Women in Red Racers - Northeast Region

[shanendoah]

The 25-50K List has been updated

• In the last two weeks, this list has paid off over $2,140 in debt
  
• Welcome to ur_doing_itfrom the Midwest
  
• lttlewhitetanktop jumped into the top slot. Also moving up were momofelliot (now in 3rd) and dimplesnlj making it to the 11th spot on our list.
  

[tribeca7]

tribeca7: 3/6/13, $45,406.31 (3/6/13, $45,406.31, NE101)

Hello everyone! I'm new here, and new to forums in general, but I love this idea as a way to keep track of my debt (two student loans: one at $11,973.88 and one at $33,432.43). Anyway, I'm hoping this is where I'm supposed to post this? If it isn't, could someone tell me where to put it? Also, do I need to post it in the 25-50K List board too? Sorry for all the questions!

[dschmidt1007]

tribeca7 - Looks to me like you did just fine.  Your first line is correct.  The 25 to 50k list is run by an admin who will "pick you up" the next time they update their list, so you don't have to do anything further for that.  Some members (like myself) like to post the interest rates and minimum payments, as well as a "snowball" (or additional money in their budget that they put towards debt) so that other members can make suggestions as to how to lower your balance faster.  Best of luck!!!

[raven64]

Update: Raven64: 3/7/13: $47,765.31 (1/19/10 $53,326.18 NEU60)

Credit Card	Rate	1/19/10	1/18/11	Difference
Barclay	18.24%	$8123.54	$6,830.87	$1292.67
Discover	15.99%	$5236.61	$4,484.35	$752.26
Chase	13.99%	$5447.62	$3,124.26	$2323.36
US Bank	12.99%	$8721.55	$8,583.61	$137.94
Barclay	8.99%	$7315.37	$7,534.97	$-219.60
Citibank #1	7.24%	$6199.01	$5,884.99	$314.02
Citibank #2	7.24%	$12282.48	$11,322.26	$960.22
Total		$53,326.18	$47,765.31	$5560.87

Total % paid : 10.428%

Goals
Be under $45,000 by July 1
Increase EF to $2,000

This month is going good so far. Not all my totals are updated here since they haven't posted online yet. I just wanted to get a quick update in before I got the boot.   DH and I have decided to refi our mortgage since the rates are so low. We are in the process now and it will save us $350-400 a month on our payment.   The extra money each month will certainly be a big help in paying down debt.

Happy racing everyone! 

[lark1964]

Ah... la-la...

	Original	3/1/2013
Car	5027.43
Sears	585
Ch 13	36,660.00	25,662.00
Mortgage	153,320.00	146,468.95
Wells Fargo	4,819.00	4,819.00
Prepgate	31,688.00	31,688.00
	232,099.43	208,637.95

lark_1964: 2/1/2013 $208,637.95 (5/17/2007 $232,099.43 N29,NE61,NEU176,NPT86)

This year's goal, to get below $200K... I can do it! I can do it!

[Maryland Monroe]

Update	2/24/08	3/10/13	Paid	% Paid
Card A	$9,746.38	$1,407.58	$8,338.80	85.56%
Card B	$1,218.41	$0.00	$1,218.41	100.00%
Card C	$5,656.86	$1,423.19	$4,233.67	74.84%
Card D	$1,813.97	$0.00	$1,813.97	100.00%
Total	$18,435.62	$2,830.77	$15,604.85	84.65%

Maryland_Monroe 3/10/13 $2,830.77 (2/24/08 $18,435.62 NE 108)

[chiver78]

chiver78 3/12/13  $17963.19 (8/20/08 $45152.97 NE266)

creditor	8/20/2008	3/12/2013	PAID OFF!
BofA-1	$0	$0	$0
Chase	$0	$6950.00	($6950.00)
Citizens	$0	$0	$0
Discover-1	$543.07	$1556.36	($1013.29)
AmEx	$3142.50	$0	$3142.50
car	$4602.06	$0	$4602.06
Discover-2	$5648.17	$0	$5648.17
SL	$7528.74	$0	$7528.74
1st National Bank	$9862.14	$3148.65	$6713.49
BofA-2	$13826.29	$1507.26	$12319.03
Citi	$0	$0	$0
Elan	$0	$4800.92	($4800.92)
TOTALS	$45152.97	$19081.39	$26071.58

