Working on my credit

This week, I received my new credit card!   I have been browsing a few online stores (Kohl's and JC Penney) here and there for sales.  I am on their email mailing list so they send me at least 3 emails a week with sales and discounts they have going. 

About a month ago, I bought new clothes at JC Penney because when I tried shopping on Kohl's website, it would always redirect me to yahoo.  I took it as a sign that I need to shop elsewhere.

Unfortunately, when I went to shop on Kohl's website again, it redirected me again!  I decided to go to JC Penney's website instead.

All of the clothes I bought were on clearance and I had a special coupon code to use which helped me save even more!  I bought a pair of casual flats, pants, two tops and a pair of jeans!  I can easily wear the jeans on "casual Friday." 

I used my new credit card to make my purchase.  

Credit Card

Last week, I applied for a credit card with my credit union.  I was notified today that I was not going to be approved because of a credit card balance I have in collections. 

Since I hate being told that I cannot do something or have something, I decided to apply for a credit card with Capital One.  I am trying to rebuild my credit! 

The application process took less than 3 minutes to complete and I was approved within 30 seconds or so!  My credit limit is $1000 but I plan on making small purchases here and there and paying it off as soon as I can.

More days off

Kyle was off of school today and will have tomorrow off as well.  I am so ready for him to go back to school, he's been home since Friday! 

I wasn't able to get much done today with him home.  It's a little more difficult for me to concentrate when he is home, but I do try to do what I need to do. 

Shannon will be taking extra shifts next week.  Once he has his work schedule for Best Buy, he can determine how many more shifts he can take for a co-worker who overextended herself.  She ended up taking so many shifts that she would have to work 15 days straight!  Plus she's taking an Electronic Health Records course through the local community college.  She offered him all of the extra shifts she took because she feels overwhelmed with her class and having to work.  Hopefully Shannon can take as many shifts as he wants.  We definitely need the money.  Shannon is working on paying off his credit card. 

Shannon also received a call from his manager from his security supervisor job.  His manager put in his notice and will be leaving at the end of this week!  He is working on having his guys cover shifts and give them extra shifts wherever needed so that everything is covered until they hire a new manager.  I told Shannon that he should apply for a manager position with the security company.  He now has a Bachelor's Degree, plus he's working in security for several years, been a manager and he's been on the other side of things.  When he was working at a hotel as the manager, he was the client of the company he is now working for.  He knows what a client is looking for in a security company!  I really hope Shannon will apply for the job or any promotion within the security company. 

Credit Score

I received a call from the bank about my secured credit card application, she reminded me that I needed an account with them and I told her that I applied for one in early December.  She looked it up and informed me that my account was opened and just needed to be funded!  I just wish the bank would have told me this when it was opened.  The account was opened on the same day I applied!!!!

I received my credit score from the bank.  According to FICO, I am just under 700.  That is MUCH better than what I thought it would be, considering I should have a foreclosure on there and unpaid credit card bills and other things.

When the time is right, I hope to re-apply for a credit card, I will try for either a secured card or a regular credit card and see which one I am approved for. 

New blog opportunities and waiting

I am axiously waiting for my casserole dish to get here!  I don't know when it was or will be shipped but I hope to get it soon.  I am looking forward to using it. 

I am also waiting for my Jillian Michaels' DVDs to get here.  I can't wait to try her workouts!  I love my current workout program but to add something new will be a treat! 

I have not heard anything more from the credit union, so I don't know if I was approved or will be approved.  I just want to start out with a savings account and then apply for a credit card or even a secured credit card to rebuild my credit.

We are doing better financially with Shannon working two jobs.  He has a separate bank account and his own credit card with another bank.  He has his security job paychecks going straight to that account.  He uses that account for his own spending money, such as gas, food, etc.  He just switched his Best Buy direct deposit to our joint account.  I will be using that to pay our bills!

I ended up pitching a PR firm that represents Soda Stream and I will be receiving the "genesis system" to review!  I am excited!  We don't drink a lot of soda, but this sounds like a healthier alternative since it uses water to make the soda! 

I am still on schedule with my new workout program: Les Mills Combat!  It's a little difficult but very motivating and fun!  Once I receive my Jillian Michaels' DVDs, I may add them here and there.

We have Gas!!!

For the last few weeks, our area gas stations have been out of gas. Thankfully, Shannon was able to fill up yesterday before work. He happen to drive by at the right time because by the time he drove home, the gas station was out of gas. But the gas stations nearby had gas. Two nights ago, Shannon said he went to 15 different gas stations trying to find gas, all of them out! I even heard on the news that people were stalking the tanker trucks.

One of our credit card companies is trying to use scare tactics in order to get us to pay our bill -- which is actually pretty entertaining. About a month ago they sent me a letter stating that they are trying to locate my employer, which they obviously had no luck. Then a few days later, they tried calling to “work out a payment plan.” Just this week, they sent another letter stating they are trying to locate any property that I own, such as business assets, automobiles, land, etc. Well, good luck with that!

I did receive 2 payments from my GPT sites! I hope to receive a little more at the end of next month.

All you have to do is ask!

I received our credit card bill today (which ALWAYS brightens my day) and our APR shot up to OVER 18%! Which added an extra $100+ to our bill. So I called them up and asked for a lower APR. She said they don’t have any special promotions going on but she can lower to 0% for 6 months! Of course, I said YES!

So, it doesn’t hurt to call your credit card company and ASK for a lower APR. It works!