Sunday, August 31, 2008

I got bored and did a lot of math at work...

i realized today that i haven't forgotten my basic math skills.... from stats of all things (i hated stats for some reason in college but i passed with an A...)

Anyways... I've had my Roth IRA on my mind all morning so i calculated the Mean, median, and Mode, for the shares I've bought all with just a simple calculator and a spread sheet to keep track of the numbers... (the only formula i used on it was the Auto Sum cause i didn't want to make a mistake) I did everything else with a simple add, subtract, divide, and multiply calculator... no scientific ones in the office drawer at the gym...... I did everything in units of $25.00 since that was the smallest purchase price for any one time (it made the math way easier and less time consuming).

This is for my Moderate fund. I also have another fund that i accidentally purchased holding $300.00 in it. the 300 is not included and accounted for in this, since there is only one buying price... but here's the data:


  • Highest Purchase Price: $13.27
  • Lowest Purchase Price: $10.05
  • $10.78 Median purchase price (or the middle number when you line up all the units, including duplicates!!)
  • $10.78 Mode purchase (most reoccurring number) This number came up 52 units. I bought $1,200.00 of shares one day on a regular automatic buying day of $100. $1300/$25= 52 units
  • $11.45 Mean purchase price (add up the value of all the units and divide by total number of units. Total units for this case was 244.296 not everything purchased was divisible by 25 evenly. but i kept every decimal in there for funzies.)

I've had $20.00 taken out in maint. fees since inception...

As of closing on Friday, the shares were worth $10.29

I guess if I'm going to see any profit, I'll need the market to creep back up to $11.45. As I keep buying more shares I'll adjust this and keep you guys updated.

My ROTH IRA

To date, my Roth IRA is worth $5,817.55, with $2,800.00 in savings for future purchases and that totals $8,617.55/$9,000.00 invested... (I've lost $382.45)... even now, if i had just stuck that money over at IGOBANKING in an account and marked it for Retirement and kept my mits off it... this month alone it would have gained $24.64.
  • $9,024.64 sits till the end of september... it becomes around $9,048--- end of october 9072---- end of november 9096... end of december $9,120.00
in the 25% tax bracket (which i will not be able to escape with no mortgage interest or anything to deduct minue the standard and personal exemptions...) I'd pay 30 in taxes, still a $90 gainin 5 months... not staring at a loss of 382.45...

Compounding interest only works if your making money every month.... i know the market is just experiencing a bad time... and i will continue to slowly buy more shares in my Roth IRA over the rest of the year (cause i don't pay taxes on whatever I earn...)

but part of me is wondering if i should stop my automatic payments in January 2009 and just let the money I put aside for retirement for 2009 sit there and see if my shares goes up in value??? I would keep saving for $5,000.00 for 2009 (but it would just be in a seperate account earning interest...

But would i then kick myself in the pants later for not buying low and holding till the shares were worth more money????

oh poo.

Changes at Kiva

Dear Ambellamy-

We are happy to announce that Kiva will now return repayments to lenders as soon as those repayments are received by Kiva. Because of this change, you'll be able to re-lend funds right away instead of waiting until the end of the loan term. We hope you enjoy this new feature! As a result of this change, $14.06 in Kiva Credit has been released to you and is now available for you to use. You can re-lend these funds, donate or withdraw them. A breakdown of the repayments that are included in this amount is as follows:

  • Atim Irene's Group in Uganda (Activity: Medical Clinic) You Loaned:$25.00
  • Total Repaid So Far:$12.50

  • Eal Nub in Cambodia (Activity: Fish Selling) You Loaned:$25.00
  • Total Repaid So Far:$1.56

That's cool. So as soon as my combined loans meet $25.00 i'll be able to make a new loan faster. Now that's really sweet! It doesn't make me so warry about loans that won't be repaid back for a long time.

