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Apr 1, 2025    |       10 comments

Hope’s April Forecast

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I just reviewed my forecast for the month. Thought you might want to see my planned spending and known income:

PayeeAmount
Mortgage – part I-$599
Health Insurance-$76
Income$684
Amazon CC-$96
Gas/Water/Trash-$150?
TX Savings-$20
TX Stash-$20
Income-$20
Electrician-$1,210
Sam’s Club CC-$33
Electricity-$43
Upwork$500
TX Savings-$20
TX Stash-$20
Verizon-$350
Auto Insurance-$737
Mortgage – part 2-$500
Income
TX Savings-$20
TX Stash-$20
USAA CC-$181
Beauty – phone$71
Gymnast – phone$75
Frontier CC-$157
Princess – phone & internet$114
Income
TX Savings-$20
TX Stash-$20
Storage-$79
Internet-$63
Apple CC-$
Total-$3,010

 

If the amount is blank, it means I don’t know it.

Some notes:

The total looks scary with just two weeks of income left to be calculated. However, my mortgage (part 1), the electrician, and health insurance are already covered from last month’s income.

There is no budget for gas or groceries this month. That is intentional as I am moving completely out of the house at the end of the month, so I want to eat through everything here. And I have no plans to leave a 3 mile radius of my home so my current full tank of gas should last me easily. I believe I have enough food to last me even if I am down to peanut butter sandwiches by the end of the month. (My loaf bread is kept frozen now and just toast it as needed so it doesn’t go bad.)

I do have additional income, but it is not predictable as far as amount or when I will get paid. It also goes into my business account. I have several business related bills that are covered from that account. The current balance of that account is right at $250 so it’s got enough to cover this month’s bills and some. When business is good, I would typically set up my Verizon and Internet bills to be paid from my business account. (Note: Upwork income, as seen here, requires that it be paid to a personal checking account so I cannot set it up to go to my business account.)

The TX Stash and TX Saving line items are weekly transfers to my ROTH account and my savings account. It’s not a lot but it’s something.

Things are tight. But nothing is late, nothing is over drafted.

Mar 31, 2025    |       15 comments

The Housing Market is Busy

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In the last few weeks, the number of calls on the house have picked up dramatically. With the fresh paint, greener outside, reduced price, and increased requests for showings, I am certain the right family will see the house. Or a investor, I suppose. (In fact, the couple who viewed it this past week are supposed to put in an offer. Their realtor called me after the showing. But nothing yet.)

I’ve turned down more showings than I’ve accepted lately due to my availability to get the dogs out of the house. Work and mother/daughter responsibilities have picked up significantly as well.

I wrote a summary of the house situation not to long ago.

Here’s where we are now…

The electric work was completed on Thursday. And the electrician has committed to addressing anything an inspection might bring up at no additional charge. Yeah for that. At the time of writing this, I don’t have the final bill, but it should come in around $1,200.

The interior painting is still in progress. I’m very grateful that my contractor is squeezing me in around other jobs. He’s the same man who has helped me throughout my ownership of this house and I trust him implicitly. That, in and of itself, is worth it’s weight in gold. He is charging me $1,200 for labor and the supplies cost me $278. He has agreed to take a partial payment now. And I will pay the rest when the house sells or sooner.

As soon as the painting is complete, a realtor, a different one that the one I originally chose, is taking over the listing.

I will move out completely the weekend of May 1 and the dogs will be boarded. My stuff will be in my car or in storage. I am taking my plants to Princess apartment for the time being.

The family will be in Georgia for Princess’ college graduation through Mother’s Day. Then I will pick up the dogs from the kennel and head to Texas.

Challenges

In addition to the mental challenges of this season of life, I have now been physically sick for over three months. First the cough that wouldn’t quit, then the flu, and now, it seems like I’ve suddenly developed seasonal allergies. Or have a terrible cold that just won’t go away.

I have no energy, can barely breathe, and don’t sleep well. Getting the house off my plate and getting some stability in Texas will help my physical recovery…I hope.

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