Mortgaged Life

Nothing Earth-Shattering

2012-01-30T16:41:00.001-06:00

Nothing much happening in my world; at least not worthy enough to share. I am already being covered in group projects - currently juggling 3, with the standard huge load of reading and homework. Thursday's are my godsend! I am feeling much better because a day exists to get things done, when my husband should be at work. He is worse than a toddler, when he is around.

It is my birthday week and we are going out on Friday with friends to see dueling pianos. I've never seen anything like this, so I'm excited.

The bank is still not my friend. I'm not sure why they are so messed up. It is almost to the point that I am embarrassed for them and have an overwhelming feeling of pity for their inability to handle the basics. No word from the banker at all.

We had a tenant bounce a check. Not only was the check late, as usual, but we have to chase the money. I am not tolerant of these sorts of people. No, not the big property either - a business.

I have not wrapped up tax returns or FAFSA yet for any of us. Mostly do to the fact that work has suddenly dropped off for my husband and he is a (refer above) pest. He just can't stand to not be busy or control himself when he is not.

It is January 30th and I live in Northern Illinois where it is 51 degrees. Can you say heat wave?

Reconfiguring the Debt Load

2012-01-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

As you may or may not know, my mortgages are in a major shift. We have completed the financing through private funding and effectively closed one mortgage. Although things are going to change here, as far as debt balances and repayment growth - not everything will be revealed completely, because it would require too much paperwork. Trust me, I do not need any more work.

The major change that will be only reflected on my interest is from allocation to the property at hand. Since prepayments and lower rates would definitely go to my personal mortgage and not a rental property. The rental property balance will now owe the largest rate I pay and my personal home will relish in the more affordable rates I have negotiated. So, what will this mean to you?

Nothing. The only thing you might notice is a more aggressive pay-off. For now and until we lose tenants or something, I intend to continue making the same total payments as before this alteration. Meaning I will be escalating our principal payments. The 2 smaller loans that we have restructured with the in-laws will be paid as agreed - per their request. Remember, this is as much for them to have income streams as for us to eliminate high interest payments and debt. Which means all the money being saved in interest and payment adjustments will be applied to the next mortgage down the line - Mortgage #3. The equity line will follow a basic pay-off to be eliminated in 3 years; pre-payment is not desired because the rate is lower than Mortgage #3.

This means:

Equity line paid off in 3years
Mortgage #1 & Mortgage #2 paid off in 5 years
Mortgage #3 (if payments maintain) will be paid off in 11 years

I'm so excited about the future mortgage freedom. Since all these utilize our home for collateral - so to speak - I will be happy to be free of them all. The monster mortgage is no a priority at this time.

Only 15 weeks to go

2012-01-21T11:48:00.001-06:00

With the first week of this semester in the books, I have to say - I'm pretty happy with my professors and classes. I don't feel all discombobulated like last semester, thank goodness. I have good handle on the tasks at hand and am making plans to keep it that way. It just makes the whole experience better.

I have not worked on any school work this morning, because work calls. And for the first time since starting at the university, I don't even feel guilty about it. I guess because I feel like it is all under control. I am even more pumped because I completed a year long project today! This is a billable project! EXTRA $$$ not in the budget! Eradication of debt is sure to follow sometime in the next 30-60 days. :)

The snow in my area did not amount to everything they warned about. It didn't matter much for me though. I usually shovel our astronomically large driveway alone, but since I had to work my husband brought home a bobcat to do the work. I don't know if I should be grateful or mad that I have shoveled by hand much heavier deeper snows. (LOL) He will pay with a nice dinner and drinks tonight.

Hope you all have a great day!

The Scoop

2012-01-20T13:23:00.001-06:00

Or should I say shovel of the happenings happening here today. After all this is big...real big.

We had cash sitting idle, cash that will be needed in March - based on my calculations - for business expenses. However, that cash was sitting so idle that it was only benefiting the bank. I don't like idle cash, so I put it to work. I paid off the remaining $20k not transferred to our equity on Mortgage #2. Now this is not the recommended path for normal life - since it would only cause us to be short in the near future, but we have an ace in the hole called bank of mom and dad.

I am completing the loan documents today and when mom and dads funds are available we will transfer this debt to its permanent home at 4%. I'm so excited about the new lower rate.

In the mean time, I am utilizing our checking cash sitting idle (much like last years steps to eradicate our debt) and enjoying as many days as possible with zero percent. I wonder how much we can pay down with this perk?

Our daily costs for all debts at this moment is $79.45! Woo-Hoo! That is the lowest it has been in YEARS and YEARS! Don't get too excited though. Unless I can pay off a ton of debt (like $9700) before the refinance, daily costs will rise back to above $80 a day (like $81). Since I still have 1 college bill to pay and other big annual bills, big payments will be nearly impossible. The good news is that all this snow is keeping us home, which equates to no spending. :) Maybe I should mention all the snow plow bills that will be coming in to eat up earnings. :(

If we keep on track and work real hard on our debt this year we could drop below $75 a day in interest payments. This would be amazing!

Good-Bye Mr. Banker! I'm moving to rates 1.75% -2.25% less than you were charging. I wish the entire balance could drop the 2.25%, but the equity has already bottomed out per the agreement made years ago - wahhh. Oh well, it will be my next conquest.

Friday has meaning!

2012-01-20T07:00:00.003-06:00

Last semester Friday's were no different than any other day of the week. I was loaded down continually and the days blended together. Not anymore! With my day off yesterday I feel more in control and rested. I have handled work tasks and a large portion of my assignments. I really hope this stays this way for the entire semester - can't hurt.

In the interim, I have utilized idle cash to pay off the remaining balance on Mortgage 2. This is only until we receive the funds from the in-laws, but there is something so sweet that comes from a partial zero percent time. I still have not heard from our banker about the refinance and I wonder if I will. We received a refund from a college and I have applied that to the equity line to save even more in interest, until the funds are disbursed throughout the semester for the child they are for.

It's a good day, when the expenses drop and progress is made.

I'm not looking forward to my commute today. Northern Illinois is expecting up to 9 inches of snow today. Thank goodness I have decent tires this time. I should get to school okay, but the ride home will be long. Stay warm friends!

Attacking the Negatives

2012-01-19T13:50:00.001-06:00

As I posted last, reality took a bite out of my optimism lately. In reality it is more than okay, but it still stings to the touch. Tomorrow is another day.

I modified my semester to mandate only 4 days a week commuting. Which is only one day less than last semester, but is a huge save of time - 3 hours of commuting eliminated. Today is my off day and man has it been productive. I have tackled the projects of 3 courses this morning and only have 1 class information to review and another to actually do. This new schedule should really help me maintain a better balance between school, work and family. Or at least that is the plan.

One of my courses had us take a personality test this week. It is set up to be a powerful tool for the 100% team work class. Helping us to know ourselves and work better with our team mates. My main personality trait is Affiliating/Perfecting and Analyzing/Preserving. As I read through the list of descriptive traits, I would say many resemble me. I don't respond well to criticism, it annoys me when others take advantage or fall short of expectations and I despise it when folks cut corners on major tasks. They claim my favorite says are "if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well" and "better to be safe than sorry", I think my kids would agree.

I hope you all are having a fabulous week. I am working my way out of sadness - by achievement through task completion. I was smacked with another hit yesterday and this one just rocked my logic - the gal with exposed boobs got a call back for the internship too. OMG. Since learning this I am just flabbergasted by the entire process.

I remember one partner asking if I consider myself an entrepreneur. Of course, I said yes. I can't help but think this played against me - because the firm would most likely want 100% of my focus and my other ventures could come to play. Although I wouldn't allow that - they don't know this. Or possibly it could be that I have other earning avenues and am not hungry enough. I could probably contemplate the evaluation a million ways from Sunday, but it doesn't change the fact that I was not even told "no thank-you".

The first day came with disappointment

2012-01-17T19:20:00.001-06:00

I learned today from a friend (so I am happy for her) that she received the internship we interviewed for. Yet, I am really disappointed for my loss. I am even very much disappointed in the firm that I really thought was above the competition in morals and respect; because they didn't see it worthy of contacting me with a "no thanks".

Before they contacted me for a 2nd interview, I hadn't held much wait in an internship. After all, as I know most firms search colleges for young folks they can mold. Of course their interest peaked mine and allowed me to dream of a fit with their firm. Silly, silly old girl that I am. Not that it is the only reason to not select me - my prior experiences and knowledge could mandate a higher starting salary which probably doesn't fair well.

Any way - I'm feeling sad now. - Bummer. At least the slutty girl didn't get it with her plunging neckline.

No holiday for UPS

2012-01-16T15:15:00.000-06:00

I cannot remember the last time I received a product to test. My guess is I am not testing, because time was rare and my survey taking was even more rare. I have to participate if I want the perks. I have been participating in many surveys over break and earning a few dollars here and there. Nothing huge. I've pretty much learned how to weed out surveys that are too long or require too much input for the reward offered. Plus, I am not afraid to close the survey out if it is repetitive or extra long.

It would probably be in the survey marketers best interest to place gauges on all surveys that show how far you have come and how far you have to go.

Anyway, I was being the good student and reading my text materials for classes this week when my dog started the protection bark. More like the "someones here...you get the door and I will hide." It was the UPS man! He hasn't been here in a while and of course the men in brown are never waiting when you get to the door - time is money. I looked down when I opened the door and saw a package with my name on it.

Yippee!!!!

I opened it and found a product to test. I'm so excited. Sorry, sworn to secrecy or I would tell you how much I love this product. The bank and post office are closed today for MLK day and I have deposits to make and a book to ship...I really need a government or banking job, so many days off. I guess another reason to <3 UPS <3, they run all the time and are more reliable!

Vacation is over

2012-01-16T05:59:00.001-06:00

I return to school this week and I am wishing I didn't dawdle so much. Only in regards to paperwork, I finished redecorating my living room and it looks amazing. When it comes to paperwork though I have lapsed and combining that with the governments non-release of needed forms....I'm going to be loaded down for quite a while. I even received a gigantic fax of work last night at about 8 pm; work that I thought would have arrived much earlier. Anyhow, I work better under pressure - lets see how I progress now.

On another note - we saw the in-laws yesterday and the refinance came up. It is true they (the in-laws) are primed to invest in us. I need to draw up the documents and they need to order release of their savings that could be a week or so to complete. I'm okay with this, because I see it coming. The really fabulous news came when we were discussing the rates.

The note is a 'commercial' note. What this means is it is not on our primary residence and it calls for a higher rate on the open market - i.e. more risk to the lender. Rates are still really good for this sort of loan, but since my banker has not given me any word on them I can only guess to the 'true' rate we would garner on the refi. My guess is that the note would run us 5-5.75%. I'm guessing based on our company lines and various commercial notes.

When I was asked yesterday what rate I thought was the going rate, I answered honestly stating the above. The last note we refinanced using this avenue was taken at 5% and I would be fine in this range again. Well I nearly jumped for joy when they offered the money at 4%. Yay!!! That is more in line with personal mortgage rates.

This refinance is going to boost our efforts tremendously. FYI - I have not notified our banker that their services for this matter are now unnecessary. I'm tired of chasing them. Lets see how long until they notice the note has been eradicated. Maybe I am even disgruntled since I requested information on the refinance in November. This movement will leave only one mortgage (not including operating lines and equity line) in their grips and it will not be moved for at least 2 more years.

Which way will it go?

2012-01-14T09:55:00.001-06:00

The results of my credit damage have appeared from last months Macy card acquisition and spending. My score dropped [gulp] 4 points, from 833 to 829. I hate when that happens. Of course, this could be a minor ding to the credit compared to what will be reported next month from moving that Mortgage #2. Since I am refinancing with a non-bank, non-reporting entity....I wonder if it could go from a large pay-off.

Hmmmm....something to ponder.

Email seemed promising

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

After a couple cups of coffee this morning and a check on the local weather, I decided to check my email. This is a regular thing for me, because working at a home office you do the work when the work arrives, not by schedule. When I heard the familiar ding say "you've got mail", I began at the top deleting all the junk mail. It amazes me the amount of junk mail I get. Anyway, out of no where my bank's name pops up in an email.

To say I was surprised is an understatement; correspondence's are rare from the new company.

The emails merely stated that I needed to login to my secure online banking and check messages. I have sent so many messages to this disorganized company, that the messages could have been about anything. I was really hoping it was news that the monster mortgage was fixed and running smoothly.

Sometimes hoping isn't enough.

The response was only confirming what I already know - the system is broken and draws from equity lines cannot be made online. This does me no good, 48 hours later +, I have already by-passed the system and moved funds myself.

One glimmer of hope was left for me - "we are working on the problem"

Self-Directing

2012-01-13T07:25:00.000-06:00

This month has been a flurry of transactions, coupled with many headaches and frustrations. I opened my online banking to discover the deposit (tranfer) was available this morning; so I put it to use immediately. With so much happening I have decided to just compare my last update, to where we stand today. Otherwise I would create a post that was a mile long.

First lets glance at where we were with the last update:

Mortgage #2:

Loan Balance: $54,461.00 (-$877.54)
Payments Left: 51 (-1)
Daily interest on this note is $9.46, monthly $283.65 and annually $3,451.08.

Equity Line:

Loan Balance: $12,574.23 (-$3,318.68)
Daily Interest $1.54 a day, $46.20 a month and $562.10 a year

After receiving money from online surveys, communities, book sales and making the self-directed refinance we are at:

Mortgage #2:

Loan Balance: $20,000.00 (-$34461.00)
Payments Left: ~~51 (-1)~~ doesn't matter at this point
Daily interest on this note is $3.47 (-$5.99), monthly $104.01 (-$179.55) and annually $1,266.55 (-$2,184.53).

Equity Line:

Loan Balance: $43,898.29 ($31,324.06)
Daily Interest $5.81 a day, $174.30 a month and $2,120.65 a year

Our interest has declined:

Daily $1.72
Monthly $51.60
Annually $627.80

Without the final refinance decrease in interest, we are at $30,265.80 a year. Only $265.80 to thirty thousand. Yay!

There is more shuffling of debt to come, so hold on.

