As I have previously posted, I have a long standing goal to have plantation shutters installed in two bedrooms in our home. But, since plantation shutters are very expensive I decided that I would update my plan and just get some new, nice shades for these two bedrooms.
I have done quite a bit of research, measured the windows, priced out my options and then I settled on a plan which will run about $800.
But, in our home there is another step I had to take and that was to discuss the project, the expense, the source of the funds (we have this money sitting in our house project account) with Mr. Sam. We have a rule that anything over $300 has to be discussed and agreed to between us. Most of the time we reach agreement pretty quickly, but not so this time around. I've talked to Mr. Sam about this project several times, gave him the pricing, told him about my research, but he thinks it is silly to spend this kind of money on custom shades. If we can't reach agreement then we don't go forward that is our rule. We imposed this rule back in 2007, because we were trying to throw every extra dollar at our debt. But, we have kept the rule because we believe that we should be in agreement that expenditures above $300 are necessary or a mutual want (vacation) or one of us convinces the other.
We did finally agree or he finally gave in, but we did reach agreement.
The other rule we have is the $100 rule. When we are spending more than a couple of hundred dollars we have to wait a day for each $100 of the purchase. So in this instance, if we are spending $800 on custom blinds we have to wait 8 days before we actually make the purchase. This waiting period prevents expensive impulse purchases.
I haven't yet ordered the blinds because of the waiting period rule, but will do so next week.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Wrap Your Mind Around These Numbers
Nbc.news reports that the richest 85 people in the world now hold the same amount of wealth held by 3.5 billion (yes, B - billion) poorest in the world. Said another way, half of the world's population, the poorest half, holds the same amount of wealth as the 85 richest individuals.
Mind is boggled.
Mind is boggled.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Florida Unemployment Compensation - Follow Up
During Mr. Sam's unemployment, I posted about how difficult it is to obtain unemployment compensation. It took several rounds to just get through the application process and we were amazed at how it seemed like the State was making it almost impossible for the unemployed to obtain benefits. Mr. Sam, with a MBA and a reliable internet connection almost could not obtain benefits.
Well, the unemployment system in Florida was replaced, on October 15, 2013, with a new system. But the new system has a whole host of problems. Well now the Department of Labor is heading back to Florida to investigate the new system. The DOL estimates that Floridians have lost $20 million in benefits due to the faulty new system.
Well, the unemployment system in Florida was replaced, on October 15, 2013, with a new system. But the new system has a whole host of problems. Well now the Department of Labor is heading back to Florida to investigate the new system. The DOL estimates that Floridians have lost $20 million in benefits due to the faulty new system.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Target Moves
Early I posted about a recent Phishing email I received at work. As I previously mentioned, I shopped at Target during the time of the data breach (which seems to be growing each day). I already canceled and ordered a new debit card and I have checked my credit report using the free credit report site.
Today, I signed up for Target's free credit monitoring.
Last week, I put in a limit order for Target stock. If the stock drops enough, I'll take advantage of the discount.
Today, I signed up for Target's free credit monitoring.
Last week, I put in a limit order for Target stock. If the stock drops enough, I'll take advantage of the discount.
Monday, January 13, 2014
2014 Savings Goals - First Update
(1) Max out 401k(s) - $1,346 (goal is $35,000)
(2) Max out IRA(s) - $2,825 (goal is $11,000)
(3) Add to e/r fund - $400 (goal is $10,000)
(4) Roof project - $5 (goal is $5,000)
(5) Vehicle replacement - $5 (goal is $5,000)
(6) House projects - $100 (goal is $3,000)
Total: $4,681 (Goal is $69,000)
I don't have my new 2014 Excel spreadsheet set up, so I've not calculated all the percentage complete for the various goals. I did calculate total and I estimate that we are presently ahead on our 2014 goals by about $2,000. I still need to set up auto transfers for the roof and vehicle accounts.
(2) Max out IRA(s) - $2,825 (goal is $11,000)
(3) Add to e/r fund - $400 (goal is $10,000)
(4) Roof project - $5 (goal is $5,000)
(5) Vehicle replacement - $5 (goal is $5,000)
(6) House projects - $100 (goal is $3,000)
Total: $4,681 (Goal is $69,000)
I don't have my new 2014 Excel spreadsheet set up, so I've not calculated all the percentage complete for the various goals. I did calculate total and I estimate that we are presently ahead on our 2014 goals by about $2,000. I still need to set up auto transfers for the roof and vehicle accounts.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Here Fishy, Fishy
So I just received a phishing email here at work.
