I must really be the worst PF blogger ever. It took me THREE months to get COBRA sorted (I hope!) while paying $1300/month. And today, well, it was even worse. The maid showed up. It was her last prepaid visit. After I got laid off, I scaled her back to every other week.
She said that a lot of her clients were hurting and that she lost the real estate business she relied on, cleaning houses to sell or rent. I must really be a sucker because I felt so bad for her.
I agreed to continue every other week, and I paid her $600 for the rest of the year. I rationalized it a lot of ways:
I'll get that job -- or at least some job. We spend $150 bar tabs easy! $600 is no big deal. She really needs the money more than I do. If I get a big shot job, I'll need her every week again, and I don't want to lose her!
So, there you go. What's done is done.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Applied for Health Insurance
COBRA is killing my budget, so I'm going to try for the scary, scary free market. I gathered up every Rx bottle and went over every EOB to make sure I could disclose everything I knew about our mid-20s health.
I have asthma and about the mildest inhaler possible that I don't even use. Senor Dog got a cream for some eczema last year. We had a few antibiotics, some birth control, and that's it. I put it all on the form. It was surprisingly hard, and we have practically nothing.
The plan I applied for is $200/month with a 10K family deductible. That means if I land in the ER again or we get in a car wreck, we're out 10K. In that case, we're slightly worse off than COBRA. Assuming our average use, heck, even our above average use from the ER, it will be cheaper.
I was surprised I was upset about maternity. Heck, I plan on adopting, not getting knocked up, so I'm not sure why losing maternity knocks the wind out of me. I guess it feels like closing a door (for now) that I couldn't control. Rationally, I know this plan covers pregnancy complications, and that L&D is only a couple grand anyway, so we would still come out ahead. But I still feel kind of sad that there's no baby for now.
There's a lot of other stuff it just doesn't cover. Rx drugs have something like $500/year -- after your deductible. It doesn't cover suicide or cutting or mental health or nuclear accidents or war injuries. I guess if I get attacked in a war and need Rx drugs and counseling, I'm screwed.
I have asthma and about the mildest inhaler possible that I don't even use. Senor Dog got a cream for some eczema last year. We had a few antibiotics, some birth control, and that's it. I put it all on the form. It was surprisingly hard, and we have practically nothing.
The plan I applied for is $200/month with a 10K family deductible. That means if I land in the ER again or we get in a car wreck, we're out 10K. In that case, we're slightly worse off than COBRA. Assuming our average use, heck, even our above average use from the ER, it will be cheaper.
I was surprised I was upset about maternity. Heck, I plan on adopting, not getting knocked up, so I'm not sure why losing maternity knocks the wind out of me. I guess it feels like closing a door (for now) that I couldn't control. Rationally, I know this plan covers pregnancy complications, and that L&D is only a couple grand anyway, so we would still come out ahead. But I still feel kind of sad that there's no baby for now.
There's a lot of other stuff it just doesn't cover. Rx drugs have something like $500/year -- after your deductible. It doesn't cover suicide or cutting or mental health or nuclear accidents or war injuries. I guess if I get attacked in a war and need Rx drugs and counseling, I'm screwed.
Health Insurance is a Rip-Off
I've been digging through my COBRA trying to find every doctor I've ever visited and everything I've ever been prescribed to apply for private health insurance. Of course, they don't tell you that, then it would be too easy.
I did find my benefit descriptions, with all the EOBs from all my doctors. Remember when they only paid my gyno $125? They paid the plain old doctor $60 when I had a bad cold. $60!!! What am I paying $1200/month for???
The only actual use of my health insurance was my trip to the ER with the initial bill at more than 12K. With that included, my lifetime benefits in the last three years on this plan are 8K. Without the ER, it would be pretty much nothing. That makes me want to puke. What am I (and previously my employer) paying $600/month for?
Why can't I just pay the $60 to go to the doctor and get insurance for cancer or a car accident or something like Morrison says in her comments? Heck, I'd even pay the 6K ER bill if I could self-insure it.
I did find my benefit descriptions, with all the EOBs from all my doctors. Remember when they only paid my gyno $125? They paid the plain old doctor $60 when I had a bad cold. $60!!! What am I paying $1200/month for???
The only actual use of my health insurance was my trip to the ER with the initial bill at more than 12K. With that included, my lifetime benefits in the last three years on this plan are 8K. Without the ER, it would be pretty much nothing. That makes me want to puke. What am I (and previously my employer) paying $600/month for?
