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I mentioned in a previous post that we rented a large home to take all the kids and grand kids to in early December, which will be our gift to everyone.

I also wanted to get each of the grand kids a little something to remember the trip by. So I went online to Kohl's and their Big Super-soft throws were on sale for 50% off, or 14.99. By the time the Kohl's cash and rewards was added, (which I will use for friend gifts, and stocking stuffers) each blanket was $9.14. NOT BAD...
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Interesting year. We are up out networth by about $290k. We are down in debt so far by $26k for the year (paid off car loan which was $12k at start of 2020). We drive paid for cars as of this month. Refied our mortgage from 7/1 arm at 3% till 2024 to 27 year fixed at 2.875% for $900. Breakeven point is in 9 months. We plan on sticking it out for 3 years.

Our assets are up $265k for the year between saving and investments. I'm thinking we'll end the year up around $300k...
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I ordered a cover for our 5th wheel today to protect it from the elements going forward. I should have done this much sooner, but at least I have done it now. It cost $230 (free shipping) and the potential savings it will ensure makes it a very worthwhile expense.

We purchased the 5th wheel a few years ago after wearing out our previous trailer. Our goal when we bought the 5th wheel was to have something that could become our Plan B for living arrangements or at a minimum,...
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It is funny watching the news and see how rampant the virus is in other countries...our country freaks out at one state that was having several hundred cases a day..they went into lockdown...and now are averaging around 15 but still in lockdown a few things have changed but not many for most other states we have lived a normal life everything has been back to normal for months..we still sanatize everything and social distance...but not much else...we haven't had any cases for months...except...
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This was an uneventful Monday. I washed my sheets and towels. I heated up a pizza. I took a walk, this time into the city -- yeah, it's a very short walk to the Chicago border. I immediately turned around once there, but I did notice that there has been a lot of remedial work on the lakeshore where there was significant erosion. I was glad to see that. I also saw a guy who looked like everybody's stereotype of a white supremacist (leather vest, American flag patches, shaved...
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I started this off as a reply to another blog, then realized that I was writing a blog entry! 😹

My weekend was good. I started it off by taking a 4.23 mile walk around the university lakes after work. I know the exact distance because I logged it with my Fitbit Versa. I walked a brisk 4 mph. The weather was beautiful!

Saturday morning I had Lyra class. I stopped by my parents’ afterwards & visited for a while. I brought them muffins & cereal from Sprouts. Then I came...
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This weekend, while not as productive for my decluttering goals, was a very good one.

DD3 got the keys to her new home and so the weekend was all about moving. Since I am dealing with sciatica, on Saturday, the hub and I took the baby so mommy and daddy could pack.

On Sunday morning, the hub and I took a drive (back roads to a little historical town.) It was BEAUTIFUL. We stopped at a bagel cafe and had bagels and coffee. The cafe is in an old brick building with creaky...
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I haven't seen you post in a while, hope everything is OK!
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The hub and I have not dined out much since March. Instead, the hub has really practiced and dialed in his smoking and bbqing skills and techniques. I have done the same with my baking and cooking skills. Needless to say, we have ate much cheaper, healthier and conveniently from home for months.

We live out in the country. We are about 30+ minutes away from most restaurants. So, in order to eat out, its at least an hour travel time (there and back) then seating, ordering...
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It turned out I could not drop off my ballot until October 19. Since I didn't want to wait that long, I took it to the post office. I decided to go to the post office in a neighboring suburb where parking is easy and which is near my favorite burger place! I spent $10 on a drive-thru lunch, a nice diversion. It gave my car a little exercise, too.

Variables are at 7%.

In response to Lots of Idea's good comments, I decided that putting the full $300 extra on my mortgage...
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September saw a spike in spending but some of that was work-related and I will get reimbursed so I need to adjust for that.

It looks like we're right around $5,475 for our monthly average when I tease out that other stuff.

