MSN recently ran an article on how many credit cards people carry, and the personal finance world has been abuzz since then. The question is on par with asking someone how many people they’ve slept with! It’s top secret stuff!

I’m fessing up…

We’re In Debt (a definite daily read) has 11 credit cards, but a distinct gameplan for using them. I have a comparable 12 credit cards, including store credit and major cards, and I like to think I have a gameplan. Two currently have sizeable balances, another is used for work expenses only so that I can utilize the rewards, and one store card is used and promptly paid off to receive reward points.

The main reason why I have so many credit cards, is because I’ve taken advantage of some balance transfer offers in the current years. I only transfer when there is no fee involved and the promotional rate is valid for 6-12 months.

How many do you have?

*gulp*

I’m just going to fess up and get this over with. The only good thing to come of this, is that everything was paid in cash. No charging.

• $100 Banana Republic
• $175 GAP
• $30 Puma
• $80 TJ Maxx
• $30 grocery
• $75 Target
• $50 London Eye tickets
• $30 gas
• $7 eyebrow threading
• $425 rent
• $300 car payment

Today was the day I’d been dreading…annual performance reviews.

It went much better than anticipated (I’ve heard co-workers complain about the company’s lack of monetary rewards) and I walked out with a 9% pay raise and a $1,000 cash bonus.

I’ve got big plans for that money.

Half of the bonus is going into savings (ING, of course) and the other half is spending money for my trip to London next month. I’m surviving just fine on my current salary, so the additional 9% will go towards credit card debt, and then into savings (ING, duh) once I am debt free.

So, where has my money gone the past few days? A few necessities and some celebrating…

• $7 carwash
• $35 gas
• $19 Target
• $35 Behnihana (birthday dinner)
• $15 Luna (birthday present)

I also transferred some money to my ING account…

• $125 in PPP earnings
• $400 in insurance settlement

This Friday, I’m headed to the Premium Outlets armed with coupons, gift cards, and a charge card with cash back bonuses (which will promptly be paid in full).

It’s time to stock up on work clothes. The pants I wore all winter are look like I’ve worn them all winter, and some of my wardrobe staples have seen better days. About every six months, it’s time for a trip to the outlets to spruce up my wardrobe.

I cannot go to a “regular” mall without thinking how much money I could save by going to the outlets. I mainly shop at GAP and Banana Republic, and the outlet has most of the same styles as the retail store but for half the cost.

I love outlet shopping.

I love free-stuff, Starbucks, and Project Runway , so imagine my excitement when my sister forwarded me Make It Your Drink, Mychael Knight’s brainchild, where you can design a free t-shirt with your favorite Starbucks drink ingredients. You have to be quick, because there is a limited supply, given away at 10 am every day until February 28th.

I tried my hardest this morning to get a shirt, but no luck. Maybe tomorrow!

Paid some more bills and went to Target for some necessities. I stocked up on Valentine’s Day cards and decorations that were 75% off and Ollie’s puppy pads which were half off. I’ve gotten much better with my spending at Target, but that place is still a black hole for my cash.

• $175 Sallie Mae
• $19 Netflix
• $85 Target

Next month I should have some extra cash to throw at the principal on my Salie Mae loan with the highest interest rate. We’ll see if she applies it correctly.