April Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money 

• 22.97 selling on eBay

Totals

Since our update in April, we have been able to pay $346 from our principle. Giving us a total of $3802 for our year. Leaving us with $2198 in order to reach our 6k for the year.

April Mortgage Update

 Another slow month, but we were given hope that we may not have to pay all of our hospital bills. Hoping that means that we will have some extra money that we have already set aside to pay medical bills.  

Breakdown of Extra Money 

• none this month

Totals

Since our update in March, we have been able to pay $244 from our principle. Giving us a total of $3456 for our year. Leaving us with $2544 in order to reach our 6k for the year.

March Mortgage Update

I really feel like God has been teaching me a lot about finances recently. I feel like we have been bombarded with decent sized bill after bill. 

Then I had a baby in December, so we have to pay the deductible for that. Then I decide to be in the hospital for 6 days and have major surgery in January. Once again, that deductible. We haven't seen all those bills yet, and I am currently dealing with some charges that should be paid. Fun right?! 

My mom and I have talked a few times about how when it rains it pours. But, you know what? God is faithful and has provided so far. Super thankful for an emergency fund and also for two dependents that make a better tax refund! 

Needless to say, our mortgage hasn't been a priority. I am encouraged to know that once we get through these things, we can once again really focus on the mortgage. 

Breakdown of Extra Money 

• $6.32 ebates- gotta love money from shopping online
• 35- my blow money

Totals

Since our update in February, we have been able to pay $534 from our principle. Giving us a total of $3212 for our year. Leaving us with $2678 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

February Mortgage Update

We only have 4 months to go until this year is over! Not sure we are going to meet this goal for this year. 

This month has been rough for us. I ended up having surgery and being in the hospital for 6 days. Why didn't this come last year when we had already met our deductible? Super thankful for an emergency fund, not super excited about paying for all the bills. I am thankful for getting rid of the pain that I had before surgery. Also, super thankful that all this happened to me and not to one of the girls.

Breakdown of Extra Money 

• $28 selling on facebook
• $43.32 selling on eBay
• $4.35 selling on etsy

Totals

Since our update in January, we have been able to pay $485 from our principle. Giving us a total of $2678 for our year. Leaving us with $3322 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

January Mortgage Update

We are only $16 from marking off our next thousand on our chart on the fridge. I really need to just get online and sell something so that we can mark that off. One of the things that I love about goals is that they are motivating. I can feel that last $16 and it makes me want to do something about it. 

However, I look at what our goal is for the year, and I think are we ever going to be able to get to the 6k. I should have pushed a little harder before little one came, but we still have time to push. 

Breakdown of Extra Money 

• $36.50 selling books
• $174 selling on eBay

Totals

Since our update in December, we have been able to pay $422 from our principle. Giving us a total of $2193 for our year. Leaving us with $3807 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

December Mortgage Update

I have not done a very good job at all this month recording where our extra money has come from to pay down our mortgage. Honestly, I have had other things on my mind, like having a baby! 

We have been listening to Dave Ramsey's Course again, and I have been reminded of the book The Tortoise and the Hare. i needed that reminder again. We just need to plug away as quickly as we can and continue to make progress. 

Breakdown of Extra Money (just a few things)

• $5.91 ebates
• $2.00 selling DVDs using decluttr

Totals

Since our update in November, we have been able to pay $474 from our principle. Giving us a total of $1771 for our year. Leaving us with $4229 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

November Mortgage Update

I have to admit, I have been pretty lazy to cook. Really has not helped our entertainment budget at all! I know I need to work on making more and also work on making some meals for after baby comes. Anyone have any good freezer meals that they love. Bad, but I thought this morning that I need to freeze some cinnamon rolls before this next little one comes. Priorities right!!

We are still only putting half of what I make on the mortgage. We are still saving up for a water heater, but we had another expense this month. Will share more on this one later. I have never been so thankful for an emergency fund!

I was able to mark off the next thousand from our mortgage this month, which brought me some joy, but we have a long ways to go to reach our 6k for the year! 

Breakdown of Extra Money

$10 selling on etsy

$12 selling on facebook

$12 change
$5 selling books
$17.50 selling on ebay 

Totals

Since our update in October, we have been able to pay $353 from our principle. Giving us a total of $1297 for our year. Leaving us with $4703 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

October Mortgage Update

If you remember, we had to put off saving for a water heater because our water softener went out. We are back on track of saving for the water heater. I made a deal with Scott that the extra money that I made, half would go towards the mortgage and half would go towards the water heater.

Here is half of the extra money that came in this month. I feel like it has been a little quicker progress this month with the mortgage. 

Here's to hoping that we can get enough for the water heater soon, and that the water heater will ultimately cut down our electric bill. 

Breakdown of Extra Money

Selling books- $9

Selling on amazon- $46.77

Selling on fb- $80.90
Selling on eBay- $9.80

Totals

Since our update in September, we have been able to pay $433 from our principle. Giving us a total of $944 for our year. Leaving us with $5,006 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

Rewarding Ourselves with Goals Met: Mini Vacation

What is a goal without a reward? I love shooting for goals, and some of my motivation is the reward at the end!

