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Archive for August, 2013

August 2013 Net Worth

September 1st, 2013 at 04:31 am

Cash is down. Frown
Debt is down. Smile
Investments are down. Frown
Home value is up. Smile



This month my home value is an average of the values given by Redfin, Trulia, and Zillow.

I was not able to get an estimate of my car value from kbb.com. The site has changed a bit and it seems now you must register first. I didn't want to register, so I just wrote the value down $100 and called it good.

Rewards At The Speed of Light

August 30th, 2013 at 03:52 pm

Remember my new Capital One Quicksilver card? My first statement closed quickly, I redeemed my first rewards ($1.95) and requested a check. I did receive the check, deposited it, and sent it off to CurveBall.

Last night I logged on to Capital One's site to eyeball my charges. I had another $109.62 in rewards available. My statement has not closed, but the rewards are available?! That is a new one on me. Smile

The card offered a $100 bonus for spending $500 the first 3 months. The additional $9.62 is from spending (groceries, utilities, the dentist).

I redeemed the rewards and asked for a statement credit. I had an e-mail this morning that I will see my credit in 5 - 7 days.

In other reward card news, my Home Rewards Visa statement closed and I have $21.92 in rewards. I will have to spend an additional $308 on that card so that I can redeem. Then I will take it out of my wallet.

It's a Wrap on the Camera Estimates

August 29th, 2013 at 12:52 am

I received my third and final estimate for the surveillance cameras, to the tune of $1,590.00. It is the best estimate of the three. The Better Business Bureau has no complaints on file for this company, they are local and seem to do a lot of work. So, I have scheduled the installation for next Friday.

My mom has generously informed me that she will be paying for the cameras. I will use my Visa, and she will reimburse me before the bill is due. This windfall is such a huge relief to me. My mom is so awesome! Smile

I have learned that while the circumstantial evidence against the neighbor regarding my dog being poisoned was insufficient to press criminal charges, it may be sufficient (along with the other harassment) for a civil restraining order. I am going to proceed with that too, but want the cameras in place first.

Last weekend, I went to BF's for about 24 hours. I went to his house (not his office apartment) for the first time in months. I could really see that he has been tackling some of the deferred maintenance issues and made progress on clearing out the personal items. There is a work crew coming next week to finish up the master bath remodel. BF says when they are finished, the house is going on the market. Fingers crossed that he follows through.



Surveillance Camera Estimates

August 23rd, 2013 at 04:38 pm

So far, I have received 2 estimates for outdoor security camera systems and installation.

The first quote was completely over the phone. The quote is $1,418.00 not including a monitor (which I was told I could buy cheaper at Best Buy or Office Depot, about $89), sales tax, or shipping (they ship to the installer). That also includes the minimum installation charge, but since they haven't come to my house, cannot say for certain the installation won't be more.

The second quote was done at my house and is completely inclusive. The quote is $2,090.00.

I am still gathering quotes. Smile

I received a $320 check in the mail from my part-time job for both my July and August hours. Although I had planned to use this money for E Fund, I am sending it off to CurveBall instead. CurveBall has a big expense looming.

More Crazy Neighbor Hostility

August 19th, 2013 at 02:59 am

I am home from mom's. I hadn't been home 30 minutes when I heard rocks hitting the side of my house. I go out in the backyard and my crazy neighbor is out there. I asked what he was doing and he began screaming obscenities at me, and saying that my dog is ruining the fence by jumping on it (yes, the fence I paid 100% of the cost). Then he said he is going to put nails in it (unsure if he meant in a manner in which to harm the dog or not) and began hammering very loudly. I admit, I saw red. I said he is crazy, and that maybe a good psychiatrist could really help him. I went back in the house and more rocks hit the side of my house. I put my head out a window and said if he wanted to put nails in the fence, that was just fine with me, but he needs to stop throwing things at my house. He suggested I call the police.

Instead, I got out the laptop and emailed a local video camera surveillance place. I don't care what it costs, I am going to have a security camera installed to record all activity along our shared fence line. If it doesn't prevent further craziness, at least I will have hard evidence.

Update: I just had a visit from the police. Neighbor called them and claims I threatened to have someone beat him up. Also, I sick my dogs on him to attack. (He also claimed this when we were in small claims court). I said both claims are ridiculous. Then I said he was throwing rocks at my house tonight and I think he is crazy. They seemed to believe me. They said he claims my dogs bark at 1 and 2 am. I said no, my dogs sleep indoors, pet door is kept closed between 10pm and 6am, at the neighbor's request. (They asked me this long before the fence incident. It is a reasonable request, I said I would do so and I have). The officers said a security camera is a good idea.

Mom Recovering Nicely

August 18th, 2013 at 03:32 am

I have been staying at my mom's since Thursday evening. She is feeling quite a bit better today. Smile

Two months had gone by since I last fiddled with my portfolio. That means I was allowed to exchange back into the fund I want to be in. So that is done and settled.

I received my new Capital One rewards card a few days ago. I activated it and provided the info to the those companies which use it for my automatic billing. Today I received an email that my first statement has closed already! The amount due is $130 (my electric bill) and I redeemed $1.95 worth of rewards (via a paper check). I just wanted to see if there was a charge (there wasn't) and how long it will take to arrive. In the future, I will probably choose to have a statement credit instead. The due date is 9/13, which is inconvenient for me (I get paid on the 15th). Since it is only $130 that is no big deal, but future statements will be quite a bit larger. I was able to change my statement closing date to a later date, so hopefully the payment in October will be due after payday, not before.

Mom Having Surgery

August 14th, 2013 at 05:11 pm

My mom is having surgery today. It is not a particularly risky surgery, but my mom is 80. Please think positive thoughts for her, pray for her, or release other positive energy in accordance with your belief system. Thank you. Smile

I will go and visit her tonight in the hospital. If all goes well, she will be released tomorrow. I will spend the night with her Thursday, and will most likely take Friday off from work. She is so stubborn, insisting she will not need any help. However, I think she will be exhausted and not up to doing things for herself.

In chippy news, I received $3 from PineCone for my very first survey, and have already sent it off to E Fund. I have not yet been paid for my July hours from my part-time job. Meanwhile, I worked 9 hours in August. The bookkeeper said she will pay me for both July and August next month. How do you like that?

New Rewards Card

August 5th, 2013 at 04:37 pm

I get new posts from My Money Blog e-mailed to me. This morning, there is a post about a new rewards card. It is from Capital One, and it pays 1.5% on everything. You can cash out as often as you wish, there are no minimums. There is no annual fee. There is a $100 bonus if you spend $500 during the first 3 months.

I have already applied and been approved. Smile I am thinking this is going to be my new main credit card.

You can read it for yourself here:

Text is http://www.mymoneyblog.com/capital-one-quicksilver-cash-rewards-card-review.html and Link is
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/capital-one-quicksilver-cash-rewa...

July 2013 Budget Report

August 4th, 2013 at 05:48 pm

"Everything Else" in July included 6 mo car insurance premium ($532), annual car registration ($130), smog certificate and oil change ($91) and J's letterman jacket ($182).



From the "Ad Choices" links along the top of the screen here on Saving Advice, I stumbled upon a free software download for "MoneyLine". I am going to give it a try for August and see how it goes.