Dumping Debt Series

Okay so I'm SUPER behind on keeping you guys updated on our Total Money Makeover and apologize that I've completely dropped the ball on this. 

Here's a snapshot on where we're at with dumping debt.

 ***I wrote this back in April but never posted it. I've added even more of an update at the bottom***

 

Things have been a little rough financially since moving to New Jersey. Everything is so much more expensive....food, rent, auto insurance, and of course the fact that any time we want to go home we have to purchase tickets instead of just spending money on gas(yes we've been budgeting to pay for those flights but it's still an extra expense we didn't have before). AND we are paying out of pocket for Andrew to fly back to Oregon for all of his military obligations...a tough decision we had to make but feel good about what we decided (yes you may think we're crazy). Anyway, the first couple of months of living here we haven't had a whole lot of extra money to put towards debt.

BUT, on a good note we have been able to use cash envelopes which we weren't able to do in Canada. How cash envelopes work is at the beginning of the month or twice a month...however you want to do it, you get cash for different categories that are budgeted and place them in your envelope labeled with those categories. Then before you make a purchase you have to decide which envelope it comes from and use that cash to pay for the items. When the envelope is empty, no more spending till the next month when you fill it back up! For example groceries, we budget $285 for groceries (that amount was perfect back on the west coast but we've found that we may need to bump it up a bit now since things are not as cheap but we haven't done so just yet.). So, every time I go grocery shopping I take money from the grocery envelope and pay for the items...it's pretty simple. It really helps stay on track because you "feel it more" when you spend cash...you literally see the money going out rather than just swiping a card and looking at it later. It keeps you on track! Things like utilities don't have cash envelopes because we just pay them online with our debit card. 

As for our debt, remember we paid off the Army Career Starter Loan in Oct. and only have Andrew's school loan left. During our move we were not paying more than just the minimum because we wanted to make sure we had extra money for the deposit on our rental and anything else that may come up. So to say it quite frankly, we have not been making any progress for several months now. It's disheartening because we haven't made any advancements toward our goal and August 4 will be here before we know it! Plus, here's another thing, remember how we were banking debt money in our savings when we were expecting Anneliese....well we're right back at that again. If you don't remember, the reason is because Dave Ramsey suggests to pile up a bunch of savings (extra money that would have originally been paid towards debt) when you are expecting a baby or a job loss. That way you have extra money to take care of things if need be. It really helped us last pregnancy because we had to pay the doctors out of pocket and then we got reimbursed from insurance a little bit later (that's how the Global plan worked, since we were living in Canada). With Anneliese's delivery, her and I were both healthy and we didn't need to use any of that money we had saved and so that was the big payment in October that bumped us over the halfway mark. SO, assuming this pregnancy and baby is just as healthy we will be able to put any money we've "banked" towards loans but no sooner than October.

I'm going to be honest, Andrew and I were bummed that even if we are able to save enough money to pay off loans (but it'd be sitting in savings for baby emergency) we wouldn't officially be debt free till past our goal of Aug 4. We started to think and discuss if we really actually needed to bank money or if we'd be okay without saving extra during this pregnancy. Then of course shortly after that discussion Andrew was listening to Dave Ramsey and a lady called in asking our exact question. Dave had a good point, he said "even if insurance covers 100% of bills, what if the baby had an emergency and needed to be flown to a specialty hospital....wouldn't it be nice to know you had extra money to be able to hop on an airplane without worrying about how to pay for that ticket, hotel and food?" That was a good enough explanation for Andrew and I, so we've started putting extra money in savings rather than towards our last debt. Besides, assuming we are blessed with a healthy delivery and baby, that money will go directly towards our debt anyway, it'll just in in October or November instead of August....not really a big deal is it? The answer is no...haha...but it still took us a little bit to get past the idea of not making our goal. 

So that's where we're at. Still trying to figure things out with our budget here in New Jersey and banking any extra money we have for baby emergency.

