Well, got a surprise in the mail. My property taxes are due on 12/10 so I know I have to get that check ready. & yeah I am going to mail it on the 10th. With the GMAC checking account I can extend the days I earn interest by a few. (The last check I sent to the IRS - took them like 2 weeks to cash. Cool for me).

Anyway, so I got the bill ages ago and I have a reminder in Quicken, on and on. But I get this bill in the mail. I open it up and it looks just like the last property tax bill. Checking the date. "Strange," I think. Until I finally find the insert that explains it's an adjustment. Wondering why on earth it would be adjusted...

But then I finally saw they had an error on one of our bonds. We pay about $1k/year of bonds on top of our taxes. They call it "mella roos." Don't ask me why. They mistakenly charged us an extra $130 on our original bill for some kind of landscaping bond. ???? How in the heck would you know that is wrong? That is why I wonder. I will keep a sharper eye next year, see what's new and if it is valid (they keep adding school bonds and such as well - which I remember were voted in at least).

Anyway, so the $130 decrease is pretty cool but then they also extended our deadline by 21 days. Now it's due 12/31.

I figured it probably wasn't worth the interest saved, but calculated it and we will earn another $7 interest waiting to pay it on the 31st.

Well, I'm sold.

I guess they allow everyone more time because sometimes the bill gets adjusted upward. As for ours, I thought it seemed a little high. It had gone up 5%. (with the bonds. The valuation portion can only go up 2% max per year). So now it is only a 2% increase - no new bonds this year. Phew. That is the NICE thing about California. They got a handle on property taxes years ago.

I am also a complete dork and lost our home insurance bill. ??? All I could figure was it landed in the recycle pile. Yeesh. I have to call and ask for a new one. I can pay all my insurance bills online, but this one had an option to pay less with a new deductible plan AND it said I had to pay with a check. (Don't ask me why). I looked online where I figure I could get a copy of the bill. Well it says the amount, but no address, no new amount for the deductible (it says I should have that with my paper copy. Well duh). & it re-iterates that I have to pay it with my paper bill voucher, with a paper check. Yeesh!!!!! Why is this the ONE bill I lose? LOL

I will have to call today and get a copy. It's due at the end of the year. I have about $4k due between that, property taxes, and IRS and such. Yes, got it all in the bank; ready to go.

We have not turned on the heat here. I thought it was a possibility we would turn it on Thanksgiving for guests. BUT with all the body heat and cooking there will probably be little need, all the same. Anyway, what is it, the 20th? Can we make it to December with no heat??? I don't know... It probably helps we will be out of town the 29th. Dh's parents will be staying here to watch the kids but they have it in their head that we pay hundreds of dollars every month to heat and cool our "giant" home. (teehee). I guess she has said to my mom that our bills must be insane and my mom likes to toy with her so didn't say anything. I call my mom often to brag about my $7 gas bill and my $20 electric bills in the off seasons. Anyway, so she knows we aren't paying squat. But last time dh's fam was here they devised an elaborate plan to not use the air conditioning. (With windows and such). Because they assume we are energy hogs and never thought to open a window though it cools down considerably at night. (duh. ?????). Anyway, so we just play along. I just think it's funny. I should leave an energy bill sitting out in the dead of winter or something. Maybe they'd get the hint. Maybe while we are in Vegas. LOL

Anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't touch the heat in an effort to save us money. So yes, even with guests, it may be possible.

Or they may just turn it on and ruin our streak. Oh well. I guess the true question is if we can make it to the 29th. Hmmmm, 9 more days. I don't know. It's 45 out right now (probably the low for the night?). It's decent inside. 67 downstairs. Upstairs tends to get chillier, I don't know. But I know I can survive without heat today. Without a doubt. The sun is out so the house will heat up during the day. Yay!

9 more days... We'll see...

It is unusually warm. It really is. It's been nice!!!!