Dimples' Divine Domain
My journey to financial empowerment.

Word has it that the first of the tax rebates will be disbursed starting next week. If you have been stuck under a rock for the last 3 months and have absolutely no clue what I am talking about, here is a little summary: WHAT IS IT?: It is an economic stimulus "payment" from the government. It is non-taxable , won't reduce your 2007 or 2008 tax refund, and will NOT increase the amount you owe on your 2008 tax return. (I don't know why some folks are going around posting that we would have to pay this back. Uh no we won't!) WHO IS ELIGIBLE?: Anyone who files an income tax return with a valid SSN, can not be claimed as a dependent, and have at least $3000 in qualifying income. There are some folks who don't regularly file a tax return that may qualify also. More info here . HOW MUCH DO YOU GET? The IRS website has a nifty calculator that you can use to determine if you qualify for the stimulus payment and if so, how much. WHEN IS MY MONEY COMING? All you g...

I was tagged by Debt Fighter for the 5 point meme. Here we go...... The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people, posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged. But What was I doing 5 years ago? I was learning how to be a single parent, college student, and employee all at once. It was my first semester back from having my daughter. Five things on my to-do list today ( or things I did today): 1. Get resume ready 2. Order business cards 3. Clean my apartment 4. Finish database project for work 5. Start job search Five snacks I love: 1. Toffee peanuts 2. Trail mix 3. Blue corn chips (Archer Farms) 4. Baked wings with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (I am sad that I can't have this no mo...not the bbq anyways) 5. Ritz crackers (can't have this no mo either.. . ) Five things I would do if I were a billionaire: 1. ...

Ok. This past week has been an eye opener. I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday (pap smear) which didn't go so well. My blood pressure was high, I mean scary high. I was a little apprehensive about my visit (I am a big scaredy cat) and that might have played a small role in the high reading. But I also haven't been taken my medication or watching my salt intake as a should be (yes I know that probably contributed a lot......like the title says....I am hardheaded) . Anyways I immediately set up an appointment with my doctor for that Friday. At that appointment my blood pressure was still high but not as high as it was at the visit to my gyno. So why did my doctor proceed to go off on me?!! I mean not in a mean kind of way but in a fed-up mothering kind of way. I came to grips that I was seriously setting myself up for severe medical problems when I get older (and some even now) and that I needed to wizen up and make some changes fast. Sooo........... I spent th...

chicken, Chicken, CHICKEN everywhere!!!! tee hee. I know I haven't posted one of these in a while. I took the pics when I made these dishes but I just have been too tired and too busy to do a post. Well here is 3 for you guys. Enjoy!!!! GARLIC CHICKEN (whole) Ingredients: 1 whole hen = $2.21 2 garlic cloves, sliced = $.10 salt and pepper to taste TOTAL COST = $2.31 (approximate) Prep Time = 5 min Cook Time = 7 hours on low Directions: Turn on crockpot on at the low setting. Add chicken to crockpot. (Remember that I clean and season my chicken the day I buy it so my chicken was already prepared. I just needed to defrost it and I did that by moving it from the freezer to the fridge the night before.) Cover and let it cook. Results: I winded up making some smaller meals from this larger one. I cut out the breast meat and cut them into slices for sandwiches for lunch this week. I then took the wings and drumsticks off and had those that night with some sweet potato I baked. I took ...

I have been on my money making grind this month. It is only the 16th and I have already brought in $182.51 ($132.51 in cash and $50 in gift cards). Breakdown: -$42.51 from Textlink Ads -$50 from Vindale Research -$40 from Revolution Money Exchange -$50 in gift cards from CVS (for new prescriptions) If you don't know about the various offers out there for free gift cards just for filling out a new prescription, get on it now. I had two prescriptions to fill out for my daughter. I remembered I had 2 coupons from CVS for a free $25 CVS gift card for filling out a new prescription. I took the coupons and prescriptions and filled them at a CVS across the street from me. Sure enough, I received my gift cards when I picked up the prescriptions. I used those two cards and purchased some household stuff (toilet paper, cleaners, laundry detergent), beauty stuff (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, new bath sponges, etc.), and stocked up on a lot of water (they were having a nice sale)...

Edited: ENDS MAY 15!!!!! (They extended the date) Revolution Money Exchange is back again with their $25 referral bonus offer!!! Here is a quick summary of the company: "Very similar to Paypal, Revolutionary Money Exchange (RME) allows you to send, request, and receive money from RME account holders for free. Register, send money, receive money, and transfer money to your linked checking account for free. Sign up is simple, secure, and fast. For a limited time, you can get a $25 bonus by emailing me for a referral. Once registered, you can refer all your friends and family members and make up to $500. I signed up today and received my $25 instantly." The offer expires April 15th (this coming Tuesday). If you are interested in this bonus offer then click on the referral banner below : Act fast and get your hustle on! P.S. I have made $105 with them so far. If you are like me and want proof, then check here and here .

