nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 12, 2020 22:08:18 GMT -5
I'm patting myself on the back. I managed to set up a smart tv. I had to look up on YouTube how to get the batteries in the remote. Way to go! You did it, it doesn’t matter how lol!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 12, 2020 22:07:11 GMT -5
Hang in there, speechchick71! ❤️ You really are doing an amazing job in all this!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 11, 2020 10:29:13 GMT -5
Blonde Granny - I've been looking at a few websites that deliver plants, so that I can keep myself busy. I did pick up a few at Walmart when I went for some essentials (figured I was already there and contaminated, so why not haha). ETA: Nevermind, I should have kept reading to see that you live in a plant death zone hahaha!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 10, 2020 22:09:09 GMT -5
H and I spent the last two days completing what we deemed "the great garage cleanout of 2020" Now that all of our major renovations are completed, we felt comfortable getting rid of all the scrap material we were hanging on to "just in case". I made signs along our fence so we could organize items as we brought them out (tools, toys, garden, misc, etc). It definitely took 2 full days and we still have a pile of stuff to get rid of (when donation centers re-open) but we FINALLY have a garage that doesn't look like an episode of Hoarders. We purged 120 counted items. H did not count the piles and piles of scrap lumber he threw on a trailer to dispose of. Easily 50-75 pieces. So for my 2020 count, I will add 200 items....which means.... I HIT GOAL! 1,170/1,000 ITEMS IN 2020!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 6, 2020 11:33:54 GMT -5
We spent yesterday cutting down a half dead tree in our front yard. It's only been on our to-do list for like 5 years.... we figured no better time to tackle it. It took H and I about 5 hours total to cut it down and then clean it up. We have about 5 piles of limbs and logs next to the road, hoping the city is still picking up this stuff to take to the town burn pit. If not, we will haul it to my IL's later this week. They live in the country and can burn whenever they want (we aren't really supposed to burn in city limits, unless its a "cooking" fire.) It felt really good to mark that one off.
It's supposed to be warmer but rainy the next 2 days. Once that passes, we plan to do a FULL SCALE garage clean out. As in, everything is coming out and gone through. Now that all of our major renovations are complete, we can go through all the leftover materials we held on to "just in case". I plan to take before and after photos of this one lol. It's a Hoarders episode in there right now.
I am going to get up early and brave the grocery store in the morning. My MIL made me a mask, and I've got my wipes and sanitizer ready to tag a long with me. I plan to wear a crossbody purse so nothing other than my hands has to touch the cart (Heck, I may just stick my card in my pocket). I have never been so anxious about going to the store, but we really need milk/bread/produce right now. I haven't been in 2 weeks.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 3, 2020 13:30:38 GMT -5
Congratulations Maryland Monroe on winning your 2nd and final race!!! And here's a musical tribute to the tune of Elton John's amazing song, Candle in the Wind Goodbye mortgage scene, Though it's the biggest debt of all, She won the race to pay it off. She ran where others crawled. Goodbye every lien, snuffed by a steady Northeastern blow, She made her way and shared her strength, Wirrs sure love our Maryland Monroe. It seems to me, she snuffed out debt Like a candle in the wind Now she's the one we sing to For her big win. The credit cards and bank loan too Now they're off the grid. Her fire burned them one by one Our WirrFriend Maryland AMAZING!!! ❤️
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 3, 2020 13:29:28 GMT -5
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 2, 2020 22:54:28 GMT -5
H and I are kicking around the idea of refinancing our mortgage while the rates are super low. We can turn our 30 year into a 15, slice our interest rate in half, take out a bit more money to pay down some debt/continue fixing up the house, and only pay about $100 more a month. It's very tempting....
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 2, 2020 22:50:53 GMT -5
The memory candle of mom and dad arrived today. It's absolutely beautiful.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 2, 2020 22:48:25 GMT -5
Add me to the "clutter makes my eye twitch" club haha.
I got some weeding done in my backyard flower beds today. Our poor backyard is always the last thing we work on, and by the time we usually get to it, we are so busy and it is so hot (no shade) that we let it go. Needless to say, it's in a sad state and needs some TLC and attention this year. Our deck has two rot holes in it, which makes me so mad because it's not that old. My flower beds need completely de-mulched and then re-mulched with new landscape fabric. Lots of other little tasks like that.
We might as well get even cozier, the Indiana governor announced today that all school's in the state are officially out of the classroom for the rest of the school year. We have to complete 20 more days of E-Learning to satisfy the state mandate. Right now they are just doing E-Learning on T,W, & Th. I foresee this staying the same, as it was set that way to lessen stress on teachers & students.
Tomorrow is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL so H and I plan to powerwash the house and maybe start tackling the garage (finally).
