Nic's Financial Journey

We did our road trip to Montana and back and I am ready to move...again. By raising money through yard sales and Craigslist,we paid ca$h for everything and even came in $22.00 under budget.
We're looking into fixing up and selling this place and making the move towards the end of the year. I'm dreaming of fishing year round.
So, if I'm not around to post, it's because I'm busy painting,patching and landscaping. But,I'm still reading and being motivated by many of you!

Risisng prices of EVERYTHING is affecting how we all live.It seems as if more people are selling off their personal stuff just to get by.
Here's an example from CNN
Selling Family Treasures
I hope they exhausted the FREE sales venues first such as Craigslist,supermarket bulletin boards,garage sales etc.
And if these people are doing this just to live this month,what will they do NEXT month?
Some people come from a place of splurge. Why? It fulfills a temporary thrill and then what?
This is why we need to plan,have an EF and if at all possible,stay out of credit card debt and stay FAR AWAY from pay day lenders.

My neighbor told me today that he and his wife have credit card debt to the tune of $1900.00. My opinion is that it's not very much for a couple in their 20's. His wife has savings bonds worth $2800 and he has stock worth $5000. They also have close to $8000 in ca$h in the bank earning 2%.
This is the only debt they have...no car payments,no student loans and their house belongs to granny who's a snow bird,so they stay there for free. They are both employed, so for some young kids,they got it going on.
They want to know if they should
1)Ca$h in the bonds and pay off the debt.
2)Ca$h in some stock and pay off the debt.
3)Take $1900 from their savings account and pay off the debt.
My advice was to take the ca$h from their savings account and pay off the debt. First of all,cashing in bonds and/or stock would involve paying taxes. Uncle Sam doesn't need it that badly.
Also, they're only earning 2% in savings vs. 9.99% interest on the credit card. Whatever monthly payments were going towards their credit card they can now direct towards their savings, maybe even a Roth.
I'm no Suze Orman,but I think it was good advice. What say you?

We had our last yard sale yesterday for our trip.I ironed some t-shirts to place on the sale rack.I hate going to yard sales and the clothing looks like it has been dragged through the mud before being offered for sale. Just because it's going for a buck or two doesn't mean you shouldn't treat it like it's a high ticket item. We also put out a couple of tower fans and small knick knacks that didn't sell in the previous two yard sales.
Well,lo and behold,the FIRST items to go were a fan and the 8 t-shirts I had just ironed. The young man who bought it said he just started a new job at the local garden shop and he and his wife were going clothes shopping. He was glad to spend $8.00 instead of $80 for clothing. He also purchased a fan for his daughters.
We hadn't completely unpacked the dishes when a woman and her husband came along and offered to pay $40.00 for all of it...sight unseen. Hell, I even offered to carry it to the car.
By the end of the day,we made $93.00.
A very nice addition to the Montana road trip fund. We were originally going for $600.00, but with the price of ga$,we decided that $700.00 would be more realistic. We are now only $7.00 shy of the goal.
Items we didn't sell were a convection oven and some small odds-n-ends. Those we donated to our local thrift shop which helps to defray hospital expenses for those in need.
It was fun and making money is ALWAYS fun.

Albertson's must have had a good first quarter. They marked the meat down...we picked up markdowns of sirloin,boneless pork and top round. Total markdown came to $21.64. Woo-Hoo. We also treated ourselves to $tarbuck$...no,not with our own money. We're too frugal(cheap) for that. We used gift cards from our air miles.
The money saved went into our Montana trip fund which is at $550 and change now. Our target is $600.00. I sold a pet ramp on Craigslist and we're having one more yard sale. Hopefully,that will put us over our target. If not,plan "B" kicks in and we take the buck$ out of our own pocket. I've never been to Montana so this will be all new stuff for me.
In other news,the tight Dr. is once again screaming about our hours. Well gee Doc, the animals that board here and REQUIRE meds need to be taken care of. Perhaps we can teach the dogs and cats to give themselves their own insulin shot,take and read their own blood work. That should cut down on the time.
Of course,we could always refuse animals that require treatment,but then we couldn't call ourselves a clinic, could we?????

ManagingLife has a post today about ID Theft. It seems the thieves are active this season.
Case in point,the A/C in my car. It's just not as cold as it will need to be when we hit triple digit temps.
Rifoff A/C Artist said I would need a new compressor,my regulator valve would need to be changed along w/some leaky hoses. They would then need to re-charge the unit. Total,$235.00
Now to me,that's a lot of buck$$$, but for all of that work plus parts,the estimate seemed low.
So,I went to Honest A/C Gentleman, and he says, your compressor is FINE,your valve is FINE,you just need to change ONE leaky hose and we'll re-charge the unit. Co$t just under $150.00.
Big sigh of relief.
Tis the season for the ripoff artist!

Glad I'm not filing in California...
Bug In Some Returns
In other news,the AC in my car is slowly going south. It seems the compressor is shot.I got an estimate yesterday to the tune of $235.00. Yikes! I can install a new AC for slightly less! Today,I'm off to get another estimate. If it comes in at about the same amount, I'll get a new AC.
The upside,if there is one, is that it's around the same amount as my tax returns. So, I'll be spared having to use any $$$ from the EF or having to use that dreadful credit card which is sitting in a box collecting dust.