Email came addressed to me from ######@1040.com. So a series of six numbers, which I'm not including here in case those phishers track the numbers they use to target victims and the @1040.com. 1040.com is a real web site and I assume it has nothing to do with the phishing. The email had the subject line "2013 Tax Return Information". Of course, the first thing I think is that my HR department is sending me my 2013 W2 and that's what those horrible phishers want you to think. But, the .pdf attachment that was enclosed had both my name and my husband's name in the titling of it which seemed suspect
And, to gain access to the .pdf attachment I had to hand over the last 5 digits of my Social Security number. Whoo-whoo, siren going off, red-flag going up. Never give out personal information to someone who send you an email or calls you on the phone.
The first thing I did was send it to my helpdesk, because they track spam, scams and phishers. That way they will investigate and add the email address to the company blacklist. The second thing I did was google the email address, but I didn't find anything. The third thing I did was forward it to the IRS via phishing@irs.gov. The fourth thing I will do, from my home computer, is to order one of my three free credit reports to make sure there has been no suspicious activity.
I don't know if this phishing scam is related to the Target breach, but I did shop there during the respective time (I already canceled the card and have received a new one).
Here are some helpful hints if you receive a suspect phishing email.
Email came addressed to me from ######@1040.com. So a series of six numbers, which I'm not including here in case those phishers track the numbers they use to target victims and the @1040.com. 1040.com is a real web site and I assume it has nothing to do with the phishing. The email had the subject line "2013 Tax Return Information". Of course, the first thing I think is that my HR department is sending me my 2013 W2 and that's what those horrible phishers want you to think. But, the .pdf attachment that was enclosed had both my name and my husband's name in the titling of it which seemed suspect
And, to gain access to the .pdf attachment I had to hand over the last 5 digits of my Social Security number. Whoo-whoo, siren going off, red-flag going up. Never give out personal information to someone who send you an email or calls you on the phone.
The first thing I did was send it to my helpdesk, because they track spam, scams and phishers. That way they will investigate and add the email address to the company blacklist. The second thing I did was google the email address, but I didn't find anything. The third thing I did was forward it to the IRS via phishing@irs.gov. The fourth thing I will do, from my home computer, is to order one of my three free credit reports to make sure there has been no suspicious activity.
I don't know if this phishing scam is related to the Target breach, but I did shop there during the respective time (I already canceled the card and have received a new one).
Here are some helpful hints if you receive a suspect phishing email.
2014 Additional Goals - Update
I posted earlier of my multi-year goal to update the widow treatments in our home and my plan for 2014 to make progress on this goal.
Well, I've done all my measuring for the bedroom windows, there are six, and I've priced out my options. I have selected a roman shade in a natural material (bamboo, grass, etc.) with a dual lift system. I have not figured out color yet, but I have ordered free swatches of the natural material so I can make an informed selection. A dual lift system means that the shade can be raised from bottom to top (traditional) or dropped from the top. This means that we can have the shades partially open from the top which will let light in but maintain privacy since we are in a dense area.
Well, I've done all my measuring for the bedroom windows, there are six, and I've priced out my options. I have selected a roman shade in a natural material (bamboo, grass, etc.) with a dual lift system. I have not figured out color yet, but I have ordered free swatches of the natural material so I can make an informed selection. A dual lift system means that the shade can be raised from bottom to top (traditional) or dropped from the top. This means that we can have the shades partially open from the top which will let light in but maintain privacy since we are in a dense area.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Cash Money
We have new tenants in Rental # 3 and they prefer to pay their rent in cash.
The upside of cash is that it is cash. I know there is not going to be a bouncing check issue and when I deposit the cash it is instantly credited.
As an aside, have you seen the new $100 bill? It has a 3-d security ribbon and a liberty bell hiding in the ink well. There is also more color on the front and back. I had several new $100 bills, which were new to me, a couple of the 1996 $100 bills and one 1990 $100 bill. After I got over my amazement at the new $100 bill, the old school 1990 $100 bill really looked fake to me.
The downside of cash is that I have to go to the bank to deposit since, sadly, there is no remote way to deposit cash. The other downside of cash is that it is hard to keep track of. With checks, I have an image of the check for my records. So, we have come up with a system. First, we give the tenants a receipt so they have a record and we have a record in the receipt book. Then when I deposit the cash, I am keeping an ATM receipt and putting that in my records in place of the check image.
The upside of cash is that it is cash. I know there is not going to be a bouncing check issue and when I deposit the cash it is instantly credited.
As an aside, have you seen the new $100 bill? It has a 3-d security ribbon and a liberty bell hiding in the ink well. There is also more color on the front and back. I had several new $100 bills, which were new to me, a couple of the 1996 $100 bills and one 1990 $100 bill. After I got over my amazement at the new $100 bill, the old school 1990 $100 bill really looked fake to me.
The downside of cash is that I have to go to the bank to deposit since, sadly, there is no remote way to deposit cash. The other downside of cash is that it is hard to keep track of. With checks, I have an image of the check for my records. So, we have come up with a system. First, we give the tenants a receipt so they have a record and we have a record in the receipt book. Then when I deposit the cash, I am keeping an ATM receipt and putting that in my records in place of the check image.
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