debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 11, 2024 15:58:52 GMT -5
Iggy aka IG I figured that when you were recently considering moving ... Since you get along well with L, can you be frank with her, and tell her that you expect her not to respond to Nosy Nancy's questions? I'd also have no problem confronting Nosy Nancy to ask why she is asking L all these questions, but I understand that can be difficult. I'm sure you'll find a solution.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 11, 2024 15:22:20 GMT -5
Iggy aka IG would it help to keep her, but take her less often (even as of Oct)? Other thought ... could you go to your office before she comes? Would that help with the gossiping issue? I hope the turmeric helps. FYI a lot of Indian dishes use it. We make a dahl (lentil) recipe that uses it.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 11, 2024 13:50:26 GMT -5
I did 6 hours of classes on Zoom today. Going forward my limit will be 5h. I hope at least some of you can meet up.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 10, 2024 15:13:37 GMT -5
Congratulations lark1964 on getting rid of ALL your high-interest debt! I hope you heal quickly.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 10, 2024 14:21:20 GMT -5
That's a very interesting take seriousthistime . Makes sense! Sometimes I find it's practical when people think we don't have extra money lol. Laundry caught up before a very busy week. I'm doing an extra half-day for 3 of the next 4 weeks. This week it's on Zoom. The other two weeks it's at Job 2. With these (temporary) extra hours I want to give up my regular classes next semester. TheOtherMe I still wear a mask on public transport/Eurostar/flights. That could be an option, if you decide the drive is too arduous. My lungs are fragile from smoking. I get sick much less often now. ETA: I realized the rug was actually 23% off! It was 10% off, then DH signed up to get an additional 15% off the sales price.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 8, 2024 19:27:22 GMT -5
Iggy aka IG it doesn't sound strange to me. I'd hate the gossiping too. I'd just mention that you're thinking about retirement and you'd rather save the money to pay off debt, or for later. Keep it simple. You could even just say that these days you can't really afford a cleaner anymore, without going into any more detail. Few people push back when you tell them you can't afford something (but some do, alas). She may also respond by offering to come less often ... that would help with the money aspect, but the nosy neighbor would still be there. My sister once told me, things can be hard for 15 min (giving somebody difficult news), or they can be hard for a lot longer (when we chicken out). Good luck. These conversations are difficult, but you can do this.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 8, 2024 10:54:50 GMT -5
TheOtherMe if you went to California wouldn't you fly? There's a rug we've been wanting for months. It was 15% off today so we bought it. It should arrive in under a week. We'll put the old LR rug under our dining room table (we don't have one there now.)
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 7, 2024 7:18:34 GMT -5
I do remember that about your DH finnime . I'm so happy that you got to go, and that he's stable. I know it's worrying though.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 6, 2024 20:34:48 GMT -5
I hope you get to see them TheOtherMe . If you can go, I think you should. DH and I have basically decided that I/we will try to go to the US once a year. My problem is that I don't want to go to FL (where she lives), I'd much rather go to NY where her DDs and my closest friends live, including my very dear friend who has ALS and who cannot travel anymore. My sister is 13.5 years older than me. She is a retired teacher. She came over a LOT in summers when my kids were little and it was too hard/expensive for all of us to travel. Sometimes our Dad paid for her ticket. Sometimes he paid for ours. I'll figure it out. That's one more reason to stop the student classes after this semester... I've basically made my decision, but I'm not yet ready to tell my boss.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 6, 2024 19:01:18 GMT -5
I'm very low. My sister's BF cancelled their cruise next summer. We were supposed to meet in Barcelona when their cruise ended. He's elderly and unwell, and he doesn't feel safe travelling anymore. I understand, I'm just disappointed. I cancelled our hotels today. (I booked hotels with free cancellation since I knew this was a possibility, so I didn't lose any money.) DH and I will still go away, I'm just sad that I won't see my sister. (She'll be 78 this year, and she's much fitter than me.)
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 5, 2024 16:02:05 GMT -5
When my kids were younger, I would tell them that if they didn't wear pants and sweatshirts for at least 2 days (unless they were visibly dirty) we were joining a nudist colony. I also remember when DS1 + DS2 told me it "wasn't fair" that our sheets were changed every week, but theirs were only changed every other week. I told them if that bugged them, congratulations! That meant they were old enough to change their own sheets LOL.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 5, 2024 10:29:27 GMT -5
TheOtherMe yes I can but the risk is that I'll eventually be considered less "relevant" ... I'll probably take that risk at this point.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 4, 2024 16:19:38 GMT -5
Name | Goal | Saved | Spent | General Savings | 10,000 | 2,500 | 0 | Travel | 3,500 | 0 | 0 | Garden | 750 | 500+250 | 750 | Miscellaneous | 750 | 750 | 750 | Rug | 300 | 0 | 0 | TOTAL | 15,300 | 4,000 | 1,500 |
Debthaven: 5 Mar 2024: 4,000 euros (Total savings goal: 15,300)
I completely forgot that we still owed for the garden clean-up! My hours increased. I wanted more hours, but not this many. My April to July paychecks should be good. I want to save as much as possible so I can reduce my hours again in fall. This semester is "my last hurrah."
