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Home > Archive: January, 2015

Archive for January, 2015

Side Money & More CC Cashback

January 24th, 2015 at 08:44 pm

I took on a last minute cat sitting job twelve days ago. The owners are clients where I work and one of their cats was diagnosed with diabetes three days before they were headed to Hawaii. I agreed to make twice daily visits to their house to give insulin injections since the house sitter was not comfortable medicating the cat. It has been a big time commitment and extra driving, but I am happy to report that the kitty is doing very well on his insulin injections. Smile

I will make $520 gross. I haven't looked at my gas expenses yet. Their house is 19 miles one-way from my house, but only 2 miles from my office.
I'm so glad the gas prices have come down recently!

On Thursday I cashed in $25.54 points for account credit on a Chase account.

And $125 worth of account credit to a Wells Fargo account.

Next, I need to gift card shop ($600+) with my Southwest points. I don't think there is a cash option there.. I didn't see one.

2014 Recap

January 24th, 2015 at 08:18 pm

I have been so busy with work, side work and family activities. So, before January ends I'd like to quickly recap 2014 and lay down loose plans for this year.

2014 GOALS

$6k EF [X]
- $6500 on 12/31/14

$2k Car Savings
- No Change. Still $1k.

CC Balance to $8k or less
- Balances total $10,170 on 12/31/14

Replace Roof [X]
- Took on nearly $15k HELOC to do it. BUT, so glad it's done.

Increase ROTH contributions
- Have not made an increase in the monthly auto withdrawal.

Lose 20lbs
- Lost 8lbs. (And gained it back.. Ugh!)


2015 Goals in side bar.


Cashed in CC Reward

January 11th, 2015 at 04:40 am



Big Grin
This was our reward from DH's Sapphire Preferred card that we opened for the bonus and charged a portion of the new roof to.

Soon I will be paying off and cashing out the bonus from the Southwest card I opened.

New Insurance & My Trip to the ER

January 7th, 2015 at 03:33 pm

Last month I changed the coverage the kids and I had to DH's plan through work. This amounted to a $23/month savings. And, one deductible to meet as a family, rather than two when we had two separate plans. The other change was moving from PPO coverage to HMO coverage. We have used doctors from both "sides" over the years, so I am comfortable with the care we will get.

Yesterday afternoon DS fell on the playground and split his chin open. About an inch long cut. Frown
I thought I might be able to use some surgical glue at work to close it. But, there was too much tension and it looked like it would just pull apart. Unfortunately, pediatrics doesn't suture and all facial lacerations get sent to the ER.

90 minutes, five sutures and $250 later and DS nearly good as new. Smile

How's your 2015 starting out?

Auto Insurance Paid for the Year

January 3rd, 2015 at 11:14 pm

I paid our car insurance for the year in a single payment. It was $579.

This is the third year I've been able to pay it in a single payment using savings. Boy, is it a good feeling. Smile

It's nice that it saves me a little time because I don't have to make the monthly payments. But, I do it because it saves us money.

The insurance company charges a $7/month billing fee. They split the bill into 11 payments, so we save $77 dollars for the year by paying all at once.

I can't think of another bill where we could save by paying all at once.
Do you have any bills that save you money by paying all at once?

Happy New Year!

January 2nd, 2015 at 05:13 am

Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous 2015.

Had a lot going on here the last few weeks.
Most good, but some a little sad...
My grandpa passed away suddenly and his funeral was a week before Christmas. I was so thankful we had a good visit with him at Thanksgiving. Got some nice pictures with him and the kids too.
He would have been 91 on his birthday this month.

Christmas preparations went smoothly and I finished shopping well before Christmas.

Mailed, or handed out, nearly all of the 50 photo cards I had made from Costco this year. We received about 30 cards. I love getting Christmas cards, especially ones with photos.

Many of the gifts we gave included DD's honey which only cost us the price of the jar it was in. Oh, and the cost of the custom sticker we put on the jars - $0.17/each. Smile

Today I spent some time updating Quicken and scheduling upcoming payments.
I will be firming up goals soon.