Women in Red Racers - West Region

[laramik]

Update

Name of Debt	Current Date	Current Debt $	Starting Date	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid off
HELoC	3/10/2011	$25,433.37	6/1/2007	$36,163.66	$10,730.29	29.67%
Rainier Pacific Visa		$0.00		$9,038.05	$9,038.05	100.00%
Disney Visa		$0.00		$4,694.99	$4,694.99	100.00%
Signature Visa		$0.00		$4,097.77	$4,097.77	100.00%
Nordstrom		$0.00		$1,057.14	$1,057.14	100.00%
Total		$25,433.37		$55,051.61	$28,561.10	53.80%

LaramiK: 3/10/2011 $25,433.37 (6/23/2007 $55,051.61 N220)

[nooccar]

PauletteG

It's really about sitting down and thinking about priorities. How much do you need in the EF? Then figuring what are real needs versus helpful wants and deciding what order to take care of the needs from what is available from the EF.
It's not easy or enjoyable but it is better than charging stuff and then having to pay it back. I've been in that kind of situation; unfortunately I had no EF and I charged the repairs for the house & car and it took a long time to get rid of that debt.
Hopefully the credit union doesn't know that the value of your house has dropped. They aren't anywhere near as bad as a bank. Have they sent you a notice or anything indicating they might reduce your HELOC?

[ambellamy]

My fiance and I sat down and chatted about how much he owes his parents. He emailed his mom and she said its around $1,500.00 so we are aiming to pay her back that amount.

The job we had lined up for him is only about a day or two a week helping out my friend when he gets gigs he can use extra hands for (and he keeps throwing my fiance's name around to see if one of his buddys will hire him...) so when my future DH does get work we are taking half the money to go towards paying back his parents (1/4 for the honeymoon, 1/4 to our regular budget if we need it). I'm not going to officially race it until we are married because he would like to be the one to pay it back. So i'll make a little note about his progress as we go along to keep us accountable unofficially. The money is just going into a jar for now since we are hoping we can hand them an envelope of money when they come out here in 4 months for the wedding. In the mean time he keeps applying for jobs and crossing his fingers.

DF:$40.00/ $1,500.00

I'll post my update tomorrow when my mortgage balance goes through. I was able to pay a little extra on the note because I had some overtime on my paycheck.

[mcreal]

PauletteG -

I am frequently overwhelmed by my financial situation. I find the only way to cope is to focus on one priority at a time, and put all my energy into it. If I try to take in the whole picture, I feel like I am suffocating. I have downscaled my household budget over and over again to make things work. The most difficult thing for me to accept was that I needed a substantial EF for lifes emergencies. I wanted everything to go to my debt. But now I have that in balance. I, too, have a house not worth selling with substantial repairs required. I have become quite handy at solving the necessary repairs, and learned to live with the rest. This process is exhaustively slow, but making a plan, adjusting it, revising it, keeping on course is the only way to success.

Although I have very little extra at the end of each month, whatever extra I have goes 50/50 to EF and debt over minimums. The EF is drawn from for major home repairs, medical, car repairs and rare other occurances. Other than that, we live within my tight budget a month. And I mean tight. I have a quartely bonus from my job that varies and can give my plan a boost. I have no retirement, and once my EF is at a comfortable $5K and urgent home repairs are done, I will use the EF 50% to fund retirement. I have pulled myself from the brink of bankruptcyand have three girls in college, I wake up every day hoping my house of cards does not collapse before I can make it more sturdy.

hope this helps.

[shanendoah]

Update: shanendoah: 3/11/11 $45,120.02 (12/30/09, $71,761.03, WU7, WU73)

LOC	Current Balance	Starting Balance	Originally Borrowed	Total Paid	% Paid off
Chase CC	$-	$2,171.85	-	$2,171.85	100.00%
BofA CC	$-	$432.55	-	$432.55	100.00%
LaZBoy CC	$-	$882.58	-	$882.58	100.00%
Care Credit	$-	$3,196.57	-	$3,196.57	100.00%
Car	$-	$4,771.88	-	$4,771.88	100.00%
GSL	$28,452.43	$42,150.85	$39,000	$13,698.42	32.50%
USL	[glow=purple,2,300]$16,667.59 [/glow]	$18,154.75	$16,000	$1,487.16	8.19%
Total	$45,120.02	$71,761.03	-	$26,641.01	37.12%

We had to put Smokey to sleep on Monday. We were hoping for a month, maybe two. We got a week. The decision wasn't any easier or less heartbreaking than it was last time we made it, just a short 16 months ago, but it was the right decision.
We are trying to settle in to a single dog household. We'll see how we and the Junebug are doing in a few weeks, before we make any "final" decisions.