still chugging along.   
here's what I said last time -

so I'm still hovering around the $19k mark, which is good and bad. I have had to pull $ out of savings to cover a couple unplanned emergencies, which is bad. I didn't have to put either of them on a CC, which is great! my bonus should be larger than past years, due to a change in the bonus structure. I will bump my savings back up to $10k and throw the rest of it at the Chase balance. I will probably also move that Chase balance somewhere else, as the 0% interest rate is going to reset this spring. this balance was the cash advance I'd taken around this time last year, to fund the quickie renovation to my townhouse....that I'm sadly still living in. with the unplanned emergencies, I don't have the cash in savings to pay that off before it resets, which had been my plan. lesson learned, I guess.

as far as the other balances, the 1st National and Elan lines are both sub-2% rates for the life of the balance. the BofA, AmEx, and Discover cards with balances are the ones I rotate through for daily use and paying bills online. I expect to get all three of those back to paid in full each month within the next month or so.

since the last update, I've paid off the AmEx balance completely. bonuses should be out either this week or next, the BofA and Discover balances will be wiped out with that, and the rest will go into savings. I've got a couple 0% BT offers sitting on my kitchen counter that I need to take a closer look at, for moving the Chase balance again. some or all, I haven't really decided. I'm leaning more toward having more cash on hand and just paying the minimums while I move that one around for awhile. like I said, I still have time until the Chase rate resets, I'll see what the offers have for fine print.

I have my tax appointment over lunch today, and I should know when I leave about how much I'll be getting back from Federal in a few weeks. this year's return might be a bit messed up, with the escrow snafu that got discovered this year.....causing me to have to write a very ugly check back to my mortgage company. I'm hoping to be able to write that off this year, we'll see.

[murphath]

chiver78:
Did you ever sell you condo?

[chiver78]

nope, I'm still underwater by about $20-25k including commission costs if I were to sell.
so I'm in a holding pattern, and finding things to do with my time that involve being anywhere other than home.

thanks for remembering me

[kristin11]

Just finished with my taxes for 2012 and it is not a pretty sight.  I always try to finish the year on almost a breakeven principle - usually getting back around $125-$150 which I then use for my cats annual vet visit so its pretty much a wash.  Well this year is nothing like what normally happens.  I got a larger than normal raise last July which apparently brought me up into the next tax bracket.  Had I not had 2 jobs I would have been getting money back but when I factor in the $5,000 I made from my second job - I end up oweing about $200 Federal.  So now not only do I have to pay $200 to the government but I have to pay out of pocket the $150 to the vet which I would normally use my refund for.  To make a long story short I was claiming Single and 1 (which I now found out is a big no no) and did not realize.  I changed both jobs to S and 0 so for next year it shouldn't be an issue but right now I am down $350.  I have fit it into my budget to be able to pay the $200 I owe by the April 15th deadline but I have NO CLUE where the $150 for the cats vet visit is coming from.  I don't want to touch my EF because this month is looking pretty shaky with rent again so my question is - How terrible does everyone think it would be to put on my Disney card that I am racing (has the lowest rate for purchases).  I know that it will take me about 2 months to make up for having to use it but I don't want to have to use my EF because I already have to reimburse it as soon as I can for having to take money out to cover rent last month.  Any advice? 

[heartvolunteer]

Hi Ladies! Still alive and kicking in this wild and wacky world of debt racing and dating! :-) I've two months worth of payments here, but it's still good. Got my taxes done and a nice refund already in my bank account, which is why my payments are so nice this month. I feel like I have a bit more breathing room, which just makes me feel good. Hope that all is well! I had a sinus infection last week, but am finally getting over it. Went through three whole boxes of Puffs Plus with lotion in less than 2 days if that tells you anything. Had to use 1.5 sick days once I got nailed with the 102 degree fever! At least I didn't have the stomach flu that's sweeping through my office though! Apparently, it makes people lose it from multiple ends...  But as I said, I'm feeling much better now. Been doing a lot of volunteering for the last month. And the dating scene has so many stories. Sigh. Most recent event was a new guy I met online - a doctor, and we started chatting and then he up and sent me a picture of himself in his...birthday suit.   Happily, on the one hand, he's a pretty boy. On the other hand - I didn't realize we were at *that* point in our conversation!!! I wouldn't have though we were there! And no, I did NOT send him one of me!!! LOL...hope it makes y'all giggle a little bit today! He's lucky I don't post that somewhere!!