Hope this all makes sense...I always feel like I try to cram so much information in one big breath on these posts. If you have any questions feel free to ask! =)

**Update** So I wrote this post back in April. At that time we were super bummed about not making our goal. However in April we received a large amount of money for "Tax Equalization"...meaning Andrews employer was making up for taking too much out of his paychecks when we were living in Canada since they weren't exactly sure how much to take out, with us living in a foreign country and all. Seeing that large amount in our savings (remember? our baby bank until Oct) has helped us to be okay with not making our goal and now we're trying really hard to add to it so that maybe we can just make ONE final payment...how awesome would that be?
And for those wondering, we only have about $20,000 of debt left!

Taken from Dave Ramsey's Instagram

 

Fathers Day 2015

This past weekend was our first full weekend home after our trip to Oregon. I was SO looking forward to spending all weekend with Andrew and doing little projects around the house. So excited that I became REALLY annoyed when he came home from work Thursday night with a fever and sore throat. Oh and I should mention that both kids had had a fever and diarrhea throughout the week....what fun for my birthday week right? But God had a blessed weekend planned for me even though I was being a negative nancy and thought for sure I was going to get sick next.

Andrew felt tons better Friday night and it just so happened that we all were healthy for the weekend, Praise the Lord (literally, I really was saying prayers of thanksgiving).

 

Saturday morning we spent over 2 hours in Lowes getting supplies for picnic tables, insect tents, dreaming about getting a nice patio umbrella, a small wire fence for the backyard and other odds and ends.

Within 5 hours of getting back to the house Andrew had a kids picnic table and an adult table made and on our patio. I couldn't believe he got it all done, and only by watching a youtube video, great job Handsome!

Sunday, Fathers Day, we went to mass, stopped by Costco (it seems we can only find pants that fit Andrew at Costco and for what seems to be really cheap!), picked up some hanging flower baskets at a local florist then came home to mow the lawn and enjoy our backyard together.

It was absolutely wonderful!

Hard at work, I forgot to mention we cleaned the garage too. Plenty of work space now!

The kids table

 

View of the back yard from sitting in the shade.

 

I've been wanting to do our own "family photoshoot" like we did impromptu two years ago on father's day. Funny how both times the kids were only in
 diapers. =) (I can't find the other set of pics to compare...sorry).

 

 

Not all the pics were as cute as the ones above

Andrew opening his "Thank you, God, for Daddy" kids book and "Home to a Soldier" sign

Happy Fathers day Andrew, Dad and Dada!

This last visit to OR was Malachi's first time calling my parents Grammy and Grandpa...although at times it sounded like he was saying Meatball instead of Grandpa.

 

 

 



Anneliese Turns 1!

 

 

Just like that Anneliese has turned one years old. We had the pleasure of celebrating with family in Oregon the morning before flying back to NJ (that morning was the only time that would work with Andrew's military training schedule, which by the way was in Hawaii!).

Andrew's sister and husband graciously hosted all of us. It was a wonderful morning celebration!

 

It seemed impossible to get her to smile!

But finally got one smile

 

Presents! Thanks everyone for the adorable outfits and gifts

Happy 1st Birthday Anneliese!



11 months!

Welp, whether I can believe it or not....one more month and our

little girl turns 1!!

We're in Oregon visiting family and friends, so Anneliese's 11 month pictures are at my parents house on her newfound favorite chair. (Yes we had to be clever and talk Malachi into letting her have it for the pictures, as it's his favorite too.)

 

We've borrowed Auntie Marjon's walker and are trying to get Anneliese walking before heading back to the East side. It's the same walker Malachi learned on. Both kids are really enjoying playing with their cousins, aunties and grandparents...although all three of us are really missing Daddy.

 

 



2 Months from a Year

Ten months old already! She sure is growing up fast. We had to buy a new car seat for her because she's already grown out of the newborn one!

We're getting packed up and ready to head to Oregon, can't wait to see family and friends...should be a fun trip!

