The car breakdown (hehe, I'm punny)

Well, here's the skinny on my vehicular situation. I have decided to drive the thing for 1-2 more years or until it hits 200,000 miles. Which is only 40,000 miles away. Here's how I am planning to skimp and save to get the money saved up to pay for most (if not all) of my new wheels.

1. I opened a high interest savings account with HSBC Direct. I'm currently getting 3.5% APY.
• When I learn how to do math I will let you know how much I should expect to earn from said account during the year.
  
2. I am planning, starting with my next paycheck, to put $200-300 in this account as a pretend car payment.
• I say $200-300 because that's what I'm hoping would be my car payment if I got a car today and I don't know how much I will be able to put away right now. There is more math that needs to be done.

I still have to sit down and work out a budget. I've been trying, but since I'm living with my parents several notable parts of my current budget disappear. Like: rent, utilities, and my grocery bill. It's making budgeting a little too easy and because of that I feel like I need to be wary. Is there something that I haven't considered? I also may be moving out of my parent's place in the near future (one can only hope) and that may change things too. So, my new monthly budget will be coming soon. Stay tuned!

Conservation - a necessity not a need

Well, Ashley-Michelle had a psychic moment the other day when she posted about conservation being a good way to go with this blog. I may may start doing quite a bit of it in the coming months.

My car, a '96 Ford, has broken down one too many times and I am now seriously considering replacing it. We did find out that the reason it didn't start last night was because due to corrosion around the battery wires, which has been fixed, but it's been in and out of the shop pretty much every other week for the last couple of months.

So with that said, I will be embarking on one of two possible paths with my money. And they are as follows:

1. Take the plunge and replace my car with a used one
2. Deal with a crappy car for two more years or so while I do some serious saving for car payments (there is no way that this car will last long enough for me to save enough to pay for a new car in cash)

I will let you know what I decide to do in the next few days. My mom and I are heading over to Car Max to ask questions and look at some cars that I might be interested in purchasing. I just have to decide how much more I am willing to put up with from my Ford.

I will also be posting with an updated budget based on whatever path I go down. There are obviously some changes that will need to happen. Any input or ideas would be appreciated. But please, lets keep the brand bashing to a minimum.

How to avoid spending money

Yesterday, I had some returns to make. They were things that I had purchased and decided I really didn't need. Like the AE tank I talked about in a previous post and some underwear from Victoria's Secret that I had bought a looooooong time ago and had just been sitting in my closet. You might want to know how this relates to not spending money. Bear with me, I'm getting to that.

The return to AE was quick and painless. I did have to stand in line for a while but since there weren't any banners around me telling me how cheap clothes were, I didn't have a problem not stopping and looking around. It also helped that I was on my way to a babysitting job and didn't have much time to begin with.

But then I walked over to Victoria's Secret, and with horror realized that I was about to walk into their semi-annual sale. The very same event where I purchased the undies that I was about to return.

For those of you who don't know me well, I LOVE Victoria's Secret underwear. Especially their Pink line. And my friend has been raving about her Vicki's bra and it makes me want one. I've also read that Ipex bras are the shit. And I need new bras. So you might understand why going into the store was such a problem.

I stood outside and wondered to myself, "How in the world am I going to make it in and out of this place without at least one new pair of underwear in my hot little hands?" I took a deep breath and plunged in. I pretty much ran to the back of the store to get in line by the registers. But I did make it out without buying anything, and I am quite proud of myself. Even thought I had to run through the store to keep myself from spending.

So, you may be asking yourself, how do I avoid spending money? Well, this is my advice to you:

Stay out of the store!

If there is nothing in the store that you need to live or if it's a store where you will be really tempted to spend the money you don't have, don't go in. It sounds simple, but I honestly had never thought of it that way until I walked out of Vicki's bag free. I was a little sad as I was walking back to my car because that means, more or less, no more mindless wandering around the mall.

But then I realized that I really don't go to the mall anymore unless there is a reason to. Either I need something or someone else needs something. So either way, I'm on a mission and that helps me to keep my money where it belongs, in my wallet.

Peanut Butter Practicality

Sometime tomorrow, I'll update with the remaining three tips for college grads, but today, given that both myself and Super Careo are fur-mamas, I thought I'd share an ingenius money-saving tip.

