An opportunity arose through my grad school to spend two weeks in Sao Paulo, Brazil studying and exploring. As usual with these types of programs though the ticket to the opportunity is opening your check book .

Because my decision to do this wasn't well planned out (read: probably should have considered it last year but I'm graduating in Dec so it is now or never), I didn't have time to properly plan out all my finances. This means I'm a bit short on the estimated cost of the trip. Luckily my parents are in a position that they were willing to cut me a short term loan (of a yet to be determined value) in order to let me go and my boss is letting me take the two weeks off (yeah!).

The point of this journal is two-fold. Track Brazil and all related expenses and also work on paying off my outstanding debts as quickly as possible.

Brazil Snapshot (Estimates in $ - taken from school):

Tuition: 3600
Airfare: 1000
Food / Beverage: 500
Personal: 500
Transportation: 200
Hotel: 600
Visa: 130
Health Insurance: 75
Application Fee: 100

Total Cost: 6705
Goal: $7000

Budget Snapshot (per Month):

Income: 2000

Fixed Costs (Rent, Phone, Internet / Cable): 913.51
Transportation Costs (Gas / IPASS): 215.00
Food Costs: 215.00
Misc (Necessary Purchases + Free Spending Allowance): Fluctuates by month ~150 per month
Total Expenses: 1493.51

Savings Snapshot:

Current Savings: 9282.47

Allocation:

Emergency Fund: $0 <-- was 1000 until I decided to reallocate for Brazil. This is risky but I talked it over with my parents and they have agreed to be my emergency fund until such time as this is refunded in June because they are in a position that they can. Yes, I realize how awesome this makes my parents and every cent will be paid back as quickly as possible and most, if not all, will be settled by June.

February 2010 Tuition: 6841 / 6841
Brazil Tuition: 2441.47 / 3600
Application Fee: 0 / 100
Visa: 0 / 130
Health Insurance: 0 / 75
Airfare: 0 / 1000
Hotel: 0 / 600
Transportation: 0 / 200
Food / Beverage: 0 / 500
Personal: 500
Buffer: 0 / 300
September 2010 Tuition (estimated): 0 / 4000

Debts Snapshot:

Parent Loan (TBD): 0 / 0
Stafford Loan (Payments and Interest start June 2011): 8500

February Goals:

This is a bit of an ugly month for me expense wise. I have my tuition for the spring semester due which is $6841 and will be coming from my already accumulated savings. I also need to renew my driver's license which is a once every five years expense of $30. Finally, my significant other and I play WoW together and my 6 mo. subscription is due to be paid ~$85.

The good news is all my tax documents have arrived and I can sit down this weekend and do my taxes which due to low income and education credit should be around $2500 back into my savings account.

Based on my budget I expect to save $500.