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Archive for March, 2018

Daily update

March 22nd, 2018 at 09:33 pm

I received my state tax return of 1300+. I put 1000 toward the cc debt and kept about 300 for future spending I know is coming.

I received $394.98 for travel reimbursements – parking and mileage to meetings for work. I put that toward my car maintenance savings making it $1912. I am still waiting on another $125 in reimbursements for parking and mileage that will go to this account.
I also save $100 a month to this account from my pay check and 5% of any house and pet sitting income.

Need to do some grocery shopping. I only picked up a few things on Sunday to make it through the week.

I am housesitting for a client next week for the week. That is $352 I will put in the bank for a short time until I run the numbers for the rest of the year. I think I know of all expenses that may pop up during the rest of the year but I will double check this weekend. It may stay in savings for a short time or go to the zero interest credit card debt.

My two sliding glass door screen doors are being repaired this week. $105 for both plus a window screen, and pick-up/drop off. I tried doing it myself but I have NO patience for this sort of work. Mentally it was better to find someone to do it. And several friends asked for recommendations so this will help them, too, if they do a good job. It was much cheaper than replacing two odd sized doors.

Busy preparing for the interviews and prepping answers to an online promotional exam. harder than I anticipated it to be. I really want the three – better retirement, and I could save a lot more in 401k and 457 to be able to retire at 58ish.

I was told of two more promotional opportunities so hopefully one of them will work!

minimal spending this week

March 17th, 2018 at 04:20 pm

Spending was light this week for the most part. I took my new employee and one other team person (the rest were out of the office) to sushi for lunch on his first day - team building will hand receipt to accountant for my taxes this year.

Added $13 to the gas tank yesterday. I think that is $40 in gas this month. I should have about $50 to put toward savings or debt at the end of the month. I am trying to get the car maintenance to $3k with monthly savings of $100 (more than half way) then I will focus on debt. With a Prius I always worry something big will happen but 5 years in just general maintenance. I rarely use the full amount I budget for gas each month ($140) and either put it toward debt or savings.

Bought a hash brown at McDonald's with the team on our road trip $1.25. Lunch was picked up by a colleague because we discussed the possibility of her husband redoing my kitchen cabinets when the time came. It will still be three years away at least with other financial goals in place.

On Thursday my boss took two of us to lunch - and he paid which is the first time ever. And for dinner a friend who needed to talk called and said hey lets grab dinner and then she paid because we sat and I listened to her talk through an issue for a couple of hours. Not necessary but helpful.

Went to the gym for the first time in 5 weeks. I had the flu in February and doctor said no gym until I could make it through a night with no cough syrup. I will go again today and hope that next Saturday I can restart my fitness challenge.

I did pay for pizza and salad last night- had a friends kids while they saw a movie. She will pay me next week - but if she doesn't I am good. $35

I have a handy man here doing a few things I can't do to ready the house for a renter (new towel racks, removing old vertical blinds, hanging a coat rack, and something else. And he has a truck and can pick up two new screen doors for me. (wont fit in my Prius). He charges $25 a hour so it will be about $50 and the cost of the two screen doors - which are on sale this weekend for $55 a piece. All of this was planned spending so I have the money. Tax accountant reminded me to hold on to all work receipts for house work in preparation for a room mate for my taxes this year.

Need to make a meal plan for next week and a grocery list.

Tomorrow a chair I ordered (when I bought the new sleeper sofa a couple weeks ago) is being delivered between 8-12. Then I will see a movie maybe (gift cards-I have several hundred dollar in movie passes!) and the grocery shop.

I am also taking an online exam for another Promotion. The leader, same one from earlier this week, popped into my office yesterday and asked me to apply to an even higher position. So I need to take the exam and be on the list. I wont rank in the highest rank but I need to pass the test to be able to be hired. Nothing set in stone but he liked my leadership on a project with part of his team and said I would be an excellent addition. So...maybe one of the promotions will come through.

I've arranged for a free bulk garbage pick up on Monday morning. We get three free a year. I've been cleaning things out of the garage the past few months and have enough for a pick up plus I am tossing all the old garden "gnomes" from the previous owner, an old laundry rack that rusted, old blinds, and old mattress used for guests, an old hose, and a bunch of odds and ends. Making room and cleaning up the yard feels great!

