Noticed an original neighbor moving out a week or so ago. Keep forgetting to look into it.

Hard to know how accurate online data is at times. But I know the sales prices are probably accurate - just not sure on the default amount of loan.

Purchase price 2001 - $262k

Foreclosed mortgage balance - $333k

Sales price to third party - $250k

I wonder if appraiser knew about this sale (it closed the week after our appraisal, but I am sure he knew the offer/sales price). That $250k figure isn't sounding quite so "yeah yeah yeah" after all. I believe it is the same model as our home - probably same lot size. Just two doors down. It probably explains our $250k appraisal.

The guy was actually kind of creepy, so I am not too sad. Was just a single guy from what I could tell. He was just a little *off*, and that was just from seeing him around. (Plus all of our other neighbors are so friendly, in comparison). HE was very reclusive. Which says a lot because dh and I are probably a little reclusive, too. But not to that extreme.

This is why I guess the foreclosure/short sale rate will be 90% around here when all is said and done. Almost every single house on the street. Just not all at once.

& it's never anyone who bought high or anything like that. Though admittedly I know nothing about this man. But considering all the people I know, it's just, "yeah yeah, bought a bunch of cars and a lifestyle couldn't afford, lost house." That's the usual. Being single in a 5-bedroom home doesn't help my impression of the whole thing.

I suppose a more interesting statistic will be how many of these homes foreclose twice in the same decade. I know a lot of people out there buying homes they couldn't possibly afford. This is one reason why I feel like home prices are still over inflated. I don't know if any homes on our street have foreclosed twice - two different owners. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of them have been lost to the banks twice.

**Work is crazy. That's all there is to that. Really feeling the crunch of the employee who moved away a few months back. Will be a LONG tax season. (For now it's all the easy/good stuff and I am refreshed so I don't care that much, but panic mode is starting to set in for 1/31 deadlines. Haven't done one thing for 1/31 deadlines thinks to problems and demanding clients. Since it is the 13th, I am freaking out a bit about that. Won't do any tax returns until February, which just become a huge time suck and will be more stressful).

Oh yeah, and we got a new scanner/copier that no one knew how to work. Just ANNOYED. We had a training on it today. It was installed Monday. Yeah... At least I figured out what I needed to. Eventually.

The kids came by my office Wednesday since I was taking them to meet friends for dinner. BM commented to me, "You are the youngest one here!" I am surprised he noticed because my one co-worker is 10 years my senior, but I am sure she looks closer to my age. That said, I think I look pretty young. So if she looks young, I look way younger?

Anyway, being young has its advantage when trying to figure out how to work new equipment. That said, I think I lost more time helping everyone else with all their computer problems this week (we also got new computers - no idea whose brilliant idea that was. November would have been 1000 times better for all new equipment).

**Along the same lines, I am sinking into disorganization since I haven't had 5 minutes to clear off my desk.

Interestingly, I got a $30 refund from my HMO. No explanation. Which reminds me I was expecting a $40 refund and I was going to call and complain about my bill (which I believe should be $0, and is probably due any day). To say I should be refunded $40. I forget how much the bill was for. It's sitting on my desk at work, probably under a pile of papers.

So yeah. I have no idea what to make of this $30 refund. No explanation. Lord knows when I will find time or remember to call and ask about it. I suppose I could have dh take care of it - I probably should.

This whole thing has been so annoying, and thankfully pretty unusual.

**Got an e-mail from CU that no-point 30-year mortgage rate sunk down to 3.875% today. Holy Cow!

Being risk adverse, I am perfectly content with my locked in 4% rate. Frankly, I don't think I have ever refied where rates dropped lower in the middle of my refinance. So, no regrets or anything. It is just shocking!! & then I think, "maybe if my rate lock expires it is not a bad thing!"

**Today I paid the credit card off (Main AmEx) because I get paid Monday. I also paid off Visa (charged a lot of insurance on that one the past month). By the time those clear I should have my paycheck. Am maintaining a certain balance available until refi closes (for refi costs). Which is why I paid before paycheck deposit, but not any sooner though I have tons of cash available. I usually run my checking account to $0 - just using it as a conduit.

While in limbo with the refi, I had already paid the mortgage through end of February, and have not transferred any ROTH contributions out of checking.

I've got 4 bills to pay around the 1st (next paycheck) - $300 or so? - and that is about it. Paycheck on the 1st usually goes 90% to savings and retirement. I will of course hold off on all that until this shakes out.

Once refi closes I can do all my ROTH transfers, savings transfers and so on.

It's not like I pay a lot of bills anyway (outside credit card) but it's weird to have nothing to pay or transfer for the next 18 days or so. Credit cards paid off on the early side. No mortgage due.
It's nice to be back to 3 credit cards (AmEx for best rewards, Visa for places that don't take AmEx, and Target card for 5% off). I have been juggling a lot MORE cards for a long time.

Still waiting for my AmEx reward. Unfortunately, it's only in my name and I will have to follow up on that one next week. Thankfully I can probably just send a quick e-mail. Once I get those rewards I can close that last extra card!

Though I would rather refi with CU than a bank, I believe this is the slowest refi we have ever done. With exception of 4 month refi from hell (which probably should have never been approved in the first place - was in order to buy second home - we kept that loan 5 minutes because were able to sell property immediately after refi).

Anyway, though we only refi when interest rates are rock bottom and there is a stampede, this definitely takes the cake for *slowest.*

I finally just e-mailed the CU today to ask status of appraisal, not expecting a response for quite a while. But, I JUST got a response that appraisal is fine and well.

I knew I was overly paranoid. Gee, what a surprise? I needed $250k value for 80% loan to value. I guessed $250k. They appraised $250k.

Has anything changed since the boom?

I told dh I was so good that I could do an appraisal without even doing any work. Clearly I don't understand the whole process - it is just always magically what it is supposed to be, it seems to me.

This is good news for property taxes and bad news for net worth. Property tax went with $263k assessment at 12/31/10. So this will be another $13k or so drop to value. The value date for property taxes next year will be 12/31/11. An appraisal dated 12/23/11 will be useful if they try to assess at higher than $250k. So far I have found assessments to be on the low side - I am sure they don't want to spend a lot of time and effort on appeals, so they just aim for the low side. Seems to be how it has been. So I am guessing our tax assessment will be under $250k for the next year's property taxes.

As long as I can refi, have 20% equity, and my property taxes are going down (especially since no plans to sell right now) then is fine by me. Maybe property values can shoot up when we are ready to sell and downsize. In the interim, we enjoy the reduced taxes.

Met up with my friend for dinner last night and she showed off her new Nook Simple Touch (Christmas gift) that I Was largely responsible for talking her into getting.

I played with it for about one or two minutes - OMG I want one! Sad thing is I believe mine (older nook) was closer to $150 and this one was $100. I've only had it one year myself. Yeesh!

Of course, doesn't mean I am going to run out and buy one today.

BUT... I do have a $50 B&N credit. I had gotten it free from rewards, to buy ebooks, but haven't spent a cent on it. I'd rather put it towards a new Nook, now.

I mentioned to dh and he tried to hard sell me on the Kindle Touch. Problem with that is then he would want to use it all the time. What he is really saying is, "I want a Kindle Touch!" Sorry dh - maybe you shouldn't have spent all those Amazon gift cards on other stuff (Kindle Fire, etc.). He is also saying that Amazon is better. But I still have a preference for the nook, personally.

That said, he looked up the reviews, and put his tail between his legs and said, "Actually the reviews are REALLY good." Yeah dh - that's what I was trying to tell you. The thing is AWESOME and so much better than the one I already have. I guess my firsthand experience doesn't count for as much.

I looked up the American Express rewards I am owed and the only good gift card I saw was Kohls. I checked on a whim and I can get up to $250 in B&N gift cards, too. Of course dh said, "Can't argue with free!"

So, I am thinking of redeeming $100 B&N gift cards for a new nook and then $150 for Kohls. I already have $50 B&N (can buy a new cover and leave a decent balance for future ebook purchases) and $100 Kohls gift cards laying around. So will still have plenty credit card reward bounty left.

Maybe it's for the best that American Express has been really really slow to give me my points!!

I haven't really told anyone about our credit card reward bounty (I mostly don't think anyone would believe me), but my friend was asking me about Christmas. I told her we usually don't do much but we got the Kindle Fire and 3DS for free with credit card rewards. & Kindle Touches for my folks. Her eyes were bugging out of her head. Now I will have to tell her I got a new nook too (when I get it). I will mention that it was free, too. But, she doesn't know the HALF of it!

If I upgrade, will probably give the old one to a relative. Not sure who. Dh will check what he can sell it for, to be sure, but I expect it to be mostly worthless with today's ebook prices - so much new and improved out there.

We could give it to his dad for his Birtdhay, and leave it at that (no money to spend later this month for that, then). Dh thinks he would like it - his mom took to the kindle more than he expected and so his dad came to front of mind because he is a VERY avid reader and dh thought Kindle would be more for him.

If I couldn't get it for free, I'd probably wait 6 months or so for the next price drop. So, I am excited that I can maybe score one now.

**FINALLY remembered to give the teachers their gift cards. Doh! I am sure they were very surprised. The kids whipped up some "Happy New Years" cards with printer paper, Tuesday night. I taped in the gift cards, and they seemed to have reached their destinations.

**Set out a bag for charity today. We keep getting these bags that will say "pickup this Tuesday." But dh will bring them in, and by the time *I* notice them, lord knows which week it was for. So, I got a bag that said "Wednesday, 11th," for pickup. & I actually remembered. Phew! I have no idea what charity it was and don't really care. If they will take my crap off my front door - they can have it. This time of year they seem to be coming by weekly. This is one reason I never buy trash bags. They leave giant plastic bags at our front door every week. I find them to be useful.

MIL had given me some used clothing that the kids didn't need (they have way too much as is). So, I just set that out, some outgrown toys and clothes I had accumulated a while ago, and a thrashed car seat. Well, the cloth cover was thrashed, and it was cheaper and easier just to replace the whole seat. I figured maybe someone could use it. OF course, they maybe will just trash it. I hope not, but I just wanted to be rid of it. IT's just a booster seat without any padding (I tossed the ripped apart fabric).

MIL gave dh a double stroller to sell. I offered to set it out, but he said he would try again. He has already tried to sell it a couple of times. I'd be happy just to be rid of it. IT would be one thing if he hadn't of tried. Since when were stroller buyers so picky? Probably one of the nicer ones we have tried to sell. Usually that stuff sells in seconds. Which I am sure is why he wants to try again. (We've bought several used/old strollers and turned around and sold them for the same price when we were done. We were just asking $20 for a much nicer stroller that had been bought new and barely ever used! Could be price was too low?).

I've got some more fragile items I tried to sell in the past but since they didn't sell easily I don't really care. I should bubble wrap those and get those ready to just donate next round. If I can post something up and sell it real quick, I sure as heck will take the money. But once it gets a pain to sell, there is a point where I just want it out of the house.

**Oh yeah, there was an old print cartridge that has been a permanent fixture in our hallway for 1-2 years. I keep asking dh to take it to the school to donate. Everytime I bring it up he plays dumb, "You never told me." Well I think we have had this conversation 10 times??? Good Lord. I finally gave up and just brought it to work to recycle here (co-worker will take to her child's high school to recycle).

