I just came from the store and, am having a heart attack! - I spent $62 instead of my budgeted $40...but, the only "extraordinary" things were a bottle of shampoo ($2.77) and a box of hair dye ($3.96 on sale!)....I did't even buy chicken (they were out of chicken) or dog food...((sigh)) will have to convince the sis to go on a rice-and-bean diet for at least one week out of the month!

Oh, and, half a carton of eggs (a carton here is 30 eggs!) is "on sale" at $1.50!!! woo-hoo! [entry_stub] => translations-woo-hoo [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/04/translations-woo-hoo_5236/ [entry_date] => 1139014200 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-03 18:50:00 [entry_text] => I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5191] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5191 [entry_title] => 060201- 2006 financial goals update [entry_stub] => 060201-2006-financial-goals-update [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-2006-financial-goals-update_5191/ [entry_date] => 1138814472 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:21:12 [entry_text] => 1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
[entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5190] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,170,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [170] => Array ( [category_id] => 170 [category_name] => $20 Challenge [category_stub] => 20-challenge ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5190 [entry_title] => 060201- $20 challenge update [entry_stub] => 060201-20-challenge-update- [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-20-challenge-update-_5190/ [entry_date] => 1138813718 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:08:38 [entry_text] => I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 2 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

WOW!Writing down every single penny really is a shocker!...I am using my agenda. Since it has a monthly and daily planner, I write down everything as I spend and, at the end of the day, add it in two entries into the monthly planner...the categories are: Main (NECESSITIES or pre-budgeted stuff, like Ale's school, nanny, groceries) and Other ("preventable" spending)...well, my "Other" total for this week was: $23.94 ....what did the most damage was yesterday...we went to CREA (where my nephew did his re-education to get off drugs), and, because I got up late and didn't cook, we ordered pizza (total was ~$17, of which I paid half) and, since we came late from there, we stopped for pupusas (only sis, Ale and I)...since my sister generally pays, I decided to invite her this time (she invites about 90% of the time!)...total was $7.00...add the pizza and sodas Ale had at CREA and SMACK! big dent in the budget...well, I guess that means I'll have to be A LOT more careful this week! woo-hoo! [entry_stub] => translations-woo-hoo [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/04/translations-woo-hoo_5236/ [entry_date] => 1139014200 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-03 18:50:00 [entry_text] => I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5191] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5191 [entry_title] => 060201- 2006 financial goals update [entry_stub] => 060201-2006-financial-goals-update [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-2006-financial-goals-update_5191/ [entry_date] => 1138814472 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:21:12 [entry_text] => 1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
[entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5190] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,170,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [170] => Array ( [category_id] => 170 [category_name] => $20 Challenge [category_stub] => 20-challenge ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5190 [entry_title] => 060201- $20 challenge update [entry_stub] => 060201-20-challenge-update- [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-20-challenge-update-_5190/ [entry_date] => 1138813718 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:08:38 [entry_text] => I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 2 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) woo-hoo! [entry_stub] => translations-woo-hoo [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/04/translations-woo-hoo_5236/ [entry_date] => 1139014200 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-03 18:50:00 [entry_text] => I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5191] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5191 [entry_title] => 060201- 2006 financial goals update [entry_stub] => 060201-2006-financial-goals-update [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-2006-financial-goals-update_5191/ [entry_date] => 1138814472 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:21:12 [entry_text] => 1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
[entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5190] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,170,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [170] => Array ( [category_id] => 170 [category_name] => $20 Challenge [category_stub] => 20-challenge ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5190 [entry_title] => 060201- $20 challenge update [entry_stub] => 060201-20-challenge-update- [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-20-challenge-update-_5190/ [entry_date] => 1138813718 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:08:38 [entry_text] => I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 2 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
woo-hoo! [entry_stub] => translations-woo-hoo [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/04/translations-woo-hoo_5236/ [entry_date] => 1139014200 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-03 18:50:00 [entry_text] => I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5191] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5191 [entry_title] => 060201- 2006 financial goals update [entry_stub] => 060201-2006-financial-goals-update [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-2006-financial-goals-update_5191/ [entry_date] => 1138814472 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:21:12 [entry_text] => 1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
[entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5190] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,170,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [170] => Array ( [category_id] => 170 [category_name] => $20 Challenge [category_stub] => 20-challenge ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5190 [entry_title] => 060201- $20 challenge update [entry_stub] => 060201-20-challenge-update- [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-20-challenge-update-_5190/ [entry_date] => 1138813718 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:08:38 [entry_text] => I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 2 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 woo-hoo! [entry_stub] => translations-woo-hoo [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/04/translations-woo-hoo_5236/ [entry_date] => 1139014200 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-03 18:50:00 [entry_text] => I just got a request for a translation...they send me part of the document, and still pending on the other pages, but, still, only with what I have right now I should get $100-$120....add the rest (say it's only half of what they've sent) and it should be AT LEAST $150-$200... woo-hoo!! AVAL CARD, HERE I COME!!