One more item, a bit off the focus. I requested my banker look into the final refinance of Mortgage #2 nearly 2 months ago. Granted this was not a priority since it would not be up until later this year. Yet, I am steamed that something did not develop in the interim. In the almost 20 years I have banked with this bank, I have never been so disappointed by their services as I am at this moment. They have historically been my financial partner. I have great satisfaction in knowing I will not be paying refinance fees and they will be earning less money off of us in the future.

Exchanged the EASY button for a TORTURE button

2012-01-12T08:33:00.001-06:00

Near as I can tell this has to be the culprit. My bank which is wearing a 5 Star Rating at Bank Rate, is only functioning as a torture machine. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can help me with anything. I'm exhausted from reaching out to all staff members with the desperation of balanced accounts and functionality.

In hind sight, the computer glitch which wouldn't allow me to link business and personal accounts was just an annoyance to what I am dealing with still.

Giving credit where credit is due, they did adjust Mortgage #2 to adequately report interest and principal. This makes two of my issues corrected. However, I'm not positive that the loan adjustment will make my next payment flow smoothly. I believe I was being appeased for the moment. This isn't a complaint though. I would rather be appeased than ignored.

Except for the ignorant email last week questioning my wants, I've been totally ignored by personnel in regards to Mortgage #4.

After learning that the in-laws were in the market to finance our debts again and calculating the savings of a loan transfer, I knew I wanted to move money TODAY! Who wouldn't with $5.90 minimum saved a day in the interim? That is my monthly gas bill (average) for the house being saved monthly. HUGE! I attempted a transfer from the equity line to our checking and the stupid site said I didn't have a
account to transfer too. OMGosh!

This is costing me money - $5.90 for yesterday, without the immediate transfer.

This morning I wrote a check from the line and gave to hubby to deposit on his way to work. He did as instructed and the S.O.B.'s have a hold on the deposit or it appears as so from my online banking screen. For those that don't know, holds are placed on really large deposits until they clear to eliminate bank risk. Generally I am okay with this, but not this time. The money is being drawn from the same bank it is going into. IDIOTS! There is ZERO risk. I emailed our 'banker' (in quotes because he must want to be, not effective at all) and he responded this morning. The response - I'm out of the office today.

This will cost me another $5.90 today if it doesn't get solved!

You may think I am being petty with this somewhat small amount. I don't look at that way. I see every dollar as a wealth accumulator; in which I pay less interest, pay-off more of my debts and it rolls into more future savings. This is my money and I am the best guardian of it. Plus, do you realize this one small change will drop us below $30k a year in interest payments? The burden would shrink $1.04 per hour (full-time employment no consideration for withholding/deductions) needed less than in December.

There will be even more savings in interest when we complete the self-directed refinance too.

I've been struggling intensely to determine whom I should and could contact at the bank to rectify this nightmare of costs, but I am unable to come up with an empowered person. Boy do I hate how our small town bank became too big for it's customers.

Soft Caramel Recipe {per Jane's request]

2012-01-11T18:47:00.001-06:00

Over the holidays my husband received caramels from a customer. He was drooling for days over how good they were. This prompted me to make my own. I found this Soft Caramels recipe online and proceeded to making the best caramels.

I stuck to the recipe, including utilizing aluminum foil. You definitely need to use something, so the screaming hot caramel comes back out of the pan, but I am not thrilled with the aluminum. I chilled the second batch and used a knife to cut the caramel free - less work than the prior attempt. I haven't tried it, but I am thinking of exchanging the aluminum for parchment paper next time. Share your thoughts and let me know how it goes if you try it.

I can say this THEY ARE DELICIOUS!

Questioning if We Want

2012-01-11T16:46:00.000-06:00

I made homemade soft caramels again, since I had ingredients available and they were so good. Of course this time I did not want the full batch sitting in my kitchen. I have been disbursing them to everyone I can think of and the response is crazy. They all love them. If I could figure out how to streamline the production I would have a great business here. The time I spend making them just doesn't justify a business plan though. I'd be running at a loss.

Anyway, I had my hubby run some to the in-laws last night on his way to a meeting. He said my m.i.l. said they were to die for. This is good, but I'm not ready to meet my maker just yet. Then he told me she asked if we were still interested in another loan. Yay! They are still game to help us. I'm so excited.

We haven't worked out the details, so I have nothing really to post here. I'm thinking, since they are in the market to invest in us, I will transfer Mortgage #2 to our equity line until it is final to save some interest in the mean time. We will be leaving a portion there anyway - much like the last self-made refinance deal.

Before the in-laws even help us, the movement of a part of the mortgage to the line will save us $5.90 a day. That equates to $177 a month and $2,153.50 a year. Woo-Hoo! This is huge!

I tried to make the equity line advance today, but it didn't work. No surprise another issue at my bank. ARGHHHH! This is why I need to dispose of them...or one more reason. Nothing is functional anymore.

The best laid plans

2012-01-11T09:17:00.002-06:00

Obviously the rest of the world is not as excited as I am to wrap tax matters up. I am only able to go so far on my goals and then stop. It is to be expected with deadlines for tax documents not till the end of the month - but most times I can work around it. I'm just not that energetic at the moment. So, how did I do:

Complete the transformation of documentation for at least one business to digital FAIL! Not sure why I didn't get this done. Oh well, today is another day.
Complete invoicing after making contact with my last lose end PASS! All the way out the door!
Treadmill it - if even just to walk for 10 minutes PASS! I didn't hit the treadmill till after dinner but I did go for 17 minutes. Hey, better than nothing.
Gather the kids W-2's, interest statements and college tax information FAIL! I was going to utilize the college statements, but then decided to wait. I began the returns, entering what I have, but that does not make a complete return. Plus, I have a fear that the bank will surprise me with a change after I file.
Complete the kids simple tax returns and gather up for FAFSA filings FAIL! I entered what I have, but two kids did not save their last payroll checks and so I need to wait for W-2's. Bummer.
Begin organizing paperwork to digitalized for smaller business FAIL! Believe it or not the above items, laundry and cooking took up my entire day.

Apparently I am a better stretch goal maker than I thought (hahaha)! We are expecting some decent snow fall tomorrow so I am going to head out today. I have a few cold weather meals to prepare for all that shoveling in our future, so grocery store is my goal today. Then picking up any of the above tasks to get further along.

Do you have a guardian angel?

2012-01-11T07:37:00.000-06:00

This is a way off topic post, feel free to skip fast if you don't like to venture in the unknowns. :)

My life, like most others, has not been easy. In fact, the burdens often left me wondering and questioning instead of finding comfort and peace. Even today I look back on the events of the past and am amazed I made to where I am today. The mere fact that I am living and breathing is just a miracle of sorts or a representation of my own weaknesses to rectify the situation (in a bad way...without saying the word). From a small child I can remember praying to a God I didn't even really know existed, to end the torture. Yet, nothing ever happened and things continued on the burdensome path for me.

Seven and half years ago things changed ever so slightly.

Up until that time I had never lost anyone in my inner circle. Being from a broken home the circle was indeed small and consisted of only seven people. Other family members were distant and I have to think didn't know how to help us, so they stayed away. I can't really blame them, but it isn't a step I would take (possibly because I have went through these things). I would be there helping in any way I could, it's just who I am. So, when the time came for one of my immediate circle members to pass-away - I was broken.

I hadn't experienced death so close to me before and I had no tools to deal with it. I think for most of us these tools are learned from watching and experiencing these things with those we love. Something that just didn't happen in my experience. I was lost in grief and had no idea how to find my way out.

It had been years since I went to church, this is not a story about church really, but I was so emotionally broken that I went to the local parish to speak with the pastor there. Not to underscore what the pastor did, which was help me find peace in an open environment, but that pastor was not the one that saved me that day. It was a woman I had never seen before that happened to be there that day and walked me out to my car.

I often look back on that short walk and talk. It wasn't so much what this woman said but how she said it. As our conversation continued I could literally feel the burdens being lift and a tiny bit of light shone at me in the darkness like a beacon. I knew that things would get better. I don't know how, but I did. Before climbing in my car I gave this woman a hug and told her that I think she was my guardian angel and that I came there that day to really meet her.

In the years since then, I see her every week pretty much. She continues to take care of me in ways that may seem small to most, but that really just .... enhance my life. Makes me feel loved, safe and important. Isn't that strange??? Getting these feelings from a person you didn't even know existed.

When times get tough on my roller coaster life, she seems to always be there and say the right thing. My blood family caused me much sadness recently and just as though she knew I was lost again, she gave me a card with a little token inside. That token was a guardian angel pin, so that I was protected even when she wasn't around. I'm still amazed at how this happened and just when I needed it again.

My guardian angels ability to always be there when I need her, for almost 8 years, takes my breath away. It is so amazing that even my husband has commented numerous times how she is always taking care of me. How does another human know these things if not by some intervention? She absolutely renews and in some ways establishes my faith.

Tell me, do any of you have a guardian angel (even if you don't use the name) that seems to help when you think no one knows that your roller coaster is headed downwards?

How much was the ding to my credit worth? [UPDATED]

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Not that many years ago I closed a Macy's credit card account, to lighten my wallet. As revealed a week or so ago I once again applied for the Macy's card. No I am not a huge Macy's customer. However, there are a few things I like to buy at Macy's, like shoes, and I venture in every so often. I generally turn down all requests for store cards anymore because I have all I really need. Plus I am one to use my cash back rewards card. One card is both convenient and income producing.

Did I mention that I earned $1499.38 in cash back and rebates in 2011?

That is bar-none the most I have ever seen come back in. Considering my purchases were way down in 2011, this reflects: business purchase, strategic bill paying with credit, maxing out of bonus periods, and rebates for things I had to buy (like a stinkin' clicker for class).

Okay, I ventured way off topic. To continue with the Macy's card - I made 2 purchases and only decided on the 2nd one that day to apply for the card. It was a financial decision and the clerk reversed my first charge to assist me with saving more money when I applied for the card with the second purchase. That day, not taking into account the savings from sales and buying on clearance, the card saved me $48.95 off what I would have paid with my cash back card. In case you are wondering I would have earned ~~$2.80~~ $3.29 in cash back on my visa card.

**adjustments when I realized I based cash back on the initial discounted charge

This meant I immediately saved an extra ~~$46.15~~ $45.66 on the day of purchase.

My bill from the new card came in the mail today. As promised on the day I made the purchase, my account was credited 20% of the purchases made that day. This equates to an additional $56.08 in savings from things I was going to purchase anyway.

Making the total ding to my credit worth ~~$102.23~~ $101.74.

**a small decrease but still decent

2 Years with Lending Club

2012-01-10T08:39:00.001-06:00

I have had my share of uneasiness regarding my investments/loans made at Lending Club. I think most of this stems from not understanding how easy it is for folks to walk away from obligations. I truly began this endeavor with the hopes to help people reach a better financial place, while earning myself a little cash. Not much cash - about $10 a year, but something.

With two years of time under my belt things are still looking decent. I have made 14 loans all together. 4 of those loans have paid in full and hopefully arrived at a more financially stable position in life. All the others continue to pay as agreed. SWEET!

As you may recall I have been withdrawing funds invested here. The goal has been to only leave dollars earned on this system in this system. Not completely eliminating my risk, but decreasing it to a level that wouldn't have existed without this program at Lending Club.

My Lending Club account is currently 58.3% Free Money (i.e. money earned there). So, I still need to take 41.7% out with regular withdraws. Crossing the fifty percent is a nice place to be, in my opinion.

I've seen other bloggers losing money and sharing their intentions of pulling out completely. I'm still thinking that I will continue to let the money ride.

2012-01-10T08:15:00.000-06:00

Before I decide on the tasks for today, I need to see how I did yesterday with my day of goals. Since I worked until nine last night, I hope it shows.

Mondays Tasks:

Complete loan receivable tax documents - I completed both loans documents for tax time and emailed them to the appropriate people - PASS!
Complete loan payable tax documents - I completed this document and it is ready to be sent to the appropriate party (they get more documents from me, so this is in their folder which will go later) - PASS!
Complete 941, IL-941, UI-340, and 940 (for at least 1 business) - This supposedly easy task became one clouded in research, when I discovered the increase in liability. I never just pay anything. Outside of that all filings went smooth and are complete. Pass!
1099's, 1096 (for at least 1 business) - Another trip up to my progress was discovered here. My old reliable system has been changed to process these documents on the web, not a fan. However, I'm all for progress. I found the site lacking in instructions and guidance and this could be a hang-up for the newbie processor. All are prepared and sent at this time. Pass!
W-2's, W-3's (for at least 1 business) - The smoothest task of the day. A couple checks and clicks and this one was in the books. Pass!
Complete year end transformation of paper to digital (for at least 1 business) - Motivation for desk work began waning in the afternoon. This was a project without a true deadline and I let it lay - FAIL.
Invoice all completed projects for big business - As you might suspect there are many involved with servicing customers and no one knows 100% what another is doing. That said, I have prepared preliminary billing sheets, adjusted items I know, questioned others, and I am lacking the input (large input) of one other. Semi-Pass/Fail!
Hit the treadmill - What a joke. Where was the time? Okay, I could have made time, but I didn't want to. At this point, I'm not even sure the treadmill works anymore. FAIL!
Additional items completed not listed as goals:

invoiced smaller business invoice
made homemade caramels - all individually wrapped.
contacted insurance on monster mortgage to make payment since the site no longer works and it was due yesterday (gasp! I nearly forgot)
update personal Quicken File
upload prior years tax data onto new computer for all personal and businesses
begin big business tax return - would have completed but forms are not updated by IRS yet
begin secondary business return - same situation as above
make meatloaf, mashed potatoes and mixed veggies for dinner (am I stretching??)

At any rate, I completed many tasks on my list or those that should have been on my list but were still in the mental stage. :)

Today I plan to:

Complete the transformation of documentation for at least one business to digital
Complete invoicing after making contact with my last lose end
Treadmill it - if even just to walk for 10 minutes
Gather the kids W-2's, interest statements and college tax information
Complete the kids simple tax returns and gather up for FAFSA filings
Begin organizing paperwork to digitalized for smaller business

That should take all day. I can work late tonight if I so desire because the hubby has a meeting at our church. I have 1 week till school resumes and I need to maintain my A game if I'm going to be ready and not have to complete this ton of work and homework at the same time. There is one hang-up though, I have a huge customer that I prepare tax work for, this guy has not sent me anything yet. He is still gathering all that is needed. It looks like I may have to do this after the semester begins. It's all good! I like being busy.

