Financial Spring Cleaning

These past two days, I have received financial confirmation from newspapers and commentators regarding my decision to start spring cleaning my finances. In today's Washington Post Michelle Singletary's column about spring cleaning, resonates with me because this Monday I pulled my credit report and was surprised by the abundance of wrong information on it. Immediately I wrote the three credit bureaus and filed electronic disputes. These corrections will boost my score and save me money! Also I am awaiting April when I can request my second payoff confirmation letter. The representative mentioned that the bank had to hold the money for thirty days to verify the funds. Afterward, the bank would report to the credit report late April/early May. By May 15th, everything will be resolved!

Yesterday I posted a question on a MSN message board regarding my credit score and the counselor congratulated me on nearly completing my program. He also told me that my score would receive a boost because I paid all of the money instead of settled, however, because several different variables he could not specifically determine my score.

Earlier this morning, I've realized that after being here for two years by summer 2008, I will be able to purchase a home. Also by then all of my creditors will have been paid off and I will have enough for the down payment. It is important to be proactive because financial spring cleaning is my goal!

Seize Opportunities II

Though this is the end of winter, the spring cleaning vibe has invaded my psyche! I am so happy to have applied to two universities that are highly reputable but will save me thousands of dollars.

I have just returned from two trips to the university where I will transfer (one to submit my application, resume and official transcripts, the second to deposit the $70 application fee) and Chipotle for my lunch (I budgeted for this because I would be out of the office during lunchtime). A customer service representative immediately emailed me a confirmation to which I asked about if the school has received my check. The woman whom I handed my application packet on the first trip acknowledges the check's receipt upon my inquiry about sending my GRE scores. I feel so much better than before because I know that the school will promptly process it. Now all that is outstanding are my recommendations and one has already been mailed.

During the final stages of preparation, I read the course descriptions and discovered that statistics was a prerequisites for econometrics. This motivated me to complete my distance learning statistics class by the end of April so that I could transfer it to my new school. This will allow me to take required courses, thus, accelerating my graduation.

Seize Opportunities

Earlier this morning I emailed my advisor about taking the majority of my economics classes at USDA but the program rebuffed. Instead of getting mad, I got active by visiting all of the local DC economics grad school then I stumbled upon a local grad school with cheaper tuition and an easier applicaton process. Reading the graduate program's curriculum, I know that I can graduate within one year. Also these summer classes are offered during reasonable hours meaning that I do not have to adjust my schedule. This summer I will take at least two classes maybe three. If I like this program, I will transfer all of my AU credits.

Immediately I called the office for pertinent information (FAFSA, GRE, recommendations). Tuesday I submit my application, resume and official transcripts to the downtown office because it is imperative to seize this opportunity! Submitting all of my information ASAP allows me to concentrate on securing two recommendations. This liberates me from being stuck in Virginia! I am not worried about not being accepted because I am already an Economist who has received stellar performance evaluations. Now it is time to realize the abundance of available opportunities that abound!

Spring Break Reflections

This week I have been out of school (for the most part) and out of the office attending a policy conference, economist luncheon and two Toastmaster events. These events allow me to gain perspective about the importance of balancing work, school and life. This entire week, I haven't done any homework. Instead I shopped for career clothes, arrived home early and rested and just plain enjoyed myself knowing that come next week, the daily grind will resume.

I needed this break because the twin dynamics of attending school and week had zapped my vitality! I was so dogg tired that my muscles were always tense and contracting. I just felt tired. However, since I did not have those stressors, I could just rest, review my daily and weekly progress without time constraints.

Since today is the conclusion of spring break, here is what I have learned and accomplished:

That attending policy conferences, allowed me to learn new things and network with some fantastic people

That I need to take a break and listen myself every day. So I have included a wind-down phase to de-stress.

That I will elevate my game and complete all tasks on time. No excuses!

That as an American, I embody the requisite courage and perseverance to conquer anything. One the Toastmaster speaker mentioned these character traits and I totally agree because I rely on them to move from Cleveland and continue working while attending school. Immediately afterward, I mailed my first online statistics lesson in the pouring rain. As I walked to the post office to purchase a stamp, I realized the enormous amount of available opportunities that abound me; and, I refuse to allow rain to get in the way of this! Upon returning to my office reinvigorated with the thought that I can complete this online statistics class in my time frame, I packed everything in my book bag rejuvenated with the spirit of accomplishment that I can tackle whatever comes my way!

