WOMEN IN RED RACERS

[chiver78]

I've got a savings account with American Express, where my current APY is 4.35%. transfers back and forth to my regular checking account generally post in 3 business days. happy to share a referral link if anyone is interested

[nidena]

Feb 19, 2024 10:52:25 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Our area finally got an upgrade with fiber internet. Our neighborhood was one of the first that were able to have it installed. We jumped on it, because AT&T here is just HORRIBLE. It made our internet bill increase $20 more than what we currently pay BUT we were able to cancel AT&T internet and DIRECTV which will save us $237 a month moving forward. We were "legacy customers" with Direct, but they just couldn't get us a deal worth keeping it anymore. Our next step is to determine which subscriptions we keep for streaming services. It's so easy to just put those on autopilot and forget about them. 

It's also been a pretty substantial amount of time since I've priced home and auto insurance, so that's on my to do list too. 

And update on the sidehustle money my H is waiting on...still waiting. He has to get back into the house and finish the last bit of the install, but cannot until the painting is done. Then the homeowner will cut him the check. The homeowner is EXTREMELY wealthy and is adding a massive addition to his home, including a finished basement. Like the addition is larger than my current home lol. H has done all the wiring for the sound systems/internet etc. We really like this guy, he "hires" my husband for a some kind of job at least once a year. Last year? He needed outdoor speakers, tv, surround sound, the works by his pool and patio. They have such a rough home life.. 

I wish there competition to AT&T here in my neck of Indy.  Heck, I can't even get Verizon.  I pay just under $100/mo but that includes a VOIP line.

As for streaming, a random suggestion: Cancel ALL of them and see what you do with your time instead.  Do it for a month.

As for insurance, I went through Wenclewisz and let them do all the legwork for me on both home and auto.  They saved me $300/yr three years ago.  If I already shared that, sorry for the repeat.  If you'd like a referral to them--I think there is a drawing for customers who provide referrals--I'm happy to send you my real name to use for it.  

[TheOtherMe]

I was so happy when my small town got fiber optic internet.  My electric company is the rural cooperative that served this area when it was still farms.  The large provider is just a block away.  All of our lines are underground and we don't lose power very often but the major part of town does.  This town is too small for it to be a priority for a large provider.  

My electric co-op prioritizes the farmers first, which I totally agree with, when there are outages.  I have rarely had an outage here.  None last more than 30 minutes.

They did a survey probably 10 years ago now to see about interest in fiber.  The only provider that actually worked in my house had several internet outages a week.  I signed on.  The price has not been raised since day 1 and it rarely goes out.  Only when a builder cuts the line and they can't help that.  

Once they got the towns done, they offered it to the farmers.  The farmers were so happy to have decent internet.  My sister was still on Dial-up for several years after I moved here.  They went to satellite, but it wasn't reliable so they jumped at fiber optic internet.  

[lark1964]

Feb 19, 2024 15:59:20 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I was so happy when my small town got fiber optic internet.  My electric company is the rural cooperative that served this area when it was still farms.  The large provider is just a block away.  All of our lines are underground and we don't lose power very often but the major part of town does.  This town is too small for it to be a priority for a large provider.  

My electric co-op prioritizes the farmers first, which I totally agree with, when there are outages.  I have rarely had an outage here.  None last more than 30 minutes.

They did a survey probably 10 years ago now to see about interest in fiber.  The only provider that actually worked in my house had several internet outages a week.  I signed on.  The price has not been raised since day 1 and it rarely goes out.  Only when a builder cuts the line and they can't help that.  

Once they got the towns done, they offered it to the farmers.  The farmers were so happy to have decent internet.  My sister was still on Dial-up for several years after I moved here.  They went to satellite, but it wasn't reliable so they jumped at fiber optic internet.  

It's all a manipulation. The university did a study on fiber optics and 4G and 5G and all the other technobabble variations, plus there's the "conspiracy" that there are faster/slower pay requirements. One of the Facilities guys who was part of the research team told me it's more a matter of just spreading out the lines, etc., it takes time, and just like anything new - it's more expensive to begin with. He thinks in another 2-3 years, the faster cable, optics, whatever electronic reference is will be available, but there will be something new out there, as well, and everyone will be clamoring for that.

