All Entries

...
Don't send off checks to pay off your debt (by way of snowballs or refi) on a FRIDAY evening, before a Federal Holiday on the following Monday. You will DIE of anticipation. I swear it. 🤪
I mentioned in my last post that several of the payments stayed local here in the Phoenix area. I've been refreshing my apps all day. AND ONE FINALLY HIT! Yay to Capital One!!! I closed the card over the weekend, I will have to make a $20 payment online, but by the end of that day, that one is a GONER!
[ Read More ]

So I managed to snag a quick phone call with my dad.  We see him tomorrow so my parents were busy prepping the house.  So I figured he'll get his card and I have no idea about the gift.  
DH got nothing for father's day but a hugely relaxing day of sleeping in.  We didn't even go out to eat.  We had so many leftovers from stuff we finished it and I promised him dinner Monday.  Monday I picked up sushi and he didn't even have to leave the house...
[ Read More ]

Yesterday my inhaler clogged when the count was about 100. I took it to Walgreens and asked if this was typical. They said no, and the pharmacist fooled around with it and got it going again. Then I asked if I had a refill coming, because I no longer had the box the inhaler came in. I did, and since I was there, I got the refill. It is the last one, so I'll have to contact my doctor. The refill was $30. Variables are now at 55%.
Today I'm going to an away game, 45 minutes away!...
[ Read More ]

Back in March I applied for a Homeowners Property Tax Credit through my county. This credit is income based, and it requires that applicants fill out a lengthy application and provide all of the required supporting income verification documentation, including the most recent tax return. This was my first time applying and the application was a bit confusing, so I was very surprised and happy when I received an e-mail this morning that my application had been approved and I would...
[ Read More ]

When my husband and I file on February 11, we found out for the first time in forever for either us, that we owed the federal government. They said my income "went up." I think it went up about $1000, which I am not sure is enough to have to owe $400. Two days after that, something was eating at me that the return was not right, so I got out the paperwork and looked at it and it was wrong. The preparer counted my HSA distributions for qualifying medical expenses as income. I called...
[ Read More ]

I will admit it, I like Pinterest. Too much. It seems to be my go to site some days when I'm not sure.
As a result, I've tried new recipes, tried new crochet patterns, and even found some cool genealogy templates. I like blue willow dishes and I have one very big "board" of all sorts of blue willow. Peter Davison is one of my favorite British actors and I have a board with stuff about him. 
I have even searched frugal living on Pinterest. There seem to be quite a few things...
[ Read More ]

My parents treated us to dinner last night, to celebrate Father's Day. We went to Longhorn's Steakhouse, and the food was good and the service excellent. It was nice, it being just the four of us. My parents had us at a young age, mom was 16 with my brother and 19 with me. When you're 45, someone 19 years older isn't that much older. LOL. It's nice having such a great friend. 
[[ tried to insert a pic from last night, but SA isn't letting me. i'll try again later.]]
In other...
[ Read More ]

Tomorrow is Juneteenth as well as Father's Day. My dad never celebrated the holidays, and I miss him dearly. I would still visit with him on this day, I’d do anything to talk to him again. 
 
I decided to treat my ex-fiance to lunch/brunch. He has had a rough 2022, the poor guy is literally in tears almost daily. Since it was Juneteenth and I also wanted to support Black-owned businesses, I thought, why not brunch/lunch? I can kill two birds with one stone, take...
[ Read More ]

It's Father's Day tomorrow. I'll be celebrating with my ex -- who of course is the father of my children -- and my local son, and the spouses and grandchildren as well.  I'm planning to make some strawberry applesauce for the brunch.
Today I walked to Walgreens and bought Father's Day cards ($7) and coffee ($7).
I looked at sea salt hair spray but couldn't find anything I thought was in a good price range, so I came home and ordered some from Amazon for $6.
Variables are...
[ Read More ]

I wrote a blog earlier this week regarding my car maintenance & it seems to be lost. That's so frustrating.
Anyway, I spent $281.42 on my scheduled 70,000 mile maintenance for my 2015 CR-V. That included some extra things like patching a tire with a nail in it & replacing windshield wipers which were badly in need of replacement.
I guess you would consider this a splurge as I always get my maintenance done at the dealership. When I bought my first (used) car I used to...
[ Read More ]

