Basic info: I did my first money diaries in April 2020. Since then I’ve made major strides financially. This is an updated MD. I am a registered nurse living in NYC. One major change: I changed specialities and now work in the Medical ICU. There’s no change in pay rate, but major change in job opportunities given the ICU need during COVID.
January 2020 Net Worth: -$39,531
January 2021 Net Worth: +$20,674
Retirement Balance (and how you got there): 401K: $13,154
I made some changes, I reached the one year minimum to get an employee match and increased my contributions to 8%. In addition, I also started a Roth IRA with a 2% contribution. I also discovered I had $1,200 in Vanguard from my previous employer and did a roll-over.
Savings/Investment Account Balance: Emergency Fund: $5,000 (moving out fund, really)
Savings Fund: $22,500
Investment: $0
Checking Account Balance: $1,000
Credit Card Debt: $0 (Thank you Papa Ramsey, I’m trying to cashflow most things I do as a new year resolution).
Student Loan Debt (for what degree): Bachelors of Nursing. Original loan balance: $40,000. My remaining balance now is: $10,700 at 4.25%. (This is my second degree, I also have a bachelors in health care administration. I didn't have to pay for it thanks to FAFSA) I chose to be aggressive with my student loans and paid off $30,000 in the first year. Since the CARES Act started I’ve stopped.
Auto Loan: $10,000.
Total Income = $112,000* + side hustles ($7,256) *This is including COVID crisis rates. The side hustles are little per diem gigs I did throughout the year (infusion care, school nursing, and home nursing). Main Job Take Home Pay: $50/hr at base rate. $4,400 net monthly ($7,600 gross pay) post health insurance and pre/post tax dedications. (Yes, I pay nearly $2,400 in taxes a MONTH) Additional income/side hustle: $800 - $1,000 average a month with two per diem companies post tax. Base rates can range between $35/hr or $85/case. I quit these jobs during the surges and did OT in the hospital for crisis rates. In the last two months I worked like a DOG and I’ve averaged an additional $3,000 a month off crisis rate shifts.
401K/Roth deductions = $750/mo.
Health Insurance: $120/mo
Home = $1735/mo Rent: I live with my mom and pay her $650/month. I’m moving out in May/June w/ a goal of finding an apartment for $1,500-$1,650. (I live in Queens, so it’s doable!)
Car Insurance: $1,400 for six months or $235/mo
Car Payment: $250/mo (remaining balance $10,000).
Gas Money: $120-150/mo
Groceries: $250/mo
Phone + Internet: $150/mo (I cover my moms cell phone bill).
Subscriptions & Memberships = $24/mo
Netflix: $7.99
Hulu: $5.99
Apple Music: $9.99
I’ve tried so hard to get rid of these because I hardly use them but I always find myself randomly reactivating them.
Health: $40/mo I suffer from chronic yeast infections and go to urgent care every other month with a random doctors appointment so probably $20-$40 a month for copayments. Also was recently diagnosed with Graves Disease, so I’ve been following up w/ an endocrinologist.
What do money and success mean to you? I always feel very financially insecure. A lot of this stems from growing up poor and having a family that constantly lived from paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t start becoming financially literate until I scored my first big girl job (at 25 years old) so it’s only been a little over a year since I started making my salary.
My short term end goal is to reach a net worth of 150K - 200K by the age of 30 (Which is a hard reach considering that I live in a VHCOL area). And my long term goal is to not reach FIRE, but to build a nest egg that has plenty of funds in it to cover any cost or concerns of my own. I’d like to own a home one day and if I ever want to take a year off or two to raise children, I don’t ever want it to be a financial concern.
Are you a saver or a spender. I’m a budgeter. I save what I deem is appropriate and realistic. And I spend according to my budget, though admittedly sometimes spend more than planned but not enough to ruin my financial goals.
If you can go back in time, what's the one piece of financial advice you would give to your past self? There’s two. I would have contributed more to my 401k earlier. And I wouldn’t have taken out more student loans than I needed to. I don’t feel behind in any sense but it would have been nice to have a better head start.