Why can't I just pay the $60 to go to the doctor and get insurance for cancer or a car accident or something like Morrison says in her comments? Heck, I'd even pay the 6K ER bill if I could self-insure it.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A New Place?
A friend offered to let us rent out his townhouse while he's in Dubai for a year. It would be a little more rent, but it's a way, way nicer place. Granite, garage, huge closets, insane kitchen.
In many ways, the neighborhood is even better than our current neighborhood. Places are even more expensive, land is worth even more. The bars are fancy, there's a gourmet cheese shop, there's sushi and chic nightclubs and fancy wine shops.
One problem. The Section 8 complex across the street. It's huge, and it's been there at least 10 years. When the developers put it in, the proposal assumed the place would be destroyed in 20 years, and they aren't far off. There was nothing there then, but since then a bunch of fancy bars and townhouses have taken over.
When he first moved in, someone would come turn on his hose so the water ran all night (who would do that?!), and he had to put a water control thing in the garage. The houses get tagged all the time. People sleep in your yard, there are always dozens of people just hanging out outside the complex at any hour of the day with shopping carts and trash and it's awful. There's no way they can afford anything in that neighborhood. It sticks out as badly as possible.
I have a gut reaction to the Section 8. I don't want to live near it, I don't even want to drive by it. Been there, done that, over it.
In many ways, the neighborhood is even better than our current neighborhood. Places are even more expensive, land is worth even more. The bars are fancy, there's a gourmet cheese shop, there's sushi and chic nightclubs and fancy wine shops.
One problem. The Section 8 complex across the street. It's huge, and it's been there at least 10 years. When the developers put it in, the proposal assumed the place would be destroyed in 20 years, and they aren't far off. There was nothing there then, but since then a bunch of fancy bars and townhouses have taken over.
When he first moved in, someone would come turn on his hose so the water ran all night (who would do that?!), and he had to put a water control thing in the garage. The houses get tagged all the time. People sleep in your yard, there are always dozens of people just hanging out outside the complex at any hour of the day with shopping carts and trash and it's awful. There's no way they can afford anything in that neighborhood. It sticks out as badly as possible.
I have a gut reaction to the Section 8. I don't want to live near it, I don't even want to drive by it. Been there, done that, over it.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Major Drama or My Black Sheep Brother
Warning: Major drama, really long. This has been hard on me, so I wasn't even sure if I should blog it.
My brother pled out a couple days ago for time served and got out of jail. He refused to go to rehab (again), so my parents kicked him out. He got evicted from his apartment while he was in jail, so they had his stuff. My mom, bless her, gave him his car, a full tank of gas, and $400. She neatly packed up his stuff in two suitcases and gave him a blanket and a pillow.
He told her that he would kill her and burn down the house. Drugs are who he is, you don't understand, you're too closed minded, you don't accept me. I begged my parents not to stay there, so they went to my sister's house, reluctantly.
In the middle of the night, he showed back up. He "lost" the car five miles away, we think he walked. He broke the garage door. He broke the front and back door off the hinges. He broke windows. He trashed the house. He was screaming, and a neighbor called 911. It took the cops 30 minutes to arrive (one of the biggest problems with living in the country). The police found him an hour later fully dressed in a fountain. He said he was in the Illuminati.
This is just so sad and out of control. Mom found his car with the help of a questionable "friend", loaded it with all his stuff, and is going to give it to the police. Surely, he can't be the first inmate who needs his car stored?
My parents are selling their house, mom changed her phone number. I can't believe I even wrote that. This has happened a dozen times, maybe more. Without the violence, he could have used and abused mom forever. But it's over now. That druggie killed my brother.
I can't decide if I'm angry at what he has done to my mom or mourning my brother. I am just so very glad my parents were not at home. I couldn't handle mourning all of them.
For now, I am trying to figure out how they can buy a new house and have the title anonymous, without putting it in a trust. Surely, they aren't the first victims of domestic violence who want an anonymous house title?
My brother pled out a couple days ago for time served and got out of jail. He refused to go to rehab (again), so my parents kicked him out. He got evicted from his apartment while he was in jail, so they had his stuff. My mom, bless her, gave him his car, a full tank of gas, and $400. She neatly packed up his stuff in two suitcases and gave him a blanket and a pillow.
He told her that he would kill her and burn down the house. Drugs are who he is, you don't understand, you're too closed minded, you don't accept me. I begged my parents not to stay there, so they went to my sister's house, reluctantly.
