Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 28, 2016 11:04:46 GMT -5
So, how was 2016 for you? Was it good, bad, or about the same as previous years. Any major highlights?
What do you anticipate for 2017?
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Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
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Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 28, 2016 11:08:10 GMT -5
2016 was an okay year for me. Nothing major happened at work. Most of the first half was dominated by studying for the CHP exam, which I ended up passing. Some of the second half was just to recover from the first half.
I did get a chance to travel to Alaska by myself. The first time I ever did a trip of that scope on my own. So I'm proud of that.
So overall, kind of a "meh" year, just one more year ticked off in the march of years that is my life.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 28, 2016 11:08:39 GMT -5
2016 needs to go away. It was bad as 2015 for us.
I am ready for a fresh start in 2017.
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Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
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Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 28, 2016 11:21:21 GMT -5
Personally, it was fairly uneventful (so far anyway). Managed to lose all the babyweight gained 7 years ago and then some. We repaired some things on our house. That's pretty much it. Savings are dwindling more, but now I'm more officially a SAHM. My mom is still alive. DH's pain is worse to the point of debilitating, despite having surgery 2 months ago. Something's gotta give. Somehow, I still have some hope that things will get better. On a wider stage, I'm not very optimistic about the future.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 28, 2016 11:23:28 GMT -5
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
2016 had it's share of deaths, births, weddings, divorces, new jobs and job losses for my family/friends/coworkers - just like any other year.
I'm not sure if 2016 was much different for me than any other year... I didn't have any significant "first time doing X" kind of things... but I did move forward on most of my personal goals (financial and others). I'm thinking 2017 will have more "first time" kinds of things... than 2016 (or 2015). for me. not sure if I'm excited or just want to get them over with and be done with it.
That's not to say 2016 didn't have it's share of "little joys and pleasures" - heck - every day generally has some of those!
I'm a nihlistic optimist. Yeah, I'm one year closer to death and still doing the same old same old, but there isn't any reason to NOT savor the occasional joy or pleasure that comes around every day.
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swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
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Post by swamp on Dec 28, 2016 11:24:26 GMT -5
meh.
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Deleted
Joined: Oct 14, 2024 17:18:05 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 11:26:59 GMT -5
I honestly hated building a house. First time I can ever say I think I was actually depressed. I gained like 30 pounds. I still feel floating, disconnected, unsure. And that's just the inner core of the year, not the external environment. I'm ready for something else. And I don't generally allow myself to verbalized things like that...
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Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
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Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 28, 2016 11:34:38 GMT -5
I honestly hated building a house. First time I can ever say I think I was actually depressed. I gained like 30 pounds. I still feel floating, disconnected, unsure. And that's just the inner core of the year, not the external environment. I'm ready for something else. And I don't generally allow myself to verbalized things like that... I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough year. Hope next year is better.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Dec 28, 2016 11:35:52 GMT -5
2016 was kind of awesome. In a quiet, low key way. I started Rukh, Inc. At last! I'm about 100 pages into my dissertation. Figure about 200 pages or so will be needed. My retirement savings may have hit 500k. Need to check this, but it should do by end of year with my last 401k contributions, unless a downswing starts. Selected again to teach graduate level course. finally hitting 6 figures for personal income. Not sure if it "counts" due to 3 income sources over the year. presented original research at a regional conference another research project selected for the most prestigious national conference in my field, with very nice comments from 3 blind reviewers. Plenty of disappointments financially, but they are so minor in comparison. Spiraling student debt , scratched my car bumper , need some pricey house maintenance projects soon - will likely borrow for that as much as I can. Very excited for 2017!!! I can't wait to start on my resolutions!!! #1 - defend my dissertation. That's a stretch given all the hoops I need to go through, writing it is the easier part.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Dec 28, 2016 11:37:25 GMT -5
