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Archive for February, 2016

Extra Income - Property Managers

February 29th, 2016 at 09:35 pm

My parents own several rental properties and one of them is a 4 unit that is in the neighboring town to me (About a 15 min drive for me, about 90 mins for my parents). They have had some really terrible luck with their renters lately and have finally gotten the scummy (drug charges, child neglect, etc.) property managers evicted, as well as another unit evicted. Since MO and I are now a lot closer then my parents, we are going to take over as the property managers and take care of renting the units, collecting rent, lawn maintenance and general repairs. They are going to pay us $250 a month for collection the rent and getting it rented, and then an hourly rate for any additional services (painting, repairs, etc.). This should work out good for us to get some extra cash and for my parents to have someone they can trust making sure everything is running smoothly up here.

Right now the 2 units that are open are trashed. Carpets are all garbage, many holes in the walls that need to be repaired, all walls need to be painted. Also the shed and garages are full of junk and the yard is a mess. My parents, myself, MO, and both of my brothers have been working to get the units ready for renters. MO and I will not be taking over as property managers until everything is settled and in place for renters. So once all this work is completed, most months we should only have to collect rent (and mow in the summer). So far we have painted all of one of the units and taken out the old carpets. MO and I spent 3 hrs on Saturday cleaning out the large shed of garbage, tons of broken glass, a mountain of mouse droppings and 1 mouse skeleton (GROSSSSS!). I know once we have everything in shape, MO and I can keep it looking good and things should roll smoothly.

We did make $160 in Feb for helping so once we get paid for that we can add that to savings, and I am sure we will get some good hrs in for March too.

$20K Update

February 29th, 2016 at 02:49 pm

A lot of little deposits adding up! Should have rent in the next few days and be able to add another $1000!

Current Balance $14,820.00
+$25.00 My Payday to Our Savings
+$25.00 My Payday to Mom Loan Savings
+$101.00 FB Sales
+$9.00 Even Out Amount
+$90.00 Super Bowl Pull Tab Winners
Balance $15,070.00

Local Savings $3155.00
GC Savings $4245.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2235.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4185.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $15,070.00


52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 9/10 $36 (total) + $9 + $10 (deposit) =$55

FB Sales Week of 2/21/16

February 29th, 2016 at 02:41 pm

I didn't sell too many items this last week but some high ticket ones, so made $101.00! Happy to have the old microwave sold, now need to get the old fridge cleaned out and up for sale!

Sale #407 (RS) $80.00
Microwave
Sold for $80.00
Profit = $80.00

Sale #408 (AT) $20.00
Jeans from MO's closet, 2 pr
Sold for $20.00
Profit = $20.00

Sale #409 (KJ) $1.00
Old Hoodie from MO's closet
Sold for $1.00
Profit = $1.00

I cleaned out my husband's closet

February 26th, 2016 at 10:19 pm

I finally got the courage to tackle the closets. I started with MO's since he has less clothes. I went through all of his drawers and closet and took every single item out and sorted them into piles (socks, t-shirts, jeans, etc.). Then I went through each pile with MO and got rid of damaged items, things that don't fit him and clothes he just doesn't wear.

Here is how we did:

Toss
Old Jerseys - 5
Sneakers - 1
Socks - 26
Shirts - 5
Shorts - 3
Pants - 1
Sweatband - 1

Donate
Shirts - 3

Sell
Jeans - 3
Hoody - 1
Shirts - 8
Shorts - 3

We also returned a pair of shoes that he had borrowed for bball. All in all down 56 items! Wow that is a lot of stuff taking up room that we didn't need!

We have already made $26 selling items he no longer wanted!

I just barely started on my closet, hoping to be able to finish it in the next few weeks.

Debt Update 2/19/16

February 24th, 2016 at 10:06 pm

Excited about this update!

Celebrations for 2/19/16 update:
-Total debt went down $1651.02!
-Bad debt race went under the next $1000 mark!
-Total paid off for all debts passed another $1000 mark!
-We have renters in all of our places!


