Two birds with one stone: Health and Wealth

Besides getting my finances in order, I also want to start eating better and working out. I've was thinking about what to do to save money when it comes to eating lunch, so I decided that I will continue to eat salads everyday at school. To eat lunch in the cafeteria it costs $2 and I get an entire meal! Sure beats having to make a sandwich early in the morning or attempt to cook up something. So this is what the weekly meal plan is:

-Breakfast options: Oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, breakfast bar, banana, whole wheat waffles, or any other healthy choices

-Lunch: $10 per week on salads

-Dinner options: rice, beans, chicken, fish, sandwich, or other alternatives.

-snacks: fruit, granola bars, cheese stick, crackers, teddy grahams, carrots,

So to keep tabs on my budget, I'm going to take out the $30 cash and only bring $2 to school with me. I'm thinking about doing the same thing with my budget on gas, but honestly, I've never calculated how much I spend on gas per month. I guess I should start at $50 per month and see how long that lasts....I'm not sure about this at all.

ps. I'm so excited! I can't wait to get that paycheck (Economic Stimulus Payment)! I know exactly where it's going too: my debt and my savings account!

Follow me on my journey to becoming debt free!

My Financial Goals for this year:

• Start a 401K savings plan in August 2008
• Pay off QX and Sam’s by the end of 2008 *update Sam’s was paid off! (March 2008)
• Save $1000+ by December 2008
• Get credit score up to 700 by 2009

Total debt (not including student loans) $19436

My credit score as of March 2008: 653

See more progress on: get out of debt

Best Wishes!

First things first

OK, so I know that the first thing to becoming financially independent is to GET OUT OF DEBT! Here is where I stand with this:

g My QX= $295
g Target= $1496
g Discover=$2686
g Wamu= $4437
g Mig QX= $5370
g Honda= $5152

Bad news: Total Debt= $19436 (this doesn't include student loans)

Good news: I just finished paying off my Sam's Card yesterday whoo hoo!!
More good news: More than likely my student loans will be waived since I will be working in a low income school this August.

I'm determined to do whatever it takes to get out of debt. I have to! I plan on getting a house pretty soon (a year or 2) and I don't want to drown myself in more debt. As soon as my credit score goes up to 700, I will start looking into buying my first home. As of today my credit score stands at 653 which is way better than I thought it was! Well, wish me luck through my endeavors and good luck to you too.



PS. Hooray for my first post! :)