My husband recently accepted a new job in a new state, 2200 miles away from our home. The new job comes with a pay raise and significant promotion (love that!), but, unfortunately, the new state is also more expensive. While we do come out ahead financially even after accounting for the cost-of-living increase, our emergency fund did not. So, whether you’re like us and moving … [Read more...] about Why You Should Reevaluate Your Emergency Fund Regularly
Home Ownership
Why We’re Not Paying Extra on Our New Mortgage
We’re relocating from Arizona to New York because my husband found a good job there. While we’re happy to move, we’re sad to leave behind our house payment in Arizona. We had a 3.375 percent interest rate and a smaller mortgage than we’ll have when we move. In New York, our interest rate will be approximately 5.5 percent, and our mortgage will increase by 1/3. Ouch. However, … [Read more...] about Why We’re Not Paying Extra on Our New Mortgage
Our Experience Prepping Our House for Sale
Eight years ago, my husband and I bought our first house. Ironically, when my husband showed me the property online, I didn’t even want to go see it. The pictures were terrible, and the house looked ugly. He convinced me to go, and I fell in love with the views. We knew the house needed work, but it was in our limited price range, so we bought it. Now, we’re on the opposite … [Read more...] about Our Experience Prepping Our House for Sale
How We’re Preparing Our Budget for a Recession
Recently, you’ve likely heard many pundits express concern that we may be heading into a recession. As the Fed increases interest rates to attempt to stop high inflation, many people worry that the housing market slow down will help tip us into darker economic times. While my husband and I live frugally, we’re preparing our budget for a recession by making some financial … [Read more...] about How We’re Preparing Our Budget for a Recession
How We Used Our Raise to Budget for True Expenses
Okay, nerd budgeting time. I’m the budgeter in our family, and I use YNAB. We’ve used this program for several years and love it. However, within the last year, I’ve added some categories to our budget that have made a huge difference in how smoothly our monthly budget runs. Namely, we used our raise to budget for true expenses. … [Read more...] about How We Used Our Raise to Budget for True Expenses
How to Upgrade Your Garage On a Budget
You stand to gain a lot from an upgraded garage, from more room for storage to a more welcoming area in which you can either work on a hobby or do something recreational. Read on to see some of the ways in which you can upgrade your garage without breaking the bank. Add Shelves It's important to have room inside the garage to keep away some items in your home while also … [Read more...] about How to Upgrade Your Garage On a Budget
5 Tips for the Remodeler On a Budget
If you are unsatisfied with aspects of your home, a remodel is less expensive than moving to a new house. However, it can still be very expensive. If you're trying to get the home of your dreams without moving out of your current one, you can still do so on a budget. Follow these five tips in order to save money during your remodel. Create a Budget It is easy to get carried … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for the Remodeler On a Budget
Keep Good Records to Pay Less in Capital Gains
We’ve owned our house for seven and a half years now, and we’ve made several improvements such as replacing the worn-out carpet in the bedrooms, painting the entire house inside and out, and painting our kitchen cupboards. Soon, we’ll be replacing our master shower with tile. I keep a separate category in our budget for home improvements, but I’m going to start keeping good … [Read more...] about Keep Good Records to Pay Less in Capital Gains
6 Reasons Why Home Renovation Destroys Relationships
We’ve all seen the stories of couples who renovate their homes and end up hating each other. What are some reasons why home renovation destroys relationships? In this post, we will explore these reasons in depth. … [Read more...] about 6 Reasons Why Home Renovation Destroys Relationships
Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
. About 15 months ago, we decided to refinance our home. The interest rate was lower than when we had bought our house six years earlier, and our house had appreciated enough that we could drop PMI (private mortgage insurance) when we refinanced. The mortgage broker working with us asked if we wanted a cash-out refinance to pay off debt. Our answer was a hard and fast “no.” … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
