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Celebrations for this update:
-$451.80 paid off in the last 2 weeks!!
-MO Mortgage went under the next $1000 mark!!
-Total debt passed the next $1000 mark for the 4th update in a row!!

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 $1,459.60
Mom Loan #2/#3 $31,109.45
MO Mortgage $77,981.31
My Mortgage $141,775.00
Our Mortgage $237,674.05
Total = $489,999.41

Down...
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Finally reviewed the October budget. Here are the numbers

Monthly income $3901.18, about a $100 less than I had budgeted for.

* Gas was $50 less than budgeted
* Electricity was $9.31 less than budgeted
* Water was $11.32 less than budgeted
* Charitable donations were over by $74.02, this was the Boy Scout donation and a charity brunch. I definitely have to watch this
* Dining out was over by $34.00, this included a surprise dinner with friends
* Gifts were also...
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We as savers carefully watch as our balances grow like a plant. Once in awhile something comes up and we need to spend some of our money.
In my case it is a long overdue furnace upgrade in house #1. In general it is a good thing and actually will be some what of an investment as it will be something I would have had to do if i was going to sell.

Not sure we will but the idea has been discussed.

i ended up taking some funds out of 2 accounts.
I simply hate the...
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It’s been a lazy day. It’s been raining all day, and I just don’t feel like doing a thing, but I had to truck through it.

First, I hit Walmart and picked up groceries, $26. I used Ibotta pay to get the 1% cash back. It’s not much but he my it is free money, no matter small, it is worth it.

I then purchased a few personal items totaling $6.98. I like keeping my items separate when shopping, because I use the cash envelopes system.

After purchasing my items, I...
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Just curious, do any of you complete the satisfaction surveys found on your receipts? I just recently started and was wondering who actually complete and if anyone has actually won anything?
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Yesterday was my first no spend day in a while and the first for the month of November.

Today, I have a few errands, groceries to pick up, gas and return $20 to my checking out. I’d over budgeted cash for my personal care envelope.

After that it’s just rest mode. I have things to do but just don’t feel like it, but I’ll tackle this evening.

The parity I went to last night was nice, I was over dressed but hey at least I didn’t buy anything to wear.

As...
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Received $70 bank interest for the month of October.

Snowflakes:
--Redeemed $39 credit card rewards (cash back) from our gas/grocery card.
--Redeemed $133 cash back on Citi card.
--Redeemed $18 cash back on dining/gas/grocery card.

Other snowflakes:
$ 5 Savings from Target Red Card (grocery purchases)

{Note: Did not put snowflakes to investments this month,applied to large expenditure}

401k Contributions/Match:
+$750

Snowball to Savings:
+$ 900 MH Paychecks
+$...
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Yesterday I took my car to a professional car wash (one that has people) and got the exterior washed (and all the leaves and crud wiped away) for $12. I won't do that often, but it was worth it yesterday. I'm going to miss the free car wash service I had from my previous dealer!

I also spent $18 at Aldi, making strategic purchases which will utilize and stretch what I already have on hand. I did a load of laundry ($1.50) and got my hair cut ($18.) Variables are at 9%. I...
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So with my new job it'll be easiest for me to walk 4 blocks to the bus stop, take the bus downtown, and then walk two blocks to work. I have sneakers and snow boots for walking. But my winter apparel isn't great for possibly standing for ten minutes in blowing snow or freezing wind ... It works for a quick walk from car to building ....

So .. I was wondering what should I look for in a good jacket. I'll want a hood of course. Do they make hoods with detachable face masks??...
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Ugh received my tax bill and it’s $2,000, the ad valorem crap that’s on the invoice, I voted no on before I owned a home. It ticks me off that people don’t educate themselves before voting on things. That’s a different topic.

My insurance renewal came in at about $950, not bad compared to other rates.