Check out: www.Kiva.org

Friday, August 29, 2008

Kiva Update --Loan #3

This is an update on your loan to Karla Vanessa Montiel Barahona inNicaragua. Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to KarlaVanessa Montiel Barahona by AFODENIC in Nicaragua. We are excited towatch this business grow. Over the next 9 months, AFODENIC will becollecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progressupdates on the Kiva website.


Nice! Now i'm officially in Nicaragua

So its payday...

and my retro pay is now $566.66 (ruffly estimated)... my check was $1,044.01

------> $44.01 went to my Texas plane ticket... $1,000.00 to Roth 2009 (will be put over at IGOBANKING)....

sigh....

Oh, and i'm going to be in a wedding! (boyfriends sister just got engaged and she asked me to be in the wedding party. We don't know each other very well to be honest--- but apparently we have some bonding time coming up over manicures and pedicures in a week and a half---) Maybe i'll get some ideas for the wedding i'll have eventually...

If i'm lucky with interest and everything-- my house downpayment fund could grow a little past $4,000.00 by the end of the month... it's times like this when i wish IGOBanking posted how much $$$$ your account was currently earning like ING and Emigrant Direct do...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Fridays paycheck...

Fridays' third paycheck of the month will either be:

$1833.84---- for a tax home pay of approximately $1,448.83.... giving me enough money to cover my plane ticket, save $1,000 for the start of ROTH IRA 2009 and pay for my 35,000 mile auto maint check..... i'll be able to save my raise every month afterwards for life's unexpected triffles... and all will be good....


or it will be $1,266.40------ and i can hope for a take home pay of $1,000.00.... to which i will take the 1,000 to my roth ira 2009... and have to borrow money from the roth 2009 to cover the unbudgeted plane ticket... My retro pay will then be increased by another $75.20 to: $566.66 before taxes.

Why do i have a feeling it won't be option number one???????

and i'll be hitting the 25% tax bracket this year.... adding up future paychecks and considering the raise, i'll be making $42,129.11 this year.--- assuming no holidays and overtime...

September Budget

September Budget... I also have to get my car taken in to the shop for a regular maint... plus make a doctors visit for a check up. (i'm hoping i won't blow too much cash in texas, but I may have to pull more from my house downpayment fund this month.) I was hoping my raise and retro pay would be here so i could start saving my raise for car repairs and doc visits... but apparently not...

  • Laundry $20
  • food $120
  • water $16
  • gas $140
  • car ins $96
  • ebill $45
  • cell $55
  • household $25
  • fun $150 ------> Texas Spending Money Included.
  • house dp $522.2
  • rent $795
  • house Down Payment $394.20

Credit Score.... WOOT

So my Clear AMX lets me have a free credit score and report from Experian once a year...

It's that time of the year... I've never looked at a Credit Score before, just pulling the free report i'm intitled to for fraud checking.... so here goes....

Drum Roll...

At 22 my credit score is 728!!!!! (with opening a new credit card the other day at costco--- automatic approval for 5,000.00!!!!!--- it has better rewards for some things then my other rewards card... rewards recieved in an annual check.) The only annual dues are the costco membership. (which they gave me a 25 credit on the card and i split the cost with my roommie so my membership this year was free.)

WAHOO!!!!!!!!

The new Credit card gived me 5% back on all gas, 3% back on resturants, and 1% everythign else. So all my Costco purchases, gas and resturants go on the AMX.... food and reg shopping go on the 2% Master card rewards card.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Feeling the grocery pinch...

I have 1.80 left in my grocery budget for the month. Sad eh?

That's because i haven't been buying processed crap. I'm trying to shoot for veggies, fruit, and whole foods don't come in boxes... and variety. I looked at the MYPyrimid.gov and found out how much of each of the stuff i'm supposed to eat... and i'm actually trying to eat it... My boyfriend is even starting to try and eat better... I told him when we are married, he's eating 3 square meals a day cause i want him to out live me. lol. He's trying to argue for 2 meals... =)

Looks like my Fun money is going to go towards groceries to get me through the month. oh well... its kind of worth it.

