Finally...

I have never been so happy to see a pay period get here!  OK...that's not exactly true because all pay periods are good...more money always helps!  But this time with DH's mistake I was really looking forward to this one.  

And there are NO BILLS due for these next 2 weeks!  I can really put some money aside for DH's tires and hopefully he'll be able to get them really soon!  I've already replaced all the money I've "borrowed" from the other accounts.  Plus the normal transfer of $442.60 into the savings account for our mortgage payment.  

Getting into the routine of transferring 1/2 the mortgage payment every two weeks into the savings account it automatically gets pulled from was a great idea!  The mortgage is the first thing I "pay" every pay period.  I have never made a late payment or missed a payment!  And I know the money is always in the account when it's time for it to come out.

I don't expect to have any problems paying my bills, but if I did I would pay my mortgage and heloc first because I would never want to lose my home.  Second, I would make the truck payment because DH needs to get to and from work (though if we were really that bad off we would probably sell the truck and get a cheap, reliable vehicle--unless it was already paid off).  Lastly, I would pay the credit card.  Of course mixed in all that would be buying food, prescriptions, and paying for utilities.  Those would also be before the credit card.  

Of course all of this really doesn't matter if you plan well.  That's why we have an emergency fund.  If DH loses his job we don't have to make decisions on what to pay and what to not pay.  

And someday our plan is to not ever worry about it at all!  Our plan to payoff all our debt including our mortgage is a long term one for now, but once I can go back to work that will turn into a short term plan.  

• Everything I make will go towards debt!  
• Anything over what we've been currently living on from DH's paycheck will go towards savings.  

Right now it's just send whatever we can to pay down or off our debt.  Living below our means definitely helps though we don't deny ourselves either.  I have 2 more years (Spring, Summer, and Fall terms) of college to complete my B.S. degree along with my double minor and 3 certificates.  Once that is done I'll volunteer for a few years to get my foot in the door of my new career and still be available for my youngest son, who will still be in elementary school.  I'll be able to get a job again when he gets into middle school (my oldest will be in high school by then).

I can't wait to see how fast the debt disappears once I'm working again!  I almost want to see about getting a job sooner because of it, but I know I have to concentrate on my schooling and children first. Though if the right opportunity came along that still allowed me to do all the things I do with my boys, then I would consider it.

Considerations figured out

OK...you know how I was considering what to do with this blog?  Should I get its own domain?  Should I make it more money-producing with advertising and sponsored posts?

Well, I've decided against all that for a couple of reasons.

1. I really want to keep the blog personal.  I see a lot of "personal" finance blogs that just don't seem so personal.  They are more like magazine blogs than personal journal blogs.  And that's not where I want to go.  I enjoy it being personal.  That also means that I won't be posting every day.  I post when I have something to say.  If that means a couple of days pass because I just don't have anything to write, then so be it.  If I have too much to say and write three blogs entries in one day, then so be that too.  Now don't get me wrong I do like the other blogs I mentioned before, but it's not where I want to see this go.
2. As for advertising and sponsored posts.  I just don't want to get too much into that and clutter up my blog.  Also, I think it's a big disservice to my readers.  How do you know if I really recommend something or if I'm just getting paid to say something about a product?  I do have the Amazon.com widget on the sidebar, but everything I put on it is something I really do recommend.  Unless I own it myself or borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it tremendously it will not be on there.  And I always recommend you check out the library first, buy second.  Anything I review here is my honest opinion and if I think someone else could benefit from a product, then I'll place it on the widget, but not because someone told me to.

I pretty much think those are good enough reasons to keep things the way they are now.  I hope you will stay to read my blog and others will join in to read it, but if you don't that's alright, too.

PF Goals, Survey Companies, Expected Future Expenses, Considerations

PF Goals

I haven't talked about my 101 Personal Finance Goals for a while.  I guess it's because I'm still stuck at #46.  *sigh*  I need to spend some time thinking about what else I'd like to accomplish, though I suppose I don't have to think of them all at once.  I still welcome any ideas on the subject and would love to hear if you've started your own personal finance goals!

Survey Companies

I updated the money earned online section in my sidebar.  I'm seriously considering paring down quite a few of them once I hit their next payouts.  A few take way too long to earn any money and probably are not worth my time.  Others have me spend too much time on surveys and then tell me I'm not qualified without giving a partial payment or points.  