Heartvolunteer: 3/12/13 = $9,140.93 (4/30/08 $15,351.37, NE75 )

Name	Since 1/30/13	Paid	Current
BOA	$7,305.51	700.00	$6,711.12
Citi	$1,828.51	600.00	$1,228.51
Royal	$397.45	300.00	$114.76
Monro	$1,686.54	600.00	$1,086.54
Home Depot	0.00	0.00	0.00
Car Loan	0.00	0.00	0.00
Best Buy	0.00	0.00	0.00
Totals	$11,218.01	$2,200	$9,140.93

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Mar 12, 2013 13:36:47 GMT -5 kristin11 said:

Just finished with my taxes for 2012 and it is not a pretty sight.  I always try to finish the year on almost a breakeven principle - usually getting back around $125-$150 which I then use for my cats annual vet visit so its pretty much a wash.  Well this year is nothing like what normally happens.  I got a larger than normal raise last July which apparently brought me up into the next tax bracket.  Had I not had 2 jobs I would have been getting money back but when I factor in the $5,000 I made from my second job - I end up oweing about $200 Federal.  So now not only do I have to pay $200 to the government but I have to pay out of pocket the $150 to the vet which I would normally use my refund for.  To make a long story short I was claiming Single and 1 (which I now found out is a big no no) and did not realize.  I changed both jobs to S and 0 so for next year it shouldn't be an issue but right now I am down $350.  I have fit it into my budget to be able to pay the $200 I owe by the April 15th deadline but I have NO CLUE where the $150 for the cats vet visit is coming from.  I don't want to touch my EF because this month is looking pretty shaky with rent again so my question is - How terrible does everyone think it would be to put on my Disney card that I am racing (has the lowest rate for purchases).  I know that it will take me about 2 months to make up for having to use it but I don't want to have to use my EF because I already have to reimburse it as soon as I can for having to take money out to cover rent last month.  Any advice? 

If it's just an annual checkup for the kitty, can you put it off another month? 

Also, you can check into payment plans with the IRS if you need to.  There is a link on their front page of the website, I think.  They really do work with people. 

[kristin11]

Rocky Mtn Saver - I am not necessarily the cat lover so maybe someone else can answer this better for me - but his vaccines are all up on the 24th of March so I think that its kind of important that he gets the new ones before then.  Like I said not completely sure though ...

Thats an idea - to pay off the IRS ... I am going to check the website and see what my options are ... Although I am not sure how much I like the idea of knowing I owe the government ... Not sure anyone likes that

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

My guess is that the answer to the vet question would partly depend on whether or not they have contact with other animals.

And as for the IRS, I know it might not be the most desirable option, but I suspect the interest they charge is a lot less than your cc rates. 

[dschmidt1007]

kristin11 - I have 3 indoor only cats.  They do not see the vet unless I can't explain what's wrong with them.  My cats were vaccinated when I first got them, and then again when we brought our 3rd cat into the house so that in case he had something, so they wouldn't get sick or vice versa.

My understanding is that if they are indoor only and not in contact with other cats that do have access to outside, they may not necessarily need that vaccination exactly on time or maybe even at all.  I would call the vet and check.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Honestly, and perhaps this makes me a bad pet owner, but for years, my 2 indoor-only cats weren't ever vaccinated on a regular basis.    I'm better now, I promise!  And they never had any problems, so don't anyone turn me in to the ASPCA.  

[lark1964]

Mar 12, 2013 13:36:47 GMT -5 kristin11 said:

Just finished with my taxes for 2012 and it is not a pretty sight.  I always try to finish the year on almost a breakeven principle - usually getting back around $125-$150 which I then use for my cats annual vet visit so its pretty much a wash.  Well this year is nothing like what normally happens.  I got a larger than normal raise last July which apparently brought me up into the next tax bracket.  Had I not had 2 jobs I would have been getting money back but when I factor in the $5,000 I made from my second job - I end up oweing about $200 Federal.  So now not only do I have to pay $200 to the government but I have to pay out of pocket the $150 to the vet which I would normally use my refund for.  To make a long story short I was claiming Single and 1 (which I now found out is a big no no) and did not realize.  I changed both jobs to S and 0 so for next year it shouldn't be an issue but right now I am down $350.  I have fit it into my budget to be able to pay the $200 I owe by the April 15th deadline but I have NO CLUE where the $150 for the cats vet visit is coming from.  I don't want to touch my EF because this month is looking pretty shaky with rent again so my question is - How terrible does everyone think it would be to put on my Disney card that I am racing (has the lowest rate for purchases).  I know that it will take me about 2 months to make up for having to use it but I don't want to have to use my EF because I already have to reimburse it as soon as I can for having to take money out to cover rent last month.  Any advice? 

