Filed under: Uncategorized
Inspired by Sheila’s pictures of “the girls” at Reynolds in Progress, I’ve decided to post pictures of my boys. Yes, my dogs.
Uh, of course the post is finance related, these suckers are constantly chewing things of importance plus require a constant supply of treats and toys!
Wilson - 1 year old daschund (as a lobster for Halloween)
Doggy #2
- Jackson, 3 year old Chocolate Lab
Filed under: Saving
Today I’ve been struggling with things I want in my new house. I work for an electrician and am obsessed with our wattstoppers. These are devices that turn off the lights when a room is empty and turn the lights on when someone enters. I love these suckers, they make me feel like God. In fact, some mornings I enter the copy room and boom (silently in my head) “out of the darkness I create: light!” a little wave of my hand and ta da: light!
Stop staring at me like that, this is what I am like before coffee.
But am I seriously too lazy to turn on and off my own lights at home? Sometimes. I can also blame my brother who bought and installed a remote controlled fan at my parents house. Dude could turn on a dozen different electronic devices in his room without leaving bed in the morning. But King Tut I am not.
I suppose I could stand to turn on my own lights, make my own coffee and (gasp!) do my own dishes. Besides, there’s always the wattstoppers at work to make me feel powerful.
Filed under: Shopping
No, not Black Friday stampedes, I’m talking about none other than Costco Newsletter which is mailed with increasing frequency to my inbox. I have the Costco membership because it gives me access to cheap gas for my car, bulk toilet paper and great cash back rewards on my American Express card. But the newsletter, oh boy, this newsletter is evil!
Why do I read such things? Stupidity.
Opening the email is an onslaught for the senses. A 46″ LCD HD TV!!! Only $1,300! A pretty, shiny Canon Digital Camera only $800! Digital photoframes for the pictures, only $70!
What’s that you say? Not a tech junkie?
Well then buy a sofa, a portable generator, carpet, new windows, a portable air conditioner for the home! Or a $600 pool table!
Huh? you’re into the Green Thing? Then buy a portable camp fire, a $1,000 Greenhouse (some assembly required), a sewing machine to make your own clothes or Grape Seed extract gels (I honestly have no idea what this helps or cures, besides isn’t it more fun to just drink th wine?).
But every time I think about opting out of this invitation to run up my credit card with more crap that I would know what to do with I find just one item that I may buy. New tires, for example. Or custom business cards as I currently work 160 hours a week (approximately).
Maybe the real value in this newsletter is in deleting the email and thinking “ha! I won again! I will NOT be buying like an obedient, vapid little consumer!” Or maybe I’m a masochist for just opening the file. Sigh. Time will tell.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Several months ago I joined an online community of women committed to paying off debt and educating themselves about finance. In six months I’ve cancelled my cable, tivo, gym, stopped going out to eat frequently, cut back on shopping, switched to a better credit card and switched banks.
It sounds like I’ve been living like a nun, doesn’t it?
Yet during this time in my life I’ve never been more content or fulfilled. In addition to cutting back what I don’t need I’ve also paid off nearly $4,000 in debtand bought a house.
Today is one of those days where I pinch myself and people keep asking “are you really only 23?”
Due to the support this community provides I was virtually surrounded by dozens of women who have made mistakes, been successful and are willing to tell their stories.
I’ve found many young women who are enjoying life without charging their credit cards. One new friend has become a business partner in writing ventures educating others about finance without the doom, gloom or nun-like living. Our joint project writing for the website sparknotes.com, a division of Barnes & Noble, has just premiered on their site.
I packed the first box yesterday!
I know, I was going to be packing a little each day and for the most part I have been. But this was the first box I packed completely, sealed and labeled. It was light bulbs, in case you were wondering.
In addition to packing the first of many, many boxes, I picked up a few things from the store today. To keep myself accountable I’m posting about it here.
I know I’ll be painting before I move in and thus will need lots of supplies.
*Paint tray, rollers and brush set $9.00 (Home Depot)
*Kilz Primer, 1 gallon $15 (Osh)
Safety is a concern, especially in a new home
*Smoke Alarm, 2 pack $6 (Osh)
*Carbon Monoxide Alarm $11 (Osh)
The yard is quite dry and will need lots of water and fertilizer to survive. While there is a sprinkler system I have my doubts as to it’s reliability.
*Oscillating Sprinkler, $7 (Osh)
*Nozzle $5 (Osh)
I also will need to do lots of cleaning and I found a small vacuum that will do the job.
*Hoover Hand Vac $30 (Home Depot)
And finally my tool set is missing quite a few bits and so I’ve picked up a new set that can handle most installation and repairs I’ll need to do.