On the good news front: I was able to pay an extra $50 toward the USL this month so that I will finally owe less than I borrowed in September (instead of October). Its the little things that keep us going, sometimes.

trojen: Glad to hear your DH made it home safe and sound.

Paulette: It really is a matter of priorities. cost benefit analysis. Sit down, make a list of things that have to be paid - like the tax bill. Then make a list of the other things you want to do with the money. I'd put new roof at the top, if you're honestly afraid its going to fail within the next year, but new windows, no matter how nice they would be, could probably wait. (And yes, I know they save on heating costs in the winter, but will they save you so much they would pay for themselves in a year?)
As for the HELOC, the CU can't require a balloon payment at any time except for when the terms of the agreement end (and that should be included in the paperwork you signed.) Contracts work to protect both sides. They might be able to restrict it, not allow you to borrow more money, but considering you are trying to get out of debt, is that a bad thing?
I like mcreal's split of anything extra goes 50/50 toward savings and debt, but given the debt you've listed and the interest rates, I don't know if that's the best play for you.
If your only debt is the debt you're racing- HELOC and mortgage, then my plan would look like this:
Mortgage: NEVER pay a penny extra. I know this is a get out of debt board, but your mortgage APR is just over 1%. That's less than inflation. Your money will always be better spent elsewhere.
HELOC: When does it end? Look at when your final balloon payment is due, then divide your total owed by how many months you have to pay it off. Now you have your monthly minimum payment, even if the bank says you could pay less. If your budget doesn't allow for that big of a payment, use some of the savings to pay enough off that the monthly payment would fit nicely in to your budget.
5.15% APR is not as good as 1.06%, but its still some of the cheapest money you'll get right now, so as long as you are on schedule to pay it off by the time its due, I would put the rest of the extra money in to savings.

That's my $.02 worth, based on my priorities. Your priorities are going to be different, so feel free to accept/adjust/ignore where needed.

[dsunshine]

UPDATE

I got a ZERO!!!!! And I met another personal milestone....more than 5% paid off!!

dsunshine 3/11/2011 $33,498.69 (1/30/2011 $35,681.41 WPT8)

Debt	Int Rate	Start	Previous	Current Value	% Paid off
CC 1	12.24%	$14,428.14	$14,133.14	$14,283.07	1.01%
CC 2	16.24%	$1,453.99	$1,320.29	$0.00	100.00%
DiscPL	9.99%	$19,799.28	$19,586.03	$19,215.62	2.95%
Total		$35,681.41	$35,039.46	$33,498.69	6.12%

So, I finally got bought out of the business. YIPPEE!!! That means in the next 2 weeks I am going to cut this debt almost in half. The CC1 went up a little (finance chrg) from last time. With the money I got in the buyout I decided to pay off the higher interest debt (CC2), pay $13,700 on CC1 and keep a little to survive the next couple of months. The $13K will clear the account sometime next week I will post an update as soon as the new statement is available. What I figured though is that I will owe around $650 on that card which is more than half of what I owed to CC2. So, I traded my own debt at 16% interest to half of what I owe now at 12%. I had to keep some money back to pay for the next term of school and make sure I can get through the next couple of months of no renter in my house.

At this time finding a renter for my house is not going well, I haven't not gotten a phone call since the first week in February. The house is going up for sale again today.

Still haven't heard anything on my taxes.

I have to share that I am also getting an A in my Anatomy and Physiology class this term.....I am so proud of myself ;D

Take care all....don't forget to set your clocks on SAT/SUN!!! Spring is on the way.

[dragon2008]

Shanendoah - so sorry to hear about Smokey. I think it is worse when you think you have some time to say good-by, but then that time with them is gone. It is hard to do the right thing and let them go. for you, for your family, and for Smokey.

[ambellamy]

It's update time. I was able to still pay a bit more on the mortgage note ($86.36) but I wish i'd paid $6.39 more, because then i'd owe less than $114,000!

guess i'll cross that milestone next month.

