I finally got my BBT thermometer and temped for the first time this morning. It seemed to take forever to beep. Possibly because I was still pretty much asleep. Thank goodness it saves the last temp. Smudge actually slept most of the night, until about 6, when he climbed into bed with me.
My mom says this is karma, because I was an early riser as a kid. I do not find it amusing
We are going to start looking at houses soon! Any advice for first-time home buyers?
My top advice:
Don't have any other debt going in to it. Your house should be the only debt you have. Stay within your means. Budget, budget, budget.
I don't necessarily agree with this. I will have student loan debt for many many years to come.
The mortgage company will likely approve you for a mortgage MUCH higher than a payment you would feel comfortable making. Be sure to add in all extra costs - PMI, utilities, sewer charges, etc. There's lots of things you don't think about that will chip away at your income.
Be realistic and understand you may not get everything you want.
Post by easilyunamused on Feb 19, 2015 13:28:43 GMT -5
It's funny some of you are using HGTV as how people might act when buying a home. They are told to bitch about insignificant things for "drama". Most of the time they already have the house they'll buy and the others are filler. I'm with you though, they are really annoying most of the time.
For the love of all things holy, please change your avatar Lollipop. The alien baby always freaks me out. It's been long enough!
Post by akraus2015 on Feb 19, 2015 13:31:17 GMT -5
I'm having all the feels today. I've been crying all.day.long. We pulled our first lottery at my school this morning, and it's my job to call families and let them know whether or not they were accepted to our school. The acceptance phone calls are giving me happy tears because families are so excited that they got a spot, but the calls to say that their kid is number whatever on the wait list (and will likely never get a spot in our school) are heartbreaking and making me cry sad tears. My emotions are everywhere today.
Don't have any other debt going in to it. Your house should be the only debt you have. Stay within your means. Budget, budget, budget.
I don't necessarily agree with this. I will have student loan debt for many many years to come.
The mortgage company will likely approve you for a mortgage MUCH higher than a payment you would feel comfortable making. Be sure to add in all extra costs - PMI, utilities, sewer charges, etc. There's lots of things you don't think about that will chip away at your income.
Be realistic and understand you may not get everything you want.
This. They approved us for a house worth twice what we bought. I couldn't handle the payment for that house. When we bought our house, we were almost through paying off a credit card from undergrad (stupid move) and student loans. We've paid off the credit card and are ~2 years away from paying off the student loans. It was very important to us that we could theoretically live off of one income if absolutely necessary. We should be able to do that once we pay off the student loan.
It's funny some of you are using HGTV as how people might act when buying a home. They are told to bitch about insignificant things for "drama". Most of the time they already have the house they'll buy and the others are filler. I'm withdrawn you though, they are really annoying most of the time.
For the love of all things holy, please change your avatar Lollipop. The alien baby always freaks me out. It's been long enough!
It's funny some of you are using HGTV as how people might act when buying a home. They are told to bitch about insignificant things for "drama". Most of the time they already have the house they'll buy and the others are filler. I'm withdrawn you though, they are really annoying most of the time.
For the love of all things holy, please change your avatar Lollipop. The alien baby always freaks me out. It's been long enough!
Sorry! I haven't figured out how! Help?
If you are on desktop, go to your profile and upload. If you are using mobile, you can change the setting to "desktop" and can change it through your profile that way. I'm not sure how the app works though. The desktop mode is at the bottom of the page.
Don't have any other debt going in to it. Your house should be the only debt you have. Stay within your means. Budget, budget, budget.
I don't necessarily agree with this. I will have student loan debt for many many years to come.
The mortgage company will likely approve you for a mortgage MUCH higher than a payment you would feel comfortable making. Be sure to add in all extra costs - PMI, utilities, sewer charges, etc. There's lots of things you don't think about that will chip away at your income.
Be realistic and understand you may not get everything you want.
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
If you are on desktop, go to your profile and upload. If you are using mobile, you can change the setting to "desktop" and can change it through your profile that way. I'm not sure how the app works though. The desktop mode is at the bottom of the page.
