Women in Red Racers - South Region

[3jsmom31]

jdnstl:  I hope you catch a break and get a job with more stability.  Not to sound stupid, but if your job ends, have you gone over your options?  Unemployment would cover a little while you look, but full-time jobs are not very easy to find right now.  You know your field, and what the market may have to offer, so I'm hopeful that you find something that works better without having to move (unless you want to move, of course).  



Well, we went out to get feed before building our incubator, found one on sale, so we snatched it up, now maybe we can hatch some eggs.  Filled up half of our raised garden beds.  I'm so tired, but glad to make good use of time and money.  The more I hear about furloughs and job loss, and full time work turning into part time, the more I want to grow my own food so that we could at least feed our family if DH's industry cuts back.  Do you guys thinks it's inappropriate for me to type my garden/animal stories on here?  I don't want to make anyone mad, but maybe we can save a little and eat fresher veggies this summer .  

Happy Easter!

[forwardwego]

Adding in the 2 dental loans, here goes:

ATTN: CAPTAINS Adding debt to race;
 Forwardwego $19365 3/30/13 ($36780 6/19/11 STP64, S154)

Jdnstl & CarolinaKat  I am sorry you are facing the loss of work. Makes me think that the economy is far from recovering when intelligent, capable, people with motivation are scrambling for enough work.. Please keep us informed.

Odd, my computer won't allow me to look at the few pages previous to this page, I clicked on pg 153 which comes up, then screen goes right back to pg 154. Anyone else experience this?

AS redracerris said our bigger dental loan with the 0% expiring in Dec needs to be my priority; so made sense to add that in & have my race reflect the paydown and effort. So may as well add in the smaller one too even thought it will get min pay'ts. Adding them both in is a bit "painful", but by about June I will have some momentum going and will be glad I added it all in to the race. 

3js I love hearing about the farm, the kids, and gardening...there is financial relevance, and it is interesting, educational,  and uplifting.

[bankergurl]

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[bankergurl]

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[bankergurl]

Having a lot of problems with proboards letting me get onto the correct page.

[bankergurl]

$100K List updated as of 3/31/13! $10,589.72 paid off in the last 2 weeks! Fabulous!
One leapfrog, dschmidt1007 from the Northeast jumped 3 spots, all the way to the #1 spot!!
Congrats to Banker Gurl from the Midwest for paying off over $60K and over 35%!
www.notmsnmoney.proboards.com/thread/11187/page/4/100k-club#page=4

[3jsmom31]

ATTN CAPTAINS!!!!  BREAKING NEWS.  We are adding debt to the race, too!  
UPDATE

3jsmom31: 4/1/2013  $49,330.07  (10/3/12 $67,975.18   S142, S154)

Start:.......................................Current:

$41,033.19................................$36,506.07

$12,954.00................................$12,824.00 (adding dozer)

 $ 9,809.38................................*Zer *

$  4,178.61................................*Zer * 

$67,975.18................................$49,330.07

============================================

Old beginning total was $55,021.18, last update total (3/21) was 37,962.75.....

Thanks for showing me how, Forward.  I just barely stayed on the 25 to 50k list

[debtfreeredux]

***UPDATE***

DebtFreeRedux: 4/1/13 $216,958.05 (1/30/12 $282,500.50)

Debt	Interest Rate	Balance 2/7/13	Balance 4/1/13	Difference
Car Loan	4.9%	$54,898.96	$52,633.09	-$2,265.87
Unsecured LOC	19.25%	$0	$0	$0
SL#1	3.01%	$12,802.96	$12,752.82	-$50.14
SL#2	4.50%	$9,448.90	$9,352.89	-$96.01
SL#3	2.50%	$18,737.50	$18,661.84	-$75.66
SL#4	2.50%	$19,320.24	$19,185.6	-$134.64
SL#5	2.00%	$28,638.38	$28,363.91	-$274.47
SL#6	4.55%	$3,773.41	$3,714.97	-$58.44
SL#7	4.55%	$5,925.93	$5,834.14	-$91.79
SL#8	5.0%	$10,030.67	$9,922.71	-$107.96
SL#9	2.375%	$14,032.15	$13,989.54	-$42.61
SL#10	2.375%	$24,969.35	$24,893.54	-$75.81
CC#1	11.99%	$18,046.00	$17,653.00	-$393.00
Total		$220,624.45	$216,958.05	-$3,666.40

[3jsmom31]

Forward, it was kind of hard doing all the math and seeing our total go up so much, but I agree with you, we will get some momentum and do our best with the debt.

