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I'm about 95% recovered from the cold (or whatever I had), and I am running very low on certain food items, but strangely, I feel little motivation to go out now after being cooped up for 2 weeks. I did go out and knock most of the ice off my car but still have to work on the roof. I guess it's the cold weather...about 25 degree high today.
I feel like I've gotten NOTHING done, and I don't even feel like rushing back to the gym. I am usually very disciplined about doing stuff....
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So I am unhappy to say that we have 2 credit cards that we will be paying off this year, one we have had for years and the newest one since sept 2024....I want to know in which order you would pay them off once I give you the information as I am going to go hard at them starting march, also not saying what we owe right now as I have to do some numbers but they are roughly the same, these are the terms not that we take cash out (or rarely) just so you have the info...and no we won't...
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I learned a new word the other day: Grandmacore. If you aren't familiar with it, it's basically someone who does things grandmothers are usually known for like crocheting, knitting, baking, sewing, gardening, and stuff like that.  My DH looked at me and said that fit me to a "T."
I have a quirky sense of humor and read a columnist who has a webpage called Sean from the South. He wrote a column about  missing glass bottles amongst other things and I would have to agree....
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Here are our final numbers for 2024. Numbers in () are 2023 figures for comparison.
Cash/Liquid Savings:$1,903 Animal Fund ($1,034)$25,186 Escrow Fund ($4,898)$4,855 Checkings ($2,056)$300 Cash Fund ($240)$3,244 HSA ($1,740)
$3,312 529s ($0)
$38,800 Total Liquid Savings ($9,968)Retirement:$76,020 DH's 401K ($59,560)$7,062 DH's IRA ($6,171)$30,244 My IRA ($23,104)$113,326 Total Retirement ($88,835)Liabilities:-$110,003 Mortgage (-$112,931)
-$6,204 Land Loan (-$8,389)
-$0...
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Our dishwasher broke down.  I swear if one more thing goes wrong after this I'm going to go a little bit sideways.  Seriously, between the car repairs, as well as all 8 tires plus one spare tire, the roof, the bathroom, the furnace being replaced, and now the dishwasher, which will probably take what I have just scraped together to rebuild the start of an emergency fund with, I dont' want to take it anymore.
Our garbage bill has gone up by $13 a month.  They are...
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Thanks for all the well wishes on my last post. That night I was feeling a bit more energy, but waking up the following morning, I felt just as sick again. It reminded me I've always experienced this pattern of feeling sicker in the morning but better in the evening, and this worked in my favor as a child since my mother would see how I was doing in the morning before deciding whether or not to send me back to school.
But today I am definitely feeling more energy and have a load...
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So my last entry was on New Years Eve.  What I didn't mention at that time was that I lost my planned PTO days of December 30 and 31, which I usually devote to year-end catch-up and planning, to a last-minute change in our computer systems by the company that acquired us.  I got the morning of the 30th off, but because my work is so busy at the beginning of the year, I couldn't wait on upgrading my computer, so I lost half of the 30th and the day of the 31st to working...
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I've been sick with what I assume is a bad cold for nearly a week now. I've gotten vaccines for Covid, the flu, RSV and pnuemonia, but still I got sick! First time in many years.
It started out with at least 2 days of just a sore throat, which then progressed to a dry, hacking cough and fatigue. Now it's congestion and sneezing. Can't wait to shake this thing.
There was a point I was so tired I didn't even have the energy to read or watch TV, and I've already lost over 3 lbs....
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Well I am one that has insurance for most things...well 5 years ago my sisters house burnt down it was because of faulty  wiring, it was in govt housing...she didn't have insurance but she is one of those people who wastes her money and doesn't think or do much of the right thing...she had to start over as did the kids....well she didn't learn her lesson, last night her house burnt down again, she is interstate but the 2 kids got out as well as their snake and dogs...a bird...
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Being content...I think it is a big objective in our lives as we move along on our financial journey. Getting away from the mindset of keeping up with the Joneses or Smiths or whatever has caused so many people financial duress, that's for sure. I'm a big fan of Theodore Roosevelt because he seemed like a smart fellow who was always on the go, but smart besides. He is quoted as "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 
I know when I was younger, I was always...
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Recently I have been thinking about how I spend my time, and how I can be more productive.  This especially rings true when I think about how much time I spend on my phone.  I often spend time in the evenings mindlessly scrolling or playing games, usually with the TV on in the background.  
I made a change this January.  I have deleted some of the games that I spend the most time on.  I also found some apps that allow me to make some money while I...
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It was a great week, here are my wins.
 • Paid extra on my last CC• Completed a bank transfer request to a zero interest card. • Worked out all week• Lost 2lbs• Completed my to do list• Added a little to my savings• Stayed with in my budget 
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So 2 days ago hubby ended up going by ambulance (we have cover) to the hospital, he had stroke like systems again, they keep telling us it is hemaphlygic migraines...he said this one was different...so he went they did all his vitals, blood work (several times, a scan, an mri scan and they think it might be arteries in his neck, they were going to keep him but said he could go home if her wanted to so he did at 11.30 pm...he was much better...and the cost to us...ZERO
we are so...
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This didn't happen to me, but to a friend of mine, whose house burned down.  This happened while he was at work so he wasn't hurt in any way, and he was also able to salvage his most expensive stuff, along with all of his important documents.
For the past week, I have been helping him with whatever he needed, which included temporarily storing some of the salvaged stuff at my place, and let him borrow my washing machine and dryer.
According to the fire investigators, they...
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The other day, I saw some local folks complaining about their high electric bills.  I have been here just barely a year now, and I admit I haven't been paying much attention to my electric bill.  I signed up for automatic payments (to my Citi MC) and budget billing right from the get-go.  I thought that it was time I took a look.  Here is what has actually been charged to my card thus far:



