All Entries

The last month has sort of been a whirlwind, and it's good to be back reading everyone's blogs on SA. It's been extremely busy at work as we're trying very hard to hire for two new faculty positions. We have eight candidates chose; the seventh came on Thursday to speak, and the eighth arrives Monday. All of this has meant lunches, lectures, campus tours on top of the usual mayhem of the semester. And this is my first semester writing employee annual evaluations. And we've...
[ Read More ]

Well, the car was not ready yesterday. They painted late in the day and it has to cure. They did not exactly promise that it would be ready today at closing (1 pm) but that is what I'm hoping for.

It actually turned out well, since I had a headache all day yesterday and no ride. Today, DIL is available to take me there.

I did a load of laundry yesterday, and I should be caught up on that for a while. Otherwise, it was a no-spend day.

I'm not exactly getting low on...
[ Read More ]

I am so grateful to my generous family. My daughter brought my new baby granddaughter for a visit last weekend from NC. My dad knew I was sad the day they were leaving and bought me a ticket to go see her over spring break. It was a great deal at $125 round trip. He said it was a thank you for driving back and forth to take him on his trips so much lately.

Tonight my uncle officially booked my trip to Germany this fall to see my son. That was also a great deal through WOW Air....
[ Read More ]

My FIL has been killing the deals lately! I've posted the candles and those have been selling well, which I am happy about. They are fall scents so I was worried I would need to wait till fall, but they are already going great. The grills I will wait another month or two to post and the Valentines stuff I already have boxed up for next year.

Char-Broil Performance 4 Burner Gas Grill (Bought 4)
Regular Price $239.99
Our Price + Tax = $52.19
(Marked $120.00 for rummage...
[ Read More ]

Finally getting around to this ... it's been a very busy weeks, with three of our five household birthdays hitting one after the other! Lots of parties, gifts, spending, fun ...

Anyway, I finally checked our mortgages and all our payments hit.
US: $741
UK1: $184
UK2: $38
UK3: $41
In total, that's $1,004 to principal. Yay, our minimum payments finally add up to more than a thousand bucks!

Current household debt:
US Mortgage $380,958
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000
UK...
[ Read More ]

Just heard about this no hoops money market account, currently paying 2.5%. Their marketing strategy cracks me up.

Text is https://redneck.bank/ and Link is https://redneck.bank/

Thought it might help someone. If you're not shopping for a new online bank, take a peek at their site anyway.
[ Read More ]

No spending yesterday. Hopefully, today is the day I will pick up my car.

I used the stovetop popcorn popper I bought at Goodwill. It was only $2.50, and I'm glad, because it wasn't worth much. I burned the popcorn and scorched the bottom of the pan (which is very hard to clean because only half of the top opens). I realized this was a user issue, but the noise of turning the spinner made it impossible to tell when the popping stopped. I don't know if I'll get it clean...
[ Read More ]

We received our State and Federal Tax Returns. The State Return was $263.00 and we put that as a principle payment towards one of our mortgages. The Federal Return we will disperse after we get back from vacation as we will be taking some with us, and MO is also using a chunk to pay for tickets to the March Madness Championship games in April. This is a Bucket List item for him, so I am excited that he gets to go!

Current Balance $11,920.00
+$45.00 FB Sales
+$50.00 My...
[ Read More ]

My grandpa used to say "The tides on the minnies have turned." I think it has something to do with minnows going up or down stream to spawn. Regardless, it's applicabe to our situation now.

The day to day worries of financial life with a minimal or non-existent EF are gone. What's changed?

1) Vanguard Money Market where I deposited 90% of my inheritence. The 10% was used for capital improvements here at the primary residence, a new sectional, getting current on past...
[ Read More ]

Sadly, I'm about fed up.

I volunteer in a classroom and to be honest, I'm tired of feeling like I'm being taken advantage of. The teacher doesn't want to prepare anything for when I come and wants to me to come up with stuff.