DebtFreeRedux:  You are doing a fantastic job!  Are your car payments that high, or do you throw your snowball there?  

Last year we were lazy about payoffs except the 0%(2%) loan, but we've both decided that we want to get the farm loans paid off.  We were going to look for land about 6 to 12 months after the farm we bought went up for sale.  We were lucky that we had a little savings, or we wouldn't have been able to get it when it became available unexpectedly.  Now to roll up our sleeves, plant our garden, and get focused again on debt (freedom).  We had a tax refund, and we applied some of that to the land.  The rest we put into savings to help through life's little surprises .

I got a cell phone, but haven't called the kids from the yard yet.  I'll try to work that in today  

Happy Monday!!!

[forwardwego]

Jdnstl I hope you had a relaxing time with your dad and stepmom. And that you will have good news on the jobfront soon. Your tenacity and determination are inspiring.

Congrat on your progress debtfreeredux  $65K paid is gr-r-r-reat!!! 

3js I'm glad & grateful we both adjusted in that new debt to our races. I am also glad we didn't have to graduate "up" a club. Also on the good side is having it all organized together here has helped, before that I felt "scattered". And now that the icky part of adding it in is behind us, we can move fwd to the satisfaction of seeing bigger paydowns. Hee hee on cellphone calling the kids from the yard .

[jdnstl]

Time for a region update. This is my first time so I hope it goes well.

GOAL UPDATES
New GOAL for 2013: $5 Million dollars.  The date to meet this goal is 6/30/13 (end of the 2nd quarter) and we have $404,710 left to payoff!

SOUTH ACTIVE MEMBERS
Bolded lines mean members are in danger of going inactive.

Updated: 4/2/2013 through page 154

= $100,    = $500,    = $1,000,    = $5,000,    = $10,000,    = $25,000,   = $75,000,    = $100,000,    = $200,000,    = Location Needed

3jsmom31(2): 4/1/2013 $49330.07 (10/3/2012 $67975.18 PB142, PB154)
atxracer: 3/14/2013 $44524.28 (9/26/2012 $47837.57 PB141)
Bra Money: 3/12/2013 $10330 (7/20/2007 $33441 N321)
CarolinaKat: 3/5/2013 $7758 (3/5/2010 $26019 SU189)
classof2015: 3/8/2013 $14168 (2/11/2013 $15138 PB151)
CraftySarah (2): 3/21/2013 $53743.12 (2/26/2011 $77970.68 SU126, SPT25)
DebtFreeRedux: 4/1/2013 $216958.05 (1/30/2012 $282500.5 SPT114, SPT121)
dimplesnlj: 3/26/2013 $32970 (1/2/2010 $46431 SU21/SU26)
Ffflex: 3/6/2013 $8680 (6/29/2010 $27320 SU352/SU372/STP26)
forwardwego (2): 3/30/2013 $19365 (6/19/2011 $36780 SPT64, PB154)
goalofzero: 3/14/2013 $14449.59 (3/14/2011 $28150.97 S78/S93/S349/STP31)
jdnstl: 3/3/2013 $6700 (1/9/2008 $48042.26 S34)
muffy in the red: 3/22/2013 $81564.77 (9/9/2008 $128662.37 S373/S385/SU395/SPT77, SPT81, PB86, PB92, PB150)
nasagreen: 3/11/2013 $86115.64 (7/20/2007 $144371.69 N312/S108/S180)
Pay-No-Interest: 3/18/2013 $102000 (5/16/2007 $369884 N23/S25/SU359)
Red Racer Ris: 2/24/2013 $101222 (3/20/2010 $134409 Su220)
speechchick (3): 3/3/2013 $14121 (1/6/2013 $14380 PB149)
Trojen3: 3/27/2013 $86051.77 (8/24/2012 $99479.89 138)

