Blizzard Monday

ei34

We're at 9" so far but it's not supposed to stop until tomorrow morning...hope anyone in the blizzard's path is staying warm and power stays on!  My kids' school is doing a half-day remote and my district is thankfully just giving a snow day so I'm able to help them out...I imagine tomorrow we'll all be remote and I'm nervous for how that'll play out.  

Wishing you all a healthy week! Happy February!

CharmedPam

Happy February.  Is it Spring yet? Illonois got that snow Sat into Sunday.  It sucks even more when it falls on a weekend.  I ran my errands Saturday morning though.

My aeroski came Friday and I put it together By. My. Self. (i’m proud of myself obviously!) it is quite the workout on my entire leg.  Maybe hips?  But not the core workout I wanted or they said it gave you.  However I think the velcore bike is taking care of that.  I just want to be fit and in shape.  Without having to work for it.  Is that so hard to ask?

MissKittyDanger

It's cold a.f here and idk if it'll let up for a few days.

Since we're all part time in off and WFH, my entire schedule this week is screwy lol

Monday and Wednesday I'm WFH
Tuesday I'm in office
Thursday I'm off but not really because I have an exam at noon

Friday I actually took off, because I really haven't been doing much cleaning and M is doing curbside pickup for one more piece of gate {he thought he had enough to do it} and then we just install and that's it.
I asked M if he can get it done so Friday it'll be installed and I can rearrange the living room to clean also. Easier with BK at daycare lol

M & I wanna watch the MCU movies in order, so I've been writing those out.

mrsconn23

We got about 2-3" this weekend.  We also had on and off rain between snows and it was about 35 all weekend.  Not enough to go sledding (especially because it was so thick and wet + the soft ground), but DefConn spent a good portion of Saturday night and yesterday outside.  DefConn's BFF came over yesterday. 

I made banana muffins and dark chocolate chip granola bars yesterday.  When we went to Costco on Friday, they had EVERYTHING we needed.  They were fully stocked with paper products.  

My dad is signed up to get his COVID vaccine.  YAY!  

I didn't sleep super well last night.  At least this is a short week for me with a day and a half off. 

VarunaTT

It's birthday month!!  

The weekend was relaxing.  I ended up cancelling on my friend Friday night b/c I just didn't have the energy after last week to make it.  I even went to bed at like 730 or so.  I did take him out for lunch the next day and he invited another friend of his who is also a newly single queer woman.  I was in my head with, "She's cute, this could be fun."  Then she said, "I want to build a farm," and I was nope'd out of that.    I am not a farm person at this point in my life.  Also have no interest in dating at all yet, TBH.  Sunday was just cleaning and getting the apartment ready.

My apartment has this neat feature that looks like a ginourmous sliding door, but it doesn't slide and the window looks straight into my bedroom.  My mom bought me the privacy film I'd been wanting for my birthday (it was an indulgence I couldn't bring myself to buy; $55/roll, took 3 rolls, b/c I just HAD to have this print rather than the cheaper ones).  I'm VERY happy with how it's turned out and it's making me look forward to actually decorating for myself.





And I also bought myself this because it's ridiculous and so completely me.  It's one of those papercraft 3D figures and will be about 2 feet wide, 1 foot tall, and sticks out almost a foot at it's highest point.



I think I'm starting to turn the corner on all of this.  I'm still sad about the situation with K; I also know I'm healthier without them in my life.

Otherwise, SSDD at work.  Continuing to build my own position and work on things, which I'm still really enjoying.

missJeanLouise

Y'all can just keep that cold stuff far away from me. It was 15*C the other day and I was hugging my mug of coffee, wrapped in a blanket, slippers on, moaning to my friend from TX. Then we looked up what 15* was in Fahrenheit and I about died laughing. I remember one winter back home where it did not get ABOVE 0*F for a whole month. Idk how I survived, lol.

DS and I both had runny noses all weekend but we're otherwise fine. I cancelled my riding lesson and gym for today just as a precaution but then last night ,while I was putting DS to bed, I realized I had no sense of smell. It was so bizarre. It had returned by this morning and I think due to congestion but everything has you on edge these days.

