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Archive for August, 2014

More Car Troubles

August 27th, 2014 at 03:33 pm

Yesterday husband had a flat tire. It had a huge piece of metal in it. Like a bolt, but more than 1/2 inch in diameter. I think the tire is a complete loss. A shame since those were fairly new. Frown

Today his Jeep wouldn't start. It acts like it is fine, and it turns over, but never quite catches. He had to take my car at the last minute. Then I had to scramble to find a ride.

Sigh. Will it ever end. On a side note after spending $150 on mistakes from the mechanic who put the engine in, now the Cobalt is running great. Waiting on mom to fix the windshield so I can sell it. She has been driving it, and may end up buying it herself.

The Wordpress meetup went well. It was fun to eat a fancy dinner, and chat about computers. Employer has high hopes of me being able to work full time for him this winter. Sounds good to me!

This is Work?

August 26th, 2014 at 04:38 pm

Tonight I am meeting my employer. We are going to a restaurant for a Wordpress meetup.

How cool is that! He is buying my dinner, and I get to go chit chat with another people interested in the same things as me, while eating a scrumptious meal. And it counts as work, and towards my internship! Score!

Networking is a BIG part of computer related jobs. Learning is also a big part. Reading books, articles, and practicing skills is all in a days work. You constantly have to be changing, evolving, learning. I love it. It is so much more fun than doing the boring same old thing day after day.

I am super excited. I've been wanting to go to a Wordpress meetup for some time now. But I didn't feel comfortable going alone, and my husband was never interested in going with me and sitting through "boring computer talk."

Regular job is becoming increasingly stressful. Having trouble sleeping, and keeping up with the housework.

I am REALLY hoping this internship pans out and I can commit to it full time next year. I'm having a good old time so far.

If it doesn't work out, I already had another employment place I am interested in. Which I will apply for in a couple months if the internship is heading downhill. Either way I'd really love to be in a new job by January.

In the mean time, I am just trying to hold on, and pay down some debt. I want to be in a good place financially before making a career change.

The changes in my life are a little scary, but also so exciting. Wish me luck!

YNAB & My Budget

August 25th, 2014 at 03:13 pm

YNAB is going well so far.

I have been staying in budget for everything, except for groceries! Yikes. I did really good only getting what we need, but the fact is food is expensive, especially dog food!

We are already $30 into our food budget for NEXT week, and I need to go pick up some cheese and sour cream for dinner tonight. After that I'm making it a goal not to buy anymore groceries until Friday.

I did manage to save myself some money! I called the car insurance company and had them shop around for a cheaper plan. They found one for nearly $400 less a year! Whoot whoot! Now I only need to come up with around $165 before Oct.

Put the first $127 of my school bill on the credit card. Only 2 payments of $112 left.

Paid $185 on my credit card today. I only need to pay $15 next week to pay off the statement balance, but I am going to continue to pay it down to $0. I'm tired of having a "balance" on there, even though we don't get charged interest.


Just trying to manage until husband gets paid again. 3 weeks seems like a very long time away.

Pup Pictures

August 22nd, 2014 at 03:14 pm

Since some of you have asked for puppy pictures I finally took some.



Kuzco the "older pup"



Samantha



Working as a team



Liberty looking over her field



Best friends

As a side note. Since these pictures Juno and Kuzco can no longer play together because I guess she is too old now, and Kuzco is acting too manly, and I don't want an accidental puppies. Frown Sad.

Also Juno has mauled several goats, and now lives in a kennel until she can learn to behave her self. We are trying to take them out and work with them both, at least every couple days and let them have supervised goat visits. Kuzco is FINALLY starting to learn things, and is finally starting to come out of the "bad puppy stage." He is about 1.5 years old now. And yesterday I managed to get him to sit, lay down and stay very well. Which is a lot of progress for him. Usually they are very independent, and distracted, and you're lucky to even get them to come to you. This breed isn't known for listening well. lol.

They usually just do their own thing, and come to you occasionally for some belly rubs.

Trying out YNAB

August 19th, 2014 at 09:04 pm

I started the free trial of YNAB today. I'm a college student so I should be able to activate it for free.

It is interesting although I'm still getting the hang of it. It's too hard to try to back track and fill in all the information from August, so I will just start from today I guess and hopefully it will smooth out by September. I'm curious to see how close it is to my mental budget.

Just Keep Swimming

August 18th, 2014 at 03:20 pm

Well after the initial shock of having to go 3 weeks without pay, then being short half a pay check I think we are going to be okay.

Husband had an excess of $100 on this check from thrifty budgeting to put towards the gap, and we have vowed to cut our grocery bill and eat cheap for the next month. Whoo hoo ramen noodles. *gag*

Really going to try to find meals out of our limited pantry and refrigerator. Tonight I have rustled up BBQ chicken, shells n cheese, and fresh corn on the cob.

I also put back an extra $50 out of my paycheck and set it aside for our house payment. We really only need to scrape up another $50 or so over the next couple weeks and we will be fine as long as we keep extra spending in check.

Husband can also put gas on his credit card and it won't be due until Oct.

