October Wins and Losses

[chpmnk1015]

Let's hope everyone has a good October!!

[chpmnk1015]

W: So far trying to cut spending this month.. day 4 lol. Finally got everything back to normal for us and was able to today to put a little in savings, vaca fund, and extra to car payment.

L: putting out $400 today for class dues- but, making the payment all at once just to be done instead of over the next 18 months.

[Susie]

L:  Our backyard project went significantly over budget.  I'm not totally surprised, and some of the add-ons were really useful, but still.  Oof.  It's checking in around $62k, after an original estimate in the mid-low $50ks.

That includes a new 12x16 shed, a paver walkway from the front driveway to the back deck and the shed, new deck stairs down to a terraced area, a black aluminum fence around a lot of the backyard, a tree replacement, and some ground cover planting down by the creek so we don't have to mow so close to the embankment.  One of the additions mid-project was to run conduits for the house downspouts under the walkway so they don't dump water onto the pavers (which half the year might then freeze).  They run underground down to the French drains downhill.  Excellent idea and one that needed to be executed before the walkway went in.  But I'm tired of dumping money into this house!

[EvieEthelGarland]

L: DS got his license this week and the insurance quote was reasonable--because they had him as born in '06, not '08. I had verified his DOB each time I called regarding his insurance, so it is totally on them that they had it wrong. His premium went from $110 to $190. I have AmFam Costco Connect so I called Costco and when the rep asked how she could help I said I doubt she could, but she could listen to me rant for 5 minutes and that would make me feel better. She did and she agreed it was not acceptable and submitted a report. Which leads to the

W: Less than 2 hours later, AmFam called and offered a $247 credit on my account for the difference. When the policy renews in February, I'll pay the increase. I'm still annoyed-we might've had different discussions in my house about what he is responsible to pay at the $190 rate-but this solution exceeded my expectations and it was quick.

[sadlebred]

W: I got a $100 prepaid debit card for something I did. I posted house sitting on my neighborhood Facebook group (pretty much only no dog sitting...bring in the mail, water the plants, feed the cats, etc.) Hopefully I'll get some traction towards Thanksgiving.

L: As of Oct. 1 I am officially unemployed.

[chpmnk1015]

Oct 4, 2024 23:02:08 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

W: I got a $100 prepaid debit card for something I did. I posted house sitting on my neighborhood Facebook group (pretty much only no dog sitting...bring in the mail, water the plants, feed the cats, etc.) Hopefully I'll get some traction towards Thanksgiving.

L: As of Oct. 1 I am officially unemployed.

So sorry on the unemployment but hope it leads to better things for you

[mainelyfoolish]

W: I just passed the two year mark at my current position, so I will be getting a 4% raise starting this month.

L: I ran some numbers and had to drastically increase my tax withholding for the rest of the year.


L: DH and I both have new-to-us cars as of this spring and we didn’t have snow tires/wheels yet for either of them.

W: DH found one set on Facebook marketplace for $100. The set was for a different car, but the wheels will fit his car and the tires will fit my car. Now we just need to obtain wheels for my car and snow tires for his car. And we can sell off the set of snow tires/wheels we have that fit the car we no longer own.

[RockNVoll]

L: Was notified last week that my position is being eliminated.

W: I was going to quit early next year anyway and effectively retire (still so weird to say that). This way I actually get a pretty nice severance package and walk away with way more than if I had quit!

[sadlebred]

RockNVoll I'm sorry but yeah for the severance package and retirement!!

[chpmnk1015]

Oct 5, 2024 21:12:21 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

L: Was notified last week that my position is being eliminated.

W: I was going to quit early next year anyway and effectively retire (still so weird to say that). This way I actually get a pretty nice severance package and walk away with way more than if I had quit!

Wow... Sorry but exciting and yay... 

[heygrey]

W: I needed to buy winter tires and rims for my new car. I got several quotes over the past few weeks, Canadian Tire came out the best and I stacked a bunch of points to get $320 in CT cash. I spent $140 less than I had set aside, so that feels like free money too. The actual money ($140) went right to another sinking fund and the points money (I have $380 right now) will go towards Christmas.

[simpsongal]

L: Major L.... we're getting a new furnace and AC unit to the tune of $16,500 (including chimney liner and a new thermostat). We've spent over $3K in the past few years fixing our units, which were on their last legs. We spent Christmas 2022 w/o heat. So it was time, and we're doing it on our terms at least....but woof, what a hit to our finances.

L:I got the date wrong on our horseback riding trip, broke my daughter's heart and we're out nearly $400.

W: Nothing yet but the month is young....(DH's CC is paying our Amazon expenses, which feels like a win b/c it's hitting his CC...but money is fungible and all, so not a real W )

[simpsongal]

Oct 4, 2024 10:03:46 GMT -5 Susie said:

L:  Our backyard project went significantly over budget.  I'm not totally surprised, and some of the add-ons were really useful, but still.  Oof.  It's checking in around $62k, after an original estimate in the mid-low $50ks.

That includes a new 12x16 shed, a paver walkway from the front driveway to the back deck and the shed, new deck stairs down to a terraced area, a black aluminum fence around a lot of the backyard, a tree replacement, and some ground cover planting down by the creek so we don't have to mow so close to the embankment.  One of the additions mid-project was to run conduits for the house downspouts under the walkway so they don't dump water onto the pavers (which half the year might then freeze).  They run underground down to the French drains downhill.  Excellent idea and one that needed to be executed before the walkway went in.  But I'm tired of dumping money into this house!

