$9,000s!!!...barely

Just a quick update.  I just made a payment on my student loan and I now owe $9,999 (with interest calculated through 10/15/15).  I'm down into the 4 figure range!  Whoop!! My next goal is to have the balance down to $8,000 by the end of October.  My next payment is not due until September of 2020!! Okay, gotta go catch a plane, toodles!

TGIF!

I'm so glad it's Friday.  I'm tired and worn out, it has been a long week.  Payday is looming next week, on Wednesday and I cannot wait to make a payment on my student loan.  I think that paying off debt is like a drug, I'm always waiting and anticipating the next payment.  While I don't think it's likely, I am really hoping that the firm gives Christmas bonuses this year.  I could really use the cash to pay down my student loan.  I usually just save the money, but this year, since I am getting so close to paying off the loan- I would definitely give it to Sallie Mae!  I wish the partners would give the money based on merit and not just give money to everyone.  I have worked my ass off this year, even working an entire weekend just recently at the request of my boss. Not to mention the many days I have been on the road at 5:00a.m. for work trips.  Oh well. I'll try not to worry, God has been giving me little blessings this year- just in the nick of time, everytime.

I have been spending like crazy this budget period, I don't know what has gotten into me.  I think I have like $20 left in my spending category.  Believe me, next Wednesday cannot come fast enough.  It's so hard to get through the weekend with only $20 in your spending budget.  I keep hoping that there will come a day when my budget is not quite so tight and I can spend a bit more freely.  Okay. I am going to go get ready for work it's already after 6:00 a.m. here and I have a lot to accomplish today.

September 16-30 Budget

$300 utilities
$100 groceries
$1739 student loan
$33 alarm system
$200 spending
$50 savings
$100 gas

I have been spending a lot this 2 week period and I am less than halfway through it.  I really need to curb that and fast.  I think I am just generally exhausted.  I am hoping to get a a chance to take some vacation time soon.

I have to attend a conference for work in a couple of weeks and I need to make sure I have some nice appropriate clothing and footwear so that will cost me a bit of money.  I think I have generally what I need, but I have gained some weight so I might spend a little on a new dress and maybe some flat shoes for running through the airports. Also, I may need to purchase a few odds and ends for makeup.  I will worry about that next weekend because I hate clothes shopping.  That's all for now.

My Raise

So probably about a month ago, I received a raise at work.  Just a small 5% raise- which now brings my total salary just over $80,000 a year.  I also received a promise that I would receive another 5% raise once the firm's finances turn around- that raise would bring my salary up to the mid-80s.

I appreciate the raise because I need the money.  I need to finish paying off my student loans and start putting money away for retirement.  However, I really feel as though the only reason I received the raise was because my boss feels he can buy me to make me stay at the firm.  I have encouraged, cajoled and basically begged him to take on more work over the last 4 years.  He has refused, he is in his 60s, he has suffered a lot of tragedy and he is tired/bitter.  He doesn't really want to work anymore.  I'm in my 30s and I am concerned about money because I am and single and I need to work for 30 more years in order to be able to retire.  If I have a prolonged period of time without working or without receiving a paycheck I will be in major trouble.

I hate the mental games that he plays.  He likes to stress you out and drive you crazy and then do something nice that he doesn't have to do in order to keep you off balance.  He tends to use money to buy people (which is why he is broke).  I had a boss several years ago who said that she used that exact strategy with people in order to wear them out and get what she wanted.

So now I am struggling with being grateful for this blessing and resentful for his attempts to control me.  So far I have used the extra money about $200 a month towards my student loans. Anyways, I have been asked to work this weekend, so I need to make my way into work. 

10,000s!!

 I made my mid- September student loan payment today and it already processed.  The outstanding balance is now into the $10,000s!! I owe approximately $10,540, with interest calculated through September 30, 2015.

I'm almost into the 4 figure range!! I originally had a goal to get the balance down to $10,750 by the end of September, but I think I will modify that goal to $9,999 by the end of September.  I will get into the 4 figure range by the end of the month!! I'm excited, but trying not to get too excited.  I just need steady progress through the end of the year.

Headhunter

So I got contacted by a legal recruiter head hunter on Friday.  It was out of the blue and I'm not sure how my name came across her desk.  I didn't have much time to speak with her because I had a conference call to jump on within minutes of her call. She said she did not have much information about me because our firm does not have a website.  She asked me to send her my resume and whether I was interested in looking at new opportunities.  I told her I would send her my resume and that I was interested in new opportunities.  I got her email address and confirmed her name.  A few hours later I googled her to see if she was legit and apparently she and her agency are legit.  I don't know how this works and I guess I should get some information before I move too quickly into engaging with her.  How do these headhunters make money? Shoot, maybe I should look into a career as a headhunter.  I wonder how much they make???

Every time I meet with the South/Central Florida partner she asks me to move down and work in her office. At first I thought she was just kidding, now I think she is serious. I'm not sure what that means for me.  I have a house here and have only owned it for 2 years.  Still too early to sell even with the downpayment I put down.

Definitely, there is not enough work in the North Florida office for a full staff.  The South/Central Office definitely has a enough work for a full time staff and an associate.  When I spoke to her last she said that she needed an associate, but was worried she wouldn't have enough work for said associate if she was still sending work to the North Florida office.  I think next time I see her I will have a upfront talk with her about the status of the firm and my role there.  I don't want to end up getting laid off because I held on to hope that she was going to fix things and refused to move to South/Central Florida. I guess I will just ask her, blatantly, if I should be worried about having a job if I can't (won't)  move to South/Central Florida.

September 1-15 Budget

$1,480 mortgage
$492 student loan
$60 pet plan
$90 groceries
$200 spending
$100 savings
$100 gas

I'm so tired, I can't think straight.  Long day of travel for work and I really need to go to sleep. I've been up since around 3:45a.m. and driving since 4:45 a.m. It's now after 9:00p.m. Zzzzz!!!

$12,000s

I'm officially down to a balance of $12,393 on my student loan! I'm loving the progress at this point. My next goal is to have the balance down to $10,750 by the end of September.
For my end of August payment I was able to put $661 on the loan: that included my regular $492 payment, some leftover money from various budgeted areas from the previous 2 weeks and a health insurance premium rebate issued by the firm. The minimum monthly payment due on the loan is $150.82. 

Anyways, based on that $661 payment, I don't have a payment due until May of 2019.  The original end date for the loan was August (??) 2030.   If I am able to stick with my plan I should be able to pay the loan off at the end of January of 2016, cutting 14 years off of the loan.

Here is a month by month total:

(2014)
December $23,650

(2015)
April $19,408
May $18,939
June $16,632
July $14,824
August $12,393


I'll admit, as I get closer to the finish line I'm getting even more impatient.  I'm so ready to have this loan gone and start saving and investing.  I still also worry that something bad will happen before I have a chance to pay this thing off.  Sigh.  I will just keep plugging along and hopefully blessings will continue come my way.

Happy Friday Everyone!