.3% of $7000

2012-01-09T15:20:00.001-06:00

Thanks to the economy, crooked politicians and others, we are paying an extra $21 per employee for federal unemployment tax. I did not see this coming, guess I need to keep up on things more.

While completing my list of things to do today, I discovered this not so beautiful addition to our 940 Federal Unemployment Return, called the Multi-State Employer and Credit Reduction. At first it sounds promising with the words "credit" and "reduction"; the reality is it is a reduction in the discount provided to employers for paying the state unemployment. In all the years I've been doing payroll returns I have never encountered this addition, so I had to go research before I could confirm and agree to this additional cost and expense to employ people.

A "credit reduction" is applied to any and all employees when the state they reside in borrows money to pay unemployment claims and does NOT pay the money back. The Department of Labor determines the entire result, who owes and how much. There is absolutely no way out of it or even to negotiate the costs.

Illinois' current rate is .003 per employee. This is in addition to the .8% we all pay (if we have paid our state unemployment on time and in full and are within certain limits). FUTA (federal unemployment tax) is only based on the first $7k an employee earns and this amounts to $56 a year. The additional charge applied to all employers will be another $21.

Now in the whole scheme of taxes this may seem miniscule to some, but if you really stop and think about this it can be a burden on many. Consider the small business man, that earned enough to stay a float through this disaster, this can mean a decreased check or late bills to another. And he is not alone. Imagine the mega employers, companies with thousands of employees, this $21 additional tax can amount to serious cash. [1000 employees X $21 = $21,000] This could very well mean one less position opening to get someone back to work.

Makes me wonder...where will they come for my money next? Just one more reason we need to abolish the internal revenue service, which is clearly broken and only serves as an election tool in which politicians promise the moon and take everything else, and opt for a fair tax system. No surprises and controlled completely by the consumer.

Procrastination is killing me

2012-01-09T07:59:00.000-06:00

I have a week left, before classes resume, and a ton of work to do. I seem to be without motivation for myself. The end of the year and the beginning of tax season makes it a busy time around here and if I don't get progressing through the jobs soon, I'm going to be in a huge pickle. I haven't even completed the payroll tax returns yet.

I've been so distracted by our banks errors, preparing for my daughters study-abroad, the interview and holidays - that the rest just seems to have been lost in the shuffle.

Today is the day to fry my fish though. My goal is to:

Complete loan receivable tax documents
Complete loan payable tax documents
Complete 941, IL-941, UI-340, and 940 (for at least 1 business)
1099's, 1096 (for at least 1 business)
W-2's, W-3's (for at least 1 business)
Complete year end transformation of paper to digital (for at least 1 business)
Invoice all completed projects for big business
Hit the treadmill

I guess that means I need to run......

What to do, what to do.....

2012-01-08T10:56:00.002-06:00

Well the due date on Mortgage #4's payment is nearing and it still shows unpaid at the banks page. I would love to say I am shocked that the balance issues have not been corrected, but my faith in the ability of any all personal has dwindled to nothing.

I received an email through the bank online system last week, in response to my inquiry made many weeks ago. There was no indication of the issue being resolved and in fact the words used were "what would you like the balance to be?" Uhhhh, ZERO, is that an option? [sarcasm]

I once again explained the historical distribution of payments and very politely thanked them for their efforts with rectifying this situation. Which of course did not get rectified. What can I say? I'm a dreamer.

I received a couple envelopes from the bank yesterday, which is odd because we are paperless customers and upsetting because they are searching for my next payment on the monster mortgage. DUDE...I MADE IT ALREADY!!!!!

I am tempted to let this situation ride and do nothing. A wait and see attitude. It goes against all I believe in as a proactive debt eliminator and vigilant money monitor, but I am so frustrated. Possibly I am just looking for them to ding my credit and provide me with a reason to pull all 6 checking accounts, 4 savings accounts, 1 charge account, 2 lines of credit, and 2 mortgages from them - all at once. Beside the cash flow we maintain with these accounts, they may just miss our $30k PLUS in interest payments a year. Or maybe it is something I think they will miss, but they will utter 'good-ridence' as I walk away.

There is a new bank coming to town at the moment. I can't wait till they open. Maybe I should travel to one of their other branches and see what's what.

Obtaining a Passport

2012-01-06T15:22:00.001-06:00

I decided that we should get passports with a child traveling abroad, in case of an emergency or if we can some how swing a trip to visit. It just seems like a fabulous opportunity. Or at least I thought so. I am just realizing that a hotel room in Argentina runs between $250 and $400. Other options are bed & breakfast type places. Unless I'm missing something. I intend to speak with a travel agent, but it's not looking promising today.

We filled out our applications for passports at home and then headed to the local post office to complete the transaction. After standing in line for a while, I started to wonder if those behind us were wishing we weren't there applying for passports - man the post office was busy. How can they say they are losing money. Speaking of money, we had to write a check to the Department of State for $220 and pay another $80 to the post office for our passports (pictures too). Three hundred dollars and we aren't even going anywhere yet. OUCH!

At any rate we are ready should the opportunity to fly present itself. Plus, just by having these passports we can now take advantage of any deals to Mexico or an Island that come our way. If it wasn't for the cash aspect we are setting ourselves up to explore the world. Or at least something besides the good ole' U. S. of A.

We did not pay to expedite the documents so we will probably not see our passports for 6-8 weeks. It's good to know this is handled though. Check one thing off my list. Now if I could just get more productive with all the tasks on my desk.

All Day Interviews

2012-01-06T10:16:00.003-06:00

I believe I mentioned my potential for an internship earlier. I had the interviews and man was it a whirlwind. 8 different meetings (i.e. interviews) with various members of the firm. It was intense. I really felt confident, but looking around the room at my competition, a few of which I know, I can't say that I would be a better selection. I knew 2 others from classes, 1 only as a pass-by through school and the other two not at all. Since I have nothing to base the last two on, I have to guess that they are as qualified as the rest. Since, all of the rest of us have 4.0 GPA's.

I'm conservatively hopeful, but with a 16.6% chance the odds are not in my favor or theirs. I think it will all come down to whom made bonds with the most interviewers. I am the oldest competitor and that could keep me out of the final - based on the firms goals for the future.

What I learned through this whole experience is priceless. I really pigeon-holed myself by not talking to certain companies, but honestly I know I would never be happy with their firms. This was my only 2nd interview unlike my peers, because of my narrow attack and based on responses from firms...my age. I am still flabbergasted by the firm that said "we prefer young interns, so that we can mold them". I understand perfectly the way molding can be an asset to the firm, but it was just so wrong to say it out loud - in my opinion.

This area of my educational journey is one in which I am reminded that I should have pursued my goals in my 20's. Darn kids! (jk)

Nice Hit On The Equity Line

2012-01-06T06:28:00.000-06:00

Without our bonus this year, I didn't have much hope for a massive early year pay down. Not sure how it happened, except that we spend less and less money anymore - and we had money to send out on the equity line balance. Although this note is not a priority - due to interest lower than a good cup of coffee a day, I still like to see a steady drop in what we owe.

If things go the way I am planning though, this note is going to grow in 2012. It all depends on the in-laws and if they are willing and able to take on Mortgage #2 for 5 years. I know my M.I.L loves opportunities to earn more money (like me) so it will probably happen - we just don't know currently. If it does happen I will be capping them off somewhere around $35k, like I did for the last note and float the rest on our line with an aggressive payback attack. Since the in-laws require a regular payment only I would slam the line and then work on Mortgage #3 or possibly the monster #4 (bringing it closer to what it is worth and reversing the underwater situation).

Loan Balance: $12,574.23 (-$3,318.68)

It's a good day when the equity line is low enough to absorb another note, even if just partially. This note costs us $1.54 a day, $46.20 a month and $562.10 a year

Book Sales

2012-01-05T07:14:00.000-06:00

Before the end of the year I boxed up my bookshelf, or at least the majority of it, to make my annual donation at the local library. I like doing this purge when the books do not sell on half.com. Plus, there comes the point where it is just not worth the Kraft paper and tape to ship a book at it's going rate. The library does 2 things with the books I bring; they either sell them at their little store or they place them on a special shelf that does not require a library card to borrow. Either way the options are better than just sitting on my office shelving.

I also sold 12 books in December on half.com. Earning about $325. I still am a big fan of the system and it's ability to provide low cost reads to individuals while turning prior read items into cash for the seller.

Taken care of family

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

I set this payment up to automatically go two days before it is due, because the due date falls on the weekend. I would rather be early than late. ESPECIALLY with family. Awe who am I kidding, I pay everyone early, I arrive early for meetings, I'm just an early kind of person.

Loan Balance: $26,597.57 (-$382.27)
Payments Left: 61 (-1)

Daily cost $3.64, monthly costs $109.32 a month and $1330.06 a year.

Too Cheap For My Own Good

2012-01-04T09:19:00.000-06:00

I have no excuse for this negligence, but I have not checked my credit score or credit in over a year. GASP! Hey, I'm busy and have had no red flags of concern catching my eye. With my schedule even spending has been virtually nil; just ask my kids and husband who have vague memories of home cooked meals and new clothes. Without free time makes for an automatic saving system.

It isn't as bad as it seems though. I do have a Walmart card that used to be a Montgomery Ward card (yep, I'm that old) and it provides a free credit score if you are using the card. In December I realized that kept on the 10c off gas with the use of their card and bought a couple fill-ups there. This allowed my score to be updated and I nearly fell out of my chair to see an 833 score on an 850 scale. SWEET!

I'm sure if I chose to update that score today this number dropped a few points. I did two bad things lately. Maybe not bad, but credit score diminishing. I went shopping with my daughter (i.e. fashion consultant) to stock my closet with business apparel. I am in the running for an accounting internship and I want to look good for meetings with the firms partners. I'm very excited. This step that is generally for kids could secure a position on graduation for me and make the transition out of school smooth. I hadn't really planned on an internship, but thought I would go through the processes for educational purposes - but now, it's looking promising.

Anyway, that shopping day led us to Macy's where I found some clearance shoes and a beautiful wool Calvin Klein coat on sale. These items received an extra percent off, I want to say 10-15% at the store when applying for their card (there it is) and I am supposed to see an additional 20% off when the bill comes. How could I not do this? I bought the shoes first and passed up on the card, but when I found the coat, originally $300 for 1/2 off, they had me at "hello". The coat department clerk voided my shoe sale and re-rang with my discount, so everything received the savings. :)

I had a Macy's card before and cancelled it, but what's a fashionista in the making to do?

The second huge credit dinger is that I just charged a trip to Argentina on my credit card. I am both happy and sad to report my baby girl is leaving North America to study in South America for nearly 6 month. Agggghhh! She needs this though and man what an experience for her. I am currently working through getting my passport as well. I have never left this country, making me the only person I know that doesn't have a passport. It is time. I want to have it in hand, Lord forbid something happens and she needs me. Plus, if I can figure out a way to stop prepaying all our mortgages, I'm going to Argentina in between semesters to visit her. Crossing my fingers and toes on this. The good thing is my ticket to travel is about $600 round trip less than hers.

There you have it, the dirty little truth that I am spending money like the rich, thanks to credit...sadly not cash.

Automatic Mortgage #3

2012-01-04T05:54:00.000-06:00

I saw my account was tapped for the monthly payment, so I quickly verified the correct payment allocations and this payment is in the books. Nothing spectacular ever occurs here. Nor will there be any glamorous moves until Mortgage #2 is annihilated.

Loan Balance: $162,146.84 (-$285.72)
Payments Left: 277 (-1)

Daily cost for this mortgage is $24.99, $749.64 a month and $9,120.62 a year.

Next month should be a tiny bit more momentous with a drop into a new thousands zone.

~50% corrected

2012-01-03T14:43:00.001-06:00

I received an email from our banker that shared our issues have been corrected. Now, before you get too excited, they are not all corrected. This is entirely too frustrating! On the upside, they have worked out some kinks with Mortgage #1 and even though I made January's payment on Friday, I'm calling it the January Payment today. I only pre-paid to confirm what I knew about the banks errors and the bankers didn't believe.

After the banks correction we are $12.20 different. I'm okay with this discrepancy and the fact that it is working in our favor.

Loan Balance: $54,461.00 (-$877.54)
Payments Left: 51 (-1)

You should know, I did not round down with an extra payment. Oddly enough this is what the bank came up with. I do love round numbers though and am happy to see this one with no extra effort.

Daily interest on this note is $9.46, monthly $283.65 and annually $3,451.08.

I prepaid Mortgage #4 as well, but they did absolutely no adjustments to that note - even though the bankers email said the adjustments were complete. The online banking still displays that I need a payment by mid-month, which of course has already been made. Let's hope this doesn't create credit issues next.

Subconscious

2012-01-03T09:01:00.000-06:00

My subconscious is showing deep stress that I didn't even know existed. Generally when I am stressed it is apparent in many aspects of my life. I tend to keep moving by being a neurotic house cleaner or I collapse in a energy-less pile and cannot bring myself up. Sometimes the stress makes me moody in extreme departures of character - first really sad or angry and then extreme joy. Even with the holidays of late, I have not experienced these things.

Then last night I am continually awaken by nightmares of missing my classes for next month. A feeling of being lost and terrified, without any idea how to rectify the situation. The dreams even fed into each other, but jumped days...so I was missing multiple classes.

I remember having nightmares over Christmas break as far back as Junior High. Hard to believe I never out-grew this. My nightmares in junior high consisted of forgetting my locker combination, not being able to get my stuff and missing class. By high school the terror was the same but included being stuck in stairwells, never reaching the floor of my class...just climbing and climbing.

Am I the only person that has an overworked subconscious? If so, don't answer that....could only mean more underlying stress regarding my sanity. :-]

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T13:56:00.002-06:00

Went out last night to celebrate the new year, not something we usually do. We had a blast. A night of friends, family, great music and dancing....oh and a couple too many beers. It was worth it though, I had such a good time.

I just want to wish you all a Happy New Year, that springs forth happiness, wealth, health, love and contentment.