The boyfriends family loves fast food and boxed easy meals... and its so sweet to get a dinner invite... but i never know if its home made or takeout night until i'm already there and hungry (can't be rude to the future in-laws and refuse dinner.... that won't do good in the long term)... But i feel so horrible the next day... its like being drunk... i need my "healthy hangover cure" AKA--- drink some V8 and eat some fruit, wash down with water...

normally fixes me up in a Jiff........ But lately there have been lingering junk food icky-ness.

Yesterday, i had 2 eggs with salsa, a piece of whole grain toast and string cheese for breakfast, lunch was a mixture of raw veggies (carrots, celery, mushrooms, cucumber slices-- with lite ranch dressing) green fresh honey du melon, and a lean cuisine panini... i had a banana and an otter pop for a snack... and dinner was some grilled chicken with some cheese, garlic mash potatoes, and a small serving of vanilla ice cream. I ended the night munching on some snack mix i had in the cupboard... but other then the snack mix and the ice cream-- i thought i did a good job... I think i even slept better cause I ate better.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Kiva Loan # 1 Update.

The loan you have made to Atim Irene's Group has received a repayment of$550.00. The total amount repaid is now $1,650.00. This repayment will be divided amongst all the lenders who helped to fund this business, depending upon the percentage each lender contributed.

Please note that these funds will not be credited to your Kiva accountuntil the loan is repaid in full or when the loan term is complete. At that time, you will be able to withdraw these funds from Kiva or tore-lend these funds to a new entrepreneur.


=) Lots of good things are going on with my Kiva loans. woot woot.

you know you want to check out: http://www.kiva.org/

Friday, August 15, 2008

House Downpayment fund grows...

Currently @ $3,971.01.

I have $28.01 on todays check from Overtime... This is going to pay for my plane ticket to Texas. (hey, slowly but surely)...

I'm a bit bummed my check didn't have the retro pay on it... maybe in 2 more weeks... They now owe me ruffly $491.46 before taxes.

Kiva Loan # 3

Karla Vanessa Montiel Barahona
Managua, Nicaragua

Karla has been working as a cashier in an electronics store for a year. She is 33 and a single mother of three, with a lot of effort she has managed to raise them well, she also has the support of the father of two of her sons. She wants to give her family a good house, that’s why she will use the loan to tile the floor of her house. Later on she will improve the rooms of her house, so her children can live more comfortable. She thinks that a single woman has to endure more sacrifices, but she endures them proudly because she wants to have a stable and happy family.

About Housing Loans Many poor families are financially unable to purchase a house that meets their needs. Housing loans funded on Kiva give families access to capital to improve their homes and an opportunity to pay loans back at a pace that they can handle. The housing and small business loans featured on Kiva share a common purpose: they alleviate conditions of poverty and enable families to lead more stable lives


Name:
Karla Vanessa Montiel Barahona
Location:
Managua, Nicaragua
Primary Activity:
Housing
Loan Requested:
$450.00
Repayment Term:
9 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:
Tile the floor of her house

Monday, August 11, 2008

Kiva Loan number 2

Dear Ambellamy,

The loan you have made to Eal Nub has received a repayment of $75.00.The total amount repaid is now $75.00. This repayment will be divided amongst all the lenders who helped to fund this business, depending upon the percentage each lender contributed.

Please note that these funds will not be credited to your Kiva account until the loan is repaid in full or when the loan term is complete. At that time, you will be able to withdraw these funds from Kiva or tore-lend these funds to a new entrepreneur.


Woot Woot. Looks like loan number 2 is on its way to helping Eal Nub in cambodia... and slowly back on its way to me to be loaned back out to another individual. Bueno!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

updates...

I didn't get that pretty work promotion... There was a lady who had been temperarily doing the job for a good 6 months and it was really a formality process. But i will be doing another interview for the position above my current one in a few weeks for an eligibility list.

I'm no longer working at that Sister work location... i'm back at my little rec center and my schedule should be changing up to accommodate those still going to school.