Thank you to all my well wishers. I did better than I thought I would. Doesn't say much but we will see in 3 months. I missed out on a very successful and fantabulous Lady's Day program that the women of my church threw. And I am not a happy camper. Taking this test has made me realize a couple of things......... 1. I don't want to go back to school. I am serious. I really don't. The studying, the test taking, the anxiety, the waiting (for your grade). I mean that test had the ability to put a damper on my whole week. I do not like that at all. I mean the same could go for anything important thing in life really but I would rather it be something I want. Not something "recommended" by someone else because they think it is essential to have. 2. I don't like that so much "emphasis" was put on this test when it is not a "requirement" for our job. It is good to have. Been even as I think about it. Do I really want to become...

I am going to be taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam in 7 hours. - I haven't studied like I should have. - I just got home from a bbq. - I lost a friend this week and I am in a "blah" mood. - I am ticked that I am missing this awesome luncheon being held at my church tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!!!! LOL!

I haven't done an update of my credit scores in a while. March Scores: Transunion: 659 Experian: 646 Equifax: 616 April Scores: Transunion: 675 Experian: 657 Equifax: 624 I would take credit for the high jumps in my scores but I think the fact that my car loan is not exactly included in my report at the moment may have played a big role. Statefarm shows my car loan as being paid off but there is no account for my credit union showing up. So I basically look like I have $20,000 less than I actually have (debt wise). Oh well........I can bask in the "good" credit light for a little while can't I??

Revolution Money Exchange is back again with their $25 referral bonus offer!!! Here is a quick summary of the company: "Very similar to Paypal, Revolutionary Money Exchange (RME) allows you to send, request, and receive money from RME account holders for free. Register, send money, receive money, and transfer money to your linked checking account for free. Sign up is simple, secure, and fast. For a limited time, you can get a $25 bonus by emailing me for a referral. Once registered, you can refer all your friends and family members and make up to $500. I signed up today and received my $25 instantly." The offer expires April 15th (this coming Tuesday). If you are interested in this bonus offer then click on the referral banner below : Act fast and get your hustle on! P.S. I have made $65 with them so far. If you are like me and want proof, then check here and here .

April's Budget A couple of changes this month: Car Note: I have no car note this month. My first car payment is due May 10. Gas: I don't even wanna get into. Medical: This month I am catching my daughter and myself up on our health check-ups. I have made appointments with the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and my daughter's examined. She will go to her pediatrician for a wellness check-up and I have an appointment with my doctor for a check-up. I need to set up an appointment with a vision center to have my eyes checked and get some new glasses and contacts. And it's time for my yearly pap smear. My budget will account for the copay for all those visits and 3 prescriptions (if needed). Clothing: It is about that time. The Florida heat has come back and my daughter's long sleeve shirts and long jeans will not be cutting it. And I need some new blouses for church. Hence the new temporary category. Alrighty yall. Night

I was so bad this month. I mean REAL BAD!! I should be spanked for the ish I pulled this past month. And not spanked in that kinky sort of way..........anyways I digress. Let's get started shall we....... Income: I had $1227.82 left over from my tax refund. On top of that I brought in $337.41 in extra income that consisted of sales I made on Amazon and eBay, income from my side business, and blog income. Rent & Utilities: Everything but my damn cell phone bill was cool in this area. I am about fed up with Cingular. I keep getting these weird charges (like being charged twice for a text message) and every time I go to fight it, the only option I am given is to upgrade my plan in order to cancel out the overages. So I upgraded my plan from 450 anytime minutes and free nights and weekends for $39.99 to 900 minutes and free nights and weekends for $59.99. Why isn't there a middle plan for 650 minutes for $49.99??? Anyways my contract with them ends January of...

I appreciate all who left a comment to be featured in my link love post. I have added you to my blogroll. If I missed you then hit me up with a comment and I will add you on. Alrighty. I decided to change up my post. I have been reading some pretty great post over the past few weeks and I decided to feature some of them here. So here they are: CT Mom's Family Financials - CT adjusted her debt goals and can now see the light at the end of the consumer debt tunnel. Get it girl!!! Spilling Buckets - Shift Happens . Gotta check it out. What do you think about the change in our global market? Last In Line - What are you aspirations? Read Lilo's here . High Class Low Income - Love her blog name. Grad School Woes . Homegirl misses learning and studying???? Say it aint so!!! LOL. If you have advice on taking the GRE or applying for grad school hit her up. No More Spending - Chica is contemplating getting a new job . I gotta say that the arm robberies would have done...