I live, write, and garden in the PNW with my husband of 27 years, disabled daughter, college-aged son, and my 84-year-old mother. We have paid off $250,000.00 worth of debt (if you include the interest) in the last fifteen years and as of 6/12/2020 are 100% DEBT FREE!!!!Okay, so I had $2306.05 left over from the money that I saved up to cover the 4 week period with no paycheck in January. I finally decided what to do with it today.
I set $1000 aside for future medical expenses. I will use $1000 of it to go towards debt repayment. $23.05 went into the propane portion of the holding tank, and I added the final $283 to the Emergency Fund. I also added 10 cents in interest from the Safety Net account at the CU, that I forgot to add at the end of the year.
So that brings the grand total of the Emergency Fund to $3860.28. My goal for the EF was to hit $4000 by the end of March. I think I will revise that goal to hitting it by the end of February. Actually I might have to revise it more, since I will be depositing $31 to the Safety Net and $100 to the EF at ING out of the paycheck.
Oh, wait. I just did the math on that. I only need an additional $8.72 to hit $4000 then. Umm...okay, I'll deposit $108.72 tomorrow instead of $100 to ING. So that's that goal met. Okay, then. Let's see if I can hit $4250 by the end of February then.
I finished writing my February Budget Spreadsheet and updated my January one. Everything should be pretty straight-forward now, so long as I can keep my head on straight.
Extra January Money Update and Revising Some Goals
January 27th, 2012 at 02:39 am
January 27th, 2012 at 03:12 am 1327633977
Having goals that are defined and measurable is critical and you should be so proud of yourself. 2012 what new goals will you set? Will you verify you are getting the best possible rate for auto, home, disability insurance? Will you pointedly check your local 'gasoline buddy' to get the best rate or gas discount day to refill the tank? Can you check several cell plans to see how your current plan compares? Will you challenge yourself to bake beans from scratch or create your own tomato sauce using cheaper, canned tomatoes and spices you like for example? Are you interested in creating a garden and canning your home grown produce since you fortunately live in such a perfect growing site?
January 27th, 2012 at 04:33 am 1327638836
I already have the best insurance rates, check that every year. Need to add disability to home, life, and car, though. I make my own spaghetti sauce, but there's never been a time where making my own tomato sauce would be cheaper.
As for gardening, I am considering building a table raised bed this year, the type that is wheelchair accessible. I can't get on my knees anymore with any hope of getting off the ground again and gave up real gardening three years ago when things got crippling. With a table bed I could bring a chair up to it, and grow lettuces, herbs, and a few other things at the very least.
January 27th, 2012 at 12:56 pm 1327668970