March is tomorrow? One more month until I get my raise from FedEx.
I mentioned finances last time or so, but I never stated that it's my primary interest outside of my family. I don't really watch TV or sports, but I love to follow my finances.
I probably dinged my credit rating by opening a new Bank of America credit card and nearly maxing it with a transfer, but the 0% rate for 18 months coupled with ZERO transfer fee makes the ding worth it, if I plan to be CREDIT CARD DEBT-FREE in 18 months.
For having a credit score of 800+, the non-promotional interest rate is insanely high.
I only carry a balance on cards that have low fixed interest rates.
I haven't carried a balance on my Discover Card in over a year. They offered me an insane cashback deal that made me use the card, so I had to zap the balance that was at a modest promotional rate. It was a zero transfer fee for a 5.99% rate that was too high for my liking anyways, but I was intending it to be a temporary transfer from Chase since I couldn't transfer a Chase debt to another Chase card.
Chase used to have decent transfer offers with 2% transfer fees for a 0% rate for 15 months, now they offer for 0% for maybe 12 months with a 3% fee. BOO!
I currently dislike Chase. Not sure if I mentioned their FRAUDULENT ways, but they absolutely suck and I had to spend several hours fixing their mistakes, hence the newest B of A card.
Yes, Chase is on MY ENEMIES LIST.
The Discover Card promotions I have had since 2011 have been rather AWESOME. The card has gotten better, while Chase has gotten worse.
Hard to explain all the details, but Discover has saved me hundreds of dollars and has given me insane amounts of cash back. Chase used to be decent, but they are sad in comparison to Discover.
One day, I'll post about my credit card exploits beyond the fact I average roughly $20K in credit card debt, yet now get way more in cash back than I owe in transfer fees and interest charges. It involves kicking cans and such, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to my great employer: FedEx.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Free time makes for discontent
Boredom is the root of all evil.
Sorry, I haven't reflected upon realities beyond my own trivialities, but the blog is a reflection of my own being and I'm a dull person.
Ever notice that people with too much free time make their lives unnecessarily complicated?
Anyways, I had Friday off from work so we could go to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate my spouse's 40th year of existence. The kids were off, so we worked the day off from our ends, accordingly.
Having the Passat available to take to Tire Discounters for the regular rotation, I scheduled an appointment for Friday morning at 9am. The car's tire rotation taking 90+ minutes is unacceptable in my opinion. I tweeted about it and the store manager called me after I got home. I told him his store sucked. I had too much free time while waiting, thus Tire Discounters is on my Enemy List, according to my family.
Tire Discontenters
The day wasn't ruined, but it started bad. I was hungry by the time I got home, and we had stuff to pack. Around 11am, I called Little Caesar's for the standard Pep, Cheese & Crazy Bread order. They said it would be ready in 10-15 minutes. I got there in 9 minutes and they APOLOGIZED that I would have to wait and offered me a FREE ORDER OF ADDITIONAL CRAZY BREAD.
Seriously, I got there early and they made it seem like it was their fault I had to wait.
I love my local Little Caesar's!
Sorry, I haven't reflected upon realities beyond my own trivialities, but the blog is a reflection of my own being and I'm a dull person.
Ever notice that people with too much free time make their lives unnecessarily complicated?
Anyways, I had Friday off from work so we could go to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate my spouse's 40th year of existence. The kids were off, so we worked the day off from our ends, accordingly.
Having the Passat available to take to Tire Discounters for the regular rotation, I scheduled an appointment for Friday morning at 9am. The car's tire rotation taking 90+ minutes is unacceptable in my opinion. I tweeted about it and the store manager called me after I got home. I told him his store sucked. I had too much free time while waiting, thus Tire Discounters is on my Enemy List, according to my family.
Tire Discontenters
The day wasn't ruined, but it started bad. I was hungry by the time I got home, and we had stuff to pack. Around 11am, I called Little Caesar's for the standard Pep, Cheese & Crazy Bread order. They said it would be ready in 10-15 minutes. I got there in 9 minutes and they APOLOGIZED that I would have to wait and offered me a FREE ORDER OF ADDITIONAL CRAZY BREAD.
Seriously, I got there early and they made it seem like it was their fault I had to wait.
I love my local Little Caesar's!
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Desktop revival
Having a desktop PC is a trivial thing, but I have re-found my interest in following my family's cash flow. Probably had a lot to do with the lack of income compared to expenditures, but everything looks different on a desktop.
Being married has a number of challenges. Budgeting is something which seems to make most arguments occur. Working more hours at more pay has created an opportunity to finally pay off debts that have been kicked down the road ever since we've been married.
I hadn't followed our checking account since 2014. I'd make sure there was money there, but I stopped projecting towards the following month and estimate how much could be put aside and such.