Name of Debt	Current Date	Current Debt $	Starting Date	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid off
Mortgage- Condo	3/12/2011	$114,006.38	10/3/2009	$117,826.00	$3,819.62	3.24%
Empire Today		$0.00	10/3/2009	$4,345.00	$4,345.00	100.00%
Home Depot		$0.00	10/3/2009	$4,397.48	$4,397.48	100.00%
David's Bridal	2/1/2011	$0.00	10/3/2009	$607.92	$607.92	100.00%
Total		$114,006.38		$127,176.40	$13,170.02	10.36%

Ambellamy [2]: 3/12/11 $114,006.38 (10/03/09 $127,176.40) W760 W783 WU198





DF and I are working well in our tighter budget for now, so here's to crossing our fingers on the job hunt.
DF: $40/1500 saved up...

[DVM gone riding]

pauletteG basically what you said. you will see a lot of us over on WIRS that are saving for things like taxes, car replacement, vacations, new roofs that are also over here working on paying down debt. Life unfortunately doesn't stop to give you time to fill in the hole so you got to make smaller fill ins so you don't dig other holes-if that makes sense??

I would have "buckets" of some sort for all the things you mentioned (or one large savings acct that you track in excel) and then I would throw the extra at the Heloc and I certainly wouldn't take more out of the heloc. If they decide to rescind it will they let you "borrow" the money as a personal loan instead? I think in your case I would set aside enough money to if need be pay the heloc down to 10k at a moments notice as that is usually the max of a personal loan and you can usually get one of those quickly if you have good credit.

[bankergurl]

$100K + Club
Updated as of 3/13/11! $3,239.34 paid off this week!
- New Member, mawmawandlovingit from the South!

notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wir&thread=2929&page=1

[pauletteg]

nooccar - I'd thought four months' living expenses would be decent as an emergency fund. I agree that using the EF is better than charging and then carrying a balance - I'm resentful at having anticipated plus unanticipated expenses to deal with right now. I haven't received a notice from my credit union - if the credit union said "pay up now" I'd do it, but not smilingly.

mcreal - your scenario and plan seem most applicable. I must hasten to send out requests for bids to roofers, and pray that the sun will return to my gloomy part of the world so I can do some painting and landscaping. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips.

shanendoah - the windstorms we've had lately have thrown pieces of roof. Bids are likely will be less than $10K, which is manageable. The insurance co. representative came, of course after the roof pieces flew off, to take pictures.

dvm07 - your suggestions are excellent and I am using them. I'm at the "incur no more debt" thinking, unless something truly tragic happens. I must count my blessings that I have the $ to settle most things.

Anticipation of approaching conquests, be they savings or debt, along with an avalanche of misfortune this week, had the windmills of my mind spinning furiously. I can't forget I have resources to help me overcome these misfortunes. This board is so great at contributing sanity. Thanks thanks thanks!

[DVM gone riding]

Hi everyone hope you had a good week!!

PauletteG Best of luck to you with whatever you decide. Sometimes it is baby steps, other days you get to take leaps but as long as you get to go forward and not back it’s a good day.

shandoah so very sorry to hear about Smokey

laramik you probably know but you are over 50% paid off!! 53% to be exact.

dsunshine Way to go on the ZERO!! And so excited for you getting out of that business you will be done with your race before you know it!! And I am sure that is a HUGE relieve for you to finally be getting that wrapped up. And an A in A&P at the same time that is no easy feat way to go.

ambellamy every little bit counts. Especially what with a wedding to plan and a fiancée to find a job for and what not.

trojen3 so glad DH is back safe and sound, And way to go with 7k paid down.

femalesam 73% done, that is amazing!!

[DVM gone riding]

WEST REGION ACTIVE MEMBERS

=$100, =$500, =$1,000,
=$5,000, =$10,000, = $20,000,
=$25,000, = $50,000
=$75,000, =$100,000, = $200,000
= LOCATION NEEDED!!!
Bolded names are in danger - Please post an update to stay on the Active list!
Updated: 3-13-11 through Reply #368

