SavingSteve's 52 Week Challenge Thread

**~~Darci~~** · 02-12-2014, 11:22 AM

Welcome Steve!

Congrats on the money saved so far! Do you have a goal for the saved money?

**SavingSteve** · 02-12-2014, 12:04 PM

Thanks! I want to add the 52 week challenge money to my emergency fund in January.

**deedee421** · 02-12-2014, 07:46 PM

Welcome to the challenge! You're off to a great start!

**SavingSteve** · 02-13-2014, 11:17 PM

Thanks for the encouraging words! Thursday is saving day and today there were a lot of bills but I saved $16 so that makes $100. Doesn't sound like much but I have all year and haven't missed a week yet. Hopefully next week I can cross a higher number off my sheet!

**deedee421** · 02-14-2014, 04:39 PM

It feels good when you watch your savings grow. Keep up the good work!

**SavingSteve** · 02-21-2014, 07:44 PM

This week saving was tough because I'm paying off my credit cards. I was only able to save $5 for a total of $105. The good news is I got a big paycheck and paid off a credit card balance and it's now zero. This will free up $100 per month, but it left me with only $5 in my budget to save.

This card is going in the shredder tonight now that it's paid off!

**~~Darci~~** · 02-22-2014, 01:55 PM

First, CONGRATULATIONS on paying off that credit card!!!

You are doing so well! $5 saved is still something and you're making it a habit is the most important thing! Keep moving forward!

**deedee421** · 02-25-2014, 08:46 PM

Congratulations! Getting rid of debt and building your savings are both important, so paying off that credit card is great. Way to go!

**SavingSteve** · 02-27-2014, 01:21 PM

This week $24 saved. Since 2-3 weeks of the month I have lots of overtime I drew a line through the boxes at the bottom of my 52 week sheet so 1-24 are low overtime weeks and 25-52 are high overtime weeks.

I moved the $131 balance from my big cheap bank to an online money market bank account with higher interest. That way it's not as easily accessible if my checking account gets low. I chose the money market vs. regular online savings so I can write a check in an emergency instead of waiting 2-3 days for an online transfer. I don't care if the money market account rate is a tiny bit lower it's still WAY higher than my big cheap bank.

**~~Darci~~** · 02-28-2014, 09:25 AM

Congrats on another deposit and a good decision to keep your money safe

**deedee421** · 02-28-2014, 07:42 PM

Way to go on your deposit and moving your savings so you could earn more interest.

**SavingSteve** · 03-05-2014, 06:38 AM

Bonus Deposit Today! = $19

I've been trying to educate myself on the best way to break the consumer debt cycle. Reading Dave Ramsey and I'm following the steps. He says to save $1000 fast, and I simply cannot wait for the 52 week challenge to be over before I get intense with the rest of my credit cards. Since January I've been able to slash $650 of monthly expenses to attack the credit cards with. I also put my 401K contributions on hold until they're paid off. That money gets diverted to the credit cards too.

My 52 week challenge will continue but I'm going to get that $1000 together in the next 4-5 weeks. I will start paying myself first from EVERY little bit of money that comes in. I get direct deposits from various side projects 2-3 days a week besides my day job. So from this last $200 one that came in Tuesday I saved the bonus $19.

Once I have the mini $1000 emergency fund saved I will turn my focus to the rest of the credit cards but continue with the 52 week challenge at the same time.

**~~Darci~~** · 03-05-2014, 08:05 AM

Wow Steve! Great job, you're making excellent progress! You'll have that 1K saved in no time at this rate

**SavingSteve** · 03-06-2014, 01:34 PM

$51 Saved Today!

Thanks Darci for your kind words. Today was my regular 52 week challenge day and I saved $51. Looks like I'm getting another wire transfer tomorrow coming in so I'm going to use 10% as my "bonus deposit" rule.

Total saved so far = $202

SavingSteve's 52 Week Challenge Thread