2021-09-01 12:00
I’ve lived in my home for 14 years so it’s fairly accurate to say I’m a bit out of touch with the rental market. Making matters worse, I’m trying to rent SIGHT UNSEE… Read More
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Are you in debt? So am I. Blogging Away Debt is my blog tracking my progress until the day I am debt-free.
2021-09-01 04:37
The Beautiful Dream
There is always that couple. You know the ones; they story-tell in tandem, taking turns to paint the perfect picture of their shared memories. They go on date nights and… Read More
2021-09-01 01:52
We have already established that I suck at saying no…ie foster dogs. No more of that, for now, I learned my lesson. And I’m even worse at negotiating. This has always been the c… Read More
2021-08-30 22:26
Greetings, friends. As the title suggests, I am still hunting for a rental property with an October 1 move-in date. We applied for one house but lost to a couple willing to sign a 4-year le… Read More
2021-08-27 01:03
I was offered both jobs and I accepted the Texas job. They have amazing pay, great benefits, AND they offered a signing bonus that will pay for all moving costs. It was more than I expected… Read More
2021-08-26 12:40
This is not a financial post. So skip it if not interested in other more personal stuff…
I am a NERVOUS wreck! Today will be my first day in the office for my new corporate job. It&rs&hell…Read More
2021-08-25 12:42
Without further ado, here is my spending plan for September.
Flight Reimbursement
9/1/2021
500
Groceries
9/1/2021
-200
Mortgage
9/1/2021
-350
Princess – monthly allowance
9/1/2021
-300… Read More
2021-08-24 18:24
Sea Cadet comes by every week to hang out with mom. He started back to school this week too, completing his Associates in Paramedicine. This is the next step towards his ultimate goal of bei… Read More
2021-08-23 03:19
Unless you’ve been living la vida Unabomber in some remote part of Montana, you know the housing market is hot, hot, hot. It’s a curious alchemy of pandemic-driven housing ennui… Read More
2021-08-18 12:00
Sorry for the lack of an update last week…I was on a flight to Texas…for a third-round interview. Things change fast these days. I’m actually on two sets of third-round i… Read More
2021-08-15 06:29
I’m guilty of neglecting my employee health benefits. There were years when I didn’t so much as look at them, let alone take them down and claim them. These perks are like littl… Read More
2021-08-11 12:04
Sometime back, I would post regular updates on where I had money going that week or month. I cannot remember the cadence. It might be a good idea for me to revisit that strategy to hold me m… Read More
2021-08-09 12:12
Wow, I went back looking for my last complete debt update. Has it really been since January? I guess when I write small updates, I assume all the pieces flow together. Now I realize that may… Read More
2021-08-06 12:37
I promise I will get more financial posts in the works. Our lives are just a whirl right now with school starting back for Gymnast this week, the challenges of sharing a car with everyone go… Read More
2021-08-05 00:44
*Sigh* yeah, me too.
We started the long trek back home a couple weeks ago. Colorado, my friend, you are beautiful. The Rockies are truly a sight to be seen. I saw this beautiful trip endin… Read More
2021-08-04 20:47
“We need a foster…two puppies, just for a couple of weeks.”
And me and my big mouth, sure, bring them on over.
So now we are up to 6 dogs, at least until the 18th. They ar… Read More
2021-08-04 05:59
Corona & Me – Netflix 4Eva
In January 2020, the first case of Covid-19 arrived on American shores. Most of us didn’t know it at the time, but our lives were about to change… Read More
2021-08-02 12:11
As I’ve previously mentioned, I am been dealing with some significant health issues over the last few months. And we are starting to get some answers. One of the first ones is my heari… Read More
2021-07-31 12:58
How did your DIY project go for July? We have so many house projects going on that it’s not funny. Gymnast painted the front door with paint we had on hand, we cut some wood we had lef… Read More
2021-07-30 12:29
Before you say it, I am struggling. Struggling with my kids growing up and moving out and being far away. I mean, I’m good, but it’s hard. My whole life has been built around bei… Read More
2021-07-29 12:58
I have now been at my corporate job for almost 7 months. And while I still miss some aspects of being a contractor, I have settled in and truly love what I’m doing and the team I work… Read More
2021-07-28 12:00
My sister lives in the country in Kansas on 60+ acres. She doesn’t see family often and is always inviting us to visit. She tells us every year we need to stay at her family cabin in t… Read More
2021-07-23 12:26
My other BIG financial change this fall is that Princess is going to college. And our goal is to get her through college with no debt. (My our I mean hers and mine.) We have talked about thi… Read More
2021-07-22 12:48
It hit me hard last week. I am truly entering a new phase of life. And I don’t think I’m as prepared as I thought I was…mentally that is.