*14-piece tool set $5 (Osh)
Total Spend: $88
Ouch. It hurts a little when I add it all up, especially knowing I didn’t get a pruner for the rosebushes, hoses, paint or drop cloths, not even the really nice cute grill I was convinced every homeowner should have. These really are important essentials to getting the house in good condition and I know each item was a bargain- the clearance vacuum for example- but it’s still money that’s going out.
Filed under: Saving
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Car Maintenance- they take us wherever we need to go at the flick of the wrist and we don’t know how much we rely on those suckers until they’re gone. Or broken. Or crunched up a little. My car enables me to earn my salary because, try as I might, riding a bike 20 miles to work along the freeway just isn’t too practical. And public transit, though cheap, would hinder my ability to volunteer and work side jobs.
At this point I’m not buying much for my car because I have the following on hand:
· Oil- 24 quarts
· Oil Filters – 4
· Cabin Air Filter – 1
· Engine Air Filter – 1
· Windshield wiper fluid – 1 gallon
· Car wash liquid – 1 gallon
· Car wax – 1 bottle
· Emergency roadside kit
· First Aid kit
I also have ramps for my car and oil catching devices plus lots and lots of rags.
The first goal is a $1,000 on hand to cover my deductible if the car is in an accident that requires repairs.
The second goal is $1,000 for yearly maintenance. Realistically I have enough supplies to get me through the next year without buying anything. However, as oil goes on sale for $0.49/qt and filters are just $3.50 I’ll stock up again. The biggest concern in the next 20,000 miles (one year) is my tires.
Action Step: this month I’ll take the car in to have my tire air pressure adjusted and get an idea when I should be replacing the tires. By the end of the year I’ll get quotes from three sources.
The third goal is to start saving $20/week to cover my insurance deductible every year instead of paying a pitiful $2 extra each month for monthly billing.
Action Step: this one is actually on hold until I close on the house. At that time I’ll have a life insurance policy, house policy and car insurance and my premiums will drop by one half. Yes, that’s half the cost for adding two policies. Go figure. So the best time to take advantage of this is probably late January before the premium renews in February.
My long term goal is to replace the car. However, I drive a ‘07 Toyota. I’ve decided to keep this car even though I could sell it for twice what I owe and buy a clunker. Primarily because this car should last for another 8 years, at least, and I plan on driving it that long. Once the car is paid off – probably in the next 12 months – I’ll save half my monthly car payment in a “replacement car” fund.
Filed under: Moving
Let’s jump ahead a few weeks to the end of escrow: the place is clean, the boxes are packed and it’s time to move. I’m very fortunate that the duplex is just over two miles from my current location and my dad owns several trucks and trailers that I can utilize. I’ve thought of borrowing them early but know that he prefers to pack everything in a move himself, placing the boxes just right.
(To be fair I completely understand this. When I was in high school we borrowed a small tow trailer from a friend for a group trip to Mexico. It was loaded improperly by a bunch of teenagers and ten minutes into the trip on a mighty big pothole the thing snapped away from the frame. Not pretty. Not cheap to repair.)
We should know in the next few days the estimated date of move in but I’m planning on moving the majority of my things October 25-26th. Here’s my partial list of things which need to be completely accessible on move-in day:
· Dog food, leashes, treats and beds
· Small suitcase with a week or more of clothes and personal items
· Food and dishes
· Cleaning supplies
· My computer
And that’s it. Most of the food can be unpacked slowly but I’d rather not leave it in the garage where bugs can get in. Besides, the sooner I unpack food the less likely I am to eat out during this time. I’ll plan on one celebratory pizza but that’s about it.
Up next: things to do before moving (beyond the cleaning) including my expected costs.
Filed under: Uncategorized
http://www.senior-spectrum.com/
I thoroughly enjoyed writing this piece and taking the pictures. Hope you enjoy reading it.
I’m a very odd mover. I can pack an entire house in four days with little rest and still manage to unpack the shot glasses and gin in the dark if need be. I tend to overplan and moving is no exception. Really, I’d love to have a scaled drawing of the house and furniture and plan where every single thing will go before I pack a box. Realistically, I’ll probably stack all the boxes in the garage, plan the furniture placement and then unpack over several weeks. But before one box crosses the threshold there are a number of tasks to complete. First is a thorough cleaning. The supplies needed are quite simple: a few buckets, rags, cleaning products and newspaper.
Carpets: I’ve worked with a professional carpet cleaner in the past and will call on him to do a consultation at the house. There is carpet in the living room and three bedrooms and all are stained. If it can be cleaned I’ll work out a price and get them cleaned, maintaining with a steam vacuum my parents own.
Laminate flooring: These floors look brand new and have few scratches and nearly no damage. The order here is to sweep, mop and inspect. The bathroom floors will especially need checking around the toilets and tub/shower.
Walls and Ceiling: The first thing is to dust, clean out the cobwebs and remove any nails from the surfaces. Two of the bedrooms also have ceiling fans which need to be cleaned and there is another fan in the dining area.
