Budget SpreadSheet

Well, eventually I had to break down and do a budget spreadsheet. SingleMa is going to send me a sample spreadsheet *as soon as I email her and ask her for it*. But in the mean time and in between time I needed to get it all down in one place to evaluate what's really going on in my wallet. It's bleek yall! Since the Hurricane K we had to rebuild start over and all that jazz. I took a pay cut, not ungrateful because I have been employed since September 19th, and in less then a year I have been promoted. I have had a little help from the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, not much still not ungrateful every little bits help. Anyway I checked out this spreadsheet of mine *is that one word or two?* All I can say is God is GOOD! I make less, my expenses are more and yet we eat, the lights have not gone out we have everything we need and then some. What has sustained us? God and a savings account. I didn't realize how heavily I relied on my savings *not the e-fund* My pay was being deposited directly into my savings account and I would purchase a money order to pay my rent *.50 cents* And guess what the pay check thats deposited in this account didn't cover my entire rent payment. The savings supplemented the lack. That's why not splurging when we get that unexpected money is so important. It has literally kept me and my family afloat.

Now a sista done got a little raise *Thank Ya JESUS!* I's almost back to making the bank I was in New Orleans...

My savings can marinate, I can pay my rent without dipping. I changed my direct deposit from my savings to my checking and I'm paying another bill on my eliminate debt plan. We can even see the light of home ownership!!!!!

Oh yeah the spreadsheets! They WORK! and as I get better at tracking my spending my spreadsheet will get more detailed. Eventually I'll use that Quicken 2006 Pimpin hooked me up with!

Anyway
Catch you guys later!

The Winds of Change are Blowing

Contemplating Change
Change is a funny thing. Although most people say they want to change — so they can have a better life, with more love, more dreams, and more fun — the fact is that many of us are afraid of change. Faced with the real prospect of it, we look at our lives and decide that being where we are right now isn’t so bad, after all. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t, we tell ourselves. … It’s a place where your life isn’t really that great, but it really isn’t that bad, either. It’s just so-so.

Well, I happen to think that life should be better than “not that bad” and more than “just so-so.” Life should be exciting, challenging, and — ultimately — fulfilling.
— David Bach, Smart Couples Finish Rich

Quote borrowed from Debtspiration

My priority today is to closely examine my life, my spending habits, and my goals. I have set a deadline...a debt deadline. October 1st, 2007 1brokedisgruntledsista will be debt free! Period pointblank! I will post my budgeting progress later on. It's going ok. Change is hard but neccessary, as long as I remember that I will meet my goal.

Oh yeah...Saturday was my Birthday! I turned 26 for the 9th time! How's that for numbers!

This Weekend's Festivities....PRICELESS!

Roundtrip Plane Ticket.....$257.00
Gift for my sister...............$100.00
Faking an illness................7.75 in sick hours
Misc. Purchases................$52.00

Watching my sister exit the building with her diploma in her hand and hearing her announce "I'm finally something bitches!"
=PRICELESS!

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my big sister on finally finishing something since high school *her words not mine*
I am so proud of my sister!

To celebrate her husband cooked a big dinner for family and friends, and the next night we partied!!!! Oh it went down we closed the club down. It has been a year since the hurricane sent us all running in different directions. I decided not to follow the rest of my family so this was the first time I had seen them since we parted last year. All Imma say is New Orleans natives took over that Houston club. Gotta stop there cause what goes on in Houston STAYS IN HOUSTON!

I'm not disgruntled today!
Peace *2fingas*

Breatheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

*Inhale* *Exhale*

This new position got a Sista working like a SLAVE...FA REAL! I'm not complaining, just super busy! We're interviewing a new office associate this week so I can move into my new office and get my recruiting on! (got me working two positions darnit!)
I've still made time to read some of my favorite blogs though. Right now I am in the process of developing a budget. Help me please! When you guys developed your budgets how did you break it down? Should I keep my entertainment money in a separate budget? Groceries! *rolling my eyes* (thinking...where a sista with an ebt card for sale when you need one)
I digress. Anyway I'm already buying off brands like a mutha which I don't mind. I grew up in the hood dirt ass poor so we were to happy to get anything let alone an off brand. Anyone have some money saving tips on how to cut the grocery bill down.

Me and the power company have ended the power struggle! We came to a compremise, Yall know I was figthing them every step of the way...we settled on budget billing and they retroacted it and I only ended up paying 160.00 which is REALLY good considering the bill was $352 dollars and the new bill came in at $347.00. In the winter time my bill hits me right at $147-153.00. Hey I have an almost all electric house! I'm cool with budget billing literally!

It feels weird not paying a car note this month but for some reason I've neglected paying all the other bills like the gas bill, the phone bill. I don't know but I have decided to go onto automatic pay with all the bills that way they'll all get paid on time.

1BrokeSista decided to get her broke ass back in school...I flunked out the first time wasted a shit load of money so I took a different route. I'm starting from the bottom floor and enrolled into a 2 year program at the local community college. When I'm done with that because I'm in a transfer program I can transfer over to the University where I am currently gainfully employed and take advantage of the first class FREE and all other class 50% off!
Oh yeah...my classes at the community college... 1BrokeSista got grant! The grant paid for all 3 classes and I have $207.00 left over for books! *Doin da Cabbage Patch*

When I get a breath to breathe I will answer SingleMa's question she posted here A Decision that Changed my Life . 1BrokeSista done been through some stuff but it was certain thing's that shaped and molded my life. AnyWho...I gotta go back to work and earn this new pay!

