All Entries

Are you new to investing in equity mutual funds? Does the nomenclature of various funds - largecap, midcap, smallcap, multicap, diversified, focussed, sector, hybrid, and so on - confuse you? Well, not anymore. Here is a quick primer on various types of mutual fund schemes:
• Money market funds
• Fixed income funds
• Equity funds
• Index funds
• Specialty funds
• Fund-of-funds

Mutual fund types are organised into categories by asset class (stocks, bonds and...
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Are you new to investing in equity mutual funds? Does the nomenclature of various funds - largecap, midcap, smallcap, multicap, diversified, focussed, sector, hybrid, and so on - confuse you? Well, not anymore. Here is a quick primer on various types of mutual fund schemes:
• Money market funds
• Fixed income funds
• Equity funds
• Index funds
• Specialty funds
• Fund-of-funds

Mutual fund types are organised into categories by asset class (stocks, bonds and...
[ Read More ]

Are you new to investing in equity mutual funds? Does the nomenclature of various funds - largecap, midcap, smallcap, multicap, diversified, focussed, sector, hybrid, and so on - confuse you? Well, not anymore. Here is a quick primer on various types of mutual fund schemes:
• Money market funds
• Fixed income funds
• Equity funds
• Index funds
• Specialty funds
• Fund-of-funds

Mutual fund types are organised into categories by asset class (stocks, bonds and...
[ Read More ]

Are you new to investing in equity mutual funds? Does the nomenclature of various funds - largecap, midcap, smallcap, multicap, diversified, focussed, sector, hybrid, and so on - confuse you? Well, not anymore. Here is a quick primer on various types of mutual fund schemes:

Money market funds
Fixed income funds
Equity funds
Index funds
Specialty funds
Fund-of-funds

Mutual fund types are organised into categories by asset class (stocks, bonds and cash) and...
[ Read More ]

Last night our landlord paid us $200 (by Zelle, direct into our bank account) to show our rental home on Sunday to two potential and vetted renters on Sunday. One will arrive at 1pm and one at 2pm.

I was so conflicted about this additional duty, but once I texted the landlord my concerns, he completely understood and was quick to clear up what he expects and offer $200 to have these two showings in a limited time frame. If one of these two do not sign, there is the potential...
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The Middle East is the known place for shopping in which Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other places are mostly known for the shopping. We might have many other tourist attraction over there but people in the Middle East mostly speak about shopping in the Middle East. The next thing is to get fashion in the affordable range where people spend a minimum amount on buying particular products. This min purchase rate changes everytime we see the new collection and we can't expect the same discount...
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I will be glad when spring arrives so I can go back to walking more. Spending quite a bit on bus fares.

I must be getting old. I have my regular cervical smear tests, been having mammograms for the last few years and now I'm being put on the bowel cancer screening program. I'm glad my dr is looking out for me but it's a bit alarming to think of all the unpleasant things that can befall me.
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I am happy to announce that husband has accepted a job offer.

He won't start for a few weeks yet, but this change should very positively affect our life. The pay is even better than expected. Not only does he get a 25% salary increase, he will get at least another $1 raise after his probationary period.

But most of all we will have access to very affordable and good health insurance. Worrying about getting insurance when I am kicked off mine next year was a huge stressing...
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After going to the gym, I hit Food4Less yesterday, spending $38. I got apples, cereal, peppers, onions, sherbet, tuna, rolls, bread, tortillas, honey and coffee. Also some movie candy and a bag of Cheetos for the boys. Then I shelled out another $10 for stamps, which they sell by the book at the cashier's station.

I took the boys to mini-golf yesterday, spending $10 for the two of them to do 18 holes. They actually did the nine-hole course twice, since the 18-hole course...
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Spend day. I went to lunch with a friend, $6.60 from my misc envelopes. It is going down quite rapidly so will have to put the brakes on spending. I will need a new pair of shoes soon so will have to save for those.

