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We just had a tornado watch, and now the temperature has dropped again.  Kind of wild with one day at 90F (32C) during the day, and now it's like 30F (-1C) at night.  I'm back to dripping my faucet and turning my humidifier back on, and going from shorts and T-shirt back to sweat pants and sweat shirt with a jacket again.  This has been a wild week.
I am also trying to get my HoA to approve of a tree removal in my backyard.  It's already dead, and while we...
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Hey, everyone!
I decided to change my name from Rob62521 to DK62565 since my last name has changed as has my zip code. 
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Years ago there was a little slogan that made the rounds that said, "Happiness is Homemade."
I think for a crafter, that is often the case. There's something immensely gratifying about making and creating something whether it is in the kitchen, the craft room, or the shop.
My mom taught me how to crochet many years ago. I'm not an expert by any means, but I've made quite a few things throughout the years. My mom could have been the expert crocheter; I'm not as talented as she...
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I'm looking forward to Violet's arrival in a few weeks. Her jet-setting parents are headed to France this time around and she and I will be visiting for about a week-and-a-half, during which time I envision many enjoyable long walks. I had her last September also.
I waste a lot of time watching other people's reels featuring their incredible cats, dogs or donkeys doing amazing things. There's the very hard-working Turkish man who helps his aging parents run their farm, and every...
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Just to wrap up loose ends, I expressed concern here in the past about the Qingping air quality monitor I'd bought and the consistently yellow ("slightly high") VOC readings I was getting from it. This won't likely be of much interest to anyone except possibly Tabs since I think he may have also picked up an air quality monitor.
I think my air is fine but it's good to know there are 2 units of measure you can choose your readings in: parts per billion, which is what I'd set...
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Here in Australia you have to have your spouses permission to do anything when it comes to joint accounts etc, my hubby has a hard time understanding (his hearing isn't great) foreign workers talking on the phone so he tells them to talk to me but they say they can't he has to discuss things if it is his card or account ( we have seperate mad money accounts). We use to be able to sign a form giving permission but they don't do that anymore and now they say if he wants me to discuss...
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Every year we have issues with the IRS seriously thinking of never doing taxes there again...they received our taxes 7 weeks ago and we know this because they have to sign for them, we can't do them online and we can't have an online account (because we dont have US address) and yet they aren't even acknowlee dging that they have them yet... we can't call because it is way to expensive calling overseas on a cell phone and that is if you can get a hold of anyone. So how long do...
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I recently bought a pair of double-walled, insulated, borosilicate clear glass mugs. They are oversized but quite lightweight, especially compared to a ceramic mug, and will hold not quite 2 cups, so that's perfect for me. Because they are double-walled, not only do they look cool when you are drinking out of them, but they will keep your tea/coffee hot for longer. Kind of like a thermos. I remember many years ago at work some people liked to use those plug-in mug heaters at...
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We are finally settled enough into the new house where we are back to cooking each day, which is great..we all really missed our vegies everyday...the weather is coming in cooler now so we can do more slow cookers which makes life a lot easier...so we spend around $1200 a month on food for 3 adults, now granted that covers everything we use food/cleaning etc...but I would like to get it down even with prices going up. I do have to start menu planning again which can be hard because...
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MM(22) Dec 2025 'Gifted College Fund': $7,900 (+$5K ROTH)
MM(22) Feb 2026 'Gifted College Fund': $2,600 (+$5K ROTH)
Rent is paid through 3/31.
Final tuition payment - Done!
There's enough money left to pay rent through May.  MM's annual utilities (he still hasn't gotten me any numbers) and his June/July rent are to be sorted out.
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DL(20) Nov 2025 'Gifted College Fund': $20,587 (+$5K ROTH)
DL(20)...
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I don't always do monthly updates because either not a whole lot happens anymore now that I am retired, or some negative stuff can happen, so it's better to not look at it?  I can't help but feel that this is one of those negative months.  On the other hand, trying to make sense of the negative phenomenon happening in the world is sometimes worth mentioning, so here I am.
Despite being questioned for not releasing the Epstein Files, properly and in a timely manner, Pam...
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Debts
Mortgage -$106,487.84 (-$510.37)Land Loan -$3,266.94 (-$432.01)
Savings
Roth IRAs +$54,213 (+$5,131)401K +$107,200 (+$5,640)Emergency Fund +$24,037 (+$2,413)Animal Fund +$3,106 (+$17)HSA +$2,253 (+$40)
Overall: +$14,183.38 (This is for January-February)
Some of this is from a large tax refund. We added $3k to retirement as usual, sent $3k to savings, and spent another $1k on more car repairs. We have another thousand put back until we decide what to do with it.
Very...
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Well we all knew it would happen once bombs were released but our petrol/gas has fone from $1.50 to $2.20 pretty much overnight and they say it could get to $3 a litre...Thanks Trump for starting a war we don't need or want it costs us all but he doesnt care he has his billions, his food, his bunkers etc he will be just fine...lets hope i ends soon and prices will come back down because I am sure sick of all the prices rising and no-ones wages rising at all,,,rant over
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February was an unusually low-spend month for me, which was a surprise, because it did include a $500 gift I made to my son, who is now unemployed. (Thanks, Amazon!)
Anyway, here goes. I spent $849 on housing, which will be my new normal, as assessments fees in my building went up by more than $50 a month. Ugh. I spent $567 on gifts. The $67 includes valentine gifts to my grandchildren (and isn't chocolate expensive now?) and some random handouts to pandhandlers. Utilities were...
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When I walked into the office this morning, our office manager told me that she put in her notice to retire.  Her last day of work will be the 27th.  She and I are close in age--she was born the month before I was, and we've periodically had conversations about retirement.  Back when our company was privately owned, she planned to work until 70.  About a year before we were sold, there was a transition because Schwab bought out TD Ameritrade, which was where...
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My heating oil tank is about one-quarter full. I had planned to see if I could squeak through March with what's left, but that might be a stretch. Given Rump's invasion of Iran, I decided to schedule an oil delivery as a hedge against rising prices, so that delivery is set for Thursday. I checked my favorite (cheapest) suppliers and both prices have risen. I bought at $3.59 a gallon, which is pretty high, historically, though it was higher for the last 10 days of January.
With...
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My car was not totaled out. Repairs were $2,465. I was to be reimbursed that amount minus a $500 deductible, but I'm still awaiting my total reimbursement. I was reimbursed $1,375 initially. I am just waiting on USAA to settle an overpayment of $422 to the repair shop & it seems to be taking far too long. I'm trying to be patient, but it shouldn't take this long for the repair shop to settle an overpayment.
In January I traveled to St. Louis. I had a fun time & ate a lot...
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TSP $1,607,123
IRA $474,973
Brokerage $15,966
Investment Sub-total $2,096,062
House Equity $146,000
Savings $5,101
February 2026 $2,247,163
January 2026 Net Worth $2,219,701
Monthly Loss/Gain $ 27,462
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I have to say I don't like trump in any way shape or form...but I went to send out a package today to a friend in the US and before you would write what was in the package and then pay and it would be on it's way...no now Trump wants to know what is in the box, what country it is made in, how many, the weight etc, so we now have to write out what country it is from....I'm like it's coming from australia so what does it matter...so now have to undo the package and get all the information...
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Time to update my net worth and also update you on the situation in Minneapolis. I know we're slipping out of the headlines what with the Iran attack and Epstein files and everything, but ICE/Border Patrol have not left MN as what's-his-face the "czar" claimed. There are still over 1K agents here. The noise and violence isn't as constant but it's still here. My BFF's sister went over to the building where they detain people; there are lots of helpers there because even if someone...
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