We have been working on paying off our mortgage. I feel like we have so far yet to go, but every little bit helps us get closer! We have decided that every 10k that we pay off our mortgage, we will reward ourselves with a night away somewhere.

At the beginning of August, we hit that goal! We we away the other Friday night for a little time of celebration and a much needed getaway.

Our first stop was the African Wildlife Safari. Prices were kinda steep and we debated on going. I googled in the parking lot "African Wildlife Safari Coupon" which came up with a groupon. I bought a groupon in the parking lot and we got in for about half price. One benefit of smart phones!

Don't know if she is trying to be an animal?

She liked it better with her window rolled up. 

Picnic of peas, grapes, and apples. Yes, please!

Found a few sea shells

Not the best selfie!

A plane from the 1920's that we got to see fly. 

While at our hotel, we had to get a new key about 5 times because ours quit working. Also, Esther woke up smelling like vomit from the pack-n-play. Scott contacted the company just to let them know to look into those issues. They said that they would be sending us a coupon to use for a free nights stay in the next 2 years. Think we can pay off another 10k in the next 2 years and use it for that trip?

September Mortgage Update

Is it really already September? We have had some weather here that has made me want to curl up in a sweatshirt with a cup of coffee. I know coffee is not the best for baby in excess, so thinking it is time to make some chai tea! We have all the ingredients in our cupboard that we bought this summer, but haven't had any desire for hot tea.

If you remember, last month we were talking about saving up for a water heater. Still haven't bought one, and glad we didn't. We had been doing some asking around and thinking about what we wanted to die, only to have our water softener die on us. Bigger expense than a water heater! So, guess what we will be buying instead. So, not throwing any extra money yet on the house.  

Breakdown of Extra Money

Once again, just plugging away with what we have budgeted. 

Totals

Since our update in August, we have been able to pay $268 from our principle. Giving us a total of $511 for our year. Leaving us with $5,489 in order to reach our 6k for the year. 

August Mortgage Update

We have put paying off extra on the mortgage this month. Two reasons.

1. We bought part of a cow. I am excited to have our freezer full of meat that I have some sort of an idea where it came from. This meat will also come in handy this winter after baby comes and I don't want to go grocery shopping. Two little ones in the dead of winter? Thinking the freezer will be calling my name instead!

2. We are going to buy a new water heater. Our electric bill has been killing us. We have talked to two of our neighbors and our bill is a lot higher than theirs. Not sure what is up with that. 

I checked out a kill-a-watt from the library, ya who would have guessed that the library had one of those, and nothing that had a regular plug was sucking our electric. We are going to give the water heater a shot and see if that makes a difference. So, we are saving money up for that.

Water heaters make me curious. What size of water heater do you have for your family? How many of you are there? Would you trade the size?

Breakdown of Extra Money

Big fat zero this month. Scott's Aunt got Esther the book The Tortoise and the Hare for her baby shower. We have read this book a few times before nap this month. Slow and steady, just need to keep chuggin'!

Totals

Since our update in July, we have been able to pay $248 from our principle. Giving us a total of $248 for our year.

We have rewarded ourselves with every 10K that we pay off our house, we can go away for an night out. We have reached that goal, so we need to get planning. 

July Mortgage Update- 2 Years in to Pay Off

I can hardly believe that we have been in our house for two years already. Time flies! 

We did get a 30 year mortgage, but over the last two years have been able to get down to 22 years! I found this pay off calculator and had some fun plugging in numbers. 

Another cool thing is that we are now paying $40 less in interest and more in principle each month. Thankful for the extra help in paying off our mortgage! 

Breakdown of Extra Money

• $14.90- selling books
• $3- pattern sales on craftsy
• $75- selling on ebay
• $25.60- selling on etsy
• $15- selling on facebook

Totals

Since our update in June, we have been able to pay $619 from our principle. Giving us a total of $6,791 for our year.

I have found some podcasts this month that have been encouraging. If you enjoy podcasts, I encourage you to check them out over at hisandhermoney.com. Debt free stories are encouraging to me!

God Blesses Even When We Don't Deserve It

I have to be honest, I have really been struggling with my attitude recently about a certain situation. I know I need to give up some things to fix the problem, but do you know how hard that is when you really want to remain in your bad mood? Have you even been there?

God and I were having a talk the other day while I was doing things around the house, and I was telling God that I could really use some encouragement. I was thinking, I would love to get a letter in the mail that was encouraging. Just a few days later, God worked in a way that I never would have imagined. I do love when that happens.

I went to the mailbox and saw a letter from a friend from back in my high school days. Inside was a letter saying that she remembers the struggle of trying to get debt free and wanted to do something to bless us in the middle of us trying to get debt free. Encouragement in my mailbox? God is good!

Then on top of that, there was another envelope inside. I saw a gift card to one of my favorite coffee shops where I would love to get fresh roasted coffee, but we have chosen not to in order to try to pay off our mortgage. I glanced at the gift card and saw $10. I thought, awesome! Free coffee! I looked at the gift card again and realized that I missed a zero. $100 worth a free coffee. Needless to say, I was a little in awe.

