nikiz628
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 15, 2019 22:06:36 GMT -5
I spent 2.5 hours in DS2's room today. I organized EVERYTHING. I went through all of his clothing. I found homes for all his new birthday toys. I pulled a lot of stuff out to get rid of- I need to count it for my "official purge count" still, but its a huge laundry basket full of random things. I want to send before photos to EVERYONE who buys for my kid for Christmas to show them that he absolutely does NOT need any toys gifted to him.  |
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nikiz628
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 15, 2019 22:06:25 GMT -5
My birthday is Thursday. Dad gives me $$$ so I already bought what I wanted for myself. As soon as check is in bank, will pay it off. I've sent a text to my sister to see if we can get together that day. I hope she is busy right now because I'm going to be sad if she doesn't want to get together. As long as I have lived here, she has stuff for her family on their birthdays. Some times I'm invited and sometimes I'm not. The only time they did anything for my birthday, it turned in to a disaster. My niece had come to the realization that they couldn't keep the cat they got for my great niece because she is so allergic. Niece was in tears and her husband finally came and got her while they made a family decision of what to do. That left sister upset and it never felt like anybody cared that it was my birthday. I hope you are able to enjoy family time for your birthday this year. It stinks that they've dropped the ball in years past. |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 15, 2019 22:01:46 GMT -5
double post, whoops
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 15, 2019 21:57:39 GMT -5
nidena- Wishing you safe travels!
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 14, 2019 19:15:11 GMT -5
I have officially survived "Birthday party season" at our house. I love that both boys have fall birthdays but planning and pulling off parties a month apart is exhausting. My birthday is the 22nd, and I told H I am completely content with doing nothing- as in, I just want an easy day. DS1 is on fall break for the next week, so I am looking forward to doing things on our own schedule, and not our school routine. To Do List For The Week: Find homes for all the new toys DS2 received Organized DS2's closet Go through DS2's dresser and make sure all the sizes are good Laundry
Dust/Vac
Clean both bathrooms
Clean kitchenBalance checkbook Make DS1 & DS2's well child appointments Get our flu shots |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 14, 2019 13:33:00 GMT -5
UPDATE:
| 2019 Savings | START | CURRENT | GOAL | STILL NEEDED | | Emergency Fund | $2,091.03 | $1,400.69 | $4,500.00 | $3,099.31 | | DS1's Savings | $1,750.51 | $1,960.00 | $2,000.00 | $40.00 | | DS2's Savings | $576.65 | $734.44 | $800.00 | $65.56 | | TOTALS | $4,418.19 | $4,095.13 | $7,300.00 | $3,204.87 |
Now that both boys have had their birthday parties, I have deposited all of the money they each received into their savings accounts. They are both so close to their goal for the year. Unfortunately, our EF took another hit to cover some overspending. Not really an emergency but glad it was there to cover my oopsies. 2019 has certainly been a rollercoaster year financially.
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 14, 2019 12:21:54 GMT -5
Goal for 10/13-10/2010/13: Friends invited us to a fall festival- for parking, lunch for 4, and one booth purchase we spent $61.00  10/14: No spend-- Accomplished 10/15: Weekly Taco Tuesday w/ Friends dinner (potentially not going). If so less than $30 for all of us. -- Our Mexican restaurant was packed, so we left and took the kids to McDonalds. Spent $14.96 for all 4 of us to eat- saved us approximately $10 this way! We did end up spending $9.50 at the ice cream truck this afternoon. It's the last day it will go around for the season and they had slashed a lot of prices- the kids are going to miss it (confession: I will too haha). 10/16: Taking the kids to Chuck E Cheese for their annual birthday trip, budgeted expense- printed some coupons from their website and saved some $$. We did take them to Target after, and I bought DS2 a set of sheets for his new big boy bed (as soon as I buy the twin mattress that is!) They were 10% off plus my 5% RedCard discount- $16.26. We also spent $12.03 on gas station snacks for the drive (90 mins). We should've packed stuff from the house. Hindsight. 10/17: No Spend- Friend and her son invited us to lunch playdate. Spent $9.51 for 3 of us to have lunch. 10/18: No Spend- Should've been a no spend, but we spent $30 on dinner in a drive thru. Ugh. My nephew is staying the night and he's a picky eater. I wish I had planned better for tonight. 10/19: No Spend 10/20: No Spend Looking ahead at the month: Irregular expenses: Family Fun Night at DS1's school (dinner tickets), basketball registration for DS1, Halloween, several birthdays, classroom Halloween parties (hopefully enough parents donate to keep my out of pocket costs low). Of course, Christmas is on the horizon as well. Going to track every bit of extra spending here this month, starting on 10/5 since that was my original post for the month:
10/5: $6.41 10/6: $0 10/7: $4.52 10/8: $0 10/9 $7.69 10/10 $0 10/11 $28.63 10/12 $16.17 10/13 $61.00 10/14 $0 10/15 $9.50 10/16 $28.29 10/17 $9.51 10/18 $30.00 10/19 10/20 10/21 10/22 10/23 10/24 10/25 10/26 10/27 10/28 10/29 10/30 10/31
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 14, 2019 12:17:34 GMT -5
I have great news my mortgage is finally below $270K, My truck is almost below $20K. My CC was under $10K until the interest kicked in. Now I really need to budget and get a side hustle. I am ready to be finished with this race. I will update soon.