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 14:47:11 GMT -5
I'm going to say logically I understand all this and I am well aware of how lucky I am. However anxiety does not care about that, if it did then I wouldn't have to deal with. I do consider myself incredibly lucky that the buck stops at having dark thoughts. I cannot imagine how people with more severe mental issues are handling this right now. I pray that they are able to get the help they need through video conference. Mental health services are essential too. Of course you understand. But anxiety laughs in the face of logic.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 13:55:10 GMT -5
nikiz628 what color did you choose for your front door?! We chose this color. Our shutters are a light gray, so I needed a darker color with a gray undertone. (our house is white)
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 13:30:23 GMT -5
2020 Savings | START | CURRENT | GOAL | STILL NEED | Emergency Fund | $1,000.00 | $1,483.15 | $2,000.00 | $516.85 | DS1's Savings | $1,960.29 | $2,061.29 | $2,200.00 | $138.71 | DS1's Savings | $734.55 | $835.00 | $850.00 | $15.00 | TOTALS | $3,694.84 | $4,379.44 | $5,050.00 | $670.56 |
NikiZ628 4/1/20 $4,379.44 (Goal $5,050.00 WIRS2)
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 13:14:31 GMT -5
Update Race #2 4/1/2020Race #2 | INTEREST | ORIGINAL | LAST UPDATE | THIS UPDATE | DIFFERENCE | Auto Loan (SUV) | 4.00% | $32,991.93
| $11,191.36
| $10,805.70 | -385.66 |
NikiZ628 (2): 4/1/20 $10,805.70 (3/26/18 $32,991.93) Total Paid in 2020: $1,140.40 Total Paid Overall: $22,186.23 *My goal for 2020 is to get this loan under $7,500.....
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:33:09 GMT -5
Congratulations TheOtherMe on the new great nephew! What a blessing to receive during this time!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:32:09 GMT -5
I spent Sunday deep cleaning our living and dining room (it's one big open room). I washed all the walls, dusted EVERYTHING, moved furniture and cleaned underneath, and patched a few nail holes in the wall. It felt really good. I also finally painted our front door. It's been stock metal since we installed it a few years ago. We had so many other projects going on that it didn't seem important to pick out a color and get it done at the time. I am happy to mark that one off my list.
I also pulled out all of our craft supplies (which made it look like Hobby Lobby exploded in my dining room). I went through everything, tossed what was no good, and re-organized all of it. It took 2 days but I am SO glad I did it. I can now easily find whatever I need for whatever crafty project I am working on.
In the process of all this cleaning and organizing, I managed to purge 264 more items!!!! This brings my count to 970/1,000 items! I am going to hit that goal much earlier in the year than I anticipated!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:23:24 GMT -5
Debt, I wondered what they were, too. I thought they were some sort of kit that you could sew together to make a mask, lol. Sewing groups are starting to create masks for others who need them. Even some healthcare facilities are starting to use them! I guess the thinking is anything is better than nothing. It's hard to believe it's actually come to that. Nursing homes and hospitals are pleading for the homemade masks here. My mother in law alone has sent about 20 dozen to various facilities who have requested. She's a saint and I know it's keeping her mind occupied while she's stuck at home with my FIL (he's considered high risk, so they have to be very careful).
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:20:14 GMT -5
I just want to offer hugs (from 6 feet away) for everyone who is struggling right now. Just know, that it will be hard for awhile, but we will come out on the other side of this. Keep telling yourself how amazing it will feel to take your kids to the park, or for ice cream, or to a movie. Keep telling yourself that going to work and lunching with a co-worker will be wonderful. Or having your family over for dinner. Whatever you miss doing, remind yourself that YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN. And you will appreciate and enjoy the moment so much more.
It's very easy to spiral down the doom and gloom tunnel, that's just human nature. I hope that when you do, you remember my above statement, and use that as your life raft to get back out of it.
