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Home > Archive: February, 2025

Archive for February, 2025

First Year of Electric Bill

February 6th, 2025 at 02:05 am

The other day, I saw some local folks complaining about their high electric bills.  I have been here just barely a year now, and I admit I haven't been paying much attention to my electric bill.  I signed up for automatic payments (to my Citi MC) and budget billing right from the get-go.  I thought that it was time I took a look.  Here is what has actually been charged to my card thus far:

1/24/2024 42.00
2/22/2024 157.00
3/22/2024 157.00
4/23/2024 157.00
5/22/2024 70.00
6/21/2024 70.00
7/23/2024 70.00
8/22/2024 70.00
9/20/2024 104.00
10/22/2024 104.00
11/20/2024 104.00
12/23/2024 104.00
1/24/2025 163.00

That first charge of $42 is for a partial month.  Ignoring the partial month, I have averaged just over $110 per month for electric this year.  However, by actually reading my latest bill, I see that I am "behind" $484.  I'm not certain why they don't take any overage or shortage into their calculation when the monthly payment adjusts.  Wouldn't that make sense? So if I had been paying for my actual usage, I would have averaged $150 per month.  I think that is quite reasonable.  

Last year, my payment dropped significantly from April to May.  If that happens this year, I am going to call and ask them to please leave it at $163.  I want to whittle away that $484.

CitiBank Personal Loan Paid in Full

February 4th, 2025 at 02:02 am

With great pleasure I can share that I paid the last bit owing on my CitiBank personal loan today.  This was the 20k loan I took right before "retiring" from El Dorado County.  It helped me to cover expenses and make ends meet while I was getting settled.  And now it is history.  Yay!

I have recently received a raise which was certainly welcome.  I am now earning $20 per hour, which isn't so bad for this area.

I completed my 2024 income tax returns over the weekend and was so relieved that I am receiving a small federal refund.  Last year, I withdrew 26k from my 457 plan as well as worked most of the year.  I knew that CalPers had overwithheld federal income taxes, so I guesstimated the income I should report to healthcare.gov.  My goal was to minimize my monthly premium payment while still not ending up with a balance due on my 1040.  I am receiving a small state refund as well, just under 1k combined.

Also, I wanted to share about a delicious tomato soup recipe I stumbled upon.  There is a YouTuber called "Frugal Southern Mama" who shares cheap recipes.  Some of her recipes I would not even consider eating, just a little caveat should you wish to give her a watch.  But this particular recipe makes the most delicious tomato soup.  You cut up some tomatoes and an onion, drizzle with oil and bake them in the oven.  Meanwhile, you add tomato bouillon to water in a pot and start that cooking.  Add the baked tomatoes and onion and blend.  She makes some croutons out of white bread with butter and garlic salt to top the soup.  SB made the soup Saturday for lunch.  It was delicious and there was enough left for dinner too.  We liked it so much, he made it again on Sunday and we had it for both lunch and dinner again!  Yummy.  And it cost about $5 per pot, so it is quite economical.  Until this point, I had been blissfully unaware that there was even such a thing as tomato bouillon.  But there is and my goodness does it make a delicious soup.  If you're interested in watching FSM make it, it is on a recent video titled "5 Dinners for $25".