I figured out how to pay for my Texas trip on the fly. I'm going to borrow the money from that extra paycheck (the one that's just going to sit around for next years Roth IRA.) My goal is to put the money back by the time i leave for the trip hopefully.... I'm secretly hoping i'll get that retro active pay and can use it to cover the flight. I won't divert any money from the house Downpayment fund at this point. I'm just going to have to pince my pennies because i really want to see that account get larger rather then smaller.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

I'm Going to TEXAS!!!!

So, I'm getting on a plane and going to texas.

My friend Andrew has been dying for me to visit, and i've been dying to go... so spur of the moment trip to Texas in Sept. I bought the ticket, cleared the time off from work... its a done deal.

So all my Dallas/Fort Worth Buddies...

I'll be in your town the 16th (arriving at 9:45pm) -22nd (leaving at 4:00pm) of September!!!

spread the word cause i wanna see you all!!!!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

that retro pay...

My work owes me ruffly $413.00 in retro active pay once my raise and review go through... assuming 6%... and assuming it comes on my Aug, 15th check....

That means i'll only see around $314.00 of it after its robbed of taxes.

if it comes on my extra paycheck check i'll see more of it because that check doesn't have benefits on it....

either way, I just want the money...

House downpayment Schedule.. depressing, but hey i gotta start from somewhere...

I never posted an updated house Downpayment schedule after keeping my apartment... its a bit depressing from the first original plan, but better late then never...

2008
  • August $3,968.49
  • September: $4,984.89
  • October: $6,001.29
  • November: $7,017.69
  • December: $8,034.09 <----I really want $10,000 here...

2009

  • January: $9,050.49
  • February: $10,066.89
  • March: $11,083.29
  • April: $12,099.69
  • May: $13,116.09
  • June: $14,132.49
  • July: $15,148.89
  • August: $16,165.29
  • September: $17,181.69
  • October: $18,198.09
  • November: $19,214.49
  • December: $20,230.89 <----I want 25,000 here....

2010

  • January: $21,247.29
  • February: $22,263.69
  • March: $23,280.09
  • April: $24,296.49
  • May: $25,312.89
  • June: $26,329.29
  • July: $27,345.69
  • August: $28,362.09
  • September: $29,378.49
  • October: $30,394.89
  • November: $31,411.29
  • December: $32,427.69 <--- wish this was $40,000

2011

  • January: $33,444.09
  • February: $34,460.49
  • March: $35,476.89
  • April: $36,493.29
  • May: $37,509.69
  • June: $38,526.09
  • July: $39,542.49
  • August: $40,558.89
  • September: $41,575.29
  • October: $42,591.69
  • November: $43,608.09
  • December: $44,624.49 <----- Wish this was 50,000....

2012

  • January: $45,640.89
  • February: $46,657.29
  • March: $47,673.69
  • April: $48,690.09
  • May: $49,706.49
  • June: $50,722.89

Yup... Houston we have a problem... naw, a challenge... cause i don't want to wait that long to buy my home...

3 paycheck month benefits....

My house DP is at
$3,573.70

Woot woot for paycheck numero uno for the month.

$394.20 will come from the second paycheck of the month, bringing the total to $3,968.49... but i doubt i'll have $31.51 in interest for the month to make it go to the pretty $4,000 mark... since i save the other leftover money now for birthdays and car maint... (speaking of which i have a car maint coming up soon...) EEKKK...

but hey, you never know... it could happen....

Third paycheck actually goes to 2009's retirement... so i'll get to stick it over at IGOBanking for a year and earn some interest off it. (the interest gets to go to the house downpayment)

Co-worker's retirement

My co-worker asked me to help her run some numbers to see if she's got enough to retire! I feel honored to be asked, and i went over a few suggestions and options for her....


But it was totally cool to be asked.

Friday, August 1, 2008

House DP FUND!!!

$3,001.59!

I got a gas rebate check at work... and when i add the interest in from my accounts, I cleared $3,000!