Women in Red Racers - Midwest Region

[Minnesotagirl7]

All-

We still plan to consolidate the regions. I’m hoping we can have it done within a month or two. I’m working with the other captains to get this done. The tentative plan is to have one thread for chatting and questions, and another thread for the smiley updates. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!  

[lisamomof4]

shopi'm so sorry and i know how scary it is i've been there. DH's tend to cope by escaping into games because they just don't know what to do....this is what advise i can give you from someone who has been there....call mortgage company asap and find out if you can do a modification or at least a forberance, also check out a company called NACA.org they are a non-profit and can also help (both options will require work on your part). on your student loans i would call and see if they have an income based payment plan or some other hardship program (this is what dd1 is doing). call your utilities and also see if they have any assistance programs, christian charities often have some kind of help or can direct you where to go...there is also the local human services programs (SNAP, free/reduced school lunches, ect.). If you have car payments call and see if they can do something ie. deferring payment a month, accepting a reduced amount. ALDI is a life saver on groceries and honestly the only way i can afford to feed my family. best of luck

[seriousthistime]

Minnesota, I like the idea of different threads for updates and chatting.  I think it will be fun to interact with new people. as well as the regulars here on the Midwest Racers.  

[seriousthistime]

Dear Racers,

I am trying to drum up a few more members and/or regular posters for the Women in Red Savers 2014 thread (and hopefully for 2015).  

For the longest time I didn't join them because I was focused on paying off debt.  Then I started to realize that some of the Savers are also as focused on debt as I am.  But we try to set money aside, at least for those semi-annual or annual, but predictable, expenses (like car insurance, property taxes, and so on).  It's fine to track your savings that you know will be spent within a certain period of time (a/k/a sinking funds, where you need only track your money deposited; forget about the withdrawals).  It could be something fun (vacations!), or something completely boring but necessary (EF, anyone?).  

Some Savers set an annual goal and restart at zero each January.  Others set a goal and keep chipping away at it regardless of the number of years it takes to save up (for example, a house downpayment often requires savings over multiple years).  Some people track retirement contributions.  Other people don't. Some only track extra money they can set aside, and others track automatic deposits into savings accounts. Whatever is your style, it works for us.

We all have a little bit of the Saver instinct in us.  Please read a few of the Saver pages and see if it interests you.  You'll see all sorts of saving styles and goals.  If you're interested in trying it out, see the first few posts in the Savers 2014, and get started! 

 

[Sam_2.0]

Here's Jaydon everything went well and we are trying to settle into life as a family of four. I got the new job two days before having him so when I go back in December it will be 15 mins away instead of an hour! Pay will be the same but no city taxes, parking, and lower commute costs so it will seem like a raise just in time to pay more childcare. Oh well.

I'll be back to racing sometime around the end of this year/beginning of next. We need to pay off DHs car soon since that will be my car now and we are looking to get rid of the Corolla to get a nice hybrid sedan for him since he drives so much for work and needs a nice car for his job. Hoping to not have two payments at the same time.

MN - I think I said it before but I think two threads would be nice so updates dont get lost. We like to chat over here in the Midwest can't wait to meet the other regions! Feels like the beginning days back on msn.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[seriousthistime]

Jaydon is adorable, Sam!  Enjoy every minute with him; they are little for such a short time.  I'm glad things went well.  

(You can update your ticker now...)

[shopaholic814]

Nikiz- That is fabulous news you have gotten about your grandma! I hope she continues to improve!

lttlwhitetanktop- we are going out this weekend to look for a digital antenna for the tv. I had read about them on a money-saving website I found last week, thank you for the suggestion

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 6, 2014 18:56:54 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Dear Racers,

I am trying to drum up a few more members and/or regular posters for the Women in Red Savers 2014 thread (and hopefully for 2015).  

For the longest time I didn't join them because I was focused on paying off debt.  Then I started to realize that some of the Savers are also as focused on debt as I am.  But we try to set money aside, at least for those semi-annual or annual, but predictable, expenses (like car insurance, property taxes, and so on).  It's fine to track your savings that you know will be spent within a certain period of time (a/k/a sinking funds, where you need only track your money deposited; forget about the withdrawals).  It could be something fun (vacations!), or something completely boring but necessary (EF, anyone?).  

