Eureka
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
Hi all, I have been reading but not a lot of time to post. Looks like everyone is doing well. This year has been great for us financially. Some of you remember I started working full time (after seven years of freelancing) right when the govt was closed last year, which affected my DH bc he's a contractor. Lots of turmoil over the summer when my company was laying people off and DH had to rebid his contract. Happy to say that they won the contract and I didn't get laid off, so we've been able to save for the kids' college and my retirement this year. And aren't as stressed out as we were in July when we thought one or both of us would be out of work.
It's not without its challenges, of course. We have a home improvement that needs doing (not really a choice) to the tune of almost $7k, which hopefully will start after the new year, and we do have small balances on both credit cards. But our net worth is growing so we are pleased.
As for the holidays...we are almost done shopping. We celebrate Christmas and Chanuka and older DS has a birthday next week. We haven't shopped for him but are almost done with holiday shopping and just need a few things for a few relatives. We have been using the credit card to get points and feel more secure shopping online with it than our debit card. Whenever I use the card to buy a gift, I have been then making a credit card payment to cover it, with the exception with an expensive sporting event ticket purchase that will be a holiday gift. That, we are chipping away at. I have been trying to not go so crazy with feeling like I need to do and buy everything this year. I've done a lot of gifts for the kids that they will need anyway...clothes, stuff for their sports, etc. And think that at their ages (11.5 and about to turn 14) they won't mind. I hate wasting money on stuff that doesn't get used.
Good luck to everyone, and happy holidays!
Ps. I hope I don't sound like I am tooting my own horn. It's just nice to have some good things to report. I hope you all don't mind.
It's not without its challenges, of course. We have a home improvement that needs doing (not really a choice) to the tune of almost $7k, which hopefully will start after the new year, and we do have small balances on both credit cards. But our net worth is growing so we are pleased.
As for the holidays...we are almost done shopping. We celebrate Christmas and Chanuka and older DS has a birthday next week. We haven't shopped for him but are almost done with holiday shopping and just need a few things for a few relatives. We have been using the credit card to get points and feel more secure shopping online with it than our debit card. Whenever I use the card to buy a gift, I have been then making a credit card payment to cover it, with the exception with an expensive sporting event ticket purchase that will be a holiday gift. That, we are chipping away at. I have been trying to not go so crazy with feeling like I need to do and buy everything this year. I've done a lot of gifts for the kids that they will need anyway...clothes, stuff for their sports, etc. And think that at their ages (11.5 and about to turn 14) they won't mind. I hate wasting money on stuff that doesn't get used.
Good luck to everyone, and happy holidays!
Ps. I hope I don't sound like I am tooting my own horn. It's just nice to have some good things to report. I hope you all don't mind.