In the middle of the night, he showed back up. He "lost" the car five miles away, we think he walked. He broke the garage door. He broke the front and back door off the hinges. He broke windows. He trashed the house. He was screaming, and a neighbor called 911. It took the cops 30 minutes to arrive (one of the biggest problems with living in the country). The police found him an hour later fully dressed in a fountain. He said he was in the Illuminati.
This is just so sad and out of control. Mom found his car with the help of a questionable "friend", loaded it with all his stuff, and is going to give it to the police. Surely, he can't be the first inmate who needs his car stored?
My parents are selling their house, mom changed her phone number. I can't believe I even wrote that. This has happened a dozen times, maybe more. Without the violence, he could have used and abused mom forever. But it's over now. That druggie killed my brother.
I can't decide if I'm angry at what he has done to my mom or mourning my brother. I am just so very glad my parents were not at home. I couldn't handle mourning all of them.
For now, I am trying to figure out how they can buy a new house and have the title anonymous, without putting it in a trust. Surely, they aren't the first victims of domestic violence who want an anonymous house title?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Finance Tips from "The Nest"
I got a spam magazine to the very fake name I used to sign up for the bridal monstrosity that is the Knot. Who sends freebie magazines to someone named "We R Dog"? I'm surprised I used my real address! This magazine was pure spam, newlywed focused.
This magazine is called "the nest" and it seems fixated on buying expensive decor and getting knocked up, not my favorite newlywed activities.
The cover article is "Survive on One Salary" which is intended for staying at home after you get knocked up, but suggests it might be useful if someone gets laid off as well.
Most of the advice is the same old: budget, drop cable, use coupons, quit smoking, don't go out. Great.
The worst was random advice from random people from the Internets, sadly reproduced in this sad magazine, credited to names like We R Dog.
"Buy generic brands of toilet paper, trash bags, and paper towels." - Balbacm
"If you have a cell, lose your landline." -Klingle33
"Don't buy bottled water, filter it at home." - Melanie_N_Alan
"I've improved my credit score by keeping one or two cards open and making sure they're paid off or kept at a low balance." - LilCindella
"Shop at estate auctions. We got a washer/dryer at on for $50!" - Autumn_Lovers
I feel dumber already. Lord help you if you need these awful tips to survive on one income. Especially after you bought all the designer china and baby stuff earlier in the magazine and all the dresses and flowers and custom monograms and signature cocktails the Knot was peddling. Whew! I mean, what on earth were you buying before, Balbacm, couture trash bags?
I got one!
"Stop reading stupid magazines peddling overpriced crap! And avoid the Knot which gives you unrealistic, stupidly expensive wedding expectations!" - We R Dog
This magazine is called "the nest" and it seems fixated on buying expensive decor and getting knocked up, not my favorite newlywed activities.
The cover article is "Survive on One Salary" which is intended for staying at home after you get knocked up, but suggests it might be useful if someone gets laid off as well.
Most of the advice is the same old: budget, drop cable, use coupons, quit smoking, don't go out. Great.
The worst was random advice from random people from the Internets, sadly reproduced in this sad magazine, credited to names like We R Dog.
"Buy generic brands of toilet paper, trash bags, and paper towels." - Balbacm
"If you have a cell, lose your landline." -Klingle33
"Don't buy bottled water, filter it at home." - Melanie_N_Alan
"I've improved my credit score by keeping one or two cards open and making sure they're paid off or kept at a low balance." - LilCindella
"Shop at estate auctions. We got a washer/dryer at on for $50!" - Autumn_Lovers
I feel dumber already. Lord help you if you need these awful tips to survive on one income. Especially after you bought all the designer china and baby stuff earlier in the magazine and all the dresses and flowers and custom monograms and signature cocktails the Knot was peddling. Whew! I mean, what on earth were you buying before, Balbacm, couture trash bags?
I got one!
"Stop reading stupid magazines peddling overpriced crap! And avoid the Knot which gives you unrealistic, stupidly expensive wedding expectations!" - We R Dog
Sunday, July 12, 2009
2010 Wedding Schedule
Whew, I think I got out of the stupidly expensive destination wedding. Well, I tried at least by sending an email that we still can't commit when I don't have a job. Hopefully that will stop the nagging.
Meanwhile, the weddings keep pouring in! In 2010, we have weddings in Miami, London, and Vegas. These happen to be awesome places that I would love to vacation anyway. They are also places that are actually meaningful to the people getting married, well, except Vegas, but that's a whole other tradition.
Anyway.
