Miz Pat's Personal Finance Blog

My 23 year old nephew has the habit of frugality. I told him that even though he can't find full time work, he is in the place to start planning for the future, so this weekend, he started a Vanguard Roth IRA in one of the SP500 accounts.

I wish I had done that when I was his age, but I'm so proud of him for doing it now. He's already better at figuring out all the nomenclature on their site and made his selection within a few hours with some study.

I explained since he is paying very little for rent - $240 a month to me, and I'm paying for food for all of us, this is the time to start his funding for future. His little nest egg will have years to grow. He is also signed up at work for a 401K and has started saving in that too.

I wish they taught classes on this in highschool. Instead we send kids out to get jobs and they waste all their money on electronic toys and end up with nothing but debt.

He already has the habit of savings, and now he has a goal. I'm so pleased for him.

Got a big income tax refund, because nephew #1 hasn't had a job in two years, so I declared him a dependent. $3550. $3K for long term care insurance, $500 for Church and $50 to short term savings.

Got a rebate from American Express - I pay full balance every month. Got $174 back. This will pay for my costco membership, also a bunch of groceries (including dog food for the rescue shelter), and another $40 in savings.

And then Boss called me in and gave me a 3% raise! With things so harsh in the job market, I was very glad. The extra savings will go into long term savings.

Staters had half hams for 88 cents a lb. and man was it yummy. I may buy another. On the other hand, the spiral cut hams seem to be a fail on the nephew enjoyment scale. I have one in the freezer - may give it to Martha's kitchen or the local shelter.

Mortgage is almost down to $80K. Paying ahead as much as possible monthly - usually $270 a month.

I'll be 60 years old in July. Retirement is staring me in the eye. I plan to retire (God willing and as He wills) when I'm 68 but who knows. I hope to keep in better shape. I'm trying to walk 10000 steps a day.

Nephew #2 is a good saver and he socks it away in the bank. Nephew #1 is unemployed, but boy is he a blessing buying groceries, not to mention good cook.

Staters had their annual turkey sale, where you can get a turkey for 57 cents per pound if you buy $25 in groceries.

I stocked up on items that were on sale that we use, like diced tomatoes, tuna, apples (we were out), and got some of the Thanksgiving specials like a frozen turtle pie and fancy coffee creamer that I rarely buy because of the expense but bought because it was at a much better price.

I got a 21 pound turkey and had a time of it struggling it into the cart. They said only one to a family, and I'm trying to decide if I should find another Staters and stock up on another turkey there.

My cupboards are full of tomatoes, flour, tuna, soup, and good things, and I feel a little like Laura Ingalls Wilder in the Big Woods at Harvest. Its Stock Up Time!

And then Nephew announces he might have to work all day on Thanksgiving. So I told him we would have Thanksgiving on Friday. Yikes.

I am making a goal to put more money on my mortgage. I have already paid down $10,000 on the mortgage from $92K to $82K but its not enough if I want it paid off for my retirement. Since I'm 59 and I'm hoping to work until I'm 66 and a half, I still won't have it paid off. I'm keeping a spreadsheet on my computer at home now tracking how much is on the principle and how much I have paid down. I am also thinking about putting most of my income tax refund into the mortgage as well. In the past I used it for home improvements, but I think I can put it into the mortgage instead until I feel I have defeated the mortgage dragon beast.

Take care you guys. I hope this holiday season is one of blessings and not of commercialism induced stress.

Life is good. Had a great Halloween and got lots of extra goodies at a work place halloween party to take home. Nephews doing well.

I don't usually cook pork, but I notice that the price of pork is coming down at times and roasts seem reasonable. Does anyone have recommendations for doing a good pork roast for my raving appetites?

This year I got $80 in Von's cards for groceries from car pooling - Got the money months ago and Von's was having a very rare sale on boneless, skinless chicken breast for $2/lb. I got 40 lbs of it and we just finished it off, so I'm keeping an eye peeled for inexpensive meats (and hopefully another chicken sale).

Of course, with Thanksgiving coming, I'm hoping for sales on Turkey and hams. I have a standup freezer that I have cleaned up and ready for turkey and hams, and other meats on sale.

I never got any of my rescue dogs their license. I have 6 rescue dogs currently.

The dog Gestapo came a calling and wanted my nephew to show them their licenses. They gave him a correctable citation for $3500 that we have 20 days to get them all their shots (they have them but are due on many of them in July), get microchipped (theyy are but I have to prove they are microchipped - $25/dog), fixed (they are all fixed but I have to prove it too), and then pay past due fees for never getting licenses.

They are going all over the county to poor neighborhoods and doing this, causing a lot of poor people to have their dogs put to sleep or worse, to abandon them in the desert.

I found out I can only have 4 dogs, but am hoping they will let me have them all - Since this appears to be a way of getting tons of money and killing off little innocent creatures.

I have uptodate records on the two latest rescue dogs, but I can't find my stuff on the other 4, so this is going to be an expense, but its my own fault for never getting the licenses.

And oh the stress of knowing I was in the wrong. but now my life of crime is over and my doggies will be legal.

What a week.

This gripe session brought to you by Miz Pat

He starts working inventory at Target from 4 am to 8 a.m. part-time.

He is so excited.

And then, he got a call for an interview at Home Depot for a job that would not screw up his early morning schedule. This is great!

Nephew #1 is kind of bummed he doesn't have a job yet, but he is working on it and that counts. Plus, he's driving everyone to and from work.