I honestly hated building a house. First time I can ever say I think I was actually depressed. I gained like 30 pounds. I still feel floating, disconnected, unsure. And that's just the inner core of the year, not the external environment. I'm ready for something else. And I don't generally allow myself to verbalized things like that... I'm sorry oped. Having been there I say "I'm glad we did it but I never want to do it again" I hope, in the long run you'll be glad you did. But the process was very stressful for us.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Dec 28, 2016 11:43:13 GMT -5
Ugh, In Jan 2015 my mother died (not unexpectedly) In Jan 2016 we had to put our dog to sleep (age nearly 15) - on DH's birthday Then there were all the deaths of entertainment artists, most of whom have been a part of my life, all my life Then, of course, the election Then a severe falling out with my only sister, who I've always had a close relationship with (until now)
I don't want to wish my life away, but I want 2016 GONE. Even though I do not anticipate that 2017 will be any better
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Dec 28, 2016 11:48:15 GMT -5
oh wow - sorry to hear so many did not feel good about 2016. Feeling like I should remove my jubilant posting.......Wishing everyone well in 2017
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midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
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Post by midjd on Dec 28, 2016 11:49:25 GMT -5
Good: - Achieved all savings and investment goals - Got moved to a new project at work that is much more in line with my skill set/interests, and my new coworkers are amazing! - Tore out our 8x8 Trex deck and replaced with a wraparound one, something I've been wanting to do since we moved here in 2011. Bad:- DH's knee is still jacked up, he's starting physical therapy next year and we are looking at stem cell injections ($$$$$$$) - Job shift did not come with corresponding raise, continued to do both old and new jobs for 8 months, which was stressful (but I am handing off old job to my coworker as of 1/1/17! Actually procrastinating on the final touches to the manual right now...) - The many challenges of a "spirited" 3yo
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 28, 2016 11:51:12 GMT -5
2016 was not the greatest year.
Too many deaths in the family for me. I need a break from funerals.
The only decent thing was I had a pretty good health year. I didn't hit out of pocket max for the first time in 3-4 years. I also have some money left in FSA this year.
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Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
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Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 28, 2016 11:52:56 GMT -5
It's great that someone here had a good year.
You know, I remodeled just a small master bathroom, and I hated the process. Normally, I dig watching that stuff, but doing it sucked donkey balls. It was so hard finding what I really wanted at a decent price. Some things I wanted, they just don't make anymore. Totally understand how building an entire house would get to you.
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midjd
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Your Money Admin
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Post by midjd on Dec 28, 2016 11:57:13 GMT -5
It's great that someone here had a good year. You know, I remodeled just a small master bathroom, and I hated the process. Normally, I dig watching that stuff, but doing it sucked donkey balls. It was so hard finding what I really wanted at a decent price. Some things I wanted, they just don't make anymore. Totally understand how building an entire house would get to you. The only reason the deck project didn't drive me nuts was because it was outside and I didn't have to look at it every day... I am pretty sure I would go insane if I had to remodel or redo anything inside, especially something I used regularly. Building a house... I couldn't do it. I'm sorry to hear of everyone's troubles and family deaths/fallings out. Hoping for a fresh start for all in January!
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buystoys
Junior Associate
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Post by buystoys on Dec 28, 2016 11:58:51 GMT -5
Rukh O'Rorke, when my friend had to defend her dissertation, she said it ended up being easier than she thought it would be. Unfortunately, she had to start it over a couple of times because of policy changes, significant data changes, etc. but doing that meant she knew her data inside and out. Hoping yours will be easier than you anticipate as well. 2016 started off pretty well, but is ending on a down note. DH and I did get a couple of major projects (remove old shed, put in new shed, all major landscaping) completed. I'm happy about that. But we have had significant medical expenses this year and lost a good friend several days ago. I've been sick (still not completely back to par) and now DH is sick. I worry about him because his respiratory system is already compromised and this is a respiratory virus we're sharing. He's at a moderately grumpy phase right now. Yesterday I suggested we take him to the Urgent Care to be checked out, but he's refusing so far. Just keeping my fingers crossed that he improves rather than declines. And, of course, trying to empty my head of the fact that our friend had similar symptoms when he unexpectedly died. We've agreed that there will be NO major projects in 2017. We've done at least one or two every year since we moved here and we're just tired. I want to spend this summer relaxing by the pool and working on flower and rose beds rather than cutting down trees and putting up buildings. Hoping 2017 brings more joy to all who have had a difficult year.