 
Shoutouts:
craftysarah - your race is going great even with the small confusion with the selling of your loans. sending you prayers that it gets worked out fast. great update!
redracerris - look at the bright side, you made a profit! it may only be $300 but it's something in the positive instead of being in the negative. how long have you been in alaska now, one year? how have you adjusted?
bramoney - good update! happy belated b-day!
atxracer - good update for you as well. yes, it may feel slow but you are doing this for the right reasons & it will be so worth the work.
goalofzero - nice update from you on your WIRRiversary. you are almost halfway there, watch for that downhill slide any day now.
speech - love the cheer for goalofzero!
pay-no-interest & 3jsmom31 - welcome back to you both! & nice updates too.
3jsmom31 - did you use the cell phone to call from the yard yet?
muffy - great update in spite of the set backs this year. keep up the good work.
fowardwego & dimplesnlj - great updates!
trojen - great update from you too. are you snowballing to SL4? it sounds like you made good use of the tax money, having extra in savings is always a smart move.
3jsmom31 & forwardwego - even though you added some debt, you have good plans for getting it paid off & that counts for a lot.  
debtfreeredux - amazing update! you are blazing through the debt.

[jdnstl]

It worked!! I'm so ecstatic that my first update worked!!

[3jsmom31]

You did great, jdnstl! 

Forwardwego, it was close.  If we hadn't made the principle payment, we'd have graduated up, lol.

We found a brown recluse (we think) in our house  ....  So I'm going to be cleaning and steaming everything I can reach!!  

Happy Wednesday!

[Deleted]

I'm sorry to see we've got a couple of updated starting totals, but I'm so impressed that you guys aren't letting these obstacles - not to mention the furloughs and income challenges - deter you from your goals.

My big news is that I got a new job.  Starting in the fall, I will be teaching at a small university near my family (yay!) and I will get summers off (yay!) and I will be taking about a $10k paycut (gulp!) - so I'm trying to live on less now and split the surplus between saving for the move and paying down my loan.  I'm hoping that I won't have to scale back on my race payments once I start the new gig.

My little news is that my student loan company found my lost payment, so I have an update a little earlier in the month than normal.

UPDATE CraftySarah: 4/3/2013 $52,674.51 (2/26/2011 $77,970.68 STP25)

[3jsmom31]

craftysarah:  Ooh, ooh, congrats on the new job, and summers off!  Glad they found the payment.  Yay!    I don't feel bad about adjusting.  I was actually jumping up and down saying Yay! when we got the 12 month loan at 2%(transaction fee)...  The purchase will make life easier, and DH has looked for the right one for a long time.  I'm glad he finally found one.  He was going to go to the bank, and then the envelope of 0% (2%) cheap loan arrived.  I don't always open them, but on this day, I did....  it was as if the interest fairy stepped in and saved us 2 or more percent with a sweep of her presorted envelope...  Ok, I'm having a ridiculous time with this, and I'm sure everyone will think I'm a bit off....  house cleaning can put anyone over the egde into offness ....  Happy scrubbing to anyone else trying to clean house.

I didn't call from the yard, but I did call from my bedroom.  I asked my son to please go check the wood stove.  It was so funny, and you should have seen the look he gave me.  It was pretty cute.  So far, they've been outside with me, but as it gets hot, I expect them to run to the AC.... then I'll get to "Phone Home"  Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

[redracerris]

ATTN Captains UPDATE Red Racer Ris 4/5/2013 $100,460 (3/20/10 $134,409 SU220 OK/AK)

	Original Amount	Last Month	This Month	Difference	% Paid
Student Loan 1	$34,236	$22,058	$21,785	$273	40%
Student Loan 2	$31,691	$29,135	$29,021	$114	8%
Student Loan 3	$30,730	$25,310	$25,191	$119	18%
Student Loan 4	$37,752	$24,719	$24,463	$256	35%
Total	$134,409	$101,222	$100,460	$762	25.2%