Besides that, financial hasn't made much progress. I paid all our bills today. Sent $150 to the credit card, and put $50 back for the car. I only need to come up with $200 more for the credit card before Aug. 9th.

I am going to halt payments towards the car. I have $500 now to give to him when he gets back from vacation in a couple weeks. After I give it to him I will start saving for the last payment again. But until then I will put all extra funds towards the credit card, and floating our missing paycheck.

Hit a Major Snag

August 15th, 2014 at 07:19 pm

Sorry for the 3rd post today!

Well after my earlier discussion about the EF, it turns out I may have to use it after all... But for different reasons. Gr.

Husband's work has recently started a new pay roll. Yesterday they told him that the system is a little messed up and in order to smooth it out everyone will be getting a check 2 weeks in a row, then no check for 3 weeks, then it will go back to normal. Whatever. That is annoying, but no big deal. We would just have to shift money a little.

Well today they came back and decided that instead of paying the total of the 3 weeks, they are just going to pay the normal 2 weeks, and the other week's worth of pay they will give the workers when they quit!?

What the heck. That means he will work for 3 weeks but only get paid for 2. Many people working there won't quit or retire for years and years. They can't just hold your money hostage all that time can they?

Husband says the entire place is outraged and about to start rioting. I'm sure there are other workers worse off than us that need that money to eat.

We are going to lose over $400. I have NO idea how we are going cover the house payment, and buy groceries. Looks like I will have to pull out of the EF to cover it.

Not going to do anything drastic yet. But this is REALLY going to slow down progress. ARG!

Is that legal? Husband is pretty bummed. And it just adds stress to me. It seems like I will never get out of this hole.

This has also been an eyeopener that I need to increase my EF, so I don't have to panic when stuff like this happens.

Just for Fun Critter Pictures

August 15th, 2014 at 04:29 pm

To help ease my stress I thought I would share a few pictures of the critters enjoying their new pasture.



"Yummy!" & Kuzco acting crazy



"MAMA!"



My sweet Leon. (Goatie baby)


What Would You Do?

August 15th, 2014 at 03:08 pm

I'm having trouble making a decision, and I need input. Right now it seems like I owe little amounts of money to a lot of different things, and it is stressing me out. Nothing is getting paid down very fast, because it is being split between too many things.

Nothing is due immediately, nor is there interest on it, so it is not desperate or anything, but it is just in the back of my mind all the time.

So I was thinking in order to ease my stress load a little I could take out $500 from my EF and pay some things off. Of course then I would owe myself, but I would owe to one thing, rather than a bunch of little things.

But I don't know if this is a good idea, or what I would even pay down. So here are some of the things that I know need paid, and maybe you guys could give me suggestions.

Things I owe & when they are due:

$500 for car - 0% interest, Grandpa is on vacation so I can not give him any money for at least 3 weeks. Not due until end of Sept.

$150 to mom - She says pay back whenever.

$400 on credit card - Due mid Sept.

$160 to cash stash - Probably last thing to pay

$300 for car insurance - Due Oct.

$125 for school - Due Sept.

The car would give me the biggest win because I am currently putting a $100 a week towards it. BUT since I cant actually pay it for 3 weeks it seems silly to have all that extra money just sitting in my account until then.

I am currently leaning towards stopping putting money back for the car and just pay down other things. Then I can take the money out of the EF in 3 weeks and pay off the car then.

Or should I just keep plodding along, and leave my EF alone. Everything will get paid down slowly, it will just take a few months. No interest will be accrued. Help!

Intern, Interview, & Internet

August 13th, 2014 at 03:13 pm

Things are going great here. Big Grin

Interview went well, my internship is in full go!

It is a little intimidating right now, I am worried that I wont be able to keep up, or do the expected jobs. But I am going to try my hardest! Hoping he will be patient with me, and teach me.

The opportunity is even better than I thought. My new employer is on the beginning stages of starting up a Wordpress company, and he has big plans. He was offered $70 an hour to work on Wordpress websites for someone, and he decided if they are making enough money to pay him that much, why don't he just start his own and cut out the middle man. He has the knowledge, and connections to make it a reality. I am the first to be hired, so that means I am on the front end. Who knows, in a couple years we could be the new facebook! lol.

I am really keeping my fingers crossed that by the end of the internship that we will have enough business that I can do that full time and make enough to live off of.

He has already hand picked another person to work with us. Another student that I have taken classes with before. He was another overachiever like me, we were both top of the class. I think it is kind of funny that the teacher was scoping out potential employees from his classes.

I can tell it is going to be a large learning curve, and hard work for a while until I get confident in my abilities. I hope I can keep up at my normal job. I am already trying to figure out ways I could quit and find a less labor intensive job. But in the mean time I will just hang on for the ride.

Employer is paying $50 of my monthly internet. Which is great since it is going to be between $75 - $85 a month. I felt bad making him pay the entire amount, so I just suggested the $50. That is still a large help. I sent the application off today. They said it should take about a week and I will have internet!! *happy dance*

Trim is going up in the house. Smile Just have to put the poly on and we will have door trim in our livingroom.

