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I have so many financial things to write about I could blog daily for a month but free time is minimal (especially leading up to Christmas) so I'll just stick to one of our larger financial matters.

Probably one of the biggest things we've been dealing with lately is adjusting to both being paid monthly on the same day and re-tweaking the budget. In DH's last job he got paid monthly at the end of the month while I get paid monthly in the middle of the month. It kind of meant...
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DS keeps asking me to buy a larger fridge. I have a little bar fridge that holds all my veges plus soy milk and a few condiments for one person nicely, but now that DS is putting all his milk and dairy in there we need more chill space. A little freezer would be good too so I can stock a few frozen veges. The smallest one is about nzd500. We shall see. It depends how much longer he's staying with me.
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I haven't been here since my birthday this summer, so I thought I'd check in before the year-end updates.

Health: I might be back later this week depending on what I learn at my doctor's appointment on Thursday. I had a biopsy done on my thyroid and will learn the results. (I learned I had a nodule earlier this year, had one biopsy shortly thereafter that gave indeterminate results, so had a second biopsy, so praying it checks out as benign). I guess, having said this much,...
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We're probably a pretty weird family when it comes to Christmas decorations.

Both of our trees are aluminum, one silver, one purple. Our Elvis bust lamp gets a Santa beard. Our tikis and our Creature from the Black Lagoon mask get Santa hats. We have giant inflatable Christmas trees and snowmen dotting the yard.

Our mini Christmas village is always under attack. This year, it's a recreation of the battle on the ice planet Hoth from Empire Strikes Back. Last year, Mechagodzilla...
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This seems like a good day to stay in and grade papers or update the online grades. That will happen, but not before the semiannual trivia tournament. We've lost our amazing player, but are still hopeful.

And today is payday, so that's excellent news. I'll be taking a look at what can be replenished from the recent drain to savings. And it's 17 days to London. Still more planning to do there, but getting very excited.


Because we won't be home for Christmas, I'm doing...
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Last Saturday we were able to get some free charging. MH sat at the free charger while waiting for MM(15) at his volunteer shift. It covers one-way on the 21-mile drive.

We also went to the Symphony last weekend. We had planned to get "free charging" in the garage, but went a little early for dinner and there was free parking everywhere. We chose to save $4-ish and take the free parking instead. Our city (downtown area) has free parking night and weekends for the month...
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Yesterday I spent $47 at Sam's for cat food and kitty litter. Large quantities of both, obviously. Iggy will be set for a while.

I did a mystery shop at a restaurant and spent $4 over the amount I will be reimbursed.

I did not go to the movie, but I plan to do that today. I won't be able to use the coupon for concessions, but it's not like I need them, anyway.

I got a gift card in the mail for T.J. Maxx as a settlement. It's worth a little over $27. I'll go there...
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Hi all 👋🏾
I’ve opened up the home repair savings account, I figured better late than never.
My goal is to save for things such as a washer, stove, roof etc. Though things are okay now, I know that when you become a home owner, Murphy visits.

Yesterday was payday so I went ahead and socked away what I would normally pay for rent. I had the SO give me his share for December as well, so I put that in the bank. I also socked away funds for the HOA. I really want to be...
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I am disappointed with the lettuce. It is withering really fast. I am eating salad twice a day.
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I got a raise at my contract job. My one-year anniversary there was late September. I hadn't realized that when I approached the agency to discuss a raise that they would make it wholly contingent on whether or not the employer I'm working for wanted to give me a raise.

Luckily, they did. Although I had pushed for a much higher raise, based on the fact I do as much copyediting as proofreading, I am actually thankful I got what I got, and it was more than I anticipated I'd get...
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I did my Amazon Christmas shopping yesterday for my local DS, DIL & GS's. Glad I did, as one item will not be delivered till December 17. I used a gift card, so there was no out-of-pocket spending.

Today I'll try to get it done for the Florida family.

I took the boys to music lessons yesterday and I took them to McDonald's on the way, which was $8. My DIL will reimburse me for that.

I have a mystery shop to do today, and today is also a gym day. I need to stop at Sam's...
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I got on the bus this morning and the driver said the machine wasn't working, so I got a free ride. nzd1.92 saved.

Spent 1.10 on carrots.
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I have finished my christmas and stocking stuffers today its all wrapped and we went and got our christmas decorations out of storage so might put up this weekend...being unwell this year I don't really feel in the mood for christmas...so hoping that the closer it gets the better I will feel....hope everyone else is getting their christmas shopping done
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I had $10 in Kohl's cash to use and was able to get $104.08 in merchandise for just $1.28!!!! Most I will mark and pack up for summer sales.



Girls 2pc Elena of Avalor Outfit (this is a mismatched outfit, which is why it was so cheap) (Bought 1)
Regular Price $42.00 (this is price on tag, but since mismatched would not be accurate)
-$40.00 Clearance Price
-$1.00 Sale Price
-.90 Kohl's Cash
Final Price + Tax = .12!!
(Marked $5.00 for rummage sale)

Girls Red Studded...
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I just got Cat scan results, after 3 months on immunotherapy, so here's the latest cancer update.

I'm happy to announce that my tumor has shrunk nearly 50 percent and has not spread to other areas AND I feel like a normal, not sick person now. I've also gained back 20 of the 40 pounds I lost in the first 6 months after diagnosis. ( at 5'9", I was down to 119 pounds and I didn't have any more weight to lose .I was all bones. It was scary.)

It probably doesn't change the long-term...
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While I was in the hospital I had a $5 FF reward that was going to expire. At that time I was just on bed rest and nothing was happening, just watching TV allllll day, so I sent MO out to use up the reward. He did great and found these cute boots for $8.00, so just $3.00 after the reward was used!



Rock & Candy Boots (Bought 1)
Regular Price $49.99
Clearance to $8.00
-$5.00 Famous Footwear Rewards
Final Price + Tax = $3.20 each
(Marked $20.00 each for rummage sale)

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My FIL is retired and has a lot of time on his hands so he has been scoring some deals for us! I will split these 50/50 with him for cost and profits.



Avia Duffel Bag (Bought 1)
Regular Price $21.60
Clearance to $3.00 each
Final Price + Tax = $3.20 each
(Marked $5.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold for $10.00 on FB on 12/16/18
Profit = $6.80

Contigo Shake Bottles (Bought 9)
Regular Price $14.99
Clearance to $3.50 each
Final Price + Tax = $3.73 each...
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I spent $17 at Aldi yesterday. As it turned out, I did not have to pay for my dinner out; XH picked up the tab. And I brought home half of my dinner, which I will have for lunch today.

But my Amazon Prime renewal hit, to the tune of $119.

My variables spending so far, very early in this pay cycle, is at 24%.

I'm not expecting any other big bills, and my Christmas spending will be done mostly with gift cards.

I'm negotiating with the family to change the Christmas...
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I got the plumber's bill - nzd67.28.
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I woke up very early this morning, at 4:30, and couldn't get back to sleep so from 5:30 to 7:30 I worked on editing. I rewrote a significant chunk of chapter twelve and added a scene to the end of chapter eight. Then I went through chapters 13, 14, and 15 and did a proofread, then a line edit, so at the moment the book is edited right up to the start of chapter sixteen, which I hope to finish writing today. If I get ambitious or into the right flow state, I will start chapter...
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