So I am a little late for my 3 year wirriversary. Just $51 would have made it $30,000 paid off in three years, so averaging about $10,000 a year payoff is not bad considering our income is $36,000. Just $461 more and I will be under $100,000! I am so excited. This is the month I figured we would get under $100,000. Holy crap, I just realized that I passed the 25% mark, woo. On the other hand, I feel like "Is it really going to take me 12 more years to pay this off?" It really wouldn't if my husband would just let me throw everything towards it. Le sigh. I am still going to be under $100,000 by the end of April!
Speaking of DH, we came up with an updated outline for a monthly spending plan. It includes some fun money, so I am hoping it will curb his free spirit-ness (the Dave Ramsey term for those who like to spend) so we can save more then put that towards loans. If we have any leftover money in the bank at the end of the month, it goes to savings where it sits for another month in case we need it. If it does not get used up, DH and I each get one thing with the money and anything left from that goes our emergency fund (needs to get back up to $2000). Once the EF is back up, we will save up $8,000 for next summer. Then everything will go to loans. It sounds really complicated, but I needed to be able to satisfy him while still getting to pay down loans. He got more hours and it looks like he may be getting upgraded to full time and more pay, so I would not really need to get a job this summer. Because of this, I have decided that I am going to work on our business, grow a potted garden, forage for food and herbs and do one show/fair a month. And I am going start canning. We have saved up for a canner and some supplies for it.


3jsmom31 I love hearing about your animals, gardening, and chickens! Glad you were able to stay in the 25-50k club. I will be there soon, after I graduate the 50-75k club, cuz I will be graduating the 100k club this month As for my routine, right now I spend about an hour on paperwork, an hour on marketing (taking pictures of products), and at least an hour on making something, whether it is painting, knitting or macrame. But I get up at 5 so that I can do some yoga and housework before I start. But DH just went to night shift, so it is taking some time to get used to it. He usually gets home about the time I get up and wants to talk after being by himself all night (it keeps him from going crazier than he already is )Hopefully that will change in June and I can be by myself while he is at work during normal hours while not worrying about waking him up.

debtfreeredux Great paydown! You will have it knocked out in no time!

jdnstl Good luck with the job search. It sounds like even if they do not close their doors, you should find a new job anyways. And great job with the board update!

forwardwego Good to hear that you are working on that 0% before it comes due. Can hardly wait to see that momentum in June!

craftysarah Congratulations on the new job. Good luck with it! It is good you realize you will need to trim your habits, you will have no problem adjusting. Woohoo on the found lost payment.

Muffyinthe Red Great paydown!

trojen3 Nice update!

Hope everyone else is doing well. I am excited to see what spring will bring!

[jdnstl]

UPDATE

Mar 1 13 Apr 1 13
CC1 – 0.00 0.00
CC2 – 1250.00 1250.00
CC3 – 0.00 0.00
CC4 – Closed
CC5 – 0.00 0.00
CC6 – 4550.00 4550.00
CC7 – 0.00 0.00
Auto1 – 0.00 0.00
Auto2 – 900.00 700.00
TOTAL- 6,700.00 6,500.00 Difference of $200.00

EF/Savings – $1,160.79 $1,161.46 Difference of $0.67 (Thanks to super high interest, NOT!)
jdnstl: 4/1/13 $6,500.00 (1/9/08 $40,366.26 S34)
Total ptd - $33,866.26
Percent ptd – 83.9%

Here’s my very slow paydown thanks to all the changes last month. Hopefully May’s update will be killer.

[CarolinaKat]

UPDATE	3/5/2010	3/5/2013	4/5/2013	% Paid
CC	552	0	0	100%
Car	11515	0	0	100%
SL #1	4812	2761	2689	44%
SL #2	4570	2499	2427	47%
SL #3	4570	2499	2427	47%
Total	26,019	7,758	7,542	71%
CarolinaKat 4/5/13 $7,542 (3/5/10 $26,019 SU189)

[Deleted]

Oh my gosh! redracerris You're so close to dropping an entire digit off of your balance! I'm excited for your update next month.

[CarolinaKat]

Here's what I've learned budget-wise by being unemployed for a month: Having a paid-off car is a good thing. Although I originally took on debt to buy it on the first place, having it paid off early has been a blessing. It was the largest line-item in the budget. I thank all of you for getting me to pay it off early when I was still employed. I remember Elderkind specifically telling me when my job was shaky the first time that having a paid-off car is a good idea. I don't have to worry about making payments on the car and I have a nice car that will hopefully last me a long time. Having it paid-off also made it very easy to combine my insurance with my husband's, which is a great idea. The combined policies offer better coverage for both cars for less money than I was paying on my car every month.