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Rukh O'Rorke
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 4, 2016 13:31:15 GMT -5
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Dec 28, 2016 12:06:37 GMT -5
It's great that someone here had a good year. You know, I remodeled just a small master bathroom, and I hated the process. Normally, I dig watching that stuff, but doing it sucked donkey balls. It was so hard finding what I really wanted at a decent price. Some things I wanted, they just don't make anymore. Totally understand how building an entire house would get to you. yeah - one of my other bummers is my dishwasher broke. I can't deal with that, so just went back to hand washing Who do you call to see if a repair is possible? Idk so I just went back to hand washing.
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dee27
Senior Member
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Post by dee27 on Dec 28, 2016 12:07:55 GMT -5
2016 wasn't the best or the worst of years. Certainly, a lot of $$$$ was spent on dental and more to come in 2017. I hit the donut hole earlier this year and two medicines skyrocketed in price. We spent more time with the kids this year even if it was separately. With their schedules, it is impossible to get all three together at once. The older I get the more I appreciate DH and all that he does for the family and around the house. In our extended families, he is truly the glue that binds. We are missing those who we lost.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Joined: Jul 4, 2016 13:31:15 GMT -5
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Dec 28, 2016 12:09:57 GMT -5
Rukh O'Rorke , when my friend had to defend her dissertation, she said it ended up being easier than she thought it would be. Unfortunately, she had to start it over a couple of times because of policy changes, significant data changes, etc. but doing that meant she knew her data inside and out. Hoping yours will be easier than you anticipate as well. 2016 started off pretty well, but is ending on a down note. DH and I did get a couple of major projects (remove old shed, put in new shed, all major landscaping) completed. I'm happy about that. But we have had significant medical expenses this year and lost a good friend several days ago. I've been sick (still not completely back to par) and now DH is sick. I worry about him because his respiratory system is already compromised and this is a respiratory virus we're sharing. He's at a moderately grumpy phase right now. Yesterday I suggested we take him to the Urgent Care to be checked out, but he's refusing so far. Just keeping my fingers crossed that he improves rather than declines. And, of course, trying to empty my head of the fact that our friend had similar symptoms when he unexpectedly died. We've agreed that there will be NO major projects in 2017. We've done at least one or two every year since we moved here and we're just tired. I want to spend this summer relaxing by the pool and working on flower and rose beds rather than cutting down trees and putting up buildings. Hoping 2017 brings more joy to all who have had a difficult year. lobelia extract is amazing for the lungs. it's hard to find, as it is an emetic if taken in higher doses, and it tastes indescribably awful. one of my kids has asthma, and it kept us out of the ER many times.
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souldoubt
Senior Member
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Post by souldoubt on Dec 28, 2016 12:10:04 GMT -5
I won't reach one of my saving/investing goals but I knew it wasn't likely to happen since we're paying for a wedding. Ended up spending about 10K on house and car repairs I wasn't expecting but it is what it is. At the end of the day my family and friends are relatively happy and healthy so it's been a good year.
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buystoys
Junior Associate
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Post by buystoys on Dec 28, 2016 12:17:28 GMT -5
Thanks Rukh O'Rorke! I'll ask him if he'll take it. If so, then I'll find it somewhere. We have a really good store in town that sells a lot of natural herbs and remedies. If they don't have it, they can tell me who in our area does.
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sesfw
Junior Associate
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Post by sesfw on Dec 28, 2016 12:29:53 GMT -5
Our year 2016 was a middle-of-road year. Nothing really spectacular. Spent Thanksgiving in Michigan with our sons and it was cold. Other than that ......... guess having an easy year is lucky for us. Both of us stayed healthy but both of us have Dr appts in January ..........