Student Loan $0
Payback Savings $0
David's Bridal $0
Scheel's Card $0
Total Rewards $0
LOC - US Bank $0
Ring Iddeal $0
Best Buy $2850.00
Loan from Mom $13,232.40
Store Loan $12,567.76
HELOC $28,335.76
MO Mortgage $87,711.28
My Mortgage $157,550.00
Our Mortgage $255,046.89
Total = $557,294.09

Down $1651.02 in the last 2 weeks.

Starting total was $587,351.27
$30,057.18 paid off since 6/19/15 (including downpayment on house).

We have $4160.00 in a savings account to pay off my Mom, so the amount we still owe her is $9,072.40.

$20K Update

February 22nd, 2016 at 03:36 pm

Finally time to pay for the new garage door for rental #2, so I pulled that out of savings. We also are starting to feel some effects of no OT for me and I had to pull $450.00 out of savings. I didn't adjust any of the deposits we had planned to savings so I will need to reduce some spending or put less into savings.

Current Balance $16,770.00
+$25.00 MO Payday to Our Savings
+$22.00 FB Sales
+$3.00 Even Out Amount
-$1550.00 New Garage Door for Rental #2
-$450.00 To checking to cover monthly bills
Balance $14,820.00

Local Savings $2955.00
GC Savings $4245.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2210.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4160.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $14,820.00


52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 7/8 $21 (total) + $7 + $8 (deposit) = $36

FB Sales Week of 2/14/16

February 22nd, 2016 at 02:53 pm

Total sales last week were $48.00. Still not posting much but a few items that were sold a few weeks ago were finally picked up and had some items that were posted awhile ago purchased now.

I did clean out MO's closet and got a few items from there posted and one has been picked up already, a few more should get picked up this week.

Sale #403 (DS) $20.00
Play Station - Sold for my Sister-in-Law

Sale #404 (BS) $10.00
Peanuts Chocolate Fountain - Joint with Mom
We paid $5.31 each
Sold for $10.00
Profit = $4.69

Sale #405 (AH) $4.00
Mr. Bubble, Bubble Bath (2) - Joint with Mom
We paid $1.00 each
Sold for $2.00 each
Profit = $2.00

Sale #404 (BS) $10.00
Star Wars Nutcracker - Joint with Mom
We paid $3.99 each
Sold for $7.00
Profit = $3.01

Star Wars Candy Goblet
We paid $3.18 each
Sold for $7.00 each
Profit = $3.82

Sale #405 (CC) $4.00
Physicians Formula Eyeshadow Quad (Me)
I paid .79
Sold for $4.00
Profit = $3.21

Sale #406 (DG) $5.00
Brand New Dress Shirt from MO's closet (MO)
Sold for $5.00

CVS Clearance

February 15th, 2016 at 05:50 pm

Just a few clearance grabs from CVS last week.



Yardley London Bar Soap (Bought 1)
Regular Price $1.67
-$1.26 Clearance Price
Final Price = .44 each
(Marked $1.00 for rummage sale)

Dry Idea Antiperspirant/Deodorant (Bought 2)
Regular Price $5.49
-$4.12 Clearance Price
Final Price = $1.46 each
(Marked $3.00 each for rummage sale)

$20K Update

February 15th, 2016 at 03:01 pm

Current Balance $16,700.00
+$25.00 My Payday to Our Savings
+$25.00 My Payday to Mom Loan Savings
+$6.75 FB Sales
+$12.00 Bball Money (2 games)
+$1.25 Even Out Amount
Balance $16,770.00

Local Savings $2930.00
GC Savings $6245.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2185.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4160.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $16,770.00


52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 6 $15 (total) + $6 (deposit) = $21

FB Sales Week of 2/7/16

February 15th, 2016 at 02:51 pm

Total sales last week were $16.50. I haven't had much ambition for posting for sales lately. We have a city wide rummage sale in May, so I really need to get the garage cleaned out, it still has lots of misc. boxes from moving that haven't been unpacked yet. This will be my first time having a rummage sale in the small town I moved to, I am sure it won't be anything like the big sales we had in the past in my old city, but I think we could still make some good profits here.

