Happy Halloween! Tonight is one of my favorite nights of the year. Ron takes the kids to the grandmas and I get a very rare evening at home by myself. Aaaah! So of course I spent it with the finances. Yea!
So we grossed $17,817.10 this month. Isn't that incredible? Ron has had a stellar year and the rewards are coming in. Wait until you see next month!
The deductions out of that amount ($5,311.35) are for:
Federal Income Tax $2,957.73, Social Security Tax $839.42, Medicare Tax $210.37, Insurance Premium $154.02, 401K $1,146.75 (yea!) and Life Insurance Premium $3.06.
Out of what is left, some stays in checking ($6,171.00):
Groceries $800.00, House payment $1,933.23, Daycare $1,060.00, HELoC $527.86, Rainier Pacific Visa $175.00, Cable $69.04, Internet $56.21, Phone $50.00, Garbage $74.04, Gymnastics $30.00, Amex $930.77, Weight Watchers $39.95, Dentist $46.20, Therapy $26.35, TRA $1.50 and we have to leave $350.85 in there for an overage last month.
We put $4,679.75 into short term savings:
Robby tuition $311.86, Robby books $500.00 (more on these later), Nylah birthday $50.00, Christmas $3,200.00, Larisa birthday $50.00, Haircuts $142.00, Carpet cleaning $400.00 and glasses $50.89.
This brings our short term savings balance to $6,867.87:
Sharon birthday $50.00, Ron clothing $142.98, Me clothing $400.00, Pictures $300.00, Chimney sweep $250.00, Haircuts $214.00, Anniversary $300.00, Robby tuition $960.00, Robby books $500.00, Nylah birthday $50.00, Christmas $3,200.00, Larisa birthday $50.00, Carpet cleaning $400.00 and Glasses $50.89.
We didn't put anything into long term savings this month. With a couple more dollars of interest earned we are at $583.69:
EF $100.00, Arizona trip $483.69.
For cash we will be getting out $1,655.00:
Gas $240.00, Entertainment $400.00, Blow $ Me $100.00, Blow $ Ron $100.00, Gifts $100.00, House $50.00, Co-pays $120.00, Home Office $55.00, Car Care $200.00, Dog Care $150.00, Dry Cleaning $50.00 and Nutcracker tickets $90.00.
So in regards to the tuition and book money for Robby (who is not currently going to school), I have started a new account at Emigrant Direct. I am going to put the tuition and book money into the account and that is also where the "rent" money that he pays us is going to go. It will be our contribution to his little nest egg.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Weigh-in Disaster
I went and weighed in on Wednesday. I had gained 6.4 pounds. So now my net loss is only 7 pounds. Yuck, yuck and more yuck. Why do I do this? Anyway, so I am trying to get back on track. I did really well on Thursday but then Friday, Saturday and Sunday, not so much.
I've decided to make my goal to lose 30 pounds. I've decided on 30 because when I had lost 19.8, I hadn't gone down a size yet, but I think losing 30 should do the trick. I'm going to reward myself with new bras and underwear (that situation is getting a little desperate) and maybe a new outfit. It's the reason I'm saving my clothing money.
Anyway, so I have 23 pounds to go. I can do this!
I've decided to make my goal to lose 30 pounds. I've decided on 30 because when I had lost 19.8, I hadn't gone down a size yet, but I think losing 30 should do the trick. I'm going to reward myself with new bras and underwear (that situation is getting a little desperate) and maybe a new outfit. It's the reason I'm saving my clothing money.
Anyway, so I have 23 pounds to go. I can do this!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Infected
Samantha and I both went to the doctor on Friday. I have a sinus infection and she has an ear infection. That same day, Ron got this little lump removed from his ankle. So after all of the co-pays for the visits to the doctors, we still had to pay $88.68 in copays for all of our medications.
Samantha and I went shopping on Saturday for my cousin's wife's baby shower gift. We ended up spending $96.83. I forgot to budget for this.
Also, I am about to go over my grocery budget for the month.
Hmmmm.
So I think what I am going to do is pay us back next month, for the overages this month. In other words leave the money in checking to cover these expenses as if they were bills.
