All Entries

Cashed out my points, $52, and added it to CC10. I like the idea of using the credit card for bills (e.g. internet, cell, car insurance) and earning points that translate into cash that I use towards my debt.

So long as I manage it, only use for bills, this is a great way to earn a little extra cash. I keep a zero balance in the card, CC9. The points add up quickly.

Feeling excited
[ Read More ]

If you hadn't heard, Ting is adding the Verizon network. They initially had the Sprint network, and then added T-Mobile at some point. Later this year it will be all three networks.

They don't have a date yet, but I will pass along if I hear. I just read that they want to roll out the Verizon option early this year.

It's nice to have the multiple options. At current I am on the Sprint network and MH is on the T-Mobile network. I will probably want to switch over to...
[ Read More ]

Wow can you believe it is feb already...time flies.

The weather here has been crazy drought, week over 110 and busgfires now it is cold and wet which is a nice relief but messing with my health.

Payday this week so have paid what bills are due and done the budget so far things look good..but its only the 2nd so we will see what happens. busy week with docs and tests this week, my doc has ordered some blood tests and scans...we also see the urologist and see where we go from...
[ Read More ]

Ugh, I've been so sick for at least three weeks, it's the cough that never ends. With all that has happened for the last month, I used the online nurse, minute clinic and a clinic at my employer to hopefully resolve all of this once and for all. While I'm no longer so exhausted it took weeks for my hoarseness to go away.

I'm taking an online class to formally know more about the microsoft suite. I only have to pay for the fees and the book. The wife is taking the same class...
[ Read More ]

Income mostly went as expected; I transferred in money from my car replacement sinking fund which was unplanned at the time I made January's budget.



I spent a little less than planned on gas and personal.



My mom's cell phone bill was quite low in January. Other than that, nothing unexpected here.



For January, I am showing car replacement and dental as two separate funds. In reality, it is the same account which has been re-purposed.



Aha! Here...
[ Read More ]

January ended with $700 added to savings and $540 contributed to my Roth IRA. I still need to contribute $1,060 to the Roth to fully fund 2019 by April. I can do this!!!

February also marks the first month in which we will not have income coming from actual employment. It will be just my husband's pension and income from the rental properties. February will be the real test. We will be coming home next week; we miss our sons and our life in NJ.

The house, an emotional purchase,...
[ Read More ]

I think we've always been fairly balanced and there's been an element of "cashing in past frugality" throughout my entire blog. Heck, my husband staying home with kids is probably the epitome of that. But I also think that set us backwards (you know, cutting our income in half) and so maybe it *feels* like it more these days that we are cashing in. There is definitely more to cash in, these days.

I think I am done working OT (for the rest of my life), so that is pretty sweet.

I...
[ Read More ]

For our family January ended on a sad note: FIL died yesterday. He was in hospice so it wasn’t unexpected but still tough to accept.

Yesterday was my fast day too (new habit – one of my 2020 goals) and I survived. Going for two days to get my February day in too was not an option though – 24 hours was as much as I could take. So I’ll plan for another day in February. And I’ve got to decide what my second new health-enhancing habit will be beginning this month.

On...
[ Read More ]

Housing: 773
Vet/Pet Supplies: 223
Utilities: 209
Groceries: 145
Fees/Service: 108
Eating Out: 83
Medical/Health: 51
Phone: 51
Entertainment: 39
Gas: 32
Personal: 27
Laundry: 20
Furnishing/Equipment/Decor: 18
Gifts/Charity: 6
Household Supplies: 6

Grand Total: 1791

This was not quite an uber-frugal month, but I tried. The higher pet care cost was inevitable, and it is really not too bad, considering it includes two vet visits. Fees included a deposit to my...
[ Read More ]

Ended the month with a bang.
For 31 days I challenge myself not to eat out and did just that. It was tough but I did it. So I transferred $31 from my cash envelopes to a saving challenge envelopes.

My word of the year is Fearless, the challenge was to save the amount corresponding with each letter (number) of the alphabet. For example A is the first letter so $1, F is the 6th so $6. Doing this I saved $61 and to my challenge envelope.

