redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 15, 2012 13:38:37 GMT -5
Congrats Reenee!! Sounds like you're really moving forward, and had good reasons for the 401k cashout. No judgement from me. It was a spendy weekend. I'll leave it at that.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Oct 15, 2012 14:53:55 GMT -5
Reenee : I'll second Red's statements entirely. Makes more sense to pay off the advance and loans that were costing you precious $$ every month than leave that money sitting in an account that you won't need to touch for 40 years. I realize it's maybe not the advice that some would have given but at this stage in your life it was probably the smartest move. Now you truly have a clean slate and can start your retirement savings again at the new employer. Congrats to you So exciting to see you starting this next chapter of your life.
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ses
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Post by ses on Oct 15, 2012 19:40:58 GMT -5
Reenee--I agree that you made the right choice. You now have a clean slate to start this new phase of your life. Congrats.
I have been AWOL for the past couple of weeks. I have been super busy. Two groups of house guests have passed through which have included "tour guiding" through the Black Hills and other sites in the area and massive (for me) amounts of cooking, which only required about $30 of extra groceries, yea stocked pantry. I also had a massive (planned) shopping event last week. I went to Rapid City and stocked up on about 6 mo of cat food at great savings at Petsmart and then my BFF took me to Sam's club for my6 mo stock up which saved a bundle.
Some of you may remember when I did a month long foodstamp challenge a couple of years ago. It really opened my eyes to my wasteful shopping habits. Since then I have tracked my spending and developed a quarterly/annual shopping plan. Thank you Moneysquirrel for turning me onto Excel and patiently answering my clueless questions. I now have a detailed list for my pantry and the way I cook. Every quarter I do a detailed inventory and replace only what I need. I end up with a complete pantry of only what I really cook and eat and nothing i won't eat setting on the shelves forever. My twice a year visit to Sam's has really played into stocking up at great savings. I rigidly stick to the list I have previously prepared by studying the web site. This is a round about way of addressing the question/challenge a couple of weeks past. I still drag out my calculator, paper and pencil as well.
This detailed planning has played into another project I have been working on the past couple of weeks. A friend has recently decided he is going to be a "prepper." His wife is definitely NOT on board. I am on her side. M is a 65 yo little boy. Any hobby, whim or idea he gets involved with he jumps in midstream with both feet. However, this time i am abetting his whim. He wants to have a BIG garden next year. Which his wife E will end up tending. I know he is bull headed enough to go through with his plans so I am "helping" him plan a garden with plants I know will grow here and not use excessive amounts of water. I am being sneaky about getting him to plan a bio-intensive square foot raised bed garden by pointing out that E has bad knees and the suggestions I am making are out of concern for her and saving them money. Perhaps my "suggestions" will prevent him from going overboard. My detailed grocery plans are feeding into this project to point out what amounts and what kinds of things he needs to plant. I'm hoping that the flowcharts, spreadsheets and detailed time lines and cost analysis pages will discourage him. Or at least downscale his plans. I have actually enjoyed doing this project whatever comes from it. At least he has decided he doesn't need to hire someone to dig an elaborate root cellar until he can raise enough roots to put in it.
I will be working several days over the next 10 days and hope to get some outside yard work done before winter really sets in and my life settles into a quieter pattern. I am ready for life to slow down. Maybe then I can keep up with you all.
I'm in for the Christmas Cards.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Oct 15, 2012 20:00:00 GMT -5
reenee- I MIIIIISSSSSSEEEEEDDDDDD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (runs across WIR NSD/CSD and tackles reeneejune) I also agree you have taken the best path. The ankle is not broken- just badly badly sprained. WOOHOO! Unfortunately, DM may have another MRSA infection.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Oct 15, 2012 20:11:23 GMT -5
Update: 9 NSDs and 3 CSD
Renee -- Glad to see you back. Great news on the job and I also agree that it is better to get your house in order so that you can make progress toward the bigger goal of TFF.
I finish the bulk of the projects at least until the next batch arises. Another busy week at school this week so I will be MIA for a while longer.
Old QOTW: -- I do LOVE using Excel. I track everything in it. It keeps me focus on the big picture. I have graphs for everything, comparisons for the last several years, percentages of increase and decrease, etc. I do use the smart phone to keep a running list of needed items so that I can pick them up when a good deal comes along. Love the calendar in it -- helps with everything.
I do also keep a notebook which lists all of the expected expenses for the month. This is for the basics -- helps me to see which bills are still due and when I paid the ones I did. It is a quick resource to look up info without having to turn on the computer.