I still need to figure out where to take hand-me-downs to school clothes closet - the clothes remain (2 shirts???) where the printer cartridge was. I would have probably used the clothes closet this year because I will be able to drop off outgrown kinder clothes for the first time (& would like to exchnage for 4th-grader wear for next year). But the clothes closet has been very unorganized this year. No one seems to know anything about it. I saw it at a mandatory parent meeting - there were a LOT of clothes. But no one said it would be there, I didn't have my shirts to exchange, and it threw me off. I could get over it if I had the time and mindset, but I don't think most parents wanted to be digging through the used clothes in front of everyone. I'm not sure I really wanted to, either. But I will be mentally prepared for next time. My glimpse of the clothes tells me that my "I will save it for people who need it, until I can give as much as I can take," was a useless gesture. I should have just taken the hand-me-downs. Or maybe that was just because no one knew how to get the clothes this year, and so it has piled up quite a bit!

**When dh made the NFLX buy, it went up about 25% in a week or so.

I felt it was prudent to sell off the profits. Make 25% in a week or two? SHOW ME the money!

Dh didn't agree and we left it in. It went up further. HE said, "I was right."

Then it went into the toilet.

I figured all along dh just needed a reminder why we *don't do stocks.* So I wasn't overly worried about all this. Though maybe a little annoyed. My strategy is simply "risk adverse non-gambler." Which dh also is, but his brain goes out to window when it comes to stocks.

Anyway, my dad called me to tell me NFLX had hit 100. I wasn't near a computer yesterday and had no idea. (Not sure if dh is living, breathing the stock status like he promised me he would - like I didn't want to find out the day after if some news sent stock prices dropping. Likewise, prices getting back to my sell point - he should have told me). I told dh as I was walking out the door today that I was selling my 25% profit as originally planned (if not too late), but we could talk about snatching up more shares if it dropped again. I was waiting for him to argue, but he didn't say anything.

For reference, after trading fees and everything, I sold my 25% profit today.

I sold 1/4 our shares for about $300 and Amazon was at $175 or something in that realm, so I just snatched up one share of Amazon. We each have 1% of our retirement portfolio in stocks. I chose Amazon, but paid way too much (couple of months back), it seems.

Stupid quote from dh: "I forgot about the stock market as a whole." For when NFLX dropped substantially with the rest of the market.

Seriously dh? Seriously? Because losing $100,000 in home equity while trying to sell our house, when those planes hit on 9/11, that didn't do it for you? Completely unpredictable "out of nowhere" events can put the markets in a tailspin??? (I just don't know how you can lose so much financially in one random event and not be wary in the future. To be clear, not that I think our own financial whoas amount to a hill of beans when it comes to the Tragedy of 9/11. But, just saying that dh should know better).

See, I'd probably be better off if he lost miserably. He's a very smart, practical, risk-adverse guy. But just mention the word "stock" and his brain goes out the window. But, he is also not a big gambler so I don't foresee this becoming much of an issue. IT's just maddening to watch him relearn what I learned very loud and clear in the year 2001. We lost a lot, financially, that year. All those glorious tech stocks ended up in the toilet, too, lost several thousand dollars. The home equity would have recovered, quickly of course, but we had already bought another home and were moving - so just had the luck to completely ruin our plan and put us $100k behind. That sure was a financial lesson.

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**I read "The End of Normal," by Bernie Madoff's daughter-in-law. Kind of interesting, very sad. Her husband (Madoff's son) committed suicide. They claim he (son) was totally innocent and that Madoff had stolen from several family members, etc.

More along the theme of "Your life can turn upside down in one instant" without you having a clue what is coming. For that, it was riveting.

**Randomly picked up "Moby Duck" and barely started, but so far is a really good read.

"Moby-duck: an accidental odyssey : the true story of 28,800 bath toys lost at sea and of the beachcombers, oceanographers, environmentalists, and fools, including the author, who went in search of them"

LIBRARY ebooks, of course!

**A friend flaked on me Sunday, so I finally sat and watched the first 3 hours of Battlestar Gallactica, with dh. I had tried before, but usually fall asleep (as I would watching anything post 8pm at night). But I was really dragging my feet on devoting the time, if all it did was put me to sleep so far.

Okay, so after those initial 3 hours, I am SO totally hooked. What an amazing show. Dh was right, which is why I kept trying. Every episode is 45 minutes, after the first two, so I can live with that. What's nice is we can watch it around the kids. (We have been watching HBO shows after kids go to bed and I am way off my schedule). So I told dh I would watch it if I could watch it after dinner - no more LATE bedtimes for me, during tax season.

So, yes, I was planning to be all social and all that, but instead I have been in introverted bliss. Worked all alone Saturday, watched TV and read all day Sunday, and now I've just got a few days to finish my Moby Duck (I got it before 2 other books that all became available about the same time, so is the last one I got to - didn't expect it to be so good?).

& financially? Not a heck of a lot going on. Like, nothing. I still haven't heard on that appraisal. I should probably call the CU and make sure they got it. Which would take me out of my introverted bliss. *sigh*

Friday was QUIET. Today so far too. Phew!!

Looks like MIL is having outpatient surgery this month (follows our pattern: in the middle of biopsies during the holidays, surgery in January). But, that's it! The word her doctor used was "pre-cancerous cells." There should be no recovery time. Her and dh seemed in good spirits after getting more information.

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I thought I Was going to have to really start bracing myself to withhold more income taxes, that we were on an upward swing after a long downward swing. For reference, last year we got about a $2000 income tax refund, and this year I owe $500.

I believe I was wrong. I got my W-2 today and updated my tax return. Even though I basically withheld hardly anything for the state ($30 per check), I am still owed a $40 refund. (I was trying to avoid any refund from insolvent state, but failed!) The Fed tax situation is about same as prior year, but the prior year way too much got withheld from my bonus check. This year, not enough. You can't win. But I rather have the use of the money up front and owe $500.
So the plan will be to file around January 31 for my refund, and to pay the Feds on April 15th.

Taxes will still be on an upward slope if this refi goes through. Will take a hit to our itemized deductions, so will still have to plan for that. But I thought it was going to be a bit of a double whammy, so I am relieved our taxes don't seem to be on an upward climb.

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January has been pretty non-fiscal so far, BUT today I bought some shoes. When I noticed my very comfortable work shoes were falling apart, all I could find was some very high heels to replace them. I took the risk on the "these shoes are so comfy" reviews, though I Was skeptical. The kind of shoes I like and buy are way out of favor the last several years - can't find any in my size at a reasonable price.

Anyway, the super high heels are not too bad. Meaning, I can actually wear them. But I will go insane if those are the only shoes I have. SO, I checked online again today and thankfully found some flats and a low heel. Hallelujah! Everything was on sale, I found a 30%-off coupon in one minute, online, and delivered to store since that makes free delivery.

I went back and forth on buying the cutest boots, but with 30% off, they were only $21. So I did a $21 splurge on myself today. It's hard for me to splurge like that, right after the Christmas and Birthday binge. If it was July, I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it. But today I felt a lot of reservations. It seems silly as I type it out, since it was well below my monthly allowance limit! Frankly, I probably won't buy anything else for myself the next 3 months anyway. I usually don't shop much during tax season, and I don't really shop online much at all (except when I need something).

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Tax season is well under way, one-day weekends for me for a while. I have no idea why, but I was the only one to show up to work today. It was very nice and quiet and I got a TON done. Everyone has been complaining about money (which is very unusual - accountants tend to be pretty conservative) so lord knows why I am the only one racking up the overtime. I also had a TON to do, but the financial incentive is extra nice. So I guess I was extra surprised that no one else seemed to take advantage. I am sure I will not be alone for long!

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Oh, I did also redeem $50 on my Fidelity AmEx ($50 deposits to my ROTH). On the 4th, when the statement was ready and my points were available. Will be on average once a month now that I no longer have any other credit cards I am charging up for points.

I still have not been able to redeem my $250 AmEx reward. Of ALL the rewards cards I had this year, this is the only one that did not make my points available within a week of the credit card cycle closing. I am waiting for the second closing next week and will call if I still don't have those points. (They credited them to me with my last statement, but still says "pending," so I have been unable to redeem!)

There has been a huge element of "Why Even Bother Looking for a Job" (in our house) with the hole in dh's resume AND the job market.

That is pretty much the feedback dh got.

I am not depressed just for him. Practically everyone I know is out of work right now. I am taken aback sometimes on the forums with the "People are just lazy there is plenty of work out there." I realize some of it is regional, but I know the unemployment is pretty terrible in the region I live in.

BUT, I had a couple of long-term unemployed stay-home mom type friends who were able to pick up seasonal work over the holidays (jobs my dh was turned down for before the economy went sour) so maybe I was getting a false sense of hope.

The depressing part? Big wig tells dh they had ONE THOUSAND applicants for a receptionist position, recently. I *knew* this I really did, but to hear those numbers on a personal level. It just made me sad for all of our friends and family out of work right now. That is hard to wrap your brain around.

That said, I am still excited for dh. Big Wig did give dh tips on his resume, and suggested dh talk to to one big wig - the one who happened to want to offer dh a job"if they could get the budget." I recognize that some of dh's standoffishness is his sense of this and the economy. IF they are laying off mostly now, etc., is not the time to really be pursuing a job. IT sounds like he probably should talk to this other guy about this position since the one he e-mailed is not really in that department (which I don't know any of this). BUT, I still think it was a good start because he was very friendly and helpful all the same.

The job will probably go to someone in the union, is what he said. & that dh's resume will go straight to the trash with no experience, probably. Since this is a little more specialized, probably won't get 1000 applicants, but will get many.

BUT, my dh still applied, and seemed very "It's not the end of the world" if I Don't get this job. He is simply so passionate about it. So I am still very proud of him, and kind of like, "WHO is this person?" Maybe next week he will slide into depression if they reject him. I don't know! For now, I don't know this person.

For reference, when he asked the person in a similar position for help getting a job, 5 years ago, they sounded like there were a lot of full-time job opportunities available. Boy how times change, so quickly.

I've felt all along he'd probably have to go to school to get a fresh start on his resume. I mean a couple of thousand dollars at state to turn his film minor into a major - not the $50,000 trade school. But who really wants to make that investment in this economy? If don't have to? Will probably wait for better timing. Re-affirming what we have already been thinking. OF course, the other avenue is getting an *in* by networking. But even that seems to be putting dh back to square one with the "no experience."

I also feel like my plan to get a low skill part-time job in the summer is insane. But I may still try. All you can do is TRY!

As dh said, "We are blessed to not need the job."

Last night I thought, "Someone may need this job to feed their family." Which just adds to the "depressing," but is the truth.

**Yesterday I got my Thank You notes done. Phew! (Has got to be a record). I sent out the soccer photos I received VERY late, so killed two birds with one stone.

**I forgot to wear earrings today. DOH! Trying to break that habit! I went home for lunch and remembered to put some on. Tomorrow will try again...

**While home I noticed the "used battery" pile and decided to take them to the community center tonight for recycling, while I am there for my aerobics class. A good New Years task - I also grabbed the batteries at work - I have QUITE the pile to deliver.

