My parents are going through this divorce thing....& the vehicle I'm driving is partly theirs. Have to give it to my mom because she won't have anything to drive (all properties/items have to be sold). In two months I have to start shopping. All I can afford right now is a Honda Civic. Good used car or brand new?

After this I'm going to wipe my hands clean & have my own stuff. That way if anything happens I'll have only myself to answer to. No more entaglements with them financially. So I have to shop for insurance and financing. I have to take the dp from my savings. It's so frustrating. I guess I'll have to wait another year for a house.

I'm not looking forward to going out to the dealers and haggling. I was thinking of just buying from carsdirect. Of course I have to go to the dealers to test drive. Can anyone out there tell me if they've bought a car from Carsdirect and how their experience was?

I received my bonus and tax returns this week. I’m using the tax returns to pay cc bill and the bonus to add to the hf. I had to paid off my car last month & had to take money out of the hf so that put me behind. At least that’s all taken care of and I don’t have to worry about paying the $300/month. All I have to worry about is paying the insurance, maintenance and whatever else comes my way.

Was involved in a car accident January, although it wasn’t my fault – I had to front the $500 deductible which I charged to my cc. The insurance adjustor does not know how long it will take for me to get my reimbursement check from the other party. It’s so frustrating. This is why I need a separate ef, so I don’t feel so bad.

Now: $13,416.20

I now owe myself $800. I took some money from the house fund to pay some bills. Now I'm behind -800, plus whatever I should have contributed from my paycheck this to this date ($400). The goal: $25,000 by the end of this year. I think I can do it.

Now: $12,127.21

First I need to set some rules.

1. Eliminate unnecessary expenses, leave only what is essential. I need to go over all my bills.

2. Get things cheaper.

3. Save on electric bill. I have only used the heater twice (so far) this winter. When it's cold, I just put a sweater on, make myself some hot cocoa. Turn off the tv/lights when I leave the living room. That's really all I can do...

4. Drive less. One day a week (mostly Sundays) I'm going to give my car a break.

5. Collect change - save/deposit.

6. Surveys online.

7. Get things for free.

8. No major purchases this year - nothing over $200, unless it's an emergency (need new tires, etc). Also, I'm going to stop buying clothes!

9. I'm going to start contributing $400/paycheck ($300 last year).

I have a 2% bonus coming up from work and then the tax refund so that should help. I really do not want to take a second job. Cutting back on expenses is so much easier.