Friday, October 5, 2007

Eliminating monthly debt...

Well it just occured to me, I have yet to give an account of my monthly bills. I attempted to create a lovely spreadsheet like I have seen on so many PF blogs, but fell terribly short in doing so. I couldnt figure the software out, so I chose to do it the old fashion way until I learn the google document software.

An-T-wayz, my monthly bills consist of:

  • rent-400 (WHAT!!! I stay with my mom...for a few more months)
  • 105-auto insurance
  • 89-home phone which includes DSL
  • 89-cell phone

That's a total of $683 a month. Not bad. Not bad at all. Well, I am happy to say that I have ALREADY cut that number down to $642!! That's $41 bucks a month I am saving. Here's what I did. I took the liberty of calling Cingular, (now the new AT&T hehehe) and changed my mobile plan. I WAS paying 59.99 (phone plan) + 14.99 (wireless bundle) + 7.99 (7pm Nights & WkEnds). I am now paying $39.99 (phone plan) + $7.99 (7pm Nights & WkEnds) a month. I got rid of all the bells and whistles. I was not using them. I barely talk on my cell phone EXCEPT the weekends and those minutes are free!! I was really wasting a lot of money there.

I also tried calling my local phone company to make changes to that service as well. But being that I made these calls while driving AND looking for hair salon, I decided to put safety first and I will pursue the home phone service price cut Monday of next week.

On another note, I have been very bad this week. I have been eating out like nobody's business AND buying hair products like I have the hair length of Lady Godiva. I will not buy anything next week!!! I will not buy anything next week!!! I will not buy anything next week!!!

Although I fell off track this week, overall I have surpassed my expectations since beginning my financial freedom journey. Y'all have NO idea. I think I was in an emotional funk this week and that had an effect on my spending. I have always known whenever I get in funky moods I tend to overspend. But since beginning this intentional financial journey, I am more aware of the monies leaving my person. At one point while in the Beauty Supply Store, I left the store without purchasing anything in my basket. That is when I had an A-HA moment. But that A-HA moment didn't occur today while I purchased yet ANOTHER deep conditioner. HAHAHA!!!

Although I didn't spend NEARLY as much as I have in the past, the monies I did spend could have been put to better use. **SIGH**

1 comment:

Dimples said...

Good job. I lowered my monthly expenses by $80. I hope to lower even more. I envy the $642 you pay. Oh how I wish I could. *sigh*