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 4, 2024 15:51:44 GMT -5
Yikes seriousthistime ! I hope it gets straightened out quickly when you get home and that you get good news when you do your taxes.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 4, 2024 14:08:26 GMT -5
TheOtherMe any chance she could come one more time? I'd definitely try the new person! Having someone was such a big help to you! Well I wanted more hours, and I got them LOL. Five hours on Zoom today (so I have a headache), and six next Monday. I have three additional (long) half-days through early April, mostly at Job 2. I will be VERY busy till then. I hate how it's always feast or famine. I'm not happy with so many extra hours. Yes I wanted some, but not this many. Since I'm doing more hours than planned, I'll probably give up any regular classes after this semester.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 4, 2024 2:39:14 GMT -5
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 1, 2024 20:45:47 GMT -5
Your mother sounds AMAZING Rukh O'Rorke ! Going back to assisted living at 100!!! We had some amazing news tonight ... DS1/DDIL/E/I are moving back to France! It has been in process but I didn't want to post until it was sure. They'll move at the end of the year. We were so surprised when they told us they were looking! I guess two former humanitarian aid workers don't stay in one place for long. They're NOT moving to Paris. They'll be a 5.5h drive from us, and 1h from DD. Longer for us than taking the Eurostar to London, but shorter than driving there.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 1, 2024 13:33:24 GMT -5
Yikes Nikiz! Fingers crossed and good for you for being so quick!
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Mar 1, 2024 11:35:50 GMT -5
Why no hot water startsmart ? That's hard, especially in winter.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 29, 2024 5:00:04 GMT -5
Nice that the old table stays in the family finnime .
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 29, 2024 4:34:29 GMT -5
NastyWoman if you have a friend or neighbor connected to a nursery or primary school, they would probably be happy to take them.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 28, 2024 15:14:29 GMT -5
I caught up on laundry today. The cleaner came, but she'll be off again next week for her grandson's baptism (in another European country). I've been SO lazy these days! Lots of reading and Netflix. At 64, I don't feel too guilty lol. Work is finally ramping up! I'm doing 9/10 hours next week, and still going in just one day.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 26, 2024 16:02:51 GMT -5
Doing laundry and other chores Saturday so that I may enjoy my love of cooking and baking on Sunday is working out well.I am happy to hear this Iggy aka IG . So sorry about the handles startsmart . The new ones will be here soon!
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 26, 2024 14:31:22 GMT -5
In the past - when he asked I would think he needed some money and I'd try to find something for him to do. But now I am not so flush with cash,I would just tell him that money is tight these days and you may contact him later in the year. I'm guessing he needs/wants the work so he'll probably leave you alone if none is forthcoming. I'd start there and hopefully it will resolve itself. It sounds like he just wants to earn some money and he ASSumed you'd continue to use him as much as you did before. But you need to be clear with him, so he doesn't think "later in the year" means next week or even next month... Great job on the doors startsmart ! You've worked hard! I'm working 4 hours this week. Things should finally ramp up next week!
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 24, 2024 18:54:56 GMT -5
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 22, 2024 19:07:52 GMT -5
Hugs TheOtherMe . Would it help to take photos of it or scan it? DH is now losing HIS mind trying to deal with our health insurance for HIS dental work. BTDT! I'm giving DH advice but I won't take over (not that he's asked me to). They're also pulling the same crap with me again, but this time, it's for a 65E imaging fee! Ugh. They're happy to pay for doctors, but they DON'T want to pay for anything adjacent.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 22, 2024 18:41:14 GMT -5
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 22, 2024 18:16:56 GMT -5
minnesotapaintlady I'm sorry, I know how debt averse you are. Remember that it needs doing, and new siding is an investment that will maintain and even increase the value of your home! Also, being able to pay half of a 46K bill in cash is no mean feat! You should be very proud of yourself.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 22, 2024 17:38:06 GMT -5
TheOtherMe not to pry, but I'm guessing you can pay it off in less than 12 months (so that you can go back again next year if you choose to)? We got the estimate for a new front door to match our new French doors/windows. At 3.2K euros ($3500), we decided our front door is just fine LOL! So I can reduce my savings goal. I'll have 3/4 more hours of of teaching/week as of March, so savings should pick up a bit. Fabulous job on the grocery bill Sunnyday !
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,372
|
Post by debthaven on Feb 22, 2024 9:20:33 GMT -5
lark1964 what about paying half off for now, and then waiting until you get the HELOC to decide about the rest? You're so close! ETA: How is your eye doing?
|
|