I have been the secondary income in the family. I had a baseline when I was on unemployment that all of our budgets had been based. When I started making more, my priorities had been my retirement. The debts weren't going anywhere and my debt management skills are wonderful enough to have a great credit score.
Realistically, is there a point where saving towards a 401(k) becomes overkill? I think 31% is that magic number given my circumstances, though I still have an income surplus well beyond my base income set from my unemployment days.
We paid off a car last June, which freed up money to pay off debt, but at the same time we had stuff break and need to be replaced, so the month to month debt seems the the same. We need a month or 2 where we don't spend beyond our normal expenditures, but having extra money means I'm less annoyed when we buy stuff like the new desktop.
Current debt priorities:
It would be great to be debt-free when our children start college, but I'm not sure it's possible given house ownership means replacing stuff regularly and an annual vacation seems to be thing now, but I haven't looked at the actual numbers affecting us with regards to the Trump Tax Cut.
Being married has a number of challenges. Budgeting is something which seems to make most arguments occur. Working more hours at more pay has created an opportunity to finally pay off debts that have been kicked down the road ever since we've been married.
I hadn't followed our checking account since 2014. I'd make sure there was money there, but I stopped projecting towards the following month and estimate how much could be put aside and such.
I have been the secondary income in the family. I had a baseline when I was on unemployment that all of our budgets had been based. When I started making more, my priorities had been my retirement. The debts weren't going anywhere and my debt management skills are wonderful enough to have a great credit score.
Realistically, is there a point where saving towards a 401(k) becomes overkill? I think 31% is that magic number given my circumstances, though I still have an income surplus well beyond my base income set from my unemployment days.
We paid off a car last June, which freed up money to pay off debt, but at the same time we had stuff break and need to be replaced, so the month to month debt seems the the same. We need a month or 2 where we don't spend beyond our normal expenditures, but having extra money means I'm less annoyed when we buy stuff like the new desktop.
Current debt priorities:
- Credit Cards
- Student Loans
- Mortgage
It would be great to be debt-free when our children start college, but I'm not sure it's possible given house ownership means replacing stuff regularly and an annual vacation seems to be thing now, but I haven't looked at the actual numbers affecting us with regards to the Trump Tax Cut.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
new desktop PC
Bought a new PC today at Micro Center. It's still in the box. We have no place to put it, at the moment.
Called Spectrum. We're getting faster internet once the new modem comes.
Money to burn? Sure I filed our tax returns yesterday with the fed and state, but we claim three children, so we have to wait until mid-February for the return to to be reviewed.
Friday, I did see in the news I'm getting a bonus or a raise. Rumor has it that the raises set for October are being rolled out in April. I'm not sure if we're getting a bonus on top of the raise, but it's more money for me regardless.
Our Ibotta account is doing well... could do better if more people used our referral link to join.
Called Spectrum. We're getting faster internet once the new modem comes.
Money to burn? Sure I filed our tax returns yesterday with the fed and state, but we claim three children, so we have to wait until mid-February for the return to to be reviewed.
Friday, I did see in the news I'm getting a bonus or a raise. Rumor has it that the raises set for October are being rolled out in April. I'm not sure if we're getting a bonus on top of the raise, but it's more money for me regardless.
Our Ibotta account is doing well... could do better if more people used our referral link to join.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
New Washer, influx of $ and such`
We bought a floor model on NYD. It was marked down from $499, so we added the 5-year Geek Squad plan for $99. Samsung washer died within 5-years and we were lucky it was recalled and we got a full refund sans tax. Getting $629.99 placed into our checking account without much has was nice... we were gonna buy a new washer, and we sort of came out ahead.
Whirlpool Cabrio has a low bar to exceed thanks to Samsung. Washer was installed on Saturday.
Haven't donated plasma in a couple months, and who knows when I'll find time to go twice a week, so I transferred my Biolife card to our checking and scheduled a payment of my Chase Freedom card for said amount plus $200. Seeing I've cleared $100 more per check than when I was a handler.
Debt payment has to be a system, not a goal if I ever want to be free of debt.
Been busy. Kids went back to school but snow days and such have kept them home.
Weekend was spent waiting on washer on Saturday and Sunday was D's b-day, so we went to Newport Aquarium.
So much to do, but no time to do them.
Whirlpool Cabrio has a low bar to exceed thanks to Samsung. Washer was installed on Saturday.
Haven't donated plasma in a couple months, and who knows when I'll find time to go twice a week, so I transferred my Biolife card to our checking and scheduled a payment of my Chase Freedom card for said amount plus $200. Seeing I've cleared $100 more per check than when I was a handler.
