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Archive for January, 2020

updated budget

January 28th, 2020 at 11:53 pm

Well did the budget over the weekend...and we decided that we would cover the rent and our daughter will pay 1/3 of the gas/water/elec and we pay the rest...but we pay a lot of rent each month so we also did the figures if we moved back to the area we use to live in or at least closer as everyone we use is still in that area. So in july we are thinking of moving back there depending on what is available and if we can find something to suit us...it would save us alone over $5000 a year in rent which could go towards our home deposit rather than someone elses morg or lifestyle...the owner of this house likes to travel overseas a lot...so hopefully we can find something.

We have ordered the bed and paid for it on the CC but it should be paid off by march so not a big deal could have paid it off sooner but want to get our ice acct back up as it is really low right now.

Groceries have been fairly cheap, we have a few over 100 degree days coming so its mainly salads and meat so no real cooking etc.

Hubby has his urologist appt on 6th feb so we should know the results of his biopsy and what treatment he will be doing...heres hoping its not to bad.

expensive week

January 24th, 2020 at 10:42 pm

Well hubby had his doc appoint with his regular doctor on thursday and he said from the mri he definatly had cancer but it looks like it hasnt migrated from the area...but they might do a bone scan to see just to make sure so hopefully he is right...he also had his biopsy done on friday and is doing great...so in next 2-3 weeks we will see the urologist and I guess see what the treatment plan is and what grade the cancer is...so will just deal with things as we find out more...not really to fussed about it right now.

On thursday my youngest daughter decided to move out..so we helped her move friday as well...she had work..she is moving in with her cousin...she is happy and thats what counts...she is still working 2 jobs and studying but she says she is fine and she has some savings...instead of paying money into our ice acct like we planned I paid for a bunch of groceries which i had promised to do for her. Both our girls have bought plenty of things on sale over the last couple of years for when they moved so she is covered in that area as well

So this weekend I will be redoing our budget as she was paying rent here so we will cover that now...our oldest said she would goes halves in her sisters share of the rent but she has chronic illnesses and on disability so not sure if we want her to do that...she already pays her way here

Hubby has also got bad reflux for a long while now, he has been sleeping in a recliner as he likes to watch tv when he sleeps as he has to sleep sitting half way up so we have decided it is time for him to get a bed...its around $2400 but want him to be comfortable...so lots to do this weekend...

US taxes..so confusing this year!!

January 23rd, 2020 at 02:42 am

So we are looking at our US taxes that we need to do every year which can be a hassle...for 2.4 years I have been trying to get my itin number uppdated...finally we think we have sent them what they have asked for again..so hopefully gets processed need it for me to be on the taxes.
We don't pay state taxes obviously but we do federal taxes (hubby ex military) but with the changes they have made with SS from what we have read they count the entire amount now which means we will end up owing $3000 plus...I hope we have read this wrong...I really don't want to owe a country that much when we get nothing in return or use any services over there...lets hope we are wrong...if we are reading it wrong then let me know please

just an update

January 22nd, 2020 at 12:45 am

Our gas heater for hot water went out yesterday...our landlord said they would call someone and try to get it fixed...not happy...something is always wrong with this house..they jetset around the world but won't maintain this house...was going to stay here a couple years till we had enough deposit for a house...$30,000 is such a lot to save when you also pay a high rent...but we will get there...but may not stay here longer than august (lease renewal) depends what is around and what is happening with my hubby.

We decided last year that we would save for a newer car ($15000)..ours is okay (getting old) but is fairly big and we want a smaller one for now...my daughter wants one a bit bigger than hers so we have decided to buy hers from her in may/june when she get a newer one...so will pay her $8500 and bank the rest.

Once that is done we are going to save a house deposit we are buying with our daughter as she has a chronic illness and can't work so will probably always live at home...she is easy to live with and really good with her money...so hopefully we can save and find something we like.

Hubby has his biopsy on friday (which just happens to be my b-day) so hopefully we will have some answers if it is cancer or not...and what next steps need to be taken.

Its also pay week so putting any extra into our ice account and get that back up...other than that not much else happening...

its raining

January 19th, 2020 at 02:27 pm

Not a financial update but it has been raining here all day...might not sound like much but with the fires over here it is really helping out....and hopefully will we wet the ground enough that new fires wont start...

