gas - $30 (8.474 gallons)- paid in cash

...the tank in my car is almost empty!!..it took me a little over a week to use up 10.27 gallons...or $35!!!...but, we DID go out of San Salvador (went to Suchitoto, which is about 1 hour from here, on Sunday, and then yesterday used my car to go pick up my sis at the airport - approx 45 minutes...plus, I had to pick up my niece, too, so I didn't go straight from work!)...oh, well...it's not like I plan to use the car like this EVERY week!

..I installed the windshield wipers...obviously, I'm not as good at it as I thought...one of them flipped over and I had to stop them or I was going to scratch the windshield!...luckily, it was just drizzling at the time and we were near my boss' house, and were able to get there before the storm started!...we stayed there for about 1 hour and, then the rain was gentle enough for us (ALe and I) to get home...I re-installed them this morning...hope I did a better job this time!

I checked Sertracen's website (about 1,000 times) today...finally:

Su trámite ha finalizado, Puede retirar la tarjeta o la documentación que ha solicitado. No olvide traer su tarjeta anterior si no fuese matrícula.

woo-hoo! I can go get them tomorrow (it's 3pm, and they close at 4pm!)

On Monday, while filling the tank, the guy at the gas station cleaned my windshield and, one of the wipers nearly fell off!!....soooo, today I went to Siman (local dept store) to check how many "diamonds" (= reward points) I had and, I had 750 (500=$5 gift certificate), so I took the $5 and bought the wipers ($2.75) and an air freshener ($2.00)...the lady at the register mentioned that I would be "wasting" $0.25 and asked if I wanted to add something else (believe me, there is NOTHING at that store that is $0.25!!) and I said NO, thank you!...so, I "wasted" $0.25, but I didn't spend $0.01 out of my pocket!! ..I'll "install" the air freshener this afternoon when I leave work and, the new wipers tonight! (rainy season is starting, I cannot afford to delay this!)

cut a copy of the key: $3

Filled the tank: $35.80

I got Ale into the car for our first official ride as owners of the Trollmobile and, it didn't start!!...You can't imagine the feeling...it was soooo awful!...What am I, jinxed??...so, I called the guy that sold it to me, but got his voicemail..and then, wrrrrooooommmm, it started, so we went to the gas station to fill the tank ($35)...
My sister's friend called me back about 10 minutes ago, and asked what happened...2 minutes later her husband called and asked me all about it...and then he says: Did you remember to press the clutch? ..huh?? ...turns out, you're supposed to press the clutch while turning the key in the ignition or the car won't start! (my old car didn't work like that, neither does any of the other cars I generally drive!!!...I swear he didn't tell me!!)...and, then, the guy says: You scared me, I almost had a heart attack!...and I said: I scared you??...we had to laugh!...so, everything is OK now...I'm driving to work tomorrow!! woo-hoo!!!

Woo-hoo! I called the police this morning and they said the reports for 28/april had been sent in late on Saturday...so, I went during my lunch hour (took 34 minutes!) to submit the documents...I have my invoice proving that I have paid for my license plates and registration card...so, now I can drive and, in 3 days, I can check on line to see if the license plates are ready!

Car-related expense - $9/taxies

License plates and registration card: $99.44 (although, technically, this is part of the price of the car,and was already budgeted as such, so I will not count it as "additional")

This would be me, except: the car is NOT a convertible, it's green, not red and, I'm not a blonde! ha,ha,ha,ha!

So, my first drive will be to the gast station ((gasp)) to fill up the tank ((faint)), so that I can start seeing how much I really will be spending!

Now I'm free of the inconvenience of rides (and back into the inconveniences of having a car, like: finding a parking space- eek! this car is way more difficult to handle then my old one...I have to get used to the new size!)

Just checked the status on line:

El estado de su declaración número 111020358644 presentada el 08/03/2006 es:

ABONO ENVIADO : La devolucion ha sido enviada al banco para que sea depositada a la cuenta solicitada en la declaracion, el banco esta pendiente de confirmarnos si se efectuo el deposito, puede pasar a verificar su deposito

I then checked my bank account, but the money hasn't "landed" yet...but, it should be deposited today!!! wooo-hoo! ...this goes to my $20 challenge! ($282.55)

As I mentioned the other day, I'm going to have to be more careful with money from now on...so, I thought I's list down any car-related expenses, so I can keep track...

My first entry is going to be: $12 for transfering the car to my name...

Tomorrow, I need to have copies of the keys cut, too...don't know how much that is going to cost (I think it's $5, but not 100% sure)

This will also help me keep track of preventive maintenance needs...

We transferred the car to my name and everything, and, it should have been a matter of 10 minutes, just to deliver the documents to SERTRACEN (company that handles vehicle registrations for the Vice-Ministry of Transportation)...the guy went over the documentation and forms and declared them OK, but, when he went to input the number for the "experticia" (check by the police to establish that the car isn't stolen), it turned out the police haven't submitted their report yet! (this is done electronically)...the guy at SERTRACEN mentioned that there has been a delay with all experticias performed just before the long weekend (May 1st), and gave me the telephone number of the Police so that I can start calling them to see when the experticia will be sent...So, I have to add that to my To Do list for the week: call 3x a day until they feel that they'd rather send the report than have to listen to me!