Debt payment has to be a system, not a goal if I ever want to be free of debt.
Been busy. Kids went back to school but snow days and such have kept them home.
Weekend was spent waiting on washer on Saturday and Sunday was D's b-day, so we went to Newport Aquarium.
So much to do, but no time to do them.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
dangerous goods
I finally did DG a couple weeks ago. Spent the last two weeks at the DG desk. Still on the road, so I'm not into it, comfortably. Speed is a need and sitting doesn't work for me, it seems. Repetition will ease me into the natural flow to maintain rhythm, but I'm a ways from getting that opportunity since I've been on the road when I should be focused on DG.
Wife has been mad at me. Not sure how to fix the reasons she's mad. I guess I could try to sleep a normal schedule and get things started earlier in the day since I'm more of a morning person if I wake up early enough. Mostly feels like she wants a servant to clean up and such. She doesn't appreciate that I do pick up and vacuum... my three kids tend to be very much like the 4 kids depicted in Family Circus. It seems only way to get house work done is if everyone is gone, haven't had that scenario occur with family sick, winter break, early start times... being out of town, selling plasma, and such since last May. I can see why she's mad. I just don't parent well enough to do stuff with the kids.
Wife has been mad at me. Not sure how to fix the reasons she's mad. I guess I could try to sleep a normal schedule and get things started earlier in the day since I'm more of a morning person if I wake up early enough. Mostly feels like she wants a servant to clean up and such. She doesn't appreciate that I do pick up and vacuum... my three kids tend to be very much like the 4 kids depicted in Family Circus. It seems only way to get house work done is if everyone is gone, haven't had that scenario occur with family sick, winter break, early start times... being out of town, selling plasma, and such since last May. I can see why she's mad. I just don't parent well enough to do stuff with the kids.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Peak
I went to Pittsburgh the week before Thanksgiving for Courier school. Came back after three days only to be signed up for Dangerous Goods Specialist school for the week after Thanksgiving. Latter class was in Milford, CT.
I was sick with flu-like symptoms the week I returned. I missed a day of work. I was unaware that I got sick time until my paycheck said as much.
My wife and son have been sick since last Wednesday, while my youngest had a cold that turned into an ear infection over the weekend.
I've worked a lot with the training I had to do in addition to the work I already did, plus I had to travel on Sundays for my classes.
I really haven't had a lot of free time. I can't even find time to donate plasma twice a week to make it worthwhile.
When I was coming back from Pittsburgh, I stopped in my hometown to see my friend with gastroparesis. I didn't hear yes or no to whether she could see me so I just stopped at her parents' house. She lives with her folks and doesn't get out much. She wasn't feeling well, and her mom said she wasn't well enough to see me. I lingered at the house long enough for my friend to call to her mom to let me back to see her.
She just cried for the most part. Maybe lasted a few minutes, but tears seem to last a long time once they start. It's hard seeing someone you love in that state, but who knows when I will ever come that way again.
It's a 3+ hour drive and she may not feel well enough for visitors so it's not a trip I expect to make. I have no family there.
Peak season at work makes the holiday season harder to enoy... I'm expected to work longer than my normal hours which is funny considering I'm part-time and haven't worked under 30 hours since I ceased being a handler. My wages have doubled being the raise and increase in hours, so I have the tax problem of making too much money. It's a good problem to have, in the grand scheme of things.
I was sick with flu-like symptoms the week I returned. I missed a day of work. I was unaware that I got sick time until my paycheck said as much.
My wife and son have been sick since last Wednesday, while my youngest had a cold that turned into an ear infection over the weekend.
I've worked a lot with the training I had to do in addition to the work I already did, plus I had to travel on Sundays for my classes.
I really haven't had a lot of free time. I can't even find time to donate plasma twice a week to make it worthwhile.
When I was coming back from Pittsburgh, I stopped in my hometown to see my friend with gastroparesis. I didn't hear yes or no to whether she could see me so I just stopped at her parents' house. She lives with her folks and doesn't get out much. She wasn't feeling well, and her mom said she wasn't well enough to see me. I lingered at the house long enough for my friend to call to her mom to let me back to see her.
She just cried for the most part. Maybe lasted a few minutes, but tears seem to last a long time once they start. It's hard seeing someone you love in that state, but who knows when I will ever come that way again.
It's a 3+ hour drive and she may not feel well enough for visitors so it's not a trip I expect to make. I have no family there.
Peak season at work makes the holiday season harder to enoy... I'm expected to work longer than my normal hours which is funny considering I'm part-time and haven't worked under 30 hours since I ceased being a handler. My wages have doubled being the raise and increase in hours, so I have the tax problem of making too much money. It's a good problem to have, in the grand scheme of things.
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