I worked in the education field for a while. Even now, many years later, the time around Labor Day signifies a "new year" as in academic year. I fought the urge yesterday to buy a new notebook and pack of pencils when I ran by Staples yesterday. NEW SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
That being said, I'm going to start September off with some new goals and resolutions. I'm also going to take the sage advice of Brip Blap and focus on getting One Thing Done.
Like many people, my to do and goal list gets out of control, I think I end up putting more things on the list than I can reasonably do because I have this control freak mentality that wants to see things crossed off the list. What ends up happening is the small inconsequential stuff gets crossed off and the bigger and more important things don't.
I've started on a list of goals and to do. I've decided that my big goal for each month is to make enough extra income (second job, e-bay sales, whatever) to cover my car payment. I'm not going to go crazy over this, but just focus on getting this goal accomplished each month
My second goal/to do is to take a good look at my house and see what needs to be fixed or repaired that is out of my scope of skill and then get some quotes. I've already identified two "home improvement" projects, 1) replacing the disgusting old insulation in my basement crawl space with new and also putting more insulation in the attic crawl space 2) getting a price on new gutters.
Both of these projects will cost me about $500-$600 in labor and materials. I have been in contact with one Home Improvement Contractor about rates, times, etc. Craigslist turned up a plethora of folks to do this work, but many (almost too many) are not licensed by the state and use a cell phone number as the primary source of contact. Having been once bitten, and now twice shy with handymen, I'm going to use a licensed contractor in case something goes awry.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Bill Paying Time and Then AWAY I GO
Today is payday for me and bill paying time. I wrote out checks for car loan, my share of my health insurance, student load, my landline phone bill, my mobile bill, partial payment on my propane bill (I set up a payment plan with the local office, it was an expensive fill up last month), and paid out a boat load of non covered medical tests from my July doctors visits. Even with health insurance, I still am responsible for payment of tests and services that are not covered by insurance or are considered preventative care. One blood test was $275 of which I'm responsible for $175. Full coverage kicks in when I hit $1250 in my expenses. I'm just over $750 for the year. I think my total responsibility for those bills and tests is about $375-$400. I have to add up the total cost when I file the bills.
I decided last minute to get the hell out of Dodge and go visit friends in New Hampshire. I'm feeling cranky and I want to split for a few days. I am heading up to the Land of the Outlet Stores. I've given myself a clothes budget of $75 for some new clothes and shoes. I have a couple things I do want to get, my wardrobe is pretty well set for the year. I only need a couple winter items and I'm hoping I can find some good deals. Last year I hit a couple stores just at the right time and got several items that fit me well, I liked and have gotten a lot of use out of.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed on getting lucky again this year-you just never know!
I decided last minute to get the hell out of Dodge and go visit friends in New Hampshire. I'm feeling cranky and I want to split for a few days. I am heading up to the Land of the Outlet Stores. I've given myself a clothes budget of $75 for some new clothes and shoes. I have a couple things I do want to get, my wardrobe is pretty well set for the year. I only need a couple winter items and I'm hoping I can find some good deals. Last year I hit a couple stores just at the right time and got several items that fit me well, I liked and have gotten a lot of use out of.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed on getting lucky again this year-you just never know!
So Nice to Do Laundry "At Home"
I took total advantage of the neighbors on vacation and did a couple loads of laundry yesterday. Two loads of laundry (one people, one dog bedding) wash, dried, fluffed, folded and put away while I was doing things like cleaning my house, weeding the flower beds, packing for the weekend. Had I done this at the laundromat, it would have been at least three if not four loads of laundry.
The only scary part was the amount of dog hair that got picked up by the lint filter in the dryer. I'm not talking about the dog bedding, I'm talking about my own clothes. It's one of the disadvantages of having animals. Try as you might, sometimes their hair ends up all over your stuff.
It did motivate me to do one heck of a dusting and vacuuming of the house last night as well.
The only scary part was the amount of dog hair that got picked up by the lint filter in the dryer. I'm not talking about the dog bedding, I'm talking about my own clothes. It's one of the disadvantages of having animals. Try as you might, sometimes their hair ends up all over your stuff.
