In need of some car buying tips/suggestions...

So this little beauty is the new Chevy Sonic.  This is one of the three types of Chevy cars that I am looking into purchasing in the next few months.

I've been driving around for almost 7 years in a 2002 Mercury Sable that has been nothing but headaches for me for a pretty long time.  Let's put it this way, I have electric windows that haven't gone down in almost 2 years, I rolled 100,000 miles on the car and the engine started making a rattling sound, the power steering rack has gone out of it, I hit a deer with it and when I took it into the dealership in which I bought it they proceeded to keep my car for a MONTH, the AC belt went out of it, there is sooo much more to this story but I won't bore you with the details.

Basically, I'm in need of a new fuel efficient vehicle.  Did I mention that the fuel mileage on my beast SUCKS!  Also, there will be a baby joining our family in March so I'm looking for safety features as well.  And it would be great to drive around in a car that's not going to break the bank to maintain.

So here are my list of "demands" for my next vehicle:

1. Fuel efficient ~ I want Prius gas mileage (or close to it) without the Prius price

2. Safety Features ~ Can't be driving around the countryside in an unsafe car with a new baby

3. Not going to break the bank to maintain

4. WARRANTY! ~ I got screwed on this with the purchase of my current vehicle

5. Low monthly payment ~ $300 (310 at the very highest) or less to not break my budget, I don't mind paying longer to stay within this range.

So here are my questions to you: 1. Do you have any other tips/suggestions for me to use? 2. What do you drive? Would you say it's fuel efficient and safe? 3.  Is there anything else that I forgot?

Money Saving ~ The Great Cell Phone Debate

Today I am able to upgrade/downgrade/change my cell phone plan.  I've been a US Cellular customer for about 6 years now and for the past year I have had a Blackberry and the EXTREMELY expensive data plan that comes along with Blackberry ownership.  Now I'm thinking that I may go to a pre-paid plan that gives me 450 minutes (I'm more of a texter than a talker), unlimited texting and 2MB of "Data" included in the plan.  This plan also includes several other features like:

~ Voice Mail
~ Call Waiting
~ Caller ID
~ Three-way calling

All that for a grand total of $40 a month before taxes and other fee's.  Or I can go to the next package bigger which is basically the same package just 2GB of "Data" for $60 a month.

If for some reason I am NOT able to go to the pre-paid plan I have decided that I'm going to go the route of the Single Line Essential plan.  Which includes 1000 minutes, unlimited texting and the same "other" features that are listed above with the addition of overage protection.  This plan is $69.99 a month and so far I've been being charged close to $10 in addition fees since joining the Belief Project which I'm not exactly happy about.

If I go the pre-paid route...Either plan plan really, I'll be paying less than I currently am or was paying (before I got the Crackberry and joined the Belief Project) by anywhere from $20-$30.  Basically, I'm hoping that I don't get talked out of going the pre-paid route.  I think in the long run it just might be better for me overall.

Operation Debt Reduction ~ Part 1b

So I've been doing some math and here is the final break down of my debt:

CREDIT CARDS

Wells Fargo Credit Card ~ $5,000
  ~ I am going to be able to pay this one off shortly, hopefully.  I have a check from my car insurance
     company for almost $3700 and my dad is going to lend me the remaining balance to be completely 
     done with this card.  Well, I will be done with this card because I've already cut it up.

Old Navy Credit Card ~ $484.00
 ~I already pay more than the minimum on this one.  I just don't have a firm plan as to how or when this one will be paid off.

Target Credit Card ~ $1500
 ~Another one that I pay more than the minimum on.  Again, another one I just don't have a firm plan of attack for.

Maurices Credit Card ~ $1200
~Yet another card that I pay more than the minimum on and have no real firm plan of attack for.

Total Credit Card Debt: $8184

MISC. DEBT

Bank of Dad ~ $1500
 ~Approximately another $1400 will be added to this number when I pay off the Wells Fargo Credit card.

Bank of Mom ~ $200
~Money my mom lent me to help pay for putting brakes on my car.

Total Misc. Debt: $1700

Combined Debt Total as of July 24, 2011: $9884

Operation Debt Reduction ~ Part 1a

Greetings and salutations Ladies and Gentleman!  Jamie here and as you can probably tell from the title of this blog post, this has NOTHING to do with books at all.  So far books seems to be what this blog is all about so I'm going to add a taste of reality to the blog.  I'm in debt peeps.  Lots of it.  All most all of my debt is credit card debt and that sucks!

Starting today - July 24, 2011, I am putting myself on Operation Debt Reduction.  I still have to do all my math and figure out all the specifics yet, so there will more than likely be a Operation Debt Reduction ~ Part 1b later today.  But I am asking for a great big cheering section.  I freely admit to being pretty horrible with money, so I need all the help I can get to try and stay on task.

I do have several things that I am doing that will save me money in the long run.  Here are a couple of examples:

1. I LOVE to read (see books did make there way into this post!) but I am going to make a concentrated effort to read the books that I already have, which includes an overflowing bookcase - most of the books on it I have NOT read, several piles of books on my bedroom floor (almost all of which I have NOT read) and several bags full of books in my basement (almost all of which I have NOT read).  I'm also going to try and use my library more as well.

2. I have decided that I am going to be making several handmade Christmas gifts this year.  I've already started 1 which I've posted about earlier (Miami Vice Shawl) that I'm making very good progress on.  I've got the materials, minus a set of size 7 double point needles and a size 10 circular needle, for the next 2.  For the rest of my projects, I am almost 100% sure that I have all the materials that I need.  I just have to execute.

3. I'm in the process of giving up soda, again.  This should save me anywhere from $4-$8 every 2 weeks.

4. On August 1 I am able to upgrade my cell phone plan and I am going to try and get myself into a plan that will allow me to save a considerable amount of money a month.

I have more ideas that I want to try and I am always open to suggestions.  You can either leave me a comment here on this post or you can drop me an email at rutrow01@gmail.com.