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Wow, I just wanted to cry or scream when I saw my student loan balance, my student loans are finally below $40,000. My $2k payment hit yesterday and my total balance is now $39,011.66. It took almost two years but I did it. Before COVID, the balance was close to 90k. 
 
I'll admit, sometimes I get so discouraged but seeing this balance gave me hope. I still can't believe that I'm finally below $40k 
 
Just so that it's an even number, I'm going to pay...
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I am starting over in april, with a new budget as we have had so many expenses lately we are pretty much broke right now, everything is paid but we don't have much extra. So the first thing we are going to work on is getting $2000 into our ice account, do people think that is a good starting point?
We will then work on paying off our CC again, then put away and not use it unless an emergency pops up, once this is paid willprobably add a small amount to the ice account each month...
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Just a few mid (ish) month updates.
My vacation came and went.  Spent more than I would have preferred to but it will be my only vacation this year, and I'm very glad I went.  New Orleans is a lovely city, I got to have some special moments, and hope to go back soon to see and do more.  
Finally completed my taxes.  I owe about $3k to federal and about $500 to state.  I will pay state outright, and will have to do a payment plan for federal. ...
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We had septic problems last week again. Our septic is 50+ years old, homemade, and every year we just hope it holds on another year because replacement is expensive. 
Well we finally told the company to go ahead and put us on the list for replacement this year. Then we realized that our property line is too close to our house to put it where we want. Currently part of our septic is on the farmer's land who sold us the property. We would have to put it in the front yard and...
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I did it!
 
I reworked my budget so that I will max out my IRA for 2022 and meet my savings goals. 
 
Yes, I'm still paying off debt but for me paying debt and saving simultaneously gives me peace of mind and keeps me motivated. I've learned that everyone’s journey is different and I have to do what best fits my needs and most importantly keep me motivated. Who knows this may change again, but for now here's what happened today. 
 
$500...
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Rather than plan a blog entry I thought I would just spend 10 mins blogging of whatever comes to mind (sometimes it's just easier to get things done that way).
I usually log everything into a spreadsheet once a month and pay the bills all at the same time, around the 15th of the month.  Life just got busy last week as we went away camping on the weekend and had a few things to do beforehand.  Anyway, as soon as I had free time I sat down and checked the balances, listed...
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My son and GS2 came over yesterday with a new legacy board game for the three of us to play. I had told my son I would pay for it -- he didn't allow me to do that, but he did accept half, which was $20.
I forgot to mention I got a real expensive lunch at Sam's the other day - $1.50 for a hot dog and .25 for a bottle of water! And today I ran a load of laundry. Variables are now 77%. (I forgot to count the body work in my previous variables report.)
GS1 has a baseball game tomorrow,...
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I had a good week. My GI Joe auction ended on Tuesday for $305! One of my best sales ever. And several other things sold too.
 

My 90-day running sales total is currently $1,852.54 and $1,397.20 YTD.
 
YTD profit is $960.56, so way above my goal of $200/month.
 