**I keep trying evey year but it always gets too overwhelming to keep up with. Or I forget, etc., but I updated the old "New/Used/Free 2012" Page in my side bar. Trying to keep track what comes into the house and what goes out of the house. We certainly do not need more stuff, and helps me to remember to purge at least as much as we bring in. Batteries OUT is a good start. Haven't spent one penny this year yet. Er, dh did get groceries today, I guess. I don't count food and our toiletry purchases pretty much tend to be in the "need" category - "buy when we need," so I don't bother with those details. I suppose I count everything except the "constantly consumed." The "constantly consumed" never accumulates in our house - we don't stockpile, and I don't buy much but the basics. Maybe "never" is a strong word, but for the most part is true and is not useful for me to track (I am sure it would be useful to some).

I forgot to mention in my last New Years reflection post that my budget is entirely in limbo at the moment. Not sure what will happen with payroll tax holiday the rest of the year, not 100% sure refi will go smooth, and don't know if I get any raise this year, etc.

Anyway, once I get my salary figure in the next two weeks, I will revise the budget. Mostly not sure what I have to do with $70/month medical insurance increase. Usually raise barely covers it. At least once I get salary nailed down I can do a budget with current mortgage, and revise it if/when refinance finalizes.

If refinance goes well, my new mortgage goal will simply be to pay more principal than interest, on a monthly or annual basis. I don't even know if I care so much about any further paydown or my "mortgage free age 45" goal if we can immediately commit to paying down more principal than interest. I think I could be content with that, and obviously that would go a long ways to an aggressive payoff. With the refi, thing is I wouldn't have to commit as many resources to the mortgage as I was planning to, and will be paying it off faster! Woohoo!

Of course, payroll tax holiday will continue to go to mortgage. I am not spending it or anything, just need a plan B if I can't put that to mortgage all year.

I wasn't paying attention - our state disability payroll tax went down 0.2% for this year. Woohoo! How did I miss that? Will increase my paycheck by $10 per month. I'll take it!!

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I got an enticing job offer today in my e-mail, from Liberty Tax Service:

"Be A Tax Animal," the e-mail subject said.

"Are you interested in working in an office where everyone is committed to your success? A place where the customers feel welcome? Were food and beverages are served and everyone is happy."

Well, why didn't you say so? Food and beverages served? Sign me up!

I mean, what the heck does that mean? LOL.

Anyway, I noticed the typo when I showed it to dh. Were food and beverage is served.

Too funny.

Where everyone is happy! The cheese is just too much with this statement.

I think I will keep my day job.

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Our neighbors had a New Years Day party, which was awesome. LOVE our neighbors.

This is dh and I: "So do not want to go to a big party, but will go for the kids. They will have fun."

In the end we had a GREAT time.

I figured something out too. There is this one woman friend of my neighbor who I just don't quite *get.* She is VERY nice. Too nice. I met her right after dh's brain surgery because took the kids to some party where I didn't really know anyone and she was very nice and talked to me quite a while. But she creeped me out a little bit because I didn't know her from Adam, but she sure seemed to know all about my husband and kids, etc. But balance that with the appreciation of someone being so nice and friendly to me when I didn't know anyone and just got my husband home from brain surgery. The creep factor was very small. Anyway, for the first time since always seeing her in passing, we had a really nice in-depth conversation. #1 - I REALLY like her. #2 - I think I kind of put my finger on some my reservations with her. Her and her husband look a fair amount older, and maybe just seem a little bit out of place. IT sounds terrible on some level because I sure as heck know a lot of older parents. It's not just the age. They just always seemed out of place to me, and that might just be some of it. But then I find out last night that neighbor's husband is 48. & so what dawned on me is that it sure as heck makes a lot of sense that they are friends. (Before, I didn't quite get their relationship?) Though my neighbor could easily pass as 20-something, she is 40-something, and apparently her husband is very near 50. The realization? Dh and I are the ones who are severely out of place! I find that funny. Which I think is one reason we get a lot of awe from a woman like her (which comes off a little creepy especially when you don't even know who the person is?). It's like 30 is the new 18. We are so YOUNG!! How did we do all this SO YOUNG!?! (I had kids at 27/29 - was hardly on the super young side, in my opinion).

But I suppose this is one reason why we like the group so much. I think we identify on a huge level with waiting and being emotionally and financially ready to have children. We just didn't have to wait so long to get to that point, ourselves. & I am only really realizing just how huge the age gap was there. I had no idea - everyone else generally looks so young.

So, from now on I will wonder who is wondering what the heck dh and I are doing there and wondering why *we* seem so out of place? LOL.

Anyway, found out this other family we know with kids the same age as ours, moved in behind us. Small World!

I LOVE my neighbor to death - but she is a beat down working mom who always just looks so exhausted. She put together this giant dinner for like 50 people yesterday and since all the kids are BOYS around here, let 15 or so rambunctious boys run through her house. Good for her - but I ain't going to do that. EVER!

So she mentions my wonderful next door neighbor and how we really need to get together on a monthly basis. Wonderful idea - just get something on the calendar. I thought she meant just the three of us, for dinner. So I offer to host. Then she starts mentioning the entire neighborhood. I am like, "Well, this was great, but it would have to be a potluck if I am hosting." & then I thought about it later and thought, "Yeah, I don't think so." The nice thing is during the summer we could just meet up at the pool and make it super casual. But I don't want all those boys in my house! So I am thinking of just inviting her and at most 2-3 other families end of this month, and just leave it like that. I was also thinking of another couple of families I would probably invite, anyway. I think if the core 3 of us want to do something like that, and we can invite whoever *we* want to, sounds like a good idea, but to have a "entire neighborhood" party every month is a bit much. So, will have to think on that. I think it's a great idea, but I know no one else I particularly interested in inviting the entire neighborhood to their house. Takes someone special. OR crazy!

Oh, I made a New Years Resolution after all!

Wear earrings EVERY SINGLE DAY! OF course, I don't really care if I fail, as long as I start wearing them more than once a month or something. To start, it will be every day until becomes more habit.

I got some earrings for Christmas and a new earring holder. As I was going through some of them I honestly could not remember where some of these earrings even came from! & I always forget to wear them, I think largely because they are kept in the bedroom and dh is usually a sleep in there whenever I get up and dressed. SO, I may move the earrings into our closet just so I can flip on the light and look at them (closet is huge like a bedroom and plenty of room to set them up on a surface in there - is usually where I get dressed and ready for the day).

Anyway, I used to be the Queen of earrings, but kind of got past that as a broke college student. I have been buying more earrings again in recent years, but then I forget to wear them, which is stupid. So I can't buy any more until I start wearing them.

Also, my ears got really sensitive at some point - didn't used to be? But I know the trick now to coat them clear with nail polish - that way I can wear any kind. Sometimes the cheap ones don't bother me anyway - I just can never tell!

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I looked at our net worth and expenses for the year (prior posts) and all that. I think I am done with most of that.

Today we are going to a New Years Day Party, and so I have to go pick out some earrings to wear. Woohoo.

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I feel lucky that our non-profit medical HMO is so simple. Beyond the deductible they pretty much just don't bill us for anything beyond very small co-pays. Before this HDHP/deductible thing, I NEVER got a bill outside of insurance and co-pays in the office.

SO, it is pretty obvious to me when the bills are incorrect. FIRST, they sent me a $1500 bill for dh when should have just been a $10 co-pay. We called and they said "nevermind - you owe $0." THEN yesterday I got the $10 bill. BUT, the problem is they messed up at the appointment and had charged him $50, which didn't even show up with all the adjustments on the bill. Kind of like, "x dollars billed for this, y dollars paid by insurance, $10 DUE." Okay, so where is my $50???

Will have to call them again next week. I believe I am due a $40 refund. & I would really like it back, soon!

See? At least this is SIMPLE. So simple I know that it is wrong.

With some of these health plans, lord knows what they are billing you and what's what!

This is the first mistake like this I have had with them, EVER. So, though I am annoyed, I figure, whatever. I think it stemmed from them rushing the bill out so fast. Usually I don't get these bills for MONTHS or YEARS. I got this one a week after dh's ultrasound. Rushed for whatever reason - I know now to be extra skeptical of FAST bills! That is what I have learned. IT takes them forever to sort out their red tape, it seems. I like that they usually leave us out of the red tape.

Happy New Year everyone!

I updated my goals in my sidebar. Nothing really new or haven't already blogged about, so will leave it at that.

2011 was a GREAT YEAR! I wasn't so sure as it started out on a bad note with a cancer scare and thyroid surgery. But beyond my surgery in very early January 2011, everything from there on was "Better than Expected." We braced ourselves for another financial hit from surgery, and I pretty much felt 100% from the second I woke up from surgery!

Anyway, beyond all that, we made a killing in credit card rewards this year, so the common theme in 2011 seems to be, "That was way better than I expected!"

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I am feeling extremely "meh" on the 2012 goal thing this year. Far more than usual. (I am usually pretty crabby about the idea there is anything magical about January 1 - I am more likely to make goals ANY time of year, when it makes sense). But, I usually play a long a wee bit more and don't mind taking the time to think about the upcoming year and what I want to accomplish.

I think a lot of it is that I just feel kind of in limbo. We have probably been in limbo for a little while, but it is very apparent as the year ends.

I have no idea what is going to happen to my job when my boss retires. Worse, everyone else I know in my field works a bajillion hours a week. I know that if I can't stay at current job (if he doesn't sell business or if I don't like new owner) that I would ideally like to seek our part-time and/or temp work. I don't mind working a bajillion hours a week for a short time to get somewhere. I certainly have before, but I refuse to live my life like that for the long run. I'd rather be a temp, honestly. Most part-timers I know in the industry work practically full-time anyway, so that wouldn't be a huge jump, if I got a job without enough hours. As a sole breadwinner though, it would have to be enough hours. Maybe I will work a bajillion hours until dh gets a job too. I was hoping he would be working so I could do the temp, part-time thing (which I don't expect would frankly pay a lot less, but would be a little less uncertain is all).

Dh is in limbo because he frankly has no clearer path today than he did 10 years ago. BUT, for today there is no pressing need for a second income, and I am sure I can find a good job if I tried. I have had several wonderful full-time jobs and though I know they are harder to find and I will have to prove myself all over again, I am sure there are other employers like my boss (& the prior one I had) out there who are AWESOME! Frankly I'd like to say I researched and took my time, but I generally just fell into each and every job. I do believe in trusting my gut though. I turned down several jobs when I took this one - AND the last one - the writing was on the wall when it came to work/life balance. & no one tells you "I don't expect you to work a ton of hours," if they don't mean it.

Anyway, back to dh. We had a REALLY great year financially so it is hard to nag him on the job front. I also wonder from a discrimination standpoint if it would be easier for ME to find a part-time job to pick up some slack. He has certainly faced some serious discrimination and brick walls looking for the lowliest of part-time jobs. Meanwhile, several of my female mom friends seem to have no problem getting the same kind of work. I think working full-time, and being educated, is also a huge strike against ME, but am considering some part-time extra work in the summer to save up reserves for future job uncertainty. Nothing I would have bothered with small kids, but with them getting older I feel like I have infinite amounts of time that I didn't have a few years back. I always do good with a busy schedule, so I do not mind AT ALL. Dh's ego minds. IS the only problem. That and I can't take a very open job as preserving my first job is priority #1. I can't have my clients seeing me work at Target, or being a waitress.