• American Consumer Opinion--I think I'll keep them on there.  They don't send many requests, but the few they do are usually worth my time.
• ClearVoice Surveys--Like American Consumer Opinion they have few survey requests, but are pretty worthwhile, though it does take a while to earn enough.
• Clixsense--Not worth it.  Would probably be better if they sent me reminder emails so I know what is available, but they don't so I miss out on a lot of them.  I may just cancel it now and call it a loss.
• Deals'n'Cash--I just started with them so I may give them some more time.  But it doesn't look good for them either.
• Ebates--Oh I'm keeping them!  I love shopping through them and getting cash back on items I would have bought anyway!
• epoll--I'm split with them.  They've been good in the past...nice short surveys, but I haven't been getting them lately.
• Global Test Market--I like them.  Their surveys can sometimes be on the long side, but the ones I don't qualify for still get me reduced points.  Plus I love the payouts--$50 for 1000 points and I've been getting a lot of survey requests so even if I don't qualify it adds up.
• Hits4Pay--It's like Deals'n'Cash (same company) and I may get rid of them once I get the payout because the emails are not really compatible with what I selected.
• InboxDollars--Takes too long to earn money.  I've been working for this first payout since last year and that's just too long!  $5.09 more and bye-bye to them.
• Lightspeed Panel--I like them, too.  Survey requests can be spotty, but overall they are a keeper.
• Mindfield Online--I used to like them, but since I've switched to Mac they don't like my browser, Safari, so it's taking longer to earn the payout.  Too bad!
• MyPoints--KEEPER!
• Netwinner--They are pretty much just for fun.  I don't expect to ever win anything though it would be nice if I did.  I don't play often, but I'll leave them there for fun.
• NFO MySurvey--I like them, too.  Nice short surveys when I get them and the points add up sufficiently for payout.
• Opinion Outpost--I used to love them, but I'm just not getting any survey requests anymore.  It's been almost a year since I've gotten one and I updated my profiles, too.  It's a shame, but they'll have to go, too.
• RewardTV--I just started with them, but like Netwinner they are just for fun.
• Send Earnings--Like InboxDollars they'll be out of here when I earn the payout...only $20.46 to go!  It'll take a little longer to get rid of them.
• SurveySavvy--I just started with them and so far I like them alright.
• SurveySpot--I'm not sure about them.  Still thinking about it.
• SurveyTeam--They'll probably be gone.  It really wasn't set up how I thought they were and I don't like them.
• Synovate--LOVE THEM!  They increased their points value recently and also give partial points depending on how much of a survey you qualify for and complete.
• Testspin--I'm getting pretty sick of them.  I liked them in the past, but they are getting ridiculous now.  I just need $4.00 to close them out.
• Zoompanel--They are great!  They give 5 points if you do not qualify and the surveys are pretty good, too.

I think I got them all listed there.  So anyway...the list on the sidebar should be getting smaller little by little as I get a payout with some of them and others will just be going away.

Expected Future Expenses

I'm expecting a few extra expenses soon.  I know I'll be getting a bill soon for my last endocrinologist appointment in June.  That is usually in the $100s because he's a specialist and I haven't reached my deductible yet...and probably never will.

I just made the boys each a much needed appointment for a new pediatric dentist here in town.  Unfortunately, they don't accept insurance so I'll need to pay in full and get reimbursed.  They do sometimes put insurance claims in as a courtesy, but I may want to do it myself and know it's done correctly and I have a copy of the claim in case something goes wrong.

School supplies will be coming up soon as they go back to school in 4 1/2 weeks!  YAY!  Did I just say that?  I meant: "Oh darn!  Now I won't be enjoying their wonderful presence during the day!"  That sounds good, right?

Considerations

So I'm considering whether or not to buy a domain name for this blog (not necessarily Ditch My Debt because it's already taken...I've checked so I have some ideas) or just keep it where it is for now.  

I'm in the process of considering the pros and cons for both.  I'm not much for programming and stuff so I'm a little leery of that, but my husband is a programmer.  I'm just not sure I want his hands on my blog...LOL.  I can do little things in HTML, but not full programming.  But if I find a good template, then I won't need to worry much about that.  *sigh*  It would be nice to have my own domain, but I wonder if it would be more work than I'm willing to give right now or not.  I obviously have some more research to do in the area.  

Any suggestions, clues, tips, hints, information...you get the idea...would be welcome!