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My BJs membership was up for renewal in early January; each year they increase the membership fee and it's currently $60, which is a fee I don't like paying since buying for one makes it debatable whether or not paying that fee is worth it. However, my grocery price comparisons tell me that many BJs foods are priced at a level comparable to Aldi's, and certainly cheaper than big supermarkets like Stop & Shop or Big Y.
So I wrote to BJs customer service yesterday and explained...
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It is a done deal.  My house is free and clear. 😀
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Thank you to everyone who has  been on this journey with me, you know how difficult it's been, how long it's been and I'm just so excited to share with you. 
My bonus hit my account today and I paid $2000 (all of it) on my student loans . Once the payment post which will probably be either be Friday or Monday, my new balance will be just over $12,000. I'm hoping that with my first job, my full-time job, that I get a bonus. If I do, I'm throwing it all at the student...
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So our govt gave students 20% off their loans this year and if you paid them off after the 1 june then you got the 20% in cash...I paid mine off in august...was waiting for the 20% but it took to long so just paid it off. So I ended up with around $5400 to add to our savings...so that was nice.
Christmas shopping is done although hubby had his phone stolen yesterday so annoyed as he has only had it 6 weeks so now we have to get another one today so frustrating...hopefully we can...
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I've had my November recap done for a while, but I just keep forgetting to post. 
Here's how it shook out:
My largest expense, as almost always, was housing, but right after that was gifts and charity. I donated to two of my grandchildren's college funds, and my son had a birthday.
Utilities were a little low, since my gas bill did not hit until December 1. Right after that was vacation expense, most of which was attributed to my trip to Oregon, which wrapped around the...
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I have been a little discouraged lately, so I haven't been blogging.  I'm still struggling and making bad choices.  I can see that I really need to get serious but I also need to figure out WHY I am not making this a top priorty.  
 
 
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One of my volunteer groups is planning a little holiday luncheon next week at one of my favorite local eateries. Just 5 of us. 
I've become inspired to try to make some tree ornaments made out of pinecones, cinammon sticks, berries and ribbons. I just need to get the cinammon sticks. I also have some small white birch logs sitting in the driveway since summer and I want to cut a few slices of them up to serve as a small base for a pinecone "tree."
I stopped at Tractor Supply...
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November ended up being crazy.  My Dad fell and broke a bone almost a year to the day he had a similar accident.  Last year he broke his hip (a very minor fracture, he walked ~2 miles home afterwards).  This time he landed on his arm and broke his arm.  Anyway, he fell on his leg and his arm, just before I arrived at their house.  We tried again re: getting some estate stuff taking care of (on a week day).  Didn't think too much about it, but his wrist...
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I initially wrote the first half of this in January 2025, then totally forgot about it.  So take the first half as from January, the second half as of December.  It is what it is...
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Nah, I don't think there will be a new me this year.   I'm the type that doesn't wait for new year to set resolutions.  The only thing I am doing more of this year is listing things on ebay to sell.  Things have sold, but I have only netted...
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I paid a little bit extra on my mortgage today to get the year-end balance to a round $20,000.
Total debt as of today is $30,242, just $242 from my end-of-year goal.
It's a nice booster for a very busy week.  The custodians (Fidelity, Schwab etc) have deadlines for submitting requests for things like Qualified Charitable Distributions, Roth conversions, or Required Minimum Distributions.  As the managers, we can handle transactions in client accounts when they are all...
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MM(22) Oct 2025 'Gifted College Fund': $13,759 (+$5K ROTH)
MM(22) Nov 2025 'Gifted College Fund': $9,115 (+$5K ROTH)
Rent is paid through 12/31.
$3,450 deducted for winter tuition.
Note:  Paying full price tuition.  No financial aid; middle class grants have been exhausted.  (Technically $3,900 full price, but I am covering the 'tax credit' portion.)
I am itching to cross off his tuition as paid and done (Year 5) but I just paid for the winter quarter. ...
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I haven't posted since the end of August so time for an update.
Nothing earth shattering to report. We did do a couple of getaways. In October we went to Lancaster, PA for 3 nights. We had just been there in August but on that trip we discovered that Kitchen Kettle Village, a quaint shopping area, had rooms scattered throughout the village so we booked a stay there. Opposite end of town from where we usually stay and it made for a totally different kind of trip. I really enjoyed...
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It's my birthday in 3 days! Celebrating another great month of gains & a positive year overall. Cheers to more of the same.
I can't recall if I mentioned it earlier, but I was to receive a settlement from work. Yesterday I checked my mail (I only check it once a week) and I found the check in the mail. It's a nice time of year to receive some unexpected money! I'm not doing anything with it specifically, other than making sure my debt is paid off.
My sister already sent some...
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TSP $1,536,798
IRA $451,212
Brokerage $13,534
Sub-total Investments $2,001,544
Savings $3,566
Home Equity $142,000
November Net Worth $2,147,110
October Net Worth $2,139,421
Monthly Loss/Gain $7,689
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Wow, it's just wild to me that it's already the end of the year. I started working on my 2026 Annual Budget this weekend! I have to wait to see how a bunch of things shake out before I finalize it, but I did what I could at this point.
We had very small increases to our retirement and paid off about $1800 of debt principal, so we had a $6K increase to our net worth. Since it appears impossible that we'll pay off our HELOC by the end of the year, which was my deadline before I...
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My mother is going to lend me 11k until next August. I will save as much as I can between now and then, then withdraw from my Roth to pay her.
I'm not going to get a HELOC. Instead, I'm going to enjoy owning my home free and clear. 😀
If the mail cooperates, I will be paying off the mortgage note this week.
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I hope that everyone who celebrated had a wonderful holiday with their friends and loved ones. 
I received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that my lender will not be able to write me a new note at all. The issue has to do with the lender being a licensed mortgage broker in California, but not in Illinois. When my current note was written, the rules allowed one out-of-state note per year.  Since then, the rules have changed. Now the lender would have to become licensed...
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For Thanksgiving I'm picking up dad and then heading southwest to meet my cousin and her friend for an early dinner at a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (expensive, especially if you like to drink...I think it's $50 a person, not including alcohol or tip). But we're a small group and no one wants to cook. I'll be home by dark at around the time most families are just starting to sit down at the table. I'm looking forward to it though I dislike the drive.
I love turkey with gravy, stuffing,...
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I have a few separate friends that want me to join them in a road trip of some kind.  I find it interesting that, even though these three people are all unrelated from each other, they have all caught some kind of wanderlust somehow.  Is it the season, the weather, or just pure coincidence?
Regardless, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea.  Even though I'm mostly a home-body, road trips aren't terribly expensive, and it is probably a good idea to get out there once...
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Go to the Forums section, click on the Login link in the upper right, click Forgot Password and they will email a link to set a new password.  Seems functionality on the blogs is weird as new posts aren't showing up once you click into them.
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