Anyway, dh and I were talking about it yesterday. & I kind of realized some of the problem. He is working on some video/movie projects right now, and I give him that. But he was like, "well, summer isn't good because kids are home, and tax season sucks, I should really hit the pavement next August and find a job."

Ugh! August is fine from "I am in the middle of working on my DREAM" standpoint. But I feel like we had the same conversation last year. It will NEVER be a good time to get a second job. But down the road could certainly be a WORSE time if I have to prove myself to a new employer. Right now my schedule is extraordinarily flexible and I am sure we can make it work. SO, I am kind of stuck between trying to be respectful of dh's dreams and goals, while wondering if we are going to have the same conversation next year. I think I will probably leave it that I won't bring it up again until August, but then that is it. Tax season, summer, who cares?!?

Dh's mom was a teacher so though he was a latch key kid, probably at our kids' ages, his mom was ALWAYS home for summer, and he really struggles with that. I can't say I am much better - my mom never worked. BUT, summer break is only 2 months here, and they can spend some of that time at school daycare with their friends, some time spending the summer with family members (they could play merry go round at Grandma, Grandma, Great-Grandma, and two aunt's houses - they would LOVE it and I wouldn't worry about them - during the week. They did that during dh's surgery and still ask when they get to go stay with family again - they thought it was just a PARTY - would only be a couple of weeks out of the year). We have so many options. & I could always arrange my work schedule to pick them up every day after school, when school is in session, which is why I am not so worried about it. I had to remind dh that my work schedule is not set in stone and this is all pretty workable.

Of course, I always thought it was ridiculous to worry about dh starting his career over at 35 - I went to college with several people who were starting their careers at that age! But I do feel somewhat of a clock ticking - he turns 36 this month. Though financially we could probably be very fine waiting another few years to subject kids to the daycare merry go round, I am just not sure it really matters that much at this point or is worth pushing off dh's career start until 40+.

Dh and I agreed one of us should stay home with the kids *a few years* but boy *this* is not what I signed up for! But I totally relate to the mixed feelings after the luxury of not having to worry about ANY daycare for about 9 years.

So anyway, I come from a place of setting some very fierce goals, accomplishing them quickly, and enjoying the fruit of all that hard work. Then we kind of sat back and relaxed the last 9 years or so since I got pregnant with our first child. I think it just really hit me when we had our 10-year anniversary of our low-cost-of-living move, a couple of weeks back. Dh told me, "Guess I have been out of work about 10 years too." Slowing down to have kids has been the best thing we ever have done, no doubt. But it's been 10 years, and I feel antsy. & I don't really know what the future looks like. We've always planned everything out so much. I suppose I also come from a point of knowing that working really hard for the next 2 years or so can REALLY pay off for the 10 years that follow that. I Feel like it was really so little we did do to get to that point 10 years ago. But the economy sucks and I am watching our parents unable to find any work, and so all that just makes me feel anxious!!

Of course, to be clear, very part-time, side work (dh does well working nights, too), etc. is fine, but there just seems to be no jobs. I don't know if dh will find anything without diving head first back into school and/or career, and how much patience he has to be turned down for all that crap work anyway. He hasn't been given a chance for the same jobs he easily picked up in college - VERY frustrating. & he hasn't looked very seriously since about 2005. Meaning, I know it's only WORSE now - a LOT worse. But he has applied for a few jobs this year, even so - nothing has panned out.

It's not the first time I ever felt like this - not sure what our future holds. It's just been a LONG TIME. We have made our lives so steady and grounded for so long, it's hard to face change! I am sure it will all come together, for now I just have no idea how! I am revisiting feelings I haven't had since graduating college or getting engaged and deciding to get married, etc. When you just not sure what is best! We haven't made a lot of life decisions since moving here 10 years ago.

So, I think I have been pretty clear that I do not do auto pay. I am way too much of a control freak about that. Too easy to think, "Well, the bills are paid, so whatever - I will look at them later." I think mostly it would drive me nuts to not have more control over payments being made. I set up the gym (a whopping $15/month) as auto pay and a couple of city utilities who would only let me pay by credit if it was automatic. But, that's about it. When it comes to bigger bills and giant corporations, I couldn't do it. I want to be able to choose not to pay a bill when I don't agree with it, etc. It is MUCH easier to dispute bills before you pay them - trust me. & I only allow regular payments to my credit card. More recourse when there is a disagreement - doesn't screw up my bank account if THEY make a mistake, either.

SO. I just saw this:

http://www.mymoneyblog.com/verizon-wireless-2-payment-fee-an...

"On December 29th, Verizon Wireless announced via official press release that “Starting January 15, a new $2 payment convenience fee will be instituted for customers who make single bill payments online or by telephone.”

A day later, on December 30th, after a barrage of consumer complaints and a possible FCC investigation, Verizon retracted their fee.

Sigh, Verizon. You do realize you’re charging us to pay you, right?"

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Where was I? I hadn't even heard all of this.

I have also said that I don't do business with big banks, giant corporations, big cable, etc., etc. BUT Verizon is the one shining example. They have always been affordable and pleasant and no issues in over 10 years.

*This* would be a horrible precedent. One I am not sure I could put up with. So I am relieved to see they changed their minds. OF course, as Mr. MyMoneyBlog said, they could certainly offer a discount to those who pay automatically or work it out in a more hidden way over time. But, that is the more PR thing to do. Any of that is certainly better than "pay us to pay us!" I mean, it didn't occur to them that people would be pissed about that?

ETA: I know better to take secondhand commentary as gospel. I do usually look at the source, but hadn't bothered in this case. Anyway, I just read the Verizon press release and it was a REALLY BADLY WORDED PR kind of thing that basically says they will charge a $2 convenience fee to customers who pay one-time with credit card. Um, from my experience this is very standard. To be clear, they are not charging people to pay by check, to pay by EFT, or to pay with online bill pay. Only with credit card. This is not how I read it, initially, so I am way less outraged! I've never had anyone pull a switcheroo like that, but whatever. Many many many businesses pass on the cost of credit card merchant fees to their customers. Those are the ones I don't use my credit cards with. Lord knows why they worded the press release in that manner - it does come across to charge every customer $2 to pay their bill, then lists all the exceptions (all-non-creditcard payments, and auto pay).

Of course, I do admit in an era where most businesses are dropping charge card fees, that this is pretty backwards. I had mentioned that as of 2011 the only holdouts seem to be the government and any mortgage company. Oh, and PG&E - who seems to be in the dark ages. I can't charge my mortgage, I can't pay the county utility (though all the city utilities are fine with no-fee credit payments), I can't charge payments made to the IRS or state or county without being charged a fee. & PG&E. & Verizon wants to be added to that very narrow list??? I suppose after thinking about it, it is still pretty stupid. But I am sure they will find a way to get that money back another way.

This is the worst week of the year for me, at work. April 15th isn't exactly easy, but we have several months to prepare. This is a 4-day workweek and it's all about the year-end CRUNCH. (Plus, heck, we just extend tax returns. )

I think it's extra frustrating because everyone else has the week off and doesn't understand why one would be so busy. It's hard to deal with well-meaning friends who think I am just avoiding them or something. *sigh*

Anyway, I have no idea what it is because I try to go for the calm, relaxed, and low-key lifestyle. But someone recently commented that "my life was so busy." She is not the only one, but I don't really understand that impression.

BUT, today I worked non-stop for 10 hours, dealt with a ton of issues, and accomplished a ton. Plus took a couple of phone calls since I got home (from less organized or later sleeping co-workers - I went to work at dawn so I could leave at 5:00). *This* is busy. I feel like I have been going a million miles a minute all day.

Tomorrow and Friday probably won't be much better, but once it's done, it's done. Then I collapse! It's like a good warm up for tax season though - which starts next week. Er, I guess it really started last week - but the 3-day weekends confuse the issue a bit. Only 6-day workweeks starting next week, until May. So I look forward to the 3-day weekend before the craziness REALLY begins.

Of course, it's all relative. Came home by 5:15, had a nice dinner with the fam, and spent the evening watching Elf with the kids. Plenty of hours of down time - could be much worse. I usually have much more morning and noon time, is all. Definitely no lunches home this week...

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Anyway, somewhat related, I read a really great post the other day:

http://simplemom.net/4-minimum-requirements-for-vibrant-livi...

"Ask yourself these things:

1. Food: How are you feeding yourself?
2. Rest: How are you sleeping?
3. Calm: How are you handling stress?
4. Activity: How are you moving (aka exercising)?

Yes, of course we need love and joy, laughter and fresh air. We need spiritual connection and mental stimulation and creativity and purpose. But the truth is, a chronically sleep-deprived mama living off of Diet Coke and cheese doodles is nowhere near as prepared to experience the kind of deep, vital, and vibrant life meant for her. To some degree, we simply must take care of the basics first."

These are words I personally live by.

I commented on the blog post too, because I have been noticing a lot lately how other "moms" don't seem terribly supportive when one chooses to focus on these four basics. I am personally a strong believer in taking care of myself, first. It's not a popular viewpoint with the mom crowd. Especially newer moms who are learning the ropes. There is a lot of "spend every moment with your kids, no time away or other hobbies allowed," and if you exercise and look good then the claws really come out...

Of course, this basic concept applies to anyone - man, woman, whoever. The blog I link just caters to moms, is all. It's hard to do much of anything if you don't take care of yourself first. No matter who you are!

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I was also thinking about all this in terms of New Years goals. I have no New Years goals. I generally get a raise every Jan. 1 (since I started my job 1/1) and most our bills tend to go up Jan. 1. So, for me it is a time to review the past year financially and revise the budget for new numbers and think to new goals. Nice how it works out, I guess.

BUT, I am entering busy season at work so I have no other goals. "Survive tax season" just about covers it. OF course, the more sleep and exercise I get the easier it will be.

I just don't get the "Set a ton of goals at once" mentality. & of course I watch my friends fail at the same pile of goals every single year. I am sure it works for some, but I have always followed the approach of "one thing at a time." I am all about the "one thing at a time." It REALLY works. You accomplish one big goal and set a good habit, and then you move on to the next one. IT certainly does not happen overnight.

Today I paid bills, bills, bills and more bills. I suppose most of the big stuff seems to be due this time of year (property taxes, home insurance, flood insurance, umbrella insurance, disability insurance), plus paid for school lunches the rest of the year, paid the refi deposit, auto insurance, and some car repairs - new battery and new tires. All of the above was $5000+. Of course, we set aside 1/12 of all these type bills every month so no biggie, but I imagine not preparing for the bill landslide could be VERY overwhelming. Just a reminder to "plan ahead." Aside from the refi, all of this was extremely foreseeable. I paid for the refi deposit with cash Xmas gifts.

I put some of this on the credit card and so I don't have to pay cash for about $1000 of it until February. Some I had to pay off in December (Am Ex had a very short grace period) - so if kind of spreads over 3 months. It's just most of this stuff is due between Dec. 10 and Jan. 10.

