All Entries

Not all financial but I have decided to change how I do things and take the pressure of myself...I ended up in the ER twice last week and still no answers...they also think that my cortisol levels are not the issue...so we are still completely clueless to what is going on with me...they sent me to another clinic who will send some suggestions to my regular doc to have some more tests done...I have taken myself off all my natural meds and just seeing how I go...I am trying to walk...
[ Read More ]

Today was our follow up visit with our CFP. We saw him initially on 10/29 at which time we presented all of our information and discussed our plans and goals.
Today he reviewed the results of his analyses. He modeled several scenarios ranging from me retiring at 60 to retiring January 1, 2022. In all but one scenario, our projected success rate was 100%. In the one outlier, our success rate was "only" 99% so I think we could squeak by.
All of his projections assumed that I would...
[ Read More ]

I finally got a call that my table is finished!  I paid the balance of $1125 this morning.  It won't be delivered until Wednesday afternoon, because the delivery guy is slammed with work.  That means I can't get on the road for my Thanksgiving trip until Thursday morning, but that will be the best time to travel, traffic-wise, anyway.
It's unfortunate that this is happening right before Christmas, but I think I have enough in savings that it will be okay.  
I'm...
[ Read More ]

My contribution/loan payments from the 11/15 paycheck have posted, and I am happy to report that I have achieved a 102% increase in my 401k balance since 1/1.  Wooooo!  My overall savings increase from 1/1 (including general savings, sinking funds, and 401k) has increased 106% since 1/1.  This is exactly the kind of thing I have been striving for - onward and upward!  Can't wait to see what 2022 brings in this arena.  
[ Read More ]

With our weather turning colder, I decided to make a big pot of chili for dinner a couple nights ago.  It turned out great and fed us a couple of meals.  Last night I turned the leftovers into 10 chili bean burritos and tucked them into the freezer.  These are a favorite go-to when I want a quick, easy lunch or dinner.  I used leftover hamburger for the meat, and canned beans/rotel that I got on sale - so the cost was around $10 for 14 servings!  
I...
[ Read More ]

I thought I'd lost all of my blog. It's been almost a year since I updated. We have moved since then. 
I'm still trying to keep track of my budget. With regards to grocery shopping, I've started to alternate between Aldi and online shopping for convenience and things I can't get at Aldi.
 
Hope everyone is well.
[ Read More ]

Pay day has become so undramatic that this morning I completely forgot it was pay day.  But I finally did remember, and paid my bills -- mortgage, two credit cards (which I always pay in full).  Everything else is automatic.
I went to the dentist yesterday and (yay!) got my crown recemented.  It feels so much better, and I'm so glad it wasn't any more complicated than that.  They submitted the bill to insurance, so I don't know yet how much the cost will be.
I...
[ Read More ]

Today was bright and sunny as the flood waters from the last several days of storming began to recede.  Yesterday the water in the basement covered the bottom step and was about halfway up the first step.  I've never, ever seen that happen and I've lived in this house off and on since I was 4 years old.  Two of the sump pumps stopped working, but the other one did.  We have them set up to go directly into the sewer line, but with two of them completely submerged...
[ Read More ]

I just downloaded this week's paycheck. I contributed the final $740.78 needed to max my 401k at 26K for 2021. This is the third year I've done so. It's also possibly the last since as of 11/28 I will drop to part time. I don't think I'll be able to contribute that much going forward for however much longer I work (and the max rises for 2022).
Still, I'm happy to have been able to put in what I did. That account now stands at about $215,000 and I won't be touching it for at least...
[ Read More ]

A few months ago, upon the 2 year anniversary of initiating my internet service, I noticed that my bill had gone up, due to some of the discounts on the account falling off.  I contacted them, and arranged for a new plan (that wasn't very different from my old plan).  My new bill was supposed to be $64.99 a month after an autopay/paperless billing discount that I have always had.
Since I was changing my plan, they told me I was eligible for a trial of a service for 30...
[ Read More ]