Banking Disappointment

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000-06:00

Another trip into my bank yesterday with the hopes of lighting a fire large enough to get them to correct the loan issues. To say it was unsuccessful is an understatement. Our new banker (of 2-3 years) was not in his office and so I requested to speak with our previous banker. You should know I have emailed (numerous times) the loan servicing company through the online banking, and both the bankers that remain on staff at this institution. The problems began 11/10 and remain at this time. To make matters worse they, every contact person I have attempted to speak with, have not responded or basically provide false claims that it is being corrected by deadlines that come and go. Leaving me no option, but to walk in again.

Banker #2, our previous one, was of no help and merely sent an email to the loan servicing department while I warmed their office chair. I even asked "do you think they will respond to you? since they do not respond to me." Banker #2 ignored this question and instead began talking me down from my frustrations. Which only served to tick me off more - this is my money and my life and the bank is in error.

Banker #1 magically appeared then. With words that were meant to provide me comfort, stating that the online issue is because of a change in the system. Prior to the change my payments would be disbursed by interest till date accrued and the rest to principal. But now Banker #1 says they go from payment due date to payment due date, regardless when I pay.

Blond does not equate to stupid and talking down to me, the gal (ahh, me) that does the math and already determined this is not so. Not a good bonding moment.

Problem: 2 notes that both payments are being applied erroneously.

1. applied 100% to Principal
2. applied 100% to Interest

To prove the bankers theory wrong, I initiated January payments yesterday. This time, both note payments went 100% to Principal. At which point I shared with Banker #2 that a return to the drawing board was necessary. I received a promise, once again, that the issues will be solved early next week and back dated for my taxing purposes. I highly doubt this will happen, since 50 days have already passed.

I need a new bank. I have been with them so long and they make a fortune off our business. I can't believe they don't prioritize my issues. If I was in the loan department, I would have solved this issue DAY 1 for the customer. It's a basic and easy fix from a mathematical stand point, incompetence shouldn't be around at all. Worse case scenario, manually adjust the numbers to split principal and interest, by payment dates. Then work on the issue in the background to rectify prior to the next payment. Dumb Asses.

Although, since the issue drags on through 2 payments already there is definitely something else at issue with this bank.

Failed at shopping

2011-12-31T08:34:00.002-06:00

My goal of pre-purchasing items for the company was a major flop. It is not part of my being to spend money foolishly, even when it is not foolish...but not a necessity. I have major mental blocks to spending big sums of money where the benefit is not seen from a major discount or income producing plan. There were absolutely no sales for the items on my list and paying full price just makes my skin crawl.

Many of the items we did purchase, time books for employees, desk calendar to track jobs, tax software for annual filings, etc..., I normally purchase the first week of January. So, I didn't make any huge strides forward. One purchase that was needed for the shop, a trouble light used to work on company vehicles, was purchased on our outing, but it will be returned. When we took this LED version into the shop and plugged it in, it provided no light change under the hood of the trucks. :( With the standard bulbs being discontinued, we need to find an equivalent brightness of a 100 Watt Bulb...but this is not happening with available options.

The boss (hubby) and I did enjoy a burger a Ruby Tuesday's on our trip. Plus, I made it to Kohl's to use up my $20 in Kohl's cash earned Christmas Shopping. I purchased a can opener, after lifting my jaw off the ground when I saw a manual open cost $19.99. OMGosh!!!!

I know the man says we are not experiencing inflation; maybe the proverbial he needs to walk into a store and see the price on a gallon of milk or a bottle of detergent that has gone up 12% in the last month.

I haven't decided if I will venture out for a few items more today. We could still utilize the purchase of paper products, drinks, cleaning products, soaps and such for the shop. I noticed last night that we are down to the nitty-gritty. I am just not motivated and we are going out with friends tonight. I need to be on my A game for the evening, not exhausted.

What a change a year makes

2011-12-30T09:32:00.000-06:00

Last year at this time we were trying to finagle a bonus to make up for all the lost paychecks during our worst year in business ever. It was extremely tough, but we made it thanks to excellent credit and huge credit lines.

Today, our last business day of the year, I am making sure our numbers are complete and piling up a list to go shopping. My goal is to pre-purchase a lot of what the company will need in 2012 today. We had a fabulous year - I mean really good and I don't want to lose all our earnings to the tax man. So, if we need it or will need it, it is going to come home with me today. I have already pre-purchased our postage, since we will be effected by USPS rising rates and they have those beautiful FOREVER stamps. I bought 2 rolls of 100; that should take care of our postage until April or so.

Now to get my husband on board the bus to shop. Many of the items we need for the shop are heavy and I could get them...but why? That is what he is for. :) Besides a little bonding is good for him, he has all next semester to work and be without me.

3 years and 3 months

2011-12-29T15:26:00.000-06:00

When I began this blog September 2008, we owed $652,485.52 and expensed $108.89 a day in interest. That adds up to $3,266.70 a month and $39,744.85 annually in interest payments. We must have been smokin' some whacky tobacky to get ourselves so far in. Sometimes I wish we didn't aspire to have anything over a home. I cannot say how many nights sleep I have lost from this weight.

2011 was a fabulous year for us though. We were able to clear up burdens created in 2010 with the lack of work. We have all our units rented. All while making great strides on our debt burden. If 2012 runs as smoothly, which it is hard to tell if it will, we could find ourselves at a place we were meant to be, before the bottom dropped out. I'm cautiously optimistic.

As we close out the year we owe $542,681.51. This represents a pay-off of $109,804.01 since my tiny blog was created. Sweet Mother Mary that is a huge chunk of change. It's like a condo or any house in my neighbor since the real estate market crash.

We are expensing $85.34 a day in interest, a full $23.55 a day less then the beginning. This represents a savings of $706.50 a month and $8,595.75 a year (normal year not leap year). We still throw a decent sum of cash out to interest - $2,560.20 a month and $31,149.10 a year. This is just too crazy and amounts to an hourly rate of $14.98 in a full time position without deductions or withholdings to pay for this. No wonder we still feel strapped.

Reflecting, I notice a substantial change in our comfort. We are making headway as our expenses decline, since we seem to need less as we firmly root ourselves in middle age. We are averaging about $36.6k of debt pay-off per year and I have every reason to believe that this amount will keep growing in the future. Not only because balances are decline faster with less portioned out to interest, but because we continue to pre-pay a generous portion of our earnings. Almost too much - since we are always cash poor. I just can't justify earning pennies on money that can save dollars.

Shouldn't there be a drum roll here???

2011-12-29T14:44:00.001-06:00

For my final mortgage update - I have to say this monster mortgage has gone no where and thanks to the local (crappy) bank that has totally messed up our payments, this mortgage looks even worse than it should at the moment. With this mortgage I know what they did, but I can't get them to correct it and it will actually play in our favor for tax time, so I may let the change ride. Unlike Mortgage #2 that has me fighting them like a crazed Indian running the thieves (white man) off my land.

After Septembers payments this note had the over-whelming balance of $283,384.02. Seeing the number makes me understand why I hear negative internal talk when this note comes to mind. It is just such a burden and the property is not worth as much as is owed. Thank you God that this property finally has amazing tenants and I hope they stay for a while to come. I need them more than they could ever need me and that is a dangerous place for a landlord.

Today, since that bank applied my entire payment to INTEREST!!!!!, [ Don't fret, it is tax deductible and the last month of the year, so I could reap benefits from this error for a year. :)] the accounts has:

Loan Balance - $282,217.66 (-$1,166.36)
Payments Left - 287 (or there abouts....might as well be a MILLION)

This monster is costing $45.08 a day, $1352.40 a month and $16,454.20 a year. Hold on while I toss my cookies .................................................................................................................................................
Maybe I should just be happy the balance declined. If I want to pull this monster from its current bank location I need to chop this loan by at LEAST $40k in the next four years. Don't hold your breath.

Barely moving mortgage

2011-12-29T14:25:00.000-06:00

I really hate looking at this mortgage, but it is simply not the priority for me. That last post and Mortgage #2 remain my main fish to fry. I have struggled with remaining focused with our dollars instead of disbursing small amounts to all mortgages. After Mortgage #2 is settled into it's final resting place I could change my focus, but that remains to be seen. Early today it occurred to me that in 5 years our equity debt will be gone, mortgage #1 will be gone and mortgage #2 will be gone. What that means is I will be able to squash Mortgage #3 pretty rapidly after that - about 5-7 years from that date to elimination without any great effort at all.

When I posted about this boring minimum payment mortgage last our balance was $163,420.22. Today it is:

Loan Balance - $162,432.56 (-$987.66)
Payments left - 278 (-3)

I'm almost hiding in shame from this tiny drop....please release my indignities by referring to Mortgage #2 progress. :) Thank you very much. This mortgage costs us $25.03 a day $750.90 a month and $9,135.95 a year. Ouch. Sometimes these debts just exhaust me.

Issues, Issues, Issues

2011-12-29T14:11:00.000-06:00

As you (if anyone comes back to read) may remember Mortgage #2 is nearing the final refinance period of 5 years. I have always had a goal to pay down this mortgage and remove it from our bank, possibly with the in-laws. Recently, mid-November, our bank underwent an extensive overhaul. One in which all online services were changed and updated (more like mutilated). Since the change, I have been struggling to gain access and control of our accounts. Yes, I actually was not allowed to access some of our accounts and the new system stole my functionality that came from having all accounts with one bank. I was no longer allowed to transfer from businesses to personal, personal to businesses or businesses to mortgage payments. As you might suspect, this had me fuming.

Eventually, after numerous attempts to communicate with bank employees to rectify the issues - I had to go into the bank and show them how to link our accounts, so that we could remain in business.

I am not the only unhappy customer, it is so bad that I am hearing stories from people I don't even know 3 towns over while shopping.

Making this incredibly long story short, so I can update my balances - I can only say that the bank balance does NOT match mine. This has never happened before, but they are allocating our payments wrong and I am still waiting, since the 12/1 payments for correction. That said, Mortgage #2 had a balance of $66,214.59 the last time I updated this site. Ignoring the bank numbers, because they are WRONG, I now show this account as:

Loan Balance - $55,338.54 (-$10,876.05)
Payments Left - 52 (not sure how many I have eliminated....a lot, too lazy to check)

If we were to refinance this today and guesstimate only a 1/2% drop in interest rate we would see a $160.79 per month payment drop for the remainder of this account. SWEET! Now, of course I plan on paying this beast off asap, but flexibility is very important in this insecure world of ours.

This note costs us $9.61 a day, $288.30 a month and $3,507.65 a year.

Family Loan Moving Steady

2011-12-29T13:46:00.000-06:00

My second mortgage is one that does not break any records for paying back. This is the loan that is earning my in-laws an income while allowing my husband and I to break the chains that the bank has attached to us. When I last reported on this note we owed my in-laws $28,117.18. By only paying the regular payments we are now resting at:

Loan Balance - $26,979.84 (-1137.34)
Payments Left - 62 (not sure how many down - 3)

This note now costs us $3.70 a day, $111 a month and $1,350.50 a year. At this time we are once again speaking with the in-laws to create another income stream for them. They love the extra income and we love the saved interest expense and freedom from our local bank. I am not positive if the deal will take place, but if it does it will involve Mortgage #2.

The best place to start is with financial updates

2011-12-29T13:35:00.000-06:00

I must have been even more stressed than I believed - our equity line is shown with different balances on the sidebar chart vs the last equity line post. Leaving me to make the arbitrary choice of $22,927.72 as the last known balance. Only because it makes our pay-down look so much more appealing for the last three months. At this moment we are sitting with:

Loan Balance - $15,712.91 (-7,214.81)

We are not receiving a bonus check this year, but we really cleaned up the humongous pile of debt created in 2010. We are foregoing a bonus so that it will not harm the children when filing FAFSA's for college. There is super huge news in this area that I will share at a later date, but controlling debt is an even larger priority now.

This debt costs us $1.92 a day, $57.60 a month and $700.80 a year.

I thought it was forever

2011-12-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

I truly believed I was leaving the blogging world behind a few months ago. Like any overwhelming addiction, this has proved more difficult then I originally thought. I just enjoy sharing my thoughts and interacting with my blogging world friends so much, that I discovered this hole in my life without it.

When I deleted this blog the favorite links went right along with it. I had no clear cut way back into this site, or at least I thought I didn't. Today, I did a blogger search - literally "blogger" in the search bar and my identity showed up, as well as a button to un-delete. Holy flying cows - it is just too easy to become someone again. :)

So, I'm sure some may run for cover with my return to the electronic world, but why should I cater to the masses? I will focus on re-connecting my crazy life with the few bloggers I think of as friends.

Just so this is clear:

I didn't close down the site for any large dramatic reason. I was just chin deep into my first semester at the university and the site was a distraction. I am a chatter box and can find something to say ALWAYS. I needed to strip myself of the ability to stay the course. The good thing is I completed my first semester with a 4.0 GPA; unbelievably hard and earned every single percentage point with the sweat of my brow and the smell of burning rubber coming out my ears. I experienced some really fabulous things and faced one of the most detrimental situations that could have ruined everything I have worked for [I may share this situation at some point in the future, but I'm not ready yet] and even though it is done and over, still will remain with me for a long time to come.

I have been feeling the urge to share numerous opinions as of late and I am anxious to get back to normal. Glad to see many of my blogging buddies are still thriving in the blogosphere.

Arriving to the comfort zone

2011-09-30T06:33:00.000-05:00

As I have shared, my goal for Mortgage #2 is to land at $60k or less for the May Refinance. With my extra payment this month, due to cash sitting from no time to spend, I can call this an achieved goal!

[break to do a happy dance]

I selected this balance amount because even if interest rates begin to climb, I believe I can keep the last refinance payment under today's amounts. I absolutely do NOT want a higher payment in these volatile times. It feels so good to know that this property will be paid for soon - soon relative to the life of mortgages.

Mortgage #2

Loan balance - $66,214.59 (-$2,010.16)
Payments left - 64 per Quicken....with refi time should have 67

It's looking more and more like a car loan....a very nice car. :)

Displaying the NO Spend (unplanned)

2011-09-29T05:53:00.000-05:00

In about 8 days my main credit card is going to close for the month. Generally, when there are no extras, I pay $1800 - $2100 a month. This is because I never use cash, I use the credit card to pay for regular bills and I like this cash flow helper. :)

At this moment my balance reads $227 and waiting on $41 to post in charges. [GASP...the good kind]

Don't worry food is in the pantry and freezer. Everyone has if they take the initiative to make.

