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How can it be we are already at the first Monday in September and Labor day weekend is here? One of the local drugstores on their sign said "Summer ghosted me." How appropriate!
It's been a busy week here working on things, picking some vegetables, and just trying to survive in the heat. The back garden has been pulled up other than the pumpkin plants. I planted some seeds for a fall garden, but without rain, I doubt if anything will come up in this heat. 
I so have 4 tomato...
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As I've mentioned before, I am a type 2 diabetic.  The only reason I am paying for this particular insurance company is because they had been allowing me to see this Endocrinologist I like for treatment.  However, as of January of this year, and without any warning whatsoever, this insurance company decided that they were no longer going to cover my doctor.
Oh, and it wasn't like there was even a clear, decisive notice either.  When I had asked about it, their response...
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My TSP hit $1.8m this month for a high of $1.827m, but dropped to just barely under $1.8m by the end of the month. No worries, I know that I'll see it again though. Also, just barely missed the $2.5m net worth mark.
Investments $2,341,634
Savings $8,202
Home Equity $149,000
August Net Worth $2,498,836
July Net Worth $2,435,359
Monthly Gain/Loss $63,477
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How Smart Manufacturers Protect Capital: Lessons Investors Often Overlook
Most investors focus on financial instruments — stocks, bonds, index funds. But some of the clearest examples of sound capital allocation happen inside industrial operations, and understanding how well-run facilities make equipment decisions can sharpen how you think about any long-term investment.
The Real Cost of a "Cheap" Decision
One of the oldest traps in personal finance is confusing purchase...
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Well on paper it was a decent month; our net worth increased by $12K. Our real story is a lot more complicated.
I don't have time to go into gruesome detail, but we've been hit by curveball after curveball this year. First AS and I "lost" $60K of projected income due to a contract job ending much earlier than expected. This was with a previously reliable client of mine so we really didn't see it coming. After that it was a string of expenses: boiler replacement, electrical and...
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I had no idea I love rugs. I had no idea what they were for. I like hardwood and I don't like carpets.  But rugs are beautiful and they totally can make a room.  I also didn't know they were expensive.  Cheapest to most expensive?Kids rec roomEntryMaster bedroomRec roomDining roomliving roomThe living room rug the saleswoman told us I pulled this for you. This is the rug you will buy.  We had come back for the third and final time.  First time we were just...
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Here we are, end of the month, and while I did not under-spend as much as I did the previous month, I still only spent maybe 60% of my monthly budget?  Staying below budget is important to me until I can get to age 60 at least, which is another 8 years away.  That's still quite a way, and what I do now matters significantly on what happens to me down the road.  The butterfly effect I guess.
Once again, my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for not only being...
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Usually winter is sunset season, but we've been blessed with a week of dramatic skies.  On Friday we saw a spectacular sunset, a full rainbow across the sky, and a lunar eclipse.  This was Thursday's sunset.
It looks like TM(21) will get a promotion at work.  August has been a good month on the employment front. 
Not much else to report.  Which is a very good thing!  Appreciating some peace, however long it lasts. 
Today I will get an idea...
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The front door has been completed.  This is the most impactful change that I have made in the appearance of the house in nearly 21 years of ownership.  I've done other substantive repairs and improvements in the past--plumbing, gutters, roofs, and last year we (my next door neighbor and I) replaced the shared front steps, which definitely improved the look of the front of the house, but only in comparison to how horrible the old stairs were.  They're just concrete...
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I'm taking a little rest break post-lunch before I venture outside for yard work and after stopping at the dump and then the gym for a workout.
I surprised myself at the gym by being able to lift 179 lbs doing the weighted glute bridge. In fact, 179 lbs was a goal I had originally calculated I would hit in January 2027 but I've been overly cautious when it comes to adding weight. It is one of 5 key exercises I've been doing for bone health. If, like me, you are over 60 and have...
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Not much to report here.  Everyone is peeling off, with MH going back to work and the GF starting a new job tomorrow.  It should be a lot more peaceful on the home front.
I just looked up the teaching credential deadlines, out of curiosity, re: TM(21). It looks like the deadline might be 3/1.  & then the deadline for the school district money (they might pay for most of his expenses) is in early July.  He has some time.
I went to the dentist a couple of...
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Well, here August is almost over, and I'm just now getting to my July recap. I'm slowing down for sure.
My big expense was my semi-annual auto insurance - $1751. Ouch. Also I gave my son $1000, as he is still in his low-paying employment predicament. He has been interviewing with one particular company which would give him a better job with much better pay and benefits. But who knows who else is interviewing for the same job? It's rough. He also has opportunities to move up in...
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My local grocery store is already putting out Halloween candy.  It's still August though!
A buddy of mine asked me if I would be interested in adopting a 4 month old Labrador.  You know, I've been mulling over the topic of pets for a while now.  However, this has always been a topic that I just kept putting off for another day.  Now, I was finally pushed against the proverbial wall to make a definitive decision on.  It was then that I realized that I am...
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I'm feeling a bit melancholy today. 

Yesterday I went to the back garden and although I noticed things were changing, yesterday it was brought home that most of my plants are about "done." The cucumber plants are starting to die back. My cherry tomatoes which have been very generous are running out of tomatoes to ripen and the plants themselves look weary. I had been watching a cantaloupe to see if it was ready to pick. Apparently it was because it "picked itself." So,...
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So according to opensocialsecurity.com, if I want to maximize my Social Security payout, I should start collecting Social Securityy next year, even though that's well before I turn age 70. As you may know, conventional wisdom is to wait until age 70 if you wish to maximize your payments. If I go to my SS account, I can see a chart showing that the difference between claiming next year vs claiming 2 years after that is an extra $650/mth if I wait.

They have a little chart that...
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Yep we closed on the house.  I love it.  It's my dream house.  For the first time in my life I get how people live in LCOLA.  I get the big home thing and it's incredible.  I never thought I'd ever live in a big house.  And then we bought one.  Seriously it's really nice to have all the space and privacy.  DH complains he never sees us there is so much space.  But it's because we are all unpacking and doing stuff to get settled. So...
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Well its been a long hot summer, and I'm ready for fall and football season to arrive.  In the meantime now that I can access my blog again, here's some random updates.
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---Non finances first---
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For my workouts I have added a few more exercises.  I now return home a little over two hours after I leave for the gym.  I am so tired for an hour or two afterwards, but just chilling and then having lunch is good. ...
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Last year about half way through the year I decided to keep a spreadsheet of how much we saved using coupons, digital or paper. I feel like it is a challenge to see what I can do. Nothing like those extreme couponers from years back however, but pleased we've saved some. Each month whatever we "saved" I deposit in our money market savings account since I figure that is saved money we wouldn't otherwise have. There is some criteria for this...I only use a coupon if it is something...
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This morning, rather early, I headed over to the Toyota dealership to get a few important things done before my upcoming New York Finger Lakes trip: an oil change, a recall fix for an audible sound when you back up (mine was so faint I wasn't even aware there was supposed to be a sound) and most important of all, for months I had lost the sound on my GPS. Turns out the sound worked but was muted, and the tech showed me how to go into Google Maps to fix it should this be a problem...
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MM's FINAL net college costs:
$43,242 Tuition/fees** (4 Years)
+$11,589 5th Year Tuition/Fees 
+      644 Misc. Fees & Supplies
-10,506  Tax credits 
-19,642  CA middle class grants 
-  7,500  Scholarships
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$17,827 Net Tuition cost  
**Includes $1K for one summer school class
Side note: MM(23) only got that 4th year middle class grant because he added a double major and extended another year. ...
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