Windows: Windex is still my favorite cleaner for glass and the best rag is actually newspaper. I have a stack of recycled newspapers at home I can use for this purpose and they’re cheap! In the beginning I’ll wash windows just inside as the exterior needs to be power washed and the gutters need cleaning. Most of the windows also have blinds which should be removed and washed. I have found the bathtub is the best place for this job (another reason why running water is important).
Countertops: I need to do more research on the types of counters. They’re not tile or laminant so it’s some type of corian I’m unfamiliar with. But right down the street is a tile and granite store that can advise me on the best cleaners and treatment. The bathroom sinks and counters are beautiful, very well maintained and clean.
Stove/Oven: The stovetop is electric and will just need a brief wipe down. The oven is predictably dirty and will need to be scrubbed. The racks should also be soaked in the bathtub and cleaned. The kitchen also has a built in microwave which needs to be cleaned and tested, it looks new so I hope it works.
Cabinets: Again, these look good with just a few loose doors or missing knobs. The bathroom cabinets will be dusted and cleaned and are ready to be used.
After cleaning I would love to paint and start with a fresh canvas as some of the bedroom walls are beyond ugly. For that I’ll need TSP and buckets to wash the walls to prepare for the paint. Because I don’t plan on replacing the carpets right away I’ll also need drop cloths and painter’s tape to get started on the paint projects.
Real Concerns:
The kitchen is missing a fridge/freezer which is a situation that should be remedied rather quickly. Fortunately my parents own two fridge/freezers and a full size freezer as they cook and entertain frequently-the aforementioned Mexico trip entailed feeding 58 people for 10 days. As they will be remodeling their kitchen soon they will need a new unit and are giving me one of their units now. Did I mention yet how much I love and appreciate my parents?
There is also a drainage issue with the dishwasher. The washer itself appears to be useless and is merely sitting in the cabinet space with various drainage tubes sticking out, one draining water into the sink. Additionally, the sink’s disposal appears to be clogged. Because my father has more lay knowledge when it comes to plumbing, electrician work and construction than anyone I know he’s agreed to come up one weekend and do repairs. I’ll be standing by with the Draino.
Filed under: Moving
Moving out
Unless you’re homeless buying a house generally means moving out of another location. And I work in a neighborhood that has heavy homeless traffic and some of those people have more belongings than I do-albiet in laundry bags and shopping carts. As a renter, it’s beneficial to review your contract and know your rights. At this time it’s critical to wrap things up cleanly with the former property so you can dedicate your time and energy to the new location.
Shortly before signing on the new house I entered into a new rental agreement with a property management company. This agreement provided a month to month agreement that requires 30 days written notice before moving out. Since October 31st is a Friday I’ll want to be moved out the week before in order to reduce stress that last week. And I should give notice no later than October 1st.
Action Step: When I write out my October rent check I’ll type up the notice to submit to the property manager.
Escrow should close on the duplex by mid-October and I’m hoping to get in a few times to clean and paint. Assuming 30 days to execute the contract and sign all the papers I should have the property by October 14th (Happy Birthday to ME!). That gives me the weekends of October 18-19 and 25-26 to move.
Until then I am packing my belonging to move. This process is devastatingly simple:
a) Grab boxes of all sizes in good condition from every place possible.
b) Pack non-essentials first and pack something every day.
c) Clearly label boxes and stack out of the way of normal activity.
d) Plan one major moving weekend and solicit help.
Action Step: Put out a request on freecycle for boxes
Prep Work
As soon as the papers are signed and keys delivered I’ll need to get water, gas and electricity turned on at the property. Because I have co-investors in the house I’m hoping no deposits will be needed and can get started testing the effectiveness of the faucets, toilets and outlets.
And because the water has been turned off since March I will probably begin slowly watering the lawns to bring them back. There is also a front yard tree that needs water desperately.
A few months back I bought a stash of CFL bulbs from a Dollar Store closing sale for 36 cents each. I’ll use these new bulbs in the house wherever I can in an effort to save money on electricity. I do need to double check if any specialty size bulbs are needed.
Before any work gets done (but after electricity is turned on) I’ll probably fill my camera with pictures of every nook and cranny of this house. I want to remember the hideous paint scheme, the pinkish-red kitchen walls, and the dead rosebushes. Why? Because in the end I want to see the work I’ve put in and the progress I made.
Also the gate is hanging by a thread (it’s sturdy but just held shut by a thin rope) so I’ll need a strong bolt that can only be opened from the inside and a “Beware of Dog” sign.
Action Steps: price these essentials at Wal-Mart, Costco, Target and Home Depot; contact PG&E and the city water department for procedures.
Anything else I’m forgetting? Leave me a comment and help a friend out!
Up next: the actual move
