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Today I took a trial run to the Walgreens where I'll get my booster on Thursday.  I wanted to make sure it was in a safe part of the city.  It looks like a neighborhood where I wouldn't want to live, but is probably okay to visit for a half hour in the daylight!  Afterwards I went to the gym and then to Aldi, where I spent $33, which included Halloween candy.  I don't hand it out at the door -- no one comes into my gated building -- but I give it to my grandsons. ...
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I love to budget..but the last couple of years have been so unpredictable for us that a budget has been hard to stick to...my health has cost us thousands in specialists and treatments...my hubby's cancer the first time cost us a few thousand...not so much this time as only treating with injections at the moment...and then moving house, couch surfing, helping our youngest daughter out, moving my mom...plus our oldest trying to have a baby (we will probably help her out as well. 
So...
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Hi guys
I am at $535k right now with investments. Goal is hit $1mm by Oct 2024. Alot depends on the market and my savings rate. I will hit $560k by year end just with contributions. Hitttig $1MM, unless I hit a real good stock, is dependent on a high savings rate.i am going into more mid caps lately.
I just turned 51.. I am feeling like I am entering phase 2 of my life and want to move and do somethign else and more so be 'coupled'.. not fun to plan for the future single. I am...
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Fallingwater
Lots of rain today -- woke up to a storm and could just hear the rain pelting down. I guess we have a chance of bad storms tonight. Certainly hope that doesn't come to pass.
I went out and picked a few things from the little bit that remains of our garden. I want to make some soup for this week and use up some vegetables I have in the bin. I waited until it stopped raining for a bit.
We had purchased a bus trip in 2019 for 2020 and of course could not...
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I hate to admit but I hate cooking.  I'm still getting the hang of cooking enough.  I mean my kids eat like adults so now I need to double meals more because I find I have to still cook daily (VERY annoying) versus once and eating for 2-3 days.  So my goal has always been to cook have enough leftovers for another meal.  Well now that's not happening and sure the costs suck but it sucks more to cook everyday.  We also NEVER have enough for a meal so we have...
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The peace was nice while it lasted.  Will take it whenever I can.  It was nice being able to post daily minutiae and not have any major drama in my life, for a few weeks.
That said, MH is out of town and I have a medical procedure next week.  The chaos is just increasing and I was feeling "meh" about getting through the rest of October with sharing daily expenses.  I guess also work has been pretty busy for MH and so we are no longer in "one income" mode.  
MH's...
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My investments are almost back to the high of September 6th. Today they stand at $1,300,918 which is almost my entire net worth with the addition of my car & cash savings. 
I applied for a PRN position (you knew I couldn't stay away from a second job for long!), but turned it down when they told me the per diem rate, which was the same rate I was paid in 2008. You'd think with all these healthcare shortages that they would up there rate.
This past Saturday I did some...
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Yesterday my ex told me he'd gotten the Moderna booster at Walgreens and urged me to sign up.  Long story short, he did not get the booster, he got a third full vaccine, and I don't know how, considering he is not immunocompromised, or at least not that I know of.  But anyway, I did get an appointment that evening, but they stopped me at the gates.  Even though I have chronic kidney disease, that does not make me immunocompromised -- I would have to be on dialysis...
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Nothing like the middle of the semester to get me mired in thought.  I'm thinking about good students, bad students, disappearing students, and fraught committee work.    I'm also thinking about retirement.  I posted a question on the forums after learning some of my friends are either already taking Social Security or planning on taking it early.  Has the advice changed on that? 
Other things on my mind are the tuition bill juggling for DD's...
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I went to the dentist yesterday, and I got my teeth cleaned and got bitewing x-rays.  I couldn't believe it was time for x-rays again, but they said my last x-rays were panoramic, so a different animal, I guess.  Anyway, I did not pay for any of it; they filed the claim.  I guess it pays to complain.
That saved me some money.  The only recent spending was $2 for laundry this morning.  Variables are at 57% and we're 65% of the way through the month, so...
