I think we can, I think we can…

H and I have agreed to combine our finances to pay off the debts together and save, save, save.  We both kept our own accounts and a certain portion of our checks go into them for “fun” money.  I don’t get much, but I can order a latte when I want without the guilt.  I have transferred all my payments to our joint account and H will continue to pay the auto-debits with his Credit Card and pay the card from our joint account.  We pay it off every month and have accumulated $200 in unused points so far.  At some point we will probably use them for household items such as dog flea/tick stuff.  H still has his car payment and the mortgage coming out of his own account.  They might move eventually, but for now it works.

We also decided that we are going to have the last credit card paid off this year.  We are shooting for this Summer.

H deposited his parting pension money ($4000) from his former employer into our joint savings account to put toward the credit card.   I can’t wait to send it in.  It requires me to swallow my pride and highly independent nature to do this, but in the end we are in this together.   I am waiting until I complete our taxes to do this, just in case.  This will be our first time filing together and our combined income is basically double what mine is and I am worried that about the funds he cashed out and our withholding.   It’s kind of funny sad, H grosses less than me, but his net pay is higher.  But then I pay the medical insurance for both of us, really expensive Long-Term Disability Insurance, I have union dues, and I have to pay to park at work.

After we pay off the credit card, we decided to attack my house debt over the car and student loan.  We will talk to a real estate lawyer first, but we think we might be able to pay the house down enough in two years to break-even on a sale.  This would simplify our life immensely.

I think we can, I think we can, pay off $12,000 in debt in six months…….

 

Happy 2013! I am insane with worry.

Happy New Year! 2012 was a good year for me and I hope 2013 is even better.

Of course, as I say this, I am up with insomnia because of too much worry.  I think the problems will resolve themselves, I just can’t take immediate action which is what is keeping me up.

I have a few things I am obsessing over:

1) School – should I continue?  Do I want to?

2) Time –  School feels like it has sucked my life away.  I feel like my time is precious, I hate not having a life.

3)  Friends – I feel like I am neglecting friends.  I was involved in a conversation the other day about choosing to locate based on career or friends/family.  I chose friends/family and I think that says a lot about my current dilemma.

4) Work –  I am unhappy in my current position, but haven’t looked elsewhere, instead I headed straight to school.  Perhaps I should spend more time on my resume and actually job search.  I do want to be an accountant, but I am not sure the sacrifice is worth it, especially since it means less money and starting at the bottom again.

5) Hobbies –  I have very little time to work on any of the fun things I used to do, including this blog.

6) My Weight –  Keeps creeping up and I am way more out of shape than I used to be.  Heck, I have walked half-marathons, now I walk 1 mile and I am done.  I need more time to get back in shape.

 

I think all this is leading to a re-evaluation of my priorities.  I would like to work through them now, but since I am now married, they affect someone else and I am letting him sleep!

End of November Totals

Quick Update:

I have new totals up for the end of November.  My last credit card is below $13,000.

More Money Into The House

Last time on our home improvement saga, we added more money for grading and drying out the basement.  Well, we just added more for new carpeting.

Last week, H called me at work to tell me that the restoration company wanted over $500 to stretch and place our old carpeting back in place.  I really didn’t want to have to spend that much just to lay our old carpet back down.  Our old, urinated on, vomited on, formally water-logged, not in great shape carpet.

So, now we are spending $1300 for brand spanking new carpet.  Honestly, even though it costs more I feel better about spending the money on new carpet rather than the crappy old stuff.  However, we are not replacing the carpet on the side door landing and two steps to the kitchen.  Eventually we are going to lay down vinyl for an additional $475.

We are going to put off the vinyl and the new front porch until spring to save up the money.  I can’t wait for all this to be over.

Happy Election Day

H and I showed up at the polls at 6:35 a.m. and got out vote out of the way.  There was a quite a line, which makes me proud regardless of how they vote.  Granted, I’d like more of them to vote along my line of thinking, but we can’t have everything.

The election is pretty interesting this year, not just for president, but Michigan has six constitutional ballot proposals to vote on.  Some of them are controversial, some are just confusing to most people.  I happen to know the in’s and out’s of two of them because of where I work.  One is a no brainer, but the other one still had me undecided, even with my knowledge.  

Anyway, I hope everyone has a chance to get out and vote. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like our individual votes count, but they do.  Unfortunately, I think with this election, no matter which person wins the presidency, there is going to be a lot of anger on the part of the losing side.