End of the Year Bitchy Post....

Just gonna lay all the gripey things that have been bothering me out there on the line.

2013's most annoying things for OzM:

1.  Family knowing that other family members are struggling, heartsick and just having a rough time in general but turning a completely blind eye to the issue and remaining self-absorbed and ignoring their own obligations to said family member(s).

2.  The "my shit don't stink" people.

3.  Having your intelligence questioned because you don't believe the way someone else does (on any number of things; not necessarily religion).

4.  Waiting and waiting on karmic payback.

5.  Finally:  Those that forever scam the system but come out smelling like roses regardless of how many levels of crap they've dove into while those that follow the rules and do the right thing are forever being screwed over....and over....and over.

Okay...now that that hissy fit is over (brought to you by so many things)....what are your plans for 2014?

Still working out the bare bones of ours.  Budget is being worked on as incoming numbers have changed in the past month.  Outgoing numbers are relatively the same but we're upping the amount paid in on the vehicles in hopes of wiping that out sooner (especially since the Durango is just a very expensive yard decoration right now...see gofundme goo to the left and if you feel the need to help out, thanks...if not, still thanks).  Credit reports are being pulled at the end of January and being gone over with a fine tooth comb as I've be remiss and not done that since some accounts were paid off.

Oh and nagging will commence soon....Tanker has not been as active in jostling the VA over treatment delays as he should.  That will be changing...rapidly....as he is constantly in pain, despite meds, and has "numb" episodes more and more often.  Not exactly conducive to healing.  I kinda figure since we fall into some sort of gray area where we make too much for help, but not enough to do more than bail out the leaking boat with a teaspoon, and he's not rated at 100% (which is a requirement for most of the aid programs out there) that the VA should at least get him going to the point that pain isn't an issue holding him back from getting back to work (which is what he wants).  Gonna be rough on him though as they want him to go back through physical therapy (because it worked soooo well the first time...note the sarcasm).

And I'm on the j-o-b hunt again (still but upping the search).  Positive thoughts there would be greatly appreciated.

Alas, such is life.

Here's to hoping the next year is kinder to us all!

Resolutions....

I don't really do well with them, so I tend to not make any that are vitally important.

This year, however, I am making a resolution to strengthen my resolve.  I do well with things at the beginning of the program but as time lags on I'm easily distracted....oh, shiny!....I'm hoping this year will be different.  I'm hoping that having a "plan" will help me stay on track (ha!) and that Tanker will call me out on any straying from "the plan."  Because I would really, really love to write next year's New Year post from a farm of our own.

Really...sincerely...hopefully.

$5 and a Big Pickle Jar...

So we have a few of those industrial size pickle jars (don't judge our love of pickles) and I read somewhere (probably Pinterest) about a lady that takes every $5 bill she get and puts it back.  In something like 7 years, she amassed over $20k...just sticking back every $5.

Pickle jar...you are about to become an experiment.  Starting sometime next month, the pickle jar will become the $5 jar.  A second one will become loose change jar.  (Note:  I should probably put one in my car as there is currently at least $4 worth of change hanging out in just the door pocket thingy right now.)

Since we will be transitioning from using debit for everything BACK to cash (with the exception of bills that are already set to be paid through ACH/Debit) only, we're sure to land on a Fiver now and again.  And change, oh boy...that will always be a given.  Tanker is down with the plan.  We both have noticed that we spend considerably more money paying via debit...so cash only and saving every little cent it is (literally).

Call it an experiment in curiosity more than anything.  We know what we spend via debit (it's there for me to see, download and pour over anytime I want).  Now we want to see how we'll do via cash only.

Confession...we aren't used to having the income we have now.  We're used to living on half the amount.  We went through a period of not knowing what to do with ourselves and wasting money.  It became easy to see it, want it, buy it.  And we found the screamers coming down with serious cases of the 'gimme' disease.  No more.

Spending like that didn't make us happy or make us better people.  It just gave us more crap to pack up and move or sell.  A flippin' headache.