Kristin, if it's just $200 - that's not a lot, if you offer to pay the Fed $50 a month, they'll take it. The interest will be minimal, actually, less than a credit card, they may even waive it, since you owe them less than $1,000.

Then I'd put the cat bill on the card.

FYI, it's not so much you being shoved into the higher tax bracket as we fell "off the fiscal cliff." Everybody's taxes last year were higher than the estimated. Perspective - I owe $1,831.

Just breathe, sweetie.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Y'know, if it's a vet that you have an established relationship with, you could just ask them if you can pay 1/2 at the time of the visit and 1/2 the following month.  They might go for it.  You don't know unless you ask. 

[murphath]

kristin11:
Here in Calif. you can get your pets vaccinated at the travelling clinics held at PetCo and Pet Smart stores. You can call them to see if there's one if your area happening soon. They are way less expensive than going to a vet's office--at least 1/2 the price. And the shots are done by a vet.

[kristin11]

Murpath - That is something to definitely look into.  I know that my local Pet Smart has veterinary facilities but I have never looked into bringing my cat there. 

I also think that my vet might be willing to work something out with me (not sure why that didn't cross my mind - I guess the stress of the whole situation was just clouding my judgement) because my parents have been going there for 15 years with my dog so they know our family and know we are reliable.  I know when my dog had to have surgery they worked out a payment plan so maybe they would be willing to do that with me even though it is for a small amount. 

So now I have 2 phone calls to make ... Thank you everyone for your suggestions.  Sometimes you just need to step away from the situation to get other peoples advice because you are so worried that you aren't thinking clearly.  I got some very good suggestions that I just would have never thought of for some reason.

Lark - I am sorry to hear that you have to pay that much.    Why can't they just get it right out of our paychecks the first time so we don't have to owe or get a refund.  I might start to play the same card that my younger sister does ... Boycott paying until my father realizes that its the 13th and she hasn't paid yet so he sends in the check for her!  And to think she is the one that is much more responsible with money and finances!   

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Mar 13, 2013 12:53:52 GMT -5 kristin11 said:

Lark - I am sorry to hear that you have to pay that much.    Why can't they just get it right out of our paychecks the first time so we don't have to owe or get a refund. 

Speaking as a tax preparer, in "their" defense... the ones who mess up our withholding is ourselves. We either tell the employer to take too much or too little of our money out, depending on how we fill out the W-4. They're just following our instructions. Sadly, it can be sometimes hard to gauge how to fill out the W-4, but that's a different conversation.

[lark1964]

Mar 12, 2013 17:26:31 GMT -5 dschmidt1007 said:

kristin11 - I have 3 indoor only cats.  They do not see the vet unless I can't explain what's wrong with them.  My cats were vaccinated when I first got them, and then again when we brought our 3rd cat into the house so that in case he had something, so they wouldn't get sick or vice versa.

My understanding is that if they are indoor only and not in contact with other cats that do have access to outside, they may not necessarily need that vaccination exactly on time or maybe even at all.  I would call the vet and check.

Good point, actually - if your cats are always indoors, you actually can put off the vet for a couple of months, it won't hurt them. The bigger concern for vaccinations for indoor kitties is when you bring in a new pet, or if they're doing something like sticking their nose to a screen to "talk" with other cats outside who are on the other side of the screen. It's fluid transfers that get them in trouble more often than not. But if they're over a year old, and they've been fine all along - maybe you can put it off until you can find the clinic visits at PetCo - that's actually a great thing to do, I forgot all about it until Murpath mentioned it!

And don't worry about my taxes, sweetie, I make a considerable amount more than you do - I prefer owing, not being owed! It's my own fault, anyway, I took 10 deductions two times last year when I was repairing my house, I had estimated I'd owe about $1,000, it's just a little bit bigger bite. And it will come out next month and I'll be done.

