Getting to that savings goal

So far, I'm utilizing Quizzle and Mint.com. Now, I'm going to give SmartyPig a try. I'll let you know how it goes! SmartyPig is a way to save for a specific goal and have others encourage me to do so. My hope is that this will REALLY help me make certain I have enough money when David and I head to the Bahamas next summer.

A new way to lend and invest!

I found a great lending website. It's called Prosper and it is a peer-to-peer lending site, with a twist, the option to invest. One of my new goals is to use a loan, with considerably lower interest, to pay off a loan that I have with VERY high interest. I then plan to reinvest back into prosper, by becoming a lender, to make money. I'm excited to see how this all works!

More information

• Peer to Peer Lending Blog
• Fynanz
• The Economist
  

Mint, Quizzle, Clark Howard, and Saving!

Okay--I have three favorite money resources. The first is Mint.com. This is one cool place that helps me really keep in line what I have and where I spend my money. I also really like Quizzle. This site helps me keep track of my what my credit score looks like and also provides a FREE credit report all the time. Finally, The Clark Howard Show, has been a super resource. I found out this week that I am paying WAY too much for my internet service. So, today, on my day off, I have started to research other internet options. I'm also comparing prices on auto insurance to see what I can do there. Another show I like to watch is Suze Orman. I have to catch bits and pieces online at CNBC, since I'm WAY too frugal to get cable or satellite.

Yuwie!

Okay--here's a new one for you. . . .a social networking site that PAYS you to use it. Is this legit? I'm not sure, but I took the leap and signed up. Number one, I'm on FACEBOOK and MYSPACE. Neither of which I use too much these days. I have way to many coworkers on both sites and it really makes it difficult to separate work from home. So, I'm going to give this one a try and see what happens.

My Rocky Relationship with Money

Okay, so my relationship with money has been on the rocks. It's no one's fault but my own and I'm ready to get working at it. One of the things that I'm doing is working through a program called Tools for Life. It has been WONDERFUL in my realization that I'm in control of my finances no matter how much or how little I make. Although this seems like a "duh!" moment, it really seemed, to me, that something always came up to "take my money." The truth is, if I had been saving just a little bit, all along, I would be prepared when those "things" would come up. The exercises in Tools has been crucial in this journey and I highly recommend it.

Mint.Com

One of the things that I am doing right now is tracking what I spend my money on. This is pretty easy at this point because I do not use a whole lot of cash and use my debit and credit card for most purchases. The way that I'm tracking my spending is through Mint.com. It's been helpful at this point. I like that it gives me a weekly update of how much money I have in each account and when my balances drop below a certain amount. What I don't like is that I cannot get my credit union account information to show up. I've tired all the tips and ideas they suggest, but no luck.

First things, first

Here we are together. You're here, I'm guessing, for the same reason that I am: you need to same money, some where, some how, with what you've got. That's partly why I'm here. The other reason is that I've got a dirty little secret. I'm a highly educated person in a great profession. I'm in the non-profit sector, so I do not have a whole lot coming in and my problem is that despite all my knowledge, I'm still no good at keeping what I have. I pay my bills on time, but I continue to end up "in the red." This happens no matter how much money I'm making and that tells me, this is a "me problem" not a problem of how much money I make. So, I'm here to work on that and track my progress. I'm also here to share any tips--what works for me and what doesn't.

Please, feel free to contact me with your own personal stories or tips!!! Let's grow, financially, together!