Now, we're pretending that we're bringing in what we're accustomed to.  I don't check the balance after all the bills are paid and we have a set amount each pay period budgeted for groceries, gas and entertainment.  You know what, this month has been a good month for us.  Hopefully it's a preview of the new norm.

19 days....

It seems like an eternity!

In 19 days we will be keys in hand Kentuckians again.  The house is pretty well packed, utilities (that we're paying) set to be moved, important paperwork in hand, address changes put in.  All that is left, is to wait.

The house down there is ready...but we've budgeted so tightly this month (paid off a few extra things that we normally would just be making payments on) that the extra rent for a half a month is not available.  Rewind....it is available, we just opt for August to not be as tight as July is in the fundage department and will stay here unless there is some magical windfall that appears.

In the meantime, we hang...doing research on schooling for me and Tanker.  Getting finances lined up for that and such.  Discussing which places to apply the extra that will be coming in from the GI Bill (that won't go toward school) in an effort to finish off all remaining debt before we buy the new house.  There will already be a sizable amount to put down on the loan, but we want more...less to pay off, less monthly debt, less interest going to "them."  The plan is to have it paid in half the time anyway...doable, even on the income we have now.  Even more doable with any kind of increase in the income; which means even if I pick up just a part-time gig somewhere the extra $$ will be put straight up on principal of any debt incurring interest.

Alas, I must be off...tomatoes are starting to turn, blackberries require picking and a cobbler be in the making.

So Long...Farewell....

no, no...not you!

Said 'Adios' to ALL of our credit card debt...put the cards AWAY (i.e. I remember where they are right now...in three days, probably not so much)...and have absolutely no intentions of using them unless the purchase can be paid within a week of being made.  There will be no more balances carried, no more cards carried.  Any purchases to be made with them will require pulling the cards out from their hiding spots.  That means no more impulse buys on credit.  Went from 5 cards to 3...none with a limit that would require more than my paycheck to pay off if maxed out.  Good deal.

Also paid some extra on the principal on both vehicles...our new budget has extra wiggle room that we've not been privy to previously, so can be done with little effect on the bottom line there (but the bottom line on those loans are shrinking nicely).  The extra wiggle room is also allowing us to make some much needed improvements here at the 'Stead...especially important as we have decided moving back to KY is not really what we want.  We're good here, with wonderful neighbors and the most excellent school the kids could have.

And bonus:  A few of my feathered ladies have begun laying...one being the lone female banty I have but she's so darling and lovable I'll forgive her the tiny eggs, lol.

Off to sleep now...these overnights, though I love the folks I work with, are really messing with my sleep!

Happy, Happy...Joy, Joy....

no, not over that which shall not be discussed (ie the thing that happened yesterday...it's all the rage on MSM right now if you don't know what it is).

Happy/Joy over the fact that we are sooooo much closer to being debt-free now (thought the credit scores took a knock last month while waiting on the pay to come in).  Went from $40k+ in debt to less than $20k.  If all goes well, that will be halved again by the end of the year.  If all does not go well over the next few weeks, miserly me will once again be squeezing pennies 'til they scream out for mercy in order to keep our feet under us.  It has to be done...it must be done...and it has got to be done soon (due to the results of the thing that shall not be discussed and that thing called a fiscal cliff).

Still waiting on the VA letter so we can file some paperwork with DFAS (military pay crap for those that don't know) in order to get the taxes back that they took out of Tanker's NON-TAXABLE severance pay.  Going to be cutting close on that as everyone knows how fast the VA moves and the paperwork has to be filed by the end of the year.  If not, kiss that $7k adieu...NOT something I want to be doing.

Now that we're set to pull through the winter with everything (except milk 'cause no cow or eggs because the peepers aren't laying yet) and have all the things Tanker wanted/needed in the tool/large gnarly chainsaws with more power (grunt, grunt, grunt) area, I'm turning my eye to expanding on the flock and getting the field fenced in to keep future cow out of the backyard and out of the future orchard.  Still sad I missed out on all the fall sales of orchard stock though.  Lowe's didn't even have anything in the "help they're killing me" section.  Sigh.  Oh and keeping my eye out for a deep freeze...please don't open the freezer on the fridge, I don't think the insurance will cover broken appendages caused by falling frozen foods.