I went to All Saints for more fruit and vege. I got half a cabbage, half a cauliflower, carrots, yams, apples, kiwifruit and oranges. Pretty good for $6.
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I did go out today and pick up ice, watermelon, and a fan. I went with a cowboy style bandanna on and no one really gave me any weird looks. More "I wish I had thought of that" looks, than anything else. I ordered some masks with filters off of Amazon and paid for the fast shipping and they should be here on Thursday. Hopefully earlier in the day than later. As long as they are here before the big grocery shop on Friday, though.

We made it pretty well through the two week...
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Sales this week were $55.50!

Sale #940 (PM) $7.00
Nugg Face Mask - We paid $.70
Sold for $2.00
Profit = $1.30

CVS Pantiliners (4) - Free
Sold for $1.00 each
Profit = $4.00

For my Mom - CVS Pantiliner $1.00

Sale #941 (KWB) $20.00
Girls Oshkosh B'gosh Boots - We paid $7.24
Sold for $20.00
Profit = $12.76

Sale #942 (EK) $4.00
Wet'N'Wild Eye Set - We paid $1.06
Sold for $4.00
Profit = $2.94

Sale #943 (MG) $6.00
Scope Mouthwash (2) - We paid $1.32...
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I thought I had a bit of a reprieve yesterday. I got final medical results back and everything looks pretty good. Putting a pin in that, at least. No follow up for another 6 months. I wouldn't have been surprised if I needed surgery. It's just been that kind of a year. So it's a huge relief to know that surgery is not a consideration at this point. Phew! So, I had a few hours of relative peace and calm? We then got the news last night that a close relative of MH's had been in a...
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The Jeep check came in quickly which was nice. It was $4846.33. The majority of it went towards bills that we would have had to take money out of savings for....over $2000 in medical bills, several hundred in rental repairs/updates, and several hundred in vet bills (one of our dogs has a lot of ear and allergy issues, and the other needed yearly checkup). That was the end of the medical bills for the year, we met our OOP Max back in May and we have now received and paid all...
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So our landlord who lives out of state and does not have a property manager locally. Because we are leaving this fall, they are looking to rent the property again. They are asking if we would be willing to show the property to potential and interested renters for payment in return for giving our impressions on their level of interest. And they are asking what our asking price would be.

I'm fully aware that legally (and according to our lease) the owner has the right to show...
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Yesterday wrapped up my August, because today is pay day.

It was a low-spend month. I spent only 83% of my variables, took nothing out of savings, and got a few breaks in the timing of my bills.

Housing: $713
Vacation/Travel: $188
Gas: $83
Utilities: $74
Phone: $52
Fees/Services: $40
Medical/Health: $37
Entertainment: $34
Gifts/Charity: $23
Groceries: $20
Eating Out: $13
Laundry: $9
Vet/Pet Supplies: $4

Grand Total: $1323

The reason for the very low food...
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Missed a few days for website maintenance, but all I have done moneywise is put another $20 on my bus card.

Tonight I went to a soup and poetry night nite and spent $4 ON BREAD ROLLS. love 'em. I could eat them all nite with pumpkin soup.
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The ashfall is getting pretty awful here. I feel like we are living near an active volcano or something. I had to go out to the garden today and wash off all the plants so they didn't starve. They were coated in grey brown ash. I wore a bandanna over my mouth and nose. I have given up on the green beans because I can't stay outside long enough to pick them. I will keep up with the tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers while I can. They are quick picks and I can get them and get...
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Dh had a phone interview with his former employer of a few years ago. He did contract work for them for 15 years, and though the work was not scintillating, they're a solid place.

The plus sides are many: it's a downtown location and he LOVES the bus. And he gets free bus fare with his history tuition. They also have free lunch. Unbelievable, I know, but he ate free for years. And he knows and likes a lot of people there. He's much more social at work than I am, and...
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Grocery - $64.98, we got a bit of meat on the weekend. We are at $192 spending for the month and I am hoping to keep this under $240-50 this month. I think it is doable.

Lunch Out - $22, the weather was terrible on the weekend and I really wanted some Pho soup.

Garden – $31.00, we got some soil for this native plant that I want to re-pot to a bigger pot also got a couple solar lights for the garden.

Gifts – $110, we had to get a couple of gifts for a friend’s...
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