Navigating life and finances
Are the gauges on a propane tank like the gas gauge in a car? After seeing how much propane we needed, I have learned that apparently, they are! It is true. Just because the needle says you have 55%, doesn’t mean you actually do. I feel almost as if the gauges lied to me and it let me down. When it comes to the cash that is now rapidly departing our checking account, I think I have every right to feel this way! [Read more…]
“I’m on my way!” ~Winter I’m pretty sure this is what the wind was whispering to me on this cold Fall-like morning. It was so cold (low 50s) that I turned on our furnace just to take the chill out of the house. While there should hopefully still be some warmer days ahead, Winter does come early to our area of the country. With it comes plenty of cold weather and snow. Now that we are prepared for our heating needs, we need to think about the upcoming snow and how to keep up with it! [Read more…]
Heating season is coming!
Wow, here it is only three days into August, and we’ve already altered our budget. The change stems from conversations Hubby had with several local people regarding the last three Winter seasons. According to these locals, we’ve had three very mild Winters. We’ve only been here for the last two, so if what we experienced is their idea of mild, I cringe at what a harsh Winter may entail! [Read more…]
For those who might be unfamiliar with what a sinking fund is, it is essentially setting aside money for future known expenses. Christmas is a prime example. We all know it comes in December and by setting aside funds each week/month, it no longer becomes a budget buster. Sounds simple enough, but yet Hubby and I still struggle with doing this. [Read more…]
How did we do in July and what do we hope to do in August?From a previous post….
What do I hope to see for July? I’d like to see a couple of things. Our smallest debt (a Visa) is now at $4,459.91. I’d like to see that get below $4,000. There is just something psychological about seeing that first 4 change to a 3! Secondly, I would like to see us hit the 10K mark of debt paid off. [Read more…]
Hubby is out there somewhere!
Decisions, decisions! Thank you for all the suggestions and comments regarding what to do with our vacation pay. Interestingly, no one recommended a boat fund! Ha ha! No worries, we had already axed that off our list. Aside from knowing it wouldn’t be a smart thing to do while battling debt, a neighbor has also since helped lessen the want of a boat. Hubby went out fishing last night and again this morning on our friend’s boat. Although I wouldn’t feel right about us doing so, the neighbor said we are welcome to use it anytime we want. [Read more…]
What would YOU do with it, and why? So, my Hubby is nearing his one year anniversary at his job and with it, brings up the topic of vacation pay. He changed companies last year not only for better pay but also for better insurance. While overall it has proven to be a wise move, it wasn’t without a few drawbacks. He is away from home a lot more, which is a change neither of us likes. Once we get our debt paid off, he will likely move to a lower paying position within the same company that will get him home more often. Another drawback was the vacation pay for the first year isn’t all that great. Thankfully he will accumulate it at a significantly higher rate once he hits the one year mark. [Read more…]
The power of encouragement! Today is Monday, and for many, a dreaded day of the week. Although my seasonal position has me pretty much working every day, Monday is still Monday. My day started out in its usual fashion. 3 AM the cat and dogs want/need to go outside. The cat stays out; the dogs come back in. 5 AM the cat is now meowing at the door, which not only wakes me but also wakes the dogs, who then think they should again go outside. 6:50 AM the process repeats itself, except this time I head for the coffee pot and my day begins. [Read more…]
Food, Shelter, clothing, and transportation.Taking care of our four walls is something I needed to remind myself of today. Financially, July has been a tight month for us. Admittedly, some of this was our own doing as we pushed June’s debt snowball to the limit. Finding a healthy balance has never been a strong point for us, and apparently, this is also the case when it comes to paying off our debt. [Read more…]
A question that, lately, I find myself asking a lot more often!Lately, I find myself asking what more I can do to keep our snowball moving once my seasonal job comes to an end. While I should still have two decent checks coming yet this season, after the first week of August that will all change. Given that when we started our journey to get out of debt, I was only working my very part time job, I feel okay that we will be fine. But I want to be more than just that! I want to be able to continue our momentum! [Read more…]