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We have decided not to move right now..just the time and money it would take just really isn't worth it and we don't really have the energy ourselves to look at houses do paperwork and then pack and move...and they are sending someone to come fix the doors at least. With our daughter not long out of hospital from stress seizures, hubby still rehabing from his cancer and my dizziness and chronic fatigue...just not worth the hassle right now.
We have paid all our bills for the month,...
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I've written the check for the special assessment, but it's still sitting here waiting to be mailed. My knee hasn't permitted me to use the stairs.
However, today it really does seem to be better.  When the rain lets up (if it does!) I will take a walk to the mailbox.
I seem to be on a new routine with cooking and food prep. I don't make a meal plan! I'm finding it works much better to use up leftovers immediately without starting something else. Sometimes that means I make...
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It's been an expensive couple of weeks and I hope this is it for a bit!
After a dental visit for xrays and check up and cleaning, the dentist nicely told me that I needed a little repair and crown. I could wait, but the tooth was probably going to crack. I scheduled the appointment and I now am the (proud?) owner of a temporary crown. He didn't see any major issues under the filling and I figured that was good and cheaper than a root canal and crown.
A few months ago we had helped...
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Received $50 bank interest for the month of July.
Received $180 I Bond interest for the month of July.
 
Snowflakes to Investments:
--Redeemed $48 credit card rewards (cash back) from our grocery card 
--Redeemed $70 cash back on Citi card
--Redeemed $7 on dining out/gas card
 
Other Snowflakes to Investments:
+ $4 Savings from Target Red Card (grocery purchases)
 
TOTAL: $129 Snowflakes to Investments
 
401k Contributions/Match:
+$750
 
Savings...
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I’ve been bummed about going back into the office but I’m also excited about the income I’ll receive. 
 
Tuesday I start the new job. In the middle of all that I finally got one of  the calls I wanted and landed a contract for $2500 a month. 
 
Had I got this call prior to being offered the job, I would not have taken the job that is paying the $105k a year. But God works in mysterious ways. 
 