DH is having a fissyfit because his employer is requiring weekly testing. If you have the vaccine it's free, it you don't you have to pay for the testing. He is all upset about an employer being able to control your body and such. I can't even pretend to have sympathy for him.

banana468

It's snowing here but so far we don't have more than about 2 inches.  We can get anywhere from 3" to a foot here since I'm in one of the spots on the shore that may see less of an impact.  Kiddos have no school and my dermatologist appointment was cancelled so I'm snuggled in.

The weekend was decent and I tried and LOVED a recipe for soft pretzels.  I think I'm going to try making them for the superbowl but perhaps wrapped around hot dogs.  

missJeanLouise

@banana468 please share. 🥨

MissKittyDanger

@missJeanLouise 15*C!? WHAT!? It's like -20*C here *sob*

MissKittyDanger

Nothing set in stone but thoughts from general group

Loan 1 - $5,100

Loan 2 - $2,780

I just upped loan 2 payments but still, I only pay $50 each per month.

I'm debating after I get my taxes, doing a lump sum to each then getting a line of credit to pay them together.

Right now, the amount would be $166/m - which isn't impossible, it's just higher than I'd like.
Would it be better to do the loan now, and lump sum against THAT or wait until I can get both numbers lower then do lump sum?

I don't know lump sum amount yet, because it's based on taxes and I haven't done them yet.

MyNameIsNot

No snow here. It rained pretty much all day and night yesterday, but it didn't get cold enough to snow. We haven't had any snow at all this year, and I'm guessing being February means we aren't going to get any. Oh well, maybe next year. 

It was a pretty good weekend. We had a virtual game night on Friday that turned out to be a ton of fun. Saturday I went to the grocery and dropped some supplies for my sister, and then chilled at home. Yesterday I cleaned and read all day. I'm happy to say that sister's fam is on the mend. My nephew was bouncing around waving to me from the window. Niece was napping, but she's fever free now too. I was so worried about the little ones! 

I'm still obsessed with this game stop stuff. I've been watching the ticker all morning. This is not healthy. 

banana468

missJeanLouise said:

@banana468 please share. 🥨

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/easy-homemade-soft-pretzels/

Definitely do the baking soda boil and see if you can find pretzel salt.  If you don't have that use some kind of larger salt that does not dissolve easily.  I WILL be making these again! 

short+sassy

MissKittyDanger said:

Nothing set in stone but thoughts from general group

Loan 1 - $5,100

Loan 2 - $2,780

I just upped loan 2 payments but still, I only pay $50 each per month.

I'm debating after I get my taxes, doing a lump sum to each then getting a line of credit to pay them together.

Right now, the amount would be $166/m - which isn't impossible, it's just higher than I'd like.
Would it be better to do the loan now, and lump sum against THAT or wait until I can get both numbers lower then do lump sum?

I don't know lump sum amount yet, because it's based on taxes and I haven't done them yet.

If the LOC will be a lower interest rate and you'll be getting one either way, then that would save you money over the long run.  Though I realize the drawback is the minimum payment would be higher than the combined minimum payments for the two loans the way they are now.

On the other hand, if you did and submitted your taxes this week, how long would it take to get your refund back?  I'm guessing not that long.  So then it would be the best of both worlds.  You can pay down the loan balances, get a LOC to pay them off, and the minimum monthly payment would be smaller because the LOC loan amount would be smaller.

STARMOON44

MissKittyDanger said:

Nothing set in stone but thoughts from general group

Loan 1 - $5,100

Loan 2 - $2,780

I just upped loan 2 payments but still, I only pay $50 each per month.

I'm debating after I get my taxes, doing a lump sum to each then getting a line of credit to pay them together.

Right now, the amount would be $166/m - which isn't impossible, it's just higher than I'd like.
Would it be better to do the loan now, and lump sum against THAT or wait until I can get both numbers lower then do lump sum?

I don't know lump sum amount yet, because it's based on taxes and I haven't done them yet.

