International Region, Women in Red Racers

[debtheaven]

Thanks Minnesota. I have an interview on Fri but it's for more adult-ed work rather than university work.

I am getting very concerned about Writer88. I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, but I was a bit surprised when she did not congratulate me on my "win" since she knew it was coming up and had promised to "stick around" for it. I initially figured she'd "show up" within a few days or a week.

But she hasn't been here on these boards since March 1 (I just checked). I wrote to her a few days ago (to her real addy) and I haven't heard back (she usually responds very quickly). Gd willing she and her family are all well.

ETA: Hopefully she's just in self-induced exile finishing her novel.

[writer88]

Yes, DebtHeaven. It's true..I haven't been on the boards in a while, and because of that I missed your win as well as everyone's amazing progress. Please forgive me!

DebtHeaven you weren't all that wrong about the self-imposed exile: I'm in the middle of Chapter 12 (out of 19 chaps + epilogue) of my novel. I'm exercising 4 times per week on a regular basis (3 days of power-walking and a one-hour pilates class). My blood work shows improvement (less bad cholesterol, lower triglycerides and glucose). I've finished Passover cleaning of my room already, and tomorrow I hope to scrub the clipped paint off the bathroom ceiling. JDC is throwing more freelance work at me every month. Now that I'm out of debt I renovated the garden and bought myself some new clothes. I'm tithing all "extra" income (like JDC, $ from my family or the IRS). Also, I've set aside over NIS 1300 ($370) in an emergency fund (or to be used for car repairs/license in September).

My parents (D=90 yrs; M=87 yrs) are actively taking care of the arrangements they need to make in order to make the switch over from their home in Santa Barbara to an all-Jewish assisted-living place located about a mile away from my sister in Mission Viejo, near San Diego. It would make my family visits much, much more convenient. DS1 was awarded the "outstanding soldier" award out of about 200 soldiers in the logistics unit at his base. He is due to be discharged in October. DS2 is serving as an office clerk in the army base in Beit El, which allows him to return home (and teach at Capoeira classes) every afternoon. This week he is on full vacation so that he can attend the annual Capoeira "batistado" ceremonies. DD1 quit her full-time position at Steimatsky Bookstore. She's working as a substitute, instead, in order to have time to prepare for a pre-psychometric course that starts in April. DD2 is taking her studies at Hadassah dental school seriously, while shouldering much of the pre-Sabbath household chores.

As to how are things in Israel: I freaked out totally yesterday because the media originally reported the 174 Ma'ale Adumim bus as the one that was bombed. They corrected themselves about 3 minutes later but not before I had some anxious moments. I think a new intifada-type terrorist wave has started. I think the powers that be ought to act on Sarah Palin's advice ("stop apologizing for crying out loud"). I think inflation around the world is going to take off like a rocket (just look at food and oil prices).

And I think I'd better sign off now because it's getting late.

With love to all of you ladies, and, of course, my belated yet -felt mazal tov to you, DebtHeaven. You're the one who makes this board a caring community.

[debtheaven]

Writer!!! I'm SO happy to hear from you!!! Congratulations on all such wonderful news! I should do so well with my spare time LOL. I'll write back.

It seems like Writer brought me some good news (besides Writer herself of course lol). It looks like the purchase will indeed be going through, not sure when, probably by the end of April.

The problem was that the seller promised to get the ball rolling for the building reno (and pay for it) but he hasn't done anything but get estimates. We can't wait forever because our loan offer is only good till early/mid May. As of today it looks like we will purchase anyway, with a 3.5K reduction in price to compensate for what he would have paid for the building reno.

As much as I'd LOVE to put that 3.5K to debt (after the transaction goes through of course), it would be stupid to pay down a 2.75% or 4.3% loan and then have to borrow that money back at a higher rate for the building reno.

But since I still have an extra 1K to play with, I am going to celebrate the good news by sending a check for 465e to the boiler loan. That means we will owe 1705 (11 months left) instead of 2170 (14 months left).

[debtheaven]

I have just had very, very tragic news. I'm sure you all remember CMRobin who posted here while she lived in Australia, and then moved to the Southern thread after she moved back to the US.

She is no longer with us. I don't have the details, but she took her own life about a month ago. Apparently she did not leave a note.

It is so tragic. Obviously her family is just devastated. One of her sisters found CoffeeGirl's addy and informed her.

