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In my county in Maryland our property tax cycle is from July 1st through June 30th, so I went online today to see if the new bill had posted and it had. Property tax and various fees for this year's cycle are $3214.14. Last year it was $3194.85, so a modest increase of just $19.29, which was actually an increase in the Water Distribution line item. I should receive the paper bill in the mail this week and then I will just pay it in full online. I just like to be sure the paper...
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I have to start looking at the positive side of things.

I am still employed.


Had major plumbing issues this past month. My DF covered most of the the cost.

I am currently going into the office 4 days a week so that makes me happy.


Not much more to say.
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After looking at July’s budget, I maybe able to knock close to $2,000 off student loan number 1. I’m so excited. Just looking at these numbers gives me life. If things go well I maybe able to knock student loan 1 off by the end of 2021 early 2022.

Someone posted about not worrying so much of paying off the mortgage and focus on the student loan. I reviewed and reviewed and reviewed again and who ever posted was correct. Thank you! Rather than paying the $100 extra on...
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My 2020 goal #2 is to adopt a permanent health-enhancing habit each month. My new health habit for June is to have two resistance training workouts each week.

I have a book that illustrates a few no-equipment-needed strength-building moves for different body parts. I have a health club membership too where I can use machines. This is an area of weakness for me. (I feel like I’ve said that about several of my health habits!) DH is disciplined with workouts but not with diet....
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I said earlier that I needed to apply in July for my ride-free card, even though I don't think I will be riding the trains for a while. I got a letter saying that my benefit has been automatically renewed for another year, due to office closures because of the virus. So yay, I don't have to go through that process.

I didn't do much yesterday. I spent a lot of time reading, because I am reading a book on the Libby app, and I want to be sure I finish it before it disappears....
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Was a bad start to the week, my youngest daughter lost her FT job but she is now on unemployment so that will help her out she decided to go back to college and do social work, she did a transfer from her nursing school and starts late july as a mid year student so things foe her are looking up...but she is still trying to look for a part time job as well while she studies.

Our oldest is doing great with her walking, I decided to do a long walk with her yesterday it was 9.6...
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There are things that I tend to procrastinate about. One is the kitchen pantry. I keep telling myself that I will straighten it up, and then I don't.

Well, today was the day and I did. I had straightened it up when we were first locked down, but I'm sad to admit that a lot of times I tend to put things where it is easiest instead of putting things away like I should. I always mean well, but...

Anyway, I had been saving a few things here and there. One thing was those mesh...
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June is just about over so I updated our portfolio spreadsheet today.

Year to date, we are up $29,687 which is about 2.23%. Back in April when everything was crashing, we were down a lot so there's been a nice recovery.

When you factor in new contributions, however, we are still down. We've invested $53,890 in new money so we're really down $24,203 when you count that.

Still, all things considered, that really isn't too bad. Plus, the market has been so outrageously volatile...
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Though it’s not the end of the month, I wanted to take a look at my budget and how things were going.

Projected income slightly down.

I’m loving not spending any money on gas. Charitable donations way over, this month was the award for the scholarship I do, normally it’s in April.

Once again groceries are over. At first I thought it was because I wasn’t using cash, now I know it’s because everything has gone up. It’s crazy, cleaning supplies are also up....
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I added something new to my short term goals (which, as it is turning out, are not very short-term). My kitchen floor tiles are cracking, and one of them actually started to flake yesterday, so it's on my list to replace the tile floor.

Sigh. Vintage homes.

I asked for three quotes yesterday from Angie's List for the ceiling repair. One is local (in my suburb) and has lots of experience working in vintage homes. He also has numerous good reviews. He asked me to send...
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Today was a milestone day for DS2. He’s moving into his own place. He graduated in May and then started working in a town about a 45-minute drive away. He was unable to get an apartment for months mostly because of Covid-related shutdowns. Property management companies weren’t even showing places. He also had decided only to consider apartments that were biking distance to his work and reasonably priced.

Finally, he found a place that suits him. It’s a two-building complex...
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Test results were negative for my ex's wife, so none of us were exposed to the virus. Whoopee!

Today I am going to proceed with trying to find a contractor for the ceiling. I also need to go to Walgreens to pick up a prescription, and I will buy a few grocery items, too. Any time I don't have to go into a grocery store I consider it a plus. Walgreens is never crowded, and I can buy my few groceries at the pharmacist's window, making it a one-stop visit.

Our state is heading...
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Pay day today, and I added $409.79 to student loan 1, the balance is now $29,000. The odd number balance was driving me nuts. Goal next month is to pay $1,000 on this sucker. I was aiming for that this month, but fell shy, total paid for June $709.79.

The loan is still in forbearance until September 30. If I pay the $1,000 in July, that would put the balance just under what I started with when I started on this journey to repay my debt. That’s definitely a motivator.

The...
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I have not yet heard whether my ex's wife has tested positive. She is supposed to get results today. Till I know whether I need to get a test, I'm just on hold.

I felt productive so I did some extra cleanup in the living room this morning. Swabbed the radiator, deep-vacuumed the furniture, wiped down some areas that usually get a quick dusting. This afternoon I'm going to focus on paper filing. I did finally catch up on my big backlog, but there has been just a bit pile...
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When I look around today I am amazed at the disconnect I see all around. where did reason go?

So many people just not thinking things through I am shaking my head... I have read articles regarding my states plan for pandemic we have had a small amount in comparison to many places but the reactions clearly do not reflect that... I saw a list ranking states by caseload how many case per 100,000 people why would states in the bottom 15 decide to try to follow states in the top...
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So a little off topic here as it doesn't deal with finance but for the last 4 months (and yes we are still looking) I have been helping my mom look for a new rental...it has been frustrating as she is on a fixed income and the rents keep going up here...but the rentals have some weird things attached to them in the last week alone with the houses we have looked at it has stated the tenants of these houses can't use
heating/cooling
garage/shed
patio area
balcony

Seriously...
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My refi was approved, whew! I should be closing next week. I’m so excited to be saving on this mortgage. The savings is about $230 a month.

If I close next week, there will be no July payment, I can sock that payment away to my mortgage sinking fund, and that would put me at 3 months saved, aside from the EF. Once that happens, I can now stop funding this account and throw that money at my student loans.

I was hoping to throw $1000 this month to the student loans but...
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I didn't try to call any contractors yesterday because something else came up. My ex's wife, who was at the Father's Day picnic, is home with a fever and she got tested for COVID-19 yesterday. She won't know until Thursday whether she has it or not. If she does, I have been exposed and I have to get tested.

Until this is resolved one way or the other, I really can't get started on the ceiling, because if I have to quarantine myself, I have to do it at home.

As long as...
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Well it has been a long week and its only hump day here...my daughter was made redundant at her job yesterday...over 100 people let go..they want to try and do more online they said...got no notice they had a meeting at 1 and were gone from the offices at 2...so now she is on the hunt for another job as she lives on her own and has to pay bills...I bought her some food today just so I know she enough to get by for now...

Got my hair colored today..that was a great feeling...and...
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I'm am certainly in need of some oomph. While I'm getting some things done, I am certainly lacking focus. I've always been a person who works better with fewer distractions, and the distractions of the house are starting to erode my focus- along with all the underlying issues going on in the world. But I guess all you can do is keep on keeping on.

I made a list last night that includes a walk, the treadmill, a visit to a framing shop, and the garden center as well as several...
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