---

alpinista: 3/4/2011 $6,157.49 (8/5/2008 $11901.03 W343)
ambellamy[2]: 3/12/2011 $114,006.38.81 (10/3/2009 $127,176.40 W760, W783, WU198)
Arctic Turtle: 1/19/2011 $9,207.22 (9/2/2008 $35,675.66 w385)
cran.vodka[2]: 2/24/2011 $29,657 (4/27/2009 $55899 W656)
credit_buster: 3/3/2011, $6247.82 (4/15/2007 $18898.29 W73)
dragon2008: 1/27/2011 $133,577.92 (5/15/2009 $162750 W670)
dsunshine: 3/11/2011 $33,498.69 (12/17/2008 $35,681.41 WPT8)
dvm07: 2/12/2011 $80,444.09 (12/31/2009 $99945.00 WU12)
entlzha: 3/7/2011 $1,557.91 (3/13/2010 5173.02 WU94)
Esteriod 1/25/2011 $13,437.54 (11/4/2009 $14,663.97 W778)
FemaleSam: 3/9/2011 $42,200.00 (12/2/2008 $158,350.55 W502)
LaramiK: 3/10/2011 $25,433.37 (6/23/2007 $55,051.61 N220)
luckyinSF: 3/4/2011 $37,380.14 (10/8/2008 $65241.29 W5507)
lvbriannaRN: 3/4/2011 $21,950.00 (1/24/2011 $23,200 WPT6)
mcreal: 2/23/11 $41,735.00 (2/14/2010 $47,277.15 WU68, WU124)
Mrs.GLG: 1/23/2011 $5,730.68 (1/27/2010 $10,148.36 WU51)
NoMoreMrDebtGuy: 2/27/2011 $399,430 (2/25/2010 $412,614 WU75)
nooccar (2): 3/3/2011 $69,464.13 (11/4/2010 $73475.09 WU197)
OneStepCloser: 2/23/2011 $24,774.76 (12/27/2010 $31,903.09 WU218)
Provanity: 1/7/2011 $16,763.74 (2/12/2010 $22261 WU71)
PauletteG: 3/9/2011 $135,700 (2/24/2011 136530 WPT11)
rosebud30: 3/4/2011 $22,594.66 (8/7/2008 $40810 W349)
RunMarathons: 2/10/2011 $153,894.84 (1/19/10 $161,438 WU37)
SalalSal: 3/4/2011 $198795.00 (11/15/2009 $260,244.16 W784, WU50)
salsera_barby: 2/28/2011 $14,155 (7/1/2010 $25,906.10 WU150)
sealy[3]: 2/11/2011 $13,476.00 (1/3/2011 $14118.44 WPT 283)
shanendoah: 3/11/2011 $45,120.02 (12/30/2009 $71,761.03 WU7, WU31)
SlowbutSure: 2/10/2011 $108,677.33 (10/13/2008 $139585.11 W456)
startsmart: 1/28/2011 $2,840.96 (3/19/2008 $14157.31 W155,695)
stormysix: 2/28/2011 $97,795.45 (12/8/2007 $179969.24 N837)
trojen3: 2/28/2011 $92,593.59 (1/22/2010 $99500.13 WU42, WU166)
Twinmama16: 2/18/2011 $29,929.19 (2/17/2011 $30,550.46 WPT10)

NEW MEMBERS

Nomoredebtpls: (1/22/2011 $17,789.00 WPT6)

[NoMoreMrDebtGuy]

UPDATE--NoMoreMrDebtGuy
3/13/11 $398,059 (2/25/10 $412,614 WURefugee 6,11)
Amt. Paid So Far $14,555
Countdown to Debt Free except for the mortgage: $6300

[NoMoreMrDebtGuy]

SlowbutSure--Thanks for the call-outs and kind words recently. Your encouragement really helps as we trudge through our debt!

[DVM gone riding]

Dvm07 update 3/14/11 $79,466.21 (12/31/09 $99,945 WU12,WU85)

Debt	Current Update	Last Update	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid off
Car Loan	$14,488.41	$14,882.09	$24,130.00	$9,641.59	39.96%
SL 1	$10,203.74	$10,611.27	$17,560.00	$7,356.26	41.89%
Macy's		$0.00	$791.00	$791.00	100.00%
SL 2	$54,774.06	$54,999.05	$57,464.00	$2,689.94	4.68%
Total	$79,466.21	$80,492.41	$99,945.00	$20,478.79	20.49%

Just keep going excited about the end of 2013 when I am finally done with some of this. It is fun to see some of the new people that are excited about paying off their debt again. It helps to have the new excitement to give me the lift to keep going.

[Pants]

We have a winner!!! Hop on over to the Midwest board and congratulate HawkeyeFan1 on winning her race!!!