Way to go!!! |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 12, 2019 21:26:16 GMT -5
I have officially survived "Birthday party season" at our house. I love that both boys have fall birthdays but planning and pulling off parties a month apart is exhausting. My birthday is the 22nd, and I told H I am completely content with doing nothing- as in, I just want an easy day. DS1 is on fall break for the next week, so I am looking forward to doing things on our own schedule, and not our school routine. To Do List For The Week: Find homes for all the new toys DS2 received Organized DS2's closet Go through DS2's dresser and make sure all the sizes are good Laundry Dust/Vac Clean both bathrooms Clean kitchen Balance checkbook Make DS1 & DS2's well child appointments Get our flu shots |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 10, 2019 17:16:16 GMT -5
Add me to the way overdue for routine appointments club.
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 10, 2019 13:38:07 GMT -5
I really need to get my sh*t together for DS2's birthday party this weekend. I have been slacking on prep and I am going to be so mad at myself for it come Friday evening. To Do: Finish purchasing supplies neededFind pizza deals/pre order pizza for party Finish assembling treat bagsMake centerpieces Decide on cake design, get suppliesStart baking, prepping cake decor Organize and load up supplies in car Wrap presentThankfully his party is at the park, so I don't have to get my house in "lots of company" shape. Got a few things marked off. |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 8, 2019 15:03:15 GMT -5
I really need to get my sh*t together for DS2's birthday party this weekend. I have been slacking on prep and I am going to be so mad at myself for it come Friday evening.
To Do:
Finish purchasing supplies needed
Find pizza deals/pre order pizza for party
Finish assembling treat bags
Make centerpieces
Decide on cake design, get supplies
Start baking, prepping cake decor
Organize and load up supplies in car
Wrap present
Thankfully his party is at the park, so I don't have to get my house in "lots of company" shape.
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 8, 2019 14:52:02 GMT -5
October, like the last couple months, really needs us to be strict about spending. So far, it hasn't started off great though. After today, I am hoping for several no spend days. Goal for 10/4-10/11
Updates for the week so far in red.
10/5: No spend--- Spent $30.72 at walmart on party supplies, spent $6.41 at McDonald's for drinks and 2 sandwiches while i was out. 10/6:No spend-- Accomplished. 10/7: No spend- pack snacks and drinks for baseball game to avoid concession stand-- Spent $2 at concession stand, I bought a drink and candy for someone for helping me cover the shift that night. Spent $2.52 at Dollar General on Sprite and crackers for H. 10/8: Taco Tuesday with friends- spending will be under $30 for dinner for 4 (including the tip!)-- Now going to be a No spend, H came down with a stomach bug so we will be skipping our weekly friend dinner and I will be making something simple for the kids to eat. 10/9: No spend- pack snacks and drinks for baseball game to avoid concession stand - Moved my grocery and errand day to today, since DS1 came home from school sick. (H was still home, so I was able to go alone). Spent $7.42 on a new winter beanie for myself at Hobby Lobby. Stayed under budget on groceries though! 10/10: No spend- working in the concession stand at the fields, bring snacks and drinks so kids dont want to spend-- Accomplished. 10/11: Spend day. This is pay day, so bills and groceries, as well as last minute party supplies for DS2's party on We spent $28.63 at Taco Bell- DS2 chose this as his birthday dinner . I am going to add it to my spending for the month, even though we kinda budgeted for it, it's still "eating out". 10/12: Spent $5.52 at gas station on drinks, $10.65 for a quick meal Looking ahead at the month: Irregular expenses: Family Fun Night at DS1's school (dinner tickets), basketball registration for DS1, Halloween, several birthdays, classroom Halloween parties (hopefully enough parents donate to keep my out of pocket costs low). Of course, Christmas is on the horizon as well. Going to track every bit of extra spending here this month, starting on 10/5 since that was my original post for the month: 10/5: $6.41 10/6: $0 10/7: $4.52 10/8: $0 10/9 $7.69 10/10 $0 10/11 $28.63 10/12 $16.17 10/1310/1410/1510/1610/1710/1810/1910/2010/2110/2210/2310/2410/2510/2610/2710/2810/2910/3010/31 |
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 8, 2019 14:48:58 GMT -5
chicg, I am sorry to hear about sweet Dexter's passing. 19 years was an amazing life! 
