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This morning I took four rolls of quarters down to the laundry room and then foolishly left them out in the open when I left.  Luckily I remembered pretty quickly and went back down.  They were still there.  I locked them away in my storage closet.
I ordered a few things from Amazon this morning - mascara, a silverware tray, and a plastic basket.  Total was $40.  It adds up!  They should arrive tomorrow.
Yesterday I got breakfast and lunch at drive-thru's. ...
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MIL took her 401K disbursement for the year.  She gave us $3000 for medical (paying for the surgery daughter had) and $5000 as a gift.  I put $2K into the EF.  My goal for the year is to get to $22,121.86.  I have $6869.13 to go to hit that and 9 months to do it in.  That will put us at 6 month's expenses.  I still would like to get to six month's income, but that is a goal for 2022 and 2023.
$13,363.73 Beginning Balance
+_2,000.00 Amount Added
--------------------
$15,363.73...
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Weather for the next couple of days is warmer than usual which is nice...love the warmer weather much better than cold weather...hoping that doesn't hit to early at least until we move.
Our budget just doesn't to be working at the moment living in 2 places, but trying its mainly groceries that is hurting us which means we take it from savings..but we will get back on track eventually..it's hubbys birthday in a couple of weeks so not sure what we are doing for that yet....right...
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So nine days ago, our little Bella got hit by a car on our property.  Not run over, but hit. (She ignored SB's commands and ran to the car, SB ran after her yelling for the car to stop).  The car did stop, but still she collided with it.  She had a trip to the 24 hour emergency vet and surgery where they sedated her to give her an xray and scan.  She had no internal injuries or broken bones, thank goodness.  They dressed her wounds, gave her pain pills,...
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So I spent some time teasing apart my spending.  In March as I tracked $820.79 Groceries, $86.82 cleaning, $167.14 alcohol, $112.72 eating out.  Total CC spending across 4 cards is $4586.27 for the month of March.  Bit higher than I would have liked.  
My year to date spending is as follows (1/1-3/31)
Travel $2438Pet $3310Groceries $2713 (not teased out the cleaning supplies and extras but I'll try to be better in the future splitting dog food, clening...
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Not much going on.  Work is as stressfull as ever.  I am working on adjusting my attitude stay in the moment and not let my mind wander into all the what ifs.  
Debt repayment is on track to hit yearly goal.  Net worth is continuing to move up.
Weight loss is not going as well as I would like.  However hoping to work on this in the upcoming month.
 
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I can't believe it's April already!  Bear with me, this is a long one.  
March spending was a touch lower than Feb...by ~$100....still would like to get this down, but also happy that I am finding balance, and a way to live life in a satisfying way without derailing my debt pay down efforts.  This spending does not include housing or debt pay down (basically any of my bills) - this is all "discretionary" spending....quotes because buying groceries isn't exactly...
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Housing - $801
Medical/Health - $342
Furnishings/Equipment/Decor - $302
Fees/Services - $229
Utilities - $209
Personal - $128
Groceries - $113
Phone - $52
Entertainment - $46
Eating Out/Takeout - $31
Gifts/Charity - $29
Vet/Pet Supplies - $27
Laundry - $16
Gas - $15
Household Supplies - $12
Home Repair/Maintenance - $3
Grand Total - $2355
Variables - 104%
Housing - I paid a bit more toward my mortgage so I could get the balance below $58K.  I love to hit...
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Income Total: $3280


     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  


     * $200 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal) 
     * $1064 Stimulus
     * $516 State Tax Refund


      