Now when I check my escrow account the balance is about $4200, so it’s obvious I’m well over. Now I need your help. Given this years taxes and insurance is about...
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Spending: $999.08
Total Savings: $2800.00
Additional Income: Swagbucks earnings: $200.00

Fixed Expenses:
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): 159.94
Cell phone: 61.45
HVAC and water heater contract: 27.95
Condo Fee (includes water) 190.00

Variables:
Utilities: 93.04
Gasoline: 27.29
Groceries: 229.78
Health: 80.35
Dining Out: 65.69
Other: 63.59

Savings was high due to a last account of my mom's that closed out for $1700.00

Health category included...
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I appreciated all the nice comments on my new car. I am definitely mulling over the idea of transferring the balance to a 0% card. I just got an offer for one the other day, which I threw away! I would still pay off as quickly as possible, but I wouldn't have to hurry as much. I'll have to look at the numbers, though.

Someone asked -- my new car is silver, with black interior.

I got up yesterday and first thing I did was take a look at my car (I could see it from my window.)...
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We had the consult with the VM hepatology department for my daughter's liver tumor and it looks like we just get to play wait and see some more. Since DD is at no risk of getting pregnant in the next few years, and because her Prednisone dose is so low they do not think it will encourage tumor growth we just watch it for now. They don't generally like to operate until the tumor is 5 cm and hers is 2.7 cm. They are going to have her liver enzymes checked and in 6 months she will...
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I came home and crashed. The consulting gig wore me out this week. I’ve got to figure out how to manage this or I’ll get discouraged. I sent my invoice off today, they have ten days to pay.

I’ve been using Google’s drive to track the hours worked with them, my mileage and tasks I’ve completed. I also created a shareable folder for the Company in that I will download items.

I decided the first few checks with them I’m going to save. I prayed about this and something...
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Last night I thought, hey, why not check the shopper job boards and see if there are any secret shops around here I can do? (At one time, I did a fair amount of secret shopping, but it had been years since I had last done a shop). So I looked, and I found one for a bank just a few blocks from my workplace. I did the shop right after work tonight, submitted my report when I got home, and voila, I am expecting $20.

Here is my budget for November, a 3 paycheck month. Looking...
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Today is the 1st of the month and one of our renters texted and let us know they are going to be late on part of their rent. Hopefully it won't turn into an issue, but we have a ton of medical bills and other bills plus overspending to cover, so most likely will need to take from savings to cover the different till she pays in full. But, in the meantime we did (just barely) pass $18K!

MO won football pics last week and other normal deposits.

Current Balance $17,785.00
+$60.00...
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Total Sales for the week were $120.00! I finally had a table and chairs set picked up that had been sitting waiting for pickup for too long. I am glad to have that out of here, plus it was a $50.00 profit!


Sale #1431 (BH) $6.00
Mainstays Kids 5pc Meal Sets (2) (Joint with my FIL) - We paid $1.07 each
Sold for $3.00 each
Profit = $3.86

Sale #1432 (DH) $12.00
Better Homes & Gardens String Lights (2) (Joint with my FIL) - We paid $3.53 each
Sold for $6.00 each...
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Well despite last month's hardships I am happy to announce that today I am able to strike/complete one of my 2019 goals.

Today was payday, and I received a small design check, so I was able to send $350 to the credit card, and $109.65 to the medical bill. Which brings my debt payoff amount to approximately $7,775 this year.

Reducing those two debts to $3,665 & $2,000.

Happy to see the CC hit below the next thousand mark. Once my side income check comes in I should be...
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Two weeks ago, I finally bought curtains for our vacation home. Long time in the making, but nice curtains and rods are so darn expensive! Anyway, the total spent at Bed Bath and Beyond came to $767.74 including an item that I needed them to ship directly from the store. I gasped, swallowed hard and whipped out my credit card.

I realized then that BBB sometimes puts out 20% on entire purchase. I looked through my stash of coupons and I have none. It occurred to me to put a...
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I bought my car yesterday -- quite unexpectedly! I was going to wait until Saturday when my son could drive me to several places in distant suburbs. But when I looked at local websites rather than the big Autotrader-type things, I found new options.

I bought a 2014 Kia Soul with only 29K miles. It is in beautiful, perfect condition. I paid cash (which included putting $2700 on a credit card) and the total was $12,705. I'll get some of that back because I'll be reimbursed...
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