It did motivate me to do one heck of a dusting and vacuuming of the house last night as well.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Moving "Stuff"
One of my on going goals has been to reduce my clutter, sell excess "stuff" and generally streamline my life.
I've sold a bunch of books on Half.com, but I still had a lot left in my inventory. Today on my lunch break, I put them in the Goodwill box. I had a patio table that I've listed on Craigslist for about a month and no one has wanted to buy it. I popped it on Freecycle on Monday,-it got picked up on Tuesday. The patio table was a freebie to me and I'm happy it has a new home. I just got tired of staring at that pile of books, they needed to go. One less bag of clutter. I'm slowly working on weeding out my clothes, (the better items go to a local consignment shop or donated to Goodwill), and general stuff.
I don't have that many items I can sell to earn extra cash, plus Craigslist/Ebay/Half.com are full of things for sale. Lots of people are trying to get rid of extra items for the much needed cash. For me the cash would be nice (think ever growing E fund), but really I just want to purge my possessions. My neighbors and I never got organized enough for a tag sale this summer, time flew by for all of us.
There was something very freeing about seeing that load of books go into the donation center....
I've sold a bunch of books on Half.com, but I still had a lot left in my inventory. Today on my lunch break, I put them in the Goodwill box. I had a patio table that I've listed on Craigslist for about a month and no one has wanted to buy it. I popped it on Freecycle on Monday,-it got picked up on Tuesday. The patio table was a freebie to me and I'm happy it has a new home. I just got tired of staring at that pile of books, they needed to go. One less bag of clutter. I'm slowly working on weeding out my clothes, (the better items go to a local consignment shop or donated to Goodwill), and general stuff.
I don't have that many items I can sell to earn extra cash, plus Craigslist/Ebay/Half.com are full of things for sale. Lots of people are trying to get rid of extra items for the much needed cash. For me the cash would be nice (think ever growing E fund), but really I just want to purge my possessions. My neighbors and I never got organized enough for a tag sale this summer, time flew by for all of us.
There was something very freeing about seeing that load of books go into the donation center....
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Saving $25 and 3 hours
My lovely neighbors are going on vacation today. They are headed off on their first vacation in about 2 plus years. It's just the hubby and the wife and they are going cross country to visit an old friend. I think they deserve it and I know they need it.
In their absence, I'll be keeping an eye on the cats and the smelly ferrets. I'll also get use of their washer and dryer. I can't wait. I spent $25 the last time I went to the laundry. My local laundromat has gone up in price. It's now $2 per washer, $4 for the "triple loader" (laundromat rip off speak for normal sized washing machine load if you did it at home) and the dryers are now 25c for 7 minutes, it used to be 25c for 8 minutes. My clothes line needs to be repaired (it's on the house to do list) and I can't air dry a lot of clothes at the moment. The tumble dryer is what I need to use.
The last time I did a large pile of laundry I had about 1o loads of laundry: sheets, towels, bedding, clothes, dog laundry, bath mats. Took what seemed like forever to wash and dry it all. I have a small machine I can hook up to my kitchen sink, but it can't handle the big loads. Sometimes I have to bite the bullet and go to the laundromat.
My next house is so going to have a washer and a dryer.....
In their absence, I'll be keeping an eye on the cats and the smelly ferrets. I'll also get use of their washer and dryer. I can't wait. I spent $25 the last time I went to the laundry. My local laundromat has gone up in price. It's now $2 per washer, $4 for the "triple loader" (laundromat rip off speak for normal sized washing machine load if you did it at home) and the dryers are now 25c for 7 minutes, it used to be 25c for 8 minutes. My clothes line needs to be repaired (it's on the house to do list) and I can't air dry a lot of clothes at the moment. The tumble dryer is what I need to use.
The last time I did a large pile of laundry I had about 1o loads of laundry: sheets, towels, bedding, clothes, dog laundry, bath mats. Took what seemed like forever to wash and dry it all. I have a small machine I can hook up to my kitchen sink, but it can't handle the big loads. Sometimes I have to bite the bullet and go to the laundromat.
