First off, thank you for all the advice on my last entry. I think I'll stay the course, keeping us to a few fund-type accounts per person but not putting all our eggs in one basket. That means I'm still going to look at a mutual fund to stash some of our EF money, so that it's potentially earning more money but still fairly liquid.
All our mortgages hit, and a bit more went to principal than expected (only a few bucks more, but I'll take it!):
US: $416 to principal
UK1: $263
UK2: $56
UK3: $59
All told, that's $794 down, $1106 to go on the July debt repayment goal.
Also, added $549.64 to the UK savings account, taking 2011 EF progress to $3207.27 (and the total EF to $11,719.22). It would have been a bit more but NT bought his parents b-day gifts using his UK checking; he's going to make up for it by paying $75 into US savings in installments over the next 4 weeks. So the EF will see some more progress over the course of the month.
Also, got a letter from our mortgage company yesterday with a check for $154.78; apparently our escrow account had more money than necessary! Per our new household arrangement we conferred about what to do with it; we threw around some different ideas. Right now we're putting it aside until we decide for sure. It may go toward more eco-friendly lighting for the bathroom, or we may put it toward summer fun of some sort. Our new system is working well; NT had some overtime pay this week, and we used some of it for a nice dinner out, finished paying off my sister's hotel room, and put the rest toward a future debt repayment.
The mortgage company also informed us that our monthly payment would be $4.60 lower beginning Aug. 1. May just be a temporary reprieve until November, which is when our mortgage rate adjusts each year, but I'll take it! I'll put the extra toward education debt repayment.
I have an extra day off today! Well, I still have to take care of one aspect of my job, but only until noon, and I'm doing it from home. It was lucky because daycare is closed today as well. I'm getting the budget sorted while AA takes a nap, then we'll probably head out to see NT and his co-workers later. It's a scorcher today, so we'll be movin' slow!
Looks like it's going to be a fun long weekend. We're planning to grill on the balcony one night, eat out somewhere that has outdoor seating another, go for a bike ride and picnic another day, and I and possibly AS or NT will go out to a local bar Saturday or Sunday night to see a drag queen perform who's a minor TV celebrity! Oh, and I want to take AA to the wading pool at our nearby park either today or sometime this weekend. I hope everyone else is planning lots of fun this Independence Day!
Progress on July goal + good news on our mortgage + holiday weekend plans
July 1st, 2011 at 05:04 pm
July 2nd, 2011 at 01:48 am 1309567719