Requested in the past

2011-09-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

I'm not making any extra money - after all I am struggling to maintain the necessary and required things. These dollars were earned a long time ago. I just received the check in snail mail on Saturday. The payer is Survey Savvy. $3.75

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00

         Prior Months = $453.79
        Current Month = $ 9.75
       Need for goal = $136.46

I am exhausted today, didn't get home till ten and then couldn't fall asleep - the mind was racing. This morning I feel it big time. Had a good time at the charity though. I was scheduled till eight and the head cheese would have kept me later. There is just so much to do. However, I had a 2 hour ride in front of me and left before he could trap me. I stayed later than planned, but I do know my limitations. I'm feeling a little guilty, but ....

Beginning the week early

2011-09-25T07:48:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I will begin my week of education. I have volunteered for a Leukemia walk. I love these charitable days, however I am not happy about the distance I must travel or the time of the event (3-8pm). I am hoping, because I am transporting a couple other students, that I will be home before 10, but it is highly unlikely since the trip is about 80 miles one way. If it wasn't for the joy I get from donating my time, I wouldn't participate. Its just that I really do have such a good time when I work these things.

I am not doing as well as I would like in school, but I am holding my own. That super big course has lost so many passing grades with last weeks exam. Total A's in the class dropped from 19 to 16 (out of 480 students) and there are only 56% of the class passing [gasp!]. I'm in the B range and fighting for my life. I am once again changing my study plan to more accurately educate myself - since obviously what the professors teach is not useful. Hoping to gain ground.

I felt good when I left that exam, even had time to 'take' it twice and still did poorly. Which makes me question my ability for the other 2 exams I took, which have not posted grades yet....frustrating. I really felt confident and this is puzzling me. How can I feel adequately prepared if I can judge my own ability???

Two bad events this week - 1. F.I.L. had a terrible accident - he fell into a basement on a project we are doing. He is okay, but got a boat load of stitches. 2. DS1 got in a fender bender that will cost about $1400 for repairs.

I guess it is good that I am barely spending money anymore.

My Chase Freedom bill came in with finance charges and this REALLY ticked me off. If you recall I am utilizing their Zero % transfer deal. Well I paid off all new charges last month, plus a portion of the Zero % transfers. So, imagine my surprise when these folks put interest on my bill. I can't help but wonder if their $13 charge is worth the thousands of dollars in fees they earn from my business with our regular high rate of monthly charges. They earn anywhere from 1-3% for my transactions from retailers and this is what I base this on.

Anyway, I immediately (with the statement still open on their site) paid them off. Not worth it to do business with shady characters - especially when I have a multitude of other credit vehicles and an EXCELLENT credit score - last check 818.

Have a great week! [just in case time gets away from me]

Today begins another week

2011-09-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

...of jammed packed activities. This is another week that could ultimately leave me with thoughts of dropping out again. I hope not, but I am a weird bird. I feel like I am very much in the know for my 3 exams. This instantly puts me in a better place. Anxiety is much lower today - who knows what will happen tomorrow and Wednesday when the exam times arrive.

Did I mention that that jumbo 9 hour course resulted in our class having the highest 1st test scores of any class to date? Amazing. How bad did those folks do? Ouch!

I made $466.05

2011-09-18T14:10:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting thought/calculation I pondered today, while spending a fortune at Super Target for groceries, I saved $466.05 by making that $1100 payment to Mortgage #2. At the 6.25% interest rate on this mortgage currently and not adjusting for charges on a 360 day amortization, instead of the true 365 days a year, those $1100 would accrue $466.05 over the next 68 months - until the note is eradicated once and for all.

However, maybe I can really spread out my peacock feathers and state that the $1100 has eliminated not 1, not 2, but 3 payments on my amortization schedule. Quicken says I now have 65 payments to go, when I should have (see above) 68. Considering my final refinance is to be in May 2012 and be for a 60 month term. Anyhow, this means I have saved $3,672.66 - $1100 = $2,572.66 in future payments.

Lending Club Account Update

2011-09-18T11:27:00.000-05:00

I thought this was appropriate, considering the time that has past since I did this. I continue to withdraw my funds and thankfully everyone is paying as agreed. I am shocked, but delighted. Another early pay-off did result in a larger about being debited from my pocket and flowing into Lending Clubs, it didn't make me happy. It is what it is.

Currently my "free" portion is at 48.9% of my balance. I can't wait to have it at 100%, so I can breathe easier, this just isn't a comfortable investment for me. Too much risk, especially in an economic environment that we are experiencing.

Next month 50% from returns!

Debt Payers Remorse

2011-09-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

Is there such a thing? My guess is yes! Especially based on my feelings at the moment. Hey buyers get remorse, I want some too. Or ... maybe I don't.

Anyway, I did something crazy. Especially considering there is a half of month left this month. Remember I spoke about being cash heavy. Well, I went to pay the 4 bills in this week ( 2 life policies for kids, 2 car licensing) and I still had money.

Then I went to transfer October dollars to the kids for groceries, rents, and utilities. And I still had money. Since these dollars are not payable till month end, I was beginning to freak out. What is happening? I know we spent less than normal since returning from college move-ins. But this is crazy.

I can't see that anything has not been taken care of. I have a credit balance on my regular credit card still and even if I owed, the bill doesn't close until October 10th.

I keep looking at Mortgage #2 that will need a refi in May of 2012. Remember my goal is to bring this account balance to $60k or less. Looking at the amortization schedule, without any extra payments, the balance is scheduled to be about $61145 as of today. I kept thinking - "I have money". Eventually my stamina destroyed my cash, and I sent $1100 to this account.

Now, I would like to say it went 100% to principal, but the bank took about $210 in interest. This would be the normal accrual since my last payment. So, I'm not too concerned. It just means more to principal with my October Payment.

All good - right? Then why am I instantly nervous that I may have stretched myself too thin? What kind of crazy could this be, if not Debt Payers Remorse?

In case you were wondering

2011-09-16T11:53:00.001-05:00

I saw a credit for the ~$155 on my credit card for the Barnes and Nobel error. However, it did not appear in time to stop me from creating a dispute, which now is displayed on my account as well. What can I say, I am inexperienced at these things and I have already notified the credit card that I see the credit and am not sure if it comes from my dispute or B & N's actual refund system. I would hate to tap them twice.

I also received $50 in cash back on my everyday card, thanks to the massive spending around here.

Both of these items, compiled with my "no spending" for this month so far, has resulted in a credit balance on my credit card. Nice! I need to buy another text book for the 9 hour class and an author is coming to the university and I would like to grab his book (used in the masters program) before he arrives.

Now that is so STRANGE

2011-09-16T06:53:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy. I know this is definitely not news. It is also not the "strange" I am talking about. Something is happening that should be providing me with comforts, but instead is making me nervous with fear that I forgot something.

Of course, after the last sixty days, I will take any positives. Beggars can not be choosers.

My cash reserves are growing!!! Of course, I haven't made any extra payments, but I have not been spending big dollars either. I know...shocking. For instance, I spent $30 at the grocery store last week. Apparently I have been stocking up so much in the past that we are overloaded with food. The $30 represents perishable items.

So, as cash is building, not only in dollars but in personal confidence - I'm feeling pretty good. Then my DD calls me and she is nearly done completing her study abroad documents [crossing fingers she is accepted] and she just spoke to her advisor, even if she study's abroad she can graduate a semester EARLY with a double major and one minor. [See my jaw drop] I'm not sure how this worked, except for overlapping credit hours, but I am still highly impressed by my baby!

Next week is a HUGE week for me. Long days with club and intern things, three exams and a boat load of work. I'm feeling better this week, more capable of the task and this is definitely reflected in assessments. I just hope that next week doesn't push me down again. I am my worst enemy and I need to remain confident to achieve and compete.

It has been in the 40's here lately and I refuse to turn on the furnace. Can you say Brrrrrr?

2011-09-13T20:23:00.000-05:00

I heard today that the numbers are in for 2010. Poverty hit an eighteen year high in 2010. 15.1% of American's living in poverty. With unemployment around 9.6% at that time, it isn't surprising. However, the thought that 15 out of every 100 people are in poverty....just makes me shake my head in disbelief.
harlemworldblog.wordpress.com

Considering ...

2011-09-12T15:07:00.000-05:00

that half the month is nearly gone, we can pretty much ascertain that I will not be on target with the extra income. I did receive another $3 today, but I have absolute ZERO free time for these activities. My time is so jammed that even my husband is beginning to whine.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00
        Prior Months = $453.79
        Current Month = $ 6.00
       Need for goal = $140.21

Just when I start feeling like I am getting things under control, I receive a phone call or another task that needs my attention. Sometimes being unpopular would be better.

I did take a night off this weekend and had a really good time. I volunteered for a local charity that helps mentally challenged individuals gain independence. I know this kind of work doesn't pay well, but dang it makes you feel good.

After my shift was completed we met up with a couple friends and had a few beers. It was so nice to just blab about nothing. My brain hurts from all the thinking and this short time really helped me refocus and smile. Kind of weird seeing your old self, when you didn't really realize you have been lost.

Take a Look at the Statistics

2011-09-09T06:58:00.000-05:00

The last couple of days drained me, literally. I spent way too much time contemplating my path and struggling to destroy thoughts of giving up. This is so out of character for me. My DH looked at me last night and said, "Just stop talking about quitting. You will not quit, it isn't in your DNA and I have yet to meet another person that attacks struggles with such a bulldog intensity." I have to think he isn't calling me mutt. :)

He is right, I have never backed down from a fight.

So, last night I decided to assess the territory. I earned a B on the exam. I know this is not bad, but for me it is not good. I know I can do better and that is the worst feeling for me, to have not given it my all.

I did a spreadsheet of all scores in this class of 476. What I discovered was shocking and comforting at the same time.

3% have A's
27% have B's
32% have C's, and
38% are failing the class

Absolutely makes me feel better to see I am not alone, considering these folks have High GPA's, like me, in order to just get into this program. So, I was not the only one thrown into a tizzy for this.

Now that I know each of the 4 professors tests styles, it is time to formulate a plan to push myself from the B zone to the A zone. It's WAR folks!

What would I tell another?

2011-09-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

I am my worst critic. Yesterday's exam, even though I know the material, was brutal. Physically it left me vibrating in panic and I am still suffering effects. Which is not me at all. Too much time has past. The exam was nothing like I expected and from the first question my self-confidence was rocked. Even this morning as I prepare to head out for classes, I am doubting my ability and contemplating ending this path.

It was that earth shaking.

As I was putting my make-up on and using the hair straightener it hit me - what would I say to someone else in this spot?

Of course, I would remind them of their strengths and provide them with encouragement to stay the course. So why can't I do this for myself? I am not a quitter. In fact I enjoy challenges.

I need to regroup and put my head back in the game.

FYI - I do not know my grade.

Big, Long Day Today

2011-09-07T06:56:00.000-05:00

My day begins today with the first exam in my 9 credit hour class. I'm a bit nervous about this, because it carries such a high weight. At the same time, I'm thinking.."this is all common sense and common knowledge". It is that cocky attitude that can and probably will trip me up. My problem is that I get way to nervous for tests and when they are timed...I'm virtually looking at a mental freeze.

Mid-day I am working out the kinks on a business plan with a teammate to organize a Non-For-Profit fundraiser. So far, I have opted on a local charity and selected the title and theme, as well as picking the stars to help bring in cash flow. I am not sure in the end if my idea will be chosen for the main project in class, but I have had a great time pulling it together. I even feel confident that this could really serve the Non-For-Profit in the real world.

Later this evening there is an open forum to meet various businesses looking to hire graduates. I am going to attend in a business suit, but mostly just to see how this is run and possibly make some contacts. I am not eligible for employment until next year, at the earliest. :) I should be home by 10 and gone in the morning by 6:30. I guess this is why I am exhausted.

Time to head out. Hope you all have a fabulous day!

September Drip

2011-09-05T10:52:00.002-05:00

I nearly forgot that I participated in a Pinecone survey. Proof that I am overwhelmed! Even money isn't my top priority.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00

         Prior Months = $453.79
        Current Month = $ 3.00
       Need for goal = $143.21

If I make no more money this month, I need to bring in $47.74 a month in the last quarter of this year. Not bad!

This is ridiculous!!!

2011-09-05T09:49:00.000-05:00

I do not have the time to investigate this and I probably should assume the bank is right, but it hurts. My guess is we had too many days in between the last payment and this one, stimulating more interest than principal. Logic does not easy the pain. PERIOD!

Mortgage #4

Loan balance - $283,384.02 (-$15.98)
Payments left - 289....did this even go down?

I have nothing warm and fuzzy to say. Leaving me no choice but to keep my big fat mouth SHUT!

Scheduling....check

2011-09-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

You would think that a long weekend would gain me time flexibility, but I still feel a bit overwhelmed. Those powers that be have repeatedly said how difficult this semester would be and I should have listened. Two weeks in and I have soooo much to do.

Anyway, I am also closing out the company monthly books and doing our monthly items so it isn't all about school. I scheduled parents payment on loan and am still hoping the would like another investment from the house of us next year.

Mortgage #1

Loan balance - $28,117.18 (-$375.97)
Payments left - 65 (-1)

Delayed payment

2011-09-03T06:25:00.000-05:00

I am pre-paid on this mortgage by one month. It is my first line of protection in the worse case scenario. So, I don't get too concerned when a payment is initiated after the end of the month. This payment was over the months 31 day spread. I paid earlier in July for August and I paid later this month. I have just been busy and honestly I know about my cushion of time; so if something has to give it is the right choice. All things balance out in the end.

Mortgage #2

Loan balance - $68,224.75 (-$775.25)
Payments left - 66 (-2)

I haven't checked prior posts, but my payments left is bothering me. Why? Well I know for a fact that I need to refinance this loan in May 12' for the final 60 (5 year) payments. Which means at this moment I should be at 68 payments to go (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May +60). I guess my pre-payments are doing exactly what I wanted. My goal is to decrease the principal enough that the new refinanced payment is LESS than the current payment. A little elbow room if you will. Or to open an opportunity for outside financing (ie parents and loc).