Warning: Money Diaries isn’t as eventful as I’m trying to take advantage of the crisis pays. I work in the ICU with COVID patients. I’ll reflect on small cases but for the most part, my life is boring ya’ll (and sad), sorry! I’m actually on holiday from work, but find myself picking up OT this week (because i’m low key a workaholic).
Thursday: 8AM: Did some grocery shopping in the morning before my OT shift tonight. I spent $84.31, which is higher than I usually spend but I spent $20 on cheese and salami because your girl wants to make a charcuterie board for breakfast. 7PM until Friday morning: I decided to do OT tonight, so i’m busy with my one patient (covid+) who’s on the brink of being intubated. (Female who’s 25 weeks pregnant on high flow nasal cannula, not doing too hot, is very unstable while maintaining her oxygen saturation). We keep a close eye on her, but she’s incredibly anxious, which doesn’t help her situation. I take a quick break and buy myself a strawberry lemonade downstairs for $2.49. Lunch was sponsored by another department and we get free sandwiches and wings!
Money Spent: $86.80
Friday 7AM: I finally give a report and I’m happy I get to go home to sleep. My friend texts me that I forgot to venmo him money a few weeks ago (I was so embarrassed) I sent him the $25 I owed him. 12PM: I wake up spontaneously and decide to pick up an OT shift. I fall back to sleep. 5PM: IMMENSELY regretting picking up OT again while on vacation. But i have no self control. 7PM until Saturday morning: I make it to work and have the same anxious patient as the night before. We have another close call for intubation. She just keeps getting worse. OBGYN gets involved with our ICU team to further discuss the baby's care and her care. I didn’t pack lunch today and didn’t want to spend money. So I eat some cheese and crackers I left in the staff fridge from the night before and stop and get my infamous strawberry lemonade from downstairs again for $2.99
Money Spent: $28
Saturday: 8AM: I get off of work and get COVID swabbed. I don’t have any symptoms, but I was in a large crowd the other day and figured better safe than sorry. 11AM: I finally go to bed. 2PM: I woke up with 3 hours of sleep and met with my dad because he needed help buying a microwave at Target. I take this opportunity to return the $29.99 blackout curtains I don’t need and buy a bunch of snacks for my hiking trip tomorrow. I buy two tubs of icecream in which my dad goes, “Why are you buying so much ice cream?” I respond with a pouty face and say, “I’m getting my period tomorrow.” LOL The money I used to return the curtains covered all the snacks I bought.
6PM I catch up on Married at First Sight and decide to buy the season on amazon since I don’t have cable. I buy the entire season for $19.99.
Money Spent: $19.99
Sunday: 4AM: I finally woke up and got ready to go on a hiking trip with a meetup group from online. We hike upstate, about an hour north. I make my own breakfast and pack my own lunch. I stop by the gas station and fill my tank with $26.99. It’s my first time in months doing something alone and with a meetup group again. I’m excited to see some new people and just get out of the house. 9:30-4PM: I hike with a few familiar faces and some new ones and have a great time. It was nice to finally interact with people outside of work (yes, we wore masks and socially distanced). Although it was FREEEEEZINGGG cold outside it was nice to get away from the hospital. I passed a lot of tolls and bridges, I know it’s probably a total of $20.00 for transportation coverage. 7PM: I invited my mom for some tacos for dinner and I spent $23.09 on some tacos and churros! 8:30PM I make it home and knock out.
Money Spent: $70
Monday 2AM: I wake up with a text message from my boyfriend. I forgot I told him I’d stop by after dinner. He was trying to convince me to come over. (if I don’t, our work schedules will keep us from seeing each other for one week). I say no because I parked too far, its too cold outside, and i'm tired. He tried to seduce me with some air fried chicken nuggies and his preheated blanket. His hard efforts worked because I straight simped to his house in a one hour car ride at 3AM.
10AM: My boyfriend is also a nurse and works nights. I wake up early since I’m on a day schedule and leave him to sleep and go back home. I’m tempted to buy a breakfast bagel but decide there’s food at home (adulting hard).
2PM: I caught up on 90 Day Fiance and Married at First Sight. I don’t have cable and pay $2 an episode on youtube or amazon to watch my shows. I ate some pizza and ice cream (from my Target run the other day) because surprise, your girl got her menses.