Jitterbug,the little chihuahua has adjusted very well and is hopping along on three legs like a pro. I always find it amazing how well animals adapt when they lose a limb.
In other news,I got my tax returns yesterday. Both the state and fed came in on the same day. I think I'll just look at it for a day before depositing it. Not that it's a huge sum, $235.00. But,it'll make me feel like I actually have more than $5.00 in my wallet.

The nation just lost 232,000 jobs in the first 3 months of 2008. This makes me grateful for the job I have. Remind me not to b*tch about it.

Huge Job Losses

Yesterday,a young man came into our clinic w/his Chihuahua. They were playing and he tripped over her. As she screamed and limped away,he had a feeling something was wrong.He rushed her to the pet/vet hospital but didn't have any money for the initial exam,office visit,x-rays etc. They told him to bring her to our clinic down the street. (What,we work for free???)
When he brought her in,it was obvious her leg was broken. Poor little thing is only 8 wks. old and she has a broken leg...in 2 places.
Our receptionist gave him an estimate for treatment,about $500.00 and told him to go into the exam room with his pet and think about what he wanted to do.
About 15 minutes later,he came out of the room and it was obvious he had been crying, agonizing over a decision. If he couldn't treat her, would she have to be euthanized? Having no money,or perhaps very little, he asked us to put her down. He handed her over, left our office and asked us to call him when it was over.
And here is where it gets better...
A middle aged couple,sitting in the waiting room overheard everything and asked to pay for the Chihuahua's treatment...on the condition they remain anonymous.
And that's exactly what we did. Put her on pain meds and got to work. Unfortunately,the leg could not be saved. But,the good news is that she can already get around on three legs.
After we called the young man and told him about Mr.and Mrs. Anonymous paying for the vet bills...well,let's just say he was beyond speechless and this time,he was crying tears of joy!

I stopped my Showtime subscription because let's face it,you can only watch 'Dirty Dancing','Dances With Wolves' and 'Urban Cowboy' a gazillion times before you start to zone out. I called customer service and asked to switch to HBO instead and the service rep threw in FREE Cinemax for 3 months. We like free in this household. At the end of 3 months,if we decide to keep both premium channels, it will be $25.00 p/month above the basic service I have now.
So,the $12.00 p/month it would have costed for Cinemax will now go into the challenge jar.
In other news,the clinic where I work has informed me I'm making too many hours. I would love to cut back on my hours...and work load. I did ask the vet tech to make a list of where and what duties I should let go,neglect and ignore. I'm still waiting for an answer...not that I expect to get one. It's the same old story in too many work places...the same amt. of work is expected in less time w/less people.

And my returns total $235.00 for both state and fed, which is a good thing since it shows I'm not giving Uncle Sam too much of an int. free loan.
In other news,the stimulus buck$ will be coming out soon. Here's a schedule of when it will be mailed out.
Your Rebate Check Schedule

Be careful when swiping your card. The Feds are watching.
Someone Is Watching

I signed up for internet statements...no paper stuff for me. So,I'm checking my accounts frequently. Some of you still do paper statements. That's ok too, and you can actually do both. This couple found something very questionable on their bank statement.
Mystery Charges On Bank Statements

My favorite jazz pianist, Keiko Matsui will be in Vegas April 4th. My SO and I were so excited, making plans to attend the concert,where to stay etc,etc.
Then,we came down to earth...
Ticket$:$42.50 Each+tax= $90.95
Hotel Rm.$125.00+tax= $134.38
Gas to get to Vega$ $50.00
Boarding For The Pup $25.00+tax=$26.56
Meal$ $60.00
Valet $4.00...
Deciding to be a grown up and NOT blow that money on an OVERNIGHT trip...$0.00
We decided the buck$ should be saved for our vacation in Montana later this year.
Until then, we have all of her CD's, a couple of DVD's and YouTube.
Enjoy

Keiko Matsui-Night Hawk's Dream

Here is an explanation of the economic stimulus package. It made my head spin just to read it.
Economic Stimulus Package

But,the bottom line is You are getting YOUR OWN money back and Uncle $am wants you to $pend,$pend,$pend because sooner or later, he'll be taxing you and he'll want it back. By then,we'll have a new jerk, I mean president in the White House and they'll need the money for sheets,curtains and new dishes.

Thank you to everyone who voted for my contest entry :
The 7 Best Ways To Take Care of Your 401K
I placed third and the $10.00 is going straight to the challenge account.
A big congratulations to our 1st and 2nd place winners.

1st place - $25 - The Best Ways to Save on your Grocery Bill (mom-from-missouri's Journal)

and

2nd place: $15 - The best way to get your taxes organized (mom-from-missouri's Journal)

I loaned a friend $100.00 a while back and she repaid me $125.00. WooHoo...It's all going into the Challenge Acct. along w/an additional $70.00 from various coupon savings,survey pay and gift card savings.
Prev.Bal. $430.00 YTD
New Bal. $625.00 YTD

Some of you already went thru your own presidential primaries and caucuses.
For many of us,Super Tuesday is our day.
I received this in my e-mail and found it fun to take...a little quiz that matches you to the candidate most likely to share your views. Take the quiz,you may be surprised at the outcome.
Select A Candidate 2008
What does this have to do w/money and finances? Maybe nothing, maybe a lot. I do know this..our nation HAD money 8 years ago. Remember,if you can't find someone to vote for,find someone to vote against.