Some Savers set an annual goal and restart at zero each January.  Others set a goal and keep chipping away at it regardless of the number of years it takes to save up (for example, a house downpayment often requires savings over multiple years).  Some people track retirement contributions.  Other people don't. Some only track extra money they can set aside, and others track automatic deposits into savings accounts. Whatever is your style, it works for us.

We all have a little bit of the Saver instinct in us.  Please read a few of the Saver pages and see if it interests you.  You'll see all sorts of saving styles and goals.  If you're interested in trying it out, see the first few posts in the Savers 2014, and get started! 

 

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Savers threads too! It's a great bunch of people, and its awesome to watch the right numbers go UP instead of just the bad ones DOWN!

[seahorse]

Sam:  Hooray for your healthy Rainbow Baby Jaydon!  I love the name Jaydon..such a handsome little guy and so much hair .  I'm so glad everything went well and that he's here and safe in your arms. 

Shop:  Our Aldi's opened up last week and we had a family night out and shopped there.  Their bagels are so good.  I thought the meat prices looked good and milk was $2.99/gal.  I know now to have a quarter for my cart and to bring my own sacks.  I'm excited to do more shopping there.  3 year old Little Seahorse was entertained by the long counter they have for sacking groceries and needed to crawl the whole length and say hi to everyone.  Great job planning an antenna shopping trip.  We have a set of "bunny ears" and can get in a few channels but I watch Netflix so I haven't used the the bunny ears as much as I used to.  In the future we plan to get a better set so we can get better reception but so far everything I want to watch I can find online or on Netflix.      

Serious:  Thanks for promoting the Savers.  I need to get better on posting my updates over there.  I feel like it's in slow motion but that's just how it is sometimes.  I'm a saver by nature and I will forgo something just to put money in savings versus paying debt.  So I can't wait for the debt to be gone to focus on saving, saving, and more saving .

lisa:  What a fantastic list of suggestions when you are in a financial tight spot .  As a former loan officer/teller I was always so surprised when people didn't call the credit union to see how we could help them on their loans during a tight spot.  

Along with lisa's suggestions I've started getting skip-a-payment flyers in my credit union newsletters for November and December loan payments a few of them are no fees and some charge $20.  If you find yourself in a financial tight spot closer to the holidays this would be a good method to ease the financial strain for a month.  Plus I've noticed most of the credit unions are now doing Quick Loans (60 day notes just like Paycheck Advance and other Paycheck places) it would be a good way to end the pay day loan cycle and just deal with your credit union.  There is a $20 fee for some and the rate is 18% but it would be so much cheaper and easier to deal with a credit union versus a pay day loan place.   
 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 7, 2014 20:12:38 GMT -5 seahorse said:

lisa:  What a fantastic list of suggestions when you are in a financial tight spot .  As a former loan officer/teller I was always so surprised when people didn't call the credit union to see how we could help them on their loans during a tight spot.  

Along with lisa's suggestions I've started getting skip-a-payment flyers in my credit union newsletters for November and December loan payments a few of them are no fees and some charge $20.  If you find yourself in a financial tight spot closer to the holidays this would be a good method to ease the financial strain for a month.  Plus I've noticed most of the credit unions are now doing Quick Loans (60 day notes just like Paycheck Advance and other Paycheck places) it would be a good way to end the pay day loan cycle and just deal with your credit union.  There is a $20 fee for some and the rate is 18% but it would be so much cheaper and easier to deal with a credit union versus a pay day loan place.   
 

I second the idea of talking to your bank/cu if any loan is through them.  Skip-a-payment may also help in the initial shock/adjustment, although it doesn't help the long-term situation. 

I would advise against any kind of "Quick Loans" in your situation.  If this were a 1- or 2-month emergency before things get back to normal, it might be an acceptable option.  But since you've lost income that you don't know how/when you will be able to replace it, I worry that adding debt via a short-term loan could actually make your situation worse.  If you borrow money to make it through October, how much worse could December be when that loan comes due along with high interest and a fee, and you still haven't replaced your income?  I don't see adding debt as being the answer in this case. 

[seahorse]

Oct 8, 2014 9:57:13 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Oct 7, 2014 20:12:38 GMT -5 seahorse said:

lisa:  What a fantastic list of suggestions when you are in a financial tight spot .  As a former loan officer/teller I was always so surprised when people didn't call the credit union to see how we could help them on their loans during a tight spot.  

