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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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Last fall I canned. A lot it seems, at least for us. The challenge was to find storage for all the jars of this and that and to be honest, we had some of it sitting on open shelves. I figured we weren't going to entertain so who cares if they are out.
Well, we've used a lot of the stuff I've canned and now I have empty jars. Fortunately I can store them somewhere besides the inside of the house.
We've bought other things with glass jars and my husband is always kidding me because...
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Debts
Mortgage -$$121,148.76 (-$233.35)
Savings
Roth IRAs +$19,732 (+$355)401K +$38,836 (+$2,005)Emergency Fund +$8,478 376 (+$102)Animal Fund +$1,060 (+$0)Truck Fund +$1,205 (-$0)HSA +$1,175  (+$116)
Overall: +$2,801.35
 
Still plugging along. Kitchen remodel budget actually doubled but thankfully I also got a web design job which covers the entire amount. After we get a few more little saving items done and replenish the car fund I will probably start bumping...
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This will, unless something crazy happens, be the last accounting of grocery spending for this month.  I have everything I need to get me through the week, and by the next time I need to go to the store, it'll be April
3/27 - Stop & Shop
7.49 - 2 lbs of strawberries (this annoys me.  I've been getting the 2 lb package on sale for either 5 or 5.99 the past few weeks.  They had the 1 lb packages on sale at 3/$10, but I didn't need 3 lbs, so I wrestled with...
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I’m not a big online shopper and with no in-person social events, most work meetings moved to zoom, and only my BF ever coming into my apartment, I have put off a lot of routine purchases. Since this is a personal finance site, I figured I’d post a few spending snapshots now that they world is slowing reopening with vaccination.  These don’t include regular budget categories, just variable expenses. I’m not a spender by nature and have stopped budgeting...
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Looked at more houses today...one was okay the other one not so much...this has got to be one of the most frustrating things we have ever had to do....who would think renting a house when you have decent income would be so hard...not sure what is going on but it is frustrating...fingers crossed we get a house soon!!
we have 3 storage units and 2 alone cost us $722pm so wince the movers packed one of them we are thinking of restacking it and trying to get it down to 1 unit to save...
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I have applied for two promotions at my workplace. I would be happy with either one, but I am leaning towards the one that is more computer than lab. My co-worker has recommended me for the other position, however. I am honored that he thought of me & put in a good job word for me with my xxxxxxx. My xxxxxxxalso called to ask if I had applied for either position & seemed pleased when I told her that I had applied for both. Our xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx has also inquired as to whether...
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Glad to work with the tax guy virtually. Taxes are filed and the state refund is already in the bank. I'm glad to have this done even though there's an extension.  I also opened up an additional retirement account at work because one time in my life I took it as a challenge to see how much money I could siphon off my paycheck without noticing and live on less. As a single parent living as lean as possible so I could take care of myself in retirement was a smart thing. It seems...
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March has been a very spendy month (for me) so far. I purchased:
The treadmill I have been researching for a few months. I need to increase my exercise and I love walking. But the weather here just isn't consistent enough for me to be able to walk outside a lot. I don't tolerate heat very well so with summer coming I needed a solution. I looked on Facebook Marketplace but the few I found for sale were really old, very bulky and heavy, and just more then I needed. Plus I would...
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I feel like most of my entries this month have been about the grocery challenge, so I wanted to write one on a day that I did not have grocery spending to report to try to capture my other finance related updates!
Stimulus & 2021 Goals:  Last week, I did indeed get my $1400 stimulus payment, and directed it as planned.  I have not yet paid off the smaller card account, as I'm managing some cash flow, but I will by next Monday (expecting a transfer from somewhere...
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I took a short walk to Walgreens yesterday and picked up a prescription refill for $3.  I intended to take the long way home and get more exercise, but my toe was bleeding -- irritation from the shoe I was wearing.  I was also feeling some acid reflux, so I just wanted to get home.
Variables are at 83%, with five days to go.  That is good, but my savings have taken a hit, with buying a phone and getting panoramic x-rays at the dentist.
I finally talked with the...
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I found a rewards card from my job and I checked and there was $20 on there. I hate using these prepaid credit cards so I used it to pay my electric bill $20 so I wiped the card clean and don't have to worry about not using it or losing it.  I find it easiest to use them immediately and on something like a bill because trying to track prepaid VISA cards are ridiculous.But I'm also going to try and use up all of our gift cards for restaurants and stuff this summer.  My...
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I just returned from a three week vacation to visit my sister and her family. My parents are abroad during the pandemic, so it will be a while until I get to see them. But, they have received their first doses as well and will get their second doses in two weeks. So, everyone in my immediate family except my brother in law is vaccinated, and this gives me an immeasurable amount of relief. This was my first vacation since the pandemic began. It felt so good to get out of town and...
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It is official. We closed the contract on the previous primary residence. It was not without anxiety and chaos, but nothing really to retell as it all worked out in the end (as of 9:00 AM CST this morning).  
We are now currently mortgage free, paying cash for our townhome in September 2020.
We also own our rental property outright, and that yield $1,650 monthly passive income.
We deposited the equity check into our savings account today and will move it to Vanguard...
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I have been MIA for a few weeks, we are still couch surfing which really sucks but still haven't got a house...weird we are classed as homeless but can afford to pay rent (usually pay more than $2000pm) but still no house we are looking at about 5 plus a week...so fingers crossed we get something soon...our oldest has bipolar and isn't coping well not living with us and house sharing with people who don't really regard anyone but themselves...so we go spend the day with her and...
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A few weeks ago I happened upon 3 books at a thrift store for 50 cents each: "The Tightwad Gazette," and the next two volumes. So, for the sum of $1.50 and tax, I had all three books. Normally I get books from the library, but our library has been getting rid of older books (I'm not happy about it either), so they do not have these books. 
I just finished reading them. Yes, I realize they were set in the 1990s, but some things still ring true. I honestly think a lot of the...
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So I'm not a big proponent of the "latte" factor. I don't think that lattes add up to much.  Maybe they do when you have low fixed costs, big income, and spend more than you make.  But when you live pretty reasonably, aren't a big spender but can't make ends meet, there usually is a bigger picture problem.  Most often the culprit?  The house or the car payments.  Usually those are out of line with the income.  The rule of thumb is 28% mortgage, 32%...
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Well, yesterday was expensive, as I expected.  Not only did I order a new phone, but at the dentist's office it was time for panoramic x-rays, so the cost for that and cleaning was $254.  Then I got my fancy haircut.  I say fancy, because I went to an upscale salon, and I paid the price - $70 for the haircut and $14 for a tip, because I'm not going to stiff the stylist, who did such a good job.  Yes, I do like the haircut.  I kept my hair longish, but he...
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It's been fun, 5th wheel loan.  Hasta lu bye-bye.
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Crazy Crazy Week(s)!
Things just went from 0 to 60.  Schools are opening back up (in person) this week.  We hosted guests for the first time in a year (St. Patty's Day dinner).  MH got jury duty.
& then College...
So far, we have ruled out the more expensive and more far away private colleges.  It's official that MM(17) will stay in state.  It's a super rough year on the college front, I already mentioned.  But the east coast college had 70%...
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