My next house is so going to have a washer and a dryer.....
Making Someone's Day
A freind of mine in the UK has a birthday tomorrow. I did not get myself organized to send her a card and a e-card seemed so "impersonal". What did I do? I dragged out my calling card ($30 for 1000 US minutes) and made a phone call to the UK while I had my breakfast (it was lunch time for her).
We had a great chat, caught up on each other's lives, gossiped a bit and it made the distance between New England and England that much smaller. Prior to the BK I traveled to the UK a couple times a year. I was able to do that because I could stay with friends, eliminating the cost of a hotel and I'd chip in for a grocery shop for our meals (I am actually a very good guest, I've heard that from several people). I can scope out a discount flight to Manchester and London like no one else can.
Circumstances (finances, life, work, and all my animals) have prevented me from traveling to the UK this past 18 months and I miss my friends there. E-mail is great, but a little face time is even better.
The phone call was good for both of us and I'm glad I made the call.
We had a great chat, caught up on each other's lives, gossiped a bit and it made the distance between New England and England that much smaller. Prior to the BK I traveled to the UK a couple times a year. I was able to do that because I could stay with friends, eliminating the cost of a hotel and I'd chip in for a grocery shop for our meals (I am actually a very good guest, I've heard that from several people). I can scope out a discount flight to Manchester and London like no one else can.
Circumstances (finances, life, work, and all my animals) have prevented me from traveling to the UK this past 18 months and I miss my friends there. E-mail is great, but a little face time is even better.
The phone call was good for both of us and I'm glad I made the call.
Needs and Wants-August 2008 Part 1
I'm putting a lot of thought into a needs and wants list. I've done that before on this blog (need a new car-got it, want a new tv-got it), it helps me plan out what I'm doing with my life and finances, so I don't flounder about.
I do need to do some work at my house. I'm planning on putting another roll or two of insulation up in my crawl space. I just need to find a weekend when I'll be home, it won't be 85 degrees plus outside (and baking up in the attic crawl space). My attic crawl space, is just that, a crawl space. Good thing I am short. This is a project I can do without help, but an extra set of hands might be nice.
I do want to go up into the attic for a "look see". When I went away to Canada last month, I came home to a water stain on the bedroom ceiling. Granted we did have repeated torrential downpours and I think I know what happened. I have a roof vent that leaks. I had my roof re-shingled about 5 years ago, and since then, I've had nothing but trouble with that vent. Of course, I can't get anyone to come over when it's raining to look at the problem and my roofer and I have not been able to repeat the problem with a hose. When it rains and the rain comes in sideways, it fills up part of the vent (that is not supposed to let in rain, just air) and the only place it can drain is into the attic. The water drips down one of the rafters and then ends up staining the ceiling. Well, that is what I hope has happened. I have to go up into the crawl space and take a good look and make sure that is what happened and not something else.
It's times like this I wished I lived with someone or at least had a handy person in my life.
.
I do need to do some work at my house. I'm planning on putting another roll or two of insulation up in my crawl space. I just need to find a weekend when I'll be home, it won't be 85 degrees plus outside (and baking up in the attic crawl space). My attic crawl space, is just that, a crawl space. Good thing I am short. This is a project I can do without help, but an extra set of hands might be nice.
I do want to go up into the attic for a "look see". When I went away to Canada last month, I came home to a water stain on the bedroom ceiling. Granted we did have repeated torrential downpours and I think I know what happened. I have a roof vent that leaks. I had my roof re-shingled about 5 years ago, and since then, I've had nothing but trouble with that vent. Of course, I can't get anyone to come over when it's raining to look at the problem and my roofer and I have not been able to repeat the problem with a hose. When it rains and the rain comes in sideways, it fills up part of the vent (that is not supposed to let in rain, just air) and the only place it can drain is into the attic. The water drips down one of the rafters and then ends up staining the ceiling. Well, that is what I hope has happened. I have to go up into the crawl space and take a good look and make sure that is what happened and not something else.
It's times like this I wished I lived with someone or at least had a handy person in my life.
.
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