[pauletteg]

The aftershocks and nuclear reactor problems in Japan are prompting my brother who has little money aside from a tax refund to return to our homeland. Our country's embassy in Tokyo is urging its nationals to leave Japan. I've pledged to help my brother. I hope he can get some discounted airfare back to mainland North America.

Apparently if our govt aids in an emergency evacuation for him and his family he is responsible for travel costs if he goes beyond the most convenient "safe haven." Also he must reimburse the government at his earliest opportunity for evacuation expenses. I have tried calling the Operations Centre but naturally it's very busy over there.

This situation is where a credit card with a limit beyond $600 can be useful. (My brother's limit was reduced -- I could get him and his family to the homeland or wherever is safe.)

[Minnesotagirl7]

Mar 15, 2011 10:56:30 GMT -5 salserabarby said:

Debt	Date	Current Debt	Starting Date	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid off
Student Loan	3/15/2011	$11,459	7/1/2010	$17,226.21	$5,767.21	33.48%
HSBC	3/15/2011	$0	7/1/2010	$2,973.87	$2,973.87	100.00%
School Loan	3/15/2011	$1,600	7/1/2010	$5,706.02	$4,106.02	71.96%
Total		$13,059		$25,906.10	$12,847.10	49.59%

I swear, I'm such a rollercoaster with this. One minute I feel so great over my progress, the next I just want to cry. Right now, I feel good. I'm almost at the half way mark and I"ve got to be happy about that right? Big milestone come next month, when I finish paying one of my 7 loans. It was the biggest, standing at $6,000 when I started, right now it's at $416. I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

I go on my cruise on Saturday and I'm soooo looking forward to it. I need a vacation from work so badly. I just hope everything goes well.

She accidentally posted this on the International thread, so I'm re-posting it here for her.

[dsunshine]

Wooh Hooot!!! The check has cleared the bank....the business debt is GONE and I only owe $577.07 (before int chrgs). I won't post an update until the statement date (24th). I put my house up for sale (Friday) and it is already being shown today. I am not holding my breath.

dvm07 Thank you for all of your work. Has anybody heard from coffeegirl? I know she was having some family issues. I hope she is doing okay.

I think I am supposed to have 2 - $1000 smileys instead of 2 - $500 smileys. I am just happy to have any smileys with the financial hurdles that have come at me in the last 6 months. And the amount of smileys will be so cool to see when I post my next update. ;D

PauletteG I hope everything works out for your brother and his family and anybody else that is struggling over there. I truly tear up every time I watch TV, see the pictures and hear the stories. My heart goes out to you.

[DVM gone riding]

sorry about that dsunshine I think I am still having trouble with the new way we enter code!! And then I swear the smileys keep changing, I liked the old wink guy better! I will fix it and let dragon know too.

I haven't heard anything from coffegirl, and neither has her board when I checked. But someone over there said that they knew her on face book so at least we know she is alive and well.

I am looking fwd to being able to cheer you for winning a race so LET US KNOW!! I know it has been a really long road for you and so glad you now have some light at the end of the tunnel.

[mtntigger]

And then I swear the smileys keep changing, I liked the old wink guy better!

dvm07, dragon & laramiK - I like the old wink guy better too! (He wasn't available when I first set up the smilies.) Do we want to change him? Are there any others that we may want to change? Think about it and if we can agree, I'll change the winks the next time I get to do the update.

Update
SlowbutSure: 3/16/11 $107879.82 (10/13/08 $139,585.11, W456)

Ok, I really didn't need to update, but I was envious of Ambellamy's .

For those of you who aren't keeping track, we originally had a set of unofficial "bad" smileys, but they aren't available here plus we have a whole different set of smileys to play with. ;D Since this is still a temporary thread, each of us can make up our own "bad" smileys.
Anywho, for this month, I still owe...


Next month, I'll probably use some other smileys (and most definitely will if Virgil keeps playing with 'em).

[startsmart]

startsmart: 3/17/2011 $2,752.20 (3/19/2008 $14157.31 W155,695)

Paid off: 11,405.11 in 3 years While I have about $10k in savings right now I'm not going to pay off this loan. I have other, higher priority payments to be making and savings for my business, taxes and retirement. Since this is 2.48% interest I'll just hold on until I'm sick of looking at it.

[DVM gone riding]

SBS I think changing wink back to the one we used before is great! While we are at can we change the 500 guy?? I think he looks to much like the 100 smiley it confuses me. Maybe this one instead ;D or this guy is fun

We could come up with some great ones for the higher levels like
= 200k or something!! we have so many more options now.