You all don't know me. My word means nothing to you. But, I promise, after answering the door today, accepting a UPS envelope full of creditor checks, and then spending HOURS trying to print statements, locate account numbers, GO BUY ENVELOPES, find stamps, etc. etc. etc.... we will NEVER rack up debt again. In all, we recieved 21 checks. I took 4 to Bank of America, and we will take one to the credit union in the morning. The remaining are ready for the Post Office. I am tired...
[ Read More ]

Yeah, that's what we always say here in Beertown.  In fact "Cooler by the Lake" used to be the Summerfest motto.
I was happy to turn off the a/c last night and open things up.  I still have the east-facing blinds drawn, but it looks like a great weekend.  Despite the gorgeous weather, or maybe because of it, I'm getting a little stir-crazy.  I've spent far too many hours grading online papers and updating content.  One week until the class itself is done,...
[ Read More ]

 
Two months ago, our credit card debt was the highest it has ever been! In fact, we were over $1100 over our credit limit! We had NEVER gone over our credit limit before. We'd gotten close to it, but never over, and certainly not by more than $1000. 
It was a much needed wake up call for us. Since then, we have topped off our emergency fund savings account (2 months of bare bones expenses), rejigged our budget to send more money to debt, and decreased our debt by $3278.26....
[ Read More ]

So, nearly five years ago I began working a contract job of unknown duration. I expected it to last a few months, but nearly five years later, I was still there. Until June 1, when I was laid off, along with a few others, due to a work slowdown.
This was not at all expected. I had come to consider this my "cruise to retirement" job and believed it just could be the last job I ever held. My goal was to continue working there as an editor/proofreader until I hit 65, in just a few...
[ Read More ]

Funds from refi were disbursed yesterday, and my old mortgage is now showing paid off. And my new mortgage is saying: PAY ME!
Thanks to some great advice the other day, I have plans to visit some of the locations where I have accounts, and pay directly to them, vs. sending out the check. I don't think I've ever really lost mail - but something about the checks in the mail makes me think they will get lost, and what a hastle that would be. 
I need to update my sidebar......
[ Read More ]

I have no idea how, but MM(18) had about $420 college dining dollars left over.  I just bought the smallest plan (he will have an apartment/kichen next year).  So that he can roll over the dollars.  Paid $250 for $275 campus dining dollars.  That gives him $695 when he goes back to school.   Or about $75/month.
I think we will be able to carve out the rest of his food spending from our grocery budget.  Ideally, we can squeak by with $225/month...
[ Read More ]

I'm so glad that I had the free at-home COVID test. I've had a headache for a few days and that's a symptom of COVID. I was able to take an at-home test and I'm glad to say it's negative. 
I've gotten a little lax with my mask and numbers in Florida are on the rise. This is a reminder to take the necessary precautions 
[ Read More ]

I have 2 0% credit cards right now, one I put on my A/C and the other I just put property taxes on.  I have until Feb and March 2023 to pay them off.  
Blue Amex 0% March 2023 $6041 - paid $2k today , $4041 balance
Wells Fargo 0% Feb 2023 $18,864 - paid $2k today, $16,864 balance
It's a lot more debt than I am hoping to carry.  I did use the DH's extra paycheck this month but basically it paid for our lawyer bills for setting up our will and trust. ...
[ Read More ]

I was all set to chauffeur my grandson to an away baseball game today, but, thank goodness, it was cancelled. It is really, really hot today, and I'm so glad the organizers had the sense to keep the boys from playing in such awful weather.
There was a game yesterday, which was equally hot. It was in the main field, where there are bleachers and a roof, so it wasn't so bad for the fans. At least we could sit in the shade. And there was a breeze. But the boys were running around...
[ Read More ]

At mid-month my total spending so far is $996.48. All my regular bills have already come in and have been paid except for my cell phone.  
I have spent $15.34 on groceries so far.  I expect a very low grocery spend this month. I have been using up what I have on hand, and what I receive from the senior center. 
We have firmed up the family vacations plans! My sister and BIL will be coming in from Texas, and then the whole family will be heading to a beach...
[ Read More ]