MissKittyDanger said:

Nothing set in stone but thoughts from general group

Loan 1 - $5,100

Loan 2 - $2,780

I just upped loan 2 payments but still, I only pay $50 each per month.

I'm debating after I get my taxes, doing a lump sum to each then getting a line of credit to pay them together.

Right now, the amount would be $166/m - which isn't impossible, it's just higher than I'd like.
Would it be better to do the loan now, and lump sum against THAT or wait until I can get both numbers lower then do lump sum?

I don't know lump sum amount yet, because it's based on taxes and I haven't done them yet.

I think this really depends on your budget and the interest rates. If a line of credit is going to have a significantly lower interest rate it might make sense. But if you have $150 a month to be paying now, and you’re only doing $100, I guess I just worry that this is a way to delay really focusing on paying them down.

charlotte989875

Busiest week of the year and I’m already feeling it. 

Baby ate oatmeal for the first time this weekend and tried to climb out of his bassinet so it was a big weekend for us. 

levioosa

Everything I have ever made from Sally’s Baking Addiction has been great. 

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in the storm! 

@CharmedPam are you engaging your core while doing the machine or are you doing it more passively/with most attention on the legs? If you’re not actively engaging your core try that first. 

Weekend was good. I did two ten mile hikes and ran five miles on one of them so I’m a little sore today. Otherwise weekend was pretty SSDD. Last weekend of dry January complete, lol. More vaccines today, plans to hike, and maybe some salmon for dinner. I can’t wait for Friday already. I need my three day weekend. 

MissKittyDanger

@short+sassy @STARMOON44

So loan 1 right now doesn't have interest because of a covid relief program. That ends March 31st - usually interest rate is about 4-5% ish

Loan 2 is over 9%? But also still a 5yr loan

LOC would be minimum 8% {based on what website says, but it's my personal bank so I might get a better rate vs what's advertised}

Canadian taxes we have until end of April to file, and my RRSP information doesn't come until early April. It doesn't take long because I can efile them asap

Could I split $150 between the 2? Probably. I'd have to rework my budget regardless.

banana468

levioosa said:

Everything I have ever made from Sally’s Baking Addiction has been great. 

Agreed!  This is a pretty reliable site and I've been pleased thus far.  Her croissants were fantastic and I followed her instructions for those to both bake right away and then months later.  

short+sassy

@missJeanLouise, that does sound crappy that your H's employer is requiring weekly testing, but won't pay for it.  Is he eligible to get the vaccine?  If not, that is double crappy they are requiring their employees pay for testing.

@VarunaTT, farm life?  I'd be cringing and backing away also, lol.  But I'm glad you are feeling better and stronger every day.

Good luck to everyone in snowy places!

I am having a happy day!  My cash-out refi check had the hold taken off of it on Friday.  I transferred the money to my HELOC.  That statement closed on Saturday and has already reported the much lower balance to the credit bureaus.  That's what I was waiting for to get a jump on improving my credit scores.  This morning, I did a big pay down of my credit cards.  Long story short, my HELOC balance is in better shape than I thought it would be.  So, after some of my rent/paycheck payments post in the next couple days, I'm going to totally pay off some of my cc's.  Yeah!  I will be saving a few hundred dollars a month, just on interest.

And credit score/report-wise, it will be some double-dipping, hahahahaha.  For example, My HELOC balance doesn't update again until the end of the month.  So any monies I take out to pay down 'cc's won't reflect until March 1st.  But all my 'cc balances will update on various dates throughout Feb.  So I will have a brief golden window where whatever 'cc payments I make will be counted "double" on bringing down my total debt.  I'm going to use this opportunity to apply for 1-2 more business 'cc cards.

Because let me tell you the secret I have learned about business 'cc cards.  You have to give a personal guarantee to get one and they primarily look at your personal credit score, rather than the business version of a credit score.  BUT, the balances on a business 'cc card don't count against my personal 'cc utilization rate.  Ergo, if I have enough credit available on business cards, I can potentially do my next renovation with those while keeping my personal cc's pristine.