We were not able to use our kitch… Read More
2021-07-21 12:00
A reader asked how I manage my internet while on the road so I thought I’d share. I lead a lot of ZOOM meetings and teach classes so it is vitally important to have really good intern… Read More
2021-07-20 12:55
Our bathroom was remodeled in May. And then June…tragedy struck. One of the glass doors just spontaneously shattered while Princess was bathing. When I say shattered, I mean shattered… Read More
2021-07-17 12:14
I mentioned a month or so ago that I loaned Beauty the money to purchase her car, well, part of it. I am pleased to tell you that while we had a couple of bumps along the way, she has paid b… Read More
2021-07-15 12:31
I bought a house. First time that I have ever bought a house really. And I did it ALL ON MY OWN!!! You have no idea how incredibly proud I am of this.
The total loan amount is $98K. My month… Read More
2021-07-14 12:00
We have really been enjoying staying at my sister’s cabin near the Great Lakes. It’s beautiful. It’s peaceful. It’s just lovely.
Or…was lovely…until th… Read More
2021-07-13 12:10
I took a few months detour off my current financial goal of paying off my car: Financial Goal #3 of this year. I was distracted by a month long battle with COVID and then buying my house.
Bu… Read More
2021-07-07 12:00
This was our first July 4th away from home. Thanksgiving and Christmas are always hectic, and we’ve spent plenty of those away from home but the 4th? The 4th is special to us. Every y… Read More
2021-07-06 19:19
This month marks one year since I’ve returned home. Being away has made me realize how much I miss being here for the important family moments, like birthdays and holidays. Now that I… Read More
2021-07-01 12:38
This is the door I made. Okay, really my dad and I made it in May while he was here. I knew I wanted a barn door on my bathroom, but I also knew I couldn’t afford a barn door. So while… Read More
2021-06-30 12:00
We’ve been on the road a while this year and we haven’t had problems. No seriously, none. No tire blowouts. No engine problems. No problems with our travel trailer. Apparently… Read More
2021-06-29 18:58
For the first time in over a decade, we finally got to take a family vacation this summer. It was an exciting and hectic trip, but one that we will all remember. However, after a long weeken… Read More
2021-06-29 12:15
“Growing old isn’t for sissies” – my dad has said this for as long as I can remember. And as he and my mom celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, he said it again… Read More
2021-06-28 12:30
Hello BAD Community! I cannot believe it’s been so long. You’ll have to pardon my absence, full time work and lots of life has gone on in these past weeks. That combined with con… Read More
2021-06-23 12:00
First, we got slammed with an unexpected ER bill. Today, we got hit with an RV problem. Our travel trailer has a slide-out (the wall pushes out to make more room inside). A motor pushes the… Read More
2021-06-23 02:24
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been enthralled with the idea of flying. Although disappointed I would never have this superhuman ability, I realized that the closest I could… Read More
2021-06-16 12:00
Remember how I said my son’s ER bill was just shy of $1,000? Whelp, I was wrong. Turns out, the first bill was from the doctor. A second bill arrived in the mail from the hospital. Ap… Read More
2021-06-15 19:46
This past year has been tough on all of us. The pandemic has completely changed how we live and spend time together. Unfortunately, it also meant that all travel and summer vacation plans w… Read More
2021-06-09 12:00
We hit the road! Great Lakes here we come! We saved our goal for our summer road trip. How do I know how much to save? Gas, lodging, and food are easy calculations. It’s equally import… Read More
2021-06-08 12:22
In our home, we grew up believing it was better to give than receive. Birthdays focused on family dinners and Christmas always included a lesson in service and charity. Although gifts were… Read More
2021-06-02 12:00
A major key to success in this life is to find good friends and surround yourself with like-minded people.
Chris and I went to an RV dealership last week. We decided that even if we don&rs&hellip…Read More
2021-06-01 17:29
Getting your first summer job was always a rite of passage in my family. Then again, my siblings and I never had to cope with social distancing concerns during a pandemic. We are now in an… Read More
2021-05-26 12:20
It’s funny that Hope just bought a house at the same time I’m seriously considering selling mine. I’m super happy for you Hope!!
My situation is a bit different (aren&rsq&helli…Read More
2021-05-25 15:19
With summer just around the corner, my family usually tackles the outdoor home improvement projects this time of year. The garden is planted and yard work divided up among everyone. However… Read More
2021-05-19 11:55
My kids love reading. We can’t walk past a bookstore without them begging to go inside. I can easily say no when they beg for candy or fast food but books? I want to stoke the fire th… Read More
2021-05-18 22:07
This past weekend, I had a strange realization after a shopping trip with my niece. We had spent the day browsing and bargain hunting at the local outlet mall. And as usual, I was debating… Read More
2021-05-12 20:10
It is official…signed purchase agreement, approved mortgage, appraisal complete, and closing date tentatively scheduled. I am buying a house.