So, most of us eat peanut butter. It's kind of an American tradition. And a large majority of Americans own dogs. Although the in-home care for pets has gotten better over the years, there are still a number of minor health issues that many fur-parents tend to miss. A big one is the importance of glucosamine in pets, especially larger breeds and animals pre-disposed to arthritis.

My Savannah, a German Shepherd-Brittany Spaniel mix, has suffered from arthritis for about seven years. The last year has been especially rough for her, so I started feeding her glucosamine tablets at the urging of the vet. I did notice it seemed to help quite a bit with her joint and bone pain, caused by the stress of her condition. Still, my vet suggested that I switch to a specific company.

The only problem is, the tablets aren't flavored, and both my dogs are notoriously finicky eaters when it comes to treats. Seriously, my Pomeranian loves to eat broccoli, but don't count on seeing him gobble down any treats designed to address his tartar and plaque build-up. Oy.

A few weeks ago, I got the idea to take a spoon and coat the glucosamine tablets with a small amount of peanut butter. Because watching the weight of an arthritic dog is so critical to maintaining their health and comfort, I always did a very small amount, just enough to make the tablet seem like a treat. When I noticed that the jar of peanut butter itself was just about too empty to use in making a sandwich, it occured to me there wasn't any reason why I couldn't just start using the tablet to scrape a small amount of peanut butter off the side. True enough, it's worked like a charm!

So, I suppose perhaps a good direction to take this blog is conservation of resources, as well as money management. I, for one, feel great that I'm not tossing out a jar of peanut butter that is too little to put on a sandwich, but just right to entice a dog to take her medicine.

Seven Steps for Financial Success for the Post-College Graduate

As biased as I think msn.com can be when it comes to many of their articles (of the political persuasion, anyway) I have to admit that their "Money & Finances" section is pretty darn handy.

Just today, I read Your Five-Minute Guide to Money in Your 20's. Given that Super Careo and I are approaching our mid-20s, I also decided to read some other articles about what, apparently, makes a twentysomething successful, financiallly-speaking. So I've compiled Seven Steps for Financial Success for the Post-College Graduate, the first four of which I'll share in this entry.



Step One: Get a Job

For most people, this is a no-brainer. However, a lot of individuals make the critical mistake of selecting a job that is financially a disaster, or simply is below their skill set. So chuck the lazy attitude, and prepare for these four tips:

1. A suit, a hair cut, and a new pair of shoes are a financial must. This will make all the difference in the world in a job interview. Let's face it; not everyone can show up to their job interview in dirty clothes and nail the position a la Christopher Gardner, the protagonist of "The Pursuit of Happyness." Still, they don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Consider going to a local beauty college, which will do hair cuts at a reduced price and generally offer free consultations. For suits and shoes, check out discount outlets, the Goodwill or consignment stores such as Plato's Closet, which offers popular clothing at a great markdown. Even stores such as Kohl's can be a good investment, because they frequently have clearance specials marking clothing down by 80 percent.

2. Don't waste your money by selecting a resume kit. There are many free versions offered on-line, including Resumizer, The PC Man and The How-To Resume Builder. However, even going to employment giants like Monster and CareerBuilder can be beneficial, because in addition to helping you find gainful employment, they'll actually build a basic resume and cover letter for you. Also remember you can always ask a trusted friend, particularly if they specialize in Human Resources or English, to help you punch it up a bit.

3. Don't be afraid to use your connections. If you're a college graduate, make sure to contact your alumni chapter. Were you in a sorority, fraternity, or any kind of ordained membership? Those affiliations can help open doors in the post-education world.

4. Don't accept jobs that might pay more in the beginning, but have nothing to do with your degree or your intended plan. This can lead to professional stagnation and later, job apathy.

Step Two: You're Hired!

Okay, congratulations are in order. You are officially a working-class adult, fully fiscally responsible, right? Wrong. The immediate afterglow of the first working job is when many twentysomethings make their first mistakes. A few tips to remember:

1. Your paycheck isn't as big as you think it is. You're getting more money, but Big Brother is also taking more of what you earn, something that early budget-makers forget when calculating out their expenses. Still, PaycheckCity offers a great calculator which helps to determine how much take-home pay you actually receive.

2. Be aware of what your job means for your tax return. If you're like me and have never handled your taxes, it's a good idea to enroll in a tax class (many community centers and community colleges offer them at reasonable rates under "Continuing Education" banners) so you have a better idea of where your money is going, and how. This will also help you plan for deductions.