Oh, since this is extra, it would count towards my $20 challenge...but, I'll post a summary of the earnings for this at the end of the month!! (just this morning I was praying for some extra $$$ to pay debts!!)

Of course, now I have to stay late at the office to get started (our computer at home just died...we should get it back on Sunday...it'll cost $15 to repair it!! - we asked a friend...the technician we called first said it would cost $190!!!- could you believe that??) [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5191] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5191 [entry_title] => 060201- 2006 financial goals update [entry_stub] => 060201-2006-financial-goals-update [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-2006-financial-goals-update_5191/ [entry_date] => 1138814472 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:21:12 [entry_text] => 1. keep better track of my spending- although there seem to be less "leaks" than before, I'm still not as accurate as I should be! - I'm going to buy a mini-notebook and keep track of every penny!!- haven't done this yet!! - I know, I know...- have started as of today 060201

2. Send out at least 15 resumes in January(best time of the year to find a new job in ES!) and, at least one more per week for the rest of the year until I find a job that pays better! managed to send out 4, in answer to promising-looking ads...This is an ongoing quest!

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies the looking/deciding part is on hold until May- when schools start accepting applications...$$ for fee, etc to come out of the English classes...

4. continue to lower my overall debt - I started Jan 05 with ~$17K (out of which ~$4K were for a loan and the rest -~$13K!-pure cc debt) and, am starting Jan 06 with $~11K (with ~$8K for a loan and ~$3K in cc debt)... expect to be able to end Dec '06 with ~$7K, which I expect to be purely for the loan... to come partly from the English classes/$20 challenge. Current debt still at ~$11K due car repairs in Dec 05

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money....still at a loss with this one!...perhaps get her to sell more toys at the next flea market??- decided on selling her bike, which is already to small for her!...where did we put the training wheels?? hmmmm (060402)
[entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 0 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) [5190] => Array ( [journal_id] => 629 [journal_url] => miclason [author_photo] => 0 [journal_name] => miclason's Personal Finance Blog [journal_author] => M.I. Clason [journal_author_email] => belovedmoonpixie@yahoo.com [category_ids] => ,170,203,34,37, [categories] => Array ( [34] => Array ( [category_id] => 34 [category_name] => Money [category_stub] => money ) [37] => Array ( [category_id] => 37 [category_name] => Progress [category_stub] => progress ) [170] => Array ( [category_id] => 170 [category_name] => $20 Challenge [category_stub] => 20-challenge ) [203] => Array ( [category_id] => 203 [category_name] => goals [category_stub] => goals ) ) [entry_id] => 5190 [entry_title] => 060201- $20 challenge update [entry_stub] => 060201-20-challenge-update- [entry_url] => https://miclason.savingadvice.com/2006/02/01/060201-20-challenge-update-_5190/ [entry_date] => 1138813718 [entry_date_mysql] => 2006-02-01 11:08:38 [entry_text] => I received my first payment yesterday!!...due the cut-off date for accounting, I only got paid for the first weekend, so I only received $20.70...oh, well, I paid it towards the cc with the highest interest rate! yay me!!...Did I mention my challenge earnings are going towards debt repayment??...AVAL Card SA de CV practically owns my salary!!...When the next payment comes in, I will divide it between AVAL and "Ale's school fund"...Need to find another way to make more $$$...but, at where will I get the time??

***************
Challenge statistics:
invested: ~$6.00 initial
~$2.55 (addtnl) gas/Jan
=======
$8.55
earned: $20.70

net for January: $12.15
Total ytd for 2006: $12.15 [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 2 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->