And - yes, it's very real. And annoying. The university pays through the nose, but we have 22,000+ employees and 8,500 students, several labs supporting multiple grants, etc. When I get home, however, for all my Verizon works and does well enough - I can see the difference in speed and response. 

[Minnesotagirl7]

Shoutouts!


nikiz628- Hope the side hustle money comes in soon. Keep choppin wood!

chiver78- Sounds like you have a good plan!

lark1964- Glad you dodged the scam!


Link to Smileys

[ners]

Update

50406.75 (1/3/2011 $97,382.42 MPT5)

[lark1964]

Well. I am tempted to take the plunge. I have the money in my savings. And between the refund I got from Toyota for the GAP insurance and - this was annoying, they took "the last" payment by mistake and had to refund it to me just yesterday; and between the two, plus change I found between the couch cushions... I'm tempted to pay Discover off... or at least something more. I don't want to decimate my savings, but jeez, it's not like my basic savings accounts pay a lot in interest. And yes, the HELOC is in approval mode, and I'll likely have it by the end of the month. But I'd rather use it for... say, my HVAC renovation, which I have to do this spring before the heat takes over.

Hem... haw... hem... haw... h'mmmmmmmm................

[debthaven]

lark1964 what about paying half off for now, and then waiting until you get the HELOC to decide about the rest? 

You're so close! 

ETA: How is your eye doing?

[minnesotapaintlady]

Ugh.  I have debt now.    First I've had in 20 years besides 0% purchase offers. I hate it already and it's only been a week.  I have to get new siding on my house and the estimate is 46K.  Well, $44,800 but there's some work that they're not sure how much will really cost so I padded it a tiny bit....probably not enough tbh. I think realistically I should mentally prepare for 50K, but we're just going to stick with 46K for now. 

So, I scraped together everything I could, basically wiping out all my I bonds except what is in my son's name for tuition and got 23K and have paid them about half of that amount as a down payment.  So, what is left is 23K and I've already taken the draw on that from my HELOC and have it set aside.  I don't need to pay them until this Summer, but there's a few reasons I took the money out already.  I have some funds locked up in getting account bonuses and frankly I just want to get started on paying it down when the rate is "low" on the promo (it's not low, it's 6.49%)

I have a whole bunch of credit cards that will do 0% transfers for a year or more, but they charge 3-4% transaction fee, so that's a no. I see no strategy besides paying all I can here...

MPL 2/22/24  $23,000 

[debthaven]

minnesotapaintlady I'm sorry, I know how debt averse you are. Remember that it needs doing, and new siding is an investment that will maintain and even increase the value of your home! 

Also, being able to pay half of a 46K bill in cash is no mean feat! You should be very proud of yourself. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Thanks. Not liking this at all though. I set up autopay of $350/month starting March 1st and keep thinking of all the better things I could do with that amount of money every month. 😢 especially since it will take YEARS just doing that amount.

[debthaven]

Knowing you I'm sure it'll get paid off faster than you think minnesotapaintlady . 

[nikiz628]

Feb 19, 2024 13:18:43 GMT -5 nidena said:

Feb 19, 2024 10:52:25 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Our area finally got an upgrade with fiber internet. Our neighborhood was one of the first that were able to have it installed. We jumped on it, because AT&T here is just HORRIBLE. It made our internet bill increase $20 more than what we currently pay BUT we were able to cancel AT&T internet and DIRECTV which will save us $237 a month moving forward. We were "legacy customers" with Direct, but they just couldn't get us a deal worth keeping it anymore. Our next step is to determine which subscriptions we keep for streaming services. It's so easy to just put those on autopilot and forget about them. 

It's also been a pretty substantial amount of time since I've priced home and auto insurance, so that's on my to do list too. 