I also made sure I got all my check-ups in before my current insurance ran out. I'm still waiting on getting an appointment with a PCP on DH"s insurance, so having seen my neurologist and dentist and GP gives me flexibility so it's not super critical I get seen right away by the doctors on the new insurance network. I'm also very lucky that I can get on DH's insurance and I can pocket the two month's COBRA payments I got under our severance package.

Paying cash for the wedding was a very good idea. Both his parents and my parents ended up giving us generous gifts that allowed us to keep some extra savings that makes me feel much more secure. It also enabled us to spend some money on a couch that doesn't have the springs poking you every time you sit down. We researched and spent $720 for a nice microfiber loveseat and sofa with wood detailing. I hope to keep these for many years. I know a couch is not 'necessary' but it was a fantastic deal at the right time and I'm very happy with the decision.

Also, Having a budget with our expenses combined that I can adjust was VERY helpful, it allows me to see the 'must be paid' vs the 'nice to have' vs 'well that's silly' and it helps me feel like I'm freaking out less.

[3jsmom31]

redracerris, to be so close to losing the hundred thousand part of your debt is cool.  You've done a great job!  Good work on coming up with a plan that satisfies you both.  25% is a big milestone.  I'm going to be there with you, too.  I know a little about food preservation, but I'm expanding my knowledge as much as I can.  I'm going to can and dry foods this year.  I want to limit freezing foods just because they can get the freezer taste.  I want to get a "good" canner, but just hate the idea of spending that much.  I wish I had spent it from the beginning, because now I have something that kind of works sometimes, and the expense of the better model is harder to justify...  Sometimes you can get the jars used and save a mint.  Check the edges to make sure they are smooth and will seal, and only use real mason jars if you are pressure canning.  Your routine sounds satisfying, like you always know where you are with the day.  Yoga is a great start .  I've been setting goals each morning, and sometimes I overestimate and don't get it all done, but I try, lol.

jdnstl:  Very nice update.  Almost 84% and heading in the right direction in spite of all the changes....  Excellent job

CarolinaKat, Nice update!  You guys are making progress and getting ever closer to 75%  You're way ahead of the game with savings and paid off vehicles.  Congrats on the couch.  Sometimes it's worth the expense to get something you really enjoy. I miss Elderkind (and lots of our friends, really)

One thing I can say about our visit to the farm was it was the picture of efficiency!  We learned a good bit and maybe some things to strive for.  I want to become efficient at hatching our own birds!!!  The family we visited raise enough to feed themselves, and some to sell    It may sound harsh, but it was beautiful to me....

[trojen3]

Monthly update:

UPDATE: Trojen3: 4/7/13: $82,403.22 (8/24/12 $99,479.89)

Name of Debt	Current Debt	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid Off
Car Loan	$0	$2,201.08	$2,201.08	100%
SL #1 - Sallie Mae	$0	$1,491.42	$1,491.42	100%
SL #2 - Grad PLUS	$43,701.25	$46,338.33	$2,637.08	5.69%
SL #3 - Grad PLUS	$26,791.83	$28,852.49	$2,060.66	7.14%
SL #4 - Private	$11,910.14	$20,596.57	$8,686.43	42.17%
Total	$82,403.22	$99,479.89	$17,076.67	17.17%

I was able to put another large chunk of money towards SL #4. My original goal was to have it paid off by my birthday (last week). Unemployment at the end of last year was the doom of that goal. Next goal is end of June. Keeping my fingers crossed -- it will be close!

Carolinakat - Nice update! You're so close to that 75% paid off mark!
jdnstl - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for that killer May update!!!
redracerris - Can't wait for your update next month to help you celebrate being under $100k! You're doing an amazing job!