This one's my favorite =)

Can I just eat my saltine cracker in peace?

She's all over the place, loves going up those two stairs and yesterday she even went down...although I wasn't watching and don't know how she did it. But there wasn't any crying so she didn't tumble down, like she's done a couple of times now.

Ayva Mae

March 30th, at 1:31pm Robin gave birth to little Ayva Mae. She was 5 weeks early (however doctors were shocked she didn't show up sooner because Robin had a short cervix...the power of prayer is way stronger than any expectations of doctors) but has been doing great. Of course she has fluctuated in her weight but she hasn't needed a feeding tube or tubes of any sort... And last night she was discharged from the hospital! I'm so impressed with this little girl. And can hardly wait to hold her in just a couple of weeks. 

This was the snapchat picture Jen sent before I even knew Ayva had been born, I was in shock! It was a super quick labor and delivery. Which I am thankful for...for Robin's sake and Jen's, as she was Robins support =)

Love you Robin and Ayva, see you soon!

Easter and.....

The Easter Triduum is my all time favorite religious holiday weekend. And we made it to Holy Thursday mass, Good Friday Service and Easter Vigil, even with two little ones. They did great for Saturday nights vigil and Anneliese didn't even fall asleep...although at one point she was very close. I think they were the youngest ones there....there weren't many other kids. =) Andrew and I feel so blessed to have been apart of the whole weekend's festivities and pray that we will still be able to attend in the future, even as our family size grows. That's right, we're a family of 5 now! 

Here's a picture we took right before heading off to Easter Vigil. (Literally seconds before getting into the car). 

So, Andrew and I found out a week and a half after moving into our house. It was a little rough getting used to the idea for me because Anneliese had been waking a lot at night, going to bed no earlier than 10pm and still nursing quite a bit. I just kept thinking, we're going to have two newborns at the same time! Andrew assured me it'll all be okay....and already she has grown up so much since then. She's sleeping through the night usually, it took some teamwork but we've gotten her to fall asleep the same time Malachi does AND they are sharing a room. Which feels like quite the accomplishment....even though it wasn't that hard to do, I just kind of stressed about it before it happened. 

This wednesday we will be 13 weeks and we are due Oct 14th.

I was barely nauseous this first trimester which as me convinced that we are having a boy...I had a lot more morning sickness for Anneliese' 1st trimester than Malachi's and this one. BUT I've been SO tired. To the point where I wonder to myself if I can just stay in bed all day long...haha, which of course is impossible with taking care of two little ones. I'm thankful for Thomas the Train on Netflix and for a VERY understanding husband who has had to wear wrinkly clothes to work because I left them in the dryer (or not have any clean clothes at all), and who hasn't had the most elegant of dinners or clean house cause I can barely do anything. But we've all survived the first 12 weeks and I've noticed more energy coming back.

For a reveal, we ordered quail eggs from Little Elephant Crafts, which is run by a friend of Andrew's brother. She cleans them out and puts notes in them. So we had our parents crack theirs open on Easter. 

We also sent on to Sr Jamie so she could open it on Easter...cause they aren't allowed to open any mail through lent. It was fun to facetime while our parents open their eggs! And I would highly recommend going with Little Elephant Crafts, if you wish to do anything like this. Elizabeth did an amazing job. Very professional, fast and even customized, not only the note inside the eggs but the box we had shipped to Andrew's brother so it wouldn't ruin the surprise of what was inside! 

Photo credit: my sister Jen, thanks Jen!

Easter morning pictures. For Easter dinner we went to my Aunt and Uncle's who live in Pennsylvania. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was nice to sit, chat, relax, and eat some really delicious food!

Crepes for breakfast with Strawberries and whipped cream..oh and fried potatoes with bacon, YUM!

I just realized that I never did a post about Robin having her baby. Yep little Ayva is one week old already! I'll post about it  next but not right now...I gotta take advantage of both kids sleeping and hem my curtains.