3. A career, as much as a penny stock or an IRA, is an investment. It's important that you manage it better than any other investment, which includes showing up on time, completing your work under deadlines and setting higher expectations for yourself that aren't unreasonable.

Step Three: Banking

Securing a job doesn't mean that it's time to stash money away in a cookie jar and hope for the best. The days of saving pennies for a rainy day have pretty much passed, so a financially-responsible person needs to begin investigating banking. These days, it isn't uncommon for parents to set up bank accounts for their child, either to begin saving for college when they're very young or to offer them a start into the world after they've become an adult. Either way, especially if someone is starting out in a new place, it's important to select a bank with the same methodical investigation as any other major investment.

1. Don't just take the first bank you come across. Like with any other major investment, it's important to do your research and find out which bank offers you the best plan for your individual lifestyle. AllBusiness.com offers the following tips:

a. Fees. Many banks are charging more for previously complimentary services, such as bank statements, overdraft protection, customer inquiries and so on. Therefore, it's important to determine what your bank charges for these services and respond accordingly. For example, many banks are now going to "paperless" bank statements, preferring instead to send their clients e-mails, and some banks, such as Commerce in Kansas City even offer monetary incentives for their clients to go digital. Investigate which areas will allow you to cut corners--but be cautious; never skimp on overdraft protection or statements, period. Murphy's Law proves that just when you think overdrafting can never happen to you, it will and banks do make mistakes, meaning it's important you receive and examine your statement, whether by postal mail or e-mail.

b. Minimum Balances. The upside to having a minimum balance is that it does help with more effective budgeting, but only if you're informed enough to know that there is a minimum balance to begin wtih. I fell into this pit with both my savings account and my checking account, which I keep at two separate banks. Unfortunately, at both my checking and savings account, I failed to read the fine print and only after I spent several thousands in fees (enough that really, I should probably have a wing of the bank named after me at both locations) did I discover what my tellers had glossed over during the process of opening my accounts: each requires a minimum balance of $100. What's worse, some banks will charge even higher amounts for falling just a few pennies under $100 than if you were to bounce a mortgage check, so be cautious. When opening a new account, ask the teller directly what expectations are with the account such as minimum balances, and if you ever feel that you're being silver-tongued, take the paperwork home before you sign anything. Opening a bank account shouldn't feel like purchasing a used car.

c. Direct Deposit. All banks offer this fine feature, which automatically deposits your paycheck into your bank account, but some banks will also give you an incentive for signing up for it.

d. ATMs. Hopefully, by the time you graduate, you've learned your lesson on the ATM disaster of taking too much money out at a time and the like. Still, many people rely on the ATM for instant, fast cash. So if you're a person who has an ATM machine that won't burn a hole in your pocket, consider the number of locations within your vicinity, as well as the bank's policies for ATM machines. Most banks will offer free ATM withdrawals to their own customers, while charging fees anywhere from $1.50 to $5.00 for non-bank customers.

e. Locations. As with the ATMs, locations can be important. Perhaps you realize that the check you wrote yesterday might bounce if you don't rush and put $50 in cash into your account on your lunch break. If your bank is within walking distance to your job, this is a relatively easy fix. Unless you prefer online banking, at which case location is a moot point.

f. Online Banking. Many banks are offering online banking for their drive-thru wary customers, but there are several concerns when operating this way, the main being identity theft. Therefore, the best approach is a hybrid one: still complete your transactions, such as check cashing and cash withdrawals, in person, but consider signing up for your bank's online bill pay or banking tracker, if those are services that they offer. Following your account's activity online is another way to manage your ledger and stay consistent with how you track your expenses, purchases and financial gains, and also ensure that the bank isn't making clerical errors on their side.

2. Talk to your co-workers or other individuals you might know about their own banking experiences. How long have they been banking with their individual place? Have they been hit with a multitude of hidden fees, or did they notice a strong return on their savings? Consider visiting a local branch of the banks they use and see how you are treated. If you notice frustrated customers or bad service, then reconsider starting an account there. If your friends or family have an account a particular bank, ask them about their experience.