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 7, 2019 22:00:55 GMT -5
Baby girl went back home to my sister's this morning and as exhausting as it was having her here, I'm missing her already. I am looking forward to getting back to our "normal" routine though, that doesn't involve 20 extra steps to be prepared for a 2 month old lol.
I was able to get all of the landscape beds cleaned up, deadheaded, and weeded this weekend. It was MUCH needed.
Now H is down with a stomach bug. DS2 was vomitting last week, it looks like he shared the love with his dad. I have been lysol-ing EVERYTHING in the house to keep it from finding it's next victim. DS2's birthday party is this weekend and I have zero time to be sick.
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 4, 2019 21:14:33 GMT -5
UPDATE 10/4/2019 RACE #4| Race #4 | Interest Rate | Starting Balance | Last Update | This Update | Difference | | Truck Loan | 4.8% | $24,945.53
| $24,658.66
| $24,367.46 | -$291.20 |
Total Paid in 2019: $827.54
Total Amount Paid Off: $827.54
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nikiz628
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 4, 2019 15:03:58 GMT -5
October, like the last couple months, really needs us to be strict about spending.
So far, it hasn't started off great though. After today, I am hoping for several no spend days.
Goal for 10/4-10/11
10/5: No spend
10/6:No spend
10/7: No spend- pack snacks and drinks for baseball game to avoid concession stand
10/8: Taco Tuesday with friends- spending will be under $30 for dinner for 4 (including the tip!)
10/9: No spend- pack snacks and drinks for baseball game to avoid concession stand
10/10: No spend- working in the concession stand at the fields, bring snacks and drinks so kids dont want to spend
10/11: Spend day. This is pay day, so bills and groceries, as well as last minute party supplies for DS2's party on 10/12
Looking ahead at the month:
Irregular expenses: Family Fun Night at DS1's school (dinner tickets), basketball registration for DS1, Halloween, several birthdays, classroom Halloween parties (hopefully enough parents donate to keep my out of pocket costs low). Of course, Christmas is on the horizon as well.
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Post by nikiz628 on Oct 3, 2019 22:14:27 GMT -5
We have had my sister's foster baby girl staying with us since last Friday. She's 2 months old, and WHEW, did I forget how hard it is with an infant in the house. She's generally a very happy girl, until you sit her down, so you can imagine that the To Do list has been neglected since she got here. My sister will be back from her cruise on Sunday night, so things will get back to "normal" here then.
