Drive By Blogging
I had a GRANDE time in the Bahamas. Several days of pure bliss for less than $500, including airfare and daily expenses. Thanks Travel Zoo!
Congrats to President Obama for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize!
BabyGirl is taking the SAT again this Saturday. She’s spent the past month prepping and working on her college essays. In less than a year, my BabyGirl will become known as CollegeGirl. Eeek! I’m slowly coming to terms with having an empty nest soon.
So far, I’ve spent $641.38 in senior year expenses. Before the year is over, I estimate another $1,000, approximately.
Conversation with BabyGirl:
[after listening to her complain all. day. long...about nothing]
Single Ma: What is wrong with you today? You are always complaining about something?
BabyGirl: Mom, I’m a teenager. That’s what we do.
SM: I don’t like teenagers.
BG: I don’t like adults.
SM: *extra loud sigh*
BG: Mom, you sound like a teenager.
[we both smiled]
A milestone birthday is upon me and I’m going to celebrate my birthday “season” for an entire month. I will kick off the month with a spa retreat weekend and end it with a tropical vacation.
As of October 2009, I’ve exceeded my annual net worth goal of $200,000. Yay! I won’t celebrate until it holds steady for a few months.
My car needs new brakes and rotors (goodbye $400) and a new battery (goodbye $100). I’ve owned my car for 6 years and neither has ever been replaced. Although $500+ is a big pill to swallow in terms of regular car maintenance when nothing is wrong with the car, it’s a drop in the bucket when I think of a car payment for 4+ years.
I get excited when I receive my Social Security statement in the mail. Not that I expect to receive social security upon retirement, but I like to get it because it tells the financial story of my life and shows how far I’ve come. And bay-bay, have I come a looooong way. Lord, I thank YOU!
My tenant is all settled into her new place and she loves it. She stayed in her last place for 7 years. I hope she stays put for that long again – or at least long enough for the market to rebound so I can sell the money pit.
The new gig is ok and that’s all I’m going to say about that. But the new paycheck is luv-lee.
This is my most favorite time of the year! I can’t wait to see my family next month. I need my annual dose of crazy and deranged. The dysfunction makes me feel complete.
So how’s life treating you? Ready for the holidays?
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It’s wonderful to have you back here again. I’ve missed your posts!
Missed you too! So tell me, how’s life treating ya? [-SM]
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Glad you had a good trip! :) Nice way to start the fall. Hope BabyGirl does well on her SATs, I know you’ve talked a lot about her prepping for them. I have GREs and grad school applications this fall *crosses fingers*
And congrats on breaking over the $200k mark!
Thank you. And good luck on the GRE! [-SM]
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Yay! You finally updated your blog! I’m impressed you’ve never had to replace your battery or brakes! I’ve already had to replace both on my car (an 06 Toyota Corolla) and I’ve still got a little over a year left of car payments. Maybe I should buy Honda next time! :)
Toyota is a fine car, but I love my Honda. After 75k miles, she’s never forsaken me. :-) [-SM]
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Missed you. I’m in the midst of celebrating a BIG birthday as well. Off to the vineyard baby! I can’t get serious about shopping for the holidays until after my b-day. I feel the same way when I get my social security statement. It humbles me.
Miss you too! I’ve been following your “discoveries” and I love to see your daily progress – especially regarding your career and following your dreams. You know I can relate to your 9 to 5 grind, so you REALLY inspire me. I just don’t know what my calling is…yet. [-SM]
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Glad you haven’t forsaken us in blogland.
I like getting my SS statement in the mail too. I feel the same way about my job, about to celebrate my one-year anniversary.
Holidays – still trying to figure out how my fiance’ and I are going to work it this year. I love this time of the year too – mainly because I like wearing sweaters and boots.
When I need to release, I always find my way back to blogland. :-)
I hope your first holiday with your fiance’ is full of love and laughter…ooh and lots of shopping. LOL Which reminds me…I need new sweaters! [-SM]
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SM congratulations on the $200,000 mark!!
I am finishing up my senior year of college (20 years later)(financial ouch!)
I have applied for my first job as a college grad! Life is moving fast but the Lord has me in his hands!
Happy Birthday!!
Thank you for the congrats and early bday wishes!
Congrats on finishing school! I’m a lifelong learner so I’ve always believed that it is never too late. [-SM]
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I’m so glad you’re back. I’m glad you had a wonderful time here in the Bahamas. Looking at your pictures gave me the opportunity to see this place through a visitor’s eyes….and not that I’m bragging or anything….but I sure do love this wonderful place, especially the beaches.
Your homeland is very beautiful. I loved it! [-SM]
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So glad to see you back. I’m a long time lurker that loves your blog. I too like to get my SS statements in the mail. It’s like a little reminder of the progress that I’ve made professionally.
You’re such an inspirational woman and I hope you will not stop blogging. I’m currently facing a transition (divorce) in my life where I will become a single mom. Reading through your archives is helping me put together some plans to get my finances in order for the next phase of my life.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
Readers, like you, motivate me to keep blogging. Thank you for coming out of lurkdom. Despite your divorce and ultimate single mommy-hood, you and your children will be just fine. [-SM]
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If you’re going to be gone, the Bahamas is a fine place to be gone in! Happy B’Day.
But please–enough of the throwaway lines about Social Security. It IS going to be there for you, and it’s time to stop buying into the right wing canards that say anything else. What is true is that it is likely you will be paying more into SSA because raising the limits on FICA deductions is an easy way to add money to the SS pot.
Regardless of whatever changes are made, I said I don’t EXPECT to receive it. Since when did having no expectations become a bad thing? I’m not relying on the government to plan for my retirement when I can plan for it myself. If it’s there, great. If it isn’t there, reduced, or restricted in any way, it won’t affect me at all. [-SM]
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haha….I like the convos with your daughter, makes me excited to have one of my own one day :) btw, if you’re around Sunday, a few of us bloggers are getting together in DC for lunch! holler if you’d like to join – would love to have ya.
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Glad you’re back. Missed you…congratulations on hitting a $200K net worth. Like you, I am waiting for our new high to stick for a few months before I declare it official
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Hopefully, this post means you will start posting again! C’mon at least once a week?
Congratulations on all the good things going on in your life. I certainly can’t complain because things in SingleGuy’s world are going great!
BTW, Happy Birthday!!!!!
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Welcome back! I’ve missed your posts and the success of your life. Glad you had a great vacation.
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Life is grand. Can’t complain at all. I’m pretty new to your blog and I also follow you on Twitter. I’m looking forward to learning your story and getting some great financial advice. From one single ma to another!
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Oh my gosh–I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw your new post—finally!! Welcome back and happy birthday! (Did you know you are my sHero?)
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Good to see a post (I missed you too!!). And great to hear you had a wonderful vacation – with more to come!
I was just thinking about you last night when I was out for a run – how inspirational you are!! :-) I hope you’ll keep posting because I know I get so motivated by your success and your great attitude/outlook.
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Thank you for posting again! I read your blog from down here in Texas and really enjoy reading about your financial journey – our paths are almost completely different, but it is wonderful reading about others’ financial decisions.
And I love – love – love my Honda too. It just turned over 235K miles. I think I too need to get the brakes changed. The other attorneys at my firm make fun of me, but I don’t give a second thought to putting buckets of paint in the back seat to go work on one of my rental properties!
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You’re back!!!!….right??
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You are awesome! Yay, I’m so glad you’re back – funny convos with your daughter, glass-half-full outlook, acknowledgment of God’s work in your life, etc.
Happy Birthday!
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