[kristin11]

Mar 13, 2013 12:58:25 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Mar 13, 2013 12:53:52 GMT -5 kristin11 said:

Lark - I am sorry to hear that you have to pay that much.    Why can't they just get it right out of our paychecks the first time so we don't have to owe or get a refund. 

Speaking as a tax preparer, in "their" defense... the ones who mess up our withholding is ourselves. We either tell the employer to take too much or too little of our money out, depending on how we fill out the W-4. They're just following our instructions. Sadly, it can be sometimes hard to gauge how to fill out the W-4, but that's a different conversation.

I think you misunderstood me.  What I meant was that if you are single and have 1 dependent then I would think if you claimed single and 1 the deductions should be enough where you dont have to owe or get money back when all is said and done - It should just break even always.  In my perfect world I am saying this - I am not speaking for anyone else.  

And I am very well aware that the reason I owe this year is because of me - I thought I was claiming one thing because my taxes have always worked out in my favor and the one year that they didnt and I actually looked into I realized I wasn't withholding what I thought ...

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Your difficulty sounds like it came from working 2 jobs.  The amount of WH based on exemption by each employer is figured on the assumption that it is the only income/employer you have. 

There is a note on the instructions regarding multiple income streams:

"Two earners or multiple jobs. If you have a working spouse or more than one job, figure the total number of allowances you are entitled to claim on all jobs using worksheets from only one Form W-4. Your withholding usually will be most accurate when all allowances are claimed on the Form W-4 for the highest paying job and zero allowances are claimed on the others. See Pub. 505 for details."

The good news is that you can adjust your withholding later if you need to.  I usually run a test of my taxes about Sept or so, to see if I feel I'm having a correct amount taken out.  I would guess that for you, this highlighted section is all you may actually need to do to break even again next year. 

[dschmidt1007]

My hubby and I always claim Married and 0.  Because of a ROTH IRA conversion I did in 2010, and split payment on the taxes for in 2011 and 2012, I owed like $5k last year and another $2.5k this year.  Which is horrific as I only rolled over about $13k.  Insanity - I should have just left it in a regular IRA and been done with it and not owed 1 dime.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

dschmidt, that sucks!

[wudnit]

Update:  3/14/13  Wudnit   $96,570 (1/13/10 $172915 NEU46)


Making Progress!!  Trying to get back on track!!  Really want my next 0 by April 2014.  Sooner if I can get it!!!

[ravenhaired]

UPDATE!
Ravenhaired: 3/15/13 $52,229.85 (12/23/09 $72,190.66)
Overall decrease $19,960.81 
Pittsburgh, PA NE U4

DEBT	Dec '09	Dec '10	Dec '11	Dec '12	Jan '13	Feb '13	Mar '13
Home Equity Loan	63,865.83	58,603.12	50,508.60	52,350.73	52,328.92	52,229.85	52229.85
MISC Debt	8,324.83		379.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Totals	72,190.66	58,603.12	50,887.60	52,350.73	52,328.92	52,229.85	52,229.85
Change:		13,587.54	7,715.52	-1,463.13	21.81	99.07	0.00
SAVINGS	Dec '09	Dec '10	Dec '11	Dec '12	Jan '13	Feb '13	Mar '13
EF	0.00	1,985.02	5,000.00	8,000.00	8,202.71	7,609.87	7,809.87
Totals	190.20	1,985.02	5,000.00	8,000.00	8,202.71	7,609.87	7,809.87
Change:		1,794.82	3,014.98	3,000.00	202.71	-592.84	200.00

2013 Resolutions / To Do List
* Make and use only natural cleaning and personal hygiene items
* Study homeopathy
* Experience something new once a month
* Sincerely compliment someone new each week

Daily Goals
* Think less, LOVE MORE
* Invest in passionate pursuits
* Accept what is
* Live honestly
* Anger and worry less, Smile and laugh more 
* Be grateful and remember LIFE IS GOOD! 

[crisde2bdebtfree]

  Hi can someone tell me what I am doing wrong when I try to post my update--when I try to copy and paste from my documents  It dont work i get a big mess--Everyone elses updates looks so nice--why can't I do this!

[movinonup]

Crisde... Are you trying to paste code?  If so, make sure you are pasting into the BBCode tab.  The background of BBCode should be the same color as the background around that tab.  If it is darker, you are pasting in the Visual tab and what you paste will look exactly the same when you look at it in the thread.  Hope this helps.  - movinonup