I noticed...after too long... that I was being charged $41 a month for credit protection on a Citicard that I'm trying to pay off. And the minimum payment is almost $145 and the penalty is about $45 of that total minimum payment. So- on $4800 worth of incurred debt (including all of the penalties), I'm only paying about $60 towards the principal! I didn't ever ask for the credit protection- it's like insurance on your own debt. Ha!

I have petitioned to have all of the months I payed for the credit protection and all of the penalties incurred from it to be credited to my account. I bet that this issue won't be resolved for months!

What a mess...

I killed our other cell phone account since the contract is over and there were overages. So then, I decided (rather than dump my Cingular and swallow the early cancellation fee) to let him us that primarily and at home to use Skpe which is almost free.

I looked at our balance and it was $170!!!!! Mind you, I don't talk on the cell phone much, especially since all of our money fiascos. I might have well paid the cancellation fee! I thoughtI was saving us money...

Anyways- still waiting for PERA check so I had to put it on the Citicard. It feels like involuntary self sabotage!! Skype (free calls) was working the whole time!.

Balance $4313 Limit: $4900
Min payment: $125 fin. chg:$39 16%APR

Final balance: $4227

Another nightmare: I ate up those transfer balance offers like Godiva Chocolate! Small purchases add up fast! And now I'm mostly paying their profits. ARGH.

This is going to be a *itch to play out. It will be a long, strained relationship with this baby.

I have new resolve as the ripples die down (from my U.F.Os post). I have decided to bare all (post my financial progress) and to give plasma for an extra $200 a month toward our financial goals. That is why I've added the catergories: Amex, Capital One, Citi Card, Target, Savings and Jasmin's 529.
Each week I'll put my $25 plasma earned dollars toward paying down the debt and saving for the future, not forgetting to plan for the "unplanned".

I am waiting for my PERA refund check to come in the mail. I'm guessing that it will be $1000. I'm going to pay back my BIL his $200, pay off SearsCard $445 for the tires for the "new" car, and pay down the Capital One with the rest. DH thinks we're going to pocket a portion. NOT!