If you are on desktop, go to your profile and upload. If you are using mobile, you can change the setting to "desktop" and can change it through your profile that way. I'm not sure how the app works though. The desktop mode is at the bottom of the page.
It's funny some of you are using HGTV as how people might act when buying a home. They are told to bitch about insignificant things for "drama". Most of the time they already have the house they'll buy and the others are filler. I'm with you though, they are really annoying most of the time.
For the love of all things holy, please change your avatar Lollipop. The alien baby always freaks me out. It's been long enough!
I don't necessarily agree with this. I will have student loan debt for many many years to come.
The mortgage company will likely approve you for a mortgage MUCH higher than a payment you would feel comfortable making. Be sure to add in all extra costs - PMI, utilities, sewer charges, etc. There's lots of things you don't think about that will chip away at your income.
Be realistic and understand you may not get everything you want.
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
Although great in theory, this would mean that my husband and I will not be able to buy a home until we are well into our 60s. We rent now because home prices are so expensive but eventually renting will be higher than the cost of owning and we will buy a home, student loan debt be damned.
It's funny some of you are using HGTV as how people might act when buying a home. They are told to bitch about insignificant things for "drama". Most of the time they already have the house they'll buy and the others are filler. I'm with you though, they are really annoying most of the time.
For the love of all things holy, please change your avatar Lollipop. The alien baby always freaks me out. It's been long enough!
Seriously creepy auto-avatar.
I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out. But ya, it's very creepy
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
Although great in theory, this would mean that my husband and I will not be able to buy a home until we are well into our 60s. We rent now because home prices are so expensive but eventually renting will be higher than the cost of owning and we will buy a home, student loan debt be damned.
Just because that's what you're going to do doesn't mean that's what you should do. People think they will be fine with cash flow until they aren't.
I realize that not many people agree with me. I suppose I should have posted my opinion in the UO page today!
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
Although great in theory, this would mean that my husband and I will not be able to buy a home until we are well into our 60s. We rent now because home prices are so expensive but eventually renting will be higher than the cost of owning and we will buy a home, student loan debt be damned.
I'm in this same spot. We are paying off all other debt before buying a new home, but we'd be waiting a long damned time if we wanted to pay off my student loans first. We are compromising by upgrading now to a home that we can start a family in, but we'll buy our forever home (with some land, etc.) later down the road.
Me: 30 DH: 29; Married: September, 2010 TTC #1: April 2013 Benched: May 2013 Cancer(DH) Off the Bench: September 2014 July 2015 ER low sperm count and motility(radiation side effect). FET September 1,2015. BFP 9/9/15.- 3 on the way.
I don't necessarily agree with this. I will have student loan debt for many many years to come.
The mortgage company will likely approve you for a mortgage MUCH higher than a payment you would feel comfortable making. Be sure to add in all extra costs - PMI, utilities, sewer charges, etc. There's lots of things you don't think about that will chip away at your income.
Be realistic and understand you may not get everything you want.
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
I'm not saying its not a good plan, but it may not be the right option for everyone. My husband and I have 100k in student loan debt combined. Renting is generally more expensive in our area than purchasing a home, so it made more sense to purchase a house.
Although great in theory, this would mean that my husband and I will not be able to buy a home until we are well into our 60s. We rent now because home prices are so expensive but eventually renting will be higher than the cost of owning and we will buy a home, student loan debt be damned.
Just because that's what you're going to do doesn't mean that's what you should do. People think they will be fine with cash flow until they aren't.
I realize that not many people agree with me. I suppose I should have posted my opinion in the UO page today!
My thoughts are that I would be having to pay a chunk of money every month for housing regardless of whether I rent or own. I have to live somewhere, and if I have to shell out that money, I'd rather it be going towards equity in my home than someone else's.
My student loans will be around for a while, and I've accepted that. If I sell my house in a few years and we make money off of it (which, we should) I can use that money to pay off some of those loans, something that wouldn't be an option if I rented.
And this probably isn't a very common situation, but my mortgage payments are cheaper than my rent was and now that we have land, I save money on not having to pay for my horse being boarded. For me, it's a win all the way around.
