Manic Monday

I am anxious to get the bonus this week!  However, I have a 2-day show, college boy is coming in and my in-laws are coming the next weekend, so I am crazy busy.

This morning, crock pot is slowly cooking the potatoes, carrots and a roast, so dinner is already on and that makes this evening a little easier.

This weekend, I worked my ass off.  I finished my grandmother's quilt.  I cried when I had to throw away the scraps and made my husband put them in a separate bag so they would not be mixed with food.  He was so sweet and put one of my lillies in with them.  That is done now, so I can move on. 

I made 2 types of dinosaurs.  I had a customer that fell in love with the peekaboo bunny and wanted a peekaboo dinosaur, so I made that and then the other dinosaur.  I was already going to make them for the show, so it was not too much out of my realm.

Then, I planned and prepped for 5 other designs - peekaboo monkey and lamb, then a regular elephant, mermaid and fox.  When I say prepped, I got the files ready to go, cut all the fabric to size, picked colors, etc.  Today, I should be quite productive.

We decided to call this week our Spring Break.  I am getting ready for the show, college boy is having his spring break, so it just made sense.

Good news on that front, the new science curriculum I really feel will be a good fit - they are liking it more (it looks like traditional school science, which we all are more comfortable with).  PLUS, I found an a la carte school that has high school foreign language for them.  Though I want them to learn Latin, it is just not realistic for us.  My daughter really wants to learn sign language and my son will just take Spanish.  It is needed down here anyway.  That was the last subject I was struggling with.

Now I need to find driving lessons for my daughter and guitar lessons for my son.  All in time!

Rain, rain, please go away.  It has done nothing but rain here.  We literally had a lake on our property yesterday.  DH is trying to put up a fence,  but he can only work about an hour at a time and is head to toe muddy.  I am trying not to complain too much because I know come summer, we are going to be praying for relief from the sweltering heat and a rain shower would be welcome.

All I can say right now, is that I am super thankful for my screened patio.  The mosquitoes are so bad already and that patio is a respite from the relentless biting they inflict upon me and my daughter.

Anyway, I better get going or I will have nothing for the show!

Week in review basically

Time is something that means something different out here.  You have to plan it in a different way and it seems to be sucked up by driving times and waiting times.

We had internet problems all week - it would be on for 15 minutes, then off for an hour or so, then on for 15 minutes, then off again.  We got to the point where we could make it start back up, but we had to reset it every 15 minutes and that was annoying at best.  A tech came out this morning, so we will see.  It went off about 10 minutes after he left.  It is back on now, so I am waiting to see if pops off again.

On Tuesday, we went to the Houston Downtown Aquarium.  It is not so much an aquarium as a restaurant/entertainment thing, but they were having educational classes and a homeschool day, so we decided to go.  The education part was awful.  The person read directly from a sheet basically defining invertebrates, then gave them all a sheet to do an origami butterfly.  That is not our idea of education.  So, we decided to eat lunch at the restaurant - they had fish and chips and I had blackened tilapia with a cajun seafood topping.   Then, we rode the train and my kids went on a couple of rides, then we left.  We will not go again.  But it was a nice break to get out of the house.

On Wednesday, something happened to me - I am not sure - it really started on Monday, but got bad on Wednesday.  I was very dizzy, slightly headachy, tingly face.  I got scared and almost went to the ER, but on Friday - all gone and I feel fine.  I am attributing it either hormones (I am perimenopausal) or allergies or a lack of vitamin D - no sun for a month until yesterday afternoon and boy, I soaked it up!  I even made my kids go out at 1 p.m. and I would not let them back in the house for 20 minutes.  They had to bare their arms and walk in the sun!  They smiled a little more last night too!

I made 3 bunnies for customers, sewed on 20 patches and made a tshirt quilt top.  I am still working heavily on getting ready for the show that is next weekend. 

Right now, I am working on quilting my grandmother's quilt - I had to put it down for a while, I just get too emotional, but I am almost done, so I will be shipping it out to my cousin probably some time next week.  I will feel so much better to have this project done.  Then I want to start making the wolves for my Mother-in-law.  Once that is done, I will feel like a big weight has been lifted - these have been hanging over my head for a while.

Anyway, back to work!  Oh, internet went down 3 times while I was writing - luckily everything was saved.

Have a great weekend!  Let me know what you are up to!

Mid-Month Numbers - without bonus

I decided to go ahead and put the numbers up even without the bonus - just so you could see what it looks like before the bonus.