3PM: Your girl is crazy and decides to pick up OT for Tuesday. I can’t help myself.
6PM: I heat up some leftovers from dinner and check my bank account. Internet auto pay kicked in for $54.99
Money spent: $56.99
Tuesday: 5AM: I’m too lazy to make breakfast and buy myself a bagel with butter. I agreed to do OT and help out with fit testing (we received new N95 at our hospitals and need to fit test everyone. This is only an 8 hour shift so I agree to do it). I pay $3.25 for a bagel and a bottle of water and another $4.00 on a slice of pizza and a bag of chips for lunch.
4PM: I go straight to the laundromat and wash my blankets and clothes. I spend $15 to do two small loads and one large load. I forgot my Downey so I bought the overpriced one at the store.
6PM: My friends all came back negative and we meet for some tacos and margaritas. I spent $26.87 in margaritas, tacos and churros again.
Total Spent $42.12
Wednesday 9AM I parked on metered parking the night before and paid $1.25 to cover the extra hour before more my car. I go grocery shopping and spent $35.34. I literally stay home all day and do nothing
Total Spent: $36.50
Hope you enjoyed my money diary!
submitted by DALLAS "Dallas girls are sugar and spice, but I'm still working on nice," D'Andra Simmons coos at the top of every episode of
The Real Housewives of Dallas' fifth season. Well, she doesn't so much coo it as much as she huskily declares it, even surprising herself with the gravelly tone of her delivery.
"I don't know what happened," she admits to ET of the line read that made viewers rewind and listen again when the season 5 taglines first dropped. "I didn't even know my voice was that low, that register, so it was a shock to me, too. I had several reads of that line and that's the one they chose. It certainly surprised people!"
The unexpected timbre in D'Andra’s voice is in line with what the Hard Night, Good Morning founder says season 5 is all about for her: showing a side of herself the viewers never got to see in her three prior seasons. It seems to be working, as each week social media floods with comments like, "Am I
likingD'Andra this season?!" and "Where has
this D'Andra been?"
There are a few factors at play here, but one in particular stands out: This is D'Andra’s first season
without LeeAnne Locken, a force of a woman who drove the drama on
RHOD since its inception, much of it in a push-and-pull game with D'Andra. She departed the series at the end of season 4.
"It definitely freed me up," D'Andra admits of LeeAnne's exit. "People think I'm angry and severe, and that's really not who I am. … I get to talk about other things than, you know, LeeAnne and I not getting along, which is great and I think that’s exciting."
LeeAnne and D'Andra faced off on everything from being the group's "queen bee" to gossip about personal financial matters, infidelity and more over the course of seasons 2, 3 and 4. They engaged in screaming matches, social media warfare, ego-bruising pranks and even one near-physical altercation.
"I think the way I handled some of the situations with LeeAnne, if I look back ... I would've handled them differently," D'Andra adds. "I would've come [and said], 'You hurt my feelings when you talked away the situation with my finances, because I was trying to save my business…' instead of being so angry, but I was just in a state of shock back then. But you learn throughout this process how to be a better person and my goal was trying to be less reactionary."
Today, D'Andra says she has no relationship with her one-time bridesmaid; but she also harbors no ill will toward LeeAnne.
"I never negate the contributions that she made to the show," D'Andra says. "She was a very big part of the show, but we do not see eye to eye on several things and I think for me … the social media got so out of hand, that I just can’t go back to a friendship when things were said about me that were complete lies."
"It put me in a lot of pain for several years," she continues. "I was in a puddle of tears at times, 'cause I just couldn't believe the stuff I was reading. It's not who I was at all, and it hurt me so much, that it's hard to -- it's not that I can't forgive, because I have to forgive. But it's just, why go back and take a chance? You know, learn a lesson, and I wish her well. I'm so glad that she and [her husband Rich Emberlin] are happy and she's got other things she’s doing in her life, just happy for all of her endeavors."
In LeeAnne's "place," so to speak this season, is Dr. Tiffany Moon, D'Andra’s pal who joined the cast of
RHOD as season 5's only new full-time Housewife. Within minutes of appearing on screen, Tiffany won over viewers… but the same can’t be said of the cast, who have taken issue with Tiffany's "bossy" style in her first few episodes.
