So I've always struggled budgeting.  Even before with less money I've alway reversed budgeted.  Figured out what was important and what needed to be saved and then spent the rest.This time I'm sort of doing it but also sort of tracking my spending.  I've been reasonable successful at tracking eating out and groceries which are the budget busters.  It's easy to track airline tickets, hotel stays, or big ticket one off spending.  It's even easy to track monthly kid activit ...
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It's been forever since I received a property tax refund. We're supposed to get one this year. A few months back we received a letter than we had to fill out so I'm guessing it delayed it some. Normally the refunds are sent in August. I've got to go find the paperwork that will tell us what we should expect to receive back so I check the "where's my refund" page. It's supposed to be like $400 or so.  My spouse injured their ankle about 7 weeks ago, this has put more on my shoulders around ...
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We've got MM(18) all moved in at his college.  Phew!  The first week was pretty much a vacation for him.  Orientation week, with some practical orientation stuff but also a bajillion activities.  Some highlights were crawdad fishing and beach bonfires.  Classes started this week.  All my fingers and toes are crossed that the kids can stay on campus this year.   MM(18) had never gone back to school after the pandemic started, so I can't even imagine the st ...
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Well, Tracfone has proven to be a miserable experience with getting the new smartphone set up.  They sent a phone without a SIM card installed and I could not understand the instructions for inserting it....they had a web page with pictures but my brain does not process that kind of information well and there was no way to actually speak to a person to ask a couple of questions.....so I gave up and called Consumer Cellular and ordered an iPhone from them instead.  They will ship it wit ...
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I was feeling better this morning, so I went to the gym and then to Aldi afterwards.  I spent $24 there.  I also filled up the gas tank at Sam's -- that was $34.  Whew!  I remember when I was shocked when I had to pay more than $20 to fill up. I'm going to meet BFF tomorrow in our halfway city.  After a couple of rather chilly days, it's supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow.  We may get lunch at a drive-thru and eat outside.  Indiana is not taking the virus ...
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It's been a rough month, but I no longer have Covid, my test results came back on Tuesday, so as soon as I get some of my stamina back I can go back out in public again.  I have also been on antibiotics and prednisone for 8 days today and have another 6 to go on just the antibiotics.  Because I can never get sick like that without developing a sinus infection.  It's doing a lot better, too, though I dread tomorrow when I won't have anymore prednisone. The Delta variant is no joke ...
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$281.04 Tithe _325.00 Groceries Envelope _500.00 Medical Fund __75.00 Household Envelope 1181.34 Citi _100.00 Gas Money __78.82 Life Insurance DH __60.46 Life Insurance Me __48.71 Long Term Care Insurance __50.00 DH Spending Money __50.00 Me Spending Money __30.00 DD Allowance __30.00 DS Allowance ------------------ 2810.37 Total Money Out I run a zero based budget, so that brings the paycheck down to $0.00 left. Additional Bills that were paid out of short term sinking funds, we ...
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Our retirement accounts have been in freefall for the last month, but the IRA started to recover yesterday.  The only thing keeping our retirement account from dipping under the amount I had lost time I reported was the contributions we made.  So this yesterday we finally pulled back ahead by $235.30.  Ugh.  Rate of return for the year, though, has dropped to 9.34%. Hopefully they'll get all these dumperster fires put out in the government and in the country and things will ...
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So in June we refinanced from a 2.875% 30 year fixed rate mortgage to a 2% 7/1 adjustable rate mortgage.  Previously in September we had a 3% 7/1 adjustable rate mortgage that we were given a free fix rate when we were about to refinance. So how's it been going?  Well we were paying in May $2035 in interest and $1808 Principal.  Now we are paying $1405 in interest and $1717 in principal.  We are saving $720/month in payments most of it interest.  I have saved it for 4 m ...