I'm sorry you all!  I know finance is boring for most people, lol.  But it's fascinating to me and I'm excited when I find ways to "game" a system that is purposely designed to screw over consumers and/or better ways to leverage my debt/assets.

short+sassy

MissKittyDanger said:

@short+sassy @STARMOON44

So loan 1 right now doesn't have interest because of a covid relief program. That ends March 31st - usually interest rate is about 4-5% ish

Loan 2 is over 9%? But also still a 5yr loan

LOC would be minimum 8% {based on what website says, but it's my personal bank so I might get a better rate vs what's advertised}

Canadian taxes we have until end of April to file, and my RRSP information doesn't come until early April. It doesn't take long because I can efile them asap

Could I split $150 between the 2? Probably. I'd have to rework my budget regardless.

Based on this additional info, I would potentially only do a LOC for Loan 2.  You already have no interest until March 31st on Loan 1 and then it is a lower interest rate then the LOC would be.

But for Loan 2, I'm not sure if I would even bother, especially if there are fees involved.  I'm guessing the info you saw was "rates starting at 8%", which usually means you need exceptional credit to get the lowest rate.  But to play devil's advocate, let's say they'll do a LOC for you because you are a customer for 7%.  It's still only about 2% less on a (relatively speaking) small loan amount.  Crunch the numbers and see how much you'd actually be saving for even a best-case scenario.  Then you can make an informed decision on hassle vs. interest savings.  

CharmedPam

levioosa said:

@CharmedPam are you engaging your core while doing the machine or are you doing it more passively/with most attention on the legs? If you’re not actively engaging your core try that first. 

Like sucking in my core while going side to side?  The video shows a lady croutched over like she’s actually skiing but she must be 5’0, but my 6’0 body can’t bend over while using it.  The poles are semi-stationary and already brush up against my body when I do move them the 1/2 inch I can!

STARMOON44

MissKittyDanger said:

@short+sassy @STARMOON44

So loan 1 right now doesn't have interest because of a covid relief program. That ends March 31st - usually interest rate is about 4-5% ish

Loan 2 is over 9%? But also still a 5yr loan

LOC would be minimum 8% {based on what website says, but it's my personal bank so I might get a better rate vs what's advertised}

Canadian taxes we have until end of April to file, and my RRSP information doesn't come until early April. It doesn't take long because I can efile them asap

Could I split $150 between the 2? Probably. I'd have to rework my budget regardless.

I don’t see the benefit of refinancing to a higher rate then. I’d keep paying $50 a month on the lower rate loan, double your payment to $100 a month on the higher rate (since you think you can find the money), and put all your tax refund towards the higher rate loan. 

Casadena

STARMOON44 said:

MissKittyDanger said:

@short+sassy @STARMOON44

So loan 1 right now doesn't have interest because of a covid relief program. That ends March 31st - usually interest rate is about 4-5% ish

Loan 2 is over 9%? But also still a 5yr loan

LOC would be minimum 8% {based on what website says, but it's my personal bank so I might get a better rate vs what's advertised}

Canadian taxes we have until end of April to file, and my RRSP information doesn't come until early April. It doesn't take long because I can efile them asap

Could I split $150 between the 2? Probably. I'd have to rework my budget regardless.

I don’t see the benefit of refinancing to a higher rate then. I’d keep paying $50 a month on the lower rate loan, double your payment to $100 a month on the higher rate (since you think you can find the money), and put all your tax refund towards the higher rate loan. 

this is exactly what I would recommend as well.

OliveOilsMom

We have about 2-3 inches right now, with more to come when the Nor'easter wraps back around to me.  That is supposed to be the heaviest accumulation part, but we will see.  It hasn't started back up yet.  H is off and daycare is closed, but I'm still expected to work.

It was a productive weekend for us!  I got to make some returns on Saturday and we also hung up both ceiling fans.  H still needs to hook up the wiring to the house, which he may do today, since he is off.