Along with lisa's suggestions I've started getting skip-a-payment flyers in my credit union newsletters for November and December loan payments a few of them are no fees and some charge $20.  If you find yourself in a financial tight spot closer to the holidays this would be a good method to ease the financial strain for a month.  Plus I've noticed most of the credit unions are now doing Quick Loans (60 day notes just like Paycheck Advance and other Paycheck places) it would be a good way to end the pay day loan cycle and just deal with your credit union.  There is a $20 fee for some and the rate is 18% but it would be so much cheaper and easier to deal with a credit union versus a pay day loan place.   
 

I second the idea of talking to your bank/cu if any loan is through them.  Skip-a-payment may also help in the initial shock/adjustment, although it doesn't help the long-term situation. 

I would advise against any kind of "Quick Loans" in your situation.  If this were a 1- or 2-month emergency before things get back to normal, it might be an acceptable option.  But since you've lost income that you don't know how/when you will be able to replace it, I worry that adding debt via a short-term loan could actually make your situation worse.  If you borrow money to make it through October, how much worse could December be when that loan comes due along with high interest and a fee, and you still haven't replaced your income?  I don't see adding debt as being the answer in this case. 

This is all just general information/advice for everyone and it's not in reference to any racers just stuff that may or may not be helpful. 



The Quick loan advice is only for a case where someone is stuck in the pay day loan situation then it could be a good way to break the cycle.  Meaning they already have a pay day loan and need a way out.  Credit Unions are good at working with people on a case by case basis and the end result is to always to help make the member financially stronger and wiser.    





 

[chicg]

Crazylady - WOW, congratulations! I'm not sure what happened, I hope everything is fine, and best of luck moving forward with your long term plans.  You've been through so much and have handled it all so well, congrats on being debt free!!!

I'm caught up on reading but at the moment can't remember what else to comment on.

Nikki, glad grandma is doing better.

Things are the same here. I'm really stressed about work, can't get caught up at home (my place is a mess and I hate that, I can't seem to get ahead of small projects, etc). My cat Dexter is doing ok, I've been paying his bills in cash as I can but reality is most is going on the credit card and I'll just deal with it as I can. If I paid off $37K, I can handle $4K.   Things keep dumping on me though, I took my car in to get a tire checked last week and ended up needing 2 new ones.  I took $250 out of savings, paid it in cash, then transferred money back into the savings account from my Capitol One (ING) "car account."  I just need to catch a break, or some help, I just can't seem to get it all done    I have been great about not spending money though.  Groceries is really the only place I've been spending, and cable and the gym membership are my only non-essential bills.  I have a super old TV and old laptop, I don't think my TV even has the capability to stream movies and I have the slowest internet speed, so watching shows on my computer sucks, it keeps pausing, and I hate the small screen.  I've decided cable will stay for now, I'll cut the gym if I get to that point but for now I need it.

keep up the great work ladies!

[snapdragon]

Keep chugging along chig -- Could you get movies or series through your library? I know my library has a huge selection of movies and series. Yes sometimes there is a wait but it is worth it to me. Most newer movies are checked out for 7 days and older ones can be up to 28 days.

I hope work smooths out for you!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 9, 2014 17:21:50 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Keep chugging along chig -- Could you get movies or series through your library? I know my library has a huge selection of movies and series. Yes sometimes there is a wait but it is worth it to me. Most newer movies are checked out for 7 days and older ones can be up to 28 days.

I hope work smooths out for you!

Good idea!  Our library system also has most TV shows on DVD too.  Between the library, Redbox, and Hulu, I haven't bought a DVD for anything in a really long time.  And I'm a total videophile. 

[kcladyjane]

UPDATE	7/16/2008	9/10/2014	10/9/2014	Diff Last Post	Total Diff
SL 1 @ 2.375% Locked	15,406.00	-	-	-	(15,406.00)
SL 2 @ 4% Variable	8,114.00	-	-	-	(8,114.00)
Car @ 7.9%	2,220.53	-	-	-	(2,220.53)
Car @ 0%	10,979.17	-	-	-	(10,979.17)
CC-Chase @ 0%	4,000.00	-	-	-	(4,000.00)
Furniture @ 0%	650.00	-	-	-	(650.00)
Carpet @ 0%	482.50	-	-	-	(482.50)
Care Credit-Vet Bill @ 0%	9,066.28	-	-	-	(9,066.28)
Mustang	11,134.23	-	-	-	(11,134.23)
Equinox @ 0%	25,341.00	16,471.65	16,049.30	(422.35)	(9,291.70)
Total	87,393.71	16,471.65	16,049.30	(422.35)	(71,344.41)