Of course, I also bought a car in September but I'm not counting that in our monthly spending average since it's a one-time pre-planned event, not part of our everyday budget.

Even with the increase, we're still running almost $1,200/month lower than...
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Can't believe it is october already...It was pay week this week and we have paid all bills and have money put into our home account...only need $35,462 now for our deposit..sounds like a lot but it is coming down each month...hoping to put some more in there during the month.

I did spend a bit on christmas gifts that I bought this week but that money will go back in december when my christmas money is available...

I have so many appointments coming up and already have them...
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Final Phase of New Home 2020 is underway.

We closed on the townhome 9/4. We decided to have an odd wall between the smallish formal living room and family room removed ($981) and had the main living areas painted along with kitchen cabinets painted ($2,500). Movers were last week for $760 (definitely worth it as we haven't moved in 15 years and in that time my significant other and our parents have all aged a lot)!

Monday we have the cleaners coming in at the OH (old...
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I got my mail-in ballot in the mail yesterday. I am going to devote some time today to researching the judges who are running for election/re-election. When I am done with my ballot, I'm taking it the drop box at City Hall. I doubt there is any real problem with the mail, but this way I won't be adding to the perceived burden.

I picked up my new reading glasses yesterday. What a crisp, clear image they create! I can get a pair every year -- much cheaper than the drugstore...
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2020 TALLY:
 
$700 Cash (Chase Sapphire Quadruple Dip, Moi) ~ MAYBE?
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$700 TOTAL *ONE-TIME REWARDS*
 
**In addition, various monthly rewards that I will tally at 12/31
 
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POST FROM 2018: I think I probably would have mostly passed (on one-time bonuses) this year given all my employment upheaval. Life has been CRAZY this year and I am being ultra protective of my credit score since I work in the financial industry. It's always been like 800+, but I just don't feel like it's the year to open 5 new credit cards in my name. Might raise some eyebrows during any employment consideration. (& I am probably just being overly cautious, but that is how I roll).
 
2019:...
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Assets:
NT's UK pensions:
AV: 22,397 pounds ($27,996)
SW: 29,047 pounds ($36,309)
FL: 6,462 pounds ($8,078)
NT's 401(k): $93,680
NT's Roth IRA: $48,994
AS's trad. IRA: $22,594
AS's Roth IRA: $71,675
AS's SEP IRA: $52,334
CJ's 401(k): $169,215
CJ's Roth IRA: $53,734
NT's flat: $212,500 (200,000 pounds value x1.25 -15%)
CJ/NT/AS house: $592,200 ($630,000 value -6%)
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TOTAL ASSETS: $1,389,309

Debts:
US Mortgage $375,000
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000
UK Mortgage...
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$559.00 Balance Forward
+_91.00 Leftover Grocery Money from last payday
+_50.00 Money Mom Owed Me
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$700.00 New Balance
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$318.49 Tithe
_500.00 Utilities
_400.00 Grocery Envelope
_700.00 Medical Fund
__75.00 Household Envelope
_115.17 Internet
__36.00 Garbage
_100.00 Car Insurance Fund
_100.00 Gas Money
_100.00 Spending Money Adults
_120.00 Allowances Kids
_200.00 Christmas/Gift Fund
_100.00 Clothing Envelope
_300.00 Cell Phone Fund
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3164.66 Total Money Out

The Christmas/Gift Fund is now up to $900. I will definitely meet my goal of $1200 by Christmas (one of the things...
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$7868.55 Balance Forward
+_526.83 Amount Added
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$8395.83 New Balance

$1604.17 to go to hit my next milestone of $10,000.
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This month is a 3 paycheck month, which happens twice a year. Nothing really changes for me as so many of my bills are paid biweekly: mortgage, car loan, credit cards. I alternate paying my two credit cards every other paycheck. My auto loan is still on track to be paid off the last paycheck of December, which is coincidentally, on Christmas. Merry Christmas to me!

My investments were up exactly $69,500 from the end of the second quarter. The power of time in investing really...
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