[nasagreen]

Hey guys, nice to see all the chatter I still have problems seeing the page, it is quite difficult to read and everything is in links instead of like HTML. We are pushing hard to pay down our truck, which some of you may remember prompted me to do an article with MP Dunleavy back in the day about purchase regret.....for a whopping $735.68 (yes I have that memorized down to the penny), you too can own a ridiculously overpriced Chevy 2500 Silverado (we had to roll in the previous loan balance). My goal is to have it paid off by Thanksgiving. It would normally have been paid off next February, so it isn't a whole year early or anything awesome like that, but 4 months is something. AND, the big reason, is that I'm pregnant again. Our DD will be 2 1/2 when the baby comes, and the truck payment will then go towards daycare ( super sad about that). But at least we have the $800 a month to do daycare for a second child. Whew! I'm only 7 weeks along, so obviously this is extremely early, but I'm trying to get ducks in a row.

Thanks for the shoutouts about continuing to truck along (hehe) and for being the captain. Sometimes I feel like I don't do a great job at it, and that someone else could definitely do better, but I try very hard and love the South!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Congrats, Nasagreen! 

[Deleted]

Hooray for a new baby and an almost paid off truck!

[CarolinaKat]

YAY Nasa!

[forwardwego]

Congratulations Nasagreen Family  , and thank you for your love and contribution to the southern WIRRs. It will be great to get that truck payment off your back. Back in my day child care expenses earned tax credit, is that still how it is?

Trojen3 nice job averaging over $2K paydown per month, lovely contribution to our $5Million southern goal. It will be great 4 U to nix SL4 by June.

3jsmom How much $$ would the canning equip you wish you had cost? 'scuse my nosiness please

CarolinaKat Thank you for sharing. It is comforting to see that getting financially organized is such a huge benefit and stress manager. We don't have our last vehicle paid for yet but am thankful to be paid ahead, thru Oct. Since that loan is w/ our credit union we are allowed to skip til then if the need arises. And congrats on your update.... second  soon!!
 
jdnstl good job on your update, it must be comforting to look at all the zeros you've scored  already  Thanks for your co-captaining contributions, nice work

redracerris Nice update for you too...so You are building up a big chunk to deliver a big hit against the loans. Would you aim it all at one loan or some $$ to each?
 
craftsarah Yahoo for the new job near your family...priceless! Summers off...also priceless!! Paycut...you are crafty, Sarah...you'll have a handle on that soon.
And glad to see the $250 found it's way home.

[3jsmom31]

Between 2 and 3 hundred, forwardwego.  It depends on if I get the one that can do 14 quart jars or one that only holds 7 at a time.  I'd also have to get a new stove or an outside burner or something, as the 14 quarts would crush my burners even worse than the 4 to 7 I can do now.  My easier to use canner won't always pressure up.  I have a "better" one, but the weight on top is dangerous to twist on (once you twist it on after you get the steam rollin', you'll see why I hate it, lol)  I should research and see if there is any way that I can use the old weight on the newer canner, and that would truly solve the problem....  

Congrats nasagreen and family!!!  

trojen, great update.  You are doing fantastic.  Best wishes on reaching your goal by June ....

[forwardwego]

3js the canning equip sounds like a lot more considerations than just price, but it does seem that you will be canning enough to justify the $200-$300.

I'm probably going to open an Ally Bank account. If anyone is an existing customer and can earn a referral bonus, message me to set that up.

[bramoney]

Update: 4/10/13 $10,225.00 (7/20/07 $33,441.00 N3848)
Greeting Everyone! Really good to see all the chatter and updates with great pay downs!! Good Job Everyone! Thank you for all the shouts outs just makes my day! All is ok over here, got the plumbing completed at the house the cost was more than I expected, but you know, I am not crawling under the house. I love construction and house;home building and all that stuff, but I do draw lines. Got another 30 days to make more repairs, yea! Maybe I can get my husband over to the house more; if not well, I will just be running over folks that get in my way. You know, not really but, not taking no for an answer or listening to people doing a lot of talking. Woman on a mission! We are close to getting the house completed, well I think so. Ok, enough about the house. I got a raise at work, yea! But no one talked to me about it, it just showed up on my paycheck. It has been 4 years from the time I received the last one. I am thankful and grateful. Everyone, keep your chin up and keep knocking down your debt numbers………….until the next time.