"I really don’t know what the issue is," D’Andra says of the women not taking to Tiffany immediately (and now, some engaging in Twitter fights with their new co-star during episode airings).
"I think that she has had a huge splash, and I think that's a part of it," D'Andra surmises. "Whereas I look it, big win! People are paying attention to
RHOD! This is amazing! No, it’s, like, great. We’ve got this new Housewife that’s bringing all this attention, people are really noticing our franchise and they're seeing what we can bring to the table, and for me I’m thinking this is the best thing ever. I keep calling, 'Oh my god, girl! You are winning! You are doing great! Thank you so much!' And you know, I can understand where people would think maybe there's a little jealousy or little bit, you know, 'Not what they expected,' I guess? I don’t know. Women are weird."
There's also always a learning curve for newbies on these shows. D'Andra experienced that herself stepping into season 2.
"We're talking four years, or five years of a franchise -- I've been on four -- that we have kinda cemented ourselves to a certain way that we are and we have a new person coming in, and they wanna do things a different way, shake it up, people don't like change," D'Andra notes. "That's the big lesson, I think people don’t like change."
If "the blogs," as the Housewives say, are to be believed, Tiffany wasn't supposed to be the only new star-holder in season 5. Jen Davis, who is credited as a "friend of" the cast this year, was reportedly brought on as a fulltime Housewife before having to take a step back for personal reasons. That change may have left some drama on the cutting room floor. Early hearsay about filming suggested the season kicked off with D'Andra and Jen in a major feud, but that footage seems to be MIA.
"If you didn't see it, it didn't happen! Let's put it that way," D'Andra offers when pressed on the subject. "If you didn’t see it, it wasn't there. Now, we're in a pretty good place, and I think Jen is a very unique person. She's fun. She’s funny, and she brings a lot, as well. She's got a lot of big issues that she’s dealing with in her personal life, so I think maybe that was why Tiffany sort of eclipsed her at the time, with regards to the show."
Even if her battle with Jen got cut, D'Andra still has plenty to deal with this season, especially when it comes to Kary Brittingham. Kary joined the show as D'Andra's friend in season 4, but something changed about their relationship during the hiatus ahead of season 5. Kary came into season 5 swinging, taking dig after dig at D'Andra, calling her a hypochondriac and selfish, among other things.
"I am still confused about that, to be honest," D'Andra confesses. "I didn't understand that Kary had such deep-seeded opinions and feelings about our friendship until I started watching the season. I mean, I knew we were fighting a lot on, you know, during filming, but I never, ever would've thought that she would've called me selfish or that I wasn't a good friend, or any of the things she’s saying about me, and it really hurt my feelings and I’ve really tried to get to the bottom of it with her, and you'll see that kinda unpack and unfold."
Kary and D'Andra spent a lot of the off-season together, traveling to trunk shows in Texas to sell their wares -- D'Andra has a skincare line and health supplement company, while Kary sells jewelry. All that time together, in close quarters (between carpooling and sharing hotel rooms) seemed to do a number of their friendship. Then, throw in the pandemic.
"Kary probably had a much more difficult time than I did during quarantine, because she's a very social person, whereas I am happy to be at home with my dogs and my husband and my books, and I can stay at home for months and not have a problem," D'Andra remarks. "Kary has to be out and has to be doing things and has to be going to dinners and she’s just, it’s not OK for her to be isolated."
To D'Andra, Kary was like a wind-up toy wound so tight from staying at home, that when cameras went up and group events started, she spun a bit out of control.
"There's a bee in her bonnet, as we like to say in the South, and I don't know what set it off!" D'Andra quips. She turned to her shaman, Darrin Davis, for guidance in healing her friendship with Kary, which will lead to an emotional exchange between the two women later this season.
As teased in the trailer, D'Andra tells Kary, "I may not be the type of friend that you expect, but I’m doing the best I can."