Christina was such a wonderful cheerleader every time she posted, she worried about retirement. She had had a great heartache in Australia and decided to move back to the US after that. It seems obvious that she had trouble getting over that breakup. I wish I had realized that she was still suffering so.

I remember her moving back to the US, spending time with her parents, and moving in with her sister while she tried to find a new job (she was very highly qualified). I remember her sounding so happy at that new start, and at living with her sister and her sister's kids and getting to spend some time with them after all that time abroad.

Please, let's all keep her in our hearts. Let's all say a prayer for her and her family (in whatever religion) and light a candle for her.

This just breaks my heart, as I know it will yours.

Hugs to all of you (us).

[financiallyfreeinbc]

OMG!!! NO WAY! That is absolutely tragic!! Prayers for her and her family for sure!

[debtheaven]

[writer88]

DebtHeaven - A second Mazal tov on the new purchase. I think you're making a wise choice re: the loan(s). Good for you!

Yes, I remember CMRobin. What makes her fate all the more tragic is the desperation that drove her to believe suicide was her only option.

There's always a choice. I believe that very strongly.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Such sad, sad news about CMRobin. Her family is in my thoughts and prayers.

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[bankergurl]

$100K club updated as of 3/27/11! Not too many updates this week, but the updates we had were spectacular! $15,493.20 paid off this week!
- 2 Leapfrogs, Red Ruby from the South and dragon2008 from the West!
- Congrats to Red Ruby from the South for paying off over $30K!
- Congrats to dragon2008 from the West for paying off over $35K!
notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wir&thread=2929&page=1

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Shoutouts!

Thrifty- Great update! More than $23k paid off, way to go!
Writer88- Its so good to hear from you!
debtheaven- Doggone you once again! I know you had three very lengthy posts last night, and here I go to comment on them this morning and they’re gone! I know it helps you to write them out, and I’m glad for that. I hope whatever you were working through is resolved.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Smiley update!!!

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

debtheaven[4]: 2/23/11 $0 (11/25/2009 $11,500 I257) ;D
alicesfreedom: 3/11/11 $12,167.57 (9/2/2009 $25,341.42 I226, IPT4)
bubbleepink: 3/19/11 $37,378.11 (4/17/2009 $41,648.59 N178, IPT7, IPT9)
financiallyfreeinbc: 12/24/10 $0 (1/5/2010 $28,343.05 IU13)
EL1504[2]: 3/3/11 $2,469.44 (3/19/2010 $6,751.42 IU62)
Idawngirl: 3/10/11 $9,338 (1/4/2010 $27,993 IU10) ;D
InDebtYogini: 3/1/11 $6,466.74 (9/19/2007 $14,490.83 N559)
MoodyManitoba: 2/7/11 $176,552.44 (2/12/2009 $185,805.93 IU113)
Psychobabbler: 2/15/11 $19,129 (4/1/2010 $22,653 IU68) ;D
Thrifty_in_mtl: 3/21/11 $177,765.59 (1/6/2009 $201,231.48 IU142)
Writer88: 1/4/11 $0 (12/21/2006 $27,917 IU51) ;D
ZsDebt: 2/28/11 $42,249.01 (1/7/2010 $59,198.18 IU16) ;D

[debtheaven]

Minnesota
I'm sorry! I had one local hour today, the other four cancelled (sufficiently in advance that I won't get paid for those hours). Three cancelled for next week. Out of the 25 hours I was supposed to work in March, I only worked 13.

So I wrote to the new job that signed me up for Tuesdays and Fridays, and told them I realized that I could not work Fridays for them, but if they are interested I could work Mondays (as well as the Tuesdays). If they say yes I will give up the local Monday job which is close but badly paid and unreliable. That would give me about 22 hours a week which is more reasonable than 27.

Feel free to comment anyway!

ETA: That all worked out, in record time! The woman said too bad about the Fridays but fine for Mondays, and I just emailed the local Monday job to tell them that since they told me the teacher I was replacing was due back next week, I have been offered and accepted another job for Mondays. (I did offer to replace her for one more week if necessary.) WHEW!

[financiallyfreeinbc]

Yay Debt Heaven-it sounds like it all worked out! Never hurts to ask, for sure!

[debtheaven]

That is so true FFBC! I didn't want to ask because I was worried they'd just let me go before I'd even started. A US teacher friend railroaded me into not asking them, but telling them, and helped me write the email. She rightly said that if they need you for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (they initially asked for Wednesdays and Thursdays, I countered with Tuesdays and Fridays), they'll need you for Mondays too. So I'm VERY relieved.

