Payment Sent for Dad’s Loan

December 2nd 2008

Well I did it. I wrote the big check for $4943.99 to transfer my dads loan that was at 24% to me. It’s now my burden at 4%. Eventually I will transfer it somewhere at 0%. Dad is still going to pay me the monthly payment for it, and once my car is paid off in March, I will be putting what I was paying towards my car into it. We should have this paid off in September.

It’s a bit of a mind game for me though, seeing that big balance of crap debt to my name. I can understand a huge mortgage, and even a car payment. But a debt that’s been revolving for so long that’s completely unnecessary, somehow really bugs me. I’m glad I’m able to shoulder it for my dad, but I still don’t like it. Right now I look at it like an enemy that needs to be defeated. When it finally is, it will feel like a victorious battle.

Dad is very cynical when it comes to money. Oftentimes he will shrug his shoulders apathetically when I mention his debts. “They can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. I don’t have anything they can take.” So he just doesn’t seem to care about them, because he doesn’t think he can do anything about them. I suppose technically on his own, he can’t. He’s not very good with money, and it really is a mental discipline to train yourself to live below your means. Even I’m struggling with it now, but that’s only because I’m throwing so much extra towards these debts to get them paid off for him.

I think he’s somewhat curious about what I’m doing with his debts, though. Almost like he’s not really sure they will actually be gone, but at the same time is excited at the idea that they will be. He always tells me I shouldn’t worry about his debts, he’ll get them paid off eventually. I just can’t do that, it would take him a decade. Fortunately I inherited his stubborn genes, and I took over his debts whether he likes it or not

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Link | Posted in Dad, Finance

Gift Wrapping Started and Sister has a Job

November 29th 2008

I’ve wrapped a few things in newspaper from the moving boxes. Cheap, easy, accessible. We’re not going to have a quantity of gifts under the tree this year, as it’s going to be a small gift season. But that is fine, because I’ve been wanting to reduce that anyway.

The biggest gift is the huge toolbox I got on sale for $300 off at Sears for my dad. I got it for like $179 + free shipping during the Veterans Day Sale, and it’s a big stackable red garage toolbox like mechanics use for his new garage. I’m not bothering to wrap that though, it’s too big.

I’ve also set my sister up with a Savings account under my name with $50 in it. My deal with her is going to be, if she contributes $50 a month towards that account, I will contribute an additional $20-$30 a month. If she doesn’t contribute anything, then I don’t contribute anything. And she has to go through me before spending any of it, so I can make sure she’s at least thought each purchase through.

My sister just got a job this weekend at the country restaurant my dad always goes to, the same one we got Charlie the turkey from. I am excited for her, and I hope she does well. She may not like it, but she should stick with it for a while just to see what it’s like. It’s weekends only, and she’s starting out around $7 an hour, which is GREAT for a 14 year old. This is why I wanted to start the savings account -now-. She may only make like $80 a month, but I really think she should save up half of that (technically a little more than half) into an account. Which is what I will encourage her to do.

Now, if she doesn’t want the savings account, she can take the $50 out and I’ll close the account. It will be her decision, but once she agrees to it she’s going to have to stick with it. I may reduce her required contribution to $40/month to make it easier, but we’ll see.

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Link | Posted in Finance, Sister

Thanksgiving Photos

November 27th 2008

Not many of them, and not very good quality, but here ya go.

From Thanksgiving 2008

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Link | Posted in Fond Memories

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

November 27th 2008

The trend in the blogosphere today is to post a list of things you are thankful for. And boy do I have a lot to be thankful for in 2008.

1. My dad never has to worry about where he’ll end up. Being that my father has no retirement, savings or a silver dollar to his name, I am very grateful for the ability to be able to provide him with the security of a home, and knowing that he will always be taken care of, even if I had to work 3 jobs to do it. I’m just grateful to have the best dad one could ever ask for. One that respects my beliefs, supports my dreams, and puts up with my inanities

2. Devoted friends and even people who aren’t really close to me, but felt the need to support my father and I in our time of need. All of the people that raised the $7,000 we needed to get our home, some of which I know very well, and others of which I don’t know at all. I’m very grateful for all of you.

3. The house, how can I not be grateful for the house? It’s an awesome home, it came at the perfect time at the perfect price and in a perfect location. To go from living in a condemned home to being homeless to owning our own perfect home, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m grateful that I had the strength to pull myself together when all I wanted to do was crack, and all I could do was cry knowing that we were about to be homeless. I am grateful that we were only homeless for two months.

4. I am grateful for my Aunt that let my father and I come into her home to live while we got our bearings together to find our home. The most self-less act you can give, is to offer your life and home to someone else.

5. I’m grateful that the blinds over my eyes regarding finances were pulled off, and I’ve come to realize that all of the clutter and unnecessary crap laying around was just unused money left to rot. I don’t need all of these things, and I don’t need to buy anything new.

6. And I’m grateful for the sweetheart for his constant amazing support, and all of the people I’ve become close with over the last year. You’ve all become a part of me.

7. I am grateful for my job and having the best bosses and co-workers that I could ever hope to have. They’ve supported me and encouraged me, and gave me a chance despite not having a college education. I hope I serve them well in return.

