Post by teatimefor2 on Oct 22, 2014 20:18:03 GMT -5
Can we share some MM wins? After spending a small fortune this year and some unexpected moving/renovations, the pendulum is finally swinging in the other direction.
- we received an odd insurance bill that I paid in January. After over an hour in the phone, turns out we are owed $700.
- flood insurance rates readjusted, a check for $2,500 appeared in the mail today.
- DH found out that he'll get at least a 3% raise for next year, maybe more.
I negotiated a raise a work this week. I don't have an exact number yet but I made my case and my bosses were very receptive. I am very excited bc I have taken on a lot of additional responsibilities this year and I feel that I really deserve it.
1) Late last year we received two tax reassessments because of the time of year we bought. I paid them both but it appears my escrow was anticipating some of it because I received a check for $872 last week from my escrow overage. I calculated what we should be paying into escrow based on my latest tax bill and it is accurate so this is just extra money.
2) My new washer and dryer set qualified for a $50 rebate from the electric company, $150 rebate from the water company, and $100 rebate from the manufacturer.
Not necessarily a win, but we have been great about tracking in YNAB since September 1 (even H!). I feel like I actually have a better grasp of our spending and plan to transfer a big chunk into our investment account at the end of the month.
buffaloeggs.blogspot.com 2016 Races: Hop Hop Half Marathon 2:05:09 Pac Crest Half Ironman 7:13:40 9/10 Aluminum Man Oly Tri 11/27 Space Coast Half Marathon
Post by sarapocalypse on Oct 22, 2014 20:56:11 GMT -5
Hoping I got my doctor's bill/insurance issues worked out (seems like my doctor's office coded my recent appointment incorrectly). Hoping I'll end up paying only $70 out of pocket vs. $315.
I bit into an avocado pit piece in a salad at Nordstrom. It chipped a tiny piece of my tooth, but it is REALLY small. I told the employee so that the other salads could be checked. Nordstrom proactively sent me a check for $200 that I had forgotten about. I found it in my wallet today. Yay for free money. I want to do something fun with E this weekend.
I worked 35 hours of overtime last pay period. I also cashed in 50 hours of vacation. A nice big chunk to go in my baby making fund. My insurance covers $0 for IUI
I should have 35-40 hours of overtime this period as well. Gotta work it while I can even though I'm freakin exhausted.
Post by hopenotlost on Oct 22, 2014 22:33:11 GMT -5
The Children's Place has (had? Not sure if it is still going on) a great sale, and I took advantage!
I bought 2 pairs of jeans, 14 tops, a pair of shoes, a pair of slippers, a winter coat and snow pants, and winter snow boots, and then my 5 year old two pairs of jeans and a winter coat, and my 7 year old a winter coat (she's all set with all other clothing) for $247.03. I am so excited.
We moved to a HCOL city 6 months ago and I was worried about our finances. I am so happy on how we have managed our finances, we have zero debt and are doing a great job hoarding money in our savings account.
I got a haircut yesterday with a new person. She asked if my hair color (brown) was natural because it looks so nice and shiny. I told her that I only touch up my roots with Nice n Easy and she said that I do a good job. $6 DIY box dye FTW!
My DH's business is booming. We are both a little dumbstruck at how well things are going. It is the best feeling in the world to see your baby thriving after so many years of throwing blood, sweat, and tears (and so. much. $$$$$$) into it.
I am so proud of him and what we have created.
And I'm back at work and doing juuuust fine so we are making it rain over here.
My little brother is texting me right now asking for MM advice on as he puts it, "building his net worth." He has one more cc to pay off and then he is going to start to contribute to his Roth.
Oh and the best part is he is getting serious cause he is on a company sponsored trip to Italy and he is putting all of the money he would have spent on food and gas towards the cc.
H and I are pulling the trigger on a Refinance finally! We've been paying $420/month in PMI that's been killing me. We're 2.5 years into the 5 year requirement. We're able to refinance from a 30 year fixed at 3.75% with 2.5 years left of PMI payments into a 20 year fixed also at 3.75%. Shockingly enough our total payment will be the same, but moving that money essentially from a PMI payment for the next 2.5 years into principal and interest, will allow us to pay off our loan 7.5 years faster!
Generally I've been on the slow track to payoff the loan since interest is so minimal, but that PMI just gives me heartburn. (At the time I had 20% in savings, but put down 15% b/c I wanted more cash reserves... and I haven't touched those reserves once. Hindsight is 20:20 I guess).
Post by crashgizmo on Oct 23, 2014 10:07:05 GMT -5
DH just informed me that he caught up on his expenses and we will be getting a check for $780. We basically already absorbed the money spent into our last few months budget so this will be a bit of extra!
We are also canceling two of our wine club memberships so that will be a little extra fun money next month. Not sure if that is a win or just being more responsible....
I just bought a new car at 0.99% financing. It really is basically free money! I was doing the math on paying it off early vs letting it ride and there really isn't much of a savings for snowballing - especially if I keep my money and invest it.
We just did 0% on ours, and yeah. They asked if I wanted to pay the sales tax or roll it in, and I was all "don't mind if I do!" After a $1k deposit plus a trade in, we're not starting out upside down. The woman at the dealership gave me a small amount of side eye over not doing gap insurance, but with 0% I really don't anticipate needing it. Since every dollar will go to principal, I'll make faster progress paying it off than it will depreciating. I promptly put our "car down payment" toward a 5% SL instead.
I got an 18% raise this year plus a small bonus. Yay! (eta: I was underpaid to begin with, so 18% isn't a lot, but still exciting )
I don't know if this is a win, but because of reading MM and watching Suze Orman, I paid off one car and make 2x the minimum payments on the other car and H's student loan. As it turns out, we were really just pissing the money away. Oh, and opened a Roth! Thanks, MM!
I paid off my student loans and upped my retirement contribution by 4 percentage points this year. I also got an "Above Expectations" rating at work this year so that equates to a bigger raise, +3%, and a bigger bonus (not sure what that is yet).
Susie, @vicmo where did you get your low financing through on the car?