Reality

2011-09-02T13:09:00.000-05:00

No matter how much I want to, I need to deprive my pre-payments. We just have such high monthly expenses that each tiny pre-payment puts our financial security at risk. It goes against pretty much every fiber in my body, but I need to focus on maintaining and even decreasing the daily costs. I would feel more optimistic if oldest college student didn't just reveal they are adding one more semester to their education. I'm kind of upset. It isn't necessary for graduation and this clearly adds an additional year to the four year education.

Top that off with the next child revealing he will be going into the fifth year as well and possibly a sixth if he takes a year co-op. OMG. Of course that co-op would be inbound cash that could provide us a full year off, plus establish his independence. I'm just frazzled by it all.

College child #3 reports she can graduate 1 semester early. Of course, now we may be traveling abroad during the spring semester for study abroad. On the one hand college will cost the same, on the other.....we have stress and travel costs to contend with.

So, lets review a boring regular payment.

Mortgage #3

Loan balance $163,420.22 (-$279.78)
Payments left 282 (-1)

Can You Say "EXPENNNNNNSIVE"?

2011-09-02T06:07:00.000-05:00

I knew this month was going to see our debt balances rise even more. Of course, we did have to move three children into their college homes. This involved security deposits for landlords, power companies and gas companies; not to mention food, cleaning and necessities (shower curtain, etc). You would think companies like Walmart and Target would be sending me letters of thanks for increasing their bottom lines.

I hope, but am not positive, that September will slow the spending and reverse back into pay down. It is just unclear at the moment since I am without free time to budget. Instead of forking over one check for college with dorm rooms, I am now paying monthly living expenses and I need to fit it all in a budget for 4 households. At any rate, this is where the equity line landed at 8/31:

Equity Line

Loan Balance $22,927.72

A Fast Update with a Nice Change

2011-09-01T06:27:00.000-05:00

I believe I spoke about an issue at our bank. As a refresher, they had alter their accounts and we were charged a monthly fee. I am not a fee "OK" person. They reversed the fee and we changed the account structure to an "Over 50" account...didn't make the husband proud about me using his age. :)

In less than a month this account change not only re-couped my 20¢ charged, but saved us $3 on a Cashiers Check (for DS apartment security deposit) and now earned us 7¢ in interest.

Those are tiny little changes, but they make me very happy!

Moments to Veggggg

2011-08-31T15:30:00.001-05:00

The last week and a half has been mostly about adjustments. Getting used to new instructors and fellow students, schedules, advisers, and material. The strangest thing happened about 15 minutes ago; I realized I have it all under control. All tasks are taken care of and I am in a perfect spot to begin review for two exams next week.

I am really excited about one course in which I discovered last week it is self-moderated. After Friday's class this week, you don't need to attend unless you have issues and homework needs to be turned in. So, basically my plan is to get all this work done ahead of time. This will clear a bit of my schedule prior to big projects in other classes. Then all I will need to do is turn in homework on Fridays. SWEET!

Another course is wrapped around career aids: building resumes, 5-minute elevator speech, mock interviews, and presentation of self. I have been gathering things to help this class flow seamlessly and that should be another time free-up. Except for the required club presentations and meetings, but I am looking forward to these things.

My adviser sent me information on a scholarship, so I am filling out the necessary paperwork. It requires certification of charitable time and professor recommendation letters, besides all the basic items; not an easy task. Hopefully I complete it all before the deadline. :) The longest time is coming from online questions, which require essay type answers.

Hope everyone is doing fabulous in their worlds. I am checking in on your blogs as time allows, but this is very limited.

Don't Hold Your Breath!

2011-08-31T06:50:00.000-05:00

I just received another payment from my online community association. It is both good and bad that it came on the last day of the month. Good that it is here and lowering the need in future months. Bad, because I have no idea if I will be earning more in the last third of the year. Time is a valuable commodity and being utilized for school and work...you know, the real money items.

For now, I am happy.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00
         Prior Months = $385.97
       Current Month = $67.82
       Need for goal = $146.21

I need to scrounge up $36.55 a month to tackle this goal. Time will tell.

4-Shot

2011-08-29T04:34:00.000-05:00

Networking is always a good thing. I think this goes back to the principles of helping each other in this sometimes difficult world of ours.

I find it amazing that we spend the first 20 years of our life trying to grow up, so we can be independent and take care of our own life; only to reverse the whole progress and search for others to help and offer help to us in return.

As I have been up since yesterday at 5 am, less a few stolen moments of un-restful sleep, I am regretting one person in my network. This network spoke of my wheel works at the local coffee house. When my husband and I stopped in while running errands, she increased our iced coffee from 3 shots of espresso to 4.

All I can say is - more is not always better.

Since sleep is impossible, I climbed out of bed and went to start my day. And today of all days, my coffee pot completely died. [you all should be terrified by that last statement] Lord help the crazy fool that gets in my way today.

I have not been purchasing my fuel at Walmart

2011-08-27T13:22:00.000-05:00

Even with the promotion that provides for 5¢ off a gallon, I've been better off purchasing at comparable locations and using my cash back visa for the 1% back. It's a numbers game for me, best price - even by only a penny gets my money.

Now that everyone is back to school I needed to stock our pantry instead of the little beggars. And when it comes to stock-up savings, Walmart beats all competitors in our area. Although I will never buy their meat or produce - ICK!

While pulling into the parking lot I saw a big sign that said 10¢ at the fueling station. Maybe I saw this before, but today it was all shiny and new to me. They are offering a ten cent reduction on fuel prices with the use of the Walmart Card or a Walmart Gift Card, until September 30, 2011!!

In my area this results in defeating the competition by 5¢ a gallon, after cash back credit card perks. Definitely worth my time.

Installing a New Inbox

2011-08-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

This new commute and educational process means that mail and business tasks, unless emergency status, are being held off till the weekend (ie today). I woke at 5 am today and have just finished handling the weeks mail and account reconciliations to make sure everything is running as should be. The majority of the time came from locating all the items. I have a pretty good system for tracking.

I have placed a new fixture on my desk, an inbox, to help keep my world clean and organized until I can face it. :)

My schedule didn't even allow time to open checks =( . The good news is I received a survey check from Synovate!

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00

         Prior Months = $385.97
        Current Month = $52.82
       Need for goal = $161.21

Woo-Hoo! This means I only need $41.55 a month till the end of the year. This is about to turn difficult based on my free time...which is non-existent. Hopefully I get more organized though!

One More To Go

2011-08-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. I'm not sleeping, reading constantly and learning more than I thought I could in one week. On the other hand, my significant age difference is alter much of the material from need to learn, to already known. One perk to maturity; if only I could eliminate some of the negative aspects. :)

I have one class left this week, set to start shortly and I think after the weekend, I will be better prepared for this experience. Especially since many of the tasks [meeting new people, filling out my date book with important information, club introductions, orientation, etc] will be out of the picture. Less to do is always a good thing.

I spoke with Barnes & Nobel yesterday and ... I'm not sure how this left me feeling. I didn't end the conversation with a warm and fuzzy, but instead concern over the companies future follow through. They are unable to get me the book I need [which is terrible because the online book IS NOT for me] and they want me to send the book they sent me in error back. I'm okay with sending back, but I don't have a box. It needs to go UPS, so I may hit a UPS store and have them box it. This will cost me money and I am not happy about that. You would thing a big company would send a box for this sort of thing. After all HP did it for my son's computer - shouldn't it be common practice to ensure the product arrives safely. Maybe they don't know I am a COLLEGE Student on limited funds. I could just be a textbook junky.

Anyhow, time will tell if I receive my refund. The CSR said I will, but I am not confident of Barnes and Nobel's follow through. Someone please remind me NOT to order important books from them again. I should only by my frivolous reads. This important mix up is costing me a ton more than the $155 I paid for the book. [insert my frustration and exhaustion]

Hoping to check out the rest of your worlds this weekend, but not before I have a cocktail on my deck to recoup.

Adding one more company to the list

2011-08-22T18:58:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't have believed this one if I didn't see it with my own eyes. I know I am discouraged and exhausted lately, but dang could someone please remove the sucker label or target that must be shining on my head?

I ordered one of my textbooks from Barnes and Nobel in July. I have never ordered textbooks from them, because they seem to run higher than other options. That said, we all know that I am a frequent book store customer and Barnes and Nobel regular. Let's not take a closer look at how much I actually spend there, it could be upsetting.

When I order books online I tend to be a bit OCD. From the first find to the receipt at my door, I check and recheck ISBN's to make sure I have the correct required text. Mostly because I order from secondary sources and lets face it, things happen. I trusted Barnes & Nobel and that was my first mistake.

I'm going to condense this, because complaining is getting so old.

ordered particular ISBN book ~$10 less than bookstore at school. I was unable to find it anywere else
Book arrived and I verified the ISBN on the back label to my school list. They match perfect. Even the label that B&N stuck on says the right number and title of the book.
My class is tomorrow and this is a loose leaf item, which means if you open it - you bought it (NO RETURNS). So, I once again verified the ISBN and title, all was good. However, I felt uneasy because the packaging top didn't have the same picture. You know how sometimes there are different covers - I thought I was being silly. After all I have never purchased a loose leaf item before and B&N says this is my book.
I opened book to insert into 3 Ring Binder - CRAP!!! Not the right book. Even had a different ISBN on the Connect inside. BUMMER!
Tried to call B & N, because this is clearly a mistake on their end. They put the sticker on the wrong book. They have to by-pass rules for this. It almost $156. OMGosh!!!
High Call Volume = disconnected MULTIPLE TIMES.
Sent email from their site.

Now I wait. I'll let you know if they respond and what happens. I'm just freaking at another $156 spent in our already over stressed budget. When will this end?

Scored With Swagbucks

2011-08-22T18:24:00.000-05:00

I just received another Amazon gift card from Swagbucks! Nice little addition.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00

         Prior Months = $385.97
        Current Month = $47.82
       Need for goal = $166.21

Okay I am blame my simple subtraction issues on stress. I'm not sure when it occurred but my math has been off. I need to bring in $41.55 a month from here on out to hit the goal.

A Huge Thank You!!!

2011-08-22T07:06:00.000-05:00

I am loading up and preparing to head out to my first class of my junior year. Since I have continually been whining about my keyboard issues on the laptop that is mandatory for today's class I feel I need to share a revelation.

Kasey commented on one of my depressing posts that I.T. guys have been known to change keys for comical reasons. Thus, providing hope that I could manipulate my own keyboard to assist with this. Last night, after trying everything else, I had pretty much resigned myself to purchasing another computer. Frustration was the key motivator. Then, I re-read Kasey's comment and thought I should at least attempt this sort of thing. Although I was not confident. I can move about the computers pretty well, but I am by no means a computer tech.

I found a program called SharpKeys and it allowed me to change the registry of my keys. [insert happy dance]. The program is free and so easy. My Right Alt is now my new L.

It will be frustrating at times, but I can suffer for a while. Thank you Kasey!!! Your 2 cents meant a lot to me and my sanity!

Less than 24 more hours until some form of normalcy returns

2011-08-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

So many things are still up in the air here, but the final move back to school is near. We are still hemorrhaging money and panic seems to have taken over my insides. I am doing my best to remember to breath and take everything one task at a time. Hope it works.

I am glad I attended the new student thing at my university. It provided me we a bit of comfort about my upcoming task. I have completed the homework for Monday (I believe) and should be able to make a smoother adjustment. I won a raffle while there and had to be signaled out. Not always a good thing, but I survived. Remember my husbands ex works there...made it impossible to hide in a crowd. :( I survived, so that is a good thing. Only 2-3 years of this to go. hahaha.

I am unable to repair my computer and one of my courses requires "extensive use" in class. Bummer. I haven't decided which way to go. Computers are so expensive and this is only one key. Unbelievable.

The weather is amazing here in my neck of the woods. The air is fresh and I am just loving it. Even read my homework on the deck in the sun.

Is Mercury Retrograde to blame?

2011-08-19T05:57:00.000-05:00

444 commented about Mercury and it's effects on us, prompting me to do a web search. It appears that Mercury is making a little dance in the sky.

When I woke up this morning, I mentally challenged myself to alter my perspective. I have to believe if I can change internally I can stop the flooding of negative things. Then I read 444's comments and felt my shoulders and back relax; much better to remove blame from myself and deposit it on Mercury. After all, can't really hear Mercury object or counter the thought. =)

I guess that means I win!!!

My replacement key has not arrived, so I am still struggling to type. This blog is the least of my worries. Classes begin on Monday and every single class has homework or reading to be completed prior to class time. OMG! [I am calm. I am at peace. I can handle anything.]

Today is the Meet & Greet at my new university. I am so nervous that I am vibrating as I sit here. Why? I wish I had the confidence of the rest of the world. Even my youngest is not nervous about his first day of college next week. I hate using excuses, but this particular meet & greet will involve seeing my husbands ex-wife....not looking forward to this. Just one more stressor. [I am calm. I am at peace. I can handle anything.]

Yesterday, resembling a busy bee I began the long process of reading professor syllabus - mostly to verify I had everything I need. This is how I discovered the massive quantities of reading and homework. One class even suggested buying a prior class book for reference - it is $350. If one good thing came out of that discovery it was the author name. The author is a business client of ours. To make the deal sweeter, my husband was headed to this authors house last night. He has graciously offered to bestow on me an autographed new book! Yay!

After the great need to begin discovery was made, I opened my university email and found I need immunization records at the school. I have been worried sick about this. Ironic, because I am never sick. Here is the issue in a nutshell - I have no records. My childhood was a constant flurry of moves. I never saw a regular doctor and best I can recall my final immunizations prior to high school were performed at one of those quickie medical facilities. I don't have an involved mom that would of kept records. I guess I am screwed and if I don't have them submitted by early September they will begin assessing fees. I'm going to give them a call and see if I can just get new immunizations. I know the college offers them and this may be a reason for me to activate the student health care - instant return on my money.

Honestly Enough Already!

2011-08-18T16:49:00.000-05:00

I think it is time to discontinue my news subscriptions. Based on history, news is something I can live without and with it can cause serious physical ailments. Most news agencies tend to embellish so much that the reported stories become closer to fantasy or fiction. I can honestly say that not one news agency comes to mind that has not utilized fear and drama to sell papers.