3. Research the different account options. Whether you need online banking access, a free, no minimum balance checking account or a business account, do your research to see which bank offers the best options for your lifestyle. Read the information online and compare you options. You should also think about what specialized financial services you may need in the future. If you need the ability to transfer money worldwide or you require a business loan in future, find out if your bank offers these type of services

4. If you work for certain employers such as a major airline, large school district or other large corporation, they sometimes operate their own credit unions. These credit unions may provide you with extra benefits and options versus a regular bank. However, as with researching a bank, it's important to be completely informed as to what they're offering and to what extent, as well as the potential drawbacks.


Step Four: Housing

Nobody likes living at home with Mom and Dad. In fact, I know three college graduates who are residing with their parents, and actually have a curfew. Having not had a curfew since I set my own at 17, I think it's an unfortunate reality, but in this economic market, who can really blame them? Still, not everyone has that luxury. For example, in six months, I'll be moving across the country and obviously, living with my 'rents isn't really an option, and for about 70 percent of college graduates, this is the reality.

1. Make sure that your bank account is taken care of first thing. Many landlords or rental authorities require the first and last month's rent to be paid upfront with a certified check or money order.

2. Find your apartment. The process can be a long one, but it doesn't have to be difficult. It's a matter of common sense. Claes Bell suggests the following:

*Be informed. Before you even begin the application process, you should be upfront with questions and as well informed as possible about the property. Know where your potential landlord stands on pets, qualifications for tenants and other possible deal breakers. If you do have any potential red flags, such as lack of current employment, need for a co-signer or having a checkered credit history, mention those things at the beginning.

*Do a walk-through. Once the application process is done, the next step for a diligent renter is a thorough walk-through of the apartment, preferably with a property manager or owner, to make a note of any pre-existing damage. Make an itemized list of things that are wrong with the apartment, such as tattered blinds, a faulty doorknob or a leaky faucet, and have the agent sign it, otherwise there's a danger later that you could have to pay for it, warns Tracey McCartney, Executive Director of the Tennessee Fair Housing Council in Nashville.

*Get Renter's Insurance. If you already have an auto policy with an insurer, you may be able to get renters insurance through them. Either way, a renters policy is inexpensive, essential protection against theft, natural disaster and liability. If the apartment complex burns down, for example, the complex's insurance will pay for your apartment damage, but not your stuff. And if it's something in your apartment that burns stuff down, the apartment's authority company may try to come after you, whereas renter's insurance can protect you from that.

*Read the Lease. It seems common sensical, but most people don't read what they sign. Remember that scene in "Farenheit 9/11" when Michael Moore proved most representatives of Congress had failed to read The Patriot Act before they signed it? The same is true of the general public. However, the lease's fine print can spell a number of things out, such as if you want to have a significant other move in, move out early or arrange for a sublease. According to McCartney, you should never rent from a place that won't give you time to read the lease or offer you a copy to take home.

*Negotiate.. If you see something on the lease you don't like, don't be afraid to negotiate. Most landlords or property managers will have standard terms on things like security deposits and the term of the lease, but, depending on their circumstances and the market you're looking in, they may be willing to change their terms to get you into their property. In some situations, they may even be willing to negotiate the rent, so make sure that you have a list of things you may want to ask for prepared ahead of time. That way, when it comes time to hash these things out with a landlord, you won't forget anything in the heat of the moment. This is also a good time to address the issues you found during your walk-through. Whatever the case, do not sign the lease until you know who is responsible for what financially, and who to call in the future with issues. The next six to 12 months could either reward you for your due diligence or make you wish you'd been more thorough.

3. Budget for your expenses. Bell suggests that those preparing to enter their own apartment need to have the financing for six things:

a. Application fee or deposit holds the apartment while renter's background is checked.

b. Broker's fee if renter uses a third party to find the apartment.

c. Security deposit is usually one month's rent, refundable at the end of the lease.

d. First month's rent needs to be paid.

e. Insurance to cover renter's belongings.

f. The last month's rent.

4. If you're looking to lower the cost of living independently, investigate a roommate. Ask around at work--newly-separated individuals or married people in the middle of a divorce can make for good roommates because they're used to residing around another person and paying bills. Consider checking Craigslist or other online sites, but never be afraid to ask for references upfront. Meet the potential roommate in a public place and consider bringing along a friend for the initial interview. Always check the references out first and if you can, obtain a copy of their credit history. Once you have selected a roommate, outline the responsibility of chores and bills, and get it in writing. Have the roommate sign a lease or a sublease, agreeing to all the terms.

