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Archive for November, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26th, 2008 at 05:58 pm

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday full of laughter, love and lots of good food!

Well, DH has finally convinced me that we should make our big announcement tomorrow at dinner. Both of his parents have passed away, so he just wants to share this happy news with someone. I am 10 weeks 5 days, so I feel safe enought for now. Everyone else will have to wait.

We're still open to suggestions as to how exactly to make the announcement. Any moms out there, how did you let your family know you were pregnant? What we were thinking of doing was gathering everyone for a big group picture, then instead of "1-2-3 Cheese!" say "1-2-3 I'm pregnant!" That way we'll get everyone's reaction on film. The photographer(my sister) does know what's going on so she's in on it. Any other ideas?

On the workfront, I have 3 extra shifts at my perdiem hospital job this week, so there's another $300 more next payday for our goal. And I got my schedule there for December-so far 7 shifts. That's pretty good, because I'm sure I'll get last minute calls if anyone has PTO or calls in sick.

This Week

November 20th, 2008 at 03:29 am

Divvied up our paychecks on Sunday.

Income(10.38 in checking to start):

Me------706.51
DH------471.22
Job #3--209.11

Bills Paid:
5.00-Christmas Club
50.00-ING Savings automatic
200.00-Oil
60.37-Electric
46.70-Verizon
82.21-AT&T/internet
13.61-Cable
28.00-Home Depot
200.00-Personal Loan
75.00-Student Loan #2
406.84-VW Credit--(only 14 payments left)
209.11--Transferred Job #3 to ING

Balance in checking is 20.38. Bills remaining this month is 1777.00, unless something else pops up.

We had a doctor's appt on Monday. It should've been our first, but I was having some stuff go on a couple weeks ago, so they saw us then too. They keep changing the due date, first it's June 21st, then the 26th, then the 23rd, then back to the 21st. Does it really matter? This baby's coming whenever it's ready. "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't have this baby on the 23rd, I have plans. Can we make it the 21st instead?"
They didn't do an ultrasound this visit, so it was more just a regular 'girly' appointment. You know-"Scoot down, scoot down." Poor Hubby was probably mortified to be there.

Everything looks to be going well. I do have to go for a 1st Trimester Risk Assesment at Yale, I guess because I'm so old! This will be a 3D ultrasound, where they can tell if baby has any genetic abnormalities or Down Syndrome markers. That appointment is on Dec. 15th, and next OB appt is on Dec. 17th. Should have some new pics just before Christmas! Christmas Eve will be when we make the big announcement to my family.

All those jobs...

November 15th, 2008 at 04:44 pm

In my first post, I mentioned that we had 4 jobs between the 2 of us. What I didn't mention is that I have 3 of them. Now, before you think I'm crazy, let me explain. Fulltime job for me is with kind of 'iffy' boss. I've been there for almost 7 years, but she's been known to fire people at the drop of a hat. That job is $28/hour. I'm due for my annual review on 12/24. I definitely won't reveal my secret until after that. Job #2 for me is perdiem at a local hospital-a shift is 4 hours. That is $32+/hour. Available shifts vary greatly. I can go for a month, and get one--very rare. Or I can get 3 a week, which was the case this week. Double Wed, Thurs and Fri-ugh, but $$$! Job #3 is at local restaurant. I've been there for 15 years, and only work Sat nights. (One of the best nights) I can make from 80 on a horrible night to $220 on a great night in an approx 6 hour shift. The average would be about 140. DHs job pay 9+/hour. I get paid about 3X as much as him. I'm not bragging by any means, I'm just saying financially, it's more worthwhile for me to pick up an extra shift or 2, than for him. What I have been doing is using the restaurant money for living-gas, groceries, spending money, etc. I have a whole spreadsheet that I use, depending on how profitable the night was. What I'm planning on doing with the hospital paychecks is put that directly into my ING acct. Each shift=approx $100. I have 10 in Nov, so that should be $1000.00 towards my goal.
I figure I gotta make this money NOW while I still can!

I'll divvy up our paychecks from yesterday later, and post our progress. Let's see if I can figure out some tickers too.

OK, bear with me...this may be confusing!

November 13th, 2008 at 03:41 am

Hi everyone! Long time lurker, so I know that you all have great life experiences and will give great advice. I don't know where to even start. My DH and I have been together for 10+ years, married for 5. Due to some personal issues, DH racked up 14K in CC debt back in 2005-2006. I was not aware( in denial) of the problems he was facing, and didn't know about this debt. However, things have cleaned up nicely and we're back on track as a couple since Aug. 2006. We've managed to pay about 11K off, but still have about 22K left to go. I had my own debt as well. (We also had a big car repair, and various 'life happens' events occur, with no EF in place)

We now have about 2K in EF. We have 4 jobs between the 2 of us. My position does pay higher, and I have the health insurance for both of us.

Choices to make for now: Do we try to find a cheaper place in our area to live? Rents seem to be going down in our area, but for first, last and security, (plus various moving fees), it would probably run us about 3K. But that would wipe out our EF.

Do we stay where we are, and focus on debt, or try to get EF bigger because…

On October 22, I gave my husband "the best birthday gift ever"---a positive pregnancy test. We are both very excited. I'm about 8 weeks along. I know financially, we're not ready, but I’m 32, and are you ever financially ready for a baby?

He would be staying at home with the baby, so in the next 7 months, we need to decrease our bills the equivalent of his salary. (Usually brings home $800 a month). It's not much, but he does all the household stuff, cleaning, laundry, errands that I can't do while I'm working.

My job is also an issue. I work for a small company, which only has about 15 employees. The boss/owner/president is a real tough cookie. She does not give maternity leave. The last woman to have a baby had 12 weeks unpaid, had to sign some paper that terminated her, and paid COBRA while she was out. That mysterious paper had to be signed that day…couldn't be taken home to discuss with husband (or lawyer). She left with the knowledge that she would be back, and she is still with us. I have 4 weeks vacation that I'll have by June. If she even allows me to take 12 weeks, that would mean 8 weeks unpaid, plus maybe 1K/month for COBRA. Is that even legal? She has less than 50 employees, so FMLA doesn't apply.

So stay put in current apartment, save up 8 weeks salary, plus another 2K for possible insurance? Or try to pay down debt now before baby comes? Too many choices and this first post is too long!

I didn't want to get down to the nitty gritty with actual figures of debt and salaries on first post, but any advice would be greatly appreciated!