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Jul 13, 2012    |       6 comments

Skip-A-Month from the Credit Union

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Once or twice a year our credit union will pre-approve us to skip the monthly payments on all of our loans.  They offered it for July and after discussion and some math–we took them up on it.  The interest rates on all three loans with the credit union are significantly less than our other debt.  (2.9% on both vehicles, 11.9% on the signature loan).  We were able to send a larger payment to Bank of America (the lender I hate more and more every day) today ($1200 instead of $580), pay extra to the smallest balance card ($100 instead of $50) and free up some cash for the inevitable vacation spending (so that we didn’t incur more debt while on the trip).

This time I write to inform…not seek opinions to act.  However, I always welcome feedback (the good, the bad and the ugly) on this financial decision.  I’m here to read these this time and won’t be replying due to current time constraints.  Did I mention I had work travel this week?  Overnight Wednesday to late last night.  I’m a walking zombie at the moment.  Note to self:  mark myself “unavailable for travel” the week after vacation! Bring on the weekend!

Jul 10, 2012    |       14 comments

Grocery Shopping with DD

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I had a bad idea yesterday after work and picking up DD from camp–to make a quick stop at the grocery store for a few necessary items.  I’m already off to a bad start because I didn’t get the week’s shopping done as I usually do on the weekends AND I was sleep deprived.  I figured we’d zip in and grab a few items.  As you probably suspect–this resulted in a totally flustered Mom and Daughter and too much money spent! 

I know I must have a plan and a list when I go into a grocery store…but what do I do when there is nothing to eat at home AND I have no plan?!  I almost ran by a local vegetarian restaurant known for its real food but knew that would be expensive.  I told myself I could run in and out of the grocery store and grab just what I needed–the items on my mental list that I really should have put down on paper.  Add to this DD going through processed food detox and we had a mess of a time!  She isn’t normally one to ask for lots of things but that’s because she usually has all the junk she wants.  With the new rules and the post-vacation blahs…her requests were non-stop!  Wow!  Stuff she doesn’t even have a history of liking were being begged for with all out drama! 

It was an all-around bad idea and exhausting for both of us.  I spent $35 on random stuff—all “real food” except for the pringles I agreed to in a huge moment of weakness.  After I got home I confirmed that I did get some things for DD’s lunches for camp but other than that virtually nothing I got can create a meal.  🙁

Today is a new day and I’m not off to a great start.  I didn’t have time to make my oatmeal at home and paid $2 for oatmeal from the downstairs cafe.  They were happy to see me again but I was not happy to pay them $2.00 for a bowl of oatmeal.

I’m giving myself a break–and I’ll find some time to make a plan today!

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