Money Makeover Update

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So we’re two months down the track with this. So far we have paid out two credit cards and a business debt, about $13,000 worth of debt! Wow!!! Now that wasn’t a financially normal two months, we both received fairly hefty tax returns, and Eddie cashed out an insurance policy that wasn’t worth paying into. And what a difference it’s made!

I did our budget on Excel last night, and as long as we are very very careful with our money we can survive on Eddie’s wage. We won’t be putting away money for Christmas or clothes, but we will be able to pay bills. I am obviously planning on working, but it may take a month or so for me to find employment. I’m still coaching, however we really need a larger income to get rid of all this debt. We’re both so sick of paying $1000’s of dollars each year in interest!

We haven’t done so well following the budget up to now. In fact we didn’t have one at all for November! Then I was sick and we ate take-away a lot, we’ve both been really busy with working, school, Christmas coming, preparing to move etc. January is going to be a crazy month, so we’re using a fairly flexible budget there…. February we’ll need to get a lot more serious about following it.

I still need to draw up some charts that show our debt reduction visually. I don’t think it’s ‘real’ to Eddie or Dian what we’ve achieved so far. This is really me pushing the debt reduction and budgets so far, and trying to sell the idea to them. If I want them to buy into this and not blow the budget and to make it a truly teamwork effort then they need to be able to clearly see the benefits and the progress we’re making. Unfortunately I’ve misplaced my papers that have our net worth and balances on them, I’m assuming that they’ll turn up sometime after we move! I’ve probably filed them, if I have then it’s no wonder I can’t find them! LOL!

We’ve spent the money, now we’re paying the bills. A comment that I read today was really interesting. It was in one of Dave Ramsay’s books and said that if you invested $1850 per month in a good mutual fund, in 15 years you’ll be a cash millionaire. Another five years to make the second million and then three years to the third. Five million in 28 years. Most people spend thirty years paying off a mortgage at about the same monthly rate. There’s a big difference between $5,000,000 and a $300,000 house!

Saying Goodbye is so hard

As I mentioned in my previous post I finished work at the school. I was in tears as I walked out to the car park, and had a huge cry and meltdown later at home. We had our last sunday in church last week. I was a bit teary to start with, then one of the guys handed me a card as a thank you for the work I did in the office earlier in the year and I totally lost it. Sat down and cried throughout the whole service!

We had a picnic lunch today with the ladies from the Connect group that I led for a few months earlier this year. They gave me a candle holder and a card with the most lovely comments on it! And of course I cried…

We gave the chookies away today, to some friends here. Yeah, I cried a little. I know they’ll be looked after, but I really didn’t want to see them go.

We’ve been truly welcomed here, and I really love the people at my church and the school. Why does it have to be so heartbreaking so often? It’s times like this that I wish I was an introvert and didn’t make friends. Life would be so much easier at times like these if I were an antisocial hermit.

Updating the last few weeks

It would take me too long to post individually the last few weeks, so here’s some highlights…

Hit with a doozy of a sinus infection that laid me flat for several days and took about two weeks to get my energy back and able to do things again. Really not what I need just before moving!

Finished work at Dian’s school. The last week I was there we worked extra time thursday and friday, most of the saturday and then monday as well. Did I mention that I had the sinus infection that week???? By the end of the monday I was exhausted! Cried when I left the school as it’s the last time I would be there. I loved the school, the people and working with the kids.

One of the school’s rabbits had three babies, had no milk and then rejected them. I took them home and fed them three hourly for two days but they all died. It was really sad, they were so tiny and helpless, I did everything I could and it wasn’t enough.

Dian has finished school. She doesn’t go back until 4 Feb 2008, almost eight weeks off!!!

I made two personalised pillowcases for my two nephews and got them posted off yesterday. Had to send them express post as they won’t arrive in time for Christmas otherwise. Ouch$$$$$! Unfortunately I messed up one of them, I put the name and the opening on the wrong side of the pillowcase, and also the sizing of the letters was wrong. I’ve sent it off anyway, and will remake it after we move. Or even possibly while we’re away at Christmas.

We leave here in two days time!!!! I am so not ready, another week at home would be good. I won’t have it though, we’ll just have to muddle through. Thank goodness we have removalists come in and do the packing and unpacking for us!

Who wants to write the cheque???

That’s US$ too… So, uh, how do I get paid what my blog is worth???? Interesting, but I’d like to know how it is supposedly worth this much!