All Entries

For the Used EV credit, the IRS states very clearly that you need to get a signed statement from the dealership that includes certain information.  Purchase needs to be from a licensed dealership or something like that, can not be a private party purchase for the used EV credit.
The two dealerships my in-laws went through had never heard of the credit.  They had no idea about the $25K cap but were happy to haggle once my in-laws pointed it out.  (I mean, they had...
[ Read More ]

Often in the evenings I'll watch the Dave Ramsey show on YouTube. On today's show they had a young postal worker from LI, NY named Patrice. She was there in front of the live studio audience in Tennessee to do her debt-free scream. She was absolutely amazing with her go-getter attitude. I loved her mindset that she didn't want to be like everyone else. I always admire people who aspire to be true to who they are & embrace not being ordinary. Patrice from Long Island definitely...
[ Read More ]

I just got word that an employee with my old company was terminated today. The executive director and another director were not going to stop until they terminated this employee. I shared my concerns with my regional manager who did nothing. While there I pushed back on this because it was indeed retaliatory in nature. 
I wish I could tell the employee what I know. 
The primary reason I left was due to this mess.  
 
Working in HR is tough. There are...
[ Read More ]

Before I left on my weekend trip, I felt a painful spot between my breast and my armpit. I wasn't too worried, but I went to Immediate Care to have it checked out. The doctor verified what I already thought -- that it wasn't really a lump, it was irritation from the underwire in my bra. She suggested that I replace my bras with better fitting ones with no wires. So in the next few days I bought six wireless bras, very comfortable and yet supportive (Bali Comfort Revolution). The...
[ Read More ]

It’s been months since I actually looked at my spending, needless to say , it was out of control. Primarily my spending was on things for the house. 
 
Since quitting that toxic job that made me too exhausted to do anything, tonight I was able to catch up on balancing my accounts and entering receipts. I still have a few more accounts to reconcile but at least I’m in a much better place than I was a few weeks ago. 
 
I also updated my planner,...
[ Read More ]

I opened an American Airlines credit card last year. I've done so before, but then ended up closing it once I was charged the annual membership fee after a year. I called this evening with the intention of closing the card again, but then thought about possibly traveling with my parents this summer. The benefits of not being charged for luggage both ways for 3 people outweighs the $99 annual membership fee cost. So I think I'll hold on to the card a little longer. Do any of you...
[ Read More ]

Not a whole lot to report. I realize it has been a while. I've stayed busy working on the church fundraising and doing stuff around the house as well as crocheting. I baked last week and raised $72 for the church mortgage. Not a huge amount, but it all adds up. 
We have to wait for a document before we can get our taxes done. I need to organize what we do have, but that won't take long since I already have it in an accordian file. 
We had quite the rain and wind gusts...
[ Read More ]

Well since our taxes haven't gone into the bank we are guessing they are sending cheques which sucks as we can't cash them here...so not sure what we should do when they arrive...if they arrive!
Also disputing 2 CC transactions that they have taken off our card...we ordered it in 2021 and all was good they had a glitch in their system and recharged me in nov 2022...they said to tell company what happened and get it refunded which I did and then they got back to me and said that...
[ Read More ]

begin - checking account previous ending balance ($1,500) plus interest ($0.38)
pr - net payroll check
SB - my contribution towards joint household expenses
cash - coming in low again, mainly due to gas savings from teleworking
sf - automatic sinking funds deposits
house DP - a tiny house down payment fund contribution
roth - Roth IRA contribution @10% of gross income
Citi MC - the balance on my Citi MC.  This amount includes a pen for Gilligan ($300.25), a collar...
[ Read More ]

Not much going on in my life.  Just plugging along paying down debt little by little.  Saving a few dollars and adding to 401 k and roth Ira.
 
[ Read More ]

Talk me off the cliff. I am getting the new car itch. I just paid over $2k to fix my car, actually close to $3k and I have almost 300k miles on it. She runs good and the mechanic told me it’s a good car. 
 
