Being bankrupt means you have to find creative ways to get the things you need and want. I still can't believe how much money I spent last month (and used up any excess in my checking account).
Trying to remain optimistic I have taken to re-reading my two Freecycle lists and Craig's List under the free section. Freecycle is a Yahoo group where folks offer for free, items that they no longer want or need, or they post for items they might need. I see all kinds of items on the list from old cars good for parts to clothes, books, toys, etc.
I have given away a bunch of miscellaneous kitchen equipment, miscellaneous dog equipment, an old mink coat, my old mountain bike that sat outside for 3 years and needed a major tune up I did not have the time or energy to do, divided up perennials flowers from my garden that originally came from a very upscale local nursery, wire garden fencing and posts (recycled from someone else, I had too many, used what I needed and offered the rest stating they were used from another project), extra lawn chairs, and books that did not sell on Craig's list, E-Bay or Half.com.
I have gotten a really nice dog house, a really nice bread machine that I use weekly, and a Thule rack with locks for my car (I only needed to order a new set of keys from Thule, cost $8). The search for the Thule rack was done in a moment of desperation, I needed a rack for my car, could not find one for less than $350 that would fit my older model Saturn and I needed it fast. That was my best item received and it has worked out great for me.
I tend to post items offered more than items wanted, but now that my expendable income is almost nill, time to go back to items wanted!
Depending on where you live, freecycle is a great way to get used items you need.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tale of The Tape-October
Even though October is not quite over, here is the Tale of the October Tape
Mortgage: $553
Car: $320.98
Gas: $221.08
Health Insurance: $94.03
Food: $133.19
Eating Out: $16.99
Laundry:$20
Donations: $91
Car Insurance: $184
Student Loans: $347.86
Gifts:$10.58
Dues: $70.76
Car Rental: $385.00
Unaccountable $37.00
Total: $2,485.47
The car rental was reimbursed to me $250, but not noted in the above, I just got the reimbursement for that the other day, I did a double student loan payment and car insurance payment (the new car insurance company I looked at ended up not being a better deal in the end so quickly jumped back to the old company). Gas was high as I had rented the SUV for the trip and it ate a ton of gas. Over half my gas money spent was for gas for the rental vehicles.
Like I posted earlier, I considered September a bad month, October even worse, but both months a learning experience, this budget does not include the latest car repair, that check did not clear my account yet.
By looking at the bank print out, I have $137.00 that I have labeled unaccountable and misc. I know I took money out of my checking account ($100) for cash on hand and the remainder was two Target Shopping's, but without the receipts in hand, I could not tell you what I spend $137 on. I know part of the $37 from Target was for cleaning supplies, but dammed if I know what the rest was on. Quicken here I come.
I badly crumpled my receipt envelope at some point this past month and it got moved out of my purse and so did my "record keeping". I did find a very nice leather receipt wallet I got as a Christmas gift a couple years ago. Out of the drawer it came and into my purse. No excuses now, every receipt gets put in that wallet and as part of my November goal, to document where the money goes.
This is really sad and I'm kinda depressed by it all today.
Mortgage: $553
Car: $320.98
Gas: $221.08
Health Insurance: $94.03
Food: $133.19
Eating Out: $16.99
Laundry:$20
Donations: $91
Car Insurance: $184
Student Loans: $347.86
Gifts:$10.58
Dues: $70.76
Car Rental: $385.00
Unaccountable $37.00
Total: $2,485.47
The car rental was reimbursed to me $250, but not noted in the above, I just got the reimbursement for that the other day, I did a double student loan payment and car insurance payment (the new car insurance company I looked at ended up not being a better deal in the end so quickly jumped back to the old company). Gas was high as I had rented the SUV for the trip and it ate a ton of gas. Over half my gas money spent was for gas for the rental vehicles.
Like I posted earlier, I considered September a bad month, October even worse, but both months a learning experience, this budget does not include the latest car repair, that check did not clear my account yet.
By looking at the bank print out, I have $137.00 that I have labeled unaccountable and misc. I know I took money out of my checking account ($100) for cash on hand and the remainder was two Target Shopping's, but without the receipts in hand, I could not tell you what I spend $137 on. I know part of the $37 from Target was for cleaning supplies, but dammed if I know what the rest was on. Quicken here I come.
I badly crumpled my receipt envelope at some point this past month and it got moved out of my purse and so did my "record keeping". I did find a very nice leather receipt wallet I got as a Christmas gift a couple years ago. Out of the drawer it came and into my purse. No excuses now, every receipt gets put in that wallet and as part of my November goal, to document where the money goes.
