My Debt Update

I started January with the goal to pay off two medical bills totaling $511.  I only was able to pay off the smaller bill which was $214.  I paid $28 towards the second medical bill.  Since then I have paid another $60 towards that debt, leaving $209 and some change.
I did win a contest at work that was held in December.  The $500 payout came at the end of January.  I could have put all of that money towards the second medical debt and perhaps I should have.  But instead I bought $200 worth of groceries completely wiping out our shopping list.  I about died in the check out line when the checker totaled the bill.  Without the coupons I used the bill would have been A LOT more.   I paid a couple of other monthly bills with that money and then it was gone.  (I may or may not have bought some yarn with that money...).

I have been arguing with the hospital over the second bill to no avail.  The bill is for an emergency room visit from when Miss C fell off of her bike.  The insurance is in Bryan's name and he is the one who took her to the emergency room.  I wasn't even in the state yet I am the responsible party.  I just like to argue with them, it makes no matter, we are still her parents and we'll pay it together.  I was just irritated that the bill came to me.  

Anyhoo, I was on vacation in January so my two February checks were small.  I can't even begin to explain our pay system from where I work (it would take several blog posts for that!).  Basically we get paid a month behind.  The first check is per diem from the previous month and the second check is overtime and bonus money.  So by working fewer hours in January, I got a much smaller paycheck in February because there wasn't as much of the extras.

I didn't drive as much for Uber and Lyft because my car tags expired at the end of January and I was waiting for them to come in the mail.  I don't drive all that often because of my work schedule and being home with Miss C.  However, that extra income is pretty nice.  I've paid some towards other bills and paid for my new car tags.  My plan is to drive quite a bit in March and knock out the medical bill by the end of March.  I've got my pepper spray within easy reach in my car and I've actually not felt like anyone so far was too scary to drive.

Thanks for helping me stay accountable.

Random Thoughts on Thursday

*  Holy wind.  The wind has been blowing here for weeks.  Some days more than others.  Yesterday I think my welcome mat may have blown to Kansas.  The gusts were over 50 mph!  No good hair days here.

* It's been pretty warm here.  In the 60's.  Tulips are coming up.  Spiders are coming in the house.  I've been spring cleaning.  Kind of.  It's more like organizing and cleaning clutter.  I'd open the windows if it didn't mean I'd have to dust the second I closed them.

* I have a new favorite beauty product.  Aveda Composition Oil.  Denver is very dry and my skin is even drier in the winter with the cold air.  To get into work, I have to scan a badge and then fingerprint in to get through the gate.  In the early, cold mornings I have a hard time fingerprinting in. I've been using the composition oil after showering in the morning and then again at night as a base under my hand cream.  It's not a greasy type of oil, it soaks in very quickly.  Plus it smells good!  It can be used in the bath or directly on the skin.  I can't wait to see what it's like in the summer after I've been working in the garden all day!  (Just so you know, I was not compensate for this post.  It's completely my own opinion.  I did get a free bottle though, as a birthday present from Aveda for being a rewards member).

Happy Thursday my friends!

Knitting This Week

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books.  While it seems I've not really made any progress on any project, I have three completely finished Colorado hats ready for the recipients.  And I have one hat on the hook and another partially finished.  That means I have the C and the hat, the ends are woven in.  I just need to make the fleece liner and sew it all together.  And then I only have five orders left!

I have started section three of the stitch block cowl I have been working on.  In fact, I've started it seven times.  With a little help from a mama in our Dragon Club (aka, crafting group) I am on the right path.  I am religiously using lifelines every six rows so I don't have to rip back too far if I make a mistake again.  I hope it is just cold enough to wear it this year.  It is March and that is our snowiest month...
I have read a string of bad or just ok books.  I am listening to Die Again (a Rizzoli & Isles story) by Tess Gerritsen.  And I am reading Unspoken by Lisa Jackson.  While both of them are suspense thrillers, they are a light enough & easy read that is just what I needed right now.

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!

Random Thoughts on Thursday



* I've been giving it thought to becoming a serious blogger.  One where I can eventually make some extra money (you know, to pay off my debt).  I have downloaded Ruth Soukup's book How To Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul.  I've only read the first two chapters so far.   One of the first things I would need to do is pick a domain name and transfer my blog over to Word Press and pay for hosting services.  I know wouldn't make any money to start with but it would be possible in the future.

My sister is law who blogs over at Bren Did has been after me to change over since she started her blog.  I know I haven't been a consistent blogger so far and that would have to change.  I'm willing to commit to more postings... I have ideas for posts and then just never write them or follow through with actually writing the post.

* We applied to four elementary schools in our neighborhood.  The local school that Miss C would attend (in our boundary area) is the lowest performing elementary school in the district.  We are not going there, so we made the decision to choice enroll her into another school.  She is number six on the waiting list at our first choice.  It is a dual language elementary where half the day is in English and half the day is in Spanish.  Our other first choice she did not get into but she did get into our second choice for full day kindergarten and our last choice for PM kindy.  We should know more come August when there is a lot of movement as people move and decline their choices.  Fingers crossed.

Happy Thursday!

Knitting This Week

It's Wednesday again and that means it is time for the weekly yarn along.  I'm joining with Ginny and everyone to share yarn and books!  Ever since B. shared his Colorado hat on Facebook, I've had an assembly line going.  I've had orders for nine hats and seven of them are paying for their hats!!
I have decided to crochet several of the hats and the Colorado emblems... each hat takes a couple of hours... and then I weave in the ends and sew on the emblems.  I have yet to line these hats.  Last night I lined one of them because it is a gift to a friend who lets us stay at his place when we go skiing.  

So far I have used B's head to measure for the fleece liners.  I have to figure an easy way to measure and cut the liners.  I can visualize how I want them,  but I have a hard time with the creases/seams in the top to make it fit into the curve of the hat.  B's hat was pretty easy because he was sitting next to me on the couch while I worked on his hat, but I can't continue to use his head especially for the smaller hats!

I am in between books at the moment.  I just finished reading The Kept by James Scott which was OK.  It took place in the late 1800's in the winter in upstate New York.  The main character, Elspeth, is a midwife and she returns home after several months working away to find her family has all been murdered.  Except for her youngest son who was hiding in the barn.  I thought the beginning of the book a tad disturbing, but the story was enough to keep my attention.  However I thought it a weird book.  I've picked up The Rescue by Anita Shreve, but I haven't started it yet.  

Happy Yarn Along Wednesday!


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