Joe…are you listening? I’m getting there thanks to you!
by iowenomore
August was a crazy month! My middle son helped me tremendously this past month. When I bought my house, the one that’s out of state, we were all sooo excited to live in it. It’s 3000 square feet and just beautiful! It was the 1st house I ever bought. I obtained it through USDA/FHA. They had a program for single parents with strings attached. I had to have a full time job, which I had 2 and somehow acquired my B.S. degree at the same time, and I had to have really good credit, which I did. Trust me when I say that just because you have a college degree doesn’t always mean you are smart. I’m living proof of that. I bought this house back in 1996 and I was paying 7.5% interest. It was 9 years old, really beautiful and believe it or not, I bought it for $54,000.00. There is only 1 neighborhood, so there is no such thing as the good side of the tracks. Very small town. Great place to raise kids but unless you’re a farmer or rancher, you’re not making money. Hence the 2 jobs. But even with those 2 jobs, I wasn’t making much at all. And because of my income, my payment was reduced to $269.00 a month. That’s what I paid for years. I ended up leaving that house and moving out of state for a good job. Because I did that, my mortgage payment went up to the full price of $535.00 a month. I was able to afford that and more but stupidly didn’t pay more on it. Now it’s 16 years later, and after my son looked into the payoff, I still owed $47,000.00 I finally knew the full price I owed and wanted to scream. Instead, I put my big girl panties on and took out a loan to pay it off. It was approved of 2 days ago and yesterday I made my last payment to USDA/FHA. Hooray!!
My son was up there with his wife adding to it. Brand new carpeting, tiled floors, new bathtubs/showers, sinks and toilets in the bathrooms, new kitchen cabinets, all new black kitchen appliances, central air to go with the central heat I already had, all brand new doors with key pads and the inside & outside painted. They also just finished the wrap around deck as well. I am dying to see it but I told my son not to send pictures. I would sooo love to live in that house, but I also hate the below zero weather in the winters. It also doesn’t go with my retirement plans in 3 years.
So now my house is ready to sell but my son flew out to Ireland to watch the Notre Dame/Navy game and will be there for a week or so. As soon as he gets back, it’s going on the market. He thinks he can get at least $150,000.00 for it but he’s going for more. Our bad economy hasn’t effected that state at all so I’m hoping it will sell before the end of the year. I’m totally psyched!! That’ll be one expense gone with just the school loan left! If he gets at least $150,000.00 for it, I can pay off my school loan! And then the rest can go into an IRA or something.
Joe…are you listening? I’m getting there thanks to you!! I know I haven’t been around lately, but I did just get caught up on your blog. It’s 4:25am right now and as soon as I’m finished with this post I’m heading over to amazon to buy this….
It can be purchased here….http://www.amazon.com/More-Harvard-Debt-Destroying-ebook/dp/B00929U3RU/ref=la_B008LFHTLO_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346037508&sr=1-2 for anyone that somehow miraculously happened upon this blog before Joe’s.
Oh come onnnnnnn…WHO am I KIDDING?! That wouldn’t happen!
Remember how I said that at the end of this year I was going on a cruise to Puerto Rico? That’s not happening. You Joe…it’s all because of you. I mean really, where do I get off going on a “free” cruise for 7 days? This “free” cruise was going to cost me a small fortune! The 2 bedroom suite on the ship was free, but I would have had to fly to Puerto Rico to the tune of over 2 grand, plus the cost of any excursions, a passport, only because I wouldn’t have wanted to carry my birth certificate around which would have been required had I not gotten a passport, the cost of buying gifts and trinkets at every port and I’m sure there are many other costs I didn’t think of since I’ve never been on a cruise. The friend of mine that wanted me to go with her is such a sweetheart for inviting me to go, but this year I just can’t do it. I don’t want to be on this big beautiful ship knowing that every penny I spent could have gotten me to a debt free retirement. I can cruise when I retire! I felt bad when I told her I wasn’t going to be able to go. I haven’t heard from her since then. I feel really bad but I don’t want the sale of my house to make me lose focus and think that I have this in the bag, you know? I want the debts IN the bag, sewn up tight and gone forever before I spend that kind of money on a trip. Am I wrong for disappointing my friend like that?
