You do get second chances-- at credit cards.
That Southwest CC deal worth $800 in free flights just arrived in my mailbox again. I had thrown it out and then regretted it when I found out my fav credit card reward was being cut next month.
Now I wish I would have been saving all of the offers that have been coming in. But alas,I hope I get some good repeats. I fee a little weird HOPING to get what I would otherwise consider junk mail!
I really don't think an airline miles card will be that useful for a long term card, but we are planning to go to New Orleans for a wedding in March and Las Vegas for a friend's 40th birthday party weekend next summer. Given those two upcoming events, I'm willing to open the card.
I do want another good cash-back one, though. I was earning 2 percent cash back on everything, deposited directly into a brokerage account for the kid's college from my current card, but as of Nov. 1, it's switching to a 1 percent rebate generic card attached to a card-sponsored shopping mall. I think we can do better than that. But it's been 3 or 4 years since we've opened a card and I haven't really been paying attention to what's out there.
Now I also wish I would have been paying attention to Monkey Mama's credit card money-making scheme!
***
Otherwise, our financial life is moving along smoothly. We're paying $500 extra a month on the mortgage, and if we keep that up, will have it paid off in five years.
I'm putting $100 per paycheck into savings, still putting $200 per kid into the 529s, and some of my freelance checks to the IRA. So, it feels like life and money are normalizing a little bit after the buying and selling a house debacle of spring and summer.
Hopefully some utility bill savings will be on the horizon soon. We signed up for a $50 energy audit from our utility. It's a great program. We get a thorough 4 hour energy audit, they give us a report about how we can be more efficient and what we can do, improve, etc., then they offer rebates of from 10 to 40 percent for the projects you do.
I'm excited about the audit, but amped about the rebates, because we already know our house has only 1 inch of insulation in the attic (Go 1957!). We have estimates of about 2800 to get it up snuff. We were just going to go ahead and do it, but when we heard how much the rebates might be, we decided to wait. Hey, even if it's 10 percent that's $280!
***
Our baby life has not been moving along smoothly. DS1, age 3.5, has been having serious attachment issues since he started his new school. He went from seeking adventure away from his parents to now being very clingy and screaming and crying every time we leave him anywhere-- grandma's, aunt S's , etc. Places he's been going for years with no problems. Every since school-- and he throws screaming tantrums there every time we drop him off. We try to be encouraging to him, but it makes me very sad and after I drop him off, it casts a sad or bad feeling over the rest of my day. I'm sure it's normal, but still. On the way to spend the night at grandma's last night he kept saying "Why do you always leave me?"
Heart break. : (
On the upside, we hit a turning point. The kids were in the playroom. I made myself a cup of coffee, and came back and they had gotten out a board game, set it up and were playing it together. I teared up! Finally. I felt like I reached a turning point. They're playing together, and they did it all by themselves. I've waited so long!!
***
Oh, and some of you might remember how infuriated I was last summer when hubby's best friend popped out of nowhere to borrow $5,000 to finish house repairs and pay property taxes so he could sell it. He said he'd give it back to us in 90 days. Uh huh. Well, it's been a year. And no money. He's still in the house, so he hasn't lost it, but now hubby is telling me the friend was planning to move to Peru to be with some girl. ARGH. If he sells that house, I want my money back! I didn't say that, but I'm thinking it.
We could really reallreally really sue that money now that our financial situation has changed so dramatically. It'd almost be enough to pay off my car. Still so mad. And yeah, we have barely heard anything from the guy since we gave him the check. If you put your ear to your monitor, you can probably hear my blood boiling.
Hoping for junk mail! and toddler drama
September 16th, 2011 at 03:06 pm
September 16th, 2011 at 03:41 pm 1316184113
Also, it shouldn't matter if he sells the house or not, you should get your money back. Period. I'd have your husband handle it since it's his friend but I wouldn't take no for an answer. Hopefully you have proof of it and can tell him you'll take legal action if he doesn't pony up the dough. Ugh.
I feel for you. *hug*
September 16th, 2011 at 06:03 pm 1316192633
September 16th, 2011 at 06:53 pm 1316195628
I can see helping a friend out but that seems like a LOT of money for a "gift"! Is he that good of a friend where you would have written him a check for that amount for Christmas or his birthday? If so, then you're way more generous than me! If not, I think it warrants further discussion. I don't think I would give that kind of money to family as a gift and certainly not a friend!
The hardest thing I had to deal with my friend was resentment. I barely speak to her anymore since she was going out, drinking, partying, went to FL, going out to eat, buying people presents she couldn't afford. All the while, I'm thinking, you owe me money. Stay home a couple nights and throw me $40 bucks. Ya know?
And, for the longest time, I went without a car because I couldn't afford it. If she paid me what I was owed, I would have been able to buy something sooner.
Sorry you're dealing with this friend (although he sounds more of a jerk than a friend to do that to someone with 2 kids)! Hopefully, you'll find a solution (even half would be something)!
September 16th, 2011 at 07:02 pm 1316196171
September 16th, 2011 at 07:21 pm 1316197314
And the separation anxiety is tough, isn't it? DD went through a similar phase when she was 3--and I used to sit in the car and cry. But the daycare provider said in 10 minutes DD was fine and playing happily--it was me who was feeling so awful.
September 19th, 2011 at 11:24 am 1316427882
Jerry