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Archive for May, 2011

All cash month

May 30th, 2011 at 06:56 pm

DH and I normally charge every penny we spend and then pay off the credit card each month. We have done this for YEARS. Although we have the cash to pay it off each month, we know that this does assist in our needless spending sprees at times...

Last week, we were talking and decided to try all cash for a month to see if it would make any difference. We also wanted to try to cut our unnecessary spending at the same time. It's been a week and there really is a huge difference in mentality. It's so tough to hand over the cash instead of the plastic. But once you make the commitment, it really is not that difficult to just say no to mindless purchases. For example, I took the girls to the mall yesterday. They each had $25 to spend of their own money that they earned from our recent yard sale so we thought we'd go and see what they might want. I found the most perfect summer cardigan sweater that was on sale for $12. I was so tempted to get it, but I ended up putting it down and walking away. I asked myself if the sweater was a necessity and the answer was clearly NO, so it was easy peasy... (not really), but I did it! The girls didn't find anything that was a must have either so we all left the mall with absolutely no needless purchases....... and it felt great! And what's better, I still have my cash in my pocket. Smile Spent $1300 last week to get the rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brake pads and rotors filed down and turned, and an oil change

---------> Took the car in today because all the check engine kind of lights were on...Was just told that we need to have the ECM (the car's computer) replaced and that will be another $1200!!! Haven't told DH yet -- he's going to freak out.


We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna.
---------> This poor van has been neglected for so long in regards to routine maintenance. The tires are so bald (we don't drive it except within town to run errands so we've been putting it off). The dealer is having a tire sale next week so we've scheduled an appointment to have 4 new tires put on and for a well overdue oil change done. Estimated cost will be around $350.

Has anyone been adding all this up? If not, that's ok, cause I've already done it for you and it's a whopping $2850 in a few weeks time for stupid car maintenance issues. Aacckkk!!! [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 5 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

Short Sale purchase??

May 23rd, 2011 at 07:27 pm

Anyone try to buy a short sale house before?

Ok, I've said it a million times before but this time I really mean it! Smile We found the house of our "dreams"...

Let me give some history first. About 5 years ago, we were moving due to a job relocation. The new job was in the same town as family so we stayed with family as we were looking for a home of our own. As I flipped through real estate magazines and the online MLS, I kept getting drawn back to one particular house. It met a lot of our criteria except for one thing --- price! It was much too expensive for us. I even told my MIL one time that if the price would decrease into our budget range at all, I would buy the house without even looking at the inside of it. The location of the house and the topography of the lot itself sold me on it. Alas, the house price never dropped so we ended up buying the house we currently live in (and are trying to sell).

Fast forward to the present. The house from way back then has been on the market since we first saw it 5 years ago! I love looking through the MLS listings as a hobby so I've noticed it on there all this time --- again, the price never budging. But, lo and behold, what do I see now? The price of the house has dropped over $150k in one sh'bang! It is now subject to a short sale with bank approval. DH and I went out to finally take a peek into our "forever" home. It needs A TON of work... the house had been vacant since that fateful day 5 years ago when I first noticed it for sale. Needless to say, it needs a lot of TLC. It was built in 1981 but looks pitiful now. The roof has to be replaced, the carpets in the bedrooms are hideous, there is wallpaper everywhere, and don't even get me started on the bathrooms! But, now that I've seen the inside of it, I love it even more! I can see the potential in it and think it would be a showstopper once we get done fixing it back up.

So, although the price has come down $150k from the original listing price, DH and I still think it's a bit overpriced for the sad condition it is in. We would be willing to buy it for another $100k off the current asking price. Would anyone out there have any experience dealing and negotiating with potential short sale offers??? I don't want to waste anyone's time if the banks don't even consider lowering the price anymore than what is listed --- but really, this is the one!! Spent $1300 last week to get the rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brake pads and rotors filed down and turned, and an oil change

---------> Took the car in today because all the check engine kind of lights were on...Was just told that we need to have the ECM (the car's computer) replaced and that will be another $1200!!! Haven't told DH yet -- he's going to freak out.


We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna.
---------> This poor van has been neglected for so long in regards to routine maintenance. The tires are so bald (we don't drive it except within town to run errands so we've been putting it off). The dealer is having a tire sale next week so we've scheduled an appointment to have 4 new tires put on and for a well overdue oil change done. Estimated cost will be around $350.

Has anyone been adding all this up? If not, that's ok, cause I've already done it for you and it's a whopping $2850 in a few weeks time for stupid car maintenance issues. Aacckkk!!! [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 5 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->

There is a huge hole in my savings account....

May 13th, 2011 at 08:33 pm

and all our money is leaking through it! Come on, already! Someone send me some savings account super glue!

We have a 2006 Toyota Rav4.
---------> Spent $1300 last week to get the rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brake pads and rotors filed down and turned, and an oil change

---------> Took the car in today because all the check engine kind of lights were on...Was just told that we need to have the ECM (the car's computer) replaced and that will be another $1200!!! Haven't told DH yet -- he's going to freak out.


We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna.
---------> This poor van has been neglected for so long in regards to routine maintenance. The tires are so bald (we don't drive it except within town to run errands so we've been putting it off). The dealer is having a tire sale next week so we've scheduled an appointment to have 4 new tires put on and for a well overdue oil change done. Estimated cost will be around $350.

Has anyone been adding all this up? If not, that's ok, cause I've already done it for you and it's a whopping $2850 in a few weeks time for stupid car maintenance issues. Aacckkk!!! Spent $1300 last week to get the rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brake pads and rotors filed down and turned, and an oil change

---------> Took the car in today because all the check engine kind of lights were on...Was just told that we need to have the ECM (the car's computer) replaced and that will be another $1200!!! Haven't told DH yet -- he's going to freak out.


We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna.
---------> This poor van has been neglected for so long in regards to routine maintenance. The tires are so bald (we don't drive it except within town to run errands so we've been putting it off). The dealer is having a tire sale next week so we've scheduled an appointment to have 4 new tires put on and for a well overdue oil change done. Estimated cost will be around $350.

Has anyone been adding all this up? If not, that's ok, cause I've already done it for you and it's a whopping $2850 in a few weeks time for stupid car maintenance issues. Aacckkk!!! [entry_active] => 1 [total_comments] => 5 [contest] => 0 [ever_published] => 1 [contains_images] => 0 ) ) -->