New/Old Friend & Payment Plan

August 11th, 2014 at 07:39 pm

Well today when I went to go pay for my tuition. I noticed there was a payment plan option. I didn't think I could qualify for that, since I signed up so late, but I can!

Even though I had the money to pay it, Id much rather have 3 months to pay it off interest free. That way I can continue working on paying off the car and the credit card. Also it only cost $350 instead of the $400 I was expecting! Smile

First payment is only $125 and not due until 9/01. No problem.

That means my credit card is down to $350, not due until middle of Sept. That is great news!

I had lunch today with an old friend. We were best friends as children. But I have not hung out with her since middle school, when I stopped going to her school. I truly have no close friends. (All moved away) So husband urged me to contact her.

I am so glad I did! We still have a lot in common, and it turns out her friends all moved away too. Looks like a found a new/old friend, and she seems as excited as I am to have a girl to hang out with. We are thinking of getting together again this weekend. Whoot whoot! I am so happy to have someone to meet for lunch, chat with, and to go to the movies with. Ive really missed that since my friends have all moved on with their lives and left the area.

Sold Goats & Internship

August 11th, 2014 at 03:28 pm

I sold some goats Saturday! Whoot whoot. It doesnt dig me out of my hole, but every bit certainly helps.

I put $350 back for a car payment. I am excited that I only have $550 left! That seems like such a little amount.

I also scraped up enough money to cover my school tuition after taking some out of our small cash stash (not included on the sidebar) and borrowing $150 from mom.

Internship seems to be a done deal. Big Grin The wheels are rolling, and I cant wait to get started. Will post more after my interview tomorrow.

We also purchased the materials and have started to work on more trim for our house. It feels good to get projects completed. Every time we finish something it makes the house looks so much better.

I just want to SCREAM! :)

August 8th, 2014 at 04:09 pm

Oh my gosh I can barely contain my excitement!

I am done taking classes for my Web Design degree, but I still have to take the internship before I actually graduate.

Well my teacher from last semester whom I really hit it off with, contacted me today to ask me if I still needed to take my internship.

He offered to take me on, to work in my favorite thing. Wordpress!

Not only that, but it is a telecommute job! Which saves me the 2+ hour trip. Not only that, but he said he would hire me on after the original internship was over!!! And not only that, but he said he would cover the costs to get internet to my house!!!!

I just want to jump up and down. The semester was suppose to start on Monday. So I am completely unsure if I can even get enrolled and registered before then. Everything is up in the air right now. I filled out my FASFA and left a message with the program coordinator, so I can get enrolled ASAP. But I could really use some prayers! This is my dream job!

Oh I also have to figure out how to come up with around $400 for the class.

*runs around crazily like a chicken with their head cut off*

AHHHHHHH!

Another Goal Completed! Hello $40s

August 5th, 2014 at 02:58 pm

Mortgage balance is $49,898.25!!!

My payment finally hit, bringing my total down below $50k. *happy dance*

There is a slight problem. For some reason they did not take the normal $102 escrow out. So I may have to call them up and ask what the heck. The balance may go back up, but it will still hit $50k. Can't believe I have 3 of my 5 goals completed.

Of course I have the hard ones left, but I can do it!

Goal #2 Completed!

August 4th, 2014 at 03:05 pm

2.) Put Up Fencing DONE!

The fence is finished... Well mostly. The gates still have not came in. But I put up some hog panels across the empty gaps, and it works just fine. In fact I hope they dont call me about gates for a couple weeks, so I can pay down some debt before I have to fork out a few more hundred dollars for them.

I came home on my birthday, and it was all done! Whoot, whoot.

The goats are LOVING their new free space. The horse and dogs have also gotten to enjoy it, and they all love to run around and stretch their legs.

After asking nicely, the worker cleaned up his act, and finished the rest of the fence much better. I am happy with it. I would call him again in the future when its time to finish the other half of the pasture. Next time I will be sure he knows clearly how I do and do not want it.

Big news, but another goal will be crossed off later today... Just waiting for the pending status to update!

Hurrah! Trying to celebrate the successes and forget that I have close to $7k in non mortgage debt right now. Frown

Happy or Unhappy Birthday

August 1st, 2014 at 04:06 pm

Today is my birthday!

This week has been really stinky. It doesnt seem to be getting better either. This morning I realized that I left our garden hose on all night, over 14 hours. Frown Who knows what the water bill is going to be.

Work is so stressful and I want out. I have picked a place as my goal for employment, and I will be taking the test required ASAP. It takes several months to get hired on there, so I need to get on the list quick!

Fence is getting worked on today. I apologized to the worker for being snippy at him last week, and told him nicely what I want done differently. He agreed, and so far it is looking better. He thinks he will finish today, so I gave him the check. (I highly doubt he will finish, but we shall see.) He had a helper today, so Im keeping my fingers crossed.

I just want to go home and cry for a while after the stress of this week. I need something relaxing. Maybe I will take a bubble bath.

Hoping next week is better.