My New HP is kewl!

Yep, I forked over $650 to get a new laptop. Actually the computer was only $549, but I needed a mouse and since companies don't send restore disk I paid $40 to get them made. And now I have it and it's nice. The newness is awesome. I just downloaded Google Chrome and thanks to my job at the college, I just paid $10 to get Microsoft Office Professional which I'm also downloading now. HP has this fingerprint swipe thing that's neat. I sync a website to a fingerprint and it signs in for me without having to type anything in. That's neat. I'm gonna do some playing around with my new toy....

Speaking of good movies....

My favorite author right now is Janet Evanovich--Stephanie Plum Series (and Meg Cabot--Heather Wells Series). I went to see One for the Money a while ago and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!! Lionsgate also did this film. GREAT JOB!!

Better the 2nd Time Around

I went to see Good Deeds on last weekend.  The movie started at 1pm.  I got there at 1:34pm.  I was a little "put off" because the guy who sold me the ticket gave me a ticket for some other movie that I never heard of.  At first I didn't know what to do, but because I was already late for the movie I just went in to see the movie.  But it kept bothering me because I know that some theaters don't want to give credit to black movies so they will intentionally replace the tickets that was bought with something else.  So, I decided to go see it again this weekend.  And I will say that those 15 minutes that I missed the first time do make a different.  I LOVED the movie the 2nd time.  Kudos to TPS and Lionsgate!!

My record SUCKS

I went online to get an insurance quote from Progressive and Geico.  Geico was cheaper and they quoted me $89 a month.  That was cool until they ran my credit and checked my driving record.

I drive well, but in 2009 I had a few snafus.  I got three tickets -- two for speeding and one for an illegal u turn on the highway.  These tickets caused my license to be suspended.  I also backed into someone and messed up their car.  My car was fine, but it cost over $1000 to get fixed.  UGH!!!  Outside of those few incidents I had not had a ticket since 2003.

So because of that and my credit, I have to pay $158 a month.  DAG!!  I can't afford that, but I also can't afford to NOT have insurance.  I've been driving without it for over a year, but now my job requires that I show proof.  So I forked over the money. 

I can't wait to clean up my record!!!

Unemployment Woes

I eventually got my unemployment check for about $500 on Friday. I was so happy, but then I missed my scheduled interview with them.  DAG!!  I know that I only have about one check left with them, but I didn't want to miss it.  Now I have to wait until they send me a letter to tell me if I get my last check or not.  UGH!!!  I really really really need that money!!!

I used part of the money to get a new laptop because mine is really slow and I will be working with the editing team at church and I need a faster laptop to edit the sermon during service so that it would be ready for after church.  So I went to Best Buy and got an HP with 6GB.  It was about $550 and overall I spent about $650 cause I needed a mouse and I paid $40 to get a recovery disk made.  Ugh.  They just wanna get paid for EVERYTHING.  They used to send you a recovery disk, now you have to either make your own or pay them.  Best Buy wanted $100 and I wasn't gonna fork over that much, so I went to Staples and they wanted $40.  I need a class on how to make them.  I know that there are instructions online, but I need a class. 

I started my fast on March 1 and I don't know why, but I'm tired and sluggish and just don't feel like it.  I wanna eat.  I haven't been eating any meat, but I have not stuck to the plan to only eat after 7pm.  I need to get it together!!!

Electrolysis

I AM EMBARRASSED!!

I have horrible facial hair.  Not just peach fuzz, but a manly goatee is growing on my face.  GROSS!!

It started in 2003 after my pregnancy and not knowing much I began tweezing and eventually waxing the few strands of hair that were growing on my chin. Those strands multiplied and it wasn't until 3 years later that I learned that the tweezing and waxing was causing it to grow thicker.  So, I began to shave, but that caused razor bumps so I've used depilatory for the past few years. I've always had a thin mustache that you could barely see, but even those hairs are growing thicker.  However, because my hormones are whack the hair is growing and growing and now I have to depilatory once a week otherwise I look like this:

It's horrible and because my skin is dark I get horrible dark spots that look like this:

It's so gross and embarrassing.  When I did date, I would hate for a man to get close to my face.  Even though I piled on the makeup, there was always stubble.

So I went to for my first electrolysis appointment on yesterday.  I was excited.  But it hurt like crazy!!!

I took an ibuprofin an hour before, but it still stung, burned and hurt.  It was bearable, but uncomfortable.  She was only able to get the top part of my chin.  I go back in two weeks for her to do the bottom part.  After that she will do my mustache.

When I get my health insurance I'm gonna see if I can get my hormones checked out.  I know insurance won't pay for all of it, but I hope they will cover some.  I have got to get rid of this.  I AM NOT A MAN!!

One last week

I have one week to work as a GED instructor. I will still be teaching for the NP I volunteer with, but no more working at the college or the community center. I'm gonna pitch my class at the NP to the college to see if they will partner with us. We will see how that goes. Because we don't have the testing equipment and resources.

I've got to get car insurance before I start my new job. Man, I don't have a lot of money and unemployment only sent me $74. UGH!!! So, I'm gonna be counting my pennies until the end of the month. I can't wait to get my health insurance. I'm sure it won't take effect until at least 30 days after I work, but I will have it. I also can't wait to have a steady paycheck.

I've been working on my budget and I think I will be able to pay all of my debt (sans student loan) this year!! $31,000 per year = 2,583 per mos =1,291 per paycheck.

My expenses are:

Rent= $0  THANK GOD
Utilities= $0 THANK GOD
Rental Ins= $15 per month (I have to buy) ($180 per year)

YMCA= $20 per month ($240 per year)

Car Loan= $250 per month ($3000 per year)
Car Ins= $100 per month (I have to buy insurance) ($1200 per year)

Gas=$100 per month (they say gas is going up, UGH) ($1200 per year)
Oil Change= $150 per year (4 times a year at $35 each or $12.50 per month)
Total Car expenses=$ $465 per month ($5550 per year)

Phone= $100 per month (stupid prepaid phone, I've gotta get something cheaper) ($1200 per year)
Food= $150 per month ($1800 per year)
Misc= $100 per month ($1200 per year) (tissue, clothes, lotion, toothpaste, etc)
Total= $350 per month ($4200)

Student Loan= $300 per month ($3600)

I do pay my tithes every paycheck so my tithes should total $3,100 for the year and I participate in our churches Debt Retirement program where I help to pay the churches mortgage at about $1500 per year.   I also give an offering and give a monetary gift to my Apostle and his family during celebrations such as National Clergy Appreciation Month or his anniversary for a total of $1000 per year.  All of these are tax deductible except the $1000 and in prior years (except this year) I have been able to use my charity donations to boost my from a standard deduction to an itemized deduction which has benefited me.  For 2011, I only gave about $5000 to my church so I had to take the standard deduction.  Maybe if I boost that to $6000 or $7000 I'll get a larger refund for 2012 taxes.  I'll try.

So my overall month expenses= $1150.00 ($13,800 per year)

I should be able to pay majority of my bills with one check.  Of about 15% will be taken out for taxes, insurance, so  that will leave me with about $1000 a month. 

I NEED to make sure I stick to this budget!!!

If I can stick to this budget I will be able to pay:

$3000 car loan
$3500 for my evicted apt
$1000 medical bills

And actually, I'm supposed to pay my car off this month.  I'm not sure what will happen if it's not paid, but my goal is to have that paid by May.

Father God, PLEASE DON'T LET MY CAR BREAK DOWN!!!  I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED!!!!  In JESUS name.  AMEN!!