Two Steps Forward with Feet Firmly Planted on the Ground

Last month, paying off my smallest creditors while paying down my second-smallest creditor were my two biggest financial goals. And after accomplishing them, I moved full steam ahead by paying off the second smallest creditor. By the end of the this year, I will be debt free!

My poor financial mismanagement is the real why I reside in Virginia instead of DC but by August, I will be back in the city! I can almost feel it because my credit score will have increased over 100 percentage points. Coupled with my income and much improved saving habits, and I will return in better shape than when I departed.

This one year exile has made me become more fiscally responsibility for every decision that I make. If I don't understand something, I ask numerous questions. I am unafraid of looking too bossy. This is my money therefore, it is my life! I have taken control of everything from my money to my career. Even though I have been here for only ten months, I have taken five computer training courses, and participated in two organizational conferences to enhance my economic understanding. I vie for more challenging assignments because I hate complacency and stagnation! I can envision myself as a ZP-III Economist and will accomplish this in May.

Envisioning myself as a wealthy woman has broaden my outlook and has touched every aspect of my life. Now that I can envision myself doing these things, I no longer feel inadequate. For instance, when I saw my Perkins Loan bill and realized that it was less than two of my credit cards, I began developing an action to payoff the total amount rather than defer it. After my credit card debt, I will tackle my student loan. I can see myself as totally debt free by age 35. This is what I mean by taking two steps forward with my feet firmly planted on the ground!

Winds of Change

Yesterday while watching Suze Orman’s Women & Money series, I realized that I had to payoff the remaining amount owed to Citibank to close this account and be one step closer to being debt-free! During her tv special, a woman in the audience had $6800 in credit card debt but $10,000 in savings though she proclaimed that she had so much money. Suze told her that she had so little and that she was afraid to repay because she’d thought that she would had been broke. Immediately the lightbulb clicked! That was me. No, I wasn’t giving my family money but I did the money in savings and an outstanding Citibank account.

This morning I called Citibank to make payoff arrangements. The rep informed me that the actual amount. I agreed and she stopped the accruing interest, Then I recalled the company to inquire about what would happen afterward to which the rep responded that my account would be reported immediately to the credit bureau upon receipt of payment and that after thirty days, I can request an official letter. I will mail my payoff this morning and will look out for its posting this Thursday or Friday. By the end of this week, I will have only Hudson & Keyse left and will pay it off by December.

The second woman in the audience talked about how even though she made mortgage payments that her house was in negative amortization because those payments didn’t cover the total amount (Hearing this made me feel so bad because she was 29). She responded that should get rid out of the house, because it was bringing her so much pain. Immediately I realized that living here in Virginia bought me a lot of pain because I had to take a bus to work instead of just the red line metro train. Plus that consumed an additional $1.25 every day from my Metropass. Even if I had a car, it would still be inconvenient for me and although I do love the proximity of the community college to my residence, I truly believe that staying in DC offers me better proximity to American and UDC. On top of that I could go to the grocery store whenever I wanted and because I lived in a house, didn’t have to worry about UPS. Yes, it is time to move back to DC or to Rosslyn and retain my residency.

While returning to work after my post office run, Suze Orman’s words about being happy that I have a job instead of being broke with no money resonated with me. Yes I added an additional $100 to my payment but so what? The debt needed to be repaid anyway and the more money the better. Besides the Citibank rep cancelled my finance charge and stretched my due date from March to April.

Furthermore, I only have to work three more days before I am officially off. Then next week is the policy conference in Crystal City where the major panels do not start until 11am meaning that I can stay at home in bed until 10am then mosey over there via the bus and AU spring break meaning that I can just go home Thursday evening. My job is virtually cake for these next three weeks plus I am getting paid so how can I beat that?

Suze had eight principles for a wealthy woman and happiness and cleanliness are two of them. Over this past month, I have had two major acne breakouts from what I guess was because I no longer used Lever soap on my face; but, I made a personal commitment that I would allocate money towards personal care products that ensure that I no longer get anymore acne on my keloid skin. I need to take better care of myself and Tuesday I will travel to the store to buy more towels to reduce over using them plus I can buy more blazers and spring ensembles.

This week I will make the most out of my life by relaxing and focusing on balance. It is important to achieve this and watching the Suze Orman Women & Money show has awaken me from my Type-A, professional slumber.