Next I started the 52 week challenge...
[ Read More ]

Goal: $784,772 by March 2024

Current retirement balance: $542,038

December 2019 balance: $541,036

Progress since last update: $1,002

Still needed: $242,734

This interim goal is based on getting my and NT's retirement to 4x our salaries (currently $75,120 and $64,118) by the time we turn 50 and AS's retirement values to 3x her annual income ($75,940 in 2018) by the time she turns 45.
$75,120 x 4 = $300,480
$64,118 x 4 = $256,472
$75,940 x 3 = $227,820

It will...
[ Read More ]

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): $87,170
NT's Roth IRA: $42,969
AS's trad. IRA: $21,755
AS's Roth IRA: $64,813
AS's SEP IRA: $42,998
CJ's 401(k): $162,413
CJ's Roth IRA: $47,537
NT's flat: $212,500 (200,000 pounds value x1.25 -15%)
CJ/NT/AS house: $427,281 ($454,554 value -6%)
---
TOTAL ASSETS: $1,181,819

Debts:
US Mortgage $373,430
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000
UK Mortgage...
[ Read More ]

Well, the lead story for today is that my refund check from the warranty company is already in my hands! The guy at the dealership called me this morning, and I went and picked it up. It is more than I remembered -- $874. This is going to help out a lot. I'll be able to pay all my bills this month without juggling money around.

I went to the doctor this morning. It was no charge, since it was my Medicare Wellness Assessment. Everything is fine, but I have to do some labs....
[ Read More ]

For the month of January 2020:

10 gym workouts
2 outdoor runs

12/30/19 weight: 185.7
1/31/20 weight: 181.4

I'm happy with those numbers. Now to keep it up in February and keep that weight number going down.
[ Read More ]

No, not on money stuff. I have been trying to be a good citizen and watch all of this impeachment stuff and I did watch all of the opening arguments, but my gosh, I'm only 3 hours into yesterday's livestream of the question asking and it is so mind-numbingly tedious I just don't think I can do it anymore. I feel sorry for those poor senators. They don't get near enough breaks. They must have bladders of steel. I hope none of them have circulation issues because I can just...
[ Read More ]

Another in a series of NS days. A few of my students told me today they often spend $7-10 on lunch at school. Frankly, I was a bit amazed and pulled my homemade salad in plastic ware out of my bag. Frugal, delicious, and healthy with last night's leftover green beans, dried cranberries, turkey, cukes, and romaine. More cold walks to the free parking today, but it's probably pretty good exercise.

I cashed $25 out of Swagbucks which went into the Big Goal Fund--bringing it over $6125.
[ Read More ]

I'm so mad. My neighbor has brought me three packages that were delivered to her address, not mine, because the labels were screwed up. Why? Because my address has a 1/2 in it. Oh yes. It contains the dreaded slash, an "improper symbol" that a whole lot of address formatting systems will not accept. So people on the mailing end get creative, and my mail goes to Timbuktu.

Three packages is bad enough, but this morning I learned that the $800 check from the warranty company...
[ Read More ]

HR hosted a Medicare webinar this week that all colleagues were invited to attend. Though I’m a decade away from Medicare, I’m not knowledgeable about it and it’s an aspect of retirement planning I should consider. So I attended. I was surprised at how few people attended and I think I was the youngest one. The person presenting the information was not from the company but from an organization that offers Medicare consulting services. The positive aspect of that is that she...
[ Read More ]

When you are inside a developing hill associated with credit debt, you might use debt consolidation reduction companies or even you might attempt to negotiate financial debt difficulties on your own as well as help to make your personal financial debt decrease strategy. Actually, self-help may be beneficial, because by doing this you are able to conserve extra cash and never have to spend a business for his or her providers.

Produce a Financial debt Decrease Strategy within...
[ Read More ]

When you are inside a developing hill associated with credit debt, you might use debt consolidation reduction companies or even you might attempt to negotiate financial debt difficulties on your own as well as help to make your personal financial debt decrease strategy. Actually, self-help may be beneficial, because by doing this you are able to conserve extra cash and never have to spend a business for his or her providers.

Produce a Financial debt Decrease Strategy within...
[ Read More ]