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Archive for February, 2012

Weekend at the casino

February 28th, 2012 at 11:20 pm

DH and I took a little break and went to a casino out of state to relax.....we earned it with all the hours I've been putting in for OT and for Bingo....and track coaching started this week for DH.

We took $1000 and came home with $1021. Smile It was nice and relaxing and a lot of fun.

Not sure if I ever posted on here, but we have a strategy for when we go to the casino so we make sure that we at least bring some money home. First of all we always take a set amount, and we always bring it with us from home, we never use the ATM or write checks there, so we never get more then we had planned for. Then when we play a game we put in $10 and play it will we get to $20 or higher....or until we lose it. If we get to $20 or higher then we cash out at the next even amount and take that money home. We won't play that specific money again no matter what. Then we go play the next game with a new $10, etc. That way we for sure get to play a lot, and we will have "something" to take home. So using this stratgey we played a ton (think like 17hrs) and even came home a little ahead. We don't expect to come home millionaires, we just like to relax and have a little fun time. Our biggest hit of the weekend was $153, betting .80 on a penny machine.

Refi is moving in the right direction

February 28th, 2012 at 11:14 pm

We got our date set for closing on our refinance. March 23rd which is right after we come back from Vegas. Can't wait!!!!!!!
So just a few more weeks and everything will be wrapped up in a nice little 10 year bow. Smile

2012 Biggest Loser - Week 7 Weigh In

February 28th, 2012 at 11:12 pm

Week Seven
Pounds Lost this week = .2
Total pounds lost = 5
% weight loss = 2.84%
Place = 1st out of 4 people

Well I am actually really happy with this weigh in. I took the lead and managed to lose a little even though we were out of town eating and drinking all weekend. So I am please with it. Next week is our last weigh in so I need to concentrate on not pigging out for just one more week. Hoping to lose 2lbs this week to stay in the lead and win $40!

$20K Update - Over $19K for a minute or two

February 28th, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Current Balance $18,765.00
+$90.00 Last weeks Bingo Tips
+$60.00 This weeks Bingo Tips
+$100.00 Sept 2012 Savings
+$125.00 Home Improvements
New Balance $19,140.00

Bingo Money $1,795.00
ING $11,310.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $1,195.00
HSBC $4,710.00
Total = $19,140.00

Added $149.40 to Bingo Tips
Tips total - $1432.11
Wage total - $2364.65
Total Bingo Money - $3796.76

200,000 Hits!!!!

February 19th, 2012 at 11:35 pm

My blog hit 200,000 hits today! AWESOME! Thanks everyone for reading and commenting!

2012 Biggest Loser - Week 6

February 19th, 2012 at 04:11 am

Week Six
Pounds Lost this week = 0
Total pounds lost = 4.8
% weight loss = 2.73%
Place = 2nd out of 4 people

Not much to report here......I have been eating terrible, and have a bad cold so have not been getting much for excercise except for volleyball once a week. Need to get on the ball!

$20K Update

February 19th, 2012 at 04:08 am

Looks like we are going to be right up close to our goal when we go to Vegas in March.....and then we will be taking about $2K out of savings for the trip.....shoot! Oh well, either way we will be there soon. Then I need to sit down with DH and decide exactly what we are going to do with savings vs the mortgage.

Current Balance $18,485.00
+$195.00 Bingo Payday
+$85.00 to retirement hold account
New Balance $18,765.00

Bingo Money $1,645.00
ING $11,210.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $1,070.00
HSBC $4,710.00
Total = $18,765.00

Added $197.36 to Bingo Payday
Tips total - $1282.71
Wage total - $2364.65
Total Bingo Money - $3647.36

$20K Update!! Over $18K!!!

February 15th, 2012 at 12:26 am

Got our federal tax return yesterday!! Our return was $1476.00, so I transferred $1500.00 to savings. I paid back the last $450.00 back to my retirement hold account, so glad to have that paid back! Then I stuck the other $1050.00 to the EF. We are cruising to our goal right now!!

Current Balance $16,585.00
+$75.00 Bingo Tips
+$1500.00 Federal Tax Return
($450.00 to payback retirement hold account in full and $1050.00 to EF)
+$100.00 to Anniversary Cruise
+$100.00 to Sept 2012
+$125.00 to Home Improvements
New Balance $18,485.00

Bingo Money $1,450.00
ING $11,125.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $1,070.00
HSBC $4,710.00
Total = $18,485.00

Added $71.35 to Bingo Tips
Tips total - $1282.71
Wage total - $2167.29
Total Bingo Money - $3450.00

Refinancing - Locked in at 2.75%, 10 year loan!!!!

