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Celebrations for this update:
-$1504.73 paid off in the last 2 weeks!!!
-Only two more payments left on the Store Loan!!
-My Mortgage went under the next $1000 mark and under $140,000!!
-Race #2 went under the $1000 mark!!
-Total Debt went under the next $1000 mark!!


Student Loan $0
Payback Savings $0
David's Bridal $0
Scheel's Card $0
Total Rewards $0
LOC - US Bank $0
Ring Iddeal $0
Best Buy $0
HELOC $0
Store Loan $254.66
Mom Loan #2/#3 $28,359.55
MO...
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Well, it's reassuring to have a pay day, and to be able to pay my bills. I am concerned for all those affected by the shutdown of restaurant services. I am also concerned about DIL's business, which is event planning. When are people going to want to plan events again? I'm very worried about how the business will survive the next few months. It's so weird; she went from dreading a very busy weekend, to cancellations, to a dire outlook. My son is the main breadwinner, but...
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I ell these last few weeks have been extremely exhausting for me.

First my mom hit me for $1500 that I totally forgot about, significantly reducing my EF. I’d borrow the money from her about five years ago. I tried paying her back and she wouldn’t take the money. Honestly I forgot about it, well she asked for it. Was I annoyed? Absolutely but I owe it and I’m done with it. She was upset because I took my $100 she owed me, for paying her cable bill. Either way, we’re...
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Well, schools aren't closed here. The class trip and parents evening has been cancelled.

The cinema is shut. McDonald's is o it drive-thru and takeaway.

I put my hands up and admit to using my credit card to do a grocery order. Got some extra tins but nothing extreme. Anyway I've realised I'll still be at work during all of this so there was really no need. I've just been witnessing at work how crazy people can get. Epic fail but we'll recover.
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My DH and i have been talking about pulling my DD out of her part-time grocery store job. She really likes the job, but we are nervous about everyone that goes into that place. I've had several bouts of pneumonia and we both have asthma. So today, despite her disappointment, I e-mailed HR to pull her for the duration. I think it was the right thing.

And I have to say I feel so much better with her home. I knew it was making me anxious, but I wasn't sure just how anxious....
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I've tried every avenue that is "open" -- I put that in quotes because nothing is open -- to get tested. I have given up. Thank goodness I am not very sick. There must be people who are going to die because they can't get through the barricades to get real help.

All I can get from my doctor is the phone number for a hotline. The hotline refers me to a FAQ website. Another option is to do an "evisit." It costs $35 and is not covered by insurance. If I were sicker I would...
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The company has sent a memo that there will be no compensation increases this year. It’s disappointing for sure but understandable given the uncertainty of the economy. Now I know for planning purposes to count on my current minimum income.

We had a fun Monopoly game night last night after corn chowder for dinner which was a hit too.

Our state just closed bars and restaurants.

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I think I will be holding on to the extra cash for now that was going to go to extra debt payment. Hopefully I won't need it for anything, but considering the crisis, I'd rather have it in the emergency fund since it is pretty low. If this passes in the next couple of weeks then it will go to debt. I will still make at least $1000 a month payment, though.

I mean, it seems like DH will just be able to work from home and we won't have any income disruption, but I just want...
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WOOHOO I paid off the CC today which means we are now debt free again...so starting next pay we are starting to get the ice acct updated again...
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It's official, I'm done funding all $7K on my 2019 Roth IRA. I just set up a $120 contribution (one month ahead of schedule). I won't be able to begin 2020 Roth until next month. We have some unforeseen expenses that we want to cash flow this month.

School is not in session for at least a month here and there is talk that it will be for a much longer time. The governor of New Jersey instituted an 8:00-5:00 curfew today and Teaneck, NJ is completely quarantined. That's not too...
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We got the taxes done last week and amazingly, we didn't owe. It's confusing since our tax guy told us it would be a large amount which we set aside to pay. The money we set aside, we'll use some for a big project at the cabin but save the rest. We're getting a little refund but it might end up going to all the additional spending for extra food and etc.

Because we went to the cabin 90 minutes away in another state for spring break, I have to self quarantine myself for 3 days....
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I felt almost normal yesterday but in the evening the symptoms came back. I messaged my doctor about my case for getting tested, but it still seems a remote possibility.

I am thinking about food. I am very accustomed to stretching food, so I'm not panicked, but before I sequestered myself, I just did a normal grocery shop so I don't have especially large stores. Here are meals I have available:

Pizza (2 meals)
Loaded Potato Soup (at least 2 meals)
Eggs (more than a dozen,...
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Last night I emailed my manager at work, asking to work from home for an as-yet-undefined period of time because I truly feel showing up there is an unnecessary risk.

We are a small office, about 9 people, but I see no reason not to leverage modern technology to work remotely. My work as copy editor lends itself to it.

I got the go-ahead this morning; manager let it be known they were working with IT on a solution for others to work from home "in the event" they needed to.

Wow,...
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Well hubby has seen the doc and he know has his day surgery organised, a ct scan and then he will start treatment...he just wants it started and then over with..so glad our hospital is still doing surgeries etc..he is going a bit stir crazy in the house as he is a pretty social person but he is coping.

My daughter and I got our flu shots today and did some extra shopping so we don't have to go out to much just enough to keep us in fresh food and doc appts.

Shopping here was...
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Fear saddens me.

Fear and panic create bad decisions.

Yes, as with everyone, this has impacted us and our girls.

I will not let fear weaken my resolve or my immune system.

I will walk outside. I will talk to my neighbors.

I believe in a higher source that knows all and can create peace out of chaos.

We will all have a story to tell when this ends. I will tell my story then.

(Please take care of your health. That may mean you need to step away from...
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Welp, it isn't just WA state military and their families, it is all military and their families who have been advised not to travel anywhere for 60 days. It's coming. I don't want to be an alarmist, but I would highly recommend if you don't have enough food in your house for 60 days, you better get on it. IT is past time. From what I have seen, the Asian markets still have lots of food because people are treating them like they are the cause of the virus. Also, I'd look at...
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My last blog post from about a month ago seems to be gone. But that was another lifetime, concerned with normal things like my annual raise and saving for retirement.

We are in a new reality now, amazingly quickly.

Last Sunday, I went to brunch with my best friend in anticipation that it would soon not be advisable to do that. Last Sunday, PA had 6 presumptive or diagnosed cases and none in the local counties. Today, we have 63 cases, including the first case in my city...
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Our governor just had a news conference and closed all restaurants and bars as of Monday evening through March 30th.

Last week all schools were closed starting Tuesday until March 30th.

Most churches are suspending services and those that can are going to streaming. No activities for two weeks.

Lots of panic shopping going on as far as the news reports -- cleaning out supplies of all kinds.

DH wonders if the governor will suspend travel in the state as well.

I...
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I’m a planner by nature so I’m directing any anxiety about the current situation to our logistics. The boys are off school for at least two weeks. DS2’s college extended spring break so he just extended his visit with our families in the south. He’ll fly home in a week. I’m hoping that travel is safer then with international flights discontinued. He also connects in Charlotte rather than one of the mega-airports. If his college makes a decision to complete the semester...
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Life is slowing down enough to blog.

Reminder to give blood if you are able. I am having mixed feelings about it. I hadn't given blood in a while, for health reasons. I decided to re-evaluate next week and that I may be able to give blood in this case. Not sure, but just sharing as a reminder to those who are able to give blood.

MH is currently overwhelmed with empathy for our neighbor. We don't really know them from Adam, but the wife was very pregnant. Anyway,...
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