And update on the sidehustle money my H is waiting on...still waiting. He has to get back into the house and finish the last bit of the install, but cannot until the painting is done. Then the homeowner will cut him the check. The homeowner is EXTREMELY wealthy and is adding a massive addition to his home, including a finished basement. Like the addition is larger than my current home lol. H has done all the wiring for the sound systems/internet etc. We really like this guy, he "hires" my husband for a some kind of job at least once a year. Last year? He needed outdoor speakers, tv, surround sound, the works by his pool and patio. They have such a rough home life.. 

I wish there competition to AT&T here in my neck of Indy.  Heck, I can't even get Verizon.  I pay just under $100/mo but that includes a VOIP line.

As for streaming, a random suggestion: Cancel ALL of them and see what you do with your time instead.  Do it for a month.

As for insurance, I went through Wenclewisz and let them do all the legwork for me on both home and auto.  They saved me $300/yr three years ago.  If I already shared that, sorry for the repeat.  If you'd like a referral to them--I think there is a drawing for customers who provide referrals--I'm happy to send you my real name to use for it.  

Im really surprised you don't have more options. (I am just north of Terre Haute). 

[Minnesotagirl7]

Update!

	3/18/2020	1/24/2024	2/23/2024	Total Difference
Mortgage	$403,476.12	$172,134.66	$169,382.36	$234,093.76

Diff Last Post	$2,752.30
Total Amt Pd	$234,093.76
Total % Pd	58.0%

Minnesotagirl7 [6]: 2/23/24 $169,382.36 (3/18/20 $403,476.12 C220)


Been making the regular payment the last several months. Hoping to throw a little extra at the mortgage in March, when both DH and I get our annual bonuses.

[muffyinthered]

MuffyintheRed #2 2/23/2024 157,444.83 (06/22/2020 $175.394.16)

Amount paid -$+530.82

CU Savings - $25,677.38


I went up again this month because of another BT.  I have only 2 more months on the last BT that I pay $500 a month on and then I will transfer it to this BT.  I am watching the expiration dates on these BTs because I don't want to have to pay over 20% interest on them.

Hope you are having better weather than here in Wisconsin.  We are warm one day and freezing the next.  Fingers craossed no more snow!

[minnesotapaintlady]

So, early update.  Cashed in my son's ESA ($1800) to throw at the debt and got my federal refund so pulled some of that as well to throw 4K total at the debt today.  The $350 payment will still come out on Friday but isn't reflected below.  I'm much happier with it being in the teens.  In just a few weeks it had already accrued $94 in interest!!!

MPL  2/28/24  $19,094.06. (2/22/24 $23,000)

Seriously considering putting my property taxes on a 0% credit card until next February and throwing that money I have set aside towards the HELOC as well.  Also considering paying my son's high school tuition with 529 funds and raiding the last of the savings bonds as well. 

[nidena]

Feb 23, 2024 9:32:45 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Feb 19, 2024 13:18:43 GMT -5 nidena said:

I wish there competition to AT&T here in my neck of Indy.  Heck, I can't even get Verizon.  I pay just under $100/mo but that includes a VOIP line.

As for streaming, a random suggestion: Cancel ALL of them and see what you do with your time instead.  Do it for a month.

As for insurance, I went through Wenclewisz and let them do all the legwork for me on both home and auto.  They saved me $300/yr three years ago.  If I already shared that, sorry for the repeat.  If you'd like a referral to them--I think there is a drawing for customers who provide referrals--I'm happy to send you my real name to use for it.  

Im really surprised you don't have more options. (I am just north of Terre Haute). 

I've looked into Spectrum, Metronet, Verizon, and one more that is escaping my mind right now.  I won't even entertain the idea of Comcast and don't know if they're even available here.

My spending for February has been awesome.  I spent only $60 on "whatever."  It helps that I spent the last week at my dad's house, helping my stepmom deal with some stuff...and dad's alzher personality change from time to time.  I'll be heading back in April.

I called my tax guy to get an appt set up since, apparently, emailing them isn't effective.  lol.  Now, I'm just waiting to hear back from them.

But here's looking forward to another month of minimizing frivolous spending.    I'll be posting an update next week.