At this moment, I am pondering if it is our freedom of the press that is growing the American ASS. Stress , worry and anxiety are big stimulator's for poor eating choices and discouraged minds that create idle bodies.

Just a few panic topics issued by these folks (some that never became anything of substance):

West Nile Disease
Swine Flu
Recession
Stock market crash
Stock market falls again
Foreclosures at record highs
If the debt ceiling is not raised....
If we do not get a nationwide health plan...

You get the idea. Instead of search for the good things from these items, like a valuation correction or reduced consumer burdens, they tell us repeatedly about our impending death by:?????

Perhaps 2012 will be the end - the end of our current governmental structures and the return of peaceful lives.

I was going to ignore Michelle Bachmann

2011-08-18T08:06:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Tribune has published an article regarding Michelle Bachmann's claim to bring back $2 gas. The paper does a quality job of pointing out flaws with this declaration, but I think they left out one tiny tid-bit.

If any of our elected officials have the knowledge to do something like this (negating the issues with it), why must they wait to get in the works? Stop telling us what you could do if we vote you in again or to the next level and start performing today. Performance is a guaranteed re-election or promotion. The best job performance that is.

Just my 2 cents. If you are in office and your promises for the future are not on the platform now...even if only in the beginning stages, they should be ignored as hot air.

Cha-ching that is another increase

2011-08-18T07:59:00.000-05:00

I have virtually discontinued all attempts for extra income. Stress and the lack of time being the main contributors to this decision. When Pinecone sends an email though, I do my best to get on it. This source is a guaranteed income producer; making it a cut above the rest. I recently earned another $3 with this fabulous company.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00
        Prior Months = $385.97
      Current Month = $42.82
      Need for goal = $173.21

$43.30 for the last four months of this year will secure the goal. I wish I could divert the massive spending hole in our bucket with these sources, but it just can't happen in my current position.

Always Trust Your Gut!

2011-08-17T13:56:00.000-05:00

I am far from perfect, as is completely apparent on this blog. That said, I have a few skills that are unmatched by others. I know I am good at decorating and color matching. I have absolutely no idea why, but I am. When my husband and I first got together he would freak when I told him any decorating plans. Now he sits back and says he trusts any choices I make.

My charitable involvements have been centered around color and textures - decorating at its finest. However, this is a group project and I will not force a group to go where they do not want to be. Or at least I thought I wouldn't.

When we gathered to plan our redecorating path and the group came to a selection, I voiced that the one color chosen would not work and would actually appear as another color. The group did not take to my view and held fast to theirs, mostly because of one vocal freight train of a gal. Don't get me wrong I admire this woman's strength, but some times you need to hear those around you. This was one of those times.

Painting began while I was out of town and I made it to the site yesterday. When I saw their color selection, I was not only upset, but disgusted by the look. I just don't understand why folks can't see it. And since my name is on this project, I handed out new instructions for the painters.

Mean while, this caused quite a raucous with the others. I was repeatedly treated poorly yesterday. Which amazes me, because they all later agreed that colors were not what they thought.

The painters promised me a change by this morning and I have just returned from checking out my selection. Folks it is BEAUTIFUL. Exactly as I had envisioned it in my brain. While basking in what I believe to be one of my quality moments, seven different members came to evaluate and all were in awe. Yes, I am proud. I even heard from others working on the project that there had been more people that came and said they had never seen anything so beautiful.

No one has apologized for yesterday and I am okay with this. After all, I know I stepped out of my bounds and went against the crowd, which probably is not the thing to do. Plus, I am not the person that does this...ever. I have even called the freight train gal, but she didn't answer. She was so upset yesterday (I guess because no one has ever overridden her before) that I don't expect anything, but I was hoping that she would eventually concede to my talent.

I never intentionally wanted to upset anyone, but I was selected to be on this committee and I take my job and responsibilities seriously...even if I never wanted to be involved. You see, it isn't in me to do something half-assed. Especially if I know the way to make it rock.

One of the reasons I over-road the crowd was my husband. He saw the results first and literally begged me to do something. He badgered me all night Monday, because we had discussed the colors in detail and he knew I was not on board with some of the choices. He knows I don't like to force my views on anyone. He said I should do it just this once, because it is important. He also rallied in many others from other committees to back my actions. What I've learned is that sometimes your gut is not selfish, but leads you for the greater good for all.

Trust your gut and what you know folks!

Corporate Compaints

2011-08-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

Something is off kilter lately. I seem to not only have private issues, but corporations, even those I love, are turning my stomach.

A couple days ago I posted about the Walgreen's issue at our store. Not that I was searching for restitution, but I contacted corporate to make them aware of my grievance. I was delighted that they actually read my email and followed it up with a management call to rectify the situation. I really was not looking for a personal fix, but hoping to rectify the issue for all loyal shoppers. As a business owner, I know how important quality feed back can be. I wont be pursuing their restitution, but I do appreciate the response. Kudos to Walgreens!

When entering the nearly thousand dollars worth of receipts from Target in the past week, I noticed that 6 times the clerks neglected to credit me 5¢ per reusable bag. I have 6 and used them EVERY time we hit the store except 1, when we bought super large boxed items. This isn't big money, but that $1.80 bothers me.

I was extremely overwhelmed and I just assumed that Target clerks know their job and would (without my saying) credit me appropriately.

I emailed Target's corporate and was discouraged by the reply. It came from a nobody in the corporate chain...so small down the line that she didn't even use a last name, just Shannon. Very poor response Target! Plus, her response was so generic that it could have went to anyone with an issue. The only variable part was when she included the rules for using reusable bags. Frankly, this INSULTED me. I am not an idiot. I am a regular customer and I deserve at a very minimum respect.

Basically after trying to talk down to me, she told me it would be up to me to get the credit. ?????really????? Bad business move Target CSR. I suggest that before ringing out the sale, you have your very smart computer registers freeze the transaction with a pop up that say - DID THIS CUSTOMER UTILIZE ANY REUSABLE BAGS? At which point the clerk could click NO or enter how many bags were used. If it is an offering at your business, employees should know this and do it without instruction from a customer. Is it really that difficult to figure out? Are those pennies, $1.80 in my case for a $1k in spending, really worth leaving a customer without a warm and fuzzy?

Never Had It, Never Will

2011-08-17T08:15:00.000-05:00

One thing I have learned in life is that it takes many right moves to counter one bad move. We bank with a local bank, I know I have shared this before but this is going somewhere...and generally it is a good thing. Where it becomes a bad thing is travelling, like we recently were. For the most part we charge everything, but when travelling it is a good thing to have some handy cash and when your husband forgets to grab the cash before you leave, you are forced to find an ATM.

This is where my Electric Orange ING Account comes in. This free account has been a life saver for moments like these.

While down south we were in desperate need of cash. Goodwill's in this part of the country DO NOT take debit or charge cards (gasp). They also have no frequent shopper discounts or card (double gasp). Plus, their items which are no better than our local variety are twice +++ the cost (triple gasp). Since this is the preferred location for college housing items, we ran out of our limited cash fast.

So, I began the search for an ATM. I needed to find one that was a member of ING's, which can generally be found on the back of any credit or debit card. Most times there are multiple brands. I found a STAR brand, like on the back of our ING card, at Bank of America. I will NEVER go to another Bank of America again. Those fools charged me $3. I have never paid a fee to use my own money and I am not happy with this. It was a semi emergency and I should have kept moving, but time and pressure were on my back.

The funny thing is that I will never look at their bank again. Not for a mortgage, savings, checking, or any other product. This is how I roll. That $3 may not be much in the whole scheme of things to a large bank like Bank of America, but to me it is a humongous neon sign saying:

"NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THEM!!!"

23% of Illinois High School Graduates College Ready

2011-08-17T07:54:00.000-05:00

This article in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois ACT scores rise, but only 23% ready for core college courses, is just ridiculous. Not to say it isn't true, because it is. It is the pressure placed on educators to create quality test takers and not to educate. Thank you - No Child Left Behind. In the end, the majority are left behind in education.

I've often spoke of how my youngest struggles in school. It has been a battle and he scored fabulously on his ACT. I expected the higher score, because he attended all the evening preparation classes. Where basically children were taught how to master the test - without knowledge. Apparently it worked too. I understand that schools lose funding if children's scores are not sufficient, but does being a quality test taker worth the lost knowledge as teachers struggle to create higher scores?

Personally I would rather take a foot of knowledge that stays with me forever - than a mile of high test scores.

Why is it?

2011-08-16T16:50:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here pretending I will not have another migraine headache today. It's not working, like a slow freight train it is sneaking up on me as it has done since I returned home. My guess is that it is my body and spirit screaming "ENOUGH". Times like these have me pondering - why do bad things happen all together. Can't they spring in between the good instead, so it doesn't emotionally rip you up.

Or maybe I am the only one that finds their repetitive attack overwhelming?!

Serves me right for stopping and enjoying a few vacation days. A 3 day break from the issues around me must have been too long. I'm not going to bore you with all the details but here is a snippet of some of the burdens that are forcing me into craziness and depression.

DD3 - car needs more repairs before she heads out.
DS2 - is still missing needed items for college which begins Monday
My charitable activities and work did not come together in my absence and in fact has been bumbled. I spent hours on this today.
Evidently my charitable actions are being enjoyed, because Father has issued me more tasks....I need time.
I thought my classes didn't start until Monday, but I received an email that requires my presence on Friday.
Tenant, not from monster property, bounced rent check on us while we were gone.
We received a letter from a lawyers office about a possible legal suit - for which we are not in the wrong, but will need to pay an attorney to defend ourselves and our property.
DD's college home has SUBSTANTIAL issues and she does not have the luxury of time or money to find suitable alternative. Landlord is not responding to our concerns.
Mower broke when we went to mow

I could go on, but this is not helping me to vent (remember my computer has no L), only serving to push me farther into the why me's. My girlfriend told me today..."you need a good cry", I would but who has time. I just hope I don't explode from the pressure.

Oh No!!!!

2011-08-15T12:22:00.002-05:00

Classes are set to begin on Monday and my laptop is having issues. Yesterday I turned it on to discover that my L key does not work at all. How can that be? I have only used the laptop for school and I have only had it since beginning. Actually I think I grabbed it at Best Buy in November before I began in January 2010.

Prior to this purchase I have only had Gateway's and I never had issues. :( Wish I would have purchased something else this is the 2nd issue. I have been scouring the web and there seem to be few options for me:

replace the key itself
attach another keyboard through the USB port - this would stink at school
or, I thought it was a joke...buy a new computer

The key doesn't feel broken. Meaning I feel the same pressure as other keys when typing. I did order a replacement key though and it cost just under $8 delivered. I hope it works, but I will not hold my breath.

I probably will purchase an external keyboard, since I paid nearly $1200 for this machine. OMG!!!!!!!! Why now? Like I don't have enough on my plate at the moment.

You have no idea how often I type words with the letter "L". The on-screen keyboard is no cluttering my view.

Any thoughts or ideas on my current drama would be appreciated. I'm pretty handy and can repair things myself if I am pointed in the right direction.

Oh, I forgot to add it is an HP Pavilian dv6 ... just in case this matters.

Book: Summer Island

2011-08-15T07:28:00.000-05:00

With bulldog intensity I am enjoying Kristin Hannah's books. Amazing that she has so many and I am only now dipping my toes in this pool of emotion. I use the term emotion because dang she slams subjects that I think most of us have encountered in one form or another. The age range is compatible with my 40 something range and I guess I relate, sometimes more than I wish I did.

This book was so similar to my own life and issues with my mother. Less the motherly side the woman had when her kids were young; my mother did not possess those types of skills. Without motherly skills I can see why it was easier for her to chase her career dreams and leave her two minor children (without supervision) to raise themselves.

Anyhow, that is another story.

How many of us keep things back? We tell people only what is necessary and hide what is most important, especially from those we love; cloaking the issues with ideas that we are protecting them. I tend to believe the concept is garbage. Most of us hide things because it hurts us and we just want it to go away. I know because I live this every day. I protect myself. Exposure on a very real basis could destroy me and my highly emotional self.

If you have ever felt lost, lonely or estranged from your mother - this is a must read. Secrets kill relationships and I truly believe that the only thing to do with skeletons is to pull them out of the closet and dance with them. Although, it is a constant struggle for me. I do this amazingly well with my current world and very poorly when it comes to my first family. I find myself not sharing the pain and issues that even when I don't speak of them are drowning my spirits in sorrow underneath. I sometimes chuckle to myself when people say "you are always happy"...if they only new the pain that weighs on me.

I feel like this book helped me to take a new look at my burdens. Maybe even provided hope that things aren't what they seem and change is possible.

Spending a fortune with a 60% and 25% savings

2011-08-14T17:05:00.000-05:00

After being away for a week it is a must to go shopping. I really am not in the mood for shopping, since it is all we seem to be doing anymore, but there is not option. After coffee and the paper, I found some fabulous coupons to add to my box before heading out.

My first stop this morning was to Walgreens where all but one of my planned purchase deals worked. The one that didn't is making me wonder if I should notify corporate, only because of the managers response or should I say lack of one. This is a topic for another day.

Here was my score today:

3 Kraft Mac & Cheese - with Wags ad coupon only 69¢ a box ($1.22 at Target - so I grabbed the maximum allowed since one coed lives on this stuff) = 3/$2.07
Crest Toothpaste & Scope Mouthwash 2/$6 -$1.25 coupons - $3 RR = 2/$1.75
Pert 2 in 1 - $3.99 - $1 coupon -$3 RR = (-$0.01)
Dove Shampoo & Conditioner & 2 Deodorants 4/$15 - 2/B1G1 coupons - $5 RR = 4/$1.02
Colgate sensitive pro-relief toothpaste - $4.99 -$1.50 coupon - $3 RR = $0.49
2 Reach Toothbrushes - 2/$5 - 2/$1 coupons - $3 RR = 2/$0.00
3 Skintimate Shaving Creams - Wags Ad coupon $1.99 ea - 2/$1 off coupons (had 3 - thus issues) = 3/$3.97
2 8 packs of Bic Pens - Wag coupon 99¢ each - $1 off coupon = 2/ 98¢

I paid out of pocket $29.97 and received $17 in Register Rewards = $12.97 total cost representing a 60% discount. Which I feel is a great deal for all I got.