Total Spending: $2155.54


Total Savings: $1124.46 (difference between monthly income...
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I reviewed my monthly budget spreadsheet for March and with a surplus of over $2,000 I decided to send $2,000 to my savings. This might be my strategy in future months as my checking account continues to grow. 
Tomorrow & Good Friday are pay days. April will be a flush month. I expect I'll be able to send more surplus to my savings.
I had a couple of conversations with my chief pathologist & co-worker that continue to make me optimistic about potential promotions....
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I realized I never responded to people's questions about our 2020 spending.  So I decided I would do it now.  First off Disneysteve asked how did you spend $22k on travel in a lockdown year.  Well first off when we travel I do not breakdown eating out or gifts, etc.  Traveling is everything, everything we buy to prep to uber to eating out to gifts, anything and everything that is not because we are at home.
Jan $1200 - 2 ski trips Feb $1915 - Hawaii, probably...
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Today is payday!  I had a lot of money moves to make today, so I have been looking forward to today all week. 
But before getting into the payday report, some new extra money came in...
On Monday, someone came to buy another set of my dumbbells.  This was the set of 45 pounders....I had them listed for $180 ($2/pound, which seems to be about the going rate these days).  He offered me $150 and I decided to take it, since it was close enough.  I still have...
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So I did go to the grocery store last night and I bought one last thing before the end of the month.
3/30 FM $14.90
Turkey Breast $7.11 (1.29/lb)
Pie Crust $1.79
Frozen Spinach $1.50 (4x$1.50 = $6)
= $14.90 Monthly Total $820.79!
Bringing out monthly grand total $820.79 for groceries for our family of 4 and with TONS of food in the freezer.  We spent $112.72 eating out for the month and $86.82 on cleaning stuff.  I plan on buying dog food, vitamins from costco later...
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I've written here about my mortgage troubles with the bank I refinanced with last year. It was not a good experience at all and has continued to suck even a year later with their refusal to drop PMI, etc.
Since my taxes for this year are filed and I now have two years of adequate income in self-employment to show, I started the process to refinance my home.  I contacted my sister's mortgage person and right off the bat this person is about a million times better than the...
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I get a small interest-only payout from my retirement fund each month.  This month (and for the coming year) it was reduced by 15%.  I had to make adjustments in my variables plan, but it will be fine.
This will definitely be temporary, because in January I will have to start taking RMD's, which will yield a higher payout.
I was going to do my March recap, but I remembered that I have to get Easter cards and send $$ to the grandchildren, so my spending for this month...
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Vaccinated!  All of us but DL (because he is not 16 yet).  He will at the least be able to get vaccinated this summer, when he does turn 16.
They had a pop up vaccine event (in our neighborhood), intended to hit the uninsured and less privileged groups.  But...  They had 300+ vaccines leftover.   
I still am in disbelief, honestly.  Not only that one of us got a vaccine, but that we all did.
It will probably take a while to process what all...
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Okay before I decide if I'm going out shopping tonight for a bit more groceries I am at $805.59 for groceries for the month.  That does not include cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper products, or alcohol.  So far we spent $167.14 on alcohol (1/6 keg, $22 beer, and $7 wine) for the month.  I spent $86.82 on cleaning supplies at costco like paper towels, tp, dishwasher pods, laundry, ziplocs, etc.  That means I am all in for $1059.55 for the month on "grocery"...
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Tomorrow we move back to Dad’s house and a week and a half later, we head home. Then I return to work. Change will be the norm for the next couple of weeks.
 
Our annual egg hunt will include only two of the five boys but the addition of three cousins this year, and it’ll be at Dad’s house. I mailed each of the three boys at home a consolation prize. I paid just as much for the shipping as the value of the contents. It was a case where the sentimental value...
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Well a quarter of this year is almost over and it feels like it is just flying by!!
Easter is this weekend and I'm really not feeling it this year so not really going to do anything...and easter sunday daylight savings ends which means dark by 5.30pm and cold...I hate winter and I love daylight savings so not looking forward to the next few months...hopefully we will get a house before it starts getting to cold and wet!
I'm guessing in may when we see the doc we will be getting...
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DH and I got vaccines today.  Pfizer the 1st dose.  We were not eligible but we waited and we got extra doses.  The mass vaccine site this morning had 700+ unclaimed appointments today. So I was calling from 6 am to see what they would say.  I called multiple times and was told first no walk ups.  To well we have a standby list we call.  To well we have standby but we can't guarantee anything.   You just come and show up.  So then I...
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