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I hadn't realize that these middle class college grants were on the chopping block for this next school year.  I was just looking up something else completely different and came across news that there was a push to cut these benefits by 90%.  (Which I think is fair.  I think 'very low cost and great colleges' is more than good enough.)  By the time I saw this, the state budget had already passed.  Nothing was cut and the benefits will again be increased...
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Perhaps you remember John Denver's song, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." The lyrics talk about the simple things in life and what pleasure they brought him.
I'm not a music artist, but I am learning to appreciate the simple things so much more. Good friendship is one of them when it is pure and deep. It's sad when people are so shallow that they use you for their own good, calling it "friendship." But those folks who are there when you are happy or sad, the ones who just are content...
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I hate when I write a long blog & lose it! Ugh. 😩 
So the inspection & walk-through on Monday & Tuesday were postponed until today due to the builder delays. There was no kitchen appliances, a missing fan, and no garage door. Today looking at the full slab of my countertops I finally saw the color variation that I was told about, but couldn't see in the sample. It was a little thing, but made me happy. 
Today the fan was picked up, but not installed....
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Last time I wrote on my finances from the past few years and of today, but now its time to go personal (if only for myself to write it all out for myself). 
So, start with the good or with the bad?   Hmmmmm.....
Get the bad out of the way?  **SIGH** Ok, lets do it.   (NOTE: If you don't want to hear the whining, just drop down a few paragraphs to the heading of GOOD THINGS IN RETIREMENT)
Well its my relationship with the GF.  Don't know how...
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I called my Medigap insurer to see if my current gym is in their network for their "Active and Fit Direct" gym discount. Unfortunately, no. It's a small discount. I did submit my gym for consideration for their network.
It would have been nice, BUT. When I was choosing plans with my agent, this insurer was NOT the lowest cost for Medicare Plan N. (Once you choose a type of plan, which is lettered, all insurers by law must cover the same services; only the price is different.)...
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No posts from CB in the City since June 30th.  I hope you are doing ok!
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On Friday I was contacted about a closing date. It's really here! I have my independent home inspection on Monday afternoon, then my first walk-through on Tuesday. The second walk-through & closing are scheduled for the following Tuesday. 
The pendants are installed over the kitchen island & I have carpeting. Still no kitchen appliances. I told them that I wasn't interested in closing until all items I identified are addressed. 
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The start of July has been important to most Australian employees because the government has given tax cuts as well as raising the minimum wage for the workers that this applies to. I and DH are earning above the minimum wage so our wages didn’t need to increase but we now receive extra income thanks to the tax cuts. 
My net wages went up by 2.5% and B’s net wages went up by 3% (he earns more so is receiving more back). 
There has been a lot of talk on the...
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This is to be the last year of enforced frugality since I intend to ensure my health insurance remains moderately priced. To do that, I have to limit my overall income to around $37K for the year (even tho I start Medicare next month), and for the YTD ending in June, I only grossed about $12,000 in taxable income for the 1st 6 months of the year(!) if my numbers are correct. That would be my monthly annuity and some dividends/cap gains from 3 of my mutual funds. Plus I also got...
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In the last 6 weeks or so I have been trying to lose some weight after noticing I was up 5-6 lbs this year to a new high. Although health comes first either way, I was interested to see how this would impact my grocery budget. I’m already vegetarian and only drink water/coffee/tea at home, so to lose weight sustainably my plan is to limit portions of more calorie dense foods like pasta and lean heavily on unlimited low-calorie vegetables.
 
I have been buying...
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My portfolio hit over 800k.  It hit the 700k mark back in December 2023, so just over half a year to gain another 100k (including my contributions).  I doubt the second half of the year will be as good.
My total net worth (including assets and debts beyond just the portfolio) is up over 110k so far for the year--a record increase.  
Debts are down to near 63k--they were at 69k in February.  I am really working on paying down the debt this year. ...
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... LaLa La-La LaLa La... ok, so I don't know the lyrics.  Have to say I do love the tune though.  Its just when I think on my current status, its the tune that keeps popping into my head.
So after three years (yikes), am I saying good bye to anything?  At first I was going to say no, but now that I think on it, maybe it does make sense (but I'll have to get to that later), but for the moment I think I will talk finances and go from there.
Well I see last I was...
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So we didnt get the house and the house is over an hour away and just not practical to move there when we will be down this way all the time, rent would be more, gas (petrol) would be more..so not practical. 
My oldest DD didn't get the procedure done, she went into hyper stimulation so has to wait at least another month...but she is doing okay with that...has been a 4 year journey for her so far.
Hubby now had to have monthly injections into his eye..he had a bleed in his...
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So I'm eating my morning breakfast cereal today, as I always do, when, after 3 or 4 spoonfuls of deliciousness, I look down at the bowl to see what looked like an earwig resting at the top rim of the bowl, on the inside. Like it had just crawled out after being submerged in soy milk.
EWWWW.I had to dump it. It just grossed me out. Since the blueberries came from a frozen bag and I'm pretty sure it didn't come from the half gallon of soy milk, it must've crawled into to 1 of the...
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The driveway was poured & the landscaping is complete. There is sod, plants, and flowers. The alarm system has been installed, but is not activated. The front door was painted and the numbers are on the door. The sconce is on the front porch. The stucco & siding are painted. The closet rods & towel racks were hung. Still no kitchen appliances, but all of my neighbors have their appliances so they must be coming soon. And they are leaving the houses unlocked even with...
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On Wednesday I met my next goal of $1,200,000 in my TSP. Friday my TSP closed at $1,209,480,85. Let's see how we end the month!
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I think this is about as near perfect a credit score as I've ever had: 100% on-time payments, a 33-year credit card payment history and well over $100K in available credit while only utilizing 1%.
Once I paid off my mortgage in 2012, I didn't think a credit score would be that important to me anymore since I didn't see myself needing it to buy another home or car. But, you never know. I plan to purchase a new vehicle next year; it's unlikely Toyota would see a need to offer 0%...
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A year since I retired! I can’t believe that time has gone by so quickly. I have checked in with Saving Advice periodically but haven’t posted at all. I just don’t find myself spending much time in front of the computer, which is a good thing.
 
When I first retired I half-joked that it’d take a couple of years to just catch up on house projects, organization, and neglected maintenance. I do think that will prove to be true.
 
Things I’ve...
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I just posted my June New Worth, then eclipsed that with this week's gains. So much in fact that Monarch had me surpossed $1.7 million for the first time. Pretty cooly. Lucky 7! I will feel very confident when I reach $2 million. That is my goal by age 50.
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So far there is installed:
quartz countertops
sinks
cabinets
lighting fixtures
light switches
fans 
backsplash tile
fireplace mantle
mantle tile
vinyl wood floor
ceramic tile floors
Still awaiting installation of:
carpeting 
kitchen appliances
closet rods
shower doors
towel racks
alarm system
Outside they started painting the stucco, but the siding & doors haven't been painted.
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