Debt Dumpers 2023

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. That is severe pain.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Gentle hugs, @dayvewc .

May 2023 treat you much better.

 

[DLgal]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

Very sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. Hang in there and take it one day at a time.

Happy for you on the new job and the accelerated debt free timeline.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

So sorry to hear about your mom. Glad to see you joining us again, I always like hearing from you!

 

[Tygerlilly]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

Big hugs. I understand your pain 1000%. I lost my dad the day before Thanksgiving. Some days I forget it really happened and other days it hits like a brick wall. I don't even think there's a stage anymore, just weird limbo.
I got a chunk from my dad's life insurance policy which helped a lot to pay off everything, but like you, I'd rather have my dad.

 

[slightly_obsessed]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's passing. It's so hard on top of all the other things you were dealing with. Thinking of you and wishing you the best.

 

[jen7233]

Hello again!!

I kind of fell off the radar last year.

Life happened. Long story as quickly as possible:

• I switched jobs,
• moved,
• got shanghaied by my movers,
• started my new job,
• wound up driving further to work even after the move,
• had a lot more responsibilities and duties at the new job (all teaching related, so not like I'm climbing a corporate ladder and raking in benefits),
• still fighting with the VA over medical issues from my time in service,
• still having medical problems from the car wreck last April,
• Mom fell in September and broke her hip
  • had hip replacement surgery
  • went to rehab
  • wound up with some other issues
  • went back to the hospital
  • was diagnosed with an aggressive and untreatable infection (due to heart valve replacement years earlier)
  • went home on hospice and passed the week before Thanksgiving
• My sisters and I spent Thanksgiving through the end of the year settling moms estate
• I am frankly still in shock. Not sure which stage of grief that is, but I know I am not done with them yet.

The good news out of everything that has happened is that I absolutely love the new school I am teaching in; and mom had enough life insurance policies that I am able to shave about 5 years off of my plans to be debt free. I'd rather have my mom, though.

Sorry for your loss of your mom. What a year you had.

Taxes, we don’t file until later. Not sure yet if W2 came out since I didn’t get a notice. No earmark, things always unexpected seem to happen.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

Well, my 2023 is starting off with unplanned renovations. I made my list of 2023 goals on 1/13/23, and planned to post them here over that weekend. You all may recall that in March 2020, I purchased my deceased grandmother’s little house out in the country on family land, but I am still two and a half years away from retirement so I am holding on the my “city” house for work purposes for now. On 1/14/23 I went to my little “country“ house for the long weekend and was hit with a horrific smell upon entering the house. The water heater had burst and flooded the laundry room and kitchen. I spent the weekend sucking up water with the shop vac and pulling out carpet (hated having carpet in the laundry room and kitchen anyway, so not sad to see those go), and figuring out a plan. Previous posters are right, when you start replacing one thing, it seems to snowball! Some of the floor got warped and will need to have the under flooring replaced as well. I’ve picked out some flooring this week but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet—a new water heater and new floor in the laundry room and kitchen are a must, but I am trying to refigure the budget to go ahead and replace all the flooring in the house, and I am considering painting all the walls, then that makes me want to pull and replace the baseboards if we are painting and getting new floors.

Here are my 2023 goals:

(1) Pay off credit cards to zero every month.
(2) Cash flow daughter‘s college expenses (no student loans!).
(3) Max HSA contribution.
(4) One big vacation and 2-3 small vacations.
(5) Finish organizing all passwords and important documents into one place, so that if I die, my daughter has a very easy roadmap to my affairs.
(6) Personal health enhancement. I committed to weight loss in 2022 and lost over 100 lbs in 2022, which has resulted in changes to body and skin. In 2023, I want to
(a) figure out the physical strength and endurance fitness plan that works best for me,
(b) experiment with skin care routines until I find the right balance, and
(c) consider corrective dental work. Had first appt to take impressions.
(7) Reconnect with friends that I haven’t seen since COVID began. Dinner or coffee/tea or long catchup phone call with a friend two times per month. January— Reconnected with four friends.
(8) Country House project goals:
(a) New flooring
(b) New baseboards
(c) Porch project—power wash and re-stain porch, paint some miscellaneous places under the eaves where boards were replaced when new roof was put on.
(9) City house project goals:
(a) Clean out and remodel home office.
(b) Front yard project—remove current sidewalk to driveway, replace with stepping stones, remove ring and old plants around tree and enlarge plant area, replace grass.
(c) Declutter garage and fix garage door.
(10) Make a Shutterfly photo album of our December 2022 Europe vacation to Rhine River Christmas markets, Amsterdam, Paris and Disneyland Paris.
(11) I had planned to put an extra $1500 toward mortgage each month and beef up my emergency fund in 2023, but I am scaling that back to $600.00 per month extra on the mortgage until I see how much all these house projects cost.
(12) Earn employer’s $300 yearly wellness bonus.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Well, my 2023 is starting off with unplanned renovations. I made my list of 2023 goals on 1/13/23, and planned to post them here over that weekend. You all may recall that in March 2020, I purchased my deceased grandmother’s little house out in the country on family land, but I am still two and a half years away from retirement so I am holding on the my “city” house for work purposes for now. On 1/14/23 I went to my little “country“ house for the long weekend and was hit with a horrific smell upon entering the house. The water heater had burst and flooded the laundry room and kitchen. I spent the weekend sucking up water with the shop vac and pulling out carpet (hated having carpet in the laundry room and kitchen anyway, so not sad to see those go), and figuring out a plan. Previous posters are right, when you start replacing one thing, it seems to snowball! Some of the floor got warped and will need to have the under flooring replaced as well. I’ve picked out some flooring this week but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet—a new water heater and new floor in the laundry room and kitchen are a must, but I am trying to refigure the budget to go ahead and replace all the flooring in the house, and I am considering painting all the walls, then that makes me want to pull and replace the baseboards if we are painting and getting new floors.

