Some days you feel really good about your finances. Other days, an unexpected expense will bring you down.
Yesterday was one of those days. I had sent my car in for an oil change at the dealership. They have an option where a driver will come pick up the car wherever you are - in my case, work - drive it to the dealership and perform the maintenance, then when you have paid online, they will drive it back to you. All you have to do is hand over the keys. No contact, no waiting around at the dealership. Actually, quite ideal for this day in age. I hope it sticks around once COVID-19 runs its course.
Anyway, I had scheduled an appointment for an oil change. I knew my brakes were due to be done soon, but was hoping I could make it through another oil change. Not so much. So, instead of $80 for an oil change and tire rotation, I spent $440. It wiped out what I had in my cushion fund, as you can see at the right. And, they recommended a transmission fluid change and a water pump and timing belt. I need to get the cost of the last two before I make my decision on when it needs to be done. But it sounds expensive, as things usually are.
On top of that, the cats need to go in for their yearly check-up and need their rabies shots. Joy. That's another $300. I'm just estimating (and I'm estimating high) based on last year's costs.
So there goes all the stimulus money I'm supposed to be getting from the government. $1000 back into my cushion fund and the other $200 towards the cats, plus $100 from my next paycheck. I know I'm getting $600 extra in my paycheck from my company for being an employee in these times, and another $200 because I have to be in the office instead of working from home. Now, I'll probably have to pay taxes on that money (which sucks, but what can you do?), so I'm guessing about $150 additional in taxes will be taken out. Oh, plus an additional $24.00 into my 401k. So, we are looking at about $625 extra in my paycheck. I will pay bills that are usually due this pay period, and pay off the Torrid account, then use whatever is left over to start paying off bills for next pay period (I have a few already figured out). Then whatever is left from that to pay down the next bill, my Credit One credit card.
That is the plan. Every single dollar is going to be accounted for. I will know more of what I will be getting for the paycheck on Wednesday when I print off my pay voucher, and I'll be able to plan things a little more concretely.
Planning helps with my anxiety. My anxiety stems more from the unknown and being unable to plan or see a solution to a problem. Right now, COVID-19 is not helping. I have to go into the office and work. Can't stay at home. Do I know for sure that the people I work with aren't carrying the virus? No. So, for now, I stay in my cubicle and work, leaving only a few times to stretch my legs and to sign documents (that's why I'm there, after all), and the bathroom and lunch breaks. I eat lunch at my desk like I always do. The extra money I get helps me pay off my debt faster. It also helps that I have a forbearance on my student loans. I'm still making the minimum payment, but instead of having to pay interest on them, the full amount I pay in goes towards the principle, paying it down just a little faster. Now, if only they'd suspend mortgage and credit card payments, I'd be golden. I'd still make payments, but the full payment would go towards principle. But, beggars can't be choosers and I'm satisfied that at least my student loans will be paying down faster.
I can't believe we are already in the middle of April. How did that happen? At the beginning of the year, everything was planned so that we'd already have 3 dance competitions under our belt at this time, with only Regionals left after the Easter break. We haven't had dance classes for a month. The governor is saying we will hit the peak in July for our state, but the president I'm sure will want us to be back up and running at full strength well before that. Who do you believe? Who should you listen to and how do you plan? I don't know.
The only thing I do know is the money I get for each paycheck (since I still have a job) and what I can pay with it.
I'm almost done with the stitch along blanket I'm doing. Just doing the border now and I'm changing it because I hate fringe. We'll see how it looks.
I was able to color my hair today with my son's help. My roots were coming in strong. I will definitely need a hair cut when this is all over and they open the salons again. And a manicure and pedicure. My nails are looking atrocious. I have to keep filing them down so they don't break. Tomorrow is another fun filled weekend day where I will be trying to keep to my normal routine as much as possible.
It's late and I should get to bed.
Yesterday was one of those days. I had sent my car in for an oil change at the dealership. They have an option where a driver will come pick up the car wherever you are - in my case, work - drive it to the dealership and perform the maintenance, then when you have paid online, they will drive it back to you. All you have to do is hand over the keys. No contact, no waiting around at the dealership. Actually, quite ideal for this day in age. I hope it sticks around once COVID-19 runs its course.
Anyway, I had scheduled an appointment for an oil change. I knew my brakes were due to be done soon, but was hoping I could make it through another oil change. Not so much. So, instead of $80 for an oil change and tire rotation, I spent $440. It wiped out what I had in my cushion fund, as you can see at the right. And, they recommended a transmission fluid change and a water pump and timing belt. I need to get the cost of the last two before I make my decision on when it needs to be done. But it sounds expensive, as things usually are.
On top of that, the cats need to go in for their yearly check-up and need their rabies shots. Joy. That's another $300. I'm just estimating (and I'm estimating high) based on last year's costs.
So there goes all the stimulus money I'm supposed to be getting from the government. $1000 back into my cushion fund and the other $200 towards the cats, plus $100 from my next paycheck. I know I'm getting $600 extra in my paycheck from my company for being an employee in these times, and another $200 because I have to be in the office instead of working from home. Now, I'll probably have to pay taxes on that money (which sucks, but what can you do?), so I'm guessing about $150 additional in taxes will be taken out. Oh, plus an additional $24.00 into my 401k. So, we are looking at about $625 extra in my paycheck. I will pay bills that are usually due this pay period, and pay off the Torrid account, then use whatever is left over to start paying off bills for next pay period (I have a few already figured out). Then whatever is left from that to pay down the next bill, my Credit One credit card.
That is the plan. Every single dollar is going to be accounted for. I will know more of what I will be getting for the paycheck on Wednesday when I print off my pay voucher, and I'll be able to plan things a little more concretely.
Planning helps with my anxiety. My anxiety stems more from the unknown and being unable to plan or see a solution to a problem. Right now, COVID-19 is not helping. I have to go into the office and work. Can't stay at home. Do I know for sure that the people I work with aren't carrying the virus? No. So, for now, I stay in my cubicle and work, leaving only a few times to stretch my legs and to sign documents (that's why I'm there, after all), and the bathroom and lunch breaks. I eat lunch at my desk like I always do. The extra money I get helps me pay off my debt faster. It also helps that I have a forbearance on my student loans. I'm still making the minimum payment, but instead of having to pay interest on them, the full amount I pay in goes towards the principle, paying it down just a little faster. Now, if only they'd suspend mortgage and credit card payments, I'd be golden. I'd still make payments, but the full payment would go towards principle. But, beggars can't be choosers and I'm satisfied that at least my student loans will be paying down faster.
I can't believe we are already in the middle of April. How did that happen? At the beginning of the year, everything was planned so that we'd already have 3 dance competitions under our belt at this time, with only Regionals left after the Easter break. We haven't had dance classes for a month. The governor is saying we will hit the peak in July for our state, but the president I'm sure will want us to be back up and running at full strength well before that. Who do you believe? Who should you listen to and how do you plan? I don't know.
The only thing I do know is the money I get for each paycheck (since I still have a job) and what I can pay with it.
I'm almost done with the stitch along blanket I'm doing. Just doing the border now and I'm changing it because I hate fringe. We'll see how it looks.
I was able to color my hair today with my son's help. My roots were coming in strong. I will definitely need a hair cut when this is all over and they open the salons again. And a manicure and pedicure. My nails are looking atrocious. I have to keep filing them down so they don't break. Tomorrow is another fun filled weekend day where I will be trying to keep to my normal routine as much as possible.
It's late and I should get to bed.
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