Baby steps toward my future house

My approach for this endeavor might seem backwards.  I applied for a credit card yesterday at the credit union where I'll eventually apply for a mortgage (it's where I do all my banking at the moment).   They approved me within minutes and asked if I wanted the paperwork e-mailed to me or if I wanted to visit a branch to sign the application.   Since there were other questions I wanted to ask, I went to the closest branch this morning and signed.   when they gave me the paperwork they included a copy of my FICO score.   It's poor, but I'm not too surprised.  The rep mentioned that it's mostly that low because I don't have much unsecured credit available ($600).   She recommended that I revisit them in 6-8 months and ask that they raise my credit limit, and maintain my balances at 30% across the cards.    My instinct would be to pay them off and keep them at zero, but if I need to play the system for a year or two, I will.   So the new goal is to get them all down to 30% and keep them there.   I was planning on cancelling the Orchard (now Capital One) card, but now I'll keep it for at least another year. 

Here's a picture of the Hatteras Lighthouse.  It doesn't make up for the otherwise boring post, but you deserve some eyecandy for reading this far. 

Does anyone use Smarty Pig? I need a referral code.

I'm back from vacation.  Hatteras was lovely, and the company was even better.   I'll post some pictures once I get them uploaded.

While there I came to a decision about my future.  I'm going to go ahead and start saving for a down payment on a condo or townhouse.  I've been resistant to buying a home in this area, but I think most of that was fear of the unknown, if terms of my ex's addiction.  Now that it's just me, and I've decided to stay here, even though my family is 4 states away, I think I'd like to try my hand at home ownership.   How much do I have saved...nothing.   I'm looking for someone with a Smarty Pig account so that they can get the $10 referral bonus.  

I'm setting a $5000 goal to start with.   That would cover a 3% down payment and closing costs.   Obviously I'd want to put more down, but I can't even start looking until I have at least that much.   Shame, since I found a townhouse I'd love to live in for $52,000.  

In order to keep me motivated I've been finding ways to save money in my monthly budget.   I can't get a second job, since my student loan payments are tied to how much (or little as the case may be) I earn.  So I've got to spend less rather than earn more.  I decided to downgrade my internet service and cancel my cable package altogether.   Since my 12 month "new customer" package was up this month, that move saved me $112/month.    In July I'll be switching my cell phone over to TING, saving approx. $70/month.

The next (ongoing) step is to declutter this condo again.    I've lived here for a year and a week, and while I enjoy living here, I'm also looking forward to the future.