In the meantime, I cannot drive the car! (well, I CAN, but it wouldn't be legal to do so, so I won't...)...so, I guess my fate is to be carless for 3 whole months(6/feb-6/may)... I hope to be able to submit the documents no later than Wednesday, and then get my new license plates on Saturday next week (once the documents are submited, you get a temporary permit to use the car!)

I feel very disappointed!...I thought I was going to be able to go to the supermarket on my own tomorrow!

Things are definetely looking better...My sister is in full recovery from the neurocysticercosis (sp?) and we are only pending the results from her last MRI (THAT deserves a separate entry!)...and, eventhough money is still my major source of worry, my situation is veeeery different than what it was last year...I got the cc issue under control, am not getting any creditor calls, and, despite the additional expenses from the new car loan, I think I can handle things so that I don't default on anything...I'm still overworked...still love my job...but, right now I don't feel like I hate my co-workers...none of them!...not even the annoying ones! LOL!...
((contented sigh)) I definetely don't hate my life (the way I did last year!)
Oh, and the "frugality" thing, while still a challenge, is not as hard anymore!

Thanks to all for your continued support!!

This month, I will receive the last $250 from the sale of the farm...so, as of June 1st, 2006, I will have to make do without...I have managed to bring the cc's down to where I THINK I'll be able to handle at least minimum payments every month...I'm going to have to be a lot more careful... what might throw me off-balance is the combination of new loan for the car (paying about $30 more now than for the previous one, which I finished paying last month, and the new gas prices/new car fuel consumption (previous prices/car meant $36 a month...that's soooo NOT going to be the new quota!...gas prices were just below $3 then...they are about $3.49 now...and this car has a bigger engine!- las one was an 800cc)...AND Ale's school expenses (luckily, to start in August, so I will have some time to adjust to the two first ones!)...a variation of $60/mont...

so...let's say the new car spends about 30% more gas, and factor in the new prices...I could be spending about $60 - $70 in gas + $30 additional for the loan + $60 additional for Ale's school....this is $150-$160 MORE a month...ouch! ...not counting car insurance....hmmmmm...

Oops!...can you spot the mistake?? $70-$36 = $34...so $34 + $30 + $60, total ADDITIONAL per month ~$124, not $150!...

I have to work this number into my current estimated budget....(well, the $60 additional for Ale's school were already factored into my "adjusted" budget for August '06...)

Back to the excel file!!

1. keep better track of my spending- same situation!..I need DISCIPLINE!!

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! done!...believe it or not I have a job offer...NOT from the resumes...from this site!
3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies Already paid $100 to reserve Ale's space. Someone from the office has offered to help with $500 towards Ale's education...this takes care of enrollment, books and uniforms!
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. Higher than last month, as now I have the loan for the car!!...BUT! I asked for some "extra" money so part of that is going to go towards the cc's (much lower interest rate!)...real situation is: $7.8K (refinanced) loan, $3.1K car loan, $2.5K cc's

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money...Pending...

Total for April

Challenge statistics:
invested:
$20 gas for cousin
$15 for taxies/April
=======
$35.00

Earned in April: $257.00

net for January: $12.15
net for February: $318.40
net for March:$380.00
net for April: $222.00
Total ytd for 2006 (net):$932.55

Today was one of those days when I wished I had worn rollerskates to the office!...I've been up and down, here and there and everywhere...I had to prepare a bunch of payments, was given about 4 new travel expenses to prepare, 8 documents to scan, 1 document to review/fax, 1 message to send, 1 pakcage to mail...had to retrieve 2 letters from accounting (May 2nd is the last day to file your income tax here, these letters are for the owners of some of the houses we rent...sure, now they want ME to hurry getting them! they've been ready since mid February!!!!)... had to deliver some documents for signature....had to take the (company) car to the insurance company so the adjuster could give us the authorization letter for the repair shop...had to make about 4 work-related phone calls...Had to send 1 message to Travel Control because one of the analysts had a travel expense rejected and didn't know why...had to file the house expenses (expat housing) for the past month...and update my excel file with the info...had to rush to HR to be measured for the new uniforms...which will probably arrive in October!!!

Things left undone: data entry/presentation from feedback forms from the latest training...translations...pick up of signed forms...

Then I had to come home and take my niece out to buy her b-day cake...only to realize I had left my wallet at the office!!! ...rush back to the office to retrieve it (luckily, I had sister's car, as she was finishing getting the house ready for my niece's birthday party - only 8 kids invited..they later went to another friend's house, as it was his b-day, too!)

Right now it's 2 am....the neighbors are having a bacholerette (sp?) party...they must have a stripper, because they keep yelling: mucha ropa, mucha ropa!! (too much clothing!)...and "go for it Yani!!!"..."Way to go, Lorena"...they're listening to reaggetton, of all things!!! ((faint))...so I figured I might as well update my blog... ((sigh))...at least, now it only sounds like 5 or 6 women...at the beginning of the night it sounded more like 15-20...