New QOTW -- I am not quite sure what you mean about projects but I keep a separate budget for my hobby of jewelry making. All of my spending has to come out of what I make selling the items that I do make. I now have quite a stash of supplies so my expenses have gone down but this is a hobby and my outlets for displaying and selling my items are rare so I keep a close watch on the total picture and only get what I need. As long as I finish each year without going into my other money I am happy. Some years are better than others.
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mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Oct 15, 2012 20:24:25 GMT -5
money- I stayed vague on "projects" because it does vary for everyone.
QOTW- I have to watch my spending on projects. Most projects are easy for me to watch my budget on- they are for music or cooking stuff or writing projects or business. But when I go on an organizational project- then I tend to overspend because everything has to be just so because I want everything just so.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Oct 15, 2012 22:37:56 GMT -5
Christmas Cards/Secret Santa - I would prefer not to participate this year (formally) because I'm in a big downsizing mode. Those who have my address can feel free to send cards but understand I may not reciprocate. Trying to keep the holidays simple this year New York is fun, blue and I are having a great time and danced it up at the Halloween party tonight. We have another full day of coaching tomorrow and then into the city for a few days. When I get back home I'll need to have a garage sale and get rid of at least 250 items.
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 16, 2012 8:22:45 GMT -5
QOTW: I should make a line item in my budget for holiday decorating. I can't resist. Drives Blue_wagon up the wall!
Start - glad you two are enjoying NY!
So I had a fun foray to labor & delivery yesterday. Everything turned out fine but my doctor just wanted me checked out. Had a few contractions, but doesn't seem babies are trying to escape quite yet. But I was there for 6 hours, didn't eat dinner until midnight, and am completely wiped out today. Should be a fun anniversary for me and Blue as we will likely both crash into bed right after dinner lol.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 16, 2012 8:25:19 GMT -5
Glad everything is still happily percolating, Red!
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 16, 2012 10:47:51 GMT -5
Hmmph, I guess that November will be a bit spendy. In addition to having to replace my dead laptop in the near future, I now need a new mattress. I think my aging mattress is a big part of the reason I've been having back pain lately. I haven't been mattress-shopping in *ages*, so I have no idea what to go looking for. I guess there's a lot of laying around in mattress stores in my future!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 16, 2012 10:55:56 GMT -5
Bad mattresses can definitely cause back pain. My mom is in heaven now she has one of those memory foam mattress toppers. Good luck on your search!
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Oct 16, 2012 11:16:52 GMT -5
Rocky- We did that in January and ended up getting an extra firm mattress, then a memory foam topper, because it was a little too firm. Now we love our bed. Beware though it will most likely be taller than your old bed. The new box springs was probably 3 inches higher than the old one (I noticed when we were looking they did have a shorter version, but didn't think we'd need it) then the new mattress was taller, plus adding the 2" memory foam on top, I almost need a footstool to climb in bed.
I do wonder if the memory foam by itself would have done the trick.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 16, 2012 11:18:39 GMT -5
I've heard a lot of great talk about memory foam! I'm willing to pay a bit more than conventional if necessary, I just want to be reasonably sure that it'll do the trick.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Oct 16, 2012 16:58:30 GMT -5
start- i totally understand about wanting to simplify the holidays. red- Glad the purple twins are still behaving I hate mattress shopping.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 17, 2012 8:05:28 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn. Saver: 5 NSD/6 CSD (<$5).
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 17, 2012 8:07:27 GMT -5
I hate mattress shopping. There's so much more out there now than the last time I went looking for one. But, hey, at least with mattress shopping, you get to lie around all day!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 17, 2012 10:30:07 GMT -5
mizbear - me too! Although the doctor just put me on home rest, so no more work for me after tomorrow! Gotta admit, kind of thrilled about that.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Oct 17, 2012 12:20:03 GMT -5
Sounds like it'll make your life much easier to not have to schlep to work every day!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 17, 2012 12:37:18 GMT -5
Definitely!