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October 18
$11 Lunch
$80 Groceries
Dinner:  Leftovers
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I have to preface this post with the fact that MH is a, "Hell would freeze over before I eat out" personality.  Most especially when it comes to lunch at work.
Anyway, this is what I come home to today:  A bag of chips in a brown paper bag.  MH is asleep.  I don't think he did the grocery run he had planned today (a small one).  I look on the dining card and...
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October 16
$97 Groceries
$1 Movie Prop
Dinner:  Cheeseburger Pasta
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MH picked up a prop at a thrift shop today.  $1 for a "creepy doll".   Might pick up a couple of other options.  The original prop was lost to the big/recent fire. 
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October 17
$65 Allowance MH
$40 School Pictures
$12 Home Depot
Dinner: ...
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2021 TALLY:
$800 Cash (Chase Sapphire Quadruple Dip, MH) 
$30 Venmo ($10 x 3 Sign Up Bonuses)
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$830 TOTAL *ONE-TIME REWARDS*
**In addition, various monthly rewards that I will tally at 12/31
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I don't personally have any reason to use Venmo.  I tested a free $10 bonus at some point, just for opening an account.  Was more just testing it out for MM, before he turned 18.  
MH was...
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Woke up to find out that petrol (gas) prices have started going up to $1.85 per litre, with no idea of when it will be going down..highest it has been in a really long time...for those of you that is 1 gallon for you which equals approx 3.7 litres..which wouldbe $6.85 per gallon (aus)...which would be around $5.11 per gallon...guess we won't be going many places anymore....I am guessing with the price of that going up then food will rise as well since trucks will cost more to transport...
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I called the Porting Department of Consumer Cellular directly, since the last Customer Service Rep gave me their number after about 4 previous calls.  Once I reached the representative, he was able to conference me in to his call with Tracfone.  They sent me a code to verify my current phone and then they released my number and they at long last were able to port my phone number over.  I just tested it from my work phone and the new iPhone rings when you call my...
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Inflation is crazy right now. You can just see it everywhere.  In my car mileage sheet the year started 1/7/21 with gas at $2.60/gallon. My recent fill up a week ago was $3.60/gallon.  38% increase in gas in 10 months. Eggs were $1.79 for an 18 count at target in July 2021 is not $2.49 for the same 18 count.  Sugar 4 lb white bag was $1.79 it's not $2.49.  Dark brown 2 lbs sugar was $1.59 it's $1.99.  Chicken breast and thighs boneless/skinless was...
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So my step son suffers (like my hubby) from hemiplegic migraines...although they get different ones..my step sons affect his brain..he has trouble doing things, remembering things etc so in june they ordered an EEg on his brain..he had the doc yesterday and I ased him about what he said about his eeg not being done yet...he said he said nothing...so I thought I have had enough it doesn't take that long to get one done (usually a month to 6 weeks at most)..so I call the hospital...
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Since June, I have been trying to file an unemployment claim. This nonsense that people are receiving unemployment funds so they do not want to work is just that nonsense. I haven’t received a thing in four months. 
 
I’ve tried calling the office, only to be disconnected. You’re unable to send an email. I can’t imagine what families are going through who are desperately in need of these funds. It’s absolutely insane. 
 
So...
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Checking in here, I see that I have been trying to transfer my cell phone number to a new smart phone for OVER 6 weeks now!  I started by ordering an iPhone SE from Tracfone, my original provider, on 9/4.  By 9/23, after having received an iphone with the SIM card not installed and not being able to get any help from Tracfone (I found their online instructions incomprehensible), I returned the iPhone to Tracfone and ordered the same phone from Consumer Cellular for $50...
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Great news, today I landed another contract, averaging about $8k a month. Thank God! 
 
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous with all that is going on; however, today I landed another gig and I’m so thankful. 
 
I’d interviewed for the role and really hit it off with the hiring manager. She liked myself and another candidate, went to her manager about budgeting for two roles vs one and it was approved. 
 
You all have no idea...
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