Introduce Yourself

[disneysteve]

I'm already blogging about my personal finance journey

Welcome. Where is your blog?

[Schadenfreude]

Hi there!

Cannot remember exactly how I found this place, but I bookmarked it a while back and just recently had the time to peruse and join!

I am a number-crunching nut, I love tracking and categorizing my spending, looking at pretty graphs, watch some numbers go up, and others go down.

My issues:

I bought my first house in 2004, with 20% cash down, and a beautiful 5.75% 30 Year Fixed loan. Perfect, huh? The house was a steal - $280,000 considering I'm in Northern CA. The inital goal was to sit tight for 2 years, then flip for an upgrade as the house and the neighborhood leave a bit to be desired. But I was in the market!

Last year I realized that I wouldn't be able to sell without making a few improvements - one being that the pool needed some major work. It had a nasty underground leak and the plaster was spalling. At the same time, my car was dying (I drive almost 100 miles a day). I promised myself if I could save up $10,000 in cash to put towards both projects, I would get a home equity loan to split between pool renovation and a new car to cover the difference.

Yes, I know both are the worst possible investments when your HOUSE is on the line, but I could not see another solution at the time. I only took out exactly what was needed (even though banks tried to get me to take more), I still had equity in the house, and the monthly payments didn't seem so bad.

Now? I hate it. HATE it. And with the housing market tanking, I would have to sell my place for $313k to cover the mortgage, equity loan, and get back my 20% down payment. Which is possible since my house was underpriced at the time of sale (first time sellers, no realtors involved). But still...I hate it. I feel like it has trapped me in this house and I'm ready to move on.

My goals:

Pay off that home equity loan! I hate, hate, hate, hate it. Currently putting in an extra $100 a month, which cuts 5 years off the term. But realistically I doubt I'll be in this house that long, so I'm just trying to throw all the money I can at it so I'm at an advantage when it comes time to sell.

BUT I also have to build up my Emergency savings. Current around $3,500 in ING Direct, and my goal is $10,000.

[little_earth]

I like your name Schadenfreude....

[Schadenfreude]

Thank you

[Adambnn]

Hi, everyone . I am a newbie here. Thanks for letting me join.

[ginene]

Hi everyone! I'm Ginene and I am always looking for bargains and ways to save for my future. I hope to learn more ways to save.

[JessSenk]

Hi everyone! My name is Jess and I'm a mother of two boys. I'm really looking forward to looking around and learning new ideas to save money!

[Mare]

Hello Everyone!

I am a stay at home mom of three; two under the age of two I'm looking forward to reading all the wonderful tips on here. Since I'm not working money can be tight sometimes.

[Aleta]

Mare: Welcome. Oh don't say that you are not working (for money). The job of a stay at home Mom is worth every penny.

[Ima saver]

Welcome to all of you. This is a great site!! Good people here!!

[niquieg]

Nichole from St. Thomas 24 mother of 1.5

[shopgirl]

I'm new and glad to have found this site! I live in DC, work in marketing, try to keep up a good social life and keep my love for shopping under control while not going broke!

[Exile]

Hi everyone,

My name is Rick Levy. I joined this forum a few weeks ago, have already entered a few post replies, initiated a thread but never completed this intro page. I'm a retired bill collector living with my wife in the Philippines, her native country. Before moving here we lived and worked in California for several years and had our share of financial ups and downs before we finally got our act together once and for all. I hope that I can pass along what I learned about debt both professionally and personally and save others the economic grief that we went through.

[Aleta]

Exile: Welcome! We're happy to have you hear and know that you will offer great advice and feedback to many on this board.

[Kathleen]

Hi I am from Arkansas and I am a newbie. I have been married five years to a great guy and I have four year old daughter who is my favorite human. I am a SAHM and I work part-time from home just recently. I am trying to get our nest egg rebuilt and pay off some of those evil credit cards.