KCLadyJane 10/9/14 $16,049.30 (7/16/2008 $87,393.71, M430, M902, M1227, M265) 

          

[urdoingit]

urdoingit: 10/10/2014 $8,137.47 (3/1/13 $27,281.43 MPT279)

UPDATE                3/1/2013    8/25/2014    10/10/2014
HFLC                    $14,175.00 $0.00             $0.00
Fifth Third Bank    $13,106.43 $8,407.24       $8,137.47
Total                    $27,281.43 $8,407.24       $8,137.47
Diff Last Post -$269.77
Total Amt Pd -$19,143.96
Total % Pd 70.2%

Still trying to get back in "normal" mode after our trip to Australia.  It was by far the most amazing trip we have taken to date!  It was one of those "everything is just so much MORE than we had anticipated" kind of trips.  One of the best things is that it was all paid in full before we left and we had money stashed in our ING vacation account to more than cover our out-of-pocket expenses.  We took nearly 1,300 photos - I culled them down to a mere 605 to have printed out.  Still didn't capture everything we wanted to, but it's a fine balance between "being there" and seeing it all through a camera's lens. 

Still plugging along on the Fifth Third loan.  May have to add a balance for the roof they are putting on our house tomorrow.  Will see what the final total is.  We have enough in savings to cover, but DH doesn't want to drain our accounts to pay it all at once.  We may put it on a 0% balance transfer and pay it off before the 0% ends.  I'm just excited that DH is taking part in helping make financial decisions - it was a LONG and painful process to get him to this point!

Sam:  Congrats on that beautiful baby boy!  He's adorable - gotta love all that hair!
Shop:  Hang in there - lots of good ideas here to help you out or listen to your rants or whatever you need to get you through this.

T.G.I.F.!!!

[seriousthistime]

Serious this time [2]: 10/10/14 $4,560 (12/9/2012 $11,021 MPT 266)

This race is two debts.  It's exciting to see the smaller of the two debts in the race get within a few payments of being paid off.  I've sold a few more things on eBay, and when I get paid for the latest batch I'll transfer some money from my PayPal account to send straight to the race.  By the end of the month I hope to have the smaller of the two debts paid off, and then focus exclusively on the last remaining debt in the race.  (THIS race, anyway.  There's more to be raced after Race #2 is done.  I already finished Race #3, so sometime next spring I'll be starting Race #4.  Ridiculous!) 

Here's a reality check: I occasionally get unsolicited mailings from companies that want me to refi my house, and the principal amounts they calculate the payment on are always suspiciously right around the total of my mortgage and the amount of my other debt.  They must figure I'm an easy target.  So whenever I bury my head in the sand about all the debt I owe, including my mortgage, I get one of those reality checks from some new lender that's convinced I should pay off my debt by consolidating all my debt with them.  No thanks!

[muttleynfelix]

Muttleynfelix [2]: 10/10/14 $4333.59 (3/23/2013 $15,384.36 MPT282)

Total Paid: $11,050.77 percent paid 72%

Just keep turtling. Just keep turtling. Just keep turtling.

Sigh. Our budget works if nothing goes wrong.  If it does then, we have to dig into savings. August/September are always tight months because of auto insurance (even though I set that money aside a little each month).  Add in my BIL #2 dying, my work boots crapping out, all my jeans that fit crapping out, something on the car crapping out (that DH had to fix), and ordering some plants in August that we needed to get more landscaping material for in October and holy crap have we overspent.  And I'm looking at this the weekend before DD and I travel 550 miles to spend the weekend with a friend. Propane is on its way back up, so we are going to get our tank filled up which will be another $500-$600.  I'm feeling so broke.  The windfall I was hoping to get from selling some equipment to work fell through.  The project I was going to do for my dad on the side didn't get approval from the client.  I still think they'll come back and use my dad. No one else will be able to do it as inexpensively as he can.  I wasn't counting on that money, but it would have made life easier.  Oh and I have an error somewhere in my accounting and somehow my numbers show that I have more money than the bank does.   I have no idea how I screwed that one up and I don't have the time to try to figure it out.  

