overboard with spending, but I also have not been as good with the tracking.

On President's day weekend, the boyfriend & I bought a queen mattress set for $899. Planned & budgeted & cost split in half.

I have been focusing on geting extra funds through mypoints, swagbucks, cashcrate, inbox dollars, ect to go to Christmas.

I keep having tp update my budget for cost increases in things like prescription cat food and gas.

The next few months will be busy, entertainment-wise.
-I am having friends over for dinner one night this week.
-My boyfriend's nephew's birthday party is this weekend.
-Annual beach weekend trip on the 16th. Staying at a friend's place, but dinner, drinks & gas will be somewhat costly
-Late March, we are seeing the comedian Demitri Martin. Tickets already paid for, but dinner out will probably go with it
-Friends are having a game night at the end of the month (will bring an app or side)
-April brings a friends wedding shower & bachelorette party
-The BF & I are heading to New York for a play & weekend (co-Christmas & Birthday gifts)
-We have an overnight at a bed & breakfast (free from last year's missed reservation)
-The end of April is my birthday. We are having a very frugal party at the house!
-And in May, the only obligation I currently have is a good friend's wedding. This will require a room stay, but they were able to get a great discount rate!