"After hearing a lot about what she's going through and the different struggles she's had, I thought maybe I should be a little more compassionate or a little more understanding, and that’s really my journey this year, anyway," D'Andra explains. Her shaman is also helping D'Andra navigate her complicated feelings surrounding her strained relationship with her step-mother and half-brother, with whom she fell out over a disagreement over her late father's estate years ago. D'Andra says viewers will have to stay tuned to see how that journey goes, playing coy over whether her estranged family will appear on screen.
It's safe to assume Shaman Darrin will pop up again, though, especially after his first appearance in season 2 left many fans wondering, why is he sucking snot out of D'Andra’s nose?
"He was not sucking anything out of my nose!" D'Andra clarifies. "It is so funny that people think he was sucking. So, when you do rapé, you have this instrument, usually whoever administers it, and you put [the rapé] in the end of the instrument and then you blow. So, he was blowing, it's an Amazonian sacred tobacco, into my nose. And so, it gives you sort of a euphoric, light feeling. It makes you relaxed and calm down, and de-stress and it's a very nice, kinda, mmmm zen moment."
"Who would want to suck a booger?!" she then asks, noting that a sound-effect seemed to be added to the final clip of the tobacco exchange. "Ew! God, no! No, no, no, no, no! Uh uh! I wouldn’t even go to my ENT for that."
It's just another example of the "different D’Andra" viewers will continue to see this season, even if friendship drama takes over at some points.
"I'm fighting with everybody at different times," D'Andra teases, "but it's not so focused on this one friendship. Therefore, I can focus on other aspects of my life and I can share those aspects, and I think that’s a real refreshing and lighter version of me this year, but also you’re gonna see a more vulnerable, definitely more vulnerable side than you've ever seen before."
NEW YORK "Ramona Singer has angered “Real Housewives of New York” insiders after jetting off to St. Barts — while the show’s shut down because a cast member tested positive for COVID-19.
As Page Six first reported, production was halted for two weeks, beginning in the middle of January. And with just days left before it could begin again, insiders are abuzz that Singer could be putting the whole thing at risk again by taking the impromptu vacation.
“It’s very stupid,” a production source sniffed of her trip, “Likely she’ll have to quarantine for a while when she gets back.”
It even appears that Singer might be trying to cover her tracks. The reality star, 64,
has posted several pictures of herself in her New York City apartment to Instagram in the last couple of days, despite multiple insiders confirmed to Page Six on Tuesday she’s actually sunning herself on the island paradise.
One source spotted her at Le Petite Plage on Saturday night, and has also seen her out and about several times over the past five days after she flew over to the island from St. Maarten.
“She is telling people on the island that she is keeping it as secret due to her contract with Bravo, yet she is taking pictures with people on the island and flew in on a public plane,” the source added.
But, Bravo insiders told us that the network won’t have a problem with her jaunt, so long as she follows CDC guidelines — which say that she’ll have to quarantine for seven days after returning from the island, because it’s considered a “high risk” destination.
Meanwhile, New York State requires travelers going out of state to be tested within three days of their departure from their destination, a three-day quarantine after traveling and a negative COVID-19 test on day four of their quarantine to return to their daily lives.
A cast trip to Lake Placid was previously canceled because of the show shut down and now we’re told that producers were planning on replacing it — with a trip to Singer’s place in Southampton, New York. Production was also scaled back in October after a crew member tested positive.
It’s unclear when filming will resume, though we’re told the trip is scheduled for the second week of February. Singer could be in the clear to go in front of cameras if she leaves the island sooner rather than later and routinely tests negative.
Singer has previously been criticized for her travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, with co-star Leah McSweeney taking to her Instagram in June to slam her for going back and forth between Florida and New York. Singer told us at the time that she took necessary precautions to ensure her safety and the safety of others.
She also stated that she tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in July.
Meanwhile, show insiders are so on edge about COVID further interfering with filming that cast member LuAnn de Lesseps was forced to defend herself after being snapped maskless at a party last week. She told Page Six, ““I took the mask off for some photos. Knowing everyone had tested negative, I felt comfortable doing that.”
Singer did not immediately get back to us."
SALT LAKE CITY "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City‘s “Queen Bee and MVP” Jen Shah made waves during season 1 of the Bravo series. With the reunion special coming up, Showbiz Cheat Sheet spoke with Shah over the phone about what she called the “unexpected” and “explosive” episode.