Sale #401 (CC) $3.50
Lip Balm Tin - Joint with Mom
We paid $1.31 each
Sold for $3.50
Profit = $2.19

Sale #402 (JL) $10.00
Peanuts Chocolate Fountain - Joint with Mom
We paid $5.31 each
Sold for $10.00
Profit = $4.69

I also sold 1 credit card reader for $3.00 for my Mom.

$20K Update - State Tax Return

February 11th, 2016 at 08:42 pm

State Refund came in today, sweet! We are definitely on track to payoff the loan we got from my Mom very early!

Current Balance $16,330.00
+$366.00 State Tax Return
+$4.00 Even Out Amount
Balance $16,700.00

Local Savings $2910.00
GC Savings $6245.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2160.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4135.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $16,700.00


52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 5 $10 (total) + $5 (deposit) = $15

$20K Update - Federal Tax Return

February 10th, 2016 at 11:43 pm

Well that feels nice. Smile

This is about 4 times more then I have ever gotten back, but with all of the expenses for the rentals it was quite hefty! Next year things will be more on track.

Current Balance $12,080.00
+$4246.00 Federal Tax Refund
+$4.00 Even Out Amount
Balance $16,330.00

Local Savings $2910.00
GC Savings $5875.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2160.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4135.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $16,330.00


52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 5 $10 (total) + $5 (deposit) = $15

CVS Clearance Body Wash/Soap

February 9th, 2016 at 03:13 pm


Since I no longer live in a town with a CVS (closest one is an hr away) it is really hard for me to do deals with EBs because I may not get back in there in time to use them. So for the most part I have been avoiding EB deals and just watching for clearance. I stopped in Saturday when I was in town for the arm wrestling tourney and found a lot of 75% clearance items in the soap/body wash aisle so added these to my inventory.

These will all be joint cost/split profit with my Mom.

Caress Body Wash (Bought 3)
Regular Price $5.99
-$4.50 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $1.59
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 on FB on 7/4/16
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 on FB on 8/22/16
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 on FB on 4/9/17
Profit = $7.23

Olay Anti-Aging Body Wash (Bought 3)
Regular Price $10.79
-$8.10 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $2.86
(Marked $6.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $6.00 on FB on 12/25/16
*ETA - Sold 1 for $6.00 at 5/5/17 rummage sale

Olay Ultra Moisture Bar Soap 2pk (Bought 2)
Regular Price $3.79
-$2.85 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $1.00
(Marked $2.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.00 each at 5/5/17 rummage sale
Profit = $2.00

Yardley Bath Bar (Bought 4)
Regular Price $1.67
-$1.26 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $.44
(Marked $1.00 each for rummage sale)

Lever 2000 Bar Soap 8pk (Bought 2)
Regular Price $6.49
-$4.87 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $1.73
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 on FB on 7/24/16
*ETA - Sold 1/2 pack for $2.00 on FB on 8/22/16
*ETA - The other 1/2 of this pack my Dad wanted, he paid me for what I paid for it, .87.
Profit = $3.41

Mr. Bubble - Bubble Bath (Bought 2)
Regular Price $3.79
-$2.85 Clearance Price
Final Price including tax = $1.00
(Marked $2.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.00 each on FB on 2/14/16
Profit = $2.00

Colgate Max Fresh (Bought 1)
Regular Price $3.79
-$.79 Sale Price
-$2.50 CVS CMC
Final Price including tax = .68
(Marked $2.50 each for rummage sale)

Jet.com Deals

February 8th, 2016 at 09:17 pm


I got a few items from jet.com again. I am not sure if I will keep all of these or sell some.

Dove Beauty Bar 8pk (Bought 5, 1 not pictured)
Regular Price $8.79
Sale Price $6.99

Cascade Action Packs 60ct (Bought 3)
Regular Price $11.29
Sale Price $6.99

-$2.47 Multi-item disount
-$5.28 10% off Promo Flyer
+Free Shipping!

Total = $48.17!!

Just $6.02 per item! I am really enjoying the jet.com site, especially the free shipping!

