Simplifying My Finances

Okay so I have had a revelation about handling my finances. Keeping track of everything is driving me nuts! Seriously. I like keeping track of my weekly grocery spending, but the rest is not worth me getting all stressed out. I feel like I have so much to keep track of and it was easier when I would just keep tabs on my credit cards (which I tend to use like debit cards and always pay the full balance) and how much money I actually have. I don't know why I felt the need to start writing everything down when I was doing fine before paying down all my debt. At any rate, here's to simplicity!

Student Loan Debt Update

Total as of today is $23,442.03. I can't wait to be under $20,000 which is my next goal.

Goals

1. Pay off all of Perkins Loan by mid Oct. X (mid Aug.!!!!)
2. Get all loans under $20,000.

Frugal entertainment

So, I have already committed myself to reading more books in an effort to spend less on entertainment. This has required me to be a frequent visitor at my local library branch. Since I like new release movies too, I have taken advantage of Blockbuster coupons & gift cards I've earned online (since I don't have Netflix). Here are my goals for movies/television and books I would like to watch/ read in the near future.

Books
All Philippa Gregory
Remaining Jodi Picoult
Television
House Season 5
Grey's Anatomy Season 5
Movies
The Other Boleyn Girl X
The Secret Life of Bees
Doubt
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button X
Lars and the Real Girl X

Grocery Budget for rest of July

Grocery Budget: $100
Total Spent: 78.82
Total Saved: 40.85
Balance: 21.18

Week 1: Tues. July 14th - Mon. July 20th: Spent 17.04
Dominick's: 11.83 (debit) (saved 45% or 9.30)
Harvestime: 5.21 (debit)

Week 2: Tues. July 20th - Mon. July 27th: 20.38
Jewel *: 20.38 (saved 7.54)

Week 3: Tues. July 28th-Mon. Aug. 3rd: 10.42
Wags (debit): 7.16
7/11: 1.63 (cash)
Wags: 1.63 (cash)

Week 4: Tues. Aug 4th - Mon Aug 10th: 30.98
Jewel *: 23.76 (saved 100% or 23.76 + earn 10 Klg rebate)
Wags * 7.22 (saved .25)

Week 5:

Pay Cards

I tried changing my direct deposit, but b/c it wasn't within 5 business days my part-time job issued me a pay card (pre-paid visa debit card.) This could be okay except for the fact that I don't want to spend the money, I just want to save it. Hopefully I will be able to cancel it by the next pay period without paying any fees. There are so many fees associated with this card that I feel it is unfair. I will definitely be contacting HR on Monday. I keep telling myself that it could be worse and that I am very lucky to be employed at the moment.

$10,000 mark

So, in the last ten months I have officially paid off over $10,000 worth of my student loan debt. $10,360.80 to be exact! I now owe only $23,517.34 so I'm making progress.

Giving myself a break

So, this whole month I've been trying so hard to stay under $100 a month on food and what I forgot was that when I originally came up with that number, it was for my half of the food. Even though I feel kind of dumb, I have to say that I am relieved. $200 total for my boyfriend and I and our 2 dogs is definitely doable. This doesn't mean that we have to spend that much. It should allow me to stock up though whenever I see a good deal and hopefully create a stockpile like I see on so many other pf & coupon blogs. : )