Oh disability insurance ticked up. I barely noticed but then saw that it was about 30% higher AND that it had been stagnant the past several years. I guessed it - getting older! IT's still dirt cheap. About $300 with a "one-time 10% discount" due to the economy. But I saw the rates tick up every 5 years. (I also have to belong to two professional associations to get the rate, so that doesn't tell the whole story. It's still reasonable when you consider that - maybe $1k-ish per year). They've been aggressively trying to get me to increase my coverage. Um, considering it can't be more than 60% of my current income? I'd love to, but they are sure wasting a lot of paper and postage trying to convince me to get more coverage - I simply can't.

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Appraisal is tomorrow. Woohoo! Crossing my fingers for $250k+.

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My mom slipped me $40 for Christmas food and stuff. Lord knows we spent nowhere near $40, but it is appreciated. I returned $20 to dh for the money I took to pay the mortgage this month. I was going to deposit the other $20 but was digging in our cash stash for $5 bills (that's a LONG story). Anyway! It occurred to me I didn't need the $20 for anything, and so should add it to the cash stash. The "cash emergency fund," which we do have but is not always front of mind. It's probably been a couple of years since I added to it. Since MIL has been handing us so much cash, I will have to remember to add to the stash next time.

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I think I will pay the mortgage again tomorrow. That way it will be paid up through mid-March, and won't have to deal with that again during the refi process. (You know, every time you make a payment, it changes the balance due, etc.). Then there's no "don't make the mortgage payment" if it doesn't close in time or it doesn't go through - don't want to deal with a potential late payment. I am quite sure I am being overly cautious, but overly cautious works for me. That, and it does just simplify things for us. I have the cash flow with Christmas cash gifts. I get paid Friday anyway and will just do ROTH contributions with the next paycheck after - usually I do ROTHs on 1st and mortgage with mid-month paycheck. IT's just a little shuffle helped along with a little bit of extra cash.

Spent about $250 on Christmas this year.

Of course, it is also birthday season here, so includes a lot of birthday spending.

In addition, donated $200 cash to charity. I usually just apply some of the gifts/bonuses we get to charity, so don't usually count it as a Christmas expense. BUT, with all the credit card rewards, we spent so little, so I just paid out $200 a couple of weeks ago, from the budget. I won't be so generous with the cash gifts we receive because I am hoarding those to pay for our refinance costs.

OF course, money received so far:

$1000 from my mom
$ 50 Bday money
$ 110 from dh's Grandad (we used for a nice dinner out on 10-year move/house anniversary. Since it arrived that DAY - perfect timing!)
$ 250 work bonus (didn't end up getting more for *10 years.* Bummed about that, though happy to get anything. This is the money I usually give to charity. Usually $50 back to boss and $200 to charity).

In-Laws always gives us $1000. Will find out today, for sure.

The Spending??

$200 Charity
$20 to Gardener
$50 towards boss gift
$20 for in-law gifts (Grandkid photo calendars, gift cards, split 50/50 with SIL)
$ 8 Christmas plates/bowls (cute and on sale!)
$ 4 calendars (for kids)
$ 8 Almond roca for my dad
$17 toys for kids (some game? - was a July purchase)
$15 Frame/print for work gift exchange
$ 5 Gag gift for my mom
$15 Birthday Pie for me
$30 Frames/prints for our home (Bday gift to self)
$40 Dh/kids bought me some t-shirts (dh kept one too)
$20 lighted bows and flowers (for us, though may give the flowers to my mom to take home Xmas Day. Lighted bows were cute! We can re-use)
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$452 TOTAL
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Of course, with cash gifts, we come out ahead about $2000. Woohoo!

In addition to the above we did all the following for free (credit card rewards and creativity):

Nintendo DS3 for the kids
Several used video games for the kids
LOTS of free books/games for the kids (Scholastic)
Kindle for my mom
Kindle for dh's folks
Kindle Fire for us
$25 Amazon gift card for my dad's 60th B-Day
$25 Amazon gift card (x2) for teachers
$300 free books for teachers, approximately (Scholastic)

In addition, I printed out some sheet music from some of LM's favorite video games. The kids are with Grandma so I practiced them a bit to surprise him tomorrow. I thought of it because #1 - dh got some free CD of video game themes played by a Symphony - that kind of thing. LM LOVES it. & also we are trying to talk him into starting piano lessons. So, I thought maybe this would encourage him a bit. But I can't wait to see his face when I play "Chocobo theme song" and "Angry Birds Theme Song." For extra motivation I need to find some easier arrangements for BM. (To showcase what one year of piano lessons can do). I am sure I will find something - the internet is AMAZING. I couldn't believe all the free music I found. I usually pay for music. & I will be mindful to buy it if I find a good arrangement. But there is just so much free stuff being shared by people online, too. Like, their own arrangements of popular songs. WOW!

This year was certainly a unique year with so much opportunity for so much fancy free stuff!!

We probably usually spend about $500 on Xmas + $200 to charity. So, we saved about $250 this year, with credit card rewards. (Plus, were able to be extra generous).

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BTW, framed print of my dad's photo was a HUGE hit at work gift exchange. I did good! Funniest part? Boss and his wife are really into art and have ridiculously expensive frames, etc. around the office. I had to get my frames approved for my certificates for example - to hang them in my office. Um, they approved my cheap Michael frame to hang on their wall? Seriously? OF course, I am thinking GIFT idea for THEM next year. I should go buy another of these frames - if they approve. (I love how nice and sturdy and sleek they look though I paid little more than $10 for them on sale!)

I received a dainty little gold watch. I LOVE it. The funny thing is that I have been thinking I could use a watch, but haven't exactly voiced that out loud. Must be "good gift" karma!

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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, to everyone.

Oh, work has just been crazy as it always been this time of year. So, I have about 10 things I want to blog about but haven't had time to. Will see how much I can squeeze in a post.

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UGH!

I got a bill from our HMO last night. I peeked at it while I was out at the mail box and was surprised to see a bill for $1500. Holy Heck! I just assumed it was probably in regards to the emergency room visit last October. They aren't particularly known for prompt billing. (Heck, likely more related to my surgery in January).

BUT, imagine my second surprise when I saw this was for dh's ultrasound LAST WEEK.

Anyway, though my annoyance level is pretty darn high, I am 99% sure this is a mistake, so am not too stressed out about it.

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BTW, dh seems to be feeling much better. It was "nothing" and it has passed. Will see...

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I had forgotten that the deductible is basically included in the monthly cost of our health insurance. We have ALWAYS maxed out, and the whole point of switching was that it was a little cheaper, with deductible, than our old plan. Which means, if you look at it that way, our health insurance will cost MORE than our mortgage after this refi. $950/month versus $1050/month. Ouch! (Our old health insurance plan must cost $1100+ these days. IT cost about $900 when we switched - it was insane). But yeah, I am just adding the average $250/month deductible we have been paying - adding that to the insurance premium.

& yes, we have made HUGE efforts to cut our living costs down. HUGE moves, and I think getting our mortgage down under $1k is pretty respectable from a regional perspective. (The average person I know has a $2k+ mortgage. Rent isn't any cheaper as an option). BUT, I don't know if I should feel exasperated with the medical side, or just glad we have controlled what we can as much as we have, so it doesn't kill us financially. I feel a little of both. Grateful we can afford it all, but still a little exasperated. I just was telling dh last night, more than 25% of our take home pay went to medical and dental bills this year." Ouch!

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This week I gave blood - that is my giving for the holiday season.

(Actually, we gave a little cash too. Good thing we did that before monster medical bill. )

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My dad is upset because for the first time in his life he can not contribute to an IRA! I had to inform him that he needed "Earned income" to contribute. HE didn't earn a cent in 2011.

My dad is still on COBRA, and I think they can easily live on unemployment, for the most part.

My dad was telling me how many of his friends can't find any work and how screwed they are financially. I am starting to REALLY realize that the reason our generation is in such a financial mess has everything to do with my dad's generation. This is the common story: Bought a big house, fancy cars, private schools, supporting adult kids well into their 30s, divorce.

All of the above is VERY expensive. & then I wonder what financial planet most of my peers are on? This is how they grew up?

(To be clear - I Am talking about people who had $100k-$300k steady paychecks for the last 2 decades. THIS is what I See all around me).

My parents did none of the above, and the reward is a *shrug* if he can never work again.

OF course, my dad just never took his income for granted, and having grown up dirt poor, I just think he felt VERY content at a much lower spending level. Food, shelter, what else do you really *NEED*? More where I get my own attitude from.

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Anyway, I didn't see much point for my dad to contribute to ROTHs near retirement, when he had a huge income. BUT, he has been converting since unemployed. This year he was able to convert $50k. He will pay some taxes, but nothing above 15%. Basically, will pay in the tax instead of making ROTH contributions.

IT's kind of funny because I have never heard of this tax strategy, but we have both used it. Contribute to 401k and regular IRAs while income is really high and get a HUGE tax break. When income is low, convert to ROTH and pay no or little tax on the conversion. Win-win.

All the more reason to just keep our IRAs for the long run. We are not any more than the 15% tax bracket, even with a big conversion. But I haven't wanted to come up with the cash. & I am thinking that I probably shouldn't. Maybe we can convert those during the early years or our retirement. ??? If it would make sense to?

Anyway, we were most definitely in the 25% tax bracket and took advantage when we both worked. 401k and IRAs. But our income has been so low since having kids, that we did a big ROTH conversion at the 10%/15% tax rate. When you figured the state taxes, we might have gotten a 30% tax break up front, but converted and paid 15%.

Heck, my dad might have saved 40% on his taxes, with 401k and IRA deductions, being in a higher tax bracket, but will pay little more than 15% total on this conversion. Pretty sweet!

Of course, you may wonder why on earth I would recommend him to convert now, to ROTH, and pay tax. On a practical level, my parents can probably live off social security (starts in 5 years?). So, less money in regular IRAs = less RMDs. & of course, RMDs and social security will eventually equal a large tax bill for them. Certainly not as large as when my dad worked, but definitely more than 15% tax. Right now they are just kind of in limbo - no real taxable income. But I have enough retired clients to know that won't last.

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Squeaky Wheel Update

CU called me back yesterday. I think it was good I called so much. Customer service is majorly lacking over there, but whatever.

They put in a request for an appraiser because "locked in rate a week before application was approved." I am not sure what this means except they are really damn slow to approve applications? So, we may have sped up the appraisal process being squeaky.

I Was griping to dh that the whole application was online, but I have to sit and play phone tag. When I am swamped I can much easier reply to an e-mail. ANYWAY, no sooner than I griped, my loan processor e-mailed me to assure me her supervisor told her I Called, that the requests for info are in the mail, the appraisal is ordered, and to E-MAIL her if I need anything. PERFECT!

I just wanted to make sure all the time consuming stuff was rolling and I was doing everything on MY part to get this thing through on time. Getting a request for documents, and an appraisal, is a good start. Hopefully we get the appraisal done first of January.

