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I have mentioned that we signed a retention incentive agreement back in the beginning of March. It still has not been paid. This week we all got our personnel files updated with the retention incentive document & it looks like it will be paid retroactively. However, they forgot to put a percentage so now it's in question whether we will actually get it.
I can laugh about it, because I'm not struggling to pay my bills, but it's such a calamity of errors that occurs sometimes....
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I forgot to add garlic to my shopping list when I picked up groceries from Wal*mart yesterday, so I grabbed my keys and walked to Publix. 
 
I needed to go to the bank as well and it’s in the same plaza so it worked out. 
 
The walk is about two miles total/round trip. I’m so happy to have done this, one it keeps me on track with my walking/exercise routine, and secondly I’m saving on gas. 
 
Wal*mart is a bit too far to walk,...
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Today I ordered a used Canon Powershot Elph digital camera off Amazon. It's a gorgeous shade of purple and after my last one broke (blue), I told myself if I ever found a purple one, I'd get it.  I do have a handheld video camera that can take photos, but it isn't the best at it.  It takes good video, though.  My phone is a better camera than it.
So I've been waiting and waiting and finally one came up refurbished from the Canon Store on Amazon.  I wasn't going...
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After the refrigerator went out, I had to throw everything away, chicken, salad dressing, ice cream, etc. 
I’m annoyed about this but what can I do. 
 
I took today to plan my meal for the week, I decided on spaghetti with a salad, and chicken and rice. 
 
After figuring out what I would be preparing, I decided to order online for pick up, this way I’m not tempted to add anything else to my cart. This is the first time I’ve done this...
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Well it is election night here tonight...I hope that we have a change in government...we definately need it...this PM is completely useless and constantly lies and making it so hard for people to ends meet is is against a $1 pay raise for workers but is ready to give all politicians a pay raise...like they need it....I could go on and on about how useless he is...but all I am hoping for is a change in government...fingers crossed
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I haven't blogged for a few weeks with good reason. My wife ended up in the hospital on 4/23 and was there for 19 days. To keep it short, she developed a serious infection in and around her spine and related fluid in her left lung. She had major surgery on her back to clean it out and rebuild and stabilize her spine. She had a total of 3 procedures, 1 minor, 1 intermediate, and finally 1 more extensive to fix the lung issue. Spent 4 days in ICU post-op. Got 3 transfusions. Came...
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I got my final retirement date from the university today.  They'd orginally told me August 21, now they're changing it to August 11.  I'm not sure it matters as I'll just do a bit of clean-up, perhaps sit in on some candidate interviews etc between when my summer teaching ends in late June and then.  The university health insurance continues until the end of August when we'll switch to DH's health insurance. 
That switch may take some getting used to. ...
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Yesterday I went to the gym -- masked up because we are in a high transmission area right now -- and then went to Aldi to stock up on a few items. Much to my surprise (and I shouldn't have been surprised) my two bags totaled $71. And I bought no meat.  I did buy fresh flowers and a cookie sheet, so the true food cost was $58.  Looking at my receipt, I see there were two expensive food items -- mixed nuts, and maple syrup.
My total so far this month for groceries is $102....
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We have bought so much lately and it has cost us a fair bit but it things we have needed but some things are expensive...like my cbd oil which is $360 per 50ml bottle and it has to be made at a certain chemist (pharmacy) I try to make it last me for months...we got a vitamix so we can crush ice and make protein shakes which my hubby needs each day...had to buy protein powder (hard to find a good one), plus many other things...we shouldn't need to buy much for a few months so that...
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It was bugging me that I couldn't pay the typical amounts I normally pay on my student loan but I wanted to pay something so $25 it was. The new balance on loan number three is $7,950. 
I figured something is better than nothing. 
 
I get a check from another client this month for $800, I'm going to use this for some of the repairs I have to have done around the house. I wish so badly I could throw this at my debt but here we are. 
 