This is really sad and I'm kinda depressed by it all today.
What would you do?
I had an interesting conversation with my friend James over the weekend. Seems the Trustee does want my inherited jewelry after all! I've gone "over" my exemption listed and he'd like an appraisal and or the jewelery. He even got the court to mandate an order to turn it over (no set date) as it exceeded the exemption and was not "wedding jewelery." James said I just should have lied and not mentioned the jewelery. I responded Why Would I Lie?
The letter from the Trustee spelled out three things :
1) They need a copy of my bank statement as of the day of the filing -which for the record I had a balance of $195.84 in my checking account and $100.16 in my HSA, and about $40 in my wallet. I gave him copies at the hearing, perhaps he mislaid them.
2) They want my 2007 tax refund (are they going to pay if I owe? :) )
3) They want the non personal wedding jewelry, or I can "buy it" from myself and send him the money. I'm double checking on this last point.
James said I should have not even listed the jewelry, but I did not think to not mention it. I did not realize there was an exemption. Would I have not mentioned the jewelry? I really don't know. I don't think it's good practice to lie about stuff, I listed my assets and liabilities. The jewelry was one question on the form and I answered it. As someone else pointed out-They don't come and check your personal possessions do they?
I'm guessing folks do try to "hide" things from the Court Trustees, I listened to one case being reviewed prior to my hearing and it seemed like these folks had tried to hide cash or assets with family members (all being involved in the same family business too!)
I have to stop by the store and pick up the ring and the appraisal this week, I'm curious to see what the appraisal came in at and will take it from there.
The letter from the Trustee spelled out three things :
1) They need a copy of my bank statement as of the day of the filing -which for the record I had a balance of $195.84 in my checking account and $100.16 in my HSA, and about $40 in my wallet. I gave him copies at the hearing, perhaps he mislaid them.
2) They want my 2007 tax refund (are they going to pay if I owe? :) )
3) They want the non personal wedding jewelry, or I can "buy it" from myself and send him the money. I'm double checking on this last point.
James said I should have not even listed the jewelry, but I did not think to not mention it. I did not realize there was an exemption. Would I have not mentioned the jewelry? I really don't know. I don't think it's good practice to lie about stuff, I listed my assets and liabilities. The jewelry was one question on the form and I answered it. As someone else pointed out-They don't come and check your personal possessions do they?
I'm guessing folks do try to "hide" things from the Court Trustees, I listened to one case being reviewed prior to my hearing and it seemed like these folks had tried to hide cash or assets with family members (all being involved in the same family business too!)
I have to stop by the store and pick up the ring and the appraisal this week, I'm curious to see what the appraisal came in at and will take it from there.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Taking A More Rational Look
Like I posted yesterday, the Trustee only had a few questions about my Bankruptcy Petition. You can click here to see that post. While I am disappointed and a bit upset to have my petition date moved back, I should not be, and am not 100% surprised. The Trustee did ask about my taxes and tax return and I did tell him I was not expecting a refund in 2008 like I had in 2007.
Driving up to see friends for dinner last night I talked to myself in the car about this (and yes I am one of those people who talks to oneself while driving :)) and realized it is just one step in the process.
I've never cheated on a tax return, don't plan on doing it in the future, will do my return honestly, and I guess I just have to see what happens.
Driving up to see friends for dinner last night I talked to myself in the car about this (and yes I am one of those people who talks to oneself while driving :)) and realized it is just one step in the process.
I've never cheated on a tax return, don't plan on doing it in the future, will do my return honestly, and I guess I just have to see what happens.
October Goal Update~November Goals
Since I have an extended lunch, I looked at my October Goals and realized I was about 50/50 on them.
I have a much better expectation of what and how I should budget my money. That in and of itself is a huge milestone. My November budget may be a bit tight (and a little tighter now that I need a new Hoover) but it's totally doable and workable. That is one goal I'm very pleased to achieve.
I got the little gig of photographing properties for a mortgage company and I get about 3 properties a week, most of which are easy to get to (next town over) and don't require excess gas and milage. The money from that is earmarked to my ING account. I'll keep looking for another part time job for the holidays, but not sure how that will go in my neck of the woods, most stores close at 5 or 6, just when I get out of work! I'll keep plugging away at it. I'd say that was a 50% of a goal.
November Goals:
Stick to the Budget.
Find an alternative source of income.
Do a massive decluttering of the house.
Make the Christmas present/card list.
Take on line continuing education course.
My goals might not be as grand as some others, but I am getting better and more disciplined about my budgets, goal settings, and it's all part of my relearning curve.
