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After posting that I paid off my student loan, I was informed that the site was back up and running. So I'm going to try this again. 
I'll post significant milestones here but will continue to update via the Slack channel on progress daily. 
Personal news, I got the COVID vaccine today. I cried while getting it because I was scared. I felt better but after speaking with my neice, a nurse, I was scared again. Outside of a little fatigue and soreness of my arm, I feel...
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So far no side effects. It burned some going in which is normal with other vaccines. My co-worker experienced itching & warmth at the injection site, which I've experienced with other vaccines. After they administered the does they had you wait for 15 minutes then we got to leave. Still feeling fine, but it may hit me in a day or two. I understand the immune response will be greater after the second dose in 3 weeks.
I've read that they've already administered 1.1 millions...
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This week's frugal things1) I atteneded a zoom training hosted by my previous workplace, and got 3 hours of free CEs. It's always nice to be able to get those for free. (2) Sold a couple of things on FB Marketplace. I don't have a glut of things, but I have more than one person needs. I don't think I will ever be a minimalist, but my goal is to sell or give away more things and distill my posessions down to a slightly lower level. (3) Harvested half the remaining carrots. The...
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General life update:  Life is absurd and crazy as ever, so no recent blog posts.  The work I planned to do last weekend was delayed to this weekend.  I am exhausted (emotionally, mentally) but at least have a couple of long weekends to look forward to.  
Also, lots going on financially (sorting out 2020, planning for 2021, college, etc.) so I have a few posts I want to try to get out today.  
I've got final #s for 2020.  
Expenses...
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Oh yes, I am still grading.  It's going faster today, but I had meetings with a couple of people who report to me--one of whom won a big grant.  That's really good news for him.  He's an innovative and caring instructor but with no real job security, so this will help with summer funding and some more stability for him.    His office is next to mine, and I used to see him a lot--and so it was extra fun to Zoom with him and meet his small daughter. ...
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My DD's weddng was put off and has been rescheduled. I had to front all the money. I hope this Covid 19 madness is over by then. After 12 years the mini van was gettting long in the tooth. We got a new vehicle. We were saving since we bought the last one. I hate being in debt. I am old school and don't feel comfortable leasing.Retirement is almost upon me. Where did the time go? I am still frugal as ever. Still living below my means.
If I had it to do all over again I would buy...
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I was fortunate to get the first dose (of two) of my COVID vaccine today. Dose two is in 3 weeks so January 8.
I see COVID patients every day at work so this will certainly make me more comfortable about the potential exposure I face every day. Certainly, I will still take all precautions and wear my PPE at work and my mask outside of work, but at least I know I'm far less likely to get ill if I do get exposed to the virus.
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Another cloudy day in Central Illinois. I think this is what makes winter so difficult, the gloominess. We won't mention the cold and the frozen precip, but...
I guess the cloud cover tends to make me feel a little blue. I have no reason to feel that way. 
The past couple of weeks have kept me busy delivering stuff for our church's group. In the past we went as a group to deliver hats to schools and non profits, but this year, I did it solo. I delivered hats and scarves...
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As promised, I am reporting that today I scheduled my final payment on student loan number 1. It feels so good to know that I am finally making some traction. 
 
I’ll admit, I don’t think I would have had it not been for the COVID-19 and a freeze on interest. If this continues through 2021, I can pay off my second loan in six months and start tackling the third one. 
 
That’s it for now. I created a Slack channel
https://join.slack.com/t/savingadvice/shared_invite/zt-jk3mscxf-xeM0Rk9Za_8o~dFT_Jw7bQ...
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All the regular bills have been paid for the month. And my net worth including real estate and etc is about 10k short of a million and I feel pretty good about that personally but I think of everyone who has lost their lives or their job and etc due to covid. I worked hard and it paid off by this security but I'm privileged and lucky.  I still have another 10 years to work before I can retire unless we figure out something else for health insurance. Also I know that now that...
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I'm taking the day off today (and the whole last week of the year off, too), so I decided to do some catch-up on my records.
My retirement savings hit a new hundred-thousand mark, only 7 months after hitting the last hundred-thousand dollar benchmark.  At this rate, I'll have a million by the time I am 65.5, but I'm not counting on that.  I'm expecting we'll have another recession to dig out of that will slow things down, but I'm optimistic in the long term for Wall...
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I have made two Instacart orders in the last few days, totalling $100.  One is from the local Jewel store -- those items will be delivered this afternoon.  The other is a pickup from Aldi, which I will make on Monday.  I chose not to go inside either store.  With the virus worse than it's ever been, it's just not worth it.
I have promised a casserole and a pie for Christmas dinner, and these orders will insure I have all the ingredients, as well as enough basics...
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I had requested early this month to drop the PMI since I now have 22% equity in the house. It's not a lot of money, but I was excited about this milestone and putting $40 extra each month towards the principal balance. I heard back from my Credit Union mortgage person. The CU is still the servicer of the loan although some other company purchased my mortgage a few months ago. 
She told me that she is going to let the company holding my mortgage know to see if this is possible....
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With only a $220 contribution in the last 11 days, our retirement has gone up by $678.53, so $458.53 of that is profit.  Our new balance is $41,091.46.  May it continue to roar.
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The Christmas bonus came, but it was not what DH was told.  He was told it would be $500 after taxes, but no, it wasn't.  It was $500 before taxes.  Everyone is a little bummed out, because why say one thing and do another?  Anyway, the actual amount was $350.48.  But I broke $9K and any bonus is better than no bonus.
$8739.48 Previous Balance
+_350.48 Amount Added
--------------
$9090.32 New Balance
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As my back starts to calm down it is getting easier to get around and even to stand in one spot, although that is the hardest thing for me.  Sitting up straight still hurts, but not to the point that I can't do it, so I am back in my computer chair instead of the recliner.  Standing in one spot hurt less today, but still hurt too much to scrub the dishes.  I'm hoping by the weekend I can pick that task up again and empty the sink.  DH is trying his best, both...
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For the first time we will no longer be cash-poor, paycheck-to-paycheck survivors eeking by.
We are set to close on the sale of the old house 1/15-1/25.  After we reimburse our kids accounts and parents, we are expecting $90K left over.  Value of townhome recently purchased cash: $260K, value of rental property owned outright: $300K with passive annual income of $20K (annual expenses $6K, net profit $14K).
I am committed to having goals and being proactive.  We...
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As we are getting closer to ending this hellish year and starting fresh with 2021, I have been thinking about what my financial goals should be in the new year.
I know I want to get out of credit card debt.
I know I want to complete a $5000 savings challenge. (This would probably be conucurrent with getting out of debt.)
I know I want to increase my 403b contributions.
I know we want to continue monthly contributions to our church.
But other than that, I don't know what we...
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Thank you all for the warm welcome back!  
I wanted to describe my debt consolidation.  Over the summer, I was so overwhelmed by my credit card debt, and did not have an avenue to consolidate it myself (personal loan, HELOC, etc).  I had been getting lots and lots of mail from companies offering to consolidate and had spoken to one or two of them, and finally decided to give it a shot.
I went with JG Wentworth, as they had strong name recognition, and felt...
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Today was a really good day all around. As well as reaching my $1 million investment goal, my Experian report updated & my FICO score is now 850! It may not last, but I am enjoying that achievement as well. 
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