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Archive for October, 2013

Surprise Savings

October 31st, 2013 at 05:58 pm

I signed up today for online banking for my savings account so I can begin keeping better track and once again start depositing in it.

I haven't touched or looked at the thing for an entire year and I was pleasantly surprised to find I have acquired $23.12 in interest. Bringing the current total to $495.82.

It isn't much, but it's a start. And I'm happy that I will be able to begin contributing to it again. It will hold my Emergency Fund / Remodel Fund.

More About Us

October 29th, 2013 at 04:09 pm

So much to say! I typed this post out and it somehow got deleted, so hopefully I can remember all that I said.

I am 4 years into a degree for Website Design. I have this semester, and one class left in the spring, plus my internship. Right now Ive worked as a Secretary for going on 3 years. Its a very stressful and time consuming job, which I dont really enjoy.

Husband works at a sporting goods warehouse and gets to play with guns all day and drive machinery that lucky punk. Smile

What Id love to do it work a couple days a week somewhere to stay busy, and mainly do freelance web design from home. So I can raise a family, and take care of the farm.

Ive always been into setting goals and saving. I opened my first checking account at age 12. When was a kid I saved every dollar I got from every holiday, I mowed lawns and did odd and end things for money. When I was 12 I bought two horses, fenced our property, bought a horse trailer, and bought all the gear to go along with them. Thousands of dollars worth of stuff before I even had a real job.

I didnt stop there. I was always an entrepreneur. At 13 I began buying and raising fancy breeds of chickens and goats. I shipped them from all over the country to get the best I could find. While other kids bought toys I bought livestock and paid for their food. The day I was legal to get a real job I started working as much as I could. Everyone thought I was crazy, but it paid off. I paid cash for a truck at 16, and completely paid my way through college without debt from the profits from my animals.

Years later I still have my goats and I believe its a viable business. There has been some setbacks, but Im always improving. My goats have been sold across the country. From New Mexico, to Michigan, to Pennsylvania. The Saint Louis Zoo has even sought after my herd, and now they use my goats in their petting zoo and their trick shows. How cool is that!

I think it goes to show that with a dream and a desire you can accomplish anything, even if your young.

While I might have missed out on some of the teenage experience I feel like I put a good effort into improving my future, and the hard work was worth it.

My husband and I were able to buy and remodel a house even when he was out of work for 6 months, while even now our friends are still renting.

The hard truth is, goals can take a long time. After our bills are paid we only have about $300 left a month to save. So we are slow going. We dont have tv, we watch movies, we dont have internet, we dont drive new cars or go to the gym. But we are happy with our lifestyle, because we are looking towards the long haul.

More About Us

October 29th, 2013 at 04:09 pm

So much to say! I typed this post out and it somehow got deleted, so hopefully I can remember all that I said.

I am 4 years into a degree for Website Design. I have this semester, and one class left in the spring, plus my internship. Right now I’ve worked as a Secretary for going on 3 years. It’s a very stressful and time consuming job, which I don’t really enjoy.

Husband works at a sporting goods warehouse and gets to play with guns all day and drive machinery that lucky punk. Smile

What I’d love to do it work a couple days a week somewhere to stay busy, and mainly do freelance web design from home. So I can raise a family, and take care of the farm.

I’ve always been into setting goals and saving. I opened my first checking account at age 12. When was a kid I saved every dollar I got from every holiday, I mowed lawns and did odd and end things for money. When I was 12 I bought two horses, fenced our property, bought a horse trailer, and bought all the gear to go along with them. Thousands of dollars worth of stuff before I even had a real job.

I didn’t stop there. I was always an entrepreneur. At 13 I began buying and raising fancy breeds of chickens and goats. I shipped them from all over the country to get the best I could find. While other kids bought toys I bought livestock and paid for their food. The day I was legal to get a real job I started working as much as I could. Everyone thought I was crazy, but it paid off. I paid cash for a truck at 16, and completely paid my way through college without debt from the profits from my animals.

Years later I still have my goats and I believe it’s a viable business. There has been some setbacks, but I’m always improving. My goats have been sold across the country. From New Mexico, to Michigan, to Pennsylvania. The Saint Louis Zoo has even sought after my herd, and now they use my goats in their petting zoo and their trick shows. How cool is that!

I think it goes to show that with a dream and a desire you can accomplish anything, even if your young.

While I might have missed out on some of the “teenage experience” I feel like I put a good effort into improving my future, and the hard work was worth it.

My husband and I were able to buy and remodel a house even when he was out of work for 6 months, while even now our friends are still renting.

The hard truth is, goals can take a long time. After our bills are paid we only have about $300 left a month to save. So we are slow going. We don’t have tv, we watch movies, we don’t have internet, we don’t drive new cars or go to the gym. But we are happy with our lifestyle, because we are looking towards the long haul.

Hi! Im New Here

October 29th, 2013 at 03:15 pm

Hello. I'm going to use this blog to keep a record of my finances and savings as I go along.

I make substantially less than most of the people on SavingAdvice, so I thought it would be good for other people to see that not everyone lives off of a big salary and has a lot to work with.

Combined my husband and I make about $27,000 a year after taxes.

A year ago we got married and bought a 100 year old farmhouse sitting on 4.5 acres. We got it for a steal because the owner was a farmer who only wanted the land and was going to bulldoze the house. But upon inspection we found it had very good potential.

We've spent the last 17 months completely gutting and remodeling the house, and have done so debt free by saving and doing things slowly.

Everything was replaced including plumbing, electric, insulation, roof, drywall, and some of the floors. We are slowly overtime replacing the 26 over sized windows, and one day will replace the siding.



Here is what the house looked like 1.5 years ago the day we bought it. Whew it's ugly. I don't have any more recent pictures. Sorry.

Our big financial goals right now are to begin saving for retirement, save at least $30,000 for an addition to the house, and pay down our mortgage.