Can’t wait to see pics! I know it’s a lot but you’re doing it the right way and you’ll love your yard so much more. It’s a such a great property

[chpmnk1015]

Well, i will go with Win/Loss since i think long term savings: Prime day... got a bunch of things for DD for Cmas that were on her list- all useful. Best buy had $50 off Xbox which is my sons bday/cmas gift so i grabbed that.

[midwestmama]

Count me in for the W/L mix with Prime Day - I bought normal things we use (e.g., dog food, chocolate chips, pimple patches) which we on a good sale, as well as a couple of gifts, but spent more than what I wanted (in a short amount of time).

[chpmnk1015]

Oct 9, 2024 14:38:32 GMT -5 midwestmama said:

Count me in for the W/L mix with Prime Day - I bought normal things we use (e.g., dog food, chocolate chips, pimple patches) which we on a good sale, as well as a couple of gifts, but spent more than what I wanted (in a short amount of time).

I kept trying to find good deals on everyday stuff but i kept pricing against BJs.. so that next trip will be spendy lol

[chpmnk1015]

W: Just put an extra $600 towards DHs car loan this past week and a half... he got the car in End of july and i want it paid in a year.. hoping it is doable

[sadlebred]

Prime Day Wins (Unemployed Budget Edition)
--New FireStick for $10. I am trading in 2 for $6 total plus you get 20% off for trading stuff in. The old FireStick is from 2018, and my streaming services keep freezing. This is for my office TV. The den TV has a newer 4K Firestick.
--About 2 years ago I bought a LLL dup fanny pack/belt bag/bum bag for $6 or so. FF to now it's $14 but on sale for $11. I've wanted a 2nd one in a different color.
--Curlsmith shampoo for $6 off, which is about as cheap as it gets.

[trissie18]

W: We are trading in my car for one that is 2 years newer, has 60k less miles, and saving $240/month on my payment.

[midwestmama]

L: Had to take my dog to the vet today because of an ear infection. They gave him an ear treatment in the office. But with his constant skin issues, the vet wanted to put him on another round of antibiotics and prednisone. Bill was just over $300, which included the new 2% transaction fee on credit card transactions. My biggest regret is not getting pet insurance when he was a puppy. We spend thousands of dollars on him for vet visits, prescription meds, etc. every year.

[chpmnk1015]

W: anchor tax rebate hit today so put it all as extra towards DHs truck. Woot.

[Susie]

I paid for almost all of H's and my travel to my marathon later this month with CSP points.  I think I paid for my own airfare, but I had enough points to cover my hotel x3 nights and H's flight to come spectate.  Not bad!  My flight wasn't that much more than the ~$220 or so that I spent to register for the race.

Now as long as we don't start adding up how much I spent on shoes, gear, nutrition, etc. over the last 6 months we're good to go on the MM front!

[sadlebred]

L: My bike cost $200 to get fixed. That's a hit to the "bike fix" budget.

[midwestmama]

W: I have some irritated skin around one corner of one of my eyes, and it's been like that for a couple of weeks. I was 99% sure it was allergies, but DH was trying to convince me to go to urgent care over it. (My vision was not impacted.) Because I had an upcoming annual eye exam, I thought I would just wait for that, and that appointment was today. My eye doctor confirmed that it was just due to allergies, and gave me an Rx for the irritated skin and told me what over-the-counter allergy eye drops to get. So that saved our HSA at least $200-250 for an urgent care visit.

[niq]

Giant Yuppie Sob Story L: Last year I sold a bunch of stock but also gave away a bunch of money. I thought the charitable giving would sort of cancel out the capital gains tax, but I was high four-figured digits wrong.

Much smaller W: YNAB is mostly working, we're keeping restaurant and family discretionary spending under control.

[chpmnk1015]

W: put a little extra to DHs truck loan from my regular paycheck; keeping this months expenses in check.

L/W: turned heat on last night- but turned it back off this morning.. looks to be nicer this coming week. Usually try and hold off until Nov 1 lol.

[RockNVoll]

Oct 18, 2024 11:17:45 GMT -5 chpmnk1015 said:

L/W: turned heat on last night- but turned it back off this morning.. looks to be nicer this coming week. Usually try and hold off until Nov 1 lol.

We play this same game every year, LOL. But when we got home last weekend after a couple of days away and it was 58° in the house we caved.

[sadlebred]

RockNVoll I caved when my house was only 60....I like 66, but 60 is a bit much...we've been 10+ degrees lower than normal at night this time of year. I usually don't turn it on til at LEAST Nov. 1.

[midwestmama]

We live in MI and turned the heat on on Oct 1. When there are consecutive nights in the 40s, the heat goes on. Oct. 1 is actually later than usual, but this past September was much warmer than usual (for the whole month). We do keep the thermostat at 67 (though some weekend days we may bump it up a degree or two), so that generally keeps our natural gas usage at a manageable cost. (We actually do the budget billing so our payments are consistent amounts, and last May when they did the annual assessment, we had a positive account balance of just over 1 month's payment amount, so didn't have to pay our gas bill for a month.

[simpsongal]

niq, that stinks. DH and I are both in the 'hope we got it right' w/taxes camp this year. We keep making adjustments and assumptions. I don't think we get to deduct charitable giving any more, so one less thing to consider.

re heat - ours is on. It's so weird b/c the days are like 75 but it's dropping into the 30s/40s at night.