1/24/2024
42.00


2/22/2024
157.00


3/22/2024
157.00


4/23/2024
157.00


5/22/2024
70.00


6/21/2024
70.00


7/23/2024
70.00


8/22/2024
70.00


9/20/2024
104.00


10/22/2024
104.00


11/20/2024
104.00


12/23/2024
104.00


1/24/2025
163.00



That...
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Those of you who sometimes cook vegan dishes may already know this, but I thought I’d share for those who don’t.
For baked recipes like muffins, a ‘flax egg’ can be substituted for a chicken egg. A flax egg is made by combining 1 tablespoon of flax meal with 3 tablespoons of water. Set aside for several minutes. You’ll notice that the consistency becomes thicker and almost gel-like similar to an egg.
Some recipes call for plant milk to be combined...
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This is one of the most asinine presidents I’ve ever seen. 
 
Why did folks vote for him, only God knows. Some complained about eggs, which by the way is $8 a dozen here. Gas has gone up, the market is flip flopping, people are on edge, rude as hell. 
 
And don’t even get me started on Elon Musk who now has access to folks personal information. 
 
I’m so pissed right now. 
 
I believe in conservatism however not...
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I went to my dermatologist yesterday for my annual full skin exam (to screen for skin cancer). Everything was fine. But  he looked at my scar from the Mohs surgery I had a year and a half ago, and it has clearly not healed well. Very lumpy. He recommended an injection to help smooth it. I had to check first with my insurance company to see if they covered the procedure. They do, or at least they pay 80%. I figured it's worth it to try -- after all, it's on my face! So I made...
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With great pleasure I can share that I paid the last bit owing on my CitiBank personal loan today.  This was the 20k loan I took right before "retiring" from El Dorado County.  It helped me to cover expenses and make ends meet while I was getting settled.  And now it is history.  Yay!
I have recently received a raise which was certainly welcome.  I am now earning $20 per hour, which isn't so bad for this area.
I completed my 2024 income tax returns over...
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The tariffs imposed by our Idiot-in-Chief go into effect Tuesday in what he foresees as "America's Golden Age."
 It could be more painful than that. Remember, rising prices won't likely be seen immediately, due to existing inventory, except for non-durable goods like food. We get an awful lot of food from Mexico. And I do worry about opportunistic and unethical price gouging by those seeking to take advantage.
I recently started thinking about stockpiling a few things like...
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