Just RK

I had a few questions after this post about how our special needs trust went.  So I’ll try to answer them before I forget any longer! (Remember, I’m not a legal ace. This is just my experience or opinion expressed.) How much did you have to pay the attorney to setup the special needs trust? Our whole process cost us $2300.*  The attorney we used, who we highly recommend if you’re anywhere near where we live, allowed us the option of paying over time if we had needed to do so.  The MetLife guys don’t bill at all. There’s no charge for their services.  If you choose to update life insurance or investments through them, then they get a small percentage from that company. *We chose to go the more expensive route.  This cost was for both wills, a family trust as well as a special needs trust.  And Braska’s trust is a “self-standing” trust, which requires a bit more legal setup.  It means that the trust exists right now, instead of becoming an ent...

You’ve probably heard and read more than you care to about our financial adjustments and “struggles” over the past couple years. (The word struggles makes it sound oh-so-dramatic…but I couldn’t think of another proper word, and I’m short on time.) I’m getting better at being ok with things in their current state.  We’re actually doing better than we have been thanks to M’s new job.  But sometimes it seems like a few steps forward can’t even be celebrated before there are a couple steps back.  And 9 times out of 10 I can deal just fine.  Then there’s that one little day that catches me when I’m weak.  On those days I wish thing were different… **I wish I could buy the fresh fruit and veggies that would help me do so much better on my healthy-eating plan. **I wish I could splurge on a better quality cereal instead of whatever is the cheapest for the most—with the requirement ALWAYS that it’s not a “sugar cereal.” **I wish I could afford a better type of d...

Just bought a car...Need arose. 2 days and $1700 later need was met. And we were able to pay cash. Dave Ramsey will be so proud. It is a 1998 Volvo V70 AWD. Tons of bells and whistles and leather and all--all just icing. Not necessity. But the deal was great and that sold it. Seriously $1700. That's it. Now M has a car to drive...and we're still debt free! Woo hoo! God continues to bless us beyond our hopes, and we are so very thankful!

I can't believe I just filed our taxes. It was so easy this year. One W-2, a couple 1099s from here and there. The printouts from the church and Reece's Rainbow for our "charitable giving." Plug it all in and there you go. Who knew it could be so simple? In the past several years, I've owned a business that had to be dealt with in complicated ways. At least they were complicated to me, as I muddled through the process each April. We have written checks, large checks, to the IRS for several years. Tax refund?!? People still get those? We couldn't imagine that. With self-employment tax and all the fun that goes with contract employees and home offices... well, it was always a stressful several days to get them done and ready to file. I always thought I'd "have someone" do them, but it would have taken as much work to prepare things to take to someone, so I just stumbled through somehow. But this year...no business, no moving expenses, no houses bou...

Sold.  One-car-family, schedule juggling, pick up-drop off, pick up-drop off, here we come.  But no more car payments—here we are! More soon on the down and dirty (sometimes painful) of our new financial planning philosophy, for those of you who have asked.  If you have particular questions, feel free to leave them here and I’ll address them each one. And once again, thanks to my parents for the Christmas in July gift of the minivan.  206,300 miles down, many more to go.

So much to write about. No time to write. Braska’s 3. Alot of thoughts. Three years flew, but yet it didn’t. If you ask her, she’ll tell you it was a “happy burfday” and she’s “phree!” The IEP. Came, went, and I’m glad. It was a big process. I probably made it bigger, but I’m pleased with how it all went, and I’m not convinced it would have gone so well had I not made it a big deal. But I’d like to document for me and for those of you who will be crossing that threshold soon. So much learned. Finances. No one likes to talk about or probably hear about them, but we all live it. We’ve just this month implemented a very strict budget (like in a spreadsheet, no room for cheating), changed several things, and I’m still struggling to adjust. I thought it would come easier to me, but it didn’t. I’m blessed with a few little elves around who help me get through when I need a QT cappuccino fix for $1.28, because all such frivolities got left on the cutting room floor. And it’s almost tim...

I've been dragging my feet through these adjustments and (sometimes) trials these last several months, but that should never take away from the provision of God that we've seen on our behalf again and again.  I don't think I am clear enough about how obvious his hand is evident in our lives from day to day.  That's one of those things I'd like to unload more in writing when I have more time to focus. I've been wanting to write about the last couple weeks, specifically a few little things.  I keep thinking I need to make time, but it hasn't happened. But between yesterday and today, I am amazed yet again at how well we're taken care of daily.  And I think it's time I give testimony to the surprising little ways our life's puzzle pieces have fallen into place lately. (Even though the picture that's taking shape is not one I would have picked for myself if I had been in charge of such things.  More on that later.) If you're in a hurry......

Thanks for all the bits of encouragement and checking in on me.  I'm doing ok.  The girls are good and we're hanging out and hanging in there. For those who have been worried, let me just say that my marriage is intact and I'm not newly sick with some serious disease or anything.  Those seem to be the two big concerns floating around.  So no need to be worried. Honestly, our biggest issue and stress right now is financial, and I know it's taboo to talk of such things.  I don't really mind discussing it at all, but it seems to make people a bit uncomfortable, so I'll spare you the details.  Suffice it to say that we are making some more big changes, I call it Level 4 in our big downsizing that started when we moved last year.  I keep hoping we have no more levels, but we'll do our best to deal as we can. This brings us to the point of this post...we're selling our cars--at least one but probably both--and I thought I'd throw up some info in ca...

Gas is $2.33/gal today! I am liking this extra money that we're saving on gas. So everyone is talking about how to save a buck here or there... be it because of the financial crisis that is upsetting so many or the simple nature of life at this juncture for some of us. We might as well share what's working, I figure. So do tell! What's REALLY working, or at least what are you really trying to do? What are you doing that's different than your "norm" to save money right now? Eating out less, shopping more frugally, selling a car, or selling a kidney (ha!)? What are some ways your holiday will be different this year than last due to the financial stuff? Not traveling, buying less gifts, going for the generic turkey over the Butterball ? For us, it's been about the income-cut-in-half thing over the last few months since I'm not working anymore. I grant you this, we've made some major changes that many might not have chosen, but it's been gr...