So I have to tell you guys…I love my Kindle Fire. It was a gift. I totally love the indie writers. I wrote a book that will be up on amazon & smashwords very soon which I’m excited about. But that’s not what this is about. So I bought this woman’s book on smashwords for my Kindle. I “met” her on facebook along with a ton of other indie writers. One day on facebook she was talking about how she had 9 people edit her newest book so that it was perfect. As soon as I started reading it I saw a mistake. I figured she would want to know about it so I told her. She was pissed! She said, “There is NO way you found a mistake! I just had 9 people edit that book! You must have the old version.” She then asked me which version I had, the new or old. How was I to know? Anyways, she figured out I had the newer version because I had gotten it on Smashwords not amazon and that made her even more mad! But then she asked me where the mistake was so I told her. She fixed it and I never heard from her again. I wasn’t looking for a thank you or anything, I really wasn’t, it’s just that now she acts like I don’t exist.
Some people just really amaze me.
Glad to see you post again. You are knocking it out! the car the house. Great job!!there will be more opportunities for trips. Guilt free trips! What is the topic for your book?
Thanks Cathy! I love the sound of a guilt free trip! You know, I felt REALLY bad when I told her that I wasn’t going to go. It bothers me that I still haven’t heard from her. She must be really really mad.
The first book is about infidelity and revenge. It has taken me over a year to write it. It’s different stories about it. But the next one won’t be about that. I’ve been working on 3 different ones at the same time and finally had to just concentrate on one at a time. *lol*
Hi, we’ve been conversing a lot on Joe’s blog so I thought I’d come here and say what’s up! Good progress so far, can’t wait to read your book.
I died laughing at your response on Joe’s blog about him looking like a gladitor (which he did) and also when you said it won’t work out between him and April. *lol* What is gchat? And do you think April reads his blog?
Yeah April seems too high maintenance and materialistic for him. If on the off chance they do end up together it will be hard to take his blog seriously from now on unless she shows a huge change. I wondered the same thing about whether she reads his blog or not. She’d probably think his blog is boring though….haha.
Someone else said that they wouldn’t be able to take him seriously if he’s still dating April on one of his blog posts. Poor guy, I hope there’s a nice, like minded girl for him out there. If they are still dating, I doubt they’ll end up together forever (and if they do, it’ll be to spite us all!).
I agree, I think she’s very high maintenance. There’s no way it could work out. She likes spendy vacations, he knows how to have fun without that kind of expense. I think his frugality would piss her off sooner rather than later. He can do lots better than her.
My response showed up in rosies post. I wish I were more high tech! Hey rosie..he deserves someone sooo much better. He’s just too nice for her. And has his shit together wayy more than she ever will. Like minded..you nailed it. That’s what he should have.
1. I’m sure your friend will understand eventually and get over it.
2. That author is a jerk. She was probably embarrassed with how she reacted that rather than acknowledging you did her a favor, it was probably easier to act like nothing ever happened.
3. Sounds like you’re coming along nicely! Keep it going girl!
4. Gchat is the instant messenger on Google. You can converse via instant messaging or webcam.
Hi rosiedancer! I finally heard from her today and she’s not mad. Yayy!
I think you’re right about that author being a jerk. She writes books that are a lot like the Twilight shows/books and I’m just not into that.
I have to force myself to stay focused on the end result of being debt free for retirement, otherwise I will pack a suitcase and move back home! *lol* I am dying to see what my house looks like but I’m not going to. Not yet. I’ll wait until it sells. Debt free by retirement…it really makes me smile just to think about it!
Thanks for the help with gchat! I’ll have to check it out!
