Spendless's Personal Finance Blog

Not a good day for my weight loss goal.
Hope to get some weekend bike riding in.

Not looking forward to Sunday weigh-in.

Monies saved from weight loss goal were added to my VMJ (virtual money jar).
Thursday's total = $2.65 savings
Fri total = $3.90

cumulative $6.55 to VMJ to go towards CC debt.

Mon thru Fri total VMJ contributions = $29.35

Wed
Ate small breakfast minus side entrée. (v coffee). Saved 1.25 plus .25 = $1.50
Had hotdog for lunch. Saved 2.15
Also skipped afternoon candy bar plus coffee; savings = .90
Total saved today = $4.55

Tues (Mar 14)
Used BYGO coupon for dinner with wife.
saved $8.50...put into VMJ (virtual money jar.)

Wed (Mar 15)
Contributed monies saved from Weight loss goal $4.55...put into VMJ.

Savings = 8.50 + 4.55 ($13.05)

Monday
Ate small breakfast minus side entrée. (v coffee). Saved .80 plus .25 = $1.05
Soup for lunch, Saved $2.00
Also skipped afternoon candy bar plus coffee; savings = .90
Total saved = $3.95

Tues
Ate small breakfast minus side entrée. (v coffee). Saved .80 plus .25 = $1.05
Had lunch at home. Saved 3.85
Also skipped afternoon candy bar plus coffee; savings = .90
Total saved = $5.80

Monies saved from weight loss goal were added to my VMJ (virtual money jar).
Monday's total = $3.95 savings
Tues total = $5.80

cumulative $9.75 to VMJ to go towards CC debt.

I lost 3 lbs this week towards my weight loss goal.

Monies saved from weight loss goal was added to my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ) for a cumulative total this week of $18.50.
I have scheduled an out-of-cycle CC payment of $18.50 against my highest balance for tomorrow.

Did my income tax this weekend and should receive a $532 payment from the IRS within the next 10 days. I requested direct deposit into a savings account earmarked for (summer college tuition) for my daughter(s) summer classes. Summer classes are not covered by scholarship, so the $$ will help avoid additional CC debt for education expenses.

Overall, I am satisfied with this week's progress.

Goal is to lose 20 lbs by end of June.

Start date: March 5th
Start weight: 193 lbs
Current weight: 190 lbs

3 lb. loss is 15% of Target weight.

Not too bad considering I was unable to add exercise (walking/biking) due to illness this week.

Monies saved from weight loss goal was added to my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

Fri savings of $2.60 added to previous weekly total of $15.90 = $18.50

Monies saved from weight loss goal was added to my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

Thur savings of $3.00 added to previous weekly total of $12.90 = $15.90

Bought a light breakfast at work. Skipped an entre and put money in Virtual Money Jar (VMJ)

Had a free coffee; Put $$ saved into VMJ.

Did not add side dish to my lunch entre; put $$ into VMJ.

Skipped afternoon candybar and coffee; put $$ into VMJ.

Monies saved from weight loss goal was deposited into Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

Today's contribution of $3.20 added to this week's running total = $12.90 VMJ total.

Shared a lunch entre with a coworker today. (Full portions are too large for me to eat by myself; at least while on my diet)

The extra lunch $$ saved from splitting the cost went into my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

I again skipped my afternoon candy bar and coffee and also deposited $ into VMJ.
3 days in a row !

Monies saved from weight loss goal was deposited into Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

Today's contribution $5.95 added to Monday's $3.75 = $9.70 VMJ total.

Ate light breakfast at home....the extra breakfast $$ went into VMJ.

Had soup for lunch today. The extra lunch $$ saved went into my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

I skipped my afternoon candy bar and coffee and also deposited $ into VMJ.

Yabba Dabba Doo - two days on target and counting.

Had a salad for lunch today. The extra lunch $$ saved went into my Virtual Money Jar (VMJ).

I skipped my afternoon candy bar and coffee and deposited $ into VMJ.

I created a virtual money jar using excel spread sheet. I enter amounts saved, found, not spent on a daily basis.

Any daily savings will be recorded into this location, and on a weekly basis I will move the comparable amount of "real" money from my checking account to make payments on my CC balance.

Since I have online access to my CC and can schedule online payments, I will make extra payments from my virtual money jar weekly totals.

This will keep me "actively" pursuing my goal to retire CC debt by end of 2006.

Today's VMJ total was $3.75.

Goal # 3 is to utilize my dental plan at work (i.e., free check ups, cleanings, etc. for this calendar year 2006).

As simple as this sounds, I am not inclined to visit a dentist office unless in great pain or discomfort.

Yeah, not very smart on my part.

Baby steps.........
Step #1 is to find a dentist on my plan (yep, I don't even have a dentist).

Will advise.

My goal is to lose 20 lbs by end of June 2006. This should be a reasonable goal, but as a 50 plus couch potato who eats out of habit and not from hunger, well, time will tell.

I will update weekly status on Sunday.

Starting weight is 193 lbs.

I have three active CC's with a combined balance total of $3352.

My goal is to pay off the Total balance by Dec 2006, or earlier.

Today, paid an extra $100.00 to the highest CC balance / APR.

When it comes to finances, I am just an Average Joe (American Style).

I make a decent salary but spend money carelessly (or at least without discipline).

My reason for starting this Blog is to document some personal goals that I am setting for myself and to use this forum as an accountability group to maintain discipline and stay on course.

Goal #1 is to payoff credit card debt by end of December 2006 (I will provide amounts owed in future entries).

Goal # 2 is to lose 20 lbs by end of June 2006 (I will provide starting weight in future entry).

Goal # 3 is to utilize my dental plan at work (i.e., free check ups, cleanings, etc. for this calendar year 2006).

Since many "Average Joe's" have the need for similar Goals, I am committed to graduating from the "Average Joe Club" by end of year 2006.