[nikiz628]

Feb 1, 2024 10:00:21 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Jan 4, 2024 16:46:05 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Update RACE 7  3/1/24

Debt	Interest Rate	Starting Balance	Last Update	This Update	Difference
Citi Best Buy	0% Promos Only	4663.23	4616.22	4555.82	-60.40
Quicksilver	28.24%	6482.19	6250.00	6000.00	-250.00
Discover	28.24%	15124.49	14724.49	14600.00	-124.49
Menards	30.24%	2340.05	2315.14	2290.81	-24.33
Citi Diamond	0% BT until *	2715.27	4464.88	4410.49	-54.39
Discover Loan	12.99%	9432.97	9195.10	8954.44	-240.66
Sofi Loan	22.9%	8507.08	8282.50	8248.64	-33.86
Van Loan (Ally)	9.29%	31082.93	30803.28	30515.66	-287.62
Truck Loan (CU)	4.8%	8265.87	7907.69	7604.05	-303.64
	TOTAL	88,614.08	88,559.30	87,179.91	-1379.39

NikiZ628(7): 3/1/24 $87,179.91 (1/4/23 $88,614.08 WIR302)

It's a good month when all the balances decrease, no matter how small. 

[chiver78]

quick fly-by, still knocking this one last racing balance down steadily. I'm about to pull the trigger for another BT as the other promo is about to reset. by not paying it off outright, I'll have cash in hand to tackle Phase 2 of the landscape work this spring - levelling out the weird slopes and laying down grass seed. the stone work came in at just under $8k, most of which was materials. Phase 2 won't be nearly that pricey. 

I don't want to pull the $ from savings, as work is still just a whole lot of vague directives about RTO. and I'm not getting much attention in the applications I have sent out. but, I also went to the office yesterday since upper management was in town, and my presence was noted by the high senior guy - he walked up to shake my hand and said "oh hi, it's nice to see you here this time..."   while the extended group all had our schmoozing lunch, some folks I've worked with for years and never met in person asked why I rarely make an appearance. I said well, it took me 2h to get here this morning, and I'm expecting the same to get home.....and I'm not even trying to commute during "rush hour" and the whole room got quiet. well, you asked...?    final tally yesterday was 4h in the car for 3.5 in the office. I took 2 team calls in the office, and zero other work was done. but hey, tell me again why it's so important that I'm physically there?   oy. 

chiver78 3/1/24 $6,863.74 5/9/20 $138,495.31)

[nidena]

Got back last Wednesday from a stressful week at my dad and stepmom's.  Had to call both Thursday and Friday to talk to belligerent alzher personality and help bring him back to his lucid self.  (Nope, not looking for suggestions here just sharing the struggle).  Then had to deal with a migraine on Saturday and a cold yesterday and today.  Coincidence, I think not.  In any case, the debt total went down and I'm off to a good start for March for no frivolous spending.

nidena: 3/4/2024 $50,665.51 (8/22/2007 $223,361.20 N453,503,NE648,NPT25) (for some reason bold isn't showing up as a formatting option for me)

My tax appointment is scheduled for next week so we'll see if whether $ is going out or coming back to me.  Have a good week!

[snapdragon]

Feb 28, 2024 13:47:39 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, early update.  Cashed in my son's ESA ($1800) to throw at the debt and got my federal refund so pulled some of that as well to throw 4K total at the debt today.  The $350 payment will still come out on Friday but isn't reflected below.  I'm much happier with it being in the teens.  In just a few weeks it had already accrued $94 in interest!!!

MPL  2/28/24  $19,094.06. (2/22/24 $23,000)

Seriously considering putting my property taxes on a 0% credit card until next February and throwing that money I have set aside towards the HELOC as well.  Also considering paying my son's high school tuition with 529 funds and raiding the last of the savings bonds as well. 

If they are not doing the work until this summer -  are you just paying off the HELOC and keeping the 46K in savings for payment? 

I understand wanting to pay on the bill but please don't wipe out everything you have. Keep money back. You have been having issues with your van, with your older pony, and didn't your oldest have problems earlier with his car? 