February 10th, 2012 at 03:52 am

Yup you read that right!! 2.75%!!! So excited! We were not planning on refinancing again....but couldn't say no to that rate! We will not be done with all the paper work and appraisal until closer to the end of March. So the longest we could have our mortgage, even if we don't pay any extra would be 2022, and I would be 37. It feels amazing to know we will FOR SURE be mortgage free before I'm 40...hopefully by the time I'm 35!

2012 Biggest Loser - Week 5 WeighIn

February 10th, 2012 at 03:41 am

Week Five
Pounds Lost this week = -1
Total pounds lost = 4.8
% weight loss = 2.73%
Place = 2nd out of 4 people

2 People weren't there to weigh in, but I still think I would be in 2nd place because those 2 haven't been doing that well. I keep going in the right direction and have kept off all the weight from the last BL, so that is good.

$20K Update - State Tax Return

February 10th, 2012 at 03:38 am

Got my state tax return today! It was $293, so I transferred $300 to savings. I decided to put it into my retirement hold account because I still owe it $750 that I borrowed a few months ago. I will use the federal return to pay the last $450 and then focus on the EF.

Current Balance $16,285.00
+$300.00 State Tax Return to payback retirement hold account
(Still owe $450.00)
New Balance $16,585.00

Bingo Money $1375.00
ING $9525.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $945.00
HSBC $4610.00
Total = $16,585.00

Added $0 to Bingo Tips
Tips total - $1211.36
Wage total - $2167.29
Total Bingo Money - $3378.65

$20K Update - Bingo Tips

February 9th, 2012 at 04:26 am

Current Balance $16,230.00
+$55.00 Bingo Tips
New Balance $16,285.00

Bingo Money $1375.00
ING $9225.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $945.00
HSBC $4610.00
Total = $16,285.00

Added $54.00 to Bingo Tips
Tips total - $1211.36
Wage total - $2167.29
Total Bingo Money - $3378.65

2 New Phones - FREE!

February 6th, 2012 at 09:12 pm

Time for new phones again....we haven't paid for our cellphones for at least 8 years...we just wait till it is time for new ones and then get the free ones. This time we got the Jest 2. I just activated mine and so far I like it alot. I don't want a computer, I want a phone, so I am happy with one that will call, text and take pics.

I LOVE FREE!!!

This last round DH had broke his phone not very long after he got it cause he kept dropping it....and when I say broke...I mean BROKE....like in half....LOL. Luckily we save our old phones in case something like that would happen so that we dont have to pay for a new phone, he just used one of the old ones. Now I have 4 old phones and all of their instruction guides in a box in the basement closet. Two Razors, a Juke, and an Entice. Now that we have several backups we should be able to send some back to Verizon to be donated to their Hopeline program that gives used phones to support victims of domestic violence.

Taxes are done!

February 6th, 2012 at 08:31 pm

Well this is by far the longest I have ever waited to finish my taxes. I finally filed them today. $1476 is our federal return and $293 state. Not for sure what I am doing with that yet....but probably just going into the EF since it only has $200 in it right now. Now just to sit around and wait for it. Smile

February 2012 Savings Update

February 5th, 2012 at 06:10 pm

February 2012 Savings Update
As of February 1, 2012:

Regular Savings:
Bingo Money $3320
Home Maintanence $605
Mortgage Payoff Account (cash) $130
Cushion $2050
HSA $7100
New Patio Door(cash) $945
September 2012 $945
Emergency Fund $270
New Car $2055 - Complete
Vacation - $2625 - Complete
Anniversary Cruise $4610 - Complete
Total Regular Savings = $24,655.00

Retirement Savings:
Retirement Hold Account $715
Roth IRA $4870
Rollover IRA $890
401K $17,700
403B $13,500 (est)
Total Retirement Savings = $37,675.00

Total Savings = $62,330.00

Up $4400 from last month!! YEAH!! Some good HSA deposits and bingo money really helped! Smile Yeah for being over $60K!

$20K Update

February 4th, 2012 at 08:40 pm

Had a really nice Bingo paycheck cause I picked up about 10 extra hours at Bingo this week.
ETA - Went back and adjusted the numbers cause I needed to move another $500 from Bingo money to ING.

Current Balance $16,000.00
+$310.00 Bingo Wages
+$5.44 ING Interest
+$24.56 Even Out Amount
+$5.00 to Mortgage Payoff Account
-$112.00 to 401K
-$3.00 Never got transferred to ING from last post
-$500.00 from Bingo Money
+$500.00 to ING
New Balance $16,230.00

Bingo Money $1320.00
ING $8725.00 ($2000.00 Bingo Money)
Mortgage Payoff $130.00
Home Improvements(cash) $945.00
HSBC $4610.00
Total = $16,230.00

Added $311.83 to Bingo Tips
Tips total - $1157.36
Wage total - $2167.29
Total Bingo Money - $3324.65