[Minnesotagirl7]

Sam- Congratulations on baby Jaydon! He's beautiful.  

[Minnesotagirl7]

Shoutouts!

Anotherdooropens- Great update! Congrats on having only $900 left in cc debt!
lttlwhitetanktop- Another $500 debt blasted away, well done!
chicg- I hope things turn around for you soon hun.
KCLadyJane- Nice update! This puts you at over 80% paid off!!
urdoingit- Good update! Glad to hear the trip to Australia was such a good time!
Serious- I see nothing ridiculous about your multiple races. You’ve already won two and are about to win a third. You’re just breaking it up into smaller chunks. Keep up the great work!!
Muttley- Sorry for your struggles right now. Are you paying extra on anything that you could change to the minimum, just until you get caught up? Is there a service that you can suspend or put on hold for a little while to free up some extra? Hang in there, you’ll get it all figured out.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Smiley update!!!

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

Anotherdooropens: 10/2/14 $13,158.54 (2/4/2010 $31,246.64 MU165)
Banker Gurl: 10/1/14 $168,000 (9/17/2007 $250,514.73 MPT339)
chalupabatman: 9/29/14 $44,087.22 (7/25/2014 $44,395.32 MPT334)
Chicg [2]: 9/15/14 $2,645.75 (11/7/2012 $4,217.34 MPT266)
 CrazyLady14: 9/26/14 $0 (1/15/2009 $141,009 M751)
DizzyIntellectual: 9/25/14 $117,573.16 (10/4/2010 $152,059.81 MPT275, 302, 322)
ezlivindreamer- 9/18/14 $26,443.20 (1/9/2013 $27,940.21 MPT270)
Gidget13: 9/16/14 $16,277.80 (6/28/2009 $96,421.29 M1001)
KCLadyJane: 10/9/14 $16,049.30 (7/16/2008 $87,393.71 M430, 907, 1227, MPT135)
lttlwhitetanktop: 9/17/14 $20,360.54 (6/10/2008 $36,424 M373)
lttlwhitetanktop [2]: 10/2/14 $6,382.01 (6/21/2014 $8,500.00 MPT331)
Minnesotagirl7 [3]: 10/3/14 $5,300 (3/18/2013 $73,581.68 MPT281, 322, 326)
Momofelliott4: 9/17/14 $35,683.30 (5/13/2009 $53,883.21 MP6222/MPT331)
Muttleynfelix [2]: 10/10/14 $4,333.59 (3/23/2013 $15,384.36 MPT282)
ners: 9/24/14 $85,322.85 (1/3/2011 $97,382.42 MPT5)
NikiZ628: 9/16/14 $9,223.75 (6/17/2013 $11,558.48 MPT294)
OweNo: 9/15/14 $28,407.59 (5/3/2008 $48,581.63 M185, 298, 190, 324)    
rr234: 9/17/14 $57,783.85 (10/8/08, $81,356.15, M595/M977/M1110/MPT239)
Seahorse[2]: 9/26/14 $8,584.90 (1/25/2012, $56,511.37, MPT206/237/248/268)
Serious this time [2]: 10/10/14 $4,560 (12/9/2012 $11,021 MPT 266)
Shopaholic [3]: 9/28/14 $17,774.38 (1/3/2014 $28,826.80 MPT315/339)
ur_doing_it(3): 10/10/14 $8,137.47 (3/1/13 $27,281.43 MPT 279)  

[lulu0312]

UPDATE:

lulu0312  10/13/14   9,960.81  (9/21/2007   88,069.92 N571,608)


Difference since last post:   $561.37          
Total percentage paid off:    88.69%

Oops, looks like I dropped off the list so I thought I'd better post!  Still chipping away at this last student loan, can't believe I've been working on this for 7 years now!  So happy to be under $10,000!!

We're hanging in there with my DH's cancer treatments... Doc thinks they can hopefully keep him around for a few years, but DH is concerned about the quality of that time...  We'll see how it all goes, just trying hard to roll with it, appreciate every day, you know?

Sam - what a beautiful baby!  Congrats!!  We just had grandbaby #8 a month ago - such a blessing and a reminder of how life carries on.  

[muttleynfelix]

minnesotagirl - Thanks for the ideas.  We're only paying $25 on the car, but nothing else.  I talked to a coworker and he said they were still interested in buying the equipment from us, just my boss had to pay something that was a "screw up" (it wasn't but we had to eat it).   So maybe next month.  Since I'm just worried about savings, if it takes a few extra months then, that will work for me. Part of it is just trying to getting ready for winter. 