I've got all the documentation I should need. I will probably drop it off in person. Or hopefully I can just send it securely over the internet. I will not be mailing all that personal information (too many bad experiences with mail). But, however I deliver it, it will be done the second I get the request. My part will be DONE! & hearing all the stories, I am really curious how the rest of this will go. I am bracing myself for odd requests and follow up questions, though it's hard to be more straightforward than our situation. Borrowin 80% or less equity, W-2 income only, ample cash savings, all of our investments in retirement. No other debt. PITI will be about 20% of income. What else is there to analyze? & yet I know people in FAR better financial situations being put through the ringer with these mortgage loans. But I think a lot of them have self-employment income, other mortgages, stuff like that. So I am hoping we get it easy. Will see!!!

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Spending Christmas Eve with the family (in-law gift extravaganza) and Christmas Day here at home. I've done nothing to prepare and will do nothing to prepare. (Anything to be done has been done, ages ago). Well, might scrub the toilet tonight? That's about it. Dh is doing grocery shopping today and making a butternut squash soup today, for Sunday. YUM. Take and bake pizzas, also. The ones at our grocery store are DIVINE. The kids went with Grandma yesterday, and we pick them up Saturday.

In regards to MIL drama of Christmases past, I won't hold my breath, but I think she found something else to do Christmas morning. Hallelujah! It's more of a charity minded thing, but this is the second year in a row. Could this be a tradition? She actually DROPPED THE DRAMA and found something more positive to do on Christmas Day? I can't believe it!

Anyway, if we get 2-3 hours with MY parents, alone, and MIL doesn't cry the whole time she is here, it will be a success. That is ALL I ever asked for. Can I hope?

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Anyone who read all this gets a gold star from me!

Why didn't I think of this?



Actually, we took the kids out to look at Christmas lights and someone did the same to a REALLY decked out house. BUT, they pretty much just set up a giant piece of cardboard and put the "ditto" lights on that. Was maybe wood, not cardboard, but was very much a "thrown together in a few minutes" kind of look.

LOVED it.

I told dh that if we every move into a neighborhood with crazy Christmas spirit, we knew how to play along without looking like total scrooges. I'll stick to the "ditto." OF course, why bother with the arrow? I don't think the one we saw had an arrow - the meaning was clear. LOL.

I braced myself and went to Walgreens over the weekend to pick up some almond roca for my dad.

Um, there was no one there??? How bizarre. Actually, there were people there, and there was a line, but it was just for cigarettes. I often run in for a soda, and notice a lot of people buying cigs. They must make bank on our bad habits.

Anyway, I slapped a bow on my dad's almond roca (the one I got from a gift given to me last week) and wrapped up the big box I had for the work gift exchange. I had packaged it up, but the box was so big I Was procrastinating on actually wrapping it.

And so I was in the mindset of wrapping things up, and I thought, "Hmmmmm - I should have given the teachers their gifts on Friday?" Doh! I majorly spaced on that. I have known all along the kids have no school for two weeks, but just spaced on the details.

Anyway, I was totally serious when I told the kids that it is okay and we will just give them "New YEars Gifts." They will be totally surprised and the gifts will be totally unexpected. Works out. & dh gave them some Scholastic credit which they LOVED, so it's not a total loss.

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Maybe I always notice it, but this year I am REALLY noticing that the more broke and financially screwed people seem to be giving more. Kind of, "Look at me, look how generous I am - look how I am doing okay." IT probably stands out a bit more because all of the really fiscally sound people I know are pretty *over* the materialism. This is one reason Christmas is easy on us. Our siblings and cousins say, "PLEASE do not buy any gifts for our kids. We have way too much." & they are always very open to giving that money to charity, instead. & then of course my bankrupt friends will be spending thousands of dollars on gifts. Maybe it's because I know everyone lose their home to foreclosure, or is in the middle of losing their home to foreclosure. The holiday spending seems extra insane this year.

'Tis the season to be broke!

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In other news, dh is making an appointment with a specialist this week. *sigh* We seem to have an affinity for January medical procedures. At this point we really have absolutely no idea what is wrong with him.

Eh, thankfully it was only a minor inconvenience! We've actually had a good flat tire run. I had a car that seemed to get a flat tire every few months. It's funny how certain cars just attract certain trouble! But, in the end, it's been a long time since either one of us has gotten a flat tire. Phew!

I noticed it this morning when I tried to drive dh's car. I went to work today and so just put it back in the garage and took the van instead. I had a feeling dh would be too lazy to take care of it today, so I was relieved when he called to tell me I had the good tire iron. SO, he is out fixing it right now. (Who knows how long it was flat and if the tire is salvageable - it was flat all the way).

OF course, that tire was one that had a continuous slow leak and dh mentioned that was probably what happened. (For YEARS it had a VERY slow leak that no one could diagnose - we just made sure to fill it often). Anyway, that commented reminded me that it is not the same tire. "Um, it was the slow leak tire, but I just replaced the back tires a few months ago?"

Great! So the car has a rear driver side wheel jinx? See what I mean?

That said, our car repairs have been well below budget for the year (& for the decade?). A flat tire at home, when I don't need the car, is a pretty minor inconvenience in the scheme of things. If I have to have a flat, this is the way to do it. (Dh has nowhere to be for like 2 whole weeks, so why I thought he would be more lazy about it).

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Have you all seen these Christmas light glasses? They are so cool!!! All the christmas lights look like snowmen (& they have different shapes).

http://www.amazon.com/Snowman-Holiday-Glasses-Christmas-Ligh...

I had actually bought some after Christmas last year and had totally forgotten about them. What a FUN surprise when we got out all the Christmas lights and stuff.

Tonight we are going to wear them when we do the Christmas light rounds. I haven't used them on such a large scale - should be fun.

Today is the day! Dropping by the bank mid day to deposit my paycheck. Will go home and pay the mortgage down below $200,000. (& eat lunch). WOOHOO!

Our 10-year anniversary of living in this city/buying this home will be Tuesday. We can also add "a mortgage balance under $200k" to the celebration. I don't care if the lender updates their website or not by then, but it's likely that I can log in next Tuesday and see no more "2" at the beginning of my balance.

We decided to take the kids out to a fondue feast to celebrate. So much of where we are today, when we decided to have kids, etc., comes from this brave move that we made. So, it is a lot to celebrate. I will post more about that next week.

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I mentioned my long-term goal trifecta was a no go at 12/31 because AmEx demanded payment 12/29 for my reward card.

Oh well - I still got two of three. & close enough on #3. At this point it is just semantics. I was going to pay the card off 1/1.

So, what next??? I mentioned all the reasons I need to continue saving cash and will likely pay a little extra to the mortgage. I also discussed tax efficiency as a motivator for some of my financial goals.

SO, I revisited the HSA. For about 5 seconds. Um, still a no go for us. Thing is our medical exenses were about $15k for 2011, and about $9000 of that is tax deductible. So, putting money in a HSA doesn't save me any taxes. Then I only get to deduct what I put in the HSA, AND California will probably never recognize HSAs as a tax shelter, which is a whole other thing. So, basically, the HSA still makes absolutely no sense for us. It might be worth the hassle if we have a huge jump in income down the road. But, I suppose I was rather relieved to find it still makes no sense. Not any more sense than it did last year, anyway. I just might actually have cash to put away this year, is the only difference, and why I revisted it. (This state not recognizing the tax break is just a huge nightmare, and kind of why I am relieved. Plain vanilla medical bills are deductible by both Fed and state if they amount to more than 7.5% of your income, and if you itemize. We have that WELL covered, refinance and all. Our interest and propety taxes alone will still be enough to itemize).

& I do share because so much financial advice is *one size fits all* but some of this tax stuff is really complicated. We will be personally skipping the 529 plans and the HSAs, because they are of absolutely not tax benefit to us, at current. (If my spouse was working, we would likely fund both. That is just a WHOLE other ballgame!)

We don't pay any taxes of note with just me working. So, ROTHs are our primary savings venue. We don't need the tax savings now - but we will take it later.

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I called the CU today. They told me that our underwriting was approved yesterday. Well, at least something is going on. Someone is supposed to call me today. & their "loan status" website is down.

All I know is squeaky wheel gets the grease. I am not accustomed to being a squeaky wheel, but I think it's a good idea for a 4% mortgage loan! So I am being pretty squeaky for my personality. This means I have to call them first thing Monday if no one calls me today. Why do I get the feeling I will be very squeaky with this whole process??? Well, I want them to be sick of me so the loan closes in time.

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How funny is this? Checked the kids' school lunch balance and LM's balance will be $0 after lunch today. How is that for planning? I had put in enough to get through 2011. OF course, I had a wee bit more of a cushion in there, but lots of extra school lunches these last two weeks with "daddy sick" and "mommy busy."

BM is not quite as fond of school lunch - he has a $15 balance. I will re-fund both accounts January 1, for the rest of the school year.

It's kind of funny for me, because I do often feel like I live on another planet or speak another language from those around me. Anyway, I grew up in a debt free, creative, and open minded household. Thus, I was not raised with the preconceived notions that most people seem to pick up somewhere along the line.

Examples?

**It is impossible to pay cash for a car.**

**It is impossible to afford a decent house around here.**

**It is impossible to raise a family on one income.**

You know, stuff like that. Oh, I could go on all day!!

Anyway, these comments always throw me for a loop! & at age 35, I often feel like I am still learning where other people are coming from. I still get these lightbulb moments in my head when I finally understand some preconceived notion that I never learned, but that everyone else is assuming.

The latest???

I am understanding that there is some preconceived notion that debt free must be somewhat equated with *broke* and *cash poor.*

Ding ding ding!

*Debt free* means I am the crazy one who pays off debt at expense of all other financial goals. I never have money for anything else, because I have to pay cash for anything.

Hmmmmm. Interesting perspective. But not anything in line with my personal reality.

I am sure a lot of this comes from the Dave Ramsey mindset and the popularity of his plan. I have been watching some non-SA debt bloggers whose financial priorities seem terribly screwed up. Okay, I totally understand putting retirement on hold and draining cash for that 20%+ credit card debt. IT's quite a mess, and you do need a shovel to dig out. BUT, what I don't understand is paying down low interest car and student loans while ignoring retirement and not saving any money in cash. ??? Would I Recommend that? Um, no???

& so I get my lightbulb moment.

I believe in being debt free. BUT, I also do not believe in being cash poor and I do not believe in putting the rest of my finances on hold.

I have never been cash poor. I do not believe being debt free and having only $1,000 in the bank. Being debt free does not go in line with having no cash. The opposite is the truth. You need to be able to save and have savings to avoid debt.

I have never scrimped on my retirement savings. Retirement has always been a priority for us.

I think I have noticed it a lot with the car thing, lately. You say you pay cash for your cars, you might as well say you have a third eye. The thing is, if we keep our car 10 years, and we save $100/month, we have $12k cash every decade to replace our cars. IT's really no biggie. It's not a huge financial commitment that drains our savings and that we can never get past. Heck, the reality is dh's car is 11 years old and I will probably save up $5k this year and $5k next year, to replace it. We've got enough cash if that doesn't quite work out, but I honestly have not been saving up for his car for 10 years, anyway. From my perspective, I paid cash 10 years ago, and that's it. Notice how I didn't say we bought a car for $20k. That is infinitely more to the point in being debt free.

