A Dime at a Time

Navigating life and finances

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The reality check you’ll want to read

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It may also be a reality check you should give yourself.

A heads up for those of you who might be sick of reading me write about interest rates and be tempted to click over to the next blog on your reading list.  Please wait.  Yes, this is yet another post about the subject, but stay with me on this. Today I want to share with you how much doing stupid with zeros is costing us.  Much like sharing how much debt we are battling, this is equally difficult to admit.  It is also something that I didn’t realize was quite as bad as it is. If I ever needed another reason to feel the urgency to dump our debt, this sure gave me a doozy! [Read more…]

Financial wins

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Almost like a burst of energy as we travel along this long road to financial freedom!

Good things have happened here at A Dime at a Time this week.  No matter how big or small, I like to take a moment and be thankful for the financial wins that come our way. [Read more…]

$3406.46 + $50.00 due by September 22, 2017

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Playing with the numbers to take full advantage of a balance transfer.  

It’s probably no secret by now that I’m more than just a little obsessed with doing whatever we can do to get rid of our debt.  This morning I scrutinized our Visa statement, which is the credit card we will use to do our next balance transfer.  I want it to hit zero before taking advantage of their offer of 5.99% for life.  As mentioned before, we have no intention of keeping it around for any longer than necessary.  Any amount of interest paid is too much, but this offer buys us some time as we pay off other transfers with shorter time limits. [Read more…]

August Progress Report

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Where the numbers stand.  

We did better than I anticipated for August.  We are still waiting on those balance transfers to take place.  We opened a new account solely for this purpose, and that is what takes longer.  The card is already in our possession, not that I felt the need for a physical card as we will never use it for purchases.  It was strictly the 21 months at zero percent that we were after. [Read more…]

Technology and Budgeting

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Eventually, I’ll figure it all out!  

I bit the bullet and got a new phone. My boss kindly (yeah, right!) gave me a couple of options. The first was for me to pay off the remaining balance on the cell at the cost of $234 and they would pay to break the contract which still has nine months to go.  Um, no thanks on that. I had no intention of paying that much for a phone and benefit she is taking away! The second option was for me to get another phone, which of course would be my own expense. With both options, she said she would release my number. The smarter choice was the second. So, I hightailed it over to Walmart before she changed her mind! [Read more…]

Can a Domestic Engineer be fired?

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If so, I would fire myself!

With the hours working my seasonal job continuing to slow down to a mere trickle, I decided it was time to reclassify my current job description.  Yes, I still work my very part time job and also work my side business, but now with so much more time on my hands, I tend to see myself more as a domestic engineer than that of someone who has gainful employment outside the home.  And there is certainly nothing wrong with that position.  I just need to remind myself that this job title also comes with responsibilities too. [Read more…]

Technology, Hulu, and Rainy Days

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I know, quite the combo!  

After the sticker shock yesterday’s research, I am continuing to look into other cell phone options. When I told Hubby how much AT&T wanted, I think his jaw all but hit the floor. It is easy to forget how much these contracts can cost when you haven’t had one for several years. Of course the reps you speak with always try to upsell their plans by suggesting you add TV, etc. Not going to happen. I refuse to get locked into a two-year contract with a crazy monthly payment. I’m not a huge television watcher, and there are far cheaper options available for when I do want to watch.   [Read more…]

The high cost of technology and remote living

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Technology+remote living=ouch!

With it looking more and more that my work provided cell phone will be coming to an end, I am now researching other options.  The new director of my seasonal job hasn’t been happy that I have this benefit and she is doing everything in her power to end it.  Given that it was never a written benefit, there is little that I can do to fight it.  Yesterday she informed me that the phone at work was changing from a landline to a cell phone and with that, they are canceling the additional cell phone plan that is currently in place.  Only having one cell phone is not going to be very inconvenient for anyone on grounds.  I am thankful that I do a fair amount of my work from home. [Read more…]

Little by little we, are making progress

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Continuing to see some progress!  Success is ahead!  

Little by little, we are making progress with our financial goals.  Thanks to M-Turk, I was able to send another $40 to our Visa card.  As I’ve mentioned before, this is the credit card we are working vigorously hard at paying off so we can take full advantage of a balance transfer offer.  With the pending transfer of $1500 to a zero percent card and the $40 from yesterday, the balance will be down to $2266.   Although the offer is good through November 17, I would like to see this transfer happen sooner than later.  Every day we delay, we are paying that much more in interest.   [Read more…]

Keeping your eyes open

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Looking for more ways to earn and save.

With my seasonal job at a snail’s pace, I am on the lookout for money earning and money saving opportunities.  Here are a few things I have done so far this month: [Read more…]

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