“Girl, you know, we were there for a long time,” Shah started. “I left there at 11:30 PM after we were done [filming] — I arrived at 7 AM.” Shah said it was a long day, but one that might come off as “unexpected” to some fans.
“I think the reunion is going to fall in line with season 1 — very unexpected [and] explosive,” Shah revealed. “Fans are going to be very surprised. I think a lot of truth [will] come out in the reunion.”
In Shah’s opinion, some viewers have labeled each of the housewives a certain way, but the reunion will shift those perspectives.
“[Fans] label [the housewives] how they think that they are,” she explained. “I think the reunion is going to shed more light on that and probably change a lot of opinions.”
After the drama following Shah in season 1, she mentioned how there were moments of healing in the reunion.
“I can speak personally, for myself,” Shah shared. “Absolutely [there were healing moments].”
As for the other women of
RHOSLC, Shah said: “They ain’t healed up yet. They need Mary Cosby to come bless them or something.”
In addition to those moments, Shah said she and her fellow housewives ended up wearing Andy Cohen out while filming the reunion.
“Andy was even like — I think he went live that night from the reunion because we were wearing him out,” Shah laughed. “He was like, ‘Salt Lake City girls are crazy. Why am I still here?'”
ATLANTA MIAMI NEW JERSEY ORANGE COUNTY submitted by Additionally, the city opened a COVID-19 antibody testing facility at 34-09 Queens Blvd. in Long Island City this week. The antibody tests are appointment only. New York City residents 18 years and older can schedule an appointment online or by calling 888-279-0967. Where can I get COVID-19 testing in Queens? Testing for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is still limited in many areas throughout the country, including Queens. Generally speaking, area hospitals, Queens urgent care centers , and some retail clinics—as well as community-based organizations and cities—are offering COVID testing. Find COVID-19 testing clinics in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, ACT & NT with our searchable list and map. Covid testing sites all around Queens by David Russell, Associate Editor; Nov 25, 2020 ... • CVS Health Covid-19 drive thru testing site at 153-01 10 Ave. Woodhaven In an effort to fight against the rising COVID-19 cases, the NYC Test & Trace Corps is deploying new mobile testing units to conduct screenings throughout the city. COVID-19 Test Now Available at Astoria Urgent Care. COVID-19 Testing for coronavirus is available at Statcare in Astoria, Queens. Full Touch-less registration keeps you safe. No waiting in lines in the cold or standing in crowded rooms at a Statcare location! In New York, esp. Astoria, Queens, everyone should assume they have already been exposed ... COVID-19 TESTING IS WALK-IN ONLY. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED. We also offer the ability to pre-register for your visit at some locations. Click the link under the location you plan to visit for details. COVID-19 testing access for children at NYC Health + Hospitals Children who are 2yrs of age or older can be tested at any of the sites listed below. COVID-19 Testing Testing Locations. To find a testing site near you, enter your address below, or text "COVID TEST" to 855-48.
Here’s a look inside the NYC hospital that began storing bodies of coronavirus victims in a refrigerated truck. » Subscribe to NowThis: http://go.nowth.is/Ne... The news everyday is that the Coronavirus continues to spread rapidly across the globe and social distancing plus quarantine can help slow the spread, but th... Sky News host Andrew Bolt says claims coronavirus came from a Wuhan exotic animal market were beginning to fall apart with a Chinese academic pointing the fi... How to do a Swab for COVID Testing Healthcare workers tested hundreds of patients for coronavirus at the Aqueduct Racetrack parking lot in Queens, N.Y, which was temporarily converted to a dri... President Trump has admitted that New York City is "by far our biggest problem" - the city is now the epicentre of the outbreak in the US. New York State alo... WATCH MY UPDATED VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1nV4pIprFoUPDATE 4/14/2020: We now know that people can have COVID-19 without any symptoms. And... Officials working to slow down the coronavirus spread have started "drive-thru" testing. ... Officials working to slow down the coronavirus spread have started "drive-thru" testing. NBC's Chris ... This video is an overview of Project Baseline's COVID-19 screening and testing program. Learn the steps to getting tested at a drive-though site. Visit https...
