AmbitiousSaver's Personal Finance Blog

My Job Review

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:14:26 PST

Well I had my review and it was amazingly positive. My only areas for improvement were that I needed were to be a little more available via IM but that is because the majority of the team is on the West Coast & I'm on the East Coast working normal hours. However, I'm always available...

Starting the Application Process

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:34:48 PST

I just finished paying my $120 for my application fee to apply to take the CPA exam.

I have about $3963 remaining on my MyCAA account which SHOULD cover all four parts of the CPA exam with Becker's review course.

I'm not completely sure if we're even going to BE here in this...

I think I've found my 2nd calling

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:12:31 PST

After a tough day with work and feeling like I'm underpaid and under-appreciated at work, I was so grateful to go to class tonight.

I had a conversation with the department manager about my professional goals. To give you some background, this is a company founded by marketers....

Why do we allow ourselves to consciously make bad decisions?

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:40:31 PST

Why do we allow ourselves to consciously make bad decisions that take us away from our long range goals?

If we know what we want, why is it that we still entertain temptation when it arises?

I don't think anyone is immune to this, more so that some people are better at it than...

Underlying theme for 2009

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:47:36 PST

I think if there is an underlying theme to the year 2009 for me... its this:

The importance of becoming pro-active in the management of your health

This theme is present not just in my own life, but in the larger arena as well. In my extended family, I lost my Dad because he...

Remnants of Ida and Healthcare Update

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:06:10 PST

So we lost power Thursday night and regained power on Friday night.

After everything, we had some siding taken off (small piece and we still have the siding) and I think we may be missing a few shingles. In addition, we do need to replace the backdoor.

The door we want is $499...

Murphy decided to visit us today

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:14:40 PST

A big NorEaster is currently raining down on us.

Classes at the college were cancelled. But today we took DH out for dinner for Veteran's day ($25 for all 6 of us to eat after my $25 gift card). And we got my Christmas present... he got me the mixer after all. Meanwhile, I agreed...

H1N1 Vaccine

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:28:21 PST

This really won't be so much about finances, just about decisions.

The school the older three kids attend is going to be vaccinating against H1N1 during PE.

I have wavered all along about whether the kids should get it or not. We don't go to many places where they would be...

Joint Finances

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:03:01 PST

I wish DH was more involved in the finances with me.

We handle the main decision making together but the day-to-day stuff is all me.

Anyhow, right now we have 15% of his pay going towards retirement, putting $510 extra/mo on my credit card and we have a $1000 EF along with the...

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:20:25 PST

As I near graduation, I have come to the realization that I still don't know what I want to be when "I grow up"

I like money
I like helping people
I also have an interest in forensics

So I happened upon accounting and enjoyed that.

But here is what gets me... when I work,...

Clearing out Clutter

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:51:12 PST

Some days I'm amazed at the amount of clutter that piles up on my desk.

Although the tabletop is still very visible (my "clutter" may be another person's "clean"), I like it to be spotless. With 4 kids on top of the usual mail & my school papers, I have learned I need to be diligent...

Receiving

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:27:44 PST

I received the check in the mail from my Dad's life insurance policy today and deposited into my savings account within that same hour I received it.

As I read the breakout of the payment, I couldn't help but feel a sinking in my heart. And on the way to the bank, I whispered to...

Forced Savings

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:10:09 PST

This is the first month DH is getting his pay raise & I had completely forgotten that I had increased his contribution to the TSP account to 15% of his base pay.

Because of the pay increase, his take home pay is only $40 less each pay period. But we are saving a large chunk of...

Navigating healthcare

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:48:26 PST

So I'm taking the steps to switch my coverage to allow for more choices in my healthcare.

However, I feel lost. I have no idea who to pick as a doctor.

I've always seen a Family Practice doctor. But people are telling me to see an Internist. Can I see both? (My new insurance...

If inflation is down, why do things seem to cost more?

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:55:48 PST

As I'm looking at our food budget & seeing that over time - our grocery bill has gone up.

Immediately I thought - it must be inflation.

So I look at the latest inflation rates that say in 2009, we actually experienced DEflation of -1.3%

Regardless, it seems I'm having to increase...

Negotiating Pay Raises

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:28:09 PST

I'm thinking about negotiating for a pay raise. Not so much because money is tight (its not, when I am unable to pay an extra $510/mo on my credit cards I'll start to think $$$ is tight).

The reason I'm considering asking for a pay raise is simply because, when I think about...

Changing Insurance

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:38:58 PST

I think I'm going to end up switching providers/insurance after all.

Currently, I'm on Tricare Prime which is 100% but the catch is that I need to see a military treatment facility for all of my healthcare needs.

I can switch to Tricare Standard which is $150/yr deductible plus...

Security

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:02:18 PST

As I was reconciling DH's credit card today, I noticed an unusual $25 charge from a rental car company. We've done business with that company before but never that city or for that amount.

So I clicked for more information on the charge & the vendor did not have a phone number....

What qualifies as accounting experience?

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:09:34 PST

As I've said many times on this blog, I'm in pursuit of my CPA license. I plan to take the exam next year but I have one MAJOR hurdle - my job. I need 1-2 years of accounting experience to get my actual license even after I pass the exam.

I started working for the company 5 years...

Self-Sufficiency

summermgyck@hotmail.com (AmbitiousSaver) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:57:25 PST

I found a blog yesterday (not on this site) that bothered me.

It was called "Poor and Pregnant" and chronicled how this mother is pregnant with her 3rd child and this is also the 3rd pregnancy she that she is going through under government assistance.

Yet, this woman has expensive...