My Financial and Purchasing goals- week 4 update

Here are the goals I plan to have finished by the end of this year, I would love to hear your goals as well. I know that sometimes they can be tough, but goals are a great way to stay on budget! These are in no particular order.

1. Add an extra $1000 to my savings account
Because of Ireland- having to take 2 weeks of nonpaid time off from work- I haven't really added to savings. Well thats not totally true. Each day I transfer the change from my checking account to my savings account. Over the past week that has only been 51cents. But its something. Savings will be better once I return and actually get paid!



2. Buy a new 32inch+ Flat Screen for my bedroom
 I was hoping for this for my birthday, but instead I have already gotten some new boots and a Pandora Bracelet and 3 charms- plus the trip to Ireland. Maybe Black Friday will be the day I get a new TV. Nothing wrong with my current one so there really isn't a rush.



3. Save $25+ per week between now and my trip to Ireland for spend money
I didn't save anything this week- mainly because I didn't have any cash on me. So I am going to work next Saturday- and whatever I make will be added to my total plus I will be changing in my change for cash before I go. I think I might end up with about $150 total- More than enough because I do not have to buy anything except what I want when shopping.

 My current total is: $65.


4. Buy a Coach Purse
I actually did this! I love it- it is black on black and so easy to find things in. It was $298 and I paid $117 after sale and coupon!


5. Make sure all credit cards are paid off in full each month
My Victoria Secret card and Capital One card payments are both set up to be paid in full over the next week.

I am going to make these goals happen by:Saving all of the extra money that I do not spend in my budget
Working extra hours when I can
Using coupons/sales to get the best possible price on items I need to buy
Buying only what I need, not what I want



How are you doing with your Financial Goals this week?

My Financial and Purchasing goals update- week 3

Here are the goals I plan to have finished by the end of this year, I would love to hear your goals as well. I know that sometimes they can be tough, but goals are a great way to stay on budget! These are in no particular order.

1. Add an extra $1000 to my savings account (I won't be mad if I am able to add more!)
I did not add any money to my savings this week-my work hours were short again this week, and I was away all weekend- at least my dad gave me gas and spend money to go visit my sister at college since both he and my  mom could not go.

2. Buy a new 32inch+ Flat Screen for my bedroomI am holding out and hoping I get this for my birthday

3. Save $25+ per week between now and my trip to Ireland for spend moneyI was able to save $30 this week, bringing my total to now $65. 3 weeks left to go. I am hoping to have at least $200. I really do not have to buy a single thing there. So the money will just be for whatever I feel like buying.

4. Buy a Coach Purse
I actually did this! I love it- it is black on black and so easy to find things in. It was $298 and I paid $117 after sale and coupon!

5. Make sure all credit cards are paid off in full each month
No bills were due this week.


I am going to make these goals happen by:

Saving all of the extra money that I do not spend in my budget
Working extra hours when I can
Using coupons/sales to get the best possible price on items I need to buy
Buying only what I need, not what I want



How are you doing with your Financial Goals this week?

My Financial and Purchasing Goals for the rest of 2011- week 2

Here are the goals I plan to have finished by the end of this year, I would love to hear your goals as well. I know that sometimes they can be tough, but goals are a great way to stay on budget! These are in no particular order.

1. Add an extra $1000 to my savings account (I won't be mad if I am able to add more!)
I did not add any money to my savings this week- I wasn't able to work as many hours as normal because my boss was on vacation. So I had to work just side jobs all week. I am bummed about this


2. Buy a new 32inch+ Flat Screen for my bedroom
I dropped the hint to my mom today that I want this for my birthday. We will see though, I am in no big rush until I move honestly.


3. Save $25+ per week between now and my trip to Ireland for spend money
I was able to save $35 this week. I leave on October 3rd. I am also saving all of my change between now and then, hopefully I'll be able to add an extra $20 or so that way.
Total amount saved so far: $35


4. Buy a steam carpet cleaner

I am actually going to change this to Buy a new Coach purse. I have been thinking about it and since I plan on moving this might not be the best purchase to make until I know for sure I will have carpets when I move. I am going to probably buy myself the Coach bag for my birthday this month, at the Coach Outlet store and use a 30% off coupon.


5. Make sure all credit cards are paid off in full each month

Paid my Capital One card in total- I don't plan on charging anything on it for a while.


I am going to make these goals happen by:

Saving all of the extra money that I do not spend in my budget
Working extra hours when I can
Using coupons/sales to get the best possible price on items I need to buy
Buying only what I need, not what I want



How are you doing with your Financial Goals this week?

My Financial and Purchasing Goals for the rest of 2011- week 1

Here are the goals I plan to have finished by the end of this year, I would love to hear your goals as well. I know that sometimes they can be tough, but goals are a great way to stay on budget! These are in no particular order.

1. Add an extra $1000 to my savings account (I won't be mad if I am able to add more!)
         I did not add any money to my savings this week- because I was getting ready for vacation.

2. Buy a new 32inch+ Flat Screen for my bedroom
        I haven't even started looking- honestly I want this to be a birthday present!

3. Save $25+ per week between now and my trip to Ireland for spend money
         This will start as soon as I get back from Disney- can't wait!


4. Buy a steam carpet cleaner
        This is another one I would like for my birthday, but I did see I could buy one for around $100!



5. Make sure all credit cards are paid off in full each month
        No payments were do this week :)


I am going to make these goals happen by:

• Saving all of the extra money that I do not spend in my budget
• Working extra hours when I can
• Using coupons/sales to get the best possible price on items I need to buy
• Buying only what I need, not what I want 

How are you doing with your Financial Goals this week

Buying a new car?

I was just sitting here thinking about how much I would love a mid-sized SUV right about now.
Five years ago when I leased my Acura I thought I would have it for the 3 year lease term and hand it back in- HA!

Having a lease is a very tricky thing:
If you go over the miles you get slammed with charges 15cents per mile in my case.
If there is anything wrong with the car you get charged as well- luckily I would have been fine there

Leasing a car is not all bad though. If you can stay under miles or close to them and keep it looking nice then you'll be fine.

It also makes affording that high end car that much easier. Because cars with a higher value at the end of the lease term tend to have lower monthly payments than a car that will be worth a lot less than the original price at the end of lease term.



So while I most likely will never lease again (because I drive wayyy to much) here are a few things I would do if looking at a lease again:



Make sure you get at least 10% off the invoice price. Even though its a lease you can still talk down the price.

I did not put any money down, $3,000 down would have only saved me $30 a month-no thanks that's throwing money away.

If you are trading in your car, know what its worth at dealer value and do not go under that for any reason. Another car dealer will gladly pay full value for your business.



Finally, make sure the car will fit your lifestyle while you have it. If you have a 3 year lease on a sports car will you be having children or pets that will make it hard to use? Or will you live in "Tropical Albany"

My Financial and Purchasing Goals for the rest of 2011

Here are the goals I plan to have finished by the end of this year, I would love to hear your goals as well. I know that sometimes they can be tough, but goals are a great way to stay on budget! These are in no particular order.

1. Add an extra $1000 to my savings account (I won't be mad if I am able to add more!)

2. Buy a new 32inch+ Flat Screen for my bedroom

3. Save $25+ per week between now and my trip to Ireland for spend money

4. Buy a steam carpet cleaner

5. Make sure all credit cards are paid off in full each month


I am going to make these goals happen by:

• Saving all of the extra money that I do not spend in my budget
• Working extra hours when I can
• Using coupons/sales to get the best possible price on items I need to buy
• Buying only what I need, not what I want