It sucks because I recently used my CC it redo the kitchen, the under-sink cabinet collapsed and all others were falling off the hinges. If I could have held off I would have, but when the base of the cabinet collapsed I knew it was time. I have the cash but...
[ Read More ]

I'm happy to report that my single-premium immediate annuity is now in place and I've received my first monthly direct deposit into my checking account. They are deducting taxes for me, so my net is a bit lower than $1,000, at $932, but I'll surely appreciate it at tax time.
I am treating this like any other "paycheck," even though I am paying myself! It certainly feels like a paycheck, and I have absolutely no regrets about deciding to go this route.
Hopefully I will live a...
[ Read More ]

So here's a pic of my new car:

Can you see it peaking out from underneath all of that snow?  It won't be going anywhere for awhile.  
We went down to Rancho Cordova and stayed in a hotel for 2 nights, afraid that if we didn't we would get snowed in and stuck for the duration.  We returned home yesterday. Of course, the power is out.  Who knows for how long.  Today is the 4th day.  During the last big storm we had in late December 2021, we...
[ Read More ]

My net worth was down for February, though not as much as expected. My investments were down & cash savings slightly up.
Net Worth: $1,218,479
Change: $-27,325
I don't include cash in checking which is about $15,000 between the two accounts. Nor do I include depreciating assets like my car.
Capital One paid my promo bonus of $100 for opening my savings account, so I took out another $10k to open a second CD while the rate is at 5.00%. I didn't want to pull anymore until...
[ Read More ]

I have put off getting a root canal until I can no longer put it off.  The tooth is infected and the root canal is the only way to get rid of the infection, according to my dentist.  I tried a round of antibiotics but that didn't heal it.  At least I am not in any pain.  I hope to have it done early next week.
I have been trying to eat from what I have at home and have been avoiding the grocery store.  I have a ton of food so it shouldn't be a problem. ...
[ Read More ]

Not a very interesting net worth update... our net worth went up by about $1300, mainly due to debt paydown, which means no Coast FIRE progress. Not much ground gained on paying down our tax bill but other than that things are fairly stable. Hopefully we'll make some progress worth writing about sometime soon!



Assets
 
 
 


NT's UK pensions:
 
 
 


AV1: 22,397 pounds
$27,996
 
 


SW: 30,864 pounds
$38,580
 
 


AV2:...
[ Read More ]

My company pays our year-end bonus for the prior year in the second paycheck of February--if we get a year-end bonus.  Bonuses are company-wide and based on whether the company met its profit-margin goal.  Most years, but not every year, we get a bonus, and the bonus is the same (in terms of % of salary) for everyone.
The 2022 bonus was 15% of 2022 pay.  I'm using the extra to pay down some debt.  I'm still in process of that, since some payments hit my accounts...
[ Read More ]

May I have very few months like this one! My total spending was not only above income, but above several months' income.
Of course, the main reason was buying a new (to me) car. But that wasn't the only thing.....
Here's the recap:
Auto Expenses - $7548 (down payment, repairs)
Housing - $769
Utilities - $234
Medical/Health - $204 (Urgent care, x-ray, MRI, prescription)
Gifts/Charity - $107 (birthday, gift to AHA)
Groceries - $101 (inclues Girl Scout cookies)
Vacation/Travel...
[ Read More ]

Income Total: $1440.00


      $1200 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  


      $225 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal)
      $15 Product Reimbursement Check


       


Total Spending: $1324.62
Total Saving: $115.38


 Fixed Expenses: Verizon bundle (internet, cable): $167.43
Verizon...
[ Read More ]

I had a disconcerting experience with an area small business merchant.
Over the holidays, I was gifted a number of items from a very nice, upscale gift shop (you might call it a boutique) in my area. It's actually not the kind of place I would shop at, as the prices are kind of high and filled with things I wouldn't normally buy myself: pretty scented candles, a curated clothing collection, colorful change purses made in Nepal, handbags, scarves, miniature felted animals and the...
[ Read More ]