That pretty much settles our travel for next year. It takes time and money, and well, we're done with our vaca days and travel budget with that many heavy travel weddings. That said, I bet we can even go to London for less than that stupidly expensive Caribbean destination wedding.
We're so old that I thought our friends were done, I guess I was wrong. I guess when you're around 30, your wedding gets even bigger! We're also hitting the first round of divorces the same time as the next round of weddings!
Meanwhile, the weddings keep pouring in! In 2010, we have weddings in Miami, London, and Vegas. These happen to be awesome places that I would love to vacation anyway. They are also places that are actually meaningful to the people getting married, well, except Vegas, but that's a whole other tradition.
Anyway.
That pretty much settles our travel for next year. It takes time and money, and well, we're done with our vaca days and travel budget with that many heavy travel weddings. That said, I bet we can even go to London for less than that stupidly expensive Caribbean destination wedding.
We're so old that I thought our friends were done, I guess I was wrong. I guess when you're around 30, your wedding gets even bigger! We're also hitting the first round of divorces the same time as the next round of weddings!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Job Search Update
If y'all were worried, my Friday interview went really, really well. I knocked it out of the park from my end, and I'm really excited about a new industry and about my possible co-workers. Of course, there's always the elephant of the economy in every discussion and employment decision.
Like usual for interviews, I traded my gemstone engagement ring for a plain gold band to show I mean business and to avoid a diamond debate on an interview. Both women I met were also wearing gold bands!
That might sound like no big deal, but this is Texas and those women make bank. Around here, rich women make sure you know by dirty, loud diamonds. The bigger the better. It's one of the many reasons I don't like diamonds. But not these women, and I felt a connection to them I never felt at my old job.
I've been trying to think positive, and at the same time not get too attached to this job, which might be an impossible balance. I have two interviews next week, anyway, so things are looking a lot brighter for me.
Like usual for interviews, I traded my gemstone engagement ring for a plain gold band to show I mean business and to avoid a diamond debate on an interview. Both women I met were also wearing gold bands!
That might sound like no big deal, but this is Texas and those women make bank. Around here, rich women make sure you know by dirty, loud diamonds. The bigger the better. It's one of the many reasons I don't like diamonds. But not these women, and I felt a connection to them I never felt at my old job.
I've been trying to think positive, and at the same time not get too attached to this job, which might be an impossible balance. I have two interviews next week, anyway, so things are looking a lot brighter for me.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Not Forced or Personal Responsibility
I can't stand it when people whine about things they control and pretend like they have no choices.
When you have cancer, you have no choice. When you get laid off with your whole department, you have no choice. When your house burns down, you have no choice. Most of the time, you control your own destiny.
This whiny post from Stew over at Gather Little By Little is one of the worst. Stew doesn't want his wife to work outside the home but they are "being forced into this decision simply because it makes good financial sense." Sorry, buddy, nobody forced you to do anything.
You could downgrade your home. You could get a better job or a second job. She could start an Etsy store from home or babysit some kids. You could move to a cheaper area. You could downgrade your lifestyle. Nobody forced you to do anything. If teaching preschool is what finally lets you actually save a little money and pay off your student and car loans, you could probably use a better job anyway.
The comments are very thoughtful and reflective on what seems to be a tough choice for many. But to pretend like it isn't a choice is just silly. Of course it's a choice. It's a choice you have to admit you control and just make it, like an adult.
When you have cancer, you have no choice. When you get laid off with your whole department, you have no choice. When your house burns down, you have no choice. Most of the time, you control your own destiny.
This whiny post from Stew over at Gather Little By Little is one of the worst. Stew doesn't want his wife to work outside the home but they are "being forced into this decision simply because it makes good financial sense." Sorry, buddy, nobody forced you to do anything.
You could downgrade your home. You could get a better job or a second job. She could start an Etsy store from home or babysit some kids. You could move to a cheaper area. You could downgrade your lifestyle. Nobody forced you to do anything. If teaching preschool is what finally lets you actually save a little money and pay off your student and car loans, you could probably use a better job anyway.
The comments are very thoughtful and reflective on what seems to be a tough choice for many. But to pretend like it isn't a choice is just silly. Of course it's a choice. It's a choice you have to admit you control and just make it, like an adult.
Rolling Over, Boy Was That Hard!
This dog found it is very, very hard to roll over!
Since I'm tying up loose ends, like my 401(k), I decided to go ahead roll it to Vanguard. I don't know who my new employer's 401(k) will be, but it probably won't be Vanguard. So, for long-term hedging, I decided to roll it over.