1)If your company offers a 401K Plan, take advantage of it. It's pre- tax dollars being socked away for your future. If you can have your money automatically deducted, go for it.

2)If your company offers a match, try to contribute as much as you can to take advantage of it. It's FREE money. Not doing so is THROWING money away. Many companies will invest the company match into their company stock only. That's ok. It's still FREE and it brings me to number 3

3)DO NOT invest too much (if at all)in your company's stock. Enron should have taught EVERYONE that lesson. It may be tempting,especially if your company is doing well. But resist the urge.

4)Diversify your investments. Spread it out between stocks,bonds and mutual funds being sure to include both domestic and international investments.
A well diversified portfolio will tend to minimize the risk. Try to find your own risk tolerance level. The younger you are, the riskier you can be with your investments. You have time on your side.
Educate yourself on your investments.

5)Don't cash out your 401K if you change jobs. You can either roll it over to your new company, an IRA or a Roth IRA if you're qualified. If you cash out before age 59 1/2, you'll pay taxes and penalties. There are some hardship rules that may apply. Check with your plans administrator.

6)Some plans allow you to borrow from your 401K. On the surface,it looks great. Borrow the money and pay yourself back. The problem is that you'll end up getting taxed TWICE.You'll be paying the loan back with after tax dollars and you'll be taxed again when you withdraw your money at age 59 1/2. Don't borrow,don't borrow,don't borrow.

7)Lastly, recalculate your investments yearly. Have your goals changed? Do you want to place your money in different investments? Are there company philosophies that you agree or disagree with? Are you nearing retirment? Whatever your reason, take a look and tweak your portfolio if necessary.

Our CD rates are down,money market rates are down and regular savings account rates are are so tiny, you need a magnifying glass to see it. It's finer than fine print. Here's an article from The SF Chronicle...

How The Rate Cut Affects Consumers

on the way to the yard sale yesterday.
Someone gave me an XOXO Purse for Christmas. Not exactly my style, so I immediately thought of 're-gifting' it. You know, that 'tacky' thing we do when we don't want something,re-wrap it, give it to someone else all the while trying to pass it off as bought exclusively for 'that special person.' Yeah right.The person I had in mind was my realtor Jean.
But somehow, I didn't get around to re-gifting the purse,so it ended up at the yardsale yesterday.
Who should show up but Jean and her 8yr.old son. She had some clients to meet and wanted to know if she could leave Jimmy w/me for a few hours. Well, that little guy just worked his little heart off,charming the customers and waving down anyone who happened to be driving by.
So,I asked him what he wanted in payment for helping me. And do you know, all he wanted was THAT purse...that XOXO that I was going to re-gift to his mom...he just wanted to give his mom something nice.
WOO-HOO...so,I made $$$$,had a great little helper and got rid of the purse in a nicer way than re-gifting and trying to pass it off as new.
Kids have a way of putting us in our place,ya know...

We unloaded a bunch of "junk" that someone else viewed as "treasure."
Old mirrors,shoes,jewelry,dishes were amongst the items we sold at our yard sale today.
We made a total of $118.00 and it's going straight into our 'Road Trip Travel Fund.' That's enough for a hotel room and dinner! Woo-Hoo!!

This article is from the Washington Post. Their finance writer was the victim of I.D.Theft. Good read, rather lengthly.
Identity Theft Gets Personal

Here's a scary story about throwing caution to the wind,living for today and forgetting tomorrow.

A Cautionary Money Tale

Saved:
$4.00 on Frozen Veggies
$2.00 on Cookie Cutters
$4.00 on Dog Food
$17.00 on a Cat 'Condo'.

The cookie cutters are in the shape(s) of dog bones,dog houses and a fire hydrant. I make all of my dogs treats and also share w/our neigbors boxer.
The cat condo is a retreat for our kitties. It's also a place that will keep them amused for hours and away from the very active pup.
Adding the $27.00 to the previous balance brings this years balance to $396.00.

Took my car in to service yesterday. Her plugs needed to be changed. The mechanic gave me a 10% discount (for being a repeat customer)which added up to $5.00. I'll take a savings any way I can. I also totaled up the piggy bank,finally and we ended up w/$9.00. So,the $14.00 gets added to the challenge which brings me up to $369.00 for the year.

Happy New Year to my on line financial family! I hope all of your goals are reached, and you have a healthy,stress free,happy year.

Tomorrow is my baby's 1st birthday . She's a beautiful chocolate,white and black Shih-Tzu.
Here she is w/Santa Claus.

The Dr. at the clinic where I work generously gave us $200.00 as a bonus.
This is going into the money mkt. acct. as part of the $20.00 Challenge. My new goal for 2008 is $3000 and the $200.00 is a nice way to jump start the savings.