I was hesitant about...
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I had my semi-annual primary care appointment on Tuesday. I decided to ask my doctor about Ozempic & if I qualified. Many people seem to be taking it. I qualify due to being diabetic & overweight. And full disclosure, I have not been taking care of myself as I should the past several months. After seeing my weight gain & lab results I started back walking this week. It's so hot outside, but if I go after 7:30 in the evening it's not horrible. I'm getting well over 10,000...
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MM(19) decided last minute to drive to Seattle.  I was a wee bit stressed about that.  It was originally going to be a 3-day trip.  ???  After leaning on him a bit that he needs to account for traffic, detours, getting lost, whatever, they eventually changed it to a 4.5 day trip.  Without any stops or traffic, it's about a 13 hour drive from our home.
I would have told you that we (MH and I) did the same trip when we were around 20/21.  Just looked...
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I was just putting this at the end of another post but it was getting too long and I figured I'd break out into the college category. 
Just noting where we are at with things as DL starts his senior year of high school.  Wouldn't be surprised if this is where we land, but expect minds to change over the next year...
DL(17) is starting to get all that 'senior year college apps' pressure and is starting to ask more questions.  I told him not to worry about it, since...
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Got the official word on the special assessment.  It is $3498. I'm going to pay it in full, although financing was offered. I'll write a check once the transfer goes through from savings to checking.  I had been hoping to charge it, in order to get the cash back reward, but I don't think that's an option.
I transferred $3900 instead of $3500, getting my numbers mixed up off the top of my head!  Well, checking is low, anyway, because of the electricians' bill, so...
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We've been pretty good about covid these past 2.5 years.  I think we are done for knock on wood.  About to leave for a trip and I'm pretty sure that my DK1 got covid from a friend.  We tested daily for the past 8 days and no symptoms for her.   But I woke up feeling tired.  I don't know if it's stress or prelude to covid.  My guess is she was positive earlier in the week and asymptomatic but vaccines worked and she didn't have high enough levels...
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I didn't even realize it was Friday or I got paid until I recieved a text message alert from my bank regarding the direct deposit. 
So, I sat down and played the TRANSFER MONEY game, and paid a few bills. $200 automatically to our general savings, $600 to my CMA (in lieu of sending to our two Roth IRAs, since we can't have them right now, income limits), $400 to Escrow for House ins. and property taxes, and then $600 to Escrow Other for all other things that happen once or...
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I got my chuck roast canned.  I now have 28 quarts and 2 pints on my pantry shelves and 1 quart in the fridge because of a seal failure.  It's my fault for using a faulty ring.  I knew it was suspect, but didn't want to go find another one.  Anyway, it's a start.
The sales suck for the new ad cycle that started today.  I will be ordering 20 pounds of green beans and 40 pounds of gold potatoes for a Friday pickup from a local farm, if it isn't too soon...
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I went to Aldi today, spending $46.  That's not bad, considering I was out of just about everything. I concentrated on the basics -- coffee & filters, granola, bread, eggs, veggies, milk, cheese, butter, baking powder, and, because I have hamburger buns in the freezer, frozen beef patties. Oh, and I bought some oatmeal cookies for my sweet tooth.
I also needed to do a load of laundry, so I started it on the way to the store, and finished it when I came home. That way...
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DH's raise went into effect August 1st, which means the paycheck on August 19th will be the first one with the higher rate.  I was kind of hoping it would be the one this Friday, but didn't really think it would.  Now I just have to wait and see how much net we will get so I can update my budget template and then work up budgets for the rest of the year.  They will be subject to change, but just having a basic one built helps me plan.
Today the weather has cooled...
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They are renewing our lease (if we want to) but they are upping the rent, its not a lot but we would be paying an extra $520 a year, we wouldn't mind so much if they would do some repairs around the house but they haven't, our hot water system costs so much to run and we literally can only have 1 person shower every day before we run out of hot water... so frustrating...some of the doors stick so much...but at the same time rents are high here and I think many will rise since interest...
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It is August already! This summer is flying by. I don't like to wish time to pass, but I always enjoy the autumn. It is my favorite season. 🍁🍂🐿
I'm looking forward to our trip to Maine at the end of September. I am encouraged to read that airline tickets are decreasing in price. I need to book my ticket to Boston or Portland soon. 🦞⛵️
In June my investments & savings were down $83,439. For July I gained $90,928. I read this article this morning & a BoA...
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Home Repair/Maintenance (Electrical) - $2462
Auto Insurance -$814
Housing - $746
Utilities - $208
Fees/Services - $138
Eating Out/Takeout - $107
Vacation/Travel - $100
Furnishings/Equipment/Decor - $98
Medical/Health - $63
Gifts/Charity- $58
Vet/Pet Supplies - $58
Groceries - $55
Gas - $53
Phone - $32
Personal - $28
Entertainment - $17
Laundry - $12
Grand Total - $5049
Variables - 91%
 
Fees/Services were my AAA renewal and replenishment of my Illinois...
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Income Total: $1415.00


     * $1200 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  


     * $200 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal) 
     * $15 Health co-pay refund


      


Total Spending: $1232.73


Total Savings: $182.27 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending)  Fixed...
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July expenses and income do not look pretty.
I'm in the hole for the month for $9,400. Partly because a) I had no earned income this month; my first paycheck with the new employer will be delayed as they pay once monthly (!) and you have to wait up to a month after submitting your bill for the first month's work. and b) July is traditionally the most expensive month of the year for me because that's when I pay my car insurance, homeowner's insurance, semi-annual property taxes...
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I'm wrapping up this month with more expenses -- I sent birthday flowers to a friend ($54 for a small bouquet!) and bought a few groceries for $3. Then my tollway pass replenished for $40. These things pushed my variables up to 91%.  Tomorrow I'll do my recap, and it won't be pretty.
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