11.05.06

Getting Organized

Posted in Uncategorized at 12:42 pm by trueepicure

I often try to clean the house with the goal of getting things better organized so that everything has a place and things at least look clean and neat. It’s funny how so many people talk about getting their physical houses organized, but don’t ever talk about getting personal finanances organized. I’ve been like this for years, but not any more!

I have a plan to get rid of my credit card debt. I’ve been doing a lot of reading, including Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover (while trying to ignore the some of the christianity stuff). My blog reading has become extremely focused. Aside from the blogs of my friends, I’m mostly reading personal finance blogs to see how other people are managing their finances and geting rid of their debt.

Due to our move and my leaving government service for the private sector (hopefully temporarily), I’m currently in the process of moving all of my retirement accounts over from various locations (credit union Roth, 457 deferred compensation account, goverment retirement account) into one location with one company. In my situation, it’s a little bit frustrating with all of the different paperwork and the waiting for one organization to verify one bit of information and then sending the paperwork on to the next organization to start the process, and then on to the next organization to start the transfer. AGGH! Once my 401K benefits kick in at my new job, it will be yet another account, but I think it’s with the same investment company, so hopefully I can see it all in the same place. I’ve heard about a company called Yodlee that will provide all account information in the same place, but I’m not sure how I feel about a third party (or would it be fourth?) with my financial information.

I cleaned up the dining room yesterday, and got all the crap off the table. (**Note to self: remember to tell E where all of his hospital stuff went!) And today I made my plan for cleaning and organizing my financial house by paying off all my debt in 4 years (to be revised downward frequently!).

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