So.....
Rich & I have started attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. One class down and eight more to go. HE is loving it...its money and budgeting and saving money. Me? What? What the heck are these envelope for???
Just kidding.
We always say the words "we really need to start saving better for our retirement". Heck...we are 20 years away since the retirement age moved to 67-70. The leanest years are behind us - the years of raising kids...putting ourselves in debt to do it...and then using the 'empty nest' years to dig ourselves out. To be honest ~ Rich's deployment finally got us into the the 'green' (except for the mortgage). Now what?? It got us there but how do we stay there? What do we do now?
We did the 'dirty' and sat down for 3 hours ( YES, 3 HOURS) Sunday after church and broke out our bank accounts. We have kept separate bank accounts for 14.99% of our 15 years of marriage - we realized early own that we cannot share a bank account!! We were both appalled at what we have spent in a 3 month time frame on frivolous spending, eating out (lunches and occasional dinners), and those quick "I need to pick up milk" trips to Publix that end up costing $50! Heck, I spent $2 less in eating out than I did for gasoline! Envelope Please!
Geesh! So, we are DOING THIS! Really. And Rich the spreadsheet King, Contract Officer for the Alabama National Guard, Program Manager for XXXXX Network Technologies and Hawkeye of the bank account could not be more excited! I think he only played hard to get when I first mentioned it just to test my sincerity. (I signed us up AND paid for it out of MY ACCOUNT - Oh Snap)! After the torturous three hours, we finally took a good hard look...saw the light and he secretly is praying that my ways will be changed! I am my Mother's daughter, after all ~ Evie may just need that cute little pair of sequined tennis shoes in red! Now.....There's an envelope for that!
Looks like lots of PB&J for lunches!
Class two tomorrow night!
Peace!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Playground Turf War
There's a playground turf war going on up in Washington. Like five year old boys...no one ants to give an inch. We have a President who leads with a "my way or the highway' mentality...who thrives on the drama...the chaos ans, as the leader of one gang - thrives on the power. We have the other gang holding tight to their colors. It's Michael Jackson's "Bad" video all reinvented.
This week, as HR Manager, I have gone into negotiations over healthcare premiums - it's not pretty because of the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). We were getting a minor rate increase - YAY - then we saw the ACA fees & taxes tacked on to each individual enrolled. These are the taxes and fees that the working folks - those who have healthcare available through their employer, have to pay to fund the individuals that need subsidy under the Marketplace. That's a difference between 3% and 14% on a pay check. We all get healthcare, right? NO...we will all have access to healthcare but it's not free nor is it affordable for everyone....but it's the law now that you have to have it whether you can afford it or not.
And while I'm on a rant....this whole mess has caused the government shutdown. This week I have issued separation letters to many employees...and was given a new list today with almost 50 names. I work for a DoD contractor...the government is closed so contracts aren't getting renewed or issued. This is a death roll to American small businesses and no one seems to be ready to sit down and talk like adults. The Republicans won't change their stance..the Democrats won't change theirs ...and - although they (Republicans) have made attempts to send pieces of the budget up for approval the Democrats and Obama have refused to pass them. It's all or nothing.
Right now I am frustrated and gravely disappointed in out Country's lack of leadership. No one...not ONE Party will stand for the people. Put the damn thing to the vote of the people...just because someone was voted in office doesn't mean they have cart blanc to make decisions for the whole country. Let's let the hundreds of thousands out of jobs and pay right now take a vote.
I always refrain from voicing my political feelings but after the damn day I have had and looking at the lives I will change next week...I'm just beyond pissed. Venting and getting it out of my head!
I will not argue with you over my thoughts so please don't even try to engage me.... it will be ugly.
Peace!
This week, as HR Manager, I have gone into negotiations over healthcare premiums - it's not pretty because of the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). We were getting a minor rate increase - YAY - then we saw the ACA fees & taxes tacked on to each individual enrolled. These are the taxes and fees that the working folks - those who have healthcare available through their employer, have to pay to fund the individuals that need subsidy under the Marketplace. That's a difference between 3% and 14% on a pay check. We all get healthcare, right? NO...we will all have access to healthcare but it's not free nor is it affordable for everyone....but it's the law now that you have to have it whether you can afford it or not.
And while I'm on a rant....this whole mess has caused the government shutdown. This week I have issued separation letters to many employees...and was given a new list today with almost 50 names. I work for a DoD contractor...the government is closed so contracts aren't getting renewed or issued. This is a death roll to American small businesses and no one seems to be ready to sit down and talk like adults. The Republicans won't change their stance..the Democrats won't change theirs ...and - although they (Republicans) have made attempts to send pieces of the budget up for approval the Democrats and Obama have refused to pass them. It's all or nothing.
Right now I am frustrated and gravely disappointed in out Country's lack of leadership. No one...not ONE Party will stand for the people. Put the damn thing to the vote of the people...just because someone was voted in office doesn't mean they have cart blanc to make decisions for the whole country. Let's let the hundreds of thousands out of jobs and pay right now take a vote.
I always refrain from voicing my political feelings but after the damn day I have had and looking at the lives I will change next week...I'm just beyond pissed. Venting and getting it out of my head!
I will not argue with you over my thoughts so please don't even try to engage me.... it will be ugly.
Peace!
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