I'm going to bulk up the amount we keep in cash for co-pays to $120.00. I'm also going to make a cash gift fund of $100.00 to cover irregular gifts like the shower gift. I also need to keep my eye on the amount that we spend on groceries and make sure that the $200.00 per week that I budget is enough. I have a huge order on the way from Safeway.com so that should help.
Robby has decided to take this year off from school. His original idea was to just take the quarter off so he could work more hours and pay for hockey. Ron and I then suggested that he take off a whole year, save some money and get his feet underneath him. Perhaps then he will feel more ready to tackle college. The plan right now is for him to get a "real" full time job (probably working in a warehouse). Then he will pay all of his expenses, plus he will pay us rent. We will take this rent and put it away for him, thereby forcing him to be working on a nest egg of sorts. At the end of the year he should have a nice chunk of change put away and maybe be done with hockey. Then he can go from there. I'm pretty satisfied with the plan. I just hope it gets rolling soon. We're going to make his first month's rent due December first to "encourage" him to get started on a job hunt.
Samantha and I went shopping on Saturday for my cousin's wife's baby shower gift. We ended up spending $96.83. I forgot to budget for this.
Also, I am about to go over my grocery budget for the month.
Hmmmm.
So I think what I am going to do is pay us back next month, for the overages this month. In other words leave the money in checking to cover these expenses as if they were bills.
I'm going to bulk up the amount we keep in cash for co-pays to $120.00. I'm also going to make a cash gift fund of $100.00 to cover irregular gifts like the shower gift. I also need to keep my eye on the amount that we spend on groceries and make sure that the $200.00 per week that I budget is enough. I have a huge order on the way from Safeway.com so that should help.
Robby has decided to take this year off from school. His original idea was to just take the quarter off so he could work more hours and pay for hockey. Ron and I then suggested that he take off a whole year, save some money and get his feet underneath him. Perhaps then he will feel more ready to tackle college. The plan right now is for him to get a "real" full time job (probably working in a warehouse). Then he will pay all of his expenses, plus he will pay us rent. We will take this rent and put it away for him, thereby forcing him to be working on a nest egg of sorts. At the end of the year he should have a nice chunk of change put away and maybe be done with hockey. Then he can go from there. I'm pretty satisfied with the plan. I just hope it gets rolling soon. We're going to make his first month's rent due December first to "encourage" him to get started on a job hunt.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Sinuses
My sinuses have been killing me for the last few days. My whole face feels bruised and my molars ache. Yuck.
Anyhoo, the Rainier Pacific Visa statement came today. $8710.97 is the balance. Once the Amex is paid off then I will pay this one off in a year. So sticking with my little game if I had to pay it off in a year from today it would cost $725.91 a month. Another number that I'm glad will shrink a bit before I actually have to send that payment off every month for a year.
In other financial news, Ron decided to get the remainder of his bonus out in cash. The windows that we ordered came in so he is going to spend the rest of it on installing those, trimming them and then hopefully, painting our bathroom. We have the coolest blue color picked out. I won't be tracking the bonus in the sidebar anymore since Ron will have it in cash and keep track of it.
There has been some Lance/Robby/Cody drama the last couple of days. For various reasons he has decided not to pay for Robby's hockey any more. Robby says he'll just pay for it himself but I have no idea how that is going to happen. The lad is not good with money. Robby and Lance had a big confrontation about it. They don't get along very well.
Lance is also telling me that Cody has decided that he doesn't want to play hockey any more. Also, that Cody has become VERY social and may not want to come over to my house anymore. To that I say TS! I am anxious to talk to Cody tomorrow and get the real story. I am picking him up from his dad's tomorrow. The drive from way out there to here does give us a good opportunity to talk.
Robby's car is leaking oil. Ron looked at it tonight but he really couldn't tell where the leak was coming from. He's afraid it's going to be expensive though. He put three quarts in tonight so he can see how bad it's really leaking. Here's hoping!