When you pay cash for everything, you simply don't spend as much. That is the bottom line and that is the part that works for us. IT's not that I am diverting hundreds or thousands of dollars every year to pay cash for cars or to pay down debt. My experience is the opposite. I have no payments to worry about, and so we have far more money to invest, save, and do what we WANT to do with it. OF course, a cash mentality means you can't just buy everything on a whim. So I think it gives you the added of bonus to give you time to really think about what is important. I don't know how many times I mentioned in this blog that I really want to buy x, y or z, but then the moment eventually passes. By the time the money is saved? By then I have a clearer idea what I truly want, and am not wasting money on a bunch of whims.

Anyway, obviously not everyone equates *debt free* with *cash poor* but I am just starting to understand the mindset when people look horrified when I say that we pay cash for our cars. I think the lightbulb moment came from a comment in the forums. "I would never pay cash for a car because I would never spend all my savings like that." Something like that. As if when you finance a car, you never have to pay that money out??? To me it's kind of semantics. You save up the money first, or you pay it out later. Either way, a big purchase is a big money drain, but there isn't anything extraordinarily negative, to me, about just saving up the money first.

I am almost done redeeming rewards and closing credit cards! (No new offers of late...)

That said, most every credit card I have has a 30-ish days to pay the balance. Since I knew the AmEx closed yesterday, I figured I'd just pay it January 1. BUT... the payment is due 12/29. Seriously??? I'll quote that as a reason for closing the card. "Um, everyone else gives me 30 days?" At least 20?" & keep in mind, they haven't even sent me the bill yet. Will probably *get it* one week before the due date - is a paper statement.

So much for my cash balance goal. I know it's semantics and it doesn't make a large difference financially, either way. But, um, I can't claim I made my cash goal if I have to shell out $1k this month I wasn't expecting. Boo!

Since I got that check from my mom, I Will just pay off the card right now. I juggled some things around, and I really wanted to pay the mortgage tomorrow when I get paid. BUT, that will leave me in the red $15 when I pay off the other credit cards for the month. (Any other time I'd just pay the mortgage after the first, but I want to see that below $200k balance, NOW!!!!) I think when I go to the bank I will just deposit all my cash - will probably get some more cash somewhere down the road. Maybe dh has $5 he can spare so I am not completely cash-less. (I never use cash, but I think it's prudent to have a few dollars on hand, "just in case." I have $20 in my wallet, which will cover this.

Any other time I might transfer from savings, but I already did 2 savings transfers this month and I am sure I will do a third with Christmas money. Knowing the limits on savings transfers, I usually try to keep it to 1-2 times a month (any money going in or out of savings). Usually one big net transfer every month. I am not going to waste one transfer on $15!!

Anyway, the points I earned on this are currently "pending." Hopefully I can redeem them soon!

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I am not feeling warm and fuzzy on this refinance, because it's been a week since I was approved, and no one has called me.

To be fair "super crazy fast mortgage guy" - I thought he forgot me too, but he sent me some paperwork Tuesday. He also sent a list of stuff they would need, so I gathered all that stuff up for the CU. I didn't want to write back and say "nevermind" until I talked to a live person at my CU. If it is impossible to complete this in 60 days, at this rate, don't waste my time. That was what I Was going to tell them. 7 days have past with absolutely no action, thus not feeling warm and fuzzy. I would love a CU mortgage loan, but I have been through this before with them. Their refinance customer service is majorly lacking compared to more hungry mortgage brokers. If nothing else I will call them tomorrow...

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Oh, and the holiday medical tests never end around here. DH went in for an ultrasound Monday because he was having pain where he shouldn't. It's not related to any other medical issue in the past. We just like getting medical tests during the holidays. The whole thing has put me on edge far more than it should. It's just, we had two holiday seasons in a row of *that is probably nothing* turning into serious surgery and cancer scares. WE are supposed to hear back from the doctor today with some results. I think we are both really on edge with this whole thing. *sigh*

Of course, kids have school off next two weeks, my work schedule is insane, and dh is having trouble making all his commitments (he as supposed to volunteer pretty much full time this week and feels bad that he needs to lay down and rest. Any other time he'd have all the time in the world to lay down and rest - we have a knack for timing). At least we can pawn the kids off with relatives the last two weeks of December, if need be. They all seem to be pretty free of work obligations the next two weeks while I am swamped. I don't see it coming to that, but emergency surgery is not off the table. I never signed the kids up for school daycare like I said I would. At least I know from past experience I can sign them up tomorrow if need be. Now that both kids are in school pretty full-time, this whole thing isn't quite the nightmare it was when dh had surgery and LM was at home. I know we are blessed to have such a flexible and under-utilized school daycare. I have heard of the wait lists and higher cost at other schools. Phew.

So...

I am not crazy after all. I was feeling perplexed because felt like parents were going to send me money. But they didn't. How could I misread that situation do wrong??? (I mentioned they were being cryptic, though it is odd for them to send money at all, even moreso with my dad out of work).

But then they did. Got a surprise check for $1,000 yesterday, in the mail. Woohoo!

The nice thing is my parents received some gift money from grandma's estate. They simply wanted to pass some of it along. Which they ALWAYS do, but it is nice that this was the first time they passed on money from someone still alive. Makes it a much happier event!

& with that, I will have crossed off THREE long-term goals from my list, this very month. What are the odds of that?

The Trifecta?

1 - $30,000 cash in the bank - check
2 - Mortgage balance under $200,000 - check
3 - Maxed ROTHS from income - check
(meaning, did not use cash or gifts to max out)

Basically, I put $600 of the money to the mortgage (don't have to scrounge that from savings or gift money) and the other $400 to savings.

I plan to pay the mortgage with my paycheck next Friday - to make #2 official.

Any surprises can be charged and paid next month - how we do it anyway. So I don't foresee any change to cash balance between now and 12/31. Certainly anything can happen, but would have to be something really crazy to mess up our cash status.

I am still expecting some Christmas money too, which I originally figured I would put to the mortgage and to cash goal. This amount was much more than I Was expecting. So, will save any more cash received this month to cash savings, for costs of our upcoming refinance.

Anyway, we already had plans to celebrate some major anniversaries on 12/20, so we will just add this to the reasons to celebrate. We are going to splurge on a nice dinner, for sure.

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2012

I need to figure out what my salary will be and how this refinance shakes out, before I make any concrete goals for 2012. But, I am thinking our goals will look like this:

1 - Max out ROTHs
2 - $5k to cash savings
3 - $3,900 extra to mortgage

#1 is the obvious.

#2 is just how much cash I have figured we need to save, working backwards. Our cars are getting old, our house is getting older, our kids need lots of orthodontia work, dh may want to go back to school, we don't borrow money for any of this stuff, and my job is nearing the end of its useful life. So, basically $30k is merely a minimum. We will just keep adding to that until we get on more solid ground. Dh's car is 11 years old so if nothing else, looking at a $10k outflow to replace his car in the not so distant future. & would like to save that above $30k, with job situation and economy.

#3 - I wanted to talk a little bit about #3, because I have about a million reasons why I Want to pay down the mortgage. I wouldn't even know where to begin. & I share because personal finance is never one size fits all. You might think, "That is so Dave Ramsey" or "Why on earth would you prepay a 4% mortgage?"

Oh, let me count the ways.

First off, we are only paying off the mortgage with extra money. NOT From my regular income. Will pay it down with payroll tax holiday if it is extended (don't want to get use to that money), overtime, gifts, amazon sales, and maybe even income from another job.

Should I be putting this money to retirement or kids college or somewhere else? These are just some reasons I am leaning towards mortgage. (Notice I said "some" - not "all the reasons" - as they are too many to list).

A - The housing market sucks, and I would like to make sure we stay above water. I think extra principal payments are prudent.

B - Still want to pay off the closing costs we rolled into our last loan. I didn't mind borrowing them, but I want to pay off while we have some extra cash. I did not intend to borrow that money for 30 years.

C - It's tax efficient. The next step for us is taxable investing, and that is kind of a pain. Admittedly, we will start small, but in the long run it will significantly increase the complexity of our taxes.

D - My dh is infinitely more motivated by debt payoff than any other financial goal. He hates debt more than I do. This is no doubt one reason why we made our trifecta this year. It's the first time we have ever paid extra on our mortgage. (Beyond $10 here or $100 there).

E - The psychology of mortgage pre-payment is interesting. I think I am extremely disciplined when it comes to our cash savings. I put money in our cash savings, I simply don't touch it. I don't find that hard. BUT, it is easier to think, "I have the money, so let's buy this or that." I also feel like in the end we saved more by locking some of it away in our mortgage. IT works extraordinarily well for mortgage chips, for me. For little amounts that maybe I would have decided against adding to savings any given month. But, every time I got any sort of refund, rebate, or unexpected cash, I just added it to my mortgage payment in Quicken, and pretended like it wasn't there. I can do that with larger sums in savings, but not smaller sums. So, I have to play what works for me. That is money that honestly would just be frittered way, otherwise. So, I found something that works, that keeps us more efficient without "hurting" at all. It's not money that we miss, otherwise.

So, you get the picture why mortgage payoff is my next goal.

That said, we did make the goal trifecta, and taxable investing is in our very near future. We simply have to start down that road. I don't believe in being debt free and cash/investment poor. I think by next December we will be opening a taxable investment account and starting to supplement our retirement savings, and saving for kids college, stuff like that.

Does it sound too good to be true?

You betcha!

I'll get back to you in about 60 days.

I see no reason why we can't close a refinance in 60 days. But, from prior experience, and considering the insane rate of refinancing right now... All I Can do is not think about it or get too excited until it is official and those closing papers are signed.

But, a commitment has been made, and a huge leap towards 4% has been taken.

4%, 30 year mortgage. I can't even tell you how much this improves our long-term financial position. Will most likely pay it down as a 20-year-loan, by simply paying old payment which also very low to begin with, while still trying to scrounge about $4,000 per year in extra principal payments (outside of my own income). In the first year, we would knock out $10,000 in principal.

Anyway, I absolutely can not think about it until we sign the papers! It is too good to be true! (& yes, I Said the same thing last time - I think that one was almost more shocking, because we knocked our mortgage payment to the realm of the crappy studio apartment rentss I was looking at in the mid 1990s. I will never complain about paying $1100/month for this beautiful home, neighborhood, community. $900 is simply too unreal to imagine).

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What's funny is that last time we refied was the year my identity was stolen, and I was in the middle of some pretty serious 0% credit card arbitrage (more free money from credit cards). The refi was after the identity issues were cleaned up, but while I had several credit card balances (& tons of cash earning a high interest rate).

I've never opened up so many credit cards in my life, and here I am with another amazing refi opportunity.

Is the greater purpose of this blog simply to say, "I can do a lot of credit card deals without hurting my credit score!" ? IT feels like a theme. I know there are people out there thinking I am insane to do all these credit scores because it will ruin my FICO, and stuff like that. You can see why it doesn't worry me.

Talked to broker guy yesterday. He's got some issues, but the transaction could not have been smoother last time. I frankly don't want to bother unless I know it will go smooth and customer service is A+.