I could not help but stop and think what a great God that I serve. He laid it on my friend's heart to bless, and she was obedient to what God was calling her to do. I have to admit, God used this to help change my attitude. I know I will need to keep working on my attitude...may even have to today! When I struggle, I will have to drink a cup of coffee and realize that God really does care about me.

Things I learned through this blessing:

1. God blesses us even when do not deserve to be blessed.

2. I want to be debt free so that I can more easily bless others, just like this friend was to me.

3. I am super thankful for friends who listen to what God is calling them to do. Without obedience, I wouldn't be blessed.

I now have this card hanging next to our visual of how far we need to go to paying off our mortgage on our fridge.

June Mortgage Update- We Met Our Goal!!

I set a goal of how much I thought we could pay off of our mortgage based on what we paid off last year. During this time, I started staying home, so my income dropped off the radar. I didn't know that we could me the goal, but one month early, we met our goal!

Now to see how much extra we can pay off next month to see how far above our goal we can get!

Breakdown of Extra Money

• $2- Pattern Sales on Craftsy 
• $7.91- Ebates- I love making money by shopping online!
• $36- Babysitting
• $45- selling on facebook
• $18- selling on ebay
• $10.50- change
• $35.37- selling on amazon

Totals

Since our update in May, we have been able to pay $687 from our principle. Giving us a total of $6,172 for our year so far. One more month to see how much more than 6 grand we can pay off!! 

I love watching people's debt free screams. Motivation for me for sure! 

May Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money

• $2- Pattern Sales on Craftsy 
• $44- Sales on eBay
• $17.18- Selling books

Totals

Since our update in April, we have been able to pay $331 from our principle. Giving us a total of $5,485 for our year so far. $515 to go before July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. 

I have $200 more to put on the principle sitting at our house. Now to make it to the bank! Guess that will just have to make it on next months! Getting so close!

Scott and I were just talking last night about how once we pay off the house, we are going to start buying fresh roasted coffee again. Gotta have some kind of motivation, right!!

April Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money

• Change- $17.50

Once again, I didn't do a very good job of breaking down the money. We ended up with a little extra in our budget and that is where most of the extra came from. 

Totals

Since our update in March, we have been able to pay $632 from our principle. Giving us a total of $5,154 for our year so far. $846 to go before July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. 

I honestly thought that we would really struggle to get close to 6K this year. That was the amount that we paid off last year, but I was subbing a decent amount at the time. Choosing to stay home with Esther I thought would slow us down. We have two more months to go and I will do my best to make sure that we hit our goal! 

February Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money

• $20- anniversary money
• $21.92- selling books
• $27- selling on facebook
• $5- selling on ebay
• $10.50- change

Totals

Since our update in January, we have been able to pay $354 from our principle. Giving us a total of $4,297 for our year so far. $1,703 to go before next July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. 

This last month was a little slower for us on what we were able to pay off, but we are still getting there. We were able to mark off another 1k on our visual chart!!

January Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money

• Selling $136
• Rebate $5.29
• Sell Books- $41.64
• Selling cds- $18.43 I used decluttr
• Change- $15

Totals

Since our update in December, we have been able to pay $640 from our principle. Giving us a total of $3,943 for our 2nd year so far. $2,957 to go before next July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. 

I stocked up a decent amount in December as far as groceries go, so I am hoping to buy just the essentials at the grocery store this month and use what I save to help with the mortgage. 

We are $57 away from our next $1,000 mark. I really wanted to walk back into the bank and just pay that amount so that we could mark off the next block on our visual countdown. I didn't, but we will get to that soon! 

December Mortgage Update

Breakdown of Extra Money

I know you are probably thinking, you are missing some money somewhere. This money is just over and above our normal payment. 

• Change $10.50

• Ebates $8.29- pays to shop online!

Totals

Since our update in November, we have been able to pay off $492 from our principle. Giving us a total of $3,303 for our 2nd year so far. $2,697 to go before next July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. This month was a little slower on the pay off. Part of me has this secret goal to pay off way more than that. That just means, that I need to proactive in making extra money!

November Mortgage Update

Pretty sure this is by far my favorite debt free scream. If you haven't listened to any of the others, I encourage you to listen to this one. Great story of redemption!

My husband and I were just talking the other day about paying off our house and how we would like to get the mortgage paid off completely in 10 years. I love watching our mortgage chart on our fridge get lower. Super close to marking off the next $1,000!
Breakdown of Extra Money

• Gift Cards- $76

                   My mom used some of my gift cards at a store I don't go to very often. Trade off for cash!

• Selling on eBay- $100

                   I am excited for a new month in order to get more free listings on ebay. Ready to list more!

• Selling books to Powells $6.00
• Rebate from computer purchase- $40

                  my husband needed to get a new computer and it came with a rebate. 

• Huntington offer- $270

                 Offer of opening a checking account doing 10 transactions and then getting paid. Not bad money for a little bit of my time!

Totals

Since our update in October, we have been able to pay off $733 from our principle. Giving us a total of $2,810 for our 2nd year so far. $2,804 to go before next July in order to hit our goal of 6 grand this year. Half way there! Promising that we will be able to make our goal.