Debts:

401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current -  $0

CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $0

CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $0

CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$0

CC#4
October 2017 Start  - $32,855.22
Current - $24,304

CC#5
October 2017 Start - $0
Current - $26,886.00

Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$20,333.58

Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$6,637.21

Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $329,047.54

Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $78,160.79

Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $407,208.26


At the end of January, our non-mortgage debt was at $82,492.54, so we paid down $4,331.75 in non-mortgage debt since 1/31/18.  The autos don't come out until the end of the month.  The mortgage is taken on the 1st, but I put it in the month prior (My weird way of thinking).

Just so there is no confusion - the business supports itself and always has.  We use no personal money for the business at all.  However, I do use some of the business money (as a salary) to pay for personal things - like the kids camps and such.

Spoke too soon

We actually did not get the bonus yesterday, so the numbers did not change all that much - I am not going to post them.

We will get the bonus, just not until the end of the month - I thought it came with this check, but no.  Goes to show how little we actually got them in the past!

Today is all about cleaning up - The house needs to be cleaned up a bit, my office is a wreck and I need to clean my machines, I have threads breaking all over the place.  It is all this work I am doing.

Well, I am off to face another cloudy day.

Keeping Busy

Really, I love chaos.  My blog title really says it.  Sometimes it is sweet, but mostly it is just what it is - Chaotic.

I am so all over the map it is not funny.  First, I am gazelle about getting out of debt, then not so much - but then I am again.  Geez Louise.

First, I want a business, then maybe I don't, then I really do and cannot live without it. 

Up and down and up and down.  I feel like a freaking roller coaster. 

Anyway, we are still working on our normal.

Homeschool:  We are actually doing so good with this.  We are not sitting down daily as a group, but we manage 3 out of 5 days usually and that is OK. I am grading every day, which is helping them stay on top of things. 

However, I don't want to homeschool anymore.  I think it is a season.  DH wants me to, the kids want to be, but it is very stressful and very time consuming (to do it correctly).   The public schools here are not an option - very low income and very bad rating.  Private schools so far have not worked out plus they are so expensive!

We are going to keep homeschooling this semester and think about it.  The local community college may be the route we go.  I am looking into that.

Business:  I have decided to do a craft show coming up in 2 weeks - YIKES!  I am working like crazy to keep the current orders going and make enough for the show.  I gotta tell you, it is not easy.  My reason for doing this is to make contacts - not so much to sell really (though it would be nice), but to meet people who know people.  For example,  a lady is the mother (or sister or THE person) who is on the booster club for the band/drill team/cheer/football/soccer/basketball/baseball/dance team/gynastics team/etc and they need a different kind of fundraiser or they get lots of Tshirts or they are having a competition and were looking for someone that does what I do (yes, that happens).  

The ultimate event for me is a competition where parents from multiple schools attend and they have to stay there all day.  I have a captive audience.  If I do ONE of those, then I won't have to do any others.  Getting those though, are difficult at best - it is all who you know.  It is how my business took off where I lived before. 

So, my demographic is grandmothers and mothers with school aged children that have some disposable income.  I work with very few men - in fact NONE have ordered a quilt, only the women have.  The men just come for the pick-up.

Here is my latest creation!  The patterns came from Dolls and Daydreams.  Tooth Goblins and Tooth Fairies.  They are just too cute!

Finances:  OK, I am a little gazelle intense right now because we made a bigger shovel.  For years now, we have been using the zero based budgeting method and ultimately, we still are.  Before, we looked at everything that could possibly come up - car repair, clothing, summer, etc, etc and saved a little every month for them.  It is a VERY good way to do it - especially if you know you will be in debt for a long time. 

However, the oil industry is turning around - slowly, but it is.  Our bonuses are back.  I have no idea if they will stay, if they will be this high or if this is the last - that is the awful part of the oil industry.  However, when things are going good - it is usually very, very good.  We have decided to stop paying to all those little mini savings accounts in order to once and for all get rid of this debt.  We pay the mortgage, all our bills, and groceries, gas, etc.  Everything that is left goes immediately to debt. 

If, and that is a BIG if, bonuses stick around this year at about the same level we just got, then we will be out of non-mortgage debt this year.  That just kicked things up for me.  How much can we pay down this month?  I can go without a hair cut/clothes/etc/etc.

The thought simply stuns me!  We have NEVER been out of debt before - never!

I wish I could give you numbers today, but we just got paid today, so DH and I have to discuss tonight.  I will do my best to get them put up tomorrow.  It is exciting stuff!

Numbers - Good and Bad

I am working like a mad women - setting up an on-line store for my business.  I have no interest in going through Etsy - I can market on my own.  I have heard that Etsy is no better at getting customers anyway, plus they charge you!

Anyway, here are our January numbers.