I can't wait until I get my degree...I been if-ing at it for a couple of years now and basically wasting my money, but a Sista got her MIND right now!

Leave me some tips please I need help and my life is getting busier and busier.

1BrokeSista
Peace *2fingas*

American Pimp

Ok tonight I'm sitting at home with my brokedisgruntled fiance clicking thru the channels. *I hate when he does that* Well anyway it falls on a show called American Pimp. Lawddddd hap mercy on all us! Yall I know I'm going to hell but I laughed my ass offffffffff! One thing for certain 1brokesista couldn't be a Ho on the stroll with no pimp. You know what I can't even describe this show, I can say it is something I watched growing up because I had an uncle who was a pimp and my step dad had him a couple a hoes on the stroll behind my mommas back. Oh when she found out! I learned how to fight watching my momma Whup Dat Trick!

Ok Ok this blog is about money so my question of the day is...do Pimps and Hoes pay taxes? I mean do the IRS audit them and put a lean on all they stuff like they do ours? Do they have retirement plans and health insurance? When a pimp retire from the pimp game where does he work? I wonder what his transferable skills are...he would be a damn good telemarketer.

But for real I totally understand the game being from the streets, I understand the bondage that a woman has to be in to allow someone to manipulate her mind.

But watching this show is so funny! Just listening to these dudes.

If ya can answer my question about the tax issue please do.

Peace*2fingas*
1BrokeSista

The Score

Yes I'm back on that, seeing as though CREDIT makes the world go round, I'm stuck in neutral with a poor credit score. So I'm doing a couple of things to try and make this right. First thing, I'm paying what I owe! Plan and simple. Second I'm disputing what's not mine. Some years ago I was the victim of identity theft, a very cleaver and devious person she was. Used my social for a couple of years without me knowing it. Until I applied for credit, and the person running my social stared me blank and in the face and "Ms. 1BrokeSista, you're deceased!" *Blank Stare*
Counting to ten...Slew of cuss words pouring from my mouth *I wasn't saved at that time*
Needless to say the person died under my social and I had to jump through hoops to prove that I am indeed ALIVE! I am ME I didn't die yet! Darnit if I'm dead then who am I? *sigh* I'm getting worked up again. Well that person God bless the dead also left me with some parting gifts by way of my credit report. Thanks MUTHAF!@#A! I digress.
The third thing I'm doing is secured loans! They can be your best friend when you're trying to start over. I have a little money tucked away *outside of my emergency fund* and what I am in the process of doing is securing a secured loan. Pay off a a portion of my debt with the funds, and then have a monthly payment to the credit union, payroll deducted. I build my credit score and once the loan is paid off (in 6 months). I'll simply take those same funds and do it all again until my debt is all gone. And what that will leave me with is a couple of loans paid in full and on time. Anyway I'm off to the credit union to get this party started right!

Peace *2fingas*
1BrokeSista

I wrote a check today... made out to Debt

Today I wrote a check and I made it out to University Hospital in the amount of $88 dollars. That means I just reduced my debt by $88 dollars! Why am I sharing this with you? Because it is my hearts desire that I encourage you, getting into to debt is easy, when your a "Big Spenda" you have all the friends in the world. But when you're broke you have no friends no one cheering you on none of that. So today I cheer you on! We are going to get out of DEBT! And when we're back on top "we'll say hello to our little friends". But most importantly we will spend wisely, no splurging and NO KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES!

Peace *2fingas*
1BrokeSista

This heat got me twisted!

It's so hot where I live until its NO laughing matter, It's just hot for no reason. I am not going to the place call HELL i can't do it! My weave won't hold up down there and me and the devil will be some fightin somebodies! Cause a sista likes her ice water (can't afford soda) and a sista likes her air conditioning! So no wonder why her power bill is $$322.00 Ohhhhhhhhh! Lawd what is we gone do? That's just too much money to say i keep my thermostat on 76 at all times! So right now because I'm very confrontational and love to debate*cough argue* me and the power company are in a power struggle and looks like they're winning. BrokeDisgruntled momma enlighten me though, she said that there is help for "us"/Hurricane Katrina evacuees, refugees, run away slaves, with our power bills and what have you. I'm actually contemplating using the assistance because this is just plain ridiculous. The reason why I say contemplating is because I am the type of person I never take that type of assistance unless I need it need it need it. I feel like if I take assistance I don't need I'll actually be blocking someone who does. It's just not right. Now my brokedisgruntled momma on the other hand be signing my kids up for free clothes and supplies and all kinds of stuff that I never take because I just don't take stuff we don't need (she was doing that before the storm). We lost EVERYTHING in hurricane Katrina and God has restored my family and BLESSED us BEYOND measure so why knock someone else? Yall bear with me because of this new budget and bill pay plan I got myself on I'm seriously trying to talk myself into taking this assistance.
I don't know we shall see how the power struggle turns out and I will go from there.

1BrokeSista
Peace*2fingas*