Cottage Countdown

LeighofMar

Done a couple of money shuffles in the past 2 weeks. Previous OP was $318.60 bringing balance to $32,221.00 and today's OP is $90.58 to bring it to the next payment # on the amortization schedule 235/360. Balance is $32,130.82 and June of 2035 is paid off, yay!!! We have had some decent work lately, which has been good. DH and I inspected a house in our neighborhood that we like the idea of renovating for sale. An old Craftsman-style bungalow. We love old homes. So much charm and character. We will see if the owner would like to sell it. If not, I'm sure we'll find something. And it will be nice to get into this line of work full-time as DH was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his hands. We'd like to get us to the point where if his hand hurts too much to use his tools, at least he can still delegate and oversee projects without hurting himself. 

Other pots are slowly but surely building up. 
House maint/repair fund $900/$2000 min
Efund $3100/no cap
General savings $11,530/no cap
Transcription pot this month $225.00. Hope for $250-300 by next Thursday.

That's about it. Garden work has begun now that the temperatures are beautifully mild and sunny. We did weed and feed, mosquito sprayed the front and back, and planted in some window boxes that I was able to get for $3.40 each on sale. They give wonderful curb appeal and I hope the pansies that I got on clearance for $1.00 each will be happy and bloom and give some beautiful color to the front. Now to weed and feed the rest of the backyard and I'll be done. Today is a good day for sitting on the back deck enjoying the sun. 

savingholmes

Window boxes sound lovely. We had quite a sunny day today. 10 degrees centigrade out which is good compared to the frost and snow we had 2 weeks ago that saw lakes, rivers and seas freezing.

LeighofMar

Payday today. I paid the monthly mortgage payment for April and balance is now into the 31Ks, yay! $31,926.02. I should be able to tidy the $26.02 next week. It hit me today that I paid the payment for 7/2035. My mortgage ends December 2045. So only 9.5 years of mortgage left on the schedule. I'm so excited considering I'm trying to pay it off in the next 2 to 3 years. If I can pay off 20 years in 5, surely I can pay the last 9.5 years in 2 or 3. 
Money shuffle completed. Retirement accounts contributed to $520.00 each. House fund received $100. I've made it to the $1000 mark there. Goal is minimum 2k. Efund received $16.00 and is at $3100.00. I'm happy with that. Saved 50% of the medical insurance premium of $238.00. And general savings received $65.00 to make an even $11,600.00. My goal for this account is infinite as if the time comes and our mortgage balance is low enough to pay it off with savings, I want a good amount of savings left behind. Sometimes I want so badly to just take it all and put it on the mortgage now, but I know that wouldn't be responsible as I'd still owe 20k and then have no substantial savings. Sigh. I guess a little more patience is needed. 

Work is going well. We've noticed we're a little busier these days. Somebody just called 30 min ago and wants us to check out their house because the bulbs in the fixtures seem to constantly go out. So we're off to take a look after lunch. I don't mind the cold, but not the gas bill. After this last cold snap, it's up to $175.00. Mild sunny weather is ahead, and we are ready for it. And I cashed out my transcription today $305.00. I'm very pleased with that and hope to be able to continue doing that on my downtime. 

Well, tonight will be simple gluten-free spaghetti and meat sauce with ground turkey. Groceries have been ordered for the next 2 weeks at $150.00. I know I'll need some other odds and ends so I will try to keep it within budget and only spend $50.00. It's just my special food is always so darn expensive. Gluten-free bread rolls, frozen cauli crusts are $6.00 to $9.00. So frustrating, but it's better than being sick, I suppose. 

Time for a sit-down in the sunshine. Enjoy the coming weekend all!

LeighofMar

Flower boxes up and pansies already seem happy and ready for spring. 

savingholmes

Love the pansies. You are making great progress with mortgage and savings. 

LeighofMar

Glorious week of weather. I am loving the sunshine and my bubbling fountain with all my dormant plants waking up and sprouting. 

25.00 cash back from my CC applied to the mortgage and then I swept another 21.02 to bring the balance to an even 31,880.00. 

Work has been exploding. We looked at an investment property and made an offer but the seller wanted more. That's ok though. I'm fine with waiting and saving more in the business coffers to really do our own project from start to finish. We applied for a business LoC but due to COVID, they're not accepting apps for unsecured credit lines right now. So I guess it's still up to me to make the business savings grow and still managing our day to day. 

Going to sit outside and heckle DH while he cleans his work van. Enjoy the weekend. 

savingholmes

Glad you are having sun. Fountain sounds lovely. Mostly rain here right now with occasional sun.

LeighofMar

An OP of $365.00 was made today and it moved us two more payments ahead. We are now on payment 238/360 and September of 2035 is paid. Mortgage balance is $31,515.00. All other pots have been attended to. Efund received the $16.00. I put $238.00 for the medical ins premium in its pot for the payment of $477.00 that's due every first of the month. House fund received $100.00 and general savings received $60.00. I do need to have my car looked at, but I haven't been feeling well enough to take it to the mechanic, and DH is so busy, he does not have time to tend to my car too. So it will have to wait a bit until I feel up to it. And I hope to get my eyes examined soon. I've been saying that for 2 years now and my glasses are so scratched up, there's no saving them. I don't look forward to the new prescription as they make me sick to my stomach while adjusting, but I might take some Dramamine this time before putting them on. Work is going well, almost on the border of insane as we keep getting calls, but there's only one DH, so we're trying to schedule everything so he doesn't get too frazzled. Otherwise, it's a good problem to have. The sun is peeking out after overnight thunderstorms, which I love, so it's time to sit on the deck and catch a ray or two. 

savingholmes

Glasses are an essential. I would prioritise that way above OP. You are damaging your eyes otherwise.

LeighofMar

You're right SH. I have the money to do them. But with COVID, appointments are hard to get and since I haven't been feeling well and my health is unpredictable, I can't make an appointment and then not be able to keep it. Chronic illness sucks. But that is my goal. I'm hoping to feel better and then I will make an appointment and get these eyes checked thoroughly and get new glasses. I'm looking forward to seeing clearly again, despite the terrible adjustment period I go through whenever I get new ones. Ugh. 

Today looks like another beautiful day. Time to sit out in the garden a bit. Have a lovely weekend all.