8. I’m grateful for the opportunities and chances I’ve been given over the last 3 years since I started reflecting on my life. I know now that everything that has happened had a purpose, whether not being able to buy a used car, to finally buying my mustang, to not having a penny in savings, to now having a respectable emergency fund and a house. To having a 525 credit score in 2005 to a 690 credit score in 2008. To just knowing that I have the ability to change whatever it is I don’t like about my life, and all the bad things that happen. I look forward to the challenges in 2009 and hope I grow and learn from them just as much as I did in 2008. Afterall, no one else is going to fix them but me.

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Link | Posted in Family, Finance, Fond Memories

Gmail Tree Theme Adjusts According to Your Local Weather

November 26th 2008

I was playing around with Gmails new custom themes, and though I was torn between the mountain and tree version, I decided on the tree. What’s neat about this particular theme (and I am unaware if the same affects display on other themes), is that the scenery changes based on your local weather.

When I installed the theme, it was sunny outside, so the background environment was bright and sunny. Today, however, because it is cloudy, the background environment is cloudy. The same happens for when it rains, it will adjust so that your email is being rained on.

It’s pretty neat, actually. I’d like to design a Wordpress theme that does the same type of thing someday.

Google Fan 4 Lyfe.

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Link | Posted in Tech

ING Giving Away $5,000 by January 15th

November 25th 2008

I just got an e-mail from ING that says they are going to give away $5,000 to some lucky saver that makes 5 purchases of over $10 with their ING debit card for the month of December.

I’m all over that. With a $5,000 bonus I could pay off my dads loan in one big swipe and spend 2009 paying back all of my wonderful friends that loaned us the down payment for this house. My father would be almost debt free, with just his medical bills left. What an amazing feeling that will be for him!

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Link | Posted in Finance

Many small boring updates

November 23rd 2008

Woodstove is in and working very well. Actually almost too well, as I had to open a window for a little bit Saturday. Heat is coming upstairs nicely through the floor vents, so I think we are set for heat. Dad loaded up a wall of wood on the front porch, which should last us the week, pending on the weather. The almanac says we are due for a nor-easter late this week.

I have to do some sanding and painting around where the hole was put in, but I’ll be taking pictures of everything later this week. We tore up the carpet where we were going to put the stove (I eventually want to put some slate down there), and boy the floors in the living room are GORGEOUS. And they are already finished, so they’d just need a good clean and a wax. My dad and I are thinking of tearing up the carpet in the whole living room/dining room area and getting some area rugs.

Still no progress yet in my room. I’ve cleaned up the floors and all, but don’t want to finish it until my uncle fixes one part of the floor. And he’s been really busy helping us with the chimney and stove, for which I am very grateful. So instead I’m just going through more boxes.

Two more things I’ve discovered that we need is a garage door opener, and an iron wood holder for the living room. The garage opener we have currently does not work, and right now we have no place to keep wood -in- the living room.

Work is having a Wii bowling tournament Monday and Tuesday. We’ve all been divided up into teams, had to pick team names, mottos, and logos, and from 3-5 or whatever we’ll be bowling each day. Work will be supplying subs and pizza. I practiced a little on Friday in the conference room (we keep the Wii in there).

The other night I was asleep in bed and I woke up to some guys voice yelling “Heeeeey!” outside. It wasn’t directly near the house, but it was only like 20 or 30 yards away. I didn’t bother getting up to see what or whom it was, but it kept going on for like 10 or 15 minutes. I’d almost think the guy was drunk wandering through the woods out back. I eventually fell asleep, but it makes me wonder..

I am slowly putting my computer back together, figuring out what programs I need to install. I can tell you that being able to balance my bank account has been very fulfilling after being without for 3 weeks. I can’t explain the amount of enjoyment I get out of making sure every penny is in its place. It sometimes feels ridiculous, but then I realize that I always know where my money is, and how much it is growing, and what my future plans are to keep my financial situation stable. Then it doesn’t look so silly.

It snowed on the way home Friday night, not enough to really stick to the ground, but a glimpse of winter is always promising

Today at the Grove we had a visit from a coven located in Harford County that came to do some divination readings for us as sort of an initiation for their “students”. They were actually really nice down-to-earth people, I was surprised.

I’m a bit frustrated at my lack of progress in several projects recently, due to the chaos that is, well…everything. I’ve decided to round up a list of the “do once” projects and get them done over holiday breaks, and save the “do gradually” projects for my spare time. I’ve also decided to eliminate some projects that just don’t bring me any joy. I will probably keep some that feel like an obligation for now, but I want to start whittling down the things I have weighing on my shoulders to be completed. I’ve reached my limit, and now it’s time to down-size to give me breathing room.

I have been trying to finish up a pile of books I’ve been wanting to read. I usually spend my lunch breaks reading a little bit at a time. I’m just about to finish up “Black Elk Speaks”. While informative and a very descriptive glimpse into his life as a younger boy, I do sometimes find it difficult to follow his meaning. Especially when he talks about his great vision. Still, I am thoroughly enjoying the book, and thoroughly becoming more disgusted with the Wasichu of their time.

So overall, no major updates besides the stove, and having our 6 cord of wood delivered. Pictures will be coming soon.

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Link | Posted in General, House Upgrades

Protected: Well, we paid for it

November 18th 2008

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Link | Posted in Dad, house buying