As I previously mentioned, I had an inspe… Read More
2021-05-12 12:00
OK, that’s a joke. I don’t wear bathing suits. Before you jump in to say we should ‘normalize’ mom bodies (and I would agree with you), I’ve never worn bathing… Read More
2021-05-11 21:44
No matter how long you spend with someone, breakups are hard. We had spent nine years sharing and building a life together. Then suddenly, the future I had spent nearly a decade working tow… Read More
2021-05-07 13:27
Princess is 2 weeks from high school graduation and just a few days from her 17th birthday. I’m flying out to bring my mom here tomorrow. And my dad will be driving in after I leave wi… Read More
2021-05-05 12:00
I received a notice from my health insurance company that someone hacked their system and my identity, including my social security number, was compromised. At this point, it seems as if I… Read More
2021-05-04 22:06
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I returned to the United States this past year after living overseas for more than a decade. Moving home was already stressful enough. But, when y… Read More
2021-05-04 13:07
I can’t remember if I mentioned, but Princess ran off the road with two of her friends in the car last weekend (I guess two weekends ago when this posts.) Everyone was fine, but we hav… Read More
2021-05-03 13:44
Yes, to answer the question everyone has been asking. There is lots of work going on at our house. And the landlord and I have reached a verbal deal on me buying the house…no handshak… Read More
2021-04-30 13:31
Lots going on this next month…Princess turns 17, both girls graduate, my parents and maybe my brothers come to visit and I might be buy a house. Maybe.
But there’s a lot that ha… Read More
2021-04-30 13:25
As I’m sure most of you did, we received the latest stimulus check. We have four kids so it was a nice sized check. What did we do with it? I wish I could say we booked a nice vacation… Read More
2021-04-29 13:56
Prom was last weekend. Needless to say, with me being sick for the 5 weeks leading up to this momentous occasion, we were not prepared. And all three teens were going.
Both girls were workin… Read More
2021-04-28 13:34
While I was ill Beauty had her driver’s license test. Sea Cadet took her and my car. (We had gone a couple of months ago, but didn’t have the correct paperwork, etc.) She was abl… Read More
2021-04-27 17:47
Well, it finally happened. As embarrassed as I am to admit this, I fell victim to a scam. I have worked with several websites and preached the importance of online security for years. But… Read More
2021-04-26 13:08
The week I decided to get out was the week I was taken down by COVID. (And no, I never did get out.) It was 4pm on a Wednesday and I couldn’t keep my eyes open so decided to take a qui… Read More
2021-04-22 01:02
In that crazy haze of spending I did in a moment of weakness a month ago, I spent wayyyy to much on make-up. If you’ve ever bought anything at Ulta, Sephora, Tarte, etc. you know they… Read More
2021-04-20 12:00
Returning home from Taiwan last summer was full of life changes, both personally and professionally. In addition to living in the U.S. for the first time in more than a decade, it also mean… Read More
2021-04-14 12:00
I watched as big-name companies took political stances and I thought nothing of it. It didn’t apply to me. My organization is very apolitical and wouldn’t make a political state… Read More
2021-04-13 13:00
About nine months ago I moved home to offer my parents support as they begin dealing with declining health and raising my nieces. Although I love being part of a big family, some days it se… Read More
2021-04-06 21:12
Holidays are always a big to-do in our family. For us, it is a time for fun and feasting, particularly when it comes to Easter brunch. Maybe it is due to the change in weather and the abili… Read More
2021-03-31 12:00
I’m overwhelmed. It’s been a rough few weeks but the last 7 days…well…I just. Wow. I had the cloud hanging from grandma a few weeks ago but I was mostl… Read More
2021-03-30 23:38
This last year has been a hard adjustment for everyone in our household. We have all given up things in order to keep each other safe during the pandemic. In addition to everyone working an… Read More
2021-03-24 17:00
I wasn’t surprised at all the folks who told me not to accept the ‘golden handcuffs’ of a promotion and to leave for Texas anyway because it was a better long-term decisio… Read More
2021-03-23 15:24
This weekend, I had the opportunity to catch up with an old friend. As we talked about our personal lives and how we are coping, the conversation turned towards personal finance. As we refl… Read More
2021-03-19 14:31
My challenge this month was to keep it “Quiet“. No extras, no travel…focus on home and stuff like that. Normally, I thrive on these challenges. They inspire me and keep me… Read More
2021-03-18 04:03
Dave Ramsey always says he gives the same advice your grandma gave you, just packaged prettier. Whelp Dave, not my grandma.
