Denise T.

Denise is a freelance journalist and crafter who dreams of starting her own business-- a hometown Tiki bar. She is a former New Orleans Bourbon Street bartender. The challenge: I can't use my primary income to fund the tiki bar. I can only use money I earn in other ways. Part of the challenge will be to develop new, creative revenue sources. It's like a pumped-up,long-term $20 challenge. ***2008 Tiki Fund goal: $1,500*** $990.56 in fund, $509.44 to go ***Monthly Tiki Fund Total*** June: $2.21 $2.21 interest on tiki saving act. : ( May 2008: $98.70 $9.00 Web sales $87.61 Google Adsense $2.09 Tiki savings interest For a full breakdown of Tiki fund money, visit my $20 challenge page. ***Personal Savings Goals for 2008*** $5,000 into my IRA $2,000 into hubby's Roth IRA $2,000 into 529 plan $6,000 into savings account $3,600 into brokerage account $650 into new car fund Total: $19,250 ***Progress Report*** $4,199 in my IRA, $801 to go $1459 to Roth, $541 to go $1100 to 529 plan, $900 to go $5200 to savings, $800 to go $1995 to brokerage, $1605 to go $357.25 in car fund, $292.75 to go Total: $14,310 *** Debt to pay off: Student Loan: $14,841.42 (Down from $40,000 in 2001) *** No Drive Days (where me AND the hubby don't drive! Since May 15):2 New car fund balance: $285 For a Hybrid Honda Fit!! *** All of these goals will be a little harder to reach this year because I am now a self-employed journalist and the hubby and I had our first baby in April. Last year, I was a staff reporter at a major metro newspaper so saving was easy. We have always lived on one salary only. But we aren't quite sure how a new baby is going to affect our finances. ***The Big Picture*** Me 33, Hubby 35 -No credit card debt -No car loan -House paid off because we moved to a cheaper city

• Date Started: Jan 9, 2008
• Entries: 56
• Comments: 254
• Total Visits: 14,554

$20 Tiki challenge

The purpose of this page is to keep track of where all of the money for the $20 tiki challenge comes from, to show myself and anyone who's interested in how little bits of money really do add up!

***2008 Tiki Fund goal: $1,500***
$988.35 in fund, $511.65 to go

***Tiki Fund Month by Month ***

May 2008: $98.70
$9.00 Web sales
$87.61 Google Adsense
$2.09 Tiki savings interest

April 2008: $215.70
$30.12 Web sales
$84 part of 2005 state tax refund
$100 of federal tax rebate
$1.58 tiki savings interest

March 2008: $112.30
$25 ING sign-up bonus
$10 ING referral bonus
$54.74 -Website ad sales
$11.20 Amazon marketplace sales
$9.81 Mar.craft & Web sales
$1.55 Tiki savings interest

Feb 2008: $93.25
$67.29 from Google adsense
$10.05 from Feb.craft & Web sales
$9.51 Amazon Marketplace sales
$5 lotto ticket
$1.40 interest on Tiki savings

Jan. 2008: $468.40
$250 from Christmas craft sales
$142.19 from change jar
$8.30 Amazon marketplace sales
$57.84 from Jan. craft & Web sales
$8.80 (profit) from eBay sales
$1.27 interest from Tiki fund savings account