Then I headed to Target, where I spent a fortune and will not bore you with all the details. However, there were a few good deals to share:

2 Purina Dog Chow - on sale for $11.06 ea - $1 coupon - $5 Target gift card = $21.12 for 2 20b bags
2 Schick Quatro Blades - $10.89 ea - $2 coupon - $5 Target gift card = $19.78 for 2
General Mills Cereals - 3/$7.50 - $1 target coupon - $1.50 coupons = 3/$5
Suave Deodorant - $0.97 - $0.75 coupon = $0.22
Jif to go - $2.29 - $2.29 coupon = $0.00
2 Pack Reach Toothbrushes $3.49 - $2 Target Coupon - $1 coupon = $0.49
10 Smart Ones (frozen meals) - $1.79 each - $3 coupon = 10/$14.90

There were many more deals, but I bought so much...it's hard to remember. Many good things on sale, like milk.

Over all I saved 60% at Walgreen and 25% at Target (including my 5% using the card) They did not give me the 5c per grocery bag again....I'm just too tired to fight this stuff right now. :(

Catching up

2011-08-13T12:07:00.000-05:00

I've been attempting to catch up on everything that has happened since last weekend. I think it is a battle best waged over time, especially since I am exhausted already. Piles of mail, hundreds of emails, laundry, cleaning, shopping.....I just can't do it all today. Maybe I haven't left vacation mode yet. Unproductive would be a good description of me today.

Other news:

I earned and already received another $3 from Pinecone ***heart this service

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00
         Prior Months = $385.97
        Current Month = $39.82
       Need for goal = $174.21

$43.56 a month till year end will see this goal achieved. I'm hoping!

Safely Home & Worth the Price

2011-08-13T08:47:00.001-05:00

The last week has been a flurry of activity. Moving, shopping, dining, and even throwing in some vacation time. Honesty it was one of the best times I have ever had moving a child to school. Of course, we planned it this way on purpose. Especially after one of our friends told us "you are good at taking time off of work, but that isn't vacation." He was so right.

After running like lunatics shopping and setting up 2 houses for 2 kids, we were crashing in our hotel room like we had run a marathon every night.

We decided to take a detour on the way home and spend 2 days with no schedules and just doing what we want. It was VERY awkward at first. I really don't think that anyone without children could understand. For years, every step we take, every thing we do has a purpose and usually for one of the kids. Don't get me wrong - I completely believe this was our job. I just wish we didn't lose ourselves along the way.

I'm missing a few charge slips, but it is near $2k spent this week. My Quicken file says $1800 at the moment. Generally I would be berating myself for this kind of cash out pouring, but we really needed a break and I feel extraordinarily well today.

Or I did before opening the mail......

Extra Payments Saving a Little

2011-08-06T10:21:00.000-05:00

My extra payments to mortgages are really tiny. We are not seeing any huge progress because of them. However, there is progress and isn't that what it is all about?

So far for 2011 we have prepaid:

Mortgage #3 - $144.32
Mortgage #4 - $182.66
and the target Mortgage #2 - $1051.74

The $1,378.72 is nothing to write home about...until you realize how expensive our existence is and how truly amazing it is that we can do this while battling life and college bills.

These prepayments all together save us 23.4¢ a day, $7.02 a month and $85.41 a year. These are actual payment dollars moving from interest payments to principal payments - so they are actually helping us to decline balances even faster with regular payments.

Currently our 2011 daily interest is $88.44. This is a decline of $3.65 a day, $109.50 a month and $1,332.25 a year since December 31st, 2010.

Extra Income From Ebates

2011-08-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

This may be a slight review of some information. I received a payment from Ebates for $16.82. I have a few dollars posted to be paid next time from Orbitz and my purchases at Barnes & Noble and Sears have not posted yet. That should be a few dollars because B & N's purchase was $156 and Sears was $399. I'm really surprised that they are not credited yet. And honestly, quite concerned. I'll wait till after the moving this week, then shoot an email to Ebates.

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00
         Prior Months = $385.97
       Current Month = $36.82
       Need for goal = $177.21

I know I shouldn't have, but my crazies wouldn't leave me alone. I rounded down two more mortgages. I sent $88.81 to Mortgage #4 & $21.63 to Mortgage #3. This brings 3 mortgages to end with beautiful zeros:

Mortgage #2 - $69,000
Mortgage #3 - $163,700
Mortgage #4 - $283,400

I completely forgot about the Sales Tax Holiday

2011-08-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

Probably because Illinois is BANKRUPT.

When we arrived at Kohl's last night they were giving an instant 10% off to all customers for a Tax Break! SWEET!!! One more reason to love Kohl's. We only found 3 things to grab last night: Husband found a pair of shorts, I found a clearance top and son snagged the luggage he needed.

Total Cost Break Down:

Luggage $95.99
Shorts $18.99
Top $2.80

Our sub-total was $117.78. I had a 20% coupon that saved us $23.56 and the Instant 10% saved us $9.43. After tax we paid $91.36. $74.47 for our son and $16.89 for us. I think we did pretty well. A few years ago I bought this same luggage and paid over $10 more with our discounts.

***I forgot to mention that we received $10 in Kohl's cash too! It can be spent between 8/10 and 8/20.

Getting ready to go shopping

2011-08-05T16:34:00.000-05:00

I wasn't planning on this trip [is that shock you hear?], but my son is looking to purchase luggage today. He saw a set on sale at Kohl's and was heading out and I stopped him. I have a 20% off coupon and it has to be used with my Kohl's card to work. So, I sent him on errands for me, while I went to wrap up my charitable job with the church.

I just finished this non-paying job and it took all day to wrap up. I'm bushed. Most of the time was in the sweltering heat. I'm just taking a few minutes to cool down and rejuvenate before we head out. Or I thought so, until my husband heard we were going and said we should wait for him. Apparently he needs shorts. Don't we all. :)

I received the bill from my HVAC friend and it was so much cheaper than I thought it would be. Yes it still cost a couple pennies, but that was some of the best $110.08 I have ever spent. I would have paid way over this for the cool air that I am enjoying at this moment.

Our cross country trip begins in less than 48 hours and I need to squeeze in packing, 2 birthdays and a little rest. I'll pop around, but one can only guess how much free time I will find. So, if you don't hear from me - have a fabulous week, be safe and stay cool!

First Semester Community College

2011-08-04T16:39:00.002-05:00

Last week my youngest and I worked out his first semester of college and registered the for classes. Earlier this week I received a letter from the school that said his classes were cancelled for lack of payment. Honestly, I figured they would just apply the subsidized loan to the balance due...like they did for me. This prompted us to go back online today and reselect classes and then pay with a credit card. $1450 later he is register for the classes that will begin in 3 weeks.

My guess is they will refund the subsidized loan in September and I will be able to pay off the visa. The good thing is we are earning 1% cash back. =] That's $14.50!! My son has the money for these classes, with our input of cash - but we decided to go the subsidized way. This way he gets an interest free loan, we don't have to finance our portion and we can save up to pay it off when he is done with school. Or at least our portion of the loan. He can do what he wants when he is there. My guess is he will pay it off. He is very frugal and always has a cash stash. Word is if you are short on cash go to him for a short term loan; at least this is what my big time shopping little girl does.

Only missing one more college bill, and a couple more textbooks (I think 4, but oldest son is holding out on his until he is positive he can't acquire them cash free), moving fuel, hotel costs, dining out, first month rent and security for oldest son, and miscellaneous goodwill shopping. I guess 'only' means thousands of dollars. The clock is ticking and we still have much money to shell out.

Dude I'm NOT Dressed

2011-08-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

As is the case most mornings I am sitting in my skivvies working in my office this morning when someone pounds on my back french doors that have a clear view of me. Who comes to the back door? Our friend the HVAC guy. Big surprise but yesterday our air conditioning went out [I hate this money pit]. Our friend came and fixed it, leaving us with the knowledge that a new a/c is in our future (he saw oil) and we should begin piling our nickels for the $2600 expense.

How come it feels like my throat is swelling shut even when I am just typing those words?

Anyway, he said he got another message from my husband that said our air was out. Which it is not. It was and is a beautiful temperature in here. Evidently he forgot to clear his messages yesterday. As I remain in front of him exposing more than I care too. Arghhhhh....I need a job that requires me to get dressed and leave my home.

I'm showered now and in a pair of shorts, but I still feel ... weird.

As you can tell from the above, we are spending even more money. This is not the end of that story though. Oldest daughters car died in our garage and it is not going to be a cheap fix. My husband does not have the very pricey computer required to do this job on the foreign car (that I told them both NOT to buy, because of this....of course, his response was "they run forever"...really???) I would rather have an American car that can be repaired for a price I can afford than a foreign one that any repair is like a new car down payment. She has only had this vehicle for 2-3 years and it has already had more money spent on it than my GM car which is older and been here longer, and bought used.

Strictly my opinion and based on my own experiences - love your car whatever it is.

On the way to move our first child yesterday the service engine soon light appeared in hubby's truck. Suggesting he will need a repair soon too, unless it is an oxygen sensor or something he feels is insignificant. We have the computer to check the issue for this.

Anyway - my point is we continue to bleed money. I see no relief and am concerned about the next 2 moves costing us even more money. At this point even a band-aid wouldn't help, were going to need stitches.

Book: 48 Days To The Work You Love

2011-08-04T07:09:00.031-05:00

I just finished Dan Miller's 48 Days To The Work You Love. This book has been on my to read list for quite a while and my son had purchased it many moons ago. At a party over the weekend, I mentioned wanting to read it still and came home to find it waiting my Lazy Boy. I appreciate his efforts, because I've seen his room. =]

I had high hopes of reading something magical in this book. One of those things where the light bulb goes off and an Ah-Ha moment occurs. This did not happen for me. I found most of the pages filled with examples of people either living to work or working to live. Yet, nothing real solid for how to be alter ones self from the later to the former.

Don't get me wrong, I agree 100% with the premise of the book. I firmly believe we should work at something we are passionate about. After all, we spend the majority of our life working. We should enjoy it. What I am not so eloquently saying is that this book was common sense for me.

I wouldn't pass this book up though.

The gem of this book is in the last half. Mr. Miller tackles those fears we all have about searching for employment. He fabulously walks you through introductions, resumes, interviews, preparation of questions interviewers may ask, questions you should ask an interviewer and important hints like when you speak dollars. This book could really be an asset for someone looking for work.

Wally Challenges B.B.

2011-08-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

One of the perks to buying electronics at Best Buy is the fact that you can finance it with 0% interest for up to 18 months. That zero percent rate makes most purchases at Best Buy do-able. I like to pretend I paid for it, by stashing the cash in an interest bearing account - which makes the monthly payments and pays it off before the deadline. I know I am not getting rich, but I just feel like I am getting something I would not regularly. It brings me joy.

I just received an email from my Walmart Credit Card - which I never applied for, but my first credit card EVER turned into this when Montgomery Ward closed - is giving customers another option for electronics:

No interest if paid in

full within 18 months

on laptop and computer accessory

purchases of $429 or more made

in-store on your Walmart® Credit Card.*

Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid in full within 18 months. Minimum monthly payments required.

July 29 – September 6, 2011

Slowly Wally makes his moves on B.B. My guess is many of the millions of shoppers at his world, will take advantage of this offer. I personally prefer BB for my electronic purchases. Possibly because I don't have to walk through produce, dairy, underwear, auto parts or household items to reach the things that bring me joy. I do enjoy options though~!

Mturk Balancing Things Out!

2011-08-03T09:28:00.000-05:00

I completed a couple opportunities on Mturk yesterday. Then this morning I went to begin ordering the youngest childs college textbooks. I found some great deals on Amazon and placed my order. Amazon applied my $30 in community payments as well as $5 earned on Mturk! Yippee!

I wasn't expecting the Mturk cash, so in celebration of the $5 - I sent $3.52 to Mortgage #2 and rounded that puppy down to an even $69K.

Much better!

Extra 2011 Money = $600.00

         Prior Months = $385.97
        Current Month = $20.00
        Need for goal = $194.03

Even if I neglected to collect any more dollars this month I would only need $48.51 for each of the next 4 months. Of course, I am hoping to earn something along the way!

Major Fail

2011-08-03T08:02:00.020-05:00

I used to religiously check our credit and credit scores. I haven't even peeked since last November when our bank sent us our scores for the refinance. Then my oldest credit card sent me notice that I can have my credit score for free and updated regularly for free, anytime I want. Nice!

I clicked on the okay button and was a tiny bit disappointed. My TransUnion Score is at 818 (on an 850 scale). Don't get me wrong this is a great overall score, but I'm competitive and want to be at the top. Looking back at November this is a tiny increase. It probably would have been more, but I opened that Target Credit Card and canceled others, plus I just took a gigantic zero percent deal (which probably isn't reflected yet).

The good news is we have paid off $21,032.11 so far this year, even with the extra spending. We are about $88k less than when I started this blog and I am hoping to be near $100k less by year end. We should be over this and below $550k total. Come on giant milestone!

Brick & Mortar Bank Changes

2011-08-03T05:29:00.002-05:00

Our July Checking Statement had a fee on it. I have never paid a fee and almost had a stroke when I saw it. Kind of dramatic and severe response for twenty cents....but dang it, it is my 20¢. I have banked with this particular bank since 1990 and have never had banking fees. Although, I have paid them a substantial amount of interest for mortgages.

Things were much easier before the big banking bust. Our hometown bank was purchased by some bigger bank from North Dakota (I think) and everything keeps changing. Including all the employees inside that bank. November promises to be another month of huge firings and major changes once again - per my contact on the inside.

Naturally the first thing I did when I saw that fee was shoot an email out to my contact. They are reversing our fee and changing our account to a classic account. This account is 100% free, pays interest, and comes with extra perks (like free cashier checks).

You might wonder - why didn't they put us there immediately? Good question! This is an age restricted account. You have to be 50 years or older to get this account. Thanks to my husbands age we are eligible. There is another free account, but it doesn't pay interest or come with perks and is available to all - with a $100 minimum balance.

One other noticeable change this month was that they credited interest to our savings account. This brick and mortar bank has never credited interest monthly, it has always accumulated and been credited quarterly. I like this change.

The thing with both these accounts is that I don't keep much money here. They are both only there to have cash flow through and to keep cash near for an emergency.

Has your bank made changes lately?