Please keep some money back for emergencies.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Mar 4, 2024 13:16:30 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Feb 28, 2024 13:47:39 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, early update.  Cashed in my son's ESA ($1800) to throw at the debt and got my federal refund so pulled some of that as well to throw 4K total at the debt today.  The $350 payment will still come out on Friday but isn't reflected below.  I'm much happier with it being in the teens.  In just a few weeks it had already accrued $94 in interest!!!

MPL  2/28/24  $19,094.06. (2/22/24 $23,000)

Seriously considering putting my property taxes on a 0% credit card until next February and throwing that money I have set aside towards the HELOC as well.  Also considering paying my son's high school tuition with 529 funds and raiding the last of the savings bonds as well. 

If they are not doing the work until this summer -  are you just paying off the HELOC and keeping the 46K in savings for payment? 

I understand wanting to pay on the bill but please don't wipe out everything you have. Keep money back. You have been having issues with your van, with your older pony, and didn't your oldest have problems earlier with his car? 

Please keep some money back for emergencies.

I've paid them 25% down...so a little over 11K to book and order materials. There is 35K sitting in a high yield checking account until I have to pay them (well 20K...15K is with Chase until I get the sign on bonus from them in April).  If there is an emergency before I pay them, that money can be tapped, if it's after I pay them, then I guess I could just draw on the HELOC more?  I'm only using about 20K of the 60K line so plenty of space.

But yeah, it's always one thing after the other.  Have to get DS's car looked at, Gus and his bad feet, cat going to urgent care this afternoon and all my appliances and the furnace/AC are 24 years old so who knows how long any of that will last.  My van's been doing great though!  LOL 

[lark1964]

I'm here to gripe today. I'm very tired. Some of my coworkers came over for lunch, they brought me food, talked with me about everything that's been happening, checked on me, how am I, etc. And I'm frustrated. Being sick SUCKS.

The MRI showed I did not have a catastrophic stroke, but I did have a mini-stroke - a TIA (transient ischial attack). It specifically went after my eye, I have what is called "Third Nerve Palsy", my eyelid droops, my eye is wonky, I cannot see straight out of it, I have to see a Retinalogist - a Retina Specialist. The Ophthalmologist says it should all recover, but it's going to be months. Time and patience. I am not a patient patient, this is going to be a major chore for me. She says I can drive, but daytime only, stay off highways, etc. I can see my laptop, obviously, but it's not pleasant, it gives me a headache after a bit, and that's going to be an issue for awhile. I have to "blur" my glasses lens, not patch my eye, I need my eye to open and heal. I'm going to need therapy with this retina doctor, likely once a week for a month or so, then fewer visits as my eye improves.

Getting old is not for sissies, man! I'm waiting for someone to tell me there's a Stubbed Toe Specialist... 

The good news is - I'll be able to return to work remote in another month or six weeks. And other good news: I have been approved for my HELOC, so I'll be able to get my HVAC fixed. I've also clobbered Discover, I paid a LOT of it this month (my savings are depleted, *sigh*), so I'll be able to transfer the balance as soon as the bank funds are available to me (by Friday or by Monday next week). And then... the much lower interest rate, etc., things will be much improved overall.

I'm just annoyed. Grumble... 

[TheOtherMe]

I hope you recover soon.  I didn't know you were ill.  

[Rukh O'Rorke]

wishing you a speedy recovery lark1964!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Feb 6, 2024 12:05:37 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

student loan balance:

97,447.09


Still just doing min monthly payments. Now have a big vet bill to pay off before doing extra here.

96,661.79

[chiver78]

**thinking out loud here, no decisions have been made on anything yet**

can I ask some questions about HELOCs these days? I had one once, a long time ago, when I refinanced my mortgage into 80/20 - interest-only "mortgage" / HELOC for the remainder of the outstanding original balance, not necessarily 20% of the value, which I attacked like it was a CC payment. making this move allowed me to remove PMI from my note. I doubt this sort of thing has been allowed since the market crash ~2010, this was well before that. 

