Jersey Jen's Money Crunch

Debt Gone, Part I!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:04:32 PST

Wow, I really haven't updated much in the month of February. As I mentioned in previous post, I received the bonus for 2006 last week (yeah, the company I work at is weird, they give out bonus after closing out 2006 earnings). Look at the CC3 at the right, it's gone! Originally,...

January Cash Flow!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:03:53 PST

Incoming (all figures are after tax):

$3,719 salary
$800 housing
$277 misc
Total: $4,796

Outgoing:

$557 car payment, gasoline, tolls, parking
$101 cable, broadband, phone
$39 cell phone
$270 utilities
$2,175 housing
$175 student loan payment
$100 clothing
$292 dining out
$149 groceries
$92 household
$225 education - textbooks
$50 gift - friend's house warming
$28 company store - gifts
$301 auto insurance
$166 credit card interests
$24 train rides to/from...

Tax 3 - Tax Returns Filed!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:50:40 PST

I filed my tax returns on February 5! The federal refund is $4,900. The net state refund is $100.

This is the earliest I have filed my tax returns. Last two years, I did it in March. Even better, I expect to receive the refund on February 20. This year (2006 that is) is...

Quixtar?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:08:54 PST

In the previous week, I was invited by a co-worker to a "E-commerce Seminar" about starting an online business. At first, it sounded like an interesting opportunity to make some money on the side (ha, try to fit that into my schedule). When I arrive at the hotel it was holding, pretty...

Tax 2 - Free Filing!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:14:26 PST

As a follow-up to previous entry on what to use for filing tax return, I've decided on TaxCut from IRS Free File.

Among the reasons:
- It's free to file federal tax return
- My AGI will be below $52,000 (like in 2005 tax return)
- I can file state tax returns by...

Who Pays on Dates?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:21:29 PST

Alright, this is hardly personal finance-related, but I would like to use this blog to see if my thought process is relevant.

I've always been hearing from guy friends who complain about taking girls out and being expected to pay for expensive dinners and drinks. It appears to me that guys should pay for the first date, since he is the one who initiated....

Tax 1 - What Do You Use for Tax Return?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:06:43 PST

Today I received the first tax return document from my bank, the 1099-INT. What does this mean? Oh no, tax season is here (and hopefully getting a refund)!

Can you tell what do you use to do tax return, i. e. good old paper forms, software (TaxCut, TurboTax), accountant,...

December Cash Flow!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:32:28 PST

After a month of shopping and eating, the time has finally arrived to tally up the staggering expenses. This is also a good month for income, as there are three Friday paydays.

Incoming (all figures are after-tax):

$5,558 salary
$800 housing
$50 misc
Total: $6,408

Outgoing:

$483 car payment, gasoline, tolls, parking
$101 cable, broadband, phone
$40 cell phone
$97 utilities
$2,175 housing
$275 student loan payment
$80 cash withdrawal
$84 clothing
$153 dining out
$230 groceries
$106 contacts, medicine
$173 household
$457 leisure - Christmas gift shopping
$122 company store - Christmas gift shopping
$34 post office - shipping those gifts
$19 train rides to/from...

Money Poverty and Material Prosperity?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:19:38 PST

It seems in the U. S. that even people living in poverty have material goods that are not affordable to rest of the world. Americans seem to have lot of stuff. I came across an article on MSN Money. It's somewhat amusing that Americans in general may be living paycheck-to-paycheck...

Uh, Gift Cards?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 22:03:50 PST

Merry Christmas! So what did you get for Christmas?

Nowadays, I don't really expect gifts from my parents. Since I'm making enough money to buy myself presents, all I want is good home cook meal when I visit my parents twice a year. Humorously, this year, I got some gift...

Holiday Census Bureau!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 02:53:43 PST

I was reading an e-mail newsletter from DailyCandy NYC. It compiled a bunch of fun stats about the holidays.

Number of calories in FDA-mandated fruitcake serving size of four ounces: 500

Average number of pounds gained between Thanksgiving and New Year�s: 1 (It just feels like 10.)

Number of movies and TV shows in production in New York in December: 133

Number of personal dramas in production over the holidays: 8

Average amount spent on holiday party outfit (including salon appointments): $272

Average time spent in outfit before eggnog spills, cigarette burns, etc.: 57 minutes

Number of sprigs of mistletoe in NYC holiday decorations: 1,045,232

Number of kisses from someone you actually like under said mistletoe: 0

Ratio of men to women in NYC: 1:1.11 (It just seems like 1:3 whenever there�s mistletoe around.)