My 3 rain barrels are full. Lots of rain the past couple of weeks (and snow in the mountains). I use the barrels for watering the porch plants during the summer - it saves a little bit of money and were so helpful during the worst of the drought. This summer is going to be a bad fire season and we haven't had enough rain or snow yet this year.

I sold several things this week: stacking baskets for the closet (came with house and I hate them) for $25 and a brand new child's toy I found in a box for $10. Every little bit helps grow the at home emergency fund. Lots of things to still sell if I can!

Been a rough year+

March 15th, 2018 at 02:54 am

For the first time in years I have credit card debt. Depression is a horrible thing. I bought to make myself happy in 2016 and early 2017. Now I recognize the symptoms and have it under control.

I have a plan to get it paid off by Summer 2019. Earlier is better but right now it is all zero interest thanks to a balance transfer. How embarrassing to have this debt.

I am currently interviewing for a new house mate. It is difficult - people are not what they advertise. One showed up drunk and reeking of marijuana even though I advertise as a smoke free property. One has his kids every other weekend and wanted me to put them in the spare area of my own bedroom when they visit, and one has a record and because of my job I cannot live with someone with a record - even if is happened more than 30 years ago when she was 18. She can expunge her record and then she could move in. Looking to interview more this weekend.

Rent is $750. $100 to utilities account for months when I am over the budgeted amount. $100 for house maintenance/emergency fund and $550 to debt. With the amount I have earmarked from my paychecks for debt I should be done before my goal but have the wiggle room. Room is all set - now I have to get the rest of the house ready.

Have an appointment for an attorney to review my lease to make sure there are no problems.

Have a plan for the debt:
credit card debt first
student loan extra to pay off in 5 years
$100/month to the zero interest loan the state gave me when I bought the house.
then the mortgage.

I still want to retire in 2033 if I can. Pension from the state, my savings, my social security when I am 67. I should be just fine but I want the house paid off before I retire. And of course the student loans gone, too!

I've made a few sales on facebook and I have several pending sales this weekend. It isn't much - maybe $200 in the past few weeks and a couple hundred if everything sold tomorrow. It is going toward making a couple changes to house before renter moves in. I need to replace the blinds on my slider in my bedroom. From the kitchen you can look right into my bedroom and the blinds are broken - can't close. I am replacing the horrible puce colored vertical blinds with simple lined light gray blackout curtains. Should help in summer with heat (slider gets sun for hours) and winter (the room is the coldest in the house). Curtains and rod were $75.

I painted the guest bath and laundry room at Christmas. I am replacing the towel rods in that room and hanging my elephant hook coat rack in the laundry room. It is the room I walk into from the garage so hanging wet stuff there makes sense. I can also hang items on a hanger to dry in that room or pull from dryer and hanger right away. I love elephants and this was a great Christmas present that I want up.

I cleared out cupboards and space in the pantry for renter.

Still house sitting and pet sitting. I turned down a lot of business last year due to work emergencies (I work in emergency management and emergency preparedness) which would make animal care difficult. I only kept my favorite 25 or so families whose animals are easy and I love and they understand my job. It was only about $7k last year.

I was approached by my old boss (who recently received a promotion) to apply for a promotion under her. I applied this week. Interviews will be in a couple of weeks. I am already preparing possible interview questions - it is a manager over 4 managers who have 4-6 people under them. I know I could do the job for management. The specific program information I would learn although much of it I already know. I will probably over prepare as I always do. But it makes me feel comfortable. I have an excellent rep as a manager and people want to work for me so moving to a new program would be a professional challenge for me and open a few doors for the future.

She told her new boss I am interested in jumping ship and he stopped by my office and told me to apply, that he would welcome my experience, leadership, management style, and analytical skills in his area. He is retiring for good next year (they keep brining him back) and he said It would be nice to see you in my spot. I said but XXX may want it. He said She doesn't and we both agree having you in that position would be good. We look forward to seeing you at the interview panels.

If this one doesn't pan out - maybe there is a better candidate - I am applying to several other promotional positions.

One good thing has happened since April: I've lost 80 pounds. I have about 50 to go but I feel great, look better, am super healthy, and super active. All good things!

Here is to a successful 2018 for all of us.

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March 14th, 2018 at 02:53 am

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