I quit pop

February 8th, 2016 at 08:19 pm

Yesterday was my last day with pop. I am sad! I love Coke and am definitely an addict but I just can't see those pics and vids on FB anymore that show how much sugar I am drinking everyday! I have previously quit pop many times before and would only allow myself to have it as a treat (going to movies, road trips, etc.) but then once I got that treat then I would just crave it so bad again and end up going back to my old ways of having pop everyday. So this time I am just quitting completely. No more excuses, just done with it. Hoping this will help us save a little $$$ as well as help me shed some lbs, swimsuit season is coming up fast!

Update on Food Wasting Challenge

February 8th, 2016 at 04:13 pm

I cleaned out the fridge to make room for Super Bowl goodies and I had to finally let some things go that I no longer considered edible.

Here is what I have tossed so far in 2016:

26oz of expired skim milk
1/2 qt heavy cream
Small box of breakfast sausages (I believe 6ct)
2 teeny tiny peppers
1/4 Family Size Container Chobani Yogurt

Still pretty happy with how this is going as I am paying a lot more attention to what we are using or having to toss. I am going to suggest to MO to get smaller size milk from now on. The heavy cream was kind of a fluke as we do not normally keep that on hand and it was bought for a recipe. I tried to find something else to put it in, but didn't find anything I especially wanted to make before it turned non-liquidy...ewwww.

Making sure to stay on top of the dairy and produce.

Update on Flood Plain Situation

February 8th, 2016 at 04:01 pm

I had mentioned a few weeks ago that we were having to get Rental #1 surveyed. The small town we live in had not had a new survey done in something like 25 years, and when they did a new one this year it showed part of our Rental Property was in the flood plain, and we received a notice that we would now need to purchase flood insurance (est. extra $2K per year!). So our options were to purchase the flood insurance, or if we didn't agree with the city survey, we could have one done solely on our property and have to pay the costs to prove that we were not on the flood plain (and risk being wrong and having to pay for the survey AND the insurance).

Well MO decided it was worth the risk and great news it came back that we are NOT in the flood zone, so we don't have to purchase the additional insurance! Plus if we ever sell the property that will be a huge benefit to have the paperwork showing that the property isn't in the flood zone. We do have to pay the $1200 for the survey, which stinks, but def worth it to not have to pay an additional $2K per year!

I put the cost of the survey on our Discover Card so we get the cash back bonus on it and we will have to take that money out of savings when that bill is due at the end of March.

$20K Update - It's SNOWING!

February 8th, 2016 at 03:38 pm

We had to take the money out of savings for the property taxes on both of our rentals (neither of them is escrowed), but that was planned for and expected, so we are just happy we have the money there to use it when needed. Smile Plus the bill was actually $2266 for Rental #2, but we are only having to take out $1800 from checking because we had enough in savings to cover the rest!

But in fun news, we have all kinds of snowflakes this week!

I worked an arm wrestling tourney for my Dad this week and made $50.

We also won $ for Super Bowl pools. We did one at our Super Bowl Party, put in $60, won $60 (so I will put the $60 in savings since it was already considered "spent") and MO had one with some friends, put in $20, won $120! Sweet! MO also won $90 more through a bar, but we haven't received that money yet so I won't be adding that until we actually receive it.

Plus FB sales, and Bball money (2 games this week). I love seeing those snowflakes add up!


Current Balance $14,705.00
+$25.00 MO Payday to Our Savings
+$12.00 Bball Savings
+$5.00 FB Sales
+$60.00 Super Bowl Win (Our House)
+$120.0 Super Bowl Win (MO friends)
+$50.00 Arm Wrestling Work
+$3.00 Even Out Amount
-$1800.00 Property Taxes Rental #1
-$1100.00 Property Taxes Rental #2
Balance $12,080.00

Local Savings $2910.00
GC Savings $1625.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $2160.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4135.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $12,080.00



52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 5 $10 (total) + $5 (deposit) = $15

FB Sales Week of 2/1/16 - My 400th Sale!!

February 8th, 2016 at 03:01 pm

Busy all week preparing for a Super Bowl Party so I didn't post much for sale, but a few items were picked up.