I went to estate sales on Thursday and Friday and picked up a few things. The Thursday sale was an extra day added to a sale from the previous weekend. Everything was 50% off, which was perfect...
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DW went down to get the laundry on Thursday and the freezer was beeping which generally means we left the door open... except the door was closed. So the temp was too high for some reason. She opened it and things were still frozen but a couple of things weren't as solid as they should be. I told her to just crank up the temp setting and leave it be (I was at work).
Of course, that didn't solve the problem. We moved some stuff into the upstairs freezer and the little freezer in...
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So we had the car in to be serviced and get a couple of things fixed, it ended up costing $1150..more than we expected but it needed to be done....and the car runs a lot better.
The dog had the groomers today cost $65, it should get him through winter, he looks like a puppy when he gets groomed...we get him done about every 6-8 weeks, will be a bit longer now that it is getting cooler so he will stay warm...but he does have 2 couchs, 3 blankets and plenty of jumpers/jackets if...
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We recieved our safe driver's refund from our insurance company.  It was $42.85, which is about double normal, but maybe it is because we have 3 drivers with no accidents in a year.  I also had $5.12 left after paying all the bills, funding all the envelopes, and funding the medical fund.
$20,216.53 Starting Balance
+__,_47.97 Amount Added
---------------
$20,264.50 New Balance
The deposit out of this week's paycheck has not yet been made to the 401K, but it is still...
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Another payday and I had forgotten how nice it is to have the ability to bring in extra income when needed. This Saturday I'm going in to do more training at my PRN job, then Sunday I'm working OT at my FT job. My weekend partner - I'll be working the weekends opposite her - is on the schedule to work weekends through the end of April. That's great because it means plenty of training time for me, as well as I don't have the obligation to work Easter Sunday. 🐣🐰
Our incentive...
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I picked up the inhaler yesterday at Walgreens ($30) and also bought two packages of Poise pads for $29. I have re-learned that Poise is the best way to go -- the cheaper brands just don't work as well.
My doctor told me to use the inhaler before bedtime, since that is the worst time for my cough.  I tried it out last night -- it was my first ever go with an inhaler. I'm not sure I did it just right, but I did have a pretty good night. My doctor did not say the word "asthma"...
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I got my mouth guard from the dentist yesterday; best $400 I've spent since getting my orthotics.  It was a pain in the jaw using the broken one for two weeks, but it was better than none.  This one fits like a dream and I had a great night's sleep after not having had very many in the last two weeks.
I can restart my cinzia shots now because surprise, surprise, I am finally well.  Just in time for allergy season to go into gear with the blooming of dogwood and...
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I am so excited to have found a volunteer opportunity at the senior center! Twice a month I will be delivering free groceries to seniors in the community who are unable to pick them up themselves for the monthly food distribution. So far, I have 5 people lined up for the month of April. I call or text to let them know I am on my way, then when I arrive, place their food on their porch or right outside their door. For safety reasons we do not go into the house or apartment. They...
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See if you understand this headache merrill lynch is giving me.  They issued me a 1099R for money i did not take out in 2021 from a Roth IRA because i moved it to chase.  Then they cashed it out in February 2022 because I called and it was a headache to move the $65.  Well I got the 1099 and argued with them and now they are trying to give me another 1099 for 2022 for the same money.  
I called and said how can it be legal to give me a 1099R for the same...
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I had a doctor's appointment yesterday -- my annual checkup.  Everything is mostly good but I have some things to follow up on. I'm to make an appointment for an ultrasound of my gallbladder, and to see the surgeon who fixed my broken ankle -- ten years later it is swelling, sometimes painful, and sometimes numb. I'm picking up a prescription this morning for an inhaler to help with my chronic cough.  As for my kidney disease, my GFR has dropped somewhat but the doctor...
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One of my clients offered me a full time position, I countered, and if all goes well I will be making $16k a month. Please pray for me. If this happens, I can be done with my student loans, and start on my mortgage, this year. I am asking that you all send positives vibes and prayers. 
side note, I paid $200 extra on the student loan (#3) 
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Well I have been busy trying to catch up on things around the house. 
Sold a fridge/freezer and washing maching the other day got $350 for them and used that money to add to our stockpile of groceries, in case groceries get short in supply.
Still haven't received anything from the irs, it's been 5 weeks since they said they send it and it's been 8 weeks since we sent this years taxes in so will see how long that will take to process...nothing so far.
The weather here it...
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So I finally got my letter from the IRS.  Though it still refers to bogus info -- wrong income, dependents that I don't have -- I have figured out that it is actually correct that I received $537 and the $1400 difference is the stimulus payment (DUH!) which I mistakenly claimed as a credit, thinking I was just reporting income. I would like to talk to a live person about the wrong info, but the new phone number is no better than the other, and I can see I will never get through....
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