Other financial...
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Gas hit $5.29 a gallon cash price and ten cents more for credit cards.  Diesel hit $5.49 per gallon.  So the cost of food will go up even higher now.  I hope you all have been paying attention to me for the last couple of years, but especially this year, when I told you to stock up on food, meds, and personal care items.  I have not been wrong about this yet and it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Did you know that in Washington state they are uncovering...
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Well I have to get a new water heater and change the valves (all) in the house. 
The plumber came out and capped off the ice maker, the water wouldn't shut off because the valves are old. Like the handyman, he told me to change the valves. He stated that he shouldnt have to go outside to turn the water off. He changed the one in the kitchen and told me to do them all. 
This has been one heck of a week.
Everything is falling apart. My kitchen cabinets are barely holding...
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I’m still not quite ready to share our debt total, but I am ready to talk about it.
We only have one credit card. (For pretty obvious reasons as we aren’t responsible with credit.) For the first time in our adult lives, however, we have exceeded our credit limit. And we have a very high credit limit!
Our April statement was $1105.68 over our credit limit. Sad to say, I think it might just have been the kick in the pants we needed. We are not proud of it, but it shocked...
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I really need a break. Today my waterpik stop working, this will cost another $30-$50. 
 
Then I went to the bank to exchange my euros only to get there to have left some of the money. SMH. 
 
Groceries are so high, I have to start getting prepared for hurricane season, water has skyrockted. It's a never ending story. 
 
I have no idea why all these things are happening but they are and I'm exhausted.
 
Edited to add I now need a new water heater  
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I got my hair cut yesterday, with my usual angst about the cost.  It was $73 plus a $15 tip. But I came out loving the haircut so much that I felt justified in spending that much. It just bothers me when everything else is so expensive. I can't believe the salon has not yet raised the price since I started going there.
On the way I picked up some paper towels at Walgreens for $6. I needed paper towels, but mostly I needed to get the correct change for the hairdresser's tip.
It...
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When it rain it pours. 
 
Yesterday I was able to get a used refrigerator. Well, my ex came by to help me put the old one out before picking up the new one. 
 
While doing so we found a copper line running from the refrigerator. I told him it had to be the ice maker. Well, he called his brother who is a handyman, and he tried walking him through how to disconnect by turning the water off. He (ex) couldn't find the valve and I told him several times to just...
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Last night was rough.  I did a lot of new exercises at physical therapy and even though it was in the pool it totally kicked my butt.  45 minutes of non-stop exercise was only possible with the decreased gravity.  By the time I got home everything hurt so bad.  I made it halfway to the house before I had to sit down in the chair at the bottom of the ramp and put the bag down.  It was so heavy with a wet towel and suit in there.  And I forgot my phone...
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Well, I paid the HOA and COBRA bills for three months. I paid two months on the mortgage because the website didn't update and I want to make sure my payments are applied to both June and July, before I pay August. 
 
I'm so glad I did this because I don't know what may happen as far as income goes. 
 
I also purchased a used refrigerator for $214 with tax. Thankfully my ex will pick it up for me, so there is no delivery charge. Though it's not the color...
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Today was indeed a one-off.  I had a sit-down meeting with my boss and told him I was taking the retirement incentive package.  I'll teach a summer class but my last day at the university will be August 21.  I turn in the papers tomorrow. Because I've always had impeccable timing, this has coincided nicely with the giant stock market sell-off. 
But heck, DH's job is going well, the university pension will almost be as much as my current take-home pay (minus,...
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DH and I did the weekly grocery trip. It seemed like everything we bought today has gone up except eggs. Eggs were down a dime. Granted, I had to buy a couple of things I haven't had to purchase in awhile, but oh my goodness, the prices! And we only bought a small package of chicken, a small pork loin, and a package of turkey sausage patties as far as meat. This was going to two stores, Aldi being one of them. We spent over $150! It's been a long time since we've spent that all...
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