I get that the teacher is busy. But, is asking that there be two copies of a book to read too much? He wanted me to listen to kids read and I was expected to read from the same copy. That strains my eyes too much. I said why not have two copies of whatever.

Then,...
[ Read More ]

Yesterday the boys had a half-day of school, so DIL picked them up and brought them here. I had plenty of spaghetti sauce in the freezer, so that's what we had for lunch. Afterwards we had a rousing game of Monopoly. They went home around 4.

My only spending was $1.50 for laundry.

With any luck, this will be the last day I am without a car. I am toying with the idea of walking to the body shop tomorrow when it's ready. It is 2.7 miles. The weather is supposed to be above...
[ Read More ]

Able to add another $300 to savings today...I know that it will go down when I buy my friends plane ticket in the nex few weeks but its nice to keep adding to it for now....

Spent $95 today on groceries but other than that no spending...have started to get some of my chrstmas presents...so can start knocking those off the list...I like to shop all year for christmas..get some great deals

nothing else to do this week other than catch up with family and rest...next week have...
[ Read More ]

I'd say bah humbug, but that seems particularly a Christmas season thing, although quite frankly it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in this winter not so wonderland. It's not snowing as hard as last time yet, but it is sticking and there is about an inch and a half and no sign of stopping.

Most of the last batch of snow had melted a couple of days ago except for the huge piles that were plowed in grocery store parking lots. Now it starts all over again. I really...
[ Read More ]

I love how simple my budget has gotten! If I can stick to it, I will reach my goals.


[ Read More ]

Ugh after a great January and February, March is already kicking my tail a week in, even worse than expected. So many holes I am trying to plug but I can't stop the bleeding.

So many big expenses popped up this week, just when I was feeling on top of everything.

1. I FINALLY got my car titled in my name ($315)
2. Had to buy hay ($315)
3. Husband's birthday present ($200)
4. Car insurance went up more than expected ($670)
5. Propane tank ran out and had to refill in addition...
[ Read More ]

Hi all

Today I paid off my last property... the infamous '2 flat'

Work still going well. rentals still going well .. I am now waiting to make a decision on the 2nd floor work on my house.

Once that is done I will revise my budget to see if I can get that paid off within a year.

yesterday was the anniversary of Dad's death.. feeling slightly melancholy, sad, sortof like I need to change my life and life is short.. do more of what I want to do..

Have a great day everyone

I...
[ Read More ]

I spent the day inside yesterday, and I did not spend anything.

The banana bread I made is a disappointment. It was too brown on the outside and not quite cooked in the center. I did alter the recipe a little, because I mistakenly added an extra egg and tried to make up for it by adding extra flour and sugar. Oh well. I sliced it up and put it in the freezer. Later on it may seem more appealing.

I also did one of my most dreaded tasks -- cleaning the aquarium.

No...
[ Read More ]

Looking at projecting expenses for Friday's pay period. I need to pull the trigger and purchase a carseat base for my car so I can have the installation inspected by the fire department before I return to work. This pay period I purchase dog food. I also will purchase two more items from Costco that are needed. Last pay period, I did a big purchase from Costco: men's vitamins, toilet paper, cashews and a few sale items such as toothbrush heads ($29.99 for two at Target, $39.99...
[ Read More ]

Today is senior day at our Walgreens. If we need stuff, this is the day I try to go and get it. Ours is 20% off stuff not on sale. Too bad it doesn't cover prescriptions. It is a good time to buy those necessary items like deodorant and stuff like that.

We try to utilize any senior discounts we can. The last time we stayed at a hotel, we asked for the discount.

I do with our grocery stores would offer senior discounts, but they don't.

We don't do a lot of fast food,...
[ Read More ]

Tax refund is pending in our second checking account right now. Somewhere I saw that it would arrive March 12. It's arrival is about a week sooner than I expected.

I really, really want to add this to the Big Goal. And I probably can, but then just back it out later if needed.

Another part of me thinks I should put it towards college tuition expenses since the refund can be directly attributed to taking the American Opportunity Tax credit.

I also know that I could send...
[ Read More ]