Anyhoo, the Rainier Pacific Visa statement came today. $8710.97 is the balance. Once the Amex is paid off then I will pay this one off in a year. So sticking with my little game if I had to pay it off in a year from today it would cost $725.91 a month. Another number that I'm glad will shrink a bit before I actually have to send that payment off every month for a year.
In other financial news, Ron decided to get the remainder of his bonus out in cash. The windows that we ordered came in so he is going to spend the rest of it on installing those, trimming them and then hopefully, painting our bathroom. We have the coolest blue color picked out. I won't be tracking the bonus in the sidebar anymore since Ron will have it in cash and keep track of it.
There has been some Lance/Robby/Cody drama the last couple of days. For various reasons he has decided not to pay for Robby's hockey any more. Robby says he'll just pay for it himself but I have no idea how that is going to happen. The lad is not good with money. Robby and Lance had a big confrontation about it. They don't get along very well.
Lance is also telling me that Cody has decided that he doesn't want to play hockey any more. Also, that Cody has become VERY social and may not want to come over to my house anymore. To that I say TS! I am anxious to talk to Cody tomorrow and get the real story. I am picking him up from his dad's tomorrow. The drive from way out there to here does give us a good opportunity to talk.
Robby's car is leaking oil. Ron looked at it tonight but he really couldn't tell where the leak was coming from. He's afraid it's going to be expensive though. He put three quarts in tonight so he can see how bad it's really leaking. Here's hoping!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Mortgage Statement
The mortgage statement came today. We're under $255,000! Woot!
I'm playing a little game with the mortgage. After our other debts (Amex, Visa, HELoC) are paid off (in about 2 years and 8 months), I want to pay off the mortgage in 10 years. That means I'll be 50 when it is paid off. Then I figure we can buy a second property with a 15 year mortgage and it will be paid when I'm 65 and want to retire. Do I have a good plan or what? So even though it will be awhile before I start the 10 year attack on the mortgage, I still think it will be fun to figure out what I will have to pay a month to pay it off in 10 years. So each statement, I'm going to figure it out. So at this time, if we wanted to pay off our mortgage in ten years, it would cost us $3,182.66 per month. So I'll figure this every month when the statement comes, and the payment should go down each time. Fun, huh?
Ron has been gone since Monday. He had to go to Ft. Lauderdale for work. He gets home tonight. He was supposed to be home at about 9:00 pm but missed a connecting flight in Orlando and so won't be home until about 11:30 pm. Yuck.
I hate it when he is gone. I don't do well. I can't sleep but I can certainly eat. In fact, I eat anything that isn't nailed down. Sigh. Besides that, I just plain miss him. I try to not be too big of a baby about it. I know that other women's husbands are away for much longer, to places a lot less friendly than Florida. Still, there is always this little sick ache in my heart when he is gone.
So...I'm really, REALLY glad that he will be home tonight.
I'm playing a little game with the mortgage. After our other debts (Amex, Visa, HELoC) are paid off (in about 2 years and 8 months), I want to pay off the mortgage in 10 years. That means I'll be 50 when it is paid off. Then I figure we can buy a second property with a 15 year mortgage and it will be paid when I'm 65 and want to retire. Do I have a good plan or what? So even though it will be awhile before I start the 10 year attack on the mortgage, I still think it will be fun to figure out what I will have to pay a month to pay it off in 10 years. So each statement, I'm going to figure it out. So at this time, if we wanted to pay off our mortgage in ten years, it would cost us $3,182.66 per month. So I'll figure this every month when the statement comes, and the payment should go down each time. Fun, huh?
Ron has been gone since Monday. He had to go to Ft. Lauderdale for work. He gets home tonight. He was supposed to be home at about 9:00 pm but missed a connecting flight in Orlando and so won't be home until about 11:30 pm. Yuck.
I hate it when he is gone. I don't do well. I can't sleep but I can certainly eat. In fact, I eat anything that isn't nailed down. Sigh. Besides that, I just plain miss him. I try to not be too big of a baby about it. I know that other women's husbands are away for much longer, to places a lot less friendly than Florida. Still, there is always this little sick ache in my heart when he is gone.
So...I'm really, REALLY glad that he will be home tonight.
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