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cael
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Post by cael on Dec 28, 2016 12:34:00 GMT -5
Had a healthy kid, bought a house. Had debt paid down pretty well before the house, credit card has gone back up now (not unmanageable, just annoying), so I'll work on that during the summer when DH will be working a ton again. Overall it was a good year since we got those two big things done, now that we're settling into the house and kid I can work on budgeting better for us so we can keep saving, pay the cc debt back down and work on contributing to retirement for DH.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
Senior Associate
"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Dec 28, 2016 12:40:51 GMT -5
2016 was a huge mix of extreme emotions:
Struggles: -sent youngest off to college -ODS' dyslexia and language learning disability are causing him great trouble in college. He's on the 6-year plan at a minimum and his GPA sucks, even with us hiring tutors (on top of tuition!!). He's too bright and too motivated to give up on a college education. Public schools and public school special ed suck donkey balls. -DH has had severe back pain (again) since June the cause of which is not amenable to surgery as was the case in the past -the insurance claim and its associated stress has stolen years from my life -our town -- a sleepy little hamlet with a negligible commercial real estate tax base so all services are paid for by residential taxpayers unilaterally dropped the assessed value on my home by $130,000 due to the condition the crooked contractor left it in -as if the crap with the insurance claim and the crooked contractor weren't stressful enough, my selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed, jerky neighbors whom we prior to had very little contact with filed complaints with the zoning board against us and we are now awaiting enforcement by the town building commissioner -we are cash-flowing college for 2 kids and that is a HUGE stretch after everything we've paid out of pocket since the tree crushed our house but have now hired attorneys to help us with the insurance claim and repairs and we are now literally counting pennies to cover tuition and attorneys' fees -we lost treasured family members and friends to cancer. Cancer sucks. Cancer needs to get cancer.
Joys: -both kids are settled into college and happy -I'm finding my self after having been a SAHM for 18 years and have started to identify what I want to be when I grow up -DH and I are enjoying some spontaneous activities and day trips without having to think about the kids' plans/needs -I've found a nice bunch of fellow dog owners to walk and chat with daily -After multiple wrong diagnoses and multiple spinal injections in various spots in his lower back, DH is finally finding some relief from injections to his SI joint. He is now getting PT to help him regain mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and some basic fitness. -we hired "kick-ass, take names later" attorneys because despite our own naive reasonableness, I am now f'in pissed off and it is time to call the insurance company and its agents out for their unfair and deceptive trade practices -if successful, we will automatically receive treble damages and I will get a new car and we will take an expensive vacation somewhere
So, 2016 was a mixed bag and I am cautiously optimistic for 2017.
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naughtybear
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Post by naughtybear on Dec 28, 2016 12:52:20 GMT -5
2016 was okay for me compared to 2014 (Ex and I separated) 2015 (when I went all crazy and shit.)
2016 I finally was divorced and even though it was sad at least it was finished so I was able to emotionally heal.
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Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
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Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 28, 2016 13:36:45 GMT -5
It's great that someone here had a good year. You know, I remodeled just a small master bathroom, and I hated the process. Normally, I dig watching that stuff, but doing it sucked donkey balls. It was so hard finding what I really wanted at a decent price. Some things I wanted, they just don't make anymore. Totally understand how building an entire house would get to you. yeah - one of my other bummers is my dishwasher broke. I can't deal with that, so just went back to hand washing Who do you call to see if a repair is possible? Idk so I just went back to hand washing. I would think wherever you bought it from if it isn't too old. If it's kinda old, probably not worth the money to fix it.
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The Fonz
Initiate Member
Ayyyyy!!
Joined: Sept 25, 2011 2:46:09 GMT -5
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Post by The Fonz on Dec 28, 2016 13:48:03 GMT -5
2016 went well. Got a new job at the VA, Got settled into a new home and am expecting a new baby in May (I'm 45 so this older new dad thing has enabled me to be more patient with my current 3 y/o and 1 y/o ). Wife got a big raise and I am pending a raise once some paperwork goes through. Spent too much, but saved more this year than any other previous year.
Plans for the new year:
Prepare for a new addition to the family. Save more. Spend less. Laugh a lot. Pay off debts. Be nice to others.
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Bob Ross
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Post by Bob Ross on Dec 28, 2016 17:35:14 GMT -5
On March 3rd, I took the biggest poop I've ever taken. Then on August 14, I took the second biggest poop I've ever taken. So all in all, a good year.
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suesinfl
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Post by suesinfl on Dec 28, 2016 17:37:45 GMT -5
2016 was an okay year for me. Nothing major happened at work. Most of the first half was dominated by studying for the CHP exam, which I ended up passing. Some of the second half was just to recover from the first half. I did get a chance to travel to Alaska by myself. The first time I ever did a trip of that scope on my own. So I'm proud of that. So overall, kind of a "meh" year, just one more year ticked off in the march of years that is my life. Did you not post pictures?
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