As my first posting I should give the stats on my income, savings, investments, and debts.

I just got a raise not too long ago at work, so my yearly pay ends up being $62,768. Not much at all considering I live in California where rents are high and pretty much everything else is too.

My ING account now has $13,120.

I have a Roth IRA that I opened last year and have put only a grand total of $3,000 in it. No money has been added to it in 2006. I will be working on that.

I have no real debt so to speak of. No mortgage since I rent, my 2002 car is paid for, no student loans since I got a scholarship, grant, bf support, and went the community college (super cheap!) route for my ADN. I own one credit card, and I pay it off in full each month. I really don't know the current balance on it now, so I won't consider that a debt since I never carry a balance.

My fixed expenses are:
Rent-- $900 ( I rent a bedroom in a small house and it includes all utilities, housekeeper, and internet).
Car insurance--$74.83 (liablity only since full coverage would cost me $134).
Cell phone --$48.53 (T-Mobile is so cheap!)

I did have a gym membership at $34.99/month, but I cancelled that last month and should only be charged that one more month.

Basically, my net income each month is $3,186 and my fixed expenses total $1,023.36, and that leaves me with $2,162 for food, gasoline, savings, etc.

Each month $500 automatically goes to my ING account. I would and could do more, but I do spend a lot of money going out to eat and traveling.

This blog is to help me see where my money is going, see how I can improve on my poor spending habits, and get myself aiming for a financially successful future and retirement.