Debts:

401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current -  $0

CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $0

CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $0

CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$0

CC#4
October 2017 Start  - $32,855.22
Current - $28,635.75

CC#5
October 2017 Start - $0
Current - $26,886.00

Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$20,333.58

Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$6,637.21

Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $329,047.54

Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $82,492.54

Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $411,540.01


OK, the Bad 1st.  We took advantage of a credit card offer for 0% interest for 18 months.  That is why the balance from CC#3 went away so quickly.  We did pay a little more off to CC#4 as well as a personal issue that came up that I do not want to divulge here.  We will just leave it at that.

The rest is good.  We went up a little over $2,000 in the non-mortgage debts, but overall are down $1,199.24 this month.

So, here is my thing right now and I am sure it will change as we get close to paying off one card or the whole thing.  I am not gazelle intense right now.   I have no interest in adding to our debt, but if just goes down a little every month right now, I am fine with it.

Reasons being -

1)  Me and the kids are struggling being isolated out here in the country.  It is an hour minimum to get anywhere and we spend a little more on gas to get around.  Plus, there are costs associated with getting them the social aspects of teenagerdom.  I am not going to skimp and say no to one or two outings a month that give them what they need socially.  Overall - maybe $100 a month on this.

2) Our land is a complete mess - it is nothing but mud and washing away.  The straw and rye grass helped, but this is the wettest winter we have ever had and the land is getting worse.  We have decided we are going to put up a fence to block the "front" area from the "back" area.  We are going to sod and plant a couple of trees in the front and probably throw more rye in the back.  We will cash flow this a little at a time, but it needs to happen or we will be fined by our HOA, not to mention that the land itself will wash away from the foundation of the house.  This is a must or there will consequences to the house or other financial repercussions.  We are doing it all ourselves - no hiring of anyone.  No idea of the cost just yet.  But the trees will be around $45 each, we buy small ones and baby them.

So, for the time being, we are paying a little more than minimums, but not huge amounts.

OTHER FINANCIAL ASPECTS

1.  We got a bump in pay as I am sure so many others did as well.  We thought about putting it toward debt, but ultimately decided we felt more comfortable putting it in the 401(k).  So, all of the increase went to the 401(k).  We went from 6% to 8%.

2. Our bonuses have become more regular.  Which is great.  We are using them to save for the college tuition for college boy, pay off debt mostly and then a little to get needed things around the house (ie cash flow for the land)

3. We did ultimately decide to NOT refinance the house.  I am not looking forward to dealing with the craptastic mortgage company, but since this is a new house, hopefully that will be minimal.  I will just have to watch them like a hawk when we start paying extra to principal.


That's it folks - we are just keeping on, keeping on.  I am working non-stop, which is good.  I am having fun with it and it put a spring in my step. 

Loving Life

I am beyond slammed busy, but in the way I love.  My business is picking up again, albeit in a different direction than what it was.

 I will just break it down:

1. Homeschool - mostly it is going good.  My daughter is struggling keeping it together and remembering to turn her work in (it is a global problem, not just public school), so we are going to try and see if we can figure something out this weekend.  What would help her - a planner, a daily 1st sit down with me, phone reminders - whatever, we just need figure it out.

I am still struggling with science.  Either it is too creationism slanted or we are slogging through.  We may just have to slog through because I even the creationism slanted one is difficult to implement.  As science parents, we are always talking science, but the more particulars at higher level they need.

Everything else is fabulous!  They are doing current events 2 times per week, one being international and they are loving it, so am I.  It sparks such great discussions.  In history, we are in the middle of the Civil War and I gotta tell you - I am so done with it!  I cannot wait until this unit it done. LOL

Math is good, they are progressing in writing and we are holding off the foreign language until fall and start it off like a normal year.

Overall, I am pleased - oh, and yes, I am still grading daily - easy 10 minutes tops with coffee first thing in the morning.

2.  Finances - Well, I gotta be honest here, we were trying to refinance our home, but I just don't think it is going to happen. It is a lateral move at best with added closing costs.  So, we are just going to stick with the craptastic mortgage company.  We will not refinance.  Once our debt is gone, we will pay it off as quickly as possible. 

As for the debt payoff this month, AH, we have not sat down yet, it is on the docket later today or tomorrow - honestly, probably tomorrow. I have customers coming today, our daughter's theater class, errands, etc.  I will post that probably Monday.

3. My Business - Threaded Lines.  Yeah, so I put out the hand sanitizer holders and I love them - they are not getting much, BUT, I think these are a in person type thing.  However, what this did was bring in business for the key fobs - specifically an Episcopalian Shield. 

 

I sold 15 in less than 24 hours.  Plus, this garnered someone to ask for a custom fob.  So, I had to digitize the image (for embroidery) and it turned out fabulous!  OMG!  I am blown away that I have this ability.  It is just the beginning.

This is what I digitized and how the embroidery turned out!

I sold 10 of those.  So 25 fobs in 24 hours.  2 T-shirt quilts are coming in today.    I am back in the game!