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Home purchasing has rules of thumb. The general rule of thumb is 28% PITI. So your mortgage should be no more than 28% of your income. The second part is 36% of your gross income including all other debts. Meaning if you have a lot of medical, student loans, credit cards, car payments, your entire debt load should be no more than 36% of total income. The flexibility is if you have no other debt you could stretch more and buy more house. Or if you have a lot of student loans...
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I posted a large amount (over 100!) Fall and Halloween Kitchen Towels, Pot Holders, and Oven Mitts. They are low dollar items, but when you have a lot they really add up! Plus they sell great, I have about 90 pending pickup right now!
Sales for the week were $54.00!!

Sale #1806 (SC) $4.00
Fall Kitchen Towels 2pk (2) (Joint with my FIL) - We paid $.80 each
Sold for $2.00 each
Profit = $2.40

Sale #1807 (AW) $20.00
Fall Kitchen Towels 2pk (10) (Joint with my FIL)...
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Here is some advice for handling yellow jackets when you're on a picnic. Bring an apple! As soon as you bite into it, they'll come in for their share. Put the apple in a paper bag and set it some distance away. Voila! You then have a bag full of yellow jackets gorging themselves, too busy to bother you!

Other than the yellow jacket problem, it was a nice day. It was even a little cool; I had to put on a light sweater.

We discussed Thanksgiving plans a little. My ex...
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We closed on our townhome on Friday; it was rather anti-climactic with e-signatures on documents and wire transfers, but we had the keys in hand at 10:00 AM. Purchased it outright. Cost $260,000.

Our rental property is now rented with tenants who signed a two-year lease. Monthly income is $1,650 before expenses. Owned outright. Value of that property is $278,000.

Current home going on the market within the next week. We anticipate $160K after mortgage and fees are paid.

We...
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I hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day. This Labor Day I’m especially grateful to all the essential workers.

Today I did a little laboring in the gym & kitchen. I’m working out 45 min 3x a week plus strength training. I also took advantage of a Labor Day special that the aerial fitness gym was offering: 8 classes for $50. I signed up for all of the level 1 Lyra classes which is 5 classes. All are being taught by my friend so that will be fun. I’ll keep an eye on the...
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The weather in Maryland has been beautiful the last few days! Low humidity, temps in the lower 80’s with a nice gentle breeze. Just perfect. I don’t know if anyone reading is from Colorado, but I saw on the news that they went from 90-degree weather to snow in 24 hours? That’s pretty drastic if true!

Anyway, we took advantage of our nice weather and my brother had a small family cook out on Sunday. We sat outside all day and had fun playing some games and discussing...
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I'm sorry if all I seem to write about lately is the pantry, but it seems to be what takes up a lot of my thoughts and time.

Our kitchen has a small reach in pantry. I was thrilled when we moved here 22 years ago because my previous kitchen was tiny and no pantry. But like my dad said, you always grow into your space. The pantry only had three shelves and the shelves are held up by wood around the three sides and then the shelf sits on the edge of each. A few years ago I found...
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I'm one week behind on logging sales but hoping to get caught up today! Sales for the week were $148.00!!

Sale #1800 (ER) $12.00
Bath and Body Works Lotions (2) - I paid $3.49 each
Sold for $6.00 each
Profit = $5.02

Sale #1801 (KG) $18.00
Bath and Body Works Lotions - I paid $3.49
Sold for $6.00
Profit = $2.51

Pioneer Woman Tic Tac Toe Game (Joint with my FIL) - We paid $5.36
Sold for $12.00
Profit = $6.64

Sale #1802 (JF) $16.00
Crayola Crayons...
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Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day
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The weather has cleared, and we're having our picnic today. As always, a BYOE picnic. I'm bringing chicken sliders, an apple and cookies.

The other day I bought some duct tape and hair clips at Walgreens - $16 -- which I forgot to report. This was before I declared a spending moratorium. Variables are now at 29%. Pretty high for this early in the month, but the service call for the dishwasher is mostly to blame for that.

I spent a quiet day, mostly reading, yesterday....
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We did our first longer distance test run.

Success!!

I suppose one big electric car adjustment is not knowing how much range you are actually going to get. It depends on a few different factors.

Things that helped us along: Some minor stop-and-go traffic along the way, and also some city driving when we drove between relatives' homes.

The thing going most against us: One of the hottest days of the year. A - this directs more energy to cooling off the battery. ...
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The eating out has just got to stop. There are 3 restaurants we can get gluten free food at and we have been abusing that way too much. It's expensive and it isn't as good as what I can cook. I just need to push myself through the exhaustion and do it. Part of my issue is that I keep skipping out on meal planning and not being prepared because of it. Having a plan means not staring at the wall trying to come up with dinner at the last minute. It means knowing what meat to...
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Had a bbq yesterday for fathers day...I ended up so sick it was ridiculous hubby was ready to take back to the er...was only there a few days ago so I said wait...and I eventually got a little better...I almost forgot to call my dad as I was to sick..and I thought I should just do it tomorrow...but I ended up calling him..afterall it was fathers day and even though I was sick my gut just told me to do it...so I did he didn't sound well and hasn't since he had a couple strokes a...
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I have been staying low and keeping myself busy here, limiting who and where I am go. I can't visit my son and DIL as they have gone off for a holiday within our state as our borders are closed for at least until almost Christmas or at least until after the next State election in late October.

We have some cases here but our State open so we can move around and holiday within our state.

You are having a bad time over in US with Covid 19, I hope this Virus is over soon!...
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It's a cool, rainy morning. Quite a change from the weather we've had most of the summer. We were tentatively planning to have a picnic today in the park, but I think it will take place tomorrow, weather permitting.

I'm in another one of those periods where I need to seriously curtail spending -- at least until the 11th when my Discover card enters a new cycle. It should be no problem. I have plenty of food and everything I need on hand. I WILL have to charge a gift for...
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Well today is fathers day so we are having a small bbq witth hubby and his son just a quiet one since we are all recovering.

Monday I will start writing out my moms budget since she moves on thursday and it is easier for her to just open and follow what it says and it makes her not forget what needs to be paid (she is 81) I do most of it for her anyways but I like her to have control of her money as much as she can,,just easier for me to do it all online...once that is done..can...
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Today was an errand day for me. First it was Home Goods to return a few placemats, then Walmart for a few personal care products, next Aldi for fruits, then Target 🎯 to return a fall throw and spray paint, and finally I made my last stop 🛑 my mom’s for a bottle of wine I ordered last month that was delivered yesterday. I wanted to support a friend who is trying to earn some extra cash. It felt good getting out and about.

Since last month I went on a little hiatus...
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My rug was delivered this morning. With it, I got a hard sell for a new pad. Actually, what the guy was saying made sense. I do not have the right kind of pad for an area rug; it is carpet padding, and it's too thick and it makes the rug a hazard to trip over. It also doesn't grip the wood floor the way an area rug pad would. Nevertheless, I don't have the money for it now. I told him I would get a new pad when I send the other rugs in for cleaning. And that won't be for...
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I’m probably the only person in the world who looks forward to sitting down with my budget planner! 😄

I was just thinking about the payroll deferral. Though it doesn’t apply to those making over $104k, I can’t opt out at my full-time job, though I will surely make over $104k this year with my added income. I hope there is not a penalty for the deferral, since I couldn’t opt out. I did remember though, that I’m on track to pay off my car in December so I can use...
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Put $1250 into our house acct so now up to $13,233

Had a few extra expenses with moms move so a little lower than I wanted but getting there
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