My grandparents were chronically terrible with money. &helli…Read More
2021-03-17 13:42
Since we’ve lived in this rental home, I have gotten yearly pest control and we haven’t had any issues. But last fall, we saw an uptick in pests so I started to get quarterly ser… Read More
2021-03-16 17:38
Personal finance has become a hot topic of conversation in our house. Last week, my family had an interesting conversation around the dinner table as we discussed tax returns and college sc… Read More
2021-03-15 14:12
Made an extra $1,500 car payment today! That brings my balance down to $11,437.27.
I wrote that sentence and wished I could just mic drop and walk off.
Every time I get an extra payment I ev… Read More
2021-03-12 14:56
One of the benefits of my new job is that I have unlimited DTO. I read up on this before I took the job and frankly, as great as it sounds to have unlimited paid time off, the reality is not… Read More
2021-03-10 17:38
Big news around here…Princess has options for the fall. It seemed to take forever, but as of last week, she has several options for school in the fall.
She has been accepted into her… Read More
2021-03-10 12:00
We really enjoyed our time off the grid last year. We got to disconnect, support local, feel some semblance of normal. As we head into the anniversary of the pandemic, we&rsquo&hellip…Read More
2021-03-09 15:35
I dread tax season every year. By the time April rolls around, I am usually a giant ball of nerves until I send off my tax return. Although filing taxes is stressful, it became an even more… Read More
2021-03-08 13:35
..I’ve recently found a local Buy Nothing Facebook group. The concept is to ask and give things for free. Their mission is:
We offer people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and… Read More
2021-03-05 12:49
As people slowly begin to emerge, over time, from their quarantine lives. As the vaccine becomes more readily available…we are starting to hear about what people have accomplished ove… Read More
2021-03-03 13:00
As I looked at the next couple of months, I realized that this will be our last quiet month for a while. April will bring spring break and the younger two kids are planning to spend some tim… Read More
2021-03-03 12:00
Did you know using a scheduling app can change your life? Yes, I’m completely serious. There are two apps I’d be completely lost without if they were to disappear of… Read More
2021-03-02 16:10
Let me begin with a brief overview of my life in a large family. I live in a busy, boisterous, multigenerational home. After teaching abroad, I returned home and currently live with my pare… Read More
2021-03-01 13:04
Car loan…I’m coming for you!
It took me a bit longer than I anticipated, but I have now officially maxed out my ROTH IRA contribution for 2020. Score!!!
And now the bulls eye is… Read More
2021-02-25 13:37
I received an unexpected email from our HR department a couple of weeks ago. In addition to my new company paying 1/2 of tutoring their employers kids, they were purchasing a bulk load of De… Read More
2021-02-24 12:00
Life. Just when you think you have it figured out, you get a curveball.
My husband and I told our families about our plans to leave California. Of course, they all told us it wa… Read More
2021-02-23 22:36
The past school year our family decided it was best to switch to remote learning during the pandemic. Although there is a distinct difference between remote learning and homeschooling, it i… Read More
2021-02-23 13:15
We have been in our house for 4 years this coming April. So I have felt pretty confident in my budgeting our utility bills.
$300 month has been a safe bet split between electric, water, sewa… Read More
2021-02-22 13:10
My entire family has traditional health insurance for the first time in many years. We’ve got a high deductible health insurance, dental and vision. It is causing a pretty penny, but t… Read More
2021-02-17 12:00
We were excited to switch to a Health Savings account for 2020. It was a great gamble! We didn’t have a single incident last year. Of course, it made sense that we r… Read More
2021-02-16 22:32
I spend my entire work week online, reading and writing about personal finance. Lately, I have been browsing through tons of sites, discussion boards, and forums designed for people dealing… Read More
2021-02-09 18:55
Growing up in a household where money was always a concern, I knew the value of a dollar. My dad showed us how to be diligent with our money and make sure to get the best deal on things. Ou… Read More
2021-02-05 12:41
I’ve now been at my new job an entire month. And as I mentioned previously, the transition back into corporate life has been a bit rough. But 4 weeks in and I am genuinely loving the w… Read More
2021-02-04 13:01
For the first time in a long time, I have combined my budget and my tracking into one spreadsheet. At the end of every week, I am notating all the money spent and received. While I have trac… Read More
2021-02-03 12:00
After spending quite a bit of time in Texas, my husband and I decided it’s finally time to leave California. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons but the biggest is affor… Read More
2021-02-02 18:38
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic downturn, there has been renewed focus on the American health care system. As many people remain out of work or have reduced hou… Read More
2021-02-01 12:57
I would not want to be working for the IRS these days. The immense amount of policy changes, quick responses to COVID legislation and of course, annual tax time. Then, of course, there are t… Read More
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