Hello!

Avatar for zaboz
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Hello!
14
Mon, 08-16-2004 - 5:12pm
I just wanted to pop in and say 'hi'!

I used to post on this board quite a bit

but have gotten off track lately. We still

owe on a small student loan (about $4,000),

but are doing ok overall with our finances.

We still have a decent emergency fund that we had to

rebuild after our dog had a cancer scare (turned

out to be a spider bite!).

But lately I'm finding that I'm shopping for our

house too much. I've gotten in a bad habit of

charging up our Discover card and then

paying it off. Luckily, we haven't carried a balance

more than a month but it's been getting close to $1000 at times!

If I don't knock it off it won't be long before it's

too much to handle. I paid it off today and am vowing

that I'm DONE with it!

I really need to start concentrating on that student loan

again. It just won't die! Grrrr.

I started up again with Quicken this month. So far our

account is balanced, which never lasts very long. But it

feels good to be back in the swing of budgeting again.

We recently took out a home equity line of credit to get new

windows, but we haven't touched it yet. I think when

they called it a "second mortgage" we both gulped

and decided to wait a while for our windows. Maybe we

can work out a savings plan to pay cash instead!

It WILL be good for energy savings, but there must

be a way to do it without racking up debt.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi. I'm sure I'll be lurking

around to try to get some ideas to get back on track.

I hope everyone's doing well!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
In reply to: zaboz
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 2:14pm
We bought all the supplies as we could and then had them installed. I'd suggest that you get some estimates and references. I also think like you, do it all at once and then pay for it, my problem is I tend to want to do this too much and that is a problem. I want a simple metal porch roof next. My husband can build this in a day or two. I will have to buy the metal one week and the wood a week or two later. I only want the roof to keep some of my cats dry when it rains. They want on the porch rather than inside.
Avatar for zaboz
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: zaboz
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 2:29pm
Thanks, it's good advice!

Honestly, when we got that home equity line

of credit, all of a sudden I started thinking

about sliding glass patio doors, bay windows

and skylights. For a short time I was even

dreaming of skylights with remote controls!!!

It reminds me of my first credit card, feeling

like it was monopoly money or something!

I think paying cash as we can afford it

will help keep those daydreams in check.

Luckily we only have 8 windows total, so

if we work at it we should be able to afford

it in cash. And if skylights with remotes are

so important, I'll have to find a way to pay

for them! Somehow I'll think I'll get by without them!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
In reply to: zaboz
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 4:40pm
I know what you mean! I just consolidated some credit cards into one payment, not revolving, so I know how many payments till -0- owed. Went shopping, and everywhere I looked I saw something I needed or wanted. I had to make myself not get these small priced items, which do add up, and concentrate on paying more pressing bills, then possibly getting a couple of small items I want. I can go through money quick, then think, where did it go, what did I get paid and why did I do that!!!! I'm really a strong, level headed person and then... donna
Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: zaboz
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 9:32am

Hi Zaboz!

All my best,
Danni

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