April 2012
1 post
March 2012
3 posts
Spending Priorities: What Are Yours And Why?
This post is part of Women’s Money Week. Today’s featured topic is money at different stages of a women’s life.
Recently I decided to start investing instead of putting all my extra money into my savings or student loan debt. My reason? Compound interest. I knew that I wanted to start investing on some level soon because even investing small amounts at my age can lead to much...
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In Case You Missed It: My February Post with... →
Stay tuned tomorrow for the final post in the Broke Gal in NYC series with Credit Karma!
How My Big Comfy Couch Is Teaching Me To Be...
As you well know, I spent most of last year digging myself out of around $3,000 in credit card debt. How I racked up this much debt was easy: I was underemployed, in school, living beyond my means, and just making minimum payments assuming that I would “one day” pay it off. However, I realized being maxed out was costing me money, hurting my credit, and decreasing my chances of...
February 2012
2 posts
financial-reader asked: Let me know how the Lending Club works out for you. I was lending through Prosper, however, due to regulations, in my state I am no longer able to lend using prosper. I had a great experience using Prosper.
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Financial Success is a Marathon
Inspired by Careful Cent’s post Pay Down Debt Faster-Pausing Saving and Investing, I decided to take a good look at my goals and figure out how to balance them better. I sometimes feel like I should be spending all my money on my student loans, but I know that the key to long-term financial stability and wealth requires saving and investing. Unless I win the lottery, my student loan pay...
January 2012
3 posts
1 tag
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In Case You Missed It: Frugal Finds at Holiday... →
See my December post with Credit Karma with advice for finding gifts and celebrations on a budget, and check back to see if I survived the holidays without any credit card debt!
November 2011
5 posts
2 tags
No-Spending Streak!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and those who dared to brave Black Friday got some great deals. I, however, did not shop on Black Friday and in fact have gotten a new no-spending streak!
Thursday: no spending
Friday: no spending
Saturday: no spending
Sunday: no spending (a new personal best!)
Monday (today): $18 on groceries, which is $3 over budget, but that’s not a big deal...
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Spending 11/23/2011
$9: six dollars to my sister for subway fare to Thanksgiving tomorrow, and three dollars for a drink.
$15: sushi with my sister.
I have exceeded my daily budget by $9 dollars but I do not intend to spend anything tomorrow, nor did I spend yesterday and probably not Friday either. Still on track for the month.
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Dear Diary, Please Give Me Savings
I’m keeping a spending diary to help me get a really good handle on what I’m spending and save money. However, I’ve been having issues keeping track of everything, so I think I’m going to take advantage of tumblr’s microblogging capacities and blog each purchase. Thankfully, I already reached my monthly savings goal of $600 as of today.
Wednesday: $8 on breakfast and...
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New Budget!
So, in an effort to save for an upcoming apartment move, I am cutting back down my budget (or up, if you view it from a savings standpoint).
Currently, I calculate my non-essential expenses by taking my weekly income (since it varies) and subtracting the amount from expenses (including savings) and then dividing by seven. However, since I really want to increase my savings, I am going to lock my...
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In Case You Missed It: Broke Gal in NYC on... →
In case you missed it, I am partnering with CreditKarma.com for the next six months to discuss everything from money to gifts to time management. My post will go live the first Wednesday of every month.
Hope all my readers love it!
October 2011
1 post
6 tags
Taking Small Steps Towards Big Goals
I am so thrilled that I am finally out of credit card debt! I got my first credit card in 2007 and have been carrying balances of various amounts ever since. Making my last credit card payment was a huge relief and it is great to know that I will be saving money on interest and not have the anxiety of credit card debt hanging over me.
However, as I’ve stated in previous posts, most of my...
September 2011
11 posts
4 tags
Three Steps Forward, One Step Back
This past week has been not so great financially.
First, I went out celebrating with a friend and spent too much money on drinks and dinner. I had set a budget for the night but I let myself justify it by saying that I rarely go out (true) and we were celebrating my friend’s graduation (also true), so being cheap would be lame and damper the fun. When I was out, I also bummed several...
5 tags
lifeexperiments asked: I guess the thing I am most interested to know is What is your weakness? How do you overcome that weakness. I know my weaknesses but am still trying to learn how to overcome them!
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Debt, Money, and Shame
My current student loan debt
Despite being almost out of credit card debt, I still get overwhelmed and anxious by my debt load, most of which is in student loans above. I know, rationally, that there is no reason to be so scared since they are federal loans and I can easily postpone or reduce payments. However, I feel like if I can’t pay it all right now that my financial life will somehow...
Reblog if you're willing to answer anything that...
Got a question about personal finance, money, debt, or just curious about this Broke Gal? Ask a question! I’d love to hear your input
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Frugal Functional Fashion While Broke
Today is a guest post from my sister, Maggie, about staying styling when you’re on a budget.
I am Broke Gal’s younger sister, with the same mind (and desperate need) to save money. I am in my second year at college outside NYC, close to my favorite broke gal! Though I have been fortunate to receive a generous financial aid package, work-study doesn’t pay much.
I’ve found the easiest...
Sponsored Post: Delivery.com and Why It Rules
Delivery.com makes it easy and delicious to save on your favorite take out and delivery. I’ve been a big user of their services for years, and now I’m a partner.