Anyway, he was really pushing 0-cost loans with "no skin in the game." Which is completely useless and one-sided. Sure, let's refi to save 0.375%. Then we can just do it again later! (Obviously more in it for him than me. I am sure the average person jumps when they hear *no cost.*). I might be sold if my interest rate wasn't already rock bottom. That is the problem.

To be fair, we also talked 15-year mortgages. So, he is not totally insane. I told him 4% please, or no thanks. He said he could not get that rate with no points, but maybe soon. I am to submit an application so I can lock at a moment's notice.

Rates were same today at my CU. I REALLY should have applied yesterday. I applied this morning, but doesn't look like can lock in the rate today. I am hoping for tomorrow???

Whoever can lock me at 4% first, wins. At worst, I fill out a lot of paperwork and no one wins. (The paperwork hasn't been bad at all). The only thing I worry is if they will be picky about our cash balance, since I do want to pay cash for closing costs. I have just heard the stories, but I think our situation is pretty plain vanilla. Have plenty of equity, a steady salary from a long-term job, and no other investments outside of retirement. No debts - so not much to look at. In 1999 when they were pickier and we were just college grads, they wanted us to have $10k in the bank. I don't know what they will say, this time. If things are so strict, you would think they want more. Will see...

I checked my creditkarma report after I was approved by the CU for their best rate. I was just curious if the last credit card closure was showing up. It Was! I am not sure if it would make any difference, but I eeked out getting all of those cards closed before I applied for this refinance.

One thing I had had forgotten or not thought of... I am not concerned at all with *length of open credit history" (seeing as I have never been turned down for any line of credit or loan). BUT, I got myself in a situation where my oldest open line of credit is our mortgage. By a mile. So it just occurred to me that a refinance may not be good for the credit score. That said, it will certainly be an experiment. Credit Karma tells me that my length of open credit history equals an *F* score. FICO tells me my score is 800. So, I am not sure what difference it could possibly make. F is an F, and if they want to lower my score by 50 points, what difference would that make anyway? Who cares? 750, 800, same difference. (With an F in that category, I don't particularly expect it to make much difference). But maybe I will be able to tell you all for sure!

Thankfully, paying your bills on time seems to account for about 99% of your FICO score. & not over-leveraging. From my experience. That's what should matter the most.

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I ran to Michael's about 11:50 today. There was hardly anywhere to park, and the line behind me was about 10 people when I left. Phew - it helped to beat the crowd a wee bit.

Scored frames at 50% off. IF dh and I never agree where to hang these prints, I have gifts to give for a long time. Either way, is good. I will post a picture of the framed prints later. They are gorgeous!

I've basically got all the information I need to do my tax return. It's SIMPLE.

So I plugged in numbers to see where I was at. Last I projected was that we'd owe about $1000. Unfortunately, not much has changed.

I was just happy to put $8k into ROTHS. The rest seems like gravy. We are maxing out this year ($10k), so I decided to shift some of that to my regular IRA. It looks like we will probably do $7500 ROTH and $2500 Regular IRA. I really didn't foresee putting any more money into regular IRAS, but I feel rather "eh, it's just one year." & only 25% of contributions, at that. If it makes it easier to max out... I whittled our taxes owed down to about $500 with this move.

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I was feeling really great about finally reaching cash goal this year. But, maybe I got excited too soon. I need to take the following from cash:

**$900 to replenish cash in our ROTH efund. I had bought stock and planned to replenish the cash with regular ROTH Contributions this month. Instead, I am diverting that money to my regular IRA. (I often use this money to jump on stock market dips, but usually replenish it ASAP).

**$3,000 if we refinance? (Closing costs)

**$300 short on maxing out IRAs, 2011 - will transfer from savings before April 15.

**$500 or so due for taxes. Admittedly, will just pay those in April.

**$400 to meet mortgage goal by 12/31

& on and on it seems to go...

I think the refinance cash outflow is mostly what is stressing me out, and is compounding the rest which wasn't so bad on its own. IT will be SO worth it though, if we get that through. I realized the interest portion of our mortgage will be HALF of what it was, initially. With a loan balance of exactly $200k and an interest rate of 4%, we are looking at $8k per year interest, and dropping.

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I am going to submit loan application with creidt union today. Cross your fingers for me. I would love love love to have my loan with them. It just simply won't work if rates go up before I lock the rate. (I've tried before, believe me). But it costs nothing to *try.*

I talked to broker, which is my second choice but most likely to go through smooth. He said he could not offer me 4% but it was so likely to happen soon, so I Should fill out an application. No commitment to either until they can lock the rate. CU rates are 0.125% lower. I am not holding my breath, but will try.

I ordered some prints from Walgreens - some more of my dad's prints (one for gift - some to keep - I couldn't decide so picked 3 - got 50% off). OF course, they only print poster-sized prints at another location. IT's about a 5-minute drive from work and kinda sorta can be on the way home, so just went by there at lunch yesterday to pick them up. Ate lunch at home.

Holy Cow.

Firstly, the traffic was insane, since I had to drive past the mall. Though I try to avoid the mall in December, it didn't occur to me that driving past on a weekday noon hour would be such a painful experience.

Secondly, the line inside Walgreens was a mile long. I needed to pick up a couple of things, so just paid with the photos - there was no line at the photo counter. Phew!!

Mental note: No more "quick trips" anywhere in the vicinity of any mall.

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I need to get another frame, and just saw that Michael's has *buy one get one free* this week. I will brave the crowds. That shopping center has the worst parking lot ever - I hate it any time of year. BUT, Michael's is kind of off to the side, so it is not too hard to get in and out without bypassing the rest of the traffic. I will give it a go. Crossing my fingers! This is for myself, so no deadline. But I want to see if I can get more of the same frames I already have - is the only rush.

Lord knows when we will ever hang these pictures - dh can never seem to agree on anything when it comes to home decor. I tried to get him to help me hang them over the weekend - it was a no go. I wanted to replace an "ugly picture." Dh does not agree. Beautiful pictures, but no idea where they will end up. Will see...

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Okay, I can't take it any more. 4% for 30-year mortgages. I know this is not the first time. But I e-mailed our broker. One more thing to piss dh off about - he hates refinancing.

Just call me the perpetual refinancer.

If we keep our old payment, we will shave about 6 years off our current loan - would go from 27 years left to 22 years left. (If not - still pay off by about age 64 - which is about my maximum). I'd rather go through this broker because he was great and low stress and no problems. The fees are the exact same at our credit union. I'd rather get a credit union loan but they seem extraordinarily inflexible on waiting for an interest rate lock. With broker guy, I think it took over a year to get the rate we wanted, last time. Talk about service. Anyway, I informed him we had paid down our mortgage a bit, and I want 4%! Will see what he says. Last time it took two weeks, from rate lock, so who knows. May be refinanced again by 12/31? Dh won't be too surprised. I already said the ugly word a few times in recent weeks: refinance. Would be 0 point refinance, will pay cash for closing costs. New payment - something like $950 down from $1130.

This is not the *last time ever.* I made the mistake of thinking that the last 2 or 3 times. It is possible we can pay down a chunk and get an even lower 15-year rate, at some point. So, I give up on "this is the best it gets" thinking. Who even knows? I would hope this is the last 30-year loan we ever refinance. I feel uncomfortable with a *worst case payoff* any higher than age 65-ish.

We put up our Christmas tree, set out the gifts, and there you have it.

Anyway, I have been noticing more and more that *thinking outside the box* can be such a small difference in thinking. I think sometimes people equate the sentiment of thinking outside the box with being extreme. Frankly, really small differences in thinking can make a huge difference.

Example? I was reading a discussion about Christmas on a non-financial message board. The question was how to scale back Christmas. IT became obvious from the discussion that several people did not think "Santa" could be part of Christmas at all unless you wanted it to be a very materialistic affair.

???

I was raised with a very different Santa concept. Santa generally leaves our kids books that we got for free. "Santa" pretty much just does stocking stuffers, at our house.

OF course, there was also talk of peer pressure. Mind you, these were parents with young kids. 1 - I haven't noticed much Christmas peer pressure with my 6yo. 2 - I never knew growing up that there were people out there getting TONS of gifts from Santa. I simply didn't know we were so weird.

I just think parents put a lot of unnecessary pressures on themselves. & put unnecessary limits on themselves. For example, thinking that Santa is the symbol of uber materialism, and the only other option is to drop Santa altogether. Thankfully there is a ton of middle ground.

BTW, there was a similar discussion in the SA forums, but there was a wide variety of ideas in that discussion.

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Anyway, don't feel sorry for my kids.

A - One of those presents is a 3D Nintendo DS (free with credit card rewards).

B - Though I grew up in a house with extremely modest Christmases, my spouse's family is the polar opposite. The in-laws (Dh's mom and Grandma) go CRAZY at Christmas, and for them it is all about the materialism. As a result, dh agrees with my extreme "modest Christmas" ways, and no one else in the family particularly sees the point to buy my kids gifts. It's important to the in-laws, because it symbolizes being able to splurge and make their kids' and grandkids' material dreams come true, once every year. So basically, the kids will be spoiled rotten. I might be a little more open to actually buying our kids big Christmas gifts otherwise (maybe one each - something BIG), but we generally don't get them anything extraordinary. It's not like anything we buy them would mean anything after the in-law deluge.

C - Funny enough, my extraordinarily creative husband and child wrapped most of these gifts. Since having kids, we will never lack for pencils, crayons or stickers. IT never ends! So I will offer the idea for the kids to decorate the packages, later. The plain paper comes from dh's "I could care less about wrapping" attitude. I actually wrapped his present with underwear models from a Kohls ad - that one is the colorful one.

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I don't think our Christmas is terribly *outside the box.* We have a Christas tree and presents just like anybody. But Christmas is not at all about worrying about what other people think about us, that is for sure. It's about creating a holiday tradition that works for us.

Sometimes, perspective is everything.

Tax season is gearing up here, and I told dh I was stressed out. HE said, "Why are you stressed out?" The last 2 years we were gearing up for surgery and wondering if we had cancer!"

Boy, he has a point! So today I am focusing on being grateful that I am not going through that. Today. (I can't speak for tomorrow - that we have learned all too well).

A tax season without surgery and a holiday season without doctors visits and biopsies. Ah, it sounds too good to be true!

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I easily wrangled the co-worker I wanted for the work gift exchange. She has admired some of my dad's photos, and so I got her a framed print. (I knew who picked her, and asked to switch).

I will still give her the Amazon gift card I had set aside for this, too. She could use it. & I will look amazingly generous for $15 or so spent.

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I prepaid kids' school lunch balance through 12/31, so I hoped. I checked today and probably have enough balance to get through mid-January. Yay! Since school lunch went up to $2.50, the rule this year has been they can buy lunch twice a week. They seem to be sticking to that okay. Last year was so dirt cheap they bought more often. & frankly, $2.50 isn't bad for the well rounded meals and convenience factor. To me, money well spent.

I will bulk up their accounts next month. For the rest of the year.

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We still didn't take dh's car in to the shop. He said he would take it in tomorrow, see if it is just the battery, and ask about the warranty if that is all it is. (The battery itself is well under warranty - our mechanic put it in). He is due for an oil change anyway. I've got a pile of jiffy lube coupons, but the convenience factor for being at the mechanic anyway, may win.