You are all amazing humans, and I am glad we can "connect" during this isolation.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:09:01 GMT -5
UPDATE: Maryland_Monroe[2]: 4/1/2020 $0 (1/1/2014 $93,528.61 NE113, C127)
Total paid: $93,528.61 (100%) No credit cards, no loans, no mortgage. I'm free at last! I started on 2/24/08 with credit cards. A while after they were paid off, I started this race, #2, with another credit card, a bank loan, and the mortgage. Along the way, I had to replace my car after an accident, and that got added in. Since February 2018, I have only had the mortgage left to pay. Thank you all for your encouragement! So much happy news on this thread today!! CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT BEAUTIFUL ZERO!!!!!!!!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Apr 1, 2020 12:08:14 GMT -5
It's sold!!! All done, no property in Delaware! WOO HOO!! You should definitely do a happy dance for that! I am so glad you have one less thing to worry about!!!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 27, 2020 23:20:49 GMT -5
I spent double my grocery budget this week, but I should be good for the next month on food (minus bread, produce, milk). It should all even out then, money wise. That brought me a lot of peace of mind and calmed my anxiety about not being prepared for a lockdown situation.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 27, 2020 23:19:33 GMT -5
TheOtherMe- I am sorry to read about your nephew. It's so frustrating that they aren't testing people! I read that for every confirmed case, add at least 3 to that number (because 2 others have it and aren't being tested). That means we should basically triple the number of confirmed cases in the US right now. Add me to team "what the POTUS is saying about Easter being so dangerous." SO SO SO dangerous. We just had our first confirmed case in our county today. First death from COVID in the next county (where the majority of my town's residents work and shop, etc). It's just starting to flare up here, there is NO WAY it will be safe for anyone in 2 weeks. I wish they would mandate a 14 day lockdown already. Indiana is supposed to be "hunkering down" but most people are still out and about like nothing is wrong.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 27, 2020 23:13:57 GMT -5
TheHaitian, Wow, that is a lot for anyone to handle... especially all at once. I hope you and your wife are able to work together to come up with the perfect solution for your family.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 23, 2020 20:43:54 GMT -5
Decorating and organizing will take me some time in the attic. The furniture we want to purchase is at IKEA, so until they reopen we will make due. I looked into ordering the tv stand for delivery. The item is $139 and shipping is $132. No thanks to that, I can wait. Here are some before and after pics for you! (I’m not sure why the after pictures uploaded so blurry, I’ll have to mess with the files and see if I can get them to upload clearer) Before: After: Before: After: After: (we added this dormer) another in the knee wall storage cubby, like the photo before this, is to the right of this dormer as well Before: Ceiling Basically After: we added a faux beam and attached sconces to optimize lighting i.postimg.cc/MpRhnhN7/0-C5-CEAD3-A5-EC-4947-9165-0-C44-D975-B7-DC.jpg[/img]After: my kids wasted no time making it theirs 😂
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 23, 2020 14:17:32 GMT -5
I am venturing out to Meijer as soon as they open tomorrow. I am fully anticipating an empty meat department and going over budget getting what I CAN find in stock. Let's hope I am wrong. I shop at the Krogers on West Washington and on Rockville (Hwy 36 headed out to Avon) and both have fairly full produce sections but mostly empty meat and egg depts, as well as empty in the soups and canned goods sections. But there was plenty of ice cream. How funny! When I lived in Indy (on campus at IUPUI on Michigan- my apartment was directly behind the zoo across the river), I always shopped at that Kroger or the Meijer on 36. Honestly, 36 is how we come in to Indy, so even now I prefer that area. As far as my grocery trip today, going as soon as they opened (minus the early hour for elderly), I was able to get everything I needed. Just in time, since Indiana is locking down tomorrow.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 22, 2020 21:28:38 GMT -5
This week's to do list:
Finish hanging shiplap in the attic Paint the attic (1st coat is on, just got to get 2nd coat on) Hook up the new wiring Install the carpet (at this point we would just have to move in, so I would almost call it done!) Stain & Install the trim Balance checkbook/Pay Bills Organize/Purge my craft/homeschool cabinet Empty the kid's old sandbox and purge Seal cedar porch posts and window boxes (i need it to quit raining first) Organize DS2's closet Organize DS1's closet Clean DS1's fish tank Continue cleaning out and organizing garage (now that we are so close to finishing our major home renovations, we can start eliminating all the "scrap and spare" material we have held on to "just in case") Bring out my front landscaping decor (weather permitting) Set up some sort of homeschool schedule for DS1 while he is out of school Well, H and I really ramped up our attic work the last few days and I am so excited to share that minus a few little to do's, WE ARE FINISHED! We still need to install a few pieces of trim, paint the stairway walls, and stain the steps. We can definitely slow down on our work now though, because the kids have officially moved their toys and tv up there. It's really helped with the social distancing. I pulled out so many toys that have been piled in the closet and untouched for over a year. It was like they got brand new toys today! They spent the entire day up there playing and watching cartoons. It was wonderful to see! After I moved all the toys upstairs, I clean cleaned both of their bedrooms. I managed to purge 157 items (happy meal toys, broken toys, random junk idk why they felt the need to keep it). Adding that to my total, that puts me at 706/1000 items for the year!!!!
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 22, 2020 21:24:27 GMT -5
So sorry to hear about your father saveinla.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 22, 2020 21:22:47 GMT -5
Anyone else having to adjust their grocery budget because the options left are the higher priced ones like organic soups and free range eggs? I am venturing out to Meijer as soon as they open tomorrow. I am fully anticipating an empty meat department and going over budget getting what I CAN find in stock. Let's hope I am wrong.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 20, 2020 10:20:39 GMT -5
We had our first confirmed case in the next county (which is where most of the people in my town work and shop, its the closest "big city") so people are freaking out. I had planned to go to the grocery store at the end of next week for my usual bi-weekly stock up. But now I am wondering if I need to go sooner- with that announcement are people going to go stock up MORE than they already were? Finding meat here is already next to impossible. That's really the only thing I really want to stock up on, and even if it is available, they've placed 1-2 pack limits. I do know whenever I decide to go, I am going as soon as they open for a better chance at stuff being stocked/store being cleaner.
|
|
nikiz628
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,453
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"4ee2dd"}
|
Post by nikiz628 on Mar 19, 2020 13:12:49 GMT -5
Welp, the Indiana governor just announced all schools are closed until at least May 1st now. It's becoming very clear DS won't be back in a classroom this year.
|
|