I made a damn good smoothie this morning... Apple, raspberries, spinach, cashew milk and cinnamon
I have been pondering getting cashew milk. Is it delicious like I think it should be?
It was good. I mostly use it for smoothies so I couldn't tell a difference between that and almond milk. Since almond milk is cheaper I'll continue to buy that. I just had to try the cashew since it was new
I rented until my student loans were paid off. It is a better plan, fiscally speaking. The less money you owe anyone, the better off you are.
We both got scholarships and graduated without debt. Our only debt is a few thousand we owe on my car.
Debt frightens me, so we have always lived well within our means and have a comfortable amount of savings for a down payment, furniture, etc.
I am so very glad to hear this!! Good for you! It seems like common sense to fear debt, but there are so many people that don't think this way. I'm tellin' ya, though, if you have the $$ in your bank account right now and have enough for an emergency fund, finish off that car payment! You do you, boo, but that is my suggestion.
Also, put 15% towards your 401(k)s and diversify your funds.
I am so very glad to hear this!! Good for you! It seems like common sense to fear debt, but there are so many people that don't think this way. I'm tellin' ya, though, if you have the $$ in your bank account right now and have enough for an emergency fund, finish off that car payment! You do you, boo, but that is my suggestion.
Also, put 15% towards your 401(k)s and diversify your funds.
LOL, sorry. I'll stop now.
No worries.
We make occasional principal-only payments above and beyond our monthly car payment because there is no penalty. So far we've trimmed about 7 months off of our loan. We could pay it all off, but, the loan is at a 2% interest rate which is not much. I feel that money is more important acting as an emergency fund, so we're sticking to our monthly payments.
Clark Howard once said there are two ways to retire rich, either you make a shit ton of money or you save young. Well, I don't make much so I set aside 10% of my monthly paycheck into retirement and my employer matches with 9%. I'm so thankful for that match!
1. I think I like you. 2. I love looking at online calculators of where I will be when I retire based on what I contribute today (of course any and all bad things could happen, but still). 3. One of the few things I enjoy on NPR is this hunk:
1. I think I like you. 2. I love looking at online calculators of where I will be when I retire based on what I contribute today (of course any and all bad things could happen, but still). 3. One of the few things I enjoy on NPR is this hunk:
I was just looking at retirement calculators like last week. I spent my lunch break stuffing my face with pizza and doing the same thing.
Buuuuut I have no clue who that guy is lol
Kai Ryssdal. Highly recommend! He reports very interesting money stories. And his radio voice (which I am picky about) is dreamy. LOL.
I can not wait till we start looking for a house. DH has to call his money guy, and then we're good to go. I can't deal with the noisy neighbours in our building anymore. The people upstairs sound like a herd of elephantsat all hours, and it constantly sounds like an army is going up and down the stairs. My student loans are not very much and we have no other debt, so we feel comfortable with buying ASAP
I can not wait till we start looking for a house. DH has to call his money guy, and then we're good to go. I can't deal with the noisy neighbours in our building anymore. The people upstairs sound like a herd of elephantsat all hours, and it constantly sounds like an army is going up and down the stairs. My student loans are not very much and we have no other debt, so we feel comfortable with buying ASAP
Good luck to you!
Will it be your first home?
Yes it will. I am bouncing off the walls excited. Our lease is up in May, and I'm so ready to get out of here. I'd like to stay in the same neighborhood, but I doubt we'll be able to, just because it's pretty expensive.
I'm pissed. I was at work and my boss is also my teacher. He calls me in about dates I miscalculated on a form that was homework. He is allowing me to redo it. But I didn't appreciate that he then said about failing the honework otherwise. The forms, which were complex and correct otherwise except for dates,which were off by a fucking day, would have resulted in a failure? Then he said he felt I had rushed it. Seriously? Everything else was correct. Every other detail.
So because of being mad combined with pms, meds, and being irritated by other shit he did today(like, among other things, losing a file then saying I did it...I found it in his fucking office about 20 minutes later) , I fucking burst into tears at his desk. I think he felt super bad about it, but now I'm really embarrassed.
Fuck today.
Eta: these forms took me 3 hours to do. So I'm mad that apparently I "rushed" them
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