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Business needs funds. Small and medium-scale businesses are growing every day. A business loan helps small-scale and budding businesses grow and expand. Every business, small or big, needs a fixed source of funds that can be useful to grow. There are various needs and expenses that can come up while you are operating your business. To stay updated with the market, it is important for you to have a sufficient source of funds that you can use. It will help your business develop and get a good ma ...
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Well at least for us.  I booked a ton of reservations.  It's interesting that I decided that 2022 is it.   Started with Christmas 2021.  We are going back to Hawaii. I booked using a combination of miles and points.  Then I booked our tickets in February 2022 to Mexico.  Using the travel companion fare on Alaska it was $1500 for the 4 of us on the only direct flight.  We also paid for today our friend's timeshare for $1800 for the week.  It's a very f ...
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The UTI came back, so it was off to Immediate Care this morning.  This time the prescribed antibiotic was very cheap, only $2.  I hope this one kills the bacteria for good. The workers are applying grout today on my new floor.  I expect that they will let it dry overnight and come back tomorrow to clean up, return the appliances to their proper places, etc. Even in its unfinished state, the floor looks amazing. ...
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The past couple of weeks I've stayed busy, but nothing really earth shattering. I thought I was finished canning, but did wind up with some more tomatoes. Then a friend gave us some zucchini which I'm working on using. I made some zucchini relish, and am itching to try zucchini marmalade. We purchased a half share of CSA this summer and there were cucumbers in it, so I made some sweet relish too.  It's hard to believe September is nearly over. DH's 75th birthday is Monday. I plan to bake h ...
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I am no longer a homeowner! Closing went off without a hitch. Just a small glitch when they got my new street address wrong, but that didn't delay anything.  When I was searching to see what my credit union's hours were I found that they had opened a new branch even closer to the title company's location with later hours. It's an interaction center which was a new thing for me. My mom said her credit union is the same now. You walk up to a screen that is something like an ATM, and you inte ...
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The healing of my arm is going slower than I would like.  Well I guess that is part of getting older.   My days consist of working, having PT appointments twice a week and doing home PT exercises.  I live such the exciting life.   Oh well it could be worse.  I think I making slow progress.   ...
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All of a sudden there is progress -- fast progress -- in getting my kitchen floor redone.  Today the tile guys came and looked it over and made their recommendations.  Then I went to Floor & Decor and chose tiles.  On Monday they will begin demolishing the old tile. It appears to the tile guys that there is another layer of even older tile under the current one.  Certainly possible -- these old buildings -- you just never know what you'll find.  They are going to go ...
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$16,756.69 Starting Balance +__,_35.88 Allstate Safe Driver Check +__,_10.00 Coin Jar +__,___.58 Louisianna Pacific Dividend Check ------------------ $16,803.15 New Balance Net Worth rises to 117,768.33 I'm not sure when I'll be able to add more to the EF.  Maybe January.  I'm more worried about adding to the medical fund currently. ...
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Yesterday was the day that had to come.  I had to have Iggy put down.  The fluids helped for a long time, but eventually his health declined to the point where I felt it was kinder to him to let him go, rather than prolong his agony.  I was a blubbering fool all day yesterday, but today I am feeling better.  It helps to know that I did the right thing for him, even though it was so hard for me. It was $150 to have this done at my vet's office.  She couldn't have been mo ...
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After a one week delay, today is closing day. I'm excited, but a little nervous. I think more nervous than when I bought my condo for some reason. I'm heading there this toning to make sure that I have the mail box key identified correctly. Then my parents' may have an extra key, which I will pick up. My realtor has a set as well. I hope the bee buyer enjoys the condo. It was good to me for many years. I'm still undecided about how to use my funds, but I will definitely invest some of the money ...
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Yesterday was payday, which is always exciting, even if I am not starting off broke like I used to!   I briefly mentioned this in my last post, but I received my tuition reimbursement for the summer semester with my last payroll.  There was a bit of a mix-up, and they taxed it when it is not supposed to be taxed, so that was corrected with this payroll.  I was able to send a big chunk of that reimbursement to 401k loan #1, and will send the remainder by the end of the month ...
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