Blogging Away Debt

Debt Be Gone, Debt Be Refinanced and Debt in My Sights

It’s been a busy week and I’m so ready for a break from children’s activities, school and the busy-ness of the holiday season. Do you get that way at this time of year?

My parents visit wraps up today. It has been a whirlwind of activity – robotics competitions, gymnastics meet, choir performances, drama class holiday production, foster care holiday party and so much more. It’s been great fun but every free moment has been keeping up with work so I could participate in all the fun. Therefore, I haven’t had a chance to write out my new plan but it is ready so I hope to get it typed up and presentable this afternoon after dropping my parents at the airport. But in the meantime, here’s some updates:

For those watching the housing drama unfold…my dad did not have time to review the financials before coming as he said he would. So he has assured me he will do that at his earliest availability upon returning home. So more waiting on that front…

The car debt for the boy’s car, the $1900 is now officially paid. I have title in hand and have paid the registration for two years, gotten an oil change and got it inspected. Today I will add insurance.

I have been able to re-finance my highest interest debt…the Retail Card at approx 25% interest and a balance of $3200 to a 6 month introductory rate of 3.99% for 6 months. So the clock is definitely clicking to get that paid off. I’m pretty excited about this. I plan on putting a debt update up at the end of the month.

I have two goals that I am gunning for this month…paying off old house utility bills AND paying off checking account debt. This is a pretty lofty goal in light of the holidays, but I’m not ruling it out yet.

So those are the big highlights. As I mentioned before I’m hoping to get my “life plan” timeline up this afternoon, but it could be tomorrow depending on how the travel to my parents flight plans works out. It’s an hour drive each way and have to make sure I’m caught up on work before I sit down to transcribe my hand written notes.

Teacher Presents, Revisited

by Ashley

When Hope recently mentioned getting teacher gifts it made me think, “uh oh!” I hadn’t considered or budgeted for teacher gifts!!

Our girls (twin 2.5 year olds) are in the same preschool classroom where they have 1 lead teacher and 2 assistant teachers. These teachers are absolute saints! They have the patience of angels and hearts of gold! I have NO IDEA how they do what they do! It surely takes something special, as I could never ever be so patient day-in and day-out working with 18 toddlers I’m not even related to (makes it a bit easier when they’re your own!)

I was thinking I’d set a super low limit ($5) and buy Starbucks gift cards for each ($15 total) and have the girls draw some pretty pictures and write a nice note expressing our thanks and appreciation for their hard work.

Then on Monday I noticed a new “Wish List” sign up on the classroom door. Basically, its a list of items that they would like to have for the classroom. Example items include: plastic baggies, buttons, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, etc. etc. etc. It made me wonder….would buying some classroom items be considered an appropriate “teacher gift” or would these items be extra/in addition to a teacher gift??? If buying “wish list” items would work I think I’d prefer to do that, as it would probably be cheaper and I would be contributing directly to crafts/games/activities for my girls. But is it “cheap” to not give the teachers their own individual gifts (like the gift cards I was thinking of gifting)???

Just wanted to get some opinions on this regarding what would be reasonable and appropriate.

Thoughts??