I’m hoping to start other home-based business soon, but for now, help me be less broke by using my referral on Delivery.com!
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Recalibration in the New American Economy →
Check out my guest post on Careful Cents about surviving and thriving during the recession.
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Remembering Hope in Your Personal Finance Journey
I am honored to have a guest post from Carrie who blogs at Careful Cents. She tells us about her financial journey and why hope is always the most important thing in all aspects of life, even money.
On my blog Careful Cents I talk about my money, personal finances and my life in general. Even though I’m in my twenties, I’ve learned and experienced a lot. Through it all I’ve found that it’s...
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Delicious, Nutritious, and Cheap
Teriyaki sesame spinach with clams and herbed butter with sourdough toast points. Cost: $8/person.
My favorite way to save money is cooking. In previous years I never cooked, and instead overspent on take out, convenience foods, and eating out. Nowadays, I rarely eat out and instead enjoy trying out new recipes at home and cooking for friends. I also start making a point of shopping sales and...
August 2011
19 posts
4 tags
A System for Savings
One of the most important things I’ve learned in the past year is that substantial savings are essential for financial well-being, especially if you’re trying to get and stay out of credit card debt.
My current debt to savings ratio
The first issue people bring up when approaching how to save, I’ve noticed, is that they’re concerned that they’ll never be able to...
6 tags
Thanks for the Help, Mint! (A Personal Note)
Thank you Mint.com for featuring my credit card post on their twitter and facebook. I hope to partner with other financial website, software and institutions in the future :).
To my new followers: you can find me on facebook and twitter via the links above using the name BrokeGalNYC. If you want to help me be a little less broke, feel free to donate via Paypal button on your right, or ask your...
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Hurricane Irene: Hurricane Irene-emptied Grand... →
This photo from the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) shows something never seen - and certainly not on what should be a busy Saturday afternoon in August.
I am not in a flood zone so we’re hunkering down and watching movies. Hurricane party of two FTW!
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Me, Myself, and My Credit
Until the age of around 23 I didn’t think of my credit at all. I had co-signers on my first apartment because I was 18 and had no credit history, but by 23 I had around $35,000 in student loans at $2,000 in credit card debt.
In December 2009 I decided I was going to move from my long-rented (and overpriced) apartment in the East Village to elsewhere for more space and cheaper rent. I...
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How We Paid Off $25,000 In Debt In 1 Year (by Kat... →
hopingtohomestead:
Here are a few things we did to make our goal a reality.
1. Make It An Adventure 2. Focus On Purpose Over Prestige 3. If Your Income Increases, Don’t Adjust Your Budget 4. Redefine What A Need Is
(full post at link)
Amazing! I hope to pay off the almost $40,000 I owe in student loans quickly, and stories like this give me hope.
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New Site Brazenly Trades Pirated E-Textbooks →
infoneer-pulse:
Textbook pirates have struck again. Nearly three years after publishers shut down a large Web site devoted to illegally trading e-textbooks, a copycat site has sprung up—with its leaders arguing that it is operating overseas in a way that will make it more difficult to stop.
The new site, LibraryPirate, quietly started operating last year, but it began a public-relations blitz...
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Creative way to pay off College? →
simonedionne:
Issa Rae, a Stanford Alum and creater of the Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, used this site to gain enough funds to complete her first season.
As a rising senior at Stanford University, my loans are starting to become more and more real. Especially with grad school and the real world around the corner. Realistically speaking, the loan outlook for current students isn’t...
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USA's biggest creditors - Washington Post →
Who do you owe the most money to?
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PROTIP: Building Up Savings To Get Out of Credit...
One really important factor in being debt-free long term is to build up your savings. Then when you have an unexpected expense you are not turning to your credit cards.
A good target for your saving is $1,000. If needed, don’t set any time limit to save this but instead put a bit away every week.
I personally use Ally Bank which has great tools for setting up automatic savings transfers...
11 tags
Sledding Through The Credit Card Avalanche
In August 2010, I had nearly $3,000 in credit card debt spread out over three cards. My spread was:
Capital One Mastercard: $400 (my limit is $500), 23% APR
Capital One Visa: $1,400 (my limit is $1,500), 15.15% APR
Chase Visa: $800 (my limit is $1,000), 22% APR
I also have a $100 line of credit with PayPal Credit that I use for purchases through PayPal and eBay.
I was making...
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bohemian slapfight: So I'm like way addicted to... →
littleorphanammo:
I go there constantly to look at my credit scores, update, look for cards etc. Constantly, I am on there.
They make credit so enjoyable.
It’s so satisfying. I haven’t given a tinkers fart about credit until 2 years ago. Like, did not give a fucking fuck. At all. But since I moved here and…
ME TOO! I love them so much and they’ve been so useful to me.
7 tags
The Journey to Debt-Free Begins With a Single...
As of this time last year, I was making no money, owing nearly $3,000 in credit card debt, and had no savings. I felt hopeless, helpless, and worthless. A year later, I have almost $4,000 in my savings, my credit card debt is at under $1,000 (and consolidated to 0% APR until next year!).
I did this on less than $22,000 in NYC, one of the most expensive cities in the world. Even better, in...