wedding/honey moon/house down payment

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I don't think buying without 20% is the worst thing. But I do think that slowing down since you've only been dating since December 2021 is not a bad thing. Waiting because you want to be sure about the marriage and buying a house together would be wise. If you wanted to buy the house for yourself and could afford it I wouldn't see the problem. I'm pretty liberal about spending and taking risks for the board.

But I was the one who said just get married but you responded that you wanted to wait and so I think if you aren't sure about a relationship waiting is important and not rushing through the financial steps. I will admit to be super fortunate to being lucky to end up with my DH. We did a lot of dumb things together financially and just sort of rushing into financial things happened too. But we were lucky we were young, dumb, and broke. I would not behave that way now. Nor would I love it if my kids did something so dumb. But it worked out, yet I will say that for us working out most of our friends did not. So we were pretty lucky.

[Magic Johnson]

I’m seeing the aunt who offered the timeshare vacation on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial weekend. My fiancé will be with me. I’m going to decline my aunt’s offer for the timeshare.

The decision I have to make - break it to both of them at the same time, or discuss my decision w/ my fiancé first.

They’re both reasonable people. The challenge with my aunt is that she’s so well off, and has been for so long that she doesn’t (in my view, anyway) get that I have a couple hundred bucks in checking, and a few hundred bucks in savings. My aunt came from humble beginnings, but she’s been wealthy for many years.

[kork13]

I’m seeing the aunt who offered the timeshare vacation on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial weekend. My fiancé will be with me. I’m going to decline my aunt’s offer for the timeshare.

The decision I have to make - break it to both of them at the same time, or discuss my decision w/ my fiancé first.

They’re both reasonable people. The challenge with my aunt is that she’s so well off, and has been for so long that she doesn’t (in my view, anyway) get that I have a couple hundred bucks in checking, and a few hundred bucks in savings. My aunt came from humble beginnings, but she’s been wealthy for many years.

I would definitely talk to your fiance first. Best not to surprise her & only have her find out when you're telling someone else.

[Magic Johnson]

I’ve decided that it would be appropriate to start looking to buy a house in March 2024 for a few reasons.

1. If I keep that factory job (or get promoted in my real job), I’ll have most of my debt retired by then.
2. If my fiancé and I both contribute $200/mo. to savings (I plan to contribute whatever she contributes) we’ll have at least something for a down payment.
3. My younger daughter will be 18 in February of 2024, so my child support will go down,

[Jluke]

Is it when they turn 18 or graduate high school that your payments stop for that child?

may want to confirm - I recall someone who had to pay until the kid graduated.

could vary by state or agreements

[Magic Johnson]

Is it when they turn 18 or graduate high school that your payments stop for that child?

may want to confirm - I recall someone who had to pay until the kid graduated.

could vary by state or agreements

As I understand it, I pay for the entire month she turns 18. In my case, she turns 18 on Feb. 22, 2024. I pay that entire month, and my payment will be for only my two boys starting March 2024.

[Magic Johnson]

I got home from work last night, and found my milk bottle collection on my porch. I have one duplicate milk bottle, so I’m going to sell it on eBay. I hope to get $25 for it.

Any tips for selling on eBay? Is it still a two week listing like I remember it used to be? If so, I’ll wait to list it because if I listed it today the sale would end Memorial weekend.

[disneysteve]

I got home from work last night, and found my milk bottle collection on my porch. I have one duplicate milk bottle, so I’m going to sell it on eBay. I hope to get $25 for it.

Any tips for selling on eBay? Is it still a two week listing like I remember it used to be? If so, I’ll wait to list it because if I listed it today the sale would end Memorial weekend.

I am an active experienced eBay seller. My current 90-day sales total is about $3,200 and my feedback score is over 1,100. I’m a big fan of eBay. That said, if you just want to sell this one item, I probably wouldn’t bother with eBay if you aren’t already an established seller.

eBay now handles payment processing themselves so you need to link your bank account. Selling fee is 12.9% + $0.30 and that is charged on the sale price, shipping, and sales tax.

If you don’t have a decent feedback score the scammers will be all over you. They target new and inexperienced sellers.

I’d suggest listing it on Facebook Marketplace instead. Hopefully there are some other collectors in the area or even just someone who wants it as a decorative item. Check ebay for sold comps to see what it’s actually going for and then list it a little cheaper on FBMP. There is no cost to sell there so you’ll end up with the same amount or more even if you charge less.

[disneysteve]

If you do go with ebay, most people don't do auctions any more. We live in an "Amazon Prime, same-day shipping" world. People don't want to wait for a 7-day auction to end (that's the standard now), and then pay, and then wait for shipping. Right now, I have 102 items listed. Only 3 of them are auctions.

[Magic Johnson]

I’ll definitely do the FB option. Thanks.

[Magic Johnson]

I did this spreadsheet based on my newly updated budget. The "Me" column is based on actual April 2022 spending. The "Goal" column is based on a spreadsheet provided to me from a money coach I get through an Employee Assistance Program I have available to me from work. The "Children" category is high, but I can't do anything about it, because it's court mandated (child support).

Category	Amount	Me	Goal
Saving	$184	3.2%	5 - 15%
Home	$450	7.9%	20 - 35%
Auto/Transport	$974	17.2%	10 - 20%
Utilities & Services	$249	4.4%	5 - 10%
Debt	$300	5.3%	5 - 20%
Food & Dining	$685	12.1%	10 - 20%
Medical	$174	3.1%	5 - 15%
Children	$1,590	28.0%	0 - 10%
Taxes	$980	17.3%	10 - 30%
Misc	$90	1.6%	1 - 5%

[james.hendrickson]

Magic Johnson - well at least you have a budget. That puts you way, way ahead of a lot of people.

[Magic Johnson]

Last time I went grocery shopping I bought Walmart brand bacon. I fried some this morning. The bacon crumbled up in the pan as I fried it, and I thought it tasted terrible. I will never buy Walmart brand bacon again. I will buy the name brand stuff next time.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Last time I went grocery shopping I bought Walmart brand bacon. I fried some this morning. The bacon crumbled up in the pan as I fried it, and I thought it tasted terrible. I will never buy Walmart brand bacon again. I will buy the name brand stuff next time.

Guess I won't be trying that

[scfr]

Which categories are you working on?