Here are my 2023 goals:

(1) Pay off credit cards to zero every month.
(2) Cash flow daughter‘s college expenses (no student loans!).
(3) Max HSA contribution.
(4) One big vacation and 2-3 small vacations.
(5) Finish organizing all passwords and important documents into one place, so that if I die, my daughter has a very easy roadmap to my affairs.
(6) Personal health enhancement. I committed to weight loss in 2022 and lost over 100 lbs in 2022, which has resulted in changes to body and skin. In 2023, I want to
(a) figure out the physical strength and endurance fitness plan that works best for me,
(b) experiment with skin care routines until I find the right balance, and
(c) consider corrective dental work. Had first appt to take impressions.
(7) Reconnect with friends that I haven’t seen since COVID began. Dinner or coffee/tea or long catchup phone call with a friend two times per month. January— Reconnected with four friends.
(8) Country House project goals:
(a) New flooring
(b) New baseboards
(c) Porch project—power wash and re-stain porch, paint some miscellaneous places under the eaves where boards were replaced when new roof was put on.
(9) City house project goals:
(a) Clean out and remodel home office.
(b) Front yard project—remove current sidewalk to driveway, replace with stepping stones, remove ring and old plants around tree and enlarge plant area, replace grass.
(c) Declutter garage and fix garage door.
(10) Make a Shutterfly photo album of our December 2022 Europe vacation to Rhine River Christmas markets, Amsterdam, Paris and Disneyland Paris.
(11) I had planned to put an extra $1500 toward mortgage each month and beef up my emergency fund in 2023, but I am scaling that back to $600.00 per month extra on the mortgage until I see how much all these house projects cost.
(12) Earn employer’s $300 yearly wellness bonus.

Did you do the rhine River Christmas market vacation through adventures by Disney or somewhere else? It’s a bucket list item for me and I’m not sure what’s the best way to do it.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

So sorry for your loss @dayvewc

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

Did you do the rhine River Christmas market vacation through adventures by Disney or somewhere else? It’s a bucket list item for me and I’m not sure what’s the best way to do it.

Hi @crazycatstacy. We went with Viking, which may not be an option for you if you are traveling with persons under 18 (my daughter is 21-all travelers on Viking must be 18 and up). It was quite a bit cheaper than Disney, but the main reason we picked it over Disney is that we had a very narrow window of possible start dates—we had to balance when she’d be done with final exams at her college (Dec 16) and studying when the Christmas markets in various ports of call would start closing. Some considerations: we chose the Basel to Amsterdam route instead of Amsterdam to Basel route because it seemed more Christmas markets would remain open during the cruise dates in that direction, we disembarked in Amsterdam on Christmas day and EVERYTHING was open (we made reservations for and went to the Rijksmuseum and Ann Frank House on Christmas Day), and due to her final exam schedule we did not have time to do much in our arrival city before embarking on the cruise so we decided we wanted more time in Amsterdam than Basel. Finally, on a Christmas markets cruise in particular, I don’t feel there would be a ton of added worth for the Adventures by Disney difference—you are hitting up to two different ports Christmas markets per day, so there just isn’t a lot of time for other events. The Viking ship was very nice, the food was great, the cruise director was terrific, and we enjoyed all the extra on board talks/events. Also, I think maybe the cruisers for this particular Viking cruise maybe skewed a bit younger than normal for Viking—there were many young couples and families with college students. Feel free to ask any other questions that come to mind!