Rosie, if you want to join our chat session my screen name is smanukonda. Take care!
Ok…I signed up for this gchat but have no clue how to use it. *lol*
Did you watch the latest episode? What did you think? My gchat keeps disconnecting me so I can’t get on.
I watched it! I felt his pain, he obviously felt hurt, but I think he can do much better than April. She may be pretty and driven, but boy, what a bipolar personality!
I never saw the prettiness. All I saw was that nose! I couldn’t get past that thing!
I’m wondering if that gchat is what gave me a virus? My son spent the last 2 days fixing my computer. Sooo happy he is a genius with these computers! Yes, I watched it just now. Joe is better off without her. I felt sorry for him but he’ll be just fine moving on away from miss material girl.
Totally felt his pain, too. But he kept talking about how there was this amazing connection between them I’m confused because I only saw them bicker. He can do better, you’re right. Her personality is really annoying.
They kept on talking about the physical attraction to each; I never saw much of a deeper connection beyond that. the last episode there was definitely a lot of bickering, but don’t forget about the magic of editing. They probably edited it that way so when she gave her decision, people would “get it.”
And then she acted like the other guy got such a prize when she chose him. Whatever! He better have a great job because she’s going to be expensive! I somehow think when she said, “We’re not on the same team” to Joe, what she really meant was..”You make much too much sense when you talk about finances and if I choose you, then I can’t have my way every single second and I’ll argue with you forever about wasting money on spendy vacays, manicures and pedicures.”
What she should be asking herself is:… Which plastic surgeon can take more than half of this nose away so I can see what the heck I’m doing!
The other dude is a pro golfer, so he probably makes some decent money.
IONM, you’re making me really glad I got a nose job a few months ago, lol! But she was pretty in my opinion- long blonde hair, nice skin, slender. I don’t begrudge him from being physically attracted to her. I do think she needs to reexamine the whole fashionista thing, I mean, she wore some nasty sneakers with that dress when she went to let him down. Horrible taste!
Yeah I think she’d be pretty if she got a nose job. I feel bad saying that cos I realize I’m not exactly Heidi Klum or anything…lol. She has a nice figure and is physically pretty. So the physical connection was definitely there but, as Joe said, “that’s not even half.”
I get that she dumped Joe, and the whole not wanting to compete w/ the person she loves thing. I think she felt like he was judging her unfairly at times like when he said “we need to get your financial house in order”
@IONM sorry if gchat gave you a virus
@Rosie totally hear you about the Nikes w/ that dress but I think she’s a spokesperson for Nike or something so maybe she had to wear them? Who knows.
Rosie…I only speak of what I know. I, too, had one. *lol* So I don’t think I’m being judgmental, just honest. And I have to agree about those ugly shoes with a dress! And she’s supposedly a pro in the fashion business?
Even if she were a spokesman for Nike…wearing them with a dress? And then what was up with that last turn around as she was walking away to look at him? If she thought he was judging her unfairly about her financial house, then she just proves how materialistic she really is. The other one is a pro golfer? Doesn’t exactly scream stable job to me but I don’t golf. But if he’s pro…he may be famous somehow? Or become famous? Maybe that’s it…they’re both “pros”, both superficial. I really think she was more attracted to Joe but scared of cleaning her house financially. It would have never worked. They would have always fought about money.
I know some pro golfers, and their stable paycheck comes from running golf courses and private instruction. In fact, I’m not really sure either of the pros I know competed like we see on TV.
I don’t know anything about golf. It looks boring to me so I had no idea how they made their money. Hope he has a ton of clients!
Have you talked about your side biz yet? Hope you’re doing well
Did you ever receive that button in the mail?
I just got the buttons today and I am working on them in Paint! This is fun! *lol* As soon as I’m done I’ll take pics and put them up here.
Congratulations, for you are almost there!! Wish you a very happy, stress-free life ahead!
Cheers!
Thank you very much Prem!