Number of holiday cards sent through NYC postal system: 244,154,645

Projected number of gifts to be exchanged in New York City over the holiday season: 27,942,705

Average number of presents to be regifted: 2

Average number of gifts bought and then kept for self: 4

Can You Live on $150k (Per Year)?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:58:28 PST

While checking personal e-mail before leaving work today, I jumped to CNN Money to see if there is any funny news. And behold, there is a story about a family of 6 getting by on $150,000 a year. Before you say "these people are money foolish" or "things cost a lot nowadays",...

November Cash Flow!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:42:02 PST

Uh oh, it's middle of December already and I am just posting my November cash flow. Why have I been slacking? Well, first, I'm finally done with holiday shopping today, both online and offline! Second, work has been hectic. There're samples needed for a public relations (PR) event...

$518 Credit Card Debt Reduced!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:21:47 PST

So far this month, I have reduced the total amounts by $244 on CC 1, $135 on CC 2, and $139 on CC 3. That's total of $518 reduction in credit card debt! Now I'm just looking forward to a big bonus . . .

I'm heading out to Chicago (from EWR to MDW). Have an (early) Thanksgiving,...

$5.15!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:27:47 PST

An idea from TinapBeana, it's amazing that the minimum wage hasn't changed! When I was a freshman in college (back in 1998), I got paid $5.15 for doing clerical tasks at admissions office. That was hard enough to pay for expenses and everything else. 8 years have passed, I'm sure...

300 Million!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:03:09 PST

Hey, I'm back (with greater excitement)! It was a hectic week at work. People tried to pull a fast one on me because I'm new. My co-workers stepped in to pull me out of the corporate swamp. Also, I made changes to next year's benefits selection (I'll blog about that soon).

There...

How Is Your Wealth Doing?

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:42:30 PST

There is an article on MSN Money about how broke people in 20s are. On the other hand, people in 20s are innovators and entrepreneurs (think Google). It's true that my peers are burdened with debt, but I think we're also best positioned to become millionaires and create wealth.

It...

10 Financial Urban Legends!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 06:46:22 PST

I read an article on MSN Money about urban legends. Quite humorous!

Myth No. 1: You can float a check longer if you write in red ink. The theory is that a bank's equipment can't scan red ink, so it takes longer to process the check.

Myth No. 2: You don't have to pay income tax -- it's illegal. Only foreign income is subject to Uncle Sam's cut, the story runs, and there's a form you can file to exempt yourself. But no one will tell you about it.

Myth No. 3: I'm under 18, so I can't be held accountable for a debt. (Variation: Credit-card debts are wiped out when you turn 19.) Spring-breakers love to use this one to justify running up a cruise or resort-hotel bill on their credit cards.

Myth No. 4: My hotel key card has my credit-card information. The ramification is that you'd better clutch it tightly or a con will decode it and rack up a big bill.

Myth No. 5: Boycotting a few gasoline brands brings gas prices down. Poor Exxon and Mobil. They often show up as the bad guys in a mass e-mail urging Americans to avoid their pumps on a particular day.

Myth No. 6: It's better if you don't sign the back of your credit card. Some well-meaning pigeon decided one day this would protect him from identify theft.

Myth No. 7: You can make a pile of dough by helping a foreigner solve his money problems. "Hello, my name is unpronounceable, and I need to get money out of my country. Will you let me use your bank account?" is the gist of this e-mail plea.

Myth No. 8: You can now opt out of having credit bureaus give your information to anyone who asks. Just call (888) 567-8688 and give them the Social Security numbers of everyone in the household in a single call, says the message. But hurry -- you only have 60 days to take advantage of this ability.

Myth No. 9: You can buy your way out of points on a speeding ticket. If you pay a bit more than your fine actually is, the state will send you a refund check for the difference.

Myth No. 10: Hotel Bibles often have $100 bills tucked into them. Heard the one that Gideons leave $100 bills in their hotel Bibles to reward folks who turn to the Good Book?

(Read...

Budget Basics, Part IV!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:29:03 PST

Small purchases can really add up. Don't believe me?

iTune songs = student loan payment
Purchasing 20 songs every month for a year totals $237.60.

Wii = rent
Those $50 video games don't play nice with budgets. One a month, and you're talking $600.

Pizza = groceries
Two $1.50...

Budget Basics, Part III!

jamestseng@gmail.com (Jennifer Taylor) — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:16:59 PST

Extravagant Extras. Do you really need them?

HBO, AT&T, AOL.
Surprise! 58 channels, a dial tone and instant messenger are no longer free. Basic cable can run you $40 a month; the cost of just to have a cell phone is about $40 a month; and internet can range anywhere from $10 (crawling...