 

[barkley]

Well, my 2023 is starting off with unplanned renovations. I made my list of 2023 goals on 1/13/23, and planned to post them here over that weekend. You all may recall that in March 2020, I purchased my deceased grandmother’s little house out in the country on family land, but I am still two and a half years away from retirement so I am holding on the my “city” house for work purposes for now. On 1/14/23 I went to my little “country“ house for the long weekend and was hit with a horrific smell upon entering the house. The water heater had burst and flooded the laundry room and kitchen. I spent the weekend sucking up water with the shop vac and pulling out carpet (hated having carpet in the laundry room and kitchen anyway, so not sad to see those go), and figuring out a plan. Previous posters are right, when you start replacing one thing, it seems to snowball! Some of the floor got warped and will need to have the under flooring replaced as well. I’ve picked out some flooring this week but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet—a new water heater and new floor in the laundry room and kitchen are a must, but I am trying to refigure the budget to go ahead and replace all the flooring in the house, and I am considering painting all the walls, then that makes me want to pull and replace the baseboards if we are painting and getting new floors.

so sorry to hear of this! will homeowner's insurance cover it? if so then you might get a good surprise on items you don't realize they will cover looking at the initial damage but b/c of how things (for lack of a better word) 'interlocked' ARE covered. we had an issue with our roof that caused a need for repainting a a couple of areas on walls-b/c the walls in our house have the slightly rounded corners vs. squared off insurance said they had to paint all the connecting walls to the damaged area so all but bedrooms/bathrooms/laundry room was repainted. if your water damage caused wall or paint damage near the floor boards it may result in painting being covered (and we were able to pick new colors). if the baseboards need to be replaced insurance should cover them as well but if not-when we replaced a big chunk of our flooring last spring i took the base boards after they were removed to install the lvp and gave them a good scrubbing-it was amazing what a difference it made. we also did find that it was far less expensive to just go ahead and do multiple rooms of flooring at once vs. over multiple individual projects (even if you don't go this route-if the flooring is lvp and you want it to match one with the other-consider buying all of it NOW so it will come from the same production run and you won't get variations in colors and such-just store it till you need it).

again, so sorry for this-take care!

 

[FQLover]

Big congrats on that 2022 impressive weight loss! That must have taken a lot of dedication and perseverance. Way to go! What diet plan did you follow?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, my 2023 is starting off with unplanned renovations. I made my list of 2023 goals on 1/13/23, and planned to post them here over that weekend. You all may recall that in March 2020, I purchased my deceased grandmother’s little house out in the country on family land, but I am still two and a half years away from retirement so I am holding on the my “city” house for work purposes for now. On 1/14/23 I went to my little “country“ house for the long weekend and was hit with a horrific smell upon entering the house. The water heater had burst and flooded the laundry room and kitchen. I spent the weekend sucking up water with the shop vac and pulling out carpet (hated having carpet in the laundry room and kitchen anyway, so not sad to see those go), and figuring out a plan. Previous posters are right, when you start replacing one thing, it seems to snowball! Some of the floor got warped and will need to have the under flooring replaced as well. I’ve picked out some flooring this week but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet—a new water heater and new floor in the laundry room and kitchen are a must, but I am trying to refigure the budget to go ahead and replace all the flooring in the house, and I am considering painting all the walls, then that makes me want to pull and replace the baseboards if we are painting and getting new floors.

Here are my 2023 goals:

(1) Pay off credit cards to zero every month.
(2) Cash flow daughter‘s college expenses (no student loans!).
(3) Max HSA contribution.
(4) One big vacation and 2-3 small vacations.
(5) Finish organizing all passwords and important documents into one place, so that if I die, my daughter has a very easy roadmap to my affairs.
(6) Personal health enhancement. I committed to weight loss in 2022 and lost over 100 lbs in 2022, which has resulted in changes to body and skin. In 2023, I want to
(a) figure out the physical strength and endurance fitness plan that works best for me,
(b) experiment with skin care routines until I find the right balance, and
(c) consider corrective dental work. Had first appt to take impressions.
(7) Reconnect with friends that I haven’t seen since COVID began. Dinner or coffee/tea or long catchup phone call with a friend two times per month. January— Reconnected with four friends.
(8) Country House project goals:
(a) New flooring
(b) New baseboards
(c) Porch project—power wash and re-stain porch, paint some miscellaneous places under the eaves where boards were replaced when new roof was put on.
(9) City house project goals:
(a) Clean out and remodel home office.
(b) Front yard project—remove current sidewalk to driveway, replace with stepping stones, remove ring and old plants around tree and enlarge plant area, replace grass.
(c) Declutter garage and fix garage door.
(10) Make a Shutterfly photo album of our December 2022 Europe vacation to Rhine River Christmas markets, Amsterdam, Paris and Disneyland Paris.
(11) I had planned to put an extra $1500 toward mortgage each month and beef up my emergency fund in 2023, but I am scaling that back to $600.00 per month extra on the mortgage until I see how much all these house projects cost.
(12) Earn employer’s $300 yearly wellness bonus.