So I have always said we'll save enough to pay for 4 years of college at a public in state university.  That has always been our goal.  It was a SMART specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable within timeframe goal.  I hypothesized $30k/year or around $120k per kid.  Potentially $40k/year so $160k.  We have 7 and 9 years left.  My DK1 has $104k and my DK 2 has $90k right now set aside for their college costs.  I think we are definitely on track...
[ Read More ]

Well, it turns out that it wasn’t Weis where I earned the free turkey certificate. It was Giant. And I discovered this because I tried to redeem it at Weis! Yikes, embarrassing. But I did get the turkey and it was indeed free. A 20-pounder. Since the boys selected other meats for Thanksgiving Day (The choice is our tradition.), we’ll be cooking the big bird in the next few days. DH is the meat cooker so this is all him.
[ Read More ]

Yes, with four or so weeks left in the semeser, I'm in my usual mire of grading and planning and  not much else.  The dog saga continues as now we're wondering if her issues might be an ongoing ear infection.  So we're off the antibiotics and trying ear meds hoping that will help her jaw issues.  She hangs on and seem to eat only in the afternoons and evenings.  She's kind of herself sometimes.  --some wagging, some dancing around.  I'm going...
[ Read More ]

 I'm writing this because something happened to me tonight and it really bothered me tonight and I didn't speak up. I realize I did the WRONG thing by not speaking up to offensive people.
I was sitting in a kitchen with a group of people, couple of neighbors and other moms/dads at a birthday party my DK2 attended. I realize that most of them might have been drunk and I did not drink anything. But I feel like people are being very honest when drinking and to be truthful I...
[ Read More ]

The actual amount set aside for car insurance money each month is $167, but I had $36.00 in savings set aside for garbage since garbage is a bill that comes due every 2 months.  Instead of transferring $167 into savings and then $36 out, I just put $131 in and used the $36 that was then already in savings towards the car insurance fund.
I have changed the amount of money I am setting aside every month to $45.  Garbage collection has gone up.  Not as much it appears,...
[ Read More ]

I forgot on the last post that I had $12.50 in rolled coin that I added to the Emergency Fund, bringing it to $18,957.17, which means my net worth is actually now at $125,663.87.  Hey, every little bit counts.
[ Read More ]

In the last two weeks retirement has risen by $1725.28.  $785.40 of that was our contribution and $939.88 of that was pure profit.  The new balance of retirement is $68,798.34, making our new net worth $125,651.65.  So we hit my mini milestone of 1/8 of a million.  Next mini milestone for net worth is $150,000.  Next big milestone is $250,000 or a quarter of a million as I like to call it.
I added $4 to the Hog Fund as that was left in the grocery envelope...
[ Read More ]

The bed that I have been sleeping on for the past 21 years was purchased for me (by a friend using my credit card) when I was in the hospital having had major abdominal surgery, a 10.5" incision.  (They now do the same surgery laproscopically).  For the 18 years prior to that, I had slept on a futon on the floor.  For the past year and a half or so, I have been debating replacing the bed as it doesn't feel as supportive as it had previously.  I had been thinking...
[ Read More ]

I went online to make an extra estimated tax payment and the Oregon Kicker calculator was available.  To my surprise we are scheduled to get a $2600 tax credit on our taxes this year.  Um, YAY.  So I decreased what I would have paid by $1000 to hopefully still leave a buffer but take advantage of the kicker news!  Since our income drastically decreased this year, and some of the hubs unemployement wont be taxable, I am fairly confident our tax liability will...
[ Read More ]

I ordered some hair conditioner and a set of Ruby sliders (chair leg covers) from Amazon.  I had some credits, so the total order was only $8.  They are supposed to be delivered today.  Variables are now 53%.
Tomorrow I'm going to GS1's birthday breakfast.  I'm planning on giving him $50 to put on his debit card.  You know your grandchildren are growing up when they only want money.
[ Read More ]