Soooooo....the guy with the car says he'll take it to the gas emissions thing tomorrow and bring the car along so I can take it for a drive....and on Tuesday he'll take it to the Vice-Ministry of transportation for the new license plates (takes a couple of days)...so close now...

Monday is May 1st...the FMLN has already announced they'll have "peaceful" demonstrations...which means they'll close the streets, write on walls with spray paint and burn tires on the streets...it's like a re-run of what they did on the 80's...I guess some people never evolve!!...

...car insurance here in ES is not mandatory, but it's really necessary ...so, for starters, I will enroll it with the company's insurance (they have a collective insurance set up for employees)...since the monthly payments for the loan to the coop will be $79, I can afford the insurance! (I think)

This means: I almost have a car now!!! woo-hoo!!!...it feels sooooo great!!..No more rides!!!

...now, I need to work on my $20 challenge to be able to reach that $4,000 goal by 31-dec-06!!

I just logged onto the Ministry's website, the status of my return is now:

El estado de su declaración número 111020358644 presentada el 08/03/2006 es:

AUTORIZADA : La devolucion esta autorizada y en proceso de hacerse efectiva

Wooo-Hooo!!!..the money should be deposited by next week! (they only make deposits once a week!)....

::doing the happy dance::

((sigh)) I just called the Ministry and, they tell me there is no correction to the state of my donations (they appear still as if they haven't been declared by the foundation)...Since the number I called is supposed to be "taxpayer counseling", I asked what I should do...their advice? ...modify MY declaration to exclude the donations...this makes me angry...this is NOT a solution (it is, in the sense that then I'd get my money back, but, it isn't in the sense that I don't feel I should have to modify my declaration. My declaration is right, why should I modify it??).......AAAAAAAAAARRRRGH!

they checked my co-signors and, said this goes to committee tomorrow and, if approved, the money would be deposited on Thursday! ....back to waiting! ((sigh))

...they did not grant a new loan, they just re-financed the one I had...which effectively means I got $400...
Oh, well, I'm keeping the cheque...and applying for a loan with the company co-op!... I already have my two co-signors...I'm going to fill out the paperwork today... I had to move some money from my savings account with them to my contributions account (these cannot be touched unless you leave the co-op or leave the company), so that I have enough in my contributions account ($387) to request the amount of money that I need!...
...still moving in the right direction, I think!

I sent a follow-up email yesterday to the foundation and, they said the correction (reporting my donations to them) had already been filed (yesterday), so I'll wait a couple of days and re-check the status of my return on line...if nothing has changed, I'm going to call the Ministry again...
At least, we're moving in the right direction with this! (hey, it's $282!!)

Says they told her the application had been approved...she submitted it for $4,000 but she still doesn't know if the whole amount was approved!...

I'll keep you posted!!!

The friend that is selling it to me brought it by, saying he's sorry it has taken so long, but that he's still got to do a couple of things (experticia, which means he has to take it to the police so they issue a certificate that it is NOT on their stolen cars list! and emmissions certification) before we can process the salvadoran license plates...says he estimates things should be ready by the end of next week!...
It looks beautiful and it truly is in great shape! ...he will also give me the receipts of all the work that he has had done on the car (brakes, new battery, new time belt, etc)...
end of next week sounds great to me! By then I'll know (or I should know!) about the money!!

Ok, I just re-sent the documentation to the bank again...let's hope noone loses them THIS time!...

back to waiting for an answer!!
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRGH!!

((sigh)) PATIENCE!!

I called the bank exec today to find out why my loan was denied and, she said the loan wasn't really denied...that it's just that someone at the bank had lost my paperwork...("someone"??)...I'm re-submitting all the paperwork again tomorrow!...oy!- and I thought the bank exec at the OTHER bank was hopeless! (took that one 4 months to set up a savings account for one of the Directors!)...
...worst thing is, I really CAN'T ask for another exec, as she (or rather, they) are the ones assigned by the bank to the company, so even if I go through someone else, it gets re-directed to them!...

Lord, grant me PATIENCE!!!

Oh, well, I'll have to look for an alternate solution!!...I know I can get a loan from the company co-op, as long as I can find 2 co-signors...I have 1, need to find another one...

"la esperanza es lo ultimo que se pierde!" (Hope is the last thing you lose!)

1. keep better track of my spending- I still having a hard time sticking to this one!

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! Interesting development in this area

3. FINALLY decide on a school for Alejandra, AND save money for her enrollment fee, uniforms and school supplies Went to see a school that had been recommended. Think it's a good fit for us!...reminds me of the first school I went to: small, few children, re-converted house conditioned to be used as a school...strict but loving owner/director...AND, the initial enrollment fee is $380, and the monthly fee is $110!!...(at the preschool I pay $200 and $70, so the differnce is not THAT much!--at least, it's not $1,000 and $200!!!)...I think this one's a go, so, now I can really do numbers and work on the rest! yay!! Have to take care of this before April ends, though, to ensure there's a space for Ale at the proper grade!

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. Same as last month, all "additional" income going towards the "car account"...

5. Help Ale find a way to earn those $3 she's missing to open her account with HER OWN money...Pending...