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Home > Payment still hasn't posted, but they got it; Halloween costume; brain dump

Payment still hasn't posted, but they got it; Halloween costume; brain dump

October 28th, 2011 at 06:30 am

I finally called NT's student loan providers since the $1125 payment I sent Monday before last wasn't showing up on the new website. Turns out they got the payment; the phone rep said the amount before I did so I know it's true. But when I asked him what the principal balance was, he rattled off the previous balance. When I told him the payment hadn't registered, he said they would do a review of the account and should hear something in -- where have I heard this before? -- 7 to 10 days.

Sigh. So I don't know how much the payment will end up being toward principal, since interest continues to accrue. But I'm hoping at least $925 will go to principal. I'm going to record that, since I know they have my money, and just hope I don't have to report less going to principal.

So, that's $1723 down, $177 to go on the October debt goal.

***

We're going to spend Halloween weekend at our friends' weekend house in Winona, MN. It'll just be us four plus four friends, but I requested we dress up in costumes Saturday night. Mostly because I'd decided earlier this year what I wanted to be: Lt. Columbo, in honor of Peter Falk who passed away a few months ago.

Halloween costumes can end up being surprisingly pricy if you're putting your own together and have very specific items that you need to get. So I felt like I got off pretty easy:
$15 for a tan raincoat
$8 for a white men's shirt
$10 for a tie
$3 for a small pad of paper and a cigar
I've got a pair of khaki pants and am borrowing a pair of NT's shoes, and that's the costume! $36 total.

The raincoat and shirt I got from the church thrift store, so I know the profits go to a good cause. I'll either donate the coat, shirt and tie back to them when I'm done, or if I like the costume enough, this might be one worth keeping. I do love Columbo more than almost anything! I'm watching one right now! Smile

***

Now the random brain dump:

Lots of other little things happening. Today was very dramatic at work, as I suddenly realized that my two roles (proofreader and reviewer for corporate style compliance for our main client) could be very much in conflict. On the one hand I'm subordinate to many people and expected to sort of give in if I'm overridden, but when I wear my other hat I pretty much have more authority than anyone in my company. Anyway, there was a situation where I tried to fulfill both roles as faithfully and ethically as possible, but ended up ruffling some feathers and really making no one happy. I don't think anything bad will come of it, but I keep going over it in my head, wondering if there will be any lasting effects.

AS and I made a very cool dinner tonight, time-consuming but satisfying since it was so far outside our comfort zones. We had beets to use up so I did some research on borscht and found that in Ukraine, it's served with garlic fried bread (that was AS's contribution since she's the bread expert). I thought there should be another dish (not realizing how hearty that would be) so I found a recipe for veganized Ukrainian stuffed cabbage. It was all quite delicious; I don't think it'll freeze well and we're going out of town, so I'll take some for lunch and bring the rest in to see if anyone from work wants it.

We got our annual profit-share check from the natural foods co-op where we do some of our shopping. Typically it's $40 to $50. Well, I don't know if we've been spending a lot there or if they had a good year, but it was over $140! This co-op was $75 to join about 13 years ago, and between the discounts and these yearly checks, it's more than paid for itself, plus it's a good place to support.

I also was able to redeem $25 from our American Express card. I believe this is the second or third $25 we've earned and we've only had it a few months. Definitely worth the $75 annual fee.

I signed up for that Southwest Visa where you get 50,000 points after one purchase, and I asked NT and AS to sign up too, to see how many of us they would approve. I think I got immediate approval but NT didn't get any such message, so maybe he won't get it. I don't think AS has tried yet. We still have to spend about $240 on NT's new Citi card to get the $200 bonus, and AS just got a Capital One card where we spend $500 we'll get I think $150, so we need to do that. Shouldn't be hard at all.

On the estate planning front, I set a date to meet with the lawyer on Nov. 11. We'll need to rent a car or sign up for that car share a couple months early, since his office is kind of far away. Usually he comes and meets us at NT's office, but since we need witnesses or something, we have to go to his office for the signing.

AS has her next ultrasound scheduled for I think Nov. 5. It'll be at the hospital perinatal unit because of her high blood pressure, but we're still really excited. This might be the one where they'd be able to tell us the sex, but AS has been really back and forth on whether or not she wants to find out, so I'm not sure what will happen.

What else, what else, what else? I just realized the other holidays are coming up very fast. Really looking forward to it, but we have some planning and gift-buying to do. Probably get started in November, but we won't have budget surplus until December for any extra holiday spending outside the Xmas gift fund for the four of us.

If there's anything else, it can wait for another post. I should relax so I can get to bed soon. Smile

3 Responses to “Payment still hasn't posted, but they got it; Halloween costume; brain dump”

  1. laura Says:
    1319808236


    Good deal, sounds like everything is moving along well. I'm personally hoping for AS to have a boy so your family is nicely rounded out. I'm sure NT would like a little man around!

    I watched Columbo all the time with my grandmother - she also liked Kojak. And when I was pregnant with someone I spent a lot of time on the couch watching A&E (I think) and I liked "Mrs. Columbo".

    Happy Halloween! Have fun.

  2. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1319851378

    Columbo would make a great costume!

  3. Looking Forward Says:
    1319865590

    Columbo - Cool! Always loved those. Big Grin

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