[lisamomof4]

sam he is just so adorable ...hard to believe so much time has passed...i remember when you were planning your wedding

[bankergurl]

Sam - Congrats to you and hubs!  SOOO SOOO happy for you!!

Update

Previously I have always made my principle payments monthly when I make my normal monthly payment. But my bank makes it so easy to make principle payments at anytime online....so I thought I might as well take advantage of that and knock a little balance off here and there when I can. I had $88 sitting at home from FB sales that I was going to put in savings...I added a lil extra and paid it on the principle today.
For some reason my numbers were just slightly off when I made my last regular and principle payments to my balance was $167,999.27 instead of the $168,000.00 that I thought it would be. So I paid down to $167,900.00.

Balance $167,999.27
-$88.00 FB Sales
-$11.27 Even Out Amount
New Balance $167,900.00

Every little bit helps!!

Banker Gurl 10/14/14 $167,900.00 (9/17/07 $250,514.73)


Savings is going really, really well.  Have gone up about $10K in savings since the divorce...up to $27K now!  Have a lot of bills coming in (bi-yearly car insurance, home insurance, $700 car repair and new hot tub cover) so I am looking at taking somewhere between $1K-$2K out in the next month or 2, but still SUPER happy with where I am at and where I am going!

I am mostly keeping it on the DL but I applied for a new job up where BF lives (about an hr away from me).  It would be a significant pay increase ($25K-$30K more then I make now!!) and I am trying not to get my hopes up too much.  If that did pan out, I could live with BF, rent out my house for double my mortgage payments and we could pay off both of our houses in less then 10 yrs and build "our" house and have 2 rental properties in areas that are extremely short on housing.....ok let me go find my cart....it's way ahead of this horse.....LOL

[nikiz628]

UPDATE:

                        Interest rate         Starting Debt         Last Update          This Update         Difference
Sallie Mae #1            6%                  4499.82             3955.12                 3895.77             -59.35
Sallie Mae #2           6.8%                2154.29              1831.30                1809.97             -21.33
AES Student Loan    2.39%               2088.37              1371.33                1313.33             -58.00
Tuition Reimb.           0%                 2816.00              2066.00                2016.00             -50.00

Total Paid this update: $188.68
Total Debt Paid in 2014: $1,651.29
Total Debt Paid to date: $2,523.41


NikiZ628: 9/16/2014 $9035.07 (6/17/2013 $11,558.48 MW294)

We are about to get another loan under $2,000 and we will be under $9,000 next month and that makes this girl SMILE! I am still in limbo on our 2015 budget, and its driving me nuts. I am just waiting to hear if H's boss is 1. going to put me on their company insurance for free and 2. give them their Christmas bonus that they usually get (H has received a very nice bonus every year since he started there 10 years ago....but his boss told him that it may not happen this year. I just would like a yes or no, so i can stop stressing about Christmas presents). We are buying gifts here and there when we have the extra $$ each week or if we find something on an amazing sale. I will make it work one way or another, I would just REALLY like to finalize that budget!

ALSO- A big thing that is about to happen with us! We are less than TWO MONTHS away from ending our Chapter 13 bankruptcy!!!!!!!! 4 years at $206 a week....you do the math! (this was not our total debt, but they required us to add our mortgage in so, they have been paying our $520 mortgage payment out of that each month as well). I cannot believe we are so close to ending this nightmare!! I really thought the day would never come! Now to finish these student debts and focus on rebuilding our emergency fund!!!!




Sam- Congratulations on the baby! Absolutely beautiful!!

Banker- It sounds like you have a great visual on a gameplan! I hope everything pans out the way you wish!!!

Muttley- Hang in there!!! I hope you catch a break soon!

[chicg]

UPDATE

Chicg [2]: 10/15/14 $2,495.75 (11/7/2012 $4,217.34 MPT266)

 Only $150 paid but it's all I can muster up right now.  My "cat debt" is creeping up though on my other card, I guess I should add it here but I think I'll do all that when I consolidate my balance with another balance transfer later this year.  I've been really good with spending though, staying in or focusing on free activities and only spending on cat meds/vet and groceries.  Still paying too much there, but I'm doing the best I can.  I had to get two new tires for my car (they had tears in them, no option to repair again) but I'm holding off on repairing two rock-chips in my windshield and fixing my windows, I figure those aren't critical, I'll get to them when I can.

