All Entries

TSP $1,536,798
IRA $451,212
Brokerage $13,534
Sub-total Investments $2,001,544
Savings $3,566
Home Equity $142,000
November Net Worth $2,147,110
October Net Worth $2,139,421
Monthly Loss/Gain $7,689
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Wow, it's just wild to me that it's already the end of the year. I started working on my 2026 Annual Budget this weekend! I have to wait to see how a bunch of things shake out before I finalize it, but I did what I could at this point.
We had very small increases to our retirement and paid off about $1800 of debt principal, so we had a $6K increase to our net worth. Since it appears impossible that we'll pay off our HELOC by the end of the year, which was my deadline before I...
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My mother is going to lend me 11k until next August. I will save as much as I can between now and then, then withdraw from my Roth to pay her.
I'm not going to get a HELOC. Instead, I'm going to enjoy owning my home free and clear. 😀
If the mail cooperates, I will be paying off the mortgage note this week.
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I hope that everyone who celebrated had a wonderful holiday with their friends and loved ones. 
I received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that my lender will not be able to write me a new note at all. The issue has to do with the lender being a licensed mortgage broker in California, but not in Illinois. When my current note was written, the rules allowed one out-of-state note per year.  Since then, the rules have changed. Now the lender would have to become licensed...
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For Thanksgiving I'm picking up dad and then heading southwest to meet my cousin and her friend for an early dinner at a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (expensive, especially if you like to drink...I think it's $50 a person, not including alcohol or tip). But we're a small group and no one wants to cook. I'll be home by dark at around the time most families are just starting to sit down at the table. I'm looking forward to it though I dislike the drive.
I love turkey with gravy, stuffing,...
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I have a few separate friends that want me to join them in a road trip of some kind.  I find it interesting that, even though these three people are all unrelated from each other, they have all caught some kind of wanderlust somehow.  Is it the season, the weather, or just pure coincidence?
Regardless, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea.  Even though I'm mostly a home-body, road trips aren't terribly expensive, and it is probably a good idea to get out there once...
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Go to the Forums section, click on the Login link in the upper right, click Forgot Password and they will email a link to set a new password.  Seems functionality on the blogs is weird as new posts aren't showing up once you click into them.
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Just heard from McAfee that savings advice was hacked and that my persona info is on the dark web.
If anyone knows how to change their password here, please let us know. It's ridiculous that i have to send a note asking how to do that to savings advice.
Thanks.
 
 
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Last Wednesday when the grocery ads came out, I did my scrounging to see what we needed and what was on sale. I was also trying to buy stuff ahead as far as Thanksgiving. Plus, DH was running out of soda and I was hoping to score a decent deal. Last spring there was a buy 2 get 2 free of 12 packs of his favorite kind and there it was this week. He doesn't drink a ton of it, but likes a can every so often and we have room to store it. All in all, I did a deal on English muffins...
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A fond look back to August warmth....monarch on cosmos.
Following my resignation from my statewide volunteer group, the ad hoc chairman also resigned, which basically put the existence of the group in jeopardy. I had not expected her to follow suit. My intent was not to leave them in the lurch, but it had become clear to me many months ago this group was dead in the water and no one seemed to care. If I had to define what the problem was, I would have to say it was a lack of...
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We had a utility trailer that we have had for years, with hubby no longer choosing to drive and my daughter not really wanting to tow a trailer we decided to sell it, I put it up for sale at 11pm, hubby wanted $350...I put up for $500 and it sold in 15 minutes with 7 people on the waiting list if they didnt pick it up today, they did pick it up so within 12 hrs we had it listed/sold and picked up....I posted it at 11pm thinking I would check it in the morning and offers just started...
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The goal that I have focused on the most this year has been debt reduction.  I started the year with about 50k in total debt and should have the debt down to 20k, mortgage debt only, by a week into January 2026.  That is a huge weight off in terms of preparing for retirement or cutting down at work (more likely moving to 75-80% time for a while, then full retirement--although it is fairly likely that, even after I "retire," I will either work tax season for a few years...
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I'm so thrilled. I did something I'm really not good at....
A few weeks ago, I reluctantly upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Windows 11 is a free software upgrade that's been available for over a year now, but I stalled and stalled because I was perfectly happy with how my computer was operating and my experience has been that when they want you to "upgrade," it can usually end up costing you. And that was right in this case.
I finally upgraded becus they started sending...
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Well the time has come..I cant drive due to dizziness (24/7) and find it hard to travel in a car for long (40 mins max) and hubby was diagnosed with macular degeneration about 18 months ago, he has been having shots in his eyes every 4-6 weeks but he doesnt like to drive at night or when it rains etc, he can still drive but he doesnt feel like he should all the time so HE has decided to sell the car and get a mobility scooter...thought it would be hard for him but he is taking...
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Today's photo....hope you're not getting tired of my food photos! This was olive oil cake with ice cream at a local restaurant.

Today I did mostly nothing except for a few hours outside removing dead leaves that collect at the top of my driveway. I did also replace the filter on the Aprilaire humidifier that's attached to my furnace. A chore I dislike because it's never easy to take the thing apart that holds the filter and fit it back into the unit. I actually use an old set...
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I was helping a buddy move some furniture the other day, and while we were at it, he asked me for advice to buy a TV.  The one he originally wanted to buy would have costed $2000 USD.  I talked him down to a $1200 set by explaining to him the technical differences between the two, and helping him realize that he would gain very little from the more expensive set.
Yes, I know $1200 is still very expensive, but this is what he wanted, and it's not like I'm spending my own money.
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Today was the chilliest day of the fall season to date. In fact, it was the first day I felt it necessary to wear my winter coat.
Since it was too cold to do fall yard work, I turned it into a day of errands: Target (dad needed underwear), Wal-Mart (I wanted to spend a $5 gift card, so I bought some green tea), Whole Foods (they have the best produce, including a new favorite for me, organic Cosmic Crisp), BJs (for gas and a few food items) and then dropping off some donations...
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This is about my daughter not us but wanted to share because I think it is quite amazing for her. A little back story our oldest got epsstein barr virus when she was 14, she got real sick and ended up with chronic fatigue to the point where you could barely wake her up, that was 20 years ago and she has improved over that time dramatically but it took a long time which she contemplated suicide a couple times (no she didnt try) but she had no life and her friends disappeared and...
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My existing mortgage note is due 11/28/25.  Hard to believe it has been 2 years already since I bought this little house, but it has.
I spoke with the lender on the phone and I learned that they are unwilling to write a new 2 year note, but will do a new 1 year note. There will not be a third note of any length.  They want the funds for another investment opportunity. I was afraid of something like this. 
This coming August, I will turn 59.5.  I will pull...
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First I want to share that I just paid $200 on the student loan.
Drumroll please, I'm so excited, I'll be getting a bonus on Friday. I'm so tempted to schedule my bonus payment for the student loan, but I'll hang tight. I'll be able to pay an additional $1200 on the student loan which will get me just under the $14k.  I think by the end of the year I'll be done. 
Side note. My part time job allows me to sock away a $1000 a check. I'm trying to beef up my savings.  I...
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