Starting my 2020 $20,000 challenge

January 17th, 2020 at 01:43 am

So I have decided to start our $20,000 challenge and use some of our accounts we have a daily acct and bill account that changes all the time so won't use those and also our car account will go down as we plan on buying a car this year (second hand) so it is as follows

Ice $250.03
Car $800.01
house $96.41

Total $1,146.45

more mony and a biospy

January 16th, 2020 at 04:12 am

I had a couple of scratchies the other day...won $100 on one of them so thats a bonus...just got a call they have now made an appt for my hubbys biopsy...we have his preadmin appt tomorrow and his biospsy on he 24th...which just happens to be my b-day so we won't be doing anything for my b-day but thats okay I would rather get the biospy done...so maybe another day...I don't do much anyways but was going to have a bbq as its my 50th...but we will see how he feels...he is my priority right now

do you have a receipt book?

January 13th, 2020 at 01:09 am

I am one of those people that keep all receipts...you never know when someone is going to come calling and say that you owe money that you know you have paid...and this happened to us around 6 years ago...lucky for me I had the receipt to prove it and they backed off...however it took me so much time and energy to find the receipt and we had so many boxes of receipts...so I decided to get a book ledger (yes i am old school) and write them all down in the book, it has the date, bill, receipt number, how we paid and the amount we paid...it sits in the drawer with my budget and comes out each payday and filled out...I no longer hasve much paper except for that years bills (insurance/car rego etc) that we keep...and yes I keep it in a written book as computer can be hacked or mess up and you lose everything, it is a 5 min job when i pay bills and it gives me peace of mind....I also pay my moms bills from her account and do the same thing for her...she no longer has any hassles...she is in her 80's an people like to prey on the elderly and make them pay several times...they don't with her anymore...
So I am just wondering does anyone else keep a book like this?

found money

January 12th, 2020 at 01:54 am

My daughter wanted to go to the store yesterday..20 minutes before they closed...I didn't want to but went with her anyways...bought the couple things she wanted cost $6.60 and on way out I found $50 on the ground...so that is sitting in my tin now...glad I went now...extra money always helps

paid off the CC

January 11th, 2020 at 03:29 am

Bit the bullet and paid off the CC today so next week when the payment goes through we will be debt free again...finally...has been a few months...now we will concentrate on getting our ice acct up to $2000 and adding to the car and house accounts...we hoping we don't have to many unexpected expenses this year...if not should be a much better year than last year.

Onwards and upwards...can't wait to see the accounts grow each month!!

another payday

January 9th, 2020 at 03:13 pm

Another payday today...it usually covers groceries and gas with $300 left to either put on the CC or ice account...not sure which yet..but will decide tomorrow...to sick today to do much...although it was over 100 here today we have a cool change suppose to be in tomorrow...can't open the house though all the smoke that is in the air..and my hubby and daughter being asthmatics...they can't breathe...its from the KI fires..

Other than that my daughter and I went and did the grocery shopping today...so much easier when we menu plan which I have started again this month...

MRI

January 8th, 2020 at 12:41 pm

Hubby has his MRI tomorrow thankfully it is free...but he hates small spaces and takes 45 mins so we will see if he can stay in there for that time...they tried to set up his biospy but he needs to go to the bigger hospital as he has trouble with anastesia (sp) so they have to rebook to another time...then hopefully we will get some answers!!

more free things

January 7th, 2020 at 07:10 am

As you know we have many bushfires in Australia...well we live in the hills and thankfully have no fires near us...but with the weather we have had many limbs that have fallen and we need to get rid of them...it can expensive trying to get rid of big limbs...but after some research...we found out that we can get some takens from council and get rid of them for free...so that is great...the trees here are huge and we always have so many leaves and branches....it is frustrating but we need them gone since it is bushfire season so glad that it wont cost us anything....heres hoping that we don't get any bushfires near us!!..fingers and toes crossed

2020 vision

January 4th, 2020 at 05:52 am

Well the budget is looking good and set for the year...and I was looking for a document for taxes..it wasn't where it was suppose to be..so I started looking in the end i had cleaned out the file cabinet, several drawers and a box of papers that we had in the shed...ended up with 2 huge bags of papers to be shredded and recycled...then found the paper on my hubbys desk...should have looked their first...but he said he did....but it was meant to be...a bit of decluttering....going to see what else needs to be decluttered...thinking everything this year may need to be lookd and and cleaned out and tidied...did a lot when we moved but didn't get to everything and still have some stuff to sell....only have 1 debt to get rid of and that is the CC...not much to be paid off on that!!

1st payday of 2020

January 3rd, 2020 at 12:52 pm

First payday of the year and I was able to put $838 onto the CC and put money into our ice/car & house accounts...went to the store and didn't even look at anything...I have a budget and I'm sticking to it..feeling good about this budget...here's hoping we all have success in reaching our goals!!

2020 challenge??

January 2nd, 2020 at 11:23 am

I have seen a couple people on here doing a 52 week challenge..not the coin one but actual savings one so I have decided to do the same this year....I'm not sure if I should do all savings for all accounts or just the house account...what do others do or think??