Can you submit that to homeowner's insurance? Water damage due to leaking plumbing is different that typical "flooding". It can't hurt to ask.

That is awesome to lose 100 lbs!!! Good for you! That really takes an amazing amount of determination!


I LOVE Shutterfly's photo books. They do such a great job. I have made so many from our amazing trips and they never disappoint. It just takes me soooo long to make them. I keep tweaking things here and there and making changes in frames, backgrounds, layouts, zooming & croping pics, etc.
Once, I received a book and one page had a big ink blotch right in the center and I contacted them and they sent another book very quickly. That was nice because it was a gift to my parents and didn't want to give them a defective book.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I committed to weight loss in 2022 and lost over 100 lbs in 2022

I too would love to know your secrets!

 

[CaleCakes]

Doing my check in a few days early as I don't anticipate any real changes in the next few days, so here goes:

1. Pay off car note- starting balance $7565- paid $600, current balance $7089.

2. Rebuild savings account- goal is to add $5000. No change.

3. Refrain from booking "big" trips- This was soooo hard! I came "this close" to booking a long weekend road trip for next weekend, the cruise I mentioned in the initial post because it was "on sale", and my DD5 keeps asking to go back to DW but I refrained.

4. Get to the "around the house" list- started on a few items. Got rid of a few bikes and kid toys from the garage, organized DS7's Lego a bit better, and rearranged their playroom. Baby steps.

5. Make photo albums- Have not started this but I am about to have some spare time on my hands- see below newly added #7.

6. Stay off YouTube shorts/tiktok- Fixed spelling haha was that driving anyone else crazy too? I have refrained from watching shorts at night. I do still watch them when waiting in the pick up lane, or at an appointment etc. I feel good about it and have gotten more sleep! Down 75% at least.

7. Get a new job- so today I gave my resignation at my job. I have worked there for 3 years but have been increasingly unhappy for at least the last year and a half. It has become an unhealthy environment and it is time for me to depart gracefully. I currently have no backup plan, but it's going to be alright. Places are hiring left and right, I'll find something better.

So there ya have it, not giant leaps but nothing too bad either. Hoping to get the rest of the stuff needed to file taxes this week. We do tend to get a decent return but we shall see, I know some things have changed.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Hi @crazycatstacy. We went with Viking, which may not be an option for you if you are traveling with persons under 18 (my daughter is 21-all travelers on Viking must be 18 and up). It was quite a bit cheaper than Disney, but the main reason we picked it over Disney is that we had a very narrow window of possible start dates—we had to balance when she’d be done with final exams at her college (Dec 16) and studying when the Christmas markets in various ports of call would start closing. Some considerations: we chose the Basel to Amsterdam route instead of Amsterdam to Basel route because it seemed more Christmas markets would remain open during the cruise dates in that direction, we disembarked in Amsterdam on Christmas day and EVERYTHING was open (we made reservations for and went to the Rijksmuseum and Ann Frank House on Christmas Day), and due to her final exam schedule we did not have time to do much in our arrival city before embarking on the cruise so we decided we wanted more time in Amsterdam than Basel. Finally, on a Christmas markets cruise in particular, I don’t feel there would be a ton of added worth for the Adventures by Disney difference—you are hitting up to two different ports Christmas markets per day, so there just isn’t a lot of time for other events. The Viking ship was very nice, the food was great, the cruise director was terrific, and we enjoyed all the extra on board talks/events. Also, I think maybe the cruisers for this particular Viking cruise maybe skewed a bit younger than normal for Viking—there were many young couples and families with college students. Feel free to ask any other questions that come to mind!

Thank you for the information. It would just be my husband and I so no kids.

 

[Tygerlilly]

We went with Viking, which may not be an option for you if you are traveling with persons under 18 (my daughter is 21-all travelers on Viking must be 18 and up).

Aw man. I always see commercials and ads for the Viking River cruises and I always thought they'd be awesome to do. I hadn't looked into them yet, but since we homeschool I thought they sounded so cool to take the kids on as part of a fun field trip, stopping at all the historical cities. Now that I really think about it, I never did see anyone under adult on the ads...
I'm going to have to do some looking and see if there are any all age river cruises around the US/Canada.