I have a much better expectation of what and how I should budget my money. That in and of itself is a huge milestone. My November budget may be a bit tight (and a little tighter now that I need a new Hoover) but it's totally doable and workable. That is one goal I'm very pleased to achieve.
I got the little gig of photographing properties for a mortgage company and I get about 3 properties a week, most of which are easy to get to (next town over) and don't require excess gas and milage. The money from that is earmarked to my ING account. I'll keep looking for another part time job for the holidays, but not sure how that will go in my neck of the woods, most stores close at 5 or 6, just when I get out of work! I'll keep plugging away at it. I'd say that was a 50% of a goal.
November Goals:
Stick to the Budget.
Find an alternative source of income.
Do a massive decluttering of the house.
Make the Christmas present/card list.
Take on line continuing education course.
My goals might not be as grand as some others, but I am getting better and more disciplined about my budgets, goal settings, and it's all part of my relearning curve.
And For Fun Last Night, I Swept My Carpet
Just to add insult to injury, the other day my vacuum cleaner died. I turned it on to do a much needed vacuuming of the house, it made a funny noise and then died. First the car, now the Hoover. The vacuum is older than the car so all I did was swear a lot and drag theHoover and put it out to go to the dump this weekend. It is just not worth taking it to be repaired, it would be the cost of a new one and this one is old. Seems to be the story of my life, things dying and are too old to really spend the money on to be repaired or can be replaced with the new and improved model for the same price or less. At least I got a good ten years out of that vacuum, so I'm really not complaining, just complaining about the timing of it all.
The carpet needs a good cleaning, but for now, it got swept and at least looks better than it did before I swept it.
Part of what I will be doing this weekend will be a good clean out/clean up of the house. I did not get to do a dump run (the joys of managing your trash in the country), so that is a must do chore. I did clean most of my windows and screens last weekend (inside and out) as well as the window sills and I'll finish that this weekend.
I've had a bunch of books on half.com for a while and since they have not sold and I'm down to the minimum price, I will take them to Goodwill for a donation .
The car repair bill has been paid and I have $10 to spend on myself this weekend. I think I'll earmark that for a new vacuum......
The carpet needs a good cleaning, but for now, it got swept and at least looks better than it did before I swept it.
Part of what I will be doing this weekend will be a good clean out/clean up of the house. I did not get to do a dump run (the joys of managing your trash in the country), so that is a must do chore. I did clean most of my windows and screens last weekend (inside and out) as well as the window sills and I'll finish that this weekend.
I've had a bunch of books on half.com for a while and since they have not sold and I'm down to the minimum price, I will take them to Goodwill for a donation .
The car repair bill has been paid and I have $10 to spend on myself this weekend. I think I'll earmark that for a new vacuum......
Thursday, October 25, 2007
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
All I can say right now is GRRRR.
Got a call from my attorney's office, they got a letter from the Court Trustee. Not only does the Trustee want the jewelry appraisal (just waiting for that to come back, ring and watch has been dropped off), now they want a copy of my 2007 tax return (which is still just a future project) before they will approve the discharge. I think the Trustee wants to see what my tax refund will be. I can pretty much summize that it won't be much. I don't have the expenses this year that I had last year that I can write off, other than mortgage interest, some student loan, some medical, and some work related. It's going to be 1/3 of what I had last year in expenses. I won't even get all my tax documents until mid to late January and this pushes off the discharge until at least February.
Call me superstitious, but I wore that darned ring to work on Friday so I would remember to stop off at the jewelers and Friday is when my transmission blew and when the Trustees letter was dated. Each time I wear that ring something not good happens.
I'm telling ya, if I get to keep that ring, I'll never wear it again.
Oh well, not much I can do at this point until at least mid January 2008.
Got a call from my attorney's office, they got a letter from the Court Trustee. Not only does the Trustee want the jewelry appraisal (just waiting for that to come back, ring and watch has been dropped off), now they want a copy of my 2007 tax return (which is still just a future project) before they will approve the discharge. I think the Trustee wants to see what my tax refund will be. I can pretty much summize that it won't be much. I don't have the expenses this year that I had last year that I can write off, other than mortgage interest, some student loan, some medical, and some work related. It's going to be 1/3 of what I had last year in expenses. I won't even get all my tax documents until mid to late January and this pushes off the discharge until at least February.
Call me superstitious, but I wore that darned ring to work on Friday so I would remember to stop off at the jewelers and Friday is when my transmission blew and when the Trustees letter was dated. Each time I wear that ring something not good happens.
I'm telling ya, if I get to keep that ring, I'll never wear it again.
Oh well, not much I can do at this point until at least mid January 2008.
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