Problem. About 2K of the 40K is Roth 401(k). That means I can't do it online. I took an HOUR LONG conference call between Vanguard and Fidelity (both of whom actually know what they're doing) to deal with it. It was like I was the first person in the world to ever do this. I can't even imagine if it were with some worse company, like my awful experience at ADP.
Moral of the story is that you shouldn't mix your Roth and your traditional 401(k), kids. Whew, that was tough.
Since I'm tying up loose ends, like my 401(k), I decided to go ahead roll it to Vanguard. I don't know who my new employer's 401(k) will be, but it probably won't be Vanguard. So, for long-term hedging, I decided to roll it over.
Problem. About 2K of the 40K is Roth 401(k). That means I can't do it online. I took an HOUR LONG conference call between Vanguard and Fidelity (both of whom actually know what they're doing) to deal with it. It was like I was the first person in the world to ever do this. I can't even imagine if it were with some worse company, like my awful experience at ADP.
Moral of the story is that you shouldn't mix your Roth and your traditional 401(k), kids. Whew, that was tough.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Life Insurance
I'm envisioning the job I'm interviewing for on Friday as happening. I'm trying positive thinking or The Secret or something.
It also means I'm wrapping up all the loose ends while I have some spare time, like finally making the wedding photo album.
And then there's life insurance.
I really need to finally get this going. I quoted it out almost a year ago, back when I thought we needed a half mil a piece. (Gawd, have I procrastinated that long???) Now, I just need to get this done.
Again using Ing Reliastar through Zander, here's our rates for 250K
15 yr (me) $137/yr
30 yr (me) $207/yr
15 yr (him) $157/yr
30 yr (him) $257/yr
For 500K,
15 yr (me) $210/yr
30 yr (me) $350/yr
15 yr (him) $250/yr
30 yr (him) $450/yr
AHHHHH! WHAT DO I CHOOSE? How much do I need?
It also means I'm wrapping up all the loose ends while I have some spare time, like finally making the wedding photo album.
And then there's life insurance.
I really need to finally get this going. I quoted it out almost a year ago, back when I thought we needed a half mil a piece. (Gawd, have I procrastinated that long???) Now, I just need to get this done.
Again using Ing Reliastar through Zander, here's our rates for 250K
15 yr (me) $137/yr
30 yr (me) $207/yr
15 yr (him) $157/yr
30 yr (him) $257/yr
For 500K,
15 yr (me) $210/yr
30 yr (me) $350/yr
15 yr (him) $250/yr
30 yr (him) $450/yr
AHHHHH! WHAT DO I CHOOSE? How much do I need?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Heaps of Cash
I have my best interview yet on Friday (send good vibes!). This would be a similar job to my old one, maybe a little mellower. It would be in a whole new industry, so I'd have a lot of catching up to do. There would be a lot to learn.
My lay off has radically changed my view on money. If I get that job (six figures) here's what we'd do.
* Upgrade the rental to about 2K/month with a garage.
* Sock the rest away.
With Senor Dog kicking butt and me making a gob of money, we could have 100K in cash in no time, and that gives us a lot of choices. We could finally buy a house.
Buying, say, a 500K home terrifies me. Even Jonathan, the height of frugality, is underwater on his really expensive home. That soundbite storyteller that replaced Tricia's sincere and heartfelt journey on Blogging Away Debt has yet to release her figures. (She doesn't seem to understand the point of a financial blog.) I'm guessing she's in so much trouble because she has too much house.
Most importantly, I've learned our income won't last forever. Especially in this new job, change is inevitable. We have to be able to live on less, a lot less, than we make. I thought we always did that, intellectually, but now I really feel it and understand it.
My lay off has radically changed my view on money. If I get that job (six figures) here's what we'd do.
* Upgrade the rental to about 2K/month with a garage.
* Sock the rest away.
With Senor Dog kicking butt and me making a gob of money, we could have 100K in cash in no time, and that gives us a lot of choices. We could finally buy a house.
Buying, say, a 500K home terrifies me. Even Jonathan, the height of frugality, is underwater on his really expensive home. That soundbite storyteller that replaced Tricia's sincere and heartfelt journey on Blogging Away Debt has yet to release her figures. (She doesn't seem to understand the point of a financial blog.) I'm guessing she's in so much trouble because she has too much house.
Most importantly, I've learned our income won't last forever. Especially in this new job, change is inevitable. We have to be able to live on less, a lot less, than we make. I thought we always did that, intellectually, but now I really feel it and understand it.
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