My First Real Budgetary Breakdown = Success!

So, I vowed a few days ago to adhere more strictly to my budget with this upcoming paycheck. Like many people in my age bracket, I have a tendency to over-spend, but generally speaking, my indulgences have been on food (read: over-spending at the grocery store, or at restaurants) or cosmetics. Fortunately, my last day at ULTA was yesterday, and my boyfriend was kind enough to stock me up on my favorite line, Benefit, during his most recent visit.

In any case, I received my paycheck from the hotel yesterday, for $402.10, which I knew had to be properly placed and used for my bank accounts, bills and other expenditures from Olathe to Merriam. And thanks to an awesome article hosted on MSNBC.com, I even managed to save on my gas during the two and a half hours I was running errands.

My first stop was at Brotherhood Bank, where I keep a savings account. I deposited $52.10, and then received the rest in cash. I allowed myself to skimp on the $100 deposit because my paycheck is a little smaller due to trading shifts with Rachel last week, and because I'll be making an additional deposit this upcoming Friday from my cash-only job delivering fliers.

Oh, yes. I have a job that pays me that I have not calculated into my budget, because the hours are uncertain and inconsistent. Although it pays $12 an hour, it seems unwise to expect a bare minimum output, because I know as soon as I do that, Dixie is going to cut my hours like she did last summer. Anyway, the pay will be around $120, and $50 will be put into my savings account.

My next stop was my checking account at Commerce Bank. I deposited $200 of my cash because due to the ordeal of losing my bank card, I've written three checks over the last few days with the total being somewhere in the $120 range for groceries, debt and other needs. Although when I last checked my account balance a week ago it was over $200, it just seems better safe than sorry. In fact, I have a theory that with all the late fees and everything else that I've had to pay to Commerce in the last two years, they should name a wing of the bank after me. This is, of course, what happens when you fail to read the fine print and discover that your bank requires a minimum balance of $150 not to screw you over.

In any case, that left me with $150. So after I finished up at Commerce, I drove to the gas station to get gas, which I luckily found for $3.82, because it recently hit $4, much to the outrage of the greater Kansas City area. I put $30 in my gas tank, which used to fill it up but now only gives me half a tank, knocking my cash flow to $120.

After I finished pumping gas, I set off to Sprint to pay my bill. Because I downloaded a few ringtones and went over my minutes (slightly) my bill was a little higher than average, but at $40, right within my allotted budget. I even put forth an extra dollar, as a kind of downpayment on next month's bill, because I happened to find it in my wallet and wanted to deal with whole numbers. I left Sprint with $80 in my pocket.

I also needed to pick up Savannah's arthritis medicine, and her vet is located right next door to the Sprint building. For a month's supply, I had to cough up $43. Because her medicine alone exceeded my allocated budget, I recognize I'll have to recalibrate some things, but I was also glad I hadn't deposited $100 into my savings account. I forked over the cash, albeit begrudgingly, and rescheduled Little Bit's wellness exam for June 30.

My next stop was PetSmart, also conveniently located next door, so I didn't even have to drive and saved my car's gas consumption by walking. I picked up the dog food and courtesy of both my PetPerks card and some coupons, I only had to spend $20 on dogfood, instead of the usual $25. I also picked up some dental treats, bringing my grand PetSmart total to $30.

Although I had very few dollars left, I still needed to go to both ULTA (to pick up Barrick's birthday present) and Wal-Mart. Due to the nature of what I purchased at ULTA, I had to write a check and spent $79. At Wal-Mart, I spent $13, which I charged to my card.

The breakdown is as follows:

1. Gas
Total Allowance: $140
Total Used: $30
Total Remaining in Budget: $110

2. Grocery
Total Allowance: $160
Total Used: $13
Total Remaining in Budget: +147

3. Cellphone
Total Allowance: $40
Total Used: $40
Total Remaining in Budget: 0

4. Dogs
Total Allowance: $50
Total Used: $73
Total Remaining in Budget: -23

5. Miscellaneous
Total Allowance: $100
Total Used: $79
Total Remaining in Budget: +21


Dollars remaining for monthly budget: $261
Total debts to be resolved: $136
Total flow within budget: $125

So, it's about $75 short of my ideal $200 balance at the end of each month, but this is also independent of both my ULTA paycheck (which is automatically deposited into my checking account) and the paycheck from the hotel which will arrive on the 27th.