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pointy
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Post by pointy on Oct 17, 2012 15:42:25 GMT -5
update: 13/23 NS and 14/27 No QVC
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Oct 17, 2012 17:19:24 GMT -5
update; 16/26 NSD/CSD, 1/5 eating out day.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Oct 17, 2012 17:30:02 GMT -5
I will post totals on Sunday evening as I am tied up the next 4 days with Miss ZBear and a vendor event/yard sale and a singing competition.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Oct 18, 2012 7:20:41 GMT -5
Tax season is over!! Yes, they'll deduct taxes for both states but you don't need to have them take the standard amount. You can have a lesser amount deducted throughout the year. I just checked my Macy's account & I owe them nothing. Yep. Absolutely nothing. How did that happen? Plus I still have $84 in checking Qotw : I use the usaa app to budget. It's online should I want that. But the droid app is sufficient. For work, I use excel
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Oct 18, 2012 8:46:45 GMT -5
Update: 11/20 NSD Hope everyone is having a good week. Red- you be safe while you are on best rest- take it easy and RELAX Quiet week so far and that's just the way I like 'em. DS is off Today and tomorrow for MEA (4 day weekend from school, every October- state wide school thing) DH is planning on taking a vacation day on Friday. His primary client is off and he has 50 hours in already this week. I feel guilty because I'm all "Work! It's all Overtime!" while he is all "I'm beat and coming down with a cold and want a day off" so he'll take the day off. Oh well.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Oct 18, 2012 9:39:01 GMT -5
I haven't been good at NS's or tracking. We are still restocking and finding little things that we "need" for the new house. I looked in our fridge and it still looks empty. I ordered a wall tatoo for over our bed using a groupon. (Originally I was going to order something for mini-d's wall, but found some at Target that were less expensive, so I got one for us since I still had the groupon.) My manual can opener broke, I have never heard of that happening before. So then I had to fight to get the can open because I had already started dinner and needed to add the tomatoes. Ended up getting it open but not before I sliced my thumb. Red- Enjoy nesting. Get some rest before they come. Shelia- I'm that way with DH too and sometimes, he says no I need a break
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Oct 18, 2012 11:26:43 GMT -5
dakota - ouch!
Day 1 at home and I'm at a bit of a loss. I know there are things to be done but not sure where to start. And knowing I have four weeks to "kill" is enabling procrastination. But I guess I can take a few days to just chill and detox from work a bit.
I did realize I'll save about $15 a day not buying breakfast and lunch out, so that's cool! I just need to make sure we have options in the house.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Oct 19, 2012 12:40:39 GMT -5
What in the world was I thinking! Throwing a surprise 40th Birthday Party for my husband. Why didn't someone stop me? Craziness I tell you! We've been in a drought for months and now last night it decides to start raining! So my half outdoor half indoor party will be an all indoor if things don't start to dry up. Unfortunately that will make for some bored kids because the outdoor stuff was all the fun stuff to entertain and amuse them. And hello- RSVP people! I had 30 people coming as of 8 am this morning. I've been getting phone calls all day that start with "sorry I didn't call sooner but...." so yeah- now I have closer to 60 coming! Egads. Fortunately the boys at work knew this and just told me they'd cover my phones and that if I wanted to leave early. Thank god because I have to go make twice as much food as I thought I'd have to make. Next time I suggest doing something like this please stop me
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Oct 20, 2012 14:01:54 GMT -5
Sheila - the next time the husband turns 40 I'll talk you out of a party Hope you are able to have fun regardless of the stress! Finally made it home this morning and am settling in again, much to do. Blue is making me relax this weekend since I caught a cold on Tuesday and was feeling pretty sick by Thursday. We had an absolutely awesome time in the city and during our mastermind - it definitely helped to be distracted on my birthday and able to have fun instead of being depressed. Aside from a little... incident... at the Empire State Building the day was awesome. My parents also gave me an "IOU" bday present shocking.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Oct 20, 2012 21:23:55 GMT -5
Update: 12 NSDs and 3 CSDs
Just popping in to say hello. I was doing ok until the last few days. My makeup was on sale with gift so I got a few items one day and another day I went to the outlet mall and just stocked up on things that I needed. Got some great deals and added several items to my warerobe that were on my wish list.
I also managed to donate six boxes of clothing (those that were no longer a good fit) and other small items this week.
Hope all are doing well.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Oct 20, 2012 22:17:58 GMT -5
Today was definitely a spend. Went to Habitat ReStore and got 6 brand new light fixtures, a new pre-hung door (just need to stain it), 70 ft of picture rail and a new double sink vanity for a total of $375. I had budgeted to spend $1500 for the cabinetry and counter top, so getting the counter top for $40 makes me very happy! Then we hit Lowe's and spent another $500 on new locks, under cabinet lighting, ceiling fans, a new faucet for Mini-D's bath room (he couldn't turn the one in there off completely). Ended up taking back the ceiling fans and getting different ones. Found a really cool space themed one for Mini-D's room that was the same price as the originals and the one for the other room was cheaper. I spent the afternoon painting the picture rail the wall color, so tomorrow we can put that up and I can get the pictures out of the living room
Moving is expensive.
Shelia- I hope the party was a success! I'm sure your hubby appreciated. I threatened to divorce my DH if he ever threw me a surprise party. Luckily he listed to me for my 40th. I might try to surprise him at some point, he actually enjoy a surprise party.
Start- Glad your trip was good. Hope you are feeling better.
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