HouseHopeful's Personal Finance Blog

Back again, just in time for a new month!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:54:48 PST

Well, the surgery went well. Thanks to all the well wishers! It was NOT cancer, so this will be the end of it. The only process now is to treat the scar on my neck and hope that it becomes minimal soon

Its been a week since the surgery. I am going back to work Wednesday. I used...

Could Be Worse - Gotta have surgery

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:07:57 PST

Turns out I have a pretty big nodule on the thyroid and this Monday, I went to a specialist. Im going to have surgery and half my thyroid removed. IF while they remove that half, the pathology comes back cancer, they will remove the whole thryoid. But the chance of cancer is about...

Raise/benefits, roommate & part time job Stuff

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:48:50 PST

Well, I've never really put it out there, but here goes. I got a raise & my new annual salary is $41,000.00.

Per my work information, the company's estimated yearly cost of benefits are as follows:

Retirement $1325.83
401k Match $2328
Health & Income Protection: $3817.20
Social...

Snow pics - totally OT :)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:00:41 PST

LOTs of snow. There's a state of emergency & all the roads are pretty much unpassable. BUT the retail chain I work for (part time) is going to open the store despite the mall being closed. Guess who is not going in? I'm going to miss my 8 hours of pay. But I'm not gonna risk my safety...

Wowza!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:20:07 PST

So I did a tentative run of my taxes. I always do them by hand AND online to ensure I'm not missing anything. And the first version I did says I'll get back $1331 federal and 397 state!

I had some extreme things happen that caused my itemized deductions to greatly change my taxes....

Been a while

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:13:47 PST

January was not my best month But I'm working on February!

I had a party Saturday - spent about $22 on food and jello shots. It was BYOB. We played board games, friends brought additional food and we all had a GREAT time.

I started the month off with a No-Spender! Tomorrow,...

Rental Income

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:52:01 PST

The agreement with my new roomie gives him a little leeway with getting me money for the first month. Since he's paying double rent for January only (rent at his old place & at mine).

I'm working hard to plan out where the money goes. Jan will be weird since I used some of the...

Prepping for the Roommate/Home Repairs (long)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:41:52 PST

So the roommate moves in Saturday. I bought some stuff to put rods in both the closets in his room. Then I took the longer rod back out because it wasn't stable. I tried using another type of rod, but that didn't work. Finally, my dad helped me find a bigger pole and helped me out...

Good News, Prescription Plan-wise

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:28:30 PST

So, I take a medication that my Employer's contract says has an over the counter equal. Its not exactly the same & the over the counter does not help my condition. So I pay for taking a "Preferred" medication. Last year, they FINALLY came out with a generic version, but the plan still...

Finding a good handyman

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:13:50 PST

LOL. Sometimes its who you know! My mom's old coworker's son in law does handyman work. And apparently is VERY reliable (from references).

I called to have him give me an estimate on replacing an existing ceiling fan & light in my living room. I'm just not comfortable tackling...

Finding a good handyman

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:08:49 PST

Mold not so bad afterall

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:43:47 PST

So, I returned to the basement last night to find that most of the mold that had been attacked by bleach was dead. It appears that scrubbing isnt as necessary as time is! So I am holding off on calling the experts and am having another bleach/water spray session. Here's hoping!!

I...

Already off to a (SOMEWHAT) good start!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:58:46 PST

Well, Thursday, the seasonal part time job asked me if I wanted to stay on. They think they have a position for me. WOO HOO!!

Also, I was put in touch with a friend of a friend who was looking for a place to stay. We met today, he saw the house, we hit it off & he is moving in....

2010 Goals - Financial & Otherwise

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:50:47 PST

Happy New Year to All!

2010 Goals - I will review monthly around the 1st day of the following month. I WILL have more follow through in 2010

Financial:

1. Track spending 100% (have notebook for purse and a spreadsheet)
2. Keep part time job (extra $300-400 a month depending...

Updates - Part-time job & ect.

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:57:56 PST

Hey all! I've been sick & working alot, so I haven't been around much in the last few weeks. Here's a few quick updates:

Week 1 of the part time job brought in $115.88, 100% of which went to the credit card

Week 2 of the part time job brought in $173.47, 100% of which went to...

Ugh, $91.21 in medical expenses

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:12:12 PST

So, I've spent about $91.21 in the last 2 weeks for medical expenses. Obviously, I've been sick. I'm on my 2nd round of antibiotics, this time its for twice a day for 10 days.

I'm still working the part time job and with being sick. I've literally worked & slept. Which means that...

Buying Clothes for a Seasonal Part Time Job (yeah right!)

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:10:32 PST

So, (I'm sure you all remember), I'm working a part time job. Its seasonal, so I probably only have about 5 weeks more of work. (Unless they keep me on... Oh please, oh please!) There is an all black dress code. I can wear another color underneath, but the main pieces have to be black.

I...

Well, its Tuesday

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:23:36 PST

Tonight I have the actual orientation for the ptj (last night was training). This is where we'll go over HR info & pay & ect. We have direct deposit, which is nice. Now I'm just waiting to find out the rest of my schedule. Since this is temp work, I'm willing to pick up every shift...

Manic Monday

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:23:12 PST

Today was the first day of working the part-time job.

I worked 7:30 to 4 at the full time job. Made a library run on my lunch break.

Then home for dinner, to change clothes & pre-pack food for tomorrow.

Then to the new part time job for training. 4 hours and the place is...

Happy Sunday - busy week ahead!

hmartin427@hotmail.com (HouseHopeful) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:26:19 PST

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday was a good day. I hung around the house & just got a few things done. Last night, I got all dressed up for a Christmas party for my friends work. They had Casino night with fake money, a buffet dinner and open bar. A good time was had by all. I spent $3.00...