news of various import

[juldea]

Good news and, well, not bad news, but motivational news.

The good news is that I found an error in my budgeting - I was charging myself for full rent in Boston for August, when I'm only going to have to pay half! So that saves me $325. Nice hefty chunk, that is. That'll get me home.

Motivational news: there are 18 more days until July 26. I have 13 more psychology lessons and 4 exams to take. Therefore, it's time to do something daily, wouldn't you say? I learned interesting stuff tonight, especially short blurbs on depression and thyroid disease. I like doing schoolwork at 2am...

I have been struggling with a question for a while now: to save money, should I open a savings account first and then pay off credit cards after I get a 'safety net' built up, or should I pay off the cards first? I think that at least until I'm back in Norman, I'll work on the cards. Then I can find out more about accounts.

Jason's performance Saturday night:
artistic interpretation - 9.5
technical merit - 10
responding to suggestion - 10
consistency - 9.5
concentration - 10
endurance - 9
overall score: 10

I'd better end this before I start cracking jokes about a "artistic program" and a "technical program"... ;)

Hmm, I don't think I'll be making 9am aerobics. Too bad, it's my favorite instructor. =P

Comments

[tramissa.livejournal.com]

Pay your credit cards off first. The interest you pay on your cards vs the interest you gain on your savings means that you will actually be losing money if you put money away and still incur interest.

You're better off keeping enough money aside to pay your bills and mimimal living expenses (yup, you're going to have to sacrifice!!) and then paying as much of your cards as you can comfortably afford. Once you've done that you can loosen up on the living expenses but still put a fair bit (but less than you were paying on your cards) into your savings account. That way you're still paying bills out of your normal wage but you're also saving money as well..

Now, why can't I do that? Saving money anyway *grins* (I don't have credit cards).

Re:

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, after I posted that I checked up on interest rates, and definitely I can't get anything good enough through my bank on a savings account to balance out what I'd be losing on the cards. So wiping out the cards first it is! And I applaud your knowledge in not getting one yourself. Mine came in my bank's package "first start" deal wayyy back in high school (maybe while I was 16?), I never specifically asked for it. And I didn't start using it until a while after, but... my desires caught up with me, I guess. Oh well. It's getting cancelled after it's paid off. :)

Re:

[tramissa.livejournal.com]

Heh..yeah...I don't have cards, but I still can't save *grins*....I just spend it all now rather than paying it off ;)

[lamnia.livejournal.com]

You might not want to cut up that credit card after you've paid it off.

Fredrick has one card that he uses for car repairs and "in case of an emergency." Emergency = car repairs and the hotel stay that may result. It was a lifesaver when a very necessary belt flew off his car as he was driving me to the airport in Dallas. It also came in handy when he got screwed over by Mike's Goodyear. He was able to dispute the charges they made to his credit card.

It sounds like you do a lot of driving, and you do have a car. It may be wise to hold onto your card if you think you can save it just for emergencies.

I don't have a credit card, but I also don't have a car :)

Re:

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Emergencies are what the savings account will be for.