Still, I'm fairly proud of myself. I'm going to go over on my Miscellaneous expenses this month, just because I've spoiled Barrick for his birthday. I purchased him a bottle of
Burberry Brit cologne ($35; discounted courtesy of my employment status at ULTA) which also included a complimentary bath wrap, a Fossil watch ($33; discounted because I grabbed it from eBay), and the accomodations for our hotel stay in Las Vegas next month ($120).

Thankfully, I paid for the watch and the hotel stay prior to committing a budget, so it's really only his cologne that is setting me back, as well as whether or not I decide to engrave the watch ($20) and/or purchase him a copy of "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" ($10). But that would still fall within my allotted "Miscellaneous" allowance, because his cologne, engraved watch and DVD would only be $63.

Whatever the case, I feel so functional, it's almost impossible to believe that not only am I actually spending my money, but I'm doing it in a reasonable fashion. In fact, after this month, I'll have more money left over, because I recently found out that my employment at the hotel makes my gym membership free. Needless to say, I'll be cancelling my exclusive membership and jumping on the hotel's bandwagon.

My New Long Term Goal

While reading Get Rich Slowly this morning, which I've decided might be my new favorite website, I cam to the conclusion that I need a long term goal. A goal that I don't plan to reach for several years ... like 20 or something like that.

I want to retire no later than 50.

There. It's written down, plain and simple. And thanks to the great stuff over at GRS I think that I might be able to do it. I mean ... really do it. I want to be able to spend a big part of my life doing what I love to do the most - NOTHING.

I want to be able to sit around and stare at a wall if that's what I decide I feel like doing that day. I want to be able to get on a train and be gone for a week without worrying about whether or not I got my time out sheet to the secretary on time. I want to be able to do whatever I want when I want and I think the best way to make that happen is to take my destiny into my own hands and make this happen.

So how do I plan on doing this? Well, that's the hard part. And God only knows how much money I am going to need as I get older. As my grandmother so aptly put it in my 23rd birthday card I might end up being "one of the chosen ones" who lives FOREVER. My grandfather is going to be 102 years old next month and he is healthy as a horse and shows no signs of leaving us anytime soon. The reason my grandmother gave me such a happy birthday sentiment is that they are going to outlive their retirement savings. And Nana needs lots of pain medication and those cost a lot of money ... Papa doesn't need any medication. Like I said, he's healthy as a horse.

Ok, considering that I will be putting quite a bit more thought into this when I have the chance to sit down and really map out my plan, here is what my plan is (more or less):

• spend less than I make and save the rest
• invest!
  
• start a 401k (I really hope Clickspeed offers them) or an IRA, some sort of retirement account
• pay off all debts and cut up all credit cards (which I'm already working on)
  

I am going to spend some time this weekend talking to my dad about stocks that I might like to get into and maybe opening a mutual fund or something ... I don't know. Like I said, I need to spend some time really thinking this through. But that's the basic idea. I want to be done with working and being a grown up by the time I'm 50. Just in time to enjoy my glory years.

Also, I would like to tell everyone that I am going to be paying off my Macy's account in full this afternoon. I only owe them $94 and some cents and then I am done with them forever! YAY!! I am so happy because while I have never really had a problem remembering to pay my other credit card bills, for some reason Macy's always fell through the cracks. I have had to pay a bunch of late fees on this account and I'm sure that part of the reason my credit score is low is because of this damn Macy's card.

The only reason I got it in the first place was because in order to get your employee discount you have to charge what you buy. Those sneaky bastards knew exactly what they were doing when they made that policy. Sure, they give you a paycheck, but then you really are giving the whole thing back to them in interest and late fees. Bah Humbug is what I say to that sir.

So, once I get Macy's paid off I will only have 3 credit accounts left to pay off and a debt that I owe my parents but they aren't charging me an interest which is nice. And this is what they are:

• Citi Card: $1,593.28
• Capital One: $462.37
• UMB (my bank's overdraft protection): $444.00
• Mom and Dad: $1,790.00

I plan on paying down UMB first since I actually might need that sometime in the future (although I am going to do everything in my power to avoid needing to use it), then Captial One, Citi Card, and finally paying back my parents. Then it'll be all profits. WONDERFUL!