Sunday we had MIL, her BF and SIL over for SILs birthday.  It was going pretty good until MIL decided to blame SIL for not getting an autopsy for BIL.  In her grief, MIL kept saying stuff and SIL finally called her out on it and said "Do you really think I killed my husband, because that's what it sounds like you are saying?"  Yeah - so that happened.  Its very clear with BILs medical history how he died, but MIL can't face the facts.  I know she is grieving, but she needs to understand she can't lash out like she does.  Both SIL and MIL (separately) have been trying to find a therapist, but everywhere they have been referred are not taking new patients.  I think it will really help them both for the one on one talk.

missJeanLouise

@short+sassy there is no roll out here. Anyone can get the vaccine at anytime. 

@OliveOilsMom damn! That is so hard. I hope they can both find some therapy soon. If they are willing, a lot of people are skeptical, but there are lots of virtual options these days that they could try while they wait to get in face to face with somebody.

STARMOON44

missJeanLouise said:

@short+sassy there is no roll out here. Anyone can get the vaccine at anytime. 

@OliveOilsMom damn! That is so hard. I hope they can both find some therapy soon. If they are willing, a lot of people are skeptical, but there are lots of virtual options these days that they could try while they wait to get in face to face with somebody.

Wow that’s amazing!!

short+sassy

missJeanLouise said:

@short+sassy there is no roll out here. Anyone can get the vaccine at anytime. 

@OliveOilsMom damn! That is so hard. I hope they can both find some therapy soon. If they are willing, a lot of people are skeptical, but there are lots of virtual options these days that they could try while they wait to get in face to face with somebody.

SO.MUCH.JEALOUSY!

I was actually a little PO'ed at my local news program last night.  It was some doctor talking about that the benefits of the vaccine really needs to be "more broadly advertised" because, for the best herd immunity, 85% of the population should be vaccinated.  And all talking about the "mass advertising" being urgent, urgent, urgent.

Um, okay Dr. Captain Obvious.  That's lovely advice for SIX+ months from now!!!!  But, right now in Louisiana, you can only get a vaccine if you are a health care worker or 65+.  And there have only been enough vaccines so far, for a FRACTION of people in those two groups.  So, to the powers that be, don't be idiots and please save the advertising money for when vaccines are available to the masses.

short+sassy

I was just reading an article about a hilarious fundraiser the San Antonio Zoo is doing.  It's called "Cry Me A Cockroach".  For a $5 donation, they will name a cockroach after your ex and, on Valentine's Day, it will be fed to one of their animals.  The whole event will be streaming.

Or, for the ultimate revenge, for a $25 donation, they will name a frozen rat after your ex and feed it to one of the reptiles.

For people uncomfortable about insect/animal lives.  They will also name leafy greens after your ex and those will be fed to herbivores.

levioosa

@CharmedPam lol, it’s not bending over.  Purposefully engaging your core during workouts will a) protect your back and protect you from injury, and b) lead to greater gains in muscle. There are a ton of YouTube videos about it, try to find ones that are from either physical therapists or licensed trainers with degrees in kinesiology (as opposed to the ton of fitspo people who post things without knowledge of correct form or anatomy). 

Here are two decent videos. The first one is from a Physical Therapist and will help you learn about engaging the core. The second video is a little corny, but it helps apply it to actual workouts. 

https://youtu.be/NsH5-qa3Mik

https://youtu.be/nEptP73IM1U

ILoveBeachMusic

Weekend was super low key. Zoomed with family for FIL's birthday then with college friends for our biweekly call. 

H got registered for his vaccine today. He has an appointment on March 12th. Indiana opened up vaccination to 65+ as of today. I won't be eligible until it is open to the general population. I'm glad H will get it because he has more risk factors than I do. Today has been a snuggle in day. I showered after I worked out and put on my warmest jammies because I want o be warm and can seem to get there lately.

Heading to Chicago on Thursday to see the grands and DD. Can't wait. I need some hugs from those sweet boys. Only a little over two months until the sweet smell of newborn is there!
 

STARMOON44

Ok so fun news- just booked a v fancy spa weekend with my bestie for a month after we both get our second vaccine. Not sharing with actual people who know me because there’s so much judgment around covid but we both work from home so will be able to quarantine when we return and I am so excited!!! Will be my first time eating inside a restaurant in a year!