I guess my first question is - can you still write off the interest like it's 1098-INT mortgage interest? 
next - while doing a rough lookup of rates, I'm seeing all the places talking about fixed payments over 10 or 20 years. can I not pay it off ahead of time, esp if I won't be in this house that long? 
anything else I'm not considering here? oh, many of the links I read through said no upfront fees like closing costs or anything, and no refi needed. just HELOC against your current value/remaining mtg balance. 

my thought here, is that I can consolidate the non-racing balances (there are two) into one loan here, take a little extra out so I can finish the topcoat of the driveway paving and maybe cover the last of the landscaping under an interest rate I can write off on my taxes. I can keep more cash in hand while I navigate this work crap. because truth be told, a lot of it makes me nutty and I would much prefer never having to speak to a couple of my coworkers ever again, but my W2 for last year is absolving a lot of my past money sins.     another reason why I'd want to consolidate - I'm getting tired of my huge payoff spreadsheet, it's been 15 years now. if I made this move, I'd close those accounts I don't want to keep anymore and start that spreadsheet fresh. (and make debthaven happy that I've finally closed a bunch of stuff!  )   

[minnesotapaintlady]

Mar 6, 2024 14:52:57 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I guess my first question is - can you still write off the interest like it's 1098-INT mortgage interest? 
next - while doing a rough lookup of rates, I'm seeing all the places talking about fixed payments over 10 or 20 years. can I not pay it off ahead of time, esp if I won't be in this house that long? 
anything else I'm not considering here? oh, many of the links I read through said no upfront fees like closing costs or anything, and no refi needed. just HELOC against your current value/remaining mtg balance. 

You can deduct the interest only if the HELOC was used for home improvement and only if you itemize already.

A HELOC is generally a line of credit with a 10 year draw period during which time you only are required to pay interest payments.  At the end of the draw it either will convert to a Home Equity Loan with a defined payment and repayment period or it will all become due as a balloon payment.  Just depends what kind of loan terms you sign up for.  Same with prepayment penalties. I've never had a HELOC (or any kind of loan) that didn't allow penalty free pre-payment, but not all states/banks have the same rules.

I had to pay like $300 in closing costs on a 60K HELOC.  No appraisal, but there was the title search and recording fees and what not. Another place in town was going to waive them, but they charge $50/year to keep the HELOC open, so they were getting it that way.

[minnesotapaintlady]

lark1964 - Hope you're feeling better soon.  One of the engineers on my team had a similar stroke at work a few years back. Bells Palsy?  His face was really messed up, but he recovered 100% within a relatively short period of time.  The eyesight thing would be annoying though.  I can only see out of one eye as it is, so if something like that ever happens to me it better be on the left side!

[chiver78]

Mar 6, 2024 15:13:32 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Mar 6, 2024 14:52:57 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I guess my first question is - can you still write off the interest like it's 1098-INT mortgage interest? 
next - while doing a rough lookup of rates, I'm seeing all the places talking about fixed payments over 10 or 20 years. can I not pay it off ahead of time, esp if I won't be in this house that long? 
anything else I'm not considering here? oh, many of the links I read through said no upfront fees like closing costs or anything, and no refi needed. just HELOC against your current value/remaining mtg balance. 

You can deduct the interest only if the HELOC was used for home improvement and only if you itemize already.

A HELOC is generally a line of credit with a 10 year draw period during which time you only are required to pay interest payments.  At the end of the draw it either will convert to a Home Equity Loan with a defined payment and repayment period or it will all become due as a balloon payment.  Just depends what kind of loan terms you sign up for.  Same with prepayment penalties. I've never had a HELOC (or any kind of loan) that didn't allow penalty free pre-payment, but not all states/banks have the same rules.

I had to pay like $300 in closing costs on a 60K HELOC.  No appraisal, but there was the title search and recording fees and what not. Another place in town was going to waive them, but they charge $50/year to keep the HELOC open, so they were getting it that way.

hmm.....so how do they accommodate partial home improvement interest? could I write any of it off then? and, with the rest of what you said, it sounds like a Home Equity Loan might be a better idea. thanks for the fast answer!