Niki - Why don't you go about spending like DH WILL NOT get the bonus, go lean for Christmas this year and if he gets it, use that to replenish your savings instead of on gifts?  I think that would be a great way to start off the new year with the BK over and a nice savings cushion.  Congrats on all your progress.

[bankergurl]

Chicg - Great advise you gave for Niki! 

[gidgetc13]

UPDATE
Gidgetc13 10/16/14 $16,101.16 (6/28/09 $96,421.29, M1001)

I guess since I am down to one debt I don't really need to post my entire table anymore  .  Only did the minimum payment this month.  We actually have a car loan that I'm not currently racing and DH and I have been debating which of the two debts we want to focus on more.  I really want to pay down my SL more since we have now paid off all of DH's SLs and I feel like mine has just been sitting there forever.  But I also don't like owing on the car.  So we still have to decide what to do there.  


Sam - Congratulations!  He is precious.   

[shopaholic814]

Niki- I totally agree with Chicg's suggestion about not planning for DH's bonus this year. Budget as though it is not going to be there, b/c technically "Bonus money" is a bonus, and can't be budgeted for.


Chicg- great suggestion for Niki! I'm sorry you are going through such a tough time lately. I understand the constant stress though, between your car repairs, Vet bills, the ever increasing grocery bills, it seems like there is never an end in sight. Have you talked to your internet provider to figure out why your service is so slow that you are unable to stream movies properly on your laptop? We had that problem & found we could upgrade our internet speed for a small charge. I dont think it has anything to do with your actual computer, it may be your internet speed. I know you are tight on money & I have no idea what the difference in cost would be, it is just an idea.


Muttley- Murphey's Law..... That what came to mind as I read your post. I dont know if it truly applies, but I feel your pain. If it's not one thing it's always another. We have been slowly draining our various savings accounts over the past 6 months as well. I try to put money back in, only to take it back out as car repair, home repairs, etc are needed. Like you said, just keep turtling. What kind of work do you do? If it is anything like the equipment business my Dad is in, then winter is very slow & money is very tight, so I understand where some stress can be coming from.


BankerGurl- I love your Cart vs. Horse analogy! That was a cute way to put it. But I will say that it is WONDERFUL to hear you HAPPY again!!! For so long you have been so very sad, going through everything with your ex before the divorce up to now. This new found joy is long overdue & well deserved! I'm very happy for you, you deserve some banana dancing today... I couldn't pass up on the zombie banana! He was so lonely.


Sam- I've been seeing all of your gorgeous family pics on FB. Congrats again!


LuLu- I understand the difference between life vs quality of life and I hope that your DHs Dr is able to give you two the best quality of life together for as long as possible. I'll say a prayer for you guys.



Well, this post is a little longer than I thought it was gonna be so I will probably post my update in a separate post. About a week ago or so, I had decided to clean up my old sewing area in the basement so that I could get out my quilting fabric & unfinished projects to finish & sell on Ebay or Etsy or something. Then I've been wanting to learn how to knit so I was going to teach myself how (taught myself how to sew & quilt too) and start knitting scarves, cowls, shrugs, wraps, blankets, etc & try to sell those for extra $ also. Then last night I got a call from my Dad with an official job offer to work at his company again, but in a different position than before-not working in the business office with the Wicked Witch of the West again, but in the Parts Dept this time. It would be about 30 hrs a week, and I would be off in time to get the kids from school if needed. Also, on days when the kids do not have school they can come to work with me (they are 11 & almost 10yrs). I practically lived at this place in the summers as a kid, doing odd jobs and mine will do the same. I can start at any time, I just need to figure out when & let them know, it will probably be on Monday. We have done pretty well living on just DHs income these past couple weeks, but as soon as he stops coaching football his checks will decrease and it will get harder so this job has come at a perfect time. I am concerned about how my eyesight will handle the strain of working at a computer screen or looking for tiny numbers on parts bins, etc everyday, but we will see how it goes. Also, my memory isnt the best, but the good thing about this place is that almost everyone there knows my history with the car accident that has caused my medical issues (eyesight, memory). The Parts Manager has been working there since I was a little girl (over 30 yrs) and he is excited that I am coming back, next generation working at the family business and all that