Easy Come, Easy Go

Posted on Wednesday 21 October 2009

I blogged a few months ago about having applied for financial aid through the school I’m attending.  I didn’t hear anything back and forgot all about it…until this weekend when I received a letter from them saying I’d been granted aid.  That meant an unexpected $293 in my pocket.

In addition, Mr. Savvy and I had put a deposit down on the lodging for a trip we planned to take in December.  Well, now the trip is off.  I’d thought the money was gone but after several calls, I was able to get our $164 back.

And the trifecta, I contacted my insurance company for what is probably the tenth time in the last three months.  They are FINALLY reimbursing  me(minus a $150 copay) for medical expenses I incurred while on vacation in June.   So all told, in a matter of about three weeks, I will receive ~$800 that I wasn’t expecting.  Fabulous!

However, the other shoe has dropped.  The tire sensor on my car has been coming on for a while now.  Mr. Savvy puts air in the tire but a few days later the sensor is back on.  I finally dropped my car off at the shop this morning only to be told that I have a screw in my tire.  They aren’t able to repair it so I need a new tire.  The opposite tire is getting worn as well (I think it’s the original tire that came on the car) so might as well get two new tires so they don’t wear unevenly.  The damage?  $785.  Ouch!

While I hate to part with my newfound riches so quickly, I’m thankful that I recieved the funds.  That’s $785 that I don’t have to take out of savings, which is always a good thing.  How do you handle unexpected windfalls?

savvy @ 8:00 AM
Filed under: General Finances
Google Android Personal Finance Apps

Posted on Monday 19 October 2009

My friends at TMobile recently loaned me a G1 phone. So over the last week or so, I’ve tried out a variety of personal finance apps.

The first app I tested was Budget Droid. This one is definitely a winner to me. It takes a while to initially set up with all your categories and amounts but is smooth sailing after that. You enter each expenditure and the program shows you what you’ve spent so far as well as how much you have left to spend. For the most part, this is a bare bones apps. However, I like the fact that you can export your transactions as a .csv file to use in Excel or other programs.

Next up is Loot. Loot functions similarly to a checkbook register. However, it allows for multiple accounts, which is a definite perk. The ability to ‘tag’ transactions is another definite benefit. You can easily track spending categories such as groceries vs dining out.

Another neat app is the Visa mobile app. However, this is only available to Chase Visa cardholders. The app allows users receive notifications about their account activity as well as receive offers from participating merchants.

While TouchTip isn’t truly a personal finance app, it’s definitely the most useful. It quickly and easily calculates what the tip on a meal should be. In addition, it has the ability to calculate what each person’s share is if dining in a group. No more wasting time arguing over the bill with friends :-)

Do you have a G1 phone? If so, what are the personal finance apps that you recommend?

savvy @ 8:00 AM
Filed under: General Finances
LiliDeals

Posted on Friday 2 October 2009

LiliDeals is a new rewards and coupons site targeted toward women and offering some of the internet’s best shopping deals. In addition to coupons, you can also receive cash back on your purchases. They offer over 750 top stores ranging from the Gap and Best Buy to Wal-Mart and more boutique sites like Bunnybury Baby and Gaiam. But wait, there’s more :-)

As a special offer for my readers, LiliDeals is offering a $10 sign-up bonus just for trying them out. There is no obligation for anyone to make a purchase to earn the bonus. The money is yours to keep just for signing up. So head over there now and use the promo code MSMONEYSAVVY when you sign up. And by all means, please come back and let me know of the deals you’ve scored.

savvy @ 2:57 PM
Filed under: General Finances