Sale #399 (JS) $7.00
Star Wars Nut Cracker - Joint with Mom
We paid $3.99 each
Sold for $7.00 each
Profit = $3.01

Sale #400 (MI) $2.00
Burts Bees Cocoa Mint Lip Balm - Joint with Mom
We paid $.87 each (Free for me on CVS GC)
Sold for $2.00
Profit = $1.13

I also sold 5 Kitchen Shears for my Mom (6 @ $5) = $30.00

Debt Update - 2/5/16

February 8th, 2016 at 02:36 pm

Celebrations for 1/22/16 update:
-Total debt went down $366.41!
-Bad debt race went under the next $1000 mark!
-Total paid off for all debts passed another $1000 mark!
-We have renters in all of our places!


Student Loan $0
Payback Savings $0
David's Bridal $0
Scheel's Card $0
Total Rewards $0
LOC - US Bank $0
Ring Iddeal $0
Best Buy $2900.00
Loan from Mom $13,232.40
Store Loan $12,679.21
HELOC $28,583.33
MO Mortgage $87,881.72
My Mortgage $157,890.00
Our Mortgage $255,412.04
Total = $558,578.70

Down $366.41 in the last 2 weeks.

Starting total was $587,351.27
$28,772.57 paid off since 6/19/15 (including downpayment on house).

We have $4135.00 in a savings account to pay off my Mom, so the amount we still owe her is $9,097.40.

$20K Update with Casino Win!

February 1st, 2016 at 07:45 pm

Trying to not get too excited seeing savings this high as I know a lot will be paid out in bills very soon. But for now it makes me happy! Smile The casino win was a big help, and also had some rent money and some little snowflakes here and there to add in.

Going forward we should be able to put $600 a month from Rental #1, and $400 a month from one of the guys living in our basement into savings. We can pay all of our bills without that income so we will be putting those in savings every month for now.

We also filed our taxes and we are getting back $4600! Hoping to see that in the next few weeks as well!

Current Balance $11,910.00
+$25.00 My Payday to Our Savings
+$25.00 My Payday to Mom Loan Savings
+$18.00 Bball Savings
+$11.00 FB Sales
+$1.00 Even Out Amount
+$5.00 Nielsen Survey
+$600.00 Rental #2
+$400.00 Rent from basement
+$1700.00 Casino Win
+$4.32 Cap360 Interest
+$5.68 Even Out Amount
Balance $14,705.00

Local Savings $2660.00
GC Savings $3425.00
Capital 360 Savings (US) $3235.00
Capital 360 Savings (Mom Payback Account)$4135.00
Capital 360 Savings (Rental Deposit Account) $1250.00
Total Savings = $14,705.00


We have also been trying to pay some of the bigger weeks on the 52 week challenge so that the end isn't so tough on us. I'm not sure how I want to track that so I am just going to keep tracking weekly even though there is actually more in there then it shows.
52 Week Challenge
2015 - Week 52 = $1378
2016 - Week 4 $6 (total) + $4 (deposit) = $10

We won $2K at the casino!

February 1st, 2016 at 04:08 pm



MO and I went to the casino this weekend to celebrate finally having full renters in my old house. We weren't doing too well so decided to just call it a night early. On the way to the room MO saw one more game he wanted to play so we stopped and it let us play for a long time which was nice. It was 10 hand deuces wild, and we got dealt a Natural Royal Flush, betting .25 a hand, which pays $200 a hand! So 10 hands x $200 per hand = $2000! We were so excited!! After that we played a bit more and ended up coming home up $1770! We will put the money in savings for a very short time then use it to pay my property tax bill at my old house (rental #2). Cheers!

FB Sales Week of 1/24/16

February 1st, 2016 at 03:17 pm

I was super busy this week with going to MO's bball games that he coaches, and also getting the house ready for a Super Bowl party, so I didn't work on sales too much. Total sales were $28.75.


Sale #396 (CC) $4.00
Physicians Formula Eye Shadow Quad
I paid .79 each
Sold for $4.00 each
Profit = $3.21

Sale #397 (BZ) $9.00
POP Nail Polish Kits (3)- Joint with Mom
We paid $1.31 each
Sold for $3.00 each
Profit = $5.07

Sale #398 (KK) $5.00
Schick Mens Disposable Razors - Joint with Mom
We paid $2.36 each
Sold for $5.00 each
Profit = $2.64

I also sold $10.75 worth of Children's Books for my Mom.