Primary Mortgage Update - Feb. '10

I've gotten behind in posting my updates. I'll try to get caught up in the next few days.

For this big boy, $347.36 has been shaved off leaving a new balance of $252,920.09.




My husband came home yesterday. I am hopeful for him, yet drained physically and emotionally from trying to keep all the balls juggling at home, at the office and with the kids. However, there is no rest for the weary. This is my busy time at work...and I need to spend as much time as I can working over the next few weeks! Gotta make hay while the sun shines, right?

Capital One Update - Feb. '10

Sorry Capital One, with a 4.99% fixed rate, you're not getting more than the minimum payment from me. I have bigger fish to fry.

$11.49 paid down on the principal. New balance = $1,060.72.

Middle of the Night Rambling

This single-parenting stuff is exhausting! I can't imagine having more than 2 kids and trying to get everything done. I laid down with the kids tonight and probably fell asleep before they did! Then I woke up at 12:30 (thinking it was already morning) panicked that I had only gotten the kitchen halfway clean, lunches were not packed, and the trash bin hadn't been rolled out to the street! Now at 2A, I've been paying bills online and I'm wide awake.

So I thought I'd indulge myself and post a couple of updates. I love seeing if those little tickers will move ever so slightly.

I earned a $100 cash back reward on one of my credit cards last month. Following my crazy ADD tendencies, I decided to send $20 to 5 different loans. I have always had a hard time focusing on one goal. I feel like the other goals are being neglected, so when circumstances allow I'll hit as many of them as I can. Maybe it's not ADD, maybe it's from multi-tasking for so many years. That's what women do best, right? LOL

Anyway, the Kroger credit card balance got an extra $20 thrown at it this month bringing the balance down to $630.93.




And the HELOC got it's first monthly amortized payment plus an extra $20. Total applied to principal was $293.37 and the new balance is $72,773.56.




Now I feel better! I'm not sure if the little icons moved or not, but progress is progress. And for some reason it's more real if I can see the numbers here...which is why I started this blog.

Thanks for your prayers. We're surprisingly okay. I'm taking it one day at a time knowing that I am powerless over the addiction and the addicted. And that I must do what I can to care for myself and my children and leave the rest in God's hands.

Personal Finance Magazines

I subscribed to a couple of PF magazines back in the 90's and early 00's. I let my subs lapse once my 8 yr. old was born...since I wasn't finding any time to read them anyway.

But I feel VERY out of the loop with mutual fund performance. I have no idea whether the choices I've made for my 401K, IRA and Roth are still good choices or not.

So, I cashed in 90 Swagbucks for $10 of Amazon gift cards. Right now, on Amazon.com, a one year subscription to Money is on sale for $10 and a one year subscription to Kiplinger's Personal Finance is on sale for $6. I always found the Kiplinger's more informative, but that might have changed in the past 10 years. Not sure which I'll pick, but I need to grab one of those deals while they're still on sale.

Do you have a favorite of the two?

All Bets are Off --- Please Pray

You may or may not remember that my husband struggles with alcoholism. It is so hard for a logical, rational thinker like myself to wrap my head around his addiction, but I try.

But he is seeking help --- instead of us having to rely on family intervention --- and is now at a treatment facility. I am proud of him for trying to conquer his demons.

However, that totally throws my budget into upheaval. Thank heavens for insurance --- although our part of treatment costs are not cheap. But I'm having to arrange (and pay) for more childcare, juggle work hours as I try to chauffeur both kids where they need to be, and I have less time to keep up with finances. I hope I can find some time this weekend to clear off my desk and make sure the bills are paid.

If you're so inclined, we welcome your prayers.

Ouch!

Looks like ING has lowered its rate on regular savings accounts again. Down to 1.2%

It's still better than anything I could get locally and tons better than my Vanguard Money Market Fund is paying, but that's still a decrease! Wish in turn all my creditors would lower the rates they're charging me.

I really do feel sorry for those folks out there on fixed incomes depending on their bank interest to help them get by.

January Progress - Net Worth Funding

January ended up being a very good month toward my annual $15,000 goal. I was able to put almost $600 into the Rental emergency fund, even though all that and more will be coming back out in a couple of weeks to pay the real estate taxes. Overall, I'm pleased with January's progress and hoping I can keep this up for 11 more months!

Thanks again to The Borrower for helping me with putting a spreadsheet inside a post. :)