Tranny/Funds Transfer

In the past week I've had to kick out $1,500 for a tranny. Had help from a family member. After I kvetched about it. I just went on and had the work done. After it was over I realized it was the best money I ever spent. I need a new front brakes and back struts. That will be done next week. YES! I feel like a grown up. LOL

Finally decided to move the BofA monies and the credit union monies to BofA's 3.99% offer. Why I didn't do this last year when it was 0% I just don't know. The only thing I can hope for is to use this experience for the better next time.

Decisions, Decisions

I've been fretting over the choice to give BofA $300 at the month's end or whether I should put that $ in my E-fund. I really want to pay them off. The real deal are my thoughts of what's happening w/the economy. That means I'm worried. Why? I know who my Source is. I guess my thinking is my debt payments total $260 roughly. I can afford to skip a month so I can save. I really don't think I'll go for this option, but it's great to flesh it out. Actually I'll wait to see what my paycheck looks like and see if I can put at least $200 in the E-fund.

Steps to Deal With Citibank

Whew! I didn't realize it had been so long. I must have gotten so fired up after my debt payments celebratory post...

Well tonight I'm tellin' on myself. I have an outstanding $236 balance w/Citibank. Now I've been getting mail from a collection agency. Because I was traveling and didn't open the mail, I answered after 30 days. I was new to the idea of validation, so that wasn't my first thought.
I called them and let them know what payment arrangements I would make. I received a letter from another rep the following week offering me a better deal. Since then, and I'm talking eight months ago, I've received letters offering me various deals by mail. "Make three payments totaling $107. Because it's tax season we're going to offer you to pay only half", you get my drift. Hmm...I'm just a little suspicious. When are collectors so nice? Also after one or two unreturned phone calls they stopped calling.

Tell you what! Since I haven't pulled my credit report in a while that'll be my first step. If the debt is not listed I'll send them a validation letter. If they are I'll make steps to pay them so it can be removed from my report. God! I've felt like such an idiot on this. Also I'll go to creditboards.com for more info.

Whew!! Now that wasn't as bad as I thought.

Bill Payment Issues

Looking at my AMEX and wondering what happened. Why is my balance so high? When I updated my Debt Payment chart I saw it. In the past two months I had been so busy paying for the cruise and the membership fee I made the minimum payment on the Flex Payment. I remember my goal to pay at $100 or more per month.
Here's what it looks like:
July $35
August 28
September 41
Well that's not going to get AMEX paid by the end of the year.

An Admisson

Remember those debit cards I got just so I'd have them in case I needed cash? Well I couldn't find them for about two months. Embarrased, I refused to tell anyone. In my mind they were on the computer desk. In thinking about them this week I said, "I'm going to clean up that area and find them." While in the process, I went into the kitchen to empty a small bag that had been sitting for a while. Lo and behold what did I find. My debit cards. They must have fallen into the bag from the shelf on which I placed them. I put them in the envelope where they belong. Sometimes it pays not to worry.

Watching the Dates

I finally understood what other bloggers experienced when snowflaking w/regards to billing cycle close dates, etc.

I've been paying $50 monthlyfor dental services rendered to GE account. Mind you I have prepaid a month ahead of time to be able to pay them on the date that works for me. No prob til I got paid two days earlier than usual and paid on the same day. What I failed to notice w/the last statement was a total of two $50 payments. Had I caught it I could have adjusted for it. I did not and when I opened the today's statement I saw a balance that looked strange. A late fee. What!! I gathered my statments, preparing to call them and do battle. Uh-Uh, the fault was mine. I did get the late fee removed and was also told the payment I made on the 15th will actually go toward the August bill. Don't know if I believe that. I think I may just pay this from E-savings( even though it's not really an emergency) and pay myself back w/four payments of $50. It'll be one less thing to keep track of.

Perhaps what got me was the do battle thought.

A Little Mental Breather

I looked at an I-Village survey regarding where I stood with debt. I noticed I've already surpassed most of the situations presented and quit shortly thereafter.
The realization that followed was that I am no longer anxious about my debt. I'm paying it off. Would I like to pay it off at warp speed? Absolutely. But at this moment I'm doing okay and that's alright with me. When extra money shows up it'll go towards the debt.
peace!

WaMu and the Rest of My Day

Sounds like a donkey. Anyway they've been sending me c/c offers. I almost took the last one and called. Looked at it one more time and decided not to have a hard inquiry on my report. No I'm not happy w/my current interest, but my goal is to work it down. Actually....There was a little break in my typing while I called BofA to try to get a match on the WaMu. No Deal. Valued me as a customer since 1997, blah, blah. He did offer me a balance transfer of 2.9 for other balances. I turned that down. However, I forgot to ask for my limit to be raised. How could I be so... Enough of that. I, as you know will try a-gain.

Successful Finances Require More than Just Learning at pfadvice reminded me to get off my butt regarding calling mine and the other parties insurance co. Not good for me as they are not paying for my damages. The only thing to do is to go on to the next step to have my car repaired.
peace!