So that's me sorted at least till mid July! I'm still hoping to get some business school hours for September but if not, this is definitely something I can do long-term.

I also answered another ad for a local language school that pays significantly better than the one I just left (but not as well as the new job), because it is a local, permanent, decently-paid position with benefits. If that and / or a business school job happens I will shift things around again. If it doesn't, I'd be happy with things as they are now.

Thanks to all of you for putting up with all the long posts and deleted messages! I am really really looking forward to settling into some sort of routine now, even if it's just till mid July!

[indebtyogini]

Update!

60% paid off! Woot woot!! It really feels awesome to finally be able to blast this debt!!

Card	APR	Starting	Payment	Current
Victorias Secret	22.80%	$385.12	$0.00	$0.00
Express	22.80%	$283.40	$0.00	$0.00
Wescom	15.90%	$5,458.22	$0.00	$0.00
Citicard	13.99%	$4,214.15	$572.87	$1,308.79
Nordstrom	11.90%	$159.26	$0.00	$0.00
Capital One	7.83%	$3,990.68	$53.71	$4,531.37
Total		$14,490.83	$626.58	$5,840.16

InDebtYogini: 3/29/2011 $5,840.16 (9/19/2007 $14,490.83)
Just cruisin' along! Three more months and that Citicard is history! My vacation fund for the year is all set and I even have money in an extended savings account for whatever I may need it for in the future. Life is really good right now! The BF is fantastic and our relationship gets more and more amazing every day. School is going well and my job is secure. I really couldn't ask for more right now. I'm thanking the universe almost hourly for the joy life is bringing me at this time!

I am completely heartbroken over the news about cmrobin. I remember adding her to the sheet when she was a new member. She was always so positive and seemed so in control of things. I am so sad to hear her life wasn't as happy as she always seemed to be.

Great job on your accomplishments everyone! DH, you must be so relieved to finally have things settled for a little bit! Writer, it's nice to hear from you! I hope all is well for all those who reading but not posting. For everyone else, keep up the good work!

[debtheaven]

Yogini it warms my heart to see you so happy!!! SO happy about the BF, you so deserve it!!! And YAY for 60% paid off, wow, you certainly went from a turtle to a hare in no time!

She was always so positive and seemed so in control of things. I am so sad to hear her life wasn't as happy as she always seemed to be.

Yogini you really put your finger on it. CM Robin was always there cheering us all on, and it upsets me that I never realized that she was still in such tremendous pain after that breakup.

[writer88]

debtheaven- Doggone you once again! I know you had three very lengthy posts last night, and here I go to comment on them this morning and they’re gone! I know it helps you to write them out, and I’m glad for that. I hope whatever you were working through is resolved.

Ya took the words out of my mouth, Minnesota! Amen! And thanks for the 'hello'.

[writer88]

DebtHeaven - I just lost a post I was sending you. Bad ole Merc in Retro

[Minnesotagirl7]

debtheaven- I’m glad it all seems to have worked out.
InDebtYogini- I agree, its wonderful to hear you in such high spirits. And I can’t wait to see that new 0! Also, I sent you a PM.
Writer- Its always good to hear from you. I hope things keep going your way!

[indebtyogini]

Minnesota what's a PM?

[debtheaven]

Yogini, PM = private message. I don't know if you know this but we can send each other private messages on this board. Scroll up to the very top of this thread, in the right hand corner, my guess is that you will see "Hey, Yogini, you have 1 message, 1 are (sic) new!" Or maybe more. It's literally at the very tip top of the page.

Writer GRRR! I would have LOVED to see your post!

Minnesota thank you yet again!

[Minnesotagirl7]

InDebtYogini- Just like debtheaven explained it. I sent you the PM instead of an email, just for fun.

[indebtyogini]

Thanks guys. I realized it right after I posted that. Minnesota you have a PM from me!

[debtheaven]

I've been carrying around the envelope with a 500e check for the boiler for about 10 days, but something has stopped me from actually putting it in the mailbox. Today we got a bill for 600e for plumbing work in one of the rental buildings. Ha!

So as frustrating as it is to still have that boiler loan (down to 2015e this month), I know it's better to wait until the purchase goes through, the building reno is done and then see if there's anything left over, even if that means waiting for months. The last payment is due May 2012 and I'd LOVE to knock it out by the end of 2011.