I am so enjoying both of them. Nephew #1 cooks (pizza from scratch that is divine!), and they are such good company. We like doing inexpensive day trips, and hikes and they both are frugal.

God is so good!

Nephew #2 is here and I am so happy. They are such nice intelligent young men. We took them to our favorite Mexican restaurante for carne asada and he loved it. I love seeing where I live through new eyes. He thinks the desert is beautiful, and was excited seeing palm trees.

We stocked up on groceries, and I purchased 2 folding chairs and a laundry basket (we were running out of chairs).

So far, I haven't destroyed this month's budget either. We are eating healthy foods and Nephew #1 is a better cook than I am. He made pizza from scratch and it was wonderful.

Nephew #2 is the one who made me very proud financially. He called me when he got his first job and asked how much he should save, like 20%. I told him, if you are living at home, after you give your Mom and Dad money to help out, you stick 90% in the bank and save $10K and then put it in a safe long term investment fund. You will have started to save for retirement and you will have learned to save. That this may be his biggest opportunity to get started on good finances, when he's still at home and doesn't have a house and car to pay for.

And he did just that - he saved $10,000. I am so proud of him. Today he is checking out banks in the area.

It is exciting to hear both of them talking and laughing. And the dogs like him alot. They barked initially, but follow him around and jump on his lap and demand scritches.

If it is appropriate for you, please say a little prayer for a young man who is shy and trying to find his first real job. If not, think good thoughts for him.

I'm so excited and hopeful!

Where I worked had a huge power failure, so I was told not to go into work. Thank God for Personal Time, so I can get paid for off time. Then I tried to start the car and it was dead. Then they asked me to come in and the head of HR came to my house to pick me up. I sent the car to my dealership with nephew and called in my credit car information to them. Nephew paid the dealership. I spent $65 on the jump (YIKES), $159 on the new battery (Paid too much but now I have a working car), was at work from 9 to 115 p.m. working off generators and it turned out they didn't really need me, although I got a lot of ideas to prepare for the next massive problem and was happy to help. We also went and bought donuts for everyone and I resisted the temptation! I've lost 15 lbs. and I want to continue losing till I've lost another 7 lbs.

Dealership told me that my radiator is cracking and I need a new one. I'm hoping to run it in on Friday and have it checked at a radiator specialist first - but I expect to have to spend $600 on a radiator. Yiiyiiyi, but I'm so glad I can pay for it all.


Nephew came to pick me up at work and told me that he tried to buy gas at a shell station and was told he owed $40 bucks and was given no gas. They told him he selected cash. He told them he got no gas. He finally argued them down to $10 and left and found a better gas station. Sounded like a massive scam to me. I can't believe any gas station would let you pump and then expect payment.

I took him out to lunch $12 at a little Mexican restaurant near work where they make the best carne asada burritos in the universe.

Then I came home and took a luxury nap!!! What a wild day.

I survived the layoff.

Company general assembly at 9:30 a.m.

Still in shock - so many good people were let go, some with many years of service. I'm still not sure of the number.

And my sister emailed me and asked if my other nephew could come and stay with me. I told her yes, of course.

I also told her I'm running out of bedroom space. Ben and I discussed moving our desks into our bedrooms and making the office into a bedroom. Cal plans to come in October.

He has a degree, work experience and references, so he has better chances at getting work.

We subcontract to the Army so we're losing business and today so far 6 people I know are gone. Say a prayer or think good thoughts for me.

I take my babies to animal samaritans for shots, and everyone is due around the same time. So I decided to save on gas, and kidnap nephew and 4 dogs and get the dogs their shots.

1) Nephew vs labby drool and head licking
2) 4 panting dogs trying to break into the front seat
3) 4 whining dogs when they realized this wasn't walkies
4) Mad escape attempt at the door of the clinic
5) One small chihueenie and a leash ties up 2 chairs, a nephew and 3 other dogs
6) Bella pees all over her leash because they were going to cut her nails

We did save money on the shots and the gasoline, but the nephew may never be the same.

I found out there is a web site called whitefence.com that lets you check for bundled or non-bundled deals on internet, cable, phone, and utilities. I just called my cable company and cut my base price down from $160 to $122 a month for 1 year by negotiating with them about better pricing. I am so excited. I have basic tv cable, but I really need the phone service and internet, so WOOT.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm 57 and my feet hurt after an 11 hour day. So this weekend I hesitantly went and purchased shoes that cost $118 each. This is the first time I have purchased new shoes that didn't hurt horribly the first day and make my feet break out in blisters.

I used my Birthday budget, which generally goes for things like clothing,

Beloved Nephew made 4 pizzas from scratch and invited our Neighbor to eat with us on Saturday. They were glorious. Eating leftover pizza is FUN! We had the last pieces yesterday.

I am a month ahead on Mortgage payments. I don't pay it right away, because I'm afraid the bank would screw up receiving a payment too soon. When I get to the point where I'm 2 months ahead (slowly, slowly but surely), then the Extra Payment will turn into an all principal payment and I'll still be a month ahead.

My savings for house and car repairs is coming in handy too. I have $4K saved and I need to spend about 1.5K on work on my 2000 Honda Civic. I'm very pleased, and the rest of the money may end up in a small CD or go to my other bank where I'm saving for Major Improvements (i have an old stove still in the kitchen - built-in that I want ripped out and made into a pantry).

I have started a diet through work called Naturally Slim - I have been on it 2 weeks and have lost 6 lbs. - WOOHOO!