I do have a small goal list of stuff to try and accomplish this weekend:
Clean up all the plant beds outside
Remove the gazebo frame from our deck (It's metal and not attached, so it just needs taken apart)
Finish laundry and get it put away
Make decorations for DS2's birthday party (which is next weekend)
Finish treat bags for party
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 30, 2019 23:06:28 GMT -5
I’m just giving up on today. The house sale fell through and I don’t have my gym membership anymore so I can’t go punch something. One client today said my eyes looked bright which is what happens when you’ve been crying all day. I’m so sorry your day has been so rough. ❤️ |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 29, 2019 20:58:20 GMT -5
UPDATE ByeDebtBye: 09/29/19 $25,721.09 (09/28/18, $33,407.11, WIRR180)
My one year anniversary update! Slow and steady, down $7,686.02 or 23% in one year. I'm proud of that and proud that I've stuck with this journey. Awesome progress!! Congrats on your WIRRversary! |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 26, 2019 21:58:28 GMT -5
Update Race #2 9/26/19| Race #2 | INTEREST | ORIGINAL | LAST UPDATE | THIS UPDATE | DIFFERENCE | | Auto Loan (SUV) | 4.23% | $32,991.93 | $13,462.42 | $13,085.20 | $377.22 |
NikiZ628 (2): 9/26/19 $13,085.20 (3/26/18 $32,991.93)
Total Paid in 2019: $6,443.90
Total Paid Overall: $19,906.73SO close to going under the next thousand!  |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 23, 2019 13:24:10 GMT -5
Speaking of budget tracking - Due to my Rukh, inc. activities and mom in the hospital - I haven't reconciled accounts in a few weeks, and I can already see trouble! My usual credit card for daily use has a balance of nearly 2k after paying off the balance from the previous statement just a day or two ago....I think it is likely related to fall tuition payment, and some extra expense due to mom's hospital stay - parking fees, flowers, treats, etc. But - I won't know until I reconcile, and I don't want to!! The kitchen and whole house needs cleaning, and I don't want to!!  Take a day and just don't. Don't reconcile. Don't clean house. Don't add to your plate. DO do something that is no-stress. Yesterday, I slept all day. The past two weeks have been very stressful. I had to replan my move TWICE and then we got a huge shipment--nearly 250 boxes total--at work on Thursday and Friday. After the yard sale on Saturday, my body and brain were DONE. I did NOTHING yesterday. Yes! Some days you just need to declare “Stop the world, I’m getting off”. |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 20, 2019 22:02:31 GMT -5
I pulled everything out of our freezer today, so that I could properly organize it and take stock of what we have on hand to use.
I threw out 6 freezer burnt items, wiped down all the surfaces, and then placed all the food back in ORGANIZED. I now have a shelf of breakfast items, veggies & pastas (and popsicles/ice cream because I ran out of room lol), a shelf of meats, and a drawer of chicken. I took all the frozen pizzas and stuck them in the vertical shelving at the top. It looks so nice and I can actually easily see what I have on hand when meal planning now.
Current purge count: 979/2,019
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 19, 2019 21:52:21 GMT -5
Lately I feel like the only thing I am decluttering is my checkbook.  |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 18, 2019 14:48:04 GMT -5
Anyone else feel like this lately?   |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 16, 2019 20:58:52 GMT -5
debthaven - I am in Indiana, where mother nature is currently not aware that fall begins in a week and is giving us temps in the upper 90s.
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 16, 2019 15:20:51 GMT -5
Home renovations are such a pain - and unfortunately, we are just in the beginning stages. Started taking out living room carpet and pad, over 1/2 done. Called about lights ordered a few weeks ago and some are in (not all). I'm going to stop and pick up the kitchen lights, because we need those to layout the location then we can have the ceiling drywall installed. Started cleaning out cabinets in kitchen. I have a lot to take to Goodwill this week. Put some items in recycling. Next cabinet to clean and pack up is the desk area. I need tasks that I won't break a sweat because I need to continue progress between getting home from work and running to soccer games/practice this week.  Ordered all the flooring last Friday. Made final selection for the countertops and sink. Need to pick a faucet and make final selection on the trim throughout the house. We have decided on the baseboards, not the trim around windows and doorways.
Hugs for solidarity on the reno life. |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 16, 2019 15:20:06 GMT -5
We finally finished getting all the floor joists in the attic "sistered" to be able to support the weight of activity up there. Now we can start installing the plywood floor. It's going to be so much fun lugging 80 lb pieces of plywood up these stairs! I keep telling H I want this attic reno completed before Christmas....... it's looking less and less likely though. I need the temps outside to cool because the attic is 30 degrees hotter right now. It's just too hot to work in. But I am so tired of looking at stairs with plastic tarp stapled in front of them. |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 10, 2019 23:09:41 GMT -5
UPDATE 9/11/19: Race #4| Race #4 | Interest Rate | Starting Balance | Current Balance | Difference | | Truck Loan | 4.8% | $24,945.53 | $24,658.66 | 286.67 |
NikiZ628(4)9/11/2019 $24,658.66 (6/26/19 $25,195 WIRR197)
Total Paid in 2019: $536.34
Total Amount Paid Off: $536.34 |
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Post by nikiz628 on Sept 10, 2019 21:39:03 GMT -5
So many great suggestions on this page!
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