[DVM gone riding]

I just realized i got my second yippy!! And here I was thinking it was just another boring post after an unexciting month! ;D

[mtntigger]

Mar 17, 2011 15:30:22 GMT -5 DVM gone riding said:

SBS I think changing wink back to the one we used before is great! While we are at can we change the 500 guy?? I think he looks to much like the 100 smiley it confuses me. Maybe this one instead ;D or this guy is fun

We could come up with some great ones for the higher levels like
= 200k or something!! we have so many more options now.

LOL! I'm so glad that I don't have more than $200K to pay off. Yeah, I'm not very fond of the $500 guy either. What about this one? I don't much care for the guy; he just laughs at me.

What does everyone else think?
For the $5K mark, do you prefer: or
For the $500 mark, do you prefer: ;D or
For the $25K mark, do you like the or
How about for the $75K mark, the or the
Any other ones that you prefer? Please let me know within a couple of weeks, so I can start making the changes.

Note, even when we get into "official" threads, I have no plans to change them again to anything that CoffeeGirl may decide. (Yup, I'm a Western Rebel... tried and true.) The smilies are a big PITA to update which is why the captains are getting caught making mistakes on them (we are perfect otherwise ).

[dragon2008]

Well the other captains are perfect, but I'm not (stupid smileys are conspiring to bring me down !)!

Love the new smilies - want to play lots! But I'll limit my vote to:
$5K =
$500 = (it says it is "charmed", but I think "leering" is a more accurate name - still, who can resist!)
$25K =
$75K = (which should be "gobsmacked" after paying off so much! Can't wait for this smiley....)

I'm willing to stand by you, SBS, on not changing the smilies once the board decides - too hard to remember new ones! Never give up - never surrender!

[runmarathons]

UPDATE!!

Runmarathons: 3/17/2011 $153,610.78 (1/19/2010, $161,538, WU37)

Name of Debt	Interest	Paid this Month	Current Debt $	Starting Debt	Total Paid	% Paid off
House	5.75%	$1,080.20	$140,564.12	$143,141.00	$2,576.88	1.80%
Student Loan	4.875%	$63.29	$12,658.47	$12,943.00	$284.53	2.20%
Prosper Loan	10.30%	$162.04	$388.19	$4,654.00	$4,265.81	91.66%
SAS Loan	0.00%	$0.00	$0.00	$800.00	$800.00	100.00%
Total		$1,305.53	$153,610.78

[/b][/td][td] $161,538.00 [/td][td] $7,927.22 [/td][td] 4.91% [/td][/tr][tr][/table]

Still moving along. I'm considering adding my mom's house (that I inherited) to my race. It would add another $50K to my debt. Maybe I'll wait until I get my next zero in 3 months! Still selling things on Ebay and Craigslist. It seems like I've been "spring cleaning" for months now! Glad springs almost here!

Close to 5% paid off....wow....that doesn't sound like much but I'll take what I can get

[dsunshine]

Regarding Smilies....I second dragoon's choices.

And dragon...you make me laugh. I haven't heard a reference to Galaxy Quest in a long time. ;D

[ambellamy]

Well, my fiance didn't get the job he interviewed for... and he would have gotten it if it hadn't been for his record. A few years ago he was being stupid and rebellious and got caught shoplifting with a friend... he did his probation, has kept his nose clean, and LEARNED HIS LESSON.... But it hasn't fallen off his record yet since its stays on there for around 6 years... so the guy basically said he's hoping better canidates apply for the position... but if no one else does in a few weeks he may give him a chance. So on monday he will call and ask him if the job has been filled yet. In the mean time he is still applying places and hoping someone will give him a chance (we weren't sure if it was still on his record, but we got a copy of it sent to the house and the guy told us that's why he didn't get the job).

We did find another construction friend whos willing to pay my fiance for help on jobs where little construction skills are required. (like demo, and clean up stuff, and hauling things), in addition to our other friend whos trying to teach him skills when he can. So far he's helped hang mirrors in a hotel, and helped install and frame a door... plus the demo stuff he did the other day.

My Question becomes this.... He's getting paid as a day laborer (which means mostly cash.) how do we deal with this for tax purposes? He hasn't made much yet, and we are keeping track of every dime he does make... but what should we do?

Fiance: $108/$1,500 Saved.