And now I'm off to attempt some sleep...tomorrow is likely to put me under!

Here Chickie, Chickie...

and it begins!!

Most of the stuff is moved over to the new place, with the exception of the kitchen and couch.  I'm trying to temper Tanker on taking it all as we've yet to get the fundage together for a full on utility switch over.  Deposits on the electric alone are going to run close to $300, then figure in propane at $1.69 gallon with a minimum order of 100 gallons...ouch.

But he's set on being out of here and off post ASAP.  Wants to have everything out at the 'Stead by the time he takes leave next month.  I don't really disagree; but there is that whole not having electric and gas thing which could present a little bit of an issue.  As it is, I've been neglectful in assisting Tanker with packing...the kitchen is my job (le sigh) and I've been informed that I should be getting started on it.

Sooooo, as a little self-motivation, I've struck a deal with an acquaintance that will result in my being the proud owner of 25 (yes, 25) three week old chicks by the end of next week.  Can't really have them here on post (boy wouldn't that be a hilarious explanation to the MP next door) and can't leave them unattended at the new place, so I shall get to cracking at what must be done in an effort to at least have 98% of the apartment relocated to the house.

That adventure begins Thursday, as tomorrow I go to finagle with some financial types in the hopes of obtaining a (oh good gravy) short term loan (no, not payday type) in an effort to speed along this dog, cat and chicken show.  It'll mean me having to hold on to the job until at least early December (unless by some miracle of any deity Tanker gets a percentage back from the VA before then...please, please, please) to be sure said loan is a goner before the new year.  So if you pray, pray...if you send positive thoughts/vibes, send 'em...I'm sure going to need them over the next little bit.

I Have Decided...

to stress a lot less.  Yeah, there will be stress but I shall "be the duck."  I refuse to let monetary issues cause me more stress than they should.  We're broke (not totally but enough to put a damper on things) but ya know what, we aren't starving...there's a roof over our heads...the kids are alright...and those growing ever useless dollars are still coming in.

I let the stress of money issues get to me entirely too much over the past month and haven't at all been myself completely.  Bills will wait while we get back on track.  We'll live through it.  We have before, we will again.

Since I've decided to let it go and just roll with it, I've been way happier.  Back to planning the garden for this fall and next spring.  Back to picking out chicken breeds and debating cows with Tanker.  Back to pointing out that MY plans for a combined single building (chicken coop, cattle barn, greenhouse) is way more cost efficient and practical than HIS plans for individual buildings.  I'm right.  I know it and you can't change my mind.  ;P

Life is clipping along right now...Tanker goes tomorrow for his final NARSUM (military speak for this is what happened to cause this/that/those injuries so don't go saying that the fella had it beforehand) and according to the new MEB (Medical Evaluation Board) policy it SHOULD be back in 45 days (at least the regs say so, but we all know how that goes).  So we're looking for the final percentage from the Army to come back sometime in September (I see ya doing the math...yes, that's more than 45 days; see above comment about how it really goes).  Good timing as we are set to move in to the new place then.  Works for me.

And now I'm off to attempt a little sleep.  Two days off of work and fighting the urge to call in and quit have wiped me out.

Every Little Bit...

supposedly helps; I've been told.

I don't see it right now...feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming on.  Work is work; 4 and 5 hour shifts that I usually get sent home from about halfway through because they are overmanned.  I swear, if this 1st paycheck breaks $100 I'll be surprised.  Using gas, buying "approved" work shoes...welp, there went that check.

And we're still reeling from being "overpaid" during our move from Germany.  It only took a month for them to get the pay straightened out to begin with while we were forking over tons of cash on things that were supposed to be reimbursed but are now not eligible (Danke, very much).  Then we get the bombshell of "hey, we just realized that we overpaid you almost $700 when we finally paid you all that other back pay and moving expenses stuff and you were supposed to realize it even though we never gave you an exact amount of what to expect to be paid"...yup.  So we dig ourselves out of a debt hole over the past year just to be dumped right back in one...all because of military pay issues.

We'd apply for help from some of these charities that assist military families and Veterans, BUT that route is dangerous.  We can't get a loan from our preferred loan place because Tanker doesn't have enough time left on his contract.  We can't get aide from a lot of the other organizations anyway because 1.) Tanker isn't "hurt enough", 2.) he's still Active Duty, 3.) he has no official VA rating (there is one, we just are not yet allowed to know what it is) or 4.) the debt need isn't "valid" because we've paid the bills that needed paying and the problem lies in a negative bank balance.  So we do what we do best and soldier on.  Man, it's stressful.

The upside is that we saved enough to be able to send in and secure the house and land.  It's not everything that is needed, but it takes it off the market and allows us to have the stress of whether or not it would be sold out from under us gone.  Now to scrape the barrel bottom for the next 2 months and gather the rest while attempting to straighten out the mess we've been handed.  Nothing new...which is kinda sad.

Positive of the day:  The tomatoes, peppers and cukes in the "pot garden" are thriving.  My rescued apple tree and raspberries are finally sprouting new growth.  AND I've not yet killed the carrots.

Such is Life at the Nut House.

As Promised....

the beginning of the debt redux saga in this house.  Now, we don't have a ton of debt (if you don't count the student loans...which we don't because those are setup as allotments from the pay and we never see that money anyway) but the debt we do have is nasty, ugly stuff that is from years of struggling with little pay and big monthly bills.  I know, I know...our choice.  But enough of that.

I decided last week that we'd do some serious cleaning of the credit reports.  One adult at a time.  We're starting with Soldier first, as he is the one making money and not me.  Plan is to have him debt free by next April on JUST the base pay that comes in minus our regular operating budget (the minor utilities we pay, groceries, insurance, etc...no counting COLA, BAH or any other extra).  Totally doable!

Sat down on Saturday and did a budget, then typed up letters to the creditors with payment plans and a mini-contract.  They go out this week and payments go out beginning the 1st.  Bi-monthly.  Of course, we likely won't have the signed contracts back by the 1st, but that's alright...they'll still have a payment on the way (with Signature confirmation and copies of all receipts being stored in their own little file here at home to PROVE that we have in fact started payments).  Once Soldier's credit is cleaned up and clear (in less than a year I might add...woot!), we'll start on mine.

The logic behind the "divide and conquer" here is that Soldier makes $$, I currently do not.  My credit score is currently higher than Soldier's is (don't ask how, I don't know).  So mine can take a couple more months of being kicked around, especially since there are no intentions of me attempting to get more credit during the pay-off party.

So, we are basically doing DIY debt consolidation (or counseling or whatever).  When the bug bit me, I googled (naturally) the above and came up with waaaaaaaaay too many websites...the one that mattered was this one, if you're interested.

The biggie for us (me rather, since the footwork/paperwork is all on me) was validating the debt.  See, I called the two that were bugging me the most and come to find out one of those two can't pinpoint where two-thirds of the supposed debt came from.  Yeah, $167 worth of debt that they can't tell me the origins of...just that it was "invoiced".  Okay, invoiced for what?  I ask.  No clue, they says, the invoice doesn't say.  Really?  Well then guess what...I only owe you the $37 that you have an invoice for that tells me what the $$ owed is for, until you can get me an invoice that says otherwise.  That hits the mail along with a validation/verification letter on the 15th that basically says "take this and consider the bill paid and the account closed".  Bet they come up with an invoice real quick 'cause you know and I know they won't be happy with that!

I'll let you know how it goes with the rest of the jokers...most will